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Asus ExpertBook B9450FA Review: Ultra light and high endurance

A lot of storage. Asus has described the ExpertBook as the lightest business notebook in the world. Our test configuration of the device weighs less than one kilogram (~2.2 lb) and offers very good connectivity. Find out what this device has to offer in terms of everyday use in our review.
Asus ExpertBook B9450FA

At first glance, the Asus ExpertBook B9450FA looks like a simpler design variation of the Asus ZenBook 14. While it not only offers up-to-date hardware, it also caters to the needs of business users at a price of $1800 (~$1979). Asus has been vaunting its very long battery life and its MIL-STD 810G certification in particular.

Backed up by its Intel hardware, the ExpertBook faces the competitors listed below. Readers can also add any notebook in our database to the comparison at the bottom of every graph.

Asus ExpertBook B9450FA, i7-10510U (ExpertBook B9 Series)
Processor
Intel Core i7-10510U 4 x 1.8 - 4.9 GHz, Comet Lake-U
Graphics adapter
Memory
16 GB 
, DDR3-2133, Dual-Channel
Display
14.00 inch 16:9, 1920 x 1080 pixel 157 PPI, AU Optronics AUO623D, IPS, glossy: no
Mainboard
Intel Comet Lake-U PCH-LP Premium
Storage
2x Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB1T0HALR (RAID 0), 2048 GB 
, 1854 GB free
Soundcard
Intel Comet Lake PCH-LP - cAVS
Connections
1 USB 3.1 Gen2, 2 Thunderbolt, 1 HDMI, 1 Kensington Lock, Audio Connections: 3.5 mm headphone jack, 1 Fingerprint Reader
Networking
Intel Comet Lake PCH-LP - I219-V gBE (10/100/1000MBit/s), Intel Wi-Fi 6 AX201 (a/b/g/h/n = Wi-Fi 4/ac = Wi-Fi 5/ax = Wi-Fi 6/), Bluetooth 5.0
Size
height x width x depth (in mm): 14.9 x 320 x 203 ( = 0.59 x 12.6 x 7.99 in)
Battery
66 Wh Lithium-Polymer, 4 cells
Charging
fast charging / Quickcharge
Operating System
Microsoft Windows 10 Home 64 Bit
Camera
Webcam: 0.9 MP, 16:9 (1280x720)
Additional features
Speakers: Stereo, Keyboard: Chiclet, Keyboard Light: yes, AC adapter, protective case, microHDMI-to-LAN adapter, McAfee Personal Security, Asus Business Manager, 24 Months Warranty
Weight
995 g ( = 35.1 oz / 2.19 pounds), Power Supply: 330 g ( = 11.64 oz / 0.73 pounds)
Price
2100 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
86.5 %
05/2020
Asus ExpertBook B9450FA, i7-10510U
i7-10510U, UHD Graphics 620
995 g14.9 mm14.00"1920x1080
88.5 %
03/2020
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon G7 20R1-000YUS
i7-10510U, UHD Graphics 620
1.2 kg15.4 mm14.00"3840x2160
84.2 %
02/2020
MSI Prestige 14 A10SC-009
i7-10710U, GeForce GTX 1650 Max-Q
1.3 kg16 mm14.00"3840x2160
84.2 %
11/2019
Acer Swift 7 SF714-52T-76MR
i7-8500Y, UHD Graphics 615
890 g9.95 mm14.00"1920x1080

Case & Connectivity - ultra-light Asus notebook with fast Wi-Fi

Asus has chosen a lithium magnesium alloy for its ExpertBook B9 as this material offers both low weight and high stability. While we can confirm the former with a quick look at the scale, the MIL-STD 810G tests carried out by the manufacturer vouch for the latter. According to its certification, this small and robust notebook can withstand 30 kg (~66 lb) of pressure on the lid and base without being damaged. The device also survived tests for drop, shock and vibration resistance. High air humidity and temperatures of up to 50 °C (122 °F) should not present any problems either.

Users have two Thunderbolt 3 ports available, one of which can be used for charging the notebook. GigabitLAN is available through the microHDMI connector thanks to the included adapter. Apart from a fingerprint reader and TPM 2.0, the ExpertBook B9450FA also provides a webcam that can be used to unlock the device via face recognition with Windows Hello and can also be blocked off with a manual shutter.

The 0.9 MP resolution of the camera is no lower than what most other notebooks have to offer at the moment. Even at ideal lighting conditions the camera only manages slightly blurry images that are also pale and look a lot brighter than they should.

The Asus ExpertBook does not include an SD card reader nor a WWAN option. However, its Wi-Fi connection is very fast as it supports the 802.11 ax standard (Wi-Fi 6). In our test with our reference router Netgear Nighthawk AX12, the small business laptop reached very good speeds and managed to become top of our comparison field with 1364 MBit/s when receiving and 1342 MBit/s when sending data. 

