Asus M50SA-AK002C hands-on experience Radeon HD3650 inside!

I have for a while wanted the M50 model from asus seeing as it offers good performance/features at an acceptable price. I want the Nvidia 9500GS model, but got bored from waiting and bought the only M50 model for sale here (Norway) yet - the M50SA-AK002C

I got it an hr ago so not really done any testing on it, and since there is awesome reviews here on other M50 versions I'll not bother writing one either, but instead take a look at performance/battery life the coming days.

Major specs:
Intel T9300 - 2.5GHz
ATI Radeon Mobile HD3650 1Gb VRAM
WSXGA+ display (1680 x 1050).
3GB RAM
DVD-Multi (LG GSA-T20L)
320GB 5400rpm HDD (Western Digital)
6 cell battery.

First impressions are great so far, it feels way more classy than my "old" Acer 5920G, not to mention I really like the 1680 x 1050 display! And the Asus cost just 10% more with way better specs.

Fan spins constantly but at really low RPM, so the HDD writing/reading makes more noise, under heavy load the fan speed up a bit but still barely noticeable.

And I REALLY like the touchpad on this one, best touchpad I've used so far. Don't know why really, but it's very responsive and accurate.

Keyboard is good/ numpad is always useful, ctrl button placed correct! My old compal had the fn button to the left, I hate it

Will post more as soon as I have time to test it more, feel free to ask questions, but don't expect too many answers, currently working 12hr/day. So spare time is very limited.

 

Grats on the new purchase!!

I'm eagerly waiting for mine to arrive. *twiddle*

 

Thanks for the information on the new ATI card.

I just tested G1Sn-B1 with 3GB of RAM to compare:

 

Thanks, looks like ATI HD3650 is slightly slower than Nvidia 9500GS then.

But still good 320GB HDD and 1680 x 1050 still makes this slightly better to my tastes. (as I do not want the g1sn, bigger and uglier, and cost more)

Tested the speakers now, and they are loud and clear for an laptop, still I feel my Acer 5920G has better sound.

Battery life seems to be just below 2hrs, with default battery saving prifile. My Acer made just over 3hrs, so like everybody say.... Asus could improve on battery saving features.... or maybe their batteries just doesn't perform as good as adverticed.

I just realized I cant actually hear the fan under normal use, it's the HDD spinning I hear Fan never stops though, not even when using max battery saving, many other laptops can go on for quite some time with fan off before getting too hot and then start the fan.

 

Congrats and nice update - Thanks... I just sold my Dell 1520 (too bulky and heavy - but nice LCD and graphics) so I'm on the lookout for a new 15" system. Kinda disappointed in the 3dMark06 though. But, my experience (granted, with only two games) was that the ATI HD2600 on my ASUS F8SA was a little faster than the 8600GT on my 1520. Hope to see a full review soon...

 

heyy try 2 overclock it ur name is OC-Freak

 

This GPU is so fresh most programs doesn't know what it is, or features of it. And there are no driver updates to find for it yet.

Here is what I've managed to find so far about it and its driver version.

 

They shouldh ave made the mobility 3690

 

I managed to run some other resolution tests in 3DMark06, tried to select the ones closest to the resulutions the M50SV uses.

M50SV review for reference: http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=229282

M50SV(nvidia 9500GS) 1280 x 720, total of 921600 pixels to render. Score: 3580 3DMarks.
M50SA (ATI HD3650) 1280 x 768, total of 983040 pixels to render. Score: 3818 3DMarks.

More pixels rendered and higher score with ATI HD3650, ATI wins.

M50SV(nvidia 9500GS) 1440 x 900, total of 1296000 pixels to render. Score: 3089 3DMarks.
M50SA (ATI HD3650) 1400 x 1050, total of 1470000 pixels to render. Score: 3148 3DMarks.

Again more pixels rendered and higher score with ATI HD3650, ATI wins.

