ASUS M50SVB1 review w/ additional hardware benchmarks

Overview and Introduction:
This Review consists of the Asus M50SV-B1 which can be found at your local E-tailer. This model is the Multimedia version of the M50 series which can also pack in gaming on the go.

This review has already been done by previous members, so I would like to spice things up with the addition of the following components to review this notebook. Supertalent 4GB ram, Supertalent 4GB Readyboost, Supertalent 32GB SSD drive, Supertalent 60GB SSD rated at 120/70MB/s, Supertalent 120GB SSD rated at 120/40MB/s. I will compare the stock form with these added features and see what the possibilities are.

the 60gb and 120gb SSD are now up!!!!!

Mfr Part Number: M50SV-B1
• Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo Processor T8100 (2.1GHz, 3MB L2 Cache, FSB 800MHz)
• Chipset: Mobile Intel PM965 Express & ICH8M
• Memory: 3GB (1x 2GB + 1x 1GB) DDR2-667, Max Capacity 4GB
• Display: 15.4" WXGA+ (1440x900) Color Shine (Glare-type) LCD, w/ Asus Splendid Video Intelligent Technology
• Graphics Module: nVidia GeForce 9500M G Graphics Controller, w/ 512MB Video Memory
• Hard Disk: 250GB 5400rpm SATA Hard Drive
• Optical Storage: Blu-ray Disc Drive, w/ DVD Burning Feature
• Audio: Built-in Azalia Compliant Audio Chip, w/ 3D Effect & Full Duplex; Built-in Speaker and Microphone
• Connectivity: V.92 MDC Fax/Modem; 10/100/1000Base-T Gigabit Ethernet; Intel Wireless WiFi Link 4965AGN 802.11a/g/n Wireless LAN; Built-in Bluetooth V2.0+EDR
• Interface: 4x USB 2.0 Ports (1x eSATA/USB Combo); 1x IEEE 1394 Port; 1x VGA Port; 1x HDMI; 1x RJ11 Modem Port; 1x RJ45 LAN Port; 1x Microphone-in; 1x Headphone-out; 1x S/PDIF-out; 1x Express Card Slot; Fingerprint
• Card Reader: 8-in-1 Card Reader, Support SD, MMC, xD, mini SD, MS, MS-Pro, MS-Duo, MS-Pro Duo
• Camera: 1.3 Mega Pixel Swivel Web Camera
• Battery Pack & Life: 6-cell (4800mAh, 53Whrs) Battery
• AC Adapter: Output - 19V DC, 4.7A, 90W; Input - 100~240V AC, 50/60Hz Universal
• Color: Black
• Dimensions (WxDxH): 14.7 x 10.5 x 1.7 inch
• Weight: 6.65 lbs
MSRP: $1699


Build Quality:
The Build is very high quality with the cover and palm rest featuring a unique design with Infusion Technology (scratch resistant). I don’t see issues with paint wear from your palms, but the case is glossy, and easily leaves finger prints. With Brushed Aluminum trims and a unique Asus design, this is a product I feel good about out of the box. As you can see the screen is very gloss from my reflection. The built in Cam also has a mirror so you can see yourself while taking the picture. It also came with a Seagate Momentus (great manufactures warranty). The Logitech mouse features a scroll for up down left right, which is very useful.
Package includes:
- Carrying case
- 90W AC adapter
- 6 cell battery
- S-Video Cable
- Phone cord for fax modem
- USB Optical Mouse
- User manual
- Asus Windows Vista Recovery DVD
- M50Sv Drivers DVD
- Nero 7
- Dust cloth














IT REALLY HELPS TO HAVE A MOUSE THAT SCROLLS UP DOWN LEFT RIGHT


Screen:
The M50 series offers a 15.4" WXGA+ (1440x900) Color Shine (Glare-type) LCD, w/ Asus Splendid Video Intelligent Technology. The screen is very clear and vibrant but in a bright lit room, the screen will be very glossy with reflections. I can use the screen as a mirror


Keyboard and Touchpad:
I thought this was a very cool feature, hotkeys on your touchpad. Which saves you space from buttons on the notebook itself. One thing I would have liked to see is the volume control lights adjust while the volume adjusts so I can see how much I’m adjusting. I loved the Full keyboard with numeric pads. There was slight keyboard flex in the mid top section but nothing unbearable. The fingerprint scanner works like it should.
Ambient Light Sensor is a feature that was brought back on the M50, the last time I saw it, it was the z71 series which adjusts the screens brightness according to your environment. Fn+A Disables this feature, when enabled you are able to adjust it as well.





