New school-oriented Asus VivoBook W202 laptop is now available
Asus' new laptop offers entry-level specs at an affordable price. The VivoBook W202 is meant for light use, and thus is perfect for students or casual Windows users.
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All reviews, news and articles on laptops can be found on this topics page.
Clevo revenue drops in first half of 2017 but expected to rebound with new devices
Clevo has reported first half revenues are down by 7.7 percent in their notebook business between 2016 and 2017. Net profit remains in the positive but is tight at slightly below US$11 million, or only 3.95 percent of revenue.
Top 5 MSI Gaming Notebooks for Back to School Season
MSI's gaming notebooks range from compact and lightweight to some of the most heavy-duty gaming laptops you can buy. This article covers the ins and outs of their recently updated gaming lineup. (Sponsored article)
Team Fortress 2 - Notebook and Desktop Benchmarks
A 10-year old strategy shooter Despite its advanced age, TF2 remains to be one of the most popular games on Steam. This is probably due to the fair free-to-play model and the moderate system requirements. The fast-paced 3D shooter is nevertheless quite a challenge, especially for cheap entry-level laptops and Windows tablets. More often than not, it is the processor and not the graphics card that leads to a jerky reproduction and unplayable frame rates. We tested the performance on various laptops, tablets, and desktops in the following benchmark check.
Two methods of obtaining Windows 10 for free appear to still be open
Two methods which were detailed back in January 2017 which allowed users to upgrade from Windows 7 or 8.1 to Windows 10 for free still exist now, even though the free upgrade period ended over a year ago. One method involves taking advantage of a program for those with disabilities, while the second approach only needs a valid Windows 7 or 8.1 install and product key.
MSI notebooks now shipping with freebies for back-to-school season
New purchases of a mainstream GE, flagship GT, or super-thin GS will include a free gaming mouse, gaming headset, backpack, and more for a limited time.
Silicon chips might not retire too soon, thanks to ultrathin semiconductors
Scientists from Stanford University combined silicon with ultrathin semiconductors, making silicon viable for chips under 5 nanometers and thus offering a smoother transition between silicon and germanium-based chip manufacturing.
Eurocom MXM3 Riser Cards will power your desktop with a laptop GPU
External GPU Thunderbolt docks are *so* 2016. These PCIe x16 adapters will accommodate an MXM 3.x Type-A or Type-B GPU from either Nvidia or AMD for connecting straight onto a standard PC motherboard.
The EVGA SC17 1080 G-SYNC gaming laptop is now available
This latest gaming laptop from EVGA is designed for maximum performance. Its overclock-friendly specs and software make it appealing to hardcore users; unfortunately, its high price erodes some of its allure.
MSI GT75VR 7RF Titan Pro (i7-7820HK, GTX 1080) Laptop Review
RGB trip. Although ultra-slim casings are the current trend, MSI presents the GT75VR, a bulky gaming laptop that combines all the advantages and disadvantages of a desktop replacement and relies on a mechanical keyboard with colorful lighting. Our test clarifies whether the total concept is still up-to-date.
Intel Core i7-7820HK, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 Mobile, 17.3", 4.6 kg
HP Omen 17 (7700HQ, GTX 1070, Full-HD) Laptop Review
The Omen's New Clothes HP has redesigned it's Omen 17 gaming series' case. Does the new chassis address our criticism from last year's device? What are the full-time gamer's improvements?
Intel Core i7-7700HQ, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile, 17.3", 3.8 kg
Chuwi teases a new Lapbook Air which can be mistaken for a Macbook Air
Chuwi have teased a new product which imitates the MacBook Air but with a thin bezel design that allows a 14.1-inch screen. Chuwi claim that the LapBook Air gets as thin as 6 mm, while retaining at least two full sized USB ports and a 3.5 mm headphone jack.
Apple MacBook Pro 15: How to get 2 more hours of battery life with this simple trick
(Update) Sometimes, the things our reviewers uncover are downright fascinating: power consumption on the new MacBook Pro 15 is significantly lower in full screen than in regular window mode. Consequently, battery life is improved by a stunning 135 minutes or, in other words, the length of an entire feature film. This does not apply to Windows, though.
