Lenovo B50-45 (MCD2GGE) Notebook Review

1366x768 pixels (16:9) represent the lowest resolution found in laptops nowadays. This results in a low pixel density and outmoded 100 ppi on 15.6 inches. Consequently, the image is pixilated, and the pixel grid is visible on close inspection. Apart from that, we did not have any problems with image sharpness. The maximum brightness of nearly 250 cd/m² is acceptable, especially for this price range, and the measured illumination of 93% is also very good.

AMD's E-6010 Beema SoC introduced in April 2014, operates with a fixed clock of 2x 1.35 GHz, and does not have an increased per-MHz performance compared with the previous generation. The low TDP of 10 Watts predestines it for use in small laptops. We had to scroll to the very bottom of our benchmark chart of current office laptops to find the multi-core test score of Cinebench R11. Even the weak Intel Celeron N2815 in Lenovo's B50-30 has a lead of approximately 20%. The performance looks the same when only one core is loaded. Thus, the E-6010 belongs to the slowest of all computer units presently available. For example, the Celeron N2830 (2x 2.2 - 2.5 GHz; TDP: 7.5 Watts) in HP's 250 G3 achieved a 34% to 67% higher score.

Update 11/20/2014: Rerunning the Cinebench tests on the device displayed higher scores when the battery was removed. The Cinebench R11.5 single-rendering score climbed from 0.32 to 0.34 points (+6%), the multi-rendering score from 0.52 to 0.65 points (+25%), and the R15 multi-CPU from 39 to 49 points (+26%). Thus, the installed AMD E1-6010 APU can close in on Intel's N2815 or N2830. The reason for this cut in CPU performance when the battery is inserted is likely either a software or hardware problem linked with the device's voltage supply. 

Above all, there was little joy in terms of system performance. The reason that the very low PCMark 8 scores are 13% to 51% higher than those of HP's 250 G3, is that the Radeon R2 graphics is still considerably faster than the Bay Trail GPU. Subjectively, the system sometimes only ran very sluggishly and was already overburdened with simple multitasking. Programs started slowly after initial opening, but they could be retrieved relatively fast when they were stored in the cache. Even the hard drive performance suffers under the slow CPU as will be seen in the next paragraph. Our Lenovo B50-45 (MCD2GGE) copes quite well with common office software so that nothing stands in the way of using it as a portable typewriter - except for the mediocre keyboard. The browsing speed does not immediately trigger the flight reflex either.

HD Tune sees the average transfer rates of the just 320 GB small hard drive, which should be enough for office purposes in any case, but places it in the last position when all current office laptops are considered in the comparison. It was hard for us to believe that the Seagate Momentus Thin 320 (5400 rpm) was to blame. Therefore, we focused on the assessed CPU load, which is likely to be the fly in the ointment. The access time of 18.8 ms is at the lowest end of the performance scale as well. Hard drive accessing also adversely affected HP's 250 G3 excessively, and it thus presented an equally poor impression - but the review sample is even worse.

AMD has been trying to distinguish itself from Intel's counterparts with the rather stronger graphics units in its APUs or SoCs for years. The integrated, DirectX 11.2 compatible AMD Radeon R2 with 128 GCN Shader units is no exception here, and it has a 100% edge on the Bay Trail Graphics in HP's 250 G3 in 3DMark 11. The GPU and CPU have to share the single-channel memory. This, and the low clock rates of 266 to 350 MHz,  result in a very low speed. The performance first starts to get interesting with the Radeon R4 in the other, more expensive Lenovo B50-45, which is 72% higher than that of the R2.

There is not much to write when virtually nothing is possible. As can be seen in the example benchmarks in the chart below, the review sample even struggled with isometric oldies, such as StarCraft II or Diablo III - even at minimum, mostly unsightly settings. The only thing left to say is the much disliked (and sarcastic) note: Diablo II, Solitaire, and Minesweeper will run smoothly. On the other hand, if like the other B50-45, an R4 Graphics was under the hood, it would even be possible to still play the fairly up-to-date and graphically sophisticated Tomb Raider from 2013 almost lag-free - when all setting controls are set at the minimum. Our attempts to bench FIFA 15 were also sobering. The sound stuttered massively, the intro sequence with stadium and spectators were rendered with guesstimated 5 fps. We gave up.

System Noise

There is usually no need for loud fans where there is no power, as is the case here. When under load, the review sample could simply not be discerned from normal background noises.

The same is true for the surface temperatures that reached a harmless maximum of 40 °C (~104 °F) during load. Two surprises: HP's 250 G3 with very identical hardware conditions reached 45 °C (~113 °F) on the underside's center in our test, whereas the strongest device in the test stayed even cooler than the review sample though it was almost imperceptible. 

The stereo speakers under the display were not at all convincing. Although the maximum volume is sufficient, the sound is suppressed, mid-heavy and muddy  especially in the low frequency ranges. There is no bass, dynamics or surround. The user will not be tormented by fluctuating volumes, but light distortions might evolve in a high volume, depending on the music.

Power Consumption

No matter what load state, the B50-45 belongs to the most energy-efficient office laptops in every category that we have tested in the past twelve months. It does particularly well in high load, matching to its low performance. Unfortunately, the laptop consumes 0.1 Watt when shut down, which is simply unnecessary nowadays.

We can only recommend Lenovo's B50-45 in the tested MCD2GGE version to patient natures, for whom every Euro counts when buying a laptop. Undoubtedly the very low price is offset by a still acceptable total bundle, though its appeal suffers under the weak, barely multitasking capable performance, which leads to sluggish operation. We noticed the pleasingly bright screen and good usable touchpad favorably. The virtually non-existent noise, the low power consumption, and cool operation have to be noted on the pro side. Users can safely forget gaming intentions, although some older games can run in minimum settings.