ASUS Zenbook UX303 (Nvidia GT 840M)

I have exactly the same problem though when I use headphones it seems more than ok.

 

This is probably duo to placing the internal microphone at the bottom of the notebook.
I thnk your guys problems are more caused by optimatization.

Skype -> Tools > Options > General > Audio Settings > Untick automatically adjust settings. (for both speaker and mic)
Start > Control Panel > Sound > Recording > Right Mouseclick on built in Microphone (to find out knock on the bottom of your notebook and see which adapter has a green bar on the right side) > Properties > Levels > Microphone 100% (+ Microphone Boost +12dB)

Good luck!

 

Sorry but this doesn't solve, I already tried it.
Microphone position isn't a problem because connecting an external player (so without use internal spekers) the recorded audio is perfect also at 3 m of distance.
In the moment you re-enable the internal speakers (disconnecting the hi-fi via aux) the microphone doesn't recorder more.
I think is better do RMA, since the warrantly is still valid.

Searching on the web doesn't seem a widespread problem, so I think it's just a defective product.

 

Did you try a re-install of the audio drivers?

 

Yes, I had also reinstalled completely windows.
Do you have this PC? Is it working for you?

 

When you are on internal speakers go to control panel, sound, record, and disable all enhancements (beam/echo reduction)

 

I believe I finally found a fix. I saw in the windows event viewer that some stupid "Asus Screensaver Helper" was changing the power plan. I have no idea why it would randomly do that especially cause I don't even use that screensaver. Anyways, I uninstalled that stupid Asus Screensaver thing and I'm almost certain that it's fixed now

 

Hello, I have a issue with my Asus 303LA notebook. Two weeks ago I tried to start my computer, and the on light + charger light was on, however the screen did not turn on it remains black. I have tried several times to turn it off and on, but still the same problem.

I googled this problem and saw a possible solution. I had to remove the battery, plug the laptop in to a charger and then after this put the battery back in. Simple enough you might think. However after a weeks struggle to find a screwdriver small enough for the laptop, I can' seem to get to the battery. I unscrewed all he screws, but the back of my notebook seems like it is not supposed to go off for some reason. I tried to force it off but ended up cutting my fingers on the sharp edges.

Have anyone encountered this problem, or have any experience removing the battery from this notebook? Hope someone can help with this, cause I just bought this laptop two months ago.

 

Don't forget screws below the robber on bottom.

 

I would talk to your reseller before voiding your warranty on a new machine.

 

Didn't work

 

Hi guys!

I just bought this model (i7-4510U, QHD+) and like everybody else I have the yellow issue.

After applying the patch (not reversible, I know), I have to add the ICC file to the Profiles in Color Management. I assume this is reversible, right?

My question is, the "tips from ASUS" on how to calibrate the monitor should be used with the ICC patch or instead of it?

Thanks to everyone, especially Eclipse_lite, tomdot and xawen!

 

I don't use the patch at all. Some pages back there was some solution posted with the application Splendid from ASUS. This app fixed the yellow problem pretty well.

 

The process ASUS is giving us there is a way to generate a ICC profile without a calibrator (uses a wizard built into windows). You can use that profile, or one of the ones Tomdot and I posted. They're the same thing, just created differently.

Edit - Also, you can load all of them and flip between them to find the one you like best.

 

@rilapwn No patch? And is your yellow really yellow? XD

@xawen You use the patch, right? Do you think it's better to have the patch *and* the calibration?

I'm going to try with the 3 ICC and see what's best! Thanks!

 

Yeah, I use the patch and an ICC profile (the one I posted that I created with a calibrator). After I installed the patch, a lot of the colors were way oversaturated. I uninstalled Splendid (it made the saturation more severe) and used the ICC profile to bring the colors back to a reasonable level. That combination gets it to what I'd call 80-90% fixed depending on how high the brightness is set. I do a lot of photo editing (not anywhere close to professional levels of picky though) and I hardly ever notice it.

 

Hi all. Have been reading throughout this thread. Big thanks to everyones contribution

Im also looking to pick one of these up. Specs are a bit lower though.

i5 4210u
4gb Ram
FHD
840m
1TB hdd

Got a few questions, any help much appreciated.

