星期五, 10月 29, 2010

搭載Intel Core i3之大尺寸超值NB-Acer Aspire 5741G改裝效能分享



從今年開始上市的NoteBook產品,在內在晶片組開始有些許變化
多年以來Intel Core 2 Duo的主要CPU架構也面臨到改朝換代的一刻
出現在PC市場已經有一兩年左右的Core i系列產品線,在2010年進軍了NB市場

近期Intel平台的NB產品,紛紛都使用新一代Intel的晶片組QM57/PM55/HM55
CPU方面的選擇有Intel一系列的Core i3、i5或i7 CPU,主要以Turboost技術或核心數做區別
最入門的Core i3 CPU為2C4T架構,雙核心並有HT模擬多核心技術,沒有支援Turboost自動超頻技術。
Core i5 CPU同為2C4T架構,並且同時支援HT與Turboost兩款技術
最高階的Core i7 CPU主要是實體四核心,同時支援HT技術,形成4C8T的架構

小弟先前已經介紹過兩款類似的Intel NB產品
第一款是15.6吋的Thirdwave Galleria MR4,使用Core i7-Q720
第二款則是12.1吋的Lenovo ThinkPad X201i,使用Core i3-330M
本篇要分享的主角是Acer 15.6吋NoteBook,搭載Intel Core i3-330M
定位在大尺寸的NB產品,CPU為目前入門級Core i3,想當然價位也屬於具有較佳的市場競爭力。

首先看到Acer Aspire 5741G外觀
在Acer Culv產品推出就主打13.3吋輕、薄、超長效的電視廣告
5741G同為新系列Aspire的設計,也同樣擁有以上的優點


外殼設計不同於以往平價NB的用料,常見的透明外膜設計不存在於5741G
上蓋使用銀灰色烤漆加霧面設計,底部使用一般常見的黑色霧面設計,整體質感佳


機身下方配置
左下為兩個系統燈號,右下方有5合1讀卡機(SD / MMC / xD / MS / MS Pro)


鍵盤使用俗稱的巧克力鍵盤,以平價產品來說,此鍵盤手感還可以接受,但不是太優就是了
觸控板兩旁使用仿金屬髮絲的設計,並非真正金屬用料,但使用起來確實為觸感加分不少


15.6吋鏡面背光螢幕,解析度1366X768,可以翻開角度大約150度
內建130萬畫素視訊鏡頭


螢幕與機體的轉軸處
電源按鈕開啟時為藍光,右方有硬碟與無線網路的訊號燈


機身右方
左起 2 X USB 2.0\8X Super Multi DL DVD燒錄光碟機\防盜鎖孔


機身左方
左起電源輸入\機身散熱孔\D-SUB\RJ45網路\HDMI支援HDCP\USB 2.0\Mic孔\耳機孔


官方重量規格為2.6公斤(含6 Cell電池)
圖中實測雖改用SSD,若使用HDD只多重25g,所以一般重量約為2.55Kg




Acer Aspire 5741G使用Intel最新Calpella架構
CPU為Intel Core i3-330M,時脈為133 X 16 => 2.13GHz,L3 3MB,雙核心支援HT技術
晶片組代號為HM55,相比於上一代的GM45,會有更好的效能表現。

效能方面的測試
OS自行安裝Windows7 Ultimate 64Bit
裝置管理員中的硬體資訊
與台灣市面的版本有三個不同的地方
分別為VGA ATI HD 5650,HDD改裝為SSD與DDR3擴充到8GB


Windows7系統效能


CPU效能測試
Super PI 32M => 33m 49.943s
CPUMARK99 => 327


Nuclearus Multi Core => 8243
Fritz Chess Benchmark => 8.06/3869


CrystalMark 2004R3 => 128764


CINEBENCH 11.5
OpenGL 12.16fps
CPU (Single Core) 0.69pts
MP Ratio 2.54x


PCMark Vantage => 8607


這樣的CPU效能與上一代的P8700對比,其實差距不大
也就是說雖然是最入門的Core i3等級,在效能上也已經與P8700接近平起平坐的水準
新一代Core i CPU在效能上因為L3 Cache加入,比起Core 2 Duo時期得確有明顯地增進
此外Core i3也為最新的32nm製程,在溫度與耗電量也會有所進步

