Price breaker. While everyone is into slim line with aluminum looks, Fujitsu brings out a roundly 14 incher with a matt screen for use out in the sun. It is the cheapest Core i5 in 13 and 14 inches for starting at 549 euros. Not everyone who wants to buy a notebook sees dedicated graphics as an indispensable element for their portable computer. The basics such as a matt display, good input devices, long battery runtimes, low waste heat and silent use are of more importance. And of course the price – which is just right in the case of our test device. 550 euros – a brand new Sandy Bridge Core i5 in a 13 and 14 inch device can't be found for less.
To finish off our Fujitsu test series, we got hold of a device for the above mentioned simple needs. The 14 incher Lifebook LH531 relies on the performance midrange, Core i5-2410M, but doesn't use dedicated graphics (Intel HD Graphics 3000). Gamers will stop reading here at latest. Ambitioned office users with need for mobility could however see a handy compromise of a well sized display and good portability in the 14 inch form factor. Find out how the Fujitsu Lifebook LH531 fares in our tests in this comprehensive review.
Performance
The Lifebook LH531 is currently available with two CPU alternatives (price difference of about 50 euros). Our test device is the stronger configuration with the latest Sandy Bridge CPU Core, i5-2410M (2x2.3 GHz) and a 500 GB Hitachi hard disk. The other LH531 alternative runs on an i3-2310M and a 320 GB hard disk. Please see the up to 2.9 GHz clocked (one core) Turbo 2.0 CPU's spec sheet for more technical details. The graphics chip, HD Graphics 3000, is incorporated into the processor (650-1100 MHz) and both RAM slots are equipped with 2048 MB each.
Is the i5-2410M (2x 2.3 GHz + Turbo 2.9 GHz) really necessary, or is the i3-2310M version (2x 2.1 GHz, no Turbo) enough? We compared both processors with the single core benchmark, Cinebench R10 Single 64bit first. It's 4564 to 3389 points (i5 vs. i3). The Turbo clearly has an advantage.
The same is true in Cinebench R10 Multi 64bit. The i5-2410M (4 threads) scores 9659 points. The i3 (4 threads) manages 7550 points. If you benefit from multi thread processing (e.g. video rendering, picture editing), you're better served with the i5. Although both CPUs calculate with four threads, the i5 can clock them with 4 x 2.3 GHz.
specifications Fujitsu Lifebook LH531 :
To finish off our Fujitsu test series, we got hold of a device for the above mentioned simple needs. The 14 incher Lifebook LH531 relies on the performance midrange, Core i5-2410M, but doesn't use dedicated graphics (Intel HD Graphics 3000). Gamers will stop reading here at latest. Ambitioned office users with need for mobility could however see a handy compromise of a well sized display and good portability in the 14 inch form factor. Find out how the Fujitsu Lifebook LH531 fares in our tests in this comprehensive review.
Performance
The Lifebook LH531 is currently available with two CPU alternatives (price difference of about 50 euros). Our test device is the stronger configuration with the latest Sandy Bridge CPU Core, i5-2410M (2x2.3 GHz) and a 500 GB Hitachi hard disk. The other LH531 alternative runs on an i3-2310M and a 320 GB hard disk. Please see the up to 2.9 GHz clocked (one core) Turbo 2.0 CPU's spec sheet for more technical details. The graphics chip, HD Graphics 3000, is incorporated into the processor (650-1100 MHz) and both RAM slots are equipped with 2048 MB each.
Is the i5-2410M (2x 2.3 GHz + Turbo 2.9 GHz) really necessary, or is the i3-2310M version (2x 2.1 GHz, no Turbo) enough? We compared both processors with the single core benchmark, Cinebench R10 Single 64bit first. It's 4564 to 3389 points (i5 vs. i3). The Turbo clearly has an advantage.
The same is true in Cinebench R10 Multi 64bit. The i5-2410M (4 threads) scores 9659 points. The i3 (4 threads) manages 7550 points. If you benefit from multi thread processing (e.g. video rendering, picture editing), you're better served with the i5. Although both CPUs calculate with four threads, the i5 can clock them with 4 x 2.3 GHz.
specifications Fujitsu Lifebook LH531 :
- Processor : Intel Core i5 2410M 2.3 GHz
- Mainboard : Intel HM65
- Memory : 4096 MB, SO DIMM, DDR3, 1333MHz, max 8GB
- Graphics adapter : Intel HD Graphics 3000
- Display : 14 inch 16:9, 1366x768 pixel, SAMSUNG 140AT07-501, glossy: no
- Harddisk : Hitachi HTS545050B9A300, 500GB 5400rpm
- Soundcard : Realtek ALC269 @ Intel Cougar Point PCH - High Definition Audio Controller
- Connections : 4 USB 2.0, 1 VGA, 1 HDMI, 1 Kensington Lock, Audio Connections: line out, microphone, Card Reader: SD/SDHC/MS/MS Pro, USB 1x Anytime USB charge function
- Networking : Realtek PCIe GBE Family Controller (10/100/1000MBit), Intel Centrino Advanced-N 6205 (abgn), 2.1 + EDR Bluetooth
- Optical drive : TSSTcorp CDDVDW TS-L633F
- Size : height x width x depth (in mm): 35.4 x 335 x 240
- Weight : 2.118 kg Power Supply: 0.235 kg
- Battery : 48 Wh Lithium-Ion, 4400mAh 10.8V
- Price : 599 Euro
- Operating System : Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64 Bit
- Additional features : Webcam: 1280x1024, Fujitsu Recovery, Nero Essentials, 12 Months Warranty.