Notebookcheck Logo

Asus AsusPro Advanced BU401LA-CZ020G Ultrabook Review

Quality for little money? Asus wants to put the competition under pressure with affordable business laptops and equips its new 14-inch flagship with the currently fastest ULV processor, plenty of working memory, and a swift SSD to accomplish that. We will reveal why it is nevertheless not enough for first place in the category.

For the original German review, see here.

A few weeks ago, the AsusPro Advanced BU201LA carved out an admirable top ten placing in our subnotebook charts with an overall decent performance - a more than impressive outcome especially since Asus very rarely caught attention with premium business laptops in the past.

This now seems to be changing. The manufacturer recently provided a new model in the classic 14-inch sector dubbed AsusPro Advanced BU401LA that is to also convince with the highest quality for a comparatively low price. The term "affordable" is relative here: the entry-level configuration with a Core i5 CPU, 8 GB of RAM, and a 256 GB SSD costs a good 1000 Euros (~$1176). Our premium-line model with a Core i7-4650U adds up to almost 1150 Euros (~$1353). Compared with Toshiba's Tecra Z40 or Lenovo's ThinkPad T440, the BU401LA in fact seems quite cheap and is thus more aimed at the business mid-range where models like the ThinkPad L440, HP EliteBook 745 G2, or Dell Latitude E5450 are found.

Case

Solid build, impeccable manufacturing
Solid build, impeccable manufacturing

The AsusPro Advanced BU401LA does not even try to hide its relationship with the BU201LA and uses the same serious, businesslike design as its smaller sister model. Easy-to-clean, matte-gray surfaces and angular shapes characterize the looks - so, the typical office dress-code. The weight of just 1.67 kilograms is amazingly low for a 14-inch device. Alongside the slim dimensions - it has a height of only 19.8 millimeters - excellent mobility is ensured. For comparison: even the compact Latitude 14 E5450 weighs almost two kilograms and is roughly three millimeters higher.

The casing's feel and rigidness does not give much reason for complaint although it is comprised of a mixture of aluminum and plastic. The chassis did not warp anywhere even under high force no matter where we tugged and pressed it. The stiff screen proved just as exemplary owing to the carbon-fiber reinforcement. A solid metal hinge keeps the screen in position and reduces any rocking of the lid to a minimum. Yet, the device can be opened with one hand.

Asus has once again delivered a virtually impeccable product in terms of build, and thus it even outshines some more expensive contenders. As always, we can only judge the review sample at hand - unfortunately, certain quality fluctuations cannot be excluded regardless of the manufacturer.

Connectivity

Asus has adopted the interfaces without modifications from the precursor. While the three USB 3.0 ports and the fast Gbit LAN socket still have to be mentioned positively, we miss a modern DisplayPort-out for especially high-res screens. Even the BU201LA has one, but the user will have to be satisfied with HDMI and VGA in the BU401LA.

All interfaces, including an SD-card reader and headset jack, are distributed on the casing's sides. Connected cables and USB flash drives will not disturb the user much since they are positioned far back on the casing. However, rear-sided ports would be even more convenient for desktop use - this plus point goes to the Latitude E5450.

Front: no interfaces
Front: no interfaces
Left: power socket, Gbit LAN, HDMI, USB 3.0
Left: power socket, Gbit LAN, HDMI, USB 3.0
Rear: no interfaces
Rear: no interfaces
Left: SD-card reader, headset jack, 2x USB 3.0, VGA, Kensington lock
Left: SD-card reader, headset jack, 2x USB 3.0, VGA, Kensington lock

Communication

1.0 megapixel webcam
1.0 megapixel webcam

The Wi-Fi module from Intel dubbed Wireless-N 7260 supports both Bluetooth 4.0 and Wi-Fi in the 802.11 a/b/g/n standards, but not the high-speed 802.11 ac standard. Consequently, the gross data rate is limited to a maximum of 300 Mbps in the 2.4 or 5 GHz bands - providing that the involved router is also dual-stream capable. The connection convinced with impeccable stability and a decent though not above-average range in the test. The manufacturer, unfortunately, does not make retrofitting a WWAN module possible.

The BU401LA sports an integrated 1.0 megapixel camera and a corresponding array microphone for audio and video conferences. While we can only attest a very moderate quality, especially in low-light situations, for the webcam, the low-noise microphone frequently made an additional headset superfluous.

Security

Asus stresses the professional orientation of its BU401LA with a vast selection of different management and security features. The laptop not only sports the usual extras, such as a Kensington lock or fingerprint reader, it can also boast with a TPM and support for Intel's Small Business Advantage Package, as well as Anti-Theft and Computrace. We summarized just what these technologies are in our FAQ article.

Accessories

Like many other manufacturers, Asus is also stingy with accessories though that does not have to inevitably be seen as a point of criticism. Most users will not need more than the included power supply, various Windows and driver DVDs (Windows 7 Professional + Windows 8 Pro, both 64-bit version), and a few brochures.

Our review sample is also very clean in terms of software and is shipped without annoying toolbars and trial versions. The preloaded Windows 7 operating system only features some mostly quite useful tools that help the user, for example, creating backups or managing wireless networks.

