~Asus G73JH-X1 Official Owner's and Technical Upgrade Enthusiast's Thread~

I already swapped mine. I just used the existing caddy with the SSD and put the HDD in a box and will worry about it when the SSD starts getting full.

Has anyone posted a how-to on swapping the optical drive? I had no issue figuring it out as I went along with the harddrive swap, but this didn't work with the optical drive. About 10 screws into the job I realized I better just put the laptop back together and seek out more info before I end up RMAing this thing. Do you have to get the entire back cover piece off?

 

Not the G73JH, but maybe this link will help:
Blu-Ray Upgrade

 

You don't need a guide for the blu ray swap. There is one screw holding the dvd drive in place. Unscrew that (may be under the cover where the HDD's are if i recall) and the drive slides right out. You may need to push it a bit with a small screwdriver.

The bezel is easy as long as you're careful. There are 3 universal plastic snaps on most newer Blu ray and Dvd drives. One on each end, and the one just off center. Be careful and you are fine.

 

Thanks. I am getting stuck at the first step... finding the two screws to get the optical drive out.

EDIT: thanks Evensen. I think I took that screw out (I took alot of screws out , I'll try using some pressure this time. I'm just glad I gave up before I took the entire bottom plastic plate off.

 

Two screws to remove the bottom cover and then 1 screw under that cover. You should be able to pop it out with your fingers.

 

that i don't know. and i was under the impression your cpu has pins and not pads. have no real clue why it does it...something about to much pressure on the cpu from the heat sink being to tight. (they usually have lock screws for this though.)

this just happen to me again a few hours ago. (when i switched my 975 for my 920) it's not like there are 50 ways to put a cpu in the socket, right? but it was what i was told. just passing it along as something to look out for...

and i told him to check this as a last result after trying everything else first.

 

So has anyone tried using any modded drivers for the gpu yet?

 

Interesting info. I don't think the average user here would attempt it.

 

me either. and you didn't experience it when you changed yours...

so we have a perfect test setup to go ahead and rule this out...and that would be having him present while they start testing his machine. (if they let him sit there, that is)

 

None work yet. If you read the main g73 thread, there will be no need for modded drivers in about 1 month.

 

1month? jeez!

 

Well, officially. But for us, we will have a leaked beta of the 10.3 much sooner than that!

 

Good idea. That will also verify that you have an upgradable CMOS. Every once in a while I've found mobos that for some reason or another can't take a bios upgrade. You don't want to find that out after the warranty expires.

 

is this a phoenix bios? ill look into getting a Phoenixbios editor or something.

 

Ami, Iirc.......

 

crap... ill see what i can dig up... it really pi$$es me off they throw in a hidden menu to unlock with the 920xm

 

Why? Isn't that a good thing?

 

yeah, i was going to say the same thing....

if you spend 1k for the cpu, you should get all the goodies..
spending 250 for the cpu...you should be limited. those able to over clock lower end cpus are because of people finding hacks and work arounds

and technically speaking...it should have been that way for all extreme cpus.

 

That is the one thing I really loved about the R1.

I got my P8600 to run like a champ by oc'ing that baby

 

yes, a very nice feature indeed.

 

Maybe i am spoiled with my MSI... but overclocking has always been available to me on the lower end cpus... dont see why they had to limit it to just the 920xm? we know the options are there at least so that is a start, it could just be a simple bios tweak away for the rest of us...

 

the options are in every single laptop made...but getting to them is another story...

 

can someone post the cpuid info on this laptop? i need all motherboard information etc! as well as boot up info stating AMIbios version/revision etc. I have some very skilled friends that may help out for a cost. ill take a hit on the fees and pay outta my pocket... if it ends up being an overclocker like my MSI lappies, ima bite the bullet on this big guy

 

Can anyone tell me the best way to upgrade to an SSD drive? Is there a DriveImage like program that I can use to image the 500GB's partitions (really just the recovery and C:/ partitions) to the SSD drive without doing a fresh install?

If doing a fresh install are you guys just trashing the recovery partition? Like to hear what guys are doing when they upgrade to the SSD drive?

Thanks

 

Someone please help him out. I would love to see some oc option on the 720 lol

I'd give you the info but don't have my machine...

 

or better yet go into your setup and look up the bios info

 

nevermind guys, sorry to get hopes up! lol... for now the overclocking is null.

 

I used Acronis Disk Imager, but then did a fresh install seeing how my computer was only a week old.

 

You're getting an X1 right? I'm going to do this from memory:

1) Remove the Seagate from bay 1 and leave out for now.
2) (Understand how your SSD will hook up in Bay 1) Put a few small pieces of 3M non residue double sided tape on the SSD opposite end of the SATA connections. Put your SSD into bay 1 holding your taped side up a little while firmly pushing into the sata connection, then firmly push down on the other end so the tape holds. This is a rock solid hold on my machine.
3) Insert and boot from your Asus recovery DVD and select "Install Windows to entire C Drive" (or something like that). Windows will install to the SSD.
4) When you get a popup looking for the driver disc, just reboot. Windows will finish installing and then you can put in your driver disc and select what drivers and applications you want to install.
5) Now you have a fresh W7 install on a SSD and only the bloatware and drivers you selected. Shut your PC down.
6) You will have to reverse the Seagate drive in it's cage so it will fit into Bay 2.

