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ASUS VivoBook 15 X542UF (i5-8250U, MX130, SSD, FHD) Laptop Review

All-rounder The VivoBook 15 scores highly for its powerful quad-core processor, its dedicated GeForce GPU and good battery life. Once again, the VivoBook is let down by an unconvincing display.

The ASUS VivoBook 15 X542UF is a 15.6-inch all-rounder that is powered by a ULV quad-core Intel Kaby Lake processor. There is an NVIDIA GeForce MX130 dedicated graphics card onboard too, so it is possible to play some games. Principally, we have chosen to compare the ASUS VivoBook 15 against four devices: The Acer Swift 3 SF315-41, the HP 15-bs103ng, the HP Pavilion 15-cc107ng and the Lenovo IdeaPad 320-15IKBRN.

Asus VivoBook 15 X542UF-DM143T (VivoBook 15 X Series)
Processor
Intel Core i5-8250U 4 x 1.6 - 3.4 GHz, Kaby Lake Refresh
Graphics adapter
NVIDIA GeForce MX130 - 2048 MB VRAM, Core: 1189 MHz, Memory: 1253 MHz, GDDR5, ForceWare 397.31, Optimus
Memory
8 GB 
, DDR4
Display
15.60 inch 16:9, 1920 x 1080 pixel 141 PPI, BOE CQ NT156FHM-N41, TN LED, glossy: no
Mainboard
Intel Kaby Lake-U iHDCP 2.2 Premium PCH
Storage
Micron 1100 MTFDDAV256TBN, 256 GB 
, 202 GB free
Soundcard
Realtek ALC294 @ Intel Sunrise Point-LP PCH - High Definition Audio Controller
Connections
1 USB 2.0, 3 USB 3.0 / 3.1 Gen1, 1 VGA, 1 HDMI, 1 Kensington Lock, Audio Connections: Audio combo port, Card Reader: SD, TPM 2.0
Networking
Realtek RTL8168/8111 Gigabit-LAN (10/100/1000MBit/s), Qualcomm Atheros QCA9377 Wireless Network Adapter (a/b/g/n = Wi-Fi 4/ac = Wi-Fi 5/), Bluetooth 4.1
Optical drive
Slimtype DVD A DA8AESH
Size
height x width x depth (in mm): 23 x 380 x 251 ( = 0.91 x 14.96 x 9.88 in)
Battery
38 Wh Lithium-Ion
Operating System
Microsoft Windows 10 Home 64 Bit
Camera
Webcam: HD
Primary Camera: 0.3 MPix
Additional features
Speakers: Stereo, Keyboard: Chiclet, Keyboard Light: no, McAfee LiveSafe – trial, 24 Months Warranty
Weight
2.3 kg ( = 81.13 oz / 5.07 pounds), Power Supply: 242 g ( = 8.54 oz / 0.53 pounds)
Price
799 Euro
Note: The manufacturer may use components from different suppliers including display panels, drives or memory sticks with similar specifications.

 

Case & Connectivity

ASUS has decked out the VivoBook 15 entirely in plastic. The bottom case and the back of the display lid are black, the latter of which has a spiralled texture akin to tree rings. This is contrasted by the top case’s silver finish, which has a brushed metal texture to it.

The VivoBook 15 lacks good workmanship. Stability could be improved as we could easily twist our review unit with little effort. Equally, the display deforms when we applied pressure on the back of the lid.

There is a small maintenance cover on the bottom of the device, behind which are the two RAM slots. The battery is built-in and is only accessible by disassembling the case. Firstly, you will need to remove all screws on the bottom case and loosen the two screws that are hidden behind the maintenance cover. Then, having put the device on its feet, carefully lift the top case with a spudger, making sure to disconnect the two ribbon cables that connect it to the motherboard. Once removed, this not only gives you access to the battery, but also the fan, the SSD, the DVD drive, the Wi-Fi module and the free SATA slot.

There are two screws behind the maintenance cover which must be loosened before removing the top case.
There are two screws behind the maintenance cover which must be loosened before removing the top case.
The view of the internal hardware having removed the top case.
The view of the internal hardware having removed the top case.

The VivoBook 15 has a wealth of ports. There are four USB ports, three of which are USB Type-A and one which is USB Type-C. Of the three USB Type-A ports, two are USB Gen 3.1 while one is Gen 2.0. The USB Type-C port is Gen 3.1. The VivoBook 15 has two video outputs, namely VGA and HDMI. There is a memory card reader too, the performance of which we tested with our reference Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II card. The VivoBook 15 managed a maximum transfer rate of 31.1 MB/s when copying large blocks of data. This transfer rate slightly increased to an average of 34.3 MB/s when copying 250 5 MB JPG files.

Wi-Fi is handled by a Qualcomm QCA9377 module, which supports 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac standards. Under optimal WiFi conditions our review unit performed averagely. We created these conditions by having no other Wi-Fi connected devices near the router with the notebook close to the router.

Size Comparison

380 mm / 15 inch 253.6 mm / 9.98 inch 23.8 mm / 0.937 inch 2.1 kg4.63 lbs380 mm / 15 inch 251 mm / 9.88 inch 23 mm / 0.906 inch 2.3 kg5.07 lbs384 mm / 15.1 inch 255 mm / 10 inch 17.9 mm / 0.705 inch 2 kg4.46 lbs378 mm / 14.9 inch 260 mm / 10.2 inch 22.9 mm / 0.902 inch 2 kg4.46 lbs378 mm / 14.9 inch 252.1 mm / 9.93 inch 22.5 mm / 0.886 inch 1.8 kg4.01 lbs297 mm / 11.7 inch 210 mm / 8.27 inch 1 mm / 0.03937 inch 5.7 g0.01257 lbs

Connectivity

Right-hand side: Memory card reader, Audio combo port, USB Type-A 2.0, DVD drive, cable lock slot
Right-hand side: Memory card reader, Audio combo port, USB Type-A 2.0, DVD drive, cable lock slot
Left-hand side: Charging port, Gigabit Ethernet, VGA, HDMI, 1x USB Type-C 3.1 Gen 1, 2x USB Type-A 3.1 Gen 1
Left-hand side: Charging port, Gigabit Ethernet, VGA, HDMI, 1x USB Type-C 3.1 Gen 1, 2x USB Type-A 3.1 Gen 1
SD Card Reader
average JPG Copy Test (av. of 3 runs)
Average of class Multimedia
  (17.6 - 205, n=61, last 2 years)
93 MB/s +171%
HP Pavilion 15-cc107ng
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II)
80.2 MB/s +134%
Asus VivoBook 15 X542UF-DM143T
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II)
34.3 MB/s
Acer Swift 3 SF315-41-R4W1
 
32.4 MB/s -6%
Lenovo IdeaPad 320-15IKBRN 81BG001KGE
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II)
26.8 MB/s -22%
HP 15-bs103ng
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II)
23.6 MB/s -31%
maximum AS SSD Seq Read Test (1GB)
Average of class Multimedia
  (16.8 - 266, n=57, last 2 years)
122.4 MB/s +294%
HP Pavilion 15-cc107ng
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II)
86.9 MB/s +179%
Acer Swift 3 SF315-41-R4W1
 
35 MB/s +13%
Asus VivoBook 15 X542UF-DM143T
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II)
31.1 MB/s
Lenovo IdeaPad 320-15IKBRN 81BG001KGE
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II)
29.7 MB/s -5%
HP 15-bs103ng
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II)
27.2 MB/s -13%
Networking
iperf3 transmit AX12
HP Pavilion 15-cc107ng
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 7265
680 MBit/s +109%
Acer Swift 3 SF315-41-R4W1
Atheros/Qualcomm QCA6174
484 MBit/s +49%
HP 15-bs103ng
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 3168
345 MBit/s +6%
Lenovo IdeaPad 320-15IKBRN 81BG001KGE
Qualcomm Atheros QCA9377 Wireless Network Adapter
325 MBit/s 0%
Asus VivoBook 15 X542UF-DM143T
Qualcomm Atheros QCA9377 Wireless Network Adapter
325 MBit/s
iperf3 receive AX12
Acer Swift 3 SF315-41-R4W1
Atheros/Qualcomm QCA6174
579 MBit/s +75%
HP Pavilion 15-cc107ng
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 7265
554 MBit/s +67%
Asus VivoBook 15 X542UF-DM143T
Qualcomm Atheros QCA9377 Wireless Network Adapter
331 MBit/s
HP 15-bs103ng
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 3168
311 MBit/s -6%
Lenovo IdeaPad 320-15IKBRN 81BG001KGE
Qualcomm Atheros QCA9377 Wireless Network Adapter
294 MBit/s -11%

Input Devices

ASUS has equipped the VivoBook 15 with a chiclet keyboard and a number pad. These both lack backlighting. The flat, slightly roughened keys have a medium stroke and a clear pressure point. The key resistance is fine, but we would have preferred it to be crisper for our tastes. We noticed when typing that the keyboard deck is a bit spongy and could be more rigid. This was not particularly concerning though. Overall, ASUS has delivered a solid keyboard that is sufficient for home use.

