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Dell Latitude 14 E7450 Ultrabook Review

Evolution instead of revolution. The Dell Latitude is equipped with Intel's latest CPU generation Broadwell and wants to get the top spot in the business segment, currently occupied by the Lenovo ThinkPad T440s. What are the advantages of the modern 14-nm technology for the user and does the 14-inch notebook have any other highlights – we tested it.

For the original German review, see here.

The launch of a new CPU generation is a good chance for many notebook manufacturers to rework their own product portfolio. Therefore, it is not really surprising that there is currently lots of news about new devices that are focused on Intel's latest Broadwell chips with 14-nm architecture.

Dell also uses this opportunity, and reworks some of its most popular products, including the Latitude-series that are designed for business users. This review is focused on the 14-inch model Latitude 14 E7450.

Depending on the configuration, prices range between 1069 and 1429 Euros in Germany (~$1225 and ~$1637) – but VAT, shipping (currently free) and additional extras from the online seller are not included yet. Our review unit, with a Core i5-5300U processor, 8 GB of RAM, 128 GB SSD and a Full HD display is available for a considerable net price of 1600 Euros (~$1833). The E7450 is certainly no bargain, but the pricing is also similar to the Lenovo ThinkPad T440s or the HP EliteBook 840 G1. These devices have not had the Broadwell refresh yet, so we have to compare the Latitude with the current Haswell rivals at this point.

Overview Latitude 14 E7450 configurations (excerpt):

CPU

Core i5-4210U Core i5-5300U Core i5-5300U Core i5-5300U

GPU

HD Graphics 4400 HD Graphics 5500 HD Graphics 5500 HD Graphics 5500

RAM

4 GB DDR3L 4 GB DDR3L 8 GB DDR3L 8 GB DDR3L

Storage

500 GB (SSHD) 128 GB (SSD) 128 GB (SSD) 256 GB (SSD)

Resolution

1366 x 768 pixels 1366 x 768 pixels 1920 x 1080 pixels 1920 x 1080 pixels

Price

starting at 1,069 Euros + VAT starting at 1,229 Euros + VAT starting at 1,339 Euros + VAT starting at 1,429 Euros + VAT

Case

Massive metal hinges
Massive metal hinges

It is a matter of taste whether you think the matte black chassis is dull and boring or simple and elegant, but one thing is certain: Far more important than the design, are the qualities of a professional notebook. Dell has done quite a good job in this regard and designed a chassis made of magnesium and other metals. The device was even tested according to military standards (MIL-STD-810G), but the E7450 is still quite light at 1.64 kilograms (~3.6 lb) and even beats the rivals from Lenovo (1.7 kg; ~3.7 lb) and HP (1.78 kg; ~3.9 lb). Combined with compact dimensions, the device is certainly a good mobile companion for your next business trip.

However, the rather slim construction does not only have advantages: Critical users might not be happy with the slight flexibility of the base unit, but we do not want to overstate this. There are no creaking or clattering sounds even under a lot of pressure, this is not a matter of course even in this price range. We also want to praise the above-average stability of the display, including the precise hinges that had already left a great impression in the review of its similarly constructed predecessor model.

Unlike the so-called unibody cases, the chassis of the Latitude consists of multiple individual parts. The manufacturer has assembled them very well, and we can hardly find any uneven gaps, which is an example of the high build quality of the device in all areas. We also like the haptics of the Ultrabook with its soft-touch surfaces, even though they collect dirt quite quickly.

Connectivity

Except for a single USB 3.0 port and the headset jack, there are no ports on the sides of the E7450 – the manufacturer has located them at the rear to improve the handling. Cables and bulky devices do not really affect the operation at this position, but it can be more complicated to attach everything.

The port variety does not really leave anything to be desired: As well as two additional USB 3.0 ports, there are two digital video ports (HDMI and Mini-DisplayPort) and the Gigabit LAN. You might overlook the SD card reader at first glance since its location low down on the left side of the case is not really perfect.

Dell also offers several optional accessories; starting with a simple VGA adaptor all the way up to real docking stations. The corresponding port at the bottom of the device has not changed, so you can still use old docking solutions like the Dell E/Port Replicator II.

Front: No ports
Front: No ports
Left side: Fan exhaust, SD card reader, SmartCard reader
Left side: Fan exhaust, SD card reader, SmartCard reader
Rear: Gbit LAN, Mini-DisplayPort, USB 3.0, HDMI, USB 3.0, AC power
Rear: Gbit LAN, Mini-DisplayPort, USB 3.0, HDMI, USB 3.0, AC power
Right side: Headset port, USB 3.0, Kensington Lock
Right side: Headset port, USB 3.0, Kensington Lock

Communication

Great WLAN performance
Great WLAN performance

In parallel with the introduction of the first Broadwell models, Intel has also launched a new WLAN module, Dual Band Wireless-AC 7265. Like the predecessor, Wireless-AC 7260, it supports the WLAN standards 802.11a/b/g/n/ac in 2.4 and 5 GHz networks as well as Bluetooth 4.0. Even though the nominal performance specifications have not changed (2x2 dual-stream, up to 876 Mbps), Intel still promises improved transfer rates combined with reduced power consumption – we obviously verified this immediately.

The results are actually quite good: We managed to transfer files with an impressive transfer rate of 43 MB/s in combination with a TP-Link Archer C7 router. This is a small increase compared to earlier reviews with the Wireless-AC 7260. These speeds are obviously only possible in good conditions (802.11ac dual-stream, short distance, no walls), but the performance of the wireless module was also impressive at a longer distance, and we always had a stable and fast connection. You can use the optional WWAN module (Qualcomm Gobi 4G/LTE, extra 69 Euros, ~$79) if there is no wireless network nearby. 

Unfortunately, the picture quality of the webcam, which still has a maximum resolution of 0.9 Megapixels, is not a revelation: Washed-out colors, lack of details and visible picture noise make it only usable for chat applications like Skype at most. We liked the great array microphones with the excellent voice quality much better.

Security 

Business customers that want certain security features should pay close attention when they select the model. Many features like a fingerprint reader, SmartCard reader, NFC or Computrace support are not standard for all configurations – only a Trusted Platform Module (TPM) is always included. Detailed explanations about the individual functions are available in our FAQ.

Accessories

In addition to the power adaptor and some brochures, the Latitude comes with an 8 GB USB stick that can be used as a recovery drive for the preloaded Windows 8.1 Pro. Other manufacturers usually only include a DVD that requires an additional external optical drive – it is nice that Dell thought about this.

The software installations on the system are clean, and there are no annoying trial versions. There are some preloaded tools from the manufacturer, but they are primarily designed to maintain the device, for example, to create a recovery or manage wireless networks. Dell trusts Microsoft's Windows Defender for protection against viruses and other malware. This application – unlike many third party apps – uses pleasantly few resources and is not obtrusive.

Maintenance

Comprehensive maintainability
Comprehensive maintainability

After the removal of the battery, you just have to loosen two screws before you can remove the large bottom cover of the notebook. After that you have access to the two DDR3 memory slots (one occupied), a 2.5-inch tray for storage drives (occupied), the WLAN module as well as a free spot for a WWAN card (M.2). Exemplary: Dell has already integrated the necessary antenna cables. It is just as easy to clean the fan.

Warranty

Like Lenovo or HP, Dell also offers a three-year warranty for its expensive business models, so the high retail price is at least somewhat compensated. As usual, you can extend the service pack at a price – even a 24/7 phone support for up to 5 years is possible if you can afford it (around 280 Euros; ~$321).

Input Devices

Keyboard

So far, Dell has been using conventional keyboards to equip its Latitude-series, but now they have changed to the popular chiclet design. The 14 x 14 mm (~0.55 x 0.55 in) large keys are slightly concave, that ensure high accuracy and you also get a two-stage LED backlight. Our German readers might be rather surprised when they see the unusual layout since our review unit uses the US layout, but you can obviously order other versions (German, French).

But enough of the design features – what about the subjective typing experience? We definitely want to praise the firm and precise pressure point, which does not suffer from bouncing, even in the center of the keyboard. In addition, there is a generous travel span, which is just slightly shorter than the current ThinkPads – basically it is a matter of taste which one you prefer. Another positive aspect is the very restrained noise development; the keyboard is very quiet even during fast typing.

