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Acer TravelMate P2510 (i5-7200U, 256 GB SSD, IPS) Laptop Review

Spoiled brat. WWith the new and relatively affordable TravelMate, ACER introduces a typical 15-inch office notebook, which can be purchased for less than 400 € (~$496) with weaker equipment and Linux. If you consider the price, there is hardly anything to complain about - if only the manufacturer had not skimped on the quality control of our test unit!

The Acer TravelMate P2510-M-51ZQ is a classic office notebook in the 15-inch format which weighs about 2.1 kg (~4.6 lb). It is driven by the Intel Core i5-7200U ULV dual-core processor accompanied by 8 GB of RAM. It has a Full HD IPS display, and a 256-GB SSD that serves as storage. Windows 10 Pro is preinstalled, and the laptop can be purchased starting at about 690 € (~$855) at the time of our test.

On its web page for the series, Acer mentions an optional Nvidia GeForce 940MX, which we were unable to discover at the large Berlin price comparison. However, we found the following variants instead:

  • P2510-M-38GC (NX.VGAEG.001): Intel Core i3-7100U, 4 GB RAM, HDD 500 GB, TN display 1366x768, Linux, starting at about 360 € (~$446)
  • P2510-M-52AH (NX.VGBEG.017): Intel Core i5-7200U, 4 GB RAM, HDD 500 GB, IPS display 1920x1080, Linux, starting at about 460 € (~$570)
  • P2510-M-50ZZ (NX.VGBEG.018): Intel Core i5-7200U, 8 GB RAM, SSD 256 GB, TN display 1366x768, Windows 10 Pro, starting at about 670 € (~$831)
  • P2510-M-73ZA (NX.VGBEV.008): Intel Core i7-7500U, 8 GB RAM, SSD 256 GB, IPS display 1920x1080, Windows 10 Pro, starting at about 910 € (~$1128)

There is ample choice of similarly-priced office notebooks, so that we did not have any problems finding comparable notebooks for this test. The following notebooks are used for comparison in this test:

Acer TravelMate P2510-M-51ZQ
Processor
Intel Core i5-7200U 2 x 2.5 - 3.1 GHz, Kaby Lake
Graphics adapter
Intel HD Graphics 620, Core: 1000 MHz, shared memory, 22.20.16.4771
Memory
8 GB 
, DDR4, 2133 MHz, dual channel, 4 GB soldered in, 1 of 1 slot occupied with an additional 4 GB
Display
15.60 inch 16:9, 1920 x 1080 pixel 141 PPI, Chi Mei CMN15D3 / N156HCE-EAA, IPS, glossy: no
Mainboard
Intel Kaby Lake-U iHDCP 2.2 Premium PCH
Storage
SK Hynix HFS256G39TND-N210A, 256 GB 
Soundcard
Intel Kaby Lake-U/Y PCH - High Definition Audio
Connections
2 USB 2.0, 2 USB 3.0 / 3.1 Gen1, 1 VGA, 1 HDMI, 1 Kensington Lock, Audio Connections: combined audio in/out 3.5 mm port, Card Reader: SD, Brightness Sensor
Networking
Intel Ethernet Connection I219-LM (10/100/1000MBit/s), Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 7265 (a/b/g/h/n = Wi-Fi 4/ac = Wi-Fi 5/), Bluetooth 4.2
Size
height x width x depth (in mm): 22.1 x 379.5 x 254 ( = 0.87 x 14.94 x 10 in)
Battery
48 Wh, 3320 mAh Lithium-Ion, 4 cells
Operating System
Microsoft Windows 10 Pro 64 Bit
Camera
Webcam: 1280x720
Additional features
Speakers: stereo, Keyboard: chiclet, Keyboard Light: yes, 36 Months Warranty
Weight
2.1 kg ( = 74.08 oz / 4.63 pounds), Power Supply: 143 g ( = 5.04 oz / 0.32 pounds)
Price
699 EUR
Note: The manufacturer may use components from different suppliers including display panels, drives or memory sticks with similar specifications.

 

Case

Considering the very affordable price of the entry-level model, it is not surprising that the black case is made entirely of plastic. The roughened, non-slip surfaces are not very susceptible to fingerprints. The motto is absolute simplicity in the design, and we are looking for visual accents in vain.

The impression of the quality of our test unit suffers massively from the fact that at least one of the feet of the case is always hanging in the air at a distance of a few millimeters from the table. If you press on one corner, the other lifts off the table. If you look at the base from the front or back, you can clearly see that it is bent down in the center. If we press in the center above or below the keyboard, the base can be bent down to the table without any difficulties. Acer's quality control has failed here, which naturally results in a deduction from the sub-rating. While we have not been used to something like this, even in the more affordable series from Acer, some of our readers might have had other experiences. The workmanship did not leave the best impression in other areas as well. The parts were not well fitted together in some places on the lid as well, and we were able to observe some uneven gaps that could be changed by pressure. While you can warp the base to some extent with the use of some force, we could not hear more than some harmless creaking noises.

The problems continue in the hinges: while the lid, which was not pressure resistant, could be opened with one hand, when picking up the opened laptop, the lid would continue to open by itself, down towards 180° if there were some minimal shaking movements. The wobbly behavior also left something to be desired.

In our four test candidates, the differences in their footprint, thickness, and weight are not very large. We only noticed here that with the V510, Lenovo has the lightest and deepest laptop. Probably none of the manufacturers had compact measurements high on their priority list.

