Notebookcheck Logo

Asus AsusPro B9440UA (Core i7, 16 GB) Laptop Review Update

The lightest 14-inch laptop in the world - part 2. We performed our benchmarks on the i7 version called GV0101T of the compact B9440UA that only has a few interfaces. Are the 300 Euros extra a good investment? It depends if the buyer finds 256 GB more SSD capacity worth 300 Euros.

The reason for this update is to analyze the performance difference of the Asus B9440UA-GV0100T (Intel Core i5-7200U, 8 GB of RAM, 256 GB SSD) presently priced at about 1050 Euros ($1200) and the approximately 300 Euros (~$343) more expensive GV0101T with an i7-7500U, 16 GB of working memory, and a 512 GB SSD. Since the models do not differ otherwise, we refer to our actual test for information concerning case, input devices, speakers, etc.

We use the same comparison devices in this test, but also add the GV0100T for making a direct comparison possible.

Asus ASUSPRO B9440UA-GV0101T (ASUSPRO Series)
Processor
Intel Core i7-7500U 2 x 2.7 - 3.5 GHz, Kaby Lake
Graphics adapter
Intel HD Graphics 620, Core: 1050 MHz, shared memory, 21.20.16.4550
Memory
16 GB 
, DDR3L, 2133 MHz, dual-channel, not expandable
Display
14.00 inch 16:9, 1920 x 1080 pixel 157 PPI, AU Optronics AUO353D / B140HAN03.5, IPS, glossy: no
Mainboard
Intel Kaby Lake-U Premium PCH
Storage
Micron SSD 1100 SED 512GB, M.2 (MTFDDAV512TBN), 512 GB 
Soundcard
Intel Kaby Lake-U/Y PCH - High Definition Audio
Connections
2 USB 3.0 / 3.1 Gen1, Audio Connections: combo audio in/out, 3.5-mm jack, 1 Fingerprint Reader
Networking
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 8260 (a/b/g/n = Wi-Fi 4/ac = Wi-Fi 5/), Bluetooth 4.2
Size
height x width x depth (in mm): 9 x 321 x 216 ( = 0.35 x 12.64 x 8.5 in)
Battery
48 Wh Lithium-Polymer, 4 cells
Operating System
Microsoft Windows 10 Home 64 Bit
Additional features
Speakers: stereo, Keyboard: chiclet, Keyboard Light: yes, 24 Months Warranty
Released
01/06/2017
Weight
1.05 kg ( = 37.04 oz / 2.31 pounds), Power Supply: 216 g ( = 7.62 oz / 0.48 pounds)
Price
1100 EUR
Note: The manufacturer may use components from different suppliers including display panels, drives or memory sticks with similar specifications.

 

Maintenance

It should not be surprising that such a thin and light laptop does not allow accessing the battery from outside or that a maintenance hatch is not installed. However, the base tray is secured by ten Philips screws and it is easy to remove. The Wi-Fi module, SSD, fan, and the glued battery can then be accessed. However, opening can result in the loss of warranty.

Asus AsusPro B9440UA innards
Asus AsusPro B9440UA innards

Performance

Processor

While the GV0100T sports the very popular Intel Core i5-7200U (2x 2.5 - 3.1 GHz, Hyperthreading, TDP 15 W), the i7-7500U (2x 2.7 - 3.5 GHz) is inside the GV0101T. The only difference between the two Kaby Lake processors is found in the base and Turbo speeds. The i7 clocks 200 and 400 MHz faster. In view of the tight TDP, we will have to wait and see whether the i7 can convert its clock speed advantage in a 1:1 higher performance.