對於NoteBook產品來說,能快速提升系統效能最佳的利器就是SSD
換裝CORSAIR FORCE SERIES F60,希望能讓Aspire 5741G可以發揮更好的效能


尺寸為2.5吋,代號為F60,最高效能可達到285/275 MB/s
Random 4K寫入效能可達50000 IOPS,大幅改善以往SSD在4K寫入效能不強的情況


ATTO DISK Benchmark超過128k以上測試時就達到最高讀取283.7 Mb/s,寫入261.8 MB/s
EVEREST File Benchmark超過1024k以上測試時就開始達到250 MB/s以上的效能


CrystalDiskMark 4K QD32 Read - 105.3 MB/s Write - 62.26 MB/s
AS SSD Benchmark
Seq Read - 192.96 MB/s Write - 52.90 MB/s
4K-64Thrd Read - 105.67 MB/s Write - 47.51 MB/s


搭配HM55晶片最高可達到283/261 MB/s,在Aspire 5741G上效能發揮得很不錯
許多消費者在購買NoteBook時,經常誤認為只要CPU或獨立顯示卡等級更高就是電腦速度越快
事實上如果不是將NoteBook拿來做影音繪圖轉檔(主要取決於CPU效能)或玩3D遊戲(主要取決於VGA效能)等用途。
如果是用在一般大多數使用狀況,如上網、聽音樂、開啟一般應用程式來說
想要快速提升系統存取效能,最好的方式就是改用高效能SSD,相信在開關機或是開啟大多數軟體都有明顯加快的感覺。

3D方面使用ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5650,1024MB GDDR3
3DMARK2006 - 7235


DEVIL MAY CRY4
DX10 1280 X 720 => 69.13/64.87/93.97/51.07 fps


StreetFighter IV Benchmark
1280 X 720 => 85.50FPS


Biohazard5 Benchmark
1280 X 720 => 19.5fps


大尺寸的NoteBook通常為了3D效能,都會另外加裝獨立顯示卡
測試中的5741G使用ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5650稱得上是中階等級以上的VGA
對於NB產品的3D效能等級來比較,5741G在以上幾款3D測試軟體都有很好的3D效能表現

DRAM效能
DDR3 1064.2 CL7 7-7-20 1T
Sandra Memory Bandwidth - 7354MB/s
EVEREST Memory Read - 9063MB/s


使用兩種常見的DRAM頻寬測試軟體都得到比上一代GM45晶片組還高50~100%的分數
新架構改用Memory Controller內建於CPU內的設計,對於系統整體效能也有一定的幫助
如果使用沒有內建GPU的Core i7 CPU來測頻寬的話,會得到更高的DDR3效能

CPU溫度表現
待機時 - 39~45度


CPU全速時 - 74~80度


32nm製程的CPU,在以上溫度軟體的表現上看起來沒有太大優勢
在實際使用中,5741G散發出來的風量卻沒有上述兩個軟體高
全速時反而只是有些微熱度的風,預估熱風的溫度只有50幾度左右
也許主機板本身的測溫軟體數據偏高,散熱孔溫度比起某些品牌的NoteBook產品還要低上一些。
散熱器發出的聲音也不高,而且在音量上沒有高頻的狀況,散熱這方面表現得不錯

影片放映對於CPU使用率測試
1280 X 720 => 23%


1440 X 1080 => 22%


比較以上兩種解析度的影片,對於CPU使用率幾乎是差不多的水準
主要也歸功於外接ATI HD 5650獨立顯示卡的優異2D/3D效能
使用者在這方面就不用擔心在高畫質影片會發生讓人苦惱的LAG情況

電池續航力
6Cell電池,Battery Eater Pro (開啟無線網路與藍芽裝置)
全速運作 - 1:21:19


待機運作 - 3:47:28


Battery Eater Pro測試中以CPU全速搭配3D效能來運作,電力使用時間預估是最短的狀態
如果在播放影片觀看的使用模式,亮度設定50% / 音量設定30%
5741G可以播放3小時左右,待機能力算是很優秀
以多款大尺寸NB產品來比較,電力表現已經比以往的機種還要好,Acer主打長效機種還是有其優勢。




總結Acer Aspire 5741G
優點
1.走平價路線的大尺寸NB,產品外殼與機體用料都沒有廉價感
2.搭載Intel最新一代的架構,在CPU、DDR3的效能都有明顯提升
3.散熱能力控制佳,測試中沒有碰到太過高溫的熱風,另外噪音也控制的不錯
4.採用類似塑膠材質卻有仿金屬髮絲設計的觸感
5.電池續航力時間較長、機體較為薄一點、重量也比一般同尺寸產品輕0.5~2.0Kg

