Opinions on the N56JR..

Well I think there's either a problem with your machine or they changed something, because my N56DP and N56VZ both can play VERY loud (ask my roommate haha) without any real distortion. Do you have loudness equalization turned on? I found that made for a lot of distortion, but it's really not needed on this laptop.

 

Hmm, I'll play around with it a bit more over the weekend. Maybe the speakers need some 'wearing in'?

The popping noise only started after about 30 minutes of playing moderately loud music, and I did have the Leveler activated to Loud and MaxxLoud activated on 40%. After the popping noises started I deactivated these features, but still had to reduce the volume to remove the popping noises entirely.

Deactivating most of these 'Maxx...' boosting type features did definitely stop the distortion though. Most of those features are activated by default when you change to 'Music' preset in the Audio Wizard, which seems kind of stupid if they just make the speakers sound crap...

 

That's what many consumers are trained to like sadly.

 

Yeah all of that extra stuff is mostly just crap. I wonder if you blew out a speaker.

 

Yeah, the thought did cross my mind. I'll RMA it, if thats the case. The music I was playing was not loud enough to warrant blowing the speakers.

Edit:
Ok, I did some more testing, and the popping / clicking noises did not come back this time. I can only assume this was caused somehow by the MaxxVolume and/or MaxxLeveler [Loud], because I had these both actived with the volume around 95- 100 when this happened last time. The next day when I was listening to music, I had these settings turned off and it did not have any issues. The only feature I had activated the second time was MaxxTreble at Intensity 11 (around 20%), and I have to say the speakers are pretty decent. Rock music and guitar solos sound very clear and defined, and with the sub woofer connected the speakers do not sound tinny, which is the most common problem laptop speakers have.

Overall, I am impressed with the value for money this laptop offers, and I can't see any real deal breakers.

 

Hey everyone, I am trying to decide between the Asus n56jr and the Lenovo y510p. Unfortunately, I can only purchase from NCIX US because I have store credit for returning a laptop there. Both laptops are in stock on the website, but I noticed that they only had the canadian version of the N56jr (ASUS N56JR-DS71). I can't find any reviews of this version though. I'm afraid that this one might come with a bilingual keyboard like my previous laptop (Acer V7-482PG). Their U.S. customer support is completely useless.

 

ASUS N56JR-DS71-CA. The other version (not for that model) ends with "-CB" as this one here and it is specified as "French Bilingual". Anyway the only way to be sure is to find someone that bought that model ending with CA and see what kind of keyboard they have. If the customer support does not help, the other option is to take the chance and buy it (not really recommended).

I've been looking myself for a laptop too and I ended up to the same laptops as you did. However, the reviews for Asus are better for what I want.
- Cooling: Asus stays cooler (only one GPU). Lenovo has two video cards (SLI) and therefore has less cooling space plus an extra GPU => runs hotter. (check reviews on Newegg).
- Windows 8.1 upgrade = SLI does not work anymore properly. You'll have to wait for an update or so to get it resolved.
- another factor that made me think twice about Lenovo is their Malfunction Rates. Check it here. Asus placed high in 2012 and a chart from 2009 places them high too. However, that does not guarantee too much. Different models can have different problems.

 

Also you can upgrade your wifi card without running into the notorious whitelisting issues that lenovos have. It's one of the primary reasons I do not buy laptops from them anymore.

 

I agree. I would not buy the N56jr just to see if it has a bilingual keyboard (which I'm betting it does). The fact that it is more expensive than everywhere else does not help either.

It's unfortunate that the y510p has such a ty cooling system, but you can always take out the second graphics card to decrease the weight (0.5lbs), improve cooling, and battery life. That kind of defeats the purpose of buying it though...

Honestly, I think I'm leaning towards building a desktop solely for gaming/ entertainment at this point.

 

Probably the bilingual keyboard makes it worth more

 

Maybe. But bilingual keyboards are awful. It looks ugly with all the green symbols and they screw up the enter and shift keys.

Sent from my XT1034 using Tapatalk

 

Better off setting the software to another language and knowing where the keys are.

 

You can buy an English keyboard off eBay for a good price.
N56JR keyboard | eBay

 

So,
I just bought a N56JR. Really an awesome laptop. Really a powerful laptop and as everybody said it here before, it runs very cool. Just love that. Sound is incredible, just can believe that it comes from a laptop.

