Asus N56 Series. Corps and communications

In this article, we will take a 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 processor (Haswell). This is not a very new model anymore, and it features the previous generation Nvidia discrete graphics (GeForce GTX 760M), while the new Asus multimedia notebook models are equipped with Nvidia GeForce 800 series discrete graphics. However, as our testing has shown, this laptop, while cheaper, is in no way inferior to Asus' new multimedia models with Nvidia GeForce GTX 850M discrete graphics.

Completion and packaging

The Asus Asus N56JR laptop comes in a fairly compact box with a handle, which is designed in the traditional Asus N-series notebook 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.

There's also a quick start guide, a warranty card, a display wipe, and even a Velcro strap for twisting wires. Actually, the delivery set is typical for N-series notebooks.

Laptop configuration

We tested the Asus N56JR model with the CN181H index. The specifications for this model are shown in the table.

Asus N56JR-СN181H
CPU		Intel Core i7-4700HQ
Chipset		Intel HM86
RAM		16GB DDR3-1600 (16GB max) (two 8 GB modules Samsung M471B1G73QH0-YK0)
Video subsystem		Nvidia GeForce GTX 760M (2GB GDDR5) Intel HD Graphics 4600
Screen		15.6 inches, 1920 × 1080 (PLS, Samsung 156HL01-102)
Sound subsystem		Realtek ALC663
Storage device		1 × Seagate Momentus ST1000LM024 NH-M101MBB (1TB, 5400rpm, 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 10/100/1000 Mbps
	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 out	there is
	Microphone input	there is
Input Devices	Keyboard	with separate numeric keypad and three-level backlight
	Touchpad	Clickpad with MultiTouch function
IP telephony	Webcam	HD
	Microphone	there is
Battery		Li-Ion, 6-cell (56 Wh)
Dimensions (edit)		380 x 255 x 34.0 mm (minimum thickness 27.7 mm)
Weight without power supply		2.7 kg
Power adapter		120 W (19 V, 6.32 A)
Operating system		Windows 8.1 (64-bit) Single Language Edition
average price		T-10631809
Retail offers		L-10631809-10

So, the core 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 to 3.4 GHz in Turbo Boost mode. Its L3 cache size is 6MB and its TDP is 47W. This processor integrates Intel HD Graphics 4600 with a base frequency of 400 MHz and a Turbo Boost frequency of 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 powerful 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 1TB Seagate Momentus ST1000LM024 NH-M101MBB HDD. This is a 2.5-inch drive with a thickness of 9.5 mm. This drive has a SATA II (3Gb / s) interface. Its spindle rotation speed is 5400 rpm, and the buffer size is 8 MB.

The communication capabilities of the Asus N56JR-CN181H laptop are determined by the Intel Dual Band Wireless-N 7260 Wi-Fi network adapter. This module supports two frequency bands (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 combined with the 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 notebooks is their high-quality audio subsystem. Like the rest of the notebooks in this series, the Asus N56JR-CN181H is certified by the Danish company Bang & Olufsen, which specializes in the production of high-quality speakers.

The laptop implements the proprietary Asus SonicMaster Premium technology, which is a set of hardware and software for improving sound quality. The sound subsystem is based on the Realtek ALC663 HDA codec, and a system consisting of two speakers is installed for sound reproduction. An external subwoofer is included for more realistic bass reproduction.

The bundle also comes with the Waves MaxxAudio utility, which allows you to fine-tune the sound. In general, it should be noted that, according to subjective feelings, the sound in this laptop is excellent. It is loud enough, and the quality does not deteriorate at the maximum level. In more detail, with the results of hardware testing, we will describe 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 many times, and therefore we will only briefly recall the features.

So, the laptop case is almost entirely made of metal. The lid is made of brushed aluminum, painted gray with a bronze sheen. Although fingerprints on this surface remain, they are hardly noticeable and are easily erased. In the center of the lid there is a large Asus logo, which is 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, which can be removed to gain access to the wireless module, drive and memory modules. Immediately, we note 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 without an urgent need.

