ASUS U31SD-XA1 13.3-Inch Laptop (Silver)

by Asus

• Intel Core i3 Processor 2.1GHz
• 4GB DDR3 RAM
• 500GB 5400RPM Hard Drive
• 13.3-Inch Screen, NV GT 520
• Windows 7 Home Premium

Product Description

Amazon.com

Stunningly Light, Powerfully Beautiful

The ultra-stylish compact 13.3-inch U31SD-XA1 notebook delivers impressive multitasking performance and long-lasting battery life for up to 9 hours1 of unplugged freedom. From Web browsing to more intensive tasks like gaming, the U31SD-XA1, powered by the second generation Intel^® Core^™ i3-2310M processor and DirectX^® 11-compatible NVIDIA^® GeForce^® GT 520M graphics with 1GB video memory and 4GB of system RAM, and you get a notebook that fields serious power for every application.

Featuring NVIDIA Optimus Technology, the U31SD-XA1 works like a hybrid car delivering performance and battery conservation depending on your task at hand. Under an inch thick and very light but totally durable for everything you want to use it in. That's the wonder of the design that has gone into the U31SD-XA1, a notebook that doesn't sacrifice performance in the name of style and mobility – it gives you all the best of every world.

Key Features

• ASUS Super Hybrid Engine for optimal system performance and up to 9 hours of battery life¹ (Learn more)
• Second Generation Intel Core i3-2310M processor with Intel Hyper-Threading Technology delivers responsive and efficient multitasking performance (Learn more)
• NVIDIA GeForce GT 520M graphics card with 1GB DDR3 VRAM and NVIDIA Optimus Technology for smooth HD playback and Direct X 11 causal gaming with smart, battery-saving efficiency (Learn more)
• Sleek brushed aluminum design for an understated style that protects from minor scratches and abrasions (Learn more)
• Lightweight and less than 1-inch at its thinnest point for effortless grab-and-go portability (Learn more)
• 500GB hard drive and 4GB of DDR3 system memory for ample storage space and enhanced multitasking
• High-speed wireless N for connectivity to nationwide Wi-Fi hotspots (Learn more)
• HDMI connectivity to easily connect to a compatible HDTV or external display for Full 1080p HD visuals and 8-channel digital surround sound support (Learn more)




Learn More

Balancing Performance and Mobility

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The newly-redesigned U31SD-XA1 offers the sheer power of the second generation Intel® Core™ i3-2310M processor in a sleek and light form factor that's fun and easy to carry with stylish portability. You can get more done over a full day of computing with exclusive ASUS Super Hybrid Engine energy optimization. With up to 9 hours of unplugged freedom,1 the built-in ASUS Super Hybrid Engine uses both hardware and software to optimize system performance, control fan noise, and ensure long-lasting, charger-free mobility through selectable power profiles. Whether it is maximizing battery life or performance, each profile is enhanced for virtually any user scenario you can imagine—putting you in full control of the notebook. The Intel Core i3-380M processor delivers a fast and responsive experience. Plus, it has Intel Hyper-Threading Technology that enables 4-way multitask processing at the same time to quickly switch between applications. NVIDIA Optimus Technology furthers battery savings by detecting system load and automatically switching between discrete and embedded graphics. It seamlessly gives you power when you need it and energy efficiency for less demanding tasks.

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Visually Powerful, Aesthetically Pleasing

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Featuring the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520M graphics card with 1GB DDR3 VRAM, experience eye-catching visual performance while editing photos, watching movies, or playing Direct X 11-enabled casual games. The 13.3-inch LED-backlit HD display delivers vibrant clarity with a native resolution of 1366x768 and a 16:9 viewing ratio. The U31SD-XA1 also boasts a brushed aluminum design that blends sophisticated style with robust durability. The award-winning chiclet keyboard allows for a comfortable typing experience and the multi-touch trackpads provides effortless 3-touch navigation. Lightweight and less than 1-inch at its thinnest point, the U31SD-XA1 comfortably fits into carrying cases, making it an ideal choice for a business and school.