The multi-touch ClickPad measures approximately 10.5 x 7.3 cm (~4.13 x 2.9 in), which is ample space for using gesture controls. These can be individually switched on or off from the ClickPad’s settings menu. The ClickPad has a smooth finish, which made it easy to slide our fingers across its surface. The ClickPad has a short stroke and a clearly audible and tactile pressure point.

Input Devices
Input Devices

Display

Sub-pixel array
Sub-pixel array

The VivoBook 15 has a matte 15.6-inch display with a native 1,920x1,080 resolution. The display is rather unimpressive, managing an average maximum brightness of just 221.4 cd/m² and a 511:1 contrast ratio in our tests. These values are too low for a notebook in this price range; we would expect to see at least 300 cd/m² brightness and a 1,000:1 contrast ratio.

The display shows PWM display flicker at 7,000 Hz for 90% brightness and below. This high frequency should not cause headaches or eye strain even for those that are sensitive to PWM.

215
cd/m²
220
cd/m²
225
cd/m²
226
cd/m²
230
cd/m²
227
cd/m²
209
cd/m²
218
cd/m²
223
cd/m²
Distribution of brightness
BOE CQ NT156FHM-N41 tested with X-Rite i1Pro 2
Maximum: 230 cd/m² (Nits) Average: 221.4 cd/m² Minimum: 12.7 cd/m²
Brightness Distribution: 91 %
Center on Battery: 230 cd/m²
Contrast: 511:1 (Black: 0.45 cd/m²)
ΔE Color 3.6 | 0.5-29.43 Ø5
ΔE Greyscale 3.13 | 0.57-98 Ø5.3
56% sRGB (Argyll 1.6.3 3D)
36% AdobeRGB 1998 (Argyll 1.6.3 3D)
38.71% AdobeRGB 1998 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
56.4% sRGB (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
37.47% Display P3 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
Gamma: 2.45
Asus VivoBook 15 X542UF-DM143T
TN LED, 1920x1080, 15.60
HP Pavilion 15-cc107ng
TN LED, 1920x1080, 15.60
Lenovo IdeaPad 320-15IKBRN 81BG001KGE
TN LED, 1920x1080, 15.60
HP 15-bs103ng
TN LED, 1920x1080, 15.60
Acer Swift 3 SF315-41-R4W1
IPS, 1920x1080, 15.60
Display
-1%
12%
-2%
5%
Display P3 Coverage
37.47
37.28
-1%
42.04
12%
36.55
-2%
39.59
6%
sRGB Coverage
56.4
56.1
-1%
62.8
11%
55
-2%
58.5
4%
AdobeRGB 1998 Coverage
38.71
38.51
-1%
43.44
12%
37.76
-2%
40.9
6%
Response Times
11%
91%
-12%
33%
Response Time Grey 50% / Grey 80% *
41 ?(22, 19)
45 ?(24, 21)
-10%
45.6 ?(24.4, 21.2)
-11%
44 ?(24, 20)
-7%
46 ?(25, 21)
-12%
Response Time Black / White *
19 ?(14, 5)
13 ?(8, 5)
32%
16 ?(11.6, 4.4)
16%
22 ?(18, 4)
-16%
36 ?(20, 16)
-89%
PWM Frequency
7000 ?(90)
25770 ?(60)
268%
21000 ?(90)
200%
Screen
-81%
-79%
-96%
11%
Brightness middle
230
234
2%
220
-4%
241
5%
237
3%
Brightness
221
230
4%
194
-12%
235
6%
229
4%
Brightness Distribution
91
76
-16%
84
-8%
84
-8%
88
-3%
Black Level *
0.45
0.34
24%
0.43
4%
0.43
4%
0.19
58%
Contrast
511
688
35%
512
0%
560
10%
1247
144%
Colorchecker dE 2000 *
3.6
12.19
-239%
11.8
-228%
13.62
-278%
4.85
-35%
Colorchecker dE 2000 max. *
5.59
20.81
-272%
20.6
-269%
22.81
-308%
8.34
-49%
Greyscale dE 2000 *
3.13
13.99
-347%
12.5
-299%
15.19
-385%
3.84
-23%
Gamma
2.45 90%
2.32 95%
2.07 106%
2.13 103%
2.42 91%
CCT
7244 90%
15863 41%
14346 45%
17407 37%
6790 96%
Color Space (Percent of AdobeRGB 1998)
36
36
0%
40.1
11%
35
-3%
37
3%
Color Space (Percent of sRGB)
56
56
0%
62.7
12%
55
-2%
58
4%
Total Average (Program / Settings)
-24% / -53%
8% / -30%
-37% / -66%
16% / 14%

* ... smaller is better

Screen Flickering / PWM (Pulse-Width Modulation)

To dim the screen, some notebooks will simply cycle the backlight on and off in rapid succession - a method called Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) . This cycling frequency should ideally be undetectable to the human eye. If said frequency is too low, users with sensitive eyes may experience strain or headaches or even notice the flickering altogether.
Screen flickering / PWM detected 7000 Hz ≤ 90 % brightness setting

The display backlight flickers at 7000 Hz (worst case, e.g., utilizing PWM) Flickering detected at a brightness setting of 90 % and below. There should be no flickering or PWM above this brightness setting.

The frequency of 7000 Hz is quite high, so most users sensitive to PWM should not notice any flickering.

In comparison: 53 % of all tested devices do not use PWM to dim the display. If PWM was detected, an average of 18110 (minimum: 5 - maximum: 3846000) Hz was measured.

ASUS has equipped the VivoBook 15 with a color profile that gives the display good color reproduction out of the box. The VivoBook marginally misses the ideal Delta E 2000 values of 3 despite the color profile; during our tests, we measured a Delta E 2000 value of 3.6. Fortunately, the display does not suffer from a blue tint as laptops often do.

CalMAN – ColorChecker
CalMAN – ColorChecker
CalMAN – Grayscale
CalMAN – Grayscale
CalMAN – Saturation
CalMAN – Saturation

Display Response Times

Display response times show how fast the screen is able to change from one color to the next. Slow response times can lead to afterimages and can cause moving objects to appear blurry (ghosting). Gamers of fast-paced 3D titles should pay special attention to fast response times.
       Response Time Black to White
19 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined↗ 14 ms rise
↘ 5 ms fall
The screen shows good response rates in our tests, but may be too slow for competitive gamers.
In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.1 (minimum) to 240 (maximum) ms. » 36 % of all devices are better.
This means that the measured response time is better than the average of all tested devices (21.6 ms).
       Response Time 50% Grey to 80% Grey
41 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined↗ 22 ms rise
↘ 19 ms fall
The screen shows slow response rates in our tests and will be unsatisfactory for gamers.
In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.2 (minimum) to 636 (maximum) ms. » 59 % of all devices are better.
This means that the measured response time is worse than the average of all tested devices (33.9 ms).

ASUS has equipped the VivoBook 15 with a TN panel, which has poor viewing angles. As such, the screen is only readable when practically square on with the device. The VivoBook 15 is difficult to use outdoors because of the shortcomings of its display. We found that the brightest conditions in which we could use our review unit were in moderate sunshine.

Using the VivoBook 15 outdoors in bright sunshine with the sun behind our device.
Using the VivoBook 15 outdoors in bright sunshine with the sun behind our device.
Using the VivoBook 15 outdoors in direct sunlight.
Using the VivoBook 15 outdoors in direct sunlight.

Performance

The VivoBook 15 is an all-rounder that can handle all typical applications. Additionally, the dedicated GeForce MX130 GPU is powerful enough to play some games. Our review unit is currently available for around €750; there are other hardware variants too.

HWInfo
HWInfo
Intel XTU
Intel XTU

Processor

The VivoBook 15 is powered by an Intel Core i5-8250U, a quad-core processor that is a part of Intel’s Kaby Lake Refresh line-up. The ULV chip has a base clock speed of 1.6 GHz that can Turbo Boost up to 3.4 GHz when required. During our CPU tests, the VivoBook 15 could only operate at maximum performance when on mains power. While the CPU managed 3.4 GHz in single-thread tests, it could only manage between 2.9 GHz and 3.2 GHz in multi-thread tests. The CPU could not sustain these speeds either as we noticed an eventual speed drop to between 2.4 GHz and 2.6 GHz.