Acer Chromebook 11 C771 hits the market
This new Chromebook comes with an 11.6-inch IPS display and has the Intel Celeron 3855U processor under the hood, carrying a price tag of US$280. The touchscreen variant retails for US$50 more, and more powerful variants are expected to arrive soon.
Samsung plans to release 128 TB QLC SSDs
The 128 TB QLC SSD could come in 2019, but, until then, Samsung has plans to launch successors for the 960 EVO and Pro SSDs with the new 970 and 980 64-layer 3-bit per cell V-NAND NVMe series coming in early 2018.
HP Envy 13 ad065nr (i5-7200U, FHD) Laptop Review
The HP XPS 13. The narrow bezel design from the flagship Spectre series has trickled down to the mainstream Envy series with fantastic results. Though not without some sacrifices, this is the best Envy notebook to date.
Intel Core i5-7200U, HD Graphics 620, 13.3", 1.3 kg
Dell Inspiron 15 7000 7567 Gaming (i5-7300HQ, GTX 1050) Laptop Review
(Long-)Lasting impression. The entry-level version of the Inspiron 15 7000 Gaming Notebook lacks the higher-end hardware complement of its pricier siblings. Although still hampered by a subpar display, the notebook is nonetheless a decent performer at a great price. The battery life puts many other laptops – gaming or not – to shame.
Intel Core i5-7300HQ, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Mobile, 15.6", 2.8 kg
Intel lifting curtains off Coffee Lake come August 21
The chipmaker will be celebrating Solar Eclipse day with an unveiling of its upcoming 8th generation Core family that very same morning.
Nvidia Max-Q & WhisperMode: Information & Initial Benchmarks
New priorities. Nvidia wants to help laptop manufacturers building lighter, slimmer, cooler, and especially quieter gaming notebooks and has developed the hardware-based Max-Q technology as well as the drivers-based WhisperMode. We present both new features and compare initial benchmark results with conventional Pascal GPUs.
Update 07-31-2017: Benchmarks GTX 1060 and 1070 Max-Q added
Update 07-31-2017: Benchmarks GTX 1060 and 1070 Max-Q added
Dell Inspiron 15 7000 7567 Gaming Notebook Review
Gaming companion with stamina. Dell has equipped the Inspiron 15 7000 gaming series with cutting-edge hardware and not only convinces us in terms of performance but also surprises us with an exemplary battery life. We are impressed - but not with the display.
Update: Measurement Results of the IPS panel
Intel Core i7-7700HQ, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti Mobile, 15.6", 2.8 kgUpdate: Measurement Results of the IPS panel
Office 365 Personal (Preview) now available for all Windows 10 S PCs
The Office desktop apps are now available to download in Preview form from the Windows Store as part of Office 365 Personal to all users of Windows 10 S: the OS that only runs apps downloaded from the Windows Store.
Motherboard manufacturers list unannounced 1920 Threadripper CPU, other non-X versions could follow
The non-X 1920 Threadripper CPU could be considerably cheaper than the X variant, and even though it could end up with reduced boosts clocks, the multipliers are most likely remaining unlocked to further provide excellent overclocking potential.
Acer Aspire 5 A515-51G (7200U, MX150, FHD) Laptop Review
Arduous all-rounder. Acer's brand-new multimedia all-rounder is equipped with an IPS panel, an SSD+HDD combo, and a GPU suitable for gaming. In addition, it surprised us with its very long battery life.
Intel Core i5-7200U, NVIDIA GeForce MX150, 15.6", 2.1 kg
Fujitsu LifeBook U937 (Core i5, Full-HD) Laptop Review
Security Business Smaller, slimmer, more secure – this could be the new motto of the top-range ultra-mobile business sector. The U937 is hoping to overtake its competition with a weight of 950 grams (~2.1 lb), a lot of security features and LTE support. Find out if it has succeeded in our detailed review.
