G53JW - Quick User Review (Text & Pic Gallery)

Asus G53JW-A1 ~ Quick User Review

Specs​

Screen ~ 15.6" 1920x1080
CPU ~ i7-740QM (1.73-2.93GHz)
GPU ~ nVidia GeForce GTX 460M 1.5GB GDDR5 VRAM DX11
RAM ~ 8GB DDR3 1333
Primary Hard Drive ~ 750GB 7200rpm SATA II
Secondary Hard Drive ~ 320GB 7200rapm SATA II
Optical Drive ~ 8X DVDRW DL Super Multi

Touchpad - User Rating 4/5:
The touchpad is simple to navigate and very responsive. Page drag also works flawlessly. It also comes with two buttons, which will be difficult to press until they've been worn over time; typically 2-4 weeks depending on the usage.

Keyboard - User Rating 5/5:
The keyboard has been 100% responsive in both gaming and surfing. The keys do not stick to your fingers like on some gaming laptops. It comes with a backlight option that can be turned on/off at the users discretion. The keys are all very well lit in a dark environment.

Speakers - User Rating 3/5:
The speakers are average. You can hear both instruments and vocals fairly well, but like most users, I prefer quality headphones. The speaker cover is also excellent since not a single piece of dirt/dust/hair has managed to inflitrate it for pet owners like myself.

Ports Placement - User Rating 5/5:
The ports are all placed at great locations. All four USB ports (two per side) are very easy to access as their location are very close to the front sides of the unit. The remainder of the input/outputs are all on the right side. Not having anything plug in the back of the unit is great because on my previous MSI laptop, the adapter was right beside the heat exaust.

Screen - User Rating 5/5:
This is hands down the best screen I've ever used on a laptop. I lowered the brightness to 50% and it was equal to my previous MSI model at 100%. Everything is very crisp and clear. Both gaming and surfing experiences are excellent.

Vents - User Rating 5/5:
The two vents are placed in the back with an upwards tilt. This prevents any heat from ever coming into contact with your lap. This is the first laptop ever to not burn my legs while I either surfed or gamed. The noise is almost non existent, even with my headphones off, I can barely hear anything.

WebCam - User Rating 2/5:
2MP isn't great. I tested it out through MSN's video chat. 3MP and up should be the standard in the industry, but I rarely use it, so it doesn't really matter to me.

Gaming - 5/5:
So far, it has handled all my games on ultra without lag and any sort of delays. I'm still in the process of installing my games, and will post more information once I'm complete. Unfortunately they were all digital download purchases, so it's going to take a while for me to get them all.

Weight & Dimensions - 4/5:
Unlike some of the many rumours that are going around, claiming that this machine is very large, I will have to respectfully disagree. I find it as light as a feather when I carry it in the Asus Targus bag that comes with the unit. When I have it out, it's very easy to move around. I've had it on my lap for a total of 6hrs~ in one night without discomfort.

Battery Life - 3/5:
Average battery life for a gaming laptop. Using "Battery Saver" with minimal settings I got approximately 2hrs03mins. This is with two firefox tabs, MSN and WIFI. You could probably squeeze a little more, but what's the point.

Targus Bag (Free) - 5/5:
Best bag I've ever owned. Luckily you get this with your unit and it can carry your laptop, mousepad, gaming mouse and smaller headphones as well as some documents. It has a chest strap to it for added mobility. It's so light, I sometimes have to check if the laptop is still in my bag (I've done that twice thus far).

Razer Abyssus Mouse (Free) - 1/5:
Mouse for small hands. No side buttons which makes it awful for gaming and even browsing. Buttons on the thumbs is a must! The wheel doesn't even tilt left or right either. My Logitech G9X blows this mouse away. I will be using this mouse only as a back-up incase my G9X breaks down and I await a replacement to ship to me.

Reseller Satisfaction - 5/5:
I purchased my particular unit from GenTechPC. Ken provided above and beyond service, responding to my e-mails in hours and keeping me up to date with honest answers for each delay (I believe there was four in total).
To not play favouritism and jeapordize my post, you can also purchase this unit from other respected resellers on this forum that frequent it daily such as: PowerNoteBooks, BTOTech, and XoticPC.

Overall Satisfaction - 5/5:
Overall, this is the best laptop I've ever owned. I'm a very happy customer and would recommend this to anyone who desired a laptop.

User Recommendation - Must Haves!
There are two particular items that I highly recommend for your unit. The first is protection material for the outer shell of the laptop. It is VERY easy to smudge and leave cleanable marks, but you will find yourself cleaning it excessively. Besides protective film for your cover, palmrest film is optional, but not critical.

The other item would be a ShaggyMac 17" laptop cover (perfect fit), which you place between your keyboard and LCD when you close it and travel. This prevents the keys from scratching your LCD if outside pressure ever squeezed your bagged laptop.
Purchase Link:
17 Widescreen Laptop Screen Protector [SPaStd17w] - $16.95 : ShaggyMac, Laptop Screen Protector & Keyboard Cover, Laptop Cleaner & Accessories

Picutre Gallery Video:
Nothing special. Just a dozen or so pictures I took today. My camera wasn't really amazing (smartphone), in case anyone was interested:
<param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/HvfDYD9zN-E?fs=1&amp;hl=en_GB"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/HvfDYD9zN-E?fs=1&amp;hl=en_GB" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width='640' height="505"></embed></object>

 

Great review!

I am also a fellow Canadian and am considering getting this notebook.

Really looking forward to those gaming benchmarks, especially SC2!

EDIT: +1 rep for you

 

Thanks for the review, considering this laptop myself. Looking forward to your benchies!

