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Review Packard Bell EasyNote LE69KB-45004G50Mnsk Notebook

Low-cost quad-core. Packard Bell installs the A4-5000 APU in a 17.3-inch laptop and demands less than 400 Euros (~$536) for it. That could add up to an energy-efficient, enduring office laptop or a sluggish, low-performance computer.

For the original German review, see here.

It is not difficult to find an affordable 17.3-inch office laptop. Almost every manufacturer has corresponding models in its product line. Now quad-core processors move into the low-cost sector after AMD released APUs from its new Kabini generation. Packard Bell's EasyNote LE69KB-45004G50Mnsk is such a device. The new APUs are to overpower Intel's Pentium processors and naturally carry off market shares. Whether this undertaking is successful and the user benefits from the four processing cores can be read in our test report.

We used Asus' F75A-TY089H (Pentium B980, HD Graphics (Sandy Bridge)) and Lenovo's G700 (Pentium 2020M, HD Graphics (Ivy Bridge)) to classify the laptop.

Case

Like the EasyNote's purchase price already suggests the casing is completely made of plastic. Packard Bell mixes matte and glossy surfaces. The display's back gleams in a silver-gray color. The wrist rest and display bezel are made in glossy black. The wrist rest additionally features a pattern. The other parts of the base unit are matte black. The casings of both the G700 and F75A are also completely made of plastic.

The EasyNote's base unit is quite rigid. It can be bent slightly below the touchpad. The same is true for the area on the keyboard's right above the DVD burner. The base unit's stiffness could be better. In our opinion, it can be warped a bit too much. This is even truer for the lid. Additionally, the lid's back can be bent to such an extent that image distortions turn up. The hinges keep the lid firmly in place but it wobbles after adjusting. Opening the lid with one hand is possible.

Packard Bell Easynote LE69KB
Packard Bell Easynote LE69KB
The lid's back is glossy
The lid's back is glossy
A maintenance cover is present
A maintenance cover is present

Connectivity

The three compared devices do not differ much in connectivity. All devices feature today's standard ports. The G700 is the only laptop that sports a Fast Ethernet port. The other laptops can serve with Gigabit Ethernet. It is positive that all three computers have one USB 3.0 port. The interface positioning on the EasyNote is worthy of criticism. Most ports are on a level with the wrist rest.

Left: Kensington lock slot, Gigabit Ethernet, VGA out, HDMI, USB 2.0, USB 3.0
Left: Kensington lock slot, Gigabit Ethernet, VGA out, HDMI, USB 2.0, USB 3.0
Right: Headphone out, microphone in, USB 2.0, DVD burner, power socket
Right: Headphone out, microphone in, USB 2.0, DVD burner, power socket
Front: Memory card reader
Front: Memory card reader

Communication

Packard Bell installs the AR9565 Wi-Fi module from Atheros. It supports the 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi standards. Surprisingly, the EasyNote only sports one Wi-Fi antenna although two are common. This leads to fluctuating signal strength. Changing the laptop's position even slightly has an impact on that. Nevertheless, we did not experience any problems with the connection's stability or download speeds. The BCM57780 Gigabit Ethernet chip in the EasyNote comes from Broadcom. Packard Bell has even considered a Bluetooth 4.0 module. The integrated webcam shoots quite decent pictures with a resolution of up to 1280x720 pixels.

Accessories

Only a quick start poster and warranty information are included.

Operating system and Recovery

Packard Bell preinstalls Windows 8 64-bit on the EasyNote. There is no Windows DVD included. Therefore, a recovery DVD should be created via the preinstalled Packard Bell Recovery Management software. It allows resetting the system to its default state in case of defect. The software also enables backing up the installed drivers and applications. Thus, they would be available in case of formatting or replacing the hard drive. Windows 8's recovery system is opened by keeping the F11 key pressed during the booting process.

Using Windows 7 on the EasyNote is possible. However, it requires a bit of manual effort because Packard Bell only supports Windows 8. Windows 7 does not include any drivers for the APU, Wi-Fi module, Gigabit Ethernet chip, memory card reader, chip set or USB 3.0 controller. We could get most components in working order.

 

  • We found a driver for the Wi-Fi module on the Atheros.cz website.
  • We got the Ethernet chip running with Broadcom's original driver.
  • To get the memory card reader working, the Windows 8 driver from Packard Bell's website can be used.
  • The latest APU driver (Catalyst 13.4, 29.05.2013) from AMD's website does not yet support the A4-5000M APU. We therefore tried the newest beta driver (Catalyst 13.8 Beta, 01.08.2013). It works.
  • The chip set driver can also be found on AMD's website.
  • The latter also lists the USB 3.0 driver. However, the corresponding USB driver is not included yet. Thus, the USB 3.0 port cannot be used at the moment.

