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Acer Aspire 3 A317-51G in review: 17.3-inch all-rounder offers 2 TB of storage space

Data graveyard. The Aspire 3 is a 17.3-inch laptop for the desk at home. The device scores points with a Comet Lake quad-core processor, a GeForce graphics core, and lots of storage capacity.

The Acer Aspire 3 A317-51G is a multimedia all-rounder in the 17.3-inch format. The laptop is powered by a Core i7-10510U processor and a GeForce MX250 graphics core. Among the competitors are devices like the HP 470 G7, the Lenovo IdeaPad L340-17API, and the Asus VivoBook 17 F712FA.

Acer Aspire 3 A317-51G-72MD (Aspire 3 A317 Series)
Processor
Intel Core i7-10510U 4 x 1.8 - 4.9 GHz, Comet Lake-U
Graphics adapter
NVIDIA GeForce MX250 - 2048 MB VRAM, Core: 1582 MHz, Memory: 1502 MHz, GDDR5, 64-bit interface, 27.21.14.5206 (Nvidia 452.06), Optimus
Memory
12 GB 
, DDR4 2666, dual-channel, one memory slot (occupied), 4 GB soldered
Display
17.30 inch 16:9, 1920 x 1080 pixel 127 PPI, BOE CQ NV173FHM-N41, IPS, glossy: no, 60 Hz
Mainboard
Intel Comet Lake-U PCH-LP Premium
Storage
Intel SSD 660p 1TB SSDPEKNW010T8, 1024 GB 
, + Toshiba MQ04ABF100 (1 TB, 5400 rpm), 1839 GB free
Soundcard
Realtek ALC255 @ Intel Comet Point-LP PCH - cAVS
Connections
2 USB 2.0, 1 USB 3.0 / 3.1 Gen1, 0 USB 3.1 Gen2, 1 HDMI, 1 Kensington Lock, Audio Connections: combo audio, 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
Optical drive
HL-DT-ST DVDRAM GUE1N
Size
height x width x depth (in mm): 24.65 x 419.5 x 289.5 ( = 0.97 x 16.52 x 11.4 in)
Battery
36.7 Wh, 3246 mAh Lithium-Ion, 11.31 V
Operating System
Microsoft Windows 10 Home 64 Bit
Camera
Webcam: VGA
Primary Camera: 0.3 MPix
Additional features
Speakers: stereo, Keyboard: chiclet, Keyboard Light: no, CyberLink PowerDVD 14, MS Office 365 (trial version), Norton Security Ultra (trial version), 24 Months Warranty
Weight
2.8 kg ( = 98.77 oz / 6.17 pounds), Power Supply: 275 g ( = 9.7 oz / 0.61 pounds)
Price
999 Euro
Note: The manufacturer may use components from different suppliers including display panels, drives or memory sticks with similar specifications.

 

Rating
Date
Model
Weight
Height
Size
Resolution
Best Price
76.4 %
09/2020
Acer Aspire 3 A317-51G-72MD
i7-10510U, GeForce MX250
2.8 kg24.65 mm17.30"1920x1080
78.8 %
06/2020
HP 470 G7 8VU24EA
i7-10510U, Radeon 530
2.4 kg24.5 mm17.30"1920x1080
80.8 %
08/2019
Lenovo Ideapad L340-17API-81LY0004GE
R5 3500U, Vega 8
2.8 kg24.3 mm17.30"1600x900
77 %
09/2020
Asus VivoBook 17 F712FA-AU518T
i5-10210U, UHD Graphics 620
2.3 kg21.4 mm17.30"1920x1080

Case and connectivity - No USB Type-C for the A317

The case is made completely of black plastic. The palm rest and the back of the lid are provided with a shiny, matte, and smooth surface that is quite susceptible to fingerprints. The gap dimensions are in order, and excess material is not noticeable. Moreover, the lid and base unit should have a slightly higher stiffness. The battery is firmly installed. You can reach the inside after removing the bottom cover.

Acer has provided the laptop with three USB Type-A ports (2x USB 2.0, 1x USB 3.2 Gen 1). There is no USB Type-C USB port. In addition, an external monitor can be connected via HDMI. A memory card reader has been completely forgone.

The WLAN chip (Qualcomm QCA9377) supports the 802.11a/b/g/n/ac standards. The transmission speeds determined under optimal conditions (no other WLAN devices nearby, short distance between laptop and server PC) are average. We do our testing with the Netgear Nighthawk AX12 Wi-Fi 6 tri-band router.

Size comparison

419.5 mm / 16.5 inch 289.5 mm / 11.4 inch 24.65 mm / 0.97 inch 2.8 kg6.17 lbs414.8 mm / 16.3 inch 272 mm / 10.7 inch 24.5 mm / 0.965 inch 2.4 kg5.2 lbs413 mm / 16.3 inch 284.6 mm / 11.2 inch 24.3 mm / 0.957 inch 2.8 kg6.17 lbs406.9 mm / 16 inch 256 mm / 10.1 inch 21.4 mm / 0.843 inch 2.3 kg5.07 lbs297 mm / 11.7 inch 210 mm / 8.27 inch 1 mm / 0.03937 inch 5.7 g0.01257 lbs