The surface surrounding the keyboard and touchpad is metallic and has a matte silver color. But the keys on the keyboard are black. This, by the way, 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 as you like. The frame around the screen is made of matte black plastic. The bezel at the top of the screen houses the webcam in the center, and the shiny Asus logo 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 Consolе application, which allows you to quickly configure the laptop.

All status indicators (and there are five of them in total) are placed on the front edge of the case next to the touchpad. In this case, the indicators remain visible even when the laptop is closed.

The system for attaching the screen to the body is a single long hinge hinge located at the bottom of the screen. This mounting system allows the screen to be tilted relative to the plane of the keyboard at an angle of approximately 140 °.

The hinge hinge has a sufficiently tight movement that allows the screen to be fixed in any position. When closed, the laptop lid is well fixed, but it can be easily opened with one hand, without having 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 makes the laptop quite thin.

On the right side of the case there are two more USB 3.0 connectors, two audio connectors, a connector for a power adapter, 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 an increased spacing between the keys. 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 does not have any recess and is uniform with the rest of the case. In fact, this surface simply has holes for each key on the keyboard. Note that the keyboard has a three-level backlight, which is controlled using the function keys.

The quality of the keyboard in this laptop can be considered good. It has a rigid base and does not bend when you press the keys. The buttons do not make a clicking sound when typing. The keys are lightly spring-loaded, and there is a light-lock feel. The location of the buttons is quite standard and raises no objections.

The top row of keys has two standard functions: either traditional F1-F12, or laptop control functions; one set works directly, the other in combination with the Fn function key.

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 case. The touchpad sensitivity is not satisfactory. This clickpad supports MultiTouch and naturally supports multi-touch gestures to control Windows 8.

In general, the clickpad is very user-friendly and highly commendable.

Sound path

Since this laptop is positioned as a multimedia laptop, the quality of the audio subsystem is one of the important characteristics for it. Subjectively, the acoustics in this laptop are quite good, and to assess the audio output path intended for connecting headphones or external acoustics, we resorted to instrumental testing using an external Creative E-MU 0204 USB sound card and the RightMark Audio Analyzer 6.3.0 utility. Tested in stereo, 24-bit / 44.1 kHz.

According to the test results, the audio section in the Asus N56JR laptop was rated "Very good". The full report with the test results in the RMAA 6.3.0 program is placed on a separate page, followed by a short report.

Frequency response (in the range 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 good
Interpenetration of channels, dB
Intermodulation at 10 kHz,%		Very good
Overall score	Very good

Screen

The Asus N56JR laptop uses a Samsung 156HL01-102 PLS matrix with LED backlighting based on white LEDs. The matrix has a matte anti-reflective coating, a diagonal size of 15.6 inches, and a resolution of 1920 × 1080 pixels. Note that this screen is not a touchscreen.

According to our measurements, the maximum brightness of the screen against a white background is 335 cd / m², and the brightness against a black background is 0.36 cd / m². At maximum screen brightness, the contrast is 940: 1 and the gamma value is 2.38. The minimum screen brightness against a white background is 18.6 cd / m².

The color gamut of the LCD screen in the Asus N56JR laptop covers 91.5% of the sRGB space and 65.4% of Adobe RGB, and the color gamut is 95.1% of the sRGB space and 65.6% of the Adobe RGB space. In principle, this is a very good result.

The spectra of the primary colors are well isolated from each other. And only in the spectrum of red is green slightly mixed, 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. measurement error when going to dark areas.

The stable color temperature is due to the fact that the primary colors are well balanced across the entire gray scale.

As for the color accuracy (delta E), its value across the entire gray scale does not exceed 11 (except for 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, from above and from below, 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 rendering, good viewing angles, high maximum brightness and, importantly, a matte anti-reflective coating - these are the brief characteristics of this screen.

Work under load and idle

In idle mode, as it should be, the processor frequency in a laptop is 800 MHz (of course, we are talking about a balanced power consumption scheme), that is, there are no complaints about Intel SpeedStep technology. The processor temperature in this mode is approximately 45 ° C.

When the processor is loaded with the Stress CPU test (AIDA64 Extreme Edition utility - system stability test), which uses integer calculations, the processor frequency is 3.2 GHz (recall that for an Intel Core i7-4700HQ processor, the maximum frequency in Intel Turbo Boost mode is 3 , 4 GHz). The processor temperature in this boot mode increases 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 its core temperature is about 86 ° C. Note that throttling is observed in this boot mode.