1- how are the temps of cpu and gpu when gaming? Heard that overheating and 90c also reaches... Quite concerning this, so would be really grateful if anyone of you could shed some light on this.

2- there is also the i7 5500u version available in my area. FHD i think, and also Ram 8gb.
How do you think the general performance will be when compared to the specs i mentioned before? And how much do you think would gaming benefit? Would i see a noticeable increase in fps?

3- the yellow screen issue, is this also found on the FHD model?

Thanks all. all help is much appreciated.

 

1 GPU never went above 90 here. Usually it is around 75. (GPU are build for high temp)
CPU is around 65 maximum 70 which is really low (Intel is build for 120 degrees)

3 only on the 4k screen.

PS: grades are in Celsius

 

Thanks alot for the super fast reply @rilapwn

Thats really really good to hear. Yup, those temps are just perfect.

Guess ill be picking this one up! Got a really good deal on it. Plus extended warranty too. Specs will be fine for me i think. Just internet browsing, word, etc. And some gaming during free time. Pretty sure 840m will be good for me. Dont mind lowering res and details if needed.

Thanks alot for the quick answer bro.

 

I use this one for gaming too. Don't forget to use the patch, this fix the yellow issue pretty well.

I would say go for the UX305, but as you want to game I would go indeed for some separate GPU like the UX303LN.

 

Checked out the gaming benchmarks from may websites. Also notebookcheck too. The nVidia 840m will be awesome for me. I went to the shop and look at it. Its looks really Beautiful too. The screen, FHD, dosnt seem to have a problem with yellows I think. Compared to my friend's ipad air 2. While the ipad does have nicer color, i wouldnt say the screen of the asus has any issues. Good to see it first hand.

Cant wait to play with it soon. Thanks bro for the replies.

 

About the yellow fix...

I tried to install the color patch and got "Update Failed" twice. I tried again and despite saying "Update Succeeded" the yellow is still green. I tried yet again and the same thing happened. I quit after a while and decided that if there is a difference, it's too small for me too notice. Is there a way to know if the patch really took effect? Now I'm getting random messages saying this.

Then I started following the ASUS tips from this post and it kinda worked: the colors are not great but the yellow is yellow. I can tell it's not perfect or anything and have yet another problem. When I reboot, the ICC profile goes back to default. It starts in default then rapidly changes to the ICC profile I set for about 3 seconds and then goes back to default. Did anyone have this problem? How can you make the ICC profile stick? I can't change the ICC profile everytime I start the computer...

 

Could someone tell me how much DPC Latency they have?
Download DPC Latency Checker here: http://www.thesycon.de/deu/latency_check.shtml

I have around 1050 us

 

Hi everyone,

I just picked up a UX303LA (i5 5200U, Intel HD5300) on Amazon, and I'm a little concerned about the trackpad. I'm intending to upgrade the SSD but before I do I need to know whether or not this particular unit needs to be RMA'd.

Most laptops I've owned that I've been comfortable with, trackpad-wise, have had separate clickable buttons. This does not; I'm okay with that. But from a tactile perspective the left mouse button feels a little... squishy, I guess? With the right mouse button there's a quite loud audible click, but the left button is sounds very muted in comparison, there's less of a satisfying clicky feel to it, and it feels like I need to press harder for it to register. I'm not really sure how to describe it. Is this normal or do I have bad hardware? And if I have bad hardware, can I bring it somewhere to get it serviced rather than having to send it back to Amazon?

Thanks in advance for any input!

 

Has anyone successfully swapped their UX303LN LCD with a 1080p matte non-touch version form the QHD+ (3200x1800) panel? I'm assuming it's 30-pin dual channel eDP?

 

REVIEW by someone who has been using UX303 LN for 7 months

Hello, everyone. I created an account here just to tell you this. So, please bear with me.

I bought this zenbook UX303 LN (QHD, GT840M) as soon as it came out. The dedicated graphics card in a slim ultrabook like this was the main reason I bought this machine. Overall, it was a good deal for its specs. Other brands with similar specs, but without a dedicated graphics card, cost around $1900 at that time, while I bought this for around $1200 in Sep 2014.