Intel Core i5-7200U, HD Graphics 620, 13.3", 950 g
Face Off: Asus Zephyrus is Bad Bang for the Buck
Max-Qonfusion Why buy a 4 kg 17-inch gaming notebook when a 2 kg 15-inch alternative is available with nearly the same graphics performance? We compare the ultrathin Asus Zephyrus against the hulking G701VI and Alienware 17 R4 to see what benefits and drawbacks there really are if going the Max-Q route.
Confirmed: Lenovo's AMD ThinkPads A275 and A475 are based on the X270 and T470
When the model-names A275 and A475 surfaced a few weeks ago, it was mere speculation. Now we have the confirmation: These two models are based on the enterprise ThinkPads of the T-Series and X-Series.
Toshiba announces M.2 form factor BG3 Single Package NVMe SSD
The latest BG3 single package SSDs feature the M.2 2230 removable module and will be available in 128GB, 256GB, and 512GB capacities. The NVMe technology provides sequential read speeds of up to 1,520 MB/s.
Asus VivoBook E200HA (x5-Z8350, 32 GB) Subnotebook Review
Is affordable actually good? With the Asus VivoBook E200HA-FD0041TS, the manufacturer offers an 11.6-inch subnotebook on the market that is supposed to convince the customer in three different colors. There is also a quad-core processor under the hood. You can find out in our short review, how the little notebook fares in our test.
Intel Atom x5-Z8350, HD Graphics 400 (Braswell), 11.6", 976 g
Microsoft's Surface Plus program lets buyers pay through installment plans
All four Surface devices are eligible so long as users are willing to run through a credit check and agree to a 24-month payment plan with 0 percent APR.
Lenovo's low-cost Windows 10 S convertible notebooks available now
Prices range from US$229 for the N23 and go up to $349 for the N24. The two convertible models are designed for schools and business environments.
Acer TravelMate P449-G2-M (i5-7200U, FHD IPS) Laptop Review
Bread & Butter. These days, notebooks are considered a bulk commodity, and affordable business notebooks are a dime a dozen. Standing out of the crowd is quite tough, particularly if you are competing against established names and brands. Let us find out whether or not Acer stands a chance in the low-end business market against the ProBooks, Latitudes, and ThinkPads of this world with its TravelMate 449, shall we?
Intel Core i5-7200U, HD Graphics 620, 14", 1.8 kg
Intel: Kaby Lake refresh (KBL-R/U) comes without AMD iGPU
We were able to obtain more specific details regarding AMD GPUs in Intel's CPUs. Insiders have further mentioned four new mobile microprocessors.
Update 8/2/17: Intel is not going to incorporate AMD-GPUs into its mobile microprocessors.
Update 8/2/17: Intel is not going to incorporate AMD-GPUs into its mobile microprocessors.
Nvidia is bringing Titan Xp and Quadro external GPU solutions to notebook creative professionals
The Titan Xp solution is intended for gaming as well as demanding appliactions such as Maya and Premier Pro, while the Quadro eGPU mainly focuses on engineering-grade applications and certifications.
MSI updates WS63 workstation with Max-Q Quadro P4000 graphics
The new WS63 is now available for a starting price of $3100 USD and is one of the first to ship with a Max-Q Quadro P4000 GPU.
Playerunknown's Battlegrounds - Laptop and Desktop Benchmarks
Early Success. Although Playerunknown's Battlegrounds (abbreviated PUBG) is still in a very early stage of development, the Battle Royale shooter is already very popular. We also plunged into the fight for survival and analyzed the game's performance for this article.
Ryzen is great — so why are most AMD notebooks embarrassingly bad?
With Ryzen, AMD has come back to the desktop market as a major competitor to Intel. But what is going on with the state of AMD-based notebooks? Generally made with absolute bottom-rung components such as 1366 x 768 TN panels and slow storage and RAM, it's clear that AMD needs to get Raven Ridge (Ryzen) into laptops as soon as possible — as well as encourage OEMs to put in a little more effort.
