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MagyarAsus Transformer Book T300FA Convertible Review
For the original German review, see here.
Asus offers a 12.5-inch convertible with the Transformer Book T300FA-FE001H. A Core M processor powers the device, so the convertible can be cooled passively. We have already reviewed two members of the Transformer Book T300-series, the Transformer Book T300LA-C4006H and the Transformer Book T300 Chi. Despite the same name, the three convertibles do not have any similarities and represent independent models.
As a convertible, the Transformer Book faces rivals from various categories. These include convertibles like the Acer Aspire Switch 12 and the HP Pavilion 13-a093na x360, as well as 12.5 and 13.3-inch notebooks like the Acer Aspire V3-371 and the HP ProBook 430 G2 that are suitable competitors.
Case & Connectivity
The chassis of the Transformer Book is made entirely of plastic. The top of the base unit is silver-gray, while the back of the tablet element is covered in a dark blue. There is also an additional texture: Small grooves are in a circle pattern around the center. The Asus device does not reveal major issues in terms of the stability. The keyboard dock can be pushed in slightly underneath the touchpad and on both sides of the keyboard. In our opinion, the tablet element can be twisted rather easily.
The back of the tablet element is not fixed with screws but clipped in, which means it is quite easy to remove. It is recommended that you loosen the cover at the top of the tablet first which can be easily done with a fingernail. After that, you can use a sharp object to loosen the rest. A small maintenance hatch covers a 2.5-inch hard drive at the bottom of the keyboard dock. It could be easily replaced.
Connections to the outside world can be established via WLAN. The integrated Atheros module supports the WLAN standards 802.11 b/g/n and the connection between the Transformer Book and the router was stable all the time. We did not encounter any problems. The device has a webcam that produces rather blurry pictures. There is no camera at the back of the tablet element. Asus offers a two-year warranty for its convertible.
The tablet element comes with the usual ports. In addition to a micro-USB, you also get a MicroSD reader, a micro-HDMI output and a combined stereo jack. Asus has located two more USB ports (1x USB 3.0, 1x USB 2.0) on the keyboard dock.
Input Devices
Keyboard
The keyboard of the dock is not illuminated. The flat and roughened keys have a medium travel and clear pressure point, but the resistance could be firmer for our taste. Asus provides a keyboard that will be sufficient for everyday use, but prolific writers should consider another device.
Touchpad
The ClickPad with multi-touch support is roughly 10.5 x 6.2 centimeters (~4.1 x ~2.4 in), which means there is enough room for gesture control. The latter can be activated and deactivated individually. The smooth surface provides good gliding capabilities for the fingers. The pad has a small travel and a clear pressure point.
Touchscreen
The capacitive touchscreen of the Transformer Book works without any problems and executes inputs quickly. It supports Windows touch inputs with 10 touch points.
Display
The glossy 12.5-inch display of the Transformer Book has a native resolution of 1366x768 pixels. We can measure an average brightness of 239.2 cd/m². However, the contrast (889:1) and black value (0.28 cd/m²) are good.
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Brightness Distribution: 84 %
Center on Battery: 249 cd/m²
Contrast: 889:1 (Black: 0.28 cd/m²)
ΔE Color 1.96 | 0.5-29.43 Ø5
ΔE Greyscale 1.35 | 0.57-98 Ø5.3
45% AdobeRGB 1998 (Argyll 1.6.3 3D)
48.3% AdobeRGB 1998 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
70.4% sRGB (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
46.75% Display P3 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
Gamma: 2.44
With a coverage of 70.4% (sRGB) and 45 percent (AdobeRGB), the display of the Transformer Book cannot represent the color spaces AdobeRGB and sRGB. The colors are very impressive out of the box, and the preloaded color profile from Asus pays off. The display has an average DeltaE 2000 deviation of 1.96, so it is clearly in the target area (DeltaE < 3). We cannot determine a blue cast.
Asus has equipped the Transformer Book with an IPS panel that ensures wide viewing angles and the display content is visible from every position. You can use the device outdoors in the shade and on cloudy days.