Maintenance

Maintenance-friendly
Maintenance-friendly

Some Torx screws on the underside have to be removed before the inner hardware can be accessed. After that, the entire base plate can be lifted off with a bit of effort. Besides the screw-fastened battery, it is possible to replace the hard drive (2.5-inches, 7 millimeters height), working memory (one DIMM slot, filled), or Wi-Fi module in a few steps. Handy: an empty mSATA slot allows retrofitting a second SSD or parallel operation of SSD and HDD in case the 2.5-inch slot is equipped with a conventional hard drive.

Warranty

Unlike Lenovo's ThinkPad L440 or Dell's Latitude E5450, where the manufacturers only include a 12-month factory warranty, the price of the AsusPro BU401LA contains a 24-month pickup & return service. An upgrade to a total of three years for an extra 140 Euros (~$164) is not exactly cheap but involves an on-site service for the next business day.

Input Devices

Keyboard

Pretty much like Lenovo, Asus uses the same keyboard in multiple model lines. In this case, we know the backlit, chiclet keyboard from the BU201LA. Only the casing's lateral bezel is a bit narrower.

From a quality point of view, we can only repeat the almost exuberant praise of the former test: generous drop, crisp stroke, outstanding typing feel - the AsusPro line most certainly does not have to hide from an EliteBook or ThinkPad in this respect. Some users might at most find the rather prominent, mechanical clattering noise of the 15 x 15 millimeter keys less appealing. However, we find the matching acoustic accompaniment of our haptic impression in it.

Touchpad

It is too bad that Asus has axed the TrackPoint of the 12-inch model in the BU401LA. However, the touchpad has grown to 10.6 x 6.1 centimeters. As usual, the input device supports various multi-touch gestures with two or three fingers, as well as additional features like palm recognition or automatic deactivation when an external mouse is connected. The gliding properties of the very sleek, glass-like surface are impeccable. Only moist hands might lead to a slight lag.

Instead of integrated mouse buttons (ClickPad design), the laptop has two dedicated keys, which is very welcome from an ergonomic point of view. Even complicated drag'n'drop actions are performed quickly and accurately owing to the clearly defined, medium stroke.

Keyboard
Keyboard
Touchpad
Touchpad

Display

We do not really understand why Asus only equips the BU201LA with a Full HD screen, in contrast to the larger BU401LA that has to be satisfied with the HD+ resolution of 1600x900 pixels. That puts the review sample somewhere in the midfield in the category comparison. EliteBook 745 G2 and ThinkPad L440 buyers can opt for either WXGA (1366x768 pixels) or HD+; the Latitude E5450 is offered with either WXGA or Full HD.

The resolution and screen diagonal leads to a pixel density of 131 dpi, which ensures a sufficiently sharp reproduction from a normal viewing distance. However, more desktop space never hurts particularly in an office laptop, and we would not at all mind if the manufacturer would improve this in a potential successor.

We see a much greater need for improvement in the screen's brightness. A maximum of 209 cd/m² is definitely too little for a mobile work device. It is easily surpassed by the ThinkPad L440 (HD+ model: 233 cd/m²) and Latitude 14 (Full HD model: 271 cd/m²). Additionally, the brightness control of our review sample was defective, and we could not set any intermediate rates between minimum and maximum brightness.

215
cd/m²
218
cd/m²
213
cd/m²
219
cd/m²
216
cd/m²
208
cd/m²
203
cd/m²
196
cd/m²
194
cd/m²
Distribution of brightness
AUO B140RTN03 tested with X-Rite i1Pro 2
Maximum: 219 cd/m² (Nits) Average: 209.1 cd/m²
Brightness Distribution: 89 %
Center on Battery: 216 cd/m²
Contrast: 495:1 (Black: 0.436 cd/m²)
ΔE Color 9.63 | 0.5-29.43 Ø5
ΔE Greyscale 10.72 | 0.57-98 Ø5.3
44.8% AdobeRGB 1998 (Argyll 1.6.3 3D)
48.67% AdobeRGB 1998 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
69.8% sRGB (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
46.98% Display P3 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
Gamma: 2.49

Considering it is a TN screen, the model from the Taiwanese manufacturer AUO supplies a quite decent image quality. The black level (0.44 cd/m²) and contrast ratio (495:1) are roughly half as good as in a high-quality IPS model, as the comparison with Dell's contender proves (E5450 Full HD: 1007:1). The picture looks very appealing and vivid subjectively, and even multimedia applications like videos are enjoyable.

The color and grayscale reproduction are not exactly the screen's specialty. In view of the two-digit DeltaE shift in some cases in state of delivery, a subsequent calibration seems highly recommendable - especially since it eliminates the visible bluish cast. Photographers and graphics editors should use an external screen because the very limited color space (sRGB coverage: 62.9%; AdobeRGB coverage: 44.8%) will not satisfy the needs of professional users from these fields.

