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éléments par James Morris

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• 

  Gigabyte Aorus X7 Pro v3: A fast, stylish entertainment notebook [Review]

  Publié: décembre 16, 2014, 4:05pm CET par James Morris

  

  When we took our first look at the original Aorus X7, we were decidedly impressed at how much Gigabyte had managed to fit into a notebook just over 2cm thick.

  The Aorus X7 Pro v3 improves the specs further, promising even more performance in an incredibly portable package for a notebook aimed primarily at entertainment.

  CPU

  The processor has been upgraded slightly compared to the original Aorus X7, with a 2.5GHz Intel Core i7 rather than 2.4GHz. This is the 4870HQ from the latest Haswell generation, which is a quad-core processor with the ability to raise one core to 3.7GHz, or all four to 3.5GHz. So the CPU can adjust itself as required, with the standard frequency a very small part of the story.

  As usual, Hyper-Threading means it presents itself as eight virtual cores, so the processor has plenty of potential whether running a single task or multiple tasks in parallel. Gigabyte has partnered the 4870HQ with a generous 16GB of DDR3 SDRAM, although the maximum for this notebook is 32GB, so there’s room to upgrade if you need an even greater level of performance.

  Storage

  The internal storage allocation is potentially enormous with up to four storage devices possible inside this incredibly thin chassis.

  Our system included two 256GB LiteOn LMT-256L9M mSATA solid state disks in RAID 0 configuration, giving a healthy half a terabyte of extremely fast storage for lightning quick boot and application loading times, and plenty of capacity for software. But it’s also possible to specify a third mSATA drive, with capacities of up to 512GB apiece, as well as a fourth conventional SATA hard disk up to 2TB. The one thing you don’t get, due to the thinness of this chassis, is an optical drive, which might be a drawback if you want to load games from DVD.

  Screen

  The immense graphical capability wouldn’t be much use if the screen wasn’t up to scratch. Fortunately, the Aorus’s 17.3in Full HD display uses IPS technology, which is decidedly superior to standard TFTs, and offers rich colors as well as excellent viewing angles.

  With the matte finish of the screen, there’s little problem from reflections. Although an increasing number of notebooks now offer Retina-style displays with resolutions well beyond Full HD, we’re still not convinced by the utility of this on a 17in panel just yet, because a lot of Windows software is still not compatible, rendering interface elements illegibly small. However, the Aorus should be able to drive an external 4K screen with considerable aplomb.

  Usability

  Gigabyte also places a considerable focus on the Acoustic+ audio capabilities of the Aorus X7 Pro V3, and the level and quality available from the dual subwoofers is well beyond most notebooks, so you may not have to rely on your headphones with this system.

  Considering the hugely heavy gaming laptops available from the likes of Alienware, the 3kg weight of the Aorus seems decidedly miserly, although it’s not exactly in ultraportable territory. The durable aluminum chassis is completely black, with some subtle angles rather than just being a rectangular slab. The end result is stylish, albeit more understated than an Alienware notebook, and the width of the 17in form factor has been used to supply an extra row of programmable macro keys down the left-hand-side of the keyboard as well as a full numeric keypad on the right.

  The keyboard action is shallow but offers enough response to be comfortable. The glossy trackpad isn’t the most enjoyable we have used and has a little too much friction, a matte finish would’ve been better as it’s easier to slide your finger over.

  

  Connectivity

  The 17in chassis affords plenty of room for ports. The left-hand side is home to LAN, full-sized HDMI, VGA, USB 3.0, and discrete microphone and headphone minijacks. On the right you will find: a mini DisplayPort, a second full-sized HDMI covered with a rubber stopper (presumably so you use the mini DisplayPort instead), two more USB 3.0 ports, and a SD card slot. There are also a couple of USB 2.0 ports on the rear, alongside the power connection. Networking is well served, with a KillerLAN chipset providing the Gigabit wired LAN alongside the 802.11ac Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.0.

  Performance

  The Core i7 processor also incorporates the (currently) fastest version of Intel’s integrated graphics chip, the Iris Pro 5200, which comes with its own 128MB allocation of eDRAM. The Iris Pro 5200 sports 40 execution units, twice as many as the latest Haswell generation of the 4000 series. However, it will only come into play when the notebook isn’t doing anything particularly strenuous with 3D graphics, as otherwise the real stars of the show will take the lead role. These are two NVIDIA GeForce GTX 970M chips in SLI mode. Each GPU on its own sports 1,280 CUDA cores running at between 924 and 1,038MHz, and 3GB of GDDR5 memory. Together they promise top-of-the-line portable 3D performance.

  Unsurprisingly, thanks to the fast CPU and powerful graphics chips, the Aorus X7 Pro v3 provides supreme performance in almost every area. The Maxon Cinebench rendering scores of 6.78 in R11.5 and 613 in R15 are some of the best we have seen, and the OpenGL result of 66.3 in R11.5 is close to the best, whilst the result of 141.63 in R15 is far ahead of anything we have tested before. In PC Mark 8’s Home test the Aorus achieved 4,661, with 4,890 in the Work test, both of which are the best we have seen.

  Of course, gaming is where this notebook is mostly focused, and here it reigns supreme. The Futuremark 3DMark11 score of 14,565 is almost twice that of the original Aorus X7, and the highest we have ever seen by some margin. The 3DMark Firestrike 1.1 result of 10,652 is around 2.5 times as fast as the original Aorus, and again streets ahead of anything we have tested before. So this really is a gaming powerhouse, despite its skinny appearance.

  There had to be a compromise somewhere, though, and unsurprisingly it comes with battery life. The Aorus lasted just 100 minutes of PC Mark 8’s Home test, whilst maintaining a score of 3,549. It also endured just 87 minutes of the more grueling Battery Eater Pro, which makes more extensive use of CPU and graphics. Neither are terrible for a 17in gaming laptop, but they are noticeably behind the first Aorus we looked at, and mean you can only realistically use this laptop for a couple of hours away from the power socket, and much less when gaming.

