Just built my C90S w/ no problems(so far)

So, I just completed my build of my C90S and wanted to see what you guys think.

Specs Hardware:
Asus c90s Barebone laptop.
Samsung 160GB HD
e6600 CPU (SL9ZL version)
3GB (1x1 and 2x1 GB) of Super Talent 667Mhz Ram
8600m GT 512MB DDR2 GFX
Intel 3945 ABG
***used arctic Silver 5 compound on processor and GPU heatsinks***

Specs Software:
Bios 801(came already upgraded)
Windows XP Pro SP2 32-bit with all updates current
All drivers are the most recent with the exception of the Intel Wireless drivers(used from disk).


This thing was easy to build, basically just popped everything in using the guide that Ken posted. Install of XP went as expected, no issues there. Drivers were kinda odd. I was able to install all the most recent drivers from the asus site, but had an issue with the ATK0100 driver. This caused an error to pop in windows that stated that that driver couldn't load. I did a windows update and under the hardware section there was an update for that very driver. Installed that and all the other update(wash, rinse, repeat) and no more error when booting into windows. Used the wireless driver from the CD. I was just to lazy to check for it, and thought that I already had it from driver scavenging for the last week. I have tried two different drivers from laptopvideo2go.com. They were the 167.43 and 169.28. My findings are as follow with both these drivers in 3dmark06

167.43(using currently)
Normal mode - 3718
Gaming mode - skipped
Overclock mode - 3979

169.28
Normal mode - 3714
Gaming mode - 3848
Overclock mode - 3979

As you can see, both are dead on. Not much of a change for this card.

All my modes seam to function properly and when you have overclock mode on and run 3dMark06 I thought my laptop was going to take off with that much thrust coming out the turbo engine.

One thing i noticed is that when I unplug the power from my laptop the thing goes into power save mode. This makes me wonder if the people that are having this problem are also having issues with turbo gear too maybe???

No problem booting on battery or AC with 3GB of memory.
No problems switching between battery and AC while running windows.
No BSOD(yet anyway)
Battery life stinks, but hey thats the trade off for performance.

So what do you guys think, anything else I should try with my new toy? any other GPU drivers that are worth?

 

if you want to be unique, do what has become known as the "Vicious Mod" - drill holes in the ace door right above where the gpu sits (make sure ace door is not attached to notebook during this procedure) and place some wire mesh behind this so that lint is kept out. There are pics and info available on the thread in viciousUSMC's sig. The C90 modders club, check on like the 7th or 8th page I think. Then use a notebook cooler like the zalman or be cool like me and rig something up yourself

The sky, and 2.93 ghz, is the limit with the C90s.

 

I want to keep my c90s as stock as possible, aesthetically anyway. I could cook an egg on the bottom of this thing if I wanted Is there an extended life battery that is available for this thing. i travel alot and it would be nice to watch a movie on the plane.

 

Battery life? pfft, go back to mac land you apple hugger you! This is Asus country where "Power to the people" means fast processors, good build quality and cheap prices. Extended life battery, ha ha. Listen to this guy, what a clown

But seriously, no.

You *could* get one of those things that's like an external battery with a power outlet slot in it but the extra life it would bring will obviously very from model to model.

 

ewwww, apple. forget apple. You know you won't ever crash or have a BSOD with a mac, but you will get the spinning pinwheel/beachball of death where you can't do anything until you hold the power button to turn it off and back on again. My girlfriend has one and we are not impressed. She uses my work laptop more then the apple.

 

LOL

Just get a nice sized PSU for your C90S.

 

Traveling? You might want to invest in a 150W DC/AC inverter for the car. I used to work at Menards and we had a "defective one" that I "defected out" into the back of my car lol. Works great.

 

I'm flying more then I am driving. I'm between projects right now so hopefully when one comes up I can catch a Virgin Air flight as they have AC outlets at the seats.

 

Yeah the C90 is not going to be a very good mobile product for use on battery, but its king in being a mobile PC since its very well more powerful than many peoples full fledge home computers.

The mod everybody is talking about will not effect the ascetics of the computer its still just as structurally sound as it was before, and you will never see it. Moding is not for everybody tho so no pressure from me if its not you cup of tea.

The C90 has for sure become a very memorable and highly talked about product, I think most of us are very happy with our purchase.

 

I just hope that Asus brings more GPU options for the c90s to the table as time goes on. Hate for the 8600m to be the top of the line gpu for the c90s. Kinda cuts out the upgrade-ability if there is nothing to upgrade with.

 

CES has the new C90P on display and from an artical posted by another forum member they said "supports up to 8700gt" so I guess we can upgrade to a 8700 sometime soon, maybe later down the road a die shrink will allow for more MXMII cards.

 

I guess we'll be able to upgrade to the 8700 when the C90P gets released, so probably soon.

I'd definetely want people to wait before talking about the false upgradeability. Until now, the 8600 WAS the most powerfull MXM-II card. I didn't hope for anything before the Geforce 9M are released