In for an XC1 on thanksgiving day! ~ SSD installation guide

Newegg has a nice deal running on the XC1 today, so I went for it. Should arrive in about 3 business days. Any recommendations for a SSD during the holiday season?

Happy thanksgiving all! ( ' :

 

For those who might be interested regarding features.....

Beside the obvious that is listed (blue ray player, 1 750 gb drive), the XC1 from newegg comes with....
the extra hard drive cage.
8gb ram in (2) 4gb sticks of PC3-10600

BIOS v201

Right side of the spacebar is not lit


still playing around until I decide on an ssd, but if anyone has questions, feel free to ask.

 

My right side of space bar is also not lit. Not a big deal, really. Actually, I'd rather prefer if the light wouldn't leak from the edges of each chiclet key...but that's just me.

 

After dealing with some erraticness with the touchpad these past few days, including some brief periods of unresponsiveness, I've opted to flash the bios up to 203( http://support.asus.com/download.as...Sx&p=3&s=336&os=30&hashedid=LUFmeP8fwFruEdH7). I'll report in if that issue continues, then update the driver for it before ultimately resorting to removing the foil as so many others have done.

Edit: As an FYI, making recovery DVDs will require 6 of them...so buying a pack of 5 means a trip back to the store...

 

this is why I sold my G73 and moved to a mac... lol

 

To each his own. Gaming rigs are for enthusiasts...we're used to and enjoy tinkering.

Edit: Crucial M4 128gb arrived yesterday -- I'll probably install it Thursday morning.

For reference, burning the 6 recovery dvds will take just under 2 hours. The first dvd appears to run long at 51 minutes, but it's likely creating the images for all of the dvds in the beginning.

 

Don't get me wrong, I loved the Asus, but by now the track pad issue should have been fixed for sure...

 

No worries ( ' : Regarding the trackpad, I can't speak for other people, but it seems to be 100% fine with no issues after flashing the bios up to 203 -- no cracking it open to remove the foil and I'm still running on stock drivers.

 

Currently in the middle of a 2 hour download of Win7 Home Premium w/SP1 ( http://forum.notebookreview.com/win...-digitalriver-windows-7-sp1-13-languages.html)

I'll be using the Win7 usb installer to put the iso onto a usb stick and make it bootable.( Microsoft Store Online)

Edit: Also, on a separate usb key, the following have been downloaded --
From Asus:
--atk driver
--audio driver
--azure wireless driver
--bluetooth driver
--intel chipset driver
--lan driver
--touchpad driver
--usb30 drivers
--kb filter
--wireless console 3

from nvidia:
--latest video drivers for the 500m series

 

For the actual installation, lots of credit goes to squawks. Attached here are his instructions from this thread ( http://forum.notebookreview.com/asu...628869-brand-new-g74-new-ssd-os-install.html).

The only clarification to be made is that if you use a USB to install win7, make sure that usb stick is in the machine, in a 2.0 port before you start it up, otherwise it won't show as a boot option. I've also added pictures from my installation.

Equipment -- 1 SSD (Crucial M4 128 gb) and the enclosed sata connector and ribbon that came with the laptop.



Tools -- 2 usb sticks (1 with win7, the other with drivers), small philips head screwdriver for drive mounting, penny to open the bottom panel, beer for satisfaction.

therain93 comment: make sure that your dvd or usb key with win7 is in the machine before booting!

therain93 comment: If all went well, then the new SSD should be detected!

therain93 comment: If you're attempting a win7 install from a usb key, it must be inserted into a usb 2.0 port before booting up to the BIOS otherwise you will not have the option to set it. If you happen to stick the usb key into the usb3.0 port, early in the installation it will stop and ask you for drivers. Quit out, move the usb stick and reboot again so it starts the installation.


13) It should then start Windows 7 installation. Amazingly, using a bootable flash drive and installing onto the SSD, this only takes MINUTES. Wow.
<snip>
[/quote]

 

Regarding Windows Activation.....

Hard core modders might like the ABR tool to back up the OEM windows activation code, but ordinary people don't need and, frankly, shouldn't download strange .exe's. You can activate it simply with the product key on the bottom of the computer in the ordinary fashion.

The hype of having to activate by phone is simply that -- hype. The online activation will work just fine -- it's purpose is to watch out for the same code being used numerous times in a short period of time with multiple variations in hardware.

Besides, ABR was written by....some guy. Don't get in the habit of downloading random executables that serve no real purpose.

 

SO, what happened after Win 7 installed, you may wonder?

Well, first thing was that I DID NOT CONNECT to the network. Noooo. Due dilligence.

Step 1 -- optimize the SSD.
......I actually followed the first 16 steps from this guide to speed up the SSD and (hopefully) extend its life.
The SSD Optimization Guide - The SSD Review

Step 2 -- I installed drivers that I had previously downloaded. Please note, I did not bother installing the blue tooth driver and, consequently, the console that swapped out the control of it...nor the KB filter.

Only after these were all done did I then set up my wireless connection.

Step 3 -- Hit up windows update. Since I had SP1 in the ISO, there were only about 55 updates (less than 200 mb) to download and install, besides IE9.

 

Stock Performance Numbers (Part 1)

Windows Experience Index before SSD


WEI after SSD


Although I never though to check first, after the SSD is installed and been optimized to this extent, it takes 20 seconds from pressing the power buttion to getting to the desktop.

 

therain93, GREAT writeup! I was going to do pics myself but was too lazy, but I definitely wished there was this guide with your pics around when I did my setup.

Yeah, having all the drivers in-hand is pretty important, especially if you only have one computer in the household. I recommend swapping out the Atheros wireless card (left of the HDD bays, held down with one screw, strangely, where there are two screw holes) with an Intel one. I am using an Intel one, and notice far better connections especially when gaming.

You should download Intel Rapid Storage Technology Driver (RST) as well, I hear it boosts performance but how much is debatable.

 

Yeah good job with the guide, i edited the thread title and put a link to the guide post in the sticky so people will have an easier access to the thread once it gets buried by newer ones.

+rep to the both of you as soon as i can hand out some more.

 

Well, it was your write-up that I stole -- thank you for it because I likely would have snapped off the connectors trying to figure them out.

I haven't seen any issues with the wirless card at this point -- no lag or drops, but I'll keep an eye out.

Re: Intel RST -- I've seen it discussed, but need to read up on it more.

Thanks very much --my intention was to kind of take people through the experience of buying a g74 and what to do with it, rather than have sporadic posts. I hope it helps people and will continue to post as I observe/tweak things.

 

Stock Performance Numbers (Part 2)

GPU at 775mhz, Memory at 1250mhz, shaders at 1550mhz

using 3dMark 11, 2267 marks ( NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560M video card benchmark result - Intel Core i7-2630QM Processor,ASUSTeK Computer Inc. G74Sx score: P2267 3DMarks)

Truth be told, although unsure what to expect, I feel disappointed with these frame rates at 1280x760 (the free version screen resolution test)

3DMark Score
P2267
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Graphics Score
2032
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Physics Score
6353
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Combined Score
2069
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
GraphicsTest1
9.7 FPS
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
GraphicsTest2
9.65 FPS
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
GraphicsTest3
12.28 FPS
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
GraphicsTest4
6.08 FPS
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PhysicsTest
20.17 FPS
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CombinedTest
9.62 FPS

Tinkering will begin soon enough.

 

I say tinker if you must; don't fix it unless it's broken. E.g. if you cannot play a certain game at the settings that you minimally require.

I learned through the past that that is quite a good rule to adhere to.