Showing posts with label i5. Show all posts
Showing posts with label i5. Show all posts

Saturday, March 16, 2013

Intel DP55KG Extreme Series Desktop Motherboard (P55 ATX Core i7 Core i5 LGA1156) Review

Intel DP55KG Extreme Series Desktop Motherboard (P55 ATX Core i7 Core i5 LGA1156)
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
I decided to build a computer after a 10 year hiatus.
SPECS:
I chose this motherboard, 4gb (2x2g)Corsair XMS 3 1600mhz ram,the new unlocked Intel i-875K processor cooled by a Corsair Hydro H50. Also went with Ultra X4 750 watt modular Power Supply, Hitachi 1gb 7200rpm Sata HD, Lite-On 24x DVD+RW, the LEXA S Case, and the EVGA GTX480 video card, and Asus XONAR Essence ST Soundcard. I have a 30 inch Dell 3008WFP Monitor, Apple Blue-tooth Wireless Keyboard and Logitech Performance Mouse MX to complete out my build. I am running Windows 7 Professional 64bit 1 user OEM.
INSTALL:
It took me most of a Friday night to get this built. Mostly because the back plate of the Cooler doesn't fit correctly, I had to live with some bow in the back plate to get the 4th screw in. But all and all not too bad. It booted fine the first time. I didn't realize you can't use a Blue-tooth Keyboard at first so I had to grab an older cordless usb Microsoft one to actually set up Windows. The motherboard lined us great with my case and the SATA Cables and many of the other cables were able to route behind the motherboard through rubberized holes in the case. I had no issues installing the motherboard at all, just fine, and well laid out to plug in 4 fans, a water cooler, sata plugs, case front panel wires, power wires, etc. A+++
PERFORMANCE:
I didn't know how to overclock anymore after 10 years. So I read some stuff googling and wasn't sure and instead just used the Intel Desktop Control Panel to experiment. I ended up setting the Ram to 1600mhz and only changing the multiplier to 29x in quad config, 30 in three, and 31 in 2 and single core. I get a score of about 9,000 on CPU Mark. That was all I needed to do, no changing voltages or any of the rest of it. That is what worked best and has run cool and solid ever since.
FEATURES:
The blue-tooth doesn't work for my Apple keyboard, it recognizes it, lets you type in the code but loses connection, so I use a small usb dongle instead. The Video Card sits fine. There is some bling you can turn on in the bios for lights and a blue skull with glowing red eyes. I turned it on high since I have a case window. The real feature is the Intel Control Panel. It shows temps, overclock settings and fan speeds and lets you save profiles. That is a great feature and now that I am done overclocking, I don't use the bios anymore. I also downloaded the latest drivers and firmware from Intel. Paired with the Asus Soundcard (got because of the powerful headphone amp built in) I just use Grado SR-80 and Sennheiser RS140 wireless headphones and a set of Altec Lansing FX6021 speakers.
FINAL IMPRESSION: For me this was a good jump back in to building my own computer. I wasn't satisfied with anything pre-built that I could afford. Building my own let me spend in the areas I valued. The Intel Board was a great choice because it runs well and is very expandable with a second or even third video card and lots of SATA and USB Ports. Get one!

Click Here to see more reviews about: Intel DP55KG Extreme Series Desktop Motherboard (P55 ATX Core i7 Core i5 LGA1156)

Intel BOXDP55KG LGA1156/Intel P55/DDR3/SLI&CrossFirex/A&GbE/ATX Motherboard, Retail

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Saturday, December 1, 2012

ASUS N61JV-X2 16-Inch Versatile Entertainment Laptop (Dark Brown) Review

ASUS N61JV-X2 16-Inch Versatile Entertainment Laptop (Dark Brown)
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
PROS:
On the initial setup, the laptop played a pretty cool Asus video that showed many "on" buttons forming various images. It made the purchase seem even more personal. Nice touch Asus. Here's a link: paste "ASUS Laptop Startup Video (2009 ASUS)(HD)" on Youtube. Watch in HD fullscreen to get the same feel. Yes simple things amaze me x_o.
My first impression of this laptop is its big size. I'm used to running a netbook, in terms of mobile pc. Examining the layout closely, the screen isn't the perpetrator here- the speaker adds roughly 2 inches to the width. Although this is easily forgiven once I heard the sound quality, which is similar to an HDTV's. This may make the laptop slightly bigger than regular 16in notebooks, but for an "entertainment"-advertised laptop, it was necessary.
I'm happy it has an eSATA port because this allowed me to couple my internal hard drives with a hard drive docking station (Thermaltake BlacX). Really helpful for storage and backups. The USB3.0 is a great addition as well. Makes it a bit more future-proof. As for the touchpad, my netbook had the same exact touchpad and I always turned it off because I was not a fan of it. Nothing beats a mouse!
Battery life depends on 4 settings through a power-managing software called Power4Gear. At "High Performance" setting, no power saving option is on and the battery life drains within 2 hours. The more balanced "Entertainment" setting, lasts 3 hours. With the power option set to "Quiet Office", the battery life lasts 4 hours. Lastly, the"Battery Saving" mode increases the battery life even longer. What it does is it disables your wallpaper, gadgets, autohides the taskbar, lowers brightness to 20% and sets every setting to maximum power savings. Of course the realtime battery life will be ultimately affected by what task you are doing.
In terms of performance, this thing packs a wallop! It will not beat a same-priced desktop, but what's important is portability. It's a great purchase for the performance. Although keep reading to learn about the current GPU driver as a caveat emptor. Another warning: I believe this was first advertised as having bluetooth. I can confirm that it does not. While this is not a deal breaker, I feel it should have been included being an entertainment laptop. Some of the pre-installed softwares are helpful, like the Power4Gear battery managing software and the Splendid Utility which enhances the screen's color/contrast/brightness settings with preset modes. The Cyberlink TrueTheater HD software is amazing. I popped in my "LotR: Fellowship of the Ring" DVD and with the smoothest playback settings (60FPS) and sharpest modes, it seemed like a whole new movie. I do not own a bluray player so I'm not used to this type of quality, but yes, it is better than any YouTube 1080p HD trailers or any HD channels I've seen.
Graphic Card Tests (Gaming):
All games were tested on the Geforce GT325m (Optimus driver version 189.07), running at 1366x768 native resolution, full screen, and with FRAPS frame counter benchmark. I wanted to keep it at native resolution to show the highest resolution capability of this GPU. Lowering resolution and some graphical settings will unquestionably increase the frame rates, but playing graphically-lush games is always a delight.
Batman Arkham Asylum: (Fight sequence VS 5 inmates at start of game)
Settings: VSync Off, Hardware PhysX Off, Detail level: Very High, 2xAnti-aliasing
Min FPS: 25, Avg FPS: 33 Max FPS : 50
Verdict: Smooth gameplay, lag-free.
--
Call of Duty 4 - Modern Warfare 2 : (Single Player: Heavy gun fight on "Act II: Hornet's Nest" level)
Settings: VSync On, All Graphic Settings On, All Textures set to Extra, 4xAnti-aliasing
Min FPS 30, Avg FPS 35, Max FPS 60 (Remember VSync caps this at screen's refresh rate, which is 60 in this case)
Verdict: Very playable considering it's at max in-game settings. Will experience some tiny lag spikes, which I also experienced on my desktop PC which has better specs than this laptop, so it must be the game.
--
Mass Effect 2: (Gun fights on mission to recruit Prof. Mordin)
Settings: VSync On, All graphic settings on except for Film Grain, 4xAnti-aliasing, 8xAnisotropic Filtering
Min FPS 24, Avg FPS 38, Max FPS 49
Verdict : Smooth gameplay. Some random lags but does not ruin the experience.
--
Crysis: (From game start all the way to "First Light" gun fights)
Test 1: VSync Off, Everything to Medium, No AA
Min FPS 19, Avg FPS 26, Max FPS 34
Verdict : Smooth gameplay, lag free even if the FPS results seem low. Graphic texture pop-ins on some of the vegetation, especially when using "maximum speed" boost.
Test 2: VSync Off, All graphic settings to medium, except for Texture and Shader at High. 2xAnti-Aliasing .
Min FPS 13, Avg FPS 16, Max FPS 20
Verdict : Clunky gameplay. With these settings, the texture looked sharper and much easier on the eyes, and while there are no dramatic lag spikes that will get you killed easily (it's a steady 15-16 frames on gun fights), the slow gameplay is quite noticeable.
Test 3: VSync Off, Everything to High except Shader to Medium, No AA
Min FPS 14, Avg FPS 22, Max FPS 29
Verdict : Smooth gameplay, but sometimes has that laggy feel to it. No jittering lag. Pretty impressive for the High setting- I guess Shader is what really stresses the framerates.
--
World of Warcraft: VSync off, Effects at Medium-High, Window Mode + Maximized option to properly scale the resolution
Test 1: Riding mount around Dalaran's North Bank steps with ~30 toons around me.
Min FPS 22, Avg FPS 33, Max FPS 39
Verdict: No lag
Test 2: Outside Dalaran, flying epic flight
Min 50, Avg 85, Max 150
Verdict: No lag
In instances, the gameplay is very smooth. Depending on the instance, some will be over 100FPS whereas the newer ones + raids, will be in the low 50s.
--
6008 pts in 3DMark06
--
10594 pts in 3DMark05
--
CONS:
Note: This part of the review will only be valid until Nvidia releases the proper Forceware drivers for the laptop's GPU. The GT 325m series is relatively new; NVidia has one official release for it on their website: Optimus Driver 189.07. This driver is not bad. As shown by the benchmarks, 3D gaming works well. But here's where things tend to get annoying: the Nvidia GPU, with its current drivers, rely on the Intel integrated graphics to handle screen scaling. Meaning if you connect this to a larger monitor, in my case an Acer 21.5" 1080P native res widescreen LCD, scaling works well when the GPU running is the Intel IGP, but when you switch to games, you are forced to use the 1080p resolution through the in-game settings, which will be taxing on the framerates. I know the native resolution of the laptop does not match the monitor's, but with the "normal" geforce drivers, scaling to fit the screen works well and allows the laptop's native res to stretch the image onto the monitor. My ASUS 1201n netbook does this easily through it's Nvidia Control Panel, with the same native res as this laptop. I hope NVidia releases this capability with the next driver update.
I still do not trust the current Nvidia driver for this GPU just yet. Once it is properly optimized and up to date, the fps will increase. I'll update this entry if the graphic drivers are updated through NVidia or some modding website.
NVidia Optimus: This technology sounds great but I'm having a little problem with it. See, when my laptop is plugged in, the Optimus technology works just fine: the intel switches to the nvidia GPU when loading a 3D game. But when I load a 3D game while this laptop is unplugged (regardless whether battery is full or low charge), the GPU does NOT switch. It stays on the Intel GPU and I get low framerates. This problem occurs even if I use "High Performance" mode on the power settings, even if my preferred GPU is NVidia, even if I assign the game profile to load with Nvidia GPU, even if I right click and "run with graphics processor: High performance Nvidia processor". I do notice that if I suddenly plug the laptop to the outlet, the frames will go up fast again (as if the Nvidia GPU was suddenly turned on). There needs to be a better software-based of forcing the GPU on since the NV Control Panel is faulty at this point. Isn't the whole point of Optimus to provide performance when necessary and lengthen battery life, when available? Here is NVidia's claim: "Watch a HD movie, surf the web or play top 3D games knowing that you'll get the long battery life you need and the performance you expect from NVIDIA." This technology should work even on battery, as stated there. I would like to know if this is just my laptop doing this- comment if you can help.
Update 1: there is a fix that works. Make sure your HDMI is in digital mode and not analog. This allows your monitor to do the scaling. Although, if you only have analog mode for HDMI, you can try using a DVI to HDMI cable. Or just wait for Nvidia to update the driver and you won't have to go through all this.
Update 2: March 15, 2010. Well it seems that Nvidia actually listened. I opened a technical ticket on their website and though I can't take credit for them actually solving this, I can tell you that they have put up a solution. New Optimus drivers are out on their website: version 189.42. The highlights of this release is eerily accurate to the issues I was having with my N61JV. It fixes the incompatibilities with the Intel IGP driver and corrects the Optimus Profile system. The sad news is I have already returned my N61JV almost 2 weeks before the...Read more›