Port configuration

Left side: Power supply, Gigabit Ethernet, HDMI, USB 2.0 (Type-A), USB 3.2 Gen 1 (Type-A), combo audio
Left side: Power supply, Gigabit Ethernet, HDMI, USB 2.0 (Type-A), USB 3.2 Gen 1 (Type-A), combo audio
Right side: USB 2.0 (Type-A), optical drive, cable-lock slot
Right side: USB 2.0 (Type-A), optical drive, cable-lock slot
Networking
iperf3 transmit AX12
HP 470 G7 8VU24EA
Intel Wi-Fi 6 AX201
660 (152min - 716max) MBit/s +96%
Asus VivoBook 17 F712FA-AU518T
Realtek 8822CE Wireless LAN 802.11ac PCI-E NIC
627 (564min - 692max) MBit/s +87%
Acer Aspire 3 A317-51G-72MD
Qualcomm Atheros QCA9377 Wireless Network Adapter
336 (312min - 349max) MBit/s
Lenovo Ideapad L340-17API-81LY0004GE
Qualcomm Atheros QCA9377 Wireless Network Adapter
301 (277min - 342max) MBit/s -10%
Average Qualcomm Atheros QCA9377 Wireless Network Adapter
  (72 - 349, n=56)
301 MBit/s -10%
iperf3 receive AX12
HP 470 G7 8VU24EA
Intel Wi-Fi 6 AX201
933 (908min - 952max) MBit/s +170%
Asus VivoBook 17 F712FA-AU518T
Realtek 8822CE Wireless LAN 802.11ac PCI-E NIC
633 (624min - 642max) MBit/s +83%
Acer Aspire 3 A317-51G-72MD
Qualcomm Atheros QCA9377 Wireless Network Adapter
346 (337min - 353max) MBit/s
Lenovo Ideapad L340-17API-81LY0004GE
Qualcomm Atheros QCA9377 Wireless Network Adapter
329 (316min - 337max) MBit/s -5%
Average Qualcomm Atheros QCA9377 Wireless Network Adapter
  (71 - 348, n=56)
313 MBit/s -10%
050100150200250300350400450500550600650700750800850900950Tooltip
Acer Aspire 3 A317-51G-72MD Intel Core i7-10510U, NVIDIA GeForce MX250; iperf3 receive AX12; iperf 3.1.3: Ø346 (337-353)
HP 470 G7 8VU24EA Intel Core i7-10510U, AMD Radeon 530; iperf3 receive AX12; iperf 3.1.3: Ø932 (908-952)
Lenovo Ideapad L340-17API-81LY0004GE AMD Ryzen 5 3500U, AMD Radeon RX Vega 8 (Ryzen 2000/3000); iperf3 receive AX12; iperf 3.1.3: Ø328 (316-337)
Asus VivoBook 17 F712FA-AU518T Intel Core i5-10210U, Intel UHD Graphics 620; iperf3 receive AX12; iperf 3.1.3: Ø633 (624-642)
Acer Aspire 3 A317-51G-72MD Intel Core i7-10510U, NVIDIA GeForce MX250; iperf3 transmit AX12; iperf 3.1.3: Ø336 (312-349)
HP 470 G7 8VU24EA Intel Core i7-10510U, AMD Radeon 530; iperf3 transmit AX12; iperf 3.1.3: Ø660 (152-716)
Lenovo Ideapad L340-17API-81LY0004GE AMD Ryzen 5 3500U, AMD Radeon RX Vega 8 (Ryzen 2000/3000); iperf3 transmit AX12; iperf 3.1.3: Ø301 (277-342)
Asus VivoBook 17 F712FA-AU518T Intel Core i5-10210U, Intel UHD Graphics 620; iperf3 transmit AX12; iperf 3.1.3: Ø627 (564-692)
ColorChecker
23.4 ∆E
20.5 ∆E
19.4 ∆E
22.3 ∆E
18.5 ∆E
19.6 ∆E
18.9 ∆E
27.5 ∆E
21.2 ∆E
20 ∆E
18.5 ∆E
16.5 ∆E
23.1 ∆E
16.6 ∆E
26.5 ∆E
15 ∆E
22.6 ∆E
17.6 ∆E
0 ∆E
9.5 ∆E
20.4 ∆E
18.9 ∆E
16.3 ∆E
12 ∆E
ColorChecker HP 470 G7 8VU24EA: 18.53 ∆E min: 0 - max: 27.5 ∆E
ColorChecker
15 ∆E
16.5 ∆E
21.2 ∆E
14.7 ∆E
21.1 ∆E
14.4 ∆E
15.6 ∆E
29.4 ∆E
19.7 ∆E
12.7 ∆E
13.3 ∆E
13.1 ∆E
17.7 ∆E
14.5 ∆E
21.8 ∆E
9.9 ∆E
21.8 ∆E
17.8 ∆E
2.3 ∆E
11.8 ∆E
18.2 ∆E
16.2 ∆E
7.6 ∆E
10.5 ∆E
ColorChecker Acer Aspire 3 A317-51G-72MD: 15.71 ∆E min: 2.33 - max: 29.44 ∆E
ColorChecker
17.3 ∆E
12 ∆E
16.3 ∆E
19.2 ∆E
15.2 ∆E
11.1 ∆E
9.2 ∆E
20.3 ∆E
14.7 ∆E
15 ∆E
8.3 ∆E
6.7 ∆E
14 ∆E
10.7 ∆E
16.4 ∆E
4.5 ∆E
15.2 ∆E
12.6 ∆E
2.3 ∆E
10.6 ∆E
9 ∆E
9.7 ∆E
12.1 ∆E
6.5 ∆E
ColorChecker Asus VivoBook 17 F712FA-AU518T: 12.03 ∆E min: 2.33 - max: 20.28 ∆E

Input devices - The Aspire 3 doesn't offer keyboard backlighting

The Aspire A317 has a chiclet keyboard (not backlit) with a number pad on board. The flat, slightly roughened keys offer a short travel and a clear pressure point. The resistance provided by the keys should be crisper. All in all, Acer delivers a keyboard suitable for everyday use here.

The multi-touch capable ClickPad takes up an area of about 10.6 x 7.8 cm. As a result, there is enough space for using gesture controls. In addition, the smooth pad surface makes it easy for fingers to glide on it. It also reacts to input in the corners. The pad has a short travel and a clear pressure point.

Input devices
Input devices

Display - IPS on board

Pixel grid
Pixel grid

The matte 17.3-inch display (1920x1080 pixels) provides a good contrast ratio (1,535:1), but the maximum brightness (258.1 cd/m²) is too low. We consider values beyond 300 cd/m² to be good.

The display flickers at brightness levels of 90% and below at a frequency of 2,500 Hz. Due to the high frequency, even sensitive users shouldn't be troubled by headaches and/or eye problems.

235
cd/m²
239
cd/m²
242
cd/m²
249
cd/m²
261
cd/m²
252
cd/m²
282
cd/m²
273
cd/m²
290
cd/m²
Distribution of brightness
BOE CQ NV173FHM-N41 tested with X-Rite i1Pro 2
Maximum: 290 cd/m² (Nits) Average: 258.1 cd/m² Minimum: 15.7 cd/m²
Brightness Distribution: 81 %
Center on Battery: 245 cd/m²
Contrast: 1535:1 (Black: 0.17 cd/m²)
ΔE Color 4.25 | 0.5-29.43 Ø5, calibrated: 2.1
ΔE Greyscale 4.48 | 0.57-98 Ø5.3
86.7% sRGB (Argyll 1.6.3 3D)
56.8% AdobeRGB 1998 (Argyll 1.6.3 3D)
63.2% AdobeRGB 1998 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
86.9% sRGB (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
63.4% Display P3 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
Gamma: 2.5
Acer Aspire 3 A317-51G-72MD
BOE CQ NV173FHM-N41, IPS, 1920x1080, 17.30
HP 470 G7 8VU24EA
BOE 077B, IPS, 1920x1080, 17.30
Lenovo Ideapad L340-17API-81LY0004GE
AU Optronics B173RTN02.1, TN LED, 1600x900, 17.30
Asus VivoBook 17 F712FA-AU518T
BOE NV173FHM-N49, IPS, 1920x1080, 17.30
Display
7%
-17%
-36%
Display P3 Coverage
63.4
69.1
9%
51.1
-19%
39.03
-38%
sRGB Coverage
86.9
92.3
6%
73.9
-15%
58.4
-33%
AdobeRGB 1998 Coverage
63.2
67.5
7%
52.7
-17%
40.32
-36%
Response Times
-74%
-7%
9%
Response Time Grey 50% / Grey 80% *
29 ?(14, 15)
42 ?(22, 20)
-45%
42 ?(22, 20)
-45%
24 ?(13, 11)
17%
Response Time Black / White *
16 ?(8, 8)
30 ?(16, 14)
-88%
11 ?(7, 4)
31%
16 ?(8, 8)
-0%
PWM Frequency
2500 ?(90)
250
-90%
Screen
-9%
-80%
-39%
Brightness middle
261
280
7%
230
-12%
288
10%
Brightness
258
281
9%
201
-22%
262
2%
Brightness Distribution
81
83
2%
78
-4%
83
2%
Black Level *
0.17
0.29
-71%
0.46
-171%
0.24
-41%
Contrast
1535
966
-37%
500
-67%
1200
-22%
Colorchecker dE 2000 *
4.25
4.18
2%
10.36
-144%
6.14
-44%
Colorchecker dE 2000 max. *
7.39
7.59
-3%
18.63
-152%
18.55
-151%
Colorchecker dE 2000 calibrated *
2.1
2
5%
4.6
-119%
Greyscale dE 2000 *
4.48
5.63
-26%
13.32
-197%
4.55
-2%
Gamma
2.5 88%
2.44 90%
2.54 87%
2.37 93%
CCT
7264 89%
6801 96%
14124 46%
7161 91%
Color Space (Percent of AdobeRGB 1998)
56.8
60
6%
48
-15%
37
-35%
Color Space (Percent of sRGB)
86.7
92
6%
74
-15%
58.1
-33%
Total Average (Program / Settings)
-25% / -18%
-35% / -58%
-22% / -33%

* ... smaller is better

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
16 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined↗ 8 ms rise
↘ 8 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. » 31 % 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
29 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined↗ 14 ms rise
↘ 15 ms fall
The screen shows relatively slow response rates in our tests and may be too slow for gamers.
In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.2 (minimum) to 636 (maximum) ms. » 32 % of all devices are better.
This means that the measured response time is better than the average of all tested devices (33.9 ms).