Maintenance

The large maintenance cover enables accessing some hardware components. The user can access the working memory, hard drive, Wi-Fi module and BIOS battery. The fan is not accessible. The EasyNote sports two working memory banks. One bank is fitted with a four-gigabyte module. Replacing the hard drive is no problem. Standard 2.5-inch hard drives with a height of 7 and 9.5 mm fit. However, the slot cannot be used since there is no second hard drive connector.

Warranty

Like the F75A, the EasyNote includes a 24-month warranty. Owners of the G700 have to be satisfied with a twelve-month standard warranty. The EasyNote's warranty period can be upgraded to three years for approximately 70 Euros (~$94).

Input Devices

Keyboard

Packard Bell installs a conventional laptop keyboard in the EasyNote. The main keys feature a surface of approximately 16 x 16 mm. The sleek, flat keys feature an overall medium drop and clear pressure point. The keys' resistance is satisfactory but could be a bit crisper. However, that is a matter of taste. The keyboard only wobbles slightly while typing on it, but that is not distracting. Packard Bell supplies an overall surprisingly decent keyboard. We have seen inferior units in low-cost laptops, for example in Asus' F75A.

Touchpad

The multi-touchpad has a size of approximately 10.1 x 6.1 cm (~4.0 x 2.4 inches). Thus, there is enough room for using multi-touch gestures. The pad's surface is lightly roughened and allows easy gliding. The single multi-touch gestures can be enabled and disabled in the configuration menu. The touchpad's sleek mouse keys feature a short drop and a clearly audible and palpable pressure point.

There is no keyboard light.
There is no keyboard light.
The touchpad supports multi-touch gestures.
The touchpad supports multi-touch gestures.

Display

Packard Bell equips the EasyNote with a glossy, 17.3-inch screen that has a resolution of 1600x900 pixels. Other screen models are not available. The EasyNote's average brightness of 242.2 cd/m² is within an acceptable range. The screens in the F75A (219.9 cd/m²) and the G700 (214.6 cd/m²) are not as bright.

253
cd/m²
251
cd/m²
235
cd/m²
244
cd/m²
257
cd/m²
225
cd/m²
247
cd/m²
241
cd/m²
229
cd/m²
Distribution of brightness
tested with X-Rite i1Pro 2
Maximum: 257 cd/m² (Nits) Average: 242.4 cd/m²
Brightness Distribution: 88 %
Center on Battery: 215 cd/m²
Contrast: 467:1 (Black: 0.55 cd/m²)
ΔE Color 10.26 | 0.5-29.43 Ø5
ΔE Greyscale 10.95 | 0.57-98 Ø5.3
49.8% AdobeRGB 1998 (Argyll 1.6.3 3D)
54.5% AdobeRGB 1998 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
76% sRGB (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
52.7% Display P3 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
Gamma: 3.08
Easynote vs. sRGB
Easynote vs. sRGB
Easynote vs. AdobeRGB
Easynote vs. AdobeRGB

The EasyNote supplies quite satisfactory rates with a contrast of 467:1 and a black value of 0.55 cd/m². We frequently encounter worse rates in the low-cost sector, like in the F75A (291:1, 0.6 cd/m²). The EasyNote's screen cannot reproduce the AdobeRGB or sRGB color space. But that will be uninteresting for most users because these color spaces are only important for professional image editing.

We assessed the screen in state of delivery (target color space: sRGB). The DeltaE 2000 deviation of almost all colors is higher than five. Only blue is within the target range (DeltaE <5). Consequently, the screen has a shift of cyan and magenta towards blue, but it nevertheless exhibits a visible bluish cast.

CalMAN - Color Checker
CalMAN - Color Checker
CalMAN - Grayscale
CalMAN - Grayscale
CalMAN - Color saturation
CalMAN - Color saturation

Outdoor use is quite possible although very bright surroundings should be avoided. The reflective screen would otherwise ruin any plans in this direction.

The common problem of low-cost laptops becomes obvious here. Changing the viewing angle vertically quickly leads to image distortions. It is better horizontally. The image remains stable over a larger angle and the content is legible from the sides. However, the image dims.

The Easynote outdoors
The Easynote outdoors
Viewing angles: Easynote LE69KB
Viewing angles: Easynote LE69KB

Performance

With the EasyNote LE69KB, Packard Bell offers a basic office laptop in a 17.3-inch size that makes a good impression in routine application scenarios. Users who want a computer for browsing, typing, Skype calls, etc. will not be disappointed by the EasyNote. Video playback is not a problem for the laptop either. This includes Full HD videos (1920x1080 pixels) and H.264 encoding. Computer games can only be played to an extent. The EasyNote is available for around 400 Euros (~$536). We did not find other models within the LE69KB series.

