Overview – exterior and appearsWe’ll begin with the appearance. Asus slightly redesigned the N550 and additional significantly, created it agent and lighter than last year’s model. As a result, whereas this can be not as sleek as associate degree ultrabook, it still could be a fairly transportable fifteen incher.
The N550 additionally appearance smart and feels durable, reliable, principally as a result of Al is employed for the whole casing. There area unit some darker sheets of metal on the hood and on the belly, whereas the silver interior is forged from a solid piece of an equivalent material.
Asus took special care of the main points likewise. There’s a backlit brand on the lid, an equivalent beveled edges we tend to saw on the larger N750 and additionally an equivalent perforated patterns round the 2 buttons found on top of the keyboard. The one on the proper is that the Power button, whereas the one on the left launches the Asus Console, however can even be designed to launch associate degree app of your feeling, if you would like to.
See Completed Specs Asus N550JV
Sleek and exquisite
While still observing the inside, you’ll notice the big palm rest with a sleek, gold-bearing finishing, and also the screen’s new hinge, however additional regarding it a trifle later.
All in all, style and build quality wise, the N550 extremely could be a masterpiece. However, there's one issue I didn’t like: the lower joint between the sheet of metal on rock bottom of this laptop computer and also the silver inner body, that leaves out some terribly sharp edges. You’ll realize them terribly annoying once grabbing the laptop computer.
Anyway, let’s have a glance round the sides. Most of the ports area unit neatly lined on the left edge, with the PSU, the subwoofer’s connecter, the local area network adapter, large HDMI and mini DisplayPort video output, and 2 USBs and also the audio/microphone jack. The standing LEDs sit on the front edge, simply below the trackpad, whereas on the proper there’s the optical unit, flanked by a Kensington lock, a 3rd USB slot and a card-reader.
Flipping the laptop computer the wrong way up, you’ll notice just some cooling grills within the middle, because the battery in cased and also the laptop computer isn't that straightforward to upgrade. Still, with the proper Philips screwdriver you'll be able to get obviate the ten approximately screws holding the whole back panel in situ and access all the parts within.
You’ll notice there’s one hard-drive on this unit with the battery next thereto, 2 memory modules and 2 giant fans and warmth pipes towards the rear. However, there’s no free eSATA that would take a caching SSD or an additional little SSD for your software package, the sole one obtainable being occupied by the Wireless module.
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Now, on thereto hinge. It stretches over most of the screen’s length and is durable, keeping that show firmly in situ, specifically however you’ll set it up. And that’s an honest issue, particularly since the N550 comes with a touchscreen that you’ll keep thrusting along with your fingers.
A very smart one by the means, that reacted snappy and correct to my touches. Of course, having a touchscreen brings on the shiny glass on high of the particular panel, with its reflections in sturdy lightweight, however since the N550 goes to measure most of its days within, that shouldn’t trouble you that abundant.
As for the particular panel, Asus bundles a 1080p IPS one on this laptop computer (hardware ID: LGD0323 ), an equivalent they provide on the Zenbook UX51. It’s a bright enough show that gives fairly smart colours and distinction, therefore undoubtedly an enormous leap from the Tennessee screens we’ve seen on Asus transmission laptops within the past. Of course, most IPS screens keep company with lightweight hemorrhage round the edges and there’s some visible on this specific unit likewise. You’ll most likely solely notice this once observance movies flanked by black bars and you’ll eventually grow to ignore it. a minimum of I did…
Full HD IPS Touchscreen on this high version of the Asus N550JV
On high of that, I ought to additionally mention the solid viewing angles and also the proven fact that the screen bends quite heap on the rear. which makes the N550 a viable laptop computer not only for desk-use, except for additional casual eventualities likewise (couch or bed use, for instance), one thing I want I might say regarding additional and additional devices within the future.
Of course, it’s price noting that there area unit higher IPS panels out there, able to show additional correct colours and provide deeper distinction. however you’ll realize those on dearer laptops. And unless you’re a artist or one thing connected, I doubt you’ll ever complain regarding this screen on the N550.