Click Here to see more reviews about: ASUS N61JV-X2 16-Inch Versatile Entertainment Laptop (Dark Brown)

Expect an Encore The 16-inch N61Jv-X2 is masterfully crafted to deliver premium entertainment while on the go. Featuring the new Intel Core i5 processor and NVIDIA's GeForce® GT 325M graphics processing unit (GPU), featuring NVIDIA Optimus Technology, the N61Jv-X2 redefines mobile computing with the power of a desktop inside its elegant and portable design. Now with NVIDIA Optimus technology, the N61Jv seamlessly switches between the powerful GeForce GPU, and battery-saving integrated graphics engine depending on demands of the graphics processor- much like a hybrid car automatically switches depending on driving style. This multimedia powerhouse excels in entertainment with awe-inspiring HD playback on its brilliant 16-inch HD LED-backlit widescreen driven by NVIDIA GeForce Graphics for a flawless HD entertainment experience. Delight your senses with rich sound from the Altec Lansing speakers, enhanced by the unique SonicMaster design –an exclusive ASUS design that improves sound projection and quality. Plus, introduce yourself to the latest standard of USB with Superspeed USB 3.0, enabling faster transfer rates for USB 3.0-enabled peripherals – up to 10 times faster compared to USB 2.0. Enjoy your favorite HD movies, listen to hit songs, and experience the impressive visuals of the N61Jv-X2- the possibilities are virtually endless. The N61Jv-X2 boasts 4GB DDR3 system RAM, a chiclet keyboard, a multi-touch trackpad, a high-speed wireless 802.11n connectivity, a 500GB 7200 RPM hard drive, an HDMI connectivity, a 2.0MP webcam, and plenty of other convenient features.


Key Features

The new Intel Core i5-430M processor with Turbo Boost Technology for smart multitasking performance that adapts to your needs (Learn more)
Vivid 16-inch HD LED-backlit widescreen for an immersive cinematic experience (Learn more)
Powerful NVIDIA GeForce Graphics powered by GeForce GT 325M with 1GB VRAM for the latest multimedia and gaming enjoyment (Learn more)
NVIDIA Optimus Technology for automatic and seamless switching between powerful NVIDIA GeForce graphics and battery-saving integrated graphics engine (Learn more)
Altec Lansing speakers enhanced with SRS Premium Sound produce crisp, clear audio reproduction (Learn more)
ASUS SonicMaster design for more detailed and richer sound quality
500GB 7200RPM hard drive for fast, convenient storage and access to all your documents, music, videos, and photos
4GB of DDR3 RAM brings increased performance with Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit pre-installed
Multi-touch trackpad lets you intuitively navigate through web pages, documents, and pictures (Learn more)
Chiclet keyboard with numeric keypad for increased typing precision (Learn more)
HDMI output for easy HD video and audio connectivity to your HDTV or LCD monitors with HDMI input
USB 3.0 Superspeed connectivity for up to 10x faster transfer speed than USB 2.0 (Learn more)
High-speed wireless N networking (802.11 b/g/n @ 2.4GHz) (Learn more)
Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit for a faster and more reliable operating system (Learn more)
ASUS Infusion Technology for scratch-resistant protection
2.0 megapixel webcam for video chatting with friends and family
1 year global warranty and 1 year Accidental Damage Warranty* (Learn more)

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Latest in Mobile Graphics Technology
Premium Sound Meets Premium Visuals
Get Ready for the Next Generation of Intel Processors
Enhanced Connectivity
Head-turning Style and Intelligent Control
ASUS Makes Your Windows 7 Experience Better
F9 Key for Quick Recovery
ASUS 360 - Comprehensive Care Package Included
Accidents Happen
What's in the Box The entire ASUS N61Jv-X2 package contains a warranty information card, notebook, 6-cell battery pack, and AC Adapter.
ASUS N61Jv-X2 (Brown)
AC Adapter
6-cell Battery Pack
Warranty Information Card
Specifications
Operating System: Windows 7 Home Premium (64-bit)
Display: 16-inch HD LED-backlit Widescreen (1366 x 768)
CPU: Intel Core i5-430M processor 2.26 GHz with Turbo Boost up to 2.53 GHz
Graphics: NVIDIA Optimus-Enabled: NVIDIA GeForce GT 325M with 1GB DDR3 VRAM + Intel GMA HD
Wireless Data Network: 802.11 b/g/n (@ 2.4GHz)
LAN: 10/100/1000 Mbps Ethernet
Memory: 4GB DDR3 (up to 8GB)
Storage: 500GB 7,200RPM hard drive
Optical Disc Drive: Super Multi DVD drive
Camera: 2.0 Megapixel
Speakers: Altec Lansing speakers with SRS premium sound
Microphone: Digital Array Microphone
Card Reader: : 1x 8-in- card reader (MMC/SD/Mini-SD/XD/Memory Stick/MS Pro/MS Duo/MS-Pro-Duo)
Input/Output: 1x HDMI output, 1x Headphone-out jack (SPDF support), 1x Microphone-in jack, 1x Express Card 34, 1x RJ45 LAN Jack for LAN insert, 1x USB 3.0 port, 2x USB 2.0 ports, 1x E-SATA
Battery Pack: 6-Cell
Dimensions: 14.98 x 10.33 x 1.08 (W x D x H)
Weight: 6.38 lbs
Color: Brown † Rated number 1 Windows-based PC maker in PCMag.com's Service & Reliability Report 2009. Rate number 1 PC brand according to SquareTrade, the leading direct-to-consumer warranty company (for more information visit http://www.squaretrade.com/pages/laptop-reliability-1109/ ). * For notebooks purchased on or after Sept. 10, 2007. The ASUS 360 Notebook Service Program and Accidental Damage Warranty covers "ASUS" brand notebooks only, and does NOT extend to: "Built on ASUS," "ASMobile," "Powered by ASUS," the Eee PC, or some other models. These retailers are currently among the companies that do NOT participate in the ASUS 360 Notebook Service Program and Accidental Damage Warranty: Best Buy, MicroCenter, and The Source by CircuitCity in Canada. Limit of one claim per notebook for Accidental Damage Warranty. ASUS reserves the right to discontinue this program and to modify the terms and conditions thereof at any time. ASUS Accidental Damage Warranty Program starts from the date of your ASUS notebook purchase, when all the requirements are met. One incident covered per notebook. All specifications and terms are subject to change without notice. Please check with your supplier for exact offers on selected models. Products may not be available in all markets. Product may not be exactly as shown in photos. Celeron, Celeron Inside, Centrino, Centrino Inside, Core Inside, Intel, Intel Logo, Intel Atom, Intel Atom Inside, Intel Core, Intel Inside, Intel Inside Logo, Intel Viiv, Intel vPro, Itanium, Itanium Inside, Pentium, Pentium Inside, Viiv Inside, vPro Inside, Xeon, and Xeon Inside are trademarks of Intel Corporation in the U.S. and other countries.

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Monday, November 5, 2012

ASUS N53JF-XE1 15.6-Inch Versatile Entertainment Laptop (Silver Aluminum) Review

ASUS N53JF-XE1 15.6-Inch Versatile Entertainment Laptop (Silver Aluminum)
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
I couldn't pass up this notebook when I read the specs. This is simply the best notebook that you can get for the price.
I've built around 8 desktops for myself and family members over the past several years and have used Asus motherboards exclusively. The only issue I've run into was a NIC failure on one of them, around 4 years into the life of the computer. It was probably due to a surge, either through the cable line or a faulty modem, so I can't necessarily blame it on the board. That problem was easily and inexpensively solved with a PCI-based NIC.
Choosing an Asus notebook seemed like a logical step.
What this computer has that others in the same price range don't:
- Full HD (1920x1080) display
- Blu-ray drive with DVD burning capabilities
- USB 3.0
- Dedicated graphics with 1GB dedicated VRAM
- a relatively large 7200rpm hard drive
- 1-year warranty INCLUDING accidental damage
Other nice-to-haves:
- Core i5 processor
- 64-bit OS
- 4GB Memory
- Wireless N
- Gigabit LAN
- HDMI port
- eSATA
- a number pad
- webcam lens cover
Please note, at the time of this review, there are a couple things in the "Product Description" that are incorrect:
- The display is indeed 1920x1080 as stated in the "Technical Details" section, not 1366x768.
- There is no ExpressCard 34 port.
Some not-so-great things:
- No FireWire
- No ExpressCard slot
- Comes with Home Premium and not Professional or Ultimate
- LOTS of pre-installed applications and trialware
Thoughts:
I consider myself well-versed in computers. For all of the facets of life, it seems like I always needed a different computer for different things: a notebook for travel, a basic web/email workstation, a media center for home theater use, and yet another computer for audio production (a hobby of mine). Just in the past couple of years, computers have finally become powerful enough to where I can start consolidating all of these different functions into fewer machines without worrying about performance or resource issues. That's where the N53JF-XE1 comes in. It's essentially a desktop replacement. The high-res screen and number pad ensure that you're not sacrificing ergonomics for portability, but the computer is not unweildy. Don't get me wrong, this thing is pretty big, even for a 15" notebook. My work-issued notebook has the same screen size, but it's at least 1" narrower than the N53. Yet, the weight is well-distributed and the shape doesn't make you feel like you're holding a cinder block.
This isn't my first Windows 7 computer, so I was familiar with the changes that MS has made to Windows since XP (I stayed faaaaar away from Vista). There's a couple steps that I would recommend when setting up this computer:
- MAKE THE RESTORE DISCS. You will want to do this. You will get prompted on startup until you create them. It will take 5 DVDs. Unless you have a Windows 7 x64 (any version) disc laying around, you will be SOL if your HDD dies without the restore discs.
- Install all Windows updates.
- Uninstall some of the bloatware/trialware. It's hard to wade through what you'll need and what you don't need. There are games, 3rd party apps like New York Times Reader and Kindle, and some Asus-branded utilities. My best advice is to run these apps and figure out what they do. If you think you'll use them, keep them. If not, uninstall. If you're a month in and you still haven't used the app, you can probably uninstall it.
As I mentioned, this notebook has no firewire or express card port. A firewire port would have been helpful since there's still a lot of A/V equipment that uses FireWire. Since there's also no ExpressCard port, I can't add FireWire ports.

