Laptop Choice

Samsung is well known for high definition televisions and mobile phones, but the company also has a successful line of notebook computers. The RF711-S02 is a 17.3-inch laptop that can be used for gaming thanks to a dedicated graphics card. The large screen is perfect for those who rely on a mobile gaming platform, such as students. Unfortunately, the screen does not support full HD 1080p resolution. Instead, the max resolution is 1600 x 900, which is disappointing. However, if youre on a budget, the street price on this notebook falls under $1,050, which isnt bad for a 17.3-inch system.

Another nice feature is the processor. The Samsung RF711-S02 is equipped with an Intel Core i7-2630QM quad-core mobile processor. While it is the more economical chip in the 2nd Generation Intel Core i7 line, the 2630QM does a great job and offers fast performance. The base clock speed is 2.0GHz with Turbo Boost taking it up to 2.9GHz.


The Samsung RF711-S02 also includes 4GB of DDR3 memory. While this will suffice for most mainstream users, it is a bit on the low side for a high performance machine. The RF711-S02 does support up to 8GB via two memory slots, so you could swap the included memory for two 4GB modules.

Gameplay is also smooth considering the Samsung RF711-S02 is equipped with an NVIDIA GeForce GT 540M video card with 1GB DDR3. When using the GT 540M, its best to disable anti-aliasing, but other than that, the card performs well even in the latest games. Whats nice is that this card features Optimus technology, which switches between high performance and energy saving graphics without having to manually change the settings. This helps improve battery life.

One downside to the RF711-S02 is hard drive performance. While the 750GB drive is spacious, it definitely wont win any races at 5400RPM. Youll find load times to be slower using this drive compared to a 7200RPM hard drive or a hybrid drive/SSD.

Another beneficial feature is the amount of ports on this notebook. The RF711-S02 has an HDMI output, two USB 3.0 ports, and two USB 2.0 ports. One of the ports even lets you charge an electronic device, such as an MP3 player or smartphone, when the notebook is powered off. This is just a little extra convenience.

Overall, the Samsung RF711-S02 is a great notebook for the price, especially if youre just getting into gaming or trying to stay on budget. The NVIDIA GeForce GT 540M is an above average graphics card for a system under $1,100. There are a few disappointing features, such as a slow hard drive, minimal amount of memory, and the lower resolution screen. On the other hand, though, a 17.3-inch gaming laptop with a quad-core processor for $1,049 makes up for it. [Compreviews.about.com]

Random Post:
- Samsung RV511-A01 Laptop with Intel Core i3 Processor

Samsung, one of the leading consumer electronics manufacturer in the World has announced the availability of its latest Notebook namely, Samsung RC512-S02 which is powered by an Intel Core i7-2630QM processor. It has many more high-end specifications like 15.6-inch LED HD display with resolution of 1366 x 768 pixels, a Blu-ray combo drive, 1.3 megapixel web camera, a 3-in-1 media reader etc. The LED HD display compatible Notebook is equipped with 1GB nVidia GeForce GT525M dedicated video card, and runs on Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit operating system.

Samsung RC512-S02 Notebook Specifications :

15.6-inch LED HD display with resolution of 1366 x 768 pixels
Powered by an Intel Core i7-2630QM processor
Equipped with 1GB nVidia GeForce GT525M dedicated video card
Built-in WiMAX mobile broadband module
Enabled with Wi-Fi, & Gigabit LAN connectivity
6GB of DDR3 memory
A 50GB hard disk drive
Includes 6-cell battery
A Blu-ray combo drive
Intel Wireless Display technology
Stereo speakers, & SRS Premium Sound audio
1.3 megapixel web camera
Two USB 3.0 & two USB 2.0 ports
A 3-in-1 media reader

The Samsung RC512-S02 Notebook has built-in WiMAX mobile broadband module which provides ultrafast mobile internet connectivity and its 6-cell battery provides battery life up to 3 hours per charge. It comes with some software like Adobe Acrobat Reader, CyberLink YouCam, Microsoft Office Starter 2010 etc. It also includes Two USB 3.0, two USB 2.0 ports, Stereo speakers, 50GB hard disk drive etc. The Samsung RC512-S02 Notebook is now available for purchase at the price tag of $1, 199.99 in the United States via Best Buy. (Source)

Samsung RV510 is a laptop that could be considered solid enough to be one of the best laptop piihan prices available. Samsung RV510 runs much faster than double the price of the machine, with 3GB RAM and 320GB Hard Drive.

