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Review Samsung Series 3 300E7A Notebook

A dreamer. Gaming for 469 Euro ( $620)? No, we are not testing an Xbox bundle. It is a 17-inch Office laptop featuring an entry-level graphics unit. Will gaming ambitions be curtailed by the Pentium processor? The details can be found in this review.
Samsung NP-300E7A-S09DE: Big screen Office with gaming ambitions?
Samsung NP-300E7A-S09DE: Big screen Office with gaming ambitions?

For the original German review, see here.

Samsung has an enormous diversity of laptops on the market. Innumerable devices are found in the series two to nine and only differ by a few digits in the product name. Today, we are presenting a 17-inch laptop from the Series 3 line. The 300E7A is low-cost at its best: a simple plastic chassis, a weak Pentium processor and a matte, run-of-the-mill screen. However, the dedicated graphics card in the 300E7A lets it break out of the Office world. Nvidia's GeForce GT 520MX is controlled by Optimus, which allows turning it off in favor of battery life when needed.

Everyone who is on a tight budget but does not want to waive on games perk up when a dedicated graphics card is mentioned at this price. Samsung's 300E7A is available for 399 Euros ($525) in the test configuration without Windows (Free DOS) (and possibly sold out). Will the Pentium 950 be in line with your gaming ambitions? Are there similarly competitive laptops that offer more performance or are better in other areas? 

Among others, we used HP's Pavilion g7-1353eg (Dual Graphics) for comparison. It's successor, the g7-1310sg (AMD A4-3305M) works with a Radeon HD 6480G alongside the HD 7450M and costs 500 Euros ($660). Another contender is Acer's Aspire 7750G that starts at EUR 500 ($660) and features a Core i3 alongside the HD 7670M. The next iteration from the Series 3 is Samsung's 305E7A (A6-3420M) and is also worth a glance because the Crossfire array of HD 6520G + HD 6470M is also available for below EUR 500.

Case

Keyboard framed by high-gloss
Keyboard framed by a glossy bezel
Access to HDD & RAM (2x SODIMM)
Access to the HDD & RAM (2 x SODIMM)

Samsung's entry-range featuring a competitive price and design is the Series 3. Therefore, the partially weak plastic build is unsurprising. Good hardware is expensive and high-end materials also have their price. The buyer will consequently have to accept a pliable, bulky and hollow sounding laptop

We noticed how the base unit twisted when we picked it up. The loosely mounted lid warps the base unit when moved and it rocks heavily. The wrist rest is firm on the right and left, but it deforms visibly in the touchpad's center. The area beneath and above the DVD drive is very spongy and the user should not lift it up here. A glossy bezel frames the screen. It is dotted in order to crudely hide greasy fingerprints. This regrettably is not so on the key board section. Fingerprints will be a matter of course after removing the protective foil.

The lid visibly warps when opened with both hands and without effort. Both hands are needed for opening because the base unit is light at the front. A maintenance cover on the bottom allows accessing the working memory (2 slots, one empty) and hard disk. There is no easy access to the fan for cleaning purposes.

Connectivity

The ports are no surprise. USB 3.0 is not installed and the large size also only sports three 2.0 USB ports. The laptop's rear would be convenient for interfaces when the 300E7A is to be used permanently on the desk. Then all cables would be routed invisibly to the back. However, very few manufacturers spoil their customers with this sensible design element.

Left: Power socket, LAN, VGA, HDMI, USB 2.0, headphone/microphone
Left: Power socket, LAN, VGA, HDMI, USB 2.0, headphone/microphone
Right: DVD drive, 2x USB 2.0, Kensington lock
Right: DVD drive, 2x USB 2.0, Kensington lock

Communication

The Centrino Wireless-N 130 (half-mini card) is one of the cheapest Wi-Fi adapters from Intel. The user has to be satisfied with the 2.4 GHz band and the 802.11 b/g/n standard. The maximum gross transmission speed of 150 Mbit/s lags behind more expensive models. At least it features two antennae for good reception, although only single-stream operation is possible. Bluetooth 4.0 is a part of Intel's module.

The 0.3 megapixel webcam in the display bezel cannot take poster-sized pictures (640 x 480 pixels only). Cyberlink's YouCam is preinstalled for this purpose. The camera quality is low, even in very good lighting conditions and in daylight. The focus decreases and the noise increases in cloudy conditions or at twilight.

As typical for Samsung, the microphone is in the left wrist rest and the hand covers it when typing.  Voice recordings are quite clear and intelligible, but the nearby fan causes background noise.

Accessories

In addition to safety and warranty information, a quick start guide and a recovery DVD for the preinstalled Windows 7 Home Premium 64 bit is in the box. Samsung's Easy Settings tool (system settings and energy management) conveniently bundles a range of functions and tools that spares the user from long-winded searches in the system settings. There are also settings that are manufacturer-specific. Battery Life Extender (80% charge), Fast Start (on/off) or Silent Mode (auto/low, on/off) seem sensible. Samsung installs a trial of Norton's Internet Security, which annoys the user with activation pop-ups.

Maintenance

It is possible to access the hard disk and working memory via the maintenance cover. While the 2.5 inch HDD has to be completely replaced for upgrading, the installed 4 GB memory module can easily be complemented by another one. Regrettably, it is not possible to access the fan and thus cannot be cleaned. The entire base would have to be removed for that. Although it is technically possible, it requires a bit of skill. Opening it completely also becomes necessary when the Wi-Fi module's half-mini card or the CMOS battery has to be replaced.

