Quirks and issues with Asus G51vx

Okay so I have been using this machine for a day and so far I gotta say I am pleased with the new design, backlit keyboard, and improved gaming performance.

However... Well, as with anything in life, there are things I don't like about this machine:

1) The feel of an unfinished product: With the software provided by Asus, turbo gear hybrid, everything seems "less" capable than the previous G50. Commands don't respond as well and I can't change simple things like "DON'T TURN OFF THE PC WHEN THE LID IS CLOSED" kinda thing. Slightly bothersome.

2) Keyboard: I love the backlit capability, but the keyboard feels flimsy, weak and it is not properly attached to the computer. Every time I move the computer from work to home or so, the keyboard seems to stick out and I have to press it down again.

3) Brightness! Now I don't have an issue about how bright the computer gets, but the problem is, I can't diminish the brightness with any commands, neither with presumably FN+F5

4) Heat: Well, the GPU seems to be on a similar leage like my previous OCd 9800M GS, so I don't mind it Thaaaaat much, however the CPU temps are quite high, which makes me a bit uneasy. I already knew it ran hot though, so I am not really surprised or bothered by this. The machine delivers in performance regardless of the heat.

If there are any solutions to the afore mentioned problems, any input is well apreciated

 

seems like driver problems

 

Anyone knows how I can fix the brightness control issue? It is tiring at nights to watch the screen with such brightntess. I just can't control it!

The keyboard can be removed very easily...I am not sure if that is okay or not. It works great, I guess I am just wondering if I got a broken one or something

Gaming has been great though. Battleforge plays much better now.

 

Congrats. I'll swear on this machine.

Can you be more specific? Does your laptop only turn off when on battery mode? In one of the power saving modes?

It's easily correctable in the power management screen.

I noticed that too. There is some noticeable flex. I don't find mine to be dangerous, though.

Can you diminish the brightness using your power management settings?

If you can, you have issues with the hotkey commands/drivers.

You'll notice the difference, believe me. If you have a G50 handy, put them both on the same resolutions and the same settings, and watch the 9800m GS get smoked.

What CPU temperatures are you getting? I've gotten as high as 62 at one point. I think. Can't remember.

 

I am using Power4Gear Hybrid, and so far I can't modify things like "when lid is closed" to do nothing etc. I mean, I can modify it, but after applying or accepting, the values return to what they were and the lid continues to hibernate or sleep. The software doesn't seem as easy to use or as well developed as the Power 4 Gear for the old G50 too. It even has less options, for example. But I think the software might be wrongly installed to be having such issues, like the brightness too.

Oh I don't think it is dangerously flexible. Actually I went ahead and removed the keyboard, and saw a pretty solid construction underneath. Basically, the keyboard is fine, what I was worried about is how easy it is to remove, as the upper left side of the keyboard is basically detached and I though it might be broken. Who knows, the keyboard works like a charm and feel great. Maybe it was designed that way.

I can't diminish brightness with power management, nor modifiying Windows Mobility center (it doesn't slide) nor with Power 4 Gear slide etc. It remains at the same level always.

Maybe the screen is bad?

Oh I didn't mean that the 9800M GS was in similar performance. Actually the 260M GTX has been constantly outperforming the 9800M GS in everything. I can finally enjoy gaming maxed on my screen res This is what I find the best deal with the machine despite the other small issues mentioned before.

My CPU goes from core1/core2 59/62 to maximum of 76/79. The difference of near 20C means it is alright, but the max and min temps are just a bit too high for what I am used to seeing. My old G50 with P8400 had 34/35co to 59C tops. So it is about 20C hotter. It might be due to the video card, I don't know.

 

I'm sure you've tried this, but why not

Control panel -> power options - > (On the left side of the window) Choose what closing the lid does.

This is definitely a sexy keyboard. Although calling it chiclet makes me scratch my head.

Maybe a driver issue, but I don't know. (I'm assuming in the list of "I can'ts" you also meant the hotkeys Fn+F5/F6)

Try fiddling around with the monitor drivers. By the way, have you installed any new drivers for the videocard?

That could be it, and also the fact that I keep mine on top of an active cooler whenever I can.

And they both share the same heatpipe, so...

 

I'm also having the same problem with the monitor. Wont time with the FN keys or with powergear hybird

 

Yeah I tried this, and at first it didn't work. I also tried modifiying directly to Power4Gear. Funny enough, if I modify the value and save the change without closing the menu, it works haha. Maybe it was conflicting with Power4Gear, the power options thing.