We used a Cinebench R15 multi-thread benchmark set on a thirty-minute loop to test Turbo Boost longevity. Our review unit scored 730 points in the first two benchmark passes. The performance level eventually dropped below 700 points and stabilized after the sixth pass. Thereafter, our review unit scored between 680 and 695 points. Overall, Turbo Boost worked well, with our review unit managing to maintain a boosted clock speed, albeit not at maximum speeds.

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Cinebench R15 CPU Multi 64 Bit

The VivoBook 15 and its Core i5-8250U processor scored highly in our CPU tests. Specifically, our review unit scored higher in multi-thread benchmarks than any other comparable notebook. ASUS allows the CPU to temporarily boost up to 40 W TDP, thereby exceeding the default of 15 W. We confirmed this by looking at processor data in Intel Extreme Tuning Utility (XTU).

Cinebench R10 Rendering Single 32Bit
5538
Cinebench R10 Rendering Multiple CPUs 32Bit
22097
Cinebench R10 Shading 32Bit
5179
Cinebench R15 CPU Single 64Bit
146 Points
Cinebench R15 CPU Multi 64Bit
730 Points
Cinebench R15 OpenGL 64Bit
66 fps
Cinebench R15 Ref. Match 64Bit
99.6 %
Help
Cinebench R15
CPU Single 64Bit
Average of class Multimedia
  (142.6 - 308, n=95, last 2 years)
249 Points +71%
HP Pavilion 15-cc107ng
Intel Core i5-8250U
146 Points 0%
Asus VivoBook 15 X542UF-DM143T
Intel Core i5-8250U
146 Points
Lenovo IdeaPad 320-15IKBRN 81BG001KGE
Intel Core i5-8250U
145 Points -1%
Average Intel Core i5-8250U
  (81 - 147, n=97)
141.1 Points -3%
HP 15-bs103ng
Intel Core i5-8250U
141 Points -3%
Acer Swift 3 SF315-41-R4W1
AMD Ryzen 5 2500U
140 Points -4%
CPU Multi 64Bit
Average of class Multimedia
  (580 - 4703, n=102, last 2 years)
2279 Points +212%
Asus VivoBook 15 X542UF-DM143T
Intel Core i5-8250U
730 Points
Acer Swift 3 SF315-41-R4W1
AMD Ryzen 5 2500U
589 (499min - 552max) Points -19%
Average Intel Core i5-8250U
  (320 - 730, n=101)
570 Points -22%
HP Pavilion 15-cc107ng
Intel Core i5-8250U
556 Points -24%
Lenovo IdeaPad 320-15IKBRN 81BG001KGE
Intel Core i5-8250U
542 Points -26%
HP 15-bs103ng
Intel Core i5-8250U
507 Points -31%
Cinebench R10
Rendering Single 32Bit
Average of class Multimedia
  (5791 - 10476, n=3, last 2 years)
7475 Points +35%
Average Intel Core i5-8250U
  (5349 - 8356, n=42)
5631 Points +2%
HP Pavilion 15-cc107ng
Intel Core i5-8250U
5567 Points +1%
Lenovo IdeaPad 320-15IKBRN 81BG001KGE
Intel Core i5-8250U
5553 Points 0%
Asus VivoBook 15 X542UF-DM143T
Intel Core i5-8250U
5538 Points
HP 15-bs103ng
Intel Core i5-8250U
5517 Points 0%
Acer Swift 3 SF315-41-R4W1
AMD Ryzen 5 2500U
4418 Points -20%
Rendering Multiple CPUs 32Bit
Average of class Multimedia
  (34412 - 61674, n=3, last 2 years)
43500 Points +97%
Asus VivoBook 15 X542UF-DM143T
Intel Core i5-8250U
22097 Points
Average Intel Core i5-8250U
  (14148 - 22097, n=42)
18261 Points -17%
Lenovo IdeaPad 320-15IKBRN 81BG001KGE
Intel Core i5-8250U
18172 Points -18%
HP 15-bs103ng
Intel Core i5-8250U
18070 Points -18%
HP Pavilion 15-cc107ng
Intel Core i5-8250U
17505 Points -21%
Acer Swift 3 SF315-41-R4W1
AMD Ryzen 5 2500U
15307 Points -31%
Geekbench 3
32 Bit Multi-Core Score
Asus VivoBook 15 X542UF-DM143T
Intel Core i5-8250U
13147 Points
HP 15-bs103ng
Intel Core i5-8250U
12913 Points -2%
HP Pavilion 15-cc107ng
Intel Core i5-8250U
12646 Points -4%
Average Intel Core i5-8250U
  (10893 - 13553, n=18)
12606 Points -4%
Acer Swift 3 SF315-41-R4W1
AMD Ryzen 5 2500U
11283 Points -14%
32 Bit Single-Core Score
Acer Swift 3 SF315-41-R4W1
AMD Ryzen 5 2500U
3372 Points +6%
Average Intel Core i5-8250U
  (3148 - 3503, n=18)
3302 Points +4%
HP Pavilion 15-cc107ng
Intel Core i5-8250U
3185 Points 0%
Asus VivoBook 15 X542UF-DM143T
Intel Core i5-8250U
3182 Points
HP 15-bs103ng
Intel Core i5-8250U
3180 Points 0%
Geekbench 4.0
64 Bit Multi-Core Score
Asus VivoBook 15 X542UF-DM143T
Intel Core i5-8250U
12305 Points
Average Intel Core i5-8250U
  (10751 - 13486, n=19)
12210 Points -1%
HP Pavilion 15-cc107ng
Intel Core i5-8250U
12057 Points -2%
HP 15-bs103ng
Intel Core i5-8250U
11840 Points -4%
64 Bit Single-Core Score
Average Intel Core i5-8250U
  (3924 - 4243, n=19)
4076 Points +2%
HP Pavilion 15-cc107ng
Intel Core i5-8250U
4010 Points 0%
Asus VivoBook 15 X542UF-DM143T
Intel Core i5-8250U
3996 Points
HP 15-bs103ng
Intel Core i5-8250U
3975 Points -1%
Geekbench 4.4
64 Bit Multi-Core Score
Average of class Multimedia
  (28928 - 38187, n=2, last 2 years)
33558 Points +162%
Average Intel Core i5-8250U
  (11269 - 14228, n=25)
12833 Points 0%
Asus VivoBook 15 X542UF-DM143T
Intel Core i5-8250U
12799 Points
HP Pavilion 15-cc107ng
Intel Core i5-8250U
12644 Points -1%
HP 15-bs103ng
Intel Core i5-8250U
12304 Points -4%
64 Bit Single-Core Score
Average of class Multimedia
  (6029 - 7531, n=2, last 2 years)
6780 Points +66%
Average Intel Core i5-8250U
  (3453 - 4330, n=25)
4116 Points +1%
HP Pavilion 15-cc107ng
Intel Core i5-8250U
4115 Points +1%
Asus VivoBook 15 X542UF-DM143T
Intel Core i5-8250U
4091 Points
HP 15-bs103ng
Intel Core i5-8250U
4077 Points 0%
JetStream 1.1 - Total Score
Average of class Multimedia
  (367 - 459, n=3, last 2 years)
424 Points +84%
HP Pavilion 15-cc107ng
Intel Core i5-8250U (Edge 41)
255.7 Points +11%
HP 15-bs103ng
Intel Core i5-8250U (Edge 41)
255.2 Points +11%
Lenovo IdeaPad 320-15IKBRN 81BG001KGE
Intel Core i5-8250U (Edge 41.16299.15.0)
242.3 Points +5%
Asus VivoBook 15 X542UF-DM143T
Intel Core i5-8250U (Edge 41)
230.1 Points
Average Intel Core i5-8250U
  (151.5 - 256, n=78)
215 Points -7%
Acer Swift 3 SF315-41-R4W1
AMD Ryzen 5 2500U
209 Points -9%

System Performance

The quad-core processor and SSD make for a fast and smooth system with which we encountered no problems during testing. The VivoBook 15 has more than enough power for office applications and internet browsing. The GeForce MX130 GPU is powerful enough for some gaming too. Our review unit performed well in PCMark benchmarks. These benchmark results could be improved by adding a second RAM module. This would activate dual channel mode, which would improve system performance.

