Ivy Bridge Zenbook with FHD IPS screen UX21A UX31A UX32A UX32VD

^^ lol, you didn't even add the upgrades you did to the machine!

 

Those upgrades migrated from my previous laptop

 

I'm still loving the machine amount a month and a half into it. Touchpad is excellent with the Elan driver and not the Smart Gesture one (imo) and it's otherwise doing a good job.

One thing that bugs me a bit is the fan issue. When the computer is doing next to nothing, SpeedFan says it's running at 3100 RPM average and if I'm lucky it will dip down to about 2500-2600 RPM for a little while. At 3100 RPM when just browsing or writing it is a bit too noticeable for my taste.

When used in a lecture or in a reading room it's not audible due to other people and their machines etc. But when I'm just sitting at home alone in my room reading online newspapers the RPM of 3100 is a bit too noticeable.

That was a long post just to ask you: Can you please check what RPM your computer is at during idle/near idle and "normal" use? It's not super annoying, but with the light bleed being quite minimal and not increasing over time it's the only thing about this computer that is bugging me.

EDIT: Ok, the fan slightly cycling up at staying there is not the only issue with this laptop. The second one is a minor one as well, but even with touchfreeze installed the touchpad is still bugging me while writing. This is only annoying as I write a lot of hand-ins for uni.

 

Hey, I just bought the UX31A. i5,128 gb sandisk. I was just wondering if someone can give me tips on how to take care of the battery? I am mainly using it for browsing,word processing and watching movies. It wont be leaving my house as much. So should I leave it plugged in all the time? or should I only plug it in when the battery is low? which is the safer option that will make my battery last? My screen brightness is at the lowest usually and the backlit is also usually off. Thanks

 

Unfortunately SpeedFan does not show me the fan speed in Windows 8, so I won't be able to give my fan speed numbers

 

UX31A here. Can anyone help me with this little problem? Seem to have my character symbols mixed up on my keyboard. Getting all these crazy "E"s and no @ symbol. Already tried fixing in the control panel, changing the keyboard language to US but still no fix. Is there a numlock key on our computers and any other ways to fix it?

 

I thought I saw this some where in this long thread but I can't seem to find it, where in the registry can you disable the pop-up animations for fn+vol+/- Brightness+/-, etc. and just go with the stock windows animations (I believe the react much more quickly, don't require as much time or resources to animate).

Also, considering no one has answered, I take it there's no way to enable 2-finger click on the Asus Smart Gesture drivers?

 

Can anyone else please confirm that new batch of ux32vd is not as bad as previous one in terms of display quality?

 

Just incase anyone was waiting on the UX32VD, Amazon got some in stock. I just went ahead and purchase it. I was reading up on the u300, But sigh, I just got to stick with this for a while, since i've been waiting for it for two months now. I can't wait another 2 months on Maybe.

 

Same here. Hopefully the amazon batch would be good

Sent from my EVO using Tapatalk 2

 

Hi!
I just received my third UX32VD since the 1st one hade micro freezes and my 2nd one being skew/warped in the chassis.

My new unit is not shown any micro freezes so far and the chassis only shows some wobbles which probably is fixable by rasp/polish one of the rubber feet in the front.

However my space bar key is squeaking which is incredibly annoying! I've been searching the web for a fix but I can't find a way to reduce or eliminate the noise. Is there anyone of you who have encountered the same squeaking on your UX32 or simply know a good way to fix this?

Thanks in advance!

R

 

Hi all,

I'm very interested in an Ux31A but there is something that worries me... Noise (from cooling fans).

Is it possible to control (adjust) fan speed via software, asus tools suite or bios?. In my ancient hp6930p I could do it via hwinfo utility.

Some reports/reviews point that is a noisy laptop... What is your experience about?

Thank you veru much.

 

Hey guys, can anyone confirm the graphics card on this?
Is it gt 620 DDR3 or GDDR5?
According to teksyndicate, its a GDDR5, but i've checked everywhere, and I've come across it being only DDR3? Would just like to know for sure
thanks

 

Soo sad... Mine came in today from amazon. Time to send it back.

This new one also has a dead pixel, bad assembly, and a loose screw that I can hear inside the body. Should I go for a refund or a replacement?