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Complete Connectivity

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The U31SD-XA1 comes with high-speed wireless N connectivity (@2.4GHz) to let you connect to the thousands of nationwide hotspots. Easily transfer data and connect peripherals with its built-in 3-in-1 card reader (SD, MMD, MS) and three USB 2.0 ports. HDMI ready, supersize your entertainment to any compatible HDTV or external display with Full 1080p HD playback and 8-channel surround sound support.

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Relax, ASUS Has You Covered

Ranked as the #1 most reliable PC brand by 3 independent sources,² readers and editors alike choose ASUS as their trusted notebook and netbook. ASUS tirelessly strives to exceed expectations of quality to ensure you an unmatched peace of mind every time you start your PC.

This notebook also comes with the industry's most comprehensive warranty.

1 Year ASUS Global Warranty³

Offers a level of coverage that would add hundreds of dollars to the price of competing laptops:


• 1 year global warranty
• 30 day Flawless Display Guarantee
• 2-way free standard shipping
• 24/7 tech support

1 Year Accidental Damage Protection (ADP)³

Whether your notebook is damaged by accidental spills, drops, electrical surges, or fire, ASUS will fix it or replace it for you during the first year after purchase.


• Covers accidental drops, spills, power surges, and fire damage
• Target 3 business day turnaround time for repair / replacement; not including receiving and shipping time
• 1-way shipping (from ASUS to the user) at no additional cost
• 24/7 toll-free phone support

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What's in the Box

• U31SD-XA1 Notebook
• AC Adapter
• 8-cell Battery Pack
• Warranty Information Card

Specifications

• Operating System: Windows 7 Home Premium (64-bit)
• Display: 13.3-inch LED-backlit HD display (1366 x 768)
• Processor: 2nd generation Intel Core i3-2310M processor (2.1GHz)
• Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 520M 1GB GDDR3 VRAM
• WLAN: 802.11 b/g/n (@ 2.4GHz)
• LAN: 10/100/1000 Mbps Ethernet
• Memory: 4GB DDR3 SDRAM, 2 x SODIMM Sockets (up to 8GB)
• Storage: 500GB 5400RPM hard drive
• Camera: 0.3 megapixel
• Speakers: Stereo speakers with EAX 5.0 sound
• Microphone: Digital Array Microphone
• Card Reader: 3-in-1 card reader (MMC/SD/MS)
• Input / Output:1 x Mic-in, 1 x Headphone-out, 1 x VGA port/Mini D-Sub 15-pin for external monitor, 3 x USB 2.0 ports, 1 x USB 3.0 port, 1 x Gigabit LAN, 1 x HDMI
• Battery: 8 cell
• Dimensions: 12.9 x 9.2 x1–inches (W x D x H)
• Weight: 4lbs (with 8 cell battery)
• Color: Silver

© 2011 ASUS Computer International. All Rights Reserved. ASUS is a registered trademark of ASUSTeK Computer. All specifications and terms are subject to change without notice. Please check with your supplier for exact offers on selected models. Products may not be available in all markets. Product may not be exactly as shown in photos.

¹Estimated maximum battery life test was done in ASUS Power4Gear battery saving mode with Mobile Mark 2007. Actual battery life may vary based on product settings, usage patterns and environmental conditions.
²Rated number 1 Windows-based PC maker in PCMag.com's Service & Reliability Report 2010. Rated number 1 PC brand according to SquareTrade, the leading direct-to-consumer warranty company (for more information visit http://www.squaretrade.com/pages/laptop-reliability-1109/ ). Rated number 1 reliable PC maker in Q2 2010's RESCUECOM report http://www.rescuecom.com/2010-2nd-Quarter-Computer-Reliability-Report.html
³ASUS reserves the right to exclude certain SKUs; check with your retailer to confirm coverage of specific models. Valid for notebooks purchased in the US and Canada only. Certain retailers do not participate in ADW coverage. For complete details, please visit: usa.asus.com/event/ASUS360 and adw.asus.com/.