  Verdict

  The Gigabyte Aorus X7 v3 doesn’t quite live up to the portability it promises when it comes to battery life, but it does still pack a huge amount of performance into a decidedly slim chassis, particularly where 3D graphics are concerned. The screen is an improvement on the first model, too, and there’s a reasonable quantity of super-fast storage. Even the $2599 price isn’t outrageous, considering the specification. If you’re after a fast, stylish entertainment notebook, the Gigabyte Aorus X7 v3 is an enticing bit of kit.

  Pros

  • Unparalleled 3D graphics performance
  • Excellent application performance
  • Thin and portable for a 17.3in notebook
  • Fast storage

  Cons

  • Poor battery life
  • No optical drive

  

  Published under license from ITProPortal.com, a Net Communities Ltd Publication. All rights reserved.

  
• 

  Dell Optiplex 3020 Micro: A business PC that's small enough to fit anywhere [Review]

  Publié: octobre 28, 2014, 1:45pm CET par James Morris

  

  The miniaturization of components for the benefit of notebooks has had a knock-on effect for desktops. Using some of the same components, desktops can be made a lot smaller too, or even designed to fit behind a screen for an all-in-one system. The Dell Optiplex 3020 Micro is almost a notebook without a screen, but if you want a tiny no-nonsense system that will be almost invisible on a desk, or even fitted underneath, there is plenty to commend it.

  The Dell Optiplex 3020 Micro's name is a little confusing, because there are actually two larger Optiplex 3020 models; only the word Micro denotes the rather different specification of this system. Measuring just 18.2cm along its longest edge, and weighing a paltry 1.28kg, the Micro is much smaller than the Minitower and Small Form Factor versions of the 3020. It's designed to sit flat on your desk, or an optional stand can be used to stand it vertically. There are VESA mounting options too, plus an all-in-one mount and a console including a DVD rewriter.

  There are also only two processor choices -- Intel Pentium and Intel Core i3. Our sample came with the more expensive latter. The Core i3 in question is a 4150T from the fourth Haswell generation. This is a low-power 34W version of the 4150, so runs at 3GHz rather than 3.5GHz, and no Turbo Boost mode is available to provide a lift when required.

  The Core i3 is a dual-core processor, and unlike the Pentium supports Hyper-Threading, allowing the two physical cores to present themselves as four virtual ones, for enhanced processing of parallel tasks. The Core i3 is partnered with 4GB of 1,600MHz DDR3 SDRAM, which is the bare minimum these days, and there is no option for more.

  The processor also supplies the graphics in the shape of Intel HD Graphics 4400, which is a small step up from the HD Graphics 4000 of Ivy Bridge, but not the huge leap between that and HD Graphics 3000 found in Sandy Bridge. Whilst 3000 has 12 execution units, and 4000 has 16, 4400 moves up to 20. However, whilst 4000 can be around 2.5 times faster than 3000, 4400 is more like a 30 per cent improvement over 4000. The Core i3-4150T's 1.15GHz version of 4400 will get most of this benefit. The new HD Graphics have DirectX 11.1 support, too, alongside OpenGL 4, Shader Model 5, and OpenCL 1.2.

  The Optiplex 3020 Micro takes a fairly minimal approach to storage. In fact, the only storage device included is a 500GB Toshiba 7,200rpm SATA hard disk with a 2.5in form factor, making it of the notebook variety. This will be ample for a general-purpose PC, even if it won't have the performance benefits of a solid state disk, and there's an M.2 expansion port available inside for fast SSD attachment. However, there's no room in this minuscule chassis for an optical drive of any sort, and it's a shame that Dell didn't shoehorn a Flash memory card reader in either, which is always a handy thing to have available.

  Fortunately, a wealth of ports is on hand for attaching external devices. The front is home to single USB 3.0 and USB 2.0 ports, plus separate minijacks for headphones and a microphone. The rear hosts another USB 3.0 and three more USB 2.0 ports, alongside a full-sized DisplayPort, VGA, and Gigabit Ethernet LAN, as well as the connection for the external 65W power supply.

  

  The Optiplex 3020 also has built-in 802.11ac Wi-Fi, which is the latest standard, with a large removable aerial screwing into the rear of the system for optimum reception. So you don't need to place this machine near a wired Ethernet port to get it on the network. The Intel Wireless-AC 7260 chipset providing the Wi-Fi also supplies Bluetooth 4.0 LE connectivity.

  

  With its relatively low-end Intel Core i3, the Optiplex 3020 Micro is no powerhouse. In fact, it performs like a fast ultraportable in most tests. The rendering scores of 3.15 and 300 in Maxon Cinebench R11.5 and R15 respectively would be good for a thin and light notebook, but are towards the lowest end for a desktop.

  Likewise, the Cinebench OpenGL results of 15.38 and 19.19 in R11.5 and R15 are decent for integrated graphics, but most systems with a discrete graphics card would be far quicker. The results of 733 in Futuremark 3DMark11 and 492 in the Firestrike 1.1 test of 3DMark continue this trend, but at least the Optiplex 3020 Micro finished all our graphics tests without issue. While it may be relatively slow, if you run software that does need 3D acceleration it will at least function.

  

  You are unlikely to purchase a system like this for any kind of graphics-intensive activities anyway. It's therefore reassuring that the Optiplex 3020 Micro is decently capable with the everyday tasks simulated by Futuremark's PCMark 8 Home and Work tests. The scores of 2,280 and 3,277 respectively show the system will cope well with videoconferencing, web browsing and office applications, although it's no powerhouse here either.

  

  On the whole, the Optiplex 3020 Micro performs essentially as expected given its minuscule size, but is significantly ahead of the Intel Atom-based micro PCs that have arrived on the market over the last few years, and much more capable of handling real business workloads.

  Verdict

  There's nothing particularly revolutionary about Dell's Optiplex 3020 Micro. It has been possible to cram most of the necessities of a PC into a box this size for some years now. It's also not going to be sufficient for anyone who has a need to use graphics applications with any intensity.