BU401LA vs. AdobeRGB (t)
BU401LA vs. AdobeRGB (t)
BU401LA vs. sRGB (t)
BU401LA vs. sRGB (t)
Grayscale (non-calibrated)
Grayscale (non-calibrated)
ColorChecker (non-calibrated)
ColorChecker (non-calibrated)
Saturation Sweeps (non-calibrated)
Saturation Sweeps (non-calibrated)
Grayscale (calibrated)
Grayscale (calibrated)
ColorChecker (calibrated)
ColorChecker (calibrated)
Saturation Sweeps (calibrated)
Saturation Sweeps (calibrated)

Since the screen's non-glare surfaces at least partly makes up for the far too low brightness, the laptop is basically suitable for outdoor use. Content can be recognized easily in cloudy conditions, but the BU401LA will hardly be able to defy direct sunlight. The almost twice as bright screen in the 12-inch model does a much better job here.

Outdoors (cloudy)
Viewing angles: Asus AsusPro Advanced BU401LA-CZ020G
Viewing angles: Asus AsusPro Advanced BU401LA-CZ020G

Asus advertises the screen with the title "Wide View Angle," which made us a bit wary at first in view of the installed TN screen. However, there is no need for that. In fact, the reproduction only changes insignificantly over a wide viewing-angle range, which is otherwise only known from considerably more expensive IPS screen. The contrast ratio first decreases noticeably in very extreme deviations, in particular downward, and single colors are no longer displayed accurately.

Performance

Maximum Turbo clock rate: 3.3 GHz
Maximum Turbo clock rate: 3.3 GHz

Intel's Core i7-4650U can be described as a close relative of the frequently tested Core i7-4600U. Its slower-clocked CPU part distinguishes it with a base speed of 1.7 GHz (4600U: 2.1 GHz). The maximum Turbo of 2.9 (2 cores) and 3.3 GHz (1 core) is just as identical as the specified TDP of 15 watts. As the name indicates, the dual-core processor built in the 22-nanometer process belongs to the fourth Core "Haswell" generation - the Broadwell-based successor is already waiting in the wings and is to be introduced in January 2015.

The actual highlight of the Core i7-4650U is its integrated graphics unit. While the HD Graphics 4400 of most other ULV models only has 20 so-called Execution Units (EUs), the "50" at the end of the CPU's name discloses the stronger HD Graphics 5000 with an impressive 40 EUs. The GPU that clocks with up to 1100 MHz supports DirectX 11.1 and Intel's Quick Sync feature for faster video converting, among other things.

The laptop's memory is composed of 4 GB of RAM directly on the motherboard, and an additional 4 GB DDR3L-1600 module that is inserted into the device's sole DIMM slot. At least that allows the working memory to operate in the speedy dual-channel mode, though it is awkward to upgrade. All frequently used applications and user data are stored on a 256 GB SSD.

System information: Asus AsusPro Advanced BU401LA-CZ020G

Processor

Full power in battery mode
Full power in battery mode

The AsusPro is a bit at a loss compared with the ThinkPad L440 and Lifebook E544 due to its frugal 15-watt processor; its CPU performance in multi-threading in particular. The higher performance of 16% for the Core i5-4210M and 26% for the Core i5-4330M in Cinebench R11.5 is also set against a not insignificant TDP difference, seeing that Intel classifies these two models in the 37-watt category. It is considerably tighter when one core is loaded and the Core i7-4650U can keep up quite well owing to its strong Turbo BoostHP's EliteBook 745 G2, powered by a quad-core APU from AMD, comes in last in this comparison.

The BU401LA does not lose any of its power in battery mode and achieves an identical 2.9 points in the multi-core test. The single-core score of 1.41 points is also virtually the same - exemplary!