However, one thing that drives me crazy is freakin' MICROSOFT. I can believe they make such poor software. IT JUST SUCKS.
I did that dumb thing to upgrade to 8.1. Then I tried to run 3dMark Vantage and 3dMark 11. Vantage could not start and 11 ran once on the integrated card (1600 score) and scared the crap out of me cause it had like 2-4 fps for most tests. I figured that out and was able to run half the tests and than a Direct11 (unable to switch to full screen) error stop all my tests. Restarted, reinstalled nVidia driver, tried everything and nothing worked. So after 3-4 hours of frustration I just accessed the recovery partition and Reset my PC to factory and back to Windows 8. 3dMark 11 and Vantage ran perfectly (13,000 and 3600 scores -> Performance test). But I got the message that nVidia drivers were not accepted because they are outdated. I downloaded the newest driver and tried to install. No luck, the installer could not recognize any nVidia graphics card on my system... yeah sure Geforce GTX 760M. Then I ran the nVidia web graphics card detector and guess what => "The manufacturer of this system requires that you download the driver for your GPU from their support site."

Used Windows 8 for just a few hours (been on W 7 for a few years on all my PCs) and I am just tired of it.

To make it worse, today I got myself with a BSOD due to a Driver_State_Failure. I have the minidump but just cannot figure out what driver caused the problem.

So, Laptop? Awesome...
Windows? A freakin' joke of an OS. Starting to understand why Mac OS is getting all that positive attention even if I just hate everything related to Apple.

Anyone had any BSODs with this model and have an idea what driver can cause that? (it was almost a fresh install, and it happened right after I uninstalled McAfee and was using the touchpad to click on something)

And, did anybody successfully upgraded to Windows 8.1 and managed to have everything working without errors: nVidia code 43 and stuff like that. I've read on page 6 that after Bios update it worked but I would hate to do W 8.1 and try everything and waste time and then go back to W 8.

Thanks

 

8.1 is best used on a fresh install, I would also recommend using third party start menus if you can't get used to the new organisation.

 

After normal use and not many programs installed I keep on getting BSODs. The error is DRIVER_POWER_STATE_FAILURE.

The last thing stored in the Windows Event Viewer is always this:
Information UserModePowerService 12 (10) Process C:\Program Files (x86)\ASUS\ASUS Smart Gesture\AsTPCenter\x64\AsusTPCenter.exe reset policy scheme from {381b4222-f694-41f0-9685-ff5bb260df2e} to {381b4222-f694-41f0-9685-ff5bb260df2e}.

The minidump blames = ntoskrnl.exe
DRIVER_POWER_STATE_FAILURE 0x0000009f 00000000`00000003 fffffa80`0e9a6880 fffff880`02df77e0 fffffa80`0d116910 ntoskrnl.exe ntoskrnl.exe+7a040 NT Kernel & System Microsoft® Windows® Operating System Microsoft Corporation 6.2.9200.16496 (win8_gdr.130108-1504) x64 ntoskrnl.exe+7a040 C:\Windows\Minidump\011914-13859-01.dmp 8 15 9200 1,072,544 1/19/2014 10:35:55 PM


From what I've been reading that policy scheme stands for "Balanced". Could it be the touchpad?

Anyone using this model had any BSODs?

 

Try u installing the Asus power profiles program and see if you still get the bsods.

 

BSOD after BSOD. I just hate it. So, first thing I did was to uninstall Asus Live Update. Got another BSOD. Then I completely uninstalled Avast since my first step on the fresh OS was to uninstall McAfee and install Avast. Since uninstalling Avast (12h ago) I haven't had any BSOD. If I get one more, next in the list is Asus Power Profiles and then Asus Smart Gesture.

I am just curios, anybody had any BSOD with this N56JR? And if yes, we're you using Avast, McAfee or AVG?

 

Anyone have details or experience with the warranty?

It comes with a 1 year accidental damage warranty right? Do I have to do anything more than registering it with ASUS to activate the warranty?

The ||ASUS official page|| for the warranty is broken...

 

You do have to register it within 60 days. Try this page ASUS Service | North America

 

Anyone have performance issues when they change to one of the two power saving options? I've been using mine for almost a week now and it's been great and super fast, etc. but I brought it to class for the first time today and it started acting up.

I've been using it without the battery on high performance settings since I got it and it's been more than fine. But with the battery in on power saving options, it has lagged out twice now. When I was only editing docs. And it forced restart both times...CPU goes up to low 50s but I'm using almost no CPU or ram resources.

