Asus G71G-A1/A2

Has anyone done a review about this laptop?

 

Those notebooks are not yet released afaik. Only the G71V-Q1 is currently available.

 

any updates on the G71G?

 

g71g-a2 will be shipping shortly after the 20th. the A1 a week later

 

ASUS just told us that they will not bring any more shipment in on G71V-Q1. Quad core chips are in slight shortage at the moment.

They are scheduled to arrive later this afternoon. Thanks!

 

My pre-ordered Asus G71g-a2 has finally shipped from Gentechpc. I should get it on the 25th. This is my first laptop so I will give yall my noobish opinion of it. Also in the invoice they wrote "Actual unit came with DDR2 800 not DDR3 1333. Sorry for the incomvenience". I am not sure if that makes a big difference, does it? I was thinking of doing an box opening on youtube, but I hesitate because of my lack tech knowlengde.

 

I dont think you will see any difference in performance tbh, but still I wanted a quadruple number in my RAM frequency
Im sour like that

 

You've managed to post the exact same text in *5* different threads this morning.

Please don't cross post like this (and it's against forum rules, but as a new member you can be forgiven ) - a single post in a relevant thread will be sufficient for replies. thx.

 

sorry man, I just wanted a quick answer. I need to read the rules. Thx for the the info on the DDR2.

 

I will be ordering mine in 2 weeks. I will post pics and benchies when it gets here. Would love to see a owner's thread soon.

 

I got mine today. it is nice as hell. I am downloading, I mean buying some games today for tsome benchmarking. Also the computer says it has a 9800m gt. I guess the 9800m gs is a downclocked gt.

 

Congrats on your new lappy! Let us know what you think about it after you've spent some time playing with it

 

I just shipped yesterday, Im hoping that I will get it within a week but we will see I guess!!!!
I cant wait to play Solitaire on this beast!!!!

 

Solitaire? lol
I dont know if this will handle it @ high settings

 

Might take a little Overclocking but Im determined...

 

LOL !!! I'm going to buy the Asus G71G-A1... It just seems to be the best deal for just 1784.54 $ or something like that... come on guys.. say something about it, can u handle this beast?

 

Pictures, lots of pictures! Congratz!

EDIT: Does is come with a 9800M GT or GS?

 

Gonna need a stronger rig if you wanna play solitaire at max mate...

 

I have been watching the Asus notebooks for a while now (after being driven from the gateway debacle; i.e. instability and poor build quality), reading posts to this forum (which are usually very helpful) and am on the fence regarding 15 or 17" models w/the 9800m GS card. I thought I had finally settled on the 17" when I discovered one disgruntled reviewer's post on NewEgg regarding the G71G (I've searched the A1/A2 and X2 and all have the same chassis design). Said reviewer noted only ONE USB port (combo'ed with the eSATA port). I have looked at images of numerous G50's and ALL of them have 4+1 (eSATA combo) USB ports. I have done the same for the 71 series and made the same observation as the buyer, only ONE USB. I only found listings for the G71V & G70S at asus.com, but regardless, all models show 4 USB in the spec sheets. So, after all this build-up here's my Q.

THOSE OF YOU WHO ACTUALLY HAVE A G71 MACHINE IN FRONT OF YOU (sorry, but I also learned some love to provide opinions of something when asked for 1st-hand experience):

Does the G71G have more than 1 USB port?

Thanks

 

I have a G71G-A2 and it has 4 USB ports, at least. (not at home right now, but I know there are 4, can't recall if it has one on the back)

Don't know about the X model specifically on Newegg, but the person who made that post is probably only looking at pictures, not an owner. The ports are behind panels on the right and left, which you open to reveal several other ports as well.. Trust me, Asus isn't going to release a 1500-2000 laptop with one USB port, that would be stupid.

 

I suspected the slight "break" in the plastic near the back might be a door, but I thought to ask before making such a large purchase. It is possible the reviewer simply paniced when he only saw one port and immediately posted his negative thoughts. Why would someone post a review about a product they did not own? Oh, wait, I already mentioned that in my previous post.

Thanks for the info.

Have you done any benchmarking on the A2? I'm curious if the extra 2-gigs does anything to speed life along. Now I have to break down the different cost benefits of 1x320 (which I can upgrade later), 2x250 or 2x320 HDD, 2 gb Ram and a BD vs DVD w/o lightscribe. Pretty much the only differences in all the models, from $1699 to $2029 ($2099 on newegg & I am not considering the $2900 model) I'd love to hear your thoughts on your choice.

 

confirming: 2 usb ports on the left size. 2 usb ports on the right. none on the back.

 

Although I haven't done any benchmarking, I can tell you that Asus' Direct Console itself never shows the RAM usage to be over 50% even running a game and a browser and a media player all at once. ( I think the highest I have seen is actually 54% )

Also this G71G A2 comes with lightscribe, havent even tried using the burner let alone the lightscribe yet.

