Review Schenker XMG A522 (Clevo W350ET barebones) Notebook

For the case, Schenker uses the 15-inch W350ET barebones system from Taiwanese manufacturer Clevo. This case is the smaller brother of the 17-inch W370ET case used in the One K73-2O and XMG A722. The smaller 15-inch W350ET shares the 44-millimeter (1.7-inch) thickness of the larger W370ET, but the other dimensions are reduced from 413 x 278 millimeters (16.3 x 10.9 inches) to 374 x 250 millimeters (14.7 x 9.8 inches).

Both barebones systems use the same color. The gray, lightly-textured plastic lid resembles brushed aluminum and Clevo applied a light rubberized coating to the wrist rest. With a weight of 2.8 kilograms (6.2 pounds), the weight is approximately 400 grams (0.9 pounds) lighter than the W370ET barebones system which also features two hard drive slots. The 15-inch case differs from the 17-inch case by using a high-gloss display bezel rather than the matte bezel found in the W370ET, a change we consider annoying. Fingerprints are readily visible on the bezel and even careful cleaning cannot prevent the inevitable accumulation of micro-scratches.

The W350ET demonstrated decent overall stability. Other than the speaker bar and vent grilles, the base unit barely yielded to higher selective pressure. The only area that could have been a bit more rigid was the display lid. We found that the case creaks a bit depending on where pressure was applied to the case. Unfortunately, vibrations and movement of the work surface led to teetering in the display lid. As well, the base unit lifted partially when the display was opened.

Nonetheless, we are satisfied with the XMG A522’s overall quality. Workmanship and materials provided an impression that was nearly beyond reproach. By comparison, the 15-inch MSI MS-16GA barebones system found in the DevilTech Fire DTX and the MSI MS-16F3 found in the DevilTech Devil 6700 make a somewhat cheaper impression despite their fancier facades. Clevo uses a mostly plain case design and the XMG logo on the display lid merely consists of three stickers.

Processor

Currently, the XMG A522 is sold using only Ivy Bridge processors fabricated on a 22 nm process. These processors are identified by their Core i 3000-series model numbers.

While the Ivy Bridge uses the integrated HD Graphics 4000 which is approximately 40 percent faster than the older HD Graphics 3000 used by Sandy Bridge processors, not much has changed in terms of pure CPU performance despite the use of 3D transistors. Ivy Bridge processors instead base their superior performance on their slightly higher clock rates.

Our test notebook is powered by the very-popular Core i7-3610QM. This quad-core processor makes use of Hyper Threading technology to allow each core to simultaneously handle two threads. In this case, the processor is capable of eight parallel threads. The Turbo Boost 2.0 function is also present, allowing the processor to automatically overclock itself. The 6 MB L3 cache is also considerably larger than the 3 MB cache found in Core i5 dual-core processors.

It should also be noted that Sandy Bridge processors use slightly slower DDR3-1333 RAM as opposed to the DDR3-1600 used by Ivy Bridge processors.

Graphics Card

The Schenker XMG A522 uses the Nvidia GeForce GTX 660M based on the successful 28 nm Kepler architecture. The GK107 chip features 384 shader units and is clearly not in the same league as the Nvidia GeForce GTX 680M (GK104) which features 1344 CUDA cores.

The GTX 660M features a relatively lush 2048 MB GDDR5 video memory. This high-end graphics card is, however, limited by its 128-bit memory interface. By comparison, the GTX 680M uses 4096 MB GDDR5 VRAM on a 256-bit memory interface. In the XMG A522, the GTX 660M uses clock speeds of 835 MHz and 2500 MHz for the core clock and memory clock respectively, slightly higher than 720 and 1800 MHz clock speeds used in the GTX 680M. Nonetheless, the GTX 660M is a considerably slower card than Nvidia’s top-of-the-line model. Even though the GTX 660M has support for DirectX 11.1, it is still surpassed by both the Nvidia GeForce GTX 670M and Nvidia GeForce GTX 675M which are based on the older 40 nm Fermi architecture.

The current Kepler architecture combines good performance with modest power consumption and is considerably more energy-efficient than Fermi architecture. As well, Kepler-based GPUs are capable of a long list of features that includes PhysX support for GPU-based physics calculations.