PCMark 8 Home Score Accelerated v2
3695 points
PCMark 8 Creative Score Accelerated v2
4649 points
PCMark 8 Work Score Accelerated v2
4779 points
PCMark 10 Score
3418 points
Help
PCMark 8 - Home Score Accelerated v2
Average of class Multimedia
  (4484 - 5525, n=9, last 2 years)
5075 Points +37%
Acer Aspire 5 A515-51G-509A
GeForce MX130, i5-8250U, SK Hynix HFS256G39TND-N210A
3903 Points +6%
Acer Aspire E5-774G-78NA
GeForce 940MX, 6500U, Lite-On CV1-8B256
3734 Points +1%
Asus VivoBook 15 X542UF-DM143T
GeForce MX130, i5-8250U, Micron 1100 MTFDDAV256TBN
3695 Points
HP Pavilion 15-cc107ng
GeForce 940MX, i5-8250U, SanDisk SD8SN8U256G1006
3683 Points 0%
Lenovo IdeaPad 320-15IKB 80XL01NEGE
GeForce 940MX, i5-7200U, SK Hynix HFS256G3BTND
3677 Points 0%
HP 15-bs103ng
Radeon 520, i5-8250U, Samsung SSD PM871a MZNLN256HMHQ
3622 Points -2%
Average Intel Core i5-8250U, NVIDIA GeForce MX130
  (3207 - 3903, n=5)
3583 Points -3%
Acer Swift 3 SF315-41-R4W1
Vega 8, R5 2500U, Intel SSD 600p SSDPEKKW256G7
3450 Points -7%
Lenovo IdeaPad 320-15IKBRN 81BG001KGE
GeForce MX150, i5-8250U, Ramaxel RTNTE256PCA8EADL
3274 Points -11%
PCMark 10
Score
Average of class Multimedia
  (4039 - 8670, n=81, last 2 years)
6551 Points +92%
HP 15-bs103ng
Radeon 520, i5-8250U, Samsung SSD PM871a MZNLN256HMHQ
3925 Points +15%
HP Pavilion 15-cc107ng
GeForce 940MX, i5-8250U, SanDisk SD8SN8U256G1006
3505 Points +3%
Asus VivoBook 15 X542UF-DM143T
GeForce MX130, i5-8250U, Micron 1100 MTFDDAV256TBN
3418 Points
Average Intel Core i5-8250U, NVIDIA GeForce MX130
  (3175 - 3418, n=4)
3316 Points -3%
Acer Aspire 5 A515-51G-509A
GeForce MX130, i5-8250U, SK Hynix HFS256G39TND-N210A
3175 Points -7%
Lenovo IdeaPad 320-15IKBRN 81BG001KGE
GeForce MX150, i5-8250U, Ramaxel RTNTE256PCA8EADL
3007 Points -12%
Lenovo IdeaPad 320-15IKB 80XL01NEGE
GeForce 940MX, i5-7200U, SK Hynix HFS256G3BTND
2918 Points -15%
Acer Swift 3 SF315-41-R4W1
Vega 8, R5 2500U, Intel SSD 600p SSDPEKKW256G7
2501 Points -27%
Essentials
Average of class Multimedia
  (8480 - 12420, n=81, last 2 years)
10420 Points +46%
HP Pavilion 15-cc107ng
GeForce 940MX, i5-8250U, SanDisk SD8SN8U256G1006
8220 Points +15%
HP 15-bs103ng
Radeon 520, i5-8250U, Samsung SSD PM871a MZNLN256HMHQ
7723 Points +8%
Acer Aspire 5 A515-51G-509A
GeForce MX130, i5-8250U, SK Hynix HFS256G39TND-N210A
7589 Points +6%
Average Intel Core i5-8250U, NVIDIA GeForce MX130
  (7110 - 7589, n=4)
7312 Points +2%
Asus VivoBook 15 X542UF-DM143T
GeForce MX130, i5-8250U, Micron 1100 MTFDDAV256TBN
7140 Points
Lenovo IdeaPad 320-15IKB 80XL01NEGE
GeForce 940MX, i5-7200U, SK Hynix HFS256G3BTND
6631 Points -7%
Lenovo IdeaPad 320-15IKBRN 81BG001KGE
GeForce MX150, i5-8250U, Ramaxel RTNTE256PCA8EADL
6283 Points -12%
Acer Swift 3 SF315-41-R4W1
Vega 8, R5 2500U, Intel SSD 600p SSDPEKKW256G7
5692 Points -20%
Productivity
Average of class Multimedia
  (5462 - 11186, n=81, last 2 years)
8687 Points +58%
HP 15-bs103ng
Radeon 520, i5-8250U, Samsung SSD PM871a MZNLN256HMHQ
6840 Points +24%
Asus VivoBook 15 X542UF-DM143T
GeForce MX130, i5-8250U, Micron 1100 MTFDDAV256TBN
5499 Points
HP Pavilion 15-cc107ng
GeForce 940MX, i5-8250U, SanDisk SD8SN8U256G1006
5109 Points -7%
Average Intel Core i5-8250U, NVIDIA GeForce MX130
  (4474 - 5499, n=4)
4991 Points -9%
Lenovo IdeaPad 320-15IKBRN 81BG001KGE
GeForce MX150, i5-8250U, Ramaxel RTNTE256PCA8EADL
4975 Points -10%
Lenovo IdeaPad 320-15IKB 80XL01NEGE
GeForce 940MX, i5-7200U, SK Hynix HFS256G3BTND
4936 Points -10%
Acer Aspire 5 A515-51G-509A
GeForce MX130, i5-8250U, SK Hynix HFS256G39TND-N210A
4474 Points -19%
Acer Swift 3 SF315-41-R4W1
Vega 8, R5 2500U, Intel SSD 600p SSDPEKKW256G7
3113 Points -43%
Digital Content Creation
Average of class Multimedia
  (3861 - 13548, n=81, last 2 years)
8558 Points +205%
HP 15-bs103ng
Radeon 520, i5-8250U, Samsung SSD PM871a MZNLN256HMHQ
3108 Points +11%
Asus VivoBook 15 X542UF-DM143T
GeForce MX130, i5-8250U, Micron 1100 MTFDDAV256TBN
2808 Points
HP Pavilion 15-cc107ng
GeForce 940MX, i5-8250U, SanDisk SD8SN8U256G1006
2783 Points -1%
Average Intel Core i5-8250U, NVIDIA GeForce MX130
  (2560 - 3000, n=4)
2734 Points -3%
Acer Aspire 5 A515-51G-509A
GeForce MX130, i5-8250U, SK Hynix HFS256G39TND-N210A
2560 Points -9%
Acer Swift 3 SF315-41-R4W1
Vega 8, R5 2500U, Intel SSD 600p SSDPEKKW256G7
2397 Points -15%
Lenovo IdeaPad 320-15IKBRN 81BG001KGE
GeForce MX150, i5-8250U, Ramaxel RTNTE256PCA8EADL
2363 Points -16%
Lenovo IdeaPad 320-15IKB 80XL01NEGE
GeForce 940MX, i5-7200U, SK Hynix HFS256G3BTND
2060 Points -27%

Storage Devices

The VivoBook is equipped with a Micron 256 GB M.2-2280 SSD, of which around 202 GB is free to use after installing Windows 10. The SATA III drive has good transfer rates, although they cannot match much faster NVMe drives.

A view of the SSD inside in the VivoBook 15.
A view of the SSD inside in the VivoBook 15.

Opening the VivoBook 15 reveals an unoccupied 2.5-inch SATA slot and a mounting frame. Hence, it is possible to add a 2.5-inch drive for extra storage if necessary. The easiest way to install an additional drive is to first remove the small board on the right-hand side. This is only held in place with one screw and a plastic clip.

