U30JC discussion thread

Quatro, I assure you, I was taking you very seriously. The "killing me" part was about the fact that whenever I have the misconception that I should be doing something to this laptop you immediately direct me in a better course of action, and demonstrate that you already thought about it. After looking at your links I do not plan to buy a new HDD anytime soon, though I am tempted by the SSD OD mod.

The thank you was genuine and I actually added to your rep for the research you did into shipping from Canada.

 

No worries. I was only being silly when I said the "No one ever takes me seriously" part. I get that way when it's late. Time for bed!

I am tempted and intrigued by the SSD/ODD mod as well. Space AND speed. It sounds like Windows would speed up to "instant" with a good SSD. But the price prevents me at present. Unlike others on this forum who actually push the envelope on their notebooks with serious work, I don't really need more speed nor do I open 30 tabbed windows+apps at the same time (my wife does). ... But instant pop-up apps would be really quite fun.

Thank you. You are too kind, sir.

 

I guess that means it has the same number on the outside, but the size is different. Interesting choice of words you used in that case. How do we know that a 500GB drive is the same speed (benchmarks) as the 320GB drives we have? "If" the drive has 1 more platter in it @ 500GB, it's a good chance that it's quicker then the one less platter 320GB. They could have the same benchmarks as well (as well as the same amount of platters), I may have missed that in the article links you posted...It was way past my bed time and I was tired. This is the reason I stated that I didn't get that "very drive" as mine isn't a 500GB as tested, yet the number is the same.

 

My U30JC came with a 500GB Seagate 5400.6. Looks like Asus is just sourcing HDD from all over.

 

That's odd, did you buy it in the states or out of the country? I haven't seen it advertised anywhere in the states with that size drive in it but have out of the states.

 

I bought mine in Taiwan. 2GB RAM, 500GB HDD, Bluetooth, smaller battery and localized keyboard are the only differences.

 

Do you have a bluetooth Fn key on the keyboard to turn it off? I'd like to know if it's part of the wireless module or if it's independant and also if it's soldered directly on the board or plugged in? You mind taking your keyboard off and looking to see if you can see? I would check the wireless module first, get a picture or the numbers off of it if you can and go from there.

Thanks!

 

Don't think there is any difference. All Asus notebooks I have/had (A6T, F3Sc and T91) have the Fn+F2 key for both wireless and bluetooth. The WirelessConsole utility provides the options to enable or disable those or one of those two. The BT on my F3Sc is on the wireless module btw.

 

There is only a single function key for both wifi and bluetooth (Fn-F2). Pressing it will enable/disable all wireless functions and display a wifi and bluetooth icon on the screen if you want to selectively enable/disable either.

I can only see a wifi module under the keyboard.

I've uploaded a photo of the module. Check the link in the next post.

 

A few days late, but as promised, here are some photos of the U30JC and comparison shots with the UL80VT.

U30JC - a set on Flickr

 

Fair enough. I didn't realize that a 500GB HDD might be faster than a 320GB by the sheer fact of having another platter. That would be logical. I was more looking at Hitachi's 5400rpm vs WD's 7200rpm.

After I noticed that my referenced benchmarks were for the Hitachi 500GB HDD, I looked for reviews benchmarking the 320GB 5K500.B model, but couldn't find any.

So I used my copy of HD Tuner 2.55 (NBR used HD Tuner 2.54 in their tests). Not the same CPU or OS, of course, nor setup, so all things are not equal. But I'm not sure how that influences HD Tuner's test.

But interesting to me nonetheless.

Here are my results on our Hitachi 5K500.B 320GB 5400rpm HDD in bold (the 2nd # is their results for the WD Scorpio Black 320GB 7200rpm. The 3rd # is their results for the WD Scorpio Blue 500GB 5400rpm. The 4th # is the OCZ SSD also in bold):
Transfer rate
Min: 36.7 / 39.1 / 37.5 / 115.7
Max: 81.8 / 82.0 / 77.9 / 132.1
Avg: 63.3 / 62.4 / 60.0 / 131.5
Access Time: 18.9 / 15.2 / 16.5 / 0.3
Burst Rate: 108.2 / 86.5 76.5 / 90.4

I'm not sure what this tells me, except that the WD 7200rpm 320GB is slightly faster than the WD 5400rpm 500GB.

And the Hitachi 320GB 5400rpm edges them both out, but not by any significant margin.

What was awesome was to see those comparative numbers on the OCZ SSD both in through-put, access times & power consumption ( 0.76W compared to the Hitachi"s 2.31W). .... and just LOOK at that access time!

So in conclusion, what do I take from these tests? Forget benchmarking HDD's and GET AN SSD. YOU WON'T BE SORRY!

