Review and testing of the laptop ASUS N56DP. Notebook Asus N56VJ: review, specifications, reviews Screen and work surface
(the second digit in the index indicates the generation). However, our guest today ASUS N56 interesting not only as another medium-format entertainment laptop, but also as a device based on the quad-core AMD A10-4600M processor on the new AMD Trinity architecture.
Equipment
Traditional N-series multimedia notebook model ASUS N56 comes in an extended package. In the unpainted cardboard transport package you will find not only a box with a laptop, but also a branded bag. The box itself also has a couple of surprises, because in addition to the usual power supply and a set of documents in its various compartments, you will find an external SonicMaster subwoofer and a wired mouse made of glossy plastic.
If a wired paddler can hardly be called a particularly useful acquisition, then a subwoofer in the form of a vertical cylinder really allows you to get a deeper bass sound. It is almost impossible to integrate a subwoofer of this level into the case of a 15.6-inch laptop, so from the point of view of the quality of the acoustic system, the decision to put it in a separate unit is definitely the right one.
Design
The design of N-series laptops has undergone many changes since its inception, but the current design is perhaps the best. ASUS designers managed to create a rather interesting image in pleasant colors and using quality materials. If you come to the inspection ASUS N56 as corrosively as possible and try to find the flaws in appearance at any cost, then they include a rather easily soiled cover and a compartment for a hard drive protruding in the right near part of the base of the case. Otherwise, there are no complaints, and many of the above features of the device will probably not be considered worthy of attention.
Now let's move on to the description of the appearance ASUS N56. The lid of the notebook is finished with bronze-colored aluminum sheet with a striped texture and is decorated with a transparent ASUS logo, which illuminates nicely during operation. The base of the case is made of unpretentious black plastic, while in the area where the battery and hard drive there are characteristic curves of the panel. To upgrade the RAM and disk memory, there is one long compartment in the front of the case. The removable battery does not protrude from the body, its capacity is 56 Wh.
Sidewalls ASUS N56 two-color, the dark lower part belongs to the base plastic, and the light upper part belongs to the aluminum working panel. The back side of the case is empty, on the front you can find only a card reader. The right side contains a pair of audio ports, two USB 3.0 connectors, a drive optical discs(in our case, Blu-Ray), a charger socket and a Kensington lock hole. On the left side are two more USB port 3.0, HDMI video output, RJ45 LAN port, heatsink, D-sub video output and external subwoofer connector.
Screen, ergonomics
Despite the presence of a convenient visor, open the lid ASUS N56 one hand will not work because of the tight hinge. The maximum tilt angle of the lid is more than average and is about 145 degrees. The edging of the matrix is made of non-reflective smooth plastic; a webcam (photo resolution 1280 by 720 pixels) with an activity indicator and a microphone are integrated into its upper part. Interestingly, the webcam has a “flash” mode, in which a white background is briefly displayed on the screen before capturing a frame - this option cannot seriously improve the quality of shooting, but it will come in handy if you need to take a photo in complete darkness.
In various model configurations ASUS N56 can install a conventional TN-matrix with a resolution of 1366 by 768 pixels or a higher quality Full HD version. We got a configuration of the second type with a matte matrix with a resolution of 1920 by 1080 pixels. Its viewing angles are noticeably better than the average laptop screen (the manufacturer claims 150' horizontally and 120' vertically), but it's still TN and not the higher-quality IPS used in ASUS' top ultrabooks. The brightness adjustment range is skewed in favor of high values and ranges from 70 to 340 cd / m2 within 10 gradations.
The working panel of ASUS N56 is made in the spirit of minimalism and at the same time is not without a certain amount of attractiveness. The flat aluminum surface contains slots for a large touchpad, number pad buttons and a pair of multimedia speakers. In the upper corners of the panel there is a soft key and a laptop power button, around which concentric “dotted” circles diverge. The button on the left corner can be configured to perform various operations, including volume control, launching required applications and web pages, and switching between various modes and modules.
The island keyboard with a dedicated numeric keypad is pleasant to use, but has a typical drawback - an inconvenient block of arrows distributed between the main and numeric parts. Note that the keyboard ASUS N56 equipped with a backlight, the brightness of which can be adjusted in three gradations. A large touchpad without dedicated buttons is slightly recessed relative to the level of the work area, the touchpad has a concentric texture that is pleasant to the touch.
Functionality, operation
Notebook ASUS N56 is available in four main modifications: VJ, VM and VZ are based on Intel processors and are equipped with graphics from NVIDIA, but the fourth DP is completely built on components from AMD. This version came to us for testing ( ASUS N56DP), equipped with a quad-core AMD processor A10-4600M based on Trinity architecture with Radeon HD 7660G integrated graphics and more powerful discrete AMD core Radeon HD 7730M.
Recall that the Trinity architecture is a continuation of the ideas embodied in the AMD Llano APU (Accelerated Processing Unit) series. The AMD A10-4600M processor in question is made according to 32 nm process technology standards and operates at an operating frequency of 2.3 GHz, accelerating in turbo mode to 3.2 GHz and heating up to a TDP of 35 watts. Integrated graphics AMD Radeon The HD 7660G supports DirectX 11 and outperforms the current Intel HD Graphics 4000 integrated core in terms of performance. manual modes, which allowed us to test the performance of both graphics subsystems.
So, in the considered configuration ASUS N56 scored 1970 in PCMark 7, 2600 or 1350 in 3DMark 11 (AMD Radeon HD 7730M and AMD Radeon HD 7660G respectively) and 5.6 in the index Windows performance. Time battery life on a 56 Wh battery was 1 hour 20 minutes at maximum load (discrete graphics) and 4 hours 10 minutes in read emulation mode (integrated graphics).