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Product Description

13.3" HD (1366 x768) / Intel Core i3-2310M / 4G DDR3 / 500G 5400 HDD / NVidia GT 520 1GB Dedicated Graphics / Windows 7 Home Premium (64bit) / 802.11BGN / 3-in-1 Card Reader / 3x USB 2.0 / 0.3M Pixel / 8-cell battery (Up to 9* Hrs) / HDMI and VGA out / 1yr Global Warranty / 1yr Accidental Damage Protection

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

31 of 33 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Solid little laptop, perfect for traveling and graphics work August 12, 2011

By carveweb

Amazon Verified Purchase

I did a lot of research prior to buying the U31SD. We have an i7 desktop, so this is just for on the road. That being said, we were interested in something that had power and battery life and the ability to run Adobe and CAD programs for work on the go. DVD drive was not necessary, but thin and light was. Our options were the Asus U36 (1st or 2nd gen Intel), the U41 (with optical drive) or the U31. Sony at over $1k was out and I prefer Nvidia, so the Toshiba's were out. I still hadn't seen any reviews here, but I took the chance.

I didn't want to spend a lot seeing as we just bought a desktop, but going too cheap is always bad. The U36SD was our first choice because of the all metal casing and 2nd gen i5, but to spend a grand on a laptop we won't be using a whole lot seemed foolish - aside from the fact that it still didn't have a back-lit keyboard and possibly had heat problems. The U41 had the DVD drive and great battery life, but just to get a lighter and thinner laptop, I opted for the U31.

Pretty good build quality. The aluminum on the lid is nice, very little flex, feels sturdy. The palm rest is not aluminum, but plastic, and a bad attempt made to look like brushed aluminum, but even though I'm a little disappointed in the look, no flex. I feel its thin enough that there is little gap between parts and the case. Definitely will last a long time. Another reason to get the U31 is the ease of upgrade (hard drive, RAM, etc). The U36 underside panel seemed to be pain to take apart and it kind of turned me off. Under body feels solid too.

I notice no flex in the keyboard and it's easy to type on. I came from a 16" Dell and the island style keyboard is definitely appreciated. Again, if Asus can put out an all metal laptop with back-lit keyboard, I'd totally buy.

Ports are good, feel solid when inserting a USB or headphones, not flimsy like my last laptop.

Trackpad has the fake brushed aluminum texture, but it works great. Single, chrome mouse buttons work fine too, but collect finger prints. As an added bonus, Asus includes a screen wipe cloth, takes off anything. I've only run the laptop for easy tasks, browsing, removing crapware, etc but the palm rest doesn't heat up. This thing efficiently and quietly pumps heat out the left side, very appreciated.

Second-gen Intel i3. Nvidia Optimus on top of 1GB of dedicated graphics. Very pleased with the specs. Started up slow, but after removing crapware and resetting the ATK Package (hot-key utility), laptop runs quick and all Fn (function key) work.

Expressgate - highly disappointed. It's supposed to be based off Splashtop OS (which is linux) and an easy and quick way to get to email, browsing, etc. SLOW. Man they butchered this one - stick to your Android or iPhone for quick updates. I hope someone soon figures out how to set that power button to boot to Ubuntu or a better instant-on OS. In the meantime, I don't touch it, but wouldn't mind using it to boot to an SD card to run Android or Linux.

Asus did something I didn't think most companies do - they put the OS on one partition and created a second partition on the rest named DATA. Great, but they didn't point the MyDocs, Vid, etc folders to the DATA partition. Just an annoyance. Actual hard drive only shows 465GB available (take into account recovery partitions as well and that number drops) - you still have over 400GB of usable space.

Rates 4.7 on Windows experience index, could use a faster HDD, but that would affect battery. Speaking of battery - holy crap! Best thing I've ever seen. I used it for a good 5.5/6 hrs uninstalling crapware, browsing online and when I went to shut it off it still had an 1 1/2 hrs left. If I'm just doing code work offline - this will last all day. Have yet to try out online streaming like Pandora, offline music libraries or movies, but will update on that. Btw - I did remove pretty much everything Asus installed - even Power4Gear. You can manage all the same stuff via windows.

If I can install a non-branded copy of Windows and load all the drivers separately without destroying the EG boot record, or at least be able to redo it for the ExpressGate button in the future, I would be happier. Looking into the whole EG thing. Customizing that would make this perfect.