Click Here to see more reviews about: ASUS N53JF-XE1 15.6-Inch Versatile Entertainment Laptop (Silver Aluminum)

Feel the Power. Hear the Power. Turn up the volume on the 15.6-inch N53Jf-XE1 notebook and prepare to be impressed. Featuring ASUS SonicMaster technology—co-developed by world-renowned audio experts at Bang and Olufsen ICEpower—and a unique top-mounted speaker design, this multimedia powerhouse combines hardware and audio for an unsurpassed, ear-pleasing experience. Boasting new NVIDIA GeForce GT 425M graphics with battery-boosting NVIDIA Optimus technology, the N53Jf-XE1 excels when performing graphic-intensive tasks like video editing, DirectX 11-enabled gaming, and graphic rendering. And with ASUS VideoMagic 3-in-1 software package, you get image-enhancing programs like PowerDVD 9 with True Theatre that instantly scales DVD-quality to Full 1080p HD with smoother frame rates so you can enjoy videos and movies in the quality they deserve. Powered by the Intel Core i5-460M processor with Intel Turbo Boost Technology, the N53Jf-XE1 delivers the multitasking muscle and smart performance that senses the tasks at hand and dynamically boosts the processor for a stutter-free experience. Specially built into the N53Jf-XE1, the ASUS Super Hybrid Engine extends battery life via the ASUS Power4Gear Hybrid utility. The N53Jf-XE1 also comes with SuperSpeed USB 3.0 that charges USB 3.0-enabled devices quickly and transfer files from USB storage devices to your notebook up to 10 times faster than previous generation USB 2.0 speeds.1 The N53Jf-XE1 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.

Key Features
15.6-inch LED-backlit Full HD disdplay with ASUS Splendid Technology for razor-sharp Full HD visual quality (Learn more)
ASUS SonicMaster Technology co-developed by world-renowned audio experts at Bang & Olufsen ICEpower delivers improved clarity, volume, and resonance, and more detailed sound. (Learn more)
Intel Core i5-460M processor with Intel Turbo Boost Technology for smart multitasking that automatically boosts performance (Learn more)
ASUS Super Hybrid Engine and ASUS Power4Gear Hybrid optimizes the system to extend battery life for the task at hand (Learn more)
SuperSpeed USB 3.0 for quicker devi ce charging and up to 10x faster transfers than USB 2.01(Learn more)
New wave keyboard features larger-sized keys for an enhanced typing experience
NVIDIA GeForce GT 425M graphics with 1GB DDR3 VRAM and battery-boosting NVIDIA Optimus technology delivers fast performance for Full HD playback and gaming (Learn more)
ASUS VideoMagic Software for clearer images and smoother visuals (Learn more)
Express Gate mini-operating system grants instant access to internet, music, Skype, and more in seconds

Learn More
Relax, ASUS Has You Covered Ranked as the #1 most reliable PC brand by 3 independent sources2, readers and editors alike choose ASUS as their trusted notebook and netbook. ASUS relentlessly strive to exceed expectations of quality to ensure you an unmatched peace of mind every time you start your PC. We also back our commitment with the industry's most comprehensive warranty.
1 Year ASUS Global Warranty3 Offers a level of coverage that would add hundreds of dollars to the price of competing laptops:
1 year global warranty
30 day Flawless Display Guarantee
2-way free standard shipping
24/7 tech support

1 Year Accidental Damage Warranty (ADW)3 Whether your notebook is damaged by accidental spills, drops, electrical surges, or fire, ASUS will fix it or replace it for you during the first year after purchase.
Covers accidental drops, spills, power surges, and fire damage
Target 3 business day turnaround time for repair / replacement; not including receiving and shipping time
1-way shipping (from ASUS to the user) at no additional cost
24/7 toll-free phone support

What's in the Box
N53Jf-XE1 Notebook
AC Adapter
6 cell Battery Pack
Warranty Information Card

Specifications
Operating System: Windows 7 Home Premium (64-bit)
Display: 15.6-inch LED-backlit Full HD display (1920 x 1080)
Processor: Intel Core i5-460M processor (2.53 GHz with Turbo Boost up to 2.80 GHz)
Chipset: Intel HM55
Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GT 425M graphics with 1GB DDR3 VRAM
WLAN: 802.11 b/g/n (@ 2.4GHz)
LAN: 10/100/1000 Mbps Ethernet
Memory: 4GB DDR3 SDRAM, 2 x SODIMM socket (expandable to 8GB)
Storage: 500GB 7200RPM hard drive
Optical Drive: Blu-ray combo drive
Camera: 2.0 megapixel with security lens cover
Speakers: Built-in speakers with SonicMaster Technology
Microphone: Digital Array Microphone
Card Reader: 1x 5-in-1 card reader (SD/MMC/MS/MS-PRO/MS Duo)
Input / Output:1x Headphone-out jack (SPDF support), 1x Microphone-in jack, 1x RJ45 LAN Jack for LAN insert, 3x USB 3.0 ports, 1x E-SATA
Battery: 6 cell
Dimensions: 15.6 x 10.6 x 1.2 ~ 1.6 (W x D x H)
Weight: 6.4 lbs (with 6 cell)
Color: Silver

© 2010 ASUS Computer International. All Rights Reserved. ASUS is a registered trademark of ASUSTeK Computer. All specifications are subject to change without notice and features are only in select models. Products may not be available in all markets. Brand and product names mentioned are trademarks of their respective companies. © 2010, Intel Corporation. All rights reserved. Intel, the Intel logo, Intel Inside, Intel Core, and Core Inside are trademarks of Intel Corporation in the U.S. and other countries. Intel® Turbo Boost Technology information: http://www.intel.com/technology/turboboost 1All figures theoretical values compared to USB 2.0 benchmarks for reference purposes. Actual speed depends on device and system status. 2Rated number 1 Windows-based PC maker in PCMag.com's Service & Reliability Report 2009. Rate number 1 PC brand according to SquareTrade, the leading direct-to-consumer warranty company (for more information visit http://www.squaretrade.com/pages/laptop-reliability-1109/ ). Rated number 1 reliable PC maker in Spring 2009's RESCUECOM report http://www.rescuecom.com/RESCUECOM269.html 3For notebooks purchased on or after Sept. 10, 2007. The ASUS 360 Notebook Service Program and Accidental Damage Warranty covers "ASUS" brand notebooks only, and does NOT extend to: "Built on ASUS", "ASMobile", "Powered by ASUS", the Eee PC, or some other models. These retailers are currently among the companies that do NOT participate in the ASUS 360 Notebook Service Program and Accidental Damage Warranty: Best Buy, MicroCenter, and The Source by Circuit City in Canada. Limit of one claim per notebook for Accidental Damage Warranty. ASUS reserves the right to discontinue this program and to modify the terms and conditions thereof at any time. ASUS Accidental Damage Warranty Program starts from the date of your ASUS notebook purchase, when all the requirements are met. Check your retailer for specific warranty information. One incident covered per notebook.


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Click here for more information about ASUS N53JF-XE1 15.6-Inch Versatile Entertainment Laptop (Silver Aluminum)

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Saturday, October 13, 2012

Intel DP55SB Desktop Board (LGA1156, DDR3) Review

Intel DP55SB Desktop Board (LGA1156, DDR3)
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
The Intel DP55SB motherboard; It is part of my first computer build. I am fairly young so it did take me a while to carefully choose and buy this motherboard XD I had trouble running the new build. The system was dead. After testing out the power supply, I wasn't sure whether the problem lay with the motherboard or the i5-750 processor.
I was impatient as any other person would be and decided to ask Amazon for a replacement of the mobo. But the night before I was planning to send back the items I tried them again. Tested the board and CPU on the bench. Ahh... It turns out the CPU was not seated properly. Tested the board and the CPU in the case with everything connected. Again, dead. Starting plugging and unplugging cords. Oh damn, for some reason I cannot connect the fans to both the power supply and the board. Hey, I'm no computer wiz and I have no idea why... Anyways the case was alive! It was sheer happiness at this accomplishment, building your own computer!
So now onto the board itself, it is Micro-ATX, therefore it does give room for additional fans and stuff... Yet it still delivers the same goodies as its daddy, the DP55KG. Note that it just has less PCI slots. Bluetooth? Haven't tried yet even though that's the reason I saved up for this board. Though the abundant USB ports are good as well as the HD audio support. The Intel "Desktop Control Center" is a must for overclocking and such, its like a cool-looking bios.
In conclusion, please don't give up on any motherboard and deem it as defective when your new pc does not turn on. Mess around with the cables and such, make sure the processor is seated properly, and don't curse at the mobo =D. It supports SLI if you're into that stuff, overall the DP55SB is definitely a reliable motherboard. Oh by the way, it only supports certain type of memory (DDR3 1066/1333 MHZ). Just check the Intel site for the recommended memory modules. Cheers!