  However, this is a cheap system for employees who don't need more than office software and Internet capabilities. The price includes a standard Dell mouse and keyboard, too. There's a TPM chip built in for hardware-based security, and Windows 7 Professional is supplied so the system can fit into a corporate network with full remote manageability.

  Overall, it's not the machine for every employee, but where your business computing needs to be cheap and discrete, the Dell Optiplex 3020 Micro could make good sense.

  Good Points

  • Reasonable price
  • Very small
  • Decent business software performance
  • Flexible mounting options

  Bad Points

  • Non-upgradeable 4GB of RAM
  • Merely adequate graphics performance

  Specifications

  Manufacturer and Product	Dell Optiplex 3020 Micro
  Processor	3GHz Intel Core i3-4150T
  RAM	4GB 1600MHz DDR3 SDRAM
  Graphics	Intel HD Graphics 4400
  Hard disk	500GB Toshiba 7,200rpm SATA hard disk
  Optical disc	None
  Display	None
  Networking	Gigabit Ethernet, 802.11a/b/g/n/ac Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0 LE
  Interfaces	2 x USB 3.0, 4 x USB 2.0, DisplayPort, VGA, headphone, microphone, LAN.
  Width x Depth x Height	182 x 176 x 36mm
  Weight	1.28kg
  Warranty	1 year NBD on-site

  Published under license from ITProPortal.com, a Net Communities Ltd Publication. All rights reserved.

  
• 

  Gigabyte P25X v2: A power portable that gives you a lot for your money [Review]

  Publié: septembre 6, 2014, 5:00am CEST par James Morris

  

  Ultra-portables, tablets, Ultrabooks and hybrids may be great feats of miniaturization, but if you want serious power a larger device will be a necessity. Anyone serious about the quality and resolution of their entertainment will need a desktop replacement of some sort. Gigabyte's P25X v2 is definitely in the latter camp, with its 15in chassis packed full of processing and graphics power. But its price isn't as hefty as its chassis.

  The P25X v2 is not exactly subtle in its styling. It boasts a bright yellow lid with chrome effect edging and hinge, although the remainder of the system is a much more sober black. At 2.8kg, it's not exactly lightweight, although this is par for the course with the 15in chassis format.

  The screen is 15.6in with a full HD resolution of 1,920 x 1,080. Although quite a few notebooks have now exceeded this, higher resolutions can cause problems with software compatibility, and we actually think full HD is about right for the screen size. The screen itself is sharp and bright with generally good viewing angles. Its matt finish means it isn't plagued by reflections in bright conditions, either.

  This notebook's audio abilities are a little above average, too, with a subwoofer included as well as the primary speakers. There is still a lack in bass, but sound quality is an improvement over the weedy treble-dominated notebook norm.

  The Chiclet-style keyboard has a slightly languid action, but is still responsive enough for reasonably comfortable typing. We're not so happy with the trackpad, which has been centrally placed on the wrist rest. With the numerical keypad on the right, this means the trackpad begins halfway across the spacebar, and we found it very easy to brush with the heel of our hand when touch typing.

  This is clearly a system that is not too shy to shout about its abilities, and there is definitely plenty inside to shout about, too. The P25X v2 is based around an Intel Core i7-4810MQ, a 47W quad-core processor that runs at a nominal 2.8GHz. However, thanks to Turbo Boost, a single core can operate at 3.8GHz, and all four can hit 3.6GHz when sufficient cooling is available, although power draw rises to 55W.

  Also, thanks to Hyper-Threading, the four physical cores present themselves as eight virtual ones, providing plenty of empowerment for multi-tasking and parallel processing. The processor was backed by a very healthy 16GB of 1,866MHz DDR3 SDRAM in our sample, which is the maximum possible for this system.

  

  The processor also provides on-board graphics in the shape of Intel HD Graphics 4600, but this is only there for situations where limited 3D acceleration will be required. As soon as more taxing activities are detected, the discrete NVidia GeForce GTX 880M chipset will fire up, with its own 8GB of GDDR5 memory. This is NVidia’s top consumer mobile graphics chipset, with a whopping 1,536 CUDA cores running at 954MHz, and 160GB/sec memory bandwidth available. It supports DirectX 11.2, OpenGL 4.4 and OpenCL 1.1. There won't be any current game it can't handle at the system's native full HD resolution.

  The main storage setup is also pretty hefty, too, with no less than three drives installed. Twin 128GB LiteOn LMT-128M6M SSDs have been configured as a RAID 0 array for the operating system and main applications, whilst a single 1TB Hitachi Travelstar 7K1000 conventional 7,200rpm hard disk is available for more general data storage and those really huge game content downloads. There's an optical drive included, too, in the shape of a Matshita BD-MLT UJ260 Blu-ray rewriter. So you will be able to watch Blu-ray HD movies, and even burn your own.

  

  The usual complement of ports is available. The optical drive takes up most of the space on the left, but there's still VGA and a combined eSATA and USB 2.0 port, alongside the power connection. The right-hand side is where the majority of ports are to be found. There are microphone and headphone minijacks, with the latter doubling as an S/PDIF digital output. There are also two USB 3.0 ports, with one supporting Sleep and Charge. Then there's the SD Card reader, full-sized HDMI and wired Ethernet. Wireless provisions include the latest 802.11ac as well as b/g/n, plus Bluetooth 4.0. All in all, there's a good range of connectivity, with most options represented.

  

  The P25X v2 is one of the fastest notebooks we have ever tested, and in some areas the fastest of all. The score of 7.8 in the rendering portion of Cinebench R11.5 is the highest we have ever seen, as is the 718 in the rendering portion of R15. The only systems we have reviewed that were faster than the P25X v2's 62.37 in R11.5's OpenGL are the Alienware M18x, the Dell Precision M6700, and the Scan 3XS MGW-20.

