F8Va / N81 GPU questions

Mostly because I got a decent deal on eBay, I just ordered an Asus F8Va-B1. I would have gone for a new N81 with an HD4650, but WXGA (as opposed to WXGA+) is a complete deal-breaker for me.

So, I'm curious about GPU upgrade options. From what I can tell, there really isn't all that much I can do, but someone please confirm my suspicions:

1) Can the HD3650 be upgraded, or is it some sort of proprietary MXM card?
1a) What about to an HD4650 that's pulled from an N81, or something like that?

2) There's no chance that the N81's screen can be replaced with one from the F8Va, is there? Given that it's 16:10 vs. 16:9, I assume not, but the laptops' dimensions aren't all that different.

 

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=86864

lol, no

Dude, what is with all of this screen replacing and gpu switching? Buy a laptop that has the hardware you desire.

The 3650 is pretty good.

 

Because there is no such laptop! The laptops with high-res 13"-14" screens all have weak and generally integrated graphics cards - Thinkpad T400, Dell E6400, Sony Z690, etc. The 13/14" laptops with decent or good graphics cards (Asus N81, Dell Studio XPS 13, etc.) all have WXGA screens, and a higher-res screen is my #1 requirement.

So, The F8Va is probably the laptop that comes closest to balancing those two factors.

But why is it so funny that the HD3650 could potentially be replaced by another Asus card? From what I understand, Asus probably used a slightly modified MXM card.... I'd say replacing the screen would be a LOT less likely.

 

screen replacement is probably easier. the connectors are definitely compatible, you just have to modify the screen bezel.

 

then why not enjoy the F8VA-B1 as is?

 

Replacing your GPU is not possible unless you replace it with the same card. Even if you find a GPU that can physically fit in the F8, your BIOS will most likely reject it.

Replacing the screen is a different story and more plausible. If you replace a 16:9 with a 16:10 panel, make sure the new screen comes with an inverter. You'd most likely need to purchase a new screen bezel that would fit the large 16:10 panel. Check the Asus estore for parts.

 

Interesting... I see that the Asus Estore does have some related parts (and even an inverter for the N81). I'll wait for my F8Va to arrive, but I think I need to find an N81 owner to do some measurements for me.

 

I have the same dilemma as shleepy. All the (few) available laptops with decent screens have crappy intel graphics, and those with a decent GPU have crappy 1366x768 screens.

I have a F8Va with 14.1" 1440x900 screen. I love that screen, but would like something a bit more powerful than the HD3650 DDR2. So i want to buy a N81Vp with HD4650 DDR3, but those only come with 1366x768 screen.

I think I'll end up buying the N81Vp, so I'll try to swap the GPUs and report if it works. As for swapping screens, the N80 and X83 both have identical chasis as the N81, but with 16:10 screen. I think you could buy a higher resolution LCD and a bezel for the N80/X83 and but it in the N81.

 

All this talk of high power gpu's in a 13-14" chassis is amusing.... happens every 6 months or so.

Asus does not put these gpu's into little boxes because they run warm-hot, and instead you end up with endless threads on the topic of "Why is my xxx running so hot??" More specifically, the F and N series notebooks are aimed at slightly different market segments and the components reflect that; plus, the vast majority of the public finds screen res' > WXGA too small for text etc and they won't buy the product as a consequence - this was worked out years ago when the transition from 4:3 to 16:10 screens happened.

Asus marketing has well established that there is not a large enough market for higher end "gaming" notebooks in the 13-14" chassis range. This is all about being portable and best pricing (anyone around here still remember the days when you couldn't even look at any Asus notebook model for less than $1400?), and they wouldn't sell enough to justify the production costs etc.... and in the end, a company is out to make money on the products they sell, not build a bunch of product that ends up sitting in a warehouse and then has to be rebated at fire-sale pricing.

 

Well, the HD4650 may not be a powerfull GPU, but is ok for most games at medium-high setting. I want a portable enough computer for work, but that also serves as an occasional gaming machine. I would never buy a 20 pound 18" dual GPU "portable" computer. For raw power, I´ll buy a desktop machine instead.

As for heat, the F8Va has a very good thermal design, even after a long gaming session the computer does not get hot. The N81 has the very same design as the F8Va (I dare to say the same motherboard), except for the plastic case, screen and of couse, GPU. In this aspect Asus rules!

I know many Dell, HP, Sony, etc. with integrated graphics that get a lot hotter thank the F8Va, even being 15.4" or 15.6" models.

Still, the HD4650 is in the same thermal category as the HD3650. Both F8Va and N81Vp use the same heatsink.

And regarding the screen, I know a lot of people who would like a higher resolution screen on their computer. I would say anyone who buys a computer with a discrete GPU would want a decent screen.

Even if not for gaming, a resolution of 1366x768 is a joke, as it is mostly useless for anything but movie watching.

 

Well, I just replaced the HD3650 in my F8Va with an HD4650 off a N81Vp, and it is working great.

The process involves adding the video BIOS of the HD4650 to a F8Va BIOS image and the flashing this modified BIOS image, otherwise it will not boot. I used a tool called MMtool for that.

I'll post detailed instructions when I have the time, possibly this weekend.

 

wow glock24, good stuff you've stumbled upon.

I have a f8va-b1 with a p8400 and 3650...wonder if i can find a broken n81 somewhere haha