Asus ExpertBook B9450FA
Asus ExpertBook B9450FA
Asus ExpertBook B9450FA
Asus ExpertBook B9450FA
Asus ExpertBook B9450FA
Asus ExpertBook B9450FA

Size Comparison

323.5 mm / 12.7 inch 217.1 mm / 8.55 inch 15.4 mm / 0.606 inch 1.2 kg2.7 lbs319 mm / 12.6 inch 215 mm / 8.46 inch 16 mm / 0.63 inch 1.3 kg2.84 lbs320 mm / 12.6 inch 203 mm / 7.99 inch 14.9 mm / 0.587 inch 995 g2.19 lbs317.9 mm / 12.5 inch 191.5 mm / 7.54 inch 9.95 mm / 0.3917 inch 890 g1.962 lbs297 mm / 11.7 inch 210 mm / 8.27 inch 1 mm / 0.03937 inch 5.7 g0.01257 lbs

Port Distribution

Left: 2x Thunderbolt 3, 1x HDMI, 1x microHDMI (provides GigabitLAN)
Left: 2x Thunderbolt 3, 1x HDMI, 1x microHDMI (provides GigabitLAN)
Right: combined 3.5-mm audio jack, 1x USB 3.1 Gen2 Type-A, port for cable lock
Right: combined 3.5-mm audio jack, 1x USB 3.1 Gen2 Type-A, port for cable lock
Networking
iperf3 transmit AX12
Asus ExpertBook B9450FA, i7-10510U
Intel Wi-Fi 6 AX201
1342 (1287min - 1382max) MBit/s
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon G7 20R1-000YUS
Intel Wireless-AC 9560
1166 (1012min - 1299max) MBit/s -13%
Average Intel Wi-Fi 6 AX201
  (49.8 - 1775, n=324)
1161 MBit/s -13%
MSI Prestige 14 A10SC-009
Intel Wi-Fi 6 AX201
640 (573min - 691max) MBit/s -52%
Acer Swift 7 SF714-52T-76MR
Intel Wi-Fi 6 AX200
632 (553min - 699max) MBit/s -53%
iperf3 receive AX12
Asus ExpertBook B9450FA, i7-10510U
Intel Wi-Fi 6 AX201
1364 (1078min - 1418max) MBit/s
Average Intel Wi-Fi 6 AX201
  (136 - 1743, n=324)
1261 MBit/s -8%
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon G7 20R1-000YUS
Intel Wireless-AC 9560
1130 (1072min - 1174max) MBit/s -17%
MSI Prestige 14 A10SC-009
Intel Wi-Fi 6 AX201
787 (678min - 865max) MBit/s -42%
Acer Swift 7 SF714-52T-76MR
Intel Wi-Fi 6 AX200
523 (444min - 599max) MBit/s -62%
07515022530037545052560067575082590097510501125120012751350Tooltip
Asus ExpertBook B9450FA, i7-10510U; iperf3 receive AX12; iperf 3.1.3: Ø1363 (1078-1418)
Asus ExpertBook B9450FA, i7-10510U; iperf3 transmit AX12; iperf 3.1.3: Ø1342 (1287-1382)
ColorChecker
16.1 ∆E
19.1 ∆E
18.1 ∆E
19.8 ∆E
19.4 ∆E
18 ∆E
18.1 ∆E
22.6 ∆E
22.5 ∆E
21.2 ∆E
17.2 ∆E
16.7 ∆E
19.1 ∆E
19.5 ∆E
27.3 ∆E
13.4 ∆E
23 ∆E
21.6 ∆E
1.2 ∆E
15.8 ∆E
16.2 ∆E
14.2 ∆E
12.5 ∆E
8.3 ∆E
ColorChecker Asus ExpertBook B9450FA, i7-10510U: 17.54 ∆E min: 1.18 - max: 27.28 ∆E

Input Devices - Number pad in touchpad

The keyboard of the Asus ExpertBook B9450FA has a good pressure point and is suitable for users who do a lot of typing. Most keys are easy to reach. The only keys we are a bit concerned about is the delete key, which we feel is a little too close to the power button, and the double allocation of Pos 1 and End on the arrow keys. The black keys with white lettering are easy to read and the three-tier backlight ensures that this remains so in dark surroundings.

The device has a large clickpad which can display a number pad as well. This feature works quite well and navigation with the cursor is also very precise. Clicks are actuated reliably.

Asus ExpertBook B9450FA - input devices
Asus ExpertBook B9450FA - input devices
Asus ExpertBook B9450FA - number pad
Asus ExpertBook B9450FA - number pad

Display - nice colors, no PWM

The display of the Asus ExpertBook B9450FA is a 14-inch IPS panel with a resolution of 1920x1080 pixels. The brightness is "only" average at 286 cd/m², but should be suitable for use outdoors in the shade. The brightness distribution is comparable to that of our comparison devices at 86 percent. We also noticed that Asus does not use PWM to regulate display brightness.  