System information: Packard Bell EasyNote LE69KB-45004G50Mnsk

Processor

The EasyNote sports an AMD A4-5000 APU that comes from the Kabini generation. The Kabini APUs are based on AMD's current Jaguar architecture that will also be installed in the upcoming XBox One and PlayStation 4 game consoles. The CPU part of the APU is a quad-core processor with a clock of 1.5 GHz. AMD specifies a TDP of 15 Watts for the APU. More information and many tests can be found in our short review of the A4-5000 APU.

The processor consistently clocked with its full speed of 1.5 GHz in both AC and battery mode in the Cinebench tests. The EasyNote lags behind the F75A (Pentium B980HD Graphics) and the G700 (Pentium 2020HD Graphics) in all CPU tests. Intel's processors can display their much higher clock (2.4 GHz) here. The APU is quite able to compete with the equally fast Intel processor in the multi-thread tests and even beat them, for example Intel's Pentium 987 and Core i3-2367M. It does not look as good in the single thread tests though. The APU cannot pull even with its Intel counterparts here. The APU outscores an equivalent Intel processor in applications optimized for parallelization. 

The three devices are on a par in the Cinebench 10 GL tests but the EasyNote wins the Cinebench R11.5 GL benchmark. The Radeon GPU achieves a rate that is on a level with the HD Graphics 4000.

Cinebench R10 Rendering Single 32Bit
1208
Cinebench R10 Rendering Multiple CPUs 32Bit
4198
Cinebench R10 Shading 32Bit
2357
Cinebench R10 Rendering Single CPUs 64Bit
1492 Points
Cinebench R10 Rendering Multiple CPUs 64Bit
5076 Points
Cinebench R10 Shading 64Bit
2362 Points
Cinebench R11.5 CPU Single 64Bit
0.39 Points
Cinebench R11.5 CPU Multi 64Bit
1.47 Points
Cinebench R11.5 OpenGL 64Bit
12.97 fps
Help
Cinebench R11.5 - OpenGL 64Bit (sort by value)
Packard Bell EasyNote LE69KB-45004G50Mnsk
Radeon HD 8330, A4-5000, Toshiba MQ01ABD050
12.97 fps
Lenovo G700
HD Graphics (Ivy Bridge), 2020M, Seagate Momentus Thin ST500LT0 12-9WS142
6.62 fps -49%
Asus F75A-TY089H
HD Graphics (Sandy Bridge), B980, Hitachi Travelstar Z5K500 HTS545050A7E380
7.02 fps -46%
Lenovo B575e
Radeon HD 7340, E2-1800, WDC Scorpio Blue WD5000BPVT-00HXZT3
8.53 fps -34%
Acer Aspire V5-551-64454G50Makk
Radeon HD 7500G, A6-4455M, Seagate Momentus 5400.6 ST9500325AS
19.5 fps +50%
Asus F75VC-TY088H
GeForce GT 720M, 2370M, Hitachi Travelstar Z5K500 HTS545050A7E380
21.45 fps +65%
Packard Bell EasyNote TS11SB-250GE
Radeon HD 6620G + HD 7670M Dual Graphics, A8-3520M, WDC Scorpio Blue WD5000BPVT-22HXZT3
23.66 fps +82%
Asus K53TK-SX114V
Radeon HD 7670M, A4-3305M, WDC Scorpio Blue WD3200BPVT-80JJ5T0
23.83 fps +84%
HP Pavilion g6-2253sg
Radeon HD 7660G + HD 7670M Dual Graphics, A10-4600M, Toshiba MQ01ABD100
30.39 fps +134%
Samsung Serie 3 355E7C-S05DE
Radeon HD 7640G + HD 7670M Dual Graphics, A8-4500M, Hitachi Travelstar 5K750 HTS547575A9E384
31.57 fps +143%
Cinebench R11.5 - CPU Multi 64Bit (sort by value)
Packard Bell EasyNote LE69KB-45004G50Mnsk
Radeon HD 8330, A4-5000, Toshiba MQ01ABD050
1.47 Points
Lenovo B575e
Radeon HD 7340, E2-1800, WDC Scorpio Blue WD5000BPVT-00HXZT3
0.64 Points -56%
Acer Aspire V5-551-64454G50Makk
Radeon HD 7500G, A6-4455M, Seagate Momentus 5400.6 ST9500325AS
0.86 Points -41%
Asus K53TK-SX114V
Radeon HD 7670M, A4-3305M, WDC Scorpio Blue WD3200BPVT-80JJ5T0
1.07 Points -27%
Acer Aspire One 756 NU.SH0EG.007
HD Graphics 2000, 987, Seagate Momentus Thin ST320LT020-9YG142
1.13 Points -23%
Lenovo ThinkPad Edge E130 (NZU36PB)
HD Graphics 3000, 2367M, Seagate Momentus Thin ST320LT007-9ZV142
1.33 Points -10%
Samsung Serie 3 355E7C-S05DE
Radeon HD 7640G + HD 7670M Dual Graphics, A8-4500M, Hitachi Travelstar 5K750 HTS547575A9E384
1.69 Points +15%
Asus F75A-TY089H
HD Graphics (Sandy Bridge), B980, Hitachi Travelstar Z5K500 HTS545050A7E380
1.79 Points +22%
Lenovo G700
HD Graphics (Ivy Bridge), 2020M, Seagate Momentus Thin ST500LT0 12-9WS142
1.92 Points +31%
HP Pavilion g6-2253sg
Radeon HD 7660G + HD 7670M Dual Graphics, A10-4600M, Toshiba MQ01ABD100
1.99 Points +35%
Packard Bell EasyNote TS11SB-250GE
Radeon HD 6620G + HD 7670M Dual Graphics, A8-3520M, WDC Scorpio Blue WD5000BPVT-22HXZT3
2.01 Points +37%
Asus F75VC-TY088H
GeForce GT 720M, 2370M, Hitachi Travelstar Z5K500 HTS545050A7E380
2.29 Points +56%