During the operation of special claims to ASUS N56 did not occur. I didn’t like it except that the card reader was hidden too deeply, to work with which you have to lift the front of the laptop. But the updated design, build quality and materials, a comfortable backlit keyboard, as well as improved acoustics in 2.1 format should be attributed to the advantages of this model. I would especially like to note the matte Full HD screen with excellent viewing angles for TN technology.
ASUS N56 laptop video review
Results
Eventually, ASUS N56– 15" multimedia laptop with dual graphics based on Intel or AMD logic. An excellent solution for those who are looking for a mobile cinema with a fairly large Full HD screen and high-quality acoustics. Thanks to good performance, a full set of connectors and a comfortable keyboard, this laptop can also become a good solution for office work, but still its native element is the home living room, where it can more fully reveal its multimedia potential.
Liked
+ modern hardware platform from AMD with two video cards
+ high-quality Full HD screen with wide viewing angles and high backlight brightness
+ four USB 3.0 ports, two video outputs, Blu-ray drive
+ adjustable keyboard backlight, comfortable large touchpad
+ nice design, quality materials
+ high-quality acoustics with an external subwoofer
Did not like
- overestimated minimum screen brightness value
- implementation of the block of arrows
- inconvenient placement of the card reader
The product is provided by ASUS, www.asus.ua
 | ASUS N56DP (N56DP-S4008V) Notify when available |
| Type of | Notebook |
| Screen diagonal, inches | 15,6 |
| Matrix type | TN+film |
| Screen cover type | matte |
| Screen resolution | 1920×1080 |
| Processor type | AMD A10-4600M |
| Frequency, GHz | 2,3 |
| Preinstalled OS | Windows 7 Home Premium |
| Weight, kg | 2,7 |
| Dimensions, mm | 380x255x27.3/34 |
| Chipset | AMD A70M |
| Volume random access memory(standard/maximum) | 4096/8192 |
| Hard disk, GB | 1000 |
| optical drive | Blu-ray |
| Graphics adapter, memory size | AMD Radeon HD 7730M, 2GB |
| External ports | 4xUSB 3.0, VGA, HDMI, mic-in, speaker-out |
| Expansion slot | — |
| card reader | SD, MMC, MS, MS Pro |
| webcam | + |
| Network adapter | 10/100/1000 |
| Modem 56K | — |
| WiFi | 802.11b/g/n |
| WiMAX | — |
| Bluetooth | 4.0 |
| 3G | — |
| Battery capacity, mAh | 5200 |
| Battery voltage, V | no data |
Several models included. They are related by a good sound system with a large speaker surface and the presence of a special external subwoofer, which gives volume to the sound due to low frequencies. All models have the same cases, but inside they can differ significantly. So, we got a version of the laptop with an AMD Trinity A10-4600M processor, a discrete graphics card and a matrix with FullHD resolution. The best part is that this is enough powerful computer, and even musically gifted, worth the sane money.
| ASUS N56D | |
|---|---|
| Display | 15.6 inches, 1920x1080 pixels, TN, matte |
| Dimensions | 380x255x27-32mm |
| The weight | 2.7 kg |
| Operating system | 64-bit Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium |
| CPU | AMD A10-4600M, 2.3 GHz |
| RAM | 4 GB DDR3 |
| Graphic arts | AMD Radeon HD 7730M 2 GB |
| Storage device | 1 TB |
| Communications | IEEE 802.11b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.0 |
| Connectors | RJ45, HDMI, card reader, 4xUSB 3.0, audio jacks for microphone and headphones, subwoofer jack, power jack |
| Camera | 1.3 MP; |
| Battery | 6 cells, 5200 mAh |
| Additionally | optical drive |
Design and ergonomics
If you've seen "thick" (in the sense that not ultrabooks) portable PCs and new-generation ASUS "transformers", the appearance of the N56 will seem familiar to you. Rounded corners, slightly "chubby" shapes, dark brown metallic lid with a large shiny logo and a plastic strip on the top edge. Fingerprints on the lid are visible, but not as pronounced as, say, on the representatives of the previous generation of music notebooks - the glossy N55/75. Base N56D - the usual rough dark plastic, ventilation holes, rubberized legs, removable battery.
The laptop is more stationary than portable, this is indicated by its weight (2.7 kilograms) and thickness, which varies from 27 to 32 millimeters. When you press the cover, it bends a little, and the frame around the screen lags a little and creaks on one side (perhaps a feature of the test instance). But I liked the inner surface of the bottom of the laptop both from an aesthetic and from a practical point of view. Its silvery finish is made of aluminum, and is quite pleasant in terms of tactile sensations.
On a flat surface, you can see the black island-type keys, the touchpad, as well as the speaker grids, made in the form of concentric circles, occupying a significant area. The opening angle is above average, the hinges are strong. In a word, I liked the assembly and design (especially the keyboard part).
Ports and connectors
A card reader was hidden on the bevel of the front edge, we did not immediately find it. The right end is reserved for a subwoofer connector, VGA, RJ-45 with a retractable bottom wall, HDMI and a pair of USB 3.0. Here is the main grid of the heat removal system. On the left side are two more USB 3.0, a power jack, audio jacks, and a laser disc drive. The location of the connectors is acceptable, although "thick" USB devices can interfere with each other.
Screen
The 15.6-inch screen in our case has FullHD resolution, which is extremely rare in the middle and mid-budget segments. At least for now. There is, however, an option with a matrix of 1366x768 pixels, of course, for even more attractive price, however, for a 15-inch laptop in 2013, this no longer looks interesting. Here the image is contrasting, with good brightness, quite saturated with colors. True, the screen is made using TN technology, so the colors are inverted depending on the viewing angle. Horizontally, quite a bit, a little more, if you look from the bottom up or vice versa. But the display cover is matte, which suits the vast majority of users.