Memory subsystem and storage performance

According to the AIDA64 Cache & Memory Benchmark utility, the memory write speed is 25060 MB / s, and the read speed is 24171 MB / s. This is a very good result for DDR3-1600 memory (12800 MB / s peak bandwidth) in dual-channel mode.

The GPGPU utility from the AIDA64 package demonstrates approximately the same result.

As already noted, the storage subsystem in the Asus N56JR laptop is a single 1TB HDD.

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 detects 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 so as to simulate the user's typical head position. According to our measurements, in idle mode, the noise level emitted by the laptop cannot be distinguished from the background. Apparently, the cooler fan simply does not turn on in this mode.

Under stressful loading of the processor and video card, the noise level emitted by the laptop increases to 37 dBA. This is already a quite tangible noise level, but it cannot be said that it is very much. In a quiet room, this level of noise will be noticeable, but in the daytime, in an office, with this level of noise, the laptop will not stand out against the background of other devices. Well, and besides, you need to take into account that we are talking about stressful loading of the laptop. In real life scenarios, however, this laptop is very quiet.

The battery life of this laptop is average. There are more, but there are also fewer.

Performance research

To evaluate the performance of the Asus N56JR-CN181H laptop, we used our performance measurement methodology using the iXBT Notebook Benchmark v.1.0 and iXBT Game Benchmark v.1.0.

The test results in the benchmark 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
Video content creation, 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
OCR, points	100	176,0
Abbyy FineReader 11, seconds	115,3	65,5
Archiving and unzipping data, points	100	164,8
WinRAR 5.0 archiving, seconds	313,8	142,6
WinRAR 5.0 unzip, seconds	12,6	10,2
Application and content loading speed, points	100	38,8
Application and content loading 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 notebook 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 the speed of loading applications and content, as well as the speed of copying data, it is far behind our reference system with an SSD drive.

Now let's look at the results of testing the Asus N56JR-CN181H laptop in games.

Game test	Highest 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 you can see 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 used for testing at a resolution of 1920 × 1080. With the settings for maximum quality in this resolution, you can normally play only in World of Tanks and Grid 2. In principle, for a multimedia laptop that is not positioned as a gaming laptop, this is quite a decent result. That is, this laptop can also be used for games, but you shouldn't buy it for a gamer ..

Recall once again that the Asus N56JR-СN181H laptop is equipped with a discrete Nvidia GeForce GTX 760M graphics card. Moreover, if we compare the test results of this laptop with the results of other laptops on the same Intel Core i7-4700HQ processor, but with a new discrete video card Nvidia GeForce GTX 850M (for example, Asus N550JK, Asus N750JK), it turns out that they have practically 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 efficient video card and a lot of RAM. The Asus N56JR-CN181H is positioned as a multimedia solution, but it can 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 system. In short, it is a truly decent, versatile solution that can be used as a workhorse.

It is interesting to compare the Asus N56JR-CN181H with the Asus N550JK-CN014H model. These 15-inch laptops have a very similar configuration, the main difference between them is that the Asus N550JK-CN014H has an Nvidia GeForce GTX 850M graphics card, and the Asus N56JR-CN181H has an Nvidia GeForce GTX 760M graphics card. The rest of the 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 have the same LCD matrix. 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 - 48 thousand rubles.

(the second digit in the index indicates the generation). However, our guest today ASUS N56 interesting not only as another medium-format laptop for entertainment, but also as a device based on the AMD A10-4600M quad-core processor on the new AMD Trinity architecture.

Equipment

Traditionally for notebooks of the multimedia N-series model ASUS N56 supplied in an extended configuration. In the transport packaging made of unpainted cardboard, you will find not only a box with a laptop, but also a branded bag. The box itself also contains 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 manipulator 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 speaker system, the decision to put it in a separate unit is definitely correct.

