Just received N10J-A1 today - A few questions.

I just got my Asus N10J-A1 UMPC today. I'm excited. It's replacing my 1000h because I wanted the dedicated graphics. It is remarkably about the same size as my 1000h.

A few questions though:

(1) What are the different indicators of the battery light? On my 1000h it would blink faster the more the battery was discharged. On this one, there's nothing in the manual that tells me what the light means. edit: Nevermind, found it - On = battery is charging, Off = fully charged or drained (dumb).

(2) Although it comes with Vista, I plan on replacing it with XP on a 250GB HDD. Any suggestions before I install XP? I downloaded the N10E drivers from Asus's site. Are these the appropriate ones? Which ones are critical?

(3) I want to make sure I can use the "Fn" keys. Which driver or utility has to be installed to make use of these in XP?

That's all for now. I'm sure I'll have more as I use it more.

 

Can you let us know your general impressions? I'm interested in battery life and the ability to play games like Civ 4, Simcity 4, and Rome Toral War.

Thanks!

 

Also, if you can let me know the Vista scores before you downgrade...

 

Get a 500gb hdd and put xp on it

As for drivers, i just installed everything from the N10E

As for the KB shortcuts you'll need to install everything from the ATK list and you'll be set, PM me if you have anymore questions

 

Just one addition to Silvr6's good info.

I assume the HDD is SATA. In that case you either need to put it in Compatible mode from the BIOS, or slipstream the SATA drivers on the XP CD.
http://www.digitgeek.com/how-to-slipstream-sata-drivers-into-xp-cd/

 

Good point E.B.E I did change that setting in the bios but didn't think much of it because that is the case with lots of the new notebooks when you install xp on them.

 

Sure, but it can be baffling for new users.

 

Anyone recommend a good usb dvd drive for this laptop?

 

Yes, usually you set it during XP install, then change back once the OS is installed.

I have a 250GB in my 1000h that I will put in my N10J, and probably put the 160GB in my 1000h.

Remolution - what Vista scores? The Vista benchmark? or 3DMark06, etc?

Also, has anyone else figured out the clock generator in the N10? This way the dude that makes SETFSB may be able to add it to his program. Unless someone knows a better way to overclock?

 

well i forgot that you can install xp from a usb drive.

 

3DMark06: 1548 (1024x600x32)

This is with the default Vista Premium that comes with N10J-A1 using 180.42 ForceWare drivers using modified INF from Laptop2Go.

Cheers,
Kermee

 

Vista Premium WEI (Windows Experience Index) for ASUS N10J-A1:

*Note: I changed out the HDD to a WD 320GB 5400 RPM Scorpio and memory to a G.SKILL 2GB DDR2-800 4-4-4-12 (which shows running at 4-3-3-10 in CPU-z) --- I might switch back to the default DDR2 which came with the N10J-A1 because the faster RAM doesn't like it when the Turbo Mode in Power4Gear bumps up the FSB to achieve the OC to 1.7GHz+. It causes the machine to crash and I have no way to manually set the timings to 4-4-4-12 in the BIOS.

Processor: 3.0
Memory (RAM): 4.5
Graphics: 5.9
Gaming Graphics: 4.7
Primary hard disk: 5.3

Overall: 3.0 ... Due to, of course, the CPU.

Graphics of 5.9 is *not* a mistake.

Cheers,
Kermee

 

So one would think Civ 4 would play ok or will the processor really bottleneck?

 

I don't have Civ 4 but I will say that the processor is a HUGE bottleneck.

I play World of WArcraft and just received the N10J today.

Suffice it to say, I'm severely disappointed in gaming potential.

I own a Sony SZ laptop which is has a Core duo 1.83 and an Nvidia 7400M.

When I play World of Warcraft at max with the native resolution of 1280x800, I'm usually around 30 fps just about everywehre.

On the N10J, at 1024x600 and most video effects at minimum or half way I average about 10-15 fps.

The 9300 video card is better than the 7400M. The only logical conclusion is the Atom is abysmal and is in all likelihood the major bottleneck.

 

Make sure your GPU is upclocking properly under load! I know a user had a problem with this model of computer, where PowerMizer was buggy and the GPU was stuck with lower clocks.

Try disabling Powermizer and see if the game experience improves. Monitor your clocks with GPU-Z or RivaTuner.

 

+1 what E.B.E. said. Disable Power-Mizer. I had to do that on my N10J to get proper GPU clocks or else it stays *way* underclocked. If I'm getting 30 fps in COD4 @ 1024x600 4xAA 16xAA, WoW should be MUCH better.