Cinebench R11.5
CPU Single 64Bit (sort by value)
Asus ASUSPRO Advanced BU401LA-CZ020G
HD Graphics 5000, 4650U, Liteonit LCS-256M6S
1.42 Points
Lenovo Thinkpad L440
HD Graphics 4600, 4330M, 500 GB - 5400 rpm
1.51 Points +6%
Fujitsu Lifebook E544
HD Graphics 4600, 4210M, Seagate ST500LM000 Solid State Hybrid Drive
1.39 Points -2%
Dell Latitude 14 E5450
HD Graphics 4400, 4310U, Lite-On LCS-128L9S
1.11 Points -22%
HP Elitebook 745 G2
Radeon R6 (Kaveri), A10 Pro-7350B, Hitachi Travelstar Z7K500 HTS725050A7E630
0.68 Points -52%
CPU Multi 64Bit (sort by value)
Asus ASUSPRO Advanced BU401LA-CZ020G
HD Graphics 5000, 4650U, Liteonit LCS-256M6S
2.9 Points
Lenovo Thinkpad L440
HD Graphics 4600, 4330M, 500 GB - 5400 rpm
3.66 Points +26%
Fujitsu Lifebook E544
HD Graphics 4600, 4210M, Seagate ST500LM000 Solid State Hybrid Drive
3.35 Points +16%
Dell Latitude 14 E5450
HD Graphics 4400, 4310U, Lite-On LCS-128L9S
2.94 Points +1%
HP Elitebook 745 G2
Radeon R6 (Kaveri), A10 Pro-7350B, Hitachi Travelstar Z7K500 HTS725050A7E630
1.83 Points -37%
Cinebench R15
CPU Single 64Bit (sort by value)
Asus ASUSPRO Advanced BU401LA-CZ020G
HD Graphics 5000, 4650U, Liteonit LCS-256M6S
124 Points
Fujitsu Lifebook E544
HD Graphics 4600, 4210M, Seagate ST500LM000 Solid State Hybrid Drive
121 Points -2%
Dell Latitude 14 E5450
HD Graphics 4400, 4310U, Lite-On LCS-128L9S
93 Points -25%
HP Elitebook 745 G2
Radeon R6 (Kaveri), A10 Pro-7350B, Hitachi Travelstar Z7K500 HTS725050A7E630
49 Points -60%
CPU Multi 64Bit (sort by value)
Asus ASUSPRO Advanced BU401LA-CZ020G
HD Graphics 5000, 4650U, Liteonit LCS-256M6S
271 Points
Fujitsu Lifebook E544
HD Graphics 4600, 4210M, Seagate ST500LM000 Solid State Hybrid Drive
304 Points +12%
Dell Latitude 14 E5450
HD Graphics 4400, 4310U, Lite-On LCS-128L9S
268 Points -1%
HP Elitebook 745 G2
Radeon R6 (Kaveri), A10 Pro-7350B, Hitachi Travelstar Z7K500 HTS725050A7E630
162 Points -40%
X264 HD Benchmark 4.0
Pass 1 (sort by value)
Asus ASUSPRO Advanced BU401LA-CZ020G
HD Graphics 5000, 4650U, Liteonit LCS-256M6S
95.5 fps
Fujitsu Lifebook E544
HD Graphics 4600, 4210M, Seagate ST500LM000 Solid State Hybrid Drive
95.2 fps 0%
Pass 2 (sort by value)
Asus ASUSPRO Advanced BU401LA-CZ020G
HD Graphics 5000, 4650U, Liteonit LCS-256M6S
18.37 fps
Fujitsu Lifebook E544
HD Graphics 4600, 4210M, Seagate ST500LM000 Solid State Hybrid Drive
19.33 fps +5%
Cinebench R10 Shading 32Bit
7959
Cinebench R10 Rendering Multiple CPUs 32Bit
9789
Cinebench R10 Rendering Single 32Bit
4755
Cinebench R10 Shading 64Bit
8517 Points
Cinebench R10 Rendering Multiple CPUs 64Bit
12576 Points
Cinebench R10 Rendering Single CPUs 64Bit
6241 Points
Cinebench R11.5 OpenGL 64Bit
24.76 fps
Cinebench R11.5 CPU Multi 64Bit
2.9 Points
Cinebench R11.5 CPU Single 64Bit
1.42 Points
Cinebench R15 CPU Single 64Bit
124 Points
Cinebench R15 Ref. Match 64Bit
63.3 %
Cinebench R15 CPU Multi 64Bit
271 Points
Help

Storage Devices

AS SSD benchmark
AS SSD benchmark

As appropriate for the category, our review sample relies on a swift SSD with a generous storage capacity of 256 GB. To be more precise, it is a Lite-On LC-256M6S in a 2.5-inch format. It is likely a model based on the Marvel controller 88SS9174 combined with an MLC-NAND flash.

The drive's excellent performance is beyond doubt. Almost 500 MB/s in sequential read and a write speed of approximately 400 MB/s are just as impressive as the outstanding results in the 4K tests. The LCS-256M6S can even stand up to a Samsung PM851, for example.

Liteonit LCS-256M6S
Transfer Rate Minimum: 166.1 MB/s
Transfer Rate Maximum: 446.2 MB/s
Transfer Rate Average: 374.9 MB/s
Access Time: 0.1 ms
Burst Rate: 371.1 MB/s
CPU Usage: 1 %

System Performance

Our entire test field is close in the synthetic system performance benchmark PCMark 8, which is to give a general statement about the laptop's everyday performance. The competitive performance of the low-priced EliteBook 745 G2 is particularly surprising here. The SSD is apparently compensated for with the strong OpenCL performance of AMD's APU. To what extent that pays off in practice will, however, strongly depend on the used software.

Our subjective experiences with the BU401LA were throughout positive, which is particularly owed to the highly responsive SSD besides the fast processor. No matter whether booting or loading, installations or multitasking - hardly a buyer will complain about lack of power. Users who only use the laptop for basic office tasks will not fully exhaust the existing reserves anyway.

