The Official ASUS Model Number Explination

Due to the overwhelming response of confusion towards Asus's model numbers in general, I thought I would compile my knowledge into one post. And it would be nice if we could get a sticky on this beast.

Hopefully I can clarify these somewhat-confusing model numbers beginning with the ensemble level.

Just to situate us, let’s take a very popular model such as the new ASUS W3J.

Popular example: W3J

The First Letter: W

The W in this model number is the chassis style. There are many versions of notebook chassis' such as: the "W" series, the "V" series the "A" series and the "M" series.

Each chassis has specific benefits and features. Examples include: thinness, construction of carbon fiber, etc.

Although this is an over simplification, it is a good starting point. You will see that there is a lot more to the first letter than simply a chasis type or style. In fact, this is the most confusing part of the model number system. You will see what I mean when I break it down into the Asus categories.

Now, here’s where the exceptions come in:

Although two models may have the same starting number, Asus has still taken the liberty to separate them into different categories. Now this may seem odd, but it makes quite a bit of sense.

To clarify: Concentrating on the popular "W" series, lets take a look at the W2J and the W3J. Although they share similar builds, they are not placed in the same categories due to size differences. The W2J is a 17" multimedia machine while the W3J is a thin and light laptop. It is not a good idea to classify them in the same group.


***Here is Asus's breakdown of the different models. See Attachment at the bottom for a clearer picture***

Note: not all models are available in the United States, this is a global list.

"Digital Home" : These laptops are at the breaking edge of portability and multimedia capabilities. These models are the exceptionally thin and light versions of typical media centers.

Capable Tasks include: Higher level gaming, video and audio playback/editing, and web browsing

Models include: W1, W2 series

"Personal Entertainment Center" : ASUS considers these laptops “Multimedia Stations for Room-to-Room Enjoyment.” Similarly to the w series, the A5 is smaller in size than the A7 series.

Capable Tasks include: (Similar to the "Digital Home") Higher level gaming, video and audio playback/editing, and web browsing.

Models include: A5, A7 series

"Superior Mobility" : This is Asus’s line of ultra portables. These laptops are less than 14.1 inches and often weigh far less than 5 pounds.

Capable Tasks: Low functionality gaming, video and audio playback, and web browsing.

Models include: M5, S2, S3, S5, U5, W5, W6 series

“Business” : This laptop series is Asus’s mainstream (15.4” portable line. These laptops are large enough to be used as a primary machine or small enough to carry to classes / office meetings. Asus’s power4gear technology allows for longer battery life unplugged.

Capable tasks include: Audio and Video playback/editing, moderate gaming, and web-browsing.

Models include: A3, A6, L4, M6 series

“Performance” : These laptops are meant for stationary use and occasional travel. They are equipped with either intel’s power hogging: Pentium 4 or AMD’s powerful athlon 64 processor. These computers also utilize ati’s older AGP mobility radeon series. Because of increased performance and battery life, these power hogs are soon to be obsolete.

Capible Tasks: Gaming (with higher performance), video and audio playback, and web browsing. Short battery life.

Models include: A2, A4, L5 series

“Portability” : Asus’s version of the thin and light notebook (14.1-15” weight is also a determining factor of this category. These computers vary in power and battery life, and can be larger rival of the ultra portable series, or a smaller version of the mainstream line.

Capable Tasks: Mid-Upper level Gaming, video and audio playback/editing and web browsing

Models include: A8, M2, M3, M9, V6, W3 series

NOTE: A fourth additional letter can be found in specific models. A prime example is the A7 series from the portable entertainment center category. Rather than create a customizable version of each series, ASUS created lower, middle and higher end models of each. This changes the model number from the A7J (which is a model in itself) to a A7Jb or A7Jc. Often these differing models may offer a better video card or another upgrade such as a larger hard drive as well.



The Second Digit of the W3J: 3

This number differentiates between other various models of the same chassis type. The 3 in W3J separates it from the W2j and the W1J. Generally these numbers have to do with differing screen size.

This is where it gets weird. The W2J is the largest (17") "W" while the W3J is the smallest (14"), and the W1J (15.4") will be in-between. WHY IS THAT? You would think the W1J would be the smallest, while the W3J would be the largest. Why is the largest one in the middle?

Now, I am guessing that when ASUS created their first ensemble models in the "W" series, the first model made was the 15.4" version, the second was the 17" version and the third was the 14.1" version. Thus the order of W1, W2 and W3. (Please correct me if I am wrong, just an assumption). The size of the number does not correlate with the screen size in this case.


To clarify: Asus's marketing (middle) numbers are indicators of creation time rather than size. (Chronologically)

3rd digit (letter): J

This my friends is the easiest to explain. This is the chipset type. A good example again is the difference between the W3V and the W3J. The W3V is the Pentium-M chipset while the W3J is the Core Duo chipset. Another popular example: V6J versus the V6V.

I need some help with some of these suffix's.


J---- : Core Duo
F---- : Core Duo (low voltage ?)
R---- : Celeron M
V---- : Pentium M 700
G---- : Pentium M 700 ( ? )
L---- : Pentium M 715-765
E---- : Pentium M 740
N---- : Pentium M 855
D---- : AMD Turion 64
K---- : AMD Turion 64 ( ? ) (Could this be the low watt version ?)
U---- : AMD Turion 64 (another wattage difference?)