Touchpad & TrackPoint

Below the keyboard is the touchpad with increased dimensions of 10.0 x 5.4 centimeters (~4 x 2.1 in) that supports gestures with two, three or four fingers. Fingers have no problem to glide above the smooth surface, which can be automatically deactivated when you use the keyboard to avoid accidental inputs. The ergonomics benefit from Dell's decision to equip the E7450 with dedicated mouse buttons and a firm stroke - you know what we mean if you have ever used drag and drop commands on a modern ClickPad.

You can also use an additional TrackPoint if you have decided to equip the notebook with the backlit keyboard at an additional cost of 20 Euros (~$23). We do not want to talk about the pros and cons compared to a touchpad, but the small joystick does a great job as an optional mouse replacement. Precision and response are just as flawless as the three smooth buttons; the middle one can be used for scrolling.

Keyboard
Keyboard
Touchpad and Trackpoint
Touchpad and Trackpoint

Display

Even though it is the year 2015, the standard display for the Latitude 14 is still an antiquated WXGA panel with a meager resolution of 1366x768 pixels. We definitely think you would save money on the wrong end with this panel. The optional Full HD panel is much more interesting: You can almost see twice the amount of information with 1920x1080 pixels and the pixel density has increased from a low value of 112 ppi to a much more comfortable 157 ppi. This is not only a visual improvement, but the productivity also benefits from the additional screen.

The optional and more expensive premium displays usually also have a better picture quality, more powerful background illuminations and higher resolutions. We have not tested the WXGA model so far, but at least the renewed Full HD version once again manages quite a good result with 257 cd/m². Both the EliteBook 840 G1 (280 cd/m²) as well as the ThinkPad T440s (282 cd/m²) are slightly brighter than the E7450, while the AsusPro BU401LA (209 cd/m²) falls noticeably behind. The somewhat uneven brightness distribution of our review sample is subjectively not an issue and we could not see any annoying screen bleeding.

230
cd/m²
272
cd/m²
287
cd/m²
233
cd/m²
280
cd/m²
293
cd/m²
219
cd/m²
234
cd/m²
268
cd/m²
Distribution of brightness
AUO B140HAN tested with X-Rite i1Pro 2
Maximum: 293 cd/m² (Nits) Average: 257.3 cd/m²
Brightness Distribution: 75 %
Center on Battery: 280 cd/m²
Contrast: 933:1 (Black: 0.3 cd/m²)
ΔE Color 3.45 | 0.5-29.43 Ø5
ΔE Greyscale 3.35 | 0.57-98 Ø5.3
92% sRGB (Argyll 1.6.3 3D)
60% AdobeRGB 1998 (Argyll 1.6.3 3D)
67.7% AdobeRGB 1998 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
92.4% sRGB (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
66.6% Display P3 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
Gamma: 2.37
Dell Latitude E7450Lenovo ThinkPad T440s 20AQ006BGEHP EliteBook 840 G1
Display
-4%
-35%
Display P3 Coverage
66.6
68.2
2%
41.65
-37%
sRGB Coverage
92.4
86.4
-6%
62.3
-33%
AdobeRGB 1998 Coverage
67.7
63.2
-7%
43.08
-36%
Screen
4%
-71%
Brightness middle
280
304
9%
280
0%
Brightness
257
293
14%
280
9%
Brightness Distribution
75
86
15%
87
16%
Black Level *
0.3
0.36
-20%
0.69
-130%
Contrast
933
844
-10%
406
-56%
Colorchecker dE 2000 *
3.45
3.45
-0%
9.41
-173%
Greyscale dE 2000 *
3.35
1.94
42%
10.19
-204%
Gamma
2.37 93%
2.58 85%
2.49 88%
CCT
6940 94%
6399 102%
12671 51%
Color Space (Percent of AdobeRGB 1998)
60
51
-15%
40
-33%
Color Space (Percent of sRGB)
92
Total Average (Program / Settings)
0% / 2%
-53% / -62%

* ... smaller is better

sRGB coverage (92%)
sRGB coverage (92%)
AdobeRGB coverage
AdobeRGB coverage

The technical specifications of the display are similar to the IPS panel of the Lenovo T440s (AUO B140HAN). The rich black value (0.3 cd/m²) results in an excellent contrast ratio of 933:1 – TN panels usually only manage values between 200 and 500:1. This means the user gets a very rich and vivid picture, so the Latitude can also be used for multimedia purposes.

You get quite an accurate display ex-works. Colors and grayscale are close to their ideal values with DeltaE deviations of around 3.5, and our additional calibration can lower the results by another 1.5 points (DeltaE colors: 2.1; grayscale: 1.8). At the same time it adjusts the color temperature, which is a little too cool in the factory settings. Only professional graphics artists or photographers will criticize the limited color space, even though 92% sRGB (Correction 20.5.2015 due to a wrong sRGB-reference-profile) and 60% AdobeRGB are more than acceptable for this type of notebook.

ColorChecker (pre-calibration)
ColorChecker (pre-calibration)
Saturation Sweeps (pre-calibration)
Saturation Sweeps (pre-calibration)
Grayscale (pre-calibration)
Grayscale (pre-calibration)
ColorChecker (calibrated)
ColorChecker (calibrated)
Saturation Sweeps (calibrated)
Saturation Sweeps (calibrated)
Grayscale (calibrated)
Grayscale (calibrated)

Thanks to the anti-reflective coating, reflections are not really a problem for the bright display, so you can easily see the picture contents outdoors. However, you would like to have an even brighter panel under direct sunlight – but you would need more than 300 cd/m² for a visible difference, and hardly any rival can manage such a luminance either.

Outdoor use (cloudy)
Viewing angles Dell Latitude 14 E7450
Viewing angles Dell Latitude 14 E7450

One reason for the popularity of IPS displays is the high picture quality when you look at the display from the side. The AUO panel of our review unit manages to display a picture almost without distortions even with angles of around 45 degrees. A lower contrast and color accuracy are only an issue when you exceed this value, from an angle above in particular. Compared to cheap TN panels, you do not have to adjust the opening angle of the display with each head movement.

Performance

Maximum Turbo Boost 2.9 GHz
Maximum Turbo Boost 2.9 GHz

We managed to get an impression of Intel's new 14-nm architecture "Broadwell Core-M platform, after it was launched last autumn. It is now also available in several LV (low voltage) and ULV (ultra low voltage) models for more powerful Ultrabooks. Dell has equipped the Latitude E7450 with the Core i5-5300U from the comprehensive list of available models. It is a fast upper-mainstream dual-core processor with a TDP of 15 Watts. One noticeable difference compared to the predecessor is the much higher nominal clock of 2.3 GHz, whereas the individual Turbo limits – 2.7 GHz for two cores, 2.9 GHz for one core – were barely raised.

The integrated graphics unit is new as well, in the case of the Core i5-5300U, the HD Graphics 5500. This medium version is referred to as "GT2" configuration and has 24 Execution Units that are clocked with 300 - 900 MHz. Compared to the previous HD Graphics 4400 (20 EUs), the HD 5500 is not only supposed to be significantly faster, but it also comes with new features such as full support for DirectX 11.2.

The memory module of our review unit is quite generous with 8 GB DDR3L-1600 of RAM, but the manufacturer has integrated only one module. As a result, the memory controller only works in the slower single-channel mode, which can affect the 3D performance significantly. But it also makes it easier to upgrade the memory since there is a second empty slot. We think the 128 GB SSD is rather small, but there are other configurations with larger drives (currently up to 256 GB) to choose from.

System information Dell Latitude E7450

Processor

Steady clocks with single-core ...
Steady clocks with single-core ...
... and multi-core load.
... and multi-core load.

We have already mentioned that Broadwell does not have much higher clocks than comparable Haswell models, at least when we look at the Turbo Boost. But the new generation does have two big advantages: First, thanks to the 14-nm manufacturing process, the power consumption has been reduced, so the TDP does not limit the clock so often. Intel has also been able to increase the per-MHz performance by another 5% – not a huge improvement, but still respectable when you consider the high level of the predecessor.