Will be adding Adobe programs like Photoshop, Premiere, so will report back on performance there. I just got this and figured it would be nice to put one up for other people. All in all, a great thin and light laptop for someone on a budget.

Note: If you're looking for a case, this thing is almost the exact size of a 13" Macbook Pro (this is a bit thicker). I bought the Radtech Neocase. A work-in case, small zippered pockets and stow-away handles. It's my second one owned, a must buy!

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars A Decent Laptop w/ Very Minor Issues September 22, 2011

By 1st Time ASUS Laptop Buyer

Amazon Verified Purchase

I recently purchased the ASUS U31SD-XA1 directly from Amazon using 2 day shipping. The pc arrived n 4 days. The outer appearance of the amazon package was adequate. However, the internal box containing the ASUS laptop had minor scuff marks and somewhat worn-out corners (3/5 stars). Overall, the ASUS box did not resemble other boxes for laptops I have purchased from stores in person.

Inside the ASUS box, all packaging appeared correct, and pc contained a keyboard cover, plastic protection of the bezel,etc....

When I first turned on the ASUS I was surprised at the fan noise. It is not too bad just not as quiet as I wanted (in a quiet library you would hear this fan easily) For comparison, my friend has a lenovo from 2008 that cost around $1,400 back then. Yet, despite being nearly 4 years old it produces very little fan noise (yes, I understand that the Lenovo was more money back in it's day...but it has been nearly 4 years, why is this ASUS louder?)I suppose the fan noise is acceptable. So far, heat has not been an issue.

I3-2310 "Sandy Bridge" CPU are simply OK. AMD Turionx2 p520 at 2.3GHz from just a year ago performed nearly as well, only they came with 7200rpm drives.The I3 does it's job, but I have caught it slipping a few times under a moderate load.

Unfortunately, I have not had a chance to test the NVIDIA GT 520M w/1GB VRAM. But,I have played a few 1080p videos and they were fine.

Battery Life. Many power options available, not sure which is best but probably balanced, or power saver. From a full charge: I set the screen brightness on max,played videos from HULU on continuous play through HDMI to my TV, at full volume, with the power option set to entertainment......Battery lasted approx. 6 hours 30 minutes. Expect about 5-8 hours from the 8 cell battery.

0.3 megapixel camera = crap :- but works....

Screen is glossy but somehow it appears maybe 20% less reflective than most other glossy displays. Also, not very much flex in the keyboard.Good feeling of quality build. A little heavy, a little thick. But the look is classic and not flashy.

As I'm writing this the fan just increased it's RPM's...all I am doing is typing in a well ventilated, cold room with no obstruction of the vents I wish I had a decibel counter so I would know if I'm just too picky :-P

Anyways, hope this helps with your decision making process.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Good products deserve recognition October 13, 2011

By Pionbrain

Amazon Verified Purchase

Top 5 *hidden* reasons to buy:

1. Excellent battery life: should get 7-10 hrs. This was my main criterion.
2. Trackpad is very good. Lightly textured brushed aluminum, my moist fingers slide better than painted surface. Rocker bar buttons are easier to press than previous Asus models.
3. Sound is better than expected. Considering the compactness, quality is excellent and volume is enough to watch movies in a quiet room.
4. Excellent keyboard. Rigid and very quiet.
5. Thin, light, sturdy, attractive, aluminum (+faux-aluminum and carbon fibre) design, and Nvidia graphics.

The bad?
Mine didn't have a USB 3.0 port which I thought it included. Power adapter is pretty standard but I feel they could make it smaller. We sent a man to the mooon dammit now let's have a small adapter! Also, it's 3-prong, so I have to get my hacksaw out (not recommended).

Background:
I bought an Asus 1005PE netbook 16 months ago. Excellent netbook. I took it literally around the world with me in my backpack, working while traveling. 10+hr battery, sturdy, light. I spent the last two months searching for a new bigger laptop. Looked at everything. Bough an Asus U46. Trackpad was too textured and very jumpy. Returned it.

I've had this one for a month now and no problems. Runs extremely quiet and cool.