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 2500 Hz ≤ 90 % brightness setting

The display backlight flickers at 2500 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 2500 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.

Out of the box, the display shows a very decent color reproduction. With a Delta E 2000 color deviation of just under 4.3, however, the target (Delta E less than 3) is missed. Moreover, the display doesn't suffer from a blue tint. Calibration leads to improvements, and as a result, the color deviation is reduced to 2.1, and the grayscales are displayed in a much more balanced way. The AdobeRGB (56.8%) and sRGB (86.7%) color spaces aren't fully reproduced.

CalMAN - ColorChecker
CalMAN - ColorChecker
CalMAN - Grayscales
CalMAN - Grayscales
CalMAN - Color saturation
CalMAN - Color saturation
CalMAN - ColorChecker (calibrated)
CalMAN - ColorChecker (calibrated)
CalMAN - Grayscales (calibrated)
CalMAN - Grayscales (calibrated)
CalMAN - Color saturation (calibrated)
CalMAN - Color saturation (calibrated)

Acer has installed a viewing-angle-stable IPS panel. Consequently, the screen can be read from any position. The screen can be read outdoors when the sun is not too bright.

The Aspire outdoors (shot in an overcast sky).
The Aspire outdoors (shot in an overcast sky).

Performance - Acer installs mid-range hardware

Acer's 17.3-inch multimedia all-rounder offers enough computing power for office and Internet applications. The dedicated graphics core allows playing computer games to a limited extent. Moreover, our test device is available for about 1,000 Euros ($1,185). Other configuration variants are available as well.

Processor

Acer has equipped the A317 with a Core i7-10510U quad-core processor (Comet Lake). The CPU operates at a base speed of 1.8 GHz. An increase to 4.3 GHz (four cores) or 4.9 GHz (one core) is possible via Turbo.

The multithread tests of the Cinebench benchmarks are processed at 3.2 to 3.4 GHz for a short time. The clock rate then drops to between 2.3 and 2.4 GHz. The single-thread tests are run at 3.9 to 4.1 GHz. On battery power, the clock rates are 2.2 to 2.4 GHz (multithread) and 2.3 to 3.9 GHz (single-thread), respectively.

CPU-Z
CPU-Z
HWiNFO
HWiNFO
HWiNFO
HWiNFO

We verify if the CPU Turbo is also consistently used when plugged in by running the Cinebench R15 benchmark's multithread test in a continuous loop for at least 30 minutes. Turbo is used to a relatively low extent.

All in all, the CPU falls short of its potential, since Acer has set the Power Limit 1 value very low at 15 watts (PL2: 51 watts). As a result, the CPU Turbo speeds can only be reached briefly. For comparison: The Asus VivoBook 17's Core i5 processor achieves consistently higher Turbo speeds due to its 40-watt limit (PL1).