Keyboard and trackpad
Anyway, enough this, let’s bring up the keyboard. I’ve reviewed the Asus N750 last we tend toek and also the N550 bundles precisely the same one we saw thereon unit. It comes with the North American nation layout on this smaller laptop computer, however which will dissent from region to region. And no matter this, the Directional and NumPad keys area unit still narrower than the others and means too incommodious.
You’ll additionally notice that somebody at Asus set to use silver keys on a silver background, therefore there’s little distinction and as a result, this keyboard looks… uninteresting, even ugly i would say.
Decent trackpad and keyboard, however there’s area for improvement
It doesn’t provide the simplest typewriting expertise either, principally as a result of the keys feel somewhat plastiky and area unit a trifle too tall for my feeling, however it’s an honest entertainer yet.
Oh, and that i ought to mention that this can be backlit and you'll be able to regulate the illumination by pressing FN and also the F3 or F4 keys.
The trackpad is alright, fairly correct most of the time, sleek and responsive. It supports all types of gestures, with up to 3 completely different fingers or once dragging from the perimeters, for those Windows eight commands. However, like all the clickpads I’ve seen on Asus machines in these last years, this one will still get jerky and high-strung from time to time. It solely happens often, however it’s enough to jade the general expertise.
The clickpad supports many gestures
Hardware and performances
Alright, with those already on the table, let’s move and Press the ability button and see what we are able to really do with this machine.
The N550 runs Windows eight and boots from cold in regarding fifteen seconds. Our unit, the Asus N550JV, is one amongst the highest configurations which will be obtainable for this laptop computer, with associate degree Intel Core i7-4700HQ processor, sixteen GB of RAM, dual-graphics with associate degree Nvidia 750M dedicated chip, and a regular 5400 rate 750 GB hard-drive. There’s no caching SSD on this specific model we've here (in reality, it's just like the N550 won't provide this, since I didn’t see any spare mSata connecter inside), and that’s why the whole storage answer can bear down on the general performances of this notebook.
You can in fact simply upgrade the RAM if your unit comes with less (supports up to sixteen GB), you'll be able to replace the hard-drive with associate degree SSD and that’s regarding it. you may most likely take away the optical bay if you would like to, however Asus doesn’t provide any replacements for that, sort of a further graphics chip (Lenovo will that on they similar model) or an additional battery.
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Anyway, i will be able to tell you that this laptop computer is overall a beast, even with the slow HDD. It will affect something you would possibly throw at it, from basic tasks, like browsing, piece of writing texts and footage, operating with documents and then on, all the thanks to additional advanced activities, like piece of writing video, running programming package and then on. It handles multitasking likewise and also the giant operating space helps too.
If you’re inquisitive about some benchmark results, you’ll realize them below. Note that every one the tests we’re run with the Nvidia 311.54 driver, the newest at the instant of this review, therefore once additional mature drivers are free within the future, you would possibly see some little bumps.
PC Mark Vantage: 9748;
PC Mark 07: 5031;
3D Mark 11: Entry – E4277; Performance - P2723; Extreme – X781;
3D Mark 13: silver storm – 73665; Cloud Gate – 6856 ;Fire Strike – 1450; hearth Strike Extreme – 709;
Cinebench eleven.5: CPU – 6.96 pts ; OpenGL – fifty three.04 fps.
And then, the N550 is used for fun, because it is in spite of everything a transmission laptop computer. Movies area unit about to look awing on this punchy IPS screen and also the system will handle all varieties of video files.
And it will handle games likewise. That Nvidia 750M chip (the 4GB DDR3 version) isn't a high entertainer, however i used to be able to run most recent titles on 1080p resolution with medium details simply fine. See the results below:
Metro: Last lightweight – forty four fps;
Bioshock Infinite – thirty two fps;
Crysis three – nineteen fps;
Grid a pair of – fifty six fps;
Starcraft 2: Heart of the Swarm – forty five independent agency (around forty independent agency in an exceedingly four v four game);
Need for Speed: beloved – twenty eight fps;
The Elder Scroll: Skyrim – forty one independent agency.
