Release date and price for N6 Series?!

i assume custom build means different amounts of RAM and different size of Hard drive? i highly doubt they can do much about the video card

 

No, they can´t change de graphic card or the memory type

 

yes thats the problem

 

Given the different clock speeds for the 650m (735 MHz for GDDR5 and 850 MHz for DDR3), do you really think there will be a big performance difference?

The DDR3 version will have a 15% advantage in computing power. Wouldn't that make them closer in overall performance?

 

Yea agreed. I personally think an SSD over a 5400rpm HDD will make a bigger difference in performance than GDDR5.

 

the bandwidth is lower for the DDR3 thus it will be a bottleneck at 900p/1080p gaming. I think the performance will be similar for 768p/720p tho.

An ssd won't help your gaming performance (fps). It will dramatically increase bootup and game loading times.

 

Yes true. I guess if gaming is your main criteria for buying a new laptop than go for GDDR5. Being able to power-multi-task and open application quickly for work purposes comes before gaming for me. So as long as I can at least upgrade to an SSD I will be happy.

 

for me gaming is an important factor but so is portability and battery life. If I can get the same things as the asus in the HP dv6 but with ddr5, why not just go with that. I do plan on upgrading to an ssd in the future tho

 

also i like the premium look of the Asus, not a fan of the plastic on the P2542 and DV6-7xxx.

 

panel of the P2542 is brushed aluminum i think, not sure about the cover though

 

thats why im hesitant on the dv6 but if it comes down to it... and i will be willing to get plastic for upgraded performance as in the p2542

 

I'm probably in the minority here but I prefer more effects to higher resolution. I usually play at 720p with as many effects on the highest setting as possible. In this case, I guess since the 650m with DDR3 runs at a higher clock, it would probably end up with the same performance, right?

 

The problem is the Memory Bandwiddh, not the core clock, it could have a 2GHz core clock, but it would still be bottlenecked by the poor bandwidth

 

I'm not talking in general, I'm talking specifically at 720p. I know that the higher the resolution, the more memory size and bandwidth it needs. But I'm trying to compare of the two variants at 720p, and whether in that case the advantage in computing power would match both versions, even with highest settings (except res and AA). There's a reason Nvidia raised the clock on the 650m DDR3 variant beyond the 660m while keeping the GDDR5 variant significantly lower.

 

At 720p even the 540 is enough (except for BF3 and the big demanding games)

 

No it isn't. I have an N53SV and with the settings I play at 720p games like Witcher 2, Shogun 2, Batman AC, LA Noire and many others run at sub 30 fps.

That's why I'm considering the N56VZ, specs and looks. And why I'm curious about the differences between 650m variants.

 

how is video editing with the gt650m ddr3?? bc thats what I am going to use it for.

 

Dx11 games.........

 

So, April 29th? I have been waiting for it for some time now. It better be on time.

 

I doubt it will be released April 29, my guess is that it will be released during the summer.

 

Yes. And that's why I'm wondering which is more important at 720p: computation power or memory bandwidth.

I'd say it should be good. It's a fast card and for video editing the amount of available system RAM (8 or 16 GB) is what's generally most important. And a fast hard drive for swapping, especially with video files at 1080p which will quickly fill up available RAM.

Though in the case of an Optimus laptop like the N56 you would probably be using the Intel HD integrated GPU unless you choose to run with the Nvidia card, and it should still be good. Intel's Quicksync is fast and produces quality output.

 

Hi guys

I just signed up here, but I've been following this thread and a couple of others here for some time.

I've been sitting on my current laptop for almost 4 years, doing pretty much everything from 3D gaming to programming on it, and it has been great. But lately it has started to show signs of its age and in either case I pretty much decided 1,5 years ago that late this year could be a good time for me to get a new one, with both Ivy Bridge and Kepler being released.

If I do go through with that plan, I would be looking for a 15" 1080p display, a 3612QM and probably a 650M GT. I've liked the N53 and N55 series from Asus and I was hoping that the new N56-serie would have something along these lines for, say, a maximum of ~1200$.

What do you guys think, how probable is it that there will be something along those lines for me in late 2012 (I'm waiting a bit either way)?

Also, I'm not completely sure what graphics card I should aim for. I know that the 640,650 and 660 are based on the same card, but would a 650 GDDR3 be the best balance in such a laptop and within that budget?
I've been reading around and it seems the memory bus would bottleneck it a bit when gaming * at 1080p, would the GDDR5 version completely cure this or would it just be a slight improvement?
I'm guessing the GDDR5 version won't be to easy to get in mainstream laptops at this price point...

