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Average user rating:
- My rating: 0 stars
Full user review
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4.5 stars
"Perfect desktop replacement notebook"
Pros: FAST! Best GPU available for 15" notebook. UPGRADABLE! aka Asus C90S
Cons: 3gb RAM max, heat issues.
Summary: Like always, CNet does a poor job in reviewing any notebook. One of the most important things CNet missed in the review is the ability to upgrade the CPU, GPU, and HDD with ease. Just one back panel to remove and all its internal components are revealed before you. Also, it is clear that CNet didn't utilize Turbo Gear. This software gives you the ability to overclock and underclock the CPU for additional performance or battery life. However, even in power saving mode, battery life is about 1.5 hours - still mediocre.
It should also be mentioned that once you overclock your GPU, this will give you a 3dmark06 score of about 3800 (res: 1280 x 1024). This is one of the BEST scores for a 15" notebook. In addition, this notebook (aka ASUS C90S) now comes with the option of 256mb GDDR3 8600m GT GPU. The one that I have and the one CNet used for this review is a 512mb DDR2 8600m GT which is a less powerful GPU, and with the 256 GDDR3 GPU, no doubt this makes it the most powerful 15" notebook currently available on the planet.
Now for the bad. Even with a 64bit OS, the max RAM this notebook can take is 3gb. I believe this is limited due to the old chipset used in the motherboard. Also, the C90S is known to have compatibility issues with RAM. Only certain brands of RAM will work. Heat issues also occur with the C90S. The Hard drive is located directly under your left palm, and does get warm and even uncomfortably warm at times. I would recommend to use an external keyboard to solve the problem.
Although this notebook is VERY powerful, I would not recommend this notebook to a novice or if it is their first notebook purchase. For people with a medium-high knowledge of notebooks, the C90S is highly recommended as a desktop replacement.