281
cd/m²
273
cd/m²
260
cd/m²
277
cd/m²
294
cd/m²
291
cd/m²
289
cd/m²
302
cd/m²
303
cd/m²
Distribution of brightness
AU Optronics AUO623D tested with X-Rite i1Pro 2
Maximum: 303 cd/m² (Nits) Average: 285.6 cd/m² Minimum: 14.7 cd/m²
Brightness Distribution: 86 %
Center on Battery: 294 cd/m²
Contrast: 2450:1 (Black: 0.12 cd/m²)
ΔE Color 1.45 | 0.5-29.43 Ø5, calibrated: 1.05
ΔE Greyscale 1.65 | 0.57-98 Ø5.3
99% sRGB (Argyll 1.6.3 3D)
64% AdobeRGB 1998 (Argyll 1.6.3 3D)
69.3% AdobeRGB 1998 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
98.9% sRGB (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
68.3% Display P3 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
Gamma: 2.47
Asus ExpertBook B9450FA, i7-10510U
AU Optronics AUO623D, IPS, 1920x1080, 14.00
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon G7 20R1-000YUS
BOE NV140QUM-N53, IPS, 3840x2160, 14.00
MSI Prestige 14 A10SC-009
IPS, 3840x2160, 14.00
Acer Swift 7 SF714-52T-76MR
AU Optronics B140HAN06.0, IPS, 1920x1080, 14.00
Display
14%
2%
Display P3 Coverage
68.3
83
22%
69.9
2%
sRGB Coverage
98.9
99.7
1%
99.4
1%
AdobeRGB 1998 Coverage
69.3
83.1
20%
71
2%
Response Times
-2%
-15%
-4%
Response Time Grey 50% / Grey 80% *
55 ?(27, 28)
49.2 ?(22, 27.2)
11%
55 ?(27, 28)
-0%
55 ?(25, 30)
-0%
Response Time Black / White *
28 ?(14, 14)
32.2 ?(19.2, 13.2)
-15%
36 ?(22, 14)
-29%
30 ?(14, 16)
-7%
PWM Frequency
201.6 ?(99)
Screen
-138%
-28%
-38%
Brightness middle
294
532
81%
567
93%
296
1%
Brightness
286
513
79%
516
80%
272
-5%
Brightness Distribution
86
90
5%
86
0%
79
-8%
Black Level *
0.12
0.41
-242%
0.445
-271%
0.095
21%
Contrast
2450
1298
-47%
1274
-48%
3116
27%
Colorchecker dE 2000 *
1.45
6.88
-374%
1.55
-7%
3.1
-114%
Colorchecker dE 2000 max. *
2.74
12.65
-362%
5.14
-88%
6.2
-126%
Colorchecker dE 2000 calibrated *
1.05
2.52
-140%
1.24
-18%
Greyscale dE 2000 *
1.65
10.5
-536%
1.48
10%
4.5
-173%
Gamma
2.47 89%
1.98 111%
2.19 100%
2.15 102%
CCT
6685 97%
7394 88%
6741 96%
7277 89%
Color Space (Percent of AdobeRGB 1998)
64
74.1
16%
65
2%
Color Space (Percent of sRGB)
99
99.7
1%
99
0%
Total Average (Program / Settings)
-42% / -93%
-22% / -25%
-13% / -25%

* ... 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
28 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined↗ 14 ms rise
↘ 14 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 0.1 (minimum) to 240 (maximum) ms. » 67 % 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
55 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined↗ 27 ms rise
↘ 28 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. » 90 % 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 not detected

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.

Color space coverage (sRGB) - 99 percent
Color space coverage (sRGB) - 99 percent
Colo space coverage (AdobeRGB) - 64 percent
Colo space coverage (AdobeRGB) - 64 percent

Our ExpertBook B9 test unit has a great contrast ratio of 2450:1 and an equally good black value of 0.12 cd/m². This makes colors well defined and distinct and black content appear deep and full. The screen also has very stable viewing angles, which means that content doesn't distort and colors don't invert when looking at the screen from a wide angle.

The CalMAN analysis attests that the display reaches a DeltaE deviation of 4.04 ex-works. Calibrating the screen reduces this value to 0.52. You can download the ICC file we used next to the graph describing the brightness distribution of the screen.

CalMAN - color accuracy
CalMAN - color accuracy
CalMAN - grayscales
CalMAN - grayscales
CalMAN - saturation
CalMAN - saturation
CalMAN - color accuracy (calibrated)
CalMAN - color accuracy (calibrated)
CalMAN - grayscales (calibrated)
CalMAN - grayscales (calibrated)
CalMAN - saturation (calibrated)
CalMAN - saturation (calibrated)
Asus ExpertBook B9450FA - outdoor use
Asus ExpertBook B9450FA - outdoor use
Asus ExpertBook B9450FA - screen bleeding
Asus ExpertBook B9450FA - screen bleeding
Asus ExpertBook B9450FA - viewing angle stability
Asus ExpertBook B9450FA - viewing angle stability

Performance - ExpertBook for Office applications

maintenance options
maintenance options

The Asus ExpertBook B9450FA is directed at business users that mainly work with office applications. While the configuration we tested was equipped with an Intel Core i7-10510U, 16 GB of RAM and two 1-TB SSDs, models are also available with a 1-TB SSD and 8 GB of RAM and a choice of Intel CPUs (Core i5-10210Ui5-10310U and Core i7-10610U ). The graphics are always taken care of by the integrated GPU in the processor. 

Processor

The processor in our test unit, Intel Core i7-10510U, is a quad-core processor that can work up to eight threads simultaneously. The clock rate ranges from 1.8 to 4.8 GHz, although this maximum frequency can only be kept up for a short time.

Our CineBench R15 endurance test shows that the performance of the Asus ExpertBook B9 drops shortly after the start and finally settles down at around 22 percent below initial performance. The performance therefore is slightly lower than that of the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon G7, for example, but also a lot more regular.

06012018024030036042048054060066072078084090096010201080Tooltip
Asus ExpertBook B9450FA, i7-10510U Intel Core i7-10510U, Intel Core i7-10510U: Ø444 (412-561)
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon G7 20R1-000YUS Intel Core i7-10510U, Intel Core i7-10510U: Ø628 (486.69-776.19)
MSI Prestige 14 A10SC-009 Intel Core i7-10710U, Intel Core i7-10710U: Ø795 (774.95-1100.17)
Acer Swift 7 SF714-52T-76MR Intel Core i7-8500Y, Intel Core i7-8500Y: Ø219 (215.17-245.74)

The Asus ExpertBook B9450FA underperforms slightly in the individual CineBench R15 benchmark tests. While its single core result is around 10 percent below the average of all the devices with this CPU in our database, the multi core result is 20 percent lower than average. 

