The G73 Best Buy info thread

No. BB never ever gives discs (OS or utlilties) with their laptops..Burn AI Recovery backup discs

 

before I had the G72 from BB and it came with 2 DVDs (OS + utilities)

 

Is that recent? I had Vista recovery and driver discs when I got my G51vx half a year go.

 

btw the AI Recovery backup disks are Image files.. I havent tried them yet to see if you can select what utilities to install

 

anyone mind telling me where the express gate button is?

 

Press it and find out

 

Make sure to turn the laptop off, first. If you press it while the laptop is on it'll format your HDD next reboot.

IF you hit it while in Windows, Never. Ever. Turn off your laptop ever again.

 

The Express Gate button will open up the idle transistors on your CPU to allow an additional bin for overclocking. It's pretty good when you need that extra boost in games or other heavy tasks.

 

It is the Turbo Boost button. (Middle button on the top left.)

 

Yes, please, does the 09 have 1600x900 or 1920x1080?

 

By this logic a 800x600 resolution monitor is the most forward looking piece of hardware you can buy. Nothing prevents you from running at lower resolutions on a higher res monitor.

 

Does the g73 have USB 3.0?? Are there Gaming laptops with USB 3.0??

 

No, none of the G73s have USB 3.0. I was originally going to go for the N61JQ or N71JQ, both of which have the new USB 3.0 and ATI 5730. I decided to go with the G73 and forgo the USB 3.0 personally since by the time I get a new laptop, USB 2.0 probably won't be obsolete.

 

Thanx, than i buy the USB 3.0 with the next generation, the g73 deal is to good,

 

If I understand correctly, running an LCD display at anything other than its native resolution decreases the quality. Your mileage may vary...

 

Well I thought I loved my G73 from Best Buy but I think im going to return it.

Sometimes the screen doesnt come on after pressing the power button, the keyboard sucks and its constantly missing what I type, the viewing angles suck really hard too. (thought i could live with the viewing angles, but after days of using it i cant lol)

They are going to take a 15% stocking fee arent they? =\

 

Typing this from my local Best Buy's G73... So far, pretty nice, some keyboard flex, it has 1333 memory, decent screen, at least here under the bright fluorescents, pretty loud - had to turn the volume to 50% to not annoy those around me while I played some Lonely Island videos from You Tube (I'M ON A BOAT!!!).
Running furmark and hwinfo temps aren't budging-thermal diode isn't going above 59c, even using Xtreme Burning Mode. Not sure if I'm doing this right; hwinfo says all the temperature monitoring on the gpu is enabled...i'll let it run a while longer and see what happens, i guess

 

so that g73 at the store had 1333? I might have to go check mine out and see if I can snag similar, at leas then I would be able to use the ram i bought

 

let me update this a bit - quite a bit of keyboard flex, but not while actually typing (for me at least), pressing down on the case around the touchpad keeps zooming in on the web page, touchpad sux, as does the 'teeter-totter' button under it. However, I always use an external mouse, so no biggie there.

 

Touchpad does suck..but the rest of the things you mentioned (flex eh a little) but touchpad thingy sounds like a defect on yours..I havent even used the touchpad or teeter totter once, and may never...only USB mouse for me

 

As GTO stated...playing out of native res drops quality..stop hatin'
Your not following my "logic"...your 800x600 comment proves that

 

OK, I wasn't monitoring temps correctly. Now I've got realtime temps while Furmark xtreme is running and the 'Thermal Diode' temp is climbing - seems to be leveling off at 95-97c

 

Do you have Reward Zone Premier membership? They might waive the restocking fee if you do:

Rewards

• Earn rewards faster with 1.25 points per dollar on Best Buy and BestBuy.com purchases
• Point banking to save your points until you want to use them, or continue to receive certificates automatically
• Free standard shipping on most BestBuy.com purchases
• 45-day extended return policy and no restocking fees on Best Buy and BestBuy.com purchases
• Great offers and discounts on products throughout the year

-Source-

 

Ya via HWInfo..my thermal diode hovers around 85-91 when gaming...which is fine...if it sat at 95-100 Id be a little weary...running at 85-91 seems fine...people need to understand that the surrounding air temp that any laptop/PC pulls in its intake fans will greatly factor what temp the components will run at..i.e if I turn on my AC in the house my temps show 10 degrees cooler... So just dont game outside in the Arizona sun!!!...umm wait Im doing that right now

 

Hey is leaving a already fully charged battery with ac adapter a bad thing or does it not matter?

 

Heat kills batteries...If you are not going to use your battery and have it on fixed AC power, then drain the battery to 35-50% and store it in the fridge in an air tight bag...I haven't even taken my battery out of the packaging as I use my G73 as a desktop replacement..When I get the time, I plan to cycle it once and drain to 50% then place in fridge

 

Have them exchange it and then sell it, maybe? See below...

Also, some Best Buy stores won't charge a restocking fee, even though it clearly says it right on the big sign behind Customer Service counter. One CS gal at my BB says they've gotten special dispensation from corporate due to the volume of computer business they do?

 

Putting it in a fridge and air tight bag is necessary?!? I think ill just take my battery off now since its already been fully charged for hours. The reason i put battery there is so that in case of power outtages, i have battery as a back up, as most people do this

 

well, broke down today and snagged one at best buy... had a couple in the back.... first thoughts are this thing is HUGE!! ha

 

Yes it is
Looks fantastic but the back end adds to the bulk.

 

Sorry, but couldn't resist, lol:

<param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/-D99n9f3vU4&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/-D99n9f3vU4&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width='480' height="385"></embed>

 

quick question, and sorry if this is poster elsewhere, couldn't find it... but does GPU-Z show gpu clocks on this? Mine just shows blank on the sensor page, not sure what you guys are using?