PCMark 8 - Home Score Accelerated v2 (sort by value)
Asus ASUSPRO Advanced BU401LA-CZ020G
HD Graphics 5000, 4650U, Liteonit LCS-256M6S
2711 Points
Lenovo ThinkPad L440 20AT004QGE
HD Graphics 4600, 4300M, Intel SSD 520 Series SSDSC2BW180A3L
2590 Points -4%
Fujitsu Lifebook E544
HD Graphics 4600, 4210M, Seagate ST500LM000 Solid State Hybrid Drive
2521 Points -7%
Dell Latitude 14 E5450
HD Graphics 4400, 4310U, Lite-On LCS-128L9S
2824 Points +4%
HP Elitebook 745 G2
Radeon R6 (Kaveri), A10 Pro-7350B, Hitachi Travelstar Z7K500 HTS725050A7E630
2444 Points -10%
PCMark 7 - Score (sort by value)
Asus ASUSPRO Advanced BU401LA-CZ020G
HD Graphics 5000, 4650U, Liteonit LCS-256M6S
5190 Points
Fujitsu Lifebook E544
HD Graphics 4600, 4210M, Seagate ST500LM000 Solid State Hybrid Drive
3439 Points -34%
Dell Latitude 14 E5450
HD Graphics 4400, 4310U, Lite-On LCS-128L9S
3469 Points -33%
HP Elitebook 745 G2
Radeon R6 (Kaveri), A10 Pro-7350B, Hitachi Travelstar Z7K500 HTS725050A7E630
2005 Points -61%
PCMark 7 Score
5190 points
PCMark 8 Home Score Accelerated v2
2711 points
PCMark 8 Creative Score Accelerated v2
2495 points
PCMark 8 Work Score Accelerated v2
3261 points
Help

Graphics Card

Although the HD Graphics 5000 has roughly twice the computing power of the HD 4400 or HD 4600 on paper, the performance plus is considerably lower in practice. One reason is the limited memory bandwidth that is still a performance-devouring bottleneck even as a DDR3-1600 in dual-channel array (25.6 GB/s). Another is that the low TDP prevents fully exhausting the available Turbo Boost headroom - a much higher GPU clock speed than approximately 500 - 600 MHz is not possible during permanent 3D load.

Consequently, the HD 5000 has to even let dedicated entry-level accelerators like Nvidia's GeForce 820M pass, and it is also defeated by comparable Kaveri APUs from AMD. Apart from demanding graphics software, the GPU copes with all everyday tasks and can even render 4K videos (H.264 codec) smoothly.

3DMark 11 - 1280x720 Performance GPU (sort by value)
Asus ASUSPRO Advanced BU401LA-CZ020G
HD Graphics 5000, 4650U, Liteonit LCS-256M6S
1032 Points
Lenovo ThinkPad L440 20AT004QGE
HD Graphics 4600, 4300M, Intel SSD 520 Series SSDSC2BW180A3L
773 Points -25%
Fujitsu Lifebook E544
HD Graphics 4600, 4210M, Seagate ST500LM000 Solid State Hybrid Drive
744 Points -28%
Dell Latitude 14 E5450
HD Graphics 4400, 4310U, Lite-On LCS-128L9S
898 Points -13%
HP Elitebook 745 G2
Radeon R6 (Kaveri), A10 Pro-7350B, Hitachi Travelstar Z7K500 HTS725050A7E630
1140 Points +10%
3DMark - 1920x1080 Fire Strike Graphics (sort by value)
Asus ASUSPRO Advanced BU401LA-CZ020G
HD Graphics 5000, 4650U, Liteonit LCS-256M6S
697 Points
Dell Latitude 14 E5450
HD Graphics 4400, 4310U, Lite-On LCS-128L9S
611 Points -12%
HP Elitebook 745 G2
Radeon R6 (Kaveri), A10 Pro-7350B, Hitachi Travelstar Z7K500 HTS725050A7E630
638 Points -8%
3DMark 11 Performance
1120 points
3DMark Ice Storm Standard Score
45548 points
3DMark Cloud Gate Standard Score
4565 points
3DMark Fire Strike Score
644 points
Help

Gaming Performance

The Crew
The Crew

To make things short: Current games from 2014/2015 are simply too much for the HD Graphics 5000. Except for a very few titles, such as Sims 4 or F1 2014 where the graphics quality can be reduced far enough, even our ultra-low setting in 1024x768 pixels stuttered along dismally. Gaming fun hardly arises - but that is still an acceptable drawback for an office laptop in our opinion.

low med. high ultra
Metro: Last Light (2013) 18.8 13.9 8.6
Dota 2 (2013) 69.8 36.8 14.4
Thief (2014) 14.8 9.7
Watch Dogs (2014) 17 10.9
GRID: Autosport (2014) 85.7 30.2 14.9 12.5
Sims 4 (2014) 168.3 32.8 14.2 10
Fifa 15 (2014) 36.2 28.1 17.4
Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor (2014) 20.1 13 7.2
Alien: Isolation (2014) 28.9 20.9 11.4
Ryse: Son of Rome (2014) 14.7 9.2
The Evil Within (2014) 14.2 10.6
F1 2014 (2014) 51 35 20 13
Civilization: Beyond Earth (2014) 15.5 12.2
Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare (2014) 25.4 16.2 9.7
Assassin's Creed Unity (2014) 5.4
Far Cry 4 (2014) 14.3 10.6
The Crew (2014) 15.8 10.6

Emissions

System Noise

The AsusPro proved to be an extremely quiet, usually completely silent work device in common office applications. The two fans were normally inactive during low hardware load, and there is no humming caused by a mechanical hard drive owing to the installed SSD. However, most contenders score equally well here. We solely complained about the fan's intermittent high speed in the ThinkPad L440.