缺點
1.產品型號用四個數字組合而成,消費者對單款產品比較沒有印象或容易搞混
2.喇叭單體的用料可以再加強,以獲得更好的音效品質
3.鍵盤的觸感與力回饋可以改用較好的料件

效能比 ★★★★★★★★☆☆
用料比 ★★★★★★★☆☆☆
規格比 ★★★★★★★★☆☆
外觀比 ★★★★★★★★★☆
性價比 ★★★★★★★★★☆
(以上是以HD 500GB與ATI HD 5450的評分結果)

喇叭最大音量時,聲音還算夠大
高音 - 表現還算不錯,不會有太過高亢而產生不舒服的音調
中音 - 清析度足夠,聽歌曲時人聲細節都有出來
低音 - 較為不足,重低音方面還是感覺得出不夠沉
整體音樂感還算不錯,雖然是雙喇叭設計但實際聆聽會誤以為單喇叭的設計,缺乏較佳的音場表現。



Acer Aspire 5741G有兩種版本,分別是Core i3與P6兩系列的CPU
價位落差只在台幣1000多元,十月Acer又推出新改版的5742G,外觀大同小異,配色上有些許不同。
5742G把獨立顯示卡改為Nvidia 420M繪圖晶片,CPU也往上升一兩個等級
價位與前一代5741G差不多,都在台幣兩萬初的價位,5742G的C/P值也相當不錯

雖然台灣市場上常見的5741G搭載ATI HD 5450,效能比測試中的5650還低一些
不過看到市售價格,如此的用料、設計與效能,其實是很能接受的產品,擁有一定的市場競爭力
如果預算在兩萬多元,用途主要在長時間室內使用,那選擇一台大尺寸的NoteBook是較為合適的選擇
Acer Aspire 5741G在質感、效能、售價都達到一個不錯的平衡點,如果有此價位與用途需求的消費者。
在選購前建議不妨把Aspire 5741G/5742G都多看幾眼,比較看看是否符合自己心中最佳C/P的產品 :)

最後附上小弟windwithme使用Spyder2校色後的檔案,分想給有購入5741G的使用者
windwithme Acer Aspire 5741G校色檔

星期六, 10月 23, 2010

High Performance ITX Platform Review-Intel Core i5-655K Air Cooling to 5GHz

The normal image of ITX platform for users is hard to find in the market, price is high and old generation chipset.
Even it’s the NoteBook CPU socket or SO-DIMM design to make ITX platform price go even higher.

Intel launched 32nm Core i3/i5 CPU early this year and also launched H55/H57 chipset at the same time.
Also, many MB manufacturers launched LGA 1156 ITX MB. The price is lower than past ITX MB.
New spec ITX MB uses PC spec CPU and DDR3 that makes ITX product be more easy to use and cheaper.



This review is to introduce the high performance ITX platform with latest products.
First of all, the CPU is Intel latest unlocked version, K series, Core i5 655K.


Left side is product manual and right side is 655K CPU.
The special thing is 655K and 875K don’t bundle original cooler.
Intel suppose the unlocked version CPU users will choose better performance cooler.


The clock is 3.2GHz supports Turbo Boost technology. The max speed is 3.46GHz.
Physical 2 Cores with Hyper-Threading can achieve 4 threads, called 2C/4T.
32nm manufacturing, L3 Cache is 4MB.


CPU back design can see the version and different design.
The built-in GPU clock is 733Mhz.


MB uses GIGABYTE H55N-USB3


2oz cooper PCB, USB 3.0, 3X USB Power, and On/Off Charge are advantage features.
2 X DIMM DDR3 support 800/1066/1333/1600(OC), and maximum capacity is 8GB.


1 X PCI-E X16 for user to install Low Profile VGA card.
Realtek ALC892 supports 7.1 channel and High Definition Audio technology.


24 + 4-PIN power connector.
4X  blue SATAII support by H55. It’s SATA2 and no RAID function.


