The input devices that Dell have chosen largely correspond to those on the larger Dell XPS 15z. The keyboard has LED backlighting and a very generously sized layout. The touch could be considered a little unclear or even spongy depending on your preference.HP Pavilion dm3z Battery

The second weak point is most definitely the display. You can’t complain about the brightness at just over 200 cd/m², although we have seen better. But the contrast ratio of only 144:1 then hurts all the more, particularly considering the high-end image of the XPS series. It makes it almost irrelevant that the colour space is only entry-level standard, that the reflective screen surface makes outdoor use practically impossible, and that the viewing angles are not the best. HP Pavilion dm3t Battery

In terms of power, you can be pleased at the high performance you get from the latest Intel Core processors. The 7200 rpm hard drive does offer slightly better speeds than the usual 5400 rpm models, which shows up in the good results of the application benchmarks, but the flip side is the higher noise level that results. It’s a mystery to us why Dell don’t consistently use SSDs for the top multimedia range of their notebook portfolio (with a price to match!).HP Pavilion dm3 Battery

The graphics performance from the GT 520M is on the mediocre side, but the notebook would probably not have been able to take much more than this with regards to its cooling ability, as it already has problems keeping the core and case temperatures under control under stress.HP Pavilion dm4 Battery

On the positive side: the maximum battery life of more than 6 hours means that it meets the expectations for portability that you would have of a slim 14-inch machine.All in all, we see hardly any advantage to choosing this Dell XPS 14z over its larger brother the XPS 15z, other than the somewhat more compact form and 500 g less weight; the 15z has the distinct advantage, first and foremost, of a much better display (FHD available), and its battery life is better too.HP Pavilion dv4 Battery

The design of the latest XPS range can definitely be called a success.Not finding a solid state drive in a high-end multimedia product. Conventional hard drives have been out of favour for some time...HP G71 Battery

To go by our impression of the XPS 14z in our review, probably first and foremost the larger version, the XPS 15z. But other manufacturers also have a variety of serviceable multimedia notebooks on the market in a 14-inch format: Asus X43SV, Packard-Bell NX69, Acer Travelmate 8473TG - all with GT 540M graphics, LG P420, HP Probook 6460b, Thinkpad Edge E420s. And from the Apple camp, of course, the 13" MacBook ProHP G70 Battery.

Sound sensation. Average all-round laptops frequently suffer from poor picture and sound quality. Asus masterly breaks out of routined patterns and presents a fairly expensive, but largely convincing multimedian called N75SF. Find out where the strengths and weaknesses of the 17 inch device are in our review.HP G61 Battery

When only the price is considered, the N75SF might not seem particularly attractive. Over 1000€ for a multimedia laptop from the upper midrange?As soon as you start to study the list of equipment, it soon becomes clear why Asus is demanding an above-average amount of money. Beside a Blu-Ray drive (burns both CDs & DVDs) and eight GB of RAM, the 17 inch notebook has a hard disk capacity of 750, respectively 1500 GB.HP G60 Battery

The graphics card is also not bad - Nvidia's GeForce GT 555M just scrapes by the high end range. Naturally, a new Sandy Bridge processor model from Intel is used. It either has two (Core i5-2410M/2430M) or four cores (Core i7-2630QM/2670QM). The display has a resolution of either 1600x900 or 1920x1080 pixels. We snatched the N75SF-V2G-TZ117V for about 1200€ (see data sheet on the right) and put it through its paces.HP G50 Battery

Lid with piano lacquer finishThe N75SF looks a bit bulky when it's closed. The shape won't likely knock anyone's socks off. With exception of the metal rim, we deemed the exterior design as commonplace. Moreover, it has a sensitive high-gloss lid where fingerprints are seen very easily.Compaq Presario CQ71 Battery

The notebook looks a lot better when it's opened. Many silver elements significantly freshen up the looks. We particularly liked the rubberized wrist rest. Although Asus mainly uses plastic, the N75SF doesn't feel cheap in any way. Compaq Presario CQ70 Battery

Except for the protruding drive, there isn't much reason for complaint about workmanship, either. The case has an overall good stability. Merely the battery's area (top) and the fan openings (bottom) can be depressed a bit. As in many other devices, the lid is the biggest weak point. The display can be evidently warped by both hands. Another blemish: A hefty creaking noise is heard when the touchpad is used with unnaturally high pressure. Compaq Presario CQ61 Battery