Dedicated GPU:9500M


Wireless A/G/N


Speakers:
I’ve always had speaker issues with Asus notebooks, but this is one series that I was happy with the speakers where you can actually hear something. With the speaker’s positioned under the screen, you get better feedback vs. when the speaker is in the front shooting that can’t reflect the sound.


Heat and Noise:
With a dedicated GPU 9500 and Penryn cpu, the notebook was quite cool. The only spot that got warm was near the touch pad and palm rest on the left side, but barely noticeable. I don’t know if it’s because I’m in an office, but the notebook’s cpu fan was very quiet.



Battery Life:
Power4gear battery saving mode: 6 cell from- 100% to auto shutdown w/ brightness setting at 6- wireless & Bluetooth off
Stock notebook-2HR 15 min battery saving mode (idle)
Stock notebook-1HR 50 min high performance mode (idle)
Stock notebook-1HR 40 min high performance mode (MP3)
SSD 32GB equipped notebook-2HR 10 min high performance mode (idle)
SSD 32GB equipped notebook-2HR 40 min battery saving mode (idle)
SSD 32GB equipped notebook-2HR 10 min battery saving mode (MP3)
SSD 60GB equipped notebook-2HR 30 min battery saving mode (idle)
SSD 60GB equipped notebook-2HR 10 min high performance mode (idle)
SSD 120GB equipped notebook-2HR 30 min battery saving mode (idle)
SSD 120GB equipped notebook-2HR 10 min high performance mode (idle)

Performance and Benchmarks:
We included SUPERTALENT Ram, SUPERTALENT readyboost USB, and SUPERTALENT 32/60/120GB SSD SATA drive for further benchmark possibilities.
Startup Times: From power on to windows ready for use.
Stock-50Sec
Stock w/ Readyboost-50 sec
Stock w/ 4GB ram-49 sec
SSD 32GB 65/50equipped-40sec 20% faster startup
SSD 60GB 120/70MB/s equipped-30sec 40%faster startup
SSD 120GB 120/40MB/s equipped-35 sec 30%faster startup

Tests-wPRIME-Stock
32m 36.849
Tests-wPRIME-Stock w/ readyboost
32m 36.917
Tests-wPRIME-4GB ram
32m 37.202
Tests-wPRIME-Stock w/ SSD 32GB HD
32m 36.786
Tests-wPRIME-Stock w/ SSD 60GB HD
32m 35.657
Tests-wPRIME-Stock w/ SSD 120GB HD
32m 35.886

After seeing readyboost and 4GB of ram didn’t help, I dropped them from the tests. Even though Bios shows 4GB, vista would not see more than 3072. It actually hurt the performance. Yet the WEI increased by .1.


WEI:
Stock


4GB of ram


Stock w/ SSD 32GB


Stock w/ SSD 60GB

Stock w/ SSD 120GB



PCMARK05
6657-Stock w/ Supertalent SSD 60GB
6649-Stock w/ Supertalent SSD 120GB
5364-Stock w/ Supertalent SSD 32GB
5264-3GB mixed ram
5256-Stock
5214-Stock w/ Readyboost
5173-Supertalent 4GB of ram
4830-4GB mixed ram






3DMARK06 1024x768
3753-Supertalent 4GB ram
3752-Stock
3746-Stock w/ Readyboost
3730-stock w/ Supertalent SSD 120GB
3724-Stock w/ Supertalent SSD 32GB
3723-stock w/ Supertalent SSD 60GB





HD TUNE: (Read speed only)
Stock


Supertalent SSD 32GB


Supertalent SSD 60GB rated at 120/70MB/s This SSD repeatedly surpassed the advertised Transfer rate by 21.4MB/s.


Supertalent SSD 120GB rated at 120/40MB/s This SSD repeatedly surpassed the advertised Transfer rate by 21.9MB/s, this is the fastest harddisk performance I’ve seen in a notebook to date.


Average read rate that i benched 92 and 130

Extra Pics:






SSD






more coming soon::....

Reviewed by Brian@EWIZ

 

bump for new benchmarks

 

Excellent thanks a lot for these benchmarks.
One question : Did you update your version of vista with SP1 ?
It seems that it allows vista to detect the 4GB.
So can you confirm that you get actually slower benmarks with 4G even if vista SP1 ?
Cheers.

 

SP1 detects 4 GB, but still only uses 3 GB, there is no performance increase.

It seems its just set the PAE mod enabled. Go to WEI and it shows 4 Gb, but task manager only shows 3

 

yes i did the benchmarks again and the results were same

 

Thanks a lot for taking the time to answer me !!
For the 4GB config did you use a dual channel pair ?
Did you the same brand of RAM for the 2+1GB RAM and the 2x2GB RAM ? Which brand did you use ?

 

it was compared on dual channel supertalent, the same ram i used above. it appears 3GB is the best combo unless you jump to 64bit