Click Here to see more reviews about: Intel DP55SB Desktop Board (LGA1156, DDR3)

INTEL P55 LG1156 MAX-16GB DDR3 MATX PCIE16 GBE QPI FSB

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Wednesday, July 25, 2012

ASUS N61JQ-X1 16-Inch Versatile Entertainment Laptop (Dark Brown) Review

ASUS N61JQ-X1 16-Inch Versatile Entertainment Laptop (Dark Brown)
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
Just got this. Looked at it for a few days on [...] to get detailed specs and customer reviews before purchasing. I only bought it on amazon because the next day shipping was cheaper (about $[...]) and the computer itself was $[...] less on amazon.
Haven't pushed the pedal to the metal as far as ram, HDD, and CPU go. There is an overclocking speed (called Turbo Boost) that is automatic. With windows 7 (instaleld) the Turbo Boost app lets you see the CPU ramping up. It shows that the CPU rutinely goes up to 2.6 Ghz when opening an application (not very intensive work) so I am not sure how accurate the gadget is, but we'll see. When compared to what else is out there, this coputer has much more for your money and is actually cheaper than many laptops with less power/graphics capability/coolness. Look at the prices at Best Buy for an Core i3 laptop. They are nearly $1000 and don't have as much ram, video memory, or upgrade potential. This is a Core i7, much more powerful and is less than alot of the laptops out there. Plus, Asus has a 1 year accidental warranty. Tops!
Pros:
-Amazon said it would be Brown, mine was black when I got it. Brown is ugly anyway!
- You can create a recovery DVD to fix everything in the event you scrw something up. Also, has a bootup recovery option built in, so even if you don;t have the disks, it can be recovered.
- 1 year replacement/repair "i dropped it in a pool" warranty.
-Shipping. For the price of the computer, get the 30.00 next day. I order by 3:00PM on thursday and had the computer booted up at 3:15PM friday.
-Nice looking computer. Great sound. Great price. (You can get a lesser model without the i7 CPU from Best Buy for 999.00)
-USB 3.0 is nice touch. Cool touchpad with "gesture" recognition.
-I like the screen. The resolution is said to be a little low/poor for the machine, but I do not yet find it to be a problem. You can zoom in and out using the touchpad and gestureing, so if the icons look to big/small, you can change it up without messing with screen resolution. Basically, you can keep it in 1377x768 mode. HD screen looks good to me. Bright too.
-HDMI output! You can hook this thing up to your big ass HD flat screen.
- With Windows 7, some "gadgets" aka iphone style "apps" that can be installed to the desktop require 32bit. This computer has the 64bit Windows 7 so you have to do some playin around to get those gadgets to work. Pandora is one of those. However, you can have a applet for Pandor Radio on the desktop without needing an open internet explorer window. Cool!
- POwer saving one-touch button. NOt sure how effcient it is yet.
- So far, Windows 7 is not that bad. Yet. :)CONS:
- A lot of "bloatware" on this baby. You have to sort throught it all and see what you like/don;t like and uninstall whatever you can live without.
- At initial boot up, 80 processes running! Ouch. 33% of RAM in use. That's over a Gig. Trim down the fat and you should be good.
-The first time I launched the "See how cool this Asus computer is" demo, I needed to lower the volume. Whn I did so, the computer locked up, blaring a annoying sound. I had to hold th epower button for 4 sec to turn off manually. Not cool. After that though, all seems cool.
- The keyboard is a little cheap, has some play to it. Go to Best BUy and type on one of their floor models to see if it is bad for you or not. Not a deal breaker for me, but kinda lame. The "full size keyboard is not true, it is laptop sized with a number padd on the right. The arrow keys (if you play games or use spreadsheets) are small and you can easily miss them and hit the 0 or control key.
- With Windows 7, some "gadgets" aka iphone style "apps" that can be installed to the desktop require 32bit. This computer has the 64bit Windows 7 so you have to do some playin around to get those gadgets to work. Pandora is one of those. However, you can have a applet for Pandor Radio on the desktop without needing an open internet explorer window. Cool!
- A lot of Asus "this and that" programs to deal with. I uninstalled half of them.
BOTTOM LINE:
Buy it. Remove what you don't like. Great deal. If you were going to spend 800, drop an extra 2 bills and get this one. If you were going to spend 1200, save you money and get yourself a case for this one once you buy it.

Click Here to see more reviews about: ASUS N61JQ-X1 16-Inch Versatile Entertainment Laptop (Dark Brown)

Expect an Encore The 16-inch N61Jq-X1 is masterfully crafted to deliver premium entertainment while on the go.Featuring the powerful Intel Core i7 Quad Core processor and ATI Discrete Graphics Engine powered by Mobility Radeon HD 5730 graphics, the N61Jq-X1 redefines mobile computing with the power of a desktop inside its elegant and portable design.Now you can also enjoy the latest in graphics processing technology on-the-go with DirectX 11-enabled ATI Discrete Graphics Engine and watch your games come alive. This multimedia powerhouse excels in entertainment with awe-inspiring HD playback on its brilliant 16-inch HD LED-backlit widescreen for a vivid entertainment experience in HD.Delight your senses with rich sound from the Altec Lansing speakers, enhanced by the unique SonicMaster design –an exclusive ASUS design that improves sound projection and quality.Plus, introduce yourself to the latest standard of USB with Superspeed USB 3.0, enabling faster transfer rates for USB 3.0-enabled peripherals – up to 10 times faster compared to USB 2.0.Enjoy your favorite HD movies, listen to hit songs, and experience the impressive visuals of the N61Jq-X1- the possibilities are virtually endless. The N61Jq-X1 boasts 4GB DDR3 system RAM, a chiclet keyboard, a multi-touch trackpad, a high-speed wireless 802.11n connectivity, a 320GB 7200 RPM hard drive, a HDMI connectivity, a Bluetooth v2.1+EDR connectivity, a 2.0MP webcam, and plenty of other convenient features.


Key Features

Powerful Intel Core i7-720QM processor with Turbo Boost and Hyper Threading Technologies for smart multitasking performance that adapts to your needs (Learn more)
Color Shine 16-inch Edge-to-Edge HD LED-backlit widescreen for a vibrant and immersive cinematic experience (Learn more)
ATI Discrete Graphics Engine (DGE) powered by Mobility Radeon HD 5730 graphics with 1GB VRAM and DirectX 11 support for the latest gaming and multimedia enjoyment (Learn more)
Altec Lansing speakers enhanced with SRS Premium Sound produce crisp, clear audio reproduction (Learn more)
ASUS SonicMaster design for more detailed and richer sound quality
320GB 7200RPM hard drive for fast, convenient storage and access to all your documents, music, videos, and photos
4GB of DDR3 RAM brings increased performance with Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit pre-installed
Multi-touch trackpad lets you intuitively navigate through web pages, documents, and pictures (Learn more)
Chiclet keyboard with numeric keypad for increased typing precision (Learn more)
HDMI output for easy HD video and audio connectivity to your HDTV or LCD monitors with HDMI input
USB 3.0 Superspeed connectivity for up to 10x faster transfer speed than USB 2.0 (Learn more)
High-speed wireless N networking (802.11 b/g/n @ 2.4GHz) with Bluetooth v2.1 + EDR (Learn more)
Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit for a faster and more reliable operating system (Learn more)
ASUS Infusion Technology for scratch-resistant protection
2.0 megapixel webcam for video chatting with friends and family
1 year global warranty and 1 year Accidental Damage Warranty* (Learn more)

Learn More
Latest in Mobile Graphics Technology
Premium Sound Meets Premium Visuals
Built with one of the World's Most Intelligent Notebook Processors
Enhanced Connectivity
Head-turning Style and Intelligent Control
ASUS Makes Your Windows 7 Experience Better
ASUS 360 - 1 Year Global Warranty
Accidents Happen
What's in the Box The entire ASUS N61Jq-X1 package contains a warranty information card, notebook, 6-cell battery pack, and AC Adapter.
ASUS N61Jq-X1 (Brown)
AC Adapter
6-cell Battery Pack
Warranty Information Card
Specifications
Operating System: Windows 7 Home Premium (64-bit)
Display: 16-inch HD LED-backlit Widescreen (1366 x 768)
CPU: Intel Core i7-720QM processor (1.60GHz Turbo-Boost to 2.8GHz Quad-Core)
Graphics: ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5730 1GB DDR3 VRAM
Wireless Data Network: 802.11 b/g/n (@ 2.4GHz) , Bluetooth v2.1+EDR
LAN: 10/100/1000 Mbps Ethernet
Memory: 4GB DDR3 (up to 8GB)
Storage: 320GB 7,200RPM hard drive
Optical Disc Drive: Super Multi DVD drive
Camera: 2.0 Megapixel
Speakers: Altec Lansing speakers with SRS premium sound
Microphone: Digital Array Microphone
Card Reader: : 1x 8-in-1 card reader (MMC/SD/Mini-SD/XD/Memory Stick/MS Pro/MS Duo/MS-Pro-Duo)
Input/Output: 1x Headphone-out jack (SPDF support), 1x Microphone-in jack, 1x Express Card 34, 1x RJ45 LAN Jack for LAN insert, 1x USB 3.0 port, 2x USB 2.0 ports, 1x E-SATA
Battery Pack: 6-Cell
Dimensions: 14.98 x 10.33 x 1.08 (W x D x H)
Weight: 6.38 lbs
Color: Brown † Rated number 1 Windows-based PC maker in PCMag.com's Service & Reliability Report 2009. Rate number 1 PC brand according to SquareTrade, the leading direct-to-consumer warranty company (for more information visit http://www.squaretrade.com/pages/laptop-reliability-1109/ ). *For notebooks purchased on or after Sept. 10, 2007. The ASUS 360 Notebook Service Program and Accidental Damage Warranty covers "ASUS" brand notebooks only, and does NOT extend to: "Built on ASUS," "ASMobile," "Powered by ASUS," the Eee PC, or some other models. These retailers are currently among the companies that do NOT participate in the ASUS 360 Notebook Service Program and Accidental Damage Warranty: Best Buy, MicroCenter, and The Source by CircuitCity in Canada. Limit of one claim per notebook for Accidental Damage Warranty. ASUS reserves the right to discontinue this program and to modify the terms and conditions thereof at any time. ASUS Accidental Damage Warranty Program starts from the date of your ASUS notebook purchase, when all the requirements are met. One incident covered per notebook. All specifications and terms are subject to change without notice. Please check with your supplier for exact offers on selected models. Products may not be available in all markets. Product may not be exactly as shown in photos. Celeron, Celeron Inside, Centrino, Centrino Inside, Core Inside, Intel, Intel Logo, Intel Atom, Intel Atom Inside, Intel Core, Intel Inside, Intel Inside Logo, Intel Viiv, Intel vPro, Itanium, Itanium Inside, Pentium, Pentium Inside, Viiv Inside, vPro Inside, Xeon, and Xeon Inside are trademarks of Intel Corporation in the U.S. and other countries.