Asus could also make improvements on the hinges. For one thing, they don't do their work silently and for another, the base unit lifts during opening. Moreover, surface vibrations also cause the screen to wobble to an degree. The N75SF isn't made for frequent transportation anyway. Nearly 3.7 kilograms aren't comfortable to carry around over a longer time.Compaq Presario CQ60 Battery

The connectivity isn't quite as expected.Compaq Presario CQ50 Battery Although the N75SF has two cutting edge USB 3.0 ports, it doesn't have an ExpressCard slot, a FireWire or an eSATA port.Most of the interfaces are found on the right. In addition to the aforementioned USB 3.0 ports, there are two audio jacks (headphone/microphone), a 4in1 card reader, a VGA and HDMI out as well as a RJ45 Gigabit LAN port. The right is finished off with a power socket and Kensington Lock. The left only has two USB 2.0 ports. Both the rear and front are completely free of ports.HP 462889-121

The interface positioning isn't quite as appealing in our opinion. The user's workspace on the right will be restricted when many external devices are connected.There aren't any surprises in terms of wireless interfaces. The built-in wireless module (Atheros AR9002WB-1NG) is capable of WLAN b/g/n and Bluetooth 3.0.HP 462889-421

The manufacturer again overdoes it in terms of software. The notebook is delayed by dozens of programs (some absolutely superfluous) in its state of delivery. That elongates the boot times and general response rates directly after system start. The notebook can first really speed up after an uncompromising delete action.HP 462890-151

Nevertheless, we would like to take a closer look at a few components. While the "Splendid" technology ensures a vivid picture, "Power4Gear Hybrid" is a synonym for special energy modes. Great: Asus delivers the N75SF with CyberLink's Power DVD 10 to play Blu-Ray disks.HP 462890-161

The scope of delivery is also impressive. Besides the (120 watt) power adapter and the (6 cell) battery, Asus includes a few cable fixers, a small mouse, a manual, a warranty card and a driver & tool DVD. Beyond that, the buyer will find a cylindrical subwoofer that can be connected on the laptop's right.HP 462890-251

The keyboard gives a mixed performance. With exception of the F-row, the keys are agreeably sized (17x17 millimeters). However, the symbols are difficult to read from some angles because of the poor lettering. The combination of the smooth surface and unfavorably placed multimedia controls (left beside the main field) caused us to frequently hit the wrong key in the beginning.HP 462890-541

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Nothing of the yielding keyboard (see design) is noticed during normal typing. Typing on the keyboard also proves to be overall very pleasant. The key drop and pressure point have been selected well and allow fast working. Even the typing noise is acceptable and not particularly loud. However, they sound a bit clattery in some areas but that doesn't affect their function in any way.HP 498482-001

The touchpad has a diagonal of 85 millimeters (76x47 millimeters) and is inserted into the wrist rest. This clearly separates the touchpad from the wrist rest, but recognizing the touchpad shouldn't be a problem due to its nubby surface anyway. The touchpad has two unmarked scroll bars, in addition to multi-touch. The touchpad proved to be precise and accurate during the test and actually didn't anything to be desired.HP EV06055

Both mouse keys are located directly beneath the touchpad. They stand out with a very short and hard key drop. A quiet click confirms whether or not the key has been triggered. There is no reason for complaint here, either. HP HSTNN-CB72

A display from LG Philips is used in the Sony Vaio notebook.HP HSTNN-CB73 The screen is a model with a glare surface and a resolution of 1366x768 pixels. That is too bad, considering that the laptop has been equipped with a Blu-Ray drive and that the screen can't render the full resolution of Blu-Ray movies. Thus, the user doesn't have much choice and has to use a HDMI cable to connect the laptop with a corresponding playback device. Then, movies can also be enjoyed in their highest Full HD quality.HP HSTNN-DB72

EH1Z1E/B vs. AdobeRGBWhen taking a closer look at our measuring results, it quickly becomes clear that Sony has sooner built a run of the mill screen into the Vaio EH1Z1E/B. The average brightness of 194.9 cd/m2 is also sooner lower midfield. Even the brightness distribution of 85 percent isn't convincing. Although the brightness difference can't be seen with the naked eye, some competitors do a better job here. At least Sony doesn't automatically reduce the brightness in battery mode.HP HSTNN-DB73

The screen shows more shortcomings with the black value. The black value of 1.31 cd/m2 is quite high. A rate below 1.0 would have been desirable. That also has an adverse affect on the contrast which isn't very high with 159:1.HP HSTNN-IB72