Clock speeds in Cinebench R15 loop GV0101T (i7-7500U)

0102030405060708090100110120130140150160170180190200210220230240250260270280290300310320330340Tooltip
Cinebench R15 CPU Multi 64 Bit

Clock speeds in Cinebench R15 loop GV0100T (i5-7200U)

0102030405060708090100110120130140150160170180190200210220230240250260270280290300310320330Tooltip
Cinebench R15 CPU Multi 64 Bit

Looking at Cinebench R15, the Core i7 can outperform the i5 in the cheaper AsusPro B9440UA by 7% in the single-core test and by 5% in the multi-core test. When comparing all 7200 models assessed to date, the one in the GV0101T only presents an average performance when all cores are loaded, and it even falls behind the mainstream by approximately 4% in the single-core test. As a reminder: the i5-7200U in the GV0100T does a better job compared with its colleagues and is in the upper field there.

As the graphs about the clock behavior during permanent load illustrate, the i7 can barely distinguish itself from the i5 during permanent load. The low ULV TDP of just 15 watts will not be as limiting on the i5 in terms of Turbo utilization though. This lets the performance gain of the more expensive CPU shrink to a negligible degree in most applications in practice. Idle scenarios with short load peaks might benefit (insignificantly) from the much higher single thread Turbo. Like the GV0100T, the scores do not change in battery mode.

Cinebench R15
CPU Single 64Bit
HP Spectre 13-v131ng
Intel Core i7-7500U
140 Points +3%
Asus ASUSPRO B9440UA-GV0101T
Intel Core i7-7500U
136 Points
Fujitsu LifeBook U747
Intel Core i5-7200U
130 Points -4%
Asus ASUSPRO B9440UA-GV0100T
Intel Core i5-7200U
127 Points -7%
Lenovo IdeaPad 710S Plus-13IKB
Intel Core i7-7500U
110 Points -19%
CPU Multi 64Bit
Asus ASUSPRO B9440UA-GV0101T
Intel Core i7-7500U
336 Points
Fujitsu LifeBook U747
Intel Core i5-7200U
331 Points -1%
Asus ASUSPRO B9440UA-GV0100T
Intel Core i5-7200U
321 Points -4%
HP Spectre 13-v131ng
Intel Core i7-7500U
314 Points -7%
Lenovo IdeaPad 710S Plus-13IKB
Intel Core i7-7500U
293 Points -13%
Cinebench R15 CPU Single 64Bit
136 Points
Cinebench R15 CPU Multi 64Bit
336 Points
Help

System Performance

The assessment of the total performance with PCMark 8 confirms that the slightly faster platform of Asus' B9440UA-GV0101T can hardly convert its higher potential in higher performance.

PCMark 8
Home Score Accelerated v2
HP Spectre 13-v131ng
HD Graphics 620, i7-7500U, Samsung PM961 NVMe MZVLW512HMJP
3789 Points +3%
Asus ASUSPRO B9440UA-GV0100T
HD Graphics 620, i5-7200U, Micron SSD 1100 (MTFDDAV256TBN)
3714 Points +1%
Asus ASUSPRO B9440UA-GV0101T
HD Graphics 620, i7-7500U, Micron SSD 1100 SED 512GB, M.2 (MTFDDAV512TBN)
3689 Points
Fujitsu LifeBook U747
HD Graphics 620, i5-7200U, Samsung MZYTY256HDHP
3506 Points -5%
Lenovo IdeaPad 710S Plus-13IKB
GeForce 940MX, i7-7500U, Samsung PM961 NVMe MZVLW512HMJP
3147 Points -15%
Work Score Accelerated v2
HP Spectre 13-v131ng
HD Graphics 620, i7-7500U, Samsung PM961 NVMe MZVLW512HMJP
5053 Points +6%
Asus ASUSPRO B9440UA-GV0101T
HD Graphics 620, i7-7500U, Micron SSD 1100 SED 512GB, M.2 (MTFDDAV512TBN)
4760 Points
Fujitsu LifeBook U747
HD Graphics 620, i5-7200U, Samsung MZYTY256HDHP
4653 Points -2%
Asus ASUSPRO B9440UA-GV0100T
HD Graphics 620, i5-7200U, Micron SSD 1100 (MTFDDAV256TBN)
4630 Points -3%
Lenovo IdeaPad 710S Plus-13IKB
GeForce 940MX, i7-7500U, Samsung PM961 NVMe MZVLW512HMJP
4184 Points -12%
PCMark 8 Home Score Accelerated v2
3689 points
PCMark 8 Work Score Accelerated v2
4760 points
Help

