General questions about C90S

Hi!
I have just bought a C90S, with the spesifications:
2Gb Ram, 160GB 5400Rpm HDD, 8600 GT 512MB, E6600 2,4GHz and DVD-burner.

And i need answers about:
1. Where should i download drivers? From Asus website, or from another site?
Should i use the one that comes on a cd with the PC?
2. I ordered yesterday, but it will be sent today. Should i ask for a 7200Rpm HDD instead of a 5400Rpm HDD. Will the performance be much better(and the noise higher)?
3. Do anyone think i can replace the 8600 with a 8800 when thats arrive, to get much better performance?

 

1)Just use the drivers on the CD, if you want to update your video drivers you can try getting them from LaptopVideo2Go (though that may make you unable to overclock your GPU).

2)The performance difference depends on what specific 5400 and 7200 models you're looking at. I'd say get the 5400 for now, and if later you notice it becoming an issue, buy your own fast 7200 drive. The noise increase shouldn't be noticeable.

3)It's a slight possibility, but pretty unlikely. No one will know for sure till they're released.

 

Ok. I thank you for the help odin 243. But there is a possibillity I can get some kind of the 7200Rpm HDD, since they didnt deliver my comp. yesterday.
I think i call them to hear

 

But if you go 7200, I'd suggest not go under 120GB, because you might have heat problem. I'm on a 160GB 5400 and during windows installation, I can't put my hand on the left part of the laptop.

 

The machine was already sent when i called them, so I`ll guess i get the comp. with the standard settings: 2Gb Ram, 160GB 5400Rpm HDD, 8600 GT 512MB, E6600 2,4GHz. Just hope this computer will be able to play the new games on, for i decided to buy this instead of Toshiba X200 ;-)

I just wondered if someone could give a link to the place with best/newest drivers for Asus C90S? I downloaded some from their website, but im not sure that they are the best...

 

Use driveragent.com and tell me what your missing, I'll help you find what you need.

Most immediate are gpu from laptopvideo2go, wifi from intel download center, Update directx and update sound driver from realtek.com

 

I used the c90 disc drivers and then worked outward to find more recent drivers from the hardware suppliers themselves. I just haven't upgraded the video driver so as to not loose OCability.

Check, what bios version you're using and upgrade if you so chose to.

8600-8800 upgrade is the six million dollar question for now.

 

Ok. I thank you guys for the help. I`ll think i get the comp. saturday, so i will try the drivers then. I hope the 8800 card will fit to this computer, and maybe cost around 100$ or something next year;-)

EDIT: I have one more question. Should i re-install everything on the computer when I get it? Or should I have all the bloatware to not loose any functions?

 

You can do a windows clean install. Its easy to do and thers a guide to doing it in the manual that comes with windows. Hate to break it to you but the 8800 will probably cost alot more. DDR3 8600 costs 245 so I'm assuming 8800 will probbaly be 350+ (thats being optimistic). Still alot cheaper than buying a new notebook with an 8800.

 

Hehe, ok, I agrees with you, much better to buy that card, than a new laptop. But i just wonder, could someone link me to the bag you get with this computer? I just find the bag that comes with G1 and G2...

And i thank all you guys for help;-)

 

I suggest the 250gb 5400 scorpio that I have. It's fast, cool and voluminous

 

Ok. I dont know which HDD i get with my C90, but i can check when its arrive tomorrow!

 

Stick with the 5400RPM. Seriously. It is fast already, so no need for all that supposed "lightning-quick" speed you get with the 7200.

 

250gb 5400rpm drive is a perfect match.

 

Mine gets really hot, it's annoying. Disk usage is at 0% according to ntune

 

Hmm, i have read a some stuff in "common problem and fixes", and it seems like very many people have problems with the temprature. It lies within 90-107c, on nearly every computer.

Does anyone of you have a solution to fix this?

I also posted a question in a Norwegian notebook forum, and asked if 8800 could come to C90. But a guy there, said that 8800 card was going to need more space than there is in a 15,4", and that it would overheat with such a hardcore GPU!

Is that true?

 

C90 temperature -- see this thread: http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=176481

Be wary though, I'm not so sure those tapes shouldn't actually be there.

 

For you that build your c90s yourself, was there tapes under the graphics card? (on the heatsink)

 

I dont know if they should be there or not, but they have to be there for a reason? This thread was about G1, and not C90. So can somebody answer my other questions then?

