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

Not only that, but the GTX 850m curb stomps the GT 750m. With about the same power draw. Also the IPS panel on the asus is a much better display. The quality of the laptop is also much much sturdier. I have played with both, the n550Jk is the much better one.

 

So I bought n550jk and it looks nice. It's kinda slow , installing drivers at the moment. I believe its because of HDD.

I have a major issue - backlight bleeding in 2 corners. One is not significant, but the other one is really big. I can see it when dark colors are present on the screen. Especially black. I will probably get it to warranty to fix that...

edit: I might have overreacted about it. I don't notice it, only when I turn off lights in room and screen is dark.

Overall, I really like this laptop. It looks nice, I want to touch it all the time Touchpad is something you have to get used to - but I'm getting better with it. Trying not to use click buttons - 2 finger click for rmb, double tap for drag and hold and etc..). Sound is really stunning - don't know why people complain about it. I use Audio wizard to change presets because for example music preset is not really good for skype talk - its hard to understand what people are saying.

I was astonished by it when I turned on GTA4 - used FHD resolution and high details. No lag at all, no heat at all. Fans spin as they always do. Power supply isn't heating also . The size of power supply is not the best thing, but I can live with that.

Keyboard is amazing, instantly got used to it.

The only thing for now that irritates me is that backlight bleeding in the corners, fan and HDD sound and a slightly lifted touchpad buttons where a little space can be seen - I think it will acumulate dust or smth.

I can only recommend this laptop. Of course, I have been using my 8 year old Dell Vostro 1000, but I have seen many budget laptops and they don't leave such a good impression like this one. I just hope that it will last for me for a long time without any problems. I'm glad I picked it over Dell 7537.

 

Excellent, Also there are couples of bios and drivers update release, especially don't forget to update Audio drivers from ASUS website.
And you can also control speed of fans in this laptop using "NoteBook Fan Control" Software and using N550JV config.

 

I am scared to update BIOS drivers - that may brick my device. For now I am happy with sound, happy with heat control. Will look for updates only if something will bother me. Do you also have backlight bleeding on your laptop?

 

I have it on the lower corners of the laptop.

 

imo backlight bleeding on different corners on different laptops indicates that it is not a design flaw - it is lack of carefulness when assembling laptop and lack of quality checking.

I decided to return my laptop for replacement. Couldn't stand that backlight bleed. I hope the new one won't have this problem. and any problems.

 

They all have some kind of backlight bleed.

 

yeah, but mine has like a lot. at least I think so. both top corners. One has only local light bleed - it is intensive, can be seen even with gray, dark blue colors. And the other one is not so intensive, but it spreads in large area. I thought I could live with it, but I started watching a movie in complete darkness and it is really unacceptable for me. And it seems that pushing the panel a little bit can decrease or increase that bleeding, so I guess it is problems with assembly.

 

Ohh okay mine us nowhere near that bad.

 

Well guys, It's not an apple neither a 2k$ machine, so all laptops around this budget will light bleed at some angle to some extent....

 

If you ask me, dropping 1k on a machine should get me a near perfectly constructed machine with no major flaws.....

 

well, you can not expect IPS screen on anything under 1k, so you could say that this machine has one of the lowest price for it's specifics. And as backlight bleed is common with IPS panels (don't know why), it is really expectable.

I brought it to a shop (14 days purchase protection has not passed yet). So the seller told that he imagined there would be a bigger bleed. But I still demanded to get it inspected, so he sent laptop to service for approval of defect. Also told that I probably won't get replacement, but something will be done about the panel. I saw that when you press or twist a panel the backlight bleeding gets worse or better, so I believe tightening or loosening some screws might be a solution (if it is fixed with screws).

I found a video of zenbook screen disassembly and found information , that zenbook and n550 screens have similar assembly:
https://www.ifixit.com/Teardown/Asus+Zenbook+UX32VD+Teardown/10120

It seems that it is fixed with some kind of glue and you need heat gun to take off a frame.. I wonder, what is the source of the light bleed on IPS panels?

 

Uhh dude, many laptops have nice ips panels under 1k.....

 

really? well, not in Europe. I don't now why, but most laptops have crappy TN HD screens and everyone is happy about it. Also, I paid like 1.25k for this Asus. Laptop prices in Europe are bigger than US thats why people who come back from US always carry a laptop, iphone, Ipad and a camera - to sell it there

 

Oh that sucks. I walk into best buy and most laptops over $800 have a good ips panel. Many still do under $800.