A 2.5-inch drive could be installed if necessary
A 2.5-inch drive could be installed if necessary
It is easiest to remove the adjacent board before adding a 2.5-inch drive.
It is easiest to remove the adjacent board before adding a 2.5-inch drive.
Micron 1100 MTFDDAV256TBN
Sequential Read: 468.5 MB/s
Sequential Write: 378.4 MB/s
512K Read: 342.5 MB/s
512K Write: 368.7 MB/s
4K Read: 26.93 MB/s
4K Write: 88.1 MB/s
4K QD32 Read: 247.8 MB/s
4K QD32 Write: 246.5 MB/s
Asus VivoBook 15 X542UF-DM143T
Micron 1100 MTFDDAV256TBN
HP Pavilion 15-cc107ng
SanDisk SD8SN8U256G1006
Lenovo IdeaPad 320-15IKBRN 81BG001KGE
Ramaxel RTNTE256PCA8EADL
HP 15-bs103ng
Samsung SSD PM871a MZNLN256HMHQ
Acer Swift 3 SF315-41-R4W1
Intel SSD 600p SSDPEKKW256G7
Average Micron 1100 MTFDDAV256TBN
 
Average of class Multimedia
 
CrystalDiskMark 3.0
-7%
0%
18%
42%
-7%
Read Seq
468.5
475.4
1%
530
13%
504
8%
1130
141%
465 ?(413 - 490, n=22)
-1%
Write Seq
378.4
453.5
20%
497.5
31%
466.2
23%
601
59%
379 ?(164.5 - 471, n=22)
0%
Read 512
342.5
345.2
1%
392
14%
443.7
30%
837
144%
315 ?(249 - 360, n=22)
-8%
Write 512
368.7
299.1
-19%
253.7
-31%
398.4
8%
606
64%
315 ?(157 - 447, n=22)
-15%
Read 4k
26.93
27.8
3%
29.67
10%
38.81
44%
20.46
-24%
24.6 ?(14 - 29, n=22)
-9%
Write 4k
88.1
54.2
-38%
78.3
-11%
94.6
7%
81.7
-7%
80.8 ?(62.4 - 101.9, n=22)
-8%
Read 4k QD32
247.8
250.9
1%
282.8
14%
295.2
19%
235.5
-5%
227 ?(148.7 - 248, n=22)
-8%
Write 4k QD32
246.5
181.8
-26%
149.8
-39%
266.6
8%
155
-37%
233 ?(123 - 300, n=22)
-5%

Graphics Card

The VivoBook 15 is equipped with an NVIDIA GeForce MX130 GPU. This dedicated GPU is based on the NVIDIA Maxwell architecture and supports DirectX 12. The MX130 can clock up to 1,189 MHz and has 2 GB GDDR5 VRAM. The VivoBook 15 matched the performance of other MX130 notebooks in 3DMark benchmarks. Technical data and benchmark results reveal that the MX130 is akin to the NVIDIA GeForce 940MX.

3DMark 03 Standard
35595 points
3DMark 05 Standard
23434 points
3DMark 06 Standard Score
18080 points
3DMark Vantage P Result
11968 points
3DMark 11 Performance
3019 points
3DMark Ice Storm Standard Score
50601 points
3DMark Cloud Gate Standard Score
10609 points
3DMark Fire Strike Score
2174 points
3DMark Fire Strike Extreme Score
1074 points
3DMark Time Spy Score
706 points
Help
3DMark 11 - 1280x720 Performance GPU
Average of class Multimedia
  (3408 - 60250, n=86, last 2 years)
18365 Points +572%
Lenovo IdeaPad 320-15IKBRN 81BG001KGE
NVIDIA GeForce MX150, Intel Core i5-8250U
4582 Points +68%
Lenovo ThinkPad E580-20KS001RGE
AMD Radeon RX 550 (Laptop), Intel Core i7-8550U
4444 Points +63%
Acer Swift 3 SF315-41-R4W1
AMD Radeon RX Vega 8 (Ryzen 2000/3000), AMD Ryzen 5 2500U
3457 Points +26%
Lenovo IdeaPad 320-15IKB 80XL01NEGE
NVIDIA GeForce 940MX, Intel Core i5-7200U
2918 Points +7%
Acer Aspire 5 A515-51G-509A
NVIDIA GeForce MX130, Intel Core i5-8250U
2882 Points +5%
Average NVIDIA GeForce MX130
  (2476 - 3203, n=14)
2872 Points +5%
Acer Aspire E5-774G-78NA
NVIDIA GeForce 940MX, Intel Core i7-6500U
2813 Points +3%
Asus VivoBook 15 X542UF-DM143T
NVIDIA GeForce MX130, Intel Core i5-8250U
2734 Points
HP Pavilion 15-cc107ng
NVIDIA GeForce 940MX, Intel Core i5-8250U
2471 Points -10%
HP 15-bs103ng
AMD Radeon 520, Intel Core i5-8250U
1877 Points -31%
3DMark
1920x1080 Fire Strike Graphics
Average of class Multimedia
  (1835 - 46022, n=86, last 2 years)
13601 Points +494%
Lenovo IdeaPad 320-15IKBRN 81BG001KGE
NVIDIA GeForce MX150, Intel Core i5-8250U
3511 Points +53%
Lenovo ThinkPad E580-20KS001RGE
AMD Radeon RX 550 (Laptop), Intel Core i7-8550U
2874 Points +25%
Average NVIDIA GeForce MX130
  (2149 - 2495, n=13)
2350 Points +3%
Lenovo IdeaPad 320-15IKB 80XL01NEGE
NVIDIA GeForce 940MX, Intel Core i5-7200U
2339 Points +2%
Acer Aspire 5 A515-51G-509A
NVIDIA GeForce MX130, Intel Core i5-8250U
2310 Points +1%
Asus VivoBook 15 X542UF-DM143T
NVIDIA GeForce MX130, Intel Core i5-8250U
2291 Points
Acer Aspire E5-774G-78NA
NVIDIA GeForce 940MX, Intel Core i7-6500U
2231 Points -3%
Acer Swift 3 SF315-41-R4W1
AMD Radeon RX Vega 8 (Ryzen 2000/3000), AMD Ryzen 5 2500U
2109 Points -8%
HP Pavilion 15-cc107ng
NVIDIA GeForce 940MX, Intel Core i5-8250U
1720 Points -25%
HP 15-bs103ng
AMD Radeon 520, Intel Core i5-8250U
1022 Points -55%
1280x720 Cloud Gate Standard Graphics
Average of class Multimedia
  (14679 - 150699, n=60, last 2 years)
58023 Points +377%
Lenovo IdeaPad 320-15IKBRN 81BG001KGE
NVIDIA GeForce MX150, Intel Core i5-8250U
18940 Points +56%
Lenovo ThinkPad E580-20KS001RGE
AMD Radeon RX 550 (Laptop), Intel Core i7-8550U
17423 Points +43%
Acer Swift 3 SF315-41-R4W1
AMD Radeon RX Vega 8 (Ryzen 2000/3000), AMD Ryzen 5 2500U
14338 Points +18%
Lenovo IdeaPad 320-15IKB 80XL01NEGE
NVIDIA GeForce 940MX, Intel Core i5-7200U
13979 Points +15%
Average NVIDIA GeForce MX130
  (12166 - 14880, n=13)
13617 Points +12%
Acer Aspire E5-774G-78NA
NVIDIA GeForce 940MX, Intel Core i7-6500U
12934 Points +6%
Acer Aspire 5 A515-51G-509A
NVIDIA GeForce MX130, Intel Core i5-8250U
12654 Points +4%
Asus VivoBook 15 X542UF-DM143T
NVIDIA GeForce MX130, Intel Core i5-8250U
12166 Points
HP Pavilion 15-cc107ng
NVIDIA GeForce 940MX, Intel Core i5-8250U
9012 Points -26%
HP 15-bs103ng
AMD Radeon 520, Intel Core i5-8250U
6156 Points -49%
ComputeMark v2.1 - 1024x600 Normal, Score
Average of class Multimedia