| Asus Transformer Book T300FA-FE001H IPS 1366x768 | Asus Transformer Book T300 Chi IPS 2560x1440 | Asus Transformer Book T300LA-C4006H IPS 1920x1080 | Acer Aspire Switch 12 SW5-271-61X7 IPS 1920x1080 | HP Envy X2-j001ng IPS 1920x1080 | HP Pavilion 13-a093na x360 TN 1366x768 | Acer Aspire V3-371-58DJ IPS 1920x1080 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Display | 54% | 44% | -9% | ||||
| Display P3 Coverage | 46.75 | 77.4 66% | 70.2 50% | 42.65 -9% | |||
| sRGB Coverage | 70.4 | 97.5 38% | 96 36% | 64.2 -9% | |||
| AdobeRGB 1998 Coverage | 48.3 | 75.8 57% | 70.3 46% | 44.07 -9% | |||
| Screen | -16% | -53% | -39% | -87% | -237% | -121% | |
| Brightness middle | 249 | 368.1 48% | 229 -8% | 385 55% | 386 55% | 162 -35% | 246 -1% |
| Brightness | 239 | 375 57% | 220 -8% | 352 47% | 368 54% | 159 -33% | 236 -1% |
| Brightness Distribution | 84 | 92 10% | 79 -6% | 85 1% | 88 5% | 88 5% | 90 7% |
| Black Level * | 0.28 | 0.458 -64% | 0.27 4% | 0.48 -71% | 0.42 -50% | 0.4 -43% | 0.46 -64% |
| Contrast | 889 | 804 -10% | 848 -5% | 802 -10% | 919 3% | 405 -54% | 535 -40% |
| Colorchecker dE 2000 * | 1.96 | 4.36 -122% | 4.5 -130% | 4.3 -119% | 5.49 -180% | 12.61 -543% | 7.45 -280% |
| Greyscale dE 2000 * | 1.35 | 2.63 -95% | 5.52 -309% | 3.73 -176% | 8.05 -496% | 14.29 -959% | 9.13 -576% |
| Gamma | 2.44 90% | 2.08 106% | 2.42 91% | 2.66 83% | 2.37 93% | 2.85 77% | 2.29 96% |
| CCT | 6622 98% | 6743 96% | 6227 104% | 6785 96% | 6902 94% | 15478 42% | 9510 68% |
| Color Space (Percent of AdobeRGB 1998) | 45 | 66.94 49% | 62.59 39% | 41 -9% | |||
| Total Average (Program / Settings) | 19% /
3% | -5% /
-26% | -39% /
-39% | -87% /
-87% | -237% /
-237% | -65% /
-90% |
* ... smaller is better
Performance
Asus offers several 12.5-inch convertibles in the Transformer Book T300FA-series. The integrated Core M processor is powerful enough for common tasks. Our review unit is available for around 650 Euros (~$728), but Asus also offers other configurations.
Processor
Inside the Transformer Book is a Core M-5Y10 (Broadwell) dual-core processor. Thanks to the low TDP (4.5 watts), the CPU can be cooled passively. The processor runs with a nominal clock of 800 MHz, but it can be raised up to 2 GHz via Turbo, and the Turbo can be utilized. We can see 1.4 to 1.5 GHz in the Cinebench Multithread tests, while the single-thread tests are executed with 2 GHz. The behavior is the same on mains as well as battery power.
| Geekbench 3 | |
| 32 Bit Single-Core Score (sort by value) | |
| Asus Transformer Book T300FA-FE001H | |
| HP Pavilion 13-a093na x360 | |
| 32 Bit Multi-Core Score (sort by value) | |
| Asus Transformer Book T300FA-FE001H | |
| HP Pavilion 13-a093na x360 | |
| Sunspider - 1.0 Total Score (sort by value) | |
| Asus Transformer Book T300FA-FE001H | |
| Acer Aspire Switch 12 SW5-271-61X7 | |
| Acer Aspire Switch 12 SW5-271-61X7 | |
| HP Pavilion 13-a093na x360 | |
| Acer Aspire V3-371-58DJ | |
| Mozilla Kraken 1.1 - Total (sort by value) | |
| Asus Transformer Book T300FA-FE001H | |
| Acer Aspire Switch 12 SW5-271-61X7 | |
| HP Pavilion 13-a093na x360 | |
| Acer Aspire V3-371-58DJ | |
| Octane V2 - Total Score (sort by value) | |
| Asus Transformer Book T300FA-FE001H | |
| Acer Aspire Switch 12 SW5-271-61X7 | |
| Acer Aspire Switch 12 SW5-271-61X7 | |
| HP Pavilion 13-a093na x360 | |
| Acer Aspire V3-371-58DJ | |
| Peacekeeper - --- (sort by value) | |
| Asus Transformer Book T300FA-FE001H | |
| Acer Aspire Switch 12 SW5-271-61X7 | |
| HP Pavilion 13-a093na x360 | |
* ... smaller is better
System Performance
The system runs smoothly, without hiccups and we could not determine any problems. The results in the PCMark benchmarks are good. Increasing the system performance is not possible since users cannot replace or upgrade components like the memory and the solid-state disk.
| PCMark 7 Score | 3604 points | |
| PCMark 8 Home Score Accelerated v2 | 2514 points | |
| PCMark 8 Creative Score Accelerated v2 | 2663 points | |
| PCMark 8 Work Score Accelerated v2 | 3576 points | |
Help | ||
Storage Solution
The system drive is a solid-state disk from SanDisk with a total capacity of 64 GB. Users can use around 35 GB of this, the rest is occupied by the Windows installation and the recovery partition. The reading performance of the SSD is quite good, but the write speeds are clearly behind today's possibilities. Although you only get 35 GB free storage, the user of the Transformer Book will not have any capacity problems: Inside the keyboard dock is a conventional 2.5-inch hard drive with a capacity of 500 GB.
