[A6-5350 & HD8750M laptop] Is this too good to be true? If not, is it usefull?

[The PyroPath]

Hi peeps,

Well, it has finally happend... My Acer Aspire 3628 AWXMI has finally kicked the bucket after 7 years of abuse. The hinges always were a sensitive point of this latop and it has endured a DIY fix 3 or 4 times glueing the thig back together, which always did the trick. However now the plastic of the frame is so badly degraded and metal parts have broken off that restauration once more is not going to work.

My old baby:



Specs:
CPU:
Intel Pentium M 735A (1.7GHz, 400MHz FSB, 2MB L2 cache)
Intel Centrino Mobile Technology , Intel Pentium M Processor
Intel 915GM Chipset
Memory:
256MB DDR II SDRAM
Expandable to 2GB DDR II SDRAM, on dual So Dimm sockets
Hard Drive:
80GB ATA 100 HDD
Optical Drive:
DVD Dual double layer
Optical Drive Details:
Read: 24X CD-ROM, 8X DVD-R, 8X DVD+R, 4X DVD+RW, 8X DVD-ROM, 4X DVD-RW, 2.4 DL DVD+R (double-layer)
Write: 24X CD-R, 10X CD-RW, 8X DVD-R, 8X DVD+R, 4X DVD+RW, 4X DVD-RW, 2.4 DL DVD+R (double-layer)
Display Size:
14.1" WXGA Acer CrystalBrite colour TFT LCD, 1280x800, 16.7 M colours
Graphics:
Intel� Graphics Media Accelerator 900 with up to 128 MB of shared memory, supporting Microsoft� DirectX� 9.0 and dual independent display
I/O Ports:
3 x USB 2.0 ports, 1 x PC Card slot (one Type II), External display (VGA) port, 1 x Headphones/speaker/line-out port, 1 x Microphone/line-in jack, 1 x Line-in jack, 1 x Ethernet (RJ-45) port, 1 x Modem (RJ-11) port, 1 x DC-in jack for AC adapter

Communications:
56Kbps ITU V.92 data fax software modem (PTT approval)
10/100Mbps Fast Ethernet, wake-on-lan ready
Integrated Intel� PRO/Wireless 2200BG network connection (dual-band 802.11b+g) Wi-Fi CERTIFIED� solution, supporting
Acer SignalUp wireless technology
Acer SignalUp Technology (PIFA Antenna, Panel Top Antenna)
Operating System:
Win XP Home
Software:
Acer Empowering Technology (eDataSecurity / eLock / ePerformance / eRecovery / eSettings /ePower / ePresentation Management)
Acer GridVista�, Acer Launch Manager, Aspire Arcade, Norton AntiVirus�, Adobe� Reader�, CyberLink� PowerProducer�, NTI CD-Maker�
Dimension:
334 (W) x 244 (D) x 28.6/35.2 (H) mm
Weight:
2.35kg
Battery:
44.4 W (6-cell) Li-ion battery packs, 2.5 hours battery life (depending on usage)

Unfortunately I just upgraded the battery and replaced the RAM so that's a bit off a loss.


Now I was searching for a replacement in the €450-€550 range and while I saw some nice A8-5550, A8-4500 and Ci3 laptops in that range my eyes spotted this one:


Acer Aspire V5-552-65356G50akk:

Windows 8 - AMD A - Series (A6 - 5357M, 2.90 GHz, 1 MB) - 39.6 cm (15.6 inch) LED - 16:9 HD - LCD - CineCrystal - AMD Radeon HD 8750M 2GB - 6 GB DDR3 SDRAM - 500 GB Serial ATA - No - Color Black - Weight 2.00 kg - Maximum Battery Run Time 4.50 hours (n)

Detailed Specs:

Product Features:
Processor Brand: AMD
Processor family: A-Series
Processor type: A6-5357M
Speed: 2.90 GHz
Cache:1024
Memory: 6144 MB
Max.Memory: 12288 MB
Memory type: DDR3
Hard disk size: 500 GB
SSD: No
Screen size: 15.6 inch
Screen type: WXGA
LED Screen: Yes
Matte screen: No
Touch screen: No
Resolution: 1366x768 px
Graphics card: AMD Radeon HD
Type of graphics card: HD8750M
Graphics Memory: 2048 MB
Card reader: SD
Soundcard: Yes
Speakers: Yes
Microphone jack: Yes
Headphone jack: Yes
USB 2.0: Yes, 2
USB 3.0: Yes, 1
VGA connector (D-Sub): Yes
HDMI: Yes
Network connector (RJ45): Yes
Gigabit LAN: Yes
Wireless Lan type: 802.11b/g/n
Bluetooth: Yes, Bluetooth 4.0 + HS
Webcam: Yes
Optical Drive: DVD ± RW DL
Operating system: Windows 8
Battery: Lithium Polymer Cells 4
Weight :2.0 Kg
Width: 381 mm
Depth: 256 mm
Battery Time: 4.5


This all for €499 inluding taxes!