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 262 mm / 10.3 inch 22.9 mm / 0.902 inch 2 kg4.41 lbs379.5 mm / 14.9 inch 254 mm / 10 inch 22.1 mm / 0.87 inch 2.1 kg4.63 lbs376 mm / 14.8 inch 250.65 mm / 9.87 inch 23.25 mm / 0.915 inch 2.2 kg4.85 lbs297 mm / 11.7 inch 210 mm / 8.27 inch 1 mm / 0.03937 inch 5.7 g0.01257 lbs

Features

Hardly anyone would be surprised that the connections are only slightly more than the minimum required. For example, two of the four USB ports still operate according to the slower 2.0 standard and Thunderbolt is lacking. Instead, you are favored with an old VGA connection next to the HDMI. One of the USB 3 ports is implemented as Type C, and it offers DisplayPort, if you use the corresponding adapter, which is unfortunately not included. For right-handed users who want to connect an external mouse, the two USB-2.0 ports are too far in the front, so that the cable might get in the way. The left side, which has all the other connections except for the power, looks a little better.

Left side: Ethernet, VGA, HDMI, USB 3.0, USB 3.1 Gen1 with DisplayPort, audio in/out
Left side: Ethernet, VGA, HDMI, USB 3.0, USB 3.1 Gen1 with DisplayPort, audio in/out
Right side: SD card reader, 2x USB 2.0, Kensington, power
Right side: SD card reader, 2x USB 2.0, Kensington, power

SD Card Reader

Dead-slow card readers that connect via USB 2.0 are unfortunately not uncommon in affordable laptops, and aside from the Dell Latitude 5580, our candidates are no exception here. Anyone transferring larger amounts of photos to the Acer TravelMate P2510 on a frequent basis might quickly want to consider using an external USB-3.0 card reader. We performed our measurements with our Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II reference storage card.

SD Card Reader
average JPG Copy Test (av. of 3 runs)
Dell Latitude 5580
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II)
151 MB/s +481%
Acer TravelMate P2510-M-51ZQ
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II)
26 MB/s
HP 15-bs103ng
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II)
23.6 MB/s -9%
Lenovo V510-15IKB 80WQ0002GE
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II)
21.4 MB/s -18%
maximum AS SSD Seq Read Test (1GB)
Dell Latitude 5580
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II)
213 MB/s +710%
Lenovo V510-15IKB 80WQ0002GE
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II)
27.6 MB/s +5%
HP 15-bs103ng
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II)
27.2 MB/s +3%
Acer TravelMate P2510-M-51ZQ
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II)
26.3 MB/s

Communication

In terms of the WLAN transfer speed, our test unit with its Intel MIMO-2x2 module (867 Mb/s max.) can clearly outpace the other competitors in the test and shines particularly during sending at 681 Mb/s. Even though the Dell brings almost the same technical requisites, it is significantly weaker here and remains far behind the expectations. The Lenovo and the HP have only MIMO-1x1 components with a maximum of 433 Mb/s. We perform our measurements at a distance of one meter (~3 ft) from our Linksys EA8500 reference router.

Networking
iperf3 transmit AX12
Acer TravelMate P2510-M-51ZQ
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 7265
681 MBit/s
Dell Latitude 5580
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 8265
382 MBit/s -44%
HP 15-bs103ng
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 3168
345 MBit/s -49%
Lenovo V510-15IKB 80WQ0002GE
Qualcomm Atheros QCA9377 Wireless Network Adapter
343 MBit/s -50%
iperf3 receive AX12
Acer TravelMate P2510-M-51ZQ
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 7265
547 MBit/s
Dell Latitude 5580
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 8265
453 MBit/s -17%
Lenovo V510-15IKB 80WQ0002GE
Qualcomm Atheros QCA9377 Wireless Network Adapter
347 MBit/s -37%
HP 15-bs103ng
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 3168
311 MBit/s -43%

Security

While there is no fingerprint sensor, there is a current (and more important) Trusted Platform Module (TPM) with version 2.0, which is also the base for the preinstalled Acer ProShield software. In addition, you have access to the Bitlocker drive encryption via Windows 10 Pro.

Accessories

The bland box contains just the power supply and customary setup and warranty instructions.

Maintenance

The TravelMate P2510 has two maintenance hatches which are secured with a single screw each. One hatch hides an empty 2.5-inch drive slot for an additional SSD, for example, and the other a single slot which is occupied with 4 GB of RAM. For all the other maintenance tasks including battery removal, you will need to remove the bottom of the case, which is secured with 11 Philips screws.

Warranty

Acer's statements on the warranty are contradictory once again. One place mentions a 3-year send-in warranty for TravelMate notebooks, and if you open the corresponding PDF document, the warranty shrinks to 2 years, which sounds correct to us (Note that this applies only to the German website). The manufacturer also offers fee-based warranty extensions, which you can check out here.

Please see our Guarantees, Return Policies and Warranties FAQ for country-specific information.

Input Devices

Keyboard

The main keypad of the cleanly set-in keyboard is only a few millimeters shorter than the width of a standard desktop keyboard, which allows for regular key sizes and spacing. Instead, the number pad is relatively small. Most of the main keys for letters, numbers, and punctuation have a concave surface and are comfortably rubberized like the remaining flat keys. In the center, the keyboard can be easily pressed down so far that the base touches the table. However, this instability is not very noticeable during regular typing.

With a stroke of 1.5 mm (~0.06 in) at most, a pressure point that is easy to sense, and an only slightly dampened stroke, the haptic of the keyboard meets the tastes of the tester and should allow most users to type at their accustomed speeds. Due to the loud typing noises of the large keys in particular, using it in noise-sensitive environments is not recommended. Apart from the on/off key which is integrated into the number pad, the layout offers hardly any surprises. The keys are labeled flawlessly and can be illuminated evenly and sufficiently bright, but you have to make do without various dimming steps.