Proper successor to the Surface Book may be coming soon
The recent discounts on the Surface Book and Surface Pro 4 in the UK could mean that the Surface Book 2 is on its way.
Microsoft Modern keyboard with Fingerprint ID now available for purchase
Microsoft has now released the Microsoft Modern Keyboard with Fingerprint ID in the regional Microsoft stores for the US, Canada, and China. The retail price is US$130, and compared to the Microsoft Surface Keyboard it also features a fingerprint sensor and optional wired operation.
Gigabyte P56XT (7700HQ, GTX 1070, Full HD) Laptop
A wild ride. After the successful Aero 15, Gigabyte has now provided us with another 15-inch notebook aimed at the gaming and multimedia sector. The P56XT is equipped with a Core i7-7700HQ and a GeForce GTX 1070. Will this configuration be enough for pole position? We shall find out in our detailed review. Update: Higher rating thanks to second test model
Intel Core i7-7700HQ, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile, 15.6", 2.7 kg
Huawei MateBook X exhibits massive throttling
Is it acceptable to refer to a notebook that loses up to 37 % of its initial performance after a few minutes of high load already as performant? We are faced with this conundrum once again with the latest Huawei MateBook X with its innovative MEPCM cooling system. A short excerpt from our extensive review focusing on persistent load.
MSI GS43VR 7RE (i7-7700HQ, GTX 1060) Laptop Review
Potent performer. The GS43VR is back and pretty much the same it was the year before. Users who can look past the excruciatingly loud fan noise will find one of the most powerful 14-inch gaming notebooks currently available.
Intel Core i7-7700HQ, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile, 14", 1.9 kg
Huawei MateBook X (i5-7200U, 256 GB) Subnotebook Review
Novice with space technology. Huawei's first laptop in the fashionable 3:2 format convinces mainly with its case and the excellent screen. The innovative cooling system is particularly interesting. Initially we had problems with the input devices, but more important is the weak battery life. Our extensive test explains while we still consider it a successful debut.
Intel Core i5-7200U, HD Graphics 620, 13.3", 1.1 kg
United States airport security could get even slower
Over the next few months, the TSA will introduce a new requirement for passengers to remove all electronic items larger than a smartphone from their bag as they go through airport security. This measure is intended to make it easier for TSA agents to examine items that could conceal dangerous substances.
Guide: How to check a new laptop for issues
Make sure your new laptop isn't a lemon with our comprehensive checklist to avoiding defects.
MSI introduces the GV62 7RC budget gaming notebook with MX150 GPU
The GV62 7RC will have several variants powered by Intel's I7-7700HQ / i5-7300HQ / i3-711 CPUs and Nvidia's MX150 GPU. The i7-7700HQ variant with 4 GB RAM costs US$749.
AMD's Q2 2017 revenue results unveiled - Ryzen steals the show
AMD is well on its way back to profitability, thanks to the Ryzen CPUs, the Vega GPUs and the EPYC datacenter products. Q2 2017 revenue increased 19% over Q2 2016.
Buyer's Guide: Which MacBook is right for me?
Touch choice. Apple’s MacBooks have scored pretty well in our test. However, they are far from cheap and affordable. This means that a careful consideration is required prior to purchasing one. This article is intended to make it easier for you by pitching all available models against each other.
DRAM chip manufacturer SK Hynix reports record profit
After recording a record profit in the first quarter of 2017, SK Hynix has broken that record by reporting a second consecutive record profit. Operating profit increased by 24% and net profit by 30% between the first and second quarters.
Improved nanomaterials could bring batteries that fully charge in a few seconds
Researchers from Drexler University claim that their MXene nanomaterial combined with a special hydrogel can improve the ionic flow and reduce battery charge times to mere seconds.
Firefox 55 reduces startup time by 90 percent and memory usage by 75 percent
A Mozilla developer has tested multiple versions of the browser and found that the current beta version improves startup times by over 90% and reduces memory usage by 75% when compared to the latest stable version. While these results are specific to the extreme test profile and operating system used, they show that we can expect a positive performance improvement from the next release of Firefox.
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