03570105140175210245280315350385420455490525560595630665Tooltip
Acer Aspire 3 A317-51G-72MD Intel Core i7-10510U, Intel Core i7-10510U: Ø498 (487.88-537.21)
HP 470 G7 8VU24EA Intel Core i7-10510U, Intel Core i7-10510U: Ø490 (467.15-520)
Lenovo Ideapad L340-17API-81LY0004GE AMD Ryzen 5 3500U, AMD Ryzen 5 3500U: Ø626 (614.9-661.93)
Asus VivoBook 17 F712FA-AU518T Intel Core i5-10210U, Intel Core i5-10210U: Ø632 (625.46-683.92)
CPU clock speeds while running the CB15 loop
CPU clock speeds while running the CB15 loop
Cinebench R15 CPU Single 64Bit
168 Points
Cinebench R15 CPU Multi 64Bit
537 Points
Cinebench R15 OpenGL 64Bit
100.2 fps
Cinebench R15 Ref. Match 64Bit
99.6 %
Help
Cinebench R15
CPU Single 64Bit
Average of class Multimedia
  (142.6 - 308, n=96, last 2 years)
249 Points +48%
Average Intel Core i7-10510U
  (113 - 202, n=42)
178.4 Points +6%
Asus VivoBook 17 F712FA-AU518T
Intel Core i5-10210U
172 Points +2%
Acer Aspire 3 A317-51G-72MD
Intel Core i7-10510U
168 Points
HP 470 G7 8VU24EA
Intel Core i7-10510U
164 Points -2%
Lenovo Ideapad L340-17API-81LY0004GE
AMD Ryzen 5 3500U
143 Points -15%
CPU Multi 64Bit
Average of class Multimedia
  (580 - 4703, n=103, last 2 years)
2280 Points +325%
Asus VivoBook 17 F712FA-AU518T
Intel Core i5-10210U
684 Points +27%
Average Intel Core i7-10510U
  (482 - 856, n=45)
666 Points +24%
Lenovo Ideapad L340-17API-81LY0004GE
AMD Ryzen 5 3500U
662 Points +23%
Acer Aspire 3 A317-51G-72MD
Intel Core i7-10510U
537 Points
HP 470 G7 8VU24EA
Intel Core i7-10510U
520 Points -3%
Blender - v2.79 BMW27 CPU
Acer Aspire 3 A317-51G-72MD
Intel Core i7-10510U
872 Seconds *
HP 470 G7 8VU24EA
Intel Core i7-10510U
865 Seconds * +1%
Asus VivoBook 17 F712FA-AU518T
Intel Core i5-10210U
822 Seconds * +6%
Average Intel Core i7-10510U
  (628 - 1051, n=31)
796 Seconds * +9%
Average of class Multimedia
  (107 - 956, n=92, last 2 years)
275 Seconds * +68%
7-Zip 18.03
7z b 4 -mmt1
Average of class Multimedia
  (3398 - 7163, n=87, last 2 years)
5612 MIPS +23%
Average Intel Core i7-10510U
  (3747 - 4981, n=31)
4591 MIPS +1%
Acer Aspire 3 A317-51G-72MD
Intel Core i7-10510U
4567 MIPS
HP 470 G7 8VU24EA
Intel Core i7-10510U
4490 MIPS -2%
Asus VivoBook 17 F712FA-AU518T
Intel Core i5-10210U
3504 MIPS -23%
7z b 4
Average of class Multimedia
  (11813 - 119900, n=87, last 2 years)
56363 MIPS +243%
Average Intel Core i7-10510U
  (12196 - 21298, n=31)
17704 MIPS +8%
Acer Aspire 3 A317-51G-72MD
Intel Core i7-10510U
16409 MIPS
HP 470 G7 8VU24EA
Intel Core i7-10510U
16239 MIPS -1%
Asus VivoBook 17 F712FA-AU518T
Intel Core i5-10210U
14940 MIPS -9%
Cinebench R20
CPU (Single Core)
Average of class Multimedia
  (341 - 812, n=94, last 2 years)
638 Points +52%
Average Intel Core i7-10510U
  (362 - 497, n=37)
437 Points +4%
Asus VivoBook 17 F712FA-AU518T
Intel Core i5-10210U
424 Points +1%
Acer Aspire 3 A317-51G-72MD
Intel Core i7-10510U
420 Points
HP 470 G7 8VU24EA
Intel Core i7-10510U
417 Points -1%
Lenovo Ideapad L340-17API-81LY0004GE
AMD Ryzen 5 3500U
370 Points -12%
CPU (Multi Core)
Average of class Multimedia
  (1192 - 11768, n=94, last 2 years)
5232 Points +331%
Lenovo Ideapad L340-17API-81LY0004GE
AMD Ryzen 5 3500U
1476 Points +21%
Asus VivoBook 17 F712FA-AU518T
Intel Core i5-10210U
1464 Points +20%
Average Intel Core i7-10510U
  (1015 - 1897, n=38)
1412 Points +16%
Acer Aspire 3 A317-51G-72MD
Intel Core i7-10510U
1215 Points
HP 470 G7 8VU24EA
Intel Core i7-10510U
1177 Points -3%
Geekbench 5.5
Single-Core
Average of class Multimedia
  (926 - 2342, n=97, last 2 years)
1741 Points +48%
Average Intel Core i7-10510U
  (977 - 1287, n=31)
1197 Points +2%
HP 470 G7 8VU24EA
Intel Core i7-10510U
1189 Points +1%
Acer Aspire 3 A317-51G-72MD
Intel Core i7-10510U
1176 Points
Asus VivoBook 17 F712FA-AU518T
Intel Core i5-10210U
1126 Points -4%
Multi-Core
Average of class Multimedia
  (3307 - 23059, n=97, last 2 years)
11134 Points +251%
Asus VivoBook 17 F712FA-AU518T
Intel Core i5-10210U
3946 Points +24%
Average Intel Core i7-10510U
  (2474 - 4484, n=31)
3687 Points +16%
HP 470 G7 8VU24EA
Intel Core i7-10510U
3495 Points +10%
Acer Aspire 3 A317-51G-72MD
Intel Core i7-10510U
3173 Points
HWBOT x265 Benchmark v2.2 - 4k Preset
Average of class Multimedia
  (4.12 - 30.5, n=85, last 2 years)
15.3 fps +263%
Average Intel Core i7-10510U
  (3.41 - 6.04, n=31)
4.65 fps +10%
Acer Aspire 3 A317-51G-72MD
Intel Core i7-10510U
4.21 fps
HP 470 G7 8VU24EA
Intel Core i7-10510U
4.18 fps -1%
Asus VivoBook 17 F712FA-AU518T
Intel Core i5-10210U
3.35 fps -20%
LibreOffice - 20 Documents To PDF
Asus VivoBook 17 F712FA-AU518T
Intel Core i5-10210U
80.3 s * -32%
Acer Aspire 3 A317-51G-72MD
Intel Core i7-10510U
60.7 s *
Average Intel Core i7-10510U
  (50.7 - 77.8, n=27)
59.9 s * +1%
HP 470 G7 8VU24EA
Intel Core i7-10510U
55.1 s * +9%
Average of class Multimedia
  (6.7 - 84.9, n=89, last 2 years)
48.5 s * +20%
R Benchmark 2.5 - Overall mean
Asus VivoBook 17 F712FA-AU518T
Intel Core i5-10210U
0.901 sec * -34%
HP 470 G7 8VU24EA
Intel Core i7-10510U
0.711 sec * -6%
Average Intel Core i7-10510U
  (0.637 - 0.81, n=28)
0.68 sec * -1%
Acer Aspire 3 A317-51G-72MD
Intel Core i7-10510U
0.67 sec *
Average of class Multimedia
  (0.3826 - 0.763, n=87, last 2 years)
0.4866 sec * +27%

* ... smaller is better

System performance

The system is fast and smooth. The built-in hardware can handle office and Internet applications and - to a limited extent - computer games as well. The PCMark results are good.

Memory (12 GB; 8 GB module + 4 GB on board) runs in dual-channel mode.
Memory (12 GB; 8 GB module + 4 GB on board) runs in dual-channel mode.
PCMark 8 Home Score Accelerated v2
3538 points
PCMark 8 Creative Score Accelerated v2
3604 points
PCMark 8 Work Score Accelerated v2
5068 points
PCMark 10 Score
4097 points
Help
PCMark 10
Score
Average of class Multimedia
  (4039 - 8670, n=82, last 2 years)
6552 Points +60%
HP 470 G7 8VU24EA
Radeon 530, i7-10510U, WDC PC SN520 SDAPNUW-512G
4494 Points +10%
Average Intel Core i7-10510U, NVIDIA GeForce MX250
  (3861 - 5409, n=11)
4243 Points +4%
Asus VivoBook 17 F712FA-AU518T
UHD Graphics 620, i5-10210U, Intel SSD 660p SSDPEKNW512G8
4205 Points +3%
Acer Aspire 3 A317-51G-72MD
GeForce MX250, i7-10510U, Intel SSD 660p 1TB SSDPEKNW010T8
4097 Points
Lenovo Ideapad L340-17API-81LY0004GE
Vega 8, R5 3500U, Samsung SSD PM871b MZ7LN256HAJQ
3754 Points -8%
Essentials
Average of class Multimedia
  (8480 - 12420, n=82, last 2 years)
10417 Points +23%
HP 470 G7 8VU24EA
Radeon 530, i7-10510U, WDC PC SN520 SDAPNUW-512G
9580 Points +13%
Average Intel Core i7-10510U, NVIDIA GeForce MX250
  (8021 - 9764, n=11)
8892 Points +5%
Asus VivoBook 17 F712FA-AU518T
UHD Graphics 620, i5-10210U, Intel SSD 660p SSDPEKNW512G8
8854 Points +4%
Acer Aspire 3 A317-51G-72MD
GeForce MX250, i7-10510U, Intel SSD 660p 1TB SSDPEKNW010T8
8490 Points
Lenovo Ideapad L340-17API-81LY0004GE
Vega 8, R5 3500U, Samsung SSD PM871b MZ7LN256HAJQ
7507 Points -12%
Productivity
Average of class Multimedia
  (5462 - 11186, n=82, last 2 years)
8685 Points +12%
HP 470 G7 8VU24EA
Radeon 530, i7-10510U, WDC PC SN520 SDAPNUW-512G
8351 Points +8%
Acer Aspire 3 A317-51G-72MD
GeForce MX250, i7-10510U, Intel SSD 660p 1TB SSDPEKNW010T8
7750 Points
Average Intel Core i7-10510U, NVIDIA GeForce MX250
  (6625 - 7972, n=11)
7331 Points -5%
Asus VivoBook 17 F712FA-AU518T
UHD Graphics 620, i5-10210U, Intel SSD 660p SSDPEKNW512G8
7124 Points -8%
Lenovo Ideapad L340-17API-81LY0004GE
Vega 8, R5 3500U, Samsung SSD PM871b MZ7LN256HAJQ
5921 Points -24%
Digital Content Creation
Average of class Multimedia
  (3861 - 13548, n=82, last 2 years)
8566 Points +202%
Lenovo Ideapad L340-17API-81LY0004GE
Vega 8, R5 3500U, Samsung SSD PM871b MZ7LN256HAJQ
3232 Points +14%
Average Intel Core i7-10510U, NVIDIA GeForce MX250
  (2621 - 5547, n=11)
3225 Points +14%
Asus VivoBook 17 F712FA-AU518T
UHD Graphics 620, i5-10210U, Intel SSD 660p SSDPEKNW512G8
3199 Points +13%
HP 470 G7 8VU24EA
Radeon 530, i7-10510U, WDC PC SN520 SDAPNUW-512G
3079 Points +8%
Acer Aspire 3 A317-51G-72MD
GeForce MX250, i7-10510U, Intel SSD 660p 1TB SSDPEKNW010T8
2838 Points
PCMark 8 - Home Score Accelerated v2
Average of class Multimedia
  (4484 - 5525, n=9, last 2 years)
5075 Points +43%
HP 470 G7 8VU24EA
Radeon 530, i7-10510U, WDC PC SN520 SDAPNUW-512G
3717 Points +5%
Asus VivoBook 17 F712FA-AU518T
UHD Graphics 620, i5-10210U, Intel SSD 660p SSDPEKNW512G8
3595 Points +2%
Average Intel Core i7-10510U, NVIDIA GeForce MX250
  (3214 - 3958, n=8)
3594 Points +2%
Acer Aspire 3 A317-51G-72MD
GeForce MX250, i7-10510U, Intel SSD 660p 1TB SSDPEKNW010T8
3538 Points
Lenovo Ideapad L340-17API-81LY0004GE
Vega 8, R5 3500U, Samsung SSD PM871b MZ7LN256HAJQ
3423 Points -3%