Touchpad

Acer has opted for a classical touchpad with separate keys and a smooth surface with a comfortable size, whose sliding characteristics are not affected, even with slightly moist fingers. The pointer is controlled accurately, and it follows fast movements flawlessly. Dedicated touchpad driver menus are falling out of fashion more and more, and you can "only" configure gestures with up to four fingers via the on-board Windows 10 settings.

Overall, we like the two tightly adjusted replacement mouse keys which have a short stroke and offer a clear acoustic and haptic feedback. However, the sounds are different, depending on where you press.

Display

Subpixel grid
Subpixel grid

The Full HD IPS panel from the manufacturer Chi Mei has stable viewing angles, but is otherwise not very compelling. It has a matte surface and  a PPI of 141 is not that generous, but there is nothing to complain about in terms of its sharpness. The maximum brightness of barely 200 cd/m² on average is at the lower end of the acceptable range and is easily exceeded by the other competitors in the test, even though they are not very bright. The same goes for the below-average measured brightness distribution of only 78%, which corresponds to a slightly uneven black image with the beginnings of screen bleeding, particularly in the corners and at the bottom edge. Acer does not offer any alternative displays in the series.

209
cd/m²
213
cd/m²
202
cd/m²
196
cd/m²
215
cd/m²
203
cd/m²
168
cd/m²
188
cd/m²
189
cd/m²
Distribution of brightness
Chi Mei CMN15D3 / N156HCE-EAA tested with X-Rite i1Pro 2
Maximum: 215 cd/m² (Nits) Average: 198.1 cd/m² Minimum: 14.2 cd/m²
Brightness Distribution: 78 %
Center on Battery: 216 cd/m²
Contrast: 672:1 (Black: 0.32 cd/m²)
ΔE Color 5.15 | 0.5-29.43 Ø5
ΔE Greyscale 4.25 | 0.57-98 Ø5.3
63% sRGB (Argyll 1.6.3 3D)
40% AdobeRGB 1998 (Argyll 1.6.3 3D)
43.94% AdobeRGB 1998 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
63.2% sRGB (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
42.44% Display P3 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
Gamma: 2.61
Acer TravelMate P2510-M-51ZQ
Chi Mei CMN15D3 / N156HCE-EAA, , 1920x1080, 15.60
Dell Latitude 5580
BOE NV15N42, , 1920x1080, 15.60
HP 15-bs103ng
AU Optronics, , 1920x1080, 15.60
Lenovo V510-15IKB 80WQ0002GE
LG Philips LP156WF6-SPK3, , 1920x1080, 15.60
Display
-3%
-14%
-9%
Display P3 Coverage
42.44
41.57
-2%
36.55
-14%
38.8
-9%
sRGB Coverage
63.2
60.7
-4%
55
-13%
58.1
-8%
AdobeRGB 1998 Coverage
43.94
42.94
-2%
37.76
-14%
40.12
-9%
Response Times
-32%
17%
-0%
Response Time Grey 50% / Grey 80% *
45 ?(27, 18)
43 ?(23, 20)
4%
44 ?(24, 20)
2%
39 ?(20, 19)
13%
Response Time Black / White *
32 ?(18, 14)
33 ?(19, 14)
-3%
22 ?(18, 4)
31%
30 ?(19, 11)
6%
PWM Frequency
25000 ?(80)
1020 ?(90)
-96%
20000 ?(90)
-20%
Screen
18%
-57%
6%
Brightness middle
215
234
9%
241
12%
256
19%
Brightness
198
224
13%
235
19%
252
27%
Brightness Distribution
78
84
8%
84
8%
87
12%
Black Level *
0.32
0.18
44%
0.43
-34%
0.3
6%
Contrast
672
1300
93%
560
-17%
853
27%
Colorchecker dE 2000 *
5.15
5.3
-3%
13.62
-164%
5.4
-5%
Colorchecker dE 2000 max. *
10.89
9.09
17%
22.81
-109%
9.36
14%
Greyscale dE 2000 *
4.25
4
6%
15.19
-257%
5.37
-26%
Gamma
2.61 84%
2.46 89%
2.13 103%
2.58 85%
CCT
6603 98%
6441 101%
17407 37%
6795 96%
Color Space (Percent of AdobeRGB 1998)
40
39
-2%
35
-12%
37
-7%
Color Space (Percent of sRGB)
63
60
-5%
55
-13%
58
-8%
Total Average (Program / Settings)
-6% / 5%
-18% / -38%
-1% / 2%

* ... smaller is better

The low brightness in combination with an acceptable low black value of 0.35 cd/m² leads to a bland contrast ratio of only 672:1 which is not unusual in this price range.  The contrast ratio of the slightly brighter HP is even lower, due to its worse and clearly too bright black value of 0.43 cd/m². The Dell Latitude with its 0.18 cd/m², which achieves a very good 1300:1, shows how much a dark black value can affect the contrast.

In terms of color accuracy, the HP 15-bs103ng is the worst with its extreme Delta-E values of 14 and 15. The three other notebooks including the test unit are significantly more accurate in the state of delivery and are not that far from the ideal Delta-E values of 3 or lower. While the too high Gamma value (Windows Standard 2.2) and the very low color space coverage deserve a negative rating in our test unit, it is even lower in the competitors and forbids any serious image processing. The color accuracy of the TravelMate P2510 could be further improved by installing the color profile linked in the box.

