Review Asus UL50Vf
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New ASUS UL50Vf is an update to the popular 15-inch model UL50Vt and equipped with the latest controller modes switchable graphics Nvidia Optimus to reduce energy consumption. The idea is not new switchable graphics, and why would we do this test a similar model? The answer is simple – because this is the first solution of its kind that works as it should.
Specification test ASUS UL50Vf:
| Processor: | Intel Core 2 Duo SU7300 CULV (1,3 GHz/3MB L2/800MHz FSB) razognany to 1,73 GHz/1066MHz FSB |
| OS: | Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit |
| Display: | 15 “720p 1366×768, with LED-backlit glossy |
| Video Card: | Nvidia GeForce G210M 512MB GDDR3, isolated and Intel GMA 4500MHD, built-in, switchable |
| Memory: | 4GB DDR3-1066 RAM |
| Data Warehouse: | 320GB 5400RPM hard drive |
| Wireless: | WiFi 802.11n, Bluetooth |
| Optical: | DVD Super Multi drive |
| Battery: | 8-cell Li-ion battery 84Wh (5800mAh) |
| Warranty: | 2 years |
| Dimensions (WxDxH): | 39,1 x 26,4 x 2,8 cm |
| Weight: | 2,4 kg |
Construction and Design
Design ASUS UL50Vf repeats UL50Vt design and is similar to the 14-inch UL80Vt. We UL50Vf already become a classic case in the form of a shell, with smooth shapes and rounded edges. The swept-loops attached to a laptop Aerospace species, and a plastic housing can make it fairly easy. With a thickness of 2.8 cm is definitely a very fine machine, and swept edges make it visually more subtle. We UL50Vf, as in all representatives of a series of UL, entirely plastic construction, except for aluminum display cover. All the front surface of the plastic made glossy, which means that fingerprints, dust and dirt will be on display for show. You have to frequently wipe them, and preferably from a special microfiber cloth to your notebook look like new and there were no scratches.
The display of polished aluminum is a stylish feature of the notebook and attaches a plastic hull extra strength. In the open state of the island-type keyboard (style Chiclet) helps make this, in principle, relatively dull in appearance, the laptop a bit more attractive. Under the keyboard are quite large and comfortable palm rest, which is convenient to pierce printing supplemented inscribed in them flush large touchpad.
The display of polished aluminum is a stylish feature of the notebook and attaches a plastic hull extra strength. In the open state of the island-type keyboard (style Chiclet) helps make this, in principle, relatively dull in appearance, the laptop a bit more attractive. Under the keyboard are quite large and comfortable palm rest, which is convenient to pierce printing supplemented inscribed in them flush large touchpad.
Unfortunately, all these brilliant panels, designed to give UL50Vf modern look and reduce the weight of the notebook, also contributed to the housing laptop turned flimsy and bending. We turned out just to bend a laptop, both with the lid closed and open, putting relatively little effort, which means that the laptop will threaten even a couple of heavy books in your bag or backpack. This flexibility also means the case that the internal power structure of the laptop case is strong enough to compensate for the weakness of its external plastic parts. In addition to all, plastic frame of the screen is so weak that it can be easily and almost effortlessly pull off the screen. In short, although the plastic body parts are not bad quality, lack of strong internal power structure and a weak housing mount some parts do not allow to call UL50Vf the same firm, like most 15-inch notebooks.
To facilitate access to the RAM and hard drive for upgrade to the bottom of the notebook provides a common access cover. We liked the fact that ASUS did not force the user turn away a few screws and open the two caps in order to replace both the disk and memory. Although the four screws in this case, too, and too much time on the upgrade will require more.
The screen and speakers
UL50Vf equipped with 15-inch display with LED backlight, 16:9 aspect ratio and a resolution of 1366×768. Glossy finish display provides better picture clarity in exchange for the glare and reflections when working in bright light or outdoors. We display a large supply of brightness, but contrast this stock imbalances, which means that the image is slightly faded, if you make the picture brighter.Horizontal viewing angles are quite make it possible to see a film with a friend on the plane, but vertical angles are limited, and to make the image looked fine, the screen needs to constantly adjust the slope of the forward and back. But most of all, we did not like the very low screen resolution of 1366×768. In fact, you are making fun of me? The same permission from the screen of our 11-inch Sony TZ. While for those who for some reason need a small screen resolution, this laptop will find, as in our time rather rarely seen 15-inch model with such a resolution.
Stereo speakers with UL50Vf lacks frequency response and bass. The volume level is not so great, even at maximum volume and the sound thin. What is strange, given the size of a laptop and moreover, the size of arrays of speakers, which are located on the bottom of the notebook. Although this arrangement partially conceals and damps the sound, because it focuses on your knees and between his legs, but not on you. Fortunately, laptop-quality headphone output, which in this case is simply salvation.
The keyboard and touchpad
We UL50Vf island type keyboard with a separate digital module, which will be useful to those who are used to quickly drive a large amount of data or control various functions of the applications through advanced digital block cursor. We keyboards of this type more distance with the press, which usually allows you to make fewer mistakes during fast typing. Unfortunately, the keyboard of the laptop is strong enough bend in the press, particularly in the area above the optical drive, right, so that the advantage of the availability of digital block nullified inconvenience of use due to bending the keyboard. At the keyboard is also quite noisy turn the key and it brings some discomfort to their klatsanem when printing.