Warranty

The base warranty of 24 months (no on-site; collect & return only) can be upgraded in online shops. An upgrade to a 3 year on-site service costs around 60 Euros ( $80) and about 100 Euros ( $130) is due for a total warranty period of 4 years.

Easy Settings
Easy Settings
Silent Mode setup
Silent Mode setup
Recovery Solution 5
Recovery Solution 5
Recovery Solution 5
Recovery Solution 5
Accessories
Accessories

Input Devices

Keyboard

The big 17-inch chassis provides enough room for a full-sized keyboard alongside a number pad. The chiclet-style keys are embedded in a recessed glossy tray. The keys' fit is acceptably firm and we did not notice denting anywhere when typing lightly on it. If you have a firmer stroke, you will notice that the number pad dents and recoils. The optical drive is installed beneath it. 

The layout is good overall and the number pad features the same key size as the other keys. "Plus", "minus" and "enter" are located at the outer right. We find the typing feel for a low-cost laptop compelling. The keys feature a palpable pressure point and a sufficient drop. The stroke is firm, but not hard. The keys do not have a concave surface, which occasionally impairs accuracy. However, this is not a problem due to the large gaps between adjacent keys. The arrow keys should have been moved out of the keyboard area for easier detection (an offset for easy detection). 

Touchpad

Synaptic's touchpad (v7.5) also made a good impression. Even moist fingers easily glide over the sleek, 10 x 5.5 centimeter pad and navigate the cursor swiftly. Subjectively, the accuracy is above-average. Of course, Synaptic's pad also supports multi-touch gestures. They can be customized to an extent like enabling the three-finger-flick. 

Both mouse keys produce a loud but annoying (in the long run at least) clicking noise. The pressure point is clear, but the drop is just sufficient. The stroke on the right and left is soft, which increases the clicking speed. The Aspire 7750G and HP Pavilion g7-1353eg feature much inferior inputs due to a shorter key drop and unclear pressure point.

Firm stroke
Firm stroke
Weak pressure point
Weak pressure point
Flexible but loud keys
Flexible but loud keys

As all basic 17-inch laptops, our 300E7A relies on a 1600 x 900 pixels display, which equals a pixel density of 106 dpi. The screen from AUO is AR-coated. The TN screen's contrast of 360:1 pleases with adequately vivid colors. However, it cannot be said to have a high contrast.

We examined the reproducible color space although this criterion is only important for a few users like professional graphic designers. As expected, we found a poor AdobeRGB (t) and sRGB (t) coverage. The 17-incher's contrast and color space are worlds apart from a professional screen as in Apple's MBP 15 Retina (t).

ICC Samsung 300E7A vs. AdobeRGB (t)
ICC Samsung 300E7A vs. AdobeRGB (t)
ICC Samsung 300E7A vs. sRGB (t)
ICC Samsung 300E7A vs. sRGB (t)
ICC Samsung 300E7A vs. MBP15 Retina (t)
ICC Samsung 300E7A vs. MBP15 Retina (t)
277
cd/m²
271
cd/m²
254
cd/m²
267
cd/m²
281
cd/m²
265
cd/m²
279
cd/m²
280
cd/m²
280
cd/m²
Distribution of brightness
AUO B173RW01 V4 tested with X-Rite i1Pro 2
Maximum: 281 cd/m² (Nits) Average: 272.7 cd/m²
Brightness Distribution: 90 %
Center on Battery: 281 cd/m²
Contrast: 360:1 (Black: 0.78 cd/m²)52.4% AdobeRGB 1998 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
74% sRGB (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
50.9% Display P3 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)

The white LED backlight distributes the brightness relatively homogeneously with 90% coverage and shines comparatively bright with an average of 272 cd/m²  Due to the evenness, the eyes do not detect bright spots. The brightness is maintained on battery power and thus good outdoor results are possible. The luminosity is very good for the low-budget range.

Although our three outdoor pictures were taken in overcast conditions, they show a sharp picture. This should also be the case in sunlight owing to the feasible contrasts and high brightness.

Lateral view, cloudy
Lateral view, cloudy
Lateral view, cloudy
Lateral view, cloudy
Frontal view, cloudy
Frontal view, cloudy
Viewing angles: Samsung Series 3 300E7A-S09DE
Viewing angles: Samsung Series 3 300E7A-S09DE

The viewing angles are far from perfect. However, the customer has to accept this phenomenon in virtually all low-cost laptops because the screens are always the cheapest TN panels. We could change our view up to 40 degrees from the front horizontally. Beyond that, the content increasingly dims and the colors invert. This effect occurred with the slightest deviation of approximately 10 degrees vertically. The narrow vertical viewing angles are visible on the darkroom picture. We experienced the most intense restrictions looking up or down and from the sides (ghosting).

Performance

Samsung opted for Intel's low-end Pentium B960 processor for its low-cost model. The 35 W CPU is based on Sandy Bridge (32 nm build) architecture and includes HD Graphics and DDR 3 memory controller. The dual-core is not capable of Hyper Threading or Turbo Boost. The buyer has to decide whether a low-end Pentium is wanted or not. The Series 300E7C is also available with the latest Ivy Bridge technology: From a Core i3-3110M and HD 4000 (450 Euros/$600) up to an i7-3610QM and AMD's Radeon HD 7670M (starting at 700 Euros/$920). The GT 520MX, like in the test device, is only installed in devices featuring Sandy Bridge processors like the Core i5-2430M. All stronger Ivy Bridge models sport the HD 7670MNvidia's Optimus automatically switches between the integrated and dedicated graphics, which reduces the power consumption.

