Acer Aspire Timeline X 3820TG in test
In Acer's Time Line series are mobility and long hp pavilion dv6-2157us battery life in the foreground. The new Time Line-X models but should also provide a high performance. ZDNet has tested the 13-inch model with 2.13 GHz Core i3 and hybrid ATI graphics.
Acer was with his Timeline series last year, one of the pioneers in the field of affordable, flat notebooks. The fact built ultra-low-voltage CPUs with lower clock speeds while enabling long battery life of more than five hours, with the performance we had to accept compromises. The successor to X timeline with standard CPUs and Hybrid-DirectX-11 graphics to be much faster and work just as long off the socket. ZDNet has been testing the 13-inch model Aspire X Timeline 3820TG (LX.PTB02.174).
While the first timeline generation has a plastic lid, the successor has a lid made of brushed aluminum. The material is only found on the back of the frame around the display is still plastic. The display hinges are solid, the chassis is in many places, such as the palm rests and lid, something with stronger pressure to. In practice this is not a real shortcoming that threatens the overall stability. When processing affords the Time Line X no weaknesses.
Although the surfaces are matte black, the electronic proximity leave visible marks with his fingers, as is shown clearly depending on the light more or less. On the high-gloss display frame, unfortunately they come to its full advantage - one is constantly trying to wipe them.
The additional equipment is also reflected in the form of an easily noticeable increase in weight: 1.85 pounds, the device is about 200 grams heavier than its predecessor, the Clio does 1.65 on the scale. The dimensions of 32.4 times 23.5 times 2.2 to 2.8 centimeters differ only slightly.
Acer has integrated in a 3820TG Chicklet keyboard between the keys are small distances. Typing, it provides a good feedback and sounds tired. The keys themselves are completely flat, the finger thus receives no guidance on the sides.
The 13.3-inch display with LED backlight dissolves the diagonal for the typical 1366 x 768 pixels. As usual, the glare coating ensures unwanted reflections, which weighs in at power-saving backlight dimmed even more difficult. The brightness of the display could be better. For outdoor use the 3820TG is less suitable.
Components
To allow for the flat design of the first timeline generation, Acer Ultra-Low-voltage Core 2 chips on base is used. In particular, although power consumption and waste heat from lower than standard chips, but which is paid for by lower clock speeds and as a result of lower performance.
In the new Time Line-X series, however, the standard versions of Intel's new Core-i-series are used. The tester expects to Core i3 330M (Arrandale). The chip runs at 2.13 GHz and has hyperthreading. Unlike the core i5 (except 430M) and Core i7 chips he has neither the hardwarbeschleunigte lenovo thinkpad z60m battery AES encryption nor the automatic overclocking Turbo Boost. Nevertheless, it is a very high-performance CPU, which has grown most tasks easily.
The PC Mark Vantage shows for the Acer Aspire Timeline 3820TG X with ATI graphics turned a significant performance advantage over a 1.3-GHz Core 2 Duo chipset with graphics, as used in the previous series.
On board are also 4 GB RAM (DDR3, 1066 MHz), which are exploited by the pre-installed 64-bit version of Windows 7 Home Premium full. The 500-gigabyte hard drive is working with 5400 revolutions per minute. An optical drive is not integrated.
The 3820TG offers three USB 2.0 ports. The more modern and efficient USB 3.0 one looks much as it currently stands in most notebooks in vain. ESATA is also absent. An audio output to SPDIF support, and a microphone are built against it. The Gigabit Ethernet port is located on the right. External monitors are analog VGA or via digital link via HDMI. Wireless connections are possible via WLAN or Bluetooth 2.1 to 802.11b/g/n.
Hybrid Graphics
Intel's discrete graphics solution is due to their low performance in comparison GPUs often ridiculed. It is undisputed, however, that it identifies the lowest energy consumption - especially in the notebook is a crucial factor. Acer 3820TG united in the best of two worlds: In addition to the already in-core CPU i3 integrated graphics unit is a discrete DirectX 11 Graphics type ATI Mobility Radeon 5470 with 512MB of its own memory to use.
The Intel graphics are active when the device is powered from the battery with energy. If the electricity from the power supply from the wall outlet and automatically switch to the ATI solution. That works without a restart, for technical reasons, but always acknowledged with a flicker of the screen. You can switch on an applet itself, for example, to also save on electricity energy. The ammeter shows tasächlich huge differences in electricity consumption: In the resting state requires the 3820TG with Intel graphics 13 watts (full display brightness, active WLAN), with the ATI chip, it is rich 21 watts - about 50 percent more.
Due to the principle does not always work: the ATI graphics is used by an open application of the automatic change, it remains active even after the removal of the power supply and sucks the battery is empty. An error message gives a hint. With the Optimus technology Konkurrekt the way Nvidia has a sophisticated solution offers: The GPU is switched on application. Blocking applications and flickering are not an issue. ZDNet has tested an Optimus notebook and documents the operation of the video.
In 3D Mark 06, the ATI brings three times the performance (1368 to 4139 points). Modern DirectX 10 and DirectX 11 games can still be played only at significantly reduced details. Who wants to see the full graphic splendor of such title, must resort to the most powerful GPUs. With the Intel graphics you need to try it before they start.
Hardware-encoding video using Cyberlink MediaShow Espresso supports the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5470 does not appear. The software offers the option of not.
Software and battery life
In addition to Windows 7 Home Premium is on the Acer, a backup software, a trial version of Office 2007, Adobe Reader, Google Toolbar, Norton Online Backup, McAfee Internet Security Suite, Skype and Windows Live Essentials installed. Some of the programs are represented by an icon on the desktop.
Given that the timeline used standard X-CPU (TDP 35 watts) is significantly more energy than the ultra-low-voltage chip, provides Acer with a more powerful Dell inspiron 6400 battery. Increases the capacity of 5600 mAh at 6200th
That's enough apparently to keep the running time off the power at the level of its predecessor: While surfing the Internet via WiFi and backlight dimmed by 3820TG holds good five hours. Less demanding tasks such as word processing, you can even carry more than six hours.
At low utilization can be heard by Time Line X only a faint noise. Under full load, the noise is much more present, but never really loud.
Conclusion
Acer has made with the Aspire X Timeline 3820TG a flat and sleek 13-inch notebook on the legs, which requires, in contrast to its predecessor, no performance sacrifice. The fast Core i3 and fleet graphics for most applications provide more than enough power. Since the graphics designed as a hybrid solution, and the battery capacity has increased slightly, the better performance in typical scenarios such as Web surfing is not at the expense of battery life.
Negative points are the reflective display that is especially for low power dimmed backlight is difficult to read, the slightly higher weight and the lack of optical drive. Who needs a DVD burner, can pick up the 14-inch model. The price of around € 750 for what is offered is in order.
