Asus N56VJ-DH71 (N56 refresh)

Ken,

When you used to sell the Asus N56VZ-DS71 specifically what RAM brand and model did you install with the 16GB (2X8) upgrades?

Thanks!


...Glenn

 

Thanks for the info..

Regards.

 

We used to use Corsair CMSX16GX3M2A1600C10 and G.Skill F3-1600C11D-16GSQ, but later found out brand names doesn't mean anything since different batch could be different IC:

http://forum.notebookreview.com/asus/677457-asus-n56vz-16gb-ram-thread-2.html#post8987033


We now only use RAM with Micron IC D9QBJ and never have problems.

No problem.

 

Thanks for the detailed response ken... no actually, thank you for ALL of your responses in all these threads! :thumbsup:


...Glenn

 

Where can i get the 16gb version of the micron ram?

 

Hi, i am having the same problem as you, i bought it december 24th when it was in special and i didn't really have the time to really discover it. And I realize that i don't even have the blacklit keyboard also. I know we have a 1 year warranty, so do you think i should do like you and try to exchange it? Because it's BestBuy mistake... So what do you think i should do?? I don't think it's too late, if i still have my waranty! And does the N56VZ better or not?

Thank you

 

Hi Asus lovers
I'm trying to choose between Samsung Chronos 700z5c and Asus N56VZ/VJ
As Samsung users said I have a final agony before making a decision.
What is your opinion?

When turned on shopping mode for a laptop, I wanted Macbook pro 15" like laptop with matte display, windows and normal cooling, I did not look at old style device like.. wanted slim design, solid body, good matte screen HD+ or FHD, non U CPU, good GPU. Good option - ASUS UX51/52 - out of budget.
I'm going to use laptop at work (web, office, vmware fusion) with external monitor, then take the laptop and do some moderate gaming at home.

Asus N56VZ i7 3615QM, GT650M, 750Gb 7.2k, FHD
Pros:
1. Screen is much better, this is the main advantage.
2. Asus is ranked higher than Samsung in my country, people think that Samsung laptops are not very good
3. Should have better sound
4. Good reviews
5. Better 7.2k hdd (can be replaced with SSD anyway not really advantage.)
Cons:
1. Size, weight 2.7kg
2. Feels like 2008 design, i.e. thick.
3. Build feels like more plastic. Don't like old style rounded bottom of the laptop. Palm rest is plastic probably.
4. One button Touchpad maybe. Does Samsung have the same?

Concerns:
-I'm afraid that N56 will get really hot and throttle all the GPU/CPU power. Probably I should go for N56VJ with i5 3210/3230 and GT635M just to get it cooler.
-I saw a post in ASUS thread that N56VZ (GT650M) is discontinued and is replaced with N56VJ (GT635M). Why? Asus page says it is still in production. Again feel like buying outdated product in case of VZ. What model should I go for then? Both still are available in my country.
-Does Windows 7 (I hate W8) works well with scaling? I feel like FHD on 15.6 with 100% scale, then everything will be too small for easy reading.

Samsung 700z5c i5 3210, GT640M, 1Tb 5400rpm, (will not wait for 770z5e)
Pros:
1. i like the design, good looking, compact, thin and light... small bezel
2. Good build quality?
3. Should be cooler. Feels like GT640M is a sweet spot.
Cons:
1. Screen contrast and viewing angles. Could be it is not so very mega important, cause I will use external monitor at work. Anyway screen is important part of the computer and i need it at home, so is Samsung screen so bad for a naked eye? (sorry already asked)
2. Local rumors that Samsung is bad, small wifi/touchpad problems reported in forums.

Thank you.
Nick

 

Hey mate,

I just bought an N56VZ S4387H with the i7 3630, 1080p screen, 4GB GT650 and 16 gigs of ram. It has by far the best cooling system I've seen in a laptop of its size.

Even when running heavy programs the cooling seems to manage sufficiently. So far I've downgraded back to Windows 7 and prefer it so much more. Using the standard theme, I find it scales really well on 1080p screen.