CalMAN Grayscales
CalMAN Grayscales
CalMAN ColorChecker
CalMAN ColorChecker
CalMAN Saturation
CalMAN Saturation
vs. AdobeRGB
vs. AdobeRGB
vs. sRGB
vs. sRGB

The outdoor test is often not much of a challenge in winter. During a dark overcast day, we were even able to recognize everything when we pointed the display directly towards the sky (left image), despite its mediocre brightness. If the sun had been shining onto the display, the screen contents could have only been seen in the dark shady parts on the right.

The right image, which in our experience would have looked the same in sunlight, shows the TravelMate with an entry in the back. In contrast, with reflective screens even the use in the shade is often difficult.

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
32 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined↗ 18 ms rise
↘ 14 ms fall
The screen shows slow response rates in our tests and will be unsatisfactory for gamers.
In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.1 (minimum) to 240 (maximum) ms. » 84 % of all devices are better.
This means that the measured response time is worse than the average of all tested devices (21.6 ms).
       Response Time 50% Grey to 80% Grey
45 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined↗ 27 ms rise
↘ 18 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. » 73 % of all devices are better.
This means that the measured response time is worse 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 25000 Hz ≤ 80 % brightness setting

The display backlight flickers at 25000 Hz (worst case, e.g., utilizing PWM) Flickering detected at a brightness setting of 80 % and below. There should be no flickering or PWM above this brightness setting.

The frequency of 25000 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.

The good viewing angle stability is in the lower range of the class of IPS panels. This can be seen by the loss of brightness, which generally cannot be avoided completely, becoming clearly apparent even at viewing angles of below 45°, while the colors remain stable for the most part.

Performance

Processor

In keeping with the envisioned office use of the TravelMate P2510-M-51ZQ, Acer uses the efficient and extremely wide-spread Intel Core i5-7200U (2x 2.5 - 3.1 GHz, Hyper-Threading, TDP 15 W) Kaby Lake dual-core, which due to its low TDP is also suited for significantly slimmer and more compact laptops and brings more than sufficient performance for more demanding programs. However, it is not as well-suited for software such as video rendering that as with many current games benefit significantly from four or more physical cores. In addition to a DDR4 storage controller, there is of course a GPU in form of the Intel HD Graphics 620 on board. Improved capabilities for decoding H.265 videos in the hardware are added.

0102030405060708090100110120130140150160170180190200210220230240250260270280290300310320330Tooltip
Cinebench R15 CPU Multi 64 Bit

The CPU achieves the expected performance in Cinebench R15 and also shines with a very good Turbo usage, as you can see in the almost constant results in our Cinebench loop. In the single-thread test, the i5-7300U (2.6 - 3.5 GHz) in the Dell and the i5-8250U ULV quad-core (1.6 - 3.4 GHz) in the HP are able to achieve small advantages due to their higher clock speeds, while the i5-8250 outclasses the rest of the field with a speed advantage of 55% in the multi-thread test.

Nothing changes in the scores, when the laptop is away from the power outlets.

Cinebench R15
CPU Single 64Bit
Dell Latitude 5580
Intel Core i5-7300U
142 Points +10%
HP 15-bs103ng
Intel Core i5-8250U
141 Points +9%
Lenovo V510-15IKB 80WQ0002GE
Intel Core i5-7200U
130 Points +1%
Acer TravelMate P2510-M-51ZQ
Intel Core i5-7200U
129 Points
CPU Multi 64Bit
HP 15-bs103ng
Intel Core i5-8250U
507 Points +55%
Dell Latitude 5580
Intel Core i5-7300U
328 Points 0%
Acer TravelMate P2510-M-51ZQ
Intel Core i5-7200U
328 Points
Lenovo V510-15IKB 80WQ0002GE
Intel Core i5-7200U
326 Points -1%
Cinebench R15 CPU Single 64Bit
129 Points
Cinebench R15 CPU Multi 64Bit
328 Points
Help

System Performance

In the Work benchmark of PCMark 8, the HP has some advantages compared to our test unit due to its faster CPU and better performing SSD, but it is unable to benefit from these advantages in the Home benchmark. All the laptops are very close together in our test here, which corresponds to differences in the overall performance that according to our experience are hardly noticeable in practice. The disadvantage of the Dell, which is only equipped with a conventional HDD, probably would have turned out larger, but we lack the data here.

PCMark 8
Home Score Accelerated v2
Acer TravelMate P2510-M-51ZQ
HD Graphics 620, i5-7200U, SK Hynix HFS256G39TND-N210A
3715 Points
Lenovo V510-15IKB 80WQ0002GE
HD Graphics 620, i5-7200U, Samsung CM871a MZNTY256HDHP
3692 Points -1%
HP 15-bs103ng
Radeon 520, i5-8250U, Samsung SSD PM871a MZNLN256HMHQ
3622 Points -3%
Dell Latitude 5580
HD Graphics 620, i5-7300U, Toshiba MQ01ACF050
3300 Points -11%
Work Score Accelerated v2
HP 15-bs103ng
Radeon 520, i5-8250U, Samsung SSD PM871a MZNLN256HMHQ
5030 Points +10%
Acer TravelMate P2510-M-51ZQ
HD Graphics 620, i5-7200U, SK Hynix HFS256G39TND-N210A
4592 Points
PCMark 8 Home Score Accelerated v2
3715 points
PCMark 8 Work Score Accelerated v2
4592 points
Help

Storage Solution

According to the AS SSD read rates, the 256 GB Hynix SSD is a typical SATA III drive. However, the 4K read rates, which are important for starting the OS and programs, turn out only mediocre.