 

Access time is what's killing the drive, you can tell when you go to open just about anything. Loading games is HORRIBLE on the hitachi for some reason as well, I haven't figured that one out. I posted my Crystaldiskmark scores because I was surprised at the rate of it on large file bandwidth and wanted others to know what was up on it. Power consumption is very impressive with the drive though!


Here are my results on our Hitachi 5K500.B 320GB 5400rpm HDD in bold (the 2nd # is their results for the WD Scorpio Black 320GB 7200rpm. The 3rd # is their results for the WD Scorpio Blue 500GB 5400rpm):
Min: 36.7 / 39.1 / 37.5 / 39.5
Max: 81.8 / 82.0 / 77.9 / 83.6
Avg: 63.3 / 62.4 / 60.0 / 64.4
Access Time: 18.9 / 15.2 / 16.5 / 18.5
Burst Rate: 108.2 / 86.5 / 76.5 / 95.2

I added the #4 column which is the 500GB Hitachi

Thanks for doing the comparison!

 

I have to say, after seeing the latest responses (disappointment) over at the UL30JT thread, I am really liking my U30JC more & more and glad that I went for it instead of holding out for the UL30JT.

It's thicker & a pound heavier, but who knows, maybe I'll throw in an SSD & caddy into that ODD someday (of course, meaning SSD in the main slot & HDD in the caddy.)

 

I will have to agree with you on that one brother, I really am loving mine too!

edit--You changed your location Quatro!

 

I wish the U30JC came out 6 months earlier, then I'd have bought it instead of the UL80VT.

 

Woot :yes: , my u30jc has landed. I have a very good first impression of this laptop, it is a very well crafted object. The dimensions are great and I dont feel that the weight is out of this world, it is well spread in the laptop. Very happy so far.

Just a question (sorry if already asked), where can i find the nvidia gadget to see if optimus is working?

 

Glad you like it!! I don't think there's anyone that I've read that doesn't like theirs so far.

The gadget they used to do that hasn't been released to the public. Quatro was playing around with Cpu-z one day and learned that if you open up something that uses flash and open cpu-z, you'll see the nvidia in the info, otherwise it will show the intel. We are all still waiting to see if someone puts out the gadget for that.

 

hey guys just wondering if any of you have had problems connecting to protected networks, i.e. university campuses, somtimes when connecting i just get limited connectivity and other times it works without flaws. Someone suggested maybe its something with the wireless card?

 

I'm connecting with my VPN through work just fine, it's OpenVPN enterprise edition. I don't know what you're using? As for logging into SSL or secure sites, I haven't had an issue with that either... I have had an issue with my wireless only transferring at half duplex but since I haven't been downloading any big files from the server, I haven't messed with it.

What program are you using to connect or what type of connection is it?

 

It is just the encrypted wireless over at UCSD setup like this, Wireless Overview. I'm just using windows to connect, my other laptop has WeFi on it (Windows XP) and it connects just fine, maybe i should try using that?

 

Well, Tulsa, OK is still in the USA.

Though the Okies may be threatening to secede from the Union, they have yet to actually do it, so I'm still here.

 

You and the rest of us are wondering where we can find that gadget. So far ... nothing. It was only released to the reviewers, who have forgotten to pass it on to the rest of us. Quite an oversight, IMO!

I've used GPU-Z to see who was running the graphics at times. GPU-Z has a "Sensors" tab that shows if the NVIDIA chip is running and if it is bearing any load (if it says "0%" then, of course, it's the Intel HD GPU that's working.)

Glad you're enjoying your U30JC as well.

 

I was being observant and trying to be funny by mentioning it only... convo starter more then anything.

Time for me to quit having 15 windows open and replying to forums during work I ment GPU-Z, thanks for correcting me..hahaha

 

There is an updated Azurewave wireless driver 8.0.0.305 (released 2010/04/13) over at ASUS. Have you installed that?
http://support.asus.com/download/download.aspx?modelname=U30JC&SLanguage=en-us

 

Me too! And it was very observant. I was actually amazed that you noticed it.

Yeah, I'm only home for about 30" and then back off to work again. 15 windows while at work? Tsk, tsk.

 

Does the other laptop have windows xp Pro on it by chance? If you're having to log into Active directory, Windows 7 HP doesn't have that ability. If it's just wpa2, that's the encryption I setup, monitor and use here at work and at home. I have 0 issues connecting with the JC. I think updating your driver is your best bet on that one (Like quatro suggested) if it's not already.

 

Nonononono, I'm practically an IS Manager at work. The 15 windows (well, 14) are actually part of my job, not me playing around at work. Hahaha

 

You poor guy. My son was/is tech support on a system (which may not be what you're doing at all) and he was troubleshooting 15 windows/clients at once.

I think it would just make me nervous. Maybe not. Perhaps my ADD would help in that situation.