Design

The design of N-series notebooks has undergone many changes during its existence, but the current design option is perhaps the best. ASUS designers managed to create a rather interesting look in pleasant colors and using high-quality materials. If you go to the inspection ASUS N56 as corrosive as possible and try to find the flaws in the appearance at any cost, then they include a rather branded cover and a hard drive compartment 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 is finished in bronze-colored aluminum with a striped texture and features a transparent ASUS logo that illuminates to a nice touch while you work. The base of the case is made of unpretentious black plastic, while in the area where the battery and hard drive are located, there are characteristic bends of the panel. There is one long compartment in the front of the case for upgrading the RAM and disk. The removable battery does not protrude from the body, its capacity is 56 Wh.

Sidewalls at ASUS N56 two-tone, the dark lower part belongs to the plastic of the base, 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 panel contains a pair of audio ports, two USB 3.0 connectors, an optical disc drive (in our case, Blu-Ray), a charger socket and a Kensington lock hole. On the left side, there are two more USB 3.0 ports, an HDMI video output, a fold-out RJ45 network port, a radiator for the cooling system, a D-sub video output and a connector for an external subwoofer.

Screen, ergonomics

Despite the presence of a convenient visor, open the cover ASUS N56 one hand will not work due to the tight hinge. The maximum angle of inclination of the lid is more than average and is about 145 degrees. The frame of the matrix is ​​made of non-reflective smooth plastic, its upper part is integrated with a webcam (photo resolution 1280x720 pixels) with an activity indicator and a microphone. 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 those of 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 the top-end ultrabooks from ASUS. The brightness adjustment range is skewed in favor of high values ​​and is 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 devoid of a certain amount of attractiveness. The flat aluminum surface contains slots for a large touchpad, numeric keypad buttons and a pair of multimedia speakers. In the upper corners of the panel there are a soft-key and a button for turning on the laptop, around which concentric “dot” circles diverge. The button in the left corner can be configured to perform various operations, including controlling the volume, launching desired applications and web pages, and switching between different modes and modules.

The island keyboard with a dedicated number pad is pleasant to work with, 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 levels. The large touchpad without dedicated buttons is slightly submerged in relation to the level of the working area, the touchpad has a pleasant concentric texture 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 is the version we got for testing ( ASUS N56DP) powered by AMD A10-4600M quad-core Trinity architecture with Radeon HD 7660G integrated graphics and more powerful AMD Radeon HD 7730M discrete core.

Recall that the Trinity architecture is a continuation of the ideas laid down in the AMD Llano APU (Accelerated Processing Unit) series. The considered AMD A10-4600M processor is made according to 32 nm process technology 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 W. AMD Integrated Graphics Radeon HD 7660G supports DirectX 11 and outperforms the current integrated Intel HD Graphics 4000 in terms of performance. Onboard APU and discrete graphics can be switched automatically or manually to test the performance of both graphics subsystems.

So, in the considered configuration ASUS N56 scored 1970 points in PCMark 7, 2600 or 1350 points in 3DMark 11 (AMD Radeon HD 7730M and AMD Radeon HD 7660G respectively) and 5.6 points in the Windows performance index. The battery life from 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 operation, special complaints about ASUS N56 did not arise. I didn’t like the fact that the card reader was too deeply hidden, to work with which you had to raise the front of the laptop. But the updated design, build quality and materials, a comfortable backlit keyboard, as well as improved acoustics in the 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

Outcomes

Eventually, ASUS N56- 15-inch multimedia notebook with dual graphics based on Intel or AMD logic. An excellent solution for those who are looking for a mobile cinema with a sufficiently large Full HD screen and high-quality acoustics. Thanks to good performance, a full set of connectors and a convenient keyboard, this laptop can become a good solution for office work, but still its native element is the home living room, where it can more fully unleash its multimedia potential.

