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Review Toshiba Satellite P875-30E (P870-30E) Notebook

Expensive entertainer. Powerful hardware, strong speakers and a built-in Blu-Ray drive - let the fun begin. Toshiba's new multimedia all-rounder has its strengths but is let down by the poor screen. Is the notebook still worth its price of 1200 Euro (~$1500)?

There isn’t really a dearth of laptops catering to the crowd whose main purpose is media consumption. Every manufacturer has something in every price band – from the cheapest entry level laptop to the loaded premium devices at the top end of the spectrum. No buyer is left without an option.

Toshiba's Satellite P870-30E belongs to the premium price bracket by virtue of its price. Yes it does offer a great package when it comes to hardware – a quad core i7-3610M processor, 8 GB of RAM, a Blu Ray drive and 878 GB (750 GB HDD + 128 GB SSD) of storage space. Nvidia’s GeForce GT 630M is the GPU of choice. But having a 17.3-inch WXGA++ display in a laptop being sold for such a lot of money is disappointing. But buyers looking to get the device should pick up the machine without the SSD which should bring down the price to 1000 Euro (~$1250).

We picked Asus' N76M and Samsung's 550P7C from the giant list of rivals that are gunning for the top spot in this crowded space. This review will see how the laptop performs in comparison to the others.

Case

Textured case surfaces
Textured case surfaces

As usual, we start our review with a look at the case. Toshiba opted for a fashionable black and silver combination that gives the laptop an elegant, though somewhat boring look. Lightly textured surfaces provide a pleasant feel and prevent dust and fingerprints. The screen's glossy bezel is an exception and quickly proves to be impractical in everyday use.

The Satellite P875 makes a rather fragile impression for a 17-inch device. The thickness of less than 3.4 cm (~1.34 in) even undercuts some 15-inch laptops. Moreover, it weighs just over 3 kilograms (~6.6 lb.). However, its footprint (417mm x 272mm) is a bit bigger than Samsung's 550P7C. This is due to the Toshiba notebook's wider bezel (16 mm on the sides).

A material mix of aluminum and plastic ensures sufficient stability. Overall, the chassis convinces with its good resistance to selective pressure but exhibits minor shortcomings in typical problem areas like the region above the optical drive and battery. The display lid is held by two very stiff hinges and hardly wobbles. But the lid could have been a bit more rigid.

We can particularly praise the exemplary build that hardly shows weaknesses even when looked at closely. Rounded case edges and flush material transitions reinforce the high-end impression that we have come to expect from a laptop of this price range. However, the Satellite P875 cannot keep up with Asus' N76VM, but does outdo the Samsung's 550P7C.

Connectivity

USB 3.0 should not be omitted in any modern laptop and the manufacturer builds in a total of four. Two of these ports support Toshiba's "Sleep and Charge" function which enables recharging USB devices such as MP3 players or smartphones when the laptop is switched off. There are no older USB 2.0 ports meaning fast flash drives and other USB 3.0 devices can be connected to any one of the ports without loss of speed.

In addition to the usual VGA and HDMI sockets, we would have appreciated a DisplayPort for rendering movies from the integrated BD drive to monitors with more than 1920x1080 resolutions. Although HDMI would, in principle, be capable of higher resolutions, there are currently not many monitors that enable transmitting 1440p or 1600p via interfaces other than the DisplayPort (or dual-link DVI).

Apart from a few minor details, we are quite happy with Toshiba's interface distribution. The USB ports are grouped in pairs on both sides of the case and thus enables the best possible cable-routing for both left-handed and right-handed users. Infrequently used interfaces, such as Giga Bit LAN and the Kensington lock are located further back on the chassis while the card reader (at the front) and audio jacks (right) are closer to the user. The manufacturer even designs the gaps between the ports to be big enough so that broad USB flash drives do not obstruct neighboring ports.