First, the 3200*1800 QHD display. It was the first thing I noticed when I powered on the notebook for the first time. The words are so tiny on desktop that I find myself asking, "What the heck is this?" Even if you can bear the hardship of looking at small texts, the QHD resolution has problems working with some games and applications. At last, I had to turn the resolution to 1080p. (So, if you want to go for a matte 1080p screen, go for it! You will never use the QHD resolution anyway, and to my knowledge, you can't see that much "noticeable" difference in a 13in screen.)

Second, the yellowy screen. For the first few weeks, I can't help but notice the inaccurate yellow on the display. So much that I try to avoid watching videos on this notebook. A lot of people (at that time) were having the same problem. (This was during the first few months it came out, before the "hinge" era.) I don't know whether ASUS fixed it with an update or my eyes got used to it, I don't have any trouble with the screen anymore after 3 months of using it. Still, the colors look different from the HDTV in my room, so I guess it is probably the latter. (bottom line: if you are a photo editor or an illustrator who need accurate colors, avoid this system. If you are just nomral everyday user, I think you will be OK. Even with inaccurate yellows, the images on this QHD IPS display are still pretty great to look at.)

Last, and the main reason I took effort to write all this, is THE HINGE!!! First of all, let me say that I'm not a rough user and I don't throw my gadgets around. In fact, I always place this notebook on my desk, and keep its lid open most of the time. Plus, I work at home, so I don't need to carry it around. Even with that said... After 6 or 7 months of light/normal usage, the hinge on the right side bent and broke. I can't open or close the lid without forcing it to crack and break more. This is definitely an engineering problem, and you can find similar reviews on its Amazon page. My guess is that the touch IPS screen is heavy, and the hinge is not strong enough to withstand the weight. ( A question just came up in my mind: Did the hinge break because I kept the lid open most of the time? Possibly. But I think you will also keep the notebook open longer than closed, and the hinge failure will eventually come at some point. )

Now, my notebook has been in ASUS service center in Singapore for two weeks. (The hinge broke while I am on a visit in S'pore. I live in US) The ASUS service center people said that they are running out of spare parts, and told me to wait for the next shipment. I will update in this week whether they could fix this or not. I've given up hopes anyway.

TL;DR - don't don't DON'T buy this notebook. ASUS has been having hardware (hinge) problems in its recent notebooks. If I have a second chance, I will definitely buy the new Dell XPS 13. I am a fan of thin bezels, and the infinity display on the new XPS is amazing. So, if you are deciding for a new notebook and are lucky enough that you still haven't bought this ASUS zenbook, I suggest you think carefully and research your options before making a decision. Good luck!

 

@aban714 Performance-wise, UX303 LN (GT 840M) is a solid notebook. I could play Dota 2 at high quality settings for 6 or 7 hours straight, and it doesn't heat up that much, even when I don't use the cooling fan. I also tried playing Sniper Elite and Arkham City, but you have to lower the quality to medium or low to get play-able FPS.

P.S - I keep the res at 1080p.

 

@tsn4444
Thanks alot bro for the info.
Mostly ill be playing Diablo 3 RoS and Starcraft 2. Also Fifa 15 and PES13. Ive been playing all four titles on and integrated HD4000 series , and im happy with that. i fine with low details.
When i get my hands on the laptop, FHD version, ill post some benchmarks here for anyone who might be looking for that.

Also, do you think there will be a big difference in performance between i5 4210u and 5500u cpu? From what Ive read, gaming wise, mostly gpu matters. Althought a better cpu will net you some increase in fps. But general performance , as far as Ive come to know, there wont be a much noticeable difference for the everyday user, which i think i fit into that category hehe. Other than some spare time gaming, ill be doing work with word excel and powerpoint. And lots of pdf reading. Browsing and youtube. And NBR hehe. I think that 4210u will suffice for my needs, though not so sure as Ive not seen much comparision between said cpus.

But, umm... Thats hinge problem is kinda worrying... I mean, is every single UX303 suffering from that, or is it some systems? :/

 

Thanks for your honest opinion and review!