 

Hi, i'm also thinking of geting a new laptop, my current options are IdeaPadZ510 (59401838) 580€, Asus N56JR (S4054H) 804€ and Asus G750JW (T4011H) 894€.
Iwas initially going to buy it here in Spain, the IdeaPad Z510 at 899€, but by doing so in Norway, where its cheaper and get tax refund(around -25%), i can either get the same cheaper, or get something better, i haven't decided yet. I'd like to hear your opinions about those 3.
(all norge laptops come with norge keyboard? or some with english?)


For those of you having trouble with W8.1, I found this thread "ASUS G750JW Windows 8.1 clean install guide"

And also said here

Please tell me if you get it to work^^.

 

Don't update to win 8.1 unless you have to. Too many issues with N56JR and win 8.1

3dmark/3dmark 11 crash/hangs under win 8.1. GPU drivers are buggy (yes even after installing from windows update) and so on.

Under win 8 it's fine.

 

Yeah upgrades to 8.1 have been nothing but trouble for most laptops with hybrid graphics systems.

 

does anyone else get a high pitched whine from their headphones if they plug in a mouse to the usb ports next to the audio jack?

 

Hi,
Did the microcenter version (MH71) have bluetooth on it?

 

Lots of issues upgrading to 8.1 it seems. I'd stick with clean installs.

 

I bought the R501JR-S4049H a week ago and like a lot of people it seems did the silly thing of installing the free update to windows 8.1 on day 1 with no prior research.

It seemed to run slower, I had errors with my Bluetooth driver, games weren't recognizing the Nvidia GPU and using the Intel 4600 instead

Yesterday I bit the bullet and just bought a retail Windows 8.1 full version, deleted all partitions and did a fresh install. Turned Windows Update OFF (for drivers and windows) and just installed all the necessary drivers (minus bloatware) for the model from the ASUS support site. Turned windows update on (windows update for drivers still OFF though).

Everything is running really well now and I'm really happy with the performance and sound with this notebook (I upgraded from an Alienware 15x). I made a recovery image prior to the fresh install using the windows software on a usb drive, but I'm pretty sure I won't be using it.

 

You did not need to buy another windows 8 copy, your key in the bios will activate a fresh 8.1 install.

 

True, I could of saved myself some money, but all in all I have everything working as it should be with 8.1 now so I'm happy.

 

Well in future you could de activate your copy, activate it on the bios key and use the key you bought in another machine.

 

I just got this laptop. Really great build quality and performance so far. Touchpad is a bit annoying with the buttons being part of the tracking surface - anyone figure out a way to shrink the touch area? The Asus driver doesn't give the option to do so. I may cover the buttons with tape or something.

Did a fresh install of Windows 8.1 (which was a huge hassle... had to pay $70 for a student version of 8.1 pro because getting the installation to work with the OEM key was impossible) onto an SSD. Downloaded drivers from the Asus site - the recovery disc wouldn't work for me (it said it didn't match my hardware).

I now want to put the 750GB HD into the optical drive caddy. I have the adapter to do this, but I'm having a little trouble getting the old optical drive out. Has anyone successfully done this? There's one screw on the bottom of the laptop that has a little CD icon next to it, so I unscrewed that, but the drive won't come out. Is there another screw I'm missing?

Thanks for any help with this.

(BTW I didn't have any Nvidia problems with the fresh install - Skyrim runs at Ultra settings with no error messages.)

 

I figured out the optical drive thing. It was just that one screw, it just needed a bit of a tug. Getting the faceplate off the old optical drive was a little tricky too, but now I have the old 750GB HD sitting snugly in the optical drive slot, the dvd player in an external caddy, and everything is working great.

Except the touchpad... I turned down mouse speed a notch and it's less noticeable. I really hope they include some way to reduce touchpad sensitivity area in a future driver though.

 

Try the latest ASUS Smart Gesture driver.
Driver V2.2.8

 

That version of SmartGesture is the same as the one I have installed. It doesn't have a setting to shrink active touchpad area. Does anyone know if it would be possible to use Elantech or Synaptics drivers for this touchpad instead?

For now, I cut up one of the laptop stickers and stuck it to the touchpad where the buttons would be. This actually solves the problem with click inaccuracy. I may replace with some better looking clear tape, but for now at least it works.