 

Besides all the 1600x900 is better for gaming and 1920x1080 is better for movies blah blah.... Is the 1920x1080 screen better quality wise then the 1600x900??? Does it have better viewing angle and brightness and color? Im at the point to buy one of the two and besides the resolution I would like to know if the FHD screen is of better quality.

 

^ditto^ I doubt the 1600x900 would make much difference with gaming. Or the 1920x1080 on such a small screen for movies. You can lower the resolution for fonts and that doesn't need to be 1080p.The angles of viewing ect.. is what would matter to me most.

 

I picked one up yesterday. The screen is the biggest drawback for me. The viewing angles are horrible. You pretty much have to be directly in front of the monitor for a good view.

If it wasn't for the 15% restocking fee I would return it right away =/. Maybe I can sell it and get a GX740 whenever it finally comes out

 

I'm vaguely familiar with the different quality types of LCD panels ( TN < MVA < S-IPS, etc. ), but I don't know the different types of LED-backlit panels that are out there and which ones are made better.

Posters here have expressed some disappointment with the viewing angles of the Best Buy g73-05 screen, so I'm guessing it's similar to an lcd monitor with a standard TN panel of sorts? The screen might have also been a factor in bringing the price point down to $1199.

Personally, since I would be using this solely as a desk-rep, the viewing angle wouldn't matter as much to me since I would be facing it directly 99% of the time.

I have not heard of anyone complain about the viewing angles for the g73-09 series yet so I cannot confirm if they use the same LED panel. I wouldn't be surprised if they were the same even with the outrageous mark-up price of the 09.

Edit:

Looking at Best Buy's description again I noticed it says the screen is an LED-LCD display. So is this not a true LED display? *scratches head* Nevermind, I just did some more reading and was confused before since some laptops have a description that just say LED, but it's basically the same thing (an LED-lit LCD).

 

Not matter much for gaming? Your dreaming lol.

 

Well I guess it's officially out now, BB website has them in stock at all stores

 

Saw one yesterday finally. Nice laptop but the screen is the typical garbage Asus seems to be using lately unfortunately. I liked the keyboard and the speakers seemed capable of drowning out most of the store noise well. It does indeed look bigger than it's 17.3 spec would indicate.

Lousy screen is a deal killer though.

 

You could buy one from BB now, and just replace the 16:9 screen with a 1920x1200(?) if they become available

That depends a lot on what the 1080p displays will sell for (ebay etc), if they sell for 200$ or less you could have the G73 w/ 1080p for less than 1401$, given that you are able to swap the LCD yourself (should be fairly simple for a geek).

That is, if they become available (it`s replacement parts so I guess they should..) and that the combined cost of the G73-RXX05 + replacement 1080p LCD is lower than the non-BB models.

 

Please give up on the idea that lower resolution panels future proof and make your machine better for gaming. That is extremely false. There are too many people that believe not running your display at native resolution means it will look like crap. This is false.

Concerning panel quality. The Asus G73 full HD panel is beautiful, with very decent viewing angles (save the vertical angles which could benefit from being wider).

In addition, buying a machine that runs well in 3 years but crippling it for it's first 3 years seems rather odd to me.

 

I'd have to say I disagree with everything you say.
1. You do get better FPS in games with the lower res screen with the same exact specs if it came with a higher res screen.That is when using a screens native res( going from 1600x900 to 1920x1080)
It might not be much in some games but it could make a game from unplayble to playable.
But I don't see this model having any problem playing any of the most demanding games.
2.Games do look much sharper when played at a screens native res.
When you do lower the res games still look good but not as crisp.
Everyone has there own opinion on this subject but I have done a great deal of research on this .

 

running games on their not native resolution on a panel does look like garbage, so give up on the idea it doesn't, have you ever tried it? also 1920x1080 is kinda overkill for a 17 inch monitor although i prefer it, considering the 21 inch imacs use the same resolution with a screen that's over 4 inches bigger.

generally the asus high res screens are much better than their lower res ones with viewing angles and brightness and color reproduction.

 

Yeah I don't have any clue when it comes to laptops. But alot of ppl post with 1080p G73 and rarely have any problems with any games when there aren't any Gpu problems. I usually game on a 42 " or 100" projector. No problems at all . The viewing angles is the only thing I question with the BB models?

 

It would be nice if someone could get a 1080p unit and a Best Buy unit side-by-side and compare the screens, but I don't see that happening.

I wish there was a store I could go to that would have the 1080p unit on display, especially one w/ BluRay. My desire for the 1080p machine w/ BluRay may prove to be pointless.

 

Since I have no experiance with Blu ray and laptops I maynot understand...yet? I do have Blu Ray and TVs from 32 -42 and 100" 1080p projector. The small 32" you can barely see a difference close up. 17" laptop ppl say you can? Well see when I get mine.

 

I don't recall seeing this link before, but I just did a search and found the CNET review for Best Buy's g73jh-rbbx05:

http://reviews.cnet.com/laptops/asus-g73jh-rbbx05/4505-3121_7-34041745.html - Rating: 3.5/5 "Very Good"

(not as high rating as the Sony VPCF115FM/B - "Excellent" ...Hmm, each a different reviewer though. Maybe Joshua is just pickier than Scott? ;P)

The Sony isn't considered a "gaming laptop" so maybe that's why they're harsher on the g73. bah

 

It is still an LCD either way. The light source is either LED or Florescent tubes. It would be an LCD with an LED backlight.

 

you can when your head is only 2 feet away...

 

Yeah I know that's what ppl say. My small 32 inch you can't watch from 2 ft away . This is one reason I just don't get the BB version right now. That and ppl say the view angle isn't as good? Dunno I may think differently in a month or so if I don't have my G73.