Keep up the good work, I've been enjoying following this thread so far.

* When I say gaming at 1080p; I don't demand the latest and heaviest games and 80 fps, in fact I usually play somewhat old/light games and a lot of RTS-games. I just want a reasonable laptop that is/will be capable of doing pretty much everything reasonably for a couple of years to come.

 

GT650M GDDR5 on AsusN56 late this year? i doubt but is possible. But the 3612QM on later versions is complety possible. With that card for now only HP(and you need to customize) and Clevo W150ER. If you only will buy in December you should wait for more news, i think that no one at this point could possible know what Asus or Hp or any other company will launch in december . If you only will play older games, the DDR3 grafic card should be more than enough to play in 1080p even with all settings in the max. The problem is with the new and most demanding games i think...but only when benchmarks about GT650M DDR3 VS GT650M GDDR5 at 1080p came we know for sure the real diference about them.

 

True, I agree. As I said, I will be waiting until the end of the year, so of course I will continue following the news.

I was just checking to see what you guys thought that we could expect from laptops and this series in particular.
For example, with Nvidia's 500-series, the 540M was very usual and some had the 550M, but the 555M was very rare on mainstream laptops first. In the last 3-4 months though you could get a 555M in almost any 15" "middle class" laptop. I'm hoping for something similar here that I can take advantage of, and maybe even a refreshed version of the 3612QM later on, who knows.

The graphics is my main hesitation right now. The 650M GDDR3 would probably be enough right now, but in time I wonder if that will continue to be true. Also, with the 1080p resolution, personally I would feel very unsatisfied if I choose to play a newer/heavier game and I know that the card is enough and that only the 128-bit memory bus/GDDR3 memory is stopping me from using my hardware to its full potential. I guess that's the question a lot of people have right now about the 650M versions and the difference between GDDR3 and GDDR5. Can't wait until Ivy Bridge is realeased so more reviews and benchmarks of these cards are released.

As for the N56, I'm pretty certain that the chassi can handle the heat from a 650M, as long as the cooling is on the same level as in the N55. There were plenty of N55s with 540M-555M (30-35W TDP) paired with 2630/2670QM (45W).
Assuming that 650M should have a similar TDP, and that the IVB-quads have the same 45W TDP (the 3612QM even has less, it has a 35W TDP), I see no reason why Asus wouldn't be able to equip some N56s with at least the GDDR3 version of the 650M.
However, I agree that getting the GDDR5 in one of these is probably wishful thinking. Oh well, hope is the last thing that dies.

 

yes there is a 650 version of n56, try google N56VZ. it has GDDR3. I am quite disappointed by this, as the gigabyte p2542 will have a 660M

 

How much might that Gigabyte be? Some of the current Asus models can be found under $1000 like the N53. Will that be the case with the new generation? Will a laptop with a decent GPU even be found in the new generation? I was looking into the new Clevos but those are going to be well over 1200 (P151).

Sent from my HTC Vivid

 

Yes, the Gigabyte will have a 660m, but i highly doubt that it could mantain a good temperatura, it will probably go higher that 90ºC, temperature is the most important on a Laptop cause it have direct impact on the laptop life

 

Yes, at least i already saw some versions in some webstores that costs aroud 1000/1100 euros. In portugal the first N56VZ will cost 1099 euros, but in smaller shops, it probably will cost around 1000 euros.

 

the gigabyte has 2 exhaust fans, so i think it was designed to handle big powerful cards. Also it would be around 1350, so it is quite pricy

 

Thanks for the info. I'm hoping it stays around the 1000 mark. I also found some info with the link below. It's saying the N56 will sport a 670m, almost seems too good to be true though... I'm not sure how reliable this site really is.
http://eeepc.net/asus-n56-15-6-inch-laptop/
Edit: This site also saying 670m, is there still hope in a decent card?
http://blog.clickdigitalproducts.com/computers/asus-n56-15-6-inch-laptop/

Sent from my HTC Vivid

 

It´s a fake, 2 month ago a web page started to say that the N56 will have a 670m, and that is impossible

 

Gotcha, thanks for clearing that up. I thought was a little too good to be true.

Sent from my HTC Vivid

 

I think that the most powerful card, at least from Nvidia's 600M-series, we're going to see in the N56 is the 650M. If we're lucky there might some model sporting the GDDR5 version, but that's it.

The 660M would not be that much of a boost, I think, and it would both cost more and generate more heat. I doubt the N56's cooling would be able to handle that.

