ASUS Zenbook UX303LB (Nvidia GT 940M)

I am trying to decide whether to buy the version with i5 5200U + FHD screen matte non-touch, or i7 5500U + FHD glossy touch screen. Has anyone compared the battery life of these two models? Is the touchscreen + i7 causing a big decrease in battery life? Also, has anyone had a chance to compare how much better is the matte non-touch screen in the daylight? I will occasionally have to use the laptop outside.

 

I would always prefer a matte panel over a glossy one. Even if the glossy display comes along with higher brightness you will never have the same visibility outside. If touch is not a must i would go with the matte one.


Btw: intel skylake is right here. Some shops already have listed the ux303 with the next generation cpus

 

WOW Really? That's BIG news. I have been actually having troubles finding stores with UX303LB 5500U or 5200U CPUs in stock. Anyway I thought it's too early for Skylake to arrive at this time and they just temporarily went out of stock, but I would definitely wait if it's a matter of weeks. Do you have any links?

 

Found it:
http://liliputing.com/2015/08/skylake-cpu-updates-for-dell-xps-13-and-asus-zenbook-ux303.html

Excellent timing for my purchase...I hope they come to stores ASAP.

 

Should be nice bumps in performance for this class of device

 

You mean the onboard graphics?

I guess this ultrabook will not be available before oct/nov. Somewhere around the sp4

 

Onboard GPU will likely remain 940m. CPU however should improve power consumption and overall performance.

 

When you click Check Realtime Stock online here:
http://www.lasystems.be/ASUS/90NB08...agCable802.11ACWIDIAZERTY/product/468134.html
you get:
Expected availability at manufacturer/supplier 23 on 11/09/2015

Which looks like right after IFA - makes some sense, we'll see what really happens.

 

Hey guys!
First of all: Thank you all for the great input you all provided here for people like me, that want to buy a new laptop. So, after reading through a great load of benchmarks, tests and your personal opinions here i bought the UX303lb on Amazon. But since the UX303UB is coming out soon i have real doubts about my decision. I am just 1 week into my purchase on amazon and can regularly give it back within those 2 weeks.

So, my question to you is, since this will be my only device for very long, since i am a student with "low" budget: Should i wait the 2 months for the UX303UB. Is it worth the hassle? Will the product give me a real bonus in performance or will it be marginal? (Is there even information about the new cpu out? Because i did not find that much myself)

Again, i am really thankful for your competent view on these things and it helped me a lot.

Cheers
Kuna

 

According to the first 6500U benchmarks here:
http://laptopmedia.com/news/the-new-intel-core-i7-6500u-skylake-is-already-in-our-rankings/
the performance improvement is very small (like 10% on CPU and unclear about the on-chip GPU). For most people this will be unnoticeable. For me there are two factors: the 5500U is already not terribly fast, so any small increase helps and I just like having the latest and greatest. Still, I think this is mostly emotional .

The factor which can actually matter is how much the battery life improves. If the improvement will be significant (e.g. +30% time on single charge), then the wait might be worth for the people who really need mobility. However, so far there is no information on this and we just don't know.

What I am waiting for is more information to be released or leak at IFA or shortly afterwards (which means in 1-2 weeks from now) and decide based on that.

 

Yes, this seems quite beneficial, if true. Goddarn , what is your subjective feeling about this - should i give the ux303lb back or not?
I am really torn, as you can tell.

 

I understand you...same for me. You can still wait for another week and decide based on information then if there are any news. Doesn't Amazon have actually 30 day return policy?

Oh, my subjective feeling...if I would not absolutely need a laptop during those few weeks in the meantime, or I had at least some temporary replacement, I'd probably wait for the new model assuming it's not going to take 3 months and it's not going to cost much more (we don't know yet if the price remains the same), but it's just me...

 

I have just received an official confirmation from Asus Czech & Slovakia. Zenbook UX303 with Broadwell (that is currently out of stock here) will not be available with Broadwell anymore and the Skylake update will arrive in October.

 

Well, that is really good info. Meaning it will be there on Amazon at the similar time ?

 

Any official remark on the hinge? Will this one break and would I be better off with the ux501? Thanks!

 

1) I have a UX303LB, bought from Dick Smith Electronics in Australia, 1st unit had a misaligned lid, it was tilted a little bit, as well as the left corner of the lid did not touch the bottom left corner of the laptop, there was a 2mm gap.

2) The second unit was fine, however after 1 week of usage I noticed a small creak on the left hinge when closing the lid.
This has now developed into two consecutive creaks. I suspect the frame has fractured, although functionally the laptop is fine.
Beautiful laptop. Also noticed that ASUS offers extension of local warranty for $69 for 1 year, $99 for 2 years.

Disappointed that for a $1800 AUD RRP laptop it only has 1 year, but I got it on sale for $1252AUD. $99 for 2 years extension is fine for me. Also disappointed this model doesn't come with the brown carry sleeve, where as the UX303LN does.