As expected, the Core i5-5300U can maintain the full 2.7 GHz even under continuous load for both cores, and it can even exceed a Core i7-4600U or i7-4650U in longer benchmarks. The advantage over the Core i5-4300U is between 5 to 10%, depending on the scenario and test device. The Broadwell chip runs with 2.9 GHz in single-thread benchmarks and is roughly between the Core i5 and Core i7 chips from the Haswell generation.

Dell does not restrict the clocks artificially on battery power, so you can use the full performance of the processor on the road.

Cinebench R11.5
CPU Single 64Bit (sort by value)
Intel Core i5-5300U
HD Graphics 5500, 5300U, Samsung SSD PM851 mSATA 128 GB
1.35 Points
Intel Core i7-4600U
GeForce GT 730M, 4600U, Samsung SSD 840 250GB MZ7TD256HAFV
1.46 Points +8%
Intel Core i7-4650U
HD Graphics 5000, 4650U, Liteonit LCS-256M6S
1.42 Points +5%
Intel Core i5-4300U
HD Graphics 4400, 4300U, Samsung SSD SM841 128GB
1.23 Points -9%
Intel Core i5-4200U
HD Graphics 4400, 4200U, Seagate Laptop Ultrathin ST500LT032
1.11 Points -18%
CPU Multi 64Bit (sort by value)
Intel Core i5-5300U
HD Graphics 5500, 5300U, Samsung SSD PM851 mSATA 128 GB
3.07 Points
Intel Core i7-4600U
GeForce GT 730M, 4600U, Samsung SSD 840 250GB MZ7TD256HAFV
2.95 Points -4%
Intel Core i7-4650U
HD Graphics 5000, 4650U, Liteonit LCS-256M6S
2.9 Points -6%
Intel Core i5-4300U
HD Graphics 4400, 4300U, Samsung SSD SM841 128GB
2.77 Points -10%
Intel Core i5-4200U
HD Graphics 4400, 4200U, Seagate Laptop Ultrathin ST500LT032
2.47 Points -20%
Cinebench R15
CPU Single 64Bit (sort by value)
Intel Core i5-5300U
HD Graphics 5500, 5300U, Samsung SSD PM851 mSATA 128 GB
117 Points
Intel Core i7-4600U
GeForce GT 730M, 4600U, Samsung SSD 840 250GB MZ7TD256HAFV
129 Points +10%
Intel Core i7-4650U
HD Graphics 5000, 4650U, Liteonit LCS-256M6S
124 Points +6%
Intel Core i5-4300U
HD Graphics 4400, 4300U, Samsung SSD SM841 128GB
105 Points -10%
CPU Multi 64Bit (sort by value)
Intel Core i5-5300U
HD Graphics 5500, 5300U, Samsung SSD PM851 mSATA 128 GB
280 Points
Intel Core i7-4600U
GeForce GT 730M, 4600U, Samsung SSD 840 250GB MZ7TD256HAFV
272 Points -3%
Intel Core i7-4650U
HD Graphics 5000, 4650U, Liteonit LCS-256M6S
271 Points -3%
Intel Core i5-4300U
HD Graphics 4400, 4300U, Samsung SSD SM841 128GB
253 Points -10%
X264 HD Benchmark 4.0
Pass 1 (sort by value)
Intel Core i5-5300U
HD Graphics 5500, 5300U, Samsung SSD PM851 mSATA 128 GB
92.1 fps
Intel Core i7-4650U
HD Graphics 5000, 4650U, Liteonit LCS-256M6S
95.5 fps +4%
Intel Core i5-4200U
HD Graphics 4400, 4200U, Seagate Laptop Ultrathin ST500LT032
77.5 fps -16%
Pass 2 (sort by value)
Intel Core i5-5300U
HD Graphics 5500, 5300U, Samsung SSD PM851 mSATA 128 GB
17.51 fps
Intel Core i7-4650U
HD Graphics 5000, 4650U, Liteonit LCS-256M6S
18.37 fps +5%
Intel Core i5-4200U
HD Graphics 4400, 4200U, Seagate Laptop Ultrathin ST500LT032
14.6 fps -17%
Cinebench R10 Shading 32Bit
4555
Cinebench R10 Rendering Multiple CPUs 32Bit
9396
Cinebench R10 Rendering Single 32Bit
4465
Cinebench R10 Shading 64Bit
4517 Points
Cinebench R10 Rendering Multiple CPUs 64Bit
12043 Points
Cinebench R10 Rendering Single CPUs 64Bit
5970 Points
Cinebench R11.5 CPU Multi 64Bit
3.07 Points
Cinebench R11.5 CPU Single 64Bit
1.35 Points
Cinebench R11.5 OpenGL 64Bit
18.29 fps
Cinebench R15 Ref. Match 64Bit
98 %
Cinebench R15 OpenGL 64Bit
24.99 fps
Cinebench R15 CPU Multi 64Bit
280 Points
Cinebench R15 CPU Single 64Bit
117 Points
Help

Storage Devices

AS SSD benchmark
AS SSD benchmark

It is interesting that the Latitude E7450 uses a compact mSATA-SSD that is mounted in the 2.5-inch tray of the notebook with an adaptor. This does not result in technical limitations: mSATA uses the same SATA 6Gb/s protocol as a conventional SATA port, so there should not be any performance restrictions. 

The integrated SSD Samsung PM851 confirms this with an excellent read performance of around 467 MB/s as well as high transfer rates with small 4K files. On the other hand, the low sequential write performance is disappointing: It seems that the smallest SSD of the series does not use all the channels from the flash controller, which would explain the comparatively bad result in this discipline. Still, large sequential write transfers are quite rare in practice.

Samsung SSD PM851 mSATA 128 GB
Transfer Rate Minimum: 133.5 MB/s
Transfer Rate Maximum: 436.3 MB/s
Transfer Rate Average: 363.2 MB/s
Access Time: 0.1 ms
Burst Rate: 37.7 MB/s
CPU Usage: 3.3 %

System Performance

According to the results of the synthetic PCMark-series, the system performance of the Latitude is clearly behind the older rivals. However, many of the tests heavily depend on the SSD performance, so the E7450 is affected by the low write performance of the Samsung drive – which is why we want to evaluate the actual performance impression.

We have to admit: Hardly any user will notice the slightly higher CPU performance compared to a Haswell-based Ultrabook, especially since not many applications can use the full potential of the Core i5-5300U. Windows and applications launch very quickly thanks to the SSD, and the system with 8 GB of RAM has sufficient performance reserves for multi-tasking. There will not be any problems in the foreseeable future if you do not edit 4K videos on a regular basis or use very demanding applications.

PCMark 7 - Score (sort by value)
Dell Latitude E7450
HD Graphics 5500, 5300U, Samsung SSD PM851 mSATA 128 GB
4650 Points
Lenovo Thinkpad T440s 20AQ0069GE
HD Graphics 4400, 4600U, Samsung SSD 840 250GB MZ7TD2560/0L9
5022 Points +8%
Dell Latitude E7440
HD Graphics 4400, 4300U, Samsung SSD SM841 128GB
4535 Points -2%
HP EliteBook 840 G1
HD Graphics 4400, 4600U, Intel SSD Pro 1500 Series SSDSC2BF180A4H
5303 Points +14%
Asus ASUSPRO Advanced BU401LA-CZ020G
HD Graphics 5000, 4650U, Liteonit LCS-256M6S
5190 Points +12%
PCMark 8 - Home Score Accelerated v2 (sort by value)
Dell Latitude E7450
HD Graphics 5500, 5300U, Samsung SSD PM851 mSATA 128 GB
2932 Points
HP EliteBook 840 G1
HD Graphics 4400, 4600U, Intel SSD Pro 1500 Series SSDSC2BF180A4H
3610 Points +23%
Asus ASUSPRO Advanced BU401LA-CZ020G
HD Graphics 5000, 4650U, Liteonit LCS-256M6S
2711 Points -8%
PCMark 7 Score
4650 points
PCMark 8 Home Score Accelerated v2
2932 points
PCMark 8 Creative Score Accelerated v2
3459 points
PCMark 8 Work Score Accelerated v2
4002 points
Help

Graphics

Before we have a closer look at the performance of the new HD Graphics 5500, we want to give you a small overview about the various configurations of the Broadwell GPU. There are three versions in the 15-Watt segment: The low-end version HD Graphics (Broadwell) with 12 EUs (Celeron/Pentium), the HD Graphics 5500 usually with 24 EUs (Core i3/i5/i7), and the top version HD Graphics 6000 with 48 EUs (Core i5/i7).