System info CPUZ CPU
DPC Latency: Idle OK
System info HWinfo summary
System info GPUZ Nvidia Geforce GT 520MX
System info GPUZ Intel HD Graphics (Sandy Bridge)
System info CPUZ RAM SPD
System info CPUZ RAM
System info CPUZ Mainboard
System info CPUZ Cache
DPC Latency: Wi-Fi on/off latencies
System information: Samsung Series 3 300E7A-S09DE

Processor

Cinebench R11.5 Multi @2,2 GHz
Cinebench R11.5 Multi @2,2 GHz

The configuration options for the 17-incher are vast. Now, we will look at where our low-cost model places itself in terms of performance. For this, we compared it with laptops that also cost less than 500 Euros, but which could feature a different configuration. Samsung's 350V5C-S07DE is in the lead (+271%), which is not surprising in view of the i7-3610QM quad-core. However, it is surprising that the HD 7670M in the 350V5C is not much better (+7%) than our GT 520MX in the OpenGL test. This is unusual as the Satellite L850-153 shows much better performance (+92%).

Core i5 systems have a 50 to 70% higher multi-core processing performance. AMD's A10 and A6 quad-cores also defeat the Pentium, although the difference is not a big as with the Intel Cores.

Cinebench R11.5
CPU Multi 64Bit (sort by value)
Samsung Series 3 300E7A-S09DE
1.68 Points
Samsung Serie 3 350V5C-S07DE
6.23 Points +271%
Toshiba Satellite L850-153
2.9 Points +73%
Lenovo IdeaPad Z585
2.04 Points +21%
Samsung 305E7A-S03DE
1.96 Points +17%
Sony Vaio SV-E1712F1EW
1.85 Points +10%
OpenGL 64Bit (sort by value)
Samsung Series 3 300E7A-S09DE
18.44 fps
Samsung Serie 3 350V5C-S07DE
19.68 fps +7%
Toshiba Satellite L850-153
35.43 fps +92%
Lenovo IdeaPad Z585
31.31 fps +70%
Samsung 305E7A-S03DE
20.45 fps +11%
Sony Vaio SV-E1712F1EW
32.68 fps +77%

Legend

 
Samsung Series 3 300E7A-S09DE Intel Pentium B960, NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX, Hitachi Travelstar 5K750 HTS547550A9E384
 
Samsung Serie 3 350V5C-S07DE Intel Core i7-3610QM, AMD Radeon HD 7670M, Hitachi Travelstar 5K750 HTS547575A9E384
 
Toshiba Satellite L850-153 Intel Core i5-3210M, AMD Radeon HD 7670M, Hitachi Travelstar 5K750 HTS547550A9E384
 
Lenovo IdeaPad Z585 AMD A10-4600M, AMD Radeon HD 7660G + HD 7670M Dual Graphics, Seagate Momentus SpinPoint M8 ST1000LM024
 
Samsung 305E7A-S03DE AMD A6-3420M, AMD Radeon HD 6540G2, Seagate Momentus 5400.6 ST9500325AS
 
Sony Vaio SV-E1712F1EW Intel Pentium B980, AMD Radeon HD 7650M, Hitachi Travelstar Z5K500 HTS545050A7E380
Cinebench R10 Rendering Single 32Bit
2862
Cinebench R10 Rendering Multiple CPUs 32Bit
5520
Cinebench R10 Shading 32Bit
4558
Cinebench R10 Rendering Single CPUs 64Bit
3515 Points
Cinebench R10 Rendering Multiple CPUs 64Bit
6815 Points
Cinebench R10 Shading 64Bit
4740 Points
Cinebench R11.5 CPU Single 64Bit
0.86 Points
Cinebench R11.5 CPU Multi 64Bit
1.68 Points
Cinebench R11.5 OpenGL 64Bit
18.44 fps
Help

System Performance

PCMark 7 scores
PCMark 7 scores

The differences in system performance are not as extreme as the performance comparison indicates. Even Samsung's expensive 350V5C (HD 7670M) quad-core laptop only has a 38% advantage in PCMark 7. Toshiba's L850 (i5) follows with about a 28% gain. Sony's Vaio SV-E1712F1EW, also equipped with a Pentium (B980) manages a slight advantage of 17% with its Radeon HD 7650M

Samsung's 305E7A-S03DE (AMD A6), which was in the lead in processing performance, now falls behind the test laptop by 6%. First impressions can be deceiving. We looked at the graphics-intensive entertainment sub-score and found the three HD 7670M laptops in the lead. Even the Vaio SV-E17 with its Pentium is among them.