DPC latencies

In our standardized latency monitor test (web surfing, 4K video playback, high-load Prime95), we could observe issues with the DPC latencies. The system doesn't seem to be suitable for real-time video and audio-editing.

Latency Monitor
Latency Monitor
Latency Monitor
Latency Monitor
DPC Latencies / LatencyMon - interrupt to process latency (max), Web, Youtube, Prime95
Asus VivoBook 17 F712FA-AU518T
UHD Graphics 620, i5-10210U, Intel SSD 660p SSDPEKNW512G8
3900 μs * -207%
HP 470 G7 8VU24EA
Radeon 530, i7-10510U, WDC PC SN520 SDAPNUW-512G
2098 μs * -65%
Acer Aspire 3 A317-51G-72MD
GeForce MX250, i7-10510U, Intel SSD 660p 1TB SSDPEKNW010T8
1272 μs *

* ... smaller is better

Storage

The system drive is a 1 TB NVMe SSD (M.2 2280) from Intel that provides good transfer rates. It's not one of the fastest SSDs, though. In addition, there's a 2.5-inch hard drive (1 TB, 5,400 rpm) on board.

An NVMe SSD serves as system drive.
An NVMe SSD serves as system drive.
There's also a 1 TB HDD.
There's also a 1 TB HDD.
Intel SSD 660p 1TB SSDPEKNW010T8
CDM 5/6 Read Seq Q32T1: 1780 MB/s
CDM 5/6 Write Seq Q32T1: 1738 MB/s
CDM 5/6 Read 4K Q32T1: 514 MB/s
CDM 5/6 Write 4K Q32T1: 426.9 MB/s
CDM 5 Read Seq: 1570 MB/s
CDM 5 Write Seq: 1681 MB/s
CDM 5/6 Read 4K: 62.7 MB/s
CDM 5/6 Write 4K: 185.3 MB/s
Acer Aspire 3 A317-51G-72MD
Intel SSD 660p 1TB SSDPEKNW010T8
HP 470 G7 8VU24EA
WDC PC SN520 SDAPNUW-512G
Lenovo Ideapad L340-17API-81LY0004GE
Samsung SSD PM871b MZ7LN256HAJQ
Asus VivoBook 17 F712FA-AU518T
Intel SSD 660p SSDPEKNW512G8
Average Intel SSD 660p 1TB SSDPEKNW010T8
 
Average of class Multimedia
 
CrystalDiskMark 5.2 / 6
-12%
-59%
-16%
-10%
63%
Write 4K
185.3
190.6
3%
94.4
-49%
180.3
-3%
144.5 ?(103.2 - 214, n=17)
-22%
168.8 ?(91.7 - 319, n=63, last 2 years)
-9%
Read 4K
62.7
49.01
-22%
32.45
-48%
62.1
-1%
54.1 ?(49.8 - 63.8, n=17)
-14%
65.7 ?(30.7 - 96, n=63, last 2 years)
5%
Write Seq
1681
1108
-34%
482.8
-71%
972
-42%
1445 ?(1264 - 1776, n=16)
-14%
2821 ?(957 - 4443, n=38, last 2 years)
68%
Read Seq
1570
1077
-31%
524
-67%
1608
2%
1446 ?(1410 - 1693, n=16)
-8%
3016 ?(1642 - 4875, n=38, last 2 years)
92%
Write 4K Q32T1
426.9
429.3
1%
232
-46%
397.4
-7%
427 ?(402 - 644, n=17)
0%
486 ?(292 - 777, n=63, last 2 years)
14%
Read 4K Q32T1
514
544
6%
253.6
-51%
343
-33%
456 ?(329 - 600, n=17)
-11%
552 ?(310 - 972, n=63, last 2 years)
7%
Write Seq Q32T1
1738
1458
-16%
496.5
-71%
973
-44%
1650 ?(1733 - 1802, n=17)
-5%
4011 ?(869 - 6779, n=63, last 2 years)
131%
Read Seq Q32T1
1780
1734
-3%
540
-70%
1779
0%
1728 ?(1616 - 1970, n=17)
-3%
5323 ?(2108 - 7147, n=63, last 2 years)
199%
AS SSD
16%
-64%
-18%
-8%
80%
Seq Read
1753
1531
-13%
489.9
-72%
1679
-4%
1456 ?(1038 - 1778, n=16)
-17%
3944 ?(1192 - 5639, n=81, last 2 years)
125%
Seq Write
1584
1379
-13%
472.2
-70%
910
-43%
1404 ?(938 - 1637, n=16)
-11%
2521 ?(388 - 5101, n=81, last 2 years)
59%
4K Read
52.3
43.09
-18%
29.14
-44%
56.1
7%
48.7 ?(25.6 - 57.8, n=16)
-7%
63.2 ?(30 - 98.5, n=81, last 2 years)
21%
4K Write
124.3
130.2
5%
59.8
-52%
153.6
24%
131.6 ?(77.5 - 167.9, n=16)
6%
188.4 ?(99.8 - 328, n=81, last 2 years)
52%
4K-64 Read
592
1040
76%
262.2
-56%
324.4
-45%
586 ?(576 - 592, n=16)
-1%
1237 ?(413 - 2989, n=81, last 2 years)
109%
4K-64 Write
828
1138
37%
236.2
-71%
792
-4%
788 ?(584 - 875, n=16)
-5%
2132 ?(281 - 4265, n=81, last 2 years)
157%
Access Time Read *
0.058
0.085
0.088
0.07236 ?(0.036 - 0.165, n=14)
0.05886 ?(0.018 - 0.168, n=81, last 2 years)
Access Time Write *
0.04
0.029
27%
0.061
-53%
0.046
-15%
0.07731 ?(0.038 - 0.128, n=16)
-93%
0.05873 ?(0.013 - 0.414, n=81, last 2 years)
-47%
Score Read
819
1236
51%
342
-58%
548
-33%
780 ?(730 - 819, n=16)
-5%
1695 ?(669 - 3501, n=81, last 2 years)
107%
Score Write
1110
1406
27%
343
-69%
1037
-7%
1060 ?(820 - 1182, n=16)
-5%
2572 ?(545 - 4813, n=81, last 2 years)
132%
Score Total
2357
3274
39%
869
-63%
1849
-22%
2252 ?(1990 - 2421, n=16)
-4%
5075 ?(2010 - 9972, n=81, last 2 years)
115%
Copy ISO MB/s
1480
1236
-16%
282.8
-81%
801
-46%
1469 ?(836 - 1736, n=14)
-1%
2406 ?(165 - 5588, n=70, last 2 years)
63%
Copy Program MB/s
432.4
442.4
2%
128.1
-70%
340.9
-21%
484 ?(310 - 600, n=14)
12%
644 ?(153.4 - 1401, n=70, last 2 years)
49%
Copy Game MB/s
761
830
9%
184.9
-76%
568
-25%
997 ?(571 - 1411, n=14)
31%
1463 ?(195.4 - 2942, n=70, last 2 years)
92%
Total Average (Program / Settings)
2% / 6%
-62% / -62%
-17% / -17%
-9% / -8%
72% / 73%