The problem is, this is the *only* thin and light with a dedicated GPU. Everything with a dedicated GPU is much bigger and heavier. I just managed to buy one of these for cheap, but I hope I don't regret the purchase. It should arrive Tuesday or Wednesday this week. I'm surprised Asus hasn't fixed the yellow screen by now considering it's been such a huge issue. I may look into replacing the LCD with a 1080p matte, but would like to see if anyone has been successful at doing so and exactly what screen they bought.

 

@HTWingNut Yes, you are right. UX303LN is the *only* ultrabook with a dedicated GPU. For those of us who want a dedicated GPU in an ultrabook, we don't have much options.

Intel HD Graphics 5000 series can also let you play major titles at low res setting. As someone who has never owned a device powerful enough to play at ultra settings, I don't have any problem playing at low quality settings. You can still enjoy the game as long as you get a decent FPS.

@aban714 I think you will be able to enjoy games as long as the system has Nvidia GT840M. I'm sure not all systems are having hinge problems, but you still have to take a chance as they are all manufactured in the same way, and the hinge problem might come up sooner or later, especially if you intend to use it for 2 or more years. I suggest you take an extended warranty.

Also, if you are not a heavy gamer, why don't you go for Intel HD 5000 series? You will have a lot more options then. Portability or gaming performance; you have to choose one over the other. As someone who wanted both, I ended up with a broken hinge. To be honest, this zenbook would have been my favorite ultrabook if it didn't have a hinge problem. It offers solid performance while being relatively affordable. Plus, the device itself is beautiful and is a pleasure to hold in your hands. (Oops.. why did I say that? I wanted to advise you against buying it. hehe)

 

Hey guys, does your headphone jack work properly?
When I insert my headphones' plug all the way in, the sound still comes out of the laptop's speakers. I have to pull a little on the plug (so its not all the way in) in order for the sound to come out of the headphones.

Have had the laptop for 3 months now and its the first time I try to plug in my headphones lol. Didnt notice this before

 

Mine seems to be working pretty well, sure there is nothing stuck in the headphone jack?

 

Heya all, i just got a 1080 touch version of the ux303ln 2 weeks ago and i was wondering if anbody with the 1080p touch version has the hinge problems? Its a wonderful machine and itll be a shame for it the screen to break down in just a couple of mounths

 

What brand/mode of headphone do you have?

 

was using the iphone 4 headphones

 

I'm using the same earphones as you are.....seems to be fine.

 

did some googling and found some people with the same issue.
Oh well looks like its a hardware problem that affects some units of this laptop... just like the broken hinge thing.

I thought I got lucky and picked up a perfect model of this laptop (no defects) but guess not lol

Not gonna RMA just for this though... the jack still works but you gotta play with / pull the plug a little

 

Wow, the trackpad on this is... really, really sensitive. Too sensitive.

The last laptop I had with buttons integrated into the trackpad the way they are on these had all sorts of sensitivity settings. You could change the area that the trackpad would register your finger in, so I could rest my thumb on the left mouse button. I'm trying to do that (rest my thumb on the LMB) with the 303 and I'm having a really bad time of it, and the settings in Smart Gesture are so pitiful that they're borderline offensive.

Does anyone have any unofficial drivers or anything like that? My hardware IDs are ACPI\FLT0102 and *FLT0102. Thanks!

Edit: Additionally, I find the tap-to-click functionality somewhat inaccurate. On every other touchpad I've used (I've tried three others in the last 24 hours) if I single tap, it acts as a click. If I double tap, it acts as a double-click (select word) and if I triple tap, it acts as a triple-click (select whole line.) I've been trying this out in Chrome's URL bar and in this edit window; in order to get the triple-click functionality on the 303's trackpad, I have to tap four times. This is weird! Anyone have a fix?

Again, thanks!

 

Asus Smart Gesture is garbage. I'm also waiting for a good alternative driver. Welcome to the club

 

My laptop is also with ASUS Singapore service center. Still waiting to have it fixed. I've sent it last March 12 and until now I haven't gotten any updates regarding the release.

Hopefully, they would replace it with a display with a better hinge. I'm afraid that it'll happen again in the near future.

 

Can you use the Elantech touchpad driver instead of the Asus Smart Gesture? Or is the touchpad not made by Elan?

