Asus N550JV - user review and owners lounge

Sounds like the ribbon to me...you can give it a try...can't hurt.

Question for you guys...how much do you think I would benefit from a RAM upgrade to some corsair vengeance 2x 8 gb kit from the current 8gb standard

I'm not running anything especially ram hungry like virtual machines or the like. Just everyday gaming and usual stuff and a torrent client

 

Load up your computer with what you normally use under heavy use. Go to task manager and see how much memory your using.

I think you would be better off getting a nice ssd, hd caddy, and the intel ac wifi like I am doing.

 

Already getting all of those...the ram would have been an added bonus
I'm not asking about the quantity 8gb is enough...i'm only buyin 16 because the price does not justify buying only 8....i'm talking about the quality...corsair vengeance is supposed to be really good ram with better timings etc.
But in the end will i see an actual improvement because of this "premium" ram?

 

I dont think you'll see much if any performance difference by just changing RAM brands. If its the same speed (1600Mhz) its going to seem the same for your daily use.

 

I doubt you'll see any benefits. You are still stuck at 1600Mhz.

I had no ghost input on my unit, and i can't really imagine how a faulty cable connection can create false input, unless we're talking about double trigger when key is pressed (press once, trigger twice).

 

Thank you very much guys for the quick reply's

 

These keys aren't pressed, I don't even press any other key of the notebook keyboard because I'm using a wireless keyboard/mouse combo from Logitech. Regardless of whether the connector is plugged in or not, these inputs appear. I mostly notice it when I'm browsing the web and the previous page is loaded or if I'm looking at my code writing nothing but either new lines are inserted or characters are deleted.
I will try a Linux Live image and see if that appears, it still may be some driver or software(Logitech SetPoint) issue.

 

I just bought this laptop about a week and a half ago and after some issues with Windows update not connecting, I've finally gotten all of the Win8 updates and drivers installed. (Had to do a system scan to fix errors that were already existing on my brand new system). The laptop has been running great and I've had no issues since updating everything. My question is; Should I update the laptop to Windows 8.1? I've read that a bunch of people are having issues installing, and even after installing problems are still prevalent. What's the general consensus on updating to 8.1? Thanks!

 

The only thing I have ever seen ram speed really impact is if you have an on board graphics like an APU. The GPU likes fast memory and you can get a pretty solid improvement on games. I don't know what the cost benefit is. However this is moot for us as we have a dedicated GPU with its own fast memory.

I am always confused when I see gaming rigs build with high end memory. They pay $100+ more for fast memory that gives them 1-2fps out of 60fps improvement when they could put that $100 towards a better gpu that would give them 10-30fps improvement.

8gb is enough for almost everyone. If you need more you need more. But I wouldn't worry about the speed of it. Ive seen benchmarks as long as your at 1333 your good.

 

No, my front edge was scuffed up and there was a gap big enough that you could easily shove a fingernail inside. I bought it from Prostar and none of the seals were broken which means it shipped this way from the distributor or Asus.

 

I have updated to windows 8.1 as soon as I received the laptop and loved it. I did a clean install a couple of weeks later and loved it even more.

 

I would have never noticed something like that

 

How is it working for you guys? Any issues with keeping CPU idle up, or anything like that (as mentioned in many other posts from different caddies)?

Just bought this laptop myself and want to get a caddy that fits well (already confirmed by wilkie366) and doesn't have any performance issues (unconfirmed for this Protronix, from my search of this thread).

Thanks!!

 

Hello, Today I have removed my Optical drive and inserted caddy with Samsung EVO 120 gb.

Now I am getting 5965 score in pcmark7


The only downside is, that my ODD have no "opening" to screw it in and also the bezel is about 2mm in the front of edge of notebook . , Well that goes for cheap caddy not builded for n550

 

You need to transfer the fixing piece from the dvd drive to the caddy... it should have two small screws holding it on to the dvd.... the caddy should have the same 2 holes

 

Wau, didn´t saw that until you mentioned it. Thanks a lot

 

Did you also transfer the faceplate from your dvd to the caddy? You can take off the standard faceplate from the caddy and attach the one from your DVD drive

 

Yes it's just held on with plastic clips.