On the street, the image fades, but is somehow visible (in the picture the sun is in the west, to the right of the laptop)
Keyboard and touchpad
The chiclet-type keyboard is much better than in most inexpensive counterparts by the manufacturer: the keys are pleasant to the touch, with excellent responsiveness and a clear stroke. The keyboard is great for fast typing, including blind. And those who like to work in the dark will appreciate the white uniform illumination with five brightness levels. The number pad, as well as the top row of keys, is half the size, the rest of the input elements are large. The touchpad is slightly recessed into the body, smooth and large. Quite comfortable.
System and performance
The test laptop is made on a modern AMD platform with an A10 2.3 GHz processor, 4 GB of RAM, terabyte hard drive and two graphics cards - an integrated Radeon 7640G for simple tasks and a slightly more powerful 7730M suitable for gaming and graphics processing. This is a mid-range laptop video card, for the fastest games at a resolution of 1920x1080 pixels it turns out to be not enough, you have to switch to 1280x720 mode, or even to 1366x768 pixels and set not the highest settings (for example, in Battlefield 3 you had to set low settings and resolution in order to the game did not slow down). However, you can run most games, especially those that are not so demanding on graphics performance. During operation, subjectively, the computer performed well in multitasking, and switched well between simultaneously running Photoshop, a video player, a flight simulator, and a web browser.
At the same time, an external monitor was also connected to the laptop. Although sometimes it felt like being here instead of a terabyte hard SSD drive, yes, twice as much memory, the computer would have significantly won. This is evidenced by the low result in the test of the overall performance of the PCMark7 system.
However, do not be greedy. Still, the price of a laptop is more than sparing for such characteristics.
Sound
A small desktop subwoofer with a specific connector is offered to help the speakers to reproduce low frequencies. As usual in the series, Sonic Master technology is used here, and the acoustics themselves bear the proud name of Bang & Olufsen ICEpower. I won’t say, the speakers in a laptop can replace a full-fledged large acoustic system, but what the N-series is equipped with is definitely the best acoustic solution built into a portable PC that I have ever come across. The speakers are capable of clear and detailed reproduction of mids and even expressive highs, and the subwoofer confidently adds volume to the bass. True, in order to feel them, you need to be close to the laptop, after all, it is very small. Problems start only at the highest volume, but before that - everything is fine. In addition, compared to the N55 / 75 generation, the body resonates much less.
Autonomy, noise, heating
You don’t expect any special battery endurance from replacing a home PC. The miracle did not happen: the reading mode gives about 4 hours of continuous work, usually, with an average brightness of the screen with the laptop wifi you will have enough for two or two and a half hours. The machine does not make too much noise even during heavy tasks, but the heating of the left side of the laptop, where the heat output grille is, is very noticeable: I constantly wanted to pull my hand that was lying there.
Competitors
In the dry matter
If you've been thinking about purchasing a powerful multimedia laptop that can replace a desktop PC, with good sound and a decent screen, but at the same time for reasonable money, you should take a closer look at the ASUS N56D. Especially if you are not an avid gamer, but a decent sound is important to you anytime and anywhere, even when there is no way to connect external speakers or good headphones.
4 reasons to buy ASUS N56D:
- Great sound, subwoofer
- Inexpensive;
- Screen with FullHD resolution;
- Comfortable keyboard and touchpad.
1 reason not to buy ASUS N56D:
- Strong body heat.
ASUS is one of the leaders in the production of laptops. A lot of models have left the assembly line of this brand. Most of them were collected in a series. So, in 2008, the world saw an interesting N-series. Then it was planned to release four models that would combine the latest technology and an unusual style for users.
In general, in 2008, buyers have not yet been so spoiled by the variety of laptops. Everyone tried to find for themselves only convenient and functional. But over time, when a trend towards design solutions began to be observed, the manufacturer began to devote more time to the appearance of the device. And so another line from the already familiar series appeared.
Diversity
It is immediately worth noting that under this name the company has released a huge number of models. They practically did not differ externally, but inside they had different “stuffing”. Some were released with well-known processors from AMD A-Series. Part worked with Intel Core different generations.
The differences were also in the graphics adapter, which was also offered in several versions: AMD Radeon HD 7730M, NVIDIA GeForce GT 750M, AMD Radeon HD 8750M, NVIDIA GeForce GT 635M, etc.
Accordingly, the price ranged from 600 to 1200 euros at the time of release. There was also a difference in weight. Some models received larger batteries. The main thing that has not changed is the screen diagonal of 15 inches.
Package
Each model in the line was packaged in the same way. In a massive black box with a minimal amount of graphic material was a laptop. In general, most of the configurations were a real surprise for buyers. In the box you could find a branded bag, an external subwoofer and a wired mouse from the manufacturer.
Of course, the presence of a mouse is always a nice gift, besides, here it is of excellent quality, discreet design, presented in black gloss. But the subwoofer really surprised me. It has a vertical cylinder shape. It looks quite simple, but the sound produces a powerful and high-quality. This surprise inside the box confirms that ASUS N56V is a multimedia device.
In addition to these gifts, there was also a standard set of instructions and manuals, driver disks, a battery and Charger.
Appearance
In general, the entire N-series has changed a lot in 5-6 years. As mentioned earlier, the manufacturer first put at the head specifications, and the appearance of the model was secondary. Later, when the trend among buyers to choose attractive thin laptops began to appear more and more often, ASUS decided to experiment. This is how the ASUS N56 line became known to many.
