Asus presents first notebooks with Intel Core 2 Duo

By: Stefan Hinum

Many people awaited that: The first Core 2 Duo Notebooks are presented and many more will follow. First the Asus series F3J, A7J, W7J and VX1 are extended each with one model, which is equipped with the band-new processor. For the VX1 Lamborghini there exist even 2 new models.

ASUS F3JM-AP013H – Gaming Power

The new multimedia notebook F3JM offers calculating and graphics performance especially for gaming and video applications.

• Intel Core 2 Duo processor T5600 (1.83 GHz, 667 MHz FSB, 2 MB L2 Cache)
• 15.4 Zoll TFT, WXGA with Color Shine Glare Type technology, resolution 1.280 x 800
• NVIDIA GeForce Go 7600, 512 MB VRAM
• 1024 MB DDR2-667 (1 x 1024 MB)
• 120 GB HDD 5.400 rpm
• 8 x DVD-Super Multi D/L Double Layer
• 1,3 Mega-Pixel Webcam
• Intel 3945ABG WLAN 802.11a/b/g
• Bluetooth 2.0
• interfaces: Express Card, DVI Port (DVI-D), VGA, Audio in/Mic, Line-in, headphones, SPDIF, 4x USB 2.0, IEEE1394, TV Out, 7-in-1 cardreader
• weight: 2.95 kg
• dimensions: 365 x 269.5 x 28-40.5 (front/back) mm
• Windows XP Home, MS Works
• price about € 1.700,00

ASUS A7JC-R031M – entertainment central for the digital living room

The A7JC-R031M offers digital entertainment features.

• Intel Core 2 Duo prozessor T7200 (2.0 GHz, 667 MHz FSB, 4 MB L2 Cache
• 17.1 inch TFT, WXGA+ with Color Shine Glare Type technology, resolution 1.440 x 900
• ATI Mobility Radeon X1600, 256MB GDDR3
• 1024 MB DDR2-667 (2x512MB)
• 120 GB HDD 5400 rpm SATA
• 8x DVD-Super Multi D/L Double Layer
• 1,3 Mega-Pixel Webcam
• Intel 3945ABG WLAN 802.11a/b/g
• Bluetooth 2.0; 10/100 LAN - 56k modem
• 1 Express Card Slot
• Hybrid (Analog+DVB-T) TV tuner with antenna
• interfaces: 5 x USB 2.0, Firewire, IrDA, VGA-Out, TV-Out S-Video, 1x S/PDIF, 4-in-1 cardreader (MMC, SD, MS and SD format)
• weight: 4kg
• dimensions: 405 x 314 x 38,2 (BxHxT) mm
• inkl. 17" bag and USB mouse
• Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 (OEM); MS Works
• price about € 1.800,00

ASUS W7J-3P053P – ultra-mobile notebook with 13.3 inch display

The W7J-3P053P is a slim, light notebook for the mobile user.

• Intel Core 2 Duo prozessor T7200 (2.0 GHz, 667 MHz FSB, 4 MB L2 Cache)
• 13.3 inch TFT, WXGA with Color Shine Glare Type technology, resolution 1.280 x 800
• NVIDIA GeForce Go 7400 128 MB
• 1024 MB DDR2-667 (2x512MB)
• 120 GB HDD 5400 rpm SATA
• 8x DVD-Super Multi D/L Double Layer
• 1,3 Mega-Pixel Webcam
• Intel 3945ABG WLAN 802.11a/b/g
• Bluetooth 2.0
• 1 Express Card slot
• interfaces: VGA-Out, 3x USB 2.0, Mic in, SPDIF, Firewire, S-Video, 4-in-1 Cardreader für MMC, SD, MS, MS-Pro
• weight: 1.95 kg (mit 6-Zellen Li-Ion)
• dimensions: 315 x 226,5 x 29.9/36.7 (front/back) mm
• bag and mouse (inserted radio receiver)
• black case
• MS Windows XP Pro
• price about € 2.200,00

ASUS VX1-5E007P-A and VX1-5E008P-A – deluxe Lamborghini-VX1 notebooks

The yellow (VX1-5E007P-A) and black (VX1-5E008P-A) design notebooks implement properties of an authentic Lamborghini and shall convince with design and luxury.

