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MagyarToshiba Satellite L50-B-1TD Notebook Review Update
For the original German review, see here.
We wrote a comprehensive review of the Satellite L50-B just a few months ago. Toshiba's all-round multimedia notebook was able to secure a "Good" (80%) in our tests. Now we get to examine a new model -- the Satellite L50-B-1TD. This device is outfitted with a somewhat quicker Core i7 processor and a solid state drive. When all is said and done, is the Satellite L50-B worth buying? Read our review to find out.
In essence, all 15.6-inch all-round multimedia notebooks count as the Satellite's competitors. Examples include the Dell Inspiron 15-5547, the HP Pavilion 15-p008ng, the Acer Aspire V5-573G and the Lenovo IdeaPad Z50-70.
Because the two Satellite models are structurally identical, we won't cover the case, connectivity, input devices or speakers in this article. Information on these subjects is available in our review of the Satellite L50-B-182.
Display
Like its sister model, the L50-B-182, the Satellite L50-B-1TD is equipped with a glossy Full HD display. The screen's brightness (299 cd/m²) is good. Its contrast (554:1) and black value (0.54 cd/m²) are decent. Even so, the L50-B-182 trumps our test device's panel in all three of these areas (brightness: 340.2 cd/m²; contrast: 1024:1; black value: 0.31 cd/m²).
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Brightness Distribution: 77 %
Center on Battery: 299 cd/m²
Contrast: 554:1 (Black: 0.54 cd/m²)
ΔE Color 5.96 | 0.5-29.43 Ø4.95
ΔE Greyscale 5.52 | 0.5-98 Ø5.2
51% AdobeRGB 1998 (Argyll 1.6.3 3D)
57.1% AdobeRGB 1998 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
78.1% sRGB (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
61.5% Display P3 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
Gamma: 2.29
| Toshiba Satellite L50-B-1TD Radeon R7 M260, 4510U, Toshiba HG6 THNSNJ256GMCU | Toshiba Satellite L50-B-182 Radeon R7 M260, 4500U, HGST Travelstar 5K1000 HTS541010A9E680 | Asus X555LN-XO112H GeForce 840M, 4210U, Toshiba MQ01ABF050 | Acer Aspire E5-551G-F1EW Radeon R7 M265, FX-7500, Seagate ST1000LM014 Solid State Hybrid Drive | Lenovo IdeaPad Z50-70 (59427656) GeForce 840M, 4510U, Seagate ST1000LM014 Solid State Hybrid Drive | HP Pavilion 15-p008ng GeForce 840M, 4210U, HGST Travelstar 5K1000 HTS541075A9E680 | Acer Aspire V5-573G-54218G1Taii GeForce GTX 850M, 4210U, Seagate ST1000LM014 Solid State Hybrid Drive | Dell Inspiron 15-5547 Radeon R7 M265, 4210U, WDC Scorpio Blue WD10JPVX-75JC3T0 | Acer Aspire V3-572PG-604M GeForce 840M, 4200U, WDC Scorpio Blue WD10JPVX-22JC3T0 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Display | 5% | -11% | -28% | -35% | -14% | 10% | -31% | -26% | |
| Display P3 Coverage | 61.5 | 64.3 5% | 49.95 -19% | 40.57 -34% | 36.2 -41% | 48.78 -21% | 63.4 3% | 38.84 -37% | 41.2 -33% |
| sRGB Coverage | 78.1 | 81.8 5% | 73.9 -5% | 61.1 -22% | 53.8 -31% | 71.3 -9% | 89.7 15% | 57.8 -26% | 61.7 -21% |
| AdobeRGB 1998 Coverage | 57.1 | 59.8 5% | 51.7 -9% | 41.91 -27% | 37.48 -34% | 50.4 -12% | 64.6 13% | 40.19 -30% | 42.61 -25% |
| Screen | 33% | -68% | -27% | -28% | -38% | 15% | -15% | -29% | |
| Brightness middle | 299 | 323 8% | 189 -37% | 254 -15% | 202 -32% | 343 15% | 326 9% | 191 -36% | 231 -23% |
| Brightness | 299 | 340 14% | 184 -38% | 250 -16% | 192 -36% | 329 10% | 306 2% | 178 -40% | 219 -27% |
| Brightness Distribution | 77 | 84 9% | 92 19% | 85 10% | 78 1% | 87 13% | 87 13% | 86 12% | 89 16% |
| Black Level * | 0.54 | 0.31 43% | 2.2 -307% | 0.63 -17% | 0.37 31% | 1.02 -89% | 0.56 -4% | 0.25 54% | 0.49 9% |