The noise level increased a bit during load, though it was never distracting with 33.1 to 37.3 dB(A). Apparently, Asus has done a good job with the cooling's relatively sophisticated design that can be found in a similar form in some of the manufacturer's consumer laptops - that is if the temperature development is also convincing.

Noise Level

Idle
29.3 / 29.3 / 30.9 dB(A)
Load
33.1 / 37.3 dB(A)
  red to green bar
 
 
30 dB
silent
40 dB(A)
audible
50 dB(A)
loud
 
min: dark, med: mid, max: light   Voltcraft SL-451 (15 cm distance)

Temperature

Stress test
Stress test

It does convince: Depending on the load, the casing's temperature reached an average of 30 to 33 °C. Single hot spots with evidently higher rates were only discovered close to the rear, around the vents. However, we did not measure more than 40 °C even in this area so that the BU401LA can be used on the lap without problems.

The processor inside the casing settled to approximately 65 °C in our stress test, comprised of Prime95 and FurMark. Short peaks of up to 75 °C were also possible when the TDP was temporarily surpassed. Since Intel specifies a maximum core temperature of 100 °C for the Core i7-4650U, there are enough reserves for the next midsummer. Nevertheless, the chip is not spared from throttling. The CPU's clock dropped to only 800 MHz after a while in order to not (permanently) exceed the power dissipation specified with 15 watts. The GPU ran with a frequency of 400 MHz.

 29.4 °C
85 F
32.5 °C
91 F
28.8 °C
84 F
 
 28.3 °C
83 F
29.4 °C
85 F
28.3 °C
83 F
 
 26.9 °C
80 F
26.5 °C
80 F
27.4 °C
81 F
 
Maximum: 32.5 °C = 91 F
Average: 28.6 °C = 83 F
30.5 °C
87 F
33.5 °C
92 F
31.6 °C
89 F
29.1 °C
84 F
31 °C
88 F
29.8 °C
86 F
28 °C
82 F
28 °C
82 F
28.1 °C
83 F
Maximum: 33.5 °C = 92 F
Average: 30 °C = 86 F
Power Supply (max.)  30.8 °C = 87 F | Room Temperature 20.2 °C = 68 F | Fluke 62 Max
(±) The average temperature for the upper side under maximal load is 32 °C / 90 F, compared to the average of 29.5 °C / 85 F for the devices in the class Office.
(±) The maximum temperature on the upper side is 41.1 °C / 106 F, compared to the average of 34.2 °C / 94 F, ranging from 21.2 to 62.5 °C for the class Office.
(±) The bottom heats up to a maximum of 40.5 °C / 105 F, compared to the average of 36.7 °C / 98 F
(+) In idle usage, the average temperature for the upper side is 28.6 °C / 83 F, compared to the device average of 29.5 °C / 85 F.
(+) The palmrests and touchpad are cooler than skin temperature with a maximum of 28.9 °C / 84 F and are therefore cool to the touch.
(±) The average temperature of the palmrest area of similar devices was 27.7 °C / 81.9 F (-1.2 °C / -2.1 F).

Speakers

Many office laptops disappoint with very poor speakers that are barely suitable for more than rendering system sounds adequately. Not so the AsusPro: Clear trebles, powerful mids, and even audible bass make music and videos enjoyable. Alongside the impressive volume reserves, medium-sized rooms can be filled with sound satisfactorily. In any case, external speakers will often not be needed at least in smaller group meetings.

Energy Management

Power Consumption

Asus was able to reduce the idle consumption considerably compared with the precursor by changing from Ivy Bridge to the newer Haswell generation. Rather than 6.5 to 9.3 watts (AsusPro BU400VC), the BU401LA now only requires 4.1 to 7.3 watts when Windows desktop is idling. However, the laptop's relatively dark screen, which is the biggest idle consumer by far, also contributes to that.

The power consumption skyrocketed to 43 watts at the beginning of our stress test, only to drop to just below 30 watts after a few seconds. Virtually all modern ultrabooks behave this way because the processor automatically adjusts its (Turbo) clock rate according to the specified TDP. The included 65-watt power supply has enough capacity to recharge the battery even during full load.

Power Consumption
Off / Standbydarklight 0.1 / 0.1 Watt
Idledarkmidlight 4.1 / 7.1 / 7.3 Watt
Load midlight 28.9 / 29.3 Watt
 color bar
Key: min: dark, med: mid, max: light        Extech Power Analyzer 380803
Currently we use the Metrahit Energy, a professional single phase power quality and energy measurement digital multimeter, for our measurements. Find out more about it here. All of our test methods can be found here.

Battery Runtime

The 53 Wh battery hidden in the casing, but which can be replaced after removing a few screws, supplies the BU401 with solid runtimes. Depending on the screen's brightness, energy-saving plan, and whether the radio modules are on or off, the laptop ran for 2 to 11.5 hours on battery power.

We could not perform our real-world Wi-Fi tests and H.264 tests with the usual 150 cd/m² due to the defect brightness control mentioned above. Thus, we had to run the screen with its maximum brightness of 209 cd/m². The ascertained runtime of roughly 5 hours should therefore be regarded with some caution - almost 6 hours will likely be possible with a device in good working order. Our review sample would then be exactly between the ThinkPad L440 and Latitude E5450.