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Tuesday, June 5, 2012

ASUS Republic of Gamers G51JX-X3 15.6-Inch Gaming Laptop (Blue) Review

ASUS Republic of Gamers G51JX-X3 15.6-Inch Gaming Laptop (Blue)
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
Yeah, I guess you could be upset that you didn't get some complimentary swag or whatever with this machine, but I didn't buy it for swag.
Let's get down to business, shall we?
Pluses: Gorgeous, smooth graphics in Star Trek Online, DDO, Champions Online and Team Fortress 2 with the sliders cranked just shy of the max. EAX sound is amazing: even sounds decent out of the built-in speakers (really rocks with my headphones though). CPU performance and multitasking is sweet and responsive. I have multi-surfed Word, Visual Studio and Photoshop CS with no lag or issues.
More ports than you can shake a stick at: plenty of USB, eSATA, FireWire (1394) and even HDMI (which outputs to full 1080p if that floats your boat). Bluetooth devices are easily paired. Amazing Windows 7 performance (rates a 5.9 Windows Experience out of the box, with 6.6s in graphics, before any tweaking)
This thing is a sweet PC for money.
Cons: Runs hot. Be sure to keep side vents for cooling free. Might be worth investing in a cooling mat for this bad boy. Also, can we please not pre-install a bunch of crap on our new, high-performance gaming machines? I had to uninstall a bunch of cheesey ASUS games and stuff before I could really get down to business.


Click Here to see more reviews about: ASUS Republic of Gamers G51JX-X3 15.6-Inch Gaming Laptop (Blue)

Gain the Unfair Advantage Now is the time to pulverize your competition. The Republic of Gamers (ROG) G51Jx-X3 notebook offers stutter-free visuals and sizzling performance that take gaming to the next level of realism. Featuring an Intel Core i5 processor, ASUS Dedicated Graphics Engine powered by the NVIDIA GeForce GTS 360M graphics card, 4GB of DDR3 system memory, and an illuminated gaming keyboard, the G51Jx unleashes an array of features to tackle today's most demanding games. The G51Jx is specially designed for a better Windows 7 experience with exclusive time-saving utilities that get you to the battlefield faster than ever before. Take advantage of premium multimedia or master your favorite game with a vibrant 15.6-inch LED-backlit Full HD widescreen. The G51Jx does it all with theatre-like cinematics. The most comprehensive notebook warranty package is icing on the cake:
One year global warranty
Thirty-days flawless display guarantee
Free two-way standard shipping
24-hour tech support seven days a week Plus ASUS Accidental Damage Protection: The ASUS G51Jx is also protected with a One Year Accidental Damage Warranty protecting the notebook from drops, fire, spills, and surge.**


Key Features

Blisteringly fast ASUS DGE powered by the NVIDIA GeForce GTS 360M 1GB GDDR5 for unprecedented visual clarity and remarkable gaming performance
The new Intel Core i5-430M processor with Turbo Boost Technology for smart multitasking performance that adapts to your needs (Learn more)
Brilliant 15.6-inch Full HD LED-backlit widescreen for immersive cinematic experience with resolution up to 1920 x 1080 (Learn more)
ASUS Super Hybrid Engine that innovatively saves battery life and boosts performance
4GB of DDR3 RAM for smooth computing with Windows 7 Home Premium (64-bit)
64-bit Windows 7 Home Premium for a faster and more reliable operating system
500GB 7,200RPM hard drives for fast, convenient storage and access to all your documents and entertainment
Wi-Fi networking (802.11 b/g & draft 2.4GHz n) with the Latest Bluetooth connectivity (v2.1)+EDR to game wherever you go
Integrated 2 megapixel webcam and Digital Array Mic for video chatting with your friends and family
Illuminated gaming keyboard with numeric keypad gives you complete control in any lighting environment
EAX Advanced HD Audio + CMSS Sound Effect with Altec Lansing speakers for premium gaming sound (Learn more)
ASUS Infusion Design casing technology for a resilient and unique look
Exclusive ASUS Express Gate enables ultra-fast boot so you can connect to the web in under 10 seconds
ASUS SmartLogon: facial recognition system detects your face and logs on automatically
Warranty: 1 year ASUS 360 global warranty and 1 year Accidental Damage Warranty with 30-day Flawless Display Guarantee

Learn More
Uncompromised Performance for the Next-Gen Gamer
Enjoy Vibrant Media
Aggressive Styling
Get Ready for the Next Generation of Intel Processors
ASUS Makes Your Windows 7 Experience Better
ASUS 360* -- 1 Year Global Warranty
ASUS ADW** -- 1 Year Accidental Damage Warranty**
What's in the Box
ROG G51Jx-X3
AC Adapter
6 cell Battery Pack
Warranty Information Card
Specifications
Operating System: Windows 7 Home Premium (64-bit)
Display: 15.6-inch Full HD LED-backlit Widescreen (1920 x 1080)
CPU: Intel Core i5-430M processor 2.26 GHz with Turbo Boost up to 2.53 GHz
Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GTS 360M 1GB GDDR5 VRAM
Wireless: 802.11 b/g/n (draft 2.4GHz n) with Bluetooth v2.1 +EDR
LAN: 10/100/1000 Mbps Ethernet
Memory: 4GB DDR3-1066 RAM, 2 x SODIMM Sockets (up to 8GB)
Storage: 500GB 7,200RPM hard drive
Optical Drive: DVD Super Multi Double Layer Drive
Camera: 2.0 Megapixel
Speakers: Altec Lansing speakers
Microphone Digital Array Microphones
Card Reader: 1 x 8-in-1 card reader (MMC/SD/Mini-SD/XD/Memory stick/MS Pro/MS-Duo/MS-Pro Duo)
Input/Output: 1 x Mic-in, 1 x Headphone-out, 1 x VGA port/Mini D-Sub 15-pin for external monitor, 4 x USB 2.0 ports, 1 x IEEE 1394 port, 1 x RJ45 LAN Jack for LAN insert, 1 x HDMI, 1 x eSATA, 1 x Express Card 34/54
Battery Pack: 6 cell
Dimensions: 14.8 x 10.4 x 1.4~1.6 inches (WxDxH)
Approximate Weight: 7.27 pounds (with 6 cell battery,1xHDD)
Color: Blue 1Rated number 1 Windows-based PC maker in PCMag.com's Service & Reliability Report 2009. Rate number 1 PC brand according to SquareTrade, the leading direct-to-consumer warranty company (for more information visit http://www.squaretrade.com/pages/laptop-reliability-1109/ ). *For notebooks purchased on or after Sept. 10, 2007. The ASUS 360 Notebook Service Program and Accidental Damage Warranty covers "ASUS" brand notebooks only, and does NOT extend to: "Built on ASUS," "ASMobile," "Powered by ASUS," the Eee PC, or some other models. These retailers are currently among the companies that do NOT participate in the ASUS 360 Notebook Service Program and Accidental Damage Warranty: Best Buy, MicroCenter, and The Source by CircuitCity in Canada. Limit of one claim per notebook for Accidental Damage Warranty. ASUS reserves the right to discontinue this program and to modify the terms and conditions thereof at any time. ASUS Accidental Damage Warranty Program starts from the date of your ASUS notebook purchase, when all the requirements are met. **One incident covered per notebook All specifications and terms are subject to change without notice. Please check with your supplier for exact offers on selected models. Products may not be available in all markets. Product may not be exactly as shown in photos. Celeron, Celeron Inside, Centrino, Centrino Inside, Core Inside, Intel, Intel Logo, Intel Atom, Intel Atom Inside, Intel Core, Intel Inside, Intel Inside Logo, Intel Viiv, Intel vPro, Itanium, Itanium Inside, Pentium, Pentium Inside, Viiv Inside, vPro Inside, Xeon, and Xeon Inside are trademarks of Intel Corporation in the U.S. and other countries.

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Tuesday, May 15, 2012

Dell Inspiron i17R-2248MRB 17.3-Inch Laptop (Mars Black) Review

Dell Inspiron i17R-2248MRB 17.3-Inch Laptop (Mars Black)
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
So far so good. Bought this after a horrible experience with a brand new Toshiba. So far I like it. Good keyboard, beautiful screen. It's a little heavier than I'd hoped (the Toshiba with same screen was at least a pound lighter) but the sound quality on this model is killer. Best laptop sound I've ever run across. This is my first Dell; if it works out it won't be my last. Oh, the fan is a little noisy, but I suspect all these high powered machines run hot.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Dell Inspiron i17R-2248MRB 17.3-Inch Laptop (Mars Black)


Wrapped in curvy edges and smooth lines, the Dell Inspiron 17R in mars black (model i17R-2248MRB) seamlessly travels by your side without getting in your way. It features a 17.3-inch high-definition display and it weighs less than 7 pounds--perfect for taking along on your commute. The full-size, ergonomically designed keyboard (with 10-key pad) gives your fingers plenty of space to stretch out and get comfortable, and you'll also appreciate the brushed metal appearance of the smudge-proof palm rest.
The Dell Inspiron 17R in black (see larger image).

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Thursday, March 29, 2012

Sony VAIO VPC-EB46FX/WI 15.5-Inch Widescreen Entertainment Laptop (White) Review

Sony VAIO VPC-EB46FX/WI 15.5-Inch Widescreen Entertainment Laptop (White)
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
El color del computador definitivamente no es blanco es de color plata, es muy bonito, pero fue una sorpresa ver que era otro color al que describen y se ve en las imagenes, lo que si es blanco es la parte interna y el teclado. En si el funcionamiento de la computadora es bueno, excepto el volumen que es muy bajo, para el uso personal esta bien pero para ver una película con mas personas no es muy cómodo. La batería dura aproximadamente 3 horas, y no he encontrado mucha diferencia en la velocidad de procesar datos con Intel core 5, lo que si la velocidad de encendido del ordenador es rápido. Además lo que falta es tener un puerto usb al lado derecho,ya que solo tiene 3 puertos usb al lado izquierdo
The computer color is definitely not white, it is silver, is very nice laptop, but it was a surprise to see that it was another color to the one described and shown in the pictures, but the inside is white and also the keyboard. The sound or the volume is very low, for personal use is fine but to watch a movie with more people is not very comfortable. The battery lasts about 3 hours, and I don't have found much difference in the data processing speed with Intel core 5. Furthermore, what is needed is to have a usb port on the right side, as only has 3 usb ports on the left side.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Sony VAIO VPC-EB46FX/WI 15.5-Inch Widescreen Entertainment Laptop (White)


Sony VAIO EB Series: Affordable and Stylish On-the-Go Computing Power
A perfect mix of performance and style, the slim, lightweight Sony VAIO EB laptop in white (model EB46FX/WI) combines a contemporary design with excellent mobile computing power in one affordable package. You'll also be able to enjoy your PC's content on the big screen thanks to this EB's compatibility with Intel Wireless Display technology. And with the smart performance of the Intel Core i5 processor and Microsoft Office Starter 2010, you have everything you need within reach to power through daily tasks and enjoy your media wherever you are.
The 15.5-inch Sony VAIO EB laptop is designed with inviting finishes and subtle patterns (see larger image).