  

  We haven't seen a system beat the 103.93 in R15's OpenGL test, although we have only been running this for a few months. The Alienware M18x is still the fastest system we've tested with Futuremark 3DMark11, but the P25X v2's 8,422 is a clear second, and it's the quickest with 3DMark's Firestrike 1.1, managing 5,463, although we didn't run this on the M18x.

  So, unsurprisingly considering its target market, the P25X v2 is exemplary when it comes to 3D, and its everyday application performance is close to the top as well. It managed 3,671 in PC Mark 8's Home test and 4,463 in the Work test, which only Gigabyte's own Aorus X7 has bettered in our experience, although we have only been running this test for a few months.

  Equally unsurprisingly, battery life is not stunning, but the P25X v2 still managed 202 minutes of PC Mark 8's Home test, whilst still achieving a score of 2,672, and it lasted 130 minutes of the intensive Battery Eater Pro. So you could still run the P25X v2 on its battery for a useful period, including when gaming, even if its size and endurance mean it's still very much a desktop replacement rather than being a true portable.

  Verdict

  The Gigabyte P25X v2 is undeniably a powerful beast. The design doesn't quite have the wow factor of an Alienware or Razer gaming laptop, but then you can pick this one up for under £1,500. Considering just how powerful it is, and the fact that it's not completely deskbound, then this starts to look like a very good deal indeed. If you're looking for a power portable, the Gigabyte P25X v2 gives you a lot for your money.

  Good Points

  • Excellent 2D and 3D performance
  • 16GB of RAM
  • Plenty of storage
  • Keen price for the specification

  Bad Points

  • Poor trackpad placement
  • Mediocre keyboard

  Specifications

  Manufacturer and Model	Gigabyte P25X v2
  Processor	2.8GHz Intel Core i7-4810MQ
  RAM	16GB 11866MHz DDR3L SDRAM
  Graphics	Intel HD Graphics 4200
  Storage	2 x 128GB LiteOn LMT-128M6M solid state disk plus 1TB Hitachi 7K1000 7,200rpm hard disk
  Optical disc	Matshita BD-MLT UJ260 Blu-ray rewriter
  Display	15.6in LED backlit Wide Viewing Angle TFT with 1,920 x 1,080 pixels
  Networking	802.11b/g/n/ac Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0, LTE/HSPA+ 4G mobile data, Gigabit
  Interfaces	2 x USB 3.0 (one sleep and charge), combo eSATA/USB 2.0, HDMI, VGA, combo headphone/S/PDIF, microphone, LAN, SD card reader
  Width x Depth x Height	392 x 263 x 38.3mm
  Weight	2.8kg
  Warranty	2 year global

  Published under license from ITProPortal.com, a Net Communities Ltd Publication. All rights reserved.

  
• 

  Lenovo Yoga 2: A decent budget hybrid [Review]

  Publié: août 22, 2014, 12:48pm CEST par James Morris

  

  The Lenovo Yoga 2 is not to be confused with the Yoga 2 Pro. Although the basic principle of a notebook with a screen that flips over to turn the device into tablet is the same, the specification is markedly different. Just for starters, this is an 11.6in device rather than 13.3in -- but what's inside is much more value-oriented as well.

  Instead of a processor from Intel's Core range, our Yoga 2 sample came with a Pentium N3520. This is part of Intel's Silvermount microarchitecture generation, in particular the Bay Trail-M family, which means it's actually from the same line as the Atom processor, despite the Pentium brand name. The N3520 has a nominal frequency of 2.166GHz, but a single core can rise to 2.42GHz in Turbo mode.

  This is a true quad-core processor, too, rather than using Hyper-Threading to double the core count -- the four cores are all physical rather than virtual. Despite these features, the processor still manages to draw just 7.5W, putting it lower than even the Y-class Intel Core CPUs.

  The processor also provides 3D acceleration within this same power budget, in the shape of Intel HD Graphics running at 854MHz. However, although this chipset is from the same generation as Ivy Bridge (Intel HD Graphics 4000), and will therefore support DirectX 11, it only offers four execution units, so won't be particularly potent for tasks needing capable 3D hardware support.

  Lenovo has also only partnered the Pentium N3520 with 4GB of 1,333MHz DR3 SDRAM, but given the budget orientation of the Yoga 2 this is a little more forgivable than with recent higher-end Ultrabooks we have tested. Storage capacity isn't so miserly, with a 500GB Seagate Laptop Ultrathin hard disk supplied.

  This won't give you the performance or power consumption benefits of a solid state disk, but at least it will provide plenty of space and keep the cost down.

  So, with the exception of the reasonably sized hard disk, the specification is decidedly low-end. However, the primary selling point for the Yoga 2 is its ability to flex itself into multiple positions. It functions perfectly well as a regular 11in Ultrabook, with a standard Chiclet-style keyboard.

  The action is a little shallow, but it's still perfectly comfortable to type on for extended periods. The trackpad is sensibly placed almost directly beneath the spacebar, and although it's not a particularly large example, it's accurate and pleasant to use, with integrated buttons indicated via a line at the bottom.

  

  The other input device is, naturally, the touchscreen. This is always available, but once you rotate the screen past a certain point the keyboard and trackpad are disabled automatically, turning the device into a touchscreen with a stand, or a full tablet. The 11.6in screen only offers the standard 1,366 x 768 resolution that is the usual baseline for this size. However, it is an IPS display so has noticeably better viewing angles than some Ultrabook screens, although this is marred somewhat by the glossy finish that picks up reflections considerably in bright conditions.

  Strangely, the Yoga 2 weighs marginally more than the 13.3in Yoga 2 Pro, but at 1.45kg it's still not exactly going to pull your shoulder off if carried around in a bag all day. This is not a weight you would want to carry in one hand as a tablet for extended periods, however, being about twice as heavy as an iPad. It will be fine for browsing information on the couch, but not ideal for reading a novel whilst standing on a train.