| Contrast | 554 | 1042 88% | 86 -84% | 403 -27% | 546 -1% | 336 -39% | 582 5% | 764 38% | 471 -15% |
| Colorchecker dE 2000 * | 5.96 | 4 33% | 7.77 -30% | 9.71 -63% | 10.23 -72% | 10.9 -83% | 3.2 46% | 8.94 -50% | 10.14 -70% |
| Greyscale dE 2000 * | 5.52 | 2.24 59% | 8.82 -60% | 10.4 -88% | 10.04 -82% | 12.09 -119% | 3.65 34% | 9.43 -71% | 10.76 -95% |
| Gamma | 2.29 96% | 2.46 89% | 2.43 91% | 2.37 93% | 2.2 100% | 2.01 109% | 2.29 96% | 2.46 89% | 2.32 95% |
| CCT | 5831 111% | 6353 102% | 9275 70% | 11978 54% | 10347 63% | 10388 63% | 6685 97% | 11093 59% | 12928 50% |
| Color Space (Percent of AdobeRGB 1998) | 51 | 54 6% | 48 -6% | 50 -2% | 35 -31% | 46.1 -10% | 58 14% | 37.16 -27% | 39 -24% |
| Total Average (Program / Settings) | 19% /
25% | -40% /
-52% | -28% /
-27% | -32% /
-30% | -26% /
-31% | 13% /
14% | -23% /
-19% | -28% /
-28% |
* ... smaller is better
Out of the factory, the display's average DeltaE 2000 deviation is 5.96 -- a good number. A deviation of less than 3 is ideal.
Toshiba outfitted their Satellite with an IPS panel. One of the hallmark characteristics of displays of this type is their stable viewing angles. The screen content is visible from every direction. However, the Satellite isn't really cut out for outdoor use. In general, the highly reflective display makes reading the screen under the bright sunlight very difficult.
Performance
The Toshiba Satellite L50-B-1TD is a 15.6-inch all-round multimedia notebook. For everyday use, the computer's performance is more than sufficient. Current 3D games are also playable on this machine, to a limited extent. Our test device is available right now for just under 900 Euros (~$1100). Within the Satellite L50-B line, Toshiba also offers innumerable versions with a diversity of hardware.
Processor
Thanks to its Core i7-4510U dual-core processor, the Satellite isn't lacking in computational power. The CPU runs at a base clock speed of 2 GHz. Using turbo, the speed can be increased to up to 2.8 GHz (both cores) or 3.1 GHz (only one core). This energy-efficient ULV processor has a TDP of 15 Watts. In AC power mode, the CPU is able to utilize its full performance capacity. The processor completed the Cinebench benchmark's multi-thread tests at 2.6 to 2.8 GHz, and the single-thread tests at 2.8 to 3.1 GHz. The latter was true in battery mode as well. The CPU completed the multi-thread tests at 2.2 to 2.3 GHz in battery mode.
| Sunspider - 1.0 Total Score (sort by value) | |
| Toshiba Satellite L50-B-1TD | |
| Acer Aspire V3-572PG-604M | |
| Acer Aspire E5-551G-F1EW | |
| Octane V2 - Total Score (sort by value) | |
| Toshiba Satellite L50-B-1TD | |
| Acer Aspire E5-551G-F1EW | |
| Mozilla Kraken 1.1 - Total (sort by value) | |
| Toshiba Satellite L50-B-1TD | |
| Acer Aspire E5-551G-F1EW | |
| Peacekeeper - --- (sort by value) | |
| Toshiba Satellite L50-B-1TD | |
* ... smaller is better
System Performance
A quick solid state drive and a potent Core i7 processor make for a fast and stable system. Windows starts up quickly. The results in the PCMark benchmark are very good.
| PCMark 8 Home Score Accelerated v2 | 3291 points | |
| PCMark 8 Creative Score Accelerated v2 | 3879 points | |
| PCMark 8 Work Score Accelerated v2 | 4670 points | |
Help | ||
Storage Devices
Toshiba outfitted our test device with their own solid state drive. The SSD has a capacity of 256 GB. The drive's sequential transfer rates are as good as you'll find anywhere today. The 4K write and read speeds, however, are significantly slower than those of a top model like the Samsung 840 Evo SSD.
