Asus UX31 Ultrabook

The XM11 is based on a new SandForce SATA3 (6Gb/s) controller, and it should perform very well.
The fact an SSD is made by a certain company doesn't mean it will be slow or suck.
Just a FYI, ADATA used to sell rebranded Intel XM-25 SSDs.

What's repasted? Are you talking about replacing the CPU or putting new/better thermal paste on the CPU?
I'm sure that you can upgrade the thermal paste, I'm also certain that the CPUs in these systems use a BGA layout, meaning they are soldered onto the motherboard, and cannot be replaced.

Do you think that you will need the extra space?
If not, then it's not worth it, it's $250.

Also the difference between the CPUs is another $150 (if you get the larger SSD), and that is not worth it in my eyes, but it really depends on what you are planning to use the system for.
In stuff like emails, videos/movies and stuff that don't really require a lot of CPU power, the extra 100MHz on the CPU will not really help much

It should be able to handle BluRay with ease.

 

Any chance this laptop will make its way to costco?

 

Going by what's written in the tweakers review the i7 may not be worth it because of throttle issues.

 

I think the i7 in the UX31 is not really worth anyway. $150 - 400 more for not much more performance, and maybe even degraded perf. due to throttling...

 

I'd say for most people if they can't manage with 128GB then this isn't the notebook for them. And definitely i5 over i7. There is little to no benefit even if the i7 didn't throttle.

 

Differences between the i7 and the i5 are 100/200mhz for clockspeeds and 1mb L3 cache increase. It should be unnoticeable.
i7 link
i5 link

The cooling looks like it has something left to be desired. The bottom panel is aluminum so a good machinist would be able to cut any venting pattern you design for him. Repasting looks possible if it's just a matter of removing the fan & heatsink.
Link to tweakers pic

 

Yea ... it can be easily repasted. Have no idea what I was thinking.

 

ULV CPUs tend to be soldered on.

The SSD in the Macbook Air is not an mSATA one.

Going by the pictures Asus looks to be using the same formfactor as the MBA.

 

The Best Buy version appears to be a different part (UX31-RSL8) vs the 'normal' (UX31E-DH52). I think it's a special BB exclusive version meant to undercut MBAs, even further on price (and lower specs) for the average consumer.

 

Warranty void sticker on that SSD.

Not so sure it is mSATA, check out this comparison:
A-DATA Demos SandForce-Based mSATA SSDs by VR-Zone.com

 

You are exactly right. Seems like the drive is made specially for UX series. Not replaceable then.

 

Very odd, but it does seem to be a completely different model.
Overview of UX31-RSL8
Says the specs are a Core i5 2467M CPU at 1.6GHz as opposed to the amazon and other site's UX31E-DH52 with the Core i5 2557M CPU at 1.7GHz.

Maybe the best buy one is a model that was meant for UK or Australian markets? Either way, once you add shipping and sales tax, it's $1055 so I'm happy with the $1099 I paid on Amazon (no shipping or tax) for the slightly faster CPU.

 

I don't think that is a problem, they can't legally void a warranty based on that.

There was incident in the past where ASUS themselves said not to worry about those stickers:

EeePC Warranty and the "Warranty Void if Removed" Sticker [EeeUser Eee PC Wiki]

 

I've seen variety of such stickers being sold on ebay.

I wanted to buy some for my HTC phone , but ended up not needing them.

 

Can't see what all the fuss is about the glossy screen when you can easily buy a matte screen overlay which I have used and works perfectly fine for $5-10. I'm hoping the usb > ethernet dongle is at least a gigabit one. Im hoping in the future they make some 15inch models, maybe with the new ivy bridge models.

 

Why do they do proprietary stuff like this? I mean what considerations were there that they couldn't fit in a regular mSATA drive. I mean when users pay a premium price it seems they usually get stuck with proprietary connectors so you can't even expand it later, where the average joe laptop can swap parts all day long.

 

The 520 nits brightness will over power reflections. I won't need a matte cover

 

@HTWingNut

It's the same exact form factor as the MBA, from the looks of it:
http://guide-images.ifixit.net/igi/EwXnxRyfEywUEP4A.medium

I think it's *technically* a mSATA interface, just a different form factor from the most common type (intel 310, etc).

^ and I'm wrong:

 

no it won't lol, you can still see reflections interference on a NOVA display and that is 700nit. But 520nit is pretty darn good. Gotta hand it to ASUS for under-advertising it as 450nit..most other manufacturers would put the maximum number. (I like how ASUS does these things, same way they gave out 1333mhz ram instead of the 1066mhz ram in the G73 series...)

 

Yes it will, I've worked with many glossy notebooks outside. As long as there bright enough theres no problem.

 

The point is: can drives like that be bought separately and replaced? Intel 310 is available on the retail market, so are other standard mSata drives. What about those MBA/UX-like drives?

 

My point is: it's an MBA competitor.

I'm not an SSD expert, so I have no answer for you.

 

According to storage review the mba ssd does not have an msata interface. I believe they are right.

 

The connectors are different, that's for sure. Whether it uses mSATA signaling as the electrical iface, I haven't found out.

 

It really doesn't matter if the drive is mSata or not. The point is that if the drives like that are not available, any drive failure = your ux goes back to Asus for repairs. "Oh hell, I'll just buy a new drive" - not anymore.

 

That's your experience. In my experience, it will not. Not unless if we are talking about 700nit black levels on a 600:1 contrast display.