  

  The 11.6in chassis and tablet pretensions haven't left much space for expansion. On the left, next to the power socket, is a single USB 3.0 port plus the SD card reader and a Micro HDMI port. The right is home to just a single USB 2.0 port and the combined headphone and microphone minijack. The rest of the space is taken up by the power button, volume control and screen auto-rotate button. There's no wired Ethernet or VGA, although neither will be particularly important for the target market. There's 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi on hand and Bluetooth 4.0 for wireless connectivity, but no support for the latest 802.11ac standard and no mobile data option.

  

  Systems based on the Intel Atom have never set the world alight in terms of performance, but this latest Pentium-branded update at least gets within shouting distance of the Intel Core line. The rendering scores in Maxon Cinebench R11.5 and R15 of 1.67 and 141 respectively are not far off some Core-based Ultrabooks we have tested, and significantly ahead of any Atom-based systems we have previously reviewed. The OpenGL result of 7.51 in Cinebench R11.5 isn't particularly impressive, but earlier Atoms wouldn't even run this test.

  

  The Futuremark 3DMark11 result of 267 is also very low, but at least the Yoga 2 completed the test, where earlier Atoms and Intel Core processors with HD Graphics 3000 wouldn't. However, the Yoga 2 wouldn't finish the Firestrike 1.1 portion of 3DMark. This clearly isn't a system you will be doing any significant gaming on.

  Application performance with Futuremark's PCMark 8 is not particularly impressive either. The score of 1192 in the Home test and 883 in the Work test are the lowest we have seen. Although we have only been running this test since the beginning of the year, so don't have any results with earlier Atom-based processors, the Work test in particular shows the deficiencies of the Atom's architecture compared to Core.

  A system so focused on portability wouldn't be very persuasive if it didn't have a decent battery life. Fortunately, the Yoga 2 doesn't disappoint in this area. It lasted 322 minutes of the PCMark 8 Home test in Power Save mode, which is good if not outstanding. That places it behind the Lenovo ThinkPad Yoga, but ahead of the Yoga 2 Pro, though do note that the performance score dropped to a somewhat miserable 684. It also managed a very commendable 239 minutes of the intensive Battery Eater Pro test. So this notebook should just about last a full working day if your activities are not too intensive.

  

  Verdict

  The Lenovo Yoga 2 is very much a lesser beast than its Pro sibling -- but fortunately so is the price. Coming in at a penny under $489, it costs a similar amount to a premium tablet.

  In the form we reviewed, as a much more pleasant to use and flexible alternative to a netbook, it has a lot going for it. Performance is much better than the netbooks we tested a few years ago, and you might actually use the tablet functionality when sitting on a train or in your lounge. This is a decent budget hybrid, although performance is still modest, particularly where graphics are concerned.

  Good Points

  • Very keenly priced
  • Decent battery life
  • Better performance than a netbook
  • Usable fold-over tablet mode

  Bad Points

  • Heavy for one-handed tablet usage
  • Poor 3D graphics abilities

  Specifications

  Manufacturer and Model	Lenovo Yoga 2
  Processor	2.166GHz Intel Pentium N3520
  RAM	4GB 1333MHz DDR3 SDRAM
  Graphics	Intel HD Graphics
  Storage	500GB Seagate Laptop Ultrathin hard disk
  Optical disc	None
  Display	11.6in IPS touchscreen with 1,366 x 768 pixels
  Networking	802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0
  Interfaces	1 x USB 3.0, 1 x USB 2.0, Micro HDMI, combo headphone / microphone, SD card reader.
  Width x Depth x Height	298 x 206.5 x 17.2mm
  Weight	1.45kg
  Warranty	1 years RTB warranty

  Published under license from ITProPortal.com, a Net Communities Ltd Publication. All rights reserved.

  
• 

  Dell Latitude 13 Education Series 3340: The perfect notebook for school use [Review]

  Publié: août 15, 2014, 8:29am CEST par James Morris

  

  If you're specifying a notebook for your kids or your school, the attractive world of ultra-portables probably won't be top of your list of possibilities. Robustness, durability and value are far more likely to be your chief considerations. Dell's Latitude 13 Education Series 3340 is designed specifically to satisfy this kind of need. It's clearly built to last, and has both a specification and price that should appeal to the target audience.

  The Latitude 3340 is not going to win any style awards, but it is very sturdy. The dark gray plastic chassis feels tough and is surrounded by rubber edges on the base and screen bezel. The hinge is similarly solid, and rotates 180 degrees so it can lie flat on the desk alongside the base, although the screen isn't touch-enabled so this facility is less useful than it could have been.

  It's not quite up to the level of a Panasonic Toughbook, but the Latitude 3340 feels ready to cope with a classroom full of boisterous kids. However, the price you pay for the robust build is the weight. Although this is a 13in notebook, it comes in at a hefty 1.8kg. So whilst it's still entirely portable, the Latitude 3340 won't be giving any 13in Ultrabooks anything to worry about.

  The Chiclet-style keyboard is comfortable enough, with a responsive, tactile action. However, it's not backlit. The reasonably large touchpad has been positioned directly beneath the spacebar, and has discrete buttons, so its operation is very clear. The screen is decidedly mediocre, though. The 13.3in display only offers the bog standard 1,366 x 768 resolution for this size, and whilst the color is bright and rich enough, viewing angles are quite poor (although the matte finish means there is no problem with reflections marring the view of the screen). As usual for contemporary notebooks, there's a webcam in the top of the sizable screen bezel.

  The port allocation is merely adequate, although it covers the key bases. On the left can be found a USB 3.0 port, Mini DisplayPort, and full-sized HDMI, with a LAN connection next to the sturdy power jack. The right-hand side is home to the SD card reader, combo headphone and microphone minijack, another USB 3.0 port, and a Kensington lock slot. There's no VGA, although this is decreasingly important, but an extra USB port could have come in handy. Wireless connectivity comes from an Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 7260 chipset, which provides 802.11 a/b/g/n Wi-Fi as well as the latest 802.11ac, and Bluetooth 4.0 LE.