 

I got my UX303LN today. First impressions of it are that is is a very solid and nice build quality. I am spending a couple hours doing a clean install of Windows. I am impressed that it comes with a Sandisk Ultra SSD. Those are top quality. I don't notice any of the 'mustard yellow' that people are talking about, although would still like a 1080p LCD for battery life and scaling.

One thing that I find really odd, is what brain dead engineer or manager decided that it was a good idea to put the power button as a key on the keyboard. I know you can configure this in Windows, but still it's right where the delete key SHOULD be.

In any case, spending some more time with it. Doing a system image now of a clean install and on my way.

 

Dude find out by yourself ? Come with some facts pls

 

DeviceID is ACPI\FLT0101 which seems to show up as Asus.

 

UX 303 LN (QHD touch, Nvidia GT 840M) HINGE update

@conectix Hey guys, I'm the one who advised you against this ultrabook for the hinge error. I left my notebook at Asus service center in Singapore two weeks ago. I'm going back to US soon; so this morning I went there desperately to pick it up and try to fix it in US.

Just as I was about to enter the TRIVEX building, I got a call which stated that my notebook has been fixed and is ready for collection!!

They replaced the right hinge and entire hinge cover with a new (original) one. They even polished my notebook a little bit, and now my zenbook is as good as new. I couldn't be happier!

Now, here is the important part on how to prevent hinge failure in this notebook.

I asked the service center staff it this problem could happen again in the future. He said it depends only on me, and asked me how I open the notebook lid. I told him that I open it from the right corner. He smiled and told me that it causes unnecessary pressure on the hinge, and that the best way to open the lid is from the center of the lid.



So, remember guys, open the lid from the center and enjoy this awesome ultrabook. Cheers!!!

 

Good to know, but what a dumb design. I would have smacked that smile off his face and told him it was a dumb design. If it's that sensitive to break by opening at the corners, it has issues. I usually open my laptop lids from the center anyhow, just habit, I guess.

 

First post here, though I lurk on this very forum for quite some time, keeping up with the news on the 303.
I agree, we should not let this become something like "You are holding it wrong" once more. It is what it is: a stupid design, and you are not by any means responsible for it. It is not your fault to open the lid by its corner, since you do not happen to have a middle arm; you open it from a corner, usually the corner from the side of your dominant hand. Even so, this is not the case with the particular model. After 4 months with the UX303LN FHD Non-Touch variant, the RIGHT hinge has started to show considerable wear, slowly detaching from the hinge cover, even though I am LEFT handed (thus opening the lid from its left corner).
Oh and by the way this is not my first laptop either, so the staff's comment about opening the lid wrongly sounds even sillier. I have dealt with over 2 dozen laptops in the past, from really cheap, toy-like ones (*cough*acer*cough) to hybrids with detachable screens (ASUS TF) to tank-like (rMBP) and I have never experienced a hinge failure before.
The weight of the screen is also irrelevant ( tsn4444 mentioned it could be due to the added weight of the touchscreen, but mine came with the non-touch matte screen).
You can check yours too: Notice the very right side of the hinge cover, having your lid open, and compare it with the left side; if the hinge cover does leave 1-2mm of gap between its end and the screen bezel, it is starting to wear off. Also, close the lid and observe the laptop from its right side (looking directly above the power adapter's input; if the lid doesnt close flush with the keyboard (if there is a gap between the rubber lip of the bezel and the keyboard) you have the same problem.

 

@aces2high I fully agree with you. The right hinge of this notebook has issues. But for those like us who have already bought it, what options do we have? We just have to pray that it won't happen again.

 

What does the matte screen look like? I want to swap my 3k screen for a matte 1080p, but it has the glossy digitizer on the front. Wonder if I can buy a replacement bezel anywhere to accommodate the matte.

 

Regarding the anti glare/mate issue. i Have bout this screen film long-long time ago
http://www.ebay.ca/itm/Anti-Glare-2...691?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3ce73c74b3

It actually works pretty well. If needed i can post pictures of the screen.

P.S. this hinge issue freaks me out. is there any way to extend the warranty? mine expires in October this year