The design turned out to be attractive: at the same time discreet, but elegant and sophisticated. The main drawback was the easily soiled lid. Plastic, although not glossy, still collects prints, dust and dirt.
There are no additional elements on the rear end, but there is a chrome insert that complements and “slims” the entire body. The front end is practically free. There are barely visible indicators on it that indicate the power of the device, the on state, the operation wireless networks etc. A little lower is a slot for a card reader. The chrome insert is also visible on the front.
On the right side, all the connectors are especially clearly visible. The first thing that catches your eye is the radiator grill, through which warm air comes out, accelerated by the fan. There is HDMI, a small hole for connecting a subwoofer, a pair of USB 3.0 slots, a network port and a D-sub video output.
On the left side there is a place for a charger, a disk drive, a pair of USB 3.0 again, as well as ports for connecting headphones and a microphone.
Screen and work surface
The main elements that you see when you lift the lid are the ASUS N56V screen, keyboard and touchpad. It should be said right away that the hinge was rather tight, which made it difficult to open the lid with one hand. Its maximum inclination reached 145 degrees. The 15-inch display received a resolution of 1280x720. Above it is a webcam with an indicator and a microphone.
By the way, there were also models that received a better screen with a resolution of 1920x1080 pixels and an IPS matrix. In general, this screen is pretty good, it has good viewing angles, sufficient brightness and a matte finish, which, although it muffles colors, keeps the image from glare in the sun.
The working panel was endowed with minimalism. But at the same time, everything looks attractive. The power button is on the right upper corner. From it, like waves, pixel circles diverge, imitating a subwoofer speaker. In the left corner is the same button, but customizable - it can perform several functions.
Island-style keyboard: conventional and unremarkable. The only thing that appeared in ASUS N56V is the backlight of the keyboard. It has the same color, but can be adjusted depending on the brightness. The touchpad is also ordinary, nothing special stands out, it has no additional buttons. Touchpad pleasant to the touch, quickly responds to commands.
Characteristics
As mentioned earlier, the characteristics of the ASUS N56V laptop depend on the specific modification. So, the version of the N56VM model was equipped with a rather powerful Intel Core i7 3720QM processor, which, although far from gaming, still copes well even with labor-intensive tasks. In this case, the GeForce GT 630M is responsible for the graphics. This video card has long lost its relevance, but laptops with it can easily work with the now popular Dota 2 and CS:GO games.
There were also variants of the model with more powerful video cards and processors, but still the laptop does not reach the gaming level, and it is difficult to call it such.
The operating system in most models was preinstalled. Usually it was Win 7 of different configurations. But it practically did not affect the technical characteristics of ASUS N56V.
By the way, if we talk about Intel processors, then these were not only Core i7 versions, but there were also Core i5. RAM could be from 4 to 8 GB, the video card worked with up to 2 GB. The memory type in both cases is GDDR3.
Outcome
Notebook ASUS N56V turned out to be of high quality, fast and popular. It works great with both Intel components and an AMD-based subsystem. It cannot be called a full-fledged gaming device. It does not have the strongest versions of processors, which are more related to multimedia chips. The video card is rather mediocre, although it copes well with modern games at medium settings.
The cost of ASUS N56V ranged from 20 to 30 thousand rubles, depending on the modification. The price for such a device is acceptable. The device easily copes with office tasks, everyday user tasks, and, most importantly, thanks to its configuration, it is practically the best multimedia laptop in its price segment from ASUS.
CPU: Intel Core i5 3230M, Intel Core i7 3630QM, Intel Core i7 4700HQ, Intel Core i7 4700MQGraphic arts: NVIDIA GeForce GT 750M, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 760M
Display: 15.6 "
The weight: 2.7Kg., 3.2Kg.
Average rating: 86.67% - Good
Averaged 3 ratings (out of 7 reviews)
: - %, Performance: - %, Equipment: - %, Screen quality: - %
Portability: -%, Appearance: - %, Ergonomics: - %, Heating and noise: - %
Specifications
Notebook: CPU: Intel Core i7 4700MQ
Graphic arts: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 760M
Display:
The weight: 2.7kg.
Links: Asus - manufacturer's website
Asus (manufacturer's website)
Pricecompare
Reviews in other languages
Review on ASUS N56 with NVIDIA GeForce GTX 760M - cool offer for gamers
Source: Laptop.bg BU→RU
classic review, available online, very detailed, Date: 25/11/2013
Specifications
Notebook: CPU: Intel Core i7 4700HQ
Graphic arts: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 760M
Display: 15.6", 16:9, 1920 x 1080 pix.
The weight: 2.7kg.
Links: Asus - manufacturer's website
Asus (manufacturer's website)
Pricecompare
Average rating: 80% - Good
Averaged 2 ratings (out of 2 reviews)
Reviews in other languages
80%
Avec le N56JR, Asus propose un bon portable multimedia 15.6 pouces à moins de 1000 euros
Source: 01Net FR→RU
classic review, available online, short, Date: 02/01/2014
Rating: Total score: 80%
80%
Asus N56JR: un bon PC portable taillé pour le multimedia à moins de 1000 euros
Source: 01Net FR→RU
classic review, available online, concise, Date: 12/18/2013
Rating: Total score: 80%
Specifications
Notebook: CPU: Intel Core i5 3230M
Graphic arts: NVIDIA GeForce GT 750M
Display: 15.6", 16:9, 1366 x 768 pix.
The weight: 3.2kg.
Links: Asus - manufacturer's website
Asus (manufacturer's website)
Pricecompare
Reviews in other languages
Specifications
Notebook: CPU: Intel Core i7 4700HQ
Graphic arts: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 760M
Display: 15.6", 16:9, 1920 x 1080 pix.
The weight: 2.7kg.