Note: In the table below, there are notebooks that don't form a part of the Satellite's competition. These devices are listed to help draw comparisons between solid state drives.
| Toshiba Satellite L50-B-1TD Radeon R7 M260, 4510U, Toshiba HG6 THNSNJ256GMCU | Asus Z97 Deluxe Desktop i7-4790K, R9 290X Radeon R9 290X, 4790K, Intel SSD 530 Series SSDSC2BW240A | Lenovo Yoga 3 Pro HD Graphics 5300, 5Y70, Samsung SSD PM851 256 GB MZNTE256HMHP | Clevo P150SM-A GeForce GTX 870M, 4700MQ, Crucial MX100 256 GB | Bullman C-Klasse S i7 15FHD Dirtbook HD Graphics 4600, 4810MQ, Samsung SSD 840 EVO 250GB | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AS SSD | -50% | 7% | 24% | 40% | |
| Seq Read | 514 | 474 -8% | 482.4 -6% | 523 2% | 506 -2% |
| Seq Write | 466.1 | 155 -67% | 229.1 -51% | 326.4 -30% | 496.6 7% |
| 4K Read | 21.47 | 18.3 -15% | 27.14 26% | 25.25 18% | 39.16 82% |
| 4K Write | 79.8 | 99 24% | 61.3 -23% | 93.3 17% | 120 50% |
| 4K-64 Read | 361.7 | 184 -49% | 358 -1% | 339.1 -6% | 335.2 -7% |
| 4K-64 Write | 132.9 | 126 -5% | 199.1 50% | 270.3 103% | 231.3 74% |
| Access Time Read * | 0.15 | 0.2 -33% | 0.082 45% | 0.053 65% | 0.06 60% |
| Access Time Write * | 0.069 | 0.24 -248% | 0.058 16% | 0.053 23% | 0.029 58% |
* ... smaller is better
Graphics Card
Together, the HD Graphics 4400 and Radeon R7 M260 graphics cores form a switchable graphics solution (Enduro). Intel's integrated GPU is responsible for everyday tasks and all functions in battery mode, while AMD's Radeon chip takes care of programs that have higher performance demands, like computer games. As a general rule, the system switches between graphics cores automatically. On occasion, the user has to make manual adjustments here.
The Radeon R7 M260 GPU hails from the lower mid-range class of graphics cores. It supports DirectX 11.2 and runs at speeds of up to 940 MHz. The results in the 3D Mark benchmark are more or less on par with those of similarly outfitted computers, like the notebook's sister model, the Satellite L50-B-182. In terms of performance, the results rank the core between the GeForce 825M and GeForce 830M.
| 3DMark 11 Performance | 1905 points | |
| 3DMark Ice Storm Standard Score | 30990 points | |
| 3DMark Cloud Gate Standard Score | 4307 points | |
| 3DMark Fire Strike Score | 946 points | |
Help | ||
Gaming Performance
The Satellite is capable of rendering computer games fluidly. As a general rule, the notebook is only able to run current games from the second half of 2014 at low resolution and low quality settings. When it comes to older games or games with only moderate hardware demands, more is possible. Even so, the display's Full HD resolution can only be used for a few games. While the results the Radeon R7 M260 graphics core delivered in the 3DMark benchmark tests rank it between the GeForce 825M and GeForce 830M cores, in practice, the GPU sometimes has a harder time rendering games than the GeForce 820M.