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Friday, March 9, 2012

Toshiba Satellite L655-S5112 15.6-Inch LED Laptop (Fusion Finish in Helios Black) Review

Toshiba Satellite L655-S5112 15.6-Inch LED Laptop (Fusion Finish in Helios Black)
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
I've only had this laptop for a month or so but I've been happy with it so far. I bought it to replace an HP dv6000 which spontaneously died on me after only 3 yrs. I don't recommend HP laptops. I've read several good reports in newspapers and online about the Satelite series. If this one lasts longer than the last one, I'll be buying Toshibas from now on.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Toshiba Satellite L655-S5112 15.6-Inch LED Laptop (Fusion Finish in Helios Black)


Toshiba Satellite L655: Fashionable, Affordable and Portable with 15.6-Inch Screen
Offering plenty of mobile computing power plus room to multitask, study, and play, the Toshiba Satellite L655 (model L655-S5112) offers a generous 15.6-inch display that's great for doing more things at once--handling business at home or in the field, watching movies or playing online RPG games. It's perfect for handling computing essentials at home, school or work--from surfing the Web and downloading video to managing household finances or studying for finals. And its high-gloss Fusion Finish in Helios Gray will be sure to raise a few eyebrows.
Enjoy added screen real estate with the L655's 15.6-inch screen (see larger image).

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Tuesday, February 14, 2012

MSI S6000-017US Core i5-450M Dual-Core 2.4GHz 4GB 500GB DVD±RW 15.6" LED Windows 7 Home Premium w/Webcam Review

MSI S6000-017US Core i5-450M Dual-Core 2.4GHz 4GB 500GB DVD±RW 15.6 LED Windows 7 Home Premium w/Webcam
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
This laptop is an amazing deal (I got mine for $620 after tax at officedepot) if you're looking for high performance and speed at a really low price. But there are sacrifices for that low price. I was looking for a cheap laptop that would be able to play games such as StarCraft 2, World of Warcraft, Counter-strike, etc. as well as watch movies and multi-process like a monster. I was basically trying to find the best possible laptop that didn't have a dedicated graphics card and was around $600. I wasn't too concerned with the laptop specific features because I plan on setting it up on a desk with external mouse/keyboard when doing a lot of gaming. So for me, this is the perfect machine!
Pros: Very fast i5! (And for such a low price!). 500gb HDD, 4gb ddr3 ram, good graphics (even though it's intel HD), great at multi-tasking, playing games, etc. It has a beautiful HD screen, decent weight, great sound volume/quality. And did I mention how fast this things is?!
Cons: My cons are only cons if you plan on using this latptop on your actual lap. If you're going to put it on a desk, hook up a mouse and keyboard, then there really aren't any cons! With that said, the cons are heat (most noticeable on your lap, and also on your wrist if you're playing a game using the WASD keys), battery life (I can play WoW for about an hour before I have to plug it in), noise (you can definitely hear the powerfulness of this machine), the mousepad is a bit unusual (it's studded? and no scrollbar, but instead it has a "multi-touch feature" which is also unusual and doesn't work too well).
All-in-all, I got exactly what I was looking for and I've been very happy with it.

Click Here to see more reviews about: MSI S6000-017US Core i5-450M Dual-Core 2.4GHz 4GB 500GB DVD±RW 15.6" LED Windows 7 Home Premium w/Webcam



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Monday, January 23, 2012

ASUS N82JV-X1 14-Inch Versatile Entertainment Laptop Dark Brown Review

ASUS N82JV-X1 14-Inch Versatile Entertainment Laptop Dark Brown
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
This notebook is far from perfect, but it's the best I've found for a 14-inch gaming capable laptop. I've used and returned an HP Envy 14 and a Lenovo Y460 in favor of this notebook.
Build: Excellent. The whole machine feels very solid. Very little flex anywhere.
Keyboard: Keys feel great and have just the right responsiveness. There is a teensy bit of flex with pressure, but it doesn't detract from the experience.
Screen: Mediocre/lousy-ish. It works for games and movies, just don't expect to be editing photos. Horizontal view angles are alright. Vertical view angles are not so alright.
Performance: Great. Just look at the specs.
Heat: Surprisingly good. Temperatures peak in the 70's even after a couple hours of games/movies
Sound: Okay. Sounds fine for notebook speakers. Not very loud. Not great for music. Sounds great with good external speakers.
Battery: Average. A little over 4 hours for web surfing. 2.5 hours for movies. (When running only on the intel HD gpu)
I do recommend this notebook. The only real negative is the screen, but I doubt most people will mind.
Note: This notebook DOES have optimus unlike the i7 n82jq

Click Here to see more reviews about: ASUS N82JV-X1 14-Inch Versatile Entertainment Laptop Dark Brown

Expect an Encore Turn up the performance on the 14-inch N82Jv-X1 notebook and prepare to be impressed. Featuring powerful NVIDIA GeForce GT 335M graphics with 1GB of DDR3 VRAM, the N82Jv-X1 delivers turbo-charged graphics brings pristine HD quality for your videos, movies, and games. And with ASUS VideoMagic software, you get a premium software package to instantly take your standard definition media such as DVDs to an up-scaled HD experience with smoother frame rates and sharper images. Complementing great video, ASUS SonicMaster Technology enhances sound quality for more immersive acoustics that bring your media to life. Plus, the N82Jv-X1 can seamlessly power on the NVIDIA GeForce graphics via NVIDIA Optimus Technology for casual gaming and resource-demanding tasks and then automatically turns off the rest of the time—conserving battery life. The ASUS Super Hybrid Engine also intelligently optimizes the system for increased battery savings for long unplugged freedom. The N82Jv-X1 is powered by the Intel Core i5-450M dual-core processor that delivers the multitasking muscle to take on several tasks at once. Delivering the latest in connectivity with Super Speed USB 3.0, charge USB 3.0-enabled devices quickly and transfer files between USB 3.0 devices and your notebook up to 10 times faster than previous generation USB 2.0 speeds.1 The N82Jv-X1 features a 2.0 megapixel webcam, 500GB 7200RPM hard drive, ASUS Splendid Technology, multi-touch trackpad, Express Gate, chiclet keyboard, and an aluminum texture cover design.

Key Features
14-inch Slim-Type LED-backlit HD display with ASUS Splendid Technology for crisp HD visual quality (Learn more)
Intel Core i5-450M processor with Intel Turbo Boost Technology for smart multitaskingthat automatically boosts performance for the task at hand (Learn more)
NVIDIA GeForce GT 335M graphics with 1GB DDR3 VRAM delivers fast performance for Full HD playback and gaming (Learn more)
NVIDIA Optimus technology instantly switches between powerful NVIDIA and energy-efficient Intel graphics to save battery life (Learn more)
Super Speed USB 3.0 for quicker device charging and up to 10x faster transfers than USB 2.01 (Learn more)
ASUS VideoMagic Software for clearer images and smoother visuals (Learn more)
ASUS Super Hybrid Engine boosts system performance and saves battery life with selectable power profiles (Learn more)
ASUS SonicMaster Technology combines software and hardware for improved clarity, volume, and resonance, and more detailed sound (Learn more)

Learn More
Relax, ASUS Has You Covered Ranked as the #1 most reliable PC brand by 3 independent sources2, readers and editors alike choose ASUS as their trusted notebook and netbook. ASUS relentlessly strive to exceed expectations of quality to ensure you an unmatched peace of mind every time you start your PC. This model is also backed by a strong commitment with the industry's most comprehensive warranty.
1 Year ASUSGlobal Warranty3 Offers a level of coverage that would add hundreds of dollars tothe price of competing laptops:
1year global warranty
30 day Flawless Display Guarantee
2-way free standard shipping
24/7 tech support

1 Year Accidental Damage Warranty (ADW)3 Whether your notebook is damaged by accidental spills, drops, electrical surges, or fire, ASUS will fix it or replace it for you during the first year after purchase.
Covers accidental drops, spills, power surges, and fire damage
Target 3 business day turnaround time for repair / replacement; not including receiving and shipping time
1-way shipping (from ASUS to the user) at no additional cost
24/7 toll-free phone support

What's in the Box
N82Jv-X1 Notebook
AC Adapter
6 cell Battery Pack
Warranty Information Card

Specifications
OperatingSystem: Windows 7 Home Premium (64-bit)
Display: 14-inch Slim-Type LED-backlit HD display (1366 x 768)
Processor: Intel Core i5-450M processor (1.6 GHz with Turbo Boost up to 2.8 GHz)
Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GT 335M graphics with 1GB DDR3 VRAM
WLAN: 802.11 b/g/n (@ 2.4GHz)
LAN: 10/100/1000 Mbps Ethernet
Memory: 4GB DDR3-1066 DRAM, 2 x SODIMM socket (up to 8GB)
Storage: 500GB 7,200RPM hard drive
Optical Drive: Super Multi DVD
Camera: 2.0 Megapixel
Speakers: Altec Lansing speakers with SRS Premium Sound
Microphone: Digital Array Microphone
Card Reader: 1x 8-in- card reader (MMC/SD/Mini-SD/XD/Memory Stick/MS Pro/MS Duo/MS-Pro-Duo)
Input/ Output:1x Headphone-out jack, 1x Microphone-in jack, 1x VGA port, 1x RJ45 LAN Jack for LAN insert, 2x USB 2.0 ports, 1x USB 3.0 port, 1x E-SATA, 1x HDMI port
Battery: 6 cell
Dimensions: 13.8 x 9.7 x 1.3 ~ 1.4 (W x D x H)
Weight: 5.06 lbs
Color: Brown

© 2010 ASUS Computer International. All Rights Reserved. ASUS is a registered trademark of ASUSTeK Computer. All specifications are subject to change without notice and features are only in select models. Products may not be available in all markets. Brand and product names mentioned are trademarks of their respective companies. 1All figures theoretical values compared to USB 2.0 benchmarks for reference purposes. Actual speed depends on device and system status. 2Rated number 1 Windows-based PC maker in PCMag.com's Service & Reliability Report 2010. Rate number 1 PC brand according to SquareTrade, the leading direct-to-consumer warranty company (for more information visit http://www.squaretrade.com/pages/laptop-reliability-1109/ ). Rated number 1 reliable PC maker in Q2 2010's RESCUECOM report http://www.rescuecom.com/2010-2nd-Quarter-Computer-Reliability-Report.html 3ASUS reserves the right to exclude certain SKUs; check with your retailer to confirm coverage of specific models. Valid for notebooks purchased in the US and Canada only. Certain retailers do not participate in ADW coverage. For complete details, please visit: usa.asus.com/event/ASUS360 and adw.asus.com/.