  (4447 - 9719, n=3, last 2 years)
7517 Points +280%
Acer Swift 3 SF315-41-R4W1
AMD Radeon RX Vega 8 (Ryzen 2000/3000), AMD Ryzen 5 2500U
2292 Points +16%
Asus VivoBook 15 X542UF-DM143T
NVIDIA GeForce MX130, Intel Core i5-8250U
1979 Points
Acer Aspire E5-774G-78NA
NVIDIA GeForce 940MX, Intel Core i7-6500U
1972 Points 0%
Average NVIDIA GeForce MX130
  (1920 - 1979, n=3)
1958 Points -1%
Acer Aspire 5 A515-51G-509A
NVIDIA GeForce MX130, Intel Core i5-8250U
1920 Points -3%
HP 15-bs103ng
AMD Radeon 520, Intel Core i5-8250U
929 Points -53%
LuxMark v2.0 64Bit
Room GPUs-only
Average of class Multimedia
  (1062 - 1165, n=3, last 2 years)
1107 Samples/s +167%
Asus VivoBook 15 X542UF-DM143T
NVIDIA GeForce MX130, Intel Core i5-8250U
414 Samples/s
Average NVIDIA GeForce MX130
  (364 - 414, n=2)
389 Samples/s -6%
Acer Aspire E5-774G-78NA
NVIDIA GeForce 940MX, Intel Core i7-6500U
366 Samples/s -12%
Acer Aspire 5 A515-51G-509A
NVIDIA GeForce MX130, Intel Core i5-8250U
364 Samples/s -12%
Acer Swift 3 SF315-41-R4W1
AMD Radeon RX Vega 8 (Ryzen 2000/3000), AMD Ryzen 5 2500U
281 Samples/s -32%
HP 15-bs103ng
AMD Radeon 520, Intel Core i5-8250U
184 Samples/s -56%
Sala GPUs-only
Average of class Multimedia
  (1717 - 2796, n=3, last 2 years)
2401 Samples/s +231%
Asus VivoBook 15 X542UF-DM143T
NVIDIA GeForce MX130, Intel Core i5-8250U
725 Samples/s
Average NVIDIA GeForce MX130
  (676 - 725, n=2)
701 Samples/s -3%
Acer Aspire 5 A515-51G-509A
NVIDIA GeForce MX130, Intel Core i5-8250U
676 Samples/s -7%
Acer Aspire E5-774G-78NA
NVIDIA GeForce 940MX, Intel Core i7-6500U
611 Samples/s -16%
HP 15-bs103ng
AMD Radeon 520, Intel Core i5-8250U
325 Samples/s -55%
GFXBench (DX / GLBenchmark) 2.7
1920x1080 T-Rex Offscreen
Average of class Multimedia
  (640 - 3185, n=11, last 2 years)
1823 fps +880%
Asus VivoBook 15 X542UF-DM143T
NVIDIA GeForce MX130, Intel Core i5-8250U
186 fps
Average NVIDIA GeForce MX130
  (178.1 - 186, n=3)
182.1 fps -2%
Acer Aspire E5-774G-78NA
NVIDIA GeForce 940MX, Intel Core i7-6500U
162.5 fps -13%
Acer Swift 3 SF315-41-R4W1
AMD Radeon RX Vega 8 (Ryzen 2000/3000), AMD Ryzen 5 2500U
138.8 fps -25%
HP 15-bs103ng
AMD Radeon 520, Intel Core i5-8250U
114.1 fps -39%
T-Rex Onscreen
Asus VivoBook 15 X542UF-DM143T
NVIDIA GeForce MX130, Intel Core i5-8250U
154.2 fps
Average of class Multimedia
  (60 - 227, n=11, last 2 years)
131.5 fps -15%
Average NVIDIA GeForce MX130
  (59.8 - 154.2, n=3)
91.3 fps -41%
HP 15-bs103ng
AMD Radeon 520, Intel Core i5-8250U
90.7 fps -41%
Acer Aspire E5-774G-78NA
NVIDIA GeForce 940MX, Intel Core i7-6500U
59.9 fps -61%
Acer Swift 3 SF315-41-R4W1
AMD Radeon RX Vega 8 (Ryzen 2000/3000), AMD Ryzen 5 2500U
59.3 fps -62%
GFXBench 3.0
1920x1080 1080p Manhattan Offscreen
Average of class Multimedia
  (309 - 1708, n=11, last 2 years)
1018 fps +960%
Asus VivoBook 15 X542UF-DM143T
NVIDIA GeForce MX130, Intel Core i5-8250U
96 fps
Average NVIDIA GeForce MX130
  (81.9 - 96, n=3)
91.2 fps -5%
Acer Aspire E5-774G-78NA
NVIDIA GeForce 940MX, Intel Core i7-6500U
83.7 fps -13%
HP 15-bs103ng
AMD Radeon 520, Intel Core i5-8250U
52.9 fps -45%
on screen Manhattan Onscreen OGL
Average of class Multimedia
  (60 - 173, n=11, last 2 years)
119.2 fps +62%
Asus VivoBook 15 X542UF-DM143T
NVIDIA GeForce MX130, Intel Core i5-8250U
73.7 fps
Average NVIDIA GeForce MX130
  (59.1 - 73.7, n=3)
64.1 fps -13%
Acer Aspire E5-774G-78NA
NVIDIA GeForce 940MX, Intel Core i7-6500U
55.2 fps -25%
HP 15-bs103ng
AMD Radeon 520, Intel Core i5-8250U
44.7 fps -39%
GFXBench 3.1
1920x1080 Manhattan ES 3.1 Offscreen
Average of class Multimedia
  (194 - 1294, n=10, last 2 years)
763 fps +928%
Asus VivoBook 15 X542UF-DM143T
NVIDIA GeForce MX130, Intel Core i5-8250U
74.2 fps
Average NVIDIA GeForce MX130
  (68.6 - 74.2, n=3)
72.1 fps -3%
Acer Aspire E5-774G-78NA
NVIDIA GeForce 940MX, Intel Core i7-6500U
66.2 fps -11%
HP 15-bs103ng
AMD Radeon 520, Intel Core i5-8250U
35.4 fps -52%
on screen Manhattan ES 3.1 Onscreen
Average of class Multimedia
  (111.1 - 124, n=10, last 2 years)
119.4 fps +95%
Asus VivoBook 15 X542UF-DM143T
NVIDIA GeForce MX130, Intel Core i5-8250U
61.2 fps
Average NVIDIA GeForce MX130
  (57 - 61.2, n=3)
58.8 fps -4%
Acer Aspire E5-774G-78NA
NVIDIA GeForce 940MX, Intel Core i7-6500U
49.9 fps -18%
HP 15-bs103ng
AMD Radeon 520, Intel Core i5-8250U
32 fps -48%
GFXBench
1920x1080 Car Chase Offscreen
Average of class Multimedia
  (125 - 585, n=11, last 2 years)
400 fps +686%
Asus VivoBook 15 X542UF-DM143T
NVIDIA GeForce MX130, Intel Core i5-8250U
50.9 fps
Average NVIDIA GeForce MX130
  (48.5 - 50.9, n=3)
49.9 fps -2%
Acer Aspire E5-774G-78NA
NVIDIA GeForce 940MX, Intel Core i7-6500U
46 fps -10%
HP 15-bs103ng
AMD Radeon 520, Intel Core i5-8250U
25.6 fps -50%
on screen Car Chase Onscreen
Average of class Multimedia
  (60 - 120, n=10, last 2 years)
109.9 fps +145%
Asus VivoBook 15 X542UF-DM143T
NVIDIA GeForce MX130, Intel Core i5-8250U
44.9 fps
Average NVIDIA GeForce MX130
  (40 - 44.9, n=3)
41.9 fps -7%
Acer Aspire E5-774G-78NA
NVIDIA GeForce 940MX, Intel Core i7-6500U
37.6 fps -16%
HP 15-bs103ng
AMD Radeon 520, Intel Core i5-8250U
23.8 fps -47%
Geekbench 4.0 - Compute OpenCL Score
Lenovo IdeaPad 320-15IKB 80XL01NEGE
NVIDIA GeForce 940MX, Intel Core i5-7200U
33522 Points +1%
Asus VivoBook 15 X542UF-DM143T
NVIDIA GeForce MX130, Intel Core i5-8250U
33350 Points
Average NVIDIA GeForce MX130
 