System Performance

We experienced delays in opening applications. Some time elapsed from the mouse click and the start of a program. Apart from that, the system worked quite smoothly. The scores of the PCMark benchmarks lag far behind those of the F75A (Pentium B980HD Graphics) and the G700 (Pentium 2020MHD Graphics). Both laptops sport stronger processors.

The system was much more responsive with a solid-state drive. Windows booted faster and the delays when opening applications were eliminated. We tried this out and it had a positive effect on the PCMark benchmarks. Our Crucial RealSSD C300 64-bit SSD improved the PCMark 7 score by almost 62 percent to 2343 points. The PCMark Vantage score even increased by 93 percent to 6106 points.

A higher performance in many laptops could also be achieved by installing a second working memory module. This is not possible in the EasyNote because the APU-integrated memory controller only supports single-channel mode. AMD's APU could be maxed out better and supply better computing results if the controller supported dual-channel mode. It would also boost the frame rates in games.

4.6
Windows 8 Experience Index
Processor
Calculations per second
5.1
Memory (RAM)
Memory operations per second
5.9
Graphics
Desktop performance for Windows Aero
4.6
Gaming graphics
3D business and gaming graphics
6.1
Primary hard disk
Disk data transfer rate
5.9
PCMark Vantage Result
3154 points
PCMark 7 Score
1463 points
Help
PCMark 7 - Score (sort by value)
Packard Bell EasyNote LE69KB-45004G50Mnsk
Radeon HD 8330, A4-5000, Toshiba MQ01ABD050
1463 Points
Acer Aspire V5-551-64454G50Makk
Radeon HD 7500G, A6-4455M, Seagate Momentus 5400.6 ST9500325AS
1201 Points -18%
Lenovo B575e
Radeon HD 7340, E2-1800, WDC Scorpio Blue WD5000BPVT-00HXZT3
1237 Points -15%
Asus K53TK-SX114V
Radeon HD 7670M, A4-3305M, WDC Scorpio Blue WD3200BPVT-80JJ5T0
1292 Points -12%
Packard Bell EasyNote TS11SB-250GE
Radeon HD 6620G + HD 7670M Dual Graphics, A8-3520M, WDC Scorpio Blue WD5000BPVT-22HXZT3
1634 Points +12%
Samsung Serie 3 355E7C-S05DE
Radeon HD 7640G + HD 7670M Dual Graphics, A8-4500M, Hitachi Travelstar 5K750 HTS547575A9E384
1818 Points +24%
HP Pavilion g6-2253sg
Radeon HD 7660G + HD 7670M Dual Graphics, A10-4600M, Toshiba MQ01ABD100
2030 Points +39%
Asus F75A-TY089H
HD Graphics (Sandy Bridge), B980, Hitachi Travelstar Z5K500 HTS545050A7E380
2072 Points +42%
Asus F75VC-TY088H
GeForce GT 720M, 2370M, Hitachi Travelstar Z5K500 HTS545050A7E380
2130 Points +46%
Lenovo G700
HD Graphics (Ivy Bridge), 2020M, Seagate Momentus Thin ST500LT0 12-9WS142
2269 Points +55%

Storage Devices

HD Tune
HD Tune
CrystalDiskMark
CrystalDiskMark

Packard Bell installs a Toshiba hard drive in the EasyNote. It features a capacity of 500 GB and spins at 5400 revolutions per minute. CrystalDiskMark recorded a read rate of 101.6 MB/s and HD Tune delivered an average transfer speed of 84.7 MB/s. These are good rates for a 5400-rpm hard drive.