I also sent back 2 first generation zenbooks for keyboard, dead pixel, mouse pad, wifi.


Sent from my EVO using Tapatalk 2

 

learn what the hard way?

 

UX32VD, new Bios 211 on Asus ftp (7 september)
ftp://ftp.asus.com.tw/pub/ASUS/nb/UX32VD/

Ux32vd Bios:

 

Avoid Jittles.com like the plague. Jittles.com = Never ending delays and when you ask them for a refund, they act like they never heard you even when you have proof they previously acknowledged the refund request.

 

Link won't work for me.

 

This is very difficult for connecting to Asus Ftp, you must try and try again.
No many connections...
I have tried now, i'am connected to the ftp

 

What about this new bios? Why asus, doesn't give us more information about it? Someone that flashed it on his ux32 can give us some info?

 

You can also check here:
NB-TSD Download

 

New Bios 2.12 for UX31A:
ASUS - Notebooks- ASUS ASUS ZENBOOK UX31A

Description BIOS 212
1．Update EC Firmware
2. Update Ivy bridge driver

 

Now also at http://www.asus.de/Notebooks/Superior_Mobility/ASUS_ZENBOOK_UX32VD/#download

UX32VD BIOS 211
1．Update EC Firmware
2．Support ambient light sensor on Win8 OS
3．Support Windows7 & Windows8
4．Update ME FW

 

I would assume it's unlikely. s/n is a long number, one probably would need a list of a few tens of them + full description of configurations behind these s/n's.

If tasked with knowing s/n's, probably easier to make friends with someone from ASUS support or look at specialised forums (if there are any for ASUS)...

 

I assume Windows. Go to Control Panel and search for "regional settings". When you get the "Region and Language" (in Win 7, in prior versions it may be called differently), press "additional settings" and here you are. You may want to start with "currency"

 

​

It's interesting, i've been using the same HP model. The UX feels very different, isn't it?

I am not intending to look at manual fan controlling. The UX (or ultrabooks') design probably allows less cooling opportunities than a larger laptop's frame does. I wouldn't play with it. If your processor get hot, you want the functionality to cool it down, even if it's related to noise discomfort.

If the noise annoys you, do a reboot, the fans should be quite after a fresh reboot (as distinct from returning from "sleep"). You probably dont want to trade the machine's integrity for your immediate comfort.

PS I must admit there's smth wrong with fan spinning more actively after returning from sleep. Probably a fresh BIOS update may help. I did not bother, so am still on the 205 bios.

 

It's interesting how few details ASUS publishes for updates.

Also interesting that my ASUS Live Update still suggest me to install the previous 206 BOIS revision...

They probably need to update the Live Update first

UPDATE: Just moved to the 212 BIOS from 204 (in an earlier post I said it had been 205 - that was incorrect, I had 204).

Just did an intentional "sleep" (via Instant On, just by closing the lid and opening it after the machine gets "dead") and resumed from it. Normally, my fans would get crazy by now, but with the 212, I have the same mild plateau noise as I had before after a clean start. Interestingly, previously, core 0 always had a noticeably higher temp than the core 1 (if measured with Core Temp app, which can measure the temp of individuals cores rather than the processor as a whole). Now it's to the opposite. Temps while browsing in Chrome also reduced. I now see core 0 at 47C and core 1 at 50C. Previously, it was 52C on average b/n the two, but it could get up to 59C, if I remember correctly (I posted my temps in this thread before).

The "last" problem fixed? Post your impressions.

 

Hi zhenya, thank you for you response...

What a coincidence... The only drawback (for me) is that it weighs a bit much. But overall I love my hp6930p... Unfortunately it died some weeks ago .

I have read in some Reviews that UX31A runs 4ºC or 5ºC cooler than Samung 900x3c under load... So I suppose there is a little room to play with fans when stressed. Obviously it must do it with precaution... and with conservative appropeach.

But I think that ability to control fans is much more useful under idle than load, because most time UX is under idle or low/medium load. So you get a silent UX most time (low load).
Under idle or low/medium load there is more room for lowering fan speed & overall you get the feeling that laptop is much more please to use. I do it with my hp6930p (almost untouch stress fan values but lowering fan speeds with medium-low loads), and change is spectacular...