Front: Card reader
Front: Card reader
Left: Kensington lock, GBit LAN, 2x USB 3.0, BD ROM
Left: Kensington lock, GBit LAN, 2x USB 3.0, BD ROM
Rear: No interfaces
Rear: No interfaces
Right: Headphone, microphone, 2x USB 3.0, HDMI, VGA, vent, power socket
Right: Headphone, microphone, 2x USB 3.0, HDMI, VGA, vent, power socket

Communication

The Satellite P875 connects to the Internet via Intel's Centrino Wireless-N 2230 supporting the standard IEEE 802.11 b/g/n. The low-end model unfortunately only supports connections to the 2.4 GHz band. Only the Advanced-N models support the 5 GHz band. At least the user can take advantage of gross transfer rates of up to 300 MB/s owing to dual-stream technology. However, we could only record 72 MB/s in our test (could be due to our router). The range and stability make a good impression.

Besides Wi-Fi including features like Wireless Display, the mini-PCIe module also supports the latest Bluetooth 4.0 version. UMTS is neither offered for the notebook nor can it be upgraded by the user.

The built-in webcam's quality is not unimportant for a multimedia device. It is one of the poor quality ones we have seen in such an expensive device. The 1.0 MP sensor features a maximum resolution of 1280 x 800 pixels and only provides moderately focused and slightly noisy pictures. The corresponding microphone is a bit muffled but does a good job with VoIP programs like Skype.

Accessories

The accessories that are included in the package are the ones that are needed to run the laptop. In addition to the device itself, you will find a bulky 120 W PSU, the battery and a quick start guide. The user has to create a recovery DVD.

But, the preinstalled software bundle is much more extensive. In addition to quite a few useful tools like the Nero Express Essentials burning program, various trial versions and adware are found among them. Although they can all be deleted, they are simply annoying.

Maintenance

A small rubber cap conceals a screw that secures the laptop's maintenance cover. The cover can be levered away carefully after the screw has been removed. Inside, there are two 2.5-inch slots which are occupied in the P875-30E. The manufacturer provides an additional mSATA slot over the Wi-Fi module that can be equipped with another SSD.

Upgrading the working memory is just as easy. The Satellite has a total of 4 slots. However, the user can only access two of them without further disassembly (2x 4 GB internal). The memory can be upgraded to a total of 16 GB when 4 GB modules are used, and up to a maximum of 24 GB using 8 GB modules.

Warranty

Toshiba provides a 2 year manufacturer's warranty ex-factory. Various retailers offer optional service bundles. An additional year costs 55 Euro/$70 (pick-up service) or 85 Euro/$110 (on-site service).

Input Devices

Keyboard

The Satellite P875 features a chiclet keyboard including a number pad that surprises with a few peculiarities at first. The F-functions have to be triggered by simultaneously pressing the FN key. This can be disabled in the BIOS. Various deviations in the layout like the rather short space bar need a bit of familiarization in the beginning.

Both positive and negative characteristics are noticed when typing. While we appreciate the optional backlight and the well-balanced, medium pressure point, some keys annoy us because they yield marginally and generate a clatter. The keys have the dimensions of 15 mm x 15 mm and an absolutely even surface which sometimes hinders accuracy.

Touchpad

The touchpad's size does not give reason for complaint. Its dimension of approximately 11 cm x 8 cm should be enough for even big hands. The input surface is a good balance of feel (lightly textured surface) and good gliding traits, which enables above-average user experience but precise mouse control. Various multi-touch gestures and other features like the palm sensor can be customized in the Synaptics driver panel. It is a bit strange that the pad hardly responds to user inputs when the CPU is fully loaded. The cursor then only jerks across the screen. We did not observe this problem when using an external mouse.

The mouse keys incorporated in the touchpad coil a bit and are fairly stiff. Clicking could be a bit more exact, but most competitors hardly do a better job due to similarly built inputs. We would prefer conventional, dedicated keys like the ones installed in Samsung's 550P7C.