IO
1 X DVI-D
1 X HDMI
1 X D-SUB
2 X USB 2.0(Yellow)
2 X USB 3.0(Blue)
1 X eSATA/USB 2.0 combo (Yellow)
1 X S/PDIF fiber output





USB 3.0 chip is NEC D720200F1


As per the components and spec, the user price is around 4000NTD, about 127USD.
Although there are only 3 ITX MB in the market, after comparing, H55N-USB3 C/P value is quite good.


System Configuration
CPU: Intel Core i5-655K
MB: GIGABYTE GA-H55N-USB3
DRAM: CORSAIR DOMINATOR CMD8GX3M4A1600C8
VGA: Intel Clarkdale 733MHz
HD: CORSAIR Force SSD 60GB
POWER: Thermaltake ElementQ 220W
Cooler: Intel Cooler
OS: Windows7 Ultimate 64bit

Case uses Thermaltake ElementQ for OC real test.
The product dimension is 130 x 220 x 330 mm


Left side is built-in 220W SFX PSU and also can install 2x 3.5” devices and 1x 5.25” device.
ElementQ design is for mute. However if you have system fan, it will be great help for internal heat flow.


As H55N-USB3 design layout, it causes ElementQ Power/Reset cables are not long enough.
Although MB and CASE are good C/P products, but you should know such detail before buying.
Real installation test, it should close the chassis and test how long can run normally under OC condition.

Performance Test
CPU 200 X 20 => 4000.4MHz 1.216V
DRAM DDR3 4GB 1600 CL8 8-8-24 1T
GPU 733MHz 64MB

Hyper 4 X PI 32M=> 15m 11.167s
CPUMARK 99 => 626


Nuclearus Multi Core => 15752
Fritz Chess Benchmark => 15.19/7293


CrystalMark 2004R3 => 198722


CINEBENCH R11.5
CPU => 3.36 pts
CPU(Single Core) => 1.35 pts


PCMark Vantage => 14672


655K OC to 4GHz is stable. The full speed temperature is around 70 degree C. The temperature control is also acceptable.
If the chassis is opened, using the original cooler can OC to 4.3GHz. The full speed temperature is around 90 degree C.
I personally hope to test OC in chassis to find the balance between stable, temperature and performance.
After many OC combo test, 4GHz is the most stable condition inside complete close for long time usage.


Currently, the best tool to enhance the system performance is SSD.
With CORSAIR FORCE SERIES F40, I hope it can have better performance in this ITX system.


Size is 2.5” and ID is F60. The highest performance is 285/275 MB/s.
Random 4K writing performance can reach 50000 IOPS which improve the 4K writing issue in past SSD.




ATTO DISK Benchmark over 16k benchmark result is max read 286.1 Mb/s and write 266.8 MB/s
EVEREST File Benchmark over 512k benchmark result also above 250 MB/s.


EVEREST Linear Read Average 235.1 MB/s
AS SSD Benchmark
Seq Read - 200.00 MB/s Write - 44.00 MB/s
4K-64Thrd Read - 102.03 MB/s Write - 56.93 MB/s


Recently, SSD price is dropping a little and performance is better due to controller chip improvement.
Some hi-end SSD almost reach the SATA2 300 MB/s bandwidth. I believe the market will be even booming after SATA3 being more popular.
ITX platform uses CORSAIR F60 can shorten the system boot, open application and access files time.


Now, I use open air to test the higher OC performance.
System Configuration
CPU: Intel Core i5-655K
MB: GIGABYTE GA-H55N-USB3
DRAM: CORSAIR DOMINATOR CMD8GX3M4A1600C8
VGA: Intel Clarkdale 733MHz
HD: CORSAIR Force SSD 60GB
POWER: ANTEC Neo ECO 400C
Cooler: Mega Shadow Deluxe Edition
OS: Windows7 Ultimate 64bit


BIOS OC setup
Tuning CPU ratio, frequency and DRAM multiplier page.
When pull the high clock, QPI Clock Ratio set at X44 is the best. The performance is also good.


CPU related technology items
C1E is for power saving. When CPU utilization rate is low, the CPU will lower the frequency and voltage.
Turbo Boost is opposite with C1E. When CPU loading is low, you still can pull to higher speed.


DRAM setup page supports X.M.P. auto OC technology.