Cinebench R15 / CPU Single 64Bit
Average of class Subnotebook
  (91.8 - 280, n=62, last 2 years)
234 Points +66%
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon G7 20R1-000YUS
Intel Core i7-10510U
182 Points +29%
Average Intel Core i7-10510U
  (113 - 202, n=42)
178.4 Points +27%
Asus ExpertBook B9450FA, i7-10510U
Intel Core i7-10510U
141 Points
MSI Prestige 14 A10SC-009
Intel Core i7-10710U
138 Points -2%
Acer Swift 7 SF714-52T-76MR
Intel Core i7-8500Y
129 Points -9%
Cinebench R15 / CPU Multi 64Bit
Average of class Subnotebook
  (514 - 2581, n=70, last 2 years)
1705 Points +204%
MSI Prestige 14 A10SC-009
Intel Core i7-10710U
1100 Points +96%
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon G7 20R1-000YUS
Intel Core i7-10510U
776 Points +38%
Average Intel Core i7-10510U
  (482 - 856, n=45)
666 Points +19%
Asus ExpertBook B9450FA, i7-10510U
Intel Core i7-10510U
561 Points
Acer Swift 7 SF714-52T-76MR
Intel Core i7-8500Y
246 Points -56%
Cinebench R15 CPU Single 64Bit
141 Points
Cinebench R15 CPU Multi 64Bit
561 Points
Cinebench R15 OpenGL 64Bit
53.3 fps
Cinebench R15 Ref. Match 64Bit
97.8 %
Help

System Performance

The PCMark 10 test shows that the ExpertBook B9450FA offers solid system performance, although the ThinkPad X1 Carbon G7 did a little better again. However, the Asus notebook does a good job in everyday use with applications running smoothly and no long waiting periods or micro stutters. It was smooth sailing at all times. 

Find out how the Asus ExpertBook B9450FA fares compared to other notebooks in our CPU benchmark comparison.

PCMark 10
Score
Average of class Subnotebook
  (4384 - 7428, n=56, last 2 years)
5810 Points +54%
MSI Prestige 14 A10SC-009
GeForce GTX 1650 Max-Q, i7-10710U, Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB1T0HALR
5150 Points +36%
Average Intel Core i7-10510U, Intel UHD Graphics 620
  (3783 - 4688, n=16)
4299 Points +14%
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon G7 20R1-000YUS
UHD Graphics 620, i7-10510U, WDC PC SN730 SDBPNTY-512G
4219 Points +12%
Asus ExpertBook B9450FA, i7-10510U
UHD Graphics 620, i7-10510U, 2x Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB1T0HALR (RAID 0)
3783 Points
Acer Swift 7 SF714-52T-76MR
UHD Graphics 615, i7-8500Y, SK Hynix BC501 HFM512GDJTNG
2884 Points -24%
Essentials
Average of class Subnotebook
  (8890 - 11168, n=56, last 2 years)
10202 Points +15%
Average Intel Core i7-10510U, Intel UHD Graphics 620
  (8020 - 10546, n=16)
9266 Points +5%
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon G7 20R1-000YUS
UHD Graphics 620, i7-10510U, WDC PC SN730 SDBPNTY-512G
8892 Points +1%
Asus ExpertBook B9450FA, i7-10510U
UHD Graphics 620, i7-10510U, 2x Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB1T0HALR (RAID 0)
8839 Points
MSI Prestige 14 A10SC-009
GeForce GTX 1650 Max-Q, i7-10710U, Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB1T0HALR
8785 Points -1%
Acer Swift 7 SF714-52T-76MR
UHD Graphics 615, i7-8500Y, SK Hynix BC501 HFM512GDJTNG
6709 Points -24%
Productivity
Average of class Subnotebook
  (6213 - 10279, n=56, last 2 years)
7803 Points +19%
Average Intel Core i7-10510U, Intel UHD Graphics 620
  (6554 - 8036, n=16)
7243 Points +11%
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon G7 20R1-000YUS
UHD Graphics 620, i7-10510U, WDC PC SN730 SDBPNTY-512G
7051 Points +8%
MSI Prestige 14 A10SC-009
GeForce GTX 1650 Max-Q, i7-10710U, Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB1T0HALR
6754 Points +3%
Asus ExpertBook B9450FA, i7-10510U
UHD Graphics 620, i7-10510U, 2x Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB1T0HALR (RAID 0)
6554 Points
Acer Swift 7 SF714-52T-76MR
UHD Graphics 615, i7-8500Y, SK Hynix BC501 HFM512GDJTNG
5164 Points -21%
Digital Content Creation
Average of class Subnotebook
  (4093 - 9749, n=56, last 2 years)
6758 Points +166%
MSI Prestige 14 A10SC-009
GeForce GTX 1650 Max-Q, i7-10710U, Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB1T0HALR
6248 Points +146%
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon G7 20R1-000YUS
UHD Graphics 620, i7-10510U, WDC PC SN730 SDBPNTY-512G
3251 Points +28%
Average Intel Core i7-10510U, Intel UHD Graphics 620
  (2465 - 4741, n=16)
3239 Points +28%
Asus ExpertBook B9450FA, i7-10510U
UHD Graphics 620, i7-10510U, 2x Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB1T0HALR (RAID 0)
2537 Points
Acer Swift 7 SF714-52T-76MR
UHD Graphics 615, i7-8500Y, SK Hynix BC501 HFM512GDJTNG
1880 Points -26%
PCMark 10 Score
3783 points
Help

DPC Latencies

The measured DPC latencies of the ExpertBook B9 were a little lower than the results of the competition.