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Tuesday, September 27, 2011

Dell Alienware M11X - Core i5 8GB DDR3 5.1 Surround Sound Stealth Black - gaming laptop Review

Dell Alienware M11X - Core i5 8GB DDR3 5.1 Surround Sound Stealth Black - gaming laptop
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
Awesome laptop with amazing performance for it size. It will play the latest games from medium (COD MW2) to high/ultra settings (SC2).
This thing also never overheats. Its pretty big for a netbook but def worth it!
Thanks to nVidia Optimus technology, the battery life on this thing is fantastic (3+ hours playing online,5+ hours regular web surfing,watching videos...). The 8GB of Ram and the option to overclock the processor make this on-the-go gaming laptop a good future proof system.
Overall I'm very pleased with this system.I recommend it to anyone (especially if you can find it for under a grand)looking to do some gaming on the go and want to have the coolest looking laptop around.
Cons: I've heard about some hinges issues but Dell is working on it and will replace them even if the laptop is out of warranty. Make sure you open the lid with both hands to put less strains on the hinges.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Dell Alienware M11X - Core i5 8GB DDR3 5.1 Surround Sound Stealth Black - gaming laptop



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Monday, September 26, 2011

Acer Aspire AS5745-3428 15.6-Inch Laptop (Black) Review

Acer Aspire AS5745-3428 15.6-Inch Laptop (Black)
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
(this review may skip around a lot but I'm trying to cover everything) Before I bought this laptop I was using a Compaq Presario F700. Completely unreliable for anything. I finally started searching for a new laptop around April knowing that my previous laptop would give out any day. I finally came across a laptop (this one) that had everything I wanted for a pretty fabulous price. Fast computer, reliable company, HUGE hard drive. I've had this laptop for a week now and haven't had any problems with it. It's great for a multi-tasking student like myself. I can easily have 10 tabs open in chrome, play and download music, instant message a couple friends, and type away at an essay and it still runs just as fast if I only had one program running. The quality of the screen is like nothing I've ever seen before. My father wanted me to just walk into any store and pick out the cheapest one (like he did for 300 bucks) and whenever I try to use his laptop I have to squint because everything is so fuzzy. On my Compaq, it was miserable to watch DVDs because everyone looked rather pixelated, as if I was watching it on the internet. The sound quality is pretty great too. I keep a fan on in my room 24/7 and it's rather noisy. The speakers on the laptop are perfect for drowning it out. With Windows 7 (compared to Vista and XP), everything is smooth and is rather easy to navigate. The over all looks of the laptop are pretty nice, the only thing I was disappointed in was the glossy lid. That was probably my error for not realizing this but I don't regret my choice in laptops. It's just a slight annoyance to have fingerprints on it. The keyboard took just a little bit to get used to, but I do like having a number pad on a laptop. They keys themselves feel great when typing. I also like the the idea of the multi-functional touch pad, but I have some issues with it accidentally zooming in due to the way I rest my hands on the keyboard. The keyboard shortcuts are also pretty handy. There weren't a whole lot on the Compaq, but on this laptop I can have iTunes running in the background and just above the number pad I can conveniently pause/play, stop, and skip songs without even opening the window. I thought that was really neat. The battery life isn't amazing but it isn't terrible either. the few times I used it while not unplugged it averaged about 3 hours more or less. This is a step up from the measly hour I got with my previous laptop. While using it off the charger it changes the estimated time left for usage (couldn't think of a better way to phrase that) a whole lot which was a little annoying but that'd probably because I open and close programs all the time. Before buying this laptop, I got a couple of opinions from my tech-geeks. They said i5 core processor laptops get hot really fast without a fan and someone also said that the processor gives out more easily without the use of a fan. So far, the laptop hasn't overheated or burned my lap which is a plus. The laptop's fan itself is incredibly quiet and usually I can't even hear it when it is running.
All in all, I would say that you get everything you want in this powerful and money saving laptop. I have a feeling I'll be sticking with this guy well through college.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Acer Aspire AS5745-3428 15.6-Inch Laptop (Black)


Acer AS5745: Multimedia Powerhouse Amazingly thin and light though still loaded with features, the Acer Aspire AS5745 (model AS5745-3428) makes it easy to take to the coffee shop, on a plane, to class or just around the house. The durable design sports a stylish black cover with a discrete textile pattern that stays clean from fingerprints.
Enjoy HD media content and experience home theater enjoyment like never before with Dolby sound and a 15.6-inch HD display with true 16:9 aspect ratio for watching widescreen movies as they were meant to be seen. You'll also be able to burn through the hottest new digital media and content creation with the breakthrough performance of the Intel Core i5 processor--with 4-way multitasking processor power to work on four tasks simultaneously.

Pre-installed with the Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium operating system (64-bit version), you'll be able to easily create a home network and share all of your favorite photos, videos, and music. Windows 7 is the easiest, fastest, and most engaging version of Windows yet. Better ways to find and manage files, like Jump Lists and improved taskbar previews, help you speed through everyday tasks. Windows 7 is designed for faster and more reliable performance, so your PC just works the way you want it to.



Key Features
15.6-inch HD widescreen CineCrystal LED-backlit display
2.4 GHz Intel Core i5-450M dual-core processor for smart performance with a speed boost (2.66 GHz with Turbo Boost Technology; 3 MB L3 cache). Intel's Turbo Boost technology maximizes speed for demanding applications, dynamically accelerating performance to match your workload--providing more performance when you need it the most. It also comes equipped with Intel HD Graphics--an advanced video engine that delivers smooth, high-quality HD video playback, providing an ideal graphics solution for everyday computing.
500 GB SATA hard drive (5400 RPM)
4 GB of installed DDR3 RAM (1066 MHz)
Intel HD Graphics with 128 MB of dedicated system memory
8x SuperMulti DVD±R/RW drive can also write to CD, DVD-RAM, and dual-layer (DL) DVD±R discs--which can hold up to 8.5 GB of data.
1.3-megapixel HD webcam lets you go face to face in online chats and VOIPs with 1280 x 1024 resolution, and easily take still pictures and videos that you can share with friends.
Stereo speakers with third-generation Dolby Home Theater audio enhancement technologies transforms the experience of movies, music, and games. Includes Dolby Digital Live, Dolby Pro Logic IIx, Dolby Headphone, Dolby Natural Bass, and Dolby Sound Space enhancer technologies.
Wireless-N Wi-Fi (802.11b/g/n) for ultra-fast connectivity to home and business networks.
Multi-Gesture Touchpad allows you to pinch, flick and swirl your fingers across the touchpad for more natural photo and video viewing as well as intuitive navigation of websites such as Google Earth. It also enables you to scroll, zoom in and out and flip through Web pages, photos, spreadsheets and more. (Learn more)
Multi-in-1 Digital Media Card Reader compatible with Secure Digital (SD), MultiMediaCard (MMC), Memory Stick (MS), Memory Stick PRO (MS PRO), xD-Picture Card (xD)
4 USB ports
HDMI high-definition audio/video output allows a single cable to transmit uncompressed high-definition video to your digital TV or LCD
Windows 7 Home Premium (64-bit) makes it easy to create a home network and share all of your favorite photos, videos, and music. And you can watch shows for free when and where you want with Internet TV on Windows Media Center. Get the best entertainment experience with Windows 7 Home Premium.
Get more features with Windows Anytime Upgrade. It's the best way to add features to Windows 7, takes as few as ten minutes, requires no software or downloads, and you'll keep your existing programs, files, and settings. Windows will walk you through the simple upgrade process.
Acer Backup Manager Software enables you to set up backup your valuable data or media portfolio with ease, and protect your assets intelligently and quickly.
6-cell lithium-ion battery (4400 mAh)
Weight: 5.72 pounds
Warranty: One-year parts and labor limited warranty with concurrent International Traveler's Warranty

What's in the Box This package contains the Acer Aspire AS5745-3428 notebook PC, rechargeable lithium-ion battery, AC adapter, and operating instructions



Learn MoreThe Acer Multi-Gesture Touchpad

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Tuesday, September 6, 2011

Asus A52F-XE2 15.6-Inch Versatile Entertainment Laptop Review

Asus A52F-XE2 15.6-Inch Versatile Entertainment Laptop
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
I've now had this laptop for a couple weeks, and have been very impressed. Before choosing this laptop, I shopped quite extensively, as I am a computer technician and knew what I was looking for. I narrowed my choices down to this one and another Asus (the ASUS N61JQ-XV1 found at http://www.amazon.com/N61JQ-XV1-16-Inch-Versatile-Entertainment-Laptop/dp/B0041RRVOG/ref=rsl_mainw_dpl?ie=UTF8&m=ATVPDKIKX0DER).
For work, I actually have the N61JQ, and am allowed to use it as my own (however, I'm leaving at the end of the year - which is why I went ahead and bought a new one for myself). There are a few reasons why I like this one over the N61JQ:
1) The battery life is longer. I've gotten a good 3-4 hours out of this laptop, and probably more if I had been paying attention!
2) I'm a server administrator, which means I type a LOT. I like the keyboard on this laptop better. The keys are slightly "texturized", as most keyboards are. The N61JQ's keys, however, are as smooth as smooth can by. It's kind of weird, and I don't really like it.
2b) The only thing to note, however, is that this keyboard is very slightly smaller than what I'm used to. It's not even enough to bother me, but I do notice it from time to time. I wouldn't say my hands are "squished", but my fingers have to be a bit more precise when I'm typing than on other keyboards - so I don't make a typo!
3) This one was about $250 cheaper - I got it for ~$650
4) Still comes with a great DVD RW / CD RW
5) The core processor is an i5 and is a Dual Core. The N61JQ has a slightly faster Dual Core, but who cares?? I'm never going to notice the difference, and it wasn't worth it for another $250.
6) This laptop comes with a camera memory card reader (SD, etc...). I actually didn't realize that based on Amazon's description, started kicking myself when I realized it (and I hadn't seen the computer yet), and then was happy to see it!
7) The N61JQ's power button light is bright - and wasteful. I've got to wonder how much juice that takes up by itself. This one is still bright, but a lot smaller - it doesn't keep me up at night when turned on!
I can't believe that I found a laptop with 4G of RAM and a 500G hdd with the other features I've described for less than $700.
I highly recommend this machine.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Asus A52F-XE2 15.6-Inch Versatile Entertainment Laptop

