Asus' G51J: Affordable Core i7 Mobile Gaming?

Features
By Thomas Soderstrom
published

Internal Components, Software, And Accessories

Intake vents to the left and below the decorative center grille allow air to reach key components.

That single fan cools both the CPU and GPU via a complex heat pipe arrangement that could somewhat limit the unit’s upgrade capability in the future.

Specific to this model G51J-A1 are the two 2.0GB Samsung DDR3-1066 memory modules and twin 320GB Seagate 7200.4 hard drives. The G51J BIOS provides no mode selection for the hard drive controller, so setting these in RAID is not an option. For benchmarking purposes, it’s best to consider only the single drive that’s being tested, since the other is nothing more than added storage.

The Asus G51J includes a full set of documentation, a complete set of backup software, a warranty card, lens cloth, a power supply, and a cable strap. The power unit is rated at 19V and 6.32A (120W).

Packaged applications include:

  • Asus Data Security Manager (file encryption and password management)
  • Power4Gear Hybrid (power management profiles)
  • WinFlash (BIOS update utility)
  • LifeFrame 3 (camera application)
  • Asus SmartLogon (face-recognition login)
  • ControlDeck (Asus application manager)
  • Virtual Camera (camera profiles)
  • Asus Live Update (drivers)
  • Asus FastBoot (application manager)
  • Asus Wireless Console 3
  • Asus FancyStart (boot themes)
  • Net4Switch
  • Asus NBProbe
  • Asus Splendid (image enhancement)
  • Asus AI Recovery (hard drive imaging)
  • Asus ExpressGate Installer
  • Asus Screen Saver
  • Creative Sound Blaster Audigy HD (software audio control)
  • Adobe Reader
  • TrendMicro Internet Security 2009

Asus also sent along a custom-branded backpack and a Razor Copperhead laser mouse. We’ve seen that some resellers advertise these as part of the kit while others don’t. Packed in a shipping box along with the notebook’s retail box, buyers who really want these accessories should pay careful attention to seller details.

Thomas Soderstrom
Thomas Soderstrom
Thomas Soderstrom is a Senior Staff Editor at Tom's Hardware US. He tests and reviews cases, cooling, memory and motherboards.
59 Comments Comment from the forums
  • vulmer
    Can't wait to see what Asus comes up with next!
    Reply
  • liquidsnake718
    Wow, Asus seems to be churrning out good gaming laptops... Not bad for the price of $1500. The other i7 msi gaming laptop seemed like a good price but with mobile nvidia 280m is too costly and the gtx260m isnt all that bad i guess but at$1600plus.... the 4850m Ati gpu is supposed to be closer to its actual full pc part thus making it a sure bet for gpu power on a small laptop.... Interesting stuff we are seeing... Now we can wait 6more months for larrabee to come out for the laptop mobile market....

    Reply
  • lashabane
    We almost got there in 2004 with ATI's Radeon 9600 XT-based Mobility Radeon 9700.

    Was it only that long ago? It feels like forever.
    Reply
  • danwat1234
    "With a single intake vent, G51J users should pay special attention to leg position when using the unit as a laptop."

    WRONG!!!
    That circular 'vent' does not go through. It is not used for cooling, it is only aesthetic.

    The intake vents are those slits around the RAM , the 2 hard drives bays and around the video card. Thus leg position is NOT important. The cooling system is very good.
    Reply
  • danwat1234
    Does this laptop not support RAID like it's predecessors?
    Reply
  • scook9
    the cooling is NOT good, and these are known for running VERY hot

    That said, the Asus G51 series is by far the most common gaming oriented laptop as its performance is stellar for the price

    A better cooled system would be the Alienware M15x or the Clevo W860CU (both also 15"). Clevo also offers a comparable 17", the W870CU

    Good cooling means that each heat producing thing has its own fan and set of fins/heatpipes (which takes a larger notebook)
    Reply
  • El_Capitan
    www.rjtech.com - Clevo D900F = $1759
    Microcenter i7 920 = $200
    250GB 7200 RPM = $65

    Total = $2024
    Reply
  • danwat1234
    scook9Good cooling means that each heat producing thing has its own fan and set of fins/heatpipes (which takes a larger notebook)
    So, then does this notebook have good cooling for it's size? It is having to dissipate quite a bit of power when both the CPU (45 watts TDP) and GPU (75 watts) have their pipelines full. Yes it can run hot internally, but the underside of the case stays out of roasting-balls and/or pubic hair range because the motherboard is screwed into the laptop from the underside of the keyboard instead being attached to the bottom of the case.

    I do agree that a second fan would be an awesome improvement, or have the one replaced with one that can move more air.

    I would venture that few laptops can dissipate that much heat as well as this one of this size. One that may have better cooling would be the HP envy 15, and some of the exotic laptops.. imo
    Reply
  • danwat1234
    Hey everyone! Look at the first picture on page 3. Do you see the battery slider to the right of the battery? When that slider is open (so battery in unlocked from that end), it uncovers red plastic, as shown in that pic.

    This slider I suspect is NOT spring loaded but the left slider IS.
    I have the G50VT (predecessor), and this is the case with mine and often the battery has been dislodged in my computer case as I walk from class to class, cutting power to the RAM when in sleep mode.. I ended up taping my battery in with scotch tape! Worked like a charm.


    http://s909.photobucket.com/albums/ac295/danwat1234/g50vt/
    I venture the guess that this issue has not been fixed.
    Reply
  • tortnotes
    danwat1234, that's not a design defect, it's a feature. If both switches were spring loaded it'd be a lot harder to remove the battery.
    My HP laptop is built the same way, and it hasn't caused any major problems... just be careful how you carry it!
    Reply