PCMark 7
Score (sort by value)
Samsung Series 3 300E7A-S09DE
1664 Points
Samsung Serie 3 350V5C-S07DE
2295 Points +38%
Toshiba Satellite L850-153
2126 Points +28%
Sony Vaio SV-E1712F1EW
1949 Points +17%
Samsung 305E7A-S03DE
1568 Points -6%
Entertainment (sort by value)
Samsung Series 3 300E7A-S09DE
1709 Points
Samsung Serie 3 350V5C-S07DE
2632 Points +54%
Toshiba Satellite L850-153
2405 Points +41%
Sony Vaio SV-E1712F1EW
2100 Points +23%
Samsung 305E7A-S03DE
1709 Points 0%

Legend

 
Samsung Series 3 300E7A-S09DE Intel Pentium B960, NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX, Hitachi Travelstar 5K750 HTS547550A9E384
 
Samsung Serie 3 350V5C-S07DE Intel Core i7-3610QM, AMD Radeon HD 7670M, Hitachi Travelstar 5K750 HTS547575A9E384
 
Toshiba Satellite L850-153 Intel Core i5-3210M, AMD Radeon HD 7670M, Hitachi Travelstar 5K750 HTS547550A9E384
 
Sony Vaio SV-E1712F1EW Intel Pentium B980, AMD Radeon HD 7650M, Hitachi Travelstar Z5K500 HTS545050A7E380
 
Samsung 305E7A-S03DE AMD A6-3420M, AMD Radeon HD 6540G2, Seagate Momentus 5400.6 ST9500325AS
4.5
Windows 7 Experience Index
Processor
Calculations per second
6.1
Memory (RAM)
Memory operations per second
5.9
Graphics
Desktop performance for Windows Aero
4.5
Gaming graphics
3D business and gaming graphics
6.5
Primary hard disk
Disk data transfer rate
5.7
PCMark Vantage Result
4280 points
PCMark 7 Score
1664 points
Help

Storage Devices

The 500 GB hard disk from Hitachi spins with a below-average speed. It is the reason for the low HDD scores (PCM7 / PCM Vantage). The HDD sub-score is 1580 and 3385 points respectively. The hard disk spins at 5400 rpm. It records a speed of 58 MB/s in sequential read (HDTune). CrystalDiskMark finishes with 62 MB/s (different test routine), which is a poor read rate even for a slow-spinning 5400 rpm HDD. The competition (with no SSD) is at least a bit faster. Lenovo's Z585 manages to achieve 110 MB/s (+78%) for the same drive speed.

Hitachi HTS547550A9E384 500 GB
Hitachi HTS547550A9E384 500 GB
HD Tune 58 MB/s read
HD Tune 58 MB/s read
CrystalDiskMark 62 MB/s read
CrystalDiskMark 62 MB/s read
CrystalDiskMark 3.0 - Read Seq (sort by value)
Samsung Series 3 300E7A-S09DE
62 MB/s
Samsung Serie 3 350V5C-S07DE
95.8 MB/s +55%
Sony Vaio SV-E1712F1EW
115.8 MB/s +87%
Lenovo IdeaPad Z585
110.2 MB/s +78%
Samsung 305E7A-S03DE
76.6 MB/s +24%
PCMark Vantage - 1024x768 HDD Score (sort by value)
Samsung Series 3 300E7A-S09DE
3385 Points
Samsung Serie 3 350V5C-S07DE
3217 Points -5%
Lenovo IdeaPad Z585
3304 Points -2%
Samsung 305E7A-S03DE
3389 Points 0%

Legend

 
Samsung Series 3 300E7A-S09DE Intel Pentium B960, NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX, Hitachi Travelstar 5K750 HTS547550A9E384
 
Samsung Serie 3 350V5C-S07DE Intel Core i7-3610QM, AMD Radeon HD 7670M, Hitachi Travelstar 5K750 HTS547575A9E384
 
Sony Vaio SV-E1712F1EW Intel Pentium B980, AMD Radeon HD 7650M, Hitachi Travelstar Z5K500 HTS545050A7E380
 
Lenovo IdeaPad Z585 AMD A10-4600M, AMD Radeon HD 7660G + HD 7670M Dual Graphics, Seagate Momentus SpinPoint M8 ST1000LM024
 
Samsung 305E7A-S03DE AMD A6-3420M, AMD Radeon HD 6540G2, Seagate Momentus 5400.6 ST9500325AS
Hitachi Travelstar 5K750 HTS547550A9E384
Transfer Rate Minimum: 29.1 MB/s
Transfer Rate Maximum: 78.8 MB/s
Transfer Rate Average: 58.4 MB/s
Access Time: 18.4 ms
Burst Rate: 82.6 MB/s
CPU Usage: 1 %

Graphics Card

OpenGL Shading test GT 520MX @ 900 MHz
OpenGL Shading test GT 520MX @ 900 MHz

Nvidia's GT 520MX is a rather unusual entry-level graphics card. It is a revved up GT 520M that has an increased core frequency (900 rather than 740 MHz) and memory frequency (1800 rather than 1480). Details about the graphics card can be found on the GPU page. The resulting higher TDP does not harm the battery life because Nvidia's Optimus automatically disables the GT 520MX when applications or games do not need it. Our 3D benchmarks and games all immediately ran without problems on Nvidia's GPU. It was just the Deus EX and Medal of Honor: Warfighter games that consistently crashed when started.

3DMark 11 (p 658) finished just as poor as the CPU-dependent, older 3DMark 06 (5235). That is an extremely low score compared with the latest mainstream GPUs, such as Nvidia's GeForce GT 650M (at least 12500 points, 3DM06) or GT 630M (8000 points). The HD 4000 in a 35 W Core i5 is only 10% slower (see ThinkPad L430). The question whether a corresponding laptop with Intel's integrated GPU would perform just as well arises and the gaming tests can answer this. 