In terms of design, I find it masks its size really well and appears really quite thin at a glance due to the aluminium palmrest and black base. I really like the design and the build quality seems to be pretty good overall. It's not very thick and it worked out lighter than I was expecting.

Mine had a standard 2yr warranty which I extended to 3 years. Not sure what the sammys come with though.

I would recommend using a mouse as well with the N56 as the touchpad is a bit stiff imo. No other real cons.

 

I've got a question for everyone else...

I just installed a Crucial M4 512 (and it's amazingly great!) into my N56 and have found that the back removable panel doesn't snap 100% back in.

If I take the whole HD caddy out and snap the panel back in, the panel slides in with no gap, however, with the caddy and ssd in, it doesn't appear to slide completely back in and leaves about a 2-3mm gap.

It's noticeable enough that when I place the laptop in front of me and feel under the right front side where the HD bulge is, I can feel the sharp join where the plastic panels don't slightly line up.

I'm going to look at the caddy tonight and see what may be stopping it. Has anyone else noticed this issue?

Cheers, Jim

 

It Sounds like the two tabs on the front edge of the access panel are somehow not engaging the corresponding tabs on the chassis bottom. The access panel tabs have to HOOK UNDER the chassis bottom tabs! Either the SSD height is somehow hindering the panel tabs from sliding UNDER the mating chassis tabs OR maybe the access panel tabs themselves are mashed down a bit and do not have a big enough gap to slide UNDER the chassis tabs.

If the SSD is pressing against the access panel a bit while you are seating it you might also want to try and gently place a bit of extra pressure on those two tabs before and while sliding the panel back in! Again, also check the access panel tab gap to be sure it is large enough to slide UNDER the corresponding chassis bottom tabs in case they somehow got mashed down!

Tonight I hope to install a new Samsung 840 Pro SSD in my N56VZ so we will see how that goes!


...Glenn

 

Bought N56VJ-DH71. Installed 16gb of Crucial vengeance 1600 ram, Samsung 840 pro 512 GB SSD, and replaced DVD with HD caddy. This machine smokes and is a great buy. 16 GB of ram, 1.5 TB of of storage, 6 second boot up time, and all for less than $1500. Passmark Perfomance Test scores now at 2500. I love this machine.

 

Hi...did you need any spacers or extra bits to fit the 840 in?....or is it just a straight swap?
Any problems getting all the drivers for the clean install?
thx grant.

 

No you don't need spacers to fit 840 series, the brackets will fit both 7mm and 9mm drives.

The provided drivers DVD are automated so no problems at all.

 

Hi Grant,

I have provided the following post to your other posts also.

The Samsung 840 Pro SSD will fit in perfectly fine with no spacers needed as my new 840 Pro install went smoothly ! :thumbsup:

*** NOTE: Be careful to remember where each of the the (4) screws go back when removing the metal caddy that holds the HDD and /or the new SSD as THREE of the screws are the same length and ONE is shorter then the other three! ... Therefore be sure to be aware of which screws go where when replacing them back!

Also, after you remove the (4) screws holding the hard drive retention bracket there is a small plastic flexible pull tab tucked down below in the space on the side of the drive that you will use to pull the drive slightly up and then out sideways. Replacing the drive is just the reverse order.

*** NOTE: after you install the new Samsung SSD you will want to check to see if the FIRMWARE is the latest version!
To do this you will first install the new SSD hardrive and then you will have to install your OS so that you can get web access to check and download if necessary the latest version firmware from Samsungs site. Right after your OS install you should be able to get web access as the OS supplied default drivers are enough to get things basically working.

*** SEE BELOW for Windows 8 Installation stuff!

Windows 8 Upgrade ISO - Download or Create

UEFI (Unified Extensible Firmware Interface) - Install Windows 8 with[1]=General Tips

UEFI Bootable USB Flash Drive - Create in Windows

To check what firmware version you currently have and to be able to easily download an update if required from Samsungs site you will need to use the Magician Software that normally comes on the supplied software disk. I was not able to use the particular Magician software that was supplied with the drive ( maybe for Windows 7) so after loading Windows 8 I right away went to Samsungs support area for the 840 Pro and downloaded the latest Windows 8 version of Magician.