My opinion on the choices you listed is that I wanted a bigger screeen, and the higher rez. I have heard a lot of G50V owners talk about how big it is for a 15 inch. No mistake the G71 is huge, tho not as big as the Dells. It looks fantastic imo, I also prefer the red over the orange.

Imo, dont get it for the 2 extra gigs of RAM. Luckly I didn't want the BR drive, and had ordered it before they took away the option to remove it. Thus I got it for around 1800 rather than the over 2000 it would have cost.

Its nice having the two 320 hard drives, but I haven't made use of this advantage yet.

 

^ it comes with lightscribe? where did you see this?

 

Regarding the lightscribe, I saw the software on the program list and I don't know much about this technology. I did a little research and found that although Asus and HP can have lighscribe DVD enabled drives, this one doesn't have it. Don't know why the software is on here, when the hardware isn't. But well, it isn't. My bad.

 

Very helpful. For those following along:

g71g-A2: T9400 (2.53GHz 1066MHz, 6MB), 6GB RAM, 2x320GB HDD + BD $2029
g71g-A1: Same as A2 except; 2x250 GB HDD & no BD for $1839
g71g-X1: Same as A2 except; 1x320 GB HDD, 4GB RAM, no BD for $1650.

Based on your input about the unused 6GB, I am strongly leaning toward the X1. The BD is the only remaining hang-up. On that; I have been told the BD processor in the PS3 is nearly the best available. Folk's observations on the BD in these machines? Quality? Hiccups? Output to TVs/Receivers through the HDMI?

One final note is that Sager is selling off their old 800MHz 17" systems w/BD, 4GB, 9800M GTS, Vista Ultimate (32/64), 5300 WiFi (marked improvement over the 5100), 320GB HDD & T9300 (2.5GHz) w/Bag for $1830 shipped. That's a tempting option except for the "dead" CPU path.

Ugh, why can't I just spend $800 and saddle myself to a desktop. I already bought a killer 24" Ben-Q on sale for $280 @ NewEgg to output from the Laptop.

 

If you just game at home, then a desktop is probably a way better deal. I'm in the boons for 8-9hours a day with only my cellphone for internet, so yeah I can justify a gaming grade notebook. I have a killer desktop that if I'm at home I play on and hardly touch my notebook or any of my other PCs unless I need them for something (ripping DVD, encoding or server). And my desktop is a monster at half the price of my notebook (quad core, 4GB, 8800GTX and over 1.5TB of storage). An OC q6600 or q6700 is a great deal, better then most of the current lower end core 2 quads at a steal of a price! Can anyone tell why I leaned towards the C90s. Right now notebooks like the Asus g71, Gateway P781u and Sager notebooks are just so much better a deal then any other notebooks out there, if that's what you need.

 

The reason I am looking at laptops is because when I DO travel (right now at GF's 2 hrs away every other weekend), I don't like using other ppls computers, or if I feel like playing cards or such, I'm not installing said software on someone else's computer. I am at the point of a new desktop or laptop, because I am currently without at home (took into business). I moved away from games a while back, but that's not to say I want a POS GPU that will pi$$ me off if I DO play (why I've been holding out for the 9800M, but don't need GTX, or SLI), or 1 yr from now. I expect this unit to last for at least 2-3 yrs, PLUS have an upgrade path (CPU, GPU...maybe since GTX/GTX/GT versions can be found as options). My current desktop (heretofore taken into business) is nearly 4 yrs old and quite out-dated (but still running).

Anyway, again, helpful information

 

lol, I have a 4 year old PC that I upgraded the CPU, RAM and GPU over the years that's still able to play games one "High". CPU from AMD A64 3200>4000>x2 4600, RAM from 1GB>2GB Dual Channel and Video card from GF 6600>6800GT>7600GT>8800GTX(moved to main system)>8800GS, gotta love desktops.

 

Sigh, if only notebooks could easily be upgraded like that.


I'm also torn between getting a desktop or desktop replacement notebook like the G71 by January. Desktops are far more powerful and cheaper but yet the mobility of a notebook is tempting.

 

Just ordered a Asus G71G-A2 for myself, should be here tomorrow can't wait. I'll upload some pics when I get it.

 

CPU and RAM are that easy to upgrade, that's why I'm looking at the g71, to upgrade the CPU in the future for a quad core of some kind in a year or two when the price has dropped. The Video card is still the issue and in order to move notebooks they now max out the RAM.

The G71g-a2 is #1 right now on my short list, with Sager/Clevo in close second.

 

Problem is that the i7's won't be usable so the best we'll be able to update to is a Core 2 Quad (hopefully they keep ramping up the mobile versions for a while so 2 years from now they'll be cheap).

I'm hoping that the RAM will also be upgradable to 4GB modules when the price on those drop a bit more (I saw somewhere an 8GB limit on the machine but hopefully it's not a hard chipset limit and a new BIOS will be able to raise it). I'm primarily using it as a dev box with a bunch of VM's so the 6GB was a pretty big deal for me (and the Sager's were just too friggin' thick but the processor/memory combo on them was really tempting).