 

Thank you thank you! Could you post a picture of the mouse on top of a standard sized DVD? I'm hoping that it'll fit my petite man-hands lolz

 

I'll do it @ school tmrw since my place has poor lightning

 

You could use your backlight or the laptop screen as the light Or even your phone's flash?

I'm just too excited!

 

LOL Fine. I'll do it right now

Edit: Metallic wanted keyboard-CD and here's mouse-CD you requested

 

Wow--that's totally gonna fit my hand! It's like the same size as my basic optical Logitech mouse. Also, it was very kind of you to put them on top of the backpack too! I hope that it's not a huge one like the rest of the stuff that's out there that makes me look like I'm going hiking

Also, could you (tomorrow or whenever) take some more pics of the backpack (maybe to a light review on it too?) THX BUD!

 

Haha, I actually hate the mouses with anything other than two buttons and the scroll wheel/click. Side buttons, ugh! I can't tell you how many times I press them on accident. Glad you enjoy the notebook though, happy gaming... with a little work in the downtime, I suppose.

 

Some should of got the first batch today - More user reviews, people!

 

Hey, nice review!

I had one question quick though, what (if any) kind of case film protector is there for this computer? I don't want the rubber peeling off, or etc.

Thanks.

 

We're all still researching the film protection for the outer layer. One user is going to test an ebay purchase and will let us know of the outcome We're also waiting on some replies from companies who deal with film protection.

 

width='640' height="505"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/RUyAehAMfKA?fs=1&amp;hl=en_GB"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/RUyAehAMfKA?fs=1&amp;hl=en_GB" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width='640' height="505"></embed></object>

Bag Review:

Requested by Dookie. Don't mind the 2 sec lag delay. Not sure what happened during filming.

 

It looks nice. Could you comment on the space between the bottom of the backpack and the laptop "slot/compartment"? Meaning, could you just confirm if it's gonna shatter if the backpack drops vertically, or will there be some or enough "buffer" space such that the laptop doesnt immediately hit the ground when the backpack drops? Hope you know what I mean. Thx pal!

 

I'd say it would shatter, but I have yet to see a laptop bag that would fully protect a plunge into the pavement

 

If you drop your laptop in any type of packaging even with tones of bubble vertically, you deserve to have your laptop broken.

 

I would never forgive myself if I dropped this godly laptop.

I'd probably cry too, considering how long it took to get it after all the delays by Asus and I'm sure a warranty claim would take 1-2 months to fulfill since the massive shortage.

 

Well, lets say, like a 1foot drop, like when you're setting your backpack down on the floor while you're taking your seat in lecture. If you put it down too fast in a Targus/CaseLogic/SwissGear, then there's like only a 2inch space between the laptop compartment and the bottom of the backpack. Meaning, a 2inch gap between the edge of your baby and the floor. In a quality backpack, that gap might be a bigger gap, or the pouch is actually stiff/secure so that there's no jiggle such that the backpack slot can stretch n touch the ground. Nah mean?

 

Yap. There is padding but I believe one too many 1-foot drops would break it over-time. I'm sure you could get away with a few accidents, but doing it often may damage it. I'll always set my "baby" down like it's a newborn

 

sweet, nice to see some laptops that are versatile enough to withstand day to day use without breaking down like the G series asus's are doing compared to other laptops.

 

Ya, just wondering. I used to always stuff the bottom of my backpack with a sweater anyhow LOLz. Cuz the lecture halls can get crowded, and you never know if someone's gonna knock ur backpack down, ya know? Good to know though Hope you're having fun with it too!

 

You lost your G53Jw?

 

It was stolen (break and enter). I gotta wait for an insurance cheque so I can buy a replacement. It's taking forever, though.


--

More pics, guys! Everyone loves pics

 

I'm trying to get a Shaggymac for Black Friday and I am wondering what is the best size to get it if I order it custom fit since I won't be getting my laptop until next week after black Friday? I notice that on the video that it could be smaller and what are the measurements for that one? Are they the same as the link you gave us because your color isn't offered anymore.

 

17" is a perfect fit for the G53. Bah, sky blue is a great colour too - I guess they ran out of it! Admiral or Panther both look good as a substitute.

17 Widescreen Laptop Screen Protector [SPaStd17w] - $16.95 : ShaggyMac, Laptop Screen Protector & Keyboard Cover, Laptop Cleaner & Accessories

^ Is the one I have in the pictures. I don't have the measurements, but if you look up the dimensions of the G53, it'll be listed.

 

Wow, really? You must be one of the following:

1. lumberjack
2. wwf member
3. cage fighter
4. a bear
5. some combo of the above

I love my g73jw, and its weight and size vs an equivalent workstation can't argued, but I'd hardly call it light. I think of myself as fit (or did until I read your post), but I took my laptop to and from the studio only once. The 20 minute walk/jog from the train station to home with laptop is not something I'll do again... I ached after that...

Agree with everything else you say though, definitely the best laptop I've ever owned.

 

Thanks I will probably get panther so it matches with everything.

 

Forgot one:
[ * ] Canadian Forces (member)
I also work out 1HR/day. It's definitely light as a feature for me when I walk around the campus. I don't take the bus because of the refreshing walk.

Note: You should try marching with 80-100LBS rucksacks, eventually everything under that amount is a feather/luxury.

---

Did you place it in the Asus bag it came with? If it's the over-the-shoulder bag, I'm sure you'd have a problem, but the Asus backpacks with the chest strap is just perfect.

I also carry an additional shoulder strap laptop bag with all my books in addition to the G53 on my back Piece of cake for me (not to brag, but it is lol).