Overview
The UX51VZ may be a fifteen.6" notebook packing a quad-core processor, dedicated Nvidia graphics and a try of 128GB SSDs. It's well designed Associate in Nursingd has several high-end options as well as an IPS show with unlimited viewing angles, nice speakers, nice-feeling backlit keyboard and really respectable battery life. It's ultimately a trifle too pricy for what it supplys (and what it does not offer, specifically a touch-enabled display).
Build and style
The UX51VZ packs a skinny profile for a fifteen.6-inch laptop computer at concerning one in. tall and simply four.6 pounds; in different words it is a very little thicker however a couple of pound lighter than the latest Apple MacBook professional. The UX51VZ's style is comparatively plain with a silver brushed Al chassis and bronze Al lid. Al is taken into account a high-end material and it's smart to visualize ASUS victimization it on the whole chassis, not simply the highest. The chassis consists of 2 items, a prime and a bottom, thus it isn't a "unibody" style.
The build quality is sweet if not exceptional. The chassis has simply alittle quantity of flex however is incredibly sturdy overall. The show lid is additionally sturdy and provides smart protection for the show; no ripples seem on the display surface once pressure is applied to the rear of the lid. the eye to detail is additionally smart with no unfinished or rough edges. i prefer the slight rubber border round the show lid that keeps it from rubbing against the surface of the chassis once closed.
What's lacking concerning the UX51VZ is Associate in Nursing exciting style - it simply is not all that attention-grabbing. customers ar yearning for a trifle a lot of at this value purpose.
The UX51VZ's upgrade capabilities ar limited; you will need a elaborate star screwdriver to get rid of the lowest of the chassis and access parts. The UX51VZ is exclusive in this it's 2 drive bays (populated in our check unit by a try of 128GB SSDs); it additionally has one open RAM slot. The upgradeability is there; the accessibility to try and do thus is not.
Input and Output Ports
The UX51VZ packs a solid array of ports as well as 3 USB three.0 ports, HDMI and mini-DisplayPort. This notebook lacks an enclosed optical drive. All image descriptions ar left to right.
Left: AC power jack, Ethernet, HDMI, two USB 3.0
Right: Headphone/microphone dance band port, media card reader, USB 3.0, mini-DisplayPort, audio jack for enclosed external speaker
Keyboard and Touchpad
The life-size keyboard has Chiclet-style keys and white diode backlighting with variable brightness. The backlighting is simply right and works well within the dark. This keyboard includes a separate numeric keypad; it's Associate in Nursing plus for workplace productivity although takes obtaining accustomed since the keys ar concerning 2/3 full size.
The keys themselves have a awfully smart feel with lots of key travel enhance the feedback. The key action is slightly rubbery however quite precise. This keyboard is quiet and will simply be utilized in a room or meeting while not troubling others. i prefer the marginally rubberized key surfaces; they do not show fingerprints and will wear run out time.
The touchpad lacks physical buttons; depress on the surface to click or simply gently faucet. It's suitably sized for a fifteen.6-inch screen. the graceful anti-glare surface is simple to trace across. the click action is usually uniform although takes a trifle a lot of effort towards the perimeters. The clicks ar sounding however subdued enough to not disturb others; typically I found myself sound to click as it's quicker.
Screen and Speakers
The UX51VZ comes with a fine looking IPS (In-Plane Switching) panel that has unlimited viewing angles; the image appearance identical regardless wherever you are looking in from. it's wonderful brightness and saturation; colours virtually pop off the screen. The anti-glare surface may be a welcome relief from the shiny surfaces rife in client notebooks; there is no glare or mirror-like reflections.
Then there is the total HD resolution - 1920x1080 pixels. this can be good for productivity, permitting you to simply position 2 windows facet by facet. Having this a lot of vertical resolution means that less scrolling in websites and text documents. This high of a resolution is additionally nice for transmission and pic piece of writing since there ar such {a lot of} pixels (double the number on a standard 1366x768 display); a lot of detail is displayed on the screen at identical time while not zooming.
Unfortunately what the show lacks is bit capability; i would not assume to say it with Windows seven, however Microsoft (for higher or worse) deep-rooted bit input into Windows eight most that purchasing a notebook while not bit takes thought.
The Bang & Olufsen ICEpower audio is phenomenal for a notebook. The UX51VZ comes with a separate external speaker that connects on the correct facet of the notebook; it provides bass the notebook otherwise lacks. The sound made by this answer is sort of outstanding given the scale of the speakers; it'd simply entertain many individuals looking at a picture show. think about American state affected.