Liked
+ modern hardware platform from AMD with two graphics cards
+ high quality Full HD screen with wide viewing angles and high brightness backlight
+ four USB 3.0 ports, a pair of video outputs, a 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 value of screen brightness
- implementation of the arrow block
- inconvenient placement of the card reader

The product is provided by ASUS, www.asus.ua

	ASUS N56DP (N56DP-S4008V) Notify when on sale
Type of	Notebook
Screen diagonal, inches	15,6
Matrix type	TN + film
Screen cover type	matt
Screen resolution	1920 × 1080
Processor type	AMD A10-4600M
Frequency, GHz	2,3
Pre-installed OS	Windows 7 Home Premium
Weight, kg	2,7
Dimensions, mm	380x255x27,3 / 34
Chipset	AMD A70M
RAM (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
WEB-camera	+
Network adapter	10/100/1000
Modem 56K	—
Wi-Fi	802.11b / g / n
WiMAX	—
Bluetooth	4.0
3G	—
Battery capacity, mAh	5200
Battery voltage, V	there is no data

Several models are included. They have in common a good sound system with a large speaker surface and the presence of a special external subwoofer, which adds 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 a laptop with an AMD Trinity A10-4600M processor, a discrete graphics card and a FullHD matrix. The best part is that such a powerful enough computer, and even musically gifted, is worth the money.

ASUS N56D
Display	15.6 inches, 1920x1080 pixels, TN, matte
Dimensions (edit)	380x255x27-32 mm
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
Graphics	AMD Radeon HD 7730M 2GB
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) notebooks and new-generation ASUS "transformers", the exterior of the N56 will seem familiar to you. Rounded corners, somewhat "chubby" shapes, a dark brown metal lid with a large shiny logo and a plastic strip on the top edge. Fingerprints are visible on the lid, but not as expressively as, say, the representatives of the previous generation of music notebooks - the glossy N55 / 75. The base of the N56D is a regular rough dark plastic, ventilation holes, rubberized feet, a removable battery.

The laptop is more stationary than portable, this is signaled by weight (2.7 kilograms) and thickness, varying from 27 to 32 millimeters. When you press the lid, it bends a little, and the frame around the screen lags behind a little and creaks on one side (possibly a feature of the test sample). But the inner surface of the lower part of the laptop was pleasant both from the aesthetic and from the practical point of view. Its silver finish is made of aluminum, and is quite pleasant to the tactile sensation.

On a flat surface, you can see black island-style keys, a touchpad, as well as a grid of speakers made in the form of concentric circles that occupy a significant area. The opening angle is more than average, the hinges are strong. In short, I liked the assembly and design (especially the keyboard part).

Ports and connectors

A card reader is hidden on the bevel of the front edge, we did not find it right away. 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 extraction system. On the left side are two more USB 3.0 ports, 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 a FullHD resolution, which is extremely rare in the middle and mid-budget segments. At least for now. There is, however, a variant with a 1366x768 pixel matrix, of course, at an even more attractive price, but for a 15-inch laptop in 2013 it 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 somehow you can see (in the picture the sun is in the west, to the right of the laptop)

Keyboard and touchpad

The island-style keyboard is made much better than most inexpensive counterparts in 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 typing. And those who like to work in the dark will appreciate the uniform white illumination with five levels of brightness. The numeric keypad, as well as the top row of keys, are 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 powered by a modern AMD platform with a 2.3GHz A10 processor, 4GB of RAM, a terabyte hard drive and two graphics cards - an integrated Radeon 7640G for simple tasks and a slightly more powerful 7730M 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, or even 1366x768 pixels and set not the highest settings (for example, in Battlefield 3 I had to set low settings and resolution to the game did not slow down). Nevertheless, you can run most of the games, especially those that are not so demanding on graphics performance. During work, subjectively, the computer showed itself well in multitasking activities, and was good at switching 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 at times it was felt that if there were an SSD instead of a terabyte hard disk, and twice as much memory, the computer would have significantly won. This is evidenced by the low result in the overall performance test of the PCMark7 system.

However, don't 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 for reproducing low frequencies. As usual in the series, the Sonic Master technology is used here, and the acoustics itself bears the proud name of Bang & Olufsen ICEpower. I won't say that speakers in a laptop can replace a full-fledged large speaker system, but what the N-series devices are equipped with is definitely the best acoustic solution built into a laptop PC of all that fell into my field of hearing. The speakers are able to reproduce mids and even expressive highs with clarity and detail, while the subwoofer confidently adds volume to the bass. True, to feel them, you need to be close to the laptop, it is still very small. Problems start only at the highest volume, but before that, everything is fine. In addition, compared to the N55 / 75 generation, the case resonates much less.