  The Latitude 3340 is based around an Intel Core i5-4200U. This dual-core processor runs at a nominal 1.6GHz, but as always the headline frequency is only a very minor part of the story. This mode draws 11.5W, but there's also a 25W mode where both cores run at 2.3GHz, whilst a single core can hit 2.6GHz. So this processor has plenty of grunt on offer when required, and Hyper-Threading means the two physical cores function as four virtual ones, for improved multitasking and parallel processing.

  The processor also supplies the graphics acceleration, in the shape of Intel HD Graphics 4400. This offers 20 cores and runs at 1GHz. It's not going to give a discrete graphics solution a run for its money, but should be capable of coping with most 3D acceleration tasks. One slight niggle is the RAM allocation that partners the processor. Dell only includes 4GB of 1,600MHz DDR3 SDRAM, and there's no option to specify more at time of purchase, nor can you upgrade later, as there is no removable panel on the bottom of the chassis. At least there is plenty of storage available, with a 500GB Seagate ST500LM0 5,400rpm solid-state hybrid disk providing a good compromise between capacity, performance and cost.

  The Latitude 3340's performance is slightly under par for the processor used. Its rendering score in Maxon Cinebench R11.5 of 2.33 is almost exactly the same as the identically equipped Lenovo Yoga 2 Pro, although we have seen better results elsewhere. However, the rendering score of 191 in Cinebench R15 is somewhat below expectations.

  The OpenGL result of 14.04 in R11.5 is also less than other notebooks equipped with Intel HD Graphics 4400. However, this was the first system we have tested using Intel integrated graphics that has managed to complete the Cinebench R15 OpenGL test, with a result of 18.56, indicating that the drivers are finally compatible. The mediocre graphics abilities were echoed in the Futuremark 3DMark11 score of 772 and 3DMark Firestrike 1.1 result of 504. So the Latitude 3340 will run 3D accelerated software, but not very quickly.

  Everyday application performance, on the other hand, is very commendable indeed. Running the Home portion of Futuremark's PCMark 8, the Latitude 3340 managed 2,296, with 3,439 in the Work test. Both are ahead of Lenovo's Yoga 2 Pro, and a number of other Ultrabooks we have tested.

  But the most impressive result of all is just how long this notebook will last on its battery. Maintaining a performance result of 1,649, the Latitude 3340 managed 452 minutes of the Home test in PCMark 8, which is the longest we have ever seen, cruising past the Toshiba Tecra Z40-A-11U.

  The Latitude 3340 also managed a very reasonable 192 minutes of our intensive Battery Eater Pro test. The amazing endurance was thanks to our sample coming with the 65Wh 6-cell battery. There is a 43Wh unit available as well, but none of the UK specifications include this. The battery is removable, too, so you can carry a spare if you need even more time away from the power socket. Even without this, the Latitude 3340 will easily last a long day's work, and possibly even two with light usage.

  Verdict

  The Dell Latitude 3340 is not a notebook you will long to own for its sense of style. However, its tough design, incredible battery life and reasonable price make it a great option for the intended educational market. We would have liked to see options for 8GB RAM and a higher-resolution screen with better viewing angles, but nevertheless, this is a notebook that suits its school and child orientation very well.

  Good Points

  • Amazing battery life
  • Robust build quality
  • Solid performer
  • Reasonable price

  Bad Points

  • No high-resolution screen option
  • Heavy

  Specifications

  Manufacturer and Model	Dell Latitude 3340
  Processor	1.6GHz Intel Core i5-4200U
  RAM	4GB 1600MHz DDR3 SDRAM
  Graphics	Intel HD Graphics 4400
  Storage	500GB Seagate ST500LM0 5,400rpm solid state hybrid disk
  Optical disc	None
  Display	13.3in LED backlit TFT with 1,366 x 768 pixels
  Networking	Gigabit Ethernet, 802.11/a/b/g/n/ac Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0 LE
  Interfaces	2 x USB 3.0, HDMI, Mini DisplayPort, combo headphone / microphone, LAN, SD card reader
  Width x Depth x Height	330.9 x 243.2 x 34mm
  Weight	1.8kg
  Warranty	1 year NBD on-site

  Published under license from ITProPortal.com, a Net Communities Ltd Publication. All rights reserved.

  
• 

  Dell Latitude E5540: a well-specified corporate laptop [Review]

  Publié: juillet 18, 2014, 9:33am CEST par James Morris

  

  In all the furor over super-slim Ultrabooks and magically transforming hybrids, it's sometimes easy to forget that some people just need a basic portable. The Dell Latitude E5540 is aimed at those people. It's not a fundamentally exciting notebook by any stretch of the imagination, but it could be just what your company needs as a standard-issue everyday workhorse.

  The design of the E5540 is decidedly inconspicuous, with matte black plastic the order of the day all round. This is very much a sober corporate notebook that won't cause any commotion in the meeting room. The full width of the 15in chassis has been used to provide a separate keypad alongside the keyboard, as well as discrete volume control buttons at the top. The keys are full-sized and have a comfortably firm action, making touch typing for long durations very pleasant. However, the keyboard isn't backlit, which is an unusual omission for a work-oriented laptop.

  The foremost luxury aspect of our E5540 review sample is the full HD screen, although you can specify a more pedestrian 1,366 x 768 unit and save around £100. However, we reckon this would be a false economy now that screens are pushing to 4K, so the 1,920 x 1,080 option is definitely worth the extra expense. The screen has plenty of detail and reasonably bright color, whilst the matte anti-glare finish means that there is little problem with unwanted reflections in bright lighting. However, viewing angles are merely adequate. Also, this is not a touchscreen, although our sample was supplied with Windows 7 so this was no loss whatsoever, and we remain skeptical about touchscreens on non-hybrid laptops.