Touchpad ELAN also represents a nothing particularly interesting, he has to the same limited funtsionalnost and few settings to optimize its performance. According to the glossy surface is difficult to slide, and dual key noisy, it is difficult to press and feedback when you almost nothing. We must strongly push the edges of the keys to make sure that the selected mouse button actually worked.
Ports and Features
We UL50Vf quite a decent set of ports, however, as in UL50Vt. There are three ports USB, HDMI output to connect your notebook to a high definition TV and VGA output for connecting to a projector or external monitor. We also have a built-in notebook Bluetooth.
Left: power connector, ventilation grates, card reader, output HDMI, two port USB, microphone and headphone jacks
Right: Port USB, optical drive, port Ethernet, VGA output and Kensington lock slot
Front: Speakers at the front edge of the notebook
Rear: Battery
Productivity and performance
UL50Vf ASUS initiative continues to disperse consumer processor Low Voltage (CULV) from 1,3 GHz to 1.73 GHz (133%), which is a solid addition to their performance standard processor. In combination with 4 GB of RAM and a good hard drive to 320GB, it makes an excellent performer UL50Vf everyday tasks, like working in Microsoft Office or Photoshop. It is also possible to charge and more difficult computing tasks, such as video processing, or games, thanks to the graphics card from Nvidia.
Of course, Nvidia GeForce G210M is a fairly common graphics card and therefore can not be comfortable for her to play games like Crysis. We tried to UL50Vt Games Left 4 Dead and World In Conflict and its screen resolution with medium graphics settings, the laptop is quite cope with them, providing it is playable renewal rate of 25 frames per second and above. Although ASUS UL50Vf definitely not a gaming notebook, graphic capabilities of Nvidia G210M should be enough to make from time to time aside for another game.
Itself, the big news is that UL50Vf first notebook equipped with the latest decision from the switchable graphics Nvidia Optimus. For the average user it is important that Optimus first solution that works the way and should work switchable graphics. In short, you just do not need to do in this respect nothing. Optimus automatically monitors the load on the graphics processor and, if the application requires the power of a dedicated graphics card, Optimus includes a graphics card NVidia. If at this moment there is no need for such power, the Nvidia graphics card is turned off and the work enters a low-power and cost-effective graphics chip from Intel.
As a result, it can get better performance if necessary, and better battery life when you just accessing the internet or working in Microsoft Office. Previous solutions to pereklyuchemoy graphics from Nvidia and ATI require direct user intervention. You need to have or to manually switch the notebook on the desired card or even reboot the laptop for that. As a result, many users forget about it and left the laptop in a dedicated graphics card mode, thinking about it only when unexpected excessive consumption of battery. Optimus is the first solution, in which you do not have to bother choosing a video card or verification of the previously selected mode.
If you are an advanced user and prefer to understand when your system uses a dedicated graphics card, and when built, you can manually select the desired card, by right-clicking the icon on the desired application. If you run there is a delay, a second or two, until Optimus determine the desired application and the type of video card or continue to use the built-in chip Intel, or switch to graphics Nvidia, but for most users, the delay will be invisible and unimportant. In addition, there is hope that Nvidia will reduce the delay with the next release of drivers. Frankly, we are so pleased this decision from NVidia, we would like to see all notebooks with integrated graphics began to emerge in such implementation.
Summing up, we compare the performance UL50Vf with other laptops. All tests were performed with overclocked to 1,73 GHz processor.
The comparison test CPU wPrime: (smaller values correspond to better performance):
PCMark05 measures overall system performance (higher values mean better performance):
Compares 3DMark06 graphics performance (higher values mean better performance):
HDTune assess the performance of hard disk:
Heat and Noise
In quiet mode UL50Vf virtually silent, as the cooling fan to be down or rotates very slowly. At full load, the fan spins up, but the noise level is still low, the fan is not howling and does not bother the neighbors or colleagues. Ventilation grille located on the left and a lot of heat does not display, unless you do serious calculations or not playing. Body laptop bad removes heat, handholds are not heated and the only really hot spot laptop is in the area near the ventilation grille on the left.
Battery life
UL50Vf lasted an impressive 8 o’clock 53 minutes while connected to the Internet via WiFi, in a selected balanced mode, the operating system and 70% screen brightness. Mobile users can easily get on board more than 9 hours with WiFi off and decrease the brightness of the screen. Thus, a large 8-cell battery has sufficient capacity for the processor CULV and switchable graphics.
Conclusion
ASUS UL50Vf impressive 15-inch laptop that uses impressive technology. 9 o’clock battery life and better at the moment the decision with switchable graphics make it simply irresistible. But, unfortunately, a flexible body, a screen with a very low resolution and the price of more than 33 000 rubles not make it with a compelling purchase. Nvidia Optimus – sci-fi technology, which we were very happy to feel, but we would love to see her in more interesting notebook. If you need a 15-inch notebook with excellent battery life and decent performance, sufficient even for video processing and, occasionally, games, the ASUS UL50Vf with switchable graphics would be a good choice for you. Just remember that the market there are other laptops with similar performance for less money.
For:
- Excellent working switchable graphics
- Excellent battery life
- Not a bad performance
Cons:
- Flimsy housing, and poor build quality
- Display low-resolution
- Inconvenient key touchpad
- Quite expensive