Besides, even if they could put a 660M in the N56, I bet Asus doesn't want to start competing against its own low-end gaming series. They usually have the X60M GTX in many of those.

 

Completly fake.

 

the gigabyte shouldnt ahve too high temps, it supported the gt 555m last round

 

No, it is the 550m. And as i said it has bad temperatures 94ºC on Load for the CPU an 86º for the GPU, that are not good temperatures

Review Gigabyte P2532N Notebook - Notebookcheck.net Reviews

 

hmm i thought those tests always created high temps.

a substantailly heftier/thicker case (for btter cooling) also is only off by 10 degrees Review Schenker XMG P502 PRO (Clevo P150EM) Notebook - Notebookcheck.net Reviews

as for other temps, the laptop had a great idle temp along with good gaming temps... the cooling should be on par if not better than the previous generation unless gigabyte really screws it up.

I guess if u wanna run those benchmarks 24/7 then it might be a bit of a problem but I just plan on a little bit of fps gaming

 

It only heats 5º more than gaming, so that Gigabyte reach 80º on GPU when gaming (that is acceptable) but 90º on the CPU, that it is not acceptable for a "semi-gaming" latop

 

where are those numbers from didnt c it in the nbr link

 

Google Translate

this is for the gt 650m and it runs pretty cool I would say (its in a 14 in chassis) 72ish for CPU and 75 for gpu. The gigabyte should be able to handle the 660m i believe

 

Didn't see anyone post this link yet: ASUS to unveil new K and N series notebooks at Milano Design Week -- Engadget

The source links for that post are in Italian but have some good pics...

 

Notebook Asus N56, N76 e N46: caratteristiche tecniche in anteprima - Notebook Italia

Some more info

 

New info and release date from Prezzi e disponibilità di Asus N56 e K55 - Notebook Italia

Used Google translate.

" Asus N56 notebook is the mainstream of Taiwan, devoted to multimedia and entertainment. According to spokespersons from Asus, the entire N-Series will be sold directly with Intel Ivy Bridge since mid-May at a retail price of 699 euros. The K-Series, however, represented by its mid-range model Asus K55 will have a lower starting price, amounting to 499 euros and will be on the Italian market by the end of May.

N56
Processor: Intel Ivy Bridge
Memory: up to 8GB DDR3 1333MHz SDRAM, 2 x SODIMM
Display: 15.6 inch, 16:9 HD (1366x768) / HD + (1600x900) / Full HD (1920x1080) LED Backlight
Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GT 635m, with 2 GB of DDR3 VRAM
Hard disk: 2.5 inch SATA 1TB 5400rpm from 750GB 5400rpm/7200rpm, 5400rpm/7200rpm 500GB
Optical Drive: DVD, Blu-Ray
Networking: WiFi 802.11b / g / n, Bluetooth 3.0 + HS, 10/100/1000 LAN
Interfaces: audio jacks, VGA, Mini D-sub 15-pin for external monitor, 2 x USB 3.0, 2 x USB 2.0, RJ45, HDMI, card reader 3in1
Audio: Bang & Olufsen ICEpower SonicMaster
Battery: 6 cell 5200mAh and 56Whrs
Dimensions: 37.9 x 26.1 x 3.5 cm
Weight: 2.7kg
Operating System: Windows 7 Ultimate, Windows 7 Professional, Windows 7 Home Premium, Windows 7 Home Basic Other: HD camera

 

Yeah, after looking at info, I am going to go for another laptop.

 

This is kinda off topic, but IDK where else to act.

Whats better ddr3 gt650 or ddr5 gt640???

 

It depends on your native res. I think the 650m would be better on lower res's but for higher ones the 640m with a slight Oc will overtake the ddr3 650m

 

ya, I go 1080p all the time

 

then b/w the 2 650m with ddr5 is ur best option

 

the n6 series does not offer gddr5 gt 650. Im going to wait and take a look at the new dell xps17 when it comes out. It should have a gt650 ddr5.

 

The load temps are in the "Temperature" section.
"It doesn't look quite as good for the components in full load. While the graphics card heated up to 86°C in our stress test over several hours (Furmark & Prime), the processor reached 100°C. But not for long. Intel's Core i7-2630QM clocked down to 1.70 GHz after a few minutes. We fortunately didn't determine throttling in the (gaming) benchmarks."

Cooling does seem abnormally weak for a 1.1-1.4" laptop (eg the thinner Envy 15 had lower temps), but the i7-3612QM and Kepler should run cooler. I'd guess the Gigabyte refresh will be fine.