After installing Magician software, I clicked on the desktop icon for Magician and found that my current version was the older DXM03B0Q version so I then downloaded the newer latest DXM04B0Q version. You can now also see if your SATA configuration is set to the recommended for SSD ACHI mode which mine was but I had already checked in BIOS beforehand and my particular N56VZ was in the ACHI mode by default.

Very easy to physically remove the HDD and install the SSD... took maybe 5 minutes tops! The Magician software download and firmware update took another maybe 10 to 15 minutes. The whole HDD removal, SSD install, Magician software / firmware update thing is a 15 to 20 minute job and the fresh Windows 8 OS install from an OEM disk I have took maybe 15 minutes.

The thing that took the longest was for me to install the various Drivers & Utilities from the Asus supplied disk. I installed the Asus disk and then installed all the Drivers first and then I unticked the Install All box for the Utilities and cherry picked the things that I wanted to install. It takes a bit of time when installing things from the Asus utilities disk as you have to restart the computer a number of times between items.

*** NOTE: After you install the utilities that you want you can insert the Asus Utilities disk at anytime later and it will show you the items that you have not downloaded yet so you can start out with just a few key items and then come back and install what you may want later!

*** NOTE: After I completed the SSD install, clean Windows 8 OS install, Drivers & Utilities install and SSD Magicain software and firmware update I was notified at one point that there were 29 various updates awaiting. I was not prompted again nor did I see any downloading activity regarding any updates but when I later accessed the Power icon in the Charms Bar (upper or lower right corner UI) I noticed that the "Update and Restart" button was available now so I clicked that and the various updates began to commence.

In closing, keep in mind that my particular SSD install was easier than some as I was removing a brand new HDD and installing the new SSD, freshly reinstalling the OS and Asus Drivers & Utilities (minus the Bloatware ) from an OEM disk and Asus supplied Utility disk with no migration of any existing data. Of course, if you are replacing an HDD with resident personal data you would have to backup your data first and then restore all that after the SSD and OS install. I also installed Windows 8 from an OEM disk and since the Product Keys are embedded within the BIOS I did not have to use / waste the supplied product keys, hence I can still use the OEM Windows 8 disk for another computer / install.

After my upgrade to SSD, from initial power on to Lock Screen the boot time went from 11 seconds (HDD) to 6 seconds with the new SSD... impressive indeed!



Hope this helps!


...Glenn

 

Hey guys! I started this thread back in October -- about a month later, I concluded months of searching and agony and ended up with the Samsung NP700Z5C (which means I hang out here a lot), but I wanted to say that I'm really impressed with the activity and helpfulness on this thread. It's particularly great to see GenTechPC here, and close contact between shoppers, owners, and retailers.

In any case, I'm happy to stay tuned in to the conversation. But I wanted to note that the OP is particularly dusty and outdated -- if at any point you'd like something newer or fresher posted there, please do not hesitate to make a suggestion here or PM me and I'll be happy to update it! For the record: I'm a HUGE Asus fan (I've lost count of the number of Asus devices I own) and get really, really irritated when people say things like "Love the motherboards, hate their PCs." I have to admit they have an awful CS reputation (at least on Amazon) but knock-on-wood I've had consistently positive experiences with highly reliable machines.

-Matt

 

Any word on a touch screen version?

 

So far Asus's touchscreen laptops are their Vivobook and few Ultrabook product line.

 

Thanks! Will wait around a bit to see if they'll add one, was the only thing holding me back from ordering.