 

It matters because now we know msata drives are no option.

OWC sells ssds for mba. They might work, who knows.

@j, for me the 350nit air is bright enough for outside. 520 will be a breeze.

 

In this PDF, ADATA is calling it 'Low profile SATA III'

http://www.flashmemorysummit.com/English/Collaterals/Proceedings/2011/20110810_S202_Choi.pdf

pages 5-6

 

Where did you see this in the review? I've seen issues with full voltage i7's and throttling, does it apply to the ULV i7's as well?

 

It's written under the cpu bechmarks. They explain the results by saying possiblethrottling issues.no hard evidence though.

 

Based on the Intel specs, there's very little differentiating the i5 and i7. Is the i7 the i7-2677m or i7-2637m? Because the 2637m only difference from the i5 is 0.1 GHz more BOOST speed, stock speed is same, 4MB cache vs 3MB, aaannddd, that's pretty much it.

Even the i7-2677m only has 0.1GHz stock and boost over the i7-2637m.

They're the same damn chips, only some bin a slight bit faster. I can't see them offering any measurable, nor noticeable performance difference AT ALL.

Here's comparison:

http://ark.intel.com/compare/54617,54618,54620

 

My thoughts exactly. On those Intel pages, the MSRP is just under $70 difference for those tiny increases in the i7 which are really nonexistent when you throw an ssd into the mix.

But here we go again with the throttling games. This speculation phase of a new release always sucks!

 

i5 for me...

that i7 looks like it's there more for marketing purposes like "look, we've fitted i7 into such thin notebook" and also to match MBA.

real life diff seems to be non-existent, or actually even worse for i7, if the throttling takes place.

 

I doubt throttling will take place. They are the same TDP and essentially the same chip. Most likely they will all boost to the same speed if nothing else.

 

i7 is 2677 per Asus Spec Sheet - Turbo frequency is 2.9 vs. 2.3, higher base clock in i7 and extra 1MB cache

 

well it reminds me of i5 480m (and other i5s) and i7 620m in 4820tg.

same tdp etc, but the i7 got throttled. i5 not.

anyway, we'll see for sure in a while.

 

hmm...like this?

MX-Technology 256GB Low-Profile SATA MX-KATANA Series SSD - MXSSD2MKAT-256G

OWC Mercury Aura Pro Express 6G Solid State Drive

and I think OCZ has one too..

 

speaking of SSD, doesn't that company (ADATA) suck when it compares to other SSD companies?

 

few pages back, someone said that a-data rebrands intel drives. so can't be that bad.

 

Is it possible to mod the keyboard with a backlit mod?

 

Adata is just generic Sandforce. Neither good nor bad.

 

The keyboard on the ux has a unique layout. So none of the u20/u80/g-series backlit keyboards will fit.

 

honestly, i'm a little excited for this sucker. Just waiting for some review + amazon to start carrying all models.

 

MX-T and OWC are indeed available as 'low-profile Sata', although they are very expensive, at least in Europe. The disks/prizes I managed to find

OWC 120GB 6Gb/s = 285 EUR
MX-T 120GB 3Gb/s = 440 EUR

I am not sure what shapes the prizes. Prolly availability/popularity.

The punchline is: if you want 256GB in your UX, spend more now. Aftermarket disk upgrades will cost you much more.

 

Well depends how you look at it, with the introduction of ultrabooks it may create more willing to participate in that space.

OCZ has one as they make it for the LG ultrabook, samsung and toshiba make theirs for the macbook air..but I am sure they will release it to the public and with more competition prices will drop.

But its also not only about upping the capacity but improving performance/reliability.

oh and OWC has a 480gb version for those who would like to pay as much for an ssd as another laptop.

 

Some more reviews for the interested reader (in German):
Zenbook UX31 im Test: Leicht, dnn und mit Windows - Golem.de
Asus Zenbook UX31E-RY010V - Test - CHIP Online

 

Hi,

the test from "Chip" is a little bit too positive...
The better test is the one from "Golem" and one of the things they mostly criticize is the slow WiFi. It's not a Dual-Band, it's just a 2.4Ghz chip. I don't know if this is important in "real life".

Regards,
Quince

 

"With ultra Books gets the Windows user what he has always wanted - a calculator that is easily and instantly ready for use."
FINALLY!!! lol! I think google translate messed up this line a bit

 

Be extremely careful when buying anything from Best Buy (although they are not the only one guilty of this). They do this all the time......Have custom built products made for them with stripped out features and/or electronic circuitry, add a couple letters or numbers to to the part number, and sell them at lower prices. A little leg work comparing the specs at the manufacturer's web site with those at the brick and mortar sellers will reveal the difference. I became so fed up with this deceptive practice that before I buy anything I go to the manufacturer's web site to get the official part number, almost exclusively only order electronics on line (unless shipping costs make it not worth while), and make sure that the part number matches the manufacturer's number.

Home Depot does the exact same thing with tools. I know of many people in construction who have picked up Dewalt tools from Home Depot, only to have them break in a short period of time, and soon discovering that the "Home Depot" version uses plastic instead of metal gears. I order all my tools from the web from tool specific web sites, and once again, make sure that they match the manufacturer's part number.

 

Interesting, the golem review literally says the back light is bright enough to overpower reflections outside.

They also say the colors look washed out. I'll have to see it myself.

Chip measured 923:1 contrast!