3DMark 06 - 1280x1024 Standard Score AA:0x AF:0x (sort by value)
Samsung Series 3 300E7A-S09DE
5235 Points
Samsung Serie 3 350V5C-S07DE
8218 Points +57%
Toshiba Satellite L850-153
7830 Points +50%
Lenovo IdeaPad Z585
7716 Points +47%
Sony Vaio SV-E1712F1EW
6938 Points +33%
Samsung 305E7A-S03DE
4800 Points -8%
Lenovo ThinkPad L430
4715 Points -10%

Legend

 
Samsung Series 3 300E7A-S09DE Intel Pentium B960, NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX, Hitachi Travelstar 5K750 HTS547550A9E384
 
Samsung Serie 3 350V5C-S07DE Intel Core i7-3610QM, AMD Radeon HD 7670M, Hitachi Travelstar 5K750 HTS547575A9E384
 
Toshiba Satellite L850-153 Intel Core i5-3210M, AMD Radeon HD 7670M, Hitachi Travelstar 5K750 HTS547550A9E384
 
Lenovo IdeaPad Z585 AMD A10-4600M, AMD Radeon HD 7660G + HD 7670M Dual Graphics, Seagate Momentus SpinPoint M8 ST1000LM024
 
Sony Vaio SV-E1712F1EW Intel Pentium B980, AMD Radeon HD 7650M, Hitachi Travelstar Z5K500 HTS545050A7E380
 
Samsung 305E7A-S03DE AMD A6-3420M, AMD Radeon HD 6540G2, Seagate Momentus 5400.6 ST9500325AS
 
Lenovo ThinkPad L430 Intel Core i5-3210M, Intel HD Graphics 4000, Hitachi Travelstar Z7K500 HTS725050A7E630
3DMark 06 Standard Score
5235 points
3DMark Vantage P Result
2558 points
3DMark 11 Performance
658 points
Help

Gaming Performance

The GeForce GT 520MX exhibits disappointing results in gaming. This is not necessarily due to the Pentium, as Samsung's 300E5A (Core i5) and the same GPU proves (Anno 2070, Skyrim). Intel's HD 4000 (Nexoc B510, LifeBook E782, One M73-2N) is either on par or accomplishes even more frames than the GT 520MX. So, if you want the same (poor) gameplay, you might as well take a Core i5 + HD 4000 solution.

Games are generally, if at all, only playable in low details and resolutions. We added a range of up-to-date 2012 games to the test course to confirm the surprisingly low result. Only undemanding games, like Counter Strike: GO or Fifa 13, run smoothly at HD resolution. Consequently, gameplay at the native 1600 x 900 pixels is not possible.

The HD 7670M devices are definitely much better gaming machines, even with the weak CPU equipment (Vaio SV-E1712F1EW, Pentium). AMD's dual-graphics solutions are roughly just as reasonably priced (IdeaPad Z585), but the initial exultation can quickly turn into frustration depending on how often the games are changed. The reason for this is the unsatisfactory driver implementation of the dual-graphics technology.

Anno 2070 - 1366x768 Medium Preset AA:on (sort by value)
Samsung Series 3 300E7A-S09DE
20.7 fps
HP Pavilion g7-1353eg
21 fps +1%
Lenovo IdeaPad Z585
33.4 fps +61%
Sony Vaio SV-E1712F1EW
32.5 fps +57%
One M73-2N
25.9 fps +25%
Samsung 300E5A-S01
21.2 fps +2%
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim - 1280x720 Low Preset (sort by value)
Samsung Series 3 300E7A-S09DE
31.4 fps
HP Pavilion g7-1353eg
29.5 fps -6%
Samsung Serie 3 350V5C-S07DE
48.2 fps +54%
Lenovo IdeaPad Z585
37 fps +18%
HP Pavilion m6-1050sg
33 fps +5%
Samsung NP355V5C-S05DE
37.9 fps +21%
One M73-2N
36 fps +15%
Fujitsu Lifebook E782
35.22 fps +12%
Samsung 300E5A-S01
31.3 fps 0%
Fifa 13 - 1366x768 High AA:2xMS (sort by value)
Samsung Series 3 300E7A-S09DE
52 fps
Samsung Serie 3 350V5C-S07DE
112.8 fps +117%
Toshiba Satellite L850-153
115.6 fps +122%
Nexoc B510
48.2 fps -7%
low med. high ultra
Battlefield: Bad Company 2 (2010) 41 31 22
Battlefield 3 (2011) 11.8 10.5
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim (2011) 31.4 22 16.8
Anno 2070 (2011) 54.2 20.7 12.7
Mass Effect 3 (2012) 36.1 25.1
Risen 2: Dark Waters (2012) 20.8 14 10.8
Darksiders II (2012) 26.8
Sleeping Dogs (2012) 41 30.1 10.3
Counter-Strike: GO (2012) 75 68 38
Torchlight 2 (2012) 24.3 12.6
F1 2012 (2012) 39 34 30
Borderlands 2 (2012) 33 25.3 20
Fifa 13 (2012) 146 97 52
World of Tanks v8 (2012) 42.6 15.1 13
Dishonored (2012) 13.8 15.4 15.2

Emissions

Vent
Vent

System Noise

Quiet laptops are a hallmark of Samsung. Its Silent Mode button is almost legendary. Ultrabooks do not feature this function, but it is still incorporated in standard laptops. The fan permanently spins at lowest speed or is disabled for long periods during load (low waste heat). Then, only the hard disk's buzzing is audible.