HD Graphics (Broadwell) HD Graphics 5500 HD Graphics 6000 HD Graphics 4400

Generation

Broadwell Broadwell Broadwell Haswell

Execution Units

12 EUs 24 EUs 48 EUs 20 EUs

Manufacturing process

14 Nanometers 14 Nanometers 14 Nanometers 22 Nanometers

TDP Rating

15 Watts 15 Watts 15 Watts 15 Watts

The maximum clocks of the HD 5500 are slightly lower compared to the predecessor, so the performance advantage in the various 3DMarks is quite small. Even with a second memory module, the increase compared to an HD 4400 (dual-channel memory as well) is limited to only 5 to 20%. Overall, even a low-end dedicated GPU like the GeForce 820M clearly beats the Broadwell GPU.

3DMark 11 - 1280x720 Performance GPU (sort by value)
Dell Latitude E7450
HD Graphics 5500 (Single-Channel)
927 Points
Dell Latitude E7450
HD Graphics 5500 (Dual-Channel)
1060 Points +14%
HP EliteBook 840 G1
HD Graphics 4400 (Dual-Channel)
868 Points -6%
Asus ASUSPRO Advanced BU401LA-CZ020G
HD Graphics 5000 (Dual-Channel)
1032 Points +11%
Acer Aspire E1-772G 54208G1TMnsk
GeForce 820M
1253 Points +35%
3DMark
1280x720 Cloud Gate Standard Graphics (sort by value)
Dell Latitude E7450
HD Graphics 5500 (Single-Channel)
5474 Points
Dell Latitude E7450
HD Graphics 5500 (Dual-Channel)
6294 Points +15%
HP EliteBook 840 G1
HD Graphics 4400 (Dual-Channel)
5971 Points +9%
Asus ASUSPRO Advanced BU401LA-CZ020G
HD Graphics 5000 (Dual-Channel)
5774 Points +5%
Acer Aspire E1-772G 54208G1TMnsk
GeForce 820M
5936 Points +8%
1920x1080 Fire Strike Graphics (sort by value)
Dell Latitude E7450
HD Graphics 5500 (Single-Channel)
660 Points
Dell Latitude E7450
HD Graphics 5500 (Dual-Channel)
758 Points +15%
HP EliteBook 840 G1
HD Graphics 4400 (Dual-Channel)
710 Points +8%
Asus ASUSPRO Advanced BU401LA-CZ020G
HD Graphics 5000 (Dual-Channel)
697 Points +6%
Acer Aspire E1-772G 54208G1TMnsk
GeForce 820M
871 Points +32%
3DMark Vantage - 1280x1024 P GPU no PhysX (sort by value)
Dell Latitude E7450
HD Graphics 5500 (Single-Channel)
3429 Points
Dell Latitude E7450
HD Graphics 5500 (Dual-Channel)
4201 Points +23%
HP EliteBook 840 G1
HD Graphics 4400 (Dual-Channel)
3554 Points +4%
Acer Aspire E1-772G 54208G1TMnsk
GeForce 820M
4254 Points +24%
3DMark 06 Standard Score
6143 points
3DMark Vantage P Result
4095 points
3DMark 11 Performance
1023 points
3DMark Ice Storm Standard Score
43346 points
3DMark Cloud Gate Standard Score
4655 points
3DMark Fire Strike Score
619 points
3DMark Fire Strike Extreme Score
283 points
Help

The greatest advantage of the HD Graphics 5500 is the performance in multimedia applications: Playback of our 4K sample video (H.264 encoded) is not a problem and only results in minimum load of the CPU and you also get a very powerful hardware encoder with Quick Sync. Currently, the playback of H.265 content is more problematic – despite the activated hardware acceleration in the VLC Player, the 4K trailer stuttered badly. However, this should be a software issue since according to Intel, Broadwell should be able to handle this codec smoothly.

Smooth H.264 playback, ...
Smooth H.264 playback, ...
... (driver) issues with H.265
... (driver) issues with H.265

Gaming Performance

Even though games are not that important for a business notebook, we still want to evaluate the HD Graphics 5500 in this section. The result is quite clear: Much more than 1024x768 pixels and low details are not possible in current games; some very demanding games on the other hand, are not running smoothly even with these settings. If you still want to play occasionally, you should definitely use a dual-channel memory configuration (plus 20 to 25%). We will have to wait for other review units before we can give you exact numbers for the difference between the HD 5500 and HD 4400 – we would currently say around 15% as a rough estimate.