Graphics
The graphics chip of the Transformer Book is HD Graphics 5300. It supports DirectX 11.2 and runs with speeds of between 100 and 800 MHz. The results in the 3DMark benchmarks are on par for this GPU. Better results would be possible with a dual-channel memory configuration, but the user cannot influence this in the case of the Transformer Book.
| 3DMark 11 Performance | 658 points | |
| 3DMark Ice Storm Standard Score | 27040 points | |
| 3DMark Cloud Gate Standard Score | 2667 points | |
| 3DMark Fire Strike Score | 327 points | |
Help | ||
| 3DMark 06 - 1280x1024 Standard Score AA:0x AF:0x (sort by value) | |
| Asus Transformer Book T300 Chi | |
| Microsoft Surface Pro 3 | |
Gaming Performance
If you want to play games on the Transformer Book, then we recommend games from the Windows Store. These run without any problems even on comparatively weak hardware. Usually, 3D games cannot be played and only a few will run at a low resolution and with the lowest settings. A current game like “GTA V” will never reach playable frame rates.
| low | med. | high | ultra | |
| Tomb Raider (2013) | 31.5 | 16.3 | 10.7 | |
| Thief (2014) | 9.5 | 5.3 | 4.3 | |
| GRID: Autosport (2014) | 51.6 | 16.5 |
Emissions
System Noise
TThe Transformer Book is cooled passively, which means you will not hear any fan noise. However, the system is not completely silent: The conventional 2.5-inch hard drive inside the keyboard dock is audible, but very quiet. A completely silent device can only be realized when you replace the HDD with an SSD.
Noise Level
| Idle |
| / / dB(A) |
| HDD |
| 30.6 dB(A) |
| Load |
| / dB(A) |
 | ||
30 dB silent 40 dB(A) audible 50 dB(A) loud |
||
min:  , med:  , max:  Voltcraft sl-320 (15 cm distance) | ||
Temperature
The behavior of the Transformer Book in our stress test (Prime95 and FurMark run for at least one hour) is identical on both mains and battery power. The processor runs with 500 MHz and occasionally accelerated to 700 to 800 MHz in the first 10 to 20 minutes. Over the course of the test, it will be reduced by 100 to 200 MHz. The GPU starts with 200 to 300 MHz and is later throttled to 100 to 200 MHz. The convertible does not get too warm. We can measure temperatures higher than 40 °C (~104 °F) in the area around the processor.
(+) The maximum temperature on the upper side is 38.3 °C / 101 F, compared to the average of 35.3 °C / 96 F, ranging from 19.6 to 55.7 °C for the class Convertible.
(-) The bottom heats up to a maximum of 47.4 °C / 117 F, compared to the average of 36.7 °C / 98 F
(+) In idle usage, the average temperature for the upper side is 26.1 °C / 79 F, compared to the device average of 30.2 °C / 86 F.
(+) The palmrests and touchpad are reaching skin temperature as a maximum (34 °C / 93.2 F) and are therefore not hot.
(-) The average temperature of the palmrest area of similar devices was 28.1 °C / 82.6 F (-5.9 °C / -10.6 F).
| Asus Transformer Book T300FA-FE001H 5300/5Y10 | Asus Transformer Book T300 Chi 5300/5Y71 | Asus Transformer Book T300LA-C4006H 4400/4200U | Acer Aspire Switch 12 SW5-271-61X7 5300/5Y10c | HP Envy X2-j001ng 5300/5Y70 | HP Pavilion 13-a093na x360 R5 (Beema)/A8-6410 | Acer Aspire V3-371-58DJ 5500/5200U | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Heat | -5% | 0% | 2% | -2% | 16% | 13% | |
| Maximum Upper Side * | 38.3 | 43.4 -13% | 39.9 -4% | 43.6 -14% | 42.9 -12% | 31.1 19% | 34.5 10% |
| Maximum Bottom * | 47.4 | 43 9% | 40.6 14% | 43.4 8% | 43.5 8% | 36.3 23% | 40 16% |
| Idle Upper Side * | 29.5 | 32.4 -10% | 32.2 -9% | 27.5 7% | 32.2 -9% | 25.3 14% | 25.7 13% |
| Idle Bottom * | 29.4 | 31.6 -7% | 29.4 -0% | 27.6 6% | 27.9 5% | 26.7 9% | 26.1 11% |
* ... smaller is better
Speakers
The speakers of the Transformer Book are at the back of the tablet element. They create a somewhat rattling sound without any bias, and it is not comfortable to listen to them for prolonged periods. We can only recommend external speakers or headphones.