Keyboard
Keyboard
Touchpad
Touchpad

Display

Despite the installed BD drive and the ability to render high-definition movies, Toshiba opted against a Full HD screen. The user has to be content with a WXGA++ screen with a resolution of 1600 x 900 pixels instead. However, the graphics card should be able to cope with this resolution.

The screen's brightness also does not fulfill the expectations that we place on a 1200 Euro multimedia laptop. An average of 217 cd/m2 should suffice for most routine situations, but better numbers would enhance the readability, particularly in bright surroundings.

219
cd/m²
220
cd/m²
199
cd/m²
218
cd/m²
229
cd/m²
215
cd/m²
216
cd/m²
224
cd/m²
216
cd/m²
Distribution of brightness
AUO B173RW01 V3 tested with Gossen Mavo-Monitor
Maximum: 229 cd/m² (Nits) Average: 217.3 cd/m²
Brightness Distribution: 87 %
Center on Battery: 229 cd/m²
Contrast: 210:1 (Black: 1.09 cd/m²)51% AdobeRGB 1998 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
65.6% sRGB (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
49.21% Display P3 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)

A look at the measured contrast (210:1) and black value (1.09 cd/m2) rates confirm our guess that the AUO B173RW01 V3 screen is a generic TN display. The Satellite P875 cannot compete against the Asus N76VM. The reflective surface at least gives an impression of better picture quality than it really is.

Being a consumer device through and through, our test sample is not made for the needs of professional graphic designers or photographers. The P875 just falls short of covering the sRGB color space and clearly fails in making an impact on the AdobeRGB space. You will not notice this drawback if you occasionally view or edit vacation pictures, especially since only a small number of laptops do a much better job.

P875 vs. AdobeRGB (t)
P875 vs. AdobeRGB (t)
P875 vs. sRGB (t)
P875 vs. sRGB (t)
P875 vs. 550P7C (t)
P875 vs. 550P7C (t)
P875 vs. N76VM (t)
P875 vs. N76VM (t)
Outdoors
Outdoors

Outdoor use is not on the table for a 17-inch device. In addition to higher brightness, an AR-coated screen (like the one in the Asus and Samsung devices) would be necessary to work with the laptop in bright sunlight. However, the user is bothered by intense reflections and is forced to sit in the shade or even go back indoors.

Viewing angles: Toshiba Satellite P875-30E
Viewing angles: The Toshiba Satellite P875-30E

A movie night with friends is possible with the Toshiba. But the picture quality visibly worsens from wide viewing positions. The more you deviate from normal, the weaker the contrast gets. As typical for TN screens, vertical viewing angles are extremely limited though there still is certain degree of elbowroom horizontally. Again, Asus' N76VM proves that screens based on TN technology can be better.

The analog VGA out is close to extinction but is still needed for connecting older projectors and monitors in some cases. The output from the VGA port is very good and is very similar to the output of the HDMI port.

Performance

3.3 GHz maximum Turbo clock rate
3.3 GHz maximum Turbo clock

Four cores and 8 threads via Hyper Threading, a 6 MB cache and a 2.3 GHz base clock (Turbo up to 3.3 GHz) are the Core i7-3610QM's key specs. The fast processor is one of the most popular models from the Ivy Bridge range and is built using the cutting-edge 22 nanometer process. The TDP of 45 watts is 10 watts higher than in the dual-core i3 and i5 series CPUs. However, they are not available for the Satellite P875. Detailed specifications and additional features of the 3610QM can be found in our CPU database.

The manufacturer opted for Nvidia's GeForce GT 630M graphics card, which is a low performance GPU placed towards the lower half of the table. Together with Optimus technology for dynamic graphics switching, the card is only enabled when games or other 3D applications require its performance capabilities. The integrated Intel HD Graphics 4000 is responsible for graphics support in routine use.