 

THe c90 might get an 8800 or high end gpu equivalent. THats why I bought the c90, I believe it well.

 

Not everyone is having problems with the heat. The ones that don't have a problem don't complain about there fans cooling correctly.

I am using the 101.19 drivers and my Idle for the video card is usually 60-65c. When playing games (HL2, Bioshock) and the fans kick on, the temperature sometimes actually drops! Last night after playing HL2 deathmatch for 2 hours I checked my temp and the video core was at 49c I kid you not. I have a 5400 160gb hard drive and the hand rest is never hot enough to be uncomfortable, although when I first got it it was really warm for a few days.

I am using the new version of Speedfan which recognizes most of the components in the C90.

The fans make it impossible to use the built in microphones in Vent though, too much noise is transmitting through the case.

 

I think, correct me if I'm wrong, but if you are referring to the black tape on the heatpipe under the GPU, I think that's the North bridge and the tape is to prevent a short from contact on the bottom of the GPU.

 

To Silentheero

Im glad to hear that not everyone have a heat problem with their C90
But i was wondering, are you using Vista? And if you do, could you please tell me which version of Speedfan you use, and link to every place you downloaded your drivers?

I would be very glad if i could use the same drivers as you, so im not getting a heat problem

 

omg, mine idles at 70C when the fans are working at 100% (3dmark cpu tes)

is the HDD a seagate? mine gets hot like hell (stays at 55) but it's only been 4 days

 

@ Vestlia- I have Vista installed but have only run it maybe 4 times. I use XP primarily. Speed fan version 4.33 just came out Sept 17th and it looks like it works with Vista. The drivers for the video card are the ones from the drivers cd I believe. I tried some others without success. Here is the link for the 101.19 drivers from LaptopVideo2Go.com. I am NOT saying that this is the best driver for the notebook, just that this works with my notebook with no problems.

One thing to check if your notebook is running hot is the seating of the heatsinks. Sometimes they could get bent ever so slightly and then they dont seat properly on the video card and/or CPU. Also according to others here, if you use some pastes/gels and pads you could get different results, some good, some bad. I personally think that even though all these notebooks were made the same that there are slight differences and build that work better than others. That doesn't mean your stuck with a lemon, just that like in anything you do with computers, you are going to need to tweak and troubleshoot until you get what you want.

@JCMS-
My HD is a Hitachi 160GB. It runs at idle from 45-60. One thing that makes them get hot is if Vista is indexing files, which happens the first couple days after you install it.

One interesting thing is that the express card slot is directly above the HD. I wonder if you would get a lower temp if you pulled the plastic dummy card out and let air circulate in there? Or could rig a small fan in the place of the dummy card?

 

I thank you for the help Silentheero!!! Im going to try these drivers you use, and install Speedfan.

@ Silentheero
"One interesting thing is that the express card slot is directly above the HD. I wonder if you would get a lower temp if you pulled the plastic dummy card out and let air circulate in there? Or could rig a small fan in the place of the dummy card?"


This was pretty interesting, i have never used the Express Slot (and are never going to use it), so if it helps the temprature to take it out, i will do it.

Just let me know if its work

PS: I know my english is bad, but what can i do?? Im from Norway, thats my excuse!!!

 

I dont know if it's because im on x64 but fans sensor aren't detected for me.

 

According to the official forums here they fully support vista 32 and 64.

Take a look there and see if you can find something.

 

I have my C90 now, and Im very happy. The computer runs fine (have just innstalled the programs i need), and Speedfan shows that the temp is 56c idle. But does Speedfan just show cpu temp?

Does anyone else have some suggestions i should do with the comp?

 

Try with Rivatuner or Ntune

 

Hmm, I have had 2 bluescreens now, and they appear when i turn on my comp. It just stands that something doesnt work as normal, and then it starts a system recovery...

But does this harm the computer at any point? Does anyone have a solution on this problem?

 

It's a vista problem and I believe there's a hotfix for it. Try to back track the problem at http://thehotfixshare.net/board/index.php?act=home.

Man, they need to get SP1 out pronto

 

It's already available as a beta

 

I know. I'm chicken.

 

When I downloaded it it said "not compatble with your version of vista" =/

 

Ok. I thank you for the replies, so i think i will wait for SP 1, since i dont kow exactly witch reparation tool i should download