I ended up with an A1 which should be here Friday (didn't really need the BlueRay and with the A1 being $250 cheaper and the $200 MS Live ebay rebate The A1 came down to $1599 which was just too good to pass up).

 

Wait. What? $200 MS Live ebay rebate?

Did some searching, found out what you meant, did the live search in cashback link (logged in, of course) and didn't find a G71, or G50 anywhere, let alone eBay.

 

Do a search for "asus notebook" in live which will get you the ebay link. Once you get into ebay then search for "asus g71g" and you will see a bunch of them.

GentechPC, ExcaliberPC and a few others have storefronts in ebay that you can purchase through to get the rebate but still purchase from a reputable source (and free shipping as well if you're patient).

 

Also, for the users who purchased a G71G-A2 between 11/14/08~12/31/08, please don't forget to claim your FREE 3rd extended warranty through ASUS.

 

i've just uploaded some screen caps to the pic thread. but this might be a good place to add:

1. the BD drive is VERY quiet!

2. both hard drives (i forgot the codes, but they begin with "ST") are VERY quiet. Samsungs? i had a Samsung Spinpoint 2.5 and that thing made no noise at all. just like these. 7200rpm and almost dead quiet. nice.

3. screen is gorgeous. i'm not saying that because i just blew $2600 on it. if i can, i'll try and post comparison shots with that, my Inspiron 9400 and my calibrated BENQ FP241W. haven't patched it in with HDMI yet, but that's next. that said, the ASUS colour utility (can't remember the name now) is pretty useless as the colours are great now and it only makes them worse.

4. and confirming: one of the bloatwares is Lightscribe software. but the system doesn't detect any LS-capable drives.

 

Ordered mine officially today - should have it in a few weeks - I'm excited to upgrade from my W3j (though debating whether to sell it or hold on to it)

 

Is this laptop capable of being upgraded to solid state hard drives in the future?
Also is anyone concerned about the reports of nvidia gpu thermal failure issues? Anyone heard that that is not a problem with the 9800 in the G71?
Thanks

 

Yes you can upgrade to SSD but you might need to set SATA controller to compatible mode instead of Enhance mode.

 

Mind posting a link to your pics?

I've been searching up and down for "user" pictures of the 17" to get a frame for size. Someone posted a thorough g50vt review and measured the thing at 16"+ wide (picture included), which is what the 17" is supposed to be. My BIGGEST issue NOW is 15" or 17". I keep reading how BIG the 15" is(practically 17" scale"), which had me thinking "hell, I'll just get the 17", then thinking "how inaccurate are the "spec" dimensions of the 17" if the 15" is so much bigger than published?"

Also, I just bought a Ben-Q G2400 and would prob be dual-monitoring the setup, but I can find another home for the 24" if the 17" is that big, or good. I know we're only talking $200, I just don't want the 17" to be like a television, because it's so much larger than it's supposed to be.

This is my first desktop replacement laptop and I just don't want to be unhappy, because it's too small when I take it somewhere (or too big for it's screen size ) or just too big to want to take it anywhere (my ability to carry the device isn't a question, just how overtly akward it is to not be on a large desk).

 

right here: http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=326339

thread is titled "ROG G71G-A2 pics!"

 

Go with the 17" Ult - especially if you're worried the 15" (screen) might be too "small".

I probably won't have mine for another 2 weeks so I can't comment on it's size relative to everything else until then.

 

Oh, yeah, I've seen these pictures. Would you be so very kind as to take a few pics with a measuring tape spread across the notebook in the various dims? Maybe with the book next to something "common" for size reference, too (hell, even in your LAP, since is IS a laptop )? I'm sure folks reading/discussing in your other thread are thinking what I'm asking, just haven't yet.

I'm probably being a pain; it's the engineer in me. My guess is most opt for the 15" over 17" bc they think it will be sized as spec'ed (like my 3 yr old HP ZV6000), only to find it's more like a 17". I would be less worried about the classic "Your results may vary" if I had some concrete #'s and visuals about this 17".

 

ASUS specs: http://www.asus.com/products.aspx?l1=5&l2=74&l3=763&l4=0&model=2415&modelmenu=2

Not always reliable, but usually they are.

 

How long does it take to have a retailer like Gentech to send the computer

 

I guess they have shipping times listed on their website?

 

do they use SEAGATE's 7200.3 7200rpm's?

 

Think it said "WD or Seagate" on one of the descriptions I read while researching.

 

Man I am pissed, after waiting 2 months for the Asus g71g-a2 to be released then another 4 day for shipping. It did not have ddr3(which is not a big deal), no subwoofer, and no raid as advertised by gentechpc. I am thinking of downgrading to a Asus G71g-A1 or even a Asus G50Vt-A2(is the screen too small?). I dont mean to rant. wat do yall think?