Toshiba equips the Satellite with up to 16 GB of working memory depending on the configuration. Our P875-30E has to be content with "only" 8 GB (2x 4 GB DDR3-1600), which will satisfy most users. Moreover, the device sports a conventional 750 GB hard disk as well as a fast 128 GB SSD. However, the latter is only installed in specific models.

System info CPUZ CPU
System info CPUZ Cache
System info CPUZ Mainboard
System info CPUZ RAM
System info CPUZ RAM SPD
System info GPUZ
System info HWInfo
DPC Latency
System information: Toshiba Satellite P875-30E

Processor

The P875 finishes our CPU benchmarks without irregularities and achieves the performance rates expected from such a hardware configuration. This is by no means a matter of course since not every modern laptop is able to remain free from throttling on battery power and exploit the maximum Turbo Boost capacity completely. We accomplished 6.2 points in Cinebench R11.5 (64bit) multi-thread test and 1.38 points in the single-thread benchmark which are excellent scores for the i7-3610QM. No matter whether sophisticated video editing or the latest game, the user will not be able to complain about the processor's lack of power at any time.

 

Cinebench R10 Rendering Single 32Bit
4420
Cinebench R10 Rendering Multiple CPUs 32Bit
17513
Cinebench R10 Shading 32Bit
6000
Cinebench R10 Rendering Single CPUs 64Bit
5592 Points
Cinebench R10 Rendering Multiple CPUs 64Bit
21400 Points
Cinebench R10 Shading 64Bit
5998 Points
Cinebench R11.5 CPU Single 64Bit
1.38 Points
Cinebench R11.5 CPU Multi 64Bit
6.2 Points
Cinebench R11.5 OpenGL 64Bit
24.6 fps
Help
SanDisk SSD
SanDisk SSD
Hitachi HDD
Hitachi HDD

Storage Devices

The bulky 17-inch chassis offers room for two full-fledged 2.5-inch hard disks and which can be installed by the user.

The system partition is stored on a 128 GB SSD from SanDisk (SD5SB2128G). Consequently, 100 GB remains for Windows and other programs after deducting space for the recovery partition. Larger applications should therefore be installed on the additional 750 GB hard disk (Hitachi HTS54757A9E384).

Although SanDisk's SSD cannot compete with faster drives (Samsung PM 830, Crucial M4), it supplies a decent performance boost compared with every HDD. The sequential read and write speeds are both approximately 300 MB/s and do not drop much even with smaller sized files.

A mechanical hard disk cannot reach these speeds. An average of 75 MB/s and an access time of 18.4 milliseconds are normal for a 5400 rpm model and also sufficient for a data drive.

SanDisk SD5SB2128G
Sequential Read: 306.4 MB/s
Sequential Write: 296.9 MB/s
512K Read: 150.1 MB/s
512K Write: 104.7 MB/s
4K Read: 25.93 MB/s
4K Write: 57.1 MB/s
4K QD32 Read: 29.01 MB/s
4K QD32 Write: 73.9 MB/s

System Performance

Both Asus' N76VM and Samsung's 550P7C participate in our tests without an SSD, so it should be easy for Toshiba to outdo both contenders in the memory-heavy PCMark benchmarks. And it does so by a huge margin. With 14223 points in PCMark Vantage and 3936 points in PCMark 7, the Satellite P875 surges to the top and leaves the SSD-less competition behind with gains of 50 percent.

The flash memory drive's advantage is often even bigger in routine use. This begins with extremely fast boots that hardly takes 20 seconds, including the POST screen, and continues with faster responsiveness to user input.

In view of the big price difference, tech-savvy users should consider buying a cheaper version of the P875 without the SSD and retrofitting one. This also applies to –its rivals, all 3 models offer room for a second drive, at least in principle (the 550P7C does not always include the necessary cable).