Performance and Benchmarks
Our ASUS ZenBook UX51VZ-DH71 review unit has the subsequent specifications:
15.6-inch show (1920x1080 resolution, IPS panel, anti-glare surface)
Windows eight 64-bit
Intel Core i7-3612QM quad-core processor (2.1GHz, up to 3.1GHz Turbo Boost, 6MB cache, 35W TDP)
Nvidia GeForce GT 650M dedicated graphics card w/ 2GB memory
8GB DDR3-1600 RAM (1x 4GB aboard, 1x 4GB removable; 12GB goop. supported)
256GB SSD (2x 128GB SSD in RAID 0)
Intel Centrino Advanced-N 6235 wireless LAN
Integrated Bluetooth four.0
Integrated HD digital camera
No internal optical drive
1-year restricted warrant
Dimensions: fifteen x ten x 1~1.2 inches
Weight: 4.6 lbs.
Price: $1,949.99
The UX51VZ is one in all the foremost pricy notebooks we've tested in some time; a near-$2k MSRP is notable once the typical price for a laptop is well back of [*fr1] that. however the UX51VZ includes numerous high-end parts facilitate|to assist} justify its value (I say help as a result of there is a lot of to a notebook than simply its technical specs).
The first notable part is that the Intel Core i7 quad-core processor; the i7-3612QM variant within the UX51VZ is notable as a result of it's a 35W TDP, or identical because the Intel Core i5/i7 dual-core processors (most i7 quad-cores ar 45W and need a lot of cooling). The i7-3612QM is in a veryll|one amongst|one in every of} the quickest mobile processors obtainable nowadays particularly in a chassis this skinny. Next ar the twin 128GB SSDs; they are organized during a RAID zero array (slaved together) that has some performance blessings over victimization simply one 256GB SSD. continued there is 8GB of RAM, that is slowly turning into the new norm; any less would be a disappointment at this value purpose.
For 3D gamers there is a fairly powerful dedicated graphics card: Associate in Nursing Nvidia GeForce GT 650M with 2GB of its own memory. The GT 650M is enough to play the most recent games, although maybe not all of them at the UX51VZ's lofty 1920x1080 show resolution if you propose to use the very best detail settings and still wish the quickest frame rates. Speaking of the show, the IPS panel is another notable description and exquisite to appear at and work on. The show isn't bit enabled although, a definitive draw back once shopping for a Windows eight notebook. One purpose i'll complain concerning is that the scanty annual warrant; a notebook at this value vary ought to keep company with a biennial warranty at absolutely the minimum (preferably a three-year).
Heat and Noise
There ar 2 fans positioned out the rear of the notebook; they continuously appear to air and have a small whine. it isn't essentially distracting however is noticeable. The UX51VZ's chassis stays temperature whereas running basic tasks however underneath full load it will get heat each prime and bottom; this can be very true once enjoying games. The fan noise will increase consequently and is noticeable from on the subject of anyplace during a full area underneath load; it does not truly get that loud thus i am going to refrain from bashing it an excessive amount of. one thing that is become a trend with notebook cooling systems that i do not like has the fans found out the rear at the show hinge; it isn't as economical as directly exhausting the air out the chassis sides.
Battery Life
The UX51VZ turned terribly} very respectable 3 hours and forty two minutes in our Powermark battery test; this beats out several of the smaller 14-inch and thirteen.3-inch Ultrabooks we've reviewed. this point interprets to concerning seven hours of net browsing. we have a tendency to run Powermark whereas balanced battery life mode; it runs a spread of tasks as well as net browsing, looking at video and enjoying games. this can be a a lot of realistic means of activity battery life as against having the notebook sit idle.
Conclusion
The ASUS UX51VZ may be a all-round fifteen.6-inch notebook that is ultimately a trifle too pricy. there is very little to truly complain about; at the highest of the list is that the lack of a touch-enabled show and always-audible cooling fans; it additionally gets a trifle heat underneath full load and has simply a annual warrant. Otherwise we have a tendency to like what we have a tendency to see; the UX51VZ packs an improbable quantity of power into a skinny chassis as well as a quad-core processor, dedicated Nvidia graphics card and twin SSDs. The IPS show is gorgeous Associate in Nursingd has an appreciated anti-glare surface. The backlit keyboard includes a smart feel and is quiet just like the clickpad. The build quality is sweet however not exceptional. last let's not dump the wonderful Bang & Olufsen speakers and really smart battery life.
The UX51VZ is one in all the foremost pricy notebooks we've tested of late at $1,949 MSRP; we have a tendency to looked on-line and located it for roughly $100 less, a so much cry from being an honest worth. It most likely would be an affordable value if the cons we have a tendency to found did not exist however it still would not be thought of a "deal." We're otherwise happy to advocate the ASUS UX51VZ - although for a cheaper price. realize one on sale and you may have a decent notebook.
Pros:
Solid style and quality
Excellent performance
Good keyboard
Good speakers
Good battery life
Cons:
Expensive
Not-quiet cooling fans
No bit screen