The storage solution gets relatively bad results in the much less important write performance, where the overall faster SSDs in the competing notebooks have significant advantages in parts. Still, considering the price of the notebook, the performance of the SSD is okay, and the differences that are felt in practice should be within tight limits.

Acer TravelMate P2510-M-51ZQ
SK Hynix HFS256G39TND-N210A
HP 15-bs103ng
Samsung SSD PM871a MZNLN256HMHQ
Lenovo V510-15IKB 80WQ0002GE
Samsung CM871a MZNTY256HDHP
CrystalDiskMark 3.0
23%
24%
Read Seq
498.1
504
1%
532
7%
Write Seq
260.1
466.2
79%
511
96%
Read 512
328.5
443.7
35%
414.8
26%
Write 512
260.9
398.4
53%
307.7
18%
Read 4k
32.59
38.81
19%
39.51
21%
Write 4k
84.2
94.6
12%
108.1
28%
Read 4k QD32
359.7
295.2
-18%
361.6
1%
Write 4k QD32
262
266.6
2%
253
-3%
SK Hynix HFS256G39TND-N210A
Sequential Read: 498.1 MB/s
Sequential Write: 260.1 MB/s
512K Read: 328.5 MB/s
512K Write: 260.9 MB/s
4K Read: 32.59 MB/s
4K Write: 84.2 MB/s
4K QD32 Read: 359.7 MB/s
4K QD32 Write: 262 MB/s

Graphics Card and Gaming Performance

While the Intel HD Graphics 620, which is integrated in the CPU and does not have its own storage, clearly benefits from the available DDR4 dual-channel-RAM, it is designed more for energy efficient 2D graphics computations and only handles very old or graphically undemanding 3D games smoothly. Moreover, you are mostly limited to the lower or medium presets. Games with isometric graphics, such as "Diablo III" which is not so new anymore, run better. In 3DMark 11, the AMD Radeon 520 in the HP, which is 23% faster, is able to achieve the first place in the test ahead of the three notebooks that use the 620.

In an additional run through the Cloud-Gate benchmark in battery operation, the Acer TravelMate P2510-M-51ZQ achieved an overall score of just 6200 vs. 6501 in mains operation.

3DMark 11 - 1280x720 Performance GPU
HP 15-bs103ng
AMD Radeon 520, Intel Core i5-8250U
1877 Points +23%
Acer TravelMate P2510-M-51ZQ
Intel HD Graphics 620, Intel Core i5-7200U
1530 Points
Lenovo V510-15IKB 80WQ0002GE
Intel HD Graphics 620, Intel Core i5-7200U
1500 Points -2%
Dell Latitude 5580
Intel HD Graphics 620, Intel Core i5-7300U
1440 Points -6%
3DMark
1280x720 Cloud Gate Standard Graphics
Acer TravelMate P2510-M-51ZQ
Intel HD Graphics 620, Intel Core i5-7200U
8651 Points
HP 15-bs103ng
AMD Radeon 520, Intel Core i5-8250U
6156 Points -29%
1920x1080 Fire Strike Graphics
Acer TravelMate P2510-M-51ZQ
Intel HD Graphics 620, Intel Core i5-7200U
1026 Points
HP 15-bs103ng
AMD Radeon 520, Intel Core i5-8250U
1022 Points 0%
3DMark 11 Performance
1692 points
3DMark Cloud Gate Standard Score
6501 points
3DMark Fire Strike Score
938 points
Help

As you can see in the small chart below, the Intel HD 620 completely capitulates with the graphically more demanding 3D games of the last few years. In "Farming Simulator 17," you can see in the very decent result of 620 that the unit in our test device performs relatively well.

low med. high ultra
The Witcher 3 (2015) 14.9
Rise of the Tomb Raider (2016) 18.9
Farming Simulator 17 (2016) 85.5 55.4 22.8

Emissions

Noise Emissions

Noise
Noise

We performed the noise test in energy-saving mode with a passive system cooling guideline. While idling, the fan appears to not run or run very slowly, so that it is only audible when you place your ear near the keyboard. To be clear, we were able to hear something in close proximity, but were unable to say whether it was the fan. When we ran the Kraken 1.1 browser benchmark, the fan only revved up towards the end, but was still only audible nearby.

After activating the stress test (Prime95 + FurMark), the fan sped up smoothly to the maximum speed after a few seconds delay. We were then able to hear a soft noise up to a distance of perhaps 3 meters (~10 ft), which had a whirring quality that was not very disturbing. The device operation is very quiet overall, and during office operation you can expect it to be mostly quiet. If the system cooling guideline is active, the fan may become noticeable more often.