• Intel Core 2 Duo Processor T7400 (2.16 GHz, 667 MHz FSB, 4 MB L2 Cache
• 15 inch TFT, SXGA+ with Color Shine Glare Type technology, resolution 1.400 x 1050 (inkl. Zero Bright Dot warranty)
• NVIDIA GeForce Go 7400VX 512 MB TurboCache
• 2048 MB DDR2-667 (2x1024MB)
• 160 GB HDD 5.400 rpm (PATA)
• DVD 9.5" 8x DVD-Super Multi D/L Double Layer
• Intel 3945ABG WLAN 802.11a/b/g
• Bluetooth 2.0
• 1 Express Card slot
• PCI Express: Gigabit LAN 10/100/1000
• interfaces: 4 x USB, Firewire, VGA, Audio-Out, Mic-in, SPFIF- und TV-Out
• weight: 2.55 kg
• dimensions: 315 x 226,5 x 25.4/30 (front/back) mm
• highly valuable Lamborghini bag and Lamborghini USB mouse
• VX1-5E007P-A: yellow LCD cover (Crystal Level Hardness Piano LCD cover)
• VX1-5E008P-A: black LCD cover (Crystal Level Hardness Piano LCD cover)
• MS Windows XP Pro
• price about € 2.900,-

Comment:

NVIDIA GeForce Go 7600 is part of the most powerful third of mobile video cards. It can represent newest games well and no doubt is apt for office applications and surfing.

ATI Mobility Radeon X1600 resembles the desktop X1600 (plus Powerplay 6.0 current saving mechanisms), but is quite slower than the desktop X1600 because of the slower clock speed. It is part of the most powerful third of mobile video cards, is able to represent newest games and without any doubt apt for office applications and surfing.

NVIDIA GeForce Go 7400 is a faster clocked Geforce Go 7300, which is a slightly enhanced GeForce Go 6200. The performance is a bit below average. Some current not demanding games can be played fluently with low details. For other games massive restrictions with the game settings must be tolerated. The performance is sufficient for office applications and surfing.

The Core 2 Duo is a successor of Core Duo and Core Solo with a longer pipeline and up to 20% speed increase without to spend more current. 64-Bit EM64T command upgrade and 2 or 4 MB L2 cache characterize this processor with its 291 millions transistors, which are finished in 65 nm.
The "T" variants of the Core 2 Duo are the standard versions in notebooks. They need less current than the "E", but more current than the "L" (low voltage) and "U" (ultra low voltage) variants.

This display format can be called big subnotebook-format. The advantage is, that the subnotebook can be small dimensioned and can be carried easily. Further the tiny display has the advantage, that it needs few current, which improves the battery runtime and in consequence the mobility. The disadvantage is that the reading of texts is very exhausting vor the eyes. High resolutions can hardly be used.

15 inch display-variants are the standard and are used for more than the half of all notebooks. The reason why so many people like displays with medium size is, that this size is not exhausting for the eyes, does not need too much current and the laptops can be kept quite compact.

Meanwhile notebook displays with a format 4:3 are strongly replaced by 16:10 formats. The 4:3 format does not have explicitely disadvantages, rather it is a question of taste. When TV-watching on the notebook it is decisive, in which format the current programm is offered.

The DTR-Laptops can't be carried easily, need much current, but on the other side texts can be read easily and high resolutions are no problem. DTR mainly are intended for stationary usage on desks, where the weight and the energy need are unimportant.

Asus is an international manufacturer of medium size. In German and English speaking countries nowadays many notebooks of Asustec are reviewed. Nevertheless rather few laptop models achieve top-positions according total ranking and prize/value-rating.