6.7
Windows 7 Experience Index
Processor
Calculations per second
7.6
Memory (RAM)
Memory operations per second
7.8
Graphics
Desktop performance for Windows Aero
6.7
Gaming graphics
3D business and gaming graphics
6.7
Primary hard disk
Disk data transfer rate
7.4
PCMark Vantage Result
14223 points
PCMark 7 Score
3936 points
Help

Graphics Card

The GeForce GT 630M is an old acquaintance. The underlying GF108 chip has been installed in many multimedia laptops since 2010. Nvidia has now presented a refresh of the card scaled down to 28 nanometers (GF117 chip), but Toshiba still installs the older 40 nanometer version in its P875. Unfortunately, the manufacturer also omits the optional Turbo mode of the GeForce 600M generation and sets the core clock to 662 MHz (load). The 96 shader units clock at twice the frequency (1324 MHz) and the 2 GB DDR3 VRAM (128 bit) with 900 MHz in the Fermi card.

The new GeForce GT 650M (Kepler) model in Samsung's 550P7C blows away the GT 630M. The Satellite also lags behind the N76VM with the same GPU due to the lack of Turbo. The advantage of Asus' notebook is roughly 15 percent (1288 to 1123 points) in 3DMark 11. The graphics card's extreme throttling on battery power is common to both devices (3DMark 11: 319 points).

3DMark 11 - 1280x720 Performance (sort by value)
Toshiba Satellite P875-30E
GeForce GT 630M, 3610QM, SanDisk SD5SB2128G
1123 Points
Asus N76VM-V2G-T1078V
GeForce GT 630M, 3610QM, Seagate Momentus SpinPoint M8 ST1000LM024
1288 Points +15%
Samsung 550P7C-S02DE
GeForce GT 650M, 3610QM, Hitachi Travelstar 7K750 HTS727575A9E
2406 Points +114%
3DMark 05 Standard
16151 points
3DMark 06 Standard Score
8460 points
3DMark Vantage P Result
4786 points
3DMark 11 Performance
1123 points
Help
Battlefield 3: Only smooth in low settings
Battlefield 3: Only smooth in low settings

Gaming Performance

The GT 630M is frequently too low in the performance stakes to render current games in maximum details and native resolution. A resolution of 1366x768 pixels is already too much for the graphics card in Battlefield 3 and Anno 2070 forcing the user to play the game with medium if not low settings. The GeForce GT 650M in the Samsung is almost twice as fast and the better choice for gamers. The Satellite P875 also lags behind the Asus N76NV again due to the omitted GPU Turbo which limits the performance significantly in this case.

low med. high ultra
Deus Ex Human Revolution (2011) 104.8 40.9
Battlefield 3 (2011) 35.7 23.8 17.8
Anno 2070 (2011) 82 32.9 20.5
Diablo III (2012) 104.3 65.5 57.2

Emissions

System Noise

The Satellite's fan ran constantly at idle due to the relatively high ambient temperatures during our test (approximately 25 degrees Celsius). The noise level of 32.5 dB (A) remained quite inconspicuous. However, the fan increased its speed occasionally even during light load reaching up to 34.8 dB (A) making the laptop clearly audible (from a normal seating distance).

The noise level increased even more during load and reached levels of 39.1 dB (A) (3DMark 06) and 43.3 dB (A) (during the stress test). Consequently, our test device was louder than the Asus and the Samsung which also struggle with throttling during full load. We will examine if this is the case in Toshiba's laptop in the following section.

Noise Level

Idle
32.5 / 33.3 / 34.8 dB(A)
HDD
32.5 dB(A)
DVD
37.8 / dB(A)
Load
39.1 / 43.4 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 320 (15 cm distance)
Stress test
Stress test

Temperature

First, we take a look at the case temperatures. As long as the hardware is not loaded, the laptop remains exceptionally cool and hardly reaches an average of 30 degrees Celsius which is very likely due to the constantly running fan.

The temperature around the vent climbs to just below 50 degrees Celsius during full load conditions. Fortunately, the wrist rest is not affected and settles to about 30 - 39 degrees Celsius. Thus, long gaming sessions are no problem. The Satellite can still be used on the lap during normal workloads. We would however advise against that during full-load conditions.