33350 Points 0%
HP 15-bs103ng
AMD Radeon 520, Intel Core i5-8250U
20257 Points -39%
HP Pavilion 15-cc107ng
NVIDIA GeForce 940MX, Intel Core i5-8250U
18158 Points -46%
Geekbench 4.4 - Compute OpenCL Score
Average of class Multimedia
  (last 2 years)
62130 Points +86%
Lenovo IdeaPad 320-15IKB 80XL01NEGE
NVIDIA GeForce 940MX, Intel Core i5-7200U
33513 Points 0%
Asus VivoBook 15 X542UF-DM143T
NVIDIA GeForce MX130, Intel Core i5-8250U
33379 Points
Average NVIDIA GeForce MX130
  (32990 - 33379, n=3)
33182 Points -1%
HP 15-bs103ng
AMD Radeon 520, Intel Core i5-8250U
20240 Points -39%
HP Pavilion 15-cc107ng
NVIDIA GeForce 940MX, Intel Core i5-8250U
18139 Points -46%

Gaming Performance

The VivoBook 15 can play many games in HD (1,366x768) at medium quality without issue. These settings can be increased for games with more moderate system requirements. Achieving playable frame rates in many games released in the last two years requires dropping the resolution and quality levels though.

low med. high ultra
StarCraft 2 (2010) 292 106.5 68.2 36
Diablo III (2012) 148.3 101 95 59.8
Tomb Raider (2013) 171.9 86.7 55 27.1
BioShock Infinite (2013) 120.5 70.3 60.6 22.7
Dragon Age: Inquisition (2014) 64.8 51.4 16.6 11.7
GTA V (2015) 94.7 85.1 23.8 10.4
The Witcher 3 (2015) 41.6 25.5 14.2 8.1
Dota 2 Reborn (2015) 95 82 35 28
World of Warships (2015) 120.6 90.7 45 32.9
Anno 2205 (2015) 49.7 30.4 15.3 6.6
Rainbow Six Siege (2015) 87.1 53.2 29.4 18.3
Rise of the Tomb Raider (2016) 36.1 22.5 13.2 12.1
Far Cry Primal (2016) 39 18 16 12
The Division (2016) 41.8 28.8 13.3 10.4
Ashes of the Singularity (2016) 20.1 12.4 10.5
Overwatch (2016) 102.9 78.8 36.5 21.9
Battlefield 1 (2016) 48.4 31.8 16.9 15.3
Farming Simulator 17 (2016) 127 108.6 47.8 32.9
Titanfall 2 (2016) 66.7 48.4 21.6 18.1
Resident Evil 7 (2017) 80.2 65.8 20.8 5.1
For Honor (2017) 55.7 21.5 20.7 15.9
Ghost Recon Wildlands (2017) 32.7 14.4 12.4 3.3
Prey (2017) 75.6 30.3 24 20.4
Dirt 4 (2017) 85.9 33.3 17.1 9.7
Team Fortress 2 (2017) 105.7 99.5 85.5 60.5
Playerunknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG) (2017) 55.7 22.8 20.8 14.2
ELEX (2017) 35.7 17.9 14.3 9.8
Assassin´s Creed Origins (2017) 30 13 10 7
Call of Duty WWII (2017) 73 43.3 24.3 12.7
Need for Speed Payback (2017) 30.4 15.4 13 13
Star Wars Battlefront 2 (2017) 44.1 18 14.5 12.7
Fortnite (2018) 77.7 32.2 23.9 16.2
Kingdom Come: Deliverance (2018) 32.1 14.2 11 8.1
X-Plane 11.11 (2018) 42 30.8 26
Far Cry 5 (2018) 21 14 13 12
BioShock Infinite - 1366x768 High Preset
Lenovo IdeaPad 320-15IKBRN 81BG001KGE
NVIDIA GeForce MX150, Intel Core i5-8250U
81.8 (13.4min - 231.3max) fps +35%
Lenovo ThinkPad E580-20KS001RGE
AMD Radeon RX 550 (Laptop), Intel Core i7-8550U
72.6 fps +20%
Acer Aspire E5-774G-78NA
NVIDIA GeForce 940MX, Intel Core i7-6500U
62.1 fps +2%
Average NVIDIA GeForce MX130
  (48 - 69, n=10)
61.7 fps +2%
Asus VivoBook 15 X542UF-DM143T
NVIDIA GeForce MX130, Intel Core i5-8250U
60.6 fps
Lenovo IdeaPad 320-15IKB 80XL01NEGE
NVIDIA GeForce 940MX, Intel Core i5-7200U
59.7 fps -1%
HP Pavilion 15-cc107ng
NVIDIA GeForce 940MX, Intel Core i5-8250U
41.9 fps -31%
HP 15-bs103ng
AMD Radeon 520, Intel Core i5-8250U
23.4 fps -61%
Overwatch - 1366x768 Medium (Render Scale 100 %) AA:FX AF:2x
Asus VivoBook 15 X542UF-DM143T
NVIDIA GeForce MX130, Intel Core i5-8250U
78.8 fps
Average NVIDIA GeForce MX130
  (75.2 - 78.8, n=2)
77 fps -2%
HP 15-bs103ng
AMD Radeon 520, Intel Core i5-8250U
33 fps -58%
Diablo III - 1920x1080 High AA:on
Asus VivoBook 15 X542UF-DM143T
NVIDIA GeForce MX130, Intel Core i5-8250U
59.8 fps
Average NVIDIA GeForce MX130
 
59.8 fps 0%
Acer Swift 3 SF315-41-R4W1
AMD Radeon RX Vega 8 (Ryzen 2000/3000), AMD Ryzen 5 2500U
47.2 fps -21%
HP 15-bs103ng
AMD Radeon 520, Intel Core i5-8250U
21.6 fps -64%
World of Warships - 1920x1080 High Preset AF:8x
Asus VivoBook 15 X542UF-DM143T
NVIDIA GeForce MX130, Intel Core i5-8250U
45 fps
Average NVIDIA GeForce MX130
 
45 fps 0%
Acer Swift 3 SF315-41-R4W1
AMD Radeon RX Vega 8 (Ryzen 2000/3000), AMD Ryzen 5 2500U
38.4 fps -15%
HP 15-bs103ng
AMD Radeon 520, Intel Core i5-8250U
18.8 fps -58%
Dota 2 Reborn - 1366x768 med (1/3)
Average of class Multimedia
  (36.7 - 192.8, n=83, last 2 years)
123.2 fps +50%
Asus VivoBook 15 X542UF-DM143T
NVIDIA GeForce MX130, Intel Core i5-8250U
82 fps
Average NVIDIA GeForce MX130
  (23.1 - 82, n=3)
58.8 fps -28%
Acer Swift 3 SF315-41-R4W1
AMD Radeon RX Vega 8 (Ryzen 2000/3000), AMD Ryzen 5 2500U
46.8 fps -43%
HP 15-bs103ng
AMD Radeon 520, Intel Core i5-8250U
45.8 fps -44%
GTA V - 1366x768 Normal/Off AF:4x
Average of class Multimedia
  (33.1 - 186.4, n=73, last 2 years)
138.5 fps +63%
Asus VivoBook 15 X542UF-DM143T
NVIDIA GeForce MX130, Intel Core i5-8250U
85.1 fps
Acer Aspire E5-774G-78NA
NVIDIA GeForce 940MX, Intel Core i7-6500U
80.2 fps -6%
Average NVIDIA GeForce MX130
  (64.2 - 85.1, n=2)
74.7 fps -12%
Acer Swift 3 SF315-41-R4W1
AMD Radeon RX Vega 8 (Ryzen 2000/3000), AMD Ryzen 5 2500U
57.8 fps -32%
Team Fortress 2 - 1920x1080 maximum AA:8x MS AF:16x
Asus VivoBook 15 X542UF-DM143T
NVIDIA GeForce MX130, Intel Core i5-8250U
60.5 fps
Average NVIDIA GeForce MX130
 
60.5 fps 0%
Lenovo IdeaPad 320-15IKB 80XL01NEGE
NVIDIA GeForce 940MX, Intel Core i5-7200U
59.7 fps -1%
Acer Swift 3 SF315-41-R4W1
AMD Radeon RX Vega 8 (Ryzen 2000/3000), AMD Ryzen 5 2500U
37.5 fps -38%
HP 15-bs103ng
AMD Radeon 520, Intel Core i5-8250U
19.6 fps -68%

Emissions & Energy

Fan Noise

There are no surprises with fan noise. At idle, the fan is either silent or is running at a low speed. Under load, the fan turns on and can increase up to 39 dB(A) when gaming. During our stress tests, we measured a maximum fan speed of 38 dB(A).

Noise Level

Idle
30.9 / 30.9 / 30.9 dB(A)
DVD
35.3 / dB(A)
Load
39 / 38 dB(A)
  red to green bar
 
 
30 dB
silent
40 dB(A)
audible
50 dB(A)
loud
 
min: dark, med: mid, max: light   Audix TM1, Arta (15 cm distance)   environment noise: 30 dB(A)
dB(A) 0102030405060708090Deep BassMiddle BassHigh BassLower RangeMidsHigher MidsLower HighsMid HighsUpper HighsSuper Highs2035.23330.530.735.2253732.432.533.83731403331.534.5404033.930.730.829.833.95037.436.335.329.337.46328.627.429.126.328.6802726.727.326.92710026.826.624.925.926.812526.725.424.324.626.716026.325.823.124.126.320025.725.122.222.725.725026.825.822.121.326.831529.62822.520.529.640028.327.220.820.828.350026.725.619.919.326.763025.224.919.218.425.280025.624.818.91825.6100027.626.419.117.327.6125026.625.918.817.126.616002928.119.217.229200028.327.318.917.228.325002927.919.517.129315027.626.417.917.327.6400028.126.617.817.528.150002624.517.917.626630023.622.717.817.823.6800020.6201817.820.61000019.218.918.117.719.21250018.318.31817.618.31600018.618.51817.818.6SPL393830.93039N32.71.31.23median 26.7median 25.8median 19.1median 17.8median 26.7Delta2.62.62.11.72.6hearing rangehide median Fan NoiseAsus VivoBook 15 X542UF-DM143T

Temperature

The VivoBook 15 during a stress test
The VivoBook 15 during a stress test

In our stress tests, during which we ran Prime95 and FurMark for at least an hour, the VivoBook 15 performed differently on battery power than it did when running from the mains. In the latter case, the processor worked at between 2.3 and 2.4 GHz while the GPU hovered around 1,000 MHz. Conversely, the CPU operated mostly at 400 MHz on battery, occasionally boosting up to 3.2-3.4 GHz. During this scenario, the GPU maintained its full 1,189 MHz clock speed.