Toshiba MQ01ABD050
Transfer Rate Minimum: 8.7 MB/s
Transfer Rate Maximum: 117.1 MB/s
Transfer Rate Average: 84.7 MB/s
Access Time: 18.2 ms
Burst Rate: 171 MB/s
CPU Usage: 4.2 %

Graphics Card

The Radeon HD 8330 core is responsible for graphics output. It supports DirectX 11.1 and clocks with 500 MHz. It does not feature a Turbo. The EasyNote achieved better scores than the F75A (Pentium B980HD Graphics (Sandy Bridge)) and the G700 (Pentium 2020MHD Graphics (Ivy Bridge)) in all 3DMark benchmarks. The Radeon GPU's score is on a par with Intel's HD Graphics 4000 GPU in the 3DMark 2011 benchmark. The CPU does not have much of an impact on the score in this benchmark and thus contributes to the good impression of the GPU's performance.

3DMark 06 Standard Score
3328 points
3DMark Vantage P Result
1909 points
3DMark 11 Performance
600 points
3DMark Ice Storm Standard Score
25698 points
3DMark Cloud Gate Standard Score
2266 points
3DMark Fire Strike Score
362 points
Help
3DMark 11 - 1280x720 Performance (sort by value)
Packard Bell EasyNote LE69KB-45004G50Mnsk
Radeon HD 8330, A4-5000, Toshiba MQ01ABD050
600 Points
Lenovo G700
HD Graphics (Ivy Bridge), 2020M, Seagate Momentus Thin ST500LT0 12-9WS142
258 Points -57%
Lenovo B580-M94A5GE
HD Graphics 4000, 3210M, Seagate Momentus SpinPoint M8 ST1000LM024
595 Points -1%
Asus F75VC-TY088H
GeForce GT 720M, 2370M, Hitachi Travelstar Z5K500 HTS545050A7E380
1210 Points +102%

Gaming Performance

The EasyNote is not designed for computer games. Nevertheless, it is possible to play a few titles in low resolution and low quality settings. Its performance is quite comparable with Intel's HD Graphics 4000 GPU as long as the CPU does not slow down the Radeon graphics core.

Users searching for an affordable, gaming suitable laptop should look at the Asus F75VC. It is identical with the F75A but provides considerably more gaming power owing to a Core i3-2370M processor and GeForce GT 720M. Another alternative would be Acer's Aspire V3-771G. It features an entry-level Core i3 processor and GeForce GT 630M GPU for approximately 500 Euros (~$670).

low med. high ultra
Trackmania Nations Forever (2008) 72.1 22.2
Resident Evil 5 (2009) 43.8 22.2
Total War: Shogun 2 (2011) 56.9 10
Deus Ex Human Revolution (2011) 36.4 17.2
Batman: Arkham City (2011) 26
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim (2011) 18.2 13.5
Anno 2070 (2011) 37.2 14.8
Mass Effect 3 (2012) 18.7 14.1
Risen 2: Dark Waters (2012) 13.8 9.1
Max Payne 3 (2012) 15.1 14.2
F1 2012 (2012) 29 25 22
Medal of Honor: Warfighter (2012) 18.5
Need for Speed: Most Wanted (2012) 17
Assassin´s Creed III (2012) 10.1
Far Cry 3 (2012) 18.8 11.5
Dead Space 3 (2013) 41.6 17.1 13.1
Tomb Raider (2013) 26.8 13.6
StarCraft II: Heart of the Swarm (2013) 61.7 26.3 13.5
Dota 2 (2013) 22.9 16.9
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim - 1280x720 Low Preset (sort by value)
Packard Bell EasyNote LE69KB-45004G50Mnsk
Radeon HD 8330, A4-5000, Toshiba MQ01ABD050
18.2 fps
Lenovo G700
HD Graphics (Ivy Bridge), 2020M, Seagate Momentus Thin ST500LT0 12-9WS142
12.65 fps -30%
Asus F75A-TY089H
HD Graphics (Sandy Bridge), B980, Hitachi Travelstar Z5K500 HTS545050A7E380
15.2 fps -16%
Lenovo B580-M94A5GE
HD Graphics 4000, 3210M, Seagate Momentus SpinPoint M8 ST1000LM024
24.5 fps +35%
Asus F75VC-TY088H
GeForce GT 720M, 2370M, Hitachi Travelstar Z5K500 HTS545050A7E380
36.5 fps +101%
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim - 1366x768 Medium Preset AA:4x (sort by value)
Packard Bell EasyNote LE69KB-45004G50Mnsk
Radeon HD 8330, A4-5000, Toshiba MQ01ABD050
13.5 fps
Lenovo G700
HD Graphics (Ivy Bridge), 2020M, Seagate Momentus Thin ST500LT0 12-9WS142
7.28 fps -46%
Asus F75A-TY089H
HD Graphics (Sandy Bridge), B980, Hitachi Travelstar Z5K500 HTS545050A7E380
7.7 fps -43%
Lenovo B580-M94A5GE
HD Graphics 4000, 3210M, Seagate Momentus SpinPoint M8 ST1000LM024
13 fps -4%
Asus F75VC-TY088H
GeForce GT 720M, 2370M, Hitachi Travelstar Z5K500 HTS545050A7E380
26.7 fps +98%