In terms of color reproduction, the screen won't convince professional users, either. The screen can't completely render the sRGB color spectrum and doesn't even come close to the AdobeRGB color gamut. But, normal users can confidently ignore this.HP HSTNN-IB73

The screen's specs already show that the Sony Vaio EH1Z1E/B is only suitable for outdoor use to an extent. Ideally, users should look for a shady place with the laptop in order to still recognize something properly on the screen. In addition to the moderate brightness and the poor contrast, the reflective screen makes the reproduction even more difficult.HP HSTNN-LB72

Viewing angles: Sony Vaio VPC-EH1Z1E/B When the display isn't tilted, the screen remains stable even in wider viewing angles. Thus, it's absolutely possible to sit in front of the notebook with several people without the content being distorted. The image only deteriorates quickly when the screen is tilted.HP HSTNN-LB73

The Vaio EH1Z1E/B relies on the Intel Core i5-2410M processor. This midrange dual core processor is currently very popular among notebook manufacturers and is frequently built into notebooks. The processor has a default clock of 2.3 GHz. Thanks to Turbo Boost, the clock can be increased to 2.6 GHz (both cores loaded) or 2.9 GHz (one core loaded). Thus, the processor is not only suitable for basic tasks like Internet surfing, but can also be loaded with demanding tasks. HP HSTNN-UB72

Image processing or games are also well possible with the processor. With a TDP of 35 watts, it corresponds with the majority of current Intel Sandy Bridge midrange processors and is suitable for laptops with a size of 14 inches or more. The Intel HD Graphics 3000 has been embedded directly into the processor and is more than suitable for basic graphic tasks. The Sony Vaio notebook doesn't use the Intel HD Graphics 3000, though.HP HSTNN-UB73

Instead, it relies on the Nvidia GeForce 410M. With the 410M, an entry-level graphics has found its way into the Vaio notebook. It is only slightly faster than the Intel HD Graphics 3000. The Nvidia card has advantages over the embedded Intel solution, especially in gaming. The 410M benefits from its dedicated memory and the superior drivers. Moreover, the 410M supports the bitstream transmission of HD audio (Blu-Ray) via HDMI port.HP HSTNN-XB72

As a result,HP HSTNN-XB73 it's possible to transmit Dolby True HD and DTS-HD via bitstream without loss of quality to a suitable receiver. This is an important feature particularly in connection with the Blu-Ray drive. However, the 410M doesn't support 3D Vision. It's simply not strong enough for that. Basically, it would also be possible to use the Optimus Technology with the 410M, but Sony hasn't used this option and thus it's not implemented. Consequently, the automatic switching between the Intel HD Graphics 3000 and Nvidia GeForce 410M isn't possible.KS524AA

We use the program, CineBench, to assess the processor's performance. The processor's cores are loaded both singly and collectively in this benchmark. Thus, it's possible to check if Turbo Boost is working properly besides checking the processor's performance. The built-in i5-2410M processor achieved a score of 4486.0 points in the Cinebench R10 Single Rendering (64 bit), and is thus in the good midfield of 2410M processors. HP 447649-251

A comparable score was achieved by, for example, the Medion Akoya P6631 (2410M, GT540M) with 4494.0 points. The Sony laptop lags far behind the rest of the field in the Cinebench R10 Multi Rendering (64 bit) benchmark and manages 7593.0 points. Consequently, it is one of the lowest placed notebooks with a 2410M processor. HP 447649-321

In comparison: An average score for the 2410M processor would be about 9600 points in this benchmark. The Asus X53E-SX082V (2410M, HD Graphics 3000) from the Intel TestIT!2011 campaign sets a good example with 9631.0 points. HP 454001-001

The Sony notebook is sooner in the field of the i5-430M processor from the prior processor generation with this score. For example,HP HSTNN-DB53 the Sony EH1Z1E/B is on a par with the Dell Inspiron 17R (430M, HD 5470) with 7554.0 points. There is certainly still need for improvement here. However, the Turbo Boost feature works without problems according to the tools we used (HWInfo 64). In our test, the processor could deliver the 2.90 GHz without further ado where necessary.HP HSTNN-OB53

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The 2410M achieves 4635 points in single core processing (Cinebench R10 single 64 bit). The higher clocked 480M's score of 3927 points is clearly defeated. The somewhat stronger, but very rare i5-2430M (2.4-2.3 GHz) only delivers a slight bit more speed with 4670 points. The virtually inexistent advantage could also be a reason why the 2430M actually isn't used. Unlike the i5-2520M that supplies 5015 points after all (Vostro 3550).Dell Vostro 1310 Battery