Reader's test
Reader's test
Wi-Fi test
Wi-Fi test
H.264 test
H.264 test
Classic test
Classic test
Charging
Charging
Asus ASUSPRO Advanced BU401LA-CZ020G
HD Graphics 5000, 4650U, Liteonit LCS-256M6S
Dell Latitude 14 E5450
HD Graphics 4400, 4310U, Lite-On LCS-128L9S
Lenovo ThinkPad L440 20AT004QGE
HD Graphics 4600, 4300M, Intel SSD 520 Series SSDSC2BW180A3L
HP Elitebook 745 G2
Radeon R6 (Kaveri), A10 Pro-7350B, Hitachi Travelstar Z7K500 HTS725050A7E630
Battery Runtime
16%
-11%
-17%
Reader / Idle
699
794
14%
594
-15%
562
-20%
WiFi
310
383
24%
292
-6%
279
-10%
Load
120
132
10%
95
-21%
Battery Runtime
Idle (without WLAN, min brightness)
11h 39min
WiFi Surfing
5h 10min
Big Buck Bunny H.264 1080p
4h 56min
Load (maximum brightness)
2h 00min

Verdict

Asus AsusPro Advanced BU401LA-CZ020G
Asus AsusPro Advanced BU401LA-CZ020G

The AsusPro Advanced BU401LA seamlessly connects to the positive presentation of the BU201LA, and again it proves that not only well-known business manufacturers like HP, Dell or Lenovo can develop convincing professional machines. Despite the Core i7 processor, SSD and other highlights, the laptop undercuts the prices of many contenders without forcing the user to make quality compromises. The casing is both light and extremely rigid, and the input devices belong to the best of their category. The low noise and temperature development round off the balanced total package.

However, before we completely lose ourselves in songs of praise, we also have to point out the ultrabook's shortcomings. Some might be negligible: no DisplayPort, a highly mediocre webcam, the axed TrackPoint - all that is aggravating, but they are not make or break criteria for us. The worthy of improvement screen with a low brightness that makes outdoor use very difficult is much worse. Too bad that Asus saved particularly in this point after the smaller sister model could score with an outstanding Full HD IPS screen. Nevertheless, the AsusPro BU401LA will find its target group, especially among price-conscious buyers who will preferably use their device indoors.

Read all 5 comments / answer
static version load dynamic
Loading Comments
Comment on this article
Please share our article, every link counts!
Asus AsusPro Advanced BU401LA-CZ020G. Test model courtesy of Cyberport.de
Asus AsusPro Advanced BU401LA-CZ020G. Test model courtesy of Cyberport.de

Specifications

Asus ASUSPRO Advanced BU401LA-CZ020G (ASUSPRO Series)
Processor
Intel Core i7-4650U 2 x 1.7 - 3.3 GHz (Intel Core i7)
Graphics adapter
Intel HD Graphics 5000, Core: 1100 MHz, Treiber: 10.18.10.3345
Memory
8 GB 
, 4 GB on-board + 1 x 4 GB DDR3L-1600, 1 of 1 slot filled
Display
14.00 inch 16:9, 1600 x 900 pixel, AUO B140RTN03, TN screen, LED backlight, glossy: no
Mainboard
Intel Lynx Point-LP
Storage
Liteonit LCS-256M6S, 256 GB 
, 165 GB free
Soundcard
Intel Lynx Point-LP - High Definition Audio Controller
Connections
3 USB 3.0 / 3.1 Gen1, 1 VGA, 1 HDMI, 1 Kensington Lock, Audio Connections: headset jack (3.5 millimeter), Card Reader: SD, 1 Fingerprint Reader
Networking
Intel I218-LM (Clarkville ULT) Network Adapter (10/100/1000MBit/s), Intel Dual Band Wireless-N 7260 (a/b/g/n = Wi-Fi 4/), Bluetooth 4.0
Size
height x width x depth (in mm): 19.8 x 339 x 234 ( = 0.78 x 13.35 x 9.21 in)
Battery
53 Wh Lithium-Polymer, 6840 mAh
Operating System
Microsoft Windows 7 Professional (64 Bit) + Windows 8 Pro (64 Bit)
Camera
Webcam: 1.0 megapixels
Primary Camera: 1 MPix
Additional features
Speakers: stereo, Keyboard: chiclet, Keyboard Light: yes, 65 watt power supply, driver and Windows DVDs, AsusPro Business Center, 24 Months Warranty
Weight
1.67 kg ( = 58.91 oz / 3.68 pounds), Power Supply: 304 g ( = 10.72 oz / 0.67 pounds)
Price
1150 Euro

 

