ASUS commonly asked questions ASK NOW!

Allright, after seeing the same threads and questions appear over and over and over, well, it's getting a bit annoying

I'm pretty sure the regulars here(and the people who come just for this forum) are annoyed with that as well as I am, so here we go.

A FAQ for ASUS. So...

ASK AWAY!!!

After leaving this thread open for a few week or so, and getting a large database, I'll compile it and create a new sticky for it.

The FAQ is up, but closed, however, the AuroraS, Underpantman and I will be constantly updating it when new information comes in, or we add it ourselves!

Of course, I'll add credit where it's due(I'm pretty sure 90% of info is from Justin heh)

Thanks.

 

Coriolis - I think what we should do is leave this open and let people think of all those commonly asked questions........ let them write them down..... then close the thread, compile all of the questions and answers in one sticky post that no one can reply to.... that way basically we'll tell all new people to read that page first...... instead of having to go though 15 pages of bs never to find what they are looking for.

 

Great idea,
Make the first faq in SUPER BOLD to be:
"can my ASUS gpu be upgraded by me"
SIMPLE ANSWER = NO....lol
Complicated long answer= in theory maybe, in reality it would be cheaper to buy a new notebook.
Ive lost count how many times this question has been asked, i think it is almost weekly.

FAQ#2: Maybe a quick explaination of the three main driver choices for gpu's...ie stock ASUS ones, omega's, or modded ATI ones...maybe even mention dna ones but they seem less popular.

FAQ#3: My notebook is too hot vs my notebook is too cold complaints. While some of these are vaild many complaint are within the normal operating temps, and the issues arise with differences in end-users thresholds and desires.
HDD= should be below 55C when stressed, if your getting higher temps than this then you should start to get concerned.
CPU= PM can run upto 90C under high load saftely, if yours is above this then u have problems.
FAN control= its different with every notebook and bios, just slightly. There are only 2 documented cases for bad fans, they are the M5N and the A2D. These are older models and are no-longer being produced by ASUS, although u may still be able to pick up a few of these...additionally not every notebook seemed to be affected.
For all other models, to comes down to ASUS trying to satisfy the largest number of people with bios updates. That is they are trying to balance noise vs heat/battery life. If you are not happy with your fan control, best advice is to try a few different bios releases, there should be one that fits your personal taste.
NB: might be worth making a sticky of the guide on how to roll back to an earlier bios aswell?

Thats about all I can think of for the moment.

Great idea Coriolis.
If i can get sometime this weekend I will try and dig out some of the great previous posts from time gone by on some of the hotter topics that have graced this forum.

 

Actually it was my idea... because I got sick of answering the same stuff......

FAQ- Why doesn't PROPortable sell custom ENSEMBLE's ?

FAQ - Matte type verses Glaretype --- basically --- REFLECTION..... I'd write more but I'll save it for when we actually make the page up.......

FAQ - Who warranties custom "built on" Asus systems? - the DEALER, no matter what they tell you. If they tell you Asus, you certainly shouldn't be dealing with them.

 

How do I reprogram the 'fn' key to be a ctrl key ??

Does using Arctic Silver 5 (instead of the thermal paste pad included on the heat sink) really reduce cpu temp by 5C or so ?


Cheers,

D

 

Dan
thats a good one. I think i anwered that one about 12 dozen times.
NO Reprogram
NO Arctic Silver No good, do not use. Will not help. May void warranty. Lots of hype and should be free if offered by dealers. Too many uncoraborated misleading info about this paste is out. Does nothing for pentium M's but you will always find someone to argue that.

 

FAQ: What makes Asus notebooks so good compared to other brands?
A: They use better components that they make & design themselves, as opposed to assembling various components in oder to make the most profit, without regard to quality or which ones go best together

FAQ: How can I tell which models are configurable and which are not?
A: Configurable notebooks (also known as "Built on Asus") are designated with a Z prefix. The Z33, Z63, Z70, & Z71 series are all configurable. The models that do not start with a Z are ensembles, and only come in one configuration. As Justin stated above, the ensemble models carry a 2 year global warrantee from Asus, while the customizable models are warranteed by the reseller.

 

Just a quick add to this. The " Z" is only in North America. This can cause alot of problems for people who look at the global site instead of the US one, as they wont be able to find the model that they are interested in. On that I just want to say that the ASUS site is a great source of information for each and every model, I think many posts like what chipset does notebook X have, could be avoided if the ASUS website was looked at first.

FAQ2: UNDERVOLTING...can someone tell me what voltage to undervolt my w3v?
Answer: NO, no one can tell u because undervolting is dependent only on your cpu not the laptop its self. Thus unfortunately the only way to findout is to do the hard yards yourself.
Intel chooses a conservate voltage scheme for each PM cpu, which will allow for a maximisation of chips that come off the fab, so that they can keep costs down. Thus some cpus will be 100% perfect and thus undervolt very very well, others will just scrap thru, they will be perfectly functional but just wont handle undervolting. The only way to know is for you to try.
And on that note, I will add that undervolting is not necessary in most cases, like any mod it has it benifits and draw backs. I have used it but now dont bother, both my laptops performed well without it and I didnt notice enough of a difference so I stay stock. Others will have a different experiance, and like the heat vs noise issue, it comes down to personal preference.
a

 

Keep it rolling guys

Also, I was thinking ot makiing seperate sections for specific FAQ for specific models.