Multi threading with a high clock, measured here with Cinebench R10 Multi 64 bit, ensures a fast execution of simultaneous tasks. The 2410M reaches 9508 points in this test. The 480M from 2010 is clearly beaten: ~8557 points (average of all test devices). The high-end dual core 2520M (2.5 - 3.2 GHz) manages ~10546 points in this test.Dell Vostro 1320 Battery

PCMark 7 scoresAll in all, the smallest i5 from the current Intel range manages very well. Above all,Dell Vostro 1510 Battery because the test results also don't show any losses in performance due to throttling. Just this was one fear in view of the thin case which only bids heatpipes and fans little room for waste heat. The CPU tests however supplied average to over-average rates in all areas for this CPU model. In comparison: The Aspire 4830TG with a 2410M, afflicted with CPU throttling, just managed 3609, respectively 7932 points in the above tests (Cinebench R10 single/multi core).Dell Precision M4400 battery Battery

Secondly, the SSD comes into play and thrusts the U36SD to very good rates in terms of system performance.Dell Precision M2400 battery Battery The older PCMark Vantage finishes with 9431 points. Notebooks only achieve about 5300 points with a built-in HD 3000 graphics and a 2410M (e. g. MSI CX640). Even 7736 points are possible when a fast 7200 rpm HDD is used (Vostro V131). Without that, but with a stronger GPU, an Aspire 5830TG manages 6632 points. Only other SSD based laptops can beat the U36SD, for example the XMG A501 (11848) or the Toshiba Satellite R850-127 (10378 points).Dell Vostro 2510 Battery

The new PCMark 7, which takes greater account of the GPU performance, reaches 2861 points. Consequently, a Packard Bell NX69, with the same CPU but stronger GT 540M, can't keep up: 1849 points. The decisive advantage for the U36SD is in the Storage Score of 4509 points. The NX69 (HDD) only reaches 1349 points. For instance, the Asus K53TA (HDD) achieves 1470 points and the LG A520 (HDD) manages 1509 points.Dell Studio 1435 Battery

4.7Windows 7 Experience IndexProcessorCalculations per second6.9Memory (RAM)Memory operations per second5.9GraphicsDesktop performance for Windows Aero4.7Gaming graphics3D business and gaming graphics6.4Primary hard diskDisk data transfer rate7.5 PCMark Vantage 9431 pointsDell Studio 1436 Battery

The Nvidia GeForce GT 520M (1024 MB DDR3, core: 740 MHz), based on the GF 119 core, plays in the entry level class. It has a 64-bit video memory bus and right here is its performance bottleneck. Consequently, high details are only possible in low resolutions up to about 1024x768 pixels. The DirectX 11 GPU's performance is below that of a GT 540M (128 bit), a Radeon HD 6550 or HD 6650 (both 128 bit) in most benchmarks.Dell Inspiron 1440 Battery

The synthetic benchmarks, such as Unigine Heaven 2.1 (8 fps), verify that the GT 520M has a performance marginally above the HD 6470M (-14%) and is almost on a par with a HD 3000 (+5%) or Nvidia's NVS 4200M (-1%). The sister model, GT 540M clearly has the lead with ~13 fps.Dell Inspiron 1750 Battery

In return, 3DMark 11 (GPU performance: G501) prefers the HD 6470M (+8%). The popular GT 540M reaches a considerably higher score here: ~G900. The older 3DMark06 achieves a score of 4741 points in contrast to a HD 3000 with 4000 points (average of test devices). The GT 540M manages 8000 points on average!Dell Inspiron 1410 Battery

The GT 520M seems only suitable for games to a very limited extent. In particular, the minor difference to a HD 3000 processor graphics brings up the question, at least for games, why two weak GPUs have been combined via Optimus here. Does the superior driver support from Nvidia advocate the use of a GT 520M in the U36SD?Dell Vostro 1014 Battery

The rates measured by CrystalDiskMark 3.0 (read 258 MB/s, HDTune (read 141 MB/s) and AS SSD benchmark (read 260 MB/s) speak for the Intel SSD 320 Series (160 GB, model: MLC, SATA at 3GB/s port). Typically, the SSD's strength is in read/write of random blocks. Dell Vostro 1015 Battery

This is even a special strength of the 320, as CDM and AS SSD confirm. The SSD of a Samsung Series 9 900X3A (mSATA at 3GB/s port) lagged behind in reading small blocks (CDM 4K: 10 versus 16 MB/s). AS SSD shows the reason: A shorter access rate (0164 vs. 0.301 milliseconds). The advantage is again relativized in write.One thing is sure: Typical laptops with a 5200/7200 rpm HDDs lag far behind. Their typical throughputs are between 65 and 85 MB/s (read/write).Dell Vostro A840 Battery