The New Jack-of-all-trades Powered by the Intel Core i5-460M processor, the 15.6-inch A52F-XE2 notebook transcends your mobility at an unbelievable value. This versatile notebook is designed with a scratch-resistant Infusion design to keep it looking new day after day. Along with a compact style, the A52F-XE2 takes you further with ASUS Power4Gear that lets you instantly select from a host of preset power profiles for high performance or battery savings. ASUS Palm-Proof technology enhances the multi-touch trackpad by ensuring the cursor doesn't accidentally reposition if your palm unintentionally grazes the trackpad when typing. Its brilliant 15.6-inch HD display, as well as HDMI connectivity, lets you indulge with clear visuals and HD cinema. The A52F-XE2 also boasts a smudge-resistant palm rest, 4GB DDR3 system memory, 0.3 megapixel webcam, 500GB hard drive, high-speed wireless N connectivity, and Windows 7 Home Premium.

Key Features
Intel Core i5-460M processor with Intel Turbo Boost technology that automatically boosts performance based on system load (Learn more)
ASUS Infusion technology for eye-catching style and scratch-resistant protection (Learn more)
15.6-inch LED-backlit HD display for clear, crisp high-definition visuals
Altec Lansing speakers enhanced with SRS Premium Sound produce crisp, clear audio reproduction (Learn more)
Multi-touch trackpad with ASUS Palm-Proof technology lets you intuitively navigate through web pages, documents, and pictures while helping to prevent typing errors (Learn more)
Super Multi DVD drive plays as well as writes your favorite DVDs and CDs
HDMI high-definition videoand digital audio output allowssimple output of high-definition video and digital audio to your HDTV or LCD (Learn more)
0.3 megapixel webcam for video chatting with friends and family

Learn More
Relax, ASUS Has You Covered Ranked as the #1 most reliable PC brand by 3 independent sources1, readers and editors alike choose ASUS as their trusted notebook and netbook. ASUS relentlessly strive to exceed expectations of quality to ensure you an unmatched peace of mind every time you start your PC. This model is also backed by a strong commitment with the industry's most comprehensive warranty.
1 Year ASUSGlobal Warranty2 Offers a level of coverage that would add hundreds of dollars tothe price of competing laptops:
1year global warranty
30 day Flawless Display Guarantee
2-way free standard shipping
24/7 tech support

1 Year Accidental Damage Warranty (ADW)2 Whether your notebook is damaged by accidental spills, drops, electrical surges, or fire, ASUS will fix it or replace it for you during the first year after purchase.
Covers accidental drops, spills, power surges, and fire damage
Target 3 business day turnaround time for repair / replacement; not including receiving and shipping time
1-way shipping (from ASUS to the user) at no additional cost
24/7 toll-free phone support

What's in the Box
A52F-XE2
AC Adapter
6 cell Battery Pack
Warranty Information Card

Specifications
OperatingSystem: Windows 7 Home Premium (64-bit)
Display: 15.6-inch HD LED-backlit Widescreen (1366 x 768)
Processor: Intel Core i5-460M processor (2.53 GHz with Turbo Boost up to 2.80 GHz)
Chipset: Intel HM55
Graphics: Intel HD graphics
WLAN: 802.11 b/g/n (@ 2.4GHz)
LAN: 10/100/1000 Mbps Ethernet
Memory: 4GB DDR3-1066 DRAM, 2 x SODIMM socket (up to 8GB)
Storage: 500GB 5400RPM hard drive
Optical Drive: Super Multi DVD
Camera: 0.3megapixel
Speakers: Altec Lansing speakers
Microphone: Microphone
Card Reader: 4-in-1 card reader (SD, MMC, MS, MS Pro)
Input/ Output: 1 x Mic-in, 1 x Headphone-out, 1 x VGA port/Mini D-Sub 15-pin for external monitor, 1 x RJ-45 LAN, 3 x USB 2.0 ports, 1 x HDMI
Battery: 6 cell
Dimensions: 15.2 x 10.2 x 1.4 –inches (W x D x H)
Weight: 5.8 lbs (with 6 cell battery)
Color: Grey

© 2010 ASUS Computer International. All Rights Reserved. ASUS is a registered trademark of ASUSTeK Computer. Allspecifications and terms are subject to change without notice. Please checkwith your supplier for exact offers on selected models. Products may not beavailable in all markets. Product may not be exactly as shown in photos.

1Rated number 1 Windows-based PC maker in PCMag.com's Service & Reliability Report 2010. Rated number 1 PC brand according to SquareTrade, the leading direct-to-consumer warranty company (for more information visit http://www.squaretrade.com/pages/laptop-reliability-1109/ ). Rated number 1 reliable PC maker in Q2 2010's RESCUECOM report http://www.rescuecom.com/2010-2nd-Quarter-Computer-Reliability-Report.html 2ASUS reserves the right to exclude certain SKUs; check with your retailer to confirm coverage of specific models. Valid for notebooks purchased in the US and Canada only. Certain retailers do not participate in ADW coverage. For complete details, please visit: usa.asus.com/event/ASUS360 and adw.asus.com/.


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Saturday, August 13, 2011

Acer Aspire TimelineX AS5820T-5951 15.6-Inch HD Laptop (Black Brushed Aluminum) Review

Acer Aspire TimelineX AS5820T-5951 15.6-Inch HD Laptop (Black Brushed Aluminum)
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
I had been using a netbook and liked the size and battery life it provided...however, I'm in my 70's and dealing with the small font, not to mention the slow speed of the netbook, I was growing tired of the netbook in general. When I read the reviews on this laptop I ordered one right off the bat. Most impressed with the battery life (I would guess I get about 6 1/2 hours and the speed is off the map by comparison top the netbook. Granted it's much bigger but does only weigh a bit over 5 pounds...terrific computer. Lightening fast!!
I have had 3 variations of Acer Computers and good luck with all of them.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Acer Aspire TimelineX AS5820T-5951 15.6-Inch HD Laptop (Black Brushed Aluminum)


8-Hour, All-Day Performance with the Acer Aspire TimelineX 5820T Combining Intel Core i3 processing performance with extended battery life, the breathtaking thin and lightweight Acer Aspire TimelineX laptop (model AS5820T-5951) gives you the freedom to roam all day long with an 8-hour battery life and stay productive with its 15.6-inch LED-backlit display.




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Intel LGA1156/Intel P55/DDR3/A&GbE/MATX Motherboard, Retail BOXDP55WB Review

Intel LGA1156/Intel P55/DDR3/AandGbE/MATX Motherboard, Retail BOXDP55WB
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
Let me preface this review by saying I have been building and messing with PCs for over 15 years now. This is my first motherboard actually manufactured by Intel themselves. I decided to choose this board because of the size, price, and the fact that I didn't plan to overclock this system at all and figured this would be pretty close to a reference platform to use since it was manufactured by Intel. I was building a PC for my home theater and wanted stability and figured I did not need all the bells and whistles of a board meant for overclocking. I also liked the lack of legacy PS2 ports.
Like I said I decided to build a HTPC and had some parts laying around to start it off. I had a Geforce GTX280, hard drive, and case. I added this mobo, Corsair CMX4GX3M2A1600C9 XMS3 4 GB PC3-12800 Core i5 Memory Kit, Intel Core i5-750 CPU, and a OCZ 600W power supply. I planned to use the box for mainly streaming video and playing games using Steam so I did not add any optical drives. I have a PS3 that I used for Blu-ray playback.
The system was a easy build and I didn't run into any major problems putting things together. You need to install the RAM first because the larger video cards are snug with the closed memory retention clips. I ran the SPDIF cable from the motherboard header to the video card with the cable that was included with the video card and it worked with no problem. The board has 3 Fan headers, 1 for the CPU and 2 for case fans. I used them all. When using a large video card like I did you loose a couple of SATA ports because the video card blocks them. If they had used angled plugs this would not be a problem. I only have a single drive so I just used a unblocked port so it wasn't a major problem for me.
Once I got everything together the box powered up with no problems. I went into the BIOS and set the boot options for booting from a external USB drive I had and installed Windows 7. Here is a tip: Go download the network drivers using another PC and have them available to on a thumb drive once you get Windows installed. Windows 7 does not seem to have built in drivers for this NIC.
Once I got that up and running everything went fine... That is until I was watching a streaming video and the system rebooted. I let it restart and nothing seemed to be wrong with Windows. I started working on installing games from steam and the system rebooted again. So the recurring thing became random reboots every 15 to 30 minutes. I went into the BIOS and bumped the memory voltage to 1.65v which the memory was rated for and double checked that the timings were correct. I still had the same rebooting problem. I updated the BIOS using the F7 method described on the Intel site. I still had the same problem. I hit the search engines and forums looking for info and found that this mobo is very picky about what memory you put in it. The common theme was random reboots until they stuck memory in from the Intel approved list on the product page. So I ordered a couple of sticks of 2GB 1333MHZ Dimm DDR3. Once I put that in I had no further problems and the system has been rock solid. Of all my years in building a PC this is the first time that I have got a mobo that had to have memory from the manufacturers approved list.
If there is one thing you take away from this review let it be this:
Buy some memory from the approved list for this mobo on the Intel site. I bought some Corsair in a kit specifically marketed as being for Core i5 and i7 and it did not work. The forum posts I have seen show other top tier memory from other manufacturers having the same problems with this motherboard. Stick to the list and you should be ok.
[...]
So far other than this I have been happy with the board and have had no problems.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Intel LGA1156/Intel P55/DDR3/A&GbE/MATX Motherboard, Retail BOXDP55WB

Intel BOXDP55WB LGA1156/Intel P55/DDR3/A&GbE/MATX Motherboard, Retail

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