* ... smaller is better

Continuous load read: DiskSpd Read Loop, Queue Depth 8

No graph data

Graphics card

The dedicated GeForce MX250 graphics core (Pascal) is an obsolete mid-range GPU. The significantly more powerful successor (GeForce MX350) has been available for several months, and the latter's successor (GeForce MX450) has already been announced.

The GPU consistently achieves speeds (The Witcher 3 average: 1,667 MHz) above the clock range specified by Nvidia (1,519 to 1,582 MHz). This is feasible if the GPU doesn't reach a specified temperature and/or energy threshold.

The results in the 3DMark benchmarks are at a normal level for this GPU. The latter can access fast GDDR5 graphics memory (2,048 MB). In addition, the UHD Graphics 620 GPU that's integrated into the processor is active, and the laptop works with Nvidia's Optimus graphics-switching solution.

3DMark 11 (plugged in)
3DMark 11 (plugged in)
3DMark 11 (battery power)
3DMark 11 (battery power)
GPU-Z
GPU-Z
GPU-Z
GPU-Z
3DMark 11 Performance
4849 points
3DMark Cloud Gate Standard Score
12619 points
3DMark Fire Strike Score
3191 points
3DMark Time Spy Score
1212 points
Help
3DMark 11 - 1280x720 Performance GPU
Average of class Multimedia
  (3408 - 60250, n=87, last 2 years)
18296 Points +294%
Acer Aspire 3 A317-51G-72MD
NVIDIA GeForce MX250, Intel Core i7-10510U
4648 Points
Average NVIDIA GeForce MX250
  (3585 - 4942, n=29)
4404 Points -5%
Lenovo Ideapad L340-17API-81LY0004GE
AMD Radeon RX Vega 8 (Ryzen 2000/3000), AMD Ryzen 5 3500U
3146 Points -32%
HP 470 G7 8VU24EA
AMD Radeon 530, Intel Core i7-10510U
2360 Points -49%
Asus VivoBook 17 F712FA-AU518T
Intel UHD Graphics 620, Intel Core i5-10210U
1878 Points -60%
3DMark
1920x1080 Fire Strike Graphics
Average of class Multimedia
  (1835 - 46022, n=87, last 2 years)
13540 Points +279%
Acer Aspire 3 A317-51G-72MD
NVIDIA GeForce MX250, Intel Core i7-10510U
3574 Points
Average NVIDIA GeForce MX250
  (2939 - 3885, n=29)
3531 Points -1%
Lenovo Ideapad L340-17API-81LY0004GE
AMD Radeon RX Vega 8 (Ryzen 2000/3000), AMD Ryzen 5 3500U
1981 Points -45%
HP 470 G7 8VU24EA
AMD Radeon 530, Intel Core i7-10510U
1773 Points -50%
Asus VivoBook 17 F712FA-AU518T
Intel UHD Graphics 620, Intel Core i5-10210U
1224 Points -66%
1280x720 Cloud Gate Standard Graphics
Average of class Multimedia
  (14679 - 150699, n=61, last 2 years)
57744 Points +169%
Average NVIDIA GeForce MX250
  (13805 - 23863, n=25)
21491 Points 0%
Acer Aspire 3 A317-51G-72MD
NVIDIA GeForce MX250, Intel Core i7-10510U
21490 Points
Lenovo Ideapad L340-17API-81LY0004GE
AMD Radeon RX Vega 8 (Ryzen 2000/3000), AMD Ryzen 5 3500U
13777 Points -36%
Asus VivoBook 17 F712FA-AU518T
Intel UHD Graphics 620, Intel Core i5-10210U
9501 Points -56%
HP 470 G7 8VU24EA
AMD Radeon 530, Intel Core i7-10510U
9407 Points -56%
2560x1440 Time Spy Graphics
Average of class Multimedia
  (622 - 17620, n=87, last 2 years)
5121 Points +365%
Acer Aspire 3 A317-51G-72MD
NVIDIA GeForce MX250, Intel Core i7-10510U
1101 Points
Average NVIDIA GeForce MX250
  (881 - 1169, n=22)
1070 Points -3%
Lenovo Ideapad L340-17API-81LY0004GE
AMD Radeon RX Vega 8 (Ryzen 2000/3000), AMD Ryzen 5 3500U
584 Points -47%
HP 470 G7 8VU24EA
AMD Radeon 530, Intel Core i7-10510U
490 Points -55%

Gaming performance

The built-in hardware can bring quite a lot of games smoothly onto the screen. Most titles achieve sufficiently high frame rates at HD resolution (1280x720 pixels) and medium quality settings. In addition, games with moderate hardware requirements allow more. Modern, performance-hungry hits often require a reduction of the resolution and/or quality level.

