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Friday, August 26, 2011

LG A520-T.AE31G (3D/2820QM) Notebook Review

Even if the shutter 3D, and Toshiba is the latest in 3D without glasses comes to the market, the LG to revive the old technology polarizer. But the contrast FHD-screen and high, and a powerful Quad-Core is an interesting, even without 3D.

Almost two years have passed since not to bring your Acer Aspire 5738DG 3D to the attention of buyers. Almost no one wanted the player low 15.6-inch (Radeon HD 4570). Could evoke a dark effect and rather limited in 3D with polarized glasses. In addition, the GPU computes the executive fields and caused the delivery by 50% during the games.

Manufacturers quickly spread polarizers and Nvidia 3D Vision with active shutter glasses has become the standard for portable 3D (typically 120 Hz screens). Even had a vision Acer 3D in early October 2010 called Aspire 5745DG and demonstrated that 3D TriDef (polarizer technology software) is obsolete.

Now LG Electronics A520-T.31G faces us who rely solely on this technology from the polarizer 2009. Thing of the past? Patterned retarders and Film (FPR), display technology, the Acer better than then? All information about 3D and multimedia laptops can be found in our detailed review.

Specifications LG A520-T.AE31G :
  • Processor : Intel Core i7 2820QM 2.3 GHz
  • Mainboard : Intel HM65
  • Memory : 8192 MB, 2x4096MB PC3-10700 667MHz
  • Graphics adapter : NVIDIA GeForce GT 540M - 2048 MB, Core: 672 MHz, Memory: 900 MHz, Optimus Intel HD 3000, ForceWare 267.54
  • Display : 15.6 inch 16:9, 1920x1080 pixel, LP156WF2-TLA1, FPR, 3D TriDef with polarized eyeglasses, glossy: yes
  • Harddisk : Toshiba MK7559GSXP, 750GB 5400rpm
  • Soundcard : Realtek ALC269 @ Intel Cougar Point PCH - High Definition Audio Controller
  • Connections : 3 USB 2.0, 1 VGA, 1 HDMI, 1 Kensington Lock, Audio Connections: line out, microphone, Card Reader: SD, MS, MSPro, XD, 1 Fingerprint Reader,
  • Networking : Atheros AR8151 PCI-E Gigabit Ethernet Controller (10/100/1000MBit), 802.11 b/g/n (bgn), 3.0+HS Bluetooth
  • Optical drive : HL-DT-ST DVDRWBD CT30N
  • Size : height x width x depth (in mm): 36 x 375 x 249
  • Weight : 2.557 kg Power Supply: 0.358 kg
  • Battery : 57 Wh Lithium-Ion, 11.1V 5200 mAh
  • Price : 1500 Euro
  • Operating System : Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64 Bit
  • Additional features : Webcam: 1.3MP, 3D polarized eyeglasses and attachment for eyeglasses, DVD slot cover for reducing weight, DDD TriDef 3D, 24 Months Warranty,
Case
LG 15.6-inch model is a case of plastic and brushed aluminum. The lid has a black surface and the rest of the wrist is usually fresh touch, depending on usage. They are also resistant to pressure. We can also just press lightly on the lid surface.

Quality aluminum surfaces, however, be a problem: Fingerprints on stick like glue. Not all fingerprints disappeared after a strong rubbing with a cleaning cloth.

The thing is so stiff, but can be slightly bent by the force applied. The base has a pair of covers maintenance, clearly benefit. The hinges of the screen is mounted close to the matter and leave the lid barely stagger. Although the screen is held firmly in place, we only need one hand to open the laptop because of the high basis weight.

Display
Our A520-T.AE31G LG 15.6-inch screen has a 16:9. We are faced with a 1920x1080 Full HD (1080p) - a resolution that many players and computer workers wanted. The glossy screen like reading LP156WF2-TLA1 (LG-Phillips). The screen is evaporated with a special coating, film Patterned Retarder (RPF), which is also used in the 3D TV from LG.

FHD panel has a good 508:1 contrast of. This ensures sharp, brilliant color. On the other hand, is the color spectrum (ICC profile) is not so good. sRGB is clearly failed. 3D Contest, and the Asus G74S Vaio F21Z1EB (FHD time, Nvidia 3D Vision), is better than this screen in the form of reproducible colors.

The brightness of the screen evenly divided (85%). This means that the LED backlight of the deviations are very small (homogeneity). Minimum and maximum is only 31 cd/m2 each other. Brightness, however, is generally below average with a 195 cd/m2, but suitable for internal use.

If you go out in the sun and play a game StarCraft 2 with A520, you should look for a shady spot to avoid glare. Our photos were taken in direct sunlight and bright. Since 15.6-inch not to reduce its brightness in battery mode, the result is viable in certain angles. But the reflections interfere in almost any position.