 

Many people think the key color for the laptop is pretty weird (backlighting in light rooms and key contrast). The N56JR looks like it has the same exact keyboard except black. How feasible would it be to replace the stock keyboard on the N550JV with the same keyboard from the N56JR? Would that work?

Edit: Nevermind, the keyboard IS different. Anyone know the part number of the keyboard though?

Sent from my dlx using Tapatalk

 

I've a real question for the owners though. I'm ordering the N550JV from GenTech and I'm opting to have the primary HDD removed and having a secondary HDD installed on the ODD bay. I will install an SSD for the OS myself. The question is, if I do a fresh install of W8 will it pick up the key from the BIOS automatically or do I have no choice but to get a recovery disk from GenTech?

Thanks!

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W8 should recognize the key automatically...bear in mind though that you need a clean iso of W8 x64 NON PRO.


That being said, you're better off getting the laptop as it is and putting the caddy in yourself. After making a recovery usb stick(and using belarc advisor to find out your windows key) move the hdd to the caddy and put in your ssd.

You can then use an usb rack enclosure and make the dvd external.

This way you'll end up saving ALOT of money and also having an external DVD drive

Since you're already opening up the laptop to put in the ssd(that's the hardest part) you can easily put the caddy in yourself.

 

Yep, I'll know to install non pro. I actually tried different combinations and I couldn't find a way to make it cheaper. I really want a 7200 RPM HDD as I'll be rendering video and also running games off of it. That's what drives up the cost and makes it smarter financially to get it from GenTech.

The only way to save money would be if I used the 1TB 5400 RPM drive instead of going for a 7200. But there's quite a noticeable different between the two drives. I can post my configuration if there actually is a way for me to save money!

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The smart thing would be to use the ssd for games and rendering. You won't see much difference between a 7200 and 5400 rpm... max 10-15%
Best way would be to use the 5400rpm in the caddy and use the remaining money to buy a bigger SSD.
The 840 Evo has gotten quite cheap

Another option would be to turn the 5400 rpm into an external hdd with a 10$ Usb rack(everyone needs an external hdd )
That's what I would do...I like to scavenge every last bit )

P.S. If you need the iso there was one user who made a guide to doing a fresh install and he has a link to a clean non pro ISO. I have it bookmarked in my laptop ...if you don't manage to find it I'll give it to you tomorrow since I'm posting from my phone now.

 

Jinx, thanks for the input. If I don't get the 7200 I'll save ~$28. If there really isn't a performance difference I guess I'll be happy. I don't want to use the SSD for games and rendering as that takes up A LOT of space. I'm also worried about the life of the SSD if I use it for rendering, games and a paging file (which I'll just move to the second HDD anyways). Also that reduction in price won't let me get a bigger SSD. Maybe a 256 gig Pro if I can find one for less than $200.

Also how bad will the performance of a Windows 7 VM suffer on a 5400 RPM drive?

P.S. I'll look for that link when I order the PC!

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The pro has a 5 year warranty...so I wouldn't worry about affecting it's life expectancy )

Your whole laptop will probably die before that one does.

I haven't seen any 840 pro under the 230$ mark... actually I have on microcenter open box deals if you don't mind that. The things are bulletproof anyway so you could buy one of those .

I can't answer you on the VM part ...sorry.

P.S. If you don't install games and do your work on the SSD what are you using it for?

 

It's been under $230 for a while... It's $199 on amazon right now and has been lower...

 

Hmmm...looks like I'm gonna have to eat my own words )
Thx for correcting me pob. I was only checking bestbuy/microcenter prices.

 

Hi, new here

I've owned my N550JV a couple of weeks now and overall I'm very pleased with it. I though have some minor issues.