Tomb Raider
1024x768 Low Preset (sort by value)
Dell Latitude E7450
HD Graphics 5500 (Single-Channel); 5300U; Samsung SSD PM851 mSATA 128 GB
45 fps
Dell Latitude E7450
HD Graphics 5500 (Dual-Channel); 5300U; Samsung SSD PM851 mSATA 128 GB
56.8 fps +26%
HP EliteBook 840 G1
HD Graphics 4400, 4600U, Intel SSD Pro 1500 Series SSDSC2BF180A4H
52.4 fps +16%
Sony Vaio Duo 13 SVD1321M2E
HD Graphics 4400, 4200U, Samsung SSD PM841 MZMTD128HAGN mSATA
55.6 fps +24%
1366x768 Normal Preset AA:FX AF:4x (sort by value)
Dell Latitude E7450
HD Graphics 5500 (Single-Channel); 5300U; Samsung SSD PM851 mSATA 128 GB
22.9 fps
Dell Latitude E7450
HD Graphics 5500 (Dual-Channel); 5300U; Samsung SSD PM851 mSATA 128 GB
29.6 fps +29%
HP EliteBook 840 G1
HD Graphics 4400, 4600U, Intel SSD Pro 1500 Series SSDSC2BF180A4H
26 fps +14%
Sony Vaio Duo 13 SVD1321M2E
HD Graphics 4400, 4200U, Samsung SSD PM841 MZMTD128HAGN mSATA
27.5 fps +20%
1366x768 High Preset AA:FX AF:8x (sort by value)
Dell Latitude E7450
HD Graphics 5500 (Single-Channel); 5300U; Samsung SSD PM851 mSATA 128 GB
14.5 fps
Dell Latitude E7450
HD Graphics 5500 (Dual-Channel); 5300U; Samsung SSD PM851 mSATA 128 GB
18.8 fps +30%
HP EliteBook 840 G1
HD Graphics 4400, 4600U, Intel SSD Pro 1500 Series SSDSC2BF180A4H
15.6 fps +8%
Sony Vaio Duo 13 SVD1321M2E
HD Graphics 4400, 4200U, Samsung SSD PM841 MZMTD128HAGN mSATA
17.6 fps +21%
Dota 2
1024x768 Low / Off, Render Quality: 40 % (sort by value)
Dell Latitude E7450
HD Graphics 5500 (Single-Channel); 5300U; Samsung SSD PM851 mSATA 128 GB
54.4 fps
Dell Latitude E7450
HD Graphics 5500 (Dual-Channel); 5300U; Samsung SSD PM851 mSATA 128 GB
65.6 fps +21%
Asus ASUSPRO Advanced BU401LA-CZ020G
HD Graphics 5000, 4650U, Liteonit LCS-256M6S
69.8 fps +28%
HP EliteBook 840 G1
HD Graphics 4400, 4600U, Intel SSD Pro 1500 Series SSDSC2BF180A4H
66.4 fps +22%
1366x768 Medium / On, Render Quality: 70 % (sort by value)
Dell Latitude E7450
HD Graphics 5500 (Single-Channel); 5300U; Samsung SSD PM851 mSATA 128 GB
31.9 fps
Dell Latitude E7450
HD Graphics 5500 (Dual-Channel); 5300U; Samsung SSD PM851 mSATA 128 GB
37.3 fps +17%
Asus ASUSPRO Advanced BU401LA-CZ020G
HD Graphics 5000, 4650U, Liteonit LCS-256M6S
36.8 fps +15%
HP EliteBook 840 G1
HD Graphics 4400, 4600U, Intel SSD Pro 1500 Series SSDSC2BF180A4H
33.8 fps +6%
1920x1080 High / On, Render Quality: 100 % (sort by value)
Dell Latitude E7450
HD Graphics 5500 (Single-Channel); 5300U; Samsung SSD PM851 mSATA 128 GB
14.4 fps
Dell Latitude E7450
HD Graphics 5500 (Dual-Channel); 5300U; Samsung SSD PM851 mSATA 128 GB
17.7 fps +23%
Asus ASUSPRO Advanced BU401LA-CZ020G
HD Graphics 5000, 4650U, Liteonit LCS-256M6S
14.4 fps 0%
Diablo III
1024x768 Low / off (sort by value)
Dell Latitude E7450
HD Graphics 5500 (Single-Channel); 5300U; Samsung SSD PM851 mSATA 128 GB
52.8 fps
Dell Latitude E7450
HD Graphics 5500 (Dual-Channel); 5300U; Samsung SSD PM851 mSATA 128 GB
68.6 fps +30%
Sony Vaio Duo 13 SVD1321M2E
HD Graphics 4400, 4200U, Samsung SSD PM841 MZMTD128HAGN mSATA
40 fps -24%
1366x768 Medium / low (sort by value)
Dell Latitude E7450
HD Graphics 5500 (Single-Channel); 5300U; Samsung SSD PM851 mSATA 128 GB
34.8 fps
Dell Latitude E7450
HD Graphics 5500 (Dual-Channel); 5300U; Samsung SSD PM851 mSATA 128 GB
45.3 fps +30%
Sony Vaio Duo 13 SVD1321M2E
HD Graphics 4400, 4200U, Samsung SSD PM841 MZMTD128HAGN mSATA
32 fps -8%
1366x768 High AA:on (sort by value)
Dell Latitude E7450
HD Graphics 5500 (Single-Channel); 5300U; Samsung SSD PM851 mSATA 128 GB
27.8 fps
Dell Latitude E7450
HD Graphics 5500 (Dual-Channel); 5300U; Samsung SSD PM851 mSATA 128 GB
37 fps +33%
Counter-Strike: GO
1024x768 (Very) Low (sort by value)
Dell Latitude E7450
HD Graphics 5500 (Single-Channel); 5300U; Samsung SSD PM851 mSATA 128 GB
71 fps
Dell Latitude E7450
HD Graphics 5500 (Dual-Channel); 5300U; Samsung SSD PM851 mSATA 128 GB
87.2 fps +23%
Sony Vaio Duo 13 SVD1321M2E
HD Graphics 4400, 4200U, Samsung SSD PM841 MZMTD128HAGN mSATA
90 fps +27%
1366x768 Medium (sort by value)
Dell Latitude E7450
HD Graphics 5500 (Single-Channel); 5300U; Samsung SSD PM851 mSATA 128 GB
51.3 fps
Dell Latitude E7450
HD Graphics 5500 (Dual-Channel); 5300U; Samsung SSD PM851 mSATA 128 GB
67.4 fps +31%
Sony Vaio Duo 13 SVD1321M2E
HD Graphics 4400, 4200U, Samsung SSD PM841 MZMTD128HAGN mSATA
56 fps +9%
1366x768 High AA:2x MS AF:4x (sort by value)
Dell Latitude E7450
HD Graphics 5500 (Single-Channel); 5300U; Samsung SSD PM851 mSATA 128 GB
36.2 fps
Dell Latitude E7450
HD Graphics 5500 (Dual-Channel); 5300U; Samsung SSD PM851 mSATA 128 GB
42.9 fps +19%
Sony Vaio Duo 13 SVD1321M2E
HD Graphics 4400, 4200U, Samsung SSD PM841 MZMTD128HAGN mSATA
41 fps +13%
Thief
1024x768 Very Low Preset (sort by value)
Dell Latitude E7450
HD Graphics 5500 (Single-Channel); 5300U; Samsung SSD PM851 mSATA 128 GB
13.3 fps
Dell Latitude E7450
HD Graphics 5500 (Dual-Channel); 5300U; Samsung SSD PM851 mSATA 128 GB
14.1 fps +6%
Lenovo ThinkPad T440s 20AQ-0069GE
HD Graphics 4400, 4600U
14.6 fps +10%
Asus ASUSPRO Advanced BU401LA-CZ020G
HD Graphics 5000, 4650U, Liteonit LCS-256M6S
14.8 fps +11%
1366x768 Normal Preset AA:FX (sort by value)
Dell Latitude E7450
HD Graphics 5500 (Single-Channel); 5300U; Samsung SSD PM851 mSATA 128 GB
9 fps
Dell Latitude E7450
HD Graphics 5500 (Dual-Channel); 5300U; Samsung SSD PM851 mSATA 128 GB
10.1 fps +12%
Lenovo ThinkPad T440s 20AQ-0069GE
HD Graphics 4400, 4600U
9 fps 0%
Asus ASUSPRO Advanced BU401LA-CZ020G
HD Graphics 5000, 4650U, Liteonit LCS-256M6S
9.7 fps +8%
1366x768 High Preset AA:FXAA & Low SS AF:4x (sort by value)
Dell Latitude E7450
HD Graphics 5500 (Single-Channel); 5300U; Samsung SSD PM851 mSATA 128 GB
7.3 fps
Dell Latitude E7450
HD Graphics 5500 (Dual-Channel); 5300U; Samsung SSD PM851 mSATA 128 GB
8.9 fps +22%
Lenovo ThinkPad T440s 20AQ-0069GE
HD Graphics 4400, 4600U
7.5 fps +3%
Sims 4
1024x768 Low Preset (sort by value)
Dell Latitude E7450
HD Graphics 5500 (Single-Channel); 5300U; Samsung SSD PM851 mSATA 128 GB
129.4 fps
Dell Latitude E7450
HD Graphics 5500 (Dual-Channel); 5300U; Samsung SSD PM851 mSATA 128 GB
172.2 fps +33%
Lenovo ThinkPad T440s 20AQ-0069GE
HD Graphics 4400, 4600U
180 fps +39%
Asus ASUSPRO Advanced BU401LA-CZ020G
HD Graphics 5000, 4650U, Liteonit LCS-256M6S
168.3 fps +30%
1366x768 Medium Preset (sort by value)
Dell Latitude E7450
HD Graphics 5500 (Single-Channel); 5300U; Samsung SSD PM851 mSATA 128 GB
31.7 fps
Dell Latitude E7450
HD Graphics 5500 (Dual-Channel); 5300U; Samsung SSD PM851 mSATA 128 GB
40.9 fps +29%
Lenovo ThinkPad T440s 20AQ-0069GE
HD Graphics 4400, 4600U
33 fps +4%