You might marvel why I ran of these games on medium details? Becausethe N550 isn't a fanatical recreation machine and that’s why it'll not be able to affect these recent titles on gamma hydroxybutyrate settings. explore for associate degree Asus ROG laptop computer if you would like that.
Heat and Noise
Of course, once packing quick hardware within a skinny laptop computer, this typically ends up in warming. an equivalent happens with this Asus N550, however only pushing the laptop computer, once running games or alternative intensive tasks for hours. In these cases, the world on high of the keyboard, wherever there’s that Audio by Bang and Olufsen inscription, gets highly regarded, therefore hot that you just can’t really bit it for extended than a pair of seconds while not feeling pain. an equivalent half on rock bottom of the laptop computer gets hot likewise.
New cooling system
Taking a fast cross-check the hardware within the laptop computer, you’ll notice that those large heat-sinks area unit placed around there and after they do get hot, they disperse the warmth onto the metal frame. therefore Asus might have done an improved job analytic the heat-sinks from the outside, however however, high temperatures area unit invariably about to be a part of the story if you would like a robust, sleek machine.
I would extremely be discomposed by heat if it might result in hardware asphyxiation, as I do need such a laptop to perform to the simplest of its talents, if needed. Luckily, this doesn’t happen here. look into the photographs below, showing the temperatures/status achieved whereas running laptop Mark vantage and whereas taking part in Skyrim for quite one hour. If you’re {interested in|curious regarding|inquisitive about|fascinated by} the careful LOG for Skyrim (after taking part in for about three hours), let American state grasp, i will be able to add a link thereto likewise
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Anyway, I ought to additionally add that If you’re not pushing the N550, it'll run quiet and funky. The fans area unit perpetually spinning although, therefore this can be ne'er utterly silent.
Speaking regarding the cooling grill, Asus utterly redesigned it. Most of the air is sucked from below the laptop computer (some is sucked from the proper facet of the hinge likewise, as you'll be able to see from that fast peak at the hardware), that’s why it’s vital to not cowl those grills. it's then blown out through the cuts (middle and left) behind the hinge, that sends most of the new air towards the rear of the laptop computer, however there’s still a good quantity returning towards North American nation, the users. On the N750, the hinge was graven to direct the air towards the rear, it’s not an equivalent with the N550, most likely as a result of the it's additional compact here.
The Asus N550 runs cool and quiet throughout everyday use
I can’t say that the new answer could be a heap higher than the previous one, however there's one issue that I like: on the older N56, the whole left facet of the keyboard and palmrest got hot once running games, areas you'd invariably are available in contact with. That now not happens with the N550, that’s why I do realize the new model easier to use for intensive tasks.
Sound system
Temperatures aside, we should always bring up the electronic equipment, a trademark for the Asus N line.
Like several alternative Asus transmission laptops, the N550 comes with associate degree external subwoofer, which will lookout of all the basses once connected. However, Asus ditched the front-facing speakers hidden behind those perforated grills on the inside and replaced them with some smaller ones, placed on the front-lower fringe of the body, pushing sound towards the table.
New set of speakers
There area unit four of them currently and Asus claims this will improve the general sound quality over their previous generation laptop computer. however i urge to dissent. Even so, the speakers area unit loud and also the sound quality ok as long as you don’t push the degree too high. Once you get pass seventieth, distortions come back to play, annoying ones. Hear for yourselves.
Bottom purpose, Asus set to alter the speakers so as to accommodate the sleeker body and also the new cooling system; and whereas the N550 remains an honest entertainer, evidently among the simplest in its category, it can’t extremely keep next to the older N56 once it involves the general audio quality.
Connectivity et al
Connectivity wise, the N550 offers all the items you would possibly would like, with Bluetooth, Gigabit local area network and quick and reliable Wireless (an Intel Centrino N6235 chip, with WiDi). However, support for the 802-11AC commonplace would are nice and would have created this laptop computer additional future proof.
There’s additionally a digital camera on this laptop computer with twin microphones, good for infrequent Skype calls, however not spectacular.