The noiselessness of Silent Mode is at the expense of reduced performance. The CPU's clock was limited to 800 MHz even in load conditions. We measured the idle temperature in this mode. The waste heat accumulated in the chassis because of the disabled fan and heated it up to 40 degrees Centigrade.

The fan spins consistently at its lowest speed (Silent Mode off) during basic Office tasks, such as Word, Excel, mail or Web browsing (a lot of idle). First, permanent load lets the fan turn up audibly. The noise increased to 41 dB (A). This is equally true for both medium load (3DMark 06) and the stress test (CPU + GPU). Silent Mode reduces the volume to 34 and 36 dB (A) respectively in these load scenarios (throttling performance). But either way, the consistent noise is tolerable and the fan management works sedately.

Noise Level

Idle
30.6 / 31.6 / 32.4 dB(A)
HDD
33.1 dB(A)
DVD
37.2 / dB(A)
Load
41 / 41.3 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 waste heat only increased the temperatures up to 49 to 52 degrees Celsius in the hot spots during constant load induced by the stress test (Prime95 + Furmark). The user notices this when the laptop is picked up in the fan's area. We did not observe CPU throttling during the tests. Apart from Silent Mode, the Pentium clocked at 2.2 GHz regardless of whether it was single or dual-core load. The 300E7A maintained the high performance on battery power (graphics + CPU performance).

Max. Load
 48.6 °C
119 F
33.5 °C
92 F
26 °C
79 F
 
 41.5 °C
107 F
39.1 °C
102 F
26.6 °C
80 F
 
 31.9 °C
89 F
34 °C
93 F
21.7 °C
71 F
 
Maximum: 48.6 °C = 119 F
Average: 33.7 °C = 93 F
25.2 °C
77 F
33.9 °C
93 F
52 °C
126 F
25.1 °C
77 F
45.3 °C
114 F
42 °C
108 F
24.9 °C
77 F
27.5 °C
82 F
33.6 °C
92 F
Maximum: 52 °C = 126 F
Average: 34.4 °C = 94 F
Power Supply (max.)  51.5 °C = 125 F | Room Temperature 22.8 °C = 73 F | Voltcraft IR-360
(±) The average temperature for the upper side under maximal load is 33.7 °C / 93 F, compared to the average of 31.2 °C / 88 F for the devices in the class Multimedia.
(-) The maximum temperature on the upper side is 48.6 °C / 119 F, compared to the average of 36.9 °C / 98 F, ranging from 21.1 to 71 °C for the class Multimedia.
(-) The bottom heats up to a maximum of 52 °C / 126 F, compared to the average of 39.1 °C / 102 F
(+) In idle usage, the average temperature for the upper side is 29.3 °C / 85 F, compared to the device average of 31.2 °C / 88 F.
(+) The palmrests and touchpad are reaching skin temperature as a maximum (34 °C / 93.2 F) and are therefore not hot.
(-) The average temperature of the palmrest area of similar devices was 28.8 °C / 83.8 F (-5.2 °C / -9.4 F).

Speakers

SoundAlive: audio presets
SoundAlive: audio presets

The two speakers above the keys overemphasize the trebles and mids and low ranges are neglected (which is unbalanced). We hear a clear scratching sound and distortion from the small speakers at high volumes. The volume is quite high and adequate for a 17-inch laptop. The installed speakers will not satisfy music fans. Thus, external speakers are a must. The audio presets make the most sense with quality headphones (SoundAlive).

Energy Management

Power Consumption

The long idle period (minimum load and brightness) indicates low power consumption. The measurements confirm this, particularly in idle. The lowest idle power consumption ranges between a mere 9 W to a maximum of just 14 W. But that is nothing special since all 15 and 17-inch test devices with the latest Intel processors consume approximately 10 to 15 W, with the exception of Intel quad-core systems. The 300E7A scores a bonus point for energy management due to Nvidia's Optimus technology. It shuts off the GT 520MX when it is not needed. Then, only the energy-efficient, but low-performance Intel HD Graphics (Sandy Bridge) integrated in the Pentium processor is active.

The power consumption climbed considerably to 64 W during the stress test (Prime95 + Furmark). The small 60 W PSU (349 grams including the cord) seems to be slightly overtaxed by such a situation. However, 52 degrees Celsius on the power adapter during full load is not alarming, particularly since our stress test is an unrealistic power scenario. The effective power in 3DMark 06 was 61 W.

Power Consumption
Off / Standbydarklight 0.1 / 0.4 Watt
Idledarkmidlight 8.9 / 13.4 / 15.7 Watt
Load midlight 60.8 / 64.3 Watt
 color bar
Key: min: dark, med: mid, max: light        Voltcraft VC 960
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 Life

The 6 cell lithium ion battery (48 Wh) ensures viable runtimes. Samsung's 17-inch laptop lasted for 3 hours 27 minutes while surfing with Wi-Fi. It is possible to watch a DVD movie for about 2 hours 55 minutes on the go. Undemanding users can boost the idle runtime up to 6 hours 39 minutes (Reader's test). However, that is not a realistic time since it is impossible to work without real processor load, disabled Wi-Fi and at minimum brightness. The small 60 W PSU needs 2 hours 9 minutes to recharge the battery.