Cheers,
Kermee

 

I used the powermizer switch and I think the gpu is running at max.

In any event, I hit about 1450 or so.

I agree with you guys about WoW though, this is mystifying. I simply don't get it.

 

So kevhuynh, you saw an improvement then in WOW or is it still low fps?

 

I'll see if I can borrow a friend's WoW account. You're probably going to have to play with the graphics settings (e.g. disable Full-Screen Glow, etc.)

Cheers,
Kermee

 

Still awful unfortunately.

 

Everything is on low and in the cities, I'm getting about 15 fps.

Abysmal.

I'm scratching my head because in 3dmark06 I'm ~1450 or so which should be more than sufficient to run WoW at native resolution.

If anyone can give it a crack, I'd love to see what you're getting in WoW.

 

I think the main limitation is from your CPU, not GPU. Since 3dmark06 stresses mostly the GPU, it's score may not reflect how well games perform if the games in CPU demanding games. That said, Wow shouldn't be CPU intensive, but at the same time, the 1.6ghz atom CPU is only 100mhz faster than the recommended system requirements.

 

Minimum System Requirements*

Windows® System 2000/XP OS:

* Intel Pentium® III 800 MHz or AMD Athlon 800 MHz
* 512 MB or more of RAM
* 32 MB 3D graphics card with Hardware Transform and Lighting, such as NVIDIA® GeForce™ 2 class card or above
* DirectX® 9.0c (included) and latest video drivers
* 6.0 GB available HD space
* 4x CD-ROM drive
* A 56k or better Internet connection

something has to be wrong or a updated needs to be done to WOW as my friend used to run WOW on a IBM x series laptop. It was only 700mhz and had a 16meg ATI vid card and it would run great. Maybe WOW is not made to read the Atom processor at 1.6?

 

I just don't know.

I'm pretty bummed because it's the only game I play and it was nice to have a little notebook I can lounge in front of the TV and play a bit.

I'm trying to figure out how to install XP and see if it helps (no external cd ).

 

You will need to use a usb flash drive.

http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/233189-45-install-flash-drive

 

Will a USB external hd work?

 

yup, pretty much the same way you install XP on the EeePC
http://wiki.eeeuser.com/windowsxpusb

 

I'm going to create a trial WoW account over the weekend and report back. Something isn't right... We'll get to the bottom of this.

kevhuynh,

Which ForceWare drivers are you using? The one that came with the system? Also, try enabling "Turbo" mode through Power4Hybrid. It's a modest bump but curious to see if it helps at all OC'ing the Atom to 1.78 GHz.

Close the SideBar too and have the taskbar auto-hide before you launch WoW also.

Cheers,
Kermee

 

Hey Guys...

I am in the same boat here....I sold my 1000h and bought the N10J A1 assuming the performance in wow would be fine after seeing COD4 videos....

With the default Vista install in HIGH performance mode and turbo.. I was getting anywhere from 10-15 in cities to 20-30 outside...

Shattrath was below 9..

This is with every single setting turned to low.

So I am current in the middle of configuring XP after installing..


So I have downloaded and installed the Power4Gear utility...but there is no option to enable Turbo mode.

Anyone have any suggestions on being able to get 2 1.8Ghz in XP?

On my 1000h you could with the Super Hybrid Engine and with the Power4Hybrid I could as well..

Thanks

 

I'm using hte 180.42 .

I'm leaning towards it being the cpu I think.

Although other games are more graphically intense, World of Warcraft has a ton of people bouncing in and out.

As I've staed before, I have a Core 2 1.83 ghz Sony SZ with an Nvidia 7400M.

That little puppy can run 1280x800 at all max without shadows at close to 25-30 fps just about anywhere!

 

If the Atom is the bottleneck on WOW, then maybe you should toggle the Turbo setting in power 4 gear under High Performance...it'll OC the Atom to 1.74. Just make sure to re-toggle the Turbo setting after a reboot/hibernation because it goes back to stock.

 

Power4Gear under Windows XP does not have a "Turbo" option.

In VIsta it had Power4Hybrid which had turbo but I cant find TUrbo in Power4Gear in XP.

Am I missing something?

 

that sucks... i didn't know p4g under xp doesn't have that turbo setting.

I was planning on installing xp on the n10j soon. I guess i need to image my curren tvista installation before i install xp so I could return to it just in case i dont like xp on it.

For those running XP on the n10, have you tried using the program the eeepc 1000h uses, Super Hybrid Engine Utility? I dont know if it'll work but it's worth a shot since they are pretty much identical except for the discrete GPU.