3) There is a bulge around the ZX, windows and alt keys, i.e. if you look at my UX303LB unit from the front (touchpad to screen), you will see the left side is HIGHER than the right side, like it is slightly thicker. Functionality wise doesn't really affect anything apart from some tables you will have a small rocking motion on the feet, just like a poorly constructed table.

Absolutely beautiful laptop, but disappointed in ASUS for poor quality control :|
Would I recommend buying this laptop? Yep, only if it's on sale and go for extended warranty (from ASUS directly, it's cheaper)

Also, the UX501 is larger than the UX303. Depends what you want

 

Ok thanks a lot thats a big ditterent, do you know if the ux501 is the same hinge design?

 

Can someone point me to a web store (if possible - I'm from Europe so I need to order it online) that can sell me torx t6 screws that are used for the bottom part of the ux303lb (9 of them).

I somehow managed to strip a couple of them and I would like to change them before they are tottally useless. Thanks.


edited: hmm, I was sure that they were T6 size but browsing more about it now and it says T5. No idea how I managed to unscrew them with the T6 screwdriver, maybe that's why I striped some of them.

 

Yes you can usually just about get the screws with a torx screwdriver one size off but it is likely the cause of your issue.

 

Hello
I need some screws to , you can find here

http://www.asusparts.eu/pt/partfinder/Asus/Notebook/U Series/UX303LB#Screw


http://www.accessoires-asus.com/portable/ux303/ux303ln/asus-ux303ln-60522-54026.htm

I just don't know which ones are the 8 small ones on the bottom cover..

Help





ps:think its this ones

http://www.accessoires-asus.com/portable/visserie/lot-de-vis-torx-pour-zenbook-63707-2253.htm


shipping from this store to europe its cheaper to

 

Has anyone else upgraded the RAM in the UX303LB? I ordered my UX303LB from Amazon (the 12GB i7 model), as well as an 8GB SODIMM. I installed the new 8GB module, yet my laptop still only indicates 12GB of RAM.

I also performed a new install of Windows 10. Still have a few missing drivers in Device Manager - SM Bus Controller, PCI Data Acquisition and Signal Processing Controller (two of these) and Unknown Device.

 

Resolved the drivers issue - downloaded 8.1 drivers from Asus website.

But - it appears that the SODIMM that I removed was 8GB, which leads me to believe the soldered chip is 4GB - not 8GB as mentioned earlier in the thread.

 

Use CPU-Z to check.

 

Thanks Meaker - appreciate the response.

Downloaded CPU-Z. Under the Memory tab, it shows a total 12188MB (DDR3). Under the SPD tab, there are 2 entries in the Memory Slot Selection drop down list - Slot #1 which shows my new 8GB Kingston module, and Slot #2, which is completely blank.

So I am still baffled!

 

What OS are you running?

 

Windows 10 x64.

 

Hello.
I just bought the UX303LB-R4016H and i have not had much time to play around with it yet. But I have noticed a weird high-pitched sound coming from somewhere inside the chassis. It does not sound mechanical and i know it is not the fans as i have turned them off with Notebook Fan Control - and since it has a 128 GB SSD I don't really see where else it could be coming from.

I don't know if you can hear it, but if you can would you recommend that I send this model back or is it completely normal for an ultrabook of this kind to be making those jittery morsecode-ish electrical noises?

I am completely obsessed with this weird sound!

Here is the link to the video - you need to turn your speakers up waaaay high to have a chance to hear it:

 

Looks like it is 4GB integrated then.

 

Has anyone gone the path of installing Windows 7 on the UX303LB in this thread? It seems the official website does not provide complete drivers for anything below 8.1 - anyone know where I could get them? Or if I could substitute UX303LN drivers?

 

They don't officially support it. You will have to hunt for drivers from chip manufacturers and older models like the one you listed.

 

Guys, GUYS!


They have the electric cables for the ux303ub at Amazon, but not the thing itself. Im gonna cut mysself. Someone lend my a rusty spoon.

 

Models will be in flux at the moment especially.

 

Hi, i have ux303ln broadwell series and it has exact the same sound as your laptop. so dont worry about this.

 

Well, not to bore anyone, but they have the electric cables and the battery for the UB model at Amazon for 2(?) weeks now. Not the machine - no sign of it or any newer one for that matter.

When i call their hotline they say, that they do not know anything about the model and the IFA is done with no further result either.

Any news from any competent person here? :I

 

When you say electrical cables do you mean the power brick or just literally the cable that runs from the brick to the wall?

 

http://www.amazon.de/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1?__mk_de_DE=ÅMÅŽÕÑ&url=search-alias=aps&field-keywords=ux303ub

Here you go, mate.

But i guess those could very well be just the old stuff renamed into "ux303ub battery".

 

Since those parts are often used between units/revisions they may just have listed the parts that they already have.

 

How decent is the gaming on this computer? I mostly play blizzard games and a year old steam games. Im considering this or the ThinkPad 14 yoga with the same gpu in it. Looking for for something smaller than my safer np9150 to travel with. Another option is a gigabyte g34v4 but that's a true gaming laptop and a bit bigger than these other two options.