Asus ASUSPRO Advanced BU401LA-CZ020G
HD Graphics 5000, 4650U, Liteonit LCS-256M6S
32.8 fps +3%
1920x1080 High Preset (sort by value)
Dell Latitude E7450
HD Graphics 5500 (Single-Channel); 5300U; Samsung SSD PM851 mSATA 128 GB
15.8 fps
Dell Latitude E7450
HD Graphics 5500 (Dual-Channel); 5300U; Samsung SSD PM851 mSATA 128 GB
18.7 fps +18%
Lenovo ThinkPad T440s 20AQ-0069GE
HD Graphics 4400, 4600U
13.2 fps -16%
Asus ASUSPRO Advanced BU401LA-CZ020G
HD Graphics 5000, 4650U, Liteonit LCS-256M6S
14.2 fps -10%
Fifa 15
1280x720 Low Preset (sort by value)
Dell Latitude E7450
HD Graphics 5500 (Single-Channel); 5300U; Samsung SSD PM851 mSATA 128 GB
34.6 fps
Dell Latitude E7450
HD Graphics 5500 (Dual-Channel); 5300U; Samsung SSD PM851 mSATA 128 GB
41.1 fps +19%
Lenovo ThinkPad T440s 20AQ-0069GE
HD Graphics 4400, 4600U
30.1 fps -13%
Asus ASUSPRO Advanced BU401LA-CZ020G
HD Graphics 5000, 4650U, Liteonit LCS-256M6S
36.2 fps +5%
1366x768 High Preset AA:2x MS (sort by value)
Dell Latitude E7450
HD Graphics 5500 (Single-Channel); 5300U; Samsung SSD PM851 mSATA 128 GB
26.6 fps
Dell Latitude E7450
HD Graphics 5500 (Dual-Channel); 5300U; Samsung SSD PM851 mSATA 128 GB
31 fps +17%
Lenovo ThinkPad T440s 20AQ-0069GE
HD Graphics 4400, 4600U
23.7 fps -11%
Asus ASUSPRO Advanced BU401LA-CZ020G
HD Graphics 5000, 4650U, Liteonit LCS-256M6S
28.1 fps +6%
1920x1080 High Preset AA:4x MS (sort by value)
Dell Latitude E7450
HD Graphics 5500 (Single-Channel); 5300U; Samsung SSD PM851 mSATA 128 GB
15.5 fps
Dell Latitude E7450
HD Graphics 5500 (Dual-Channel); 5300U; Samsung SSD PM851 mSATA 128 GB
18.7 fps +21%
Lenovo ThinkPad T440s 20AQ-0069GE
HD Graphics 4400, 4600U
15.2 fps -2%
Asus ASUSPRO Advanced BU401LA-CZ020G
HD Graphics 5000, 4650U, Liteonit LCS-256M6S
17.4 fps +12%
Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor
1280x720 Lowest Preset (sort by value)
Dell Latitude E7450
HD Graphics 5500 (Single-Channel); 5300U; Samsung SSD PM851 mSATA 128 GB
17.6 fps
Dell Latitude E7450
HD Graphics 5500 (Dual-Channel); 5300U; Samsung SSD PM851 mSATA 128 GB
18.8 fps +7%
Lenovo ThinkPad T440s 20AQ-0069GE
HD Graphics 4400, 4600U
17.1 fps -3%
Asus ASUSPRO Advanced BU401LA-CZ020G
HD Graphics 5000, 4650U, Liteonit LCS-256M6S
20.1 fps +14%
1344x756 Medium Preset (sort by value)
Dell Latitude E7450
HD Graphics 5500 (Single-Channel); 5300U; Samsung SSD PM851 mSATA 128 GB
11.6 fps
Dell Latitude E7450
HD Graphics 5500 (Dual-Channel); 5300U; Samsung SSD PM851 mSATA 128 GB
12.5 fps +8%
Lenovo ThinkPad T440s 20AQ-0069GE
HD Graphics 4400, 4600U
11.7 fps +1%
Asus ASUSPRO Advanced BU401LA-CZ020G
HD Graphics 5000, 4650U, Liteonit LCS-256M6S
13 fps +12%
1920x1080 High Preset (sort by value)
Dell Latitude E7450
HD Graphics 5500 (Single-Channel); 5300U; Samsung SSD PM851 mSATA 128 GB
6.3 fps
Dell Latitude E7450
HD Graphics 5500 (Dual-Channel); 5300U; Samsung SSD PM851 mSATA 128 GB
6.8 fps +8%
Lenovo ThinkPad T440s 20AQ-0069GE
HD Graphics 4400, 4600U
6.5 fps +3%
Asus ASUSPRO Advanced BU401LA-CZ020G
HD Graphics 5000, 4650U, Liteonit LCS-256M6S
7.2 fps +14%
Alien: Isolation
1024x768 (Very) Low, Off, Shadow Map 512 AF:1x (sort by value)
Dell Latitude E7450
HD Graphics 5500 (Single-Channel); 5300U; Samsung SSD PM851 mSATA 128 GB
26.6 fps
Dell Latitude E7450
HD Graphics 5500 (Dual-Channel); 5300U; Samsung SSD PM851 mSATA 128 GB
29.7 fps +12%
Lenovo ThinkPad T440s 20AQ-0069GE
HD Graphics 4400, 4600U
29.3 fps +10%
Asus ASUSPRO Advanced BU401LA-CZ020G
HD Graphics 5000, 4650U, Liteonit LCS-256M6S
28.9 fps +9%
1366x768 Medium, On (AA & SSAO Off), Shadow Map 1024 AF:4x (sort by value)
Dell Latitude E7450
HD Graphics 5500 (Single-Channel); 5300U; Samsung SSD PM851 mSATA 128 GB
18.3 fps
Dell Latitude E7450
HD Graphics 5500 (Dual-Channel); 5300U; Samsung SSD PM851 mSATA 128 GB
21.5 fps +17%
Lenovo ThinkPad T440s 20AQ-0069GE
HD Graphics 4400, 4600U
15.1 fps -17%
Asus ASUSPRO Advanced BU401LA-CZ020G
HD Graphics 5000, 4650U, Liteonit LCS-256M6S
20.9 fps +14%
1920x1080 High, On, Shadow Map 1536, Standard SSAO AA:FX AF:8x (sort by value)
Dell Latitude E7450
HD Graphics 5500 (Single-Channel); 5300U; Samsung SSD PM851 mSATA 128 GB
9.8 fps
Dell Latitude E7450
HD Graphics 5500 (Dual-Channel); 5300U; Samsung SSD PM851 mSATA 128 GB
11.2 fps +14%
Lenovo ThinkPad T440s 20AQ-0069GE
HD Graphics 4400, 4600U
10 fps +2%
Asus ASUSPRO Advanced BU401LA-CZ020G
HD Graphics 5000, 4650U, Liteonit LCS-256M6S
11.4 fps +16%
F1 2014
1024x768 Ultra Low Preset (sort by value)
Dell Latitude E7450
HD Graphics 5500 (Single-Channel); 5300U; Samsung SSD PM851 mSATA 128 GB
42 fps
Dell Latitude E7450
HD Graphics 5500 (Dual-Channel); 5300U; Samsung SSD PM851 mSATA 128 GB
47 fps +12%
Lenovo ThinkPad T440s 20AQ-0069GE
HD Graphics 4400, 4600U
49 fps +17%
Asus ASUSPRO Advanced BU401LA-CZ020G
HD Graphics 5000, 4650U, Liteonit LCS-256M6S
51 fps +21%
1366x768 Medium Preset (sort by value)
Dell Latitude E7450
HD Graphics 5500 (Single-Channel); 5300U; Samsung SSD PM851 mSATA 128 GB
28 fps
Dell Latitude E7450
HD Graphics 5500 (Dual-Channel); 5300U; Samsung SSD PM851 mSATA 128 GB
32 fps +14%
Lenovo ThinkPad T440s 20AQ-0069GE
HD Graphics 4400, 4600U
31 fps +11%
Asus ASUSPRO Advanced BU401LA-CZ020G
HD Graphics 5000, 4650U, Liteonit LCS-256M6S
35 fps +25%
1920x1080 High Preset (sort by value)
Dell Latitude E7450
HD Graphics 5500 (Single-Channel); 5300U; Samsung SSD PM851 mSATA 128 GB
18 fps
Dell Latitude E7450
HD Graphics 5500 (Dual-Channel); 5300U; Samsung SSD PM851 mSATA 128 GB
22 fps +22%
Lenovo ThinkPad T440s 20AQ-0069GE
HD Graphics 4400, 4600U
18 fps 0%
Asus ASUSPRO Advanced BU401LA-CZ020G
HD Graphics 5000, 4650U, Liteonit LCS-256M6S
20 fps +11%
low med. high ultra
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim (2011) 28.5 14.6 9.3 4.8
Anno 2070 (2011) 57.1 28.4 17 8.4
Diablo III (2012) 52.8 34.8 27.8 16.9
Counter-Strike: GO (2012) 71 51.3 36.2 19.7
Crysis 3 (2013) 15.7 10.5 7.2 2.8
Tomb Raider (2013) 45 22.9 14.5 7.3
BioShock Infinite (2013) 31.4 18.3 14.9 4.6
Metro: Last Light (2013) 15.6 11.8 9 4.5
Company of Heroes 2 (2013) 16.9 13.4 7.4 3
Dota 2 (2013) 54.4 31.9 14.4
Battlefield 4 (2013) 20.8 15.2 10.3 3.7
Thief (2014) 13.3 9 7.3 3.6
GRID: Autosport (2014) 67.3 25.3 14.6 12.5
Sims 4 (2014) 129.4 31.7 15.8 10.2
Fifa 15 (2014) 34.6 26.6 15.5
Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor (2014) 17.6 11.6 6.3 4.9
Alien: Isolation (2014) 26.6 18.3 9.8 8
Ryse: Son of Rome (2014) 11.4 7.5 4 3.8
The Evil Within (2014) 14.4 10.3 5.6
F1 2014 (2014) 42 28 18 12
Civilization: Beyond Earth (2014) 34.3 16.3 9.4 8
Far Cry 4 (2014) 13.8 10 5.2
The Crew (2014) 14.2 10.4 6 2.8