The wide viewing angle compared to the A520 LG, unfortunately, is almost never a joy to watch. The contrast is stable horizontally or upside down (ghosting). Horizontal viewing angle is about 85 degrees. The TFT display can be left on the desktop. But it will be vertical, so that we can see the infamous ghost of about 25 degrees (bottom).

Performance
The Sandy Bridge 2820QM Quad-Core i7 with 4x2.3 GHz (default clock) is not as ubiquitous in the consumer notebook as their "little" brother, i7-2630QM. But if it ensures a strong application performance can be even faster with this high-end model.

The processor can be overclocked to 3.4 GHz and 2.0 Turbo Boost. You can read, if the cooling system that can handle the temperature. Please consult the datasheet for more information on the CPU.

The graphics memory controller and HD 3000 are built into the quad-core with a TDP (Thermal Design Power) of 45 watts. The IGP operation saves energy when Nvidia GT 540M Optimus times out. Memory is a mass of 750 GB Toshiba MK7559GSXP. Its rotation speed of 5400 rpm is not really fit the image of a high-level consumer. Is the system slow? The answer is given by the rate of performance of Windows 7.

Cinebench 11.5 CPU test (Multi, 64-bit), the price is not exactly as hoped, with 4.88 points. 2630QM is often used to get up to an average of 4.7 to 5.0 points, for example, the Acer Aspire 7750G. Workstation, the ThinkPad W520, and the player, the way Vista Alienware M17x R3 2820QM: 5.6 to 5.5 points.

Cooling system does not seem to be able to adequately cool the processor clock speed in order to remain well above 2.3 GHz (default) long. More about that temperature.

However, results vary. Our A520 CPU benchmarks are all poorer than other devices with the same processor. The 338 seconds as determined by the CPU benchmark, wPrime is better than the Alienware M17x R3 are 382s, but worse than the Lenovo ThinkPad W520 is 281s.

The newly revised desktop, Fujitsu Celsius H710 WXP11DE not even need 485s for testing - a speed that even the former can undermine 740QM.

PCMark Vantage is determined by a 8987 strong points. A significant number, even if the player power, the R3 Alienware M17x (GTX 580M, HDD), can only earn a little '(9453 points). Lenovo ThinkPad W520, which is better than the CPU benchmark, the results of even lower, with 8614 points. Apparently the weakness of the single processor benchmark does not affect the overall result.

We conducted PCMark 7, finishing with 2376 points. Alienware M17x R3 has a clear advantage here. Probably due to better assessment of the GTX 580 is pure GPU performance. This test was unfortunately still unknown for the Lenovo ThinkPad W520. But not so for Fujitsu Celsius H710, who scored 3695 points.

The last points show how impressive a device equipped with a SSD easily manage to do a very good system performance, CPU performance despite its below average in its class. The A520 could belong to the leading group in the performance of applications with a fast SSD.

GeForce GT 540 (2048 MB, DDR3) belongs to mid-range Nvidia. The chip supports DirectX 11 to close the memory is clocked at 672/900 MHz (core / memory), which in most test equipment. 3DMark2006 (1280x1024) ended with 8162 points. GeForce 6850M (~ 9700) is even higher with the same device memory. When we start using TriDef 3DMark06 score is halved in 4180/3108 (total / CPU).

3DMark Vantage Score (P4450) is a platform, the 540 GT should be accompanied by a powerful CPU. The new GT 555m is clearly stronger and even 5469 points. 3DMark 1009 performance reaches 11 points. 6550M HD (P1107), and even the old HD 5650 (P1024) look better here.

It 'a shame that LG does not use a SSD. But their small storage capacity would certainly have prevented many fans of multimedia. Together with a very powerful quad, PCMark Vantage HDD score was 3751 points even ridiculous, but instead 15000-20000.

This system can be increased above the results of PCMark Vantage and PCMark 7 significantly. Fujitsu Celsius H710 View (16628 / 3695 points).

HDTune (73 MB / s read) and Crystal Disk Mark 3.0 (84 MB / s read) reports that the Toshiba hard drive (750 GB, MK7559GSXP) is not bad, but the typical speed for a 5400 rpm drive. Rates may be slightly higher with a 7200 rpm hard drive, but the difference will be negligible.

Gaming performance
We have seen in the gaming performance of the 540M GT GPU details midrange. The data sheet shows all the games. High CPU our test device tend to offer a slight improvement in frame rate. However, potential buyers should not expect to jump very important. We do a randomized trial with StarCraft 2 and 3 of the dirt our test database. Ruse 2 and Dragon Age are not included in the database. All results reported were carried out without the 3D.