So it seems the HD3650 is indeed faster than Nvidia 9500GS, I guess the g1Sn have other system differences making it faster. But for M50 with 9500GS vs M50 with HD3650 it's clear that the ATI card is faster. So I have no reasons to regret not waiting for the 9500GS version.

 

and here is 1280x1024 score as well for reference, 3332 3DMarks.

 

But don't ATI cards regularly score higher on benchmarks like 3d mark? How about some in game fps scores for true gaming reference.

 

I dunno, but the desktop 3650 is not even as good as the 2600XT so that should give you an idea.

3650= 2600PRO with DX10.1 so I think it would be similar to the 9500M GS

 

I do not have any new games, only game I play is world of warcraft. So I do not really have any games to push this computer with

Bought it more for large HDD and large resolution, and having good GFX/CPU is never wrong when looking forward...... I plan to keep this laptop for at least 3 years before upgrading.

 

I decided to run 3DMark06 on my Asus F3SA-A1 to see how it compares with the newer notebooks you are describing. On my first run through, my notebook managed to score a 3297. I applied the hot patch, stopped AVG and ASUS Wireless Console 2, and scored 3292.

My F3SA-A1 has the following vitals:

T7500 (2.2GHz)
3GB RAM
ATI HD 2600 (running ATI 8.3 drivers; no overclocking)
15.4" WXGA (1280x800)
160GB 5400 rpm hard drive (with 1GB Intel Turbo Memory)
DVD Super Multi

Not bad scores for a discontinued notebook, in my opinion.

Jeremy

__________

 

HD3650 is just slightly faster than HD2600, and 0.3GHz more on the CPU doesn't make an hell of a difference

 

There is no real difference between the 3650 and 2600 just a die shrink + dx10.1. with the 9500gs its essentially an 8600gt + die shrink.

 

I think the ATI cards have more hardware power, its just a matter of them getting drivers together to pull the performance out, also most of there cards have a higher gain from overclock recently.

 

Hey by some really really odd chance would the 3650 happen to be MXM-II in those notebooks? I saw in designs for the card that it looked like an MXM-II design but I didn't know if Asus decided to make special units for the notebooks or if they just used MXM-II. I ask not for the card these units recieved but because on their website ATI said they were putting GDDR4 on the 3650. It would be one speedy little card if it did. Probably best an 8700gt and maybe even bridge the gap to an 8800gts, mostly limited by the 128-but memory.

 

I have been waiting for a while on a review of some sort on this laptop and by some weird irony it was a fellow Norwegian who did it. I am anxious to see som real gaming experience on this. I am hoping you would try som games other than WOW Maybe you could post some on Hardware.no ?

As you said, the ATI-card look better on paper when you look at the hardware compared to 9500, but please try some games...

 

so, the HD3650 is much better than the 9500GS?? by how many percent the differences??

also is the M50SA available at someplace else?? like to customize it a bit...

 

Not tested a lot but I feel it's more or less same as 9500GS, I'd not let the GFX be the deciding factor between different M50 version with 9500G or HD3650.

 

the egg has this one M50Sa-AK023C with 4g and a 500g hd wonder if it is dual hd or just one single could't find anything on the asus page

 

Will comparing GPU specification between the desktop Radeon HD 3650 and the Geforce 8600M GT (being similar to the 9500M GS) it can be observed that the the Geforce has more horsepower when it comes to hardware:

 

Ordered my M50Sa-AK023C on friday should be here by wed. Ill post some scores when I get it. The hard drive is a single 500GB drive. I believe its a samsung or fujitsu. Should come in handy for all my apps, games and music production sample libraries. I will be in touch!

 

Im deciding between the M50sa model or the M50sv model. I'm not an expert on graphic performance. but i've been reading some good reviews about the 9500gt. I'd love more comparisons between the two graphic cards. (hd3650 and the 9500gt)

 

I think the difference would be so small not to worry about it, the SA model has a bigger Hdd and higher screen res ect at the same price and given that I think the SA model is better. I just found out about it today after all my raving about the M50SV guess now I gotta rave about the M50SA instead

Fully decked out 500gb hdd, 4gb ram, ect ect 1500$ USD?? yes please.

still tho with my c90 in my hands no reason to upgrade (not to mention no funds)

 

Hi, does anybody knows the battery life M50SA? I'd like to know, how long will be NB alive. E.G. when you're playing games and when you're using internet, BT etc.

