2014 Asus N550JK -DS71T quick mini review and opinion so far

Hi, i got the samsung 840 evo ssd I want to install instead of the HD in the asus n550jk. Should I use the migration software i got with ssd? Also how do i get a copy of the recovery partition(copy of windows 8.1) if i want to reinstall since you dont get a key or a OS dvd? Can i use the windows "save to backup media" and save it on USB?

Sorry last question What of the partitions do i need to have on my ssd?

 

Hi,

I assume your Windows key is stored in UEFI NVRAM. Please read this article to get Windows key from Windows (ProduKey), or UEFI NVRAM (RWEverything, get_win8key) if needed.
I would use any Asus Factory Tool for create Factory/Recovery media if exists. If not you can use Windows Recovery ([ source]) to create recovery media.

According your disk layout (order as shows a screenshot) I believe that:
1.partition - EFI partition - EFI boot partition that stores UEFI boot manager and required files
2.partition - WinRE partition - Windows Recovery Environment boot partition that stores winre.wim
3.partition - Asus Recovery partition - Asus OEM partition that stores a image of Windows 8 with apps and required boot files and factory tools
These 3 partition are hidden in Windows.
4.partition - User data partition
5.partition - Windows 8 partition
6.partition (in any position) is MSR partition that virtual disk manager doesn't show (diskpart does) is Microsoft System Reserved with size of 128 MB is mandatory for GPT boot disk (UEFI system) and system will create it automatically after gpt converting.
So, you need MSR, EFI, Asus Recovery partition + Windows 8 partition in any case, WinRE is optional (maybe Asus Recovery system will be require for that or will be create the same disk structure during Asus Recovery process)
I have no Asus machine, so I don't know how Asus Recovery system is working...

 

Just got done running 3DMark 11 on the video review model we're working on. CPU temps 82-84C and GPU just 79C. It was also very quiet during this benchmark, probably the quietest I've heard during benchmark. Score was 4594.

 

Not Great but quite aceptable

 

Agreed, especially considering the vent design.

 

Might want to submit a price match request, it dropped by 50 bucks
Im ordering as we speak! So stoked

 

Thanks for the heads up on the price drop. Got with someone on live chat and she had me set up with a refund of $50 in maybe five minutes. Looks like you have seven days from the date of delivery for price match.

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Awesome!

I was holding off getting this unit due to no discount from mfg pricing but 50 bucks is pretty nice. Seeing as the jv is only 100 or so dollars less I dont see much more of a discount in the future

 

What are temperatures and clockspeeds of CPU&GPU like if you run Prime95 on all cores + FurMark simultanelously?

 

Thanks for this, I noticed the price drop too and was able to get a chat rep to refund me back the difference! Score!

 

Got my N550JK and opened it up.. Fully updated Windows.

First thing I notice is the the fan(s) runs at a low hum.. It's noticeable but not loud (is this normal?).

 

I don't have the laptop yet but I would assume so. With a 47W processor it's unlikely that it can run fanless even on idle.

 

Can someone tell me the exact RAM chip in this? I want to order a second 8gb stick to match it identically (I don't like mix-matching ram sticks).

Thanks!

 

Is anyone having an issue with your Intel graphics drivers crashing? It's happening a lot with YouTube and I can't find an update.

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RAM sticks used can vary. Since you are going to need to open it up anyway to install the new RAM you might as well open it up now and check the one in there. It's pretty easy to open. You will need the right size star bit which is T5.

 

Thanks i'll do that!

 

So i've got a problem. . I did a fresh Win8,1 installation and got all th drivers up to date.. but it seems like my 850m isn't being kicked on for gaming.. Everything is choppy. . It does seem like games are using the 850m though. .At first I thought maybe my games were using the Intel IGP but they aren't.. It's indeed using the 850m but everything runs at like 5 fps.

:/

 

I didn't have an issue after my fresh install using the latest Nvidia beta drivers. What drivers are you running?

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Tried both Asus provided Nvidia drivers and the newest Beta provided by Nvidia. Both act the same way. . The only variance is that I used drivers from Intel's site for the Intel 4600.. maybe I should try the ones Asus provides.

 

BTW, headphone jack is amazing.. Sounds like a high quality external dac is already inside this thing.. Best sound i've heard from a headphone jack. .After playing with Maxxaudio. .amazing sound quality. .very punchy without any power loss/fade. (I know it's got a built in amp and it shows!). I thought it was going to be gimmicky but it sounds great.

 

I have the Intel drivers from Asus and my Nvidia card works fine, but I'm having weird crashes and recoveries of the Intel drivers. Pick your poison maybe?

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Are you on the OEM Asus Windows build or did you do a fresh install?

 

Fresh install.

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No dice.. tried Asus' provided Intel driver etc.etc... same issue. I never did test my graphics on stock build but I still have the original 1tb HDD that I can reinstall and then test the graphics to see if it works properly :/ Hope my GPU isn't broken.

 

Got it working, reinstalled Windows.. You need to install Intel graphics driver first before you install Nvidia I remember this being an issue on a previous laptop.. Duh.

Heaven benchmark results are in (all stock settings, nothing changed, at native 1080p):

FPS: 33.8
Score: 852
Min FPS: 7.7
Max FPS: 64.8

Someone else please test to compare against mine?

 

So audio over HDMI doesn't work.. does anybody elses? Apparently this was also a big issue on the N550JV as well. . Couldn't find a thread where anybody was able to correct.