For comparison, the stronger Samsung Series 3 350V5C (3610QM, HD 7670M) lasts for 4:19 h (49 Wh). The Vaio SV-E1712F1EW (Pentium, HD 7670M) only manages 2:36 hours (44 Wh). Fujitsu's 17 inch LifeBook E782 runs for 4:38 hours without a dedicated graphics card, but in this case, the battery has a capacity of 63 Wh.

DVD playback: 175 min
DVD playback: 175 min
Idle: 399 min
Idle: 399 min
Load: 92 min
Load: 92 min
Wi-Fi surfing: 207 min
Wi-Fi surfing: 207 min
Battery Runtime
Idle (without WLAN, min brightness)
6h 39min
WiFi Surfing
3h 27min
DVD
2h 55min
Load (maximum brightness)
1h 32min

Verdict

Samsung's Series 3 300E7A-S09DE aims at the highly competitive, ultra-low-cost 17-inch market category. It's special feature is the GeForce GT 520MX. However, the gaming results are disappointing. It is not the fault of the weak Pentium B960, but rather due to the GT 520MX's low performance. One particularly discouraging insight is that Intel's HD Graphics 4000 integrated in a Core i5 which renders just as fast if not faster than Nvidia's dedicated graphics card. GPUs like the HD 7670M run games much better even when the processor comes from AMD (like the A6). Correspondingly, the laptop alternatives are only slightly more expensive (at least for 15-inch machines).

The matte screen, low system noise (Silent Mode) and the good battery life of 3:27 hours are the 17-inch laptop's best assets. The input devices are acceptable although prolific writers will want a quieter keyboard and a clearer pressure point.

Besides the unstable construction of the lid, the hinges and base unit, the limited amount of ports, the poor maintainability and glossy keyboard bezel are the other drawbacks that cannot be overlooked easily. This can be excused in view of the laptop's low price of a mere 399 Euros (depending on configuration, machines with Free DOS possibly sold out). However, these points weigh even heavier considering the disappointment when it comes to gaming.

Those looking for a fairly gaming-suitable device in the EUR 450 price range will have a hard time due to the innumerable configuration options. This also applies to us testers. Although we have reviewed most alternative models, they are not in a similar low-cost configuration, e.g. with a Core i3 or Pentium.

Buyers with gaming ambitions (17 inch) who do not want to invest more than EUR 500 should look around for a HD 7670M accompanied by Intel's Core i3 (e.g. Acer's Aspire 7750G, i3 2310M). Virtually nothing can go wrong for entry-level gaming. AMD's Dual Graphics (e.g. HP's Pavilion g7-1310sg, Samsung's 305E7A) is affordable, but not always swift. The performance fails in some games due to the poor driver support. Here, the buyer should favor a single GPU solution if stress prevention has top priority.

Courtesy of ...
Samsung NP300E7A (NP-300E7A-S09DE): Not the Pentium brakes gaming ambitions but the GeForce GT 520MX because it only generates weak frame rates.
Samsung NP300E7A (NP-300E7A-S09DE): It is not the Pentium processor that curtails the gaming ability of the notebook but the low performance (and redundant compared to the IGPs of today's processors) GeForce GT 520MX.
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In Review:  Samsung Series 3 300E7A-S09DE
In Review: Samsung Series 3 300E7A-S09DE, courtesy of:

Specifications

Samsung Series 3 300E7A-S09DE (Series 3 Series)
Processor
Intel Pentium B960 2 x 2.2 GHz, Sandy Bridge
Graphics adapter
NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX - 1024 MB VRAM, Core: 900 MHz, Memory: 900 MHz, DDR3, 268.83, Nvidia Optimus
Memory
4 GB 
, single-channel Samsung PC3-10600
Display
17.30 inch 16:9, 1600 x 900 pixel, AUO B173RW01 V4, TN LED, glossy: no
Mainboard
Intel HM65
Storage
Hitachi Travelstar 5K750 HTS547550A9E384, 500 GB 
, 5400 rpm
Soundcard
Realtek ALC269 @ Intel Cougar Point PCH - High Definition Audio Controller
Connections
3 USB 2.0, 1 VGA, 1 HDMI, 1 Kensington Lock, Audio Connections: microphone, headphone, Card Reader: SD, SDHC, SDXC, MMC
Networking
Realtek PCIe GBE Family Controller (10/100/1000MBit/s), Intel Centrino Wireless-N 130 (b/g/n = Wi-Fi 4/), Bluetooth 4.0
Optical drive
TSSTcorp CDDVDW SN-208BB
Size
height x width x depth (in mm): 35 x 407 x 266 ( = 1.38 x 16.02 x 10.47 in)
Battery
48 Wh Lithium-Ion, 11.1V 4400mAh AA-PB9NC6B
Operating System
Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64 Bit
Camera
Webcam: 0.3 MP
Additional features
Speakers: stereo, Keyboard: chiclet, Keyboard Light: no, Recovery Solution, Norton Internet Security (60 day trial), Support Center, Fast Start, Speedup Manager, Network Manager, Battery Life Extender, Display Manager, Update Plus, Sleep-and-Charge USB, File Share, Content Share, CyberLink, YouCam, Game Console, 24 Months Warranty
Weight
2.665 kg ( = 94.01 oz / 5.88 pounds), Power Supply: 349 g ( = 12.31 oz / 0.77 pounds)
Price
499 Euro

 