 

LoL, no... I'm not really tech support with clients, per-say, I manage a business network, all their programs, servers, stations, etc. I also help in the accounting area as well. It's not a huge place but I have fun with it. I've also been taught how to do 3d CAD drawing and my system is a power system setup for it (ie-the graphics card in my system was close to 2 grand when it came out and they are still around 600 new). The windows I have open are mostly virtual servers I'm running and testing new applications or updates with. I'm also learning how to run a postfix mail server on the side currently and want to implement that soon and have it part of one of the main clusters.

 

Gentlemen, we have an emergency...

As of yet Xotic has not updated my order and still claims that ETA of U30Jc is "End of April" so maybe this will pull through.

However, just called Gentech and they say their next stock will be NEXT Friday.

I need this laptop in time to clean it up before I go to Japan! GAH, PM me if you see it in stock!

PLEASE

 

hi guys .. im keen to get this lappy too.. but over here in australia there are 2 models. the U30JC and the U33JC, anyone know what the differences are.??

and also can this lappy be overclocked like the UL30VT or the UL80VT

 

U33JC should be the bamboo series. IF the specs are the same, then you'll be paying more for the U33JC.

There is no manual overclock option like the VT series. The Core 2010 chips will do that on their own.

 

Pick one up in Asia instead?

 

thanks for that.

ill look at the U30JC then

 

This reminds me of my son who is doing data systems/network setup & protocols, encrypted servers, etc in the Marines. When he begins to write or tell me what he's doing/learning, I get utterly lost.

I'm self-taught & learn on a need-to-know basis ... so this is definitely an area I haven't needed to know but really respect those who do!

 

Next Friday, April 30th or next Friday, May 7th?

Sorry, Nixit, for your time-crunch. If I see anything, I'll let you know, though I suspect you know all of the outlets I do. But we'll watch nonetheless.

 

Since the pl30jt doesn't seem to be likely to be released any time soon, I was wondering if anyone has been able to put a WWAN/GPS card into the u30jc, especially the canadian i5 one.

 

hey im from aus too. have u seen any instores yet? or even online?

 

I just got notified that NEWEGG has them in stock (USA)

 

Thanks guys! yeah my drivers were all updated so i found the solution was to actually rollback the atheros driver to the last one which fixed security issues i was having with the server.

 

Ah ... those pesky security updates.

Great that you got it worked out.

 

Dont forget Bing Cashback 2%, it is better than nothing

 

BCB doesn't appear to be offering buying the U30Jc through Newegg at the moment. Too bad. Every little bit helps.

 

Yes it still does

Bing shopping

Pick up newegg in the list

 

Oops. Thank you for correcting that. I had tried to shop Bing via the item (U30Jc) and it didn't offer Newegg as an option.

I didn't realize you could do it via the seller's name without an item selected.

That's great for me to know. Thanks!

 

Ordered from Newegg and updated to charged!
WOOT!

Thank you for posting, and thank you Quatro for PMing!

Crisis averted.

 

I've been reading every page of this thread and I have one quick question...

How does the U30JC 's battery life compare to the Macbook Pro 13.3" laptop's battery life?

Does it beat it? Match it?

 

u30jc gets 7+ hrs easily with wifi on and web browsing. not sure about mbp13.

 

well macbook pro advertises like 10 hours so i would say around 8 hours? its really hard to decide. macbook pro vs u30jc. well i guess it comes down to mac vs pc.

 

New to the site and it's been very informative for me so far. Just have a question that I'm hoping isn't too noob of me to ask: given a choice between U30JC's Canadian i5 version (U30JC-X2C) & its Taiwanese i5 version (U30JC-021A430M), which would one pick?


Done some research myself and the 2 models are identical in their setup (i5-430M, Optimus, optical drive, 8 cell battery, bluetooth, etc.) except for 3 things:
1. U30JC-X2C comes with Win 7 Pro. U30JC-021A430M with Win 7 Home Premium.
2. U30JC-X2C has 320G (Hitachi?) hard drive. U30JC-021A430M has 500G Seagate. Both are 5400 RPM.
3. U30JC-X2C comes with 4G RAM. U30JC-021A430M with 2G, but can be upgraded with another 2G Transcend as part of a quotable package.

I'm in western Canada right now, so a shipping fee applies if I buy U30JC-X2C from Infonec. Their site said the shipping can take 4-15 business days. In total, the model would cost the equivalent of $1,078 USD after tax.

I'll be heading to Taiwan in a few week & can also pay $1,105 USD after tax & the 2G upgrade for a U30JC-021A430M. Taiwanese vendors tend to hand out more accessories as gifts (in fact, ASUS Taiwan is giving out a HP all-in-one printer if I buy this model; the specific vendor even said he can give me a rebate if I don't want it) so the actual stuff I get in the end might be more.

But which model in its OS/HDD/RAM configuration would be a better deal? Cost-wise, the two will actually be the same if I take up on that printer rebate.