Asus ExpertBook B9450FA - LatencyMon (Main)
Asus ExpertBook B9450FA - LatencyMon (Main)
Asus ExpertBook B9450FA - LatencyMon (Driver)
Asus ExpertBook B9450FA - LatencyMon (Driver)
DPC Latencies / LatencyMon - interrupt to process latency (max), Web, Youtube, Prime95
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon G7 20R1-000YUS
UHD Graphics 620, i7-10510U, WDC PC SN730 SDBPNTY-512G
5640 μs * -134%
Asus ExpertBook B9450FA, i7-10510U
UHD Graphics 620, i7-10510U, 2x Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB1T0HALR (RAID 0)
2412 μs *

* ... smaller is better

Storage Device

Asus has equipped our test unit with two Samsung PM981 SSDs with a terabyte of capacity each. They offer very good read and write rates and can therefore easily keep up with the competitors in our test unit. Users can also easily exchange the storage devices by opening up the bottom of the ExpertBook. 

Find out how the SSDs fare compared to other storage devices in our HDD/SSD benchmark comparison.

Asus ExpertBook B9450FA, i7-10510U
2x Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB1T0HALR (RAID 0)
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon G7 20R1-000YUS
WDC PC SN730 SDBPNTY-512G
MSI Prestige 14 A10SC-009
Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB1T0HALR
Acer Swift 7 SF714-52T-76MR
SK Hynix BC501 HFM512GDJTNG
Average 2x Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB1T0HALR (RAID 0)
 
Average of class Subnotebook
 
CrystalDiskMark 5.2 / 6
6%
2%
-54%
6%
32%
Write 4K
115.6
151.5
31%
163.8
42%
48.38
-58%
105.6 ?(95.5 - 115.6, n=2)
-9%
154.8 ?(65.3 - 329, n=38, last 2 years)
34%
Read 4K
45.68
45.83
0%
48.6
6%
28.98
-37%
44.1 ?(42.6 - 45.7, n=2)
-3%
65.7 ?(22.2 - 92, n=38, last 2 years)
44%
Write Seq
2091
2060
-1%
2269
9%
743
-64%
2471 ?(2091 - 2851, n=2)
18%
2528 ?(393 - 3918, n=19, last 2 years)
21%
Read Seq
2152
1973
-8%
1963
-9%
1027
-52%
2424 ?(2152 - 2696, n=2)
13%
2659 ?(455 - 4560, n=19, last 2 years)
24%
Write 4K Q32T1
422.2
489.8
16%
289.8
-31%
94.6
-78%
412 ?(403 - 422, n=2)
-2%
406 ?(219 - 690, n=38, last 2 years)
-4%
Read 4K Q32T1
391.3
386.2
-1%
373.6
-5%
300
-23%
418 ?(391 - 444, n=2)
7%
489 ?(240 - 961, n=38, last 2 years)
25%
Write Seq Q32T1
2403
2703
12%
2395
0%
870
-64%
2912 ?(2403 - 3420, n=2)
21%
3834 ?(503 - 6773, n=38, last 2 years)
60%
Read Seq Q32T1
3414
3376
-1%
3479
2%
1640
-52%
3464 ?(3414 - 3514, n=2)
1%
5151 ?(562 - 7116, n=38, last 2 years)
51%
AS SSD
-34%
7%
-44%
1%
3%
Seq Read
2602
1786
-31%
2300
-12%
1437
-45%
2729 ?(2602 - 2855, n=2)
5%
3767 ?(508 - 5546, n=57, last 2 years)
45%
Seq Write
1399
1259
-10%
2051
47%
689
-51%
2043 ?(1399 - 2687, n=2)
46%
2323 ?(386 - 4961, n=57, last 2 years)
66%
4K Read
46.9
45.86
-2%
46.23
-1%
42.64
-9%
38.6 ?(30.3 - 46.9, n=2)
-18%
60.1 ?(14.8 - 96.2, n=57, last 2 years)
28%
4K Write
132.9
147.9
11%
84.6
-36%
112.8
-15%
114.6 ?(96.3 - 132.9, n=2)
-14%
172.9 ?(65.5 - 256, n=57, last 2 years)
30%
4K-64 Read
1021
885
-13%
1552
52%
488
-52%
1241 ?(1021 - 1460, n=2)
22%
1019 ?(187.3 - 2682, n=57, last 2 years)
0%
4K-64 Write
1302
950
-27%
1789
37%
475.7
-63%
1263 ?(1224 - 1302, n=2)
-3%
1843 ?(223 - 3410, n=57, last 2 years)
42%
Access Time Read *
0.032
0.058
-81%
0.049
-53%
0.054
-69%
0.043 ?(0.032 - 0.054, n=2)
-34%
0.06149 ?(0.021 - 0.257, n=57, last 2 years)
-92%
Access Time Write *
0.028
0.074
-164%
0.045
-61%
0.034
-21%
0.033 ?(0.028 - 0.038, n=2)
-18%
0.07386 ?(0.016 - 0.523, n=57, last 2 years)
-164%
Score Read
1328
1110
-16%
1828
38%
674
-49%
1552 ?(1328 - 1776, n=2)
17%
1456 ?(253 - 3307, n=57, last 2 years)
10%
Score Write
1575
1224
-22%
2079
32%
657
-58%
1582 ?(1575 - 1589, n=2)
0%
2252 ?(327 - 3972, n=57, last 2 years)
43%
Score Total
3530
2885
-18%
4831
37%
1653
-53%
3895 ?(3530 - 4259, n=2)
10%
4394 ?(707 - 8892, n=57, last 2 years)
24%
Total Average (Program / Settings)
-14% / -17%
5% / 5%
-49% / -48%
4% / 3%
18% / 15%