The newest games shouldn't be added on the wish list by any means. They can only be played in low details and resolutions when DirectX 11 details are disabled. Older tracks, such as Half Life 2 - Lost Coast, World of Warcraft, Call of Duty 4 - Modern Warfare, Trackmania Nations Forever, Racedriver, GRID or Left4Dead, will however be playable in high and, if necessary, medium details as the spec sheet of the GT 520M shows. Dell Vostro A860 Battery

The performance difference between the HD 3000 (IGP) and GT 520M varies in Deus EX (+12% @ low details), Dirt 3 (+26% @ medium details) and Battlefield: BC2 (+2% @ low details) and Mafia 2 (+74% @ low details). However, it is usually in favor of the GT 520M. So, it can't be said that casual gamers won't benefit from the GPU beside the HD 3000.Dell Vostro A860n Battery

The 13.3 inch device shows itself exemplary in system noise. The fan is inactive most of the time in idle and during low load and only turns up sporadically to 31.2 dB (A). The selected energy mode doesn't play a role here (Power4Gear: Quiet Office). When a GPU load is added, for example by a game or 3DMark06, we measure a maximum of 34.5 dB (A).Dell Studio XPS 13 Battery

Users who like to demand the highest performance from their laptop will experience a noise level of up to 39 dB (A) (@ Cinebench R11.5). The U36SD gets really loud when the GPU and CPU are loaded to the maximum simultaneously. Now, a high pitched 44.3 dB (A) are audible. The latter scenario is our stress test which simulates the highest noise level - an unrealistic case in practical use.Dell Studio XPS 1340 Battery

The U36SD doesn't only prove to be a quiet companion. The top and large parts of the base plate stay lukewarm to warm in idle mode and during sporadic load (office scenario). Only the area in the power cord's/power button's vicinity come very close to the 40 degree mark during stress-free operation. Dell Vostro 1200 Battery

The temperatures increase up to 48 degrees Celsius selectively during load. This is clearly perceived as overheated. A minor CPU throttling can also be noticed in this scenario. Positive: The wrist rest and touchpad always stay noticeably below 35 degrees. Dell Inspiron 1320 Battery

The CPU clock throttles to 2.4 GHz (default clock: 2.3 GHz) in the Turbo range during a multi-hour stress test (Prime95 + Furmark). Dell Inspiron 1320n Battery In CPU stress only, induced by Prime95, the clock is 2.7 GHz. Short: Since the frequency is always higher than the default clock, it can't be seen as real throttling. In opposition to the 13.3 inch Aspire TimelineX, we are looking at a slim notebook that doesn't seriously suffer under performance throttling, but simply can't completely exhaust the Turbo bandwidth in the stress test. This is only noticed during simultaneous GPU load in the U36SD.Dell Inspiron 11z Battery

 , HP Compaq HSTNN-FB05 , HP Compaq HSTNN-FB18 , HP Compaq HSTNN-IB05 , HP Compaq HSTNN-IB08 , HP Compaq HSTNN-IB16 , HP Compaq HSTNN-IB18 , HP Compaq HSTNN-IB28 , HP Compaq HSTNN-LB05 , HP Compaq HSTNN-LB08 , HP Compaq HSTNN-MB05 , HP Compaq HSTNN-UB05 , HP Compaq HSTNN-UB18 , HP Compaq HSTNN-XB11 , 

4.4Windows 7 Experience IndexProcessorCalculations per second6.9Memory (RAM)Memory operations per second6.9GraphicsDesktop performance for Windows Aero4.4Gaming graphics3D business and gaming graphics5.2Primary hard diskDisk data transfer rate6.8 CB10 Rendering Single 32Bit 4213 pointsHP 281233-001

Considering the office orientation of the Satellite R700, the application performance is of course of much greater interest, HP 281234-001 and we tested this using the PCMark Vantage benchmark tests. Achieving 10375 points in the overall score (64 bit), it got a top spot on our ranking list. Thanks to a faster SSD harddrive, it is therefore in the same league as the gaming hotshots like the Alienware M17x (i7 620M, Mobility Radeon HD 4870 X2, 10598 points) in terms of application performance. Comparable small devices with similarly good performance can be found for example in the Vaio VPCZ12M9E/B.G4 (i5 520M, GT 330M, 9491 points or in the somewhat larger Latitude E6410 (i7 620M, GMA HD, 9753 points). HP 281235-001