Storage Device

Although the GV0101T only sports a higher capacity model (512 GB) of the same Mikron SSD as in the cheaper GV0100T (256 GB), the 512 GB model is slightly better especially at reading small random blocks of 64 threads simultaneously (except in server systems, it is usually not more than 4 threads in practice) and in the write speeds according to AS SSD. CrystalDiskMark 3.0 sees this a bit differently, though.

Asus ASUSPRO B9440UA-GV0101T
Micron SSD 1100 SED 512GB, M.2 (MTFDDAV512TBN)
Fujitsu LifeBook U747
Samsung MZYTY256HDHP
HP Spectre 13-v131ng
Samsung PM961 NVMe MZVLW512HMJP
Lenovo IdeaPad 710S Plus-13IKB
Samsung PM961 NVMe MZVLW512HMJP
Asus ASUSPRO B9440UA-GV0100T
Micron SSD 1100 (MTFDDAV256TBN)
AS SSD
-5%
196%
-12%
Seq Read
488.6
511
5%
1325
171%
490.2
0%
Seq Write
458.1
487
6%
1190
160%
419.6
-8%
4K Read
25.23
27.57
9%
56.4
124%
24.21
-4%
4K Write
82.7
80.2
-3%
134.4
63%
77.5
-6%
4K-64 Read
360.1
367.4
2%
1465
307%
234
-35%
4K-64 Write
261.3
168.7
-35%
862
230%
252.9
-3%
Score Read
434
446
3%
1654
281%
307
-29%
Score Write
390
298
-24%
1115
186%
372
-5%
Score Total
1052
979
-7%
3617
244%
842
-20%

Graphics Card

The Intel HD 620 GPUs in both B9440UA models present exactly the same specifications and clock rates. Thus, they logically achieve an almost identical score in 3DMark 11. The advantages of the more expensive GV0101T are within the measuring tolerances in 3DMark (2013).

3DMark 11 - 1280x720 Performance GPU
Lenovo IdeaPad 710S Plus-13IKB
NVIDIA GeForce 940MX, Intel Core i7-7500U
2447 Points +58%
HP Spectre 13-v131ng
Intel HD Graphics 620, Intel Core i7-7500U
1562 Points +1%
Asus ASUSPRO B9440UA-GV0100T
Intel HD Graphics 620, Intel Core i5-7200U
1557 Points 0%
Asus ASUSPRO B9440UA-GV0101T
Intel HD Graphics 620, Intel Core i7-7500U
1552 Points
Fujitsu LifeBook U747
Intel HD Graphics 620, Intel Core i5-7200U
1409 Points -9%
3DMark
1280x720 Cloud Gate Standard Graphics
Lenovo IdeaPad 710S Plus-13IKB
NVIDIA GeForce 940MX, Intel Core i7-7500U
13075 Points +54%
Asus ASUSPRO B9440UA-GV0101T
Intel HD Graphics 620, Intel Core i7-7500U
8467 Points
Asus ASUSPRO B9440UA-GV0100T
Intel HD Graphics 620, Intel Core i5-7200U
8433 Points 0%
HP Spectre 13-v131ng
Intel HD Graphics 620, Intel Core i7-7500U
8104 Points -4%
Fujitsu LifeBook U747
Intel HD Graphics 620, Intel Core i5-7200U
6803 Points -20%
1920x1080 Fire Strike Graphics
Lenovo IdeaPad 710S Plus-13IKB
NVIDIA GeForce 940MX, Intel Core i7-7500U
1940 Points +91%
Asus ASUSPRO B9440UA-GV0101T
Intel HD Graphics 620, Intel Core i7-7500U
1014 Points
Asus ASUSPRO B9440UA-GV0100T
Intel HD Graphics 620, Intel Core i5-7200U
975 Points -4%
HP Spectre 13-v131ng
Intel HD Graphics 620, Intel Core i7-7500U
948 Points -7%
Fujitsu LifeBook U747
Intel HD Graphics 620, Intel Core i5-7200U
799 Points -21%
3DMark 11 Performance
1706 points
3DMark Cloud Gate Standard Score
6488 points
3DMark Fire Strike Score
931 points
Help