  Otherwise, the E5540's specification is contemporary but unexceptional. The system is based around a Haswell-generation Intel Core i5 4300U, which runs at a nominal 1.9GHz, but Turbo Boost as usual makes this specification rather unimportant. It allows a single core to lift to 2.9GHz when required, and both cores to run at 800MHz, where the processor decreases its consumption from 15W to 11.5W. The two physical cores are split into four virtual ones thanks to Hyper-Threading. So this is a capable and flexible low-power CPU.

  However, Dell has chosen to partner the Core i5 with just 4GB of 1,600MHz DDR3 SDRAM, which is a bit meager now that even Ultrabooks are beginning to standardize on 8GB. The RAM is not user-upgradeable, either, and incredibly you can't even specify a larger quantity at the time of purchase, which is a rather surprising drawback.

  Although the Core i5 processor has Intel's HD Graphics 4400 built in, this only comes into play when very light 3D acceleration is required, or none at all. When more serious acceleration is needed, Nvidia's Optimus technology brings a discrete GeForce GT 720M chipset into play. However, this is right at the bottom of Nvidia's mobile 7-series offerings, and based on the previous-generation Fermi architecture rather than the latest Kepler tech. As such, it only sports 96 CUDA cores, although it comes with its own 2GB supply of DDR3 memory. So its abilities will far exceed the Intel HD Graphics 4400, but won't provide hugely potent professional or gaming acceleration.

  Dell has taken a sensible price-sensitive route when it comes to storage, providing a Seagate Solid State Hybrid Drive that combines a 500GB 5,400rpm hard disk with 8GB of flash memory. This acts as a cache so that there is faster access to frequently used data, and the mechanical portion can spin down to conserve power occasionally. There's also a TSSTcorp SU-208CB DVD rewriter, so disc-based software can be installed and DVD movies viewed.

  Dell makes good use of the chassis size when it comes to connectivity. The left side houses a full-sized HDMI port, USB 3.0, an SD card reader as well as a slot for a smart card. A wireless radio switch is also available on this side, next to the power connection. This will be handy when traveling by air. The right-hand side is home to the tray-loading optical drive, plus a combined headphone and microphone minijack, USB 3.0 port, and VGA. There is also a single USB 2.0 port and wired LAN port on the rear, one in each of the two hinge areas, plus a USB 3.0 port on the right-hand corner. The E5540 is well endowed for wireless connectivity, too. The Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 7260 chipset supports the latest 802.11ac as well as 802.11a/b/g/n, with a 2x2 configuration. There's also Bluetooth 4.0 LE available.

  The E5540 provides a performance level that’s pretty much as we would expect from its specification. Despite the chassis size, however, the processor is more akin to an Ultrabook’s, so this laptop performs accordingly. The result of 2.54 in Maxon Cinebench R11.5's render test is on par for a Core i5 4300U, although the OpenGL score of 28.29 is about 50 per cent more than the processor's integrated graphics could manage, thanks to the GeForce GT 720M. In Maxon Cinebench R15, the rendering result of 246 and OpenGL result of 34.68 tell a similar story. The scores of 1,329 in Futuremark's 3DMark11 and 769 in the Firestrike 1.1 portion of 3DMark show abilities beyond integrated graphics as well, but not hugely so.

  

  The Futuremark PC Mark 8 Home result of 2,195 is exactly what we would expect of this CPU, but the Work score of 3,249 is a little above. So this system will be perfectly able to cope with everyday business activities, although it's no software powerhouse.

  Battery life is a significant disappointment, however. The E5540 only managed 183 minutes of PC Mark 8's Home test, and 150 minutes of our grueling Battery Eater Pro test. So it won't last you a whole work day, which is rather a drawback for what is otherwise a capable mainstream business all-rounder. Fortunately, the battery is removable and there is a 97Whr option. Our sample came with the 65WHr alternative, so the larger battery should deliver around 50 percent more time away from the power socket, which is much more respectable.

  Verdict

  The Dell Latitude E5540 is a well-specified corporate laptop with a reasonable price tag. It sports a good screen, plenty of storage, and all the ports and wireless connections you are likely to need. However, the non-upgradeable 4GB of RAM will reduce this notebook's useful working life, and we would recommend the larger 97Wh battery option if you do want to take it out of the office for extended periods, although it is rather large and heavy to be a true road warrior.

  Specifications

  Manufacturer and Model	Dell Latitude E5540
  Processor	1.9GHz Intel Core i5-4300U
  RAM	4GB 1600MHz DDR3 SDRAM
  Graphics	Intel HD Graphics 4400 and Nvidia GeForce GT 720M
  Hard disk	500GB Seagate ST500LM0 5,400rpm solid state hybrid disk
  Optical disc	TSSTcorp SU-208CB DVD-RW
  Display	15.6in Wide View LED backlit TFT with 1,920 x 1,080 pixels
  Networking	Gigabit Ethernet, 802.11a/b/g/n/ac Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0 LE
  Interfaces	3 x USB 3.0, 1 x USB 2.0, HDMI, VGA, combo headphone / microphone, LAN, SD card reader.
  Width x Depth x Height	379 x 250.5 x 29.7mm
  Weight	2.3kg
  Warranty	3 years NBD on-site

  Published under license from ITProPortal.com, a Net Communities Ltd Publication. All rights reserved.

  
• 

  Lenovo Yoga 2 Pro: A good ultrabook that also works as a tablet [Review]

  Publié: juin 3, 2014, 4:39pm CEST par James Morris

  

  Lenovo seems to be hedging its bets in the exciting new world of tablet-Ultrabook hybrids. The company offers models where the screen is removable, like the ThinkPad Helix, and also where it rotates, like the ThinkPad Yoga. The Yoga 2 Pro is the latest non-corporate version of the latter. The basic concept is the same as the ThinkPad Yoga, but it moves the genre forward considerably in one key area.

  The primary step forward is the screen, which has a whopping resolution of 3,200 x 1,800. This is even greater than the considerable 2,560 x 1,440 offered by Dell's XPS 11 2-in-1 Ultrabook, although the Yoga 2 Pro has a larger 13.3-inch display, like Toshiba's KIRA 101. It's an IPS screen, too, so doesn't suffer from the viewing angle issues of the cheaper TN variety, with the display clear from every position. Detail is superb, although colour is a little more muted than we would have expected.