1. The touch pad is rising a little above the metal palm rest at the lower middle part.
2. The touch pad i hard to press on the right side.
3. It makes a creaking sound when opening and closing the display lid.
4. The display hinge isn't center-placed - or at least the silver gray plastic covering the hinge.
5. The left side of the laptop closest to you lifts a little of the table when the display is open in a normal angle, resulting in a bump every time you place your hands on it - highly annoying, I think.
6. The bottom of the optical drive isn't on level with the rest of the bottom. One side is under the bottom and the other is above the bottom.

Does anyone of You recognize these issues?

Hope You understand

 

1. Imperfections from the manufacturing, the securing clip versus tiny button mechanisms, sometimes an overlooked improper assembly.
2. Possibly improper assembly.
3. Did it come from the plastic itself? Or any of the hinges?
4-6. Also seemed like imperfections from the manufacturing, or just a bad assembly.

Have you checked with your reseller? See if they can either exchange, or send it back to ASUS to correct these issues?

 

My touchpad is fine.

3. is it a single-time creaking sound? if so, it is triggering the wake on lid open
4. the same here
5. the same here, but with the right side, very minor though
6. the same here

 

HI guys, my laptop was working fine but since today every time i brush against the bottom rim of the laptop i get a small electric shock/tingle? I'm guessing this is because of the metal design but surely this can't be normal. Is anyone else having this problem ? Thanks

 

There could be an electrical leak internally, best to have it checked up by ASUS directly.

 

There's another possibility...i was getting electric shocks from my laptop until I found that the grounding wire inaide my power outlet had come loose.

Maybe it's the same for you. Once I fixed my power outlet everything was ok

 

hi guys, i really need help.

Randomly, out of nowhere, my laptop immediately shut off. I didn't think it was a big problem at the time, and I checked the battery and it was still half full.

Now fast forwards 3 hours later, it shut off again.

Everytime I press the on button, it shuts immediately off.
Like the power light turns on momentarily, but then turns off again right away.
I've only had this laptop since December, and this is the worst thing that could happen given that I was working on a huge project and all my graduate school applications.
Will all of my data be gone? Can i salvage it from the harddrive? And what further steps do I take?

Thanks again, I really wish I never bought this laptop given all the stuff I've had to deal with.

 

Step 1 buy a usb rack
Step 2 open the laptop up and put the hard drive in the usb rack
Step 3 Connect the HDD to another computer and check that the data on the hard drive is safe and sound
Step 4 Thank yours truly for the usefull advice )

As for the laptop..after removing the data you need fromt the hdd just put it back in the computer and send it in fir warranty

The end

 

thanks for the help! uh...so it is a hard drive problem then? because i did plan on buying a new SSD...my options at this point in time are to return this laptop (i still have the opportunity for some reason) and buy a MacBook or buy an SSD and put it in

EDIT: it actually turned back on, it had to self-repair or some stuff, but i worry that this could happen again.

 

You misunderstand...I haven't the vaguest idea what the problem is. What I told you was the easiest way to get your project data off your hdd before sending the laptop in for warranty.

 

dont have the laptop back from asus yet. and waiting on a sale on a 840 evo

 

Okay so I took the plunge and bought the N550JV-DB72T from GenTech PC with only a couple of changes: replace the ODD with an HDD caddy, ship me back the optical drive, and the Intel AC 7260. I don't use AC but it's the cheapest upgrade from the abysmal Atheros card. Came out to $1104. If I'd built it myself it probably would have been $10 or $20 cheaper.

I also bought a 256GB Samsung 840 Pro SSD. It was $179.99 and it was just $10 more than buying an Evo from Staples or Amazon. Plus I like the 5 year warranty.

Overall, I think I'm happy that I get to leave my Pentium T2060-based system and move to a quad core i7. Overall, my bank account has been decimated from the purchase.

I'm not sure of what software to get for W8 to replace my W7 choices, how to best optimize the OS for an SSD, or how to deal with a 64-bit system. I'll learn pretty fast though.

How is this for using SSDs on W8.1?