Sent from my SM-T320 using Tapatalk

 

I'm shopping for new notebook...

Wish to ask/confirm on the UX303 RAM possible upgrade issue --->

Are all UX303 models (LA, LB, LN, L?) having the same motherboard-RAM
situation, i.e. 4GB is soldered and fixed and cannot be changed,
while the other DIMM comes with 4GB, but can support up to 8GB? (which means total can be up to 4+8 == 12GB)

I ponder further if the other DIMM could technically support up to 16GB (to make total 4+16 == 20GB),
as in the coming 3-5+ years time, (16GB x 1) SODIMM should become available someday in the market,
so I won't be stuck with 12GB max-RAM total throughout the lifetime usage of the notebook, but have the option in the future
to upgrade up to 20GB max-RAM total.

As of today at least, 8GB RAM is adequate even for Win10,
but in the coming 3-5 years, could become more and more tight in usage,
so having the option to upgrade more RAM is important.

I was originally looking at UX305 as well, but as I learned that
its 8GB RAM is soldered-fixed on motherboard and cannot be changed at all.
It then becomes an issue for me that I know I'll be stuck with only 8GB-max-RAM
throughout the lifetime-usage of the UX305 notebook.

OS wise, Win10 home 64-bit can support up to 128GB RAM.
But I wish to check hardware-wise how much
RAM UX303 motherboard can support up to ?
The store people don't seem to know, so for this I might
have to call and ask ASUS support and tell them the exact sub-model number
if different 303 sub-models have different motherboards and BIOs and such....

(I just started reading this UX303LB thread, great learning for me.
If this RAM issue has already been discussed here somewhere before,
could simply help point me the link and I'll read myself....)

Thanks for sharing and learning

 

16GB requires work arounds for the intel IMC which does not natively support 16GB Dimms.

As for ram I suggest you read the included specs of any particular model you are looking at.

 

Thx reply.
So Win OS is more than ok to support RAM,
but Intel (and motherboard) hardware should be the limit of RAM support here.....

 

Basically yes, that's correct. Even Windows 7 Home Premium will support up to 16 GB max, so you should be covered regardless of the edition you choose.

 

Yes my current Acer has 2 RAM slots, and throughout past few years,
I have upgraded from original-come-with 2GBx2 == 4GB
to 2GB + 4GB == 6GB (after abandoning one of the 2GB DIMMs), and
to now 4GBx2 == 8GB (abandoning the remaining 2GB DIMM)

I wonder why ASUS has one of the 2 DIMMs soldered/fixed
on the Mboard and not changeable for the UX303, and the entire
8GB RAM soldered/fixed for the UX305......

Is it just for cheaper manufacturing costs reasons,
or also for dual-channel memory architecture reasons............?

e.g. some memory config. requires to have same size
RAM DIMMs on both slots or it won't work..........

 

Hi guys, do u know if the UX303lb has the mSATA slot for adding SSD drive alonside the classis 2.5'' slot for HDD?

 

half-height mSATA. I bought one of these (but 128GB) and it works great: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00JF4CUBO

 

I'm a new learner for SSD drives.

Just checking here --> Randomly listing here 1 SSD drive and 1 HD as examples,
Kingston SSDNow KC300 Series 480GB 2.5" SATA 3 6Gb/s SSD (SKC300S37A/480G) 7mm
HGST TravelStar 2.5" 1TB 5400rpm (9.5mm) /SATA3 HDD HTS541010A9E680


So as long as the slot is e.g. SATA3 and drive is same size can fit in 2.5",
then the slot should be compatible/interchangeable/swappable
anytime between an SSD and a HD ?

while mSATA as I understand is usually for 1.8" device......

Thx

 

As SSD is based on flash rather than magnetic recording,
expectedly as I browse through the SSD manufacturers,

the HD traditional dominant powers like Western Digital or Seagate
are not seen, replaced by USB drive and RAM makers like
Kingston, Sandisk, Crucial, PNY, Transcend.....

 

Yes, since that's more where the tech comes from, those companies have the fabs and chip research done.

Also soldered ram is usually done to reduce the height of the machine or reduce board space usage (either stacking the slots adds too much height or putting them side by side uses too much space).

 

Hi and thanks to those who posted here as it helped inform my purchase. Just some notes from my findings.

I purchased my UX303LB from NCIX.ca who price matched another Canadian vendor to save me $50. I sacrificed the Office365 bundle which I didn't need as I already have it.

Many are linking the Amazon store for M-Storage but here is the direct link.

Here is the inside of my UX303LB: http://imgur.com/a/uGN08

Note the mSATA mini half height slot (30mmx30mm). I did a lot of searching and very few vendors are selling half height modules, so the M-Storage one was by far the best choice at this time (October 2015).

 

Yes it was not a very popular form factor due to the lack of chips you can fit on it.