Autonomy, noise, heating

You don't expect any particular battery endurance from replacing your home PC. The miracle did not happen: the reading mode gives about 4 hours of continuous work, usually, with an average screen brightness with the laptop Wi-Fi turned on, you will have enough for two or two and a half hours. The machine does not make a lot of noise even during heavy tasks, but the heating of the left side of the laptop, where the heat output grille is, is quite noticeable: I constantly wanted to pull my hand lying there.

Competitors

In the dry residue

If you are thinking about getting a powerful multimedia laptop that can replace a desktop PC, with good sound and a decent screen, but at the same time for a reasonable price, you should take a closer look at the ASUS N56D. Especially if you are not an avid gamer, but decent sound is important to you anytime, anywhere, even when there is no way to connect external speakers or good headphones.

4 reasons to buy ASUS N56D:

• Excellent sound, presence of a subwoofer;
• Inexpensive;
• FullHD screen;
• Comfortable keyboard and touchpad.

1 reason not to buy ASUS N56D:

• Strong heating of the case.

CPU: Intel Core i5 3230M, Intel Core i7 3630QM, Intel Core i7 4700HQ, Intel Core i7 4700MQ
Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GT 750M, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 760M
Display: 15.6 "
The weight: 2.7Kg., 3.2Kg.

Average rating: 86.67% - good
Average of 3 scores (from 7 reviews)

: -%, Performance: -%, Equipment: -%, Screen quality: -%
Portability: -%, Appearance: -%, Ergonomics: -%, Heat and noise: -%

Specifications (edit)

Notebook:
CPU: Intel Core i7 4700MQ
Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 760M
Display:
The weight: 2.7Kg.
Links: Asus homepage
Asus (manufacturer site)

Pricecompare

Reviews in other languages

Review on ASUS N56 with NVIDIA GeForce GTX 760M - a great offer for gamert
Source: Laptop.bg BU → RU
classic review, available online, very detailed, Date: 25/11/2013

Specifications (edit)

Notebook:
CPU: Intel Core i7 4700HQ
Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 760M
Display: 15.6 ", 16: 9, 1920 x 1080 pixels.
The weight: 2.7Kg.
Links: Asus homepage
Asus (manufacturer site)

Pricecompare

Average rating: 80% - Good

Average of 2 scores (from 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 overview, available online, short, Date: 02/01/2014
Rating: Overall score: 80%

80% Asus N56JR: un bon PC portable taillé pour le multimedia à moins de 1000 euros
Source: 01Net FR → RU
classic overview, available online, short, Date: 18/12/2013
Rating: Overall score: 80%

Specifications (edit)

Notebook:
CPU: Intel Core i5 3230M
Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GT 750M
Display: 15.6 ", 16: 9, 1366 x 768 pixels.
The weight: 3.2Kg.
Links: Asus homepage
Asus (manufacturer site)

Pricecompare

Reviews in other languages

Specifications (edit)

Notebook:
CPU: Intel Core i7 4700HQ
Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 760M
Display: 15.6 ", 16: 9, 1920 x 1080 pixels.
The weight: 2.7Kg.
Links: Asus homepage
Asus (manufacturer site)

Pricecompare

Asus N56JR-CN181H Multimedia Notebook
Source: Ixbt
So, after testing the Asus N56JR-CN181H, we can draw the following conclusions. This laptop is equipped with a very powerful processor, a fairly efficient video card and a lot of RAM. The Asus N56JR-CN181H is positioned as a multimedia solution, but it can 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 system. In short, it is a truly decent, versatile solution that can be used as a workhorse.
classic review, available online, moderately detailed, Date: 04/10/2014

Specifications (edit)

Notebook:
CPU: Intel Core i7 3630QM
Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GT 750M
Display: 15.6 ", 16: 9, 1920 x 1080 pixels.
The weight: 2.7Kg.
Links: Asus homepage
Asus (manufacturer site)

Pricecompare

Average rating: 100% - Very good

Average of 1 scores (from 1 reviews)