DDR3 parameters setup page


Voltage page
Load-Line Calibration
CPU Vcore 0.50000~1.90000V
QPI/Vtt Voltage 1.050~1.990V
GraphicsCore 0.200~1.800V
PCH Core 0.950~1.500V
CPU PLL 1.000~2.580V
DRAM Voltage 1.300~2.600V


You can see GIGABYTE Micro ATX H55 BIOS items are rich and vary.
The overall OC ability is also good. I can pull 655K to 200MHz stable easily and don’t need high Vtt.
Above setup is for 200/1600 stable OC ratio. You may need to minor tuning due to the different components character.
You can refer to this setup as your need.

Performance Test
CPU 200 X 23 => 4600.4MHz 1.376V
DRAM DDR3 4GB 1600.2 CL8 8-8-24 1T
GPU 733MHz 64MB

Hyper 4 X PI 32M=> 13m 46.692s
CPUMARK 99 => 718


Nuclearus Multi Core => 18083
Fritz Chess Benchmark => 17.136/8333



CrystalMark 2004R3 => 217668


CINEBENCH R11.5
CPU => 3.83 pts
CPU(Single Core) => 1.55 pts


PCMark Vantage => 15924


After changing to high end CPU cooler, OC to 4.6GHz and pass the benchmark are not big deal. It pull high the performance 10~15%.
Due to 655K is 2 Cores, the OC range is higher than 4 or 6 Cores CPU. The perivous review of 660/661 also can achieve 4.6GHz.
Of course, you can see the strength of 32nm manufacture.
It really help to lower the temperature, power consumption and pull the CPU clock.

DRAM bandwidth test - DDR3 1600 CL8 8-8-24 1T  
CPU OC 4GHz
Sandra Memory Bandwidth - 15180 MB/s
EVEREST Memory Read - 12050 MB/s


CPU OC 4.6GHz
Sandra Memory Bandwidth - 15232 MB/s
EVEREST Memory Read - 12125 MB/s


You can see the difference between 655K and Core 2 Duo structure by the test result.
In the past, in LGA 775 platform, the higher CPU clock means higher DRAM bandwidth.
LGA 1156 built-in Memory Controller in CPU, so the CPU clock doesn’t impact DRAM performance much.
However this design make LGA 1156 basic DRAM bandwidth is 20~30% higher than LGA 775.
This is why even yopu pull LGA 775 CPU clock to extremely high, the bandwidth still cannot catch up LGA 1156.

Temperature
System standby - 40~41


CPU Full Speed - 71~73
Intel Burn Test v2.4,Stress Level Maximum


The standby temperature is not high and full speed at 73 is also acceptable.
If you use this cooler, CPU temperature will be higher inside the chassis.
But it still can long time use under acceptable temperature condition.

Power Consumption
CPU 4GHz
System Standby - 62W


CPU Full Speed - 100W


CPU 4.6GHz
System Standby - 68W


CPU Full Speed - 130W


No matter OC to 4G or 4.6G, the standby power consumption is lower than 70W.
The full speed gap is bigger, but the highest is around 130W. It’s very green platform.
If CPU works at default 3.2GHz, the power consumption will be much lower.

Finally, pull CPU voltage to 1.488V, 655K air cooling can OC to 5GHz.


CPUZ Certify
Intel Core i5 655K OC 5G / windwithme

Early Jan, I OC Core i5-660/661 CPU to 5GHz and now 655K also can OC to 5GHz.
And using 655K 5GHz to enter OS, the voltage is lower to 1.488V. You can see Intel CPU yield rate is improved.



Since Intel launched LGA 1156 in early 2010, 2 Cores CPU started to built-in GPU.
It becomes a new choice of ITX market, price and performance. CPU combination is more vary.
There are Core i3-530/540, Core i5-650/660/661/670/655K.
The price is also more flexible for different budget.

For MB, early this year DFI launched LANPARTY MI P55-T36, and few months later ECS announced H55H-I and GIGABYTE GA-H55N-USB3.
These 3 models all break the old barrier and image for this kind of products.
They all emphasize OC and rich BIOS items. The performance is almost same as Micro ATX or ATX MB.


No matter NooteBook or Desktop PC all go for smaller form factor.
Like PC, the normal size is ATX and smaller goes for Micro ATX.
Now, MB starts to move to ITX, and more MB brands provide the products.
Also Intel pushes new series Core i3/i5 CPU, 32nm manufacture and built-in GPU technology.
This year, ITX visibility is higher. I hope ITX products can be more popular and more brands to join this competition.
The customers can enjoy smaller PC which saves home space and good PC performance. :)