Links: Asus - manufacturer's website
Asus (manufacturer's website)
Pricecompare
Multimedia laptop Asus N56JR-CN181H
Source: xbt
So, after testing the Asus N56JR-CN181H, we can draw the following conclusions. This laptop is equipped with a very powerful processor, a fairly powerful graphics card and a large amount of RAM. Asus N56JR-CN181H is positioned as a multimedia solution, but it can be used as a gaming laptop middle level. To the benefits this laptop we can attribute a very high-quality screen, low noise level, good clickpad and keyboard, good sound subsystem. In a word, this is a really worthy, universal solution that can be used as a "workhorse".
classic review, available online, moderately detailed, Date: 04/10/2014
Specifications
Notebook:CPU: Intel Core i7 3630QM
Graphic arts: NVIDIA GeForce GT 750M
Display: 15.6", 16:9, 1920 x 1080 pix.
The weight: 2.7kg.
Links: Asus - manufacturer's website
Asus (manufacturer's website)
Pricecompare
Average rating: 100% - Very good
Averaged 1 ratings (out of 1 reviews)
Reviews in other languages
_______________
Asus: These video adapters can handle most modern games and show more or less comfortable frame rates in them. However, especially demanding brainchildren of the gaming industry will have to run on them with medium or low detail. The advantage of such video cards is that they can be used in not very large laptops with decent battery life. NVIDIA GeForce GTX 760M: Performance class GeForce GTX 700M series graphics card. Based on the Kepler architecture and manufactured in TSMC's 28nm manufacturing facilities, these low-end graphics cards are designed for the thrifty user who still enjoys gaming. They allow you to do this at low detail and medium resolution. Relatively low power consumption (of modern representatives of this class) provides a good battery life for the corresponding laptops. NVIDIA GeForce GT 750M: GeForce 700M series mid-range graphics card. Based on the Kepler architecture and manufactured on a 28nm process.>>Learn more: Comparison of GPUs. Intel Core i7:4700MQ4700HQ: Quad-core processor based on Haswell architecture with a base frequency of 2.4 GHz and the ability to accelerate up to 3.4 GHz with Turbo Boost. Equipped with integrated HD Graphics 4600 and dual-channel DDR3 memory controller. 3630QM: Quad-core Ivy Bridge processor with a base frequency of 2.4 GHz and the ability to accelerate up to 3.4 GHz with Turbo Boost. Equipped with integrated HD Graphics 4000 and dual-channel DDR3 memory controller. Intel Core i5:3230M: Ivy Bridge dual-core processor running at 2.6 to 3.2 GHz with integrated HD 4000 graphics.
>> Some manufacturers offer different screens for the same model.
No weight comment found (one expected)!
86.67% : No rating comment found (one expected)!General recommendations for choosing electronics: Buyer's guide.In this article, we will look at the Asus N56JR laptop, which belongs to the multimedia N-series. This laptop has a 15.6-inch screen and is based on the 4th generation Intel Core (Haswell) processor. This is no longer a very new model, and it has a discrete graphics Nvidia graphics card the previous generation (GeForce GTX 760M), while the new models of Asus multimedia laptops are equipped with discrete graphics NVIDIA GeForce 800 series. Nevertheless, as our testing showed, this laptop, although cheaper, is in no way inferior to the new Asus multimedia models with Nvidia GeForce GTX 850M discrete graphics.
Completion and packaging
Asus laptop Asus N56JR comes in a fairly compact box with a handle, which is designed in a traditional laptop style. Asus N-series style.
In addition to the laptop itself, which is packed in a cloth envelope, the package includes a 120 W charger (19 V, 6.32 A) and an external subwoofer, traditional for Asus multimedia laptops.
Also available quick guide user, a warranty card, a napkin for wiping the display, and even Velcro for twisting wires. Actually, the delivery set is typical for N-series laptops.
Laptop configuration
We tested the Asus N56JR model with the CN181H index. The specification of this model is given in the table.
| Asus N56JR-CN181H | ||
| CPU | Intel Core i7-4700HQ | |
| Chipset | Intel HM86 | |
| RAM | 16 GB DDR3-1600 (maximum 16 GB) (two 8 GB modules Samsung M471B1G73QH0-YK0) |
|
| Video subsystem | Nvidia GeForce GTX 760M (2 GB GDDR5) Intel HD Graphics 4600 |
|
| Screen | 15.6" 1920x1080 (PLS, Samsung 156HL01-102) |
|
| Sound subsystem | Realtek ALC663 | |
| Storage device | 1 × Seagate Momentus ST1000LM024 NH-M101MBB (1 TB, 5400 rpm, SATA-II) | |
| optical drive | Matshita DVD-RAM UJ8E1 | |
| card reader | SD/MS/MS Pro/MMC (Realtek RTS5227 controller) | |
| Network interfaces | wired network | Realtek RTL8168/8111 10/100/1000Mbps |
| Wireless network | Intel Dual Band Wireless-N 7260 | |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 4.0 | |
| Interfaces and ports | USB (2.0/3.0) | 0/4 |
| VGA (D-Sub) | there is | |
| HDMI 1.4 | there is | |
| RJ-45 | there is | |
| Headphone output | there is | |
| Microphone input | there is | |
| Input Devices | Keyboard | with a separate digital block and three-level illumination |
| touchpad | clickpad with multitouch function | |
| IP telephony | Webcam | HD |
| Microphone | there is | |
| Battery | lithium-ion, 6-cell (56 Wh) | |
| Dimensions | 380×255×34.0 mm (minimum thickness 27.7 mm) | |
| Weight without power supply | 2.7 kg | |
| Power adapter | 120W (19V, 6.32A) | |
| Operating system | Windows 8.1 (64-bit) Single Language | |
| average price | T-10631809 | |
| Retail offers | L-10631809-10 | |
So, the basis of the Asus N56JR-CN181H laptop is a quad-core processor combined with a chipset. The Intel Core i7-4700HQ processor has a nominal clock speed of 2.4 GHz, which can be increased up to 3.4 GHz in Turbo Boost mode. Its L3 cache size is 6MB and TDP is 47W. This processor has an integrated graphics core Intel HD Graphics 4600, base frequency which is 400 MHz, and the frequency in Turbo Boost mode is 1.2 GHz.