Reviews in other languages

_______________

Asus: These video adapters cope with most modern games and demonstrate more or less comfortable frame rates. However, especially demanding creations of the gaming industry will have to run on them in medium or low details. The advantage of such video cards is that they can be used in not very large laptops with a decent battery life. NVIDIA GeForce GTX 760M: "Performance" GeForce GTX 700M series graphics card. Based on the Kepler architecture and manufactured at TSMC's factories on a 28nm process, these low-end graphics cards are designed for the thrifty user who still wants to play games. They allow you to do this at low detail and medium resolution. Relatively low power consumption (modern representatives of this class) provides a good battery life of the respective notebooks. NVIDIA GeForce GT 750M: GeForce 700M series mid-range graphics card. Based on Kepler architecture and manufactured on 28nm process technology.
>> More: Comparison of GPUs. Intel Core i7:4700MQ4700HQ: Haswell architecture quad-core processor clocked at 2.4GHz with Turbo Boost support up to 3.4GHz. Equipped with integrated HD Graphics 4600 and dual channel DDR3 memory controller. 3630QM: Quad-core Ivy Bridge architecture 2.4GHz base clock with Turbo Boost up to 3.4GHz. Equipped with an integrated HD Graphics 4000 graphics card and a dual channel DDR3 memory controller. Intel Core i5:3230M: Dual-core Ivy Bridge processor, clocked at 2.6GHz to 3.2GHz 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 guidelines for choosing electronics: Buyer's Guide.

ASUS is one of the leading notebook manufacturers. A lot of models came off the assembly line of this brand. Most of them were collected in 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 were not yet 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 should be noted right away that the company has released a huge number of models under this name. They practically did not differ externally, but inside they had different "stuffing". Some came with AMD's famous A-Series processors. Some of them worked with Intel Core of different generations.

The differences were 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. The difference was also observed in weight. Some models received larger batteries. The main thing that has not changed is the 15-inch screen diagonal.

Package

Every model in the line was packaged the same way. There was a laptop in a massive black box with a minimum amount of graphic material. In general, most of the trim levels came as a real surprise to 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, restrained design, presented in black gloss. But the subwoofer really surprised me. It has a vertical cylinder shape. It looks pretty simple, but the sound is powerful and of high quality. Such a surprise inside the box confirms that the ASUS N56V laptop is a multimedia device.

In addition to these gifts, there was also a standard set of instructions and manuals, driver disks, a battery and a charger.

Appearance

In general, the entire N-series has changed dramatically in 5-6 years. As mentioned earlier, the manufacturer first put technical characteristics at the top, 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 restrained, but elegant and sophisticated. The main drawback was the easily soiled lid. Plastic, while not glossy, still collects prints, dust and dirt.

There are no additional elements on the rear end, but a chrome insert flaunts, which complements and "slims" the entire body. The front end is practically free. There are barely visible indicators on it, which indicate the power of the device, the turned on state, the operation of wireless networks, etc. Slightly below is the slot for the card reader. A chrome insert is also visible at the front.

All the connectors are especially visible on the right side. 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 couple 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 floppy drive, again a pair of USB 3.0, 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 quite tight, which made it difficult to open the lid with one hand. Its maximum slope 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 1920 × 1080 pixels and an IPS matrix. In general, this screen is pretty good too, it has good viewing angles, a sufficient margin of brightness and a matte finish, which, although it mutes 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 in the upper right corner. Pixel circles radiate from it, like waves, imitating a subwoofer speaker. In the left corner is the same button, but customizable - it can perform several functions.

Island-style keyboard: ordinary and unremarkable. The only thing that appeared in ASUS N56V is the keyboard backlight. It has the same color, but it can be adjusted depending on the brightness. The touchpad is also ordinary, nothing special stands out, it has no additional buttons. The touch panel is pleasant to the touch and responds quickly to commands.

Specifications

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 a gaming one, still copes well even with time-consuming 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 currently 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 level of gaming, and it is difficult to call it such.

The operating system was preinstalled on most models. 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 versions of Core i7, but there were also Core i5. The RAM could be from 4 to 8 GB, the video card worked with a volume of up to 2 GB. The memory type in both cases is GDDR3.

Outcome

The ASUS N56V laptop turned out to be of high quality, fast and popular. It works great both with Intel components and with an AMD-based subsystem. It cannot be called a full-fledged gaming device. It does not have the strongest versions of the 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, due to its complete set, it is practically the best multimedia laptop in its price segment from ASUS.