 

I tried mine and you are right--video is fine but audio doesn't transfer. Not a big deal for me as we use Chromecast if I want to send something to the tv, but I could see this being a deal-breaker for some.

 

Being I bought this primary to use as a HTPC. . lol.. I've read that the problem is the Intel video drivers.. some people went to older version and it worked fine again.. I'll try that :/

 

Overclocked the turbo boost to max +135 mhz (drivers seem to be locked) and ran 3dmark11:

P4931
4850 for Graphics Score

Now overclocked the memory to +199 mhz and getting better results:

P5180
5098 for Graphics score

At this level of performance, we're able to achieve DESKTOP GTX 750 performance! This is incredible guys! And not to mention faster than a stock 860m now!

 

I just noticed that the laptop throttles the cpu on battery, it brings it down to 800mhz (x8 multiplier). This is on battery only (crossing fingers, hope it doesn't do it on AC a few months down the line if CPU temps go up due to old thermal paste).

I changed the Windows power management options to always use the 100% of the cpu, even on battery, to no avail. And there's no option in the BIOS to disable it. So yeah, there's that...

 

What method are you using to overclock? I haven't tried it in years.

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What can I use to monitor CPU under load so I can test?


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Nvidia inspector is allowing me over clock the turbo and memory but I can't force a pstate so far.


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I'm using CPU-Z and realtemp.

 

It works for me, try different realtek drivers. The only time it didn't work was for a short period when I had uninstalled the audio drivers and just had the generic Windows ones.

 

The price went up on Amazon, but if you talk to them you can get yesterdays price!

 

Okay i'm using Prime95 to load 8 threads and Furmark to load up the GPU.

GPU is getting barely throttled, like 10mhz at most...

CPU is more erratic.. Seeing it dip to 2.7ghz to 2.9ghz.. It's jumping between these numbers but hasn't dropped lower than 2.7ghz so far.. That's pretty impressive honestly, i'm not seeing the CPU or GPU starving for wattage right now.. GPU is running at 88C though, getting toasty but it's not complaining about it.

Edit: When I stop all GPU load.. The CPU is holding 3ghz consistently now.. occasionally drops to 2.9ghz. I thought this CPU was able to do 3.2ghz for 4 100% loaded cores but I could be wrong. 3ghz isn't bad though.

 

I'm using the Realtek audio drivers provided on Asus' website for the N550JK.. :/ And I prefer them because they bundle the MaxxAudio app with them and there's no way to get it seperately.

 

If you find a resolution can you post it? thanks!

 

I will.. I can tell you that if you use the displayport.. audio works coming from that but it sounds kind of odd (way lower than it should be).

 

I was ready to pull the trigger on this laptop after learning that the Y50's 1080p screen was TN instead of IPS but now I learn about this audio over HDMI issue. Hm.

 

Have you tried that on battery? Mine only throttles down to 800mhz while on battery, never plugged in (ok, 100mhz at most). No furmark or prime95, "just" heavy rendering on Cinema4D.

However, I'd like to test it in the middle of summer, see what happens when temp goes higher than 80º.

Also, about the realtek drivers: get the latest release (2.73 I think?) from realtek directly, they DO bundle maxxaudio!

 

What software are you using to report your CPU speed? Some monitoring software is very erratic reporting the CPU speed when the CPU starts to throttle. You will probably find that ThrottleStop is a lot less erratic.

These CPUs have a 47W TDP limit. When running Prime95 27.9, the CPU is forced to throttle by Intel so it does not exceed the long term 47W TDP limit. It is possible that Asus left the power limit register unlocked so you might be able to increase the turbo TDP limit a little but most laptop manufacturers lock this register in the bios. Your Prime95 CPU speeds sound about right for a 47W Quad Core Haswell mobile CPU.

CPU and GPU throttling while running on battery power is common. A Quad Core CPU combined with a high performance Nvidia GPU can use more power than any battery can provide, especially if you are trying to max both the CPU and GPU out at the same time with Prime95 and Furmark. Most laptops in this category need to be plugged in so they can run at their full rated speed.

I do not recommend it but if you are running your CPU lightly loaded on battery power, you might be able to overcome the 800 MHz limitation by using ThrottleStop. Is this a safe thing to do? Probably not. If you decide to try this, it is at your own risk. Drawing too much power out of a battery too quickly can cause permanent damage to your battery or your laptop.

 

I am a bit disappointed about y50 not having the IPS, although cant say im surprised. I still havent decided whether I should go with this one or y50. I really like how asus is build and IPS display, but those speakers that you are talking about are kind of a dealbreaker for me. Plus a weaker GPU. Why does it have to be so hard

 

This audio issue over HDMI is for everyone ??

 

It's pretty good result as long as CPU frequency is above nominal 2.4ghz.

 

I am NOT having the audio over hdmi issue, just install/update your realtek drivers!

@unclewebb many thanks for all the info!

I'm still very curious about how it will perform plugged in on the summer, hope it doesn't throttle. I almost never have it running on battery only.

 

I'll try Throttlestop (haven't played with that in years).. You might be right, there could be some room in TDP to get this to hold more speed under load. Although I care not much about battery performance as I dont think anybody should be doing anything intensive on battery on a 47watter with medium-to-large sized GPU but that could just be me.. If I want longevity, I take my ultrabook

 

Is the missing keystroke problem a general one? (i already saw 2 users complaining in this forum)

Can you guys confirm that?

I´m just waiting for local store stock here in PT to buy one of this new ASUS, but i intend to programme on it, so missing keystrokes will be a deal breaker for me.

 

Still have not noticed missed keystrokes here.

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