It might be called dull and boring...
It might be called dull and boring...
...or even unobtrusive and elegant:
...or even unobtrusive and elegant:
The topic "design" was likely rather secondary...
The topic "design" was likely rather secondary...
...in the development of...
...in the development of...
...the matte-gray AsusPro BU401LA.
...the matte-gray AsusPro BU401LA.
That will presumably not bother typical business customers...
That will presumably not bother typical business customers...
...since the laptop convinces with other qualities.
...since the laptop convinces with other qualities.
The impeccably built chassis...
The impeccably built chassis...
...features three USB 3.0 ports,...
...features three USB 3.0 ports,...
...and a Gbit LAN socket, among other things.
...and a Gbit LAN socket, among other things.
Various security features like a fingerprint reader should not be left out, either.
Various security features like a fingerprint reader should not be left out, either.
We especially would like to praise...
We especially would like to praise...
...the extremely decent keyboard.
...the extremely decent keyboard.
Prolific writers will likely not only...
Prolific writers will likely not only...
...be satisfied with the rich, mechanical stroke,...
...be satisfied with the rich, mechanical stroke,...
...but also with the practical LED backlight.
...but also with the practical LED backlight.
Unfortunately, Asus omitted an additional TrackPoint...
Unfortunately, Asus omitted an additional TrackPoint...
...but the generously sized touchpad serves well.
...but the generously sized touchpad serves well.
A swift Core i7 processor ensures plenty of power.
A swift Core i7 processor ensures plenty of power.
For opening the laptop,...
For opening the laptop,...
...the corresponding Torx screwdriver will be needed.
...the corresponding Torx screwdriver will be needed.
The base plate is then easy to remove.
The base plate is then easy to remove.
Underneath it, both casing fans,...
Underneath it, both casing fans,...
...the sole memory slot (filled with 4 GB DDR3L-1600),...
...the sole memory slot (filled with 4 GB DDR3L-1600),...
...and an SSD in a 2.5-inch format are found.
...and an SSD in a 2.5-inch format are found.
Both speakers render an amazingly powerful sound for an office laptop.
Both speakers render an amazingly powerful sound for an office laptop.
The included 65-watt power supply...
The included 65-watt power supply...
...easily covers the low power requirement.
...easily covers the low power requirement.

Similar Devices

Devices with Same Screen Size and/or Weight

Asus Chromebook CM14 laptop in review - For beginners
Mali-G52 MP2, MediaTek Kompanio 500 Kompanio 520, 14.00", 1.424 kg
Asus F415EA Review: Cool and quiet Core i5 office laptop
Iris Xe G7 80EUs, Tiger Lake i5-1135G7, 14.00", 1.55 kg
Asus P1511CEA reviewed: An affordable office laptop for school, office, leisure
UHD Graphics Xe G4 48EUs, Tiger Lake i3-1115G4, 15.60", 1.8 kg
Asus ExpertBook L1 L1401CDA in review: Quiet office notebook for a small budget
Vega 3, Picasso (Ryzen 3000 APU) R3 3250U, 14.00", 1.5 kg
Asus VivoBook 15 OLED Review: Quiet Office Notebook With Strong Screen
Vega 8, Lucienne (Zen 2, Ryzen 5000) R7 5700U, 15.60", 1.8 kg
Asus ExpertBook B1 B1500 in review: Many ports on the business laptop
Iris Xe G7 80EUs, Tiger Lake i5-1135G7, 15.60", 1.727 kg
Asus ExpertBook B1 B1400 in review: Small, light and affordable
Iris Xe G7 80EUs, Tiger Lake i5-1135G7, 14.00", 1.483 kg

Links

  • Tips for buying a notebook - notebookCHECK Purchase Advisory

  • Find the right notebook - notebookCHECK Hardware Guide

  • Display resolution comparison - DPI (grain size) of displays

  • Our test criteria
  • Manufacturer's information

Compare Prices

Pros

+High-quality casing
+Crisp keyboard
+Decent application performance
+Low temperature and noise development
+Powerful speakers
+Maintenance friendly
 

Cons

-No DisplayPort out
-No TrackPoint
-Screen's low brightness
-Inferior webcam

Shortcut

What we like

The quality level is right, and the price (at least for business standards) is very attractive - Asus should be able to convince quite a few buyers with this strategy.

What we'd like to see

The installed HD+ screen achieves decent contrasts and a very high viewing-angle stability for a TN screen. Only the far too low maximum brightness is simply unacceptable for a mobile office machine.

What surprises us

Why does the manufacturer only treat its 12-inch models of the product line to a sharp Full HD screen? We would have wished for an even higher resolution also for the BU401LA, at least as an option.

The competition

Dell Latitude E5450

Lenovo ThinkPad L440

HP EliteBook 745 G2

Toshiba Tecra Z40

Fujitsu Lifebook E544

Lenovo ThinkPad T440

Rating

Asus ASUSPRO Advanced BU401LA-CZ020G - 02/26/2016 v5(old)
Till Schönborn

Chassis
91 / 98 → 93%
Keyboard
92%
Pointing Device
90 / 20-67 → 100%
Connectivity
51%
Weight
67%
Battery
75 / 92 → 82%
Display
79%
Games Performance
54%
Application Performance
82%
Temperature
89%
Noise
94%
Audio
79%
Camera
55%
Average
77%
86%
Office - Weighted Average
Till Schönborn, 2015-01- 9 (Update: 2015-01-13)