Gaming Performance

We compared the achieved frames per second using the lowest settings in Witcher 3. The allegedly faster GV0101T even lags behind by approximately 2 FPS, which is also within the measuring tolerance. It is imaginable that the CPU part of the i7 clocks a bit higher than that of the i5. Consequently, it treats itself to a big piece of the TDP pie at expense of the HD 620 and that the i7's HD 620 cannot quite reach the clock speed of the i5.

low med. high ultra
The Witcher 3 (2015) 12.8

Energy Management

Battery Runtime

We now dedicate ourselves to the battery life in our practical Wi-Fi test with reduced brightness. The nominally slower GV0100T only manages 3% more with an identical battery capacity. This indicates a very similar power consumption, and it is again within the range of measuring tolerances.

We recently published a special article on how to recharge lithium-ion batteries properly with some useful tips.

Battery Runtime
WiFi Websurfing
8h 36min
Asus ASUSPRO B9440UA-GV0101T
i7-7500U, HD Graphics 620, 48 Wh
Fujitsu LifeBook U747
i5-7200U, HD Graphics 620, 50 Wh
HP Spectre 13-v131ng
i7-7500U, HD Graphics 620, 38 Wh
Lenovo IdeaPad 710S Plus-13IKB
i7-7500U, GeForce 940MX, 46 Wh
Asus ASUSPRO B9440UA-GV0100T
i5-7200U, HD Graphics 620, 48 Wh
Battery Runtime
-17%
-24%
-34%
3%
WiFi v1.3
516
430
-17%
394
-24%
338
-34%
531
3%
Reader / Idle
782
718
468
1137
H.264
490
367
Load
117
77
89
126

Verdict

Pros

+ solid and stylish casing
+ very compact, slim and light
+ narrow bezel
+ port replicator and cover included
+ TPM + fingerprint scanner
+ very good input devices
+ excellent contrast ratio
+ quiet and cool in all load scenarios
+ frugal and energy efficient
+ very long battery life

Cons

- basic connectivity
- no webcam
- Wi-Fi performance not ideal
- low color space coverage
- poor color accuracy ex-factory
- below average SATA 3 SSD
- massive throttling in the stress test
Asus Pro B9440UA-GV0101T - courtesy of Asus Germany.
Asus Pro B9440UA-GV0101T - courtesy of Asus Germany.

The GV0101T model with an i7, 16 GB of RAM and a 512 GB SSD is roughly 300 Euros (~$343) more expensive than the GV0100T with 8 GB of working memory and a 256 GB SSD. However, apart from the larger storage device, it hardly offers an added value. Frequent, excessive multitasking and/or Photoshop with several large layers will likely benefit from the double RAM size. Pure office users will be better off with the cheaper model in our opinion.

One last note: Other testers of the GV0101T model reported about a sometimes poor or delayed touchpad responsiveness. We did not notice this in our actual review of the GV0100T, but our review sample of the more expensive model also caused occasional problems.

This link leads to our first review of the Asus AsusPro B9440UA-GV0100T.

Pricecompare

static version load dynamic
Loading Comments
Comment on this article
Please share our article, every link counts!
> Expert Reviews and News on Laptops, Smartphones and Tech Innovations > Reviews > Asus AsusPro B9440UA (Core i7, 16 GB) Laptop Review Update
Sven Kloevekorn, 2017-05-28 (Update: 2020-05-19)