Asus F555LD-XX243H Notebook Review Update

Asus outfitted their F555LD with a glossy 15.6-inch display with a resolution of 1366x768 pixels. At 197.6 cd/m², the screen brightness is too low. The number here ought to be substantially above 200 cd/m². The panel's contrast (482:1) and black value (0.44 cd/m²) are respectable.

Asus' F555LD-XX243H is an inexpensive 15.6-inch all-round notebook. Thanks to its GeForce graphics core, it can even run some current video games. Our test device is available at present for about 500 Euros (~$613), but within their F555/X555 series, Asus offers innumerable versions with diverse components and prices.

The F555LD is outfitted with a Core i3-4010U (Haswell) dual-core processor that runs at a base clock speed of 1.7 GHz. There is no turbo. The processor supports Hyper-Threading (two threads can run on each core). Intel rates the TDP at 15 Watts. The CPU's full performance is available in both AC power mode and battery mode. The computer completed the Cinebench CPU benchmark tests at a constant 1.7 GHz. In terms of performance, the Core i3 is clearly weaker that the Core i5 processor at work in our review device's sister model, the X555LN. The Core i3 processor's AMD counterpart would be a Beema APU like the A8-6410 APU. This AMD processor can at least keep up with the Intel CPU in multi-threaded applications.

The notebook's system performance was stable -- we didn't run into any problems. The device's good results in the PCMark benchmark tests substantiate the positive impression the machine made on us. Of course, it is unsurprising that the F555LD's sister model, the X555LN-XO112H, achieved better results here; after all, the X555LN's processor and GPU are both stronger.

Asus installed a Seagate hard drive with a capacity of 1 TB in their F555LD. The drive runs at 5400 rpm and is split into an operating system partition (372 GB) and a data partition (537 GB), which is common for Asus notebooks. The transfer rates are typical for a 5400 rpm hard drive on today's market.

In the F555LD, Nvidia's switchable graphics technology (Optimus) helps to divvy up tasks between Intel's HD Graphics 4400 graphics core and Nvidia's GeForce 820M GPU. The GeForce chip takes care of applications with high graphics demands, like computer games, while the Intel core is responsible for everyday tasks and operation in battery mode. Both cores support at least DirectX 11. The GeForce core is an entry-level GPU and runs at a base clock speed of 625 MHz. Using turbo, the speed can be increased to up to 955 MHz. The results in the 3DMark benchmark are in the typical range for this graphics core. The AMD counterparts consist of the Radeon HD 8670M and Radeon R5 M240 cores.

The combination of a Core i3 processor and a GeForce 820M graphics core makes it possible for this computer to run a number of computer games. The hardware is sufficiently powerful to fluidly render most games in the display's native resolution at low-to-medium quality settings. However, for games that have high hardware demands, like Ryse: Son of Rome, the notebook's performance lacks what it takes to render the image fluidly.

The F555LD's sister model, the Asus X555LN-XO112H, offers more gaming performance -- at a higher price, of course (590 Euros; ~$724). If you're looking for a Full HD display, 580 Euros (~$712) will buy you the HP Pavilion 15-p008ng, whose hardware is almost identical to that of the X555LN. Both notebooks are equipped with a GeForce 840M graphics core.

System Noise

In idle mode, the fan runs continuously. In quiet environments, a constant, quiet whirring is audible, but the noise isn't bothersome. Under load, the fan really gets going. During the stress test, we measured a sound pressure level of 46.3 dB. Comparing this number with the case temperatures, it's clear that the fan could behave more conservatively. The case only warms up moderately, so the fan could easily run a little slower without there being any risk of the machine overheating.

We didn't run into any surprises in the realm of energy consumption. As per usual with Haswell notebooks, the power usage in idle mode lay under 10 Watts. During the stress test, the energy consumption rate increased to 40.5 Watts. Considering the hardware platform, this is a normal number. The Dell Inspiron 15 3542-2293, one of the F555LD's competitors, has a stronger processor and thus required a somewhat higher amount of energy during the stress test.

In our WLAN test, which is designed to simulate practical, everyday use, we run a script that automatically loads a new webpage every 40 seconds. The energy-saving profile is active and the display brightness is set to about 150 cd/m². With these parameters, the Asus notebook reached a battery run time of 4:14 h, positioning itself between the Lenovo IdeaPad Z50-75 (2:35 h) and the Dell Inspiron 15 3542-2293 (6:11 h).

Asus' F555LD-XX243H is an inexpensive, all-round notebook. The computer offers enough performance for everyday applications, and its GeForce core makes it possible to run computer games as well. Thanks to the 1 TB hard drive, there's plenty of storage space -- and straight from the factory, Asus outfits the computer with 8 GB of working memory. The computer barely warms up at all, and its battery life is respectable. Overall, the display is alright. The brightness could be higher, but the color reproduction is good.

The Dell Inspiron 15 3542-2293 serves as an alternative to our review device, especially if you're looking for the longest possible battery life and more CPU performance. The Dell computer offers these two features for 20 Euros (~$24) more than the Asus notebook. In our opinion, the Lenovo Z50-75 can't really compete with the F555LD and the Inspiron, as it comes in behind its rivals in almost every discipline. Its price of 430 Euros (~$528, with a Windows operating system) or 370 Euros (~$454, without a Windows operating system) is its only intriguing attribute.