* ... smaller is better

2x Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB1T0HALR (RAID 0)
CDM 5/6 Read Seq Q32T1: 3414 MB/s
CDM 5/6 Write Seq Q32T1: 2403 MB/s
CDM 5/6 Read 4K Q32T1: 391.3 MB/s
CDM 5/6 Write 4K Q32T1: 422.2 MB/s
CDM 5 Read Seq: 2152 MB/s
CDM 5 Write Seq: 2091 MB/s
CDM 5/6 Read 4K: 45.68 MB/s
CDM 5/6 Write 4K: 115.6 MB/s

Graphics

The integrated Intel UHD Graphics 620 is responsible for displaying graphics content. It is only suitable for applications with very low GPU demands but can be used for simple image processing and the likes.   

The results of the 3DMark benchmarks are above average compared to other notebooks with this graphics unit, which is mainly due to the 16 GB of RAM in dual channel mode. Find out how other notebooks with this GPU fare in our GPU benchmark comparison.

3DMark 11 - 1280x720 Performance GPU
MSI Prestige 14 A10SC-009
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 Max-Q, Intel Core i7-10710U
10248 Points +458%
Average of class Subnotebook
  (2979 - 16904, n=55, last 2 years)
8016 Points +337%
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon G7 20R1-000YUS
Intel UHD Graphics 620, Intel Core i7-10510U
1977 Points +8%
Asus ExpertBook B9450FA, i7-10510U
Intel UHD Graphics 620, Intel Core i7-10510U
1836 Points
Average Intel UHD Graphics 620
  (1144 - 3432, n=244)
1749 Points -5%
Acer Swift 7 SF714-52T-76MR
Intel UHD Graphics 615, Intel Core i7-8500Y
1288 Points -30%
3DMark - 1920x1080 Fire Strike Graphics
MSI Prestige 14 A10SC-009
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 Max-Q, Intel Core i7-10710U
7305 Points +454%
Average of class Subnotebook
  (2837 - 12349, n=59, last 2 years)
5881 Points +346%
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon G7 20R1-000YUS
Intel UHD Graphics 620, Intel Core i7-10510U
1343 Points +2%
Asus ExpertBook B9450FA, i7-10510U
Intel UHD Graphics 620, Intel Core i7-10510U
1319 Points
Average Intel UHD Graphics 620
  (557 - 2608, n=213)
1161 Points -12%
Acer Swift 7 SF714-52T-76MR
Intel UHD Graphics 615, Intel Core i7-8500Y
943 Points -29%
3DMark 11 Performance
2056 points
3DMark Fire Strike Score
1199 points
Help

Gaming Performance

As already mentioned, the internal graphics unit of the ExpertBook B9 is only suitable for applications with low demand on graphical performance. We would recommend users not use this device for gaming or rather to make do with simple or old titles when playing. 

Find out what performance you can expect from the Intel UHD Graphics 620 in our device in our GPU gaming list.

Dota 2 Reborn
1280x720 min (0/3) fastest
Average of class Subnotebook
  (57.5 - 152.8, n=58, last 2 years)
108.8 fps +141%
MSI Prestige 14 A10SC-009
Intel Core i7-10710U, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 Max-Q
86.2 (74.9min) fps +91%
Average Intel UHD Graphics 620
  (42.4 - 90, n=92)
71.9 fps +59%
Acer Swift 7 SF714-52T-76MR
Intel Core i7-8500Y, Intel UHD Graphics 615
52.6 fps +17%
Asus ExpertBook B9450FA, i7-10510U
Intel Core i7-10510U, Intel UHD Graphics 620
45.1 (29.7min) fps
1366x768 med (1/3)
Average of class Subnotebook
  (53.7 - 137.8, n=58, last 2 years)
87.6 fps +131%
MSI Prestige 14 A10SC-009
Intel Core i7-10710U, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 Max-Q
76.5 (66.2min) fps +101%
Average Intel UHD Graphics 620
  (8.6 - 57.1, n=92)
43.5 fps +14%
Asus ExpertBook B9450FA, i7-10510U
Intel Core i7-10510U, Intel UHD Graphics 620
38 (14.7min) fps
Acer Swift 7 SF714-52T-76MR
Intel Core i7-8500Y, Intel UHD Graphics 615
17.4 fps -54%
1920x1080 high (2/3)
MSI Prestige 14 A10SC-009
Intel Core i7-10710U, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 Max-Q
71.2 (61.4min) fps +316%
Average of class Subnotebook
  (37.4 - 115, n=58, last 2 years)
65.5 fps +283%
Average Intel UHD Graphics 620
  (5.6 - 23.8, n=92)
19.7 fps +15%
Asus ExpertBook B9450FA, i7-10510U
Intel Core i7-10510U, Intel UHD Graphics 620
17.1 (8.6min) fps
Acer Swift 7 SF714-52T-76MR
Intel Core i7-8500Y, Intel UHD Graphics 615
11.3 fps -34%
low med. high ultra
Dota 2 Reborn (2015) 45.1 38 17.1 14.2

Emissions & Energy - quiet laptop with long battery life

System Noise

Noise characteristics
Noise characteristics

The Asus ExpertBook B9450FA is a very quiet notebook during everyday use. The fan is usually turned off or running at inaudible levels during office and internet use. Setting the fan profile to turbo in the MyAsus settings not only increases system performance slightly, but also makes the fan turn on a lot more often. The noise level remains tolerable but might be a little too loud for sensitive surroundings. 