The SSD Optimization Guide Ultimate Windows 8 (And Win7) Edition | The SSD Review

 

Congrats on your new purchase, if you are going to optimize your SSD you can utilize the Samsung Magician software to do it for you.
Personally, I prefer maximum reliability, but you can compare the settings and find out what's the best for you.

 

Hey guys. I have N550JV with Intel DB Wireless-N 7260 adapter. I have been running W8.1 x64 with the latest updates. At the beginning I was using ethernet connection, but lately I am reliant on wifi all the time. Problem that bothers me badly - getting random drops/disconnects, windows telling me my wifi connection is limited. The restart of the connection helps of course, but i don't like disconnecting from online games randomly.
Googling tells me a lot of W8.1 users actually have that type of problems, but there is apparently no fix yet and microsoft remains silent.
I have now tried rolling back the intel driver from january14 to the one of september13, will see if that gives any help.

Can anyone of you N550JV owners tell me if he's having similiar issues and if maybe replacing a wifi adapter (even with the same model) would help. Thanks!

 

One more question, will do a new post about it since it's not related. I'm thinking of getting a SSD as an adition to a 5400rpm disk. The options are I put the ssd into the hddcaddy, or put the 5400rpm disk into it. Is SSD working better on a primary notebook hard drive slot? Which SSD edition (notebook or basic) should I be getting for putting my SSD into the caddy/primary slot. Would basic (cheaper, without anything other in the package than disk itself) be able to be installed into the primary HD slot?
Also, regarding caddies. Has anyone bought a cheap one from ebay (im from europe btw), or should I cash in 30€ for what apparently seems a legit hdd caddy ( http://hddcaddy.com/en/asus-hdd-caddy/415-asus-n550-n550jv-hdd-caddy.html)?

Thanks!

 

This same problem occurs on Dell inspiron 7000 series - same wireless adapter
As i read, you can partly solve this problem with proper driver (I don't remember which one). try another adapter

 

Yeah, Intel's driver from 19.09.2013 (version 16.5.3.6) has been working fine for the whole day. So I consider wifi problem solved now.

 

Hi, I have a serious problem with the touchpad.
Suddenly it lacks of sensitivity, and keeps flickering on the screen when used, even selecting things by itself.

I've tried to uninstall and install drivers again, and restore the machine from two recovering points, but nothing has changed.
I noticed that if I start the notebook without current it doesn't show this problem, while if I put the cable in it suddenly start stuggering; if I pull it out, it persists anyway.
Another problem I've noticed is that GeForce Experience doesn't open quickly, it takes minutes, even after I uninstalled and installed the drivers again.

How to solve this problem?

 

What if you simply remove the touchpad driver software? How will it behave?
Have you looked into the Mouse Properties in the Control Panel?

 

Yep....

I think, but I'm not sure, it was a problem related to the feeding system at which I was plugged into. It could be a faulty socket (it wasn't the first time). Now it works properly, and I'm plugged into a completely different socket.

Once solved this problem, I have another: Nvidia GeForce Experience takes now a lot of time to open, displays ""unable to connect to NVIDIA - try again later" and only than opens.

 

You can reload the Nvidia Driver using Custom installation method, and check the box to do a Clean Installation.
See if that helps.

 

Anyone know if its possible to buy an internal blu ray drive and install it my N550JV? I know you can take the bezel off the current drive but I don't know which drive to buy that would fit.

I was looking at these on Amazon:

Amazon.com : Panasonic UJ240 6x Blu-ray Burner BD-RE/8x DVD±RW DL SATA Drive (Black) : Computer Internal Blu Ray Drives : Computers & Accessories
or
Amazon.com : New Sony BD-5740H 5741H 6X 3D Blu-ray Burner Player BD-RE DL Bluray Writer 8X DVD RW Recorder 12.7mm Tray Loading Slim SATA Internal Optical Drive : Computer Internal Blu Ray Drives : Computers & Accessories

 

Needs to be 9.5 mm thick