Thanks

 

funny thing is i've been waiting for the m70 to arrive and just fond out about the m50 yesterday afternoon. What a pleasant discovery. Now i can't wait to get my hands on one. 500gig hard drive sounds pleasing!

 

I don't have data about this particular notebook, but I suspect 2 to 3 hours on light tasks (most likely around 2:30). And less than 2 during gaming, perhaps around 1 hour.

Check the M50XX reviews some of them have batt numbers, those should be pretty similar.

 

CPU
CPU Type Intel Core 2 Duo
CPU Speed T9300(2.50GHz)
CPU FSB 800MHz
CPU L2 Cache 6MB

Chipset
Chipset Intel PM965
Display
Screen Size 15.4"
Wide Screen Support Yes
Display Type Wide SXGA+
Resolution 1680 x 1050

Operating Systems
Operating System Windows Vista Home Premium

Graphics
GPU/VPU ATI Mobility Radeon HD 3650
Video Memory Dedicated 1024MB
Graphic Type Dedicated Card

Hard Drive
HDD 500GB
HD RPM 5400rpm

Memory
Memory Speed DDR2 667
Memory 4GB
Max Memory Supported 4GB
Memory Spec 2GB x 2

Optical Drive
Optical Drive Type DVD Super Multi
Optical Drive Interface Integrated

$1499

 

Hi, looking for a new laptop I am considering the ASUS M50SA or the M70SA. But I found no review of the M70SA on this forum! Can someone tell me if there is a review of the M70SA and were I can find it?

General specifications M70SA:
* Intel Core 2 Duo T9300 (2.5Ghz; 6Mb L2 Cache; 800Mhz FSB)
* 1 TerraByte Harddisk 5400RPM (2 x 500GB)
* 4096MB DDR2 667 (2 x 2048)
* Blue-Ray Combo Drive: Blue-Ray Reader, 8* DVD-SuperMulti Drive Dual Layer
* 8-in-1 card reader (MMC / SD / Mini-SD / XD / Memory Stick / MS Pro / MS-Duo / MS-Pro-Duo)
* ATI Mobility Radeon HD3650 1GB
* 1 x VGA Port, 4 x USB 2.0 ports, 3 Audio Jack: Audio Out / SPDIF / Mic-In, 1 x Lan RJ-45 (10/100/1000Mbps), 1 x Phone RJ-11, 1 x 1394 Type Jack (FireWire), 1 x HDMI, 1 x CIR for Remote Control, 1 x TV-Antenna, 1 x AV-In, 1 x Light Sensor, 1 x e-SATA Port
* Internal Hybride (digital + analogue) TV Tuner incl. Remote Control
* 17'' WUXGA TFT 1920 x 1200/ 1.3M Webcam
* Windows Vista Home Premium NL/UK/FR
* 4965AGN W-Lan 300Mbps/ Bluetooth 2.0
*dimensions: 41 * 31.5 * 4.6 cm(W x D x H); 4.4 Kg (8-cell)

 

I didn't see any review...

 

The M70Sv is not out yet, therefore no reviews

 

M70 is out like in a week I think.

 

1h 50mins with battery saving profile and doing office work/internet surfing - wireless network car on.

1h 20min to 1h 30 mins when gaming or watching DVD-Video.

This is with the 6 cell battery. 4800mAh.

So yeah, Asus has done pretty poor work on battery saving feature.

My Acer 5920g which also has 4800mAh battery do 3h 30 mins on battery saving/office use with wlan on. And 2:40 - 3hrs when gaming/watching DVD-video. The Asus has more powerful CPU, but then again it has 45nm CPU vs 65nm in the Acer..... so Acer has got battery saving features a lot better than Asus - or asus or acer got their battery capacities wrong.... both are supposed to be 4800mAh, yet Acer lasts twice as long as asus on battery.