Like the z71v's ALS device, v6v's optical drive, etc.

Really appreciate it, i'm sure most members do as well.

 

I think that we can make one big post..... make it very specific and to the point..... general stuff at the top and maybe work down to certain models... but most of the questions are general.

 

Perhaps information on the different types of screens Asus offers - glossy, matte.

Which type is better for gaming, conventional use.
Does a glossy screen impact how long one can use the laptop without getting a headache etc.
I suppose these questions are a bit generic but could be tuned to answer questions about Asus laptops specifically.

 

I've written quite a bit of the FAQ, actually not alot but most of what is mentioned already. I may just post a locked sticked uncomplete version for now, so people don't repeat the same thing.

 

"can my ASUS gpu be upgraded by me
SIMPLE ANSWER = NO....lol
Complicated long answer= in theory maybe, in reality it would be cheaper to buy a new notebook."

What is meant by this? What is a GPU? I'm new to Asus as a brand and not quite sure if I'm understanding it right. Does this statement mean all Asus laptops are not upgradeable? I can't add more memory to it later on if I want? Is that what you are saying, or are you talking about some specific model or something else entirely. I am looking at the Z71 and Z91 and A6Ne models and want to know for sure or not if I myself can upgrade the hard drive or memory. Thanks.

 

GPU is Graphic Processor Unit, aka the video card.

I guess that answer was a little vague, the CPU, HardDrive, RAM and Wireless can all be upgraded.

 

GPU = Graphics Processing Unit.
Most notebooks in the market now have the GPU soldered onto the motherboard... so what they're saying is that it would be impossible to upgrade the GPU (say from a Radeon X600 to a Radeon X800). However, there ARE some notebooks with a GPU "card"... where the GPU is not soldered onto the motherboard but instead, it is located on a removable card. In theory, the card could then be upgraded in the future with a new "card"...(think about it like your desktop video card). The problem with notebooks and upgradeable video is that... there are many different forms/standards of these "cards" being produced... so it would be near impossible to find an upgradeable card to fit your notebook.
To answer your questions... the only ASUS notebook which has an upgradeable GPU (theoretically) is the Z71v... but ASUS would have to release a proprietary card to do so. Chances are, they won't.

As for hard drive and RAM... those are easily (and often) upgraded on all ASUS notebooks (as far as I know)

EDIT: coriolis beat me to it...

 

Thanks for clarifying that for me guys.

 

I'm interested in an ASUS A6U and found AGearNotebooks and Adamant Computers who market these machines. Does anyone have any experience with either of these companies or suggestions for other companies I should look at for one of these machines?

Thanks for any help you can provide.

 

Lock this thread..... NOW..... ask people to email you their FAQ's..... this is not a thread to post that sort of question in......

 

PROPortable also has it here: http://proportable.com/detail.aspx?ID=119


G2P doesn't have it at the momment though

edit: Hmmmm, I think writing the FAQ and having more parts by PM'ing me would be better as well.

 

Very sorry, I misundersood the intent of the thread. I'll crawl back in my hole now and not venture a question like this again.

 

I posted a locked version of the FAQ, but I think this will be a good place to accumulate questions for the FAQ.

As for people who want to write portions of it, or already have, please PM me, and I'll add it.

Thanks guys!

 

Here's some questions:

1) What are the Asus models that have a carbon fibre housing? (And the ones that aren't like Aluminum/plastic)

2) What are the advantages of having a carbon fibre housing?

 

To make this easier.... the reason this is an FAQ page... we're trying to jot down all of the question we see pop up all the time.... so it's not a place to ask questions.. but to put a question and answer to things that are asked ALL the time....

 

how about an explanation of the following:
Modular bay and what its used for
DVD volume and proccess to make it louder
Posible use of spdif and what receiver can be used
The so called s-video port on the back which it is not. According to Ati that is a hdtv 7pin port that can be used to connect to component set to hd plasma (i am testing now thanks to Mr Venom )
what can bluetooth be used for?
What is the proccess to set up a wifi network and what are the various option for routers.
Common undervolting instructions for chc (i just got on the train)
Installing windows? From scratch?
How do you enter bios?

I think some of the above were mentioned already.

 

I want to buy a new notebook and my first choice is ASUS Z70 (M6V for Europe), but I also like the keybord with numberpad from LG LW60.

The question is whether in the near future (or later) Asus intends to make a model with full keybord + numberpad and a 15,4" display like the ones from LG?

I hope the answer will be a detailed one and not just YES or NO.