Is this possible? Is this logical? The graphics cards is quite the model for that price, at least overhere (closest laptop with the same GPU has an i3 and is €150 more expensive!). But it also sounds a bit weird they would stick something higherish end and couple it with a A6-5357M? Does this sounds to good to be true? I can only find a model like this on the german Acer website. The Dutch Acer website doesn't have it listed, but it is in stock at some shops and only appeared last week. No Press release, no website, nothing...

If the information is correct, wouldn't the A6-5357M bottleneck the setup or shouldn't I be worried about that? I have absolutely no clue what for performance to expect form the A6-5357M because the few benchmarks that are available are all over the place. Just know it's basicly the BGA version of the A6-5350 wich doesn't really help in the benchmarks department because those are also few and far between...

Would this be a good CPU/GPU combo or is the CPU way too light and does it actually make more sense to go for a cobination with more powerful processor with a lighter GPU? (for instance a Ci3 3120M/GF GT635M combo for around the same price?)

Any Insights?

If you are interrested in helping me further have a look at Impossibly long URL because of filters, so just click it already ;-) and have a look. It's a Dutch website but most of the info would be self explanatory.

[The PyroPath]

No one? Not even Jim who can help me with this? :'(

[caveman-jim]

sorry bub - been busy at work

that's a great notebook for that price, I don't see you will need a more powerful CPU unless you're running heavy video editing / photoshop; it'll game really well, it'll play movies really well, it'll have great battery life and startup/shutdown on windows 8 - I think it's a solid choice.

the gpu selection is unusual and very welcomed I think, that's the spec I'd like for a general purpose notebook.

grab it and enjoy

[The PyroPath]

No problem Jim, tnx for the feedback!

That was exactly what I was thinking and since I am used to the old puppy up there I'm not very spoiled in the performance department. However once I saw this one it just didn't let me go. Don't need a high performance CPU T.B.H. and rather have a nice all in package. But this had me intreagued. Would that CPU be powerfull enough to utilize the dGPU? If so it would be a steal in my books and hapily trade in some CPU performance compared to an i3 Processor for a descent dGPU.

Was really hoping you would say it would be impossilbe or the CPU way to weak so I could just settle for a €430 lenovo with A8-4500 and a iGPU, save €70 and call it a day






If I do the wise thing and order it, I'll do a review if people would be interested. First I'll think it through for a moment. Next moment will be expensive enough with my well deserved holiday coming up and possibly buying a car ;-)

[The PyroPath]

Too bad, turns out it was too good to be true... was just informed it was a typo and is actually a 8450m :-(

[The PyroPath]

OK, I'm going nuts, another shop just popped up in the pricewatch who say the iGPU is a 8450G and the dGPU is a 8750... guess I'll just call them up tomorrow...

I've got the performance virus once again. And if the above seems to be incorrect also I have three options, or actually 4 if I strech the budget even more :

Samsung NP355E7C-S05NL - 17,3"- A6-4400M - Rad. HD7670M - 500GB - 4GB - € 545,05

HP Pavilion 17-e073ed - 17"- A8-5550M - Rad. HD8670M - 500GB - 8GB - €579 (do these crossfire?!? If yes, what to expect performance wise?)

Asus N56DP-S3007H - 15.6" - A10-4600M - Rad. HD7730M - 750GB - 8GB - €599

Asus K56CB-XX311H - 15,6" - Ci5 3337U - GF GT740M - 500GB - 6GB - €640 but this is going overboard budgetwise...

oh wat to do....

[caveman-jim]

Snag the N56DP-S3007H. Best bang/buck and a great gamer.

[The PyroPath]

Yeah, really love that model, but wouldn't the A8-5550 actually be faster? Benchmarks are few and far between in Richland territory, mostly passmark stuff and a futuremark benchmark. I don't know how accurate those are, but they show the A8 being superior to the A10 and richland comes with some extra features right? Question on is then, does it crossfire and if so how does it fare?

Will call about that Acer one though, curious as to which is the GPU and would save me 100 euros. Or should I in your opinion go with the Asus regardless?