It should be noted that all over these machines are equipped with faster SSDs. Models with a conventional harddisk wouldn't even come close to the R700's ratings in this test. It is also obvious that the graphic performance doesn't play an important role in the PCMarkVantage. Even the ample RAM configuration doesn't seem to have much influence. The comparable machines with similar scores already mentioned all have to make do with four GB. HP 281766-001

Let's take a look at the mass memory employed in more detail. The installed Toshiba THNSNC128GMLJ offers a gross capacity of 128 GB and has therefore much less capacity than the harddrives typically employed today. On the other hand, it works absolutely quietly and much faster than conventional HDDs. It also stays cooler and is absolutely impact resistant. A disadvantage: the high cost price. You can find more detailed information in our HDD vs. SSD Article. On models with conventional hard drives, a 3D sensor should protect against data loss caused by jarring.

In addition to the fact that the transfer rates are two to three times as high as conventional harddrives,HP 289052-001 the greatest advantage is to be had in the short access time of only 0.3 ms. A HDD typically requires 10-20 ms. The user doesn't even notice this when copying data. Waiting times which are dependent on the access to memory, such as for instance when starting the system, starting programs, searching for data or mails, etc. are sped up and much shorter than would be the case on conventional hard drives. The subjectively felt speed of the notebook could greatly benefit as a result. HP 289053-001

As already mentioned above, the performance of Portégé R700 is geared more toward Internet and office applications. The GMA HD graphic chip also supports the CPU well in decoding videos. If this application remains the main focus, one can be thoroughly pleased by the performance of the graphics. HP 291369-B25

It is quite different when dealing with 3D intensive applications. HP 338669-001 The limits of the integrated graphic chip's performance potential are quickly reached here. The results of the 3DMark tests attest to this. The Portege R700 is on level with the Latitude E6410 (same CPU and graphic chip). It is of course clearly outdone by the Vaio VPCZ12M9E/B (i5 520M, GT 330M). On the lowest setting, most modern 3D games are almost playable, at best. We did without practical gaming tests as test data for the GMA HD has already been sufficiently collected in our databank, and further, because the Portégé R700 is in any event clearly intended for office and Internet applications. HP 4195818-292

Right after arriving in our office, the tester made itself known by a very penetrating, high-frequency level of noise from the fan, HP DG105A even in operation without load. One also notices a frequent up- and down swelling of the noise level, for instance when surfing the Internet or when starting programs. During the first stress test for temperature and volume measurement, the laptop deactivated itself after 20 minutes. This caused problems in further tests. After a short period (around a minute) at idle, without load but on the "high-performance profile", the machine ceased to display any meaningful data on the screen. Though the laptop remains usable in the energy savings mode, switching over the high-performance profile can reproduce the same error. PPB004A

Obviously there was a problem with the tester's cooling of the CPU and we therefore swapped it out right away for a new one. In the meantime, we took photos of the defective laptop and ran tests which anyway required the "energy-savings profile". When it was later switched again to "high-performance", the error did not pop and the laptop ran much quieter. HP 411462-141

Even on the backup device, the constantly running and always-present fan bothered us, even under very little load.HP 411462-261 When the load is increased, the noise pollution increases quickly. The noise can be described as high-frequency and pulsates with the changing load of different programs. Under load (3D/PCMark), an average volume of 42.6 dB(A) was achieved, which is very audible. During the stress test, over several hours using the Furmark and Prime95 tests, in which both GPU and CPU are burdened at 100%, the volume finally rose to a a maximum of 52.5 dB(A) after a few minutes. Here too, the fan now and again switches to a low rotational speed before once again speeding up. HP 411462-321

This scenario is hardly relevant for practical use. Still, for better or worse, even if one runs tasks on the Portégé R700 which are not particularly demanding, one has to put up with a constantly audible, and high-frequency fan which takes quite a bit of getting used to. HP 411462-421


At idle or under minimal office load, the heat development remained in the green zone at all points measured. Due to the battery positioned above, using it on one's lap would be possible but rather unpleasant in terms of heat development. Regrettable: An important opening for the induction of fresh air is found on the underside in the front left area. During operation on ones thighs or on a soft surface, there is a risk of blocking this. HP 411462-442