Noise Level

Idle
30.1 / 30.1 / 30.1 dB(A)
Load
30.1 / 38.6 dB(A)
  red to green bar
 
 
30 dB
silent
40 dB(A)
audible
50 dB(A)
loud
 
min: dark, med: mid, max: light   Audix TM1, Arta (15 cm distance)   environment noise: 30.1 dB(A)
dB(A) 0102030405060708090Deep BassMiddle BassHigh BassLower RangeMidsHigher MidsLower HighsMid HighsUpper HighsSuper Highs2033.230.5313233.22531.132.329.933.431.13130.331.7313130.34028.929.427.72928.9503232.530.331.5326328.432.327.329.628.48026.325.426.125.126.310026.224.325.425.426.212525.625.524.425.125.616024.824.123.623.524.820023.523.422.222.223.525022.621.821.222.622.631522.220.920.621.422.240021.220.12020.421.250021.219.620.420.221.263021.118.318.618.621.180021.817.917.717.921.8100024.417.517.617.524.4125025.617.117.216.825.6160026.917.317.11726.9200027.217.11716.927.2250028.717.317.31728.7315029.417.517.417.429.4400029.517.917.617.429.5500027.51817.91827.5630025.518.418.218.225.5800022.918.718.418.522.91000019.718.818.718.619.71250018.918.918.818.818.91600019.219.419.219.119.2SPL38.630.330.230.238.6N2.81.41.41.42.8median 24.4median 18.7median 18.6median 18.6median 24.4Delta2.81.51.61.62.830.433.334.530.433.633.533.733.634.834.233.334.829.630.131.629.627.529.73027.528.127.126.728.132.327.726.232.326.825.424.726.8252424.62523.923.524.223.922.822.522.522.822.821.920.622.823.822.720.923.823.322.519.923.324.422.819.324.426.224.618.526.227.425.318.527.428.726.317.828.730.127.717.830.131.728.717.831.733.430.317.533.435.131.317.635.133.230.417.833.234.531.117.934.533.228.11833.228.324.71828.323.520.918.123.520.319.618.220.319.219.218.219.21919.2181943.540.330.343.54.13.21.44.1median 26.2median 24.6median 18.2median 26.24.23.11.24.2hearing rangehide median Fan NoiseAsus ExpertBook B9450FA, i7-10510UMSI Prestige 14 A10SC-009

Temperature

Stress test
Stress test

Our measurements show that the Asus ExpertBook reaches surface temperatures of 43.2 °C (~110 °F) max under load. The case does get a little warm to the touch in this scenario, particularly towards the back, but the device never becomes too hot to use on your lap.

The core temperatures increased to over 70 °C (158 °F) during our one-hour stress test and the clock rate of the processor dropped significantly below the base clock rate of 1.8 GHz. As it is very improbable that users will ever reach this level of load in normal use, users don't have to worry about drops in performance due to overly high core temperatures.

Max. Load
 38.9 °C
102 F
42 °C
108 F
38 °C
100 F
 
 35.4 °C
96 F
39.6 °C
103 F
32.8 °C
91 F
 
 29.8 °C
86 F
28.7 °C
84 F
27.8 °C
82 F
 
Maximum: 42 °C = 108 F
Average: 34.8 °C = 95 F
34 °C
93 F
43.1 °C
110 F
38 °C
100 F
30.2 °C
86 F
33.1 °C
92 F
34.3 °C
94 F
28 °C
82 F
30.9 °C
88 F
30.9 °C
88 F
Maximum: 43.1 °C = 110 F
Average: 33.6 °C = 92 F
Power Supply (max.)  36.9 °C = 98 F | Room Temperature 23.9 °C = 75 F | FIRT 550-Pocket
(±) The average temperature for the upper side under maximal load is 34.8 °C / 95 F, compared to the average of 30.7 °C / 87 F for the devices in the class Subnotebook.
(±) The maximum temperature on the upper side is 42 °C / 108 F, compared to the average of 35.9 °C / 97 F, ranging from 21.4 to 59 °C for the class Subnotebook.
(±) The bottom heats up to a maximum of 43.1 °C / 110 F, compared to the average of 39.4 °C / 103 F
(+) In idle usage, the average temperature for the upper side is 25.7 °C / 78 F, compared to the device average of 30.7 °C / 87 F.
(+) The palmrests and touchpad are cooler than skin temperature with a maximum of 29.8 °C / 85.6 F and are therefore cool to the touch.
(±) The average temperature of the palmrest area of similar devices was 28.3 °C / 82.9 F (-1.5 °C / -2.7 F).
Heat map while idling - top
Heat map while idling - top
Heat map while idling - bottom
Heat map while idling - bottom
Heat map under load - top
Heat map under load - top
Heat map under load - bottom
Heat map under load - bottom

Speakers

Speaker characteristics
Speaker characteristics

The speakers of the Asus laptop offer low volume but a fairly wide spectrum. This means that media can be consumed comfortably in quiet surroundings. However, we would still recommend headphones for prolonged use.