In addition to the integrated graphics core, the Asus N56JR-CN181H laptop also has a discrete Nvidia GeForce GTX 760M graphics card with 2 GB of GDDR5 video memory. This is not the most productive mobile graphics card, but at the same time, Nvidia classifies it as a gaming solution.
There are two slots for installing SO-DIMM memory modules. In our case, two DDR3-1600 Samsung M471B1G73QH0-YK0 memory modules with a capacity of 8 GB each were installed in the laptop. Thus, the total amount of RAM was 16 GB.
The storage subsystem of the Asus N56JR-CN181H laptop is a single HDD Seagate Momentus ST1000LM024 NH-M101MBB with a capacity of 1 TB. It's a 2.5" drive 9.5mm thick. This drive has a SATA II (3 Gb/s) interface. Its spindle speed is 5400 rpm, and the buffer size is 8 MB.
The communication capabilities of the Asus N56JR-CN181H laptop are determined by the presence of a wireless network adapter Wi-Fi Intel Dual Band Wireless-N 7260. This module supports two frequency range(2.4 and 5 GHz) and complies with IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n specifications. The maximum data transfer rate is up to 300 Mbps. In addition, there is a Bluetooth 4.0 controller, which is structurally integrated with Wi-Fi module. Finally, the Asus N56JR-CN181H laptop has a gigabit network interface based on the Realtek RTL8168/8111 controller.
A distinctive feature of all Asus N-series multimedia laptops is their high-quality audio subsystem. Like other laptops in this series, the Asus N56JR-CN181H model is certified by the Danish company Bang & Olufsen, which specializes in the production of high-quality acoustics.
The notebook is implemented proprietary technology Asus SonicMaster Premium, which is a set of hardware and software to improve sound quality. The sound subsystem is based on the Realtek ALC663 HDA codec, and a system consisting of two speakers is installed to play sound. An external subwoofer is included for more realistic bass reproduction.
The laptop also comes with the Waves MaxxAudio utility, which allows you to fine-tune the sound. In general, it should be noted that, subjectively, the sound in this laptop is excellent. It is quite loud, and at the maximum level the quality does not deteriorate. In more detail, with the results of hardware testing, we will talk about the audio subsystem of this laptop later in the corresponding section.
The battery in this laptop is removable (which is already becoming a rarity), and its capacity is 56 Wh.
It remains to add that the laptop is equipped with a built-in HD webcam located above the screen.
Appearance and ergonomics of the case
Actually, the design of all Asus N-series laptops is quite standard, and we have already described it more than once, and therefore we will only briefly recall the features.
So, the laptop case is almost entirely made of metal. The cover is made of brushed aluminium, painted in gray with a bronze sheen. Fingerprints on this surface, although they remain, are hardly noticeable and are easily erased. In the center of the lid there is a large Asus logo, illuminated from the inside when the laptop is in operation.
But the bottom panel of the case is made of black plastic, although in many Asus N-series laptops the entire case, including the bottom panel, is made of metal. However, the material of the bottom panel of the case is not a matter of principle.
The bottom panel of the case is removable, and it also has a separate removable panel, removing which you can access the module wireless communication, drive and memory modules. We note right away that the design of this removable panel is very ill-conceived, and it is rather difficult to remove it without damaging the internal latches. So it's better not to experiment unless absolutely necessary.
The surface framing the keyboard and touchpad is metallic and has a matte silver finish. But the keys on the keyboard are black. By the way, this is the difference between the Asus Nx6 series (N46, N46, N76) and the Nx50 series (N550, N750), in which the keys are silver (exactly the same as the working surface of the laptop). Which color is better - black or silver - is a subjective question. This is how you like it. The frame around the screen is made of black matte plastic. The webcam is centered on the bezel at the top of the screen, and a shiny Asus logo is placed at the bottom of the screen.
There are only two buttons above the keyboard: in the upper right corner there is a power on / off button, and in the upper left corner there is a symmetrical button for launching the Asus Console application, which allows you to quick setup laptop.
All status indicators (and there are five of them in total) are placed on the front face of the case next to the touchpad. At the same time, the indicators remain visible even when the laptop is closed.
The system for attaching the screen to the body is one long hinged loop, which is located at the bottom of the screen. This mounting system allows you to deflect the screen relative to the plane of the keyboard at an angle of approximately 140°.
The hinge loop has a fairly tight stroke, which allows you to fix the screen in any position. When closed, the lid of the notebook is well fixed, but it is easy to open with one hand, without the need to hold the case.
On the left side of the case there are two USB 3.0 ports, HDMI and VGA connectors, an RJ-45 connector and a subwoofer connector. The RJ-45 connector has a hinged cover, which made it possible to make the laptop thin enough.
On the right side of the case there are two more USB 3.0 connectors, two audio connectors, a power adapter connector, an optical drive tray and a Kensington lock hole.
A card reader is mounted on the front end of the case, a slot for memory cards is brought out.
Input Devices
Keyboard
The Asus N56JR laptop uses an island-style keyboard with increased key spacing. There is a separate digital block.