Its different during operation under load. In the stress test, especially the left back area heated up significantly. On the upper side, the temperatures stayed within reason, at least on the palm rests. The two CPU cores surpass the 95 degrees Ceslius mark. However, no continual throttling of the clocking speed could be discerned. During the stress test, the TMonitor Tool showed just short interruptions in the clocking frequency. The results for the 3DMark tests ran immediately afterwards, do not vary significantly from those of the cool-condition test. HP 411463-251


As on the Satellite R630, both loudspeakers are found left and right above the keyboard. The maximum volume is sufficient for indoors, but the sound is high-pitched, lacking in bass and rather thin. Spoken tracks sound more or less okay, but for the more ambitious playback of music, external speakers or a high-quality headset are highly advisable. The test of the 3.5 mm external loudspeakers ran without any abnormalities. HP 417066-001


loadingThe battery of the test candidate is a large lithium-ion battery with a capacity of 93 Wh. The R700 tested achieved a maximum runtime of over eight and a half hours, determined with the Battery Eater Reader's Test, with wireless modules turned off, minimum brightness and on the energy-savings profile. If one burdens the notebook with a 3D intensive application, turns the display's brightness up to its maximum and turns on all the wireless functions, then one can only work for around three hours without being near an outlet (Battery Eater Classic Test). HP 432306-001

Relatively long runtimes are possible in the practical tests. In the energy-savings profile and on maximum brightness, the internet can be surfed via WiFi-Hotspot for just over 6 hours. A film session on battery power in the high-performance profile and with maximum brightness, but with the wireless modules turned off, will conclude only after more than four and a half hours. HP 436281-141

Pavilion dv4z BatteryThe temperature of 48.9 degrees Celsius, which we determined on the bottom, is a bit too high in view of the configuration. All measurements were taken at an ambient temperature of 22.5 degrees Celsius.The Lenovo IdeaPad Z360's loudspeakers are very easy to locate. They are on the left and right, directly below the hinges. Both loudspeakers have turned out quite small, but do a good job for their size. The sound quality is surprisingly good in maximum volume and the output is also more than sufficient. HP G71t Battery
The speakers don't overmodulate, which usually results in an unpleasant booming.

Even if the sound is clean and clear, they sound slightly tinny. The bass supplied, as in most notebooks of this price category without subwoofer, is rather thin and modest. This can be easily compensated with a suitable, external sound system, like the home stereo system or even by a pair of high quality headphones.HP Pavilion dv4 Battery

The IdeaPad Z360 is delivered with a lithium ion battery with a capacity of 48 Wh. To test the maximum and minimum battery life, we once again used the well tried BatteryEater tool.Our first run, with BatteryEater in Classic mode, resulted in a modest 70 minutes with energy options set to "high performance". (OpenGL calculation) Devices like WLAN and Bluetooth were enabled and the test was also executed with maximum display brightness.HP Pavilion dv4i Battery

In return, the maximum runtime was determined with BatteryEater's Reader's mode. Here, WLAN and Bluetooth modules were disabled and the display brightness was reduced to minimum. At least we could achieve 331 minutes with a full battery in the energy option "Super Energy Saver" mode. That corresponds to five hours and 31 minutes.Pavilion dv4t Battery

The Lenovo IdeaPad Z360 stops playing a standard DVD after 164 minutes (two hours, 44 minutes) on average. Thus, an overlength movie should easily come to its end. It also calls for the mains again after an impressive 302 minutes of surfing through the internet via WLAN. That is, after all, five hours and two minutes of mobile freedom.In terms of power consumption, the measured rates are within the expected range in idle mode. They relate to the Intel GMA HD onboard graphics solution. In return, the Nvidia GeForce 310M was used as the active graphics card for measuring the power consumption under load. It represents the stronger graphics card.HP Pavilion dv5 Battery

Lenovo IdeaPad Z360The 13.3 inch sized IdeaPad Z360 from the well-known manufacturer, Lenovo, has sufficient performance reserves to keep up with larger 15 and 17 inch notebooks, despite its handy size. Routine applications, as internet surfing, office application or playing multimedia content provide, isn't a problem for our test candidate due to the strong Core i5 520M processor.HP Pavilion dv5t Battery

Since the IdeaPad Z360 Series isn't made for graphic intensive programs, like games, it quickly reaches its limits. If you want to occasionally treat yourself to a game, you should take a device with a stronger graphics card. The GMA HD's, respectively Geforce 310M's performance is sufficient for smooth rendering of movies and HD content in any case. Pavilion dv5t-1000 Battery