Although the processor heats up in our stress test (99 degrees Celsius), we did not observe throttling. The Core i7-3610QM maintains its maximum Turbo clock of 3.1 GHz which is exemplary. GPU-Z only records a core temperature of 73 degrees Celsius on the graphics card running with stable clock rates.

Max. Load
 32.1 °C
90 F
42.1 °C
108 F
45 °C
113 F
 
 31.8 °C
89 F
47.1 °C
117 F
46.6 °C
116 F
 
 29.8 °C
86 F
31.5 °C
89 F
38.8 °C
102 F
 
Maximum: 47.1 °C = 117 F
Average: 38.3 °C = 101 F
45.3 °C
114 F
39.5 °C
103 F
31.1 °C
88 F
49.5 °C
121 F
35.3 °C
96 F
30.5 °C
87 F
34.2 °C
94 F
30.1 °C
86 F
29.7 °C
85 F
Maximum: 49.5 °C = 121 F
Average: 36.1 °C = 97 F
Power Supply (max.)  55.7 °C = 132 F | Room Temperature 25.2 °C = 77 F | Voltcraft IR-360
(-) The average temperature for the upper side under maximal load is 38.3 °C / 101 F, compared to the average of 31.2 °C / 88 F for the devices in the class Multimedia.
(-) The maximum temperature on the upper side is 47.1 °C / 117 F, compared to the average of 36.9 °C / 98 F, ranging from 21.1 to 71 °C for the class Multimedia.
(-) The bottom heats up to a maximum of 49.5 °C / 121 F, compared to the average of 39.1 °C / 102 F
(+) In idle usage, the average temperature for the upper side is 29.2 °C / 85 F, compared to the device average of 31.2 °C / 88 F.
(±) The palmrests and touchpad can get very hot to the touch with a maximum of 38.8 °C / 101.8 F.
(-) The average temperature of the palmrest area of similar devices was 28.8 °C / 83.8 F (-10 °C / -18 F).

Speakers

The name Harman Kardon will be familiar to many readers. The US manufacturer has acquired a respectable reputation with its high-quality audio components, especially among Hi-Fi fans.

Premium sound quality cannot be expected from a laptop due to the lack of room. However, compared with other devices, the two-way stereo speakers are outstanding. The trebles and mid-ranges are each rendered by one speaker and two more are responsible for the bass. The speakers reproduce an extremely powerful sound despite their small size and even excel over some notebooks with an additional subwoofer. The relatively linear frequency response eliminates unnecessary distortions of high or low pitches and this certainly deserves praise. Movies, games and music are very enjoyable even without external speakers (connected via jack or HDMI) and also fill larger rooms with sound when required.

Battery Life

Power Consumption

The Satellite P875 power draw is quite modest for a 17-incher with merely 8.1 to 15.6 W when idling. Samsung's 550P7C is just as energy efficient but the Asus N76VM needs a few watts more.

We ascertained a comparatively low power draw of 64.6 W (average) in 3DMark 06, which seems appropriate for the laptop's good application and 3D performance. In return, the power consumption skyrockets during full load conditions (Furmark and Prime 95) and climbs up to 107.5 W. This sounds like quite a lot at first, but since we did not determine throttling, it is logical. Toshiba designs the 120 W PSU to be strong enough so that there should be no problems running the laptop on it.

Power Consumption
Off / Standbydarklight 0.1 / 0.6 Watt
Idledarkmidlight 8.1 / 12.3 / 15.6 Watt
Load midlight 64.6 / 107.5 Watt
 color bar
Key: min: dark, med: mid, max: light        Voltcraft VC 940
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 battery with a capacity of only 48 Wh is fairly small and lowers our expectations on battery life. Even the manufacturer's optimistic specification only states a maximum of 4.5 hours.

