Frustrated with GSOD's? This might make you feel better...

Oh man, if you think Asus is the only company dropping the ball on customer support, driver/software updates or hardware updates? Think again.

I also happen to be fortunate enough to own the new Alienware M11x-R2 - and it has it's own issue that's equal in trouble and frustration as the G73 GSOD.

If you go and check the threads there or any other owners of both systems will tell you - There is this nasty bug with the M11x and Punkbuster and Optimus graphics. In that when playing games like BCBF2 or any other game that uses PB, the PB detects the Optimus switching as a multiple D3D loader and immediately ejects you out of the game.

Yet unlike Asus and having Gary here trying to get things handled, there is virtually no recognition of this problem by Dell/Alienware or Nvidia.

Worse, some are also saying that the problem lies with Punkbuster. And can't be fixed until they update their software. You'll have better luck getting hold of dead Elvis in an underground Kumute in the Philippines than any customer/tech support at Punkbuster.

Point of the story is, if you think Asus is the only major brand of gaming notebook mfr. that is keeping their customers held back on proper software updates or not addressing serious performance issues, think again.

For my experience, this is immensely more frustrating than a GSOD, where there seems to be several workarounds so that you can at least play your games.

This? You have to constantly switch out your videocard drivers from the set that works with PB but crashes most other games to a set that works with all the other games any other time.

I still recommend the M11x just like I do the G73 as I do believe these are issues that will be solved in time with proper updates.

But if you're thinking of switching brands to Alienware/Dell to avoid the frustrations of a lack of updates or game crashing bugs - I wouldn't. You're going to get the same headaches, just a different type.

It seems these issues are in all the major brands for this kind of product. Cutting edge components packed in a very tight space that run very hot.

For my experience, my G73 has been way less of a hassle than the M11x. So while it sucks to get the GSOD's, you're potentially going to have similar headaches with another brand.

After owning both of these at relatively the same time while never owning a notebook prior, I know I'll continue to buy gaming notebooks based on components and price and never by brand. Because from my experience, there's always trade offs.

Feel better knowing it's not just you as an Asus owner and that there's similar problems of the same scale with that other hot gaming notebook of this generation.

At least we'll get the GSOD's fixed. Who knows when I can play BCBF2 with my M11x on one driver set?

It can always be worse....

Cheers.

 

Asus is not the only one with issues of course. But there are laptops with 0 problems, i know since i owned one. I dont see how this should make us feel better or justify Asus mistakes and past behaviour? If you pay for something you expect it to work and i dont care if there are other examples with problems. Thats no excuse. And the m11x is in a totally different category - if were talking about high end desktop replacement alternatives - m17x, msi 740, clevo w860, w870, w880, d900f, x8100, none of those have similar problems.

 

Well HellCry, my boy, you don't count.

Because anyone that's spent any time here knows that nothing is going to make you feel any better.

I'd wager that once you've even managed to get a perfectly working G73 you're still going to be mad and hold a grudge and rant and rail against Asus until you've managed to get back into your oft praised Clevo. It's funny, the way you hyped that machine had me looking into it as another purchase. And you know what? If you go and check the Clevo threads there on these boards, you'll find the same amount of people have with problems with the "Clevo" as G73 owners do here.

Not to mention Clevo's are so exorbitantly priced that they make the Apple tax seem like a gift card with big fugly cases that belong on my Grandmother's bookshelf.

Also, the M17x? Do you want me to point you to the panel hinge issue that affects all Alienware models? That's way worse than GSOD's.

Not to mention all those machines cost about at $1000 more...

Sorry buddy, your examples don't hold any water.

I guess some people are just determined to stay angry.

But man, it sure does get exhausting for the rest of us.

 

These forums are full of frustrated members that have problems with the G73 all you have to do is look through all the threads.
Hellcry has a very valid point, yes there are problems with other laptops but that does not justify why they should and we should just accept them.
This is not just some "cheap" laptop that we can just dismiss, this is a gamers laptop and what do gamers like to do, that's right update to the latest drivers and BIOS to get better performance and if you can't to that then you see where that leads to, many angry and pissed off laptop owners.
I'm sure there are many G73 owners that love there laptop the way it is but you have to admit there are many owners that are not happy too.
ASUS droped the ball on this one in my opinion and has suffered a blackeye.
Just my 2 cents.
To those that have a laptop working the way it should I'm happy for you .

 

Obviously we're having a miscommunication here.

Who said anything about just "taking" what Asus is throwing at us?

My point is - You're not going to escape this with any gaming notebook manufacturer.