 

Yah I tried the Super Hyrbid Engine last night. I was able to install it but it never launches

Yah the Power4Gear for xp is strange, its like a suuuuuuper stripped down version of the Power4Hyrbid we saw in Vista..absolutely no options...you change like timeouts and couple other things but no Turbo.

WOw however on XP does run better already....I am running around and questing in ShadowMoon Valley and getting 20-40 fps..very playable
That is with all settings on LOW except for Spell effect up 1 tick and view distance up 1 tick.
Vsync w/ triple buffering
1024x600
and heres the best part 4x Multisampling..it looks really good...runs pretty good also.

Of course in shattrath I get about 10 FPS
but it would be great for running 5 man...daily quests ect

 

That's good. I guess even without overclocking, XP is still not as much a resource hog as vista. Cant wait to try it out.

 

If I could figure out a way to overclock it in XP it would run even better..

 

Friend just installed WoW on his N10J-A1 and isn't experiencing low framerates at all at 1024x600. He's saying it's silky smooth with no stuttering (Vista). I'm installing WoW tonight to check.

Cheers,
Kermee

 

yeah, power4gear doesn't overclock past 1600 MHz...

Anyone else found a way?

If someone can find out the clock generator, then the dude that makes setfsb should be able to program for it. After emailing him he said he needs:

(1) Motherboard / PC name
(2) Chipset Name
(3) Clock Generator

 

I think with everyone so eager to install, test and report results in WOW we should define an zone to check the FPS, the zone complexity has a huge impact. I went from a fairly open zone...45 FPS...to zones with lots of trees ect 15-25.

Whenever there are multiple characters on the screen at once it always tends to drop the FPS quite a bit as well.

Maybe we could define a starting zone so everyone can easily log in, create a new character and check it?

Cheers

 

I'm game. I just reactivated an old WoW account I had that hasn't been used since 2005. Holy smokes... There's like 4GB of patches!

Cheers,
Kermee

 

yah if you know anyone who plays you can just copy over world of warcraft folder onto your machine...

 

Are you on a fresh install or a copy of the folder?

I copied over the folder off my desktop. I'm wondering if this may be somehow detrimental.

Only way to find out I guess.

 

Can someone tell me how much time does the battery last?
And there's too much diference between using one with 1gb or 2gb of ram, it's noticed in performance???

 

Not sure I understand..

You can simply copy the C:/Program Files/World Of Warcraft/ folder itself to a different machine and then run wow.exe....

it will not harm the install you copied it from however you will be unable to play while its copying...

Its also a good idea to Defrag after copying this, the size will be around 9/10gb.

does that help?

 

4-6 hours....

the asus n10J A1 only comes with 2gb of ram.

as far as performance w/ 2gb...well do you run any applications that use more than 2gb? It does help though for the most part

 

Hmm, I guess you sort of answered my question.

I guess what I mean is I'm playing off a copy of the WoW folder itself. Basically, I didn't run through the install process with the disk and subsequent patches etc. I was just wondering if in some bizarre way this would be detrimental to the frames.

 

There will almost surely be a difference between 1GB and 2GB if you plan to use Vista. But if it only comes with 2, it's a non-issue.

 

Hi guys

Finally got my N10J yesterday and installed PES 2009 in it.
However, it is only playable at medium setting. At highest setting the lagging is very obvious. Don't know the reason of lagging (porbably the Atom?). I have updated with the lastest driver from Laptop2go but no improvement so far. Would gaming on this laptop be smoother on XP?

 

To the guy who was getting aweful WoW performance, are you sure you toggled the switch to change it from Integrated graphics to 9300M? I believe the MSI Wind gets the frame-rates you are reporting and that would be with Integrated since it doesn't have any other options, so it sure seems like the 9300M isn't working at all.

 

PES 2009

**MINIMUM SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS
- Windows XP SP2, Vista
- Intel Pentium 4 1.4 GHz
- 1 GiByte RAM
- 6 GB hard disk space
- GeForce FX or Radeon 9700th Pixel / Vertex Shader 2.0 and 128 MiByte VRAM.
- 800 x 600 display resolution

**RECOMMENDED SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS:
- Windows XP SP2, Vista
- Intel Pentium 4 3.0 GHz
- 2 GiByte RAM
- 8 GB hard disk
- GeForce 6800 GT / GS, Radeon X1600 or higher. Pixel / Vertex Shader 3.0 and 256 MiByte VRAM
- 1,280 x 720 display resolution

If you are able to only run it at medium setting then I would say that that is good. This system does not come close to the recommended setting of 3.0 GHz proc. The vid card will help in gaming but i think it was more for the fact that you can hook the n10 up to a nice lcd with hdmi. Great for HD movies though.