I think always is a plus to know that you can control fans speed... at your risk of course.

So, does anyone succeeded to control the UX31A fans speed?

Thank you.

 

That's Bullsh!t dude, I ordered from them a month after Amazon and they got the UX32VD only a few days after them. They were going to ship mine today, but I decided to tell them to cancel after I got my original Amazon order a few days sooner and they were completely fine with it and acknowledged my request.

They've been nothing but helpful and informal through the whole process, despite Asus being very vague about when retailers would receive shipments. All other retailers gave me standard copy and paste "we do not have information on when we'll receive, blah blah blah'" answers, Jittles gave me detailed personal responses.

Stop spreading false truths about a company that is really a breath of fresh air in the sea of automated online warehouses. I may not have completed my order with them, but I will surely order from them again, great store.

 

Can't decide if I want a refund on the zenbook or give it another chance and have amazon send me a exchange.... Someone give me some insight

Sent from my EVO using Tapatalk 2

 

I was given UX31A by Amazon after they stopped selling it for a few days for investigating on users feedback (this was mentioned in this hundred-pages thread before). Probably because of this I got the unit I can't really complain about. Save for maybe the (relatively, minor) bleeding and a few design issues which are not thoroughly discussed here for the focus being on other areas...

if you face something struck inside it in an improper way, and a poor build quality + a few (or just one) another failure, I would ask for a replacement/refund if I were you... especially if you bought it from Amazon, the latter are famous for being client-oriented with replacements within a few (max 3) days (from US users feedback).

Sorry if you might have got an improper quality control/assurance unit.

I hope you will not be driven too much by this hundred-pages thread by asking for a refund rather than a replacement unit. I feel most of the complainers here are just either over-demanding or willing to buy a 200%-on-top-the-market unit for just $1,200-1,500. I can be wrong in my feelings, but that's my pretty solid impression after following this thread for 3 months or so.

PS For what it's worth, I've drafted my UX31A review, but need 2 more weeks to make it comprehensive for everyone (layman/pro) in order to publish it.

 

Thanks for the input. I gave Asus Zenbook (1st generation) two chances before deciding to dump the Zenbook line. I decided to give the Zenbook (2nd Generation) a chance since it's upgradable and has a matte screen. Maybe I should do a return+exchange since Amazon is pretty good w/ customer service. But I'm afraid that doing this too much would make my reputation as a PRIME member look bad.! Sigh, Asus... Please step up to the game!

 

I am having the same issue with them. I cancelled my order, but they still did not issue a refund.

 

I just flashed new BIOS ver. 214 for UX21A. Fan noise issue is gone.... Totally.

 

And the award for biggest piece of sh*t computer goes to Asus. Its broke.

Had problems starting it up the other day. Power button just wouldn't work consistently. Now I can't turn it on at all.

Hate to say it, but everything everyone said about this is true. Its a terribly built and designed product. People may claim that its normal for most posts on a message board to be complaints, but it really is a garbage product.

 

Anyone else having serious problems with the touchpad, particularly the latest drivers and "ASUS Smart Gesture?"

Apparently the latest software for the touchpad settings, "Smart Gesture," has no settings at all, I can just turn on and off the different multitouch features. 2-finger scrolling is way too sensitive, the slightset movement takes me up and down PAGES at a time. The tap click is less sensitive than I like, the zoom is too sensitive, and I can't change any of these settings without turning them off all together. Top it all off, the new driver crashes after a few days, whether the computer is asleep or not. SO I come back to my machine and the pointer is stuck, I can only navigate by keyboard and shut the machine down to restore the touch pad.

 

Installed BIOS 211 on UX32VD. Now unknown device with hardware id "ACPI\VEN_ATK&DEV_4001" shows up in the device manager. Anybody has any idea what this is?

P.S. I do have "ATKACPI driver and hotkey-related utilities" installed and hotkeys are working...
P.P.S. I'm running Windows 8

 

Yet another delay from Jittles... This time they say they "forgot to update the order to overnight shipping". I really had so much patience and I wanted to believe they were a decent company but this is just too much. Completely unprofessional, especially when I told them the laptop was for school over a month ago. Never ordering from them again and I just can't recommend them.