 

I just bought the M50Sa-AK023C from Newegg today. I won't see it for awhile since it is being shipped to Iraq. I decided on that since it seems to have decent graphics horsepower (also being a step up from my "old" G1). I just bought my G1 around a year ago, but I need a little more power. I checked out Sager and Dell, but for a 15.4" gamer I like Asus. Heck, even if it doesn't turn out to be that great, I'm only out 1,500 and I'll have two mid-range Asus laptops. Hopefully it turns out to be the small upgrade I'm expecting.

-Dustin

 

Any chance you could post the model number on the LCD panel? Just was curious what brand they were using in the SA model.

Come on already, give us an update

 

Could someone clear up some benchmark confusion for me. The 9500 gs scores better at 1280 x 1024, while the 3650 has better scores at 1280 x 768 and 1400x1050. does that make any sense the CPUs are the same and the memory is the same and I'm assuming that the hard drives are kind of irrelevant, so what's the difference. I kind of figured the ati would have better scores at higher resolutions but why the lower one as well. So I guess the question is, what is different about the G1 that gives it an advantage over the M50's?

 

The 1680 x 1050 panel in my M50SA is CMO 1523.

And sagail, yes it looks like something is better opimized in the G1S as it scores slightly better than an M50 with similar specs.

 

Also, I thought these new 45nm CPU's were supposed to run pretty cool

I'm still getting 64-65 deg C average and peaks as high as 69 deg C sometimes on my CPU under load.

Also, anyone knows any programs that can measure temps on ATI cards? Wonder how hot my HD3650 runs.

 

Wasn't there something called RivaTuner? I've never used it, so I can't be sure.

As to the heat, yeah... I've quit expecting lower temps with die shrinks. ASUS isn't very good with power and heat management... either that or the gain in TDP with reduced die size is more marketing than reality.

 

To me, my M50Sv-A1 runs real cool. Here is a link to the temps in Fahrenheit:

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=230106

If my conversion is correct, the hottest point on the A1 is at the heat vent which is 40 degree C. According to Excaliber's post, the CPU would be even cooler.

I'm wondering if the M50Sa runs hotter?

 

Can any of the owners check how high the primary internal hard drive bay is?

The current 2.5" hard drives come in 3 heights: 9.5mm, 12.5mm and 15mm (9.5 was the most used height, but it seems new 500GB drives are 12.5mm).

(Yes I want to know if the Velociraptor will fit )

 

CPU temp is measured by Core Temp which so far has been very accurate for me.

 

If I am not mistaken the M50SA actually has 2 HDD bays.

 

Weird, I downloaded the english manual from the site and it shows only one hard drive bay (and only speaks of one as well). Page 46.

 

In all the specs like newegg it just says 500gb hdd, however one of the use reviews says it has 2x250gb hdd's. It makes more sense to me because a 500gb hdd would be very rare and expensive and I just dont see them being handed out in a cheap laptop.

Its more of a guess on my part but it has some logical backup. Anybody on the forums that owns the model can easily tell us.

 

really?

Where is a user review that says the m50 has 2 hdds?

I think you mean the model called the m70.

It does seem strange to be the only computer on the market with this hd, not like a dell or an hp but an asus consumer model.

But it must be the case

edit i found a user review on newegg that claimed it was 2 hds but he could easily be wrong and they are two partitions.

 

Yeah, I just have never seen a stock model partitioned like that.

I want to know myself and I am sure somebody will let us know soon, and one thing about partitions is that you only lose HDD space for the main partition, in this case he was claiming abit less than 250gb on both "drives" and that also leads me to think its 2 separate hdd's.

 

Hmm... Could the be stacked on top of each other? Asus does seem to use a rather strange mount (a bracket over the drive(s) with 4 screws in line with the platter axis going through the bracket in the laptop body).