Noise Level

Idle
31.8 / 31.8 / 31.8 dB(A)
Load
36.6 / 36.5 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: 31.4 dB(A)
dB(A) 0102030405060708090Deep BassMiddle BassHigh BassLower RangeMidsHigher MidsLower HighsMid HighsUpper HighsSuper Highs2037.840.540.739.140.637.8253637.936.737.436.1363132.232.832.832.834.132.24032.633.931.132.832.532.65031.935.231.531.232.531.96333.839.931.331.831.933.88031.431.733.229.129.131.410031.130.43229.629.431.11252728.22827.526.42716027.527.327.627.12627.520027.429.427.826.325.327.425027.525.726.924.52427.5315282727.424.123.42840025.125.425.722.923.125.150027.225.824.922.121.927.26302624.623.821.1212680025.82423.920.520.125.8100030.827.627.720.219.730.8125029.827.227.119.619.629.8160028.62625.519.318.828.620003026.526.618.918.530250030.626.926.818.618.330.6315025.521.921.818.618.625.5400023.420.92118.418.323.4500021.420.119.718.418.421.4630019.919.219.318.518.519.9800019.31918.918.618.419.31000018.918.918.919.218.418.91250018.618.818.718.518.218.61600019.118.819.318.718.519.1SPL39.436.736.631.931.639.4N3.12.62.61.71.73.1median 27median 25.7median 25.5median 19.6median 19.6median 27Delta3.63.33.62.42.63.634.636.640.63534.630.834.636.228.230.831.934.132.725.431.932.430.331.629.832.431.531.830.528.531.530.83332.628.930.829.330.430.629.129.330.429.931.228.930.428.229.329.928.428.226.727.428.42726.726.627.426.923.826.625.924.625.322.725.926.82524.221.926.825.423.723.420.925.425.12322.320.525.125.12322.519.525.126.123.422.618.426.126.922.521.418.226.926.921.921.217.826.926.121.120.61826.125.720.419.917.825.729.22019.517.829.226.520.420.117.926.52319.319.117.92322.319.218.81822.320.718.918.71820.719.618.818.617.919.619.31918.717.819.318.918.918.717.718.919.119.219.517.819.137.533.332.830.737.52.821.91.52.8median 25.9median 21.9median 21.2median 18median 25.92.82.82.92.22.832.333.731.934.532.332.23030.733.232.234.731.835.53834.731.729.830.132.531.731.832.434.133.531.827.628.428.33027.627.126.127.126.927.127.226.626.126.427.225.326.725.92625.323.52523.824.123.523.423.523.122.923.423.32322.922.523.322.424.721.920.922.422.42420.920.222.421.324.619.619.721.322.425.419.51922.423.927.719.518.223.927.231.620.317.927.226.731.519.717.826.728.535.218.517.428.529.735.818.317.529.725.736.217.817.525.7243417.717.72420.528.117.717.820.518.824.61817.918.818.322.218.11818.318.320.318.11818.318.218.818.218.118.218.218.418.11818.218.318.318.218.118.33743.830.930.3372.43.81.51.42.4median 23.3median 25median 19.5median 18.1median 23.33.73.81.91.23.735.23634.936.735.233.933.234.633.733.932.931.930.831.132.931.732.129.431.131.733.132.92929.933.13434.53232.13429.732.827.829.829.728.929.528.529.428.927.527.425.425.227.526.92725.925.226.926.42724.924.926.42424.223.323.22425.126.422.222.525.125.823.421.121.225.822.923.52020.722.922.822.419.919.622.823.222.219.319.223.223.722.718.118.423.724.12317.817.924.12625.317.417.62623.721.917.116.923.721.22017.116.921.220.919.817.117.120.919.919.417.116.919.919.51917.116.719.519.218.817.316.819.220.22018.516.620.219.719.31816.619.719.318.617.216.419.320.119.117.816.420.134.733.930.430.234.72.22.11.41.42.2median 23.2median 22.4median 18.1median 17.9median 23.22.92.72.82.32.9hearing rangehide median Fan NoiseAcer TravelMate P2510-M-51ZQDell Latitude 5580HP 15-bs103ngLenovo V510-15IKB 80WQ0002GE

Temperature

Beginning of the stress test
Beginning of the stress test
End of the stress test
End of the stress test

The surface temperatures of the Acer TravelMate P2510-M-51ZQ only reach a cozy 42 °C (108 °F) at the bottom, which is reached only during high constant load and should not become annoying to most users when using it on the lap.

During the practically not very relevant stress test with Prime95 plus FurMark, the CPU was only able to maintain the Turbo speed for a short time and soon dropped to 2.6 GHz, which is still 100 MHz above the basic clock speed. Later it even dropped slightly below that, but the processor did not become any warmer than 66 °C (151 °F). In contrast, the integrated Intel HD Graphics 620 was able to maintain its Turbo speed of 1000 MHz continuously. Such a clock speed behavior is absolutely typical for a Core i5-7200U, and we have nothing to complain about.

 24.9 °C
77 F
25.6 °C
78 F
23.6 °C
74 F
 
 24.5 °C
76 F
24.6 °C
76 F
23.3 °C
74 F
 
 22.7 °C
73 F
22.8 °C
73 F
23.4 °C
74 F
 
Maximum: 25.6 °C = 78 F
Average: 23.9 °C = 75 F
22.9 °C
73 F
23.6 °C
74 F
25.1 °C
77 F
22.8 °C
73 F
23.4 °C
74 F
23.5 °C
74 F
22.2 °C
72 F
22.3 °C
72 F
22.6 °C
73 F
Maximum: 25.1 °C = 77 F
Average: 23.2 °C = 74 F
Power Supply (max.)  30.5 °C = 87 F | Room Temperature 22.3 °C = 72 F | FIRT 550-Pocket
(+) The average temperature for the upper side under maximal load is 26.6 °C / 80 F, compared to the average of 29.5 °C / 85 F for the devices in the class Office.
(+) The maximum temperature on the upper side is 32 °C / 90 F, compared to the average of 34.2 °C / 94 F, ranging from 21.2 to 62.5 °C for the class Office.
(+) The bottom heats up to a maximum of 35.5 °C / 96 F, compared to the average of 36.7 °C / 98 F
(+) In idle usage, the average temperature for the upper side is 23.9 °C / 75 F, compared to the device average of 29.5 °C / 85 F.
(+) The palmrests and touchpad are cooler than skin temperature with a maximum of 23.9 °C / 75 F and are therefore cool to the touch.
(+) The average temperature of the palmrest area of similar devices was 27.7 °C / 81.9 F (+3.8 °C / 6.9 F).
Temperatures on top, idle
Temperatures on top, idle
Temperatures on the bottom, idle
Temperatures on the bottom, idle
Temperatures on top, load
Temperatures on top, load
Temperatures on the bottom, load
Temperatures on the bottom, load

