a8js and a8jm

The a8js sure looks pretty good with merom, bluetooth and the go7700 card. I hope all these components would work with the a8jm. If resellers offer a program were you can mail in ur a8jm and get these 3 upgrades (voiding warranty of course), I think it would be cool.

These will make the notebook closer to HD/BluRay compatible.

 

It won't happen, where will they get the 7700 from? ASUS doesn't sell it just like that, usually its the whole motherboard. Tearing apart a A8js just to upgrade a A8jm is nonsense, mind as well sell the A8jm to get an A8js, less hassle and less work for both sides.

 

Is it actually possible to obtain MXM cards separately? That would be interesting. I'm not sure when the A8Jm will receive a Merom compatible BIOS. It recertainly hasn't received "-" status for a Merom refresh and the A8J is it's obvious replacement. The A8Jm also got a new BIOS dated September 12th, but that only added Celeron M 440 support, nothing about Merom.

 

upgrading the cpu would be simple.

Obtaining a asus 7700 would be nigh impossible.

Dell sells their gpu modules seperately but a for instance is like $500 for the 7900 gtx

IF you like that mindset, buying now and upgrading the gpu later, I personally think there is only one serious laptop you can consider and that is the dell e1705.

Finding an asus 7700 will require special connections.


I cant give you advice. Im on a similar mindset as yourself, but I want to wait until I get what I want. Id feel really stupid throwing 1 and a half large on something that didnt have it.

A8js is the first laptop that is less than 17 inches that meets the recomended spec for oblivian. Ive been waiting a long time for this to happen and its here so I dont think I have a choice but to wait and keep using this broken pos for a month or so.

 

Oblivion tends to favour ATI graphics cards, because of the added pixel shaders. The MR X1600 on the W3J would have been just as good a choice for Oblivion and has been available for a while so it really isn't that the A8J is the first labtop that meets the recommended spec of Oblivion. Realistically, the Go 7700 isn't much faster than the previous Go 7600 so I doubt it would make or break your gaming experience.

 

Doesnt the latest A8Jm BIOS have Merom?

 

I think most of the graphics cards are available on estore.asus.com..
http://estore.asus.com/shop/item.asp?itemid=3284&catid=461
that should be the 7600 from the a8jm...

the a8jm was a month or two after release before it was on the estore.. hopefully the a8js bits and pieces will show up on there soon

 

i think people who spend all this money for a 15% increase just have too much money on their hands.
if the 7700 was DX10, then that would be one thing....but it's the same, only a little faster. The C2D is different, as it's 64bit,
just buy a C2D down the road when they're cheaper.

for me, an upgrade should be double in performance to be worthwhile.
i went from a S3 Virge to a GForce 2 GTS to an ATI 9700 to a GForce 7600
just imagine much much money i would have spent going
radeon 9700 -> radeon 9800 -> GForce 6600 -> GForce 7600 -> GForce 7700
come on guys, lets have some common sense.

don't get me wrong, i'll upgrade for actual features, or a major increase in performance, but 7600 -> 7700 is definitely not worth it.

 

UNLESS the go7700 has pixel shader 4.0. Because then id get it for sure

 

oh wow. I even had that site bookmarked but i hadnt looked at it in so long.

Well, lets pencil in a 7700 as a $200 part then.

totally different than my previous comment. Probably dont wait then.

I would definitely like to see the first people who actually upgrade their gpu in their asus notebook.