Emissions

System Noise

The E7450 does not need active cooling in many scenarios, not only while idling, but also in many everyday applications (office, browsing). If the fan should start to spin, it is usually in the lowest rpm setting, which is hardly noticeable at around 30 dB(A). Thanks to the SSD in our review unit, access noises from the hard drive are not a problem.

This does not change at first, when you start a very CPU or GPU demanding application – the notebook is often silent for one or two minutes even under maximum load. After that, the murmur of the fan starts to increase slowly and finally levels off at around 37 dB(A). This noise is not a problem, even over long periods, but the subjective impression would benefit from a less high-pitched noise characteristic. This means the winner in this section is the ThinkPad T440s, which does not produce more than 33 dB(A), even in the stress test.

Noise Level

Idle
29.1 / 29.1 / 30 dB(A)
Load
36.4 / 37.8 dB(A)
  red to green bar
 
 
30 dB
silent
40 dB(A)
audible
50 dB(A)
loud
 
min: dark, med: mid, max: light   Voltcraft SL-451 (15 cm distance)

Temperature

Stress test
Stress test
Prime95
Prime95

Despite the generally very restrained cooling system, the Latitude does not get unduly warm. Only one spot on the case surface exceeds the 40 degrees (~104 °F) mark after extreme load for one hour with the tools Prime95 and FurMark, the rest of the chassis only becomes lukewarm. This means there are no limitations when you want to use the E7450 on your lap, especially since the large grid structure at the bottom ensures an unrestricted supply of fresh air.

14-nm manufacturing or not: The Core i5-5300U has to throttle its clocks under maximum load to stay within its TDP limit of 15 Watts. The CPU clock quickly dropped to 1.5 GHz in our stress test, while the GPU ran with 800 MHz, which is quite close to the Turbo Boost limit of 900 MHz. It seems that Intel (just like AMD) still prefers the graphics unit over the processor with a combined load, instead of letting both components run with medium clocks. The core temperature of the chip is beyond criticism: We could not create more than 70 to 80 °C (~158 to 176 °F), even with synthetic tools.

 26.2 °C
79 F
28.7 °C
84 F
24.3 °C
76 F
 
 28.6 °C
83 F
26.9 °C
80 F
23.6 °C
74 F
 
 24 °C
75 F
25.1 °C
77 F
25 °C
77 F
 
Maximum: 28.7 °C = 84 F
Average: 25.8 °C = 78 F
25.1 °C
77 F
31.4 °C
89 F
27 °C
81 F
24.5 °C
76 F
27.2 °C
81 F
30.2 °C
86 F
25 °C
77 F
24.9 °C
77 F
24.9 °C
77 F
Maximum: 31.4 °C = 89 F
Average: 26.7 °C = 80 F
Power Supply (max.)  27.3 °C = 81 F | Room Temperature 20 °C = 68 F | Fluke 62 Max
(+) The average temperature for the upper side under maximal load is 30.4 °C / 87 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 41.6 °C / 107 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 37.1 °C / 99 F, compared to the average of 36.7 °C / 98 F
(+) In idle usage, the average temperature for the upper side is 25.8 °C / 78 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 28.5 °C / 83.3 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 (-0.8 °C / -1.4 F).

Speakers

Dell's Latitude-series is traditionally equipped with good speakers. You will not find popular manufacturer names or promotional logos. Instead, the spec sheet just lists "High Quality Speakers" and they impress with their performance. The balanced and rich sound includes clear high tones as well as surprisingly powerful bass that even surpasses some multimedia notebooks. The impressive maximum volume is also noteworthy, so even medium-sized rooms can be filled with sound.

Energy Management

Power Consumption

Since Haswell has reduced the idle consumption in modern ULV CPUs to such a low level, any further improvements hardly change the consumption of the complete system anymore. It is therefore not surprising that 4.0 to 9.0 Watts for the Latitude E7450 are very similar to the ThinkPad T440s (3.4 - 8.5 Watts) or the EliteBook 840 G1 (4.3 - 9.3 Watts) – such small differences can also be a result of different power adaptors or different brightness levels of the display.

On the other hand, the consumption under maximum load is determined by the TDP of the processor in particular. The ULV models from the Broadwell generation are specified with 15 Watts as well, so the whole device – just like the majority of Ultrabooks without a dedicated GPU – levels off at around 30 Watts. Short load peaks can result at 40 Watts or more, but this is not a problem for the power adaptor with a nominal output of 65 Watts.

Power Consumption
Off / Standbydarklight 0 / 0.1 Watt
Idledarkmidlight 4 / 7.8 / 9 Watt
Load midlight 31.6 / 29.6 Watt
 color bar
Key: min: dark, med: mid, max: light        Extech Power Analyzer 380803
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 Runtime

The 4-cell battery of the Latitude has a capacity of 54 Wh, which is slightly more than the standard batteries of HP (50 Wh) and Lenovo (48 Wh). While you can get optional extensions up to 96 Wh for the ThinkPad, Dell only offers a smaller 3-cell version with a meager capacity of 30 Wh.

It is not easy to answer the question whether Broadwell manages longer battery runtimes than Haswell when you compare differently equipped devices from several manufacturers. However, the E7450 is on par with the rivals both in the idle scenario of the Battery Eater Reader's Test (energy-saving mode, minimum brightness, WLAN off) as well as the CPU-demanding Classic Test (high-performance mode, maximum brightness, WLAN on), so there does not seem to be any noteworthy improvements. 

However, we can see noticeable efficiency improvements in more practical scenarios. Our WLAN and H.264 tests (around 150 cd/m²) determine more than 7.5 hours before the battery is empty – a full business day without a socket is actually possible. This usually required much larger batteries.

Reader's Test
Reader's Test
WLAN-Test
WLAN-Test
H.264-Test
H.264-Test
Classic Test
Classic Test
Charging
Charging
Dell Latitude E7450
HD Graphics 5500, 5300U, Samsung SSD PM851 mSATA 128 GB
Lenovo ThinkPad T440s 20AQ006BGE
GeForce GT 730M, 4600U, Samsung SSD 840 250GB MZ7TD256HAFV
HP EliteBook 840 G1
HD Graphics 4400, 4600U, Intel SSD Pro 1500 Series SSDSC2BF180A4H
Asus ASUSPRO Advanced BU401LA-CZ020G
HD Graphics 5000, 4650U, Liteonit LCS-256M6S
Battery Runtime
-17%
-13%
-16%
Reader / Idle
714
856
20%
778
9%
699
-2%
H.264
452
307
-32%
296
-35%
296
-35%
WiFi
459
306
-33%
364
-21%
310
-32%
WiFi v1.3
422
Load
115
87
-24%
112
-3%
120
4%
Battery Runtime
Idle (without WLAN, min brightness)
11h 54min
WiFi Surfing
7h 39min
WiFi Websurfing
7h 02min
Big Buck Bunny H.264 1080p
7h 32min
Load (maximum brightness)
1h 55min

Verdict

Dell Latitude 14 E7450
Dell Latitude 14 E7450

You do not have to reinvent the wheel every time – it makes sense to improve a proven product in small but steady steps. Dell follows this philosophy and does not change the Latitude E7450 completely, but was able to improve many small aspects compared to the predecessor E7440.

Many optimizations are only noticeable when you compare both devices side by side. The chassis is now slightly slimmer than before, and has a slightly larger battery despite the identical weight. The noise development under load was further reduced at the same time and both the processor as well as the graphics performance have been improved thanks to the new Broadwell chips. Familiar, high-quality input devices and a very decent Full HD display complete the overall impression and justify our final rating of 88% – very good.