Energy Management
Power Consumption
The power consumption of the Transformer Book is normal for this hardware platform. The idle values are clearly under 10 watts – the Core M processor makes this possible. We can measure a maximum consumption of 13.6 watts during the stress test. The result is low because both the CPU and the GPU are heavily throttled.
| Off / Standby | 0 / 0.01 Watt |
| Idle | 3.7 / 6.1 / 6.4 Watt |
| Load |
14.3 / 13.6 Watt |
   
| |
| Asus Transformer Book T300FA-FE001H 5300/5Y10 | Asus Transformer Book T300LA-C4006H 4400/4200U | Acer Aspire Switch 12 SW5-271-61X7 5300/5Y10c | HP Envy X2-j001ng 5300/5Y70 | HP Pavilion 13-a093na x360 R5 (Beema)/A8-6410 | Acer Aspire V3-371-58DJ 5500/5200U | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Power Consumption | -32% | -25% | -10% | -24% | -40% | |
| Idle Minimum * | 3.7 | 3.3 11% | 4.1 -11% | 3 19% | 4 -8% | 2.7 27% |
| Idle Average * | 6.1 | 5.6 8% | 8 -31% | 6.3 -3% | 5.9 3% | 5 18% |
| Idle Maximum * | 6.4 | 7.8 -22% | 9.3 -45% | 7.9 -23% | 6.8 -6% | 7.3 -14% |
| Load Average * | 14.3 | 21.8 -52% | 16.3 -14% | 15.3 -7% | 19.1 -34% | 28.7 -101% |
| Load Maximum * | 13.6 | 28.1 -107% | 16.8 -24% | 18.2 -34% | 23.8 -75% | 31.5 -132% |
* ... smaller is better
Battery Runtime
The Transformer Book manages an idle runtime of 10:20 hours. The rival Acer Aspire Switch 12 (12:51 h) lasts longer. We check the idle runtime with the Battery Eater Reader Test: The display brightness is set to the lowest value, the energy-saving mode is active and the wireless modules are turned off. The battery of the Transformer Books lasts 2:17 hours under load, and once again, the Aspire (3:10 h) is more enduring. The runtime under load is determined by the Battery Eater Classic Test while the display brightness is set to maximum, the high-performance plan is active and the wireless modules are turned on.
The WLAN test determines a runtime of 5:11 hours for the Asus convertible, which is again shorter than the Aspire (6:00 h). This test automatically opens websites every 40 seconds. The Balanced profile is active and the display brightness is adjusted to around 150 cd/m². We check the runtime during video playback with a loop of the short movie “Big Buck Bunny” (H.264, 1920x1080 pixels) while the wireless modules are turned off and the display brightness is adjusted to around 150 cd/m². The Transformer Book manages a runtime of 5:29 hours and again, the Aspire (6:00 h) is better.
However, it is not surprising that the Aspire lasts slightly longer as it has a larger battery (Asus: 30 Wh; Acer: 36 Wh). The battery runtimes of the Transformer Book are average at best, and we expect more from a 13.3-inch device with a Core M processor. Even 13.3-inch notebooks like the Acer Aspire V3-371 are better in this respect.
| Asus Transformer Book T300FA-FE001H 5300/5Y10 | Asus Transformer Book T300 Chi 5300/5Y71 | Asus Transformer Book T300LA-C4006H 4400/4200U | Acer Aspire Switch 12 SW5-271-61X7 5300/5Y10c | HP Envy X2-j001ng 5300/5Y70 | HP Pavilion 13-a093na x360 R5 (Beema)/A8-6410 | Acer Aspire V3-371-58DJ 5500/5200U | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Battery Runtime | 0% | 42% | 20% | 17% | -2% | 51% | |
| Reader / Idle | 620 | 722 16% | 863 39% | 771 24% | 720 16% | 588 -5% | 1182 91% |
| H.264 | 329 | 592 80% | 378 15% | 311 -5% | |||
| WiFi v1.3 | 311 | 236 -24% | |||||
| Load | 137 | 150 9% | 146 7% | 161 18% | 144 5% | 151 10% | |
| WiFi | 653 | 360 | 323 | 348 | 585 |
Pros
Cons
Verdict
Asus' Transformer Book T300FA-FE001H is a 12.5-inch convertible. The device provides sufficient performance for common tasks and a fast solid-state disk ensures a smooth system performance. Thanks to the HDD in the keyboard dock, you get a lot of storage. The passive cooling of the device ensures a silent operation, only the HDD is audible. The input devices are not among the best on the market, but they will get the job done. We like the IPS display with the high contrast, but the average brightness affects the impression slightly.
Asus Transformer Book T300FA-FE001H
-
04/24/2015 v4(old)
Sascha Mölck
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