  The usual issues with these new ultra-high resolution panels remain, however. The bundled Windows 8.1 apps are scaled accordingly, but software without direct support can suffer from ludicrously small dialog boxes and tiddly icons, as well as tiny text. The latest versions will catch up, and this is hardly Lenovo's fault, but it can make software fiddly to use, as the icons are so small you need extreme care to click on them properly.

  Inside, the Yoga 2 Pro is mostly up-to-date whilst being nothing special. The processor comes from Intel's latest Haswell range, in the shape of an ultra-low voltage 15W Core i5 4200U. This runs at a nominal 1.6GHz, but Turbo Boost allows a single core to lift to 2.6GHz, and both cores to reach 2.3GHz with a power increase to 25W. Hyper-Threading turns the two physical cores into four virtual ones. This is a decent if unexceptional CPU for this class of Ultrabook, and a choice we have already seen in a number of recent portables.

  However, Lenovo has only supplied the Yoga 2 Pro with 4GB of 1,600MHz DDR3 SDRAM as standard, which we now consider rather meagre, with 8GB a more comfortable option. Lenovo does also ship models with 8GB allied to a Core i7 4500U starting at £100 more, so this could be worth the extra outlay. The Core i5 processor also supplies the graphics. This is Intel's HD Graphics 4400, which sports 20 execution units, 25 per cent more than Intel HD Graphics 4000, although the maximum frequency is just 1GHz.

  In the production models currently on sale in the UK, storage comes in the shape of a 256GB or 512GB solid state disk (our £1000 price in the product box refers to the 256GB option). However, our sample was supplied with a 128GB Samsung unit, which is a little limited now that Ultrabooks are regularly supplied with twice as much. So the 256GB models are definitely a welcome baseline, although you pay quite a premium for the 512GB unit.

  

  As a Ultrabook, the Yoga 2 Pro shows few signs of compromise for its hybrid double-life. The Chiclet-style keyboard is reasonably comfortable, and whilst the smooth key surface and relatively shallow action don't make it the perfect typist's companion, it's in a different league to the Dell XPS 11 2-in-1 Ultrabook's keyboard. Our one criticism is the central placement of the trackpad, although we didn't suffer any issues with random pointer movement as a result.

  

  Of course, the Yoga's party trick is its rotating screen, which folds all the way over so that it faces outwards away from the keyboard rather than into it. This turns the Yoga 2 Pro into a somewhat large tablet. At 1.39kg, it's a heavy one, too, and the keyboard on the back makes it feel a little odd to hold. If you want to browse the web on a couch, making more comfortable use of the touchscreen, the Yoga 2 Pro will fit the bill. But if you are likely to use the tablet mode as much or more than the Ultrabook one, we would recommend the removable screen variety of hybrid like the Lenovo ThinkPad Helix or Asus Transformer Book T100.

  

  The Yoga 2 Pro isn't particularly bristling with connectivity. There's only a sync-and-charge USB 2.0 port and a combo headphone and microphone minijack on the right, although a volume rocker and screen orientation lock can also be found alongside. The left is home to a single USB 3.0 port, microHDMI, and the SD card slot. The Intel Wireless-N 7260 chipset supplies 802.11a, b and n Wi-Fi, but not the most recent ac standard.

  

  With its relatively modest ultra-low voltage CPU, the Yoga 2 Pro is no mobile powerhouse. However, the result of 2.32 in Cinebench R11.5's rendering test is decent enough, with the OpenGL score of 20.31 very respectable for this class of machine. Similarly, the Yoga 2 Pro managed 921 in Futuremark's 3DMark11 and 615 in the Firestrike 1.1 portion of 3DMark. Neither imply significant gaming ability, but they are also more than adequate for a Ultrabook.

  

  The result of 1,746 in the Home portion of Futuremark PC Mark 8 is relatively mediocre, although it does beat Dell's XPS 11 2-in-1 Ultrabook. Similarly, the score of 2,627 in the Work test surpasses the Dell, but is on the low side in general, with Toshiba's KIRA 101, for example, being noticeably more potent. The Yoga 2 Pro is also a little under par for battery life, although not by enough to be too critical. In Power Save mode, it managed 305 minutes of the PC Mark 8 Home test, achieving a score of 1,300. This is about an hour behind the best portables we have tested recently. You could expect more than this in less strenuous circumstances, but a full working day will require frugal activity. The Yoga 2 Pro lasted just 137 minutes in our strenuous Battery Eater test, too, underlining the system's mediocre battery life.

  

  Verdict

  The Yoga 2 Pro isn't the perfect choice as a tablet, and it also has a battery life that is slightly behind current competitors. However, the screen is incredible, and hasn't contributed to a hugely high price. With decent abilities as a Ultrabook, the hybrid tablet abilities are almost a bonus addition. Nevertheless, you will be better off buying it as a Ultrabook you can occasionally use as a tablet, rather than for a balance of the two. And if you can do without the tablet features and have a bit more to spend,Toshiba's KIRA 101 provides a more capable Ultrabook-only alternative.

  Specifications

  Manufacturer and Model	Lenovo Yoga 2 Pro
  Processor	1.6GHz Intel Core i5-4200U
  RAM	4GB 1600MHz DDR3 SDRAM
  Graphics	Intel HD Graphics 4400
  Storage	256GB solid state disk
  Optical disc	None
  Display	13.3in IPS Touch TFT with 3,200 x 1,800 pixels
  Networking	802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0
  Interfaces	1 x USB 3.0, 1 x USB 2.0, microHDMI, combo headphone / microphone, SD card reader.
  Width x Depth x Height	330 x 220 x 15.5mm
  Weight	1.39kg
  Warranty	1 years RTB warranty

  Published under license from ITProPortal.com, a Net Communities Ltd Publication. All rights reserved.