Thanks
:asus:
:noisyfan:

 

.... I don't know where the heck you expect Asus to fit an entire number pad on a 15.4" chassis...... but it's not going to happen anytime soon, especially since they refuse to put it on their 17" models.

 

If you really need a num pad just buy a usb version they are like 20$

 

Hey Coriolis would it be possible to add info on the Asus A3E?

 

Yea, Right now I have limited info, so please, if anyone has anything they like to add, no matter how small or common, PM me or any of the ASUS moderators(AuroraS or UnderPantman)

Thanks

 

http://ca.asus.com/mobile/a3e_spec.html
I don't believe what they have posted, "Portable Centre"?

http://usa.asus.com/products4.aspx?l1=5&l2=62&l3=0&model=604&modelmenu=1
Did more looking around.

 

How about the MXM ones like the Z81 SP?

 

How can I set my ati X600 to take more vram from my system ram, because I just upgraded to a 1gig of system ram. Thanks

 

Well thats going into new territory........ first thats a beast and we'll see if there will be room for something else down the road...... but at this time only the 256mb 6800 was mxm, nothing else was.......

I mean even on the z71v you can physically remove the graphics card, but will the 256mb 6800 fit in there..... no... I'm actually going to do a little demo this weekend to show the difference between the two - physically.

 

i have asked Asus a few months ago, that's is what they reply....

"Dear Sir/Madam,

We don't have a schedule of changing VGA cards unless there is a market demand or strong competition.

Z70V??

Z71A currently embedded with Intel Alviso-915 GM chipset

Z71V currently uses nVidia MEP43 (64MB/128MB).


Best Regards"

 

Basically, I think they are implying, pretty much no

 

i have a question about the w3v screen, how is the backlighting and angle, is it as good as the sony xbrite? Thanks, im mostly looking for no backlight leakage ie the sides or the bottom "glow" as i call it.

 

This will help you answer 90% of your question - http://www.proportable.com/w3vdemo.html

 

Common question:
Upgrade of W3V empty RAM module with additional 512MB SODIMM.

Situation: Many retailers sell SODIMM DDR2-SDRAM PC4200 533MHz, only afew sell SODIMM DDR2-SDRAM PC4300 533MHz. Whats the different between PC4300 and PC4200? They are both on 533MHz!

Using CPU-Z, it displays W3V's stock SODIMM RAM as SODIMM DRR2-SDRAM PC4300 at 266MHz.

So will either PC4200 or PC4300 at 533MHz fit into W3V empty ram module without any glitches?

Please advice.

 

PC4200 is a set standard........ PC4300 -- I've never seen it but some places might sell it, but I don't think there's going to be any performance increase with it.

CPU-Z still have an issue with Sonoma and DDR2...... so I wouldn't totally trust it.

The RAM in the slot is PC4200 ---- it's listed as 533mhz.... just go by that........

 

DDR2 PC4200 533mhz is stardarized for laptop memory in the maraket, i've never heard any memory support PC4300, might something make a mistake.

 

Hmm, CPU-Z is unreliable. This is a picture of the standard W3V specs.

 

... yes it is... it doesn't hasn't accruately worked on any sonoma platform yet... this has already been discussed mang times.

 

Not to pollute the sticky, I'll put this here: All the links to the assembly guides/service manuals at http://vipforums.asus.com/ are dead.

 

... that's because you're not supposed to have access to them.... some punk dealer posted the links and many people told Asus about it... so they moved it and password protected it.

 

That explains it. I can certainly understand why Asus doesn't want public links into their dealer/reseller site.

Don't see why they should be 'secret', though if that's what you mean, as this is an area where Asus lags significantly behind some of its competitors. Dell and IBM/Levono have vast technical libraries available online with detailed information on almost every screw in the machines. HP does as well, and if you ask them they even have video tutorials detailing common technical procedures (although not for the Home & Home Office lines). Even Acer will give you a Service Manual on request (at least if you have an extended support plan).

The best you're likely to get from Asus, even when asking a very specific question is an utterly useless email stating "Please see FAQ at support website. Let's work on this issue together."

While this shouldn’t bother most private users too much – since those are probably better off getting support from their dealer anyway – it’s sure to drive away corporate customers.

Anyway: I’ve gone off topic, as I really only wanted to point it out to the mods so that they can keep the FAQ thread as error free as possible.

 

That VIP site is not only just for dealers... but all dealers aren't even have access to that site...... I don't know, I know what you're saying, they just have to find a better way to organize certain things.

 

Ah thank you for that link! thats exactly what i was looking for, seems like the screen is just a subpar backlight , the glowing is terrible.

 

I have to respectively disagree. I and most others find the screen excellent. As the saying goes you can please everyone. People have different preception of prefection.

 

well the glowing is unnaceptable for a graphic designer, seems like anything in the path of that glow will become washed out and color accuracy gone.

 

I am not sure what you mean by glowing but i would venture to say that glossy screens should not be the first choise for graphic design.