The Witcher 3 - 1024x768 Low Graphics & Postprocessing
Average of class Multimedia
  (36 - 428, n=63, last 2 years)
198.8 fps +208%
Acer Aspire 3 A317-51G-72MD
Intel Core i7-10510U, NVIDIA GeForce MX250
64.6 fps
Average NVIDIA GeForce MX250
  (47.4 - 70, n=24)
60.8 fps -6%
HP 470 G7 8VU24EA
Intel Core i7-10510U, AMD Radeon 530
29.4 fps -54%
BioShock Infinite - 1920x1080 Ultra Preset, DX11 (DDOF)
Average NVIDIA GeForce MX250
  (32.3 - 38.1, n=14)
35.7 fps +2%
Acer Aspire 3 A317-51G-72MD
Intel Core i7-10510U, NVIDIA GeForce MX250
35.1 fps
HP 470 G7 8VU24EA
Intel Core i7-10510U, AMD Radeon 530
16.6 fps -53%
Lenovo Ideapad L340-17API-81LY0004GE
AMD Ryzen 5 3500U, AMD Radeon RX Vega 8 (Ryzen 2000/3000)
15.1 fps -57%
Asus VivoBook 17 F712FA-AU518T
Intel Core i5-10210U, Intel UHD Graphics 620
9.2 fps -74%
F1 2020 - 1280x720 Ultra Low Preset
Acer Aspire 3 A317-51G-72MD
Intel Core i7-10510U, NVIDIA GeForce MX250
80 (73min - 91max) fps
Average NVIDIA GeForce MX250
  (74 - 80, n=2)
77 fps -4%
Gears Tactics - 1280x720 Low Preset
Average of class Multimedia
  (132 - 269, n=4, last 2 years)
206 fps +107%
Acer Aspire 3 A317-51G-72MD
Intel Core i7-10510U, NVIDIA GeForce MX250
99.3 fps
Average NVIDIA GeForce MX250
  (65.7 - 99.3, n=2)
82.5 fps -17%
HP 470 G7 8VU24EA
Intel Core i7-10510U, AMD Radeon 530
45.6 fps -54%
Hunt Showdown - 1280x720 Low Preset
Average of class Multimedia
  (70.8 - 124.8, n=3, last 2 years)
102.6 fps +95%
Acer Aspire 3 A317-51G-72MD
Intel Core i7-10510U, NVIDIA GeForce MX250
52.6 fps
Average NVIDIA GeForce MX250
 
52.6 fps 0%
HP 470 G7 8VU24EA
Intel Core i7-10510U, AMD Radeon 530
20.7 fps -61%
Escape from Tarkov - 1280x720 Low Preset
Acer Aspire 3 A317-51G-72MD
Intel Core i7-10510U, NVIDIA GeForce MX250
69.1 fps
Average NVIDIA GeForce MX250
 
69.1 fps 0%
HP 470 G7 8VU24EA
Intel Core i7-10510U, AMD Radeon 530
31.5 fps -54%
Total War: Three Kingdoms - 1280x720 Low (incl textures)
Average of class Multimedia
  (151 - 330, n=4, last 2 years)
252 fps +222%
Acer Aspire 3 A317-51G-72MD
Intel Core i7-10510U, NVIDIA GeForce MX250
78.2 (67min - 90max) fps
Average NVIDIA GeForce MX250
  (71.2 - 78.2, n=2)
74.7 fps -4%
HP 470 G7 8VU24EA
Intel Core i7-10510U, AMD Radeon 530
33.1 (29min - 36max) fps -58%
Lenovo Ideapad L340-17API-81LY0004GE
AMD Ryzen 5 3500U, AMD Radeon RX Vega 8 (Ryzen 2000/3000)
29.9 (26min - 33max) fps -62%
Shadow of the Tomb Raider - 1280x720 Lowest Preset
Average of class Multimedia
  (67 - 182, n=6, last 2 years)
129.3 fps +144%
Acer Aspire 3 A317-51G-72MD
Intel Core i7-10510U, NVIDIA GeForce MX250
53 fps
Average NVIDIA GeForce MX250
  (24 - 56, n=8)
46.6 fps -12%
HP 470 G7 8VU24EA
Intel Core i7-10510U, AMD Radeon 530
25 fps -53%

In order to verify whether the frame rates remain largely constant over a prolonged period of time, we let the game The Witcher 3 run for about 60 minutes at Full HD resolution and maximum quality settings. The character embodied by the player is not moved. A drop in frame rates wasn't found.

0510Tooltip
Acer Aspire 3 A317-51G-72MD GeForce MX250, i7-10510U, Intel SSD 660p 1TB SSDPEKNW010T8: Ø12.2 (11-14)
HP 470 G7 8VU24EA Radeon 530, i7-10510U, WDC PC SN520 SDAPNUW-512G: Ø5.94 (1-7)
GPU measurements during our The Witcher 3 test
GPU measurements during our The Witcher 3 test
low med. high ultra
BioShock Infinite (2013) 194.7 111.4 94.4 35.1
The Witcher 3 (2015) 64.6 36.2 21.9 12
World of Tanks enCore (2018) 339.1 75.1 29.2
Shadow of the Tomb Raider (2018) 53 18 12 9
Forza Horizon 4 (2018) 72 31 24 16
Total War: Three Kingdoms (2019) 78.2 23.3 10.7 6.2
Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2019 (2019) 36.6 22.2 14.6 12.3
Red Dead Redemption 2 (2019) 30.6 13.7
Escape from Tarkov (2020) 69.1 29.2 22.1 22
Hunt Showdown (2020) 52.6 18.2 14
Doom Eternal (2020) 35.9
Gears Tactics (2020) 99.3 35.5 23.4 14
Valorant (2020) 157.9 117.7 115.3
F1 2020 (2020) 80 38 29 16
Death Stranding (2020) 34.3 15.7 14.4 14.2
Horizon Zero Dawn (2020) 29 13 11

Emissions and energy - Battery life is sufficient for home use

Noise emissions

In idle usage, the fan is usually quiet and silence prevails. But it turns up under load. In this way, we register a sound pressure level of 43.7 dB(A) during the stress test. The laptop is somewhat quieter during our The Witcher 3 test at a level of 40.1 dB(A).

Noise Level

Idle
26.9 / 26.9 / 26.9 dB(A)
DVD
35.6 / dB(A)
Load
40.9 / 43.7 dB(A)
  red to green bar
 
 
30 dB
silent
40 dB(A)
audible
50 dB(A)
loud
 
min: dark, med: mid, max: light   Earthworks M23R, Arta (15 cm distance)   environment noise: 26.7 dB(A)
dB(A) 0102030405060708090Deep BassMiddle BassHigh BassLower RangeMidsHigher MidsLower HighsMid HighsUpper HighsSuper Highs203840.32928.2382543.441.937.832.343.43133.437.33434.133.44025.730.125.725.825.75029.63233.327.129.66327.32525.525.527.38026.424.221.820.726.4100222218.718.52212523.623.919.418.823.616025.323.318.51825.320024.622.717.117.124.625026.925.116.516.226.931530.928.315.914.930.940027.724.514.814.627.750027.924.315.114.827.963027.825.314.714.327.880028.629.915.114.328.6100030.629.315.41430.6125032.330.215.213.932.316003230.114.414.132200034.832.614.114.134.8250034.531.714.314.634.5315035.730.514.414.635.7400030.326.414.914.730.3500029.626.214.814.829.663002723.514.814.827800026.122.115.115.126.11000022.619.415.115.222.61250019.217.515.316.419.21600016.81715.415.416.8SPL43.740.92726.743.7N4.33.40.90.84.3median 27.8median 25.1median 15.1median 14.8median 27.8Delta3.63.30.40.83.6hearing rangehide median Fan NoiseAcer Aspire 3 A317-51G-72MD

Temperature

The Aspire in the stress test.
The Aspire in the stress test.

Our stress test (Prime95 and FurMark run for at least an hour) is run by the processor and graphics core at 1.5 GHz and 1,443 MHz, respectively. On battery power, the clock speeds of the CPU are mostly at 400 MHz. Occasionally, the CPU is accelerated to 1.8 GHz. Furthermore, the GPU runs at about 1,200 MHz. The stress test represents an extreme scenario that doesn't occur in everyday life. With this test we check if the system remains stable even at full load.

The laptop warms up noticeably in some areas. The stress test and our The Witcher 3 test let the temperature on the bottom of the laptop rise to 53 °C (~127 °F) in the area of the fan. Moreover, the remaining measuring points heat up less. In everyday use, the temperatures are in the green range. 