[caveman-jim]

I don't know how the A8 would be faster given both the specs;

In the HP is A8-5555 is quad core Richland (so piledriver quad core), 2.1GHz base and 3.1Ghz turbo and has 8550G graphics (VLIW4, 256 cores, 554mhz base, 720mhz boost)

in the ASUS, the A10-4600M is quad core Trinity (piledriver quad core), 2.3ghz base and 3.2ghz turbo and has 7660G graphics (VLIW4, 384 cores, 496mhz base, 685mhz boost)

So, APU to APU, the ASUS wins.

Now the HP adds a discrete card, the HD8670M gpu, which is GCN (Mars XT, 28nm, part of Solar System series - 384 cores, 775hmz base 825 boost) and has 64bit mem interface with 1GB DDR3 memory at 800mhz. this runs in dual graphics (crossfire) for a performance boost.

The asus adds a discrete HD 7730M, which is GCN (Chelsea, 28nm, part of Southern Islands series - 512 cores, 575mhz base 675mhz boost, 128-bit mem interface with 2GB DDR3 memory at 900mhz. this runs as enduro, replaces the internal apu graphics.

so the asus has a faster apu, and a faster discrete gpu (will be faster than the a8 and 8670 in cfx dg).

the decision makers will be screen size and resolution, for me.

[Athlon-pv]

I would say check what kind of DDR3 memory is onboard and if it allows faster.

[The PyroPath]

I don't know how the A8 would be faster given both the specs;

In the HP is A8-5555 is quad core Richland (so piledriver quad core), 2.1GHz base and 3.1Ghz turbo and has 8550G graphics (VLIW4, 256 cores, 554mhz base, 720mhz boost)

in the ASUS, the A10-4600M is quad core Trinity (piledriver quad core), 2.3ghz base and 3.2ghz turbo and has 7660G graphics (VLIW4, 384 cores, 496mhz base, 685mhz boost)

So, APU to APU, the ASUS wins.

Now the HP adds a discrete card, the HD8670M gpu, which is GCN (Mars XT, 28nm, part of Solar System series - 384 cores, 775hmz base 825 boost) and has 64bit mem interface with 1GB DDR3 memory at 800mhz. this runs in dual graphics (crossfire) for a performance boost.

The asus adds a discrete HD 7730M, which is GCN (Chelsea, 28nm, part of Southern Islands series - 512 cores, 575mhz base 675mhz boost, 128-bit mem interface with 2GB DDR3 memory at 900mhz. this runs as enduro, replaces the internal apu graphics.

so the asus has a faster apu, and a faster discrete gpu (will be faster than the a8 and 8670 in cfx dg).

the decision makers will be screen size and resolution, for me.

Sorry for the confusion, but I meant the cpu part of the APU, which according to the few benchmarks available seems to be faster than the A10-4600m and this seems to be caused mainly due to a better working Turbocore mechanic.

Also, I called around for the Acer I mentioned at the beginning, but nobody seems to know for sure what they are selling and it's too big a hassle to order, try out and return because it,s not what was advertised...

All in all the ASUS seems to be the best package allround. Also found an MSI with an i3 3120 and GT645m with bigger screen and higher resolution. So on paper it walks all over the Asus. Practically however the MSI seems to have temperature trouble causing it to throttle, shutdown or roast your family jewels , has a low quality screen and t.b.h. is too fricking huge to carry around on the train. Seems like the 7730m can be used for dualgraphics since the latest beta's. Maybe unintended but maybe it's another bonus

Just was hoping I could do a nice review of something AMD and new, but rather have a better experience for myself than be a reviewer that's stuck with something he actually doesn't really like.

[The PyroPath]

I would say check what kind of DDR3 memory is onboard and if it allows faster.

In the Asus it's most commonly 1600 CL11

[caveman-jim]

Sorry for the confusion, but I meant the cpu part of the APU, which according to the few benchmarks available seems to be faster than the A10-4600m and this seems to be caused mainly due to a better working Turbocore mechanic.

The richland APU's do spend more time at boost clocks, both all core and single module and single thread. I don't know there would be a big enough difference to offset the GPU difference, to me.

[The PyroPath]

The richland APU's do spend more time at boost clocks, both all core and single module and single thread. I don't know there would be a big enough difference to offset the GPU difference, to me.

Tnx for the clarification. I'll just force some boostclocks then, since I ordered the Asus yesterday. Can't wait to get my hands on it

[caveman-jim]

Enjoy it and post when you get it

[CurrentlyPissed]

Jim, I know little to nothing... Scratch that nothing about APUs. For desktop use. Building a server/3rd pc/media PC/etc. When my brother visits it would also be used for a gaming pc. So gaming falls in a small requirement.