Here is where you will have to use your own solution to get rid of the Windows 7 install that still resides on your Seagates C: drive. I simply used my bootable Vista DVD going through the process of installing a copy, but stopping short and using the menu to format the Seagates C: drive before anything had an opportunity to boot from it. (You can find a Vista Recovery ISO on the internet that will do the same thing).

After I did that: I had:

1) Fresh W7 on SSD with selected bloat.
2) Seagate with a 19.5GB partition (Asus recovery partition), 116GB partition (former C:, now E: for some games) and a 300+GB partition for data, etc.

I am leaving the Asus partition alone for now in case I have to put all this back to original form for warranty work. Any questions, feel free to hit me up.

Q

 

Will the double side tape work on a regular 7200rpm HD? I'm assuming no becuase it'll get too hot. I'm still the process of getting the second HD on without buying a caddy since there's really none to buy atm. Anyone that found one that works let me know.

 

I wouldn't recommend it, no so much heat, but weight, surface area and poss moving parts. On the intel SSD, there is a black plastic ring screwed onto the top and it goes top down in the G73. I only put the transparent gel like tape on that, so I don't have any tape touching the SSD and it has a gap for heat to escape off the top of SSD.

Q

 

no it wont and its not adventagious to do so as a regular HDD isnt shock resistant like a SSD in which case he is telling him to use the double sided tape for.

 

The ssd is feather light too so I can see the tape holding up just fine until Asus starts selling the cages.

What I'd like to see is pictures of where and how much tape was applied.

 

I'll take some pics when I get home and upload in a couple hours. I have no intention on buying a cage, for me it's secure and breathable.

Edit: The tape is "3M VHB" and you can find it at walmart, target, lowes, etc. What I am going to do sometime is fabricate a small metal band, with 90deg bends to conform properly and screw down over the SSD and it will be as secure as possible. The tape does a good job, but some of it sticks to that film like sheet which doesn't harm anything imo, but the fabricated strap will be the end all to it. The sata port locks in that whole side of the SSD, you just want to secure the other side so you aren't tweaking that connector.





Q

 

Excellent! Thanks but a few questions:

1) I'm assuming that popup asking for drivers comes up near the end of the installation?

2) Any particular weird apps/drivers issus that you encountered while using apps/driver DVD? For instance was there anything you thought was bloatware and found you needed to install it to say get the lighted keyboard to work? Stuff like that.
I will go to the Asus site and make sure I have the most updated drivers.

3) Yes that's not problem using a Visa boot CD to clear the active partition on the Seagate. I"m familiar with doing that. Did you leave the SSD drive hooked up when you did that? Just curious if when you used the boot CD if it was obvioius which partition you were deleting? It should be just by size.

I though the recovery DVD had to be able to "see" that recovery partition to do the recovery but since you did this with the seagate drive out then I guess not? Sweet! What the heck is the recovery partition used for anyway?

 

Hello... Just read 35 pages.. joined came back.. now its up to 40... ill just ask my ?.... I purchaes the x1 and another 500 gig hd.. so i need to know if anyone has figured out the hd caddy issue yet.... Thx

 

Wating for your pics... My intel ssd is comming tomorrow and I'm still trying to figure out how to put it in and keep it tight in my G73... One more thing, just heard you guys mention about the Ausus Recovery Partition, I was wondering why I don't have it on my G73.. there only 2 partitions available in My Computer. One is OS(C), the other is DATA(D)..

 

not really.. just leave it alone for now and wait for the release..

 

anyone get a raid array setup using intel storage manager?

 

1) Yes

2) http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=380681 I didn't put back on about 8-10 apps. Load the ATK stuff.

3) I did leave the SSD in. I am very comfortable with how that Vista DVD works. Yes, by size.

The recovery partition puts the OS and bloatware back to the way it was when you got it (i.e. W7 and all on Driver disc). I'll keep it there until the warranty is up, then I will reclaim almost 20GB of space.

Q

 

It's hidden for windows use, but you can see it in "Disk Management" as the first partition of 19.53GBs.

Pics are up.

Q

 

Excellent! Getting my X1 tomorrow. Pray it's ok. Getting my SSD probably Monday.

 

So the TwinTurbo Mode actually lowers performance. I wonder if Asus is good about fixing these kinds of issues.

 

How do we launch Express Gate? Is it on the HDD hidden partition? Thanks

Also nobody mentioned the LCD Panel can't be reclined past a certain point due to the vents in the rear. My x200 goes to 180 degrees. I am somewhat unhappy with the performance. Seems slow. Touchpad seems a little to sticky. I am imaging and reformatting hopefully will see a difference. SSD next. BTW I bought from Newegg Rush Order from NJ to LI, NY 2/15 ordered and received 2/17. Kingston ValueRam 1333mhz in my g73.

 

Does TwinTurbo mode really lower performance ?!?..:S

 

how do i update the graphics drivers?? some of my games stutter :|

 

Nothing else is currently supported. Check your temps.

 

id love to check my temps if the amd tool worked properly :|

 

It's not reading temps at all? Try hwinfo32.

 

say drake..you have any input as to how the bot should list the laptops...they are working on this idea now.

manufacturer = dell
product group = inspiron
product model = inspiron 17

manufacturer = asus
product group = G70 series
product model = G70S

--- cpu information i7-920xm
--- gpu information 5870M 700/1000 single or dual gpu
--- memory 1333/ hyperx / 7-7-7-18
--- notebook manufactureru AW
--- notebook product(group?)