Yeah, a chiclet keyboard does sound strange haha. But who cares as long as it looks and feels sexy

Yeah, I can't change it with sliders nor with FN keys. all other operations work, like volume and keyboard brightness.

Yes, I changed the drivers. It might be conflicting? I am using 186.30 and so far work amazingly. Maybe I need to reinstall them, do a clean sweep of old drivers etc.

Yeah, I am no longer worried about the temps. Sharing the same heatpipe with a hotter card might be the reason for the increased temps.

 

Those are from my time, does that still sells or what?

 

I tried reinstalling the 186.30 drivers, and then reinstalled the ATK hotkey, however my brightness controls are still not working!

bleh

 

ryzeki something is not working correctly in you computer, I reformatted mine 3 times and every time all my hotkeys worked. One thing to consider since we are in mexico is the fact that if you did the manifiesto thing to recover taxes we are out of warranty, unless you paid for the best buy one. If you are in the 14 day mark, if I were you I will return the laptop and get a new one.

 

does the 260m really blow away the 9800m gs? I thought it was not that much faster?

 

I don't know about that, but my card flashed to the 9800M GTS scores 9448 at native resolution in 3dmark06. While 3dmark isn't the best tool to compare performance it would be nice to compare some gaming benckmarks.

 

Yeah renegg it is the best buy version but it is legally imported, so I have warranty. It is still under the 14 day mark so I think I will take it back. However I have to try one last thing that Ken told me to check. If it still doesn't work, then I will take it back.

And yes, the 260M GTX blows away the 9800M GTS. All benchmarks and games I have tried run better on the 260M, sometimes by 30% increase in fps, like in Battleforge.

 

Does anyone know for video editing...Is it better to have a faster cpu or gpu?

 

Mostly CPU since CUDA hasn't been vastly applied yet.

 

Okay, what Ken told me worked:

The Brightness buttons FN+F5 and F6 work during BIOS. That means that the machine is working right and this issue is driver-related. I will roll back to original stock drivers and test brightness controls and see how it goes.

I just hope that stock drivers perform well, because the 186.30 I am using so far work amazingly well and give me great performance.

 

Have you tried Dox 185.85 or even stock 185.85? For me, those drivers were great and the brightness keys all worked so they should be fine on yours.

 

#1. use windows power options to control the lid... start>control panel>power options>change plan settings

#2. It is a bit flimsy, but this is the first ive heard of it popping out of place. You may want to have that looked into. I have seen this issue remedied in other laptops with some well placed double sided foam tape under the keyboard.

#3. First make sure you have all the proper keyboard drivers installed. (listed under ATK drivers/programs on the driver cd/website) Then use nvidia drivers v186.24 (YOU DO NOT NEED AN INF) http://downloads.guru3d.com/downloadget.php?id=2322&file=4&evp=1e93c9cc03dcfa118bccea0217d2aeac

#4. your cpu has a thermal limit of 90c, you are within the acceptable range. However, at 59/60c idle thats a good 5c higher that what ive been seeing. What is the room temp you have the laptop in? how long did the laptop sit when you took those temps?

**EDITED FOR DRIVER VERSION**

 

1)Thanks, the lid is not giving me much trouble anymore.

2)Altho it is kind of poping out of place, I realized it was only due to how it attaches. I attached it and pushed it forward and now it is all well.

3)I used the driver CD and installed all ATK hotkey and drivers, downloaded the drivers from your link but was not able to install it because it said I had no compatible hardware. I reverted to original VGA drivers however the brightness still doesn't work

4)Oh my ambient temperature is about 40C so yeah, the CPU temps are fine haha.

All in all, I will try tomorrow a full system restore. If my brightness buttons don't work still, I will take it back to best buy. (My brightness buttons work during BIOS, so clearly it is a software issue, not hardware).

 

ok super nub mistake, i linked you to the incorrect drivers. try v186.24 - http://downloads.guru3d.com/downloadget.php?id=2322&file=4&evp=1e93c9cc03dcfa118bccea0217d2aeac

you may want to run driver sweeper and remove any files left over from old drivers http://downloads.guru3d.com/downloadget.php?id=2186&file=7&evp=82ad214b3ccbebb9228e346b529eb5a7

 

nVidiaguru, I LOVE YOU!!! My brightness controls finally work T-T

Now I am complete!

It is time to focus on cooler, modding, new CPU, OC the GPU etc.

 

If you're not familiar with the installaion of Dox drivers I can help you with those. They make a big difference.

 

Thanks forge, for now I will use the computer as is.

Later on I will install better drivers. For now the current ones work great. At least they give better performance than stock!