All in all, the device's gaming performance is rather feeble for a 900-Euro notebook (~$1100). There are certainly machines that offer better performance in this price range. For example, the Acer Aspire V 15 Nitro is equipped with a GeForce GTX 850M core, and it starts at just 800 Euros (~$978). But notebooks with better gaming performance are available for considerably less, too. The HP Pavilion 15-p008ng, for instance, is outfitted with a GeForce 840M graphics core and a matte, Full HD display -- currently at a starting price of 580 Euros (~$709).
| low | med. | high | ultra | |
| Deus Ex Human Revolution (2011) | 78.7 | 28.2 | 13.6 | |
| Diablo III (2012) | 86.7 | 61.2 | 48.9 | 29.2 |
| Dead Space 3 (2013) | 76.8 | 42.4 | 36.8 | 21.5 |
| Tomb Raider (2013) | 68.7 | 36.2 | 21.3 | 10.9 |
| StarCraft II: Heart of the Swarm (2013) | 184.1 | 54.8 | 28.1 | 10.9 |
| Battlefield 4 (2013) | 43 | 31.6 | 20.3 | 6.7 |
| Need for Speed: Rivals (2013) | 30 | 24.2 | 18.8 | |
| X-Plane 10.25 (2013) | 54 | 30.7 | 13.5 | 11.8 |
| Wolfenstein: The New Order (2014) | 38.2 | 35.3 | 17.5 | |
| Watch Dogs (2014) | 26.6 | 19 | 8.3 | |
| Fifa 15 (2014) | 73.1 | 47.4 | 20.6 | |
| Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor (2014) | 25.9 | 17.3 | 9.7 | |
| Alien: Isolation (2014) | 25.4 | 19.9 | 12.4 | |
| Ryse: Son of Rome (2014) | 26 | 16.4 | 7.7 | |
| The Evil Within (2014) | 25.8 | 18 | 15.2 | |
| F1 2014 (2014) | 91 | 61 | 35 | 21 |
| Civilization: Beyond Earth (2014) | 29.3 | 21.7 | 15 | |
| Assassin's Creed Unity (2014) | 19.2 | 12 | 7.8 | |
| Far Cry 4 (2014) | 29.1 | 20.6 | 9.4 | |
| Dragon Age: Inquisition (2014) | 34 | 22.5 | 7.7 | |
| The Crew (2014) | 25.5 | 20.2 | 10.3 |
| Tomb Raider | |
| 1024x768 Low Preset (sort by value) | |
| Toshiba Satellite L50-B-1TD | |
| Lenovo IdeaPad Z50-70 (59427656) | |
| Dell Inspiron 15-5547 | |
| Acer Aspire V3-572PG-604M | |
| Acer Aspire V5-573G-54218G1Taii | |
| HP Pavilion 15-p008ng | |
| Asus X555LN-XO112H | |
| Acer Aspire E5-551G-F1EW | |
| Dell Inspiron 15 3542-2293 | |
| Medion Akoya P7631T | |
| HP Pavilion 17-f003ng | |
| 1366x768 Normal Preset AA:FX AF:4x (sort by value) | |
| Toshiba Satellite L50-B-1TD | |
| Lenovo IdeaPad Z50-70 (59427656) | |
| Dell Inspiron 15-5547 | |
| Acer Aspire V3-572PG-604M | |
| Acer Aspire V5-573G-54218G1Taii | |
| HP Pavilion 15-p008ng | |
| Asus X555LN-XO112H | |
| Acer Aspire E5-551G-F1EW | |
| Dell Inspiron 15 3542-2293 | |
| Medion Akoya P7631T | |
| HP Pavilion 17-f003ng | |
| 1366x768 High Preset AA:FX AF:8x (sort by value) | |
| Toshiba Satellite L50-B-1TD | |
| Lenovo IdeaPad Z50-70 (59427656) | |
| Dell Inspiron 15-5547 | |
| Acer Aspire V3-572PG-604M | |
| Acer Aspire V5-573G-54218G1Taii | |
| HP Pavilion 15-p008ng | |
| Asus X555LN-XO112H | |
| Acer Aspire E5-551G-F1EW | |
| Dell Inspiron 15 3542-2293 | |
| Medion Akoya P7631T | |
| HP Pavilion 17-f003ng | |
| Far Cry 4 | |
| 1024x768 Low Graphics Quality (sort by value) | |
| Toshiba Satellite L50-B-1TD | |
| 1366x768 Medium Graphics Quality (sort by value) | |
| Toshiba Satellite L50-B-1TD | |
| 1920x1080 High Graphics Quality AA:SM (sort by value) | |
| Toshiba Satellite L50-B-1TD | |
| F1 2014 | |