The surprising thing is that the Satellite P875 almost mutates to an endurance machine when the BatteryEater Reader's test was run recording a decent 7 hours and 10 minutes (energy saving mode, minimum brightness, wireless modules switched off). Samsung's 550P7C lasted for just as long even though it had a bigger 57 Wh battery.

The user can also surf for over 4 hours on the Internet using the Wi-Fi. We use energy savings mode and set the screen brightness to approximately 150 cd/m2 (level 7/8) for this. It is possible to easily watch two average-length DVD movies on the Satellite.

The best energy-saving features do not help much during load. The small battery limits the runtime in BatteryEater's Classic test to a maximum of 53 minutes (high-performance, maximum brightness, wireless module on). A complete recharge is completed in less than 2 hours thanks to the strong PSU.

Maximum battery runtime (Reader's Test)
Reader's Test
Minimum runtime (Classic Test)
Classic Test
Charging
Charging
Battery Runtime
Idle (without WLAN, min brightness)
7h 10min
WiFi Surfing
4h 14min
DVD
3h 34min
Load (maximum brightness)
0h 53min

Verdict

Toshiba Satellite P875-30E
The Toshiba Satellite P875-30E

If you are willing to invest 1200 Euro in a multimedia laptop, you will unlikely want to accept compromises. Our expectations on Toshiba's Satellite P875-30E were high and the lavishly equipped 17 inch behemoth could mostly fulfill them.

Excellent workmanship and decent stability distinguish the good looking and pleasant feeling aluminum / plastic chassis that harbors the high-performance hardware. The application performance is excellent owing to the quad-core processor and SSD drive. Even games are quite possible due to the presence of the GeForce GT 630M. There are of course cheaper laptops with faster graphics cards available, but compromises have to be made somewhere else. Toshiba focuses on multimedia use and created the best conditions by installing a BD drive and outstanding speakers.

Regrettably, the poor screen mars the overall impression. The brilliant, matt Full HD screen in the Asus N76VM would look very good in the P875 and even make the laptop suitable for outdoor use. The Satellite scores with its long battery life and low weight for a 17-inch device.

Now, the decision to whether buy Toshiba's Satellite P875 is a matter of personal preference. It basically earns it purchase recommendation as an elegant all-round machine which is not meant for gamers who will be happy with other alternatives like the Samsung's 550P7C.

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In Review:  Toshiba Satellite P875-30E
In Review: The Toshiba Satellite P875-30E

Specifications

Toshiba Satellite P875-30E (Satellite P875 Series)
Processor
Intel Core i7-3610QM 4 x 2.3 - 3.3 GHz (Intel Core i7)
Graphics adapter
NVIDIA GeForce GT 630M - 2048 MB VRAM, Core: 662 MHz, Memory: 900 MHz, DDR3-VRAM, ForceWare 295.55, Optimus
Memory
8 GB 
, 2x 4096 MB Samsung DDR3-1600 CL11, 4 slots
Display
17.30 inch 16:9, 1600 x 900 pixel, AUO B173RW01 V3, TN screen, LED backlight, glossy: yes
Mainboard
Intel HM76 (Panther Point)
Storage
SanDisk SD5SB2128G, 128 GB 
, + 750 GB Hitachi-HDD (5400 rpm, HTS547575A9E384)
Soundcard
Intel Panther Point PCH - High Definition Audio Controller
Connections
4 USB 3.0 / 3.1 Gen1, 1 VGA, 1 HDMI, 1 Kensington Lock, Audio Connections: headphone + microphone (both 3.5 millimeter jacks), Card Reader: 4in1 card reader (SD, SDHC, SDXC, MMC)
Networking
Atheros AR8161/8165 PCI-E Gigabit Ethernet Controller (10/100/1000MBit/s), Intel Centrino Wireless-N 2230 (b/g/n = Wi-Fi 4/), Bluetooth 4.0
Optical drive
Matshita DVD-RAM UJ8B0
Size
height x width x depth (in mm): 33.7 x 417 x 272 ( = 1.33 x 16.42 x 10.71 in)
Battery
48 Wh Lithium-Ion, 10,8 volt
Operating System
Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64 Bit
Camera
Webcam: 1.0 Megapixel
Additional features
Speakers: 2x2 Harman/Kardon stereo speakers, Keyboard: chiclet, Keyboard Light: yes, 120 watt PSU, McAfee Internet Security (trial version), Microsoft Office 2010 Starter, Nero BackItUp Essentials, 24 Months Warranty
Weight
3 kg ( = 105.82 oz / 6.61 pounds), Power Supply: 400 g ( = 14.11 oz / 0.88 pounds)
Price
1200 Euro