Emissions

System Noise

We ascertained a noise level of 29.6 dB(A) during idle mode. This is the base noise of the measuring room. The fan was always inactive. The rate increased to 30.2 dB(A) as soon as the hard drive started to work, which will only be audible in very quiet surroundings. The G700 (30.6 to 30.7 dB(A)) and the F75A (30.8 to 31.8 dB(A)) are not bad either and also excel with low rates. The fan increases its speed when the laptop is loaded, but it remains at a low level. The noise level during medium load via 3DMark 06 was 30 dB(A) and 31.5 dB(A) in full load during the stress test using Prime95 and FurMark. The G700's rate slightly surpasses that with 32.1 dB(A) and the F74A produces a much higher noise level, particularly during high load, with 32.6 dB(A) and 38.6 dB(A). Users looking for a quiet laptop will be satisfied with the EasyNote.

Noise Level

Idle
29.6 / 29.6 / 29.6 dB(A)
HDD
30.2 dB(A)
DVD
36.7 / dB(A)
Load
30 / 31.3 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-320 (15 cm distance)

Temperature

The Easynote in the stress test
The Easynote in the stress test

As expected, the EasyNote's temperatures are not exceedingly high. The temperatures on the laptop's outsides were roughly 30 degrees Celsius (86 degrees Fahrenheit) in both idle mode and full load. Thus, it would be possible to place the laptop on the thighs in all scenarios. The G700 and F75A are on a par with the EasyNote's temperatures. Both laptops only surpass 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit) during full load in the area around the vent.

The CPU and GPU can always provide their maximum computing power. Both the CPU and GPU performed the stress test (Prime95 and FurMark run for at least one hour) at full speed in both AC and battery mode (CPU: 1.5 GHz, GPU: 500 MHz). The CPU's temperature settled to approximately 61 degrees Celsius (141.8 Fahrenheit) in AC mode.

 30.8 °C
87 F
28.7 °C
84 F
28.5 °C
83 F
 
 29.1 °C
84 F
29.1 °C
84 F
28 °C
82 F
 
 29 °C
84 F
29.3 °C
85 F
28.1 °C
83 F
 
Maximum: 30.8 °C = 87 F
Average: 29 °C = 84 F
28.3 °C
83 F
30.5 °C
87 F
29 °C
84 F
28.7 °C
84 F
30.9 °C
88 F
31.3 °C
88 F
31 °C
88 F
31.1 °C
88 F
30 °C
86 F
Maximum: 31.3 °C = 88 F
Average: 30.1 °C = 86 F
Power Supply (max.)  35.3 °C = 96 F | Room Temperature 24.3 °C = 76 F | Voltcraft IR-360
(+) The average temperature for the upper side under maximal load is 30.9 °C / 88 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 33.4 °C / 92 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 34.6 °C / 94 F, compared to the average of 36.7 °C / 98 F
(+) In idle usage, the average temperature for the upper side is 29 °C / 84 F, compared to the device average of 29.5 °C / 85 F.
(+) The palmrests and touchpad are reaching skin temperature as a maximum (32 °C / 89.6 F) and are therefore not hot.
(-) The average temperature of the palmrest area of similar devices was 27.7 °C / 81.9 F (-4.3 °C / -7.7 F).

Speakers

The EasyNote's stereo speakers are underneath a perforated cover above the keyboard. The sound lacks bass and it tends to sound tinny. Users who place value on a better sound experience should use headphones or external speakers.

Energy Management

Power Consumption

The EasyNote excels with low idle power consumption from 6.5 to 10.6 Watts owing to the energy-efficient Kabini APU. The G700 (6.6 to 12 Watts) only consumes a bit more power. The F75A (10.4 to 16.6 Watts) is considerably more consuming. The EasyNote clearly breaks away from its contenders in medium load via 3DMark 06 with 19.6 Watts and 24.6 Watts in full load via the stress test using Prime95 and FurMark. The G700 (27.9 and 35.7 Watts) and the F75A (27.6 and 47.2 Watts) cannot compete with that.