That the ThinkPad T440s gets two points more despite the older hardware is mainly due to small things like the optional 96-Wh battery or the even lower noise emissions. But this also shows that Haswell notebooks are anything but outdated in 2015. The successor is obviously preferable for the same price, but many discontinued models like the Latitude E7440 should be available for very attractive prices in the coming weeks. This is also one of our points of criticism for the E7450: Almost 1600 Euros (~$1833) as of the end of January is rather bold for a notebook with Core i5 CPU and 128 GB SSD. Still, you should expect similar prices for the upcoming ThinkPad T450s or EliteBook 840 G2 – both should be available soon – because of the weak exchange rate for the Euro right now.

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In Review: Dell Latitude 14 E7450. Test model courtesy of Dell Germany
In Review: Dell Latitude 14 E7450. Test model courtesy of Dell Germany

Specifications

Dell Latitude E7450
Processor
Intel Core i5-5300U 2 x 2.3 - 2.9 GHz, Broadwell
Graphics adapter
Intel HD Graphics 5500, Core: 900 MHz, 10.18.10.3977
Memory
8 GB 
, 1x 8 GB DDR3L-1600, 1 of 2 slots occupied
Display
14.00 inch 16:9, 1920 x 1080 pixel, AUO B140HAN, IPS panel, LED backlight, glossy: no
Mainboard
Intel Broadwell-U PCH-LP (Premium)
Storage
Samsung SSD PM851 mSATA 128 GB, 128 GB 
, 88 GB free
Soundcard
Intel Broadwell PCH-LP - High Definition Audio Controller
Connections
3 USB 3.0 / 3.1 Gen1, 1 HDMI, 1 DisplayPort, 1 Kensington Lock, 1 Docking Station Port, Audio Connections: Headset dort (3.5 mm stereo jack), Card Reader: SD, 1 SmartCard, 1 Fingerprint Reader, Brightness Sensor
Networking
Intel I218-LM Gigabit (10/100/1000MBit/s), Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 7265 (a/b/g/h/n = Wi-Fi 4/ac = Wi-Fi 5/), Bluetooth 4.0
Size
height x width x depth (in mm): 20.4 x 337 x 232 ( = 0.8 x 13.27 x 9.13 in)
Battery
54 Wh Lithium-Polymer, removeable, 7100 mAh, 7.6 V
Operating System
Microsoft Windows 8.1 Pro 64 Bit
Camera
Webcam: 0.9 MP webcam
Primary Camera: 0.9 MPix
Additional features
Speakers: Stereo, Keyboard: Chiclet, Keyboard Light: yes, 65-Watt power adaptor, brochures, recovery USB stick, 36 Months Warranty
Weight
1.64 kg ( = 57.85 oz / 3.62 pounds), Power Supply: 190 g ( = 6.7 oz / 0.42 pounds)
Price
1500 Euro

 

Dell's latest business flagship ...
Dell's latest business flagship ...
... is hidden in an inconspicuous ...
... is hidden in an inconspicuous ...
... matte gray chassis:
... matte gray chassis:
The Latitude E7450 ...
The Latitude E7450 ...
... is the successor of the old E7440.
... is the successor of the old E7440.
The slim 14-inch device ...
The slim 14-inch device ...
... only weighs 1.64 kilograms.
... only weighs 1.64 kilograms.
The chassis is made of ...
The chassis is made of ...
... materials like magnesium ...
... materials like magnesium ...
... so it is sturdy and durable.
... so it is sturdy and durable.
We want to mention the massive metal hinges in particular ...
We want to mention the massive metal hinges in particular ...
... that allow a maximum opening angle of 180 degrees.
... that allow a maximum opening angle of 180 degrees.
Just as convincing is the build quality, ...
Just as convincing is the build quality, ...
... you will not find sharp edges ...
... you will not find sharp edges ...
... or uneven gaps at the Latitude.
... or uneven gaps at the Latitude.
The majority of the numerous ports ...
The majority of the numerous ports ...
... including Gbit LAN and a Mini-DisplayPort ...
... including Gbit LAN and a Mini-DisplayPort ...
... are located at the back.
... are located at the back.
At the left side is the SD card reader.
At the left side is the SD card reader.
More ports are available via optional docking station.
More ports are available via optional docking station.
The fingerprint reader is just one of the several security features.
The fingerprint reader is just one of the several security features.
Convincing input devices:
Convincing input devices:
Besides the precise touchpad ...
Besides the precise touchpad ...
... you can also use a Trackpoint.
... you can also use a Trackpoint.
The key stroke is conveniently firm.
The key stroke is conveniently firm.
0.9 MP webcam
0.9 MP webcam
Subtle LEDs will inform you about ...
Subtle LEDs will inform you about ...
... the status of the Ultrabook.
... the status of the Ultrabook.
Surprisingly loud and powerful ...
Surprisingly loud and powerful ...
... are the integrated stereo speakers.
... are the integrated stereo speakers.
Our review unit with a 54 Wh battery ...
Our review unit with a 54 Wh battery ...
should last around 7 to 8 hours in practice.
should last around 7 to 8 hours in practice.
Underneath the battery is the slot for the SIM card.
Underneath the battery is the slot for the SIM card.
Almost all the components of the device ...
Almost all the components of the device ...
... can be replaced in a couple of steps.
... can be replaced in a couple of steps.
The 2.5-inch tray accommodates an mSATA-SSD with the corresponding adaptor.
The 2.5-inch tray accommodates an mSATA-SSD with the corresponding adaptor.
Cleaning the fan? No problem!
Cleaning the fan? No problem!
The device is equipped with one memory module, another one can obviously be integrated.
The device is equipped with one memory module, another one can obviously be integrated.
In addition to the WLAN module ...
In addition to the WLAN module ...
... you can add a UMTS/LTE module.
... you can add a UMTS/LTE module.
The nominal output of the power adaptor is 65 Watts ...
The nominal output of the power adaptor is 65 Watts ...
... and easily covers the maximum power consumption.
... and easily covers the maximum power consumption.

Similar Laptops

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Devices from a different Manufacturer and/or with a different CPU

Schenker S405 (Clevo W840SN) Ultrabook Review
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HP EliteBook Folio 1040 G2 Ultrabook Review
HD Graphics 5500, Core i7 5600U
Acer TravelMate P645 Notebook Review
HD Graphics 5500, Core i5 5200U
HP EliteBook 840 G2 Notebook Review
HD Graphics 5500, Core i5 5200U
Dell Latitude 3450 Notebook Review
HD Graphics 5500, Core i5 5200U

Links

Compare Prices

Pros

+Sophisticated case
+Great input devices
+Port variety
+Fast WLAN
+High-resolution IPS display
+Very good application performance
+Low emissions
+Long battery runtimes
+Powerful speakers
 

Cons

-Mediocre webcam
-Low SSD write performance
-Quiet but slightly high-pitched fan
-High price

Shortcut

What we like

Dell improved the already excellent predecessor with small changes. The new model can convince with an increased performance as well as longer battery runtimes in particular.

What we'd like to see

We do not think there is much to improve – the not really bright display as well as the mediocre webcam are amongst the most important points of criticism. Furthermore the high, even though not unreasonable price, which might scare off potential buyers.

What surprises us

According to the spec sheet of the E7450, there will be a configuration with a dedicated GeForce 840M GPU in the future.

The competition

Lenovo ThinkPad T440s

HP EliteBook 840 G1

AsusPro Advanced BU401LA

Toshiba Tecra Z40

Rating

Dell Latitude E7450 - 02/26/2016 v5(old)
Till Schönborn

Chassis
91 / 98 → 93%
Keyboard
90%
Pointing Device
89%
Connectivity
70 / 80 → 88%
Weight
67 / 20-67 → 100%
Battery
89%
Display
88%
Games Performance
52 / 68 → 76%
Application Performance
77 / 92 → 84%
Temperature
91%
Noise
92%
Audio
75%
Camera
53 / 85 → 62%
Average
79%
89%
Office - Weighted Average
Till Schönborn, 2015-02- 4 (Update: 2018-05-15)