The bundle is rounded off by a multitude of interfaces, such as three USBs, HDMI, eSATA and LAN. Of course a webcam, WLAN and Bluetooth 2.1 have been included. We were especially pleased about the comfortable chiclet keyboard, both in view of looks as well as functionality.HP Pavilion dv5z Battery

However, Lenovo has permitted itself to make a few slip-ups, such as in port distribution or also in terms of the homogeneity of brightness distribution. The manufacturer grants a warranty period of 24 months when a Lenovo Z360 is purchased.All in all, we can say that the Lenovo Z360 is aver very good mobile notebook that also has enough power onboard for multimedia content.HP Pavilion dv6 Battery

A stronger graphics card. The performance difference to currently installed GPUs is too slight to make a significant difference when switching to the "stronger" GPU.13.3 inch notebook + good, comfortable keyboard + good workmanship + good battery life + fair price = thumbs up.Hp Pavilion dv6t Battery

The Asus PL30JT-RO030X would be an alternative to the IdeaPad Z360. The Acer TravelMate 8372TG or the Dell Vostro 3300 could also be a competitor, but with a matt display.AMD Netbook. Asus now offers AMD hardware in the well-known chassis. The Asus Eee PC 1015T works with an AMD V105 processor (1.2 GHz, single core) and an ATI Radeon HD 4250. Is it the perfect Intel Killer in 10 inches or a power hungry netbook without much more performance? HP Pavilion dv6t-1000 Battery

We're testing the Asus Eee 1015T based on AMD with dedicated graphics.The variety of models for the Asus Eee PC 1015 (Eee PC 1015P, Eee PC 1015PEM) knows no limits. Hardware from AMD is granted access in the mobile entry-level devices with the Eee PC 1015T. Moreover, this netbook is the first device with AMD innards and a 10 inch display (1024 x 600 pixels, matt) from Asus. The design has been maintained and a HDMI out has been added to the interfaces. You still have to live without a fast USB 3.0 port.HP Pavilion dv6t-1100 Battery

The heart is made up of the new AMD V105. This processor for netbooks and other mobile devices has a clock rate of 1.2 GHz in a single core and is thus nominally slower than a comparable Intel Atom N455 with 1.66 GHz. HP Pavilion dv6z Battery

Stronger and interesting: the dedicated ATI Radeon HD 4250 with a core rate of 500 MHz. This combination not only promises an increased performance but also an increased power consumption and consequently a lower battery life. A 2.5 inch hard disk with a capacity of 250 GB and a 1 GB DDR RAM belong to its further configuration. The 6 cell battery with 56 watt hours and the compact adapter have also been adopted.HP Pavilion HDX16t Battery

Asus has four different colors in two variants available for the Eee PC 1015T, which are matt (black, blue) and glossy (red, white) models. All models will be available on the German and Austrian market at the end of October. The recommended retail price is 349 euro including sales tax.HP HSTNN-IB0X

Not only available in (matt) black, but also in (matt) blue,...... (glossy) red and white. HP HSTNN-OB0X  (Pictures: Asus)Asus hasn't modified the case and the familiar seashell look has been maintained. A good job has been done with the workmanship and finish. The used plastic makes a high-end impression. Aside from a (matt) black model, there are also models available in (matt) blue, (glossy) red and (glossy) white. These colors, or rather, finishings aren't surcharge-liable. Asus hasn't used any special textures or effect coating, thus the design is very plain but nevertheless elegant.HP HSTNN-YB0X

The display bezel and the area around the keyboard is a contrast to the matt exterior. They are underlined by a (black) high-gloss finish and create striking optics. A drawback of the high-gloss finish is the susceptibility for scratches, dust and fingerprints that can't be avoided. A model without glossy lacquer would prevent this and would likely be a welcome alternative.HP 586006-361

The case stability is convincing. The case copes with stronger pressure without difficulties. The display bezel is as stiff as usual and twisting is hardly possible. The dimensions of 26.2 x 17.8 x 2.5 - 3.6 centimeters (w x d x h) have been maintained, but the weight has increased slightly. The device weighs 1.29 kilograms with inserted battery and is thus within an acceptable range. Surprisingly, the included adapter is very compact and has lost a bit of its weight.HP 586006-321

Asus uses the advantage of the AMD components and extends the connectivity. The power socket for the included adapter, a VGA out for older monitors or projectors, a USB 2.0 port and a modern HDMI port are found on the left. A modern TV set or AV receiver can be connected via the HDMI port, which many Intel netbook users dream of. Both video material (1080p is supported) as well as audio signals are transmitted via one cable. HP 593554-001

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