 

Alrighty, Former PC user, turned mac, turned back to PC due to budget constraints and tired of being ripped off and limited to upgrades, AND a sincere hatred of glossy screens! (i know they come in matte... why should i pay more for that !?!??)

so...I picked up a:
ASUS N56VJ-WH71 Laptop Computer - 3rd generation Intel Core i7-3630QM 2.4GHz, 6GB DDR3, 750GB HDD, DVDRW, 2GB NVIDIA GeForce GT 635M, 15.6" Display, Windows 8 64-bit
from tiger direct last week. late night, minimal research buy... ya i know. it was only $699 so thought i had a deal in hand... :/
so i unpack it an start it up today. ok win8, not working for me, but i can live with it. what i cannot live with is the incredibly poor performance so far. I'm currently on a 3 year old mac mini (mid 2010) dual core with 8gb ram, that is smoking this laptop in browsing, photoshop, etc... that really sucks, because my mac mini is way too slow for me, hence the new buy.
i work as a digital painter and use photoshop quite a bit, and im very tired of it lagging on my when i use the smudge tool and work on large files. i.e. 6000px x 3000px wide or larger.

My requirements: awesome ps6 performance, light 3d work (zbrush), light gaming

i want to make this computer work for me... from what ive read its got good bones, just bad digs at the moment.

Ive deleted most of the bloatware, but the results are minimal in performance, ran ccleaner. i know theres much more i can do..

so i can upgrade the RAM, but the task manager is showing the most use on the HD.
its one or the other right now. any advice on how to soup this laptop up for my specific needs on a $200-300 additional budget?
Also, can i downgrade to win7 on this model. asus has been very unhelpful in answering this...
thanks ahead of time!

 

What 16GB ram works for you?
Also, what are the temps for the 650m playing?
I am hitting 86C wow no OCing for this machine

 

Do not order from adorama camera, coz they do not accept DOA refund/return. Once you open the box, it's become your own responsibility. the only option is to contact manufacturer if it has a problem.
What i said is According to the sales manager of adorama

 

@Ken Lee / @GenTechPC

Can we have some disassambly videos for this notebook? I guess all disassamblies for N56VX series should be the same.. if that is so.. then i think any disassambly video for the series would do..

any links.. for the same?

Thanks for the support.

Regards

 

+1 thats correct.. i also contacted adorama some time back,, if i remember it correctly. this is correct, once you open the box.. they wont help you with anything.

 

I can try make a disassembly video and yes, all N56Vx series are the same.

 

Thanks!! eagerly waiting for one!

 

These things run hot, I am hitting 86C when running BF3. Never OC'ed either, I saw in your options you guys have an option for extra cooling pipes.
Looking forward to the disassembly video, and to cooling this thing down.

 

@ken ... Hello ken.. desperately need your help..

i tried to change the "preboot xHCI" setting in the bios and since then i am not able to boot my notebook.. the display is just dead.. not even the asus logo is there upon powerup..

is there a way to hard reset the bios somehow??... looks like i will be needing the disassembly video now!

see my other post about this

is there something you can help me with?

Thanks so much

 

Video is up

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VC_GLPNtn2I

It should only affect native USB ports so not sure why the system won't post anymore. you can try remove all USB devices, laptop battery and disconnect the AC and try turn it on with AC only see if it will start working.

There is no way to reset BIOS without remove the CMOS battery.

 

Thanks ken.. for the video... i am greatful for this disassambly video...

i am downloading the video right now...(internet problems at my end.. was buffering a lot..)
please also see my problem in this youtube video

Do you think cmos battery removal can fix this? can a bios corruption can lead to the shown behavour (dead display)?

I want to mention here that the hdd gets to spin in this state, because when i poweroff the system, i can hear the spin down of the hdd, like it used to when the notebook was alive.

Also, is it possible to keep intact the warranty void sticker and still access the cmos battery that is on the other side of the board,surely i have no plans to play with the heat sink and the cpu!

The video you posted doesnot cover the underside of the board, can you provide any other information on accessing the underside? any images,which underside is the battery is placed,which screws to open indicating any hidden screws.. etc..

Really...thanks for your help...ken.