 

And here is how my screen looked like in dark room and full brightness. The left corner with uneven brightness in unnoticable in bright room and bright images, however, bleed on the top right corner bleed is always visible and with all colors except white of course. I hope to get it fixed soon

 

Right corner is OK, absolutely common with IPS panels. Left corner is really worse, you should get the new one. But, be prepared, that the new one will have some bleeding too. It's simply common.

 

Be aware if you send this laptop in to Asus for a screen replacement they'll replace it with a cheaper, older LG IPS panel with horrid yellow tinting. I had it replaced two times through Asus and both times it exhibited a very strong yellow cast. Colors were horribly off and as a result I couldn't use it for design which is what I originally bought it for, so I had no other choice but to sell it.

That light bleed is especially bad though. I'd see if you could replace the unit.

 

I didn't send it to Asus directly. I sent it to warranty service - if they approve it is defected, I get a new one. If not - they do something about it. If they install a worse screen - I will cut their heads off. I loved the screen, but that bleeding was too much. I hope everything goes okay, now I'm very scared. I was choosing the laptop for few years and as a student it is really hard to save up money for such thing ..

 

I know it's been a while since you posted this, but I just got the N550JK today and also noticed that faint clicking noise that doesn't seem to be totally in sync with the hard drive being accessed. When you got your 2nd N550 after returning, did it also have the clicking noise?

Thanks

 

Its the cpu/gpu. If it only happens when there is load then its either one.

 

It happens when the laptop is on, but idle like just sitting at the desktop. No heavy load. Would you say that this is normal then or should I exchange it just to be safe?

 

Is it while charging? Because mine does it while charging too. Even when its idle.

 

It happens whether it's plugged in or not. If everyone is experiencing this, then no big deal. If it's just a smaller group of us, then I'm probably going to exchange.

 

Idk I get it randomly. But when Im playing games its there consistently in intervals. Exchange it just incase if you have the chance.

 

Yea, better safe than sorry. I'll exchange it for a new N550 because it seems like a great build otherwise.

Thanks for the quick replies!

 

Yeah. I regret not sending mine in because of the screen flicker issue. The lcd ribbon is ed up.

 

Some people claim to have had success correcting their screen flicker issue by disconnecting and then firmly reconnecting the cable that connects the display to the motherboard. Not sure if you've tried that yet, and sorry if that was already suggested.

 

Clicking noise - maybe disk head parking?

 

No far from it.

 

Since 2 days my HDMI port stopped working. Had an external display attached to it at home. Also tested it with a TV, unfortunately with no result. Do you guys have any idea how to fix this? I installed the Intel GPU driver again, but that did not help. The mini-DP works fine, but is limited to 1650x1050 via adapter :-(

 

Have you tried a different HDMI cable?

 

I tried 3 HDMI cables. None of them worked and I don´t even get the windows sound I used to hear while plugging / unplugging the cable. Guess it is really broken

 

Can you check your device manager under display adapters?

 

Hi guys. I got my N550JK a few days ago, and it's great, but there's a slight problem with the touchpad. Every now and then, for a few seconds, clicking won't do anything. It's most obvious, and most frequent, while I'm playing a game (happened in more than one) - I can move the mouse around fine, but nothing happens on either right or left click. I've ordered a mouse to hopefully get around it, but does anyone have idea what's causing it and how to fix it?

 

Hi, i recently purchased this laptop on NCIX for less than a month and today i saw this tiny black dot on my screen, i wonder if its possible that it might be a dead pixel and what can i do about it? At first i thought it was only dust but after trying to wipe it it wouldnt go away.
I've try to run flexcode to fix my screen but after 10-15min the dot is still there. Will the 30 bright dot warranty cover it? Or should i try and get an exchange from ncix?
I really want to get it fix because it is bothering me.
Any help will be appreciated, thanks

 

I have a lightbleed problem and tried to RMA it - I needed approval of defect first and after 2 weeks at service, they didn't do anything to it and said that 'it is in acceptable condition to serve by its purpose' or smth like that. I don't know what to do now.. The shop told me that they will try contacting service again. I also email'ed asus with my problem so they would be informed about their "Sertified service"...

I hope you get yours replaced for that dead pixel.