 

BIOS and EC may require update, for touchpad drivers you can try the original Elantech driver package from MSI download below.
MSI Global – Download Center

 

I bought my N56JR last week. Hated Windows 8 so I installed Windows 7. I found all the W7 drivers so no problems there, the atheros wifi on the other hand is completely awful. I'm not at home now, so to get online I have to connect to a wifi that uses alot of cisco access-points. The Atheros card will suddenly disconnect and stay disconnected for up to an hour or more. I've tried releasing/renewing the ip, re-installing the adapter from device manager and I tried rebooting. I also tried the newer drivers from atheros.cz, but to no avail. My old Asus Z96S has a intel 4965a/g/n card and that works flawlessly on the same wifi. My nexus 4 also have no problems.

Because of this I'm desperate to change the wifi card.

I read in this thread that some N56JR have the intel 7260 installed, so I'm curious if anyone has swaped out the atheros card already?
There is the question of compability... I found a site that lets you configure the N56JR they will put in a intel 7260 a/ac/b/g/n for you.
I have no idea if they change the wiring/antenna to support 5ghz. Even the regular 7260a/b/g/n would be a major upgrade from the atheros.

Any insight would be helpfull

 

The antenna's used for 2.4Ghz and 5.0Ghz are the same, theres no need to change them.

 

Thanks for the info. The intel adapter is quite cheap so it wouldn't matter much if it doesn't work.

 

I am running the older 6250 in my N56DP with zero problems. It's been a LOT better than the atheros it came with.

 

I ordered the dual-band ac capable version of the 7260.
When I got it installed I'll make a post

 

The question is, can the atheros wifi card be upgraded easily on the n56jr or does it need to be fully disassembled like other asus laptops where you only have access to the ram slots and hdd???

 

It's going to make a nice upgrade to the wireless performance.

 

Hi all, I bought an N56JR a few weeks ago and it's great. Replaced the stock HDD with an SSD and a fresh install of windows 8 and everything runs blazing fast. Seems like a great laptop so far.

I have what may be a really dumb question regarding the wired ethernet jack. There is a little springed hinge part underneath the jack that moves up and down. I can plug in a wired cable ok, but trying to get it back out is really difficult. I think I may have been forcing the jack/hinge as when I remove the wired connection now, it will come out just by bending the end of the network cable downwards. It's pretty solid, but I just want to ask - is this by design? How is this little hinge supposed to work on the ethernet jack?! It seems like a really strange design to me.

Again, this may be a dumb question, but any info would be appreciated. Thanks.

 

Unless the n56jr is radically different from my n56dp or n56vz then the wifi is right under the trap door for the hard drive and ram.

 

Oh kool, so it's easy to replace the wifi card then by just removing the single bottom hatch where the hdd and ram slots are?

 

Lol. The laptop is great, but whoever designed that ethernet hinge was drunk! It's a pain to take it out.

Method 1: use two hands. One finger (nail) pushes the hinge down and with the other hand you pull the cable.

Method 2: One hand. You press the cable jack release hinge and then you go UP, DOWN a couple of times while you pull. I managed sometimes to take it out by just pressing upwards the jack!

 

Would you mind posting some links of the Win 7 drivers?

When the wifi disconects, do you still see it connected to the Wireless AP but don't have internet connection? Or it just disconnects and you get nothing on the Network Adapters?

 

yuuuuuuuuup.

 

Windows claim to be connected to the AP as if everything is allright. packets are going up but not down. Wifi still works just fine on my old Asus z96 and my phone (LG Nexus 4)
Normally with the atheros cards I have previously been able to fix problems either by updating drivers or changing the channel on the AP to CH1 or CH6. Atheros seam to like those channels for some reason.
I don't have control of the AP where I am right now so I can't experiment much...

Do you only want the wifi drivers?
Just in case anyone else needs W7 drivers here are a few links...


Wifi drivers: Latest driver 10.0.0.270 is only available from atheros.cz
From Asus -> Link
From Atheros.cz (unoffical ) -> Link (Buggy link. IE users try 'save target as'. Chrome users try to copy link and paste in new tab)

Display Drivers: Intel and nvidia (Intel drivers have to be installed first)
Intel: From Asus -> Link
Nvidia : from Asus -> Link

Chipset: (It's sais Windows 8 but it works in 7 aswell)
From intel -> Link

USB3:
From intel -> Link

LAN NIC: (no direct link possible)
From realtek -> Link

ATK hotkeys: (again W8 drivers works in W7)
From asus -> Link

Card reader:
From realtek -> Link