 

A splendid performance?
Splendid performance?
and a dedicated number pad.
and a dedicated number pad.
The touchpad occasionally drops out during full load.
The touchpad occasionally drops out during full load.
Movie fans will be happy about the BD drive
Movie fans will be happy having the BD drive
especially alongside the full soundscape.
especially with them speakers.
4 speakers are very impressive.
4 speakers are very impressive.
Nothing unusual about the bottom:
Nothing unusual about the bottom:
The maintenance cover can be opened after removing one screw.
The maintenance cover can be opened after removing one screw.
Two empty memory slots allow easy upgrading.
Two empty memory slots allow easy upgrades.
Both 2.5 inch slots
Both 2.5-inch slots
are already occupied.
are already occupied.
An mSATA drive has room above the wifi module.
An mSATA drive has room above the Wi-Fi module.
The keyboard features a backlight
The keyboard features a backlight
A look at the input devices:
A look at the input devices:
but in return there are 4 USB 3.0s.
but there are 4 USB 3.0s.
Classic silver-gray
Classic silver-gray coloring
characterizes the Satellite P875's looks.
characterizes the Satellite P875's looks.
The slim 17 inch device
The slim 17-inch device
is made of both plastic and aluminum.
is made of both plastic and aluminum.
Apart from minor weak points
Apart from minor weak points
the chassis convinces with good stability.
the chassis convinces with good stability.
A fine pattern adorns both the lid
A fine pattern adorns both the lid
as well as the base unit.
as well as the base unit.
The notebook is powered by a fast Core i7
The notebook is powered by a fast Core i7
that exerts the cooling system particularly during full load.
that exercises the cooling system particularly during full load.
We miss a DisplayPort among the connectivity
We miss the DisplayPort among the connectivity options
The 120 watt PSU suffices even for full load situations
The 120 W PSU suffices, even for full load situations

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Pros

+High application performance
+Good workmanship
+HDD + SSD
+4 RAM slots
+Powerful speakers
+Long battery life
 

Cons

-High price
-Disappointing screen
-Keyboard yields marginally
-Touchpad dropouts during CPU load
-GPU throttling on battery power

Shortcut

What we like

A built-in BD drive and the great sound quality underline the Satellite's multimedia characteristics.

What we'd like to see

We miss a high-end Full HD screen to make it a perfect, well-designed bundle.

What surprises us

Despite the small 48 Wh battery, the laptop baffles with long battery life that can records 7 hours when idling.

The competition

The Asus N76VM is a rival with an excellent screen. If you want more graphics power, you should look closer at Samsung's 550P7C. Other alternatives are Acer's Aspire V3-771G and Sony's Vaio SVE1711X1EB.

Rating

Toshiba Satellite P875-30E - 08/21/2012 v3(old)
Till Schönborn

Chassis
85%
Keyboard
82%
Pointing Device
81%
Connectivity
79%
Weight
73%
Battery
80%
Display
71%
Games Performance
80%
Application Performance
95%
Temperature
85%
Noise
80%
Add Points
83%
Average
81%
82%
Multimedia - Weighted Average
Till Schönborn, 2012-08-26 (Update: 2013-06- 6)