I think you get the general idea.

To be honest, I am only somewhat knowledgeable on this topic, for I am sure that there are TONS of mistakes and wrong ideas in here. Post any changes / comments and I will fix them right away.

I would appreciate some corrections/additions from Justin, Eddy and the other e-tailors who help us out everyday!

 

great post! this thread would be great if we could incorporate it into the FAQ or a stand-alone sticky...

Suffixes: these are the most common suffixes:

Pentium M generation: -V: dedicated graphics; -A: integrated graphics;
Core Duo generation: -J: dedicated graphics; -F: integrated graphics;

small letters after indicate refreshes (i.e. Z70V - Z70Va; Z33A - Z33Ae) to graphics cards and other hardware.


(additional) Prefix: Z - barebones/whitebook/custom
cousin to the ensemble line of W, V, A, etc. the Z series allows resellers to package Asus chasses with their own hardware (HDD, CPU, RAM) and often with their own company names and warranties.

they have a separate numbering system as well.
the second character, a number, indicates the class of notebook.
3 - ultraportable (Z33A - 12.1")
6 - thin and light (Z62F - 14.1")
7 - mainstream (Z70V - ~15")
8,9 - desktop replacement (Z83A - 17")

the last number is the model number, and the suffix is the same as the ensembles.

 

I think the K and the U in the turion ones have something to do with having integrated graphics or not. all the A6'U' I've seen have had the SISm760GX integrated grapgics. while the A6K have had nvidia 6200 and A6Km with nvidia go 7300 PCI express

thants just from what I've seen. not sure it only to do with the graphics solutions.

insane

 

found this on an older thread, from which i gleaned most of my information.
i believe this diagram is given to resellers:

 

Yeap, I was trying to find that pic everywhere!

Thanks hoimin!

Guys, I'll be adding this info to the FAQ, if you have anything to add, feel free to PM a moderator, or I.

Thanks!

 

While you're at it, you're forgetting the text that went along with it which actually has interesting information in it....:

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=41907

02-21-2006, 09:50 PM:

Well, I can certainly help you understand the custom side of things.... the Ensemble side really isn't hard to understand at all, but I think your problem is grasping the fact that some models on the custom side that are getting "replaced" are getting replaced with models of a totally different chassis line, for example the Z70va (M6va) with the Z92ja (A6ja). They are two totally different chassis' but the reason one is "replacing" the other is because the M6 won't be back and all we have now in it's size and performance level will be this A6 that comes in. Notice below that "7" means mainstream-performance while "9" means mainsteam-value. With the high-end graphics in this upcoming Z92ja, one would wonder if that's "value" then what could "performance" be, but in this case "value" has a lot to do with the chassis itself which is going to bring the cost of this system down and therefore will be a good value for the graphics performance it's going to have.... similiar to how some have compared the Z70 with the V6.... sort of.... but you're stepping down in the way of the chassis more than anything else.

Now the "Z" line is an entirely made up number line that compiles what are Asus chassis' into a custom system.. this was made up to keep people from confusing the complete systems which Asus builds and services with the custom systems which a dealer builds and services.

As far as Ensemble series lines.... once upon a time they were simplier... the A,L,M and S lines... A for audio, L for laptop, M for modular, S for svelte and slim... The L1 was honestly their first laptop, so the meaning of L is quite unoriginal... Once you get into the new series like the W and V... W is widescreen and V is for vanity... Now don't get me started on the numbers because although they all started out with "1" (except for the V series), they've gone all over the board and a lower number doesn't mean it's older and it doesn't mean it's smaller.... that's about all I can give you.

 

Where ever you found that would be nice to know. Those are "roadmaps" and essentially illegal to be posted on line.... only 3-4 NA dealers have those roadmaps and I know I didn't release them, but they can't be placed online.

 

I saw them before on a NBR post and saved them for reference. Although the poster stated that they shouldnt have had it, I didnt know it was "illegal." It is now deleted. All you need to do is edit your quote.

 

You may want to go to your image hosting and completely remove the image, if you want to be thorough.

 

Its not necessary. It has been posted many times on NBR before and besides, I am sure a number of people have already downloaded it.

Also, the earlier picture that Hoimin posted is from the exact same "illegal" ASUS roadmap as well, so I really dont see what the big deal is.

 

Well Asus can sue any dealer who posted it..... and if that was saved from an old post which was taken down (the person you saved it from should be emailing you to tell you it's their ass on the line)........ but Asus doesn't want those out because of many reasons.

1. 1/3 of those models and ETA's are going to turn out to be remotely close... and some go to the US, some to canada... it's not all set in stone.

2. it's an internal document meant to get an idea of what's going on... it causes widespread BS when they get out on the forums....

 

No problem. I removed my set of pictures from the post, so if you dont want them to be seen you may remove them as well.

Otherwise, I have no problem with letting people get a general idea of what is going to be what (because I didnt make the initial post with the pictures), thanks for the info justin.

 

I miss the Asus W7J on your diagram...
only the W6F (Z35F) is mentioned...
but on the other hand, there is no information about the W3J, so I hope there will be more notebooks from Asus this year...