The XMG A522 features Nvidia Optimus technology which allows the system to switch graphics cards based on the needs of the system. Windows tasks such as browsing the Internet, word processing, and watching movies can be handled by the integrated HD Graphics 4000, reducing power consumption considerably. In our testing, we did not modify the pre-installed 295.93 Nvidia graphics driver.

GPU Boost

The GeForce GTX 660M includes a feature called GPU Boost. Like Intel’s Turbo Boost 2.0 technology, this feature allows the GPU’s core clock to increase significantly provided the cooling system is capable of handling the increased thermal emissions. In our testing, we observed a 950 MHz core clock as opposed to the 835 MHz base clock. This 14 percent improvement demonstrates that Clevo has properly exploited this feature. While this boost may be more or less beneficial depending on the application, it is regrettable that the manufacturer limited the processor as previously mentioned.

Storage Devices

Our sample XMG A522 came with two hard drives – the 128 GB Samsung SSD 830 solid state drive and the 1 TB 5400 RPM SATA II Seagate Momentus ST1000LM024. We started our test scenario by analyzing the 7-millimeter (0.28-inch), 61-gram (0.13-pound) Samsung 830. This drive is built on 27 nm toggle DDR MLC NAND flash. According to the manufacturer, this SATA III model is capable of maximum read/write speeds of 520 MB/s and 320 MB/s respectively.

We observed a sequential read rate of 503 MB/s and sequential write rate of 311 MB/s in the AS SSD benchmark, confirming that Samsung was not exaggerating. Other SATA III SSD models, such as the Intel SSD 330 and Crucial RealSSD M4 offered in Schenker’s online configurator, have comparable read rates of 475 to 490 MB/s. However, those drives also have much slower, sub-200 MB/s write speeds as measured in the Schenker XMG A102 and Gigabyte U2442N. The Samsung 830 SSD also proved to be first-rate with smaller files. We observed great access times on the order of 0.1 ms and 0.07 ms for read and write respectively.

On the other hand, we stored approximately 200 GB worth of game files on the secondary hard disk, the Seagate Momentus which features an 8 MB cache. Despite its leisurely 5400 RPM rotational speed, the 2.5-inch Momentus is quite capable of competing with some 7200 RPM models. In CrystalDiskMark, the drive managed a relatively good result of 100 MB/s. The Toshiba MQ01ABD100 1 TB 5400 RPM drive from the One K73-2O also managed a similar result.

Gaming Performance

The XMG A522’s Geforce GTX 660M demonstrates its limitations in demanding PC games. When using the native 1920x1080 resolution and maximum settings, a few games such as Battlefield 3, Dirt Showdown and Anno 2070 stuttered intensely. However, other popular mainstream games such as Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, Mass Effect 3, and Diablo III ran well at high settings. This DirectX 11 GPU is better suited for a 1600x900 resolution.

For those desiring to always use the display’s native resolution, it might be worth considering the cheaper HD+ screen. While the Full HD screen can support numerous 4:3, 16:9, and 16:10 resolutions including the 1600x900 resolution, doing so leads to a certain degree of blurriness as a result of rescaling.

When only considering the highest or Ultra settings, the disabled CPU turbo had little or no effect on performance. The benchmark results were on par with other notebooks which also use the GeForce GTX 660M, such as the Asus G55VW and Lenovo IdeaPad Y580. On the other hand, reducing the settings revealed the effects of the disabled CPU turbo as the Gigabyte P2542G played The Secret World at nearly 7 percent higher fps in high details at a resolution of 1366x768.

System Noise

The XMG A522’s system noise left mixed feelings. While idle, the primary source of noise was the physical hard drive which generated a quiet, non-annoying noise. After a period of inactivity, this drive went into sleep mode and the only detectable sound was the fan’s subtle noise. We also did not observe any adverse noise from the optical drive which remained restrained when playing a movie.

As is typical for gaming notebooks, the noise level increased dramatically when the notebook was under load. Sometimes the fan noise came to the fore front depending on the game genre and scene. While this may not warrant a return for most users, those particularly picky or sensitive to noise should consider an alternative option. For example, the Asus G55VW is currently one of the quietest high-end notebooks.