Surface temperatures stay relatively cool under load, but some areas get hotter than others. During our stress tests, three areas of the case reached above 40 °C (~104 °F), but they all remained below 50 °C (~122 °F).

Max. Load
 40.2 °C
104 F
38 °C
100 F
26.6 °C
80 F
 
 35.8 °C
96 F
34.6 °C
94 F
25.9 °C
79 F
 
 27.4 °C
81 F
27 °C
81 F
25.5 °C
78 F
 
Maximum: 40.2 °C = 104 F
Average: 4.5 °C = 40 F
28.6 °C
83 F
46.5 °C
116 F
46.6 °C
116 F
26 °C
79 F
38.5 °C
101 F
36.2 °C
97 F
25 °C
77 F
26.1 °C
79 F
26.6 °C
80 F
Maximum: 46.6 °C = 116 F
Average: 33.3 °C = 92 F
Power Supply (max.)  52.8 °C = 127 F | Room Temperature 24.3 °C = 76 F | FIRT 550-Pocket
(+) The average temperature for the upper side under maximal load is 4.5 °C / 40 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 40.2 °C / 104 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 46.6 °C / 116 F, compared to the average of 39.1 °C / 102 F
(+) In idle usage, the average temperature for the upper side is 2.8 °C / 37 F, compared to the device average of 31.2 °C / 88 F.
(+) The palmrests and touchpad are cooler than skin temperature with a maximum of 27.4 °C / 81.3 F and are therefore cool to the touch.
(±) The average temperature of the palmrest area of similar devices was 28.8 °C / 83.8 F (+1.4 °C / 2.5 F).
Top case surface temperatures under load
Top case surface temperatures under load
Bottom case surface temperatures under load
Bottom case surface temperatures under load
Top case surface temperatures at idle
Top case surface temperatures at idle
Bottom case surface temperatures at idle
Bottom case surface temperatures at idle

Speakers

The stereo speakers can be found at the front edge of the bottom case. The sound is full and relatively pleasant but lacks bass. We would recommend using headphones or external speakers for better sound quality.

dB(A) 0102030405060708090Deep BassMiddle BassHigh BassLower RangeMidsHigher MidsLower HighsMid HighsUpper HighsSuper Highs2031.630.731.62532.633.832.63139.334.539.34032.429.832.45035.429.335.46332.326.332.38027.326.927.310027.525.927.512535.924.635.91604624.14620050.722.750.72506221.3623156720.56740065.820.865.85006319.36363065.218.465.280063.51863.5100060.617.360.612506517.165160064.117.264.1200063.717.263.7250065.117.165.1315063.817.363.8400066.417.566.4500067.317.667.3630065.617.865.6800069.117.869.11000071.117.771.11250068.417.668.41600059.717.859.7SPL77.93077.9N41.51.241.5median 64.1median 17.8median 64.1Delta4.81.74.835.335.132.931.831.83236.535.132.428.93328.936.328.848.32761.52752.924.860.92462.822.763.32269.521.267.82174.82075.919.472.718.97117.770.117.86917.671.817.668.117.671.417.673.717.670.417.571.617.671.617.669.617.459.717.583.630.662.51.5median 69.6median 17.84.72.4hearing rangehide median Pink NoiseAsus VivoBook 15 X542UF-DM143TApple MacBook 12 (Early 2016) 1.1 GHz
Frequency diagram (checkboxes can be checked and unchecked to compare devices)
Asus VivoBook 15 X542UF-DM143T audio analysis

(-) | not very loud speakers (71.1 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 16.9% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (14.3% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(+) | balanced mids - only 1.2% away from median
(+) | mids are linear (4.5% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(+) | balanced highs - only 2.9% away from median
(+) | highs are linear (4.2% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(±) | linearity of overall sound is average (15.2% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 29% of all tested devices in this class were better, 4% similar, 67% worse
» The best had a delta of 5%, average was 18%, worst was 45%
Compared to all devices tested
» 17% of all tested devices were better, 4% similar, 79% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%

Apple MacBook 12 (Early 2016) 1.1 GHz audio analysis

(+) | speakers can play relatively loud (83.6 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(±) | reduced bass - on average 11.3% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (14.2% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(+) | balanced mids - only 2.4% away from median
(+) | mids are linear (5.5% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(+) | balanced highs - only 2% away from median
(+) | highs are linear (4.5% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(+) | overall sound is linear (10.2% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 5% of all tested devices in this class were better, 2% similar, 93% worse
» The best had a delta of 5%, average was 19%, worst was 53%
Compared to all devices tested
» 3% of all tested devices were better, 1% similar, 96% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%

Power Consumption

Power consumption is as expected for a Core i5-8250U and GeForce MX130 powered device. At idle, we measured an impressively low maximum power draw of 7 W. This rose to 65.3 W during our stress tests, which slightly exceeds the power limits of the 65 W power supply.

Power Consumption
Off / Standbydarklight 0.38 / 0.33 Watt
Idledarkmidlight 4.75 / 6.9 / 7 Watt
Load midlight 53 / 65.3 Watt
 color bar
Key: min: dark, med: mid, max: light        Metrahit Energy
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 VivoBook 15 achieved a battery runtime of six hours and forty-seven minutes in our practical Wi-Fi test. During this test, we run a script that simulates the load caused by loading and rendering websites. We set the battery profile to ‘Balanced’ with energy saving features turned off and the display set to 150 cd/m².

Battery Runtime
WiFi Websurfing (Edge 41)
6h 47min
Battery Runtime - WiFi Websurfing
Average of class Multimedia
  (262 - 1204, n=92, last 2 years)
560 min +38%
HP 15-bs103ng
i5-8250U, Radeon 520, 41.6 Wh
473 min +16%
Asus VivoBook 15 X542UF-DM143T
i5-8250U, GeForce MX130, 38 Wh
407 min
HP Pavilion 15-cc107ng
i5-8250U, GeForce 940MX, 41.7 Wh
395 min -3%
Acer Swift 3 SF315-41-R4W1
R5 2500U, Vega 8, 48 Wh
310 min -24%
Lenovo IdeaPad 320-15IKBRN 81BG001KGE
i5-8250U, GeForce MX150, 30 Wh
270 min -34%

Pros

+ matte display
+ Full-HD resolution
+ SSD
+ empty SATA drive slot
+ good battery life

Cons

- dark, low contrast display with poor viewing angles
- no keyboard backlight
- slow card reader

Verdict

The ASUS VivoBook X542UF-DM143T, courtesy of notebooksbilliger.de.
The ASUS VivoBook X542UF-DM143T, courtesy of notebooksbilliger.de.

The ASUS VivoBook 15 X542UF is an Intel Core i5-8250U powered 15.6-inch notebook that is powerful enough for all typical applications. Additionally, the CPU can maintain high Turbo Boost speeds for a long time.

The ASUS VivoBook 15 X542UF is a 15.6-inch all-rounder that warrants a better display.

The NVIDIA GeForce MX130 GPU makes the VivoBook 15 capable of light gaming. The MX130 is a lower mid-range GPU though, so resolution and quality settings will need to be dropped for a playable experience, especially with modern games. The MX130’s performance is akin to the GeForce 940MX.

A SATA III SSD ensures that the VivoBook 15 runs smoothly. It would be possible to swap the SSD or add a 2.5-inch drive for which ASUS includes the mounting frame, but this would require disassembling the device.

The display should be better for a device at this price point. ASUS has equipped the VivoBook 15 with a dark, low contrast TN panel that has poor viewing angles. Equally, while the keyboard is good enough for home use we would have preferred it to have been backlit. Fortunately, the ASUS VivoBook 15 X542UF has good battery life.

Asus VivoBook 15 X542UF-DM143T - 05/12/2018 v6(old)
Sascha Mölck

Chassis
76 / 98 → 78%
Keyboard
73%
Pointing Device
83%
Connectivity
45 / 81 → 56%
Weight
61 / 20-67 → 87%
Battery
89%
Display
83%
Games Performance
68 / 85 → 79%
Application Performance
89 / 92 → 96%
Temperature
92%
Noise
90 / 95 → 95%
Audio
50%
Camera
31 / 85 → 37%
Average
72%
81%
Multimedia - Weighted Average

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> Expert Reviews and News on Laptops, Smartphones and Tech Innovations > Reviews > ASUS VivoBook 15 X542UF (i5-8250U, MX130, SSD, FHD) Laptop Review
Sascha Mölck, 2018-05-14 (Update: 2020-05-19)