The main keys on the keyboard have a standard size of 15×15 mm. The keys themselves are plastic and painted black. The surface under the keyboard has no recess and is one with the rest of the body surface. In fact, holes are simply made in this surface for each key of the keyboard. Note that the keyboard has a three-level backlight, the regulation of which is carried out using the function keys.
The quality of the keyboard in this laptop can be considered good. It has a rigid base and does not flex when you press the keys. The buttons do not make a clicking sound when printed. The keys are lightly spring-loaded and there is a slight latch-on feel. The location of the buttons is quite standard and does not cause any complaints.
The top row of keys has two standard functions: either traditional F1-F12 or laptop control functions; one set works directly, the second - in combination with function key fn.
touchpad
The Asus N550JK laptop uses a clickpad with simulated keystrokes. The dimensions of the working area of this clickpad are 115×71 mm, which is quite enough for comfortable work.
The touch surface has a slight roughness and is slightly recessed. It has the same color as the rest of the body surface. The sensitivity of the touchpad is not satisfactory. This clickpad supports the MultiTouch function and naturally supports multi-touch gestures for Windows controls 8.
In general, the clickpad is very convenient and deserves high marks.
Sound path
Since this laptop is positioned as a multimedia, the quality of the audio subsystem is one of the important characteristics. According to subjective feelings, the acoustics in this laptop are quite good, and to evaluate the output sound path intended for connecting headphones or external acoustics, we resorted to instrumental testing using an external sound card Creative E-MU 0204 USB and RightMark Audio Analyzer 6.3.0 utilities. Testing was conducted for stereo mode, 24-bit/44.1 kHz.
According to the results of testing, the audio path in the Asus N56JR laptop received a "Very good" rating. The full report with the results of testing in the RMAA 6.3.0 program is placed on a separate page, a brief report is given below.
| Frequency response unevenness (in the range of 40 Hz - 15 kHz), dB | 0,06, −0,04 | |
| Noise level, dB (A) | ||
| Dynamic range, dB (A) | ||
| Harmonic distortion, % | ||
| Harmonic distortion + noise, dB (A) | ||
| Intermodulation distortion + noise, % | Very well |
|
| Interpenetration of channels, dB | ||
| Intermodulation at 10 kHz, % | Very well |
|
| Overall rating | Very well |
|
Screen
The Asus N56JR laptop uses a Samsung 156HL01-102 PLS matrix with LED backlight based on white LEDs. The matrix has a matte anti-reflective coating, the diagonal size is 15.6 inches, and the resolution is 1920 × 1080 pixels. Note that this screen is not touch sensitive.
According to the measurements taken, the maximum brightness of the screen on a white background is 335 cd/m², and the brightness on a black background is 0.36 cd/m². At maximum screen brightness, the contrast ratio is 940:1 and the gamma value is 2.38. The minimum screen brightness on a white background is 18.6 cd/m².
The color gamut of the Asus N56JR LCD screen covers 91.5% of sRGB and 65.4% of Adobe RGB, and the color gamut is 95.1% of sRGB and 65.6% of Adobe RGB. In principle, this is a very good result.
The spectra of primary colors are well isolated from each other. And only in the spectrum of red is a little mixed green color, which is typical for LCD matrices used in laptops.
The color temperature of the LCD screen of the Asus N56JR laptop is stable across the entire gray scale and is approximately 6300 K. And only in dark areas (less than 10% white) is there an increase in color temperature, but this is absolutely uncritical, and moreover, may be due to increasing measurement error when moving to dark areas.
The stable color temperature value is due to the fact that the primary colors are well balanced across the entire gray scale.
As for color accuracy (delta E), its value on the entire gray scale does not exceed 11 (with the exception of the dark area, which can be ignored). The result is rather mediocre, but typical and acceptable for this class of devices.
If we talk about the viewing angles of the screen, they are very wide. When looking at the image from the side, top and bottom, the color is not distorted - only the brightness changes slightly.
In general, we can say that the PLS screen in the Asus N56JR laptop makes a very good impression. Excellent color gamut, good color reproduction, good viewing angles, high maximum brightness and, last but not least, matte anti-reflective coating - that's it. brief characteristics this screen.
Work under load and idle
In idle mode, as it should be, the processor frequency in the laptop is 800 MHz (naturally, we are talking about a balanced power consumption scheme), that is, to Intel technologies SpeedStep has no complaints. The processor temperature in this mode is approximately 45 °C.
When loading the processor with the Stress CPU test (AIDA64 utility Extreme Edition- system stability test), which uses integer calculations, the processor frequency is 3.2 GHz (recall that for the Intel Core i7-4700HQ processor, the maximum frequency in the mode Intel Turbo Boost is 3.4 GHz). The processor temperature in this boot mode rises to 81 °C.
When the processor is loaded with the Stress FPU test, which uses floating point calculations and heats up the processor to a greater extent, the maximum processor frequency jumps from 2.4 GHz to 2.6 GHz, and the temperature of its cores is approximately 86 ° C. Note that in this mode downloads are throttling.
Memory Subsystem and Drive Performance
According to the AIDA64 Cache & Memory Benchmark utility, the write speed to memory is 25060 MB/s, and the read speed is 24171 MB/s. For DDR3-1600 memory (peak bandwidth 12800 MB/s) in dual-channel mode, this is a very good result.
Approximately the same result is demonstrated by the GPGPU utility from the AIDA64 package.
As already noted, the storage subsystem in the Asus N56JR laptop is a single 1TB HDD.
The ATTO Disk Benchmark utility determines the maximum sequential read and write speed at 100 MB / s. The result, of course, is very modest by today's standards, especially if you focus on SSD drives.
CrystalDiskMark also measures sequential read and write speeds of 100 MB/s.