We observed a maximum 49 dB(A) noise level in highly unrealistic full-load operation. The 17-inch version also reached a comparable noise level in the same scenario.

Temperature

During our testing, we found that one of the XMG A522’s few weaknesses is its fairly high temperature emissions. While our test was conducted on a hot summer day and our ambient testing temperature of 28°C (82°F) was hardly ideal, the system temperatures we measured are nonetheless above average.

We measured an idle temperature of 34°C (93°F) for the base unit. During our stress test, we measured temperatures of 38°C (100°F) and 41°C (106°F) for the top and underside of the base unit respectively. We even measured a temperature of nearly 50°C (122°F) above the keyboard. However this should not prove to be a major limitation as the wrist rest and WASD key areas remained within an acceptable range with measured temperatures of 32°C (90°F) and 36°C (97°C) respectively.

The internal components made a contrasting impression. The graphics card did not surpass 76°C (169°F) even after an hour of full load in our Furmark/Prime stress test. On the other hand, the CPU reached nearly 90°C (194°F) and throttled to 1.2 GHz. By comparison, the W370ET’s Core i7-3610QM remained approximately 10°C (18°F) cooler during its test with a 24°C (75°F) ambient temperature.

Battery Runtime

The lower power consumption resulted in an impressive battery runtime. The large capacity 77 Wh 8-cell battery was able to power the device for 5.5 hours when the display brightness was reduced to minimum in the Battery Eater Reader’s test. However, in our Wi-Fi test, where our display brightness was set to level 4 of 8 representing approximately 150 cd/m², the notebook managed a more realistic 4.5 hours. This result is of course well short of the runtimes achieved by more efficient notebooks. DVD playback was possible for nearly 3.5 hours using maximum brightness so almost all movies can be watched without interruption.

Under higher loads and using the dedicated GeForce GTX 660M card, the 15-inch notebook impressed us. Most comparable devices are unable to achieve the XMG A522’s two-hour result in the Battery Eater Classic test. By comparison, the W370ET was drained half-an-hour quicker. In a test using Unigine Heaven, performance on battery power was equal to performance on AC power.

With the XMG A522, Schenker has created the perfect complement to its existing notebook portfolio. The 15-inch gaming notebook scored very well in most categories. The matte Full HD display is, among other things, one of the strengths of this notebook. While the LG Philips LP156WF1-TLF3 is not the penultimate display option, its picture quality was thoroughly convincing in our tests.

Similarly, performance was an area largely free from criticism. With the proper configuration, such as including a quad-core processor and solid state drive, the notebook can be a rather powerful, versatile, and largely future-proof package. Users who are not obsessed with playing the newest games in Full HD and maximum settings will also be happy with the GeForce GTX 660M.

The XMG A522 demonstrated surprising energy-efficiency for a gaming notebook due to the mix of Nvidia Kepler architecture and Optimus technology. This efficiency ensures moderate power consumption and a relatively good battery runtime. The underlying Clevo W350ET barebones system exhibited a number of strengths and weaknesses. In addition to the easy maintenance accessibility, we particularly liked the good connectivity, such as the three USB 3.0 ports, and the unobtrusive design.

However, the emissions were not as good. The XMG A522 not only became warm during load; it also became fairly loud as is often the case from high-end notebooks. Moreover, the otherwise-pleasant input devices suffer from the lack of a keyboard backlight and sticky touchpad surface.

We found it inconceivable why Clevo has retained the same stagnant philosophy in terms of system audio for years. The manufacturer should also discontinue the use of scratch-sensitive display bezels. Additionally, the disabling of Intel Turbo Boost while using the Nvidia GPU was odd. Schenker’s extensive configurator and the system’s clean Windows installation are strengths that unfortunately do not overcome these traits.

Despite these listed shortcomings, the XMG A522 is worthy of consideration. With a score of 84 percent, the 15-inch entry-level gaming notebook placed itself between the Schenker XMG A502 mid-range model and Schenker XMG P502 high-end model which scored 82 and 86 percent respectively. A review of the larger XMG A722 will be published shortly.