| 1024x768 Ultra Low Preset (sort by value) | |
| Toshiba Satellite L50-B-1TD | |
| Acer Aspire E5-551G-F1EW | |
| Dell Inspiron 15 3542-2293 | |
| 1366x768 Medium Preset (sort by value) | |
| Toshiba Satellite L50-B-1TD | |
| Acer Aspire E5-551G-F1EW | |
| Dell Inspiron 15 3542-2293 | |
| 1920x1080 High Preset (sort by value) | |
| Toshiba Satellite L50-B-1TD | |
| Acer Aspire E5-551G-F1EW | |
| Dell Inspiron 15 3542-2293 | |
| The Evil Within | |
| 1024x768 Low / Disabled (sort by value) | |
| Toshiba Satellite L50-B-1TD | |
| Dell Inspiron 15 3542-2293 | |
| 1366x768 Medium / Enabled AA:FX (sort by value) | |
| Toshiba Satellite L50-B-1TD | |
| Dell Inspiron 15 3542-2293 | |
| 1920x1080 High / Enabled AA:SM (sort by value) | |
| Toshiba Satellite L50-B-1TD | |
| Dell Inspiron 15 3542-2293 | |
| Ryse: Son of Rome | |
| 1024x768 Low Texture Res. + Low Graphics Quality (Rest Off/Disabled) AF:2x (sort by value) | |
| Toshiba Satellite L50-B-1TD | |
| Acer Aspire V3-572PG-604M | |
| Acer Aspire E5-551G-F1EW | |
| Dell Inspiron 15 3542-2293 | |
| 1366x768 Medium Texture Res. + Normal Graphics Quality (Rest Off/Disabled) AF:4x (sort by value) | |
| Toshiba Satellite L50-B-1TD | |
| Acer Aspire V3-572PG-604M | |
| Acer Aspire E5-551G-F1EW | |
| Dell Inspiron 15 3542-2293 | |
| 1920x1080 High Texture Res. + High Graphics Quality (Rest Off/Disabled) AF:8x (sort by value) | |
| Toshiba Satellite L50-B-1TD | |
| Acer Aspire V3-572PG-604M | |
| Acer Aspire E5-551G-F1EW | |
| Dell Inspiron 15 3542-2293 | |
| Alien: Isolation | |
| 1024x768 (Very) Low, Off, Shadow Map 512 AF:1x (sort by value) | |
| Toshiba Satellite L50-B-1TD | |
| Acer Aspire V3-572PG-604M | |
| Acer Aspire E5-551G-F1EW | |
| Dell Inspiron 15 3542-2293 | |
| 1366x768 Medium, On (AA & SSAO Off), Shadow Map 1024 AF:4x (sort by value) | |
| Toshiba Satellite L50-B-1TD | |
| Acer Aspire V3-572PG-604M | |
| Acer Aspire E5-551G-F1EW | |
| Dell Inspiron 15 3542-2293 | |
| 1920x1080 High, On, Shadow Map 1536, Standard SSAO AA:FX AF:8x (sort by value) | |
| Toshiba Satellite L50-B-1TD | |
| Acer Aspire V3-572PG-604M | |
| Acer Aspire E5-551G-F1EW | |
| Dell Inspiron 15 3542-2293 | |
| Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor | |
| 1280x720 Lowest Preset (sort by value) | |
| Toshiba Satellite L50-B-1TD | |
| Acer Aspire E5-551G-F1EW | |
| Dell Inspiron 15 3542-2293 | |
| 1344x756 Medium Preset (sort by value) | |
| Toshiba Satellite L50-B-1TD | |
| Acer Aspire E5-551G-F1EW | |
| Dell Inspiron 15 3542-2293 | |
| 1920x1080 High Preset (sort by value) | |
| Toshiba Satellite L50-B-1TD | |
| Acer Aspire E5-551G-F1EW | |
| Dell Inspiron 15 3542-2293 | |
| The Crew | |
| 1280x720 Low Video Preset (sort by value) | |
| Toshiba Satellite L50-B-1TD | |
| 1366x768 Medium Video Preset AA:FX (sort by value) | |
| Toshiba Satellite L50-B-1TD | |
| 1920x1080 High Video Preset AA:FX (sort by value) | |
| Toshiba Satellite L50-B-1TD | |
| Dragon Age: Inquisition | |
| 1024x768 Low Graphics Quality (sort by value) | |
| Toshiba Satellite L50-B-1TD | |
| 1366x768 Medium Graphics Quality (sort by value) | |
| Toshiba Satellite L50-B-1TD | |
| 1920x1080 High Graphics Quality (sort by value) | |
| Toshiba Satellite L50-B-1TD | |