Speakers

Pink Noise
Pink Noise
Sound
Sound

In terms of the sound of the two small speakers which point towards the bottom, we are neither positively nor negatively surprised. The maximum volume is easily sufficient to fill medium-sized rooms. The sound completely lacks any bass, the mids are emphasized, and it sounds quite tinny and even shrill in parts. In order to avoid distortions, the sound system adjusts lower at high levels, which leads to annoying volume fluctuations. The dynamic and spaciousness are only weak. The sound characteristic which we tested with the sound improvements deactivated (state of delivery, see image) hardly changes at lower volumes, but the volume fluctuations become less. Voice is easily understandable and sounds fairly natural.

dB(A) 0102030405060708090Deep BassMiddle BassHigh BassLower RangeMidsHigher MidsLower HighsMid HighsUpper HighsSuper Highs2040.940.640.9254036.1403139.134.139.14040.832.540.85041.432.541.46341.931.941.98042.129.142.110042.129.442.112542.526.442.516044264420047.925.347.925053.12453.131556.423.456.440056.123.156.150056.321.956.363059.72159.780063.320.163.3100065.719.765.7125070.819.670.8160070.318.870.3200069.118.569.1250069.518.369.531507018.670400070.918.370.9500067.318.467.3630065.118.565.180006418.4641000061.918.461.91250065.718.265.71600067.818.567.8SPL80.231.680.2N45.31.745.3median 64median 19.6median 64Delta7.92.67.941.63541.639.628.239.639.825.439.841.129.841.139.928.539.941.328.941.342.229.142.244.728.944.746.328.446.349.32749.351.423.851.454.822.754.855.721.955.758.220.958.260.920.560.963.319.563.36818.46870.918.270.969.617.869.667.41867.46617.86667.617.867.668.617.968.667.317.967.367.11867.165.21865.265.317.965.364.517.864.558.117.758.159.517.859.579.230.779.245.71.545.7median 64.5median 18median 64.56.32.26.332.234.532.230.733.230.732.83832.829.632.529.634.633.534.628.83028.82626.92625.826.425.826.22626.234.824.134.841.322.941.35922.55964.820.964.863.520.263.56019.76064.11964.167.618.267.668.317.968.366.617.866.664.717.464.762.817.562.866.517.566.56517.76564.817.864.859.117.959.164.41864.470.51870.56818.16866.71866.767.218.167.277.930.377.943.71.443.7median 64.7median 18.1median 64.77.61.27.640.236.740.239.133.739.137.531.137.539.631.139.641.929.941.944.832.144.842.929.842.942.229.442.243.925.243.94725.24750.924.950.954.123.254.164.222.564.263.621.263.662.220.762.262.219.662.261.119.261.16518.46563.917.963.960.917.660.963.416.963.471.616.971.671.817.171.86116.96160.516.760.56016.86059.916.659.961.416.661.463.116.463.155.716.455.77830.27840.21.440.2median 61.1median 17.9median 61.13.92.33.9hearing rangehide median Pink NoiseAcer TravelMate P2510-M-51ZQDell Latitude 5580HP 15-bs103ngLenovo V510-15IKB 80WQ0002GE
Acer TravelMate P2510-M-51ZQ audio analysis

(-) | not very loud speakers (70.8 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 16.3% lower than median
(+) | bass is linear (5.4% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(±) | reduced mids - on average 5.1% lower than median
(+) | mids are linear (4.7% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(+) | balanced highs - only 3.6% away from median
(+) | highs are linear (3.4% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(±) | linearity of overall sound is average (18.4% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 27% of all tested devices in this class were better, 7% similar, 66% worse
» The best had a delta of 7%, average was 22%, worst was 53%
Compared to all devices tested
» 35% of all tested devices were better, 8% similar, 57% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%

Dell Latitude 5580 audio analysis

(-) | not very loud speakers (71 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(±) | reduced bass - on average 14.1% lower than median
(+) | bass is linear (4.8% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(+) | balanced mids - only 3.8% away from median
(+) | mids are linear (5.4% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(+) | balanced highs - only 2% away from median
(+) | highs are linear (2.1% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(±) | linearity of overall sound is average (15% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 10% of all tested devices in this class were better, 4% similar, 86% worse
» The best had a delta of 7%, average was 22%, worst was 53%
Compared to all devices tested
» 16% of all tested devices were better, 4% similar, 80% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%

HP 15-bs103ng audio analysis

(-) | not very loud speakers (70.5 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 22.8% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (14.1% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(+) | balanced mids - only 2.1% away from median
(+) | mids are linear (5% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(+) | balanced highs - only 2.4% away from median
(±) | linearity of highs is average (7.7% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(±) | linearity of overall sound is average (18% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 24% of all tested devices in this class were better, 7% similar, 69% worse
» The best had a delta of 7%, average was 22%, worst was 53%
Compared to all devices tested
» 32% of all tested devices were better, 8% similar, 60% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%

Lenovo V510-15IKB 80WQ0002GE audio analysis

(-) | not very loud speakers (71 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(±) | reduced bass - on average 11.7% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (8.8% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(+) | balanced mids - only 1.8% away from median
(+) | mids are linear (4% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(+) | balanced highs - only 3.5% away from median
(±) | linearity of highs is average (7.2% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(+) | overall sound is linear (14.3% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 7% of all tested devices in this class were better, 3% similar, 89% worse
» The best had a delta of 7%, average was 22%, worst was 53%
Compared to all devices tested
» 14% of all tested devices were better, 3% similar, 83% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%

Frequency comparison (checkboxes selectable!)