Big screen, graphics card and matte screen for little money -
Big screen size, graphics card and matte screen for little money -
The card reader is located on the front
The card reader is located at the front
and looks a bit displaced. Why hasn't it found room at one of the side?
and looks a bit misplaced. Why hasn't it found room on one of the side?
The battery has a capacity of 48 watt hours.
The battery has a capacity of 48 watt-hours.
That is still enough for good three hours of mobility (Wi-Fi test) at medium brightness.
That is still enough for a good three hours of mobility (Wi-Fi test) at medium brightness.
The 4 GB RAM module can be complemented by another, which also represents the maximum capacity.
The 4 GB RAM module can be complemented by another, which also represents the maximum capacity.
The small PSU supplies 60 watts (349 gram incl. cord).
The small PSU supplies 60 watts (349 gram including the cord).
It is loaded to capacity already in 3DMark 2006 (61 watts).
It is already loaded past maximum capacity in the 3DMark 2006 test(61 watts).
Samsung's NP300E7A: Matte and always bright - the desired screen criteria (for outdoor use) are fulfilled.
Samsung's NP300E7A: Matte and always bright - the desired screen criteria (for outdoor use) are fulfilled.
Samsung's NP300E7A: The pliable chassis is only low-quality.
Samsung's NP300E7A: The chassis is only low-quality.
Samsung's NP300E7A: The GeForce GT 520MX's gaming ambitions are disappointed.
Samsung's NP300E7A: The GeForce GT 520MX's gaming performance is disappointing.
Samsung's NP300E7A: But it is the least fault of the Pentium processor.
Samsung's NP300E7A: And is noth the fault of the Pentium processor.
Samsung's NP300E7A: Slightly clattery typing, regrettably framed by high-gloss.
Samsung's NP300E7A: Typing is a little noisy, with the keys framed with glossy plastic.
But at least VGA and HDMI as well as two dedicated audio jacks are installed.
But at least VGA and HDMI as well as two dedicated audio jacks are installed.
Standard fare in connectivity: USB 3.0 is not available.
Standard fare in connectivity: USB 3.0 is not available.
The glossy bezel has minute dots, which reduces fingerprints.
The glossy bezel has a textured surface which reduces fingerprints.
Samsung's Series 3 NP300E7A belongs to the rare laptops that
Samsung's Series 3 NP300E7A belongs to the group of laptops that
offer such components for considerably below EUR 500.
offer such components for prices considerably below 500 Euros.
The 17.3 incher is a plain laptop without aluminum bells and whistles.
The 17.3-incher is a plain laptop without aluminum bells and whistles.
Wobbly, ribbed plastic lid and plastic plus high-gloss inside
A wobbly, ribbed plastic lid and glossy plastic inside
are somewhere between pseudo-stylish and everyday suitable.
are somewhere between pseudo-stylish and suitable for everyday use.
The matte WXGA++ screen is definitely a positive attribute of the 300E7A.
The matte WXGA++ screen is definitely a positive attribute of the 300E7A.
Particularly, the brightness is impressive in the low-cost price range.
Particularly, the brightness is impressive in the low-cost price range.
Samsung combines an inexpensive Intel Pentium B960
Samsung combines an inexpensive Intel Pentium B960
with an Nvidia GeForce GT 520MX. The combination with a weak Pentium CPU is extremely rare.
with an Nvidia GeForce GT 520MX. This type of combination with a weak Pentium CPU is extremely rare.
The casing is not rigid. The lid and base unit creak and warp.
The casing is not rigid. The lid and base unit creak and warp.
The ideal place is the local desk with only few transports.
The ideal place is the local desk with only few chances for mobility.
The webcam only shoots pictures in VGA resolution (640 x 480).
The webcam only shoots pictures in VGA resolution (640 x 480).
Samsung's NP300E7A: The keys are firmly inserted up to the optical drive.
Samsung's NP300E7A: The keys are firmly inserted up to the optical drive.

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Links

  • Manufacturer's information

Compare Prices


Pros

+Useful battery runtimes
+Matte, bright screen
+Quiet operation, Silent Mode
+Good input devices
 

Cons

-Nvidia's GPU unsuitable for gaming
-Pliable chassis
-No USB 3.0
-Poor maintainability

Shortcut

What we like

Matte screen, adequate input devices and extremely quiet by just pushing a button 

What we'd like to see

The HD 7670M is better suited for customers with gaming ambitions. USB 3.0 is unfortunately not installed.

What surprises us

Nvidia's graphics implies gaming power, but is outperformed by the HD 4000. The Pentium is not the limiting factor.

The 17-inch competition:

Samsung 355E7C (up to HD 7670M); HP Pavilion g7-1310sg - Successor: HP Pavilion g7-1353eg (Dual Graphics); HP g7-1310sg (HD 6480G + HD 7450M); Acer Aspire 7750G (i3-2310M, HD 7670M); Samsung 305E7A (HD 6520G + HD 6470M); Dell Inspiron Q17R (Pentium B960, GeForce GT 525M)

Rating


Samsung Series 3 300E7A-S09DE - 11/30/2012 v3(old)
Sebastian Jentsch

Chassis
74%
Keyboard
82%
Pointing Device
80%
Connectivity
65%
Weight
78%
Battery
82%
Display
79%
Games Performance
70%
Application Performance
85%
Temperature
76%
Noise
88%
Add Points
82%
Average
78%
78%
Multimedia - Weighted Average
Sebastian Jentsch, 2012-12-19 (Update: 2018-05-15)