 

How long did you have your laptop? Is the lightbleed serious? Mind keeping me in the loop if Asus do accept to repair the screen for you?
I also noticed that the screen has few lightbleed on the top and on the right of the screen but the problem is really little, i just hope that ncix can exchange another one because asus zero bright dot wont cover the 1 dead pixel i have ("the monitor is still functional")

 

well,are you sure there is only 1 pixel? it should be barely visible if it is only 1.

I also noticed a strange thing - electrified screen back. It only happnens when I plug charger. It gives strange feeling when I move my finger while touching it. I thought it is a pattern of aluminum but it disappears when I plug charger off. It happens even if laptop is turned off. I guess it is a grounding problem. I will check with sockets in a library when I can. Do you also experience this?

edit: in library there is no static charge on screen, so I guess it is a grounding problem at my renting room.

 

My laptop screen has suddenly stopped working. Although the laptop is working as I can use it when connecting it through HDMI, also the touch is working. What could be the problem? What should I do?

 

first of all, try to close and open laptop a few times. It might be bad contact or smth.
Secondly, try fn+f8 combination and choose duplicate option.

if there is something wrong with connection between screen and motherboard, I guess you will have to warranty it.

 

Even though the dead pixel might be barely visible but its annoying to my eyes, they just seem to always wander to it.
And what do you mean by that? Do you mean you have an issue with the pad itself? My pad is sometime jumping, like it will sometime moved me to the windows start menu or the search menu out of nowhere..
As for my n550 it doesnt have a problem with the plug. At first it was quite hard to plug in but i think i just got use to the feel of it..

 

That didnt help but thanks man. I guess I will have to send it in.

 

[delete please]

 

Has anyone ever tried to replace the headphone jack? Do you have any recommendations as to which part I should get to replace it with if ever?

Thanks guys!

 

I upload some more pictures of my lightbleed. Is yours anything near that?

 

That is extremely horrible light bleed. Mine is nowhere near that.

 

okay, then I will either get replacement or get them to the court

 

Based on reviews from Amazon screens going black permanently or working intermittently is a very common problem w/this laptop and appears to generally occur because of a simple design flaw - opening and closing the screen pulls on the wire connecting the monitor to the board and it can become loose or disconnected as a result. I had one that the screen went out on after 2 hours and returned it. But someone (Charleston) posted these very helpful replies after I posted a bad review:

"I fixed the solution you will need a torx 5 screwdriver.

Pulled the screen cable off the motherboard and reattached it as firmly as I could and have not had the problem since. Because the connection is so small I really can't comment as to whether it was loose or not to begin with.

I did this because I can cause the screen to go black by loading up a massively white screen and then moving the screen back and forth. So a cabling issue sounds logical.

The process is very easy and will not void your warranty (you can replace the HDD without voiding the warranty) so no dramas there.

Just a point - the wifi chip also connects to an antenna or something within the screen - this chip has a black and a white cable running from it into the screen - the chip also has a sticker saying something such as "Intel Wireless Adapter". Obviously these are not the connections you are after.

The screen cabling is located on the other side of the screen and is bundled inside a mesh liner with a ziff connector. This connector pulls up and clicks down. It does not mover left to right or backwards and forwards - it moves perpendicular to the motherboard.

The connector has a piece of black sticky tape wrapped around it specifically for the purposes of disconnecting and reconnecting - just pull this tape away from the motherboard. My only warning is if you don't have a star (torx) screwdriver be sure to buy one, mobile repair stores or $2 shops usually stock them. Some people would say you can use a flat head to open a torx screw - but I would not risk burring the heads on your $1000+ laptop."

If anybody needs pictures then I am happy to upload. Again this process takes less time than a pit stop so if it gets complicated you are doing it wrong."

& more...:

"It isnt the screen from what i seen, Asus just doesn't know how to fix it and they are probably replacing the wrong part, Ive been researching like no tomorrow to fix this problem and half a month has past, no problems what so ever upon implementing this fix i shown. Before my screen would go black if i would move it past 90 degrees upon powering it on, show white lines, or just dim out to a gray color. Its not even that hard to do the process i speak of. will take no more than 10 minutes if your tech savvy.

From what i seen it took me more than just 1 try by reattaching the cable, and i had to hold the cable down when i opened up the laptop so it wouldn't pull on the wire thats connecting to the motherboard, then i retched it and it worked so far from there.

The screen pulls on the cable a little when you open your screen from what i seen, youll know what i mean when you have a look in your laptop."

 

Can you upload some pics, please?