I figured APU would be perfect in this situation. What would you recommend for around $100-$150?

[FiggyG]

If you're not grabbing a discrete GPU, I'd go with an A10 series with a dual channel DDR3 1866 kit. The integrated GPU loves the bandwidth. Also, set your expectations to 720p gaming, medium details depending on the game. Sorry for not being Jim tho

[The PyroPath]

Enjoy it and post when you get it

Well I recieved the Laptop and while it is a nice machine I do have some problem(s). One is with the shop, they advertised it as having a keyboard backlight, which it doesn't and they keep beating around the bush about it (use combo X+Y to enable it bla bla, you must be doing it wrong) and the other is that the touchpad is croocked in the housing. while I've seen some pics with a little bit of hight difference mint actually has quite the gap

Here's some pics:









Sorry for crappy camera of my phone, just let me know if you want some closer/other shots

[caveman-jim]

Well I recieved the Laptop and while it is a nice machine I do have some problem(s). One is with the shop, they advertised it as having a keyboard backlight, which it doesn't and they keep beating around the bush about it (use combo X+Y to enable it bla bla, you must be doing it wrong) and the other is that the touchpad is croocked in the housing. while I've seen some pics with a little bit of hight difference mint actually has quite the gap
<snip>
Sorry for crappy camera of my phone, just let me know if you want some closer/other shots

Hmm, that's a bummer. I don't have one under my fingers to confirm how it's supposed to be but you could try the manufacturer tech support and show them the pic as well, maybe get them to talk to the shop that sold it.

[caveman-jim]

Jim, I know little to nothing... Scratch that nothing about APUs. For desktop use. Building a server/3rd pc/media PC/etc. When my brother visits it would also be used for a gaming pc. So gaming falls in a small requirement.

I figured APU would be perfect in this situation. What would you recommend for around $100-$150?

I would go with an A10-6800K and a nice A75 or A85 chipset matx mobo for $65-75, plus some fast memory; the memory really boosts GPU performance and the A10-6800K supports up to 2133Mhz. A 2x4GB kit shouldn't cost too much. If you want total platform cost of $150 then an A55 mobo and an A4 or A6, and some DDR3-1600 memory, aiming to game at 1366x768 or 720p.

Me and the family all run APU's, I have an A10-6700, my wife runs a A10-5700, my kids run A10-5800K's. We run 2x2GB or 2x4GB kits, speeds between 1600 and 1866. My eldest runs a FX 8350 and a 7970. Gotta be some benefit to being the caveman's family, right?

[CurrentlyPissed]

I would go with an A10-6800K and a nice A75 or A85 chipset matx mobo for $65-75, plus some fast memory; the memory really boosts GPU performance and the A10-6800K supports up to 2133Mhz. A 2x4GB kit shouldn't cost too much. If you want total platform cost of $150 then an A55 mobo and an A4 or A6, and some DDR3-1600 memory, aiming to game at 1366x768 or 720p.

Me and the family all run APU's, I have an A10-6700, my wife runs a A10-5700, my kids run A10-5800K's. We run 2x2GB or 2x4GB kits, speeds between 1600 and 1866. My eldest runs a FX 8350 and a 7970. Gotta be some benefit to being the caveman's family, right?

I actually have some 9-10-9-27 2x4GB Domingator GT 2000MHz @ 1.65 I was going to use on it.

So on the occasional game though, the 6800 would handle solo pretty decent?

[caveman-jim]

Yeah, the 6800 will game quite nicely at 1080p with that memory and using low/med settings. The 6800K supports up to 2133mhz so you might have some fun oc'ing the memory with it too

[CurrentlyPissed]

Thanks jim, went with the 6800k and this board ASRock FM2A85X Extreme6

http://www.microcenter.com/product/4...TX_Motherboard

Gonna put it all together this weekend and post up the results.

[caveman-jim]

[CurrentlyPissed]

Damn, starting to wonder if I should of waited for Kaveri.

[caveman-jim]

[CurrentlyPissed]

Don't get me wrong, this set up performs past my expectations. But if what I'm reading turns out to be even half way true. It's quite the jump.

Any idea if that will work in the MSI ITX board I bought?

[caveman-jim]

Kaveri is socket FM2+. So if you have a FM2+ plus board then it will work, they're starting to appear in market now. I don't believe that MSI board is one of them. Socket FM2+ is backwards compatible, so you can upgrade mobo and use socket FM2 processors (Trinity or Richland) in them. But you can't use FM2+ procs in FM2 boards. Kaveri isn't launching right now anyway.