Power Consumption
Off / Standbydarklight 0.1 / 0.2 Watt
Idledarkmidlight 6.5 / 10.6 / 10.6 Watt
Load midlight 19.6 / 24.6 Watt
 color bar
Key: min: dark, med: mid, max: light        Voltcraft VC 940
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 low power consumption over the entire load range promises good battery runtimes. The EasyNote lasted for 10:34 h in idle mode. Although it is hard to believe, the G700 (13:13 h) clearly surpasses this good rate. The F75A (5:25 h) is very far behind that. The idle runtime is ascertained using the Battery Eater test. The screen's brightness is set to minimum, the energy-saving profile is enabled and the wireless modules are off. The EasyNote was drained after 2:18 h of load. Both the G700 (1:12 h) and the F75A (1:05 h) shut down earlier. Load is simulated with Battery Eater Classic test. The screen's brightness is set to maximum, the high-performance profile and the wireless modules are enabled.

The EasyNote ran the Wi-Fi test for 5:01 h. The G700 lasts for 15 minutes more and the F75A (3:29 h) is drained sooner. Websites are opened automatically every 40 seconds, the energy-saving profile is enabled and the screen's brightness is set to approximately 150 cd/m² in the Wi-Fi test. DVD playback stopped after 4:05 h on the EasyNote. The batteries in the G700 (2:58 h) and F75A (2:45 h) are drained sooner. The DVD test is performed using enabled energy-saving mode or a higher profile should the DVD not run smoothly, maximum brightness and disabled wireless modules.

The runtimes of the three laptops can be compared well because their batteries have a similar capacity (Packard Bell and Lenovo: 48 Wh; Asus: 47 Wh).

Battery Runtime
Idle (without WLAN, min brightness)
10h 34min
WiFi Surfing
5h 01min
DVD
4h 05min
Load (maximum brightness)
2h 18min

Verdict

Packard Bell EasyNote LE69KB-45004G50Mnsk
Packard Bell EasyNote LE69KB-45004G50Mnsk

All in all, Packard Bell's EasyNote LE69KB makes a good impression. AMD now actually has a contender for the Pentium processors in its product line with the Kabini APUs. The APU can outperform the equally clocked Pentium in multi-thread applications. The APU can even defeat equally clocked Core i3 processors. Its computing power is more than enough for taking care of routine work (like writing emails, browsing, office tasks, etc.). The laptop also runs very quietly and consumes little power. Together with the satisfactory keyboard, the EasyNote makes concentrated working possible. The battery runtimes are also very good and the screen is acceptable. Asus' F75A and Lenovo's G700 come into question when more CPU power is needed. Both laptops have more to offer in this regard.

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In Review: Packard Bell EasyNote LE69KB-45004G50Mnsk, courtesy of Acer Germany.
In Review: Packard Bell EasyNote LE69KB-45004G50Mnsk, courtesy of Acer Germany.

Specifications

Packard Bell EasyNote LE69KB-45004G50Mnsk (EasyNote LE Series)
Processor
AMD A4-5000 4 x 1.5 GHz, Kabini
Graphics adapter
AMD Radeon HD 8330, Core: 500 MHz, 12.102.1.0
Memory
4 GB 
, DDR3, single-channel, two memory banks
Display
17.30 inch 16:9, 1600 x 900 pixel, TN LED, glossy: yes
Mainboard
AMD Bolton
Storage
Toshiba MQ01ABD050, 500 GB 
, 5400 rpm, 420 GB free
Soundcard
AMD Hudson-2 High Definition Audio Controller
Connections
2 USB 2.0, 1 USB 3.0 / 3.1 Gen1, 1 VGA, 1 HDMI, 1 Kensington Lock, Audio Connections: headphone-out, microphone-in, Card Reader: SD
Networking
Broadcom BCM57780 NetLink Gigabit Ethernet (10/100MBit/s), Atheros Communications AR9565 Wireless Network Adapter (b/g/n = Wi-Fi 4/), Bluetooth 4.0
Size
height x width x depth (in mm): 34.6 x 415 x 275 ( = 1.36 x 16.34 x 10.83 in)
Battery
48 Wh Lithium-Ion, 10.8 V, 4400 mAh
Operating System
Microsoft Windows 8 64 Bit
Camera
Webcam: 0.9 Megapixel (max. 1280 x 720 Pixel)
Additional features
Speakers: stereo, Keyboard Light: no, Cyberlink PowerDVD 12, Microsoft Office 365 (trial), Nero BackItUp 12 Essentials, Norton Intertnet Security (60 day trial), 24 Months Warranty
Weight
3.2 kg ( = 112.88 oz / 7.05 pounds), Power Supply: 221 g ( = 7.8 oz / 0.49 pounds)
Price
399 Euro