 

No guaranteed if remove the CMOS battery can fix it, it will reset the BIOS if it's not damaged.

change preboot XHCI shouldn't cause laptop won't post, unless your BIOS was having issues to begin with. one of the other forum member also had same problem by changing DVMT to 256MB but still, it shouldn't cause system won't post:


N56-BIOS - YouTube


When you disassemble the laptop make sure don't touch the warranty void sticker.

Here is the pictures of the CMOS battery on the other side of the mainboard:

 

Thanks so much for the battery images..

how much time shall i keep the cmos battery removed? 10 minutes would be fine?

 

few seconds would be enough.

still could be the mainboard issue or bad BIOS, davebugyi has similar problem and end up send his unit in to replace the mainboard:

http://forum.notebookreview.com/asus/714764-asus-n56vz-no-logo-no-post-no-boot-no-screen.html

 

I just bought the ASUS N56VJ-DH71 laptop yesterday but I don't have it yet.
I'm wondering if there's a good optical drive caddy I can get to replace the optical drive with a SSD and have 2 hard drives that matches with the laptop.

EDIT:
Also, will a virtual clone drive work if I remove the optical drive?

Should I swap the Hard drive inside the laptop with the SSD and then put that hard drive in the optical drive?
I want my OS on the SSD (and C drive) and I don't know if the placement matters.
My preference is to have all the OS junk and installed programs on the C drive while my D drive is where I store files (I never use the libraries or C/users folder)

Sorry for all the questions!

 

@ gentechpc/ken

Hello ken, i saw one of your post regarding a bootable bios flashable cd that you created for a user here and helped him eventually to recover the bios for him..

I have a hope that this way i might be able to refalsh the bios on my notebook.. please have a look in this video that shows the way the notebook is trying to boot a windows bootable installation disk two times.

I have removed the battery, and hdd and powering up the notebook like this:
ctrl+home pressed -> then plugging in the adapter -> pressing the power button.

the first time the dvd spins down after trying to boot, the keyboard backlight comes up again.. then it goes for a second try at the boot...
earlier to this,i was trying to do this with the hdd present. and in that case the dvd booting behaviour was like the second boot lookup in the video.. and thats all.. and there was just one boot lookup in that case.

so do i have any hopes that the bootable cd with the correct bios would do the reflashing?

can you help me creating the bootable iso that i can use? for N56VJ

thanks a bunch..

P.S i havent yet opened my notebook..

 

If you have the original DVD with drivers for the notebook it should work - it has the (older) BIOS stored on it and will be able to reflash it. Just use the same method you tried.
Unfortunately that did not work for me, thus sending it back to RMA.

 

It worked for him because his BIOS wasn't damage. the reason he got a black screen is because he flashed the wrong BIOS with different video card, so the BIOS was looking for AMD X1700 but his laptop has AMD X1600 with different vBIOS.

But your issue wasn't cause by BIOS flash right?

 

yes you are correct i did not flash the bios.. but i was changing the bios settings which bricked my notebook.. so i think if i reflash the bios in some way.. i would be able to get my system back.. as its not booting due to some clashing of the saved settings. and i want to try this last step if decide to remove the cmos battery. pls share that iso. or tell me how to create one.. anyone of it will do.

Thanks.

 

If it was a setting you should be able to remove the CMOS battery for 60 seconds and reset it to factory defaults.

 

I can test the ISO on a N56VJ see if it works that way, if it does I can make you one but it only works if your laptop is still bootable even you only got a black screen.

 

hello ken,
it surely does not boot, but it might boot with a bootable cd.. this is what i am hoping at best, as a last resort.
so if possible please help in sharing that iso.

many thanks.

 

Hi guys,

Where can I buy backlit keyboard for my N56VJ which unfortunately doesn't have it. I tried ti search Amazon through with no results.

 

Have you checked the motherboard has a header for the led lights on it?

 

No. Is it necessary in this model? If yes, then all I can do is to get a new mobo for the laptop I assume? I thought it would be alot easier than that.

 

Here: http://asusparts.eu
Have a chat on the site and confirm if the keyboard is backlit.its strange though because my n56vj came with backlight preinstalled.

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