 

Which SSD is everyone getting for the UX32VD? I'm debating between Crucial m4, Samsung 830 and Intel 520. My understanding is that the Samsung is fastest, at the cost of slightly higher power consumption; how noticeable this would be in battery life I am unsure of.

 

You believe your own BS when you admit YOU NEVER RECEIVED YOUR ORDER FROM Jittles.com. Jittles, the same company that kept extending the delivery date, told YOU they received YOUR paid-for-notebook..HA!

How is politely being told you are not getting your product on time everyday helpful? Btw, Newegg.com has had the Asus UX32VD IN STOCK for OVER A WEEK and they did not LIE to prospects and allow them to "add to cart" a notebook that is not in their warehouse. My Newegg.com purchase and return of the Asus UX32VD went great, Jittles.com is turning into a nightmare just to get my refund.

I speak the Truth about $h!ttles.com, oops I mean Jittles.com and have the emails as factual PROOF.

1. When no other reseller had the Asus UX32VD in stock, Jittles.com advertised this notebook as "Low Stock" meaning IN STOCK to get credit card numbers from people who thought it was available. Jittles.com NEVER stocked this notebook and never had it in stock.

2. Jittles.com advertised this Asus UX32VD as having a 2 year warranty to sway people to purchase it. After getting people's credit card numbers on this FALSE ADVERTISEMENT, they changed this information too.

Jittles performed this FALSE ADVERTISING on purpose to get people's credit numbers, so it's only natural they write to us with an apologetic tone to appease users until they allegedly get your product more than MONTH BEHIND SCHEDULE.

One certainty = The public will see more complaints about Jittles.com's misleading and unethical business practices.

 

What are you, some shill for Jittles!?!? Did you ever actually see a computer from them? Obviously not. I, like other people on this forum, have had the exact same lame excuses from Jittles for a month now. It looks like they can't even come up with good excuses any more and have resorted to "we did not receive it before the overnight shipment cut off time of 4:30pm" and, the new one from today, "your order was slated incorrectly for ground shipping."

Has anyone on this forum actually received a computer from this company?

 

Is the keyboard flex still there on the UX32VD?

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I727 using Tapatalk 2

 

They sell i5 UX32VD in Asia and Australia.

 

That's the biggest BS complaint about this laptop, if you see flex, you're pushing down way to hard, it's a thin laptop, don't try to break it and you won't see any issue... I use the keyboard like a normal person and have never seen or felt a flex.

 

Just got my replacement via next day air (saturday delivery) through Amazon.
This one seems like it's fine. At least so far, I didn't see screen bleed, problem with keyboard, or mousepad sinking.

Anyone know of a good external enclosure for the HDD if I decide to remove it?

 

No offense Deathhalo but if you have nothing better to say besides trolling people and being an dont post. Neither are you helping nor contributing to anything.

 

I realized that the lower left edge/corner doesn't seem to lay flat to the table. Anyone have this problem?

 

Yes, but only when the screen is up, it lays flat on all fours with screen down and with any slightest pressure on it. I think it's a weight/balance thing, not a big deal for me though, I never even noticed till I decided to check after your post. It sits up maybe a milimeter.

 

I never seen the UX32VD in person but I did play around with an older zenbook (cant recall the model...) It had bad keyboard flex from light pressure...

I did go through 2 models of the UX31A from best buy. The first one randomly shut down on me and the second had horrible backlight bleeding from all 4 corners. But the keyboard was strong so I hope the UX32VD has the same keyboard as the UX31A.


Does anyone know how much bigger the charger is on the UX32VD then the UX31A???

 

UX31A has no keyboard flex whatsoever. Unfortunately the same sturdiness can't be said for the keys. My "s" key plastic clip underneath was broken through a light gaming session and the key is flopping around now. The biggest issue I may have with ASUS is the quality consistency with their products. I'm very gentle when it comes to heavy use on the keyboard, so it came to surprise me that one of the keys actually broke.

Currently waiting on a fix/RMA reply from ASUS. So far, nothing after 2 days . Hope this is an easy fix 'cause it's a beautiful laptop and I've only had it for about 3 weeks...

ps: Why are people ordering their computers from a place called Jingles? I've never even heard of that website before! If you want a little consistency as a buyer, please make life easier for yourselves and order from a more well established, credible company.