Noise level
The noise level was measured in a special sound-absorbing chamber, and the sensitive microphone was positioned relative to the laptop in such a way as to simulate the typical position of the user's head. According to our measurements, the noise level emitted by the laptop in idle mode cannot be distinguished from the background. Apparently, the cooler fan simply does not turn on in this mode.
With stress loading the processor and video card, the level of noise emitted by the laptop increases to 37 dBA. This is already quite a tangible level of noise, but it cannot be said that this is a lot. In a quiet room, this level of noise will be noticeable, but during the day, in the office, with this noise level, the laptop will not stand out from the rest of the devices. Well, besides, you need to consider that we are talking about stress loading a laptop. In real use scenarios, this laptop is very quiet.
The battery life of this laptop is average. Sometimes more, but sometimes less.
Performance Study
To evaluate the performance of the Asus N56JR-CN181H laptop, we used our performance measurement methodology using iXBT Notebook Benchmark v.1.0 and iXBT Game Benchmark v.1.0 .
The results of testing in the iXBT Notebook Benchmark v.1.0 are shown in the table.
| Logical group of tests | Reference system | Asus N56JR-CN181H |
| Video conversion, points | 100 | 288,5 |
| MediaCoder x64 0.8.25.5560, seconds | 408,1 | 141,5 |
| Creation of video content, points | 100 | 221,8 |
| Adobe Premiere Pro CC, seconds | 1115,7 | 482,7 |
| Adobe after effects CC, seconds | 1975,4 | 816,6 |
| Photodex ProShow Gold 5.0.3276, seconds | 913,6 | 468,2 |
| Digital photo processing, points | 100 | 213,0 |
| Adobe Photoshop CC, seconds | 1834,0 | 861,0 |
| Audio processing, points | 100 | 169,4 |
| Adobe Audition CC, seconds | 880 | 519,3 |
| Text recognition, points | 100 | 176,0 |
| Abbyy FineReader 11 seconds | 115,3 | 65,5 |
| Archiving and unarchiving data, points | 100 | 164,8 |
| WinRAR 5.0 archiving, seconds | 313,8 | 142,6 |
| WinRAR 5.0 unzipping, seconds | 12,6 | 10,2 |
| Application and content download speed, points | 100 | 38,8 |
| Application and content download speed, seconds | 157,4 | 405,4 |
| Integral performance result, points | 100 | 159,3 |
The test results are as follows. In terms of integrated performance in non-gaming applications, the Asus N56JR laptop outperforms the reference system based on the Intel Core i5-3317U processor by 60%. The weakest point of the laptop is, as expected, its data storage subsystem (HDD), and in terms of application and content loading speed, as well as data copying speed, it loses heavily to our reference system with an SSD drive.
Well, now let's look at the results of testing the Asus N56JR-CN181H laptop in games.
| Gaming test | Maximum quality | Minimum quality | ||
| Average FPS | Minimum FPS | Average FPS | Minimum FPS | |
| Aliens vs Predator D3D11 Benchmark | 19,0 | - | 46,0 | - |
| Grid 2 | 29,5 | 23,3 | 141,0 | 116,3 |
| World of Tanks | 50,7 | 21,2 | 93,3 | 50,0 |
| Metro: LL | 8,5 | 2,9 | 38,1 | 15,1 |
| Hitman: Absolution | 10,4 | 8,6 | 50,6 | 41,5 |
As can be seen from the test results, with the settings for the minimum quality, the Asus N56JR-CN181H laptop allows you to comfortably play all the games we use for testing at a resolution of 1920 × 1080. With settings for maximum quality at this resolution, you can only play World of Tanks and Grid 2 normally. In principle, for a multimedia laptop that is not positioned as a gaming laptop, this is quite a worthy result. That is, this laptop can also be used for games, but you should not buy it for a gamer.
Let us remind you once again that the Asus N56JR-CN181H laptop has a discrete graphics card Nvidia GeForce GTX 760M. Moreover, if you compare the test results of this laptop with the results of other laptops on the same Intel processor Core i7-4700HQ, but with the new Nvidia GeForce GTX 850M discrete graphics card (for example, Asus N550JK , Asus N750JK), it turns out that the results in games are almost the same.
conclusions
So, after testing the Asus N56JR-CN181H, we can draw the following conclusions. This laptop is equipped with a very powerful processor, a fairly powerful graphics card and a large amount of RAM. The Asus N56JR-CN181H is positioned as a multimedia solution, but it can also be used as a mid-range gaming laptop. The advantages of this laptop include a very high-quality screen, low noise level, good clickpad and keyboard, good sound subsystem. In a word, this is a really worthy, universal solution that can be used as a "workhorse".
Asus N56JR-CN181H is interesting to compare with Asus N550JK-CN014H. These 15-inch laptops have a very similar configuration, but the main difference between them is that the Asus N550JK-CN014H has an Nvidia GeForce GTX 850M graphics card, while the Asus N56JR-CN181H has an Nvidia GeForce GTX 760M. The remaining differences are not so significant: for example, the Asus N56JR-CN181H has 16 GB of memory, while the Asus N550JK-CN014H has only 12 GB; Asus N56JR-CN181H has 4 USB 3.0 ports, while Asus N550JK-CN014H has only three. There are other minor differences as well. The laptops are similar in design, and even their LCD matrix is the same. And now, as testing has shown, these models also demonstrate almost the same performance in games, as well as in non-gaming applications. Moreover, the Asus N56JR-CN181H laptop is cheaper than the Asus N550JK-CN014H. So, the retail price of the Asus N56JR-CN181H in the configuration we tested was about 40 thousand rubles at the time of publication of the article, and the Asus N550JK-CN014H laptop was 48 thousand rubles.