As with other laptops, Samsung RV510 also handle all your everyday needs with a minimum of fuss. Browsing the Internet, work or even use it for entertainment. no matter what your needs are, the Samsung RV510 will fill them and then go the extra mile.

With a price around £ 319.99 you can not find a laptop that does the job better than RV510 Samsung. With a longer than usual battery life, masses of memory, Windows 7 and a whole host of additional features that you’d more likely find on a £1000 laptop every moment of use is as easy as the last with the Samsung RV510. A truly incredible laptop for the price and one that nobody should look past when considering buying a laptop around this price point!

Brand: Samsung

Screen Size: 15.6 inches

Processor

Processor Type: Intel Pentium Dual-Core

Memory

RAM Size: 3 GB

Hard Drive

Hard Drive Size: 320 GB

Additional Specifications

Operating System: Windows 7 Home Premium

Lithium Battery Energy Content: 44 watt_hours

Lithium Battery Packaging: batteries_packed_with_equipment

Lithium Battery Weight: 300 grams

Samsung RF411 drivers

Download Samsung RF411 drivers for Windows 7 32bit / 64bit



Samsung RF411 Chipset Driver
OS : Win 7 (32bit / 64bit)
Driver Version : 9.2.0.1019
Driver Size : 2.54 MB
File name : Chipset_9.2.0.1019.ZIP
Download

Samsung RF411 Sound / Audio Driver
OS : Win 7 (32bit / 64bit)
Driver Version : 6.0.1.6400
Driver Size : 86.16 MB
File name : Sound_6.0.1.6400.ZIP
Download

Samsung RF411 VGA / Graphics Display Driver
NVIDIA VGA Driver
OS : Win 7 (32bit)
Driver Version : 8.17.12.6672
Driver Size : 95.79 MB
File name : External_VGA_NVIDIA_32bit_8.17.12.6672.ZIP
Download

VGA / Graphics Display INTEL
OS : Win 7 (64bit)
Driver Version : 8.15.10.2622
Driver Size : 81.31 MB
File name : Internal_VGA_Intel_64bit_8.15.10.2622.ZIP
Download

INTEL VGA / Graphics Display
OS : Win 7 (32bit)
Driver Version : 8.15.10.2622
Driver Size : 71.23 MB
File name : Internal_VGA_Intel_32bit_8.15.10.2622.ZIP
Download

NVIDIA VGA / Graphics Display
OS : Win 7 (64bit)
Driver Version : 8.17.12.6672
Driver Size : 133.69 MB
File name : External_VGA_NVIDIA_64bit_8.17.12.6672.ZIP
Download

Samsung RF411 Touchpad Driver
OS : Win 7 (32bit / 64bit)
Driver Version : 3.2.0.0
Driver Size : 172.13 MB
File name : Touchpad_3.2.0.0.ZIP
Download

Samsung RF411 USB Driver
OS : Win 7 (32bit / 64bit)
Driver Version : 2.0.30.0
Driver Size : 6.89 MB
File name : USB_3.0_2.0.30.0.ZIP
Download

Samsung RF411 Intel Rapid Storage Driver
OS : Win 7 (32bit / 64bit)
Driver Version : 10.1.5.1001
Driver Size : 10.68 MB
File name : Intel_Rapid_Storage_10.1.5.1001.ZIP
Download

Samsung RF411 Bluetooth Driver
OS : Win 7 (32bit / 64bit)
Driver Version : 2.3.0.0
Driver Size : 136.36 MB
File name : Bluetooth_2.3.0.0.zip
Download

Samsung RF411 Lan / Ethernet Driver
OS : Win 7 (32bit / 64bit)
Driver Version : 7.45.516.2011
Driver Size : 5.07 MB
File name : LAN_7.45.516.2011.ZIP
Download

Samsung RF411 Wi-Fi / Wireless LAN Driver
INTEL Wi-Fi driver
OS : Win 7 (32bit)
Driver Version : 15.0.0.75
Driver Size : 61.81 MB
File name : WLAN_Intel_32bit_15.0.0.75.ZIP
Download