Max. Load
 44.2 °C
112 F
42.7 °C
109 F
29.8 °C
86 F
 
 41.1 °C
106 F
41.8 °C
107 F
27.3 °C
81 F
 
 28 °C
82 F
26 °C
79 F
26.6 °C
80 F
 
Maximum: 44.2 °C = 112 F
Average: 34.2 °C = 94 F
26.4 °C
80 F
53 °C
127 F
36.2 °C
97 F
26.1 °C
79 F
34.2 °C
94 F
36.6 °C
98 F
25 °C
77 F
26.4 °C
80 F
27.2 °C
81 F
Maximum: 53 °C = 127 F
Average: 32.3 °C = 90 F
Power Supply (max.)  53.2 °C = 128 F | Room Temperature 23.5 °C = 74 F | FIRT 550-Pocket
(±) The average temperature for the upper side under maximal load is 34.2 °C / 94 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 44.2 °C / 112 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 53 °C / 127 F, compared to the average of 39.1 °C / 102 F
(+) In idle usage, the average temperature for the upper side is 25.4 °C / 78 F, compared to the device average of 31.2 °C / 88 F.
(+) Playing The Witcher 3, the average temperature for the upper side is 31.6 °C / 89 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 28 °C / 82.4 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 (+0.8 °C / 1.4 F).
Heat development - Top (load)
Heat development - Top (load)
Heat development - Top (idle)
Heat development - Top (idle)
Heat development - Top (The Witcher 3)
Heat development - Top (The Witcher 3)
Heat development - Bottom (load)
Heat development - Bottom (load)
Heat development - Bottom (idle)
Heat development - Bottom (idle)
Heat development - Bottom (The Witcher 3)
Heat development - Bottom (The Witcher 3)

Speakers

The stereo speakers are located in the front area of the bottom of the device. They produce a decent sound that hardly has any bass, though. The maximum volume is quite low too.

dB(A) 0102030405060708090Deep BassMiddle BassHigh BassLower RangeMidsHigher MidsLower HighsMid HighsUpper HighsSuper Highs2034.228.234.22540.132.340.13141.834.141.84031.725.831.75032.227.132.26327.125.527.1802720.72710023.918.523.912525.518.825.516028.91828.920030.717.130.725035.616.235.631546.814.946.840052.714.652.750050.614.850.663060.414.360.48006314.363100070.41470.4125067.513.967.5160066.914.166.9200065.914.165.9250064.514.664.5315065.914.665.9400069.614.769.6500068.114.868.1630063.714.863.780006715.1671000065.415.265.41250064.816.464.81600061.815.461.8SPL78.626.778.6N410.841median 63.7median 14.8median 63.7Delta10.90.810.9hearing rangehide median Pink NoiseAcer Aspire 3 A317-51G-72MD
Frequency diagram (checkboxes can be checked and unchecked to compare devices)
Acer Aspire 3 A317-51G-72MD audio analysis

(-) | not very loud speakers (70.3 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 31.8% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (8.9% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(±) | reduced mids - on average 5.5% lower than median
(±) | linearity of mids is average (8.2% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(+) | balanced highs - only 2.6% away from median
(+) | highs are linear (5% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(±) | linearity of overall sound is average (24% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 82% of all tested devices in this class were better, 6% similar, 11% worse
» The best had a delta of 5%, average was 18%, worst was 45%
Compared to all devices tested
» 68% of all tested devices were better, 7% similar, 25% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%

Energy consumption

In idle usage, we register a maximum power consumption of 8.5 watts. During our stress test, the value rises up to 62 watts. In gaming mode (The Witcher 3 test), the consumption is lower at an average of 56 watts (52 to 57.5 watts). The power adapter's output is 65 watts.

The energy requirement of the entire laptop needs to remain within the energy budget provided by the 65-watt power adapter. Our stress test shows that the situation is tight in this regard: The battery drains during the test.

Power Consumption
Off / Standbydarklight 0.2 / 0.35 Watt
Idledarkmidlight 3.8 / 8.4 / 8.5 Watt
Load midlight 60 / 62.2 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 Aspire 3 achieves a runtime of 5:14 hours in our practical WLAN test. A script is used to reproduce the load caused by accessing websites.

Battery Runtime
WiFi Websurfing (Edge 85)
5h 14min
Battery Runtime - WiFi Websurfing
Average of class Multimedia
  (262 - 1204, n=92, last 2 years)
560 min +78%
Lenovo Ideapad L340-17API-81LY0004GE
R5 3500U, Vega 8, 36 Wh
414 min +32%
Asus VivoBook 17 F712FA-AU518T
i5-10210U, UHD Graphics 620, 32 Wh
324 min +3%
Acer Aspire 3 A317-51G-72MD
i7-10510U, GeForce MX250, 36.7 Wh
314 min
HP 470 G7 8VU24EA
i7-10510U, Radeon 530, 41.6 Wh
274 min -13%

Pros

+ matte IPS display
+ lots of storage space (2 TB)
+ NVMe SSD
+ 2.5-inch HDD

Cons

- dim display
- unsatisfactory CPU performance
- no USB Type-C
- no memory card reader
- no keyboard backlighting
- mediocre WLAN transfer speeds
- bad webcam (VGA)
- battery drains during the stress test

Verdict

The Acer Aspire 3 A317-51G-72MD. Review device provided by:
The Acer Aspire 3 A317-51G-72MD. Review device provided by:

The Aspire 3's Core i7-10510U processor offers enough processing power for office and Internet applications. In combination with the dedicated GeForce MX250 graphics core, playing computer games is possible to a limited extent. 

With the Aspire 3 A317-51G, Acer delivers a multimedia all-rounder that is made for the desk at home.

Prospective buyers should consider a cheaper Core i5 Aspire. It can be assumed that the Core i5 and Core i7 are on par in terms of performance due to the limited Turbo usage. But this can be different on Aspire models that lack a dedicated GPU.

Storage space won't run out that quickly since the laptop comes with a full 2 TB of it (1 TB NMVe SSD, 1 TB HDD). Users who want/need an optical drive were also taken into account. Moreover, replacing the storage devices is possible. To do so, the laptop's bottom cover would have to be removed.

The Aspire comes with a keyboard (not backlit) suitable for everyday use. This is accompanied by decent battery life. The display (Full HD, IPS) scores points with a matte surface, stable viewing angles, good contrast, and decent color reproduction. However, the maximum brightness and the color-space coverage are too low for a device in this price range.

Acer Aspire 3 A317-51G-72MD - 09/14/2020 v7
Sascha Mölck

Chassis
74 / 98 → 76%
Keyboard
72%
Pointing Device
85%
Connectivity
41 / 80 → 52%
Weight
58 / 20-72 → 73%
Battery
65 / 95 → 68%
Display
82%
Games Performance
64 / 90 → 71%
Application Performance
85 / 90 → 94%
Temperature
89%
Noise
86 / 95 → 90%
Audio
55%
Camera
34 / 85 → 39%
Average
68%
76%
Multimedia - Weighted Average

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> Expert Reviews and News on Laptops, Smartphones and Tech Innovations > Reviews > Acer Aspire 3 A317-51G in review: 17.3-inch all-rounder offers 2 TB of storage space
Sascha Mölck, 2020-09-16 (Update: 2020-09-16)