dB(A) 0102030405060708090Deep BassMiddle BassHigh BassLower RangeMidsHigher MidsLower HighsMid HighsUpper HighsSuper Highs2034.33234.32531.233.431.23131.13131.14027.52927.55031.631.531.66327.129.627.18026.425.126.410025.525.425.512531.425.131.416039.923.539.920041.622.241.625051.122.651.131556.321.456.340058.720.458.750059.920.259.963057.118.657.180056.217.956.2100061.517.561.5125061.616.861.6160062.51762.5200061.816.961.8250063.91763.9315061.917.461.9400059.817.459.8500060.81860.8630057.818.257.8800058.218.558.21000060.118.660.1125005218.8521600048.219.148.2SPL72.930.272.9N31.41.431.4median 58.2median 18.6median 58.2Delta6.81.66.835.335.132.931.831.83236.535.132.428.93328.936.328.848.32761.52752.924.860.92462.822.763.32269.521.267.82174.82075.919.472.718.97117.770.117.86917.671.817.668.117.671.417.673.717.670.417.571.617.671.617.669.617.459.717.583.630.662.51.5median 69.6median 17.84.72.4hearing rangehide median Pink NoiseAsus ExpertBook B9450FA, i7-10510UApple MacBook 12 (Early 2016) 1.1 GHz
Frequency diagram (checkboxes can be checked and unchecked to compare devices)
Asus ExpertBook B9450FA, i7-10510U audio analysis

(-) | not very loud speakers (62.5 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 17.2% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (13.3% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(+) | balanced mids - only 2.5% away from median
(+) | mids are linear (4.5% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(+) | balanced highs - only 2.3% away from median
(+) | highs are linear (4.5% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(±) | linearity of overall sound is average (19.9% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 58% of all tested devices in this class were better, 8% similar, 34% worse
» The best had a delta of 5%, average was 19%, worst was 53%
Compared to all devices tested
» 45% of all tested devices were better, 7% similar, 47% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%

Apple MacBook 12 (Early 2016) 1.1 GHz audio analysis

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

Power Consumption

We measured a maximum power consumption of 30 W under load. This makes the ExpertBook B9450FA a very energy-efficient device.

The included AC adapter has a rated output of 65 W and is sufficiently large to cover the needs of the Asus notebook at all times.

Power Consumption
Off / Standbydarklight 0.48 / 0.45 Watt
Idledarkmidlight 1.5 / 2.8 / 6.5 Watt
Load midlight 27 / 29 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 Asus ExpertBook keeps going for 16 hours and 30 minutes in our practical Wi-Fi test before needing to be connected to a power supply. This is a great result and shows that the 66-Wh battery is made the most of.

The included AC adapter fully recharges the notebook in just over two hours.

Battery Runtime - WiFi Websurfing
Asus ExpertBook B9450FA, i7-10510U
i7-10510U, UHD Graphics 620, 66 Wh
991 min
Average of class Subnotebook
  (303 - 1144, n=64, last 2 years)
623 min -37%
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon G7 20R1-000YUS
i7-10510U, UHD Graphics 620, 51 Wh
598 min -40%
Acer Swift 7 SF714-52T-76MR
i7-8500Y, UHD Graphics 615, 31.9 Wh
526 min -47%
MSI Prestige 14 A10SC-009
i7-10710U, GeForce GTX 1650 Max-Q, 52 Wh
351 min -65%
Battery Runtime
WiFi Websurfing
16h 31min

Pros

+ very good battery life
+ fast Wi-Fi
+ easily accessible storage device
+ robust and very light case

Cons

- no SD card reader
- keyboard layout not ideal
- RAM soldered on

Verdict - impressive Asus ExpertBook B9 despite some minor weaknesses

Review: Asus ExpertBook B9450FA. Test unit provided by Asus Germany
Review: Asus ExpertBook B9450FA. Test unit provided by Asus Germany

Our review of the Asus ExpertBook B9450FA reveals a lot of good features. The notebook is very light, and portable thanks to its extremely long battery life. It offers sufficient brightness and good colors and performance for a notebook of this kind. Features such as a manual shutter for the webcam and a number pad that is projected onto the clickpad complete the offer.

 Asus' ExpertBook B9 is a high-quality, ultra light notebook with an excellent battery life.

However, we do have a few points of criticism that might be decisive for some potential buyers. Asus has chosen not to include an SD card reader and we would have hoped for a WWAN option for a device that is as portable as this one. The fact that the RAM module is soldered on isn't great, but at least this can be justified with the device's ultra-slim build. At least there are two SSD slots available which are easily accessible as the bottom cover is easy to remove.

Asus ExpertBook B9450FA, i7-10510U - 05/19/2020 v7
Mike Wobker

Chassis
85 / 98 → 87%
Keyboard
79%
Pointing Device
91%
Connectivity
55 / 75 → 73%
Weight
75 / 20-75 → 100%
Battery
91%
Display
89%
Games Performance
51 / 78 → 66%
Application Performance
76 / 85 → 90%
Temperature
92%
Noise
97%
Audio
53 / 91 → 59%
Camera
37 / 85 → 44%
Average
75%
87%
Subnotebook - Weighted Average

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> Expert Reviews and News on Laptops, Smartphones and Tech Innovations > Reviews > Asus ExpertBook B9450FA Review: Ultra light and high endurance
Mike Wobker, 2020-05-20 (Update: 2020-05-21)