| StarCraft II: Heart of the Swarm | |
| 1024x768 Low (sort by value) | |
| Toshiba Satellite L50-B-1TD | |
| HP Pavilion 17-f003ng | |
| 1366x768 Medium (sort by value) | |
| Toshiba Satellite L50-B-1TD | |
| Acer Aspire V5-573G-54218G1Taii | |
| HP Pavilion 17-f003ng | |
| 1366x768 High AA:on (sort by value) | |
| Toshiba Satellite L50-B-1TD | |
| Acer Aspire V5-573G-54218G1Taii | |
| HP Pavilion 17-f003ng | |
| 1920x1080 Ultra / Extreme AA:on (sort by value) | |
| Toshiba Satellite L50-B-1TD | |
| Acer Aspire V5-573G-54218G1Taii | |
| HP Pavilion 17-f003ng | |
| Diablo III | |
| 1024x768 Low / off (sort by value) | |
| Toshiba Satellite L50-B-1TD | |
| Dell Inspiron 15-5547 | |
| HP Pavilion 17-f003ng | |
| 1366x768 Medium / low (sort by value) | |
| Toshiba Satellite L50-B-1TD | |
| Dell Inspiron 15-5547 | |
| HP Pavilion 17-f003ng | |
| 1366x768 High AA:on (sort by value) | |
| Toshiba Satellite L50-B-1TD | |
| Dell Inspiron 15-5547 | |
| HP Pavilion 17-f003ng | |
| 1920x1080 High AA:on (sort by value) | |
| Toshiba Satellite L50-B-1TD | |
| Dell Inspiron 15-5547 | |
| HP Pavilion 17-f003ng | |
| Battlefield 4 | |
| 1024x768 Low Preset (sort by value) | |
| Toshiba Satellite L50-B-1TD | |
| Acer Aspire V5-573G-54218G1Taii | |
| Medion Akoya P7631T | |
| HP Pavilion 17-f003ng | |
| 1366x768 Medium Preset (sort by value) | |
| Toshiba Satellite L50-B-1TD | |
| Acer Aspire V5-573G-54218G1Taii | |
| Medion Akoya P7631T | |
| HP Pavilion 17-f003ng | |
| 1366x768 High Preset (sort by value) | |
| Toshiba Satellite L50-B-1TD | |
| Acer Aspire V5-573G-54218G1Taii | |
| Medion Akoya P7631T | |
| HP Pavilion 17-f003ng | |
| 1920x1080 Ultra Preset AA:4x MS (sort by value) | |
| Toshiba Satellite L50-B-1TD | |
| Acer Aspire V5-573G-54218G1Taii | |
| HP Pavilion 17-f003ng | |
| Fifa 15 | |
| 1280x720 Low Preset (sort by value) | |
| Toshiba Satellite L50-B-1TD | |
| Dell Inspiron 15 3542-2293 | |
| 1366x768 High Preset AA:2x MS (sort by value) | |
| Toshiba Satellite L50-B-1TD | |
| Dell Inspiron 15 3542-2293 | |
| 1920x1080 High Preset AA:4x MS (sort by value) | |
| Toshiba Satellite L50-B-1TD | |
| Dell Inspiron 15 3542-2293 | |
| Wolfenstein: The New Order | |
| 1280x720 Low Preset (sort by value) | |
| Toshiba Satellite L50-B-1TD | |
| Dell Inspiron 15-5547 | |
| Acer Aspire V5-573G-54218G1Taii | |
| Dell Inspiron 15 3542-2293 | |
| HP Pavilion 17-f003ng | |
| 1280x720 Medium Preset (sort by value) | |
| Toshiba Satellite L50-B-1TD | |
| Dell Inspiron 15-5547 | |
| Acer Aspire V5-573G-54218G1Taii | |
| Dell Inspiron 15 3542-2293 | |
| HP Pavilion 17-f003ng | |
| 1920x1080 High Preset (sort by value) | |
| Toshiba Satellite L50-B-1TD | |
| Dell Inspiron 15-5547 | |
| Acer Aspire V5-573G-54218G1Taii | |
| Dell Inspiron 15 3542-2293 | |
| HP Pavilion 17-f003ng | |
Emissions & Energy
System Noise
In idle mode, the Satellite doesn't make a peep. The fan stands still. As soon as the computer is under load, the fan starts up. It generates a sound pressure level of up to 41.7 dB (stress test). This is a normal number for an all-round multimedia notebook. The fan only produces a constant whirring sound -- no bothersome chirping, whistling or buzzing sounds here.