 

The DVD burner reads and writes all kinds of DVDs and CDs.
The DVD burner reads and writes all kinds of DVDs and CDs.
A number pad is installed.
A number pad is installed.
The speakers are behind a cover.
The speakers are behind a cover.
The opened maintenance cover.
The opened maintenance cover.
Two working memory banks are available.
Two working memory banks are available.
The hard drive can be replaced easily.
The hard drive can be replaced easily.
The second hard drive slot cannot be used because it lacks a connector.
The second hard drive slot cannot be used because it lacks a connector.
The Easynote only has one Wi-Fi antenna.
The Easynote only has one Wi-Fi antenna.
The BIOS battery can be replaced.
The BIOS battery can be replaced.
When this screw is removed...
When this screw is removed...
the DVD burner can be pulled out.
the DVD burner can be pulled out.
The battery weighs almost 221 grams (7.8 ounces)...
The battery weighs almost 221 grams (7.8 ounces)...
and provides a capacity of 48 Wh.
and provides a capacity of 48 Wh.
The power supply weighs approx. 300 grams (10.6 ounces)...
The power supply weighs approx. 300 grams (10.6 ounces)...
and has a maximum power of 65 Watts.
and has a maximum power of 65 Watts.
The hinges...
The hinges...
keep the lid firmly in position.
keep the lid firmly in position.
The pattern on the wrist rest.
The pattern on the wrist rest.
The Easynote is powered by a quad-core processor.
The Easynote is powered by a quad-core processor.

Similar Laptops

Devices with the same GPU and/or Screen Size

Review Toshiba Satellite C70D-A-10L Notebook
Radeon HD 8330, A-Series A4-5000, 2.7 kg

Devices with the same GPU

Review HP Pavilion 15-n050sg Notebook
Radeon HD 8330, A-Series A4-5000, 15.00", 2.28 kg
Review Acer Aspire E1-522-45004G50Mnkk Notebook
Radeon HD 8330, A-Series A4-5000, 15.60", 2.4 kg
Review Toshiba Satellite C50D-A-10E Notebook
Radeon HD 8330, A-Series A4-5000, 15.60", 2.184 kg

Devices with Same Screen Size and/or Weight

Packard Bell EasyNote TF71BM-C8R1 Notebook Review
HD Graphics (Bay Trail), Celeron N2830, 15.60", 2.4 kg
Packard Bell EasyNote TE69HW-29574G50Mnsk Notebook Review
HD Graphics (Haswell), Celeron 2957U, 15.60", 2.3 kg
Review Update Packard Bell EasyNote LE69KB-23804G50Mnsk Notebook
Radeon HD 8280, A-Series E2-3800, 17.30", 3.2 kg

Links

Compare Prices

Pros

+24 month warranty
+Decent battery runtimes
+Low power consumption
+Works quietly over all load ranges
 

Cons

-Screen has a bluish cast

Shortcut

What we like

We really like the battery runtimes and the two-year warranty. Packard Bell also scores with the screen. Although it is not first-rate, it provides acceptable rates that are rare in low-cost laptops.

What we'd like to see

Considering the laptop's low price, there is not really much to reproach. However, the laptop's attractiveness could be increased with a matte screen and an allover matte casing.

What surprises us

A quad-core processor in the low-cost sector. Packard Bell goes new ways with that.

The competition

Asus F75A/X75A, Lenovo G700, Asus F75VC, Samsung Series 3 355E7C-S05DE, Asus K75DE, Toshiba Satellite Pro C870, Packard Bell EasyNote LV44HC, Lenovo G780, HP Pavilion g7-2053sg, Acer Aspire V3-771G

Rating

Packard Bell EasyNote LE69KB-45004G50Mnsk - 04/14/2014 v4(old)
Sascha Mölck

Chassis
62 / 98 → 63%
Keyboard
60%
Pointing Device
83%
Connectivity
64 / 80 → 80%
Weight
55 / 20-67 → 74%
Battery
86%
Display
70%
Games Performance
51 / 68 → 75%
Application Performance
49 / 92 → 53%
Temperature
91%
Noise
98%
Audio
30%
Camera
48 / 85 → 56%
Average
65%
72%
Office - Weighted Average
> Expert Reviews and News on Laptops, Smartphones and Tech Innovations > Reviews > Archive of our own reviews > Review Packard Bell EasyNote LE69KB-45004G50Mnsk Notebook
Sascha Mölck, 2013-08-20 (Update: 2018-05-15)