HellCry managed to get a perfectly functioning Clevo. Does that mean all Clevo's are failure proof? Nope. Sorry, it doesn't.

Because just like HellCry had a perfectly working Clevo, I have a perfectly working, non GSOD, never had a problem G73. And plenty of forum members will tell you that there's issues with this machine.

It doesn't matter what brand you get. We all know that there's variables in O'C CPU's and GPU's and people get different O'C results no matter if it's the same make or model as another CPU - "because every GPU and CPU is different." Why shouldn't this same principle apply to whether some have perfectly working machine's and others do not? I'm not saying it does, but what I'm saying is, no matter what brand you buy, somebody is going to have a machine with issues - because of that same x factor that goes into different CPU's and GPU's of the same make and model is why they all clock differently.

So, the point is, if you're going to dump this machine for another brand because you think the grass is greener on the other side, I'm just saying it's not. That's not to say that you can't or won't dump a G73 and buy a Clevo or Alienware or MSI and have a perfect machine. You very well may. But because it's a numbers game, not because one company is heads and shoulders better than the others. If they were, we'd all be on them. Gamers are some of the most discerning and discriminating customers on the planet. And are arguably the demo that pushes technology more than any. The recent success of Apple's app store because of their games market being the latest example. So I believe if there was one brand of gaming notebook that was clearly heads and shoulders above the rest - well then, we'd all be on them and not here.

But at least in terms of going for Dell over Asus wanting better quality, expect the same delays in driver and software updates, if not worse. At least that's my experience so far. Except Asus doesn't require INF files to be re-written to update their drivers, unlike Dell.

That has nothing to do with whether we should accept the current situation with Asus or not. We shouldn't.

You say Asus dropped the ball. I say Asus had a hot product which brought a lot more people in as early adopters who don't know the score of being an early adopter for any piece of tech. And sooner or later these kinks get worked out in the second or third generation of manufacturing. Plenty of time within the R.O.G warranty to get a proper exchange that will be free of these issues if needed.

If these kinds of miscommunications are going to turn this into a bad vibe thread, then mods please just delete it with my apologies.

 

Youre speaking about numbers - excellent point. If you get a defective Clevo/MSI/Alienware, you can easily get a perfectly working replacement. I tried (and am still trying) to do that with this Asus G73JH, and guess what - I CANT GET A WORKING REPLACEMENT. Thats the problem. Ken couldnt get me one from all in their warehouse and the techs here dont have a working one. Im waiting for replacement GPU #3 now since i am persistent enough to make them order more GPUs for me. And you can read about people exchanging the laptop 6 times and newer getting a working one, so its not just a few broken ones and a smaller problem like with the other companies where after 1 exchange you should get a working laptop.
And youre pointing out the other laptops issues i mentioned? None is as bad as these GSODs. And i never suggested an Alienware, infact i strongly dislike that company and dont like their laptops much becouse of loud fans, ugly design and my past expirience with them, but having a hinge break after half a year and having to replace it is much better than not being able to play games at all. And having to mod a INF file to use newer drivers is MUCH BETTER than not being able to use them. And saying that Clevos are the most expensive laptops that will cost 1000$ more than this laptop? Get your facts straight and dont spill bull$hit. A w870cu at xoticpc configured the same as the G73JH A1 model (8gb 1333mhz (costs the same as 1066mhz so why not) ddr3, i7-740 (720 is out), mobiltiy 5870, 2x 500gb 7200 rpm HDs) costs 1928$, and the A1 costs 1645$, so the difference is 283$, but you get a Better, fully WORKING Clevo with Raid, eSata, firewire and many more small things that the Asus lacks.
My Clevo came with a defective BD-Drive and a stuck pixel. But those are things that were easily fixed. And i am going to get a Clevo next, you are perfectly right. After what ive expirienced and found out about Asus i will surely keep a mile away from any of their products that is also correct. But youre wrong i wont be happy with the laptop if its fixed - i will use it till it will serve me than of course.
And youre saying were early adopters? This laptop has been having these problems for OVER HALF A YEAR now, and mind you theyre not new. The w90 had the exact same problems. Same with the keyboard/touchpad conflict issue which has been around for over four years and Asus still hasnt fixed it, but instead just releases model after model with the same issue. So some companies just are WORSE and one of them is definetely Asus.
I dont see Clevo or MSI having an entire defective notebook line and if they have a problem, they actually solve it in decent time and dont drag their mistakes onto their next models.
I feel real sorry for you, trying to compare to other defective laptops to make yourself feel better about your purchase and im so sorry that im a thorn in your foot, but if you challenge me with something like that make sure you do your homework before doing so.