Just got an asus N53SV-XV1 and extremely disappointed....

Amazon.com: ASUS N53SV-XV1 15.6-Inch Versatile Entertainment Laptop (Silver Aluminum): Computer & Accessories

Great notebook for the most part but the wireless card must be the worst POS out there. Also the documentation is pretty bad.

I have a 4 year old lenovo R61 with an Intel 4965AGN Wireless N card.

For the most part i really like the asus labtop and got it because of the ability to put up to 16GB of ram into it. My wireless router is a Dlink DIR-655.

When i look at the connection speed of my lenvo its telling me 130 Mbps.

The asus notebook has an atheros AR9002WB-1NG card. Its telling me the connection speed is 150Mbps.

I noticed last night it was taking forever to download stuff from the internet. For example i went to go to install acronis trueimage. Acronis checks for a new version and ask you if you want to instead download the new version and install that. I told it yes of course. It took like 40 minutes.....and its something that generally is very fast (less than 3 minutes). I decided this morning to decide to download acronis trueimage manually from the browser (its about 160mb). It told me a time estimate of 35 minutes.

I have a fast 25Mbps comcast blast service. So i go to my lenovo labtop and try to download it....it downloads it in less than 2 minutes. I try the same thing on a variety of other sites and the same thing. I can download stuff fast (going through the same router) on my lenovo but asus takes forever.

I tried to download the lastest version of my wireless drivers at asus:
ASUSTeK Computer Inc.-Support-

but of course they don't even have the atheros drivers...just intel wireless drivers.

Sure i could try to swap the wireless card out with an intel card but i'm not willing to do that for a brand new notebook when the wireless card should at least be able to keep up with my cable connection especially when the docs for the asus is horrible. They don't even tell what kind of ram is compatible with the labtop or how to upgrade it. Had to go to crucial.com to find out.

I'm really thinking on returning it. I've only had one labtop before (lenovo R61) and didn't know an aftermarket wireless card could be so bad. What do you guys think?

Edit: Forgot to say i'm using WPA2 with AES but that shouldn't matter.

 

If the rest of the hardware checks out to your satisfaction, I would be more willing to simply buy a 'real' wifi card and install it myself. $20 - $40 more to bring one 'issue' up-to-snuff is worth considering...

If you play with the system until just before you're able to return it and you find other things that worry you about it - then return it.

Unless you buy another Lenovo/ThinkPAD, you won't get anything that can compare.

Good luck.

 

^^ yeah.

Wireless card is the cheapest component of the laptop and it can be replaced within 5 minutes (assuming that you know how to use a screwdriver).

Returning the whole laptop just because of that is like demolishing an entire building because of a cockroach.


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Thanks for the reply. Replacing the wireless card would be an option if i wasn't up against a 30 day return or if asus had a lot better docs. To be honest with you i'm uncomfortable replacing the wireless card without at least rudimentary docs. Heck they don't even show you which piece to remove to add more RAM. I don't even know how many antennas it has and i definitely don't want to go through trying to add more without ample documentation.

Ya i liked my lenovo except for the screen which was horrible (even though i got the higher res screen). The asus screen is very good if you like glossy. I would have looked at lenovo more to be honest with you even with the how lousy their screens are if the had sandy bridge notebooks out. They don't yet.

One of the main things i wanted was the ability to add 16GB of memory. My only other option i think is a Dell XPS 17 which i really didn't want to bulk of a 17 in notebook but what can you do or a Lenovo W-Series which are just way to expensive.

Since this is only my Second labtop i thought it would have a ExpressCard/PCMCIA slot but i guess thats mostly only on buisness class labtops but probably wouldn't had any issues jsut getting a PCMCIA N Wireless card but doesn't have one so..............

 

http://forum.notebookreview.com/asus/548277-i-love-my-new-n53jf-xe1-but-i-got-bored-disassembly.html

may help out a little bit.

 

Wow thats awesome Magus. Its probably similar if not identical to mine. I'm looking through your teardown....but i don't see the network card. Where is it located? I'm hoping you don't have to 1/2 tear it apart to find it.


thanks

 

that's not my teardown.

I can't really figure out where it is either from those pictures. I initially thought it would be that small panel but *shrugs* that seems to just be a panel to some wires that connect to the motherboard.


I don't own a n53 so can't really help walk you through it.

 

I like this config: The N53Jq-A1 features a 2.0 megapixel webcam with security lens cover, 500GB 7200RPM hard drive, ASUS Splendid Technology, multi-touch trackpad, Express Gate, new wave keyboard, and a brushed aluminum design.

 

I see sorry i thought it was you. Maybe i will PM the OP and see if he responds. Anyways it doesn't seem that simple when i look at the teardown because it doesn't really stick out which i thought it would but maybe i'll PM him anyways...thanks

 

What would you use as a replacement car and where can I get one?

 

Intel 6200 or 6300 is what i would suggest. Anyways, the wireless is hard to fins in those pics but i'd say it's where you can see two wires, one black and one white in the first pic. You'd have better luck asking in the Asus forums if you ask me.