Power Management

Power Consumption

Here we limit our comparison initially to the laptops from Acer, Dell, and Lenovo, which have similar processors, while the HP breaks ranks with its quad-core. Among those three, our test unit is the most energy efficient and is able to distance itself in parts clearly from the two competitors, particularly while idling. Under load, the Dell is more efficient. If you compare all the 15.6-inch office notebooks with an i5-7200U, the TravelMate P2510 ends up mostly in the middle of the field. Only during average load, it is relatively power hungry.

Power Consumption
Off / Standbydarklight 0.3 / 0.43 Watt
Idledarkmidlight 3.4 / 5.8 / 8 Watt
Load midlight 38 / 32 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.
Acer TravelMate P2510-M-51ZQ
i5-7200U, HD Graphics 620, SK Hynix HFS256G39TND-N210A, IPS, 1920x1080, 15.60
Dell Latitude 5580
i5-7300U, HD Graphics 620, Toshiba MQ01ACF050, IPS, 1920x1080, 15.60
HP 15-bs103ng
i5-8250U, Radeon 520, Samsung SSD PM871a MZNLN256HMHQ, TN LED, 1920x1080, 15.60
Lenovo V510-15IKB 80WQ0002GE
i5-7200U, HD Graphics 620, Samsung CM871a MZNTY256HDHP, IPS, 1920x1080, 15.60
Power Consumption
-25%
-3%
-20%
Idle Minimum *
3.4
4.3
-26%
3.2
6%
4
-18%
Idle Average *
5.8
10.1
-74%
5.8
-0%
9.6
-66%
Idle Maximum *
8
11.8
-48%
6.3
21%
9.7
-21%
Load Average *
38
32
16%
34
11%
27.7
27%
Load Maximum *
32
29
9%
49
-53%
38.4
-20%

* ... smaller is better

Battery Life

Our Latitude 5580 has a 42% higher battery capacity than the TravelMate, but lasts only 17% longer in the practically relevant WLAN surf test with the brightness reduced to about 150 cd/m² (how we test), which can be explained by the higher idle consumption. The deficit of the Lenovo V510 turns out disproportionately large here, while the lower battery capacity in the HP 15-bs103ng corresponds approximately to its lower battery life. Surprisingly, in terms of consumption, the HP comes closest to our test device.

So under realistic conditions, you can expect a battery life of almost 9 hours, which should get most users safely through the day.

Battery Runtime
Idle (without WLAN, min brightness)
15h 10min
WiFi Websurfing
8h 45min
Load (maximum brightness)
1h 51min
Acer TravelMate P2510-M-51ZQ
i5-7200U, HD Graphics 620, 48 Wh
Dell Latitude 5580
i5-7300U, HD Graphics 620, 68 Wh
HP 15-bs103ng
i5-8250U, Radeon 520, 41.6 Wh
Lenovo V510-15IKB 80WQ0002GE
i5-7200U, HD Graphics 620, 32 Wh
Battery Runtime
17%
-7%
-57%
Reader / Idle
910
890
-2%
WiFi v1.3
525
613
17%
473
-10%
225
-57%
Load
111
100
-10%
H.264
454

Verdict

Pros

+ relatively affordable
+ other sensible models available, some of which are even more affordable
+ USB Type C with DisplayPort
+ good WLAN performance
+ TPM 2.0
+ Windows 10 Pro with Bitlocker
+ relatively good maintenance options
+ good input devices
+ very good Turbo use
+ quiet
+ cool
+ low consumption
+ very decent battery life

Cons

- warped case
- not-so-clean workmanship
- unstable
- hinges not well-adjusted
- slow card reader
- display slightly dark and poor contrast
- brightness distribution less than perfect
- low color space coverage
The Acer TravelMate P2510-M-51ZQ - provided by Acer Germany
The Acer TravelMate P2510-M-51ZQ - provided by Acer Germany

Whether the problems with the warped case only affects our test unit or not, we always have to evaluate what is provided to us. The sub-rating turns out correspondingly bad.

Apart from the case and considering the very low price of the entry-level model in particular, the results give a very positive impression. Budget buyers with office ambitions will surely overlook the weaknesses of the display as well as the slow card reader. The advantages from the list of positives such as the good input devices, the fast WLAN, TPM, and the very decent battery life are probably more important here. From a technical point of view, all looks good, and the TravelMate offers a constant performance while it remains quiet and cool.

With the TravelMate P2510-M-51ZQ, Acer actually presents a successful office notebook with a good price-performance ratio, although, due to considerable quality defects of the case of our test sample, we have to withhold our purchase recommendation.

Acer TravelMate P2510-M-51ZQ - 03/03/2018 v6(old)
Sven Kloevekorn

Chassis
67 / 98 → 69%
Keyboard
84%
Pointing Device
93%
Connectivity
50 / 80 → 62%
Weight
62 / 20-67 → 90%
Battery
91%
Display
81%
Games Performance
57 / 68 → 84%
Application Performance
87 / 92 → 95%
Temperature
96%
Noise
90%
Audio
56%
Camera
51 / 85 → 60%
Average
74%
83%
Office - Weighted Average

Pricecompare

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> Expert Reviews and News on Laptops, Smartphones and Tech Innovations > Reviews > Acer TravelMate P2510 (i5-7200U, 256 GB SSD, IPS) Laptop Review
Sven Kloevekorn, 2018-01-31 (Update: 2020-05-19)