DTR notebook ASUS A4500D
Author:
Date: 22.12.2005 |
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Hardware capabilities
Traditionally, we start with the processor.
ASUS A4500D uses the mobile version of AMD Athlon 64 3000+. Although there aren't many differences, still they are there. The major advantages of the CPU is the use of ClawHammer core with the L2 cache size being 1 MB. The L1 cache is 128K, 64 K of which is for the L1 code and 64 K of L1 data. The model supports most instruction sets - MMX, 3DNow!, SSE, SSE2, as well as is compatible to 64-bit operating systems, e.g. MS Windows XP 64-bit. Unfortunately, the processor lacks support for SSE3. In fact, there aren't so many programs that use this instruction set, so it can hardly be regarded as a minus.
Among other things, Mobile Athlon 64, as it should be, offers the PowerNow! power-saving technology, more known for its desktop version as the Cool'n'Quiet. Owing to that, in the office work mode the system is able consuming less power, which favors to the prolongation of standalone battery operation and thus less heat emission to the atmosphere. These indicators are also related to the noise produced during operation. For example, under the minimum multiplier the processor cooler intermittently snaps on just to expel hot air. At the same time, at the maximum performance the fan doesn't stop at all (of course, unless you work with the notebook -25С outside). As regards the processor performance, it is more than enough for office work and most games. It's a pity the same can't be said about the installed video card.
Let's dwell on the motherboard and the chipset. The motherboard itself is made by ASUS, as is seen from the brown color of the textolyte. It is based on the already outdated NVIDIA's single-chip nForce 3 150 GO chip. We already know its "desktop" characteristics quite well, so we'd rather not accentuate on the specifications of the mobile version.
The chipset is compatible to AMD Socket754 processors offering single-channel memory controllers. To the AGP graphic interface, the mobile Radeon 9200 is plugged in. There is also support for SATA-150, and RAID features (not implemented), Gigabit LAN, six-channel AC'97 audio, and eight USB ports, of which merely four are implemented. The remaining is standard and is of no special interest.
Sempron/Athlon 64 Socket754 processors support the single-channel memory architecture only. Therefore, installing two memory modules is not mandatory. In our case, the notebook uses one DDR333 256 MB memory module by Nanya.
The overall memory capacity can be increased to 2 GB through fitting 1GB DDR 266/333 or 400 MHz into each SODIMM slot.
The Mobility Radeon 9200 video adapter offers 32 MB of own memory, uses 4 pixel pipelines with 1 TMU per each pipeline, and is hardware-compatible to Microsoft DirectX 8.1.
The video subsystem runs at 200MHz for the core and 460 MHz for the memory, respectively. The memory bus is 256-bit wide, which doesn't add much to the performance.
For tests we selected a few modern games and benchmarking suites 3DMark 2001, 3DMark 2003. Without too much skepticism we can say that the results are dejecting and aren't much better than the figures demonstrated by Intel's onboard graphics.
In fact, see for yourselves:
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Game:
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Result:
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Half-Life 2 (1024x768; High):
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21,36 FPS.
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Far Cry (1024x768; High):
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8.14 FPS
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Unreal Tournament 2004 (1024x768; High):
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33.75 FPS
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Halo: Combat Evolved (1024x768; High):
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13.09 FPS
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Quake III Arena (1024x768; High):
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99.0 FPS
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3DMark2001 SE Pro:
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4894 3DScore.
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3DMark03
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690 3DScore.
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If we push the resolution down to 800х600 and the graphics quality at least to the medium, the results would be much better. But that doesn't bring much joy. Also, in 100% cases the 512 MB of RAM is required.
The network support is implemented with a Marvell Yukon Gigabit network controller. In its turn, the 6-channel Realtek ALC650 codec is in charge of audio. Unfortunately, the capabilities of the latter are not yet implemented to the full, so you would have to buy a separate PCMCIA sound card to plug in a good multi-channel audio system.
The integrated modem offers nothing special, although its operation is quite satisfactory. Apart from its immediate purpose, the device can be programmatically tuned for sending or receiving faxes.
Among the shortcomings of the notebook is the lack of mini-PCI slot. Of course, the Wi-Fi module can be plugged via the USB as the manufacturer suggests or to buy a PCMCIA device. On the other hand, the USB version is not very convenient for a number of reasons, and the so valuable PCMCIA slot can be activated for other purposes as well. For example, to plug in a TV tuner, a sound card, a powerful modem, etc.
We did like the LCD screen matrix. The viewing angles are not high, and the screen also has negative TN+Film sides, but unlike similar offerings by competitors this product by ASUS offers good color rendition and high image contrast.
The integrated DVD-CDRW-drive by Matsushita (Panasonic) allows operating CD/CD-RW disks at 24Х and DVD at 8х. We did a CD/DVD read speed test with Ahead Nero CD-DVD Speed.
The HDD made by HITACHI proved quiet in operation, and here are its full specifications:
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Manufactured by:
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IBM/Hitachi.
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Hard disk family:
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Travelstar.
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Form factor:
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2’5”.
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Capacity:
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60 GB.
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Overall dimensions:
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100х70х9.5 mm
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Average spinup time:
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7.1 ms
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Rotational speed of the spindle:
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4200 RPM
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Maximum internal data transfer rate:
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350 Mbit/s;
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Average seek time:
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12 ms
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Inter-track transition time:
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2.5 ms
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Full seek time:
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23 ms
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Interface:
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UltraATA 100
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Buffer size:
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8 MB
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Maximum weight:
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100 g
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The last and very important system component - the battery, which was ruled out of the tests because of its incapacity. We received the notebook with the originally inoperative battery, so the tests failed.
The cooling system of the notebook is made at a very high standard, as it should be for a reputed manufacturer. Of course, there are some "excesses" which are not essential. For instance, at the system start-up the "roar" of all the fans resembles that of Boeing plane at take-off, but once the motherboard has undergone POST-checks they are disabled only upon attaining a certain temperature and then snap on again at 30% of the capacity.
The heat abstraction from the processor is done using three full-copper heat pipes which release heat to the common radiator with a 80-mm fan. Air is fed from the top via an air-inlet grid positioned near the left-hand speaker.
Therefore, air is blown downwards, so it doesn't make sense blocking the bottom grid so as to provide effective cooling. Besides, due to the fins of the processor's cooling system, part of the heat is released to the aluminum plate installed on the notebook lid.
The video card and the chipset use a simpler cooling, but anyway we found no signs of overheating.
You may think that the notebook makes much noise in operation, but I dare assure you that even during resource-demanding games and benchmarks the fans were not rotating to the full and produced no discomfort. That is another advantage.
Summing up
Summing up the results of today's test, we take the pleasure to note that DTR notebook ASUS A4500D has proved to be a good-quality and reliable product. Among the pluses is the fast processor, capacious hard disk, a good LCD matrix and the possibility to play modern games albeit at the minimum settings. We also can't help mentioning the outstanding package bundle, the good quality of cooling, as well as the affordable price in the end.
But there are shortcomings. And ASUS A4500D is no exception. The most essential shortcoming is the large size and weight. Anyway, we should not forget that the notebook is positioned as a replacement for the desktop PC, so it doesn't make sense imposing such requirements like "mobility" and "compactness" upon it. For that, there is an absolutely different class of notebooks, but that is a different story…
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