Last however not least, it’s price knowing that Asus bundles the N550 with a bunch of preinstalled package and services. a number of them can be helpful, just like the free Cloud storage offered for three years or the luxurious, AudioWizard or Tutor applications, all simply accessible from the Asus Console interface.
But there area unit many others you ought to uninstall if you would like to create your laptop computer snappier. McAfee, Microsoft workplace Trial and a bunch of package from CyberLink ought to get on that list, unless you propose on piece of writing videos, during which case the bundled CyberLink PowerDirector eight is helpful, though it’s associate degree older version of this package.
In fact, a number of you would possibly need to urge obviate all of those programs, and that i can’t blame you for that.
Prices and convenience
Those being same, the Asus N550 isn't the right transmission laptop computer. except for the money, you’re actually obtaining masses.
The N550JV, with the i7 processor, a 750 GB 7200 rate HDD and eight GB of RAM, can begin at around 1000-1100 euros up here. This but comes with the non-glare, non-touch Full HD TFT screen, most likely the one we tend to saw on the G55 and also the N56 last year. For the IPS touchscreen configuration you’ll got to add around one hundred monetary unit further.
The top configurations, with an equivalent processor, additional memory and a 256 GB SSD rather than the slow HDD we tend to had on this unit, can get to 1400-1500 euros. of these are obtainable by the center of July.
Of course, the N550 are obtainable in many completely different version, and that i expect cheaper configurations to be launched later this year, with Core i5 processors and slightly slower graphics (probably a 730M chip). however that’s nevertheless to be confirmed.
Battery Life
Alright, before we tend to get to draw the conclusions, there area unit some alternative things I actually have to feature. First, the N550 is spectacular once it involves battery life. There’s a fifty nine Wh battery within this unit and substantiated with the Haswell platform and also the hybrid graphics system (with Optimus), permits the laptop computer to last 5+ hours on a charge, if used gently (text piece of writing, a browser with 3-4 tabs, screen at half-hour, Wi-Fi ON).
During everyday use although, with some browsing, movies, music, text piece of writing and then on, I got around three.30 – four hours, with the screen at five hundredth, WI-FI ON and Power4Gear Battery Saving mode elect. And that’s massive in any respect for such a machine.
Of course, once taking part in games, you’ll solely get alittle over one hour of battery life, however that was expected. Haswell isn't designed to be additional economical underneath serious load.
The N550 comes with an equivalent 120Wh battery brick we tend to saw on the N750, huge and serious, however a necessary foul required to power the beast. The battery charges utterly in regarding a pair of hours approximately.
Wrap-up
Those being same, the Asus N550 could be a smart transmission laptop computer. Not the simplest on the market, except for positive a awfully attention-grabbing selection in its value vary.
Asus created their fifteen incher sleeker associate degreed lighter than before and side an IPS touchscreen to the combination, whereas not sacrificing power of the battery life. There area unit still things that would are done otherwise, just like the redesigned audio and cooling systems, and to some extent, the keyboard and trackpad. however however, for the money, you’ll have a tough time finding something higher right away.
How will the N550 stand next to the older N56? There’s not an enormous performance gap between them, however the cover version is additional economical once used gently. It’s additionally additional compact, etc. The cooling system, whereas still makes the laptop computer hot underneath load, isn't such an enormous inconvenience any longer, because the high a part of the inside (the space that gets hot) isn't one thing you’re typically about to are available in contact with. The IPS screen is nice, however comes with those annoying reflections. you'll be able to opt for the matte FTF panel, however hopefully a non-glare IPS choice are obtainable likewise within the close to future. Last however not least, the audio system could be a step backwards on the N550; still smart, however not as loud or as clear as on the N56.
Full Specs ASUS N550JV
Thus, if you own a N56, there’s very little reason to upgrade to the N550. however if you’re considering selecting one over the opposite, unless the older version could be a heap cheaper, I’d opt for the new N series member. As for a way the N550 stands next to its rivals from hollow, HP, Lenovo et al, I’ll hold any judgement till i buy to pay a minimum of it slow with those.