Noise Level
| Idle |
| 29.6 / 29.6 / 29.6 dB(A) |
| DVD |
| 37.6 / dB(A) |
| Load |
| 37.7 / 41.7 dB(A) |
 | ||
30 dB silent 40 dB(A) audible 50 dB(A) loud |
||
min:  , med:  , max:  Voltcraft sl-320 (15 cm distance) | ||
Temperature
The Satellite completed the stress test (Prime95 and Furmark running simultaneously for at least an hour) in the same way in both AC power mode and battery mode. The processor ran at between 2.5 and 2.6 GHz, while the graphics core started the test at full speed (940 MHz). After about 20 to 30 minutes, the GPU's speed began to fluctuate between 870 and 940 MHz. During the stress test, the Satellite warmed up substantially in the area of the cooling element. We measured a temperature of over 50 °C (122 °F) in one spot on the underside of the device. As a result, the notebook should not rest on your lap under this level of load. In normal, everyday use, however, the machine hardly warms up at all.
(-) The maximum temperature on the upper side is 45.4 °C / 114 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 57.7 °C / 136 F, compared to the average of 39.2 °C / 103 F
(+) In idle usage, the average temperature for the upper side is 25.1 °C / 77 F, compared to the device average of 31.3 °C / 88 F.
(+) The palmrests and touchpad are cooler than skin temperature with a maximum of 26.6 °C / 79.9 F and are therefore cool to the touch.
(+) The average temperature of the palmrest area of similar devices was 28.8 °C / 83.8 F (+2.2 °C / 3.9 F).
Power Consumption
In terms of energy consumption, the Satellite behaves as we would expect. In idle mode, the computer's power usage remains under 10 Watts. The same is true of most Haswell ULV notebooks. Under load, the Toshiba computer's energy consumption rate rises to up to 56.4 Watts -- also a normal number for a notebook outfitted with this hardware. Competitors like the Dell Inspiron 15-5547 and the HP Pavilion 15-p008ng are more or less on par with our review device in this discipline.
| Off / Standby | 0 / 0.2 Watt |
| Idle | 4 / 8.4 / 9.4 Watt |
| Load |
42.4 / 56.4 Watt |
   
| |
Battery Life
In our WLAN test, which is designed to simulate practical, everyday use, a script automatically loads a new webpage every 40 seconds. The energy-saving profile is active, and the display brightness is set to about 150 cd/m². The Satellite ran for 5:28 h in this test. This is a good runtime for an all-round multimedia notebook.
Verdict
The Toshiba Satellite L50-B-1TD offers very good application performance and can render many computer games fluidly -- though not current titles. This isn't a computer for serious gamers. The quick solid state drive makes for a fast system. Additionally, the notebook usually runs quietly and its battery life is good. A bright Full HD IPS display completes the package. But at almost 900 Euros (~$1100), the Satellite isn't exactly a budget device. The Core i7 processor and solid state drive jack up the price. If you can live without those two luxuries, a version of the notebook with a Core i5 processor and a 1 TB hard drive is available at a price starting at 600 Euros (~$733) without a Windows operating system. But in the 600-Euro (~$733) price range, there are other devices with better performance. Once again, if you're in the market for a similar notebook, we recommend taking a look at the HP Pavilion 15-p008ng with its GeForce 840M graphics core and matte Full HD display. It costs about 580 Euros (~$709), including Windows 8.1, and it offers better gaming performance than the Satellite.