INTEL Wi-Fi / Wireless LAN
OS : Win 7 (64bit)
Driver Version : 15.0.0.75
Driver Size : 68.47 MB
File name : WLAN_Intel_64bit_15.0.0.75.ZIP
Download

ATHEROS Wi-Fi / Wireless LAN
OS : Win 7 (32bit / 64bit)
Driver Version : 9.2.0.470
Driver Size : 33.73 MB
File name : WLAN_Atheros_Win7_9.2.0.470.ZIP
Download

BROADCOM Wi-Fi / Wireless LAN
OS : Win 7 (32bit / 64bit)
Driver Version : 5.100.82.95
Driver Size : 46.03 MB
File name : WLAN_Broadcom_Win7_5.100.82.95.ZIP
Download

Laptop Samsung 9 Series a mainstay in the arena of competitive notebook market. Laptop design of this section into the category of high end and ready to challenge its rivals. Lets see what kind of real ability 9 Series.



Judging from his appearance, the impression of a premium is clearly marked. 9 Series-sized laptop is very slim. Dynamic contours make 9 Series looks stylish, perfect for gadget lovers who are concerned with style.



In terms of aesthetic, this laptop is probably the most interesting than others. Perhaps the proper comparison is with a fellow rival super-thin laptop MacBook Air is Apple and Dell XPS Adamo.



One of the privileges of this latop is named Duralium worn material, which makes a strong claim 9 Series even though the body is very slim. For information, Duralium material is said to be the manufacture of aircraft which is stronger than regular aluminum.







However, the surface of this laptop seems to be a fingerprint magnet. So there is a risk dirty looks easy enough and should be cleaned frequently to keep it shiny.



The USB port on the 9 Series is hidden behind a small cover, perhaps to maintain aesthetic impression. There is also a mini HDMI port and Gigabit Ethernet.







Screen and Keyboard



The screen measures 13 9 Series, 3 inch with a resolution of 1366x768. Color reproduction looks impressive. Photos and videos with crystal clear high definition tertayang on this laptop. The angle of vision is also wide enough so it is still comfortably seen from the right or left.







This laptop is equipped with a technology nicknamed superbright Plus to support the clarity of the screen. Also features embedded ambient light sensor to adjust brightness on the screen automatically.



The keyboard on the 9 Series features the backlight so there is no problem to operate in the dark though. Chicklet-style keyboard on this laptop-sized width and soft, comfortable typing.



Touchpad at 9 Series combines the mouse button in one unit. The size is roomy enough so that the operation of the touchpad is relatively seamless. Touchpad response when operated is also fairly good.







Powerful Performance



Samsung 9 Series equipped with a 1.4 GHz Core processor and 4GB RAM 2537M i5. The performance is quite powerful, there is no problem to run many applications at once. The presence of Turbo Boost automatically increasing or decreasing the processor speed to computer usage.



Sector relies on data storage 128 GB SSD (Solid State Drive) that is claimed to have lower power consumption, less noise and make the computer boot time over speeding. From the condition of sleep, the system in the 9 Series can live only in about 3 seconds thanks to the Fast Start feature.



Graphical sector is handled by Intel HD Graphics 3000. In the resources sector, 9 Series equipped with a battery-powered 6300 mAh. When used with normal use, the battery can last about 4 hours to 5 hours.



It should be noted, battery 9 Series incorporated into the body so it can not open the laptop itself. If the battery has a reduced strength or damaged, meaning users need to take him to the nearest service center.







Conclusion



Samsung 9 Series makes the laptop is not just a device for computing activities, but also for style. Although probably not the first in the ranks of super-thin laptop, still charming and design diusungnya sexy, potentially fascinate people around.



The ability of the hardware may not be the most powerful, but it does not disappoint. Moreover, this laptop seems to prefer the appearance of a well-deserved thumbs up. Enthusiasts can make it up in the price range of USD 14 million.



Pros:

- Design a charming

- Display clear

- Bodi Duralium



Disadvantages:

- Price is rather expensive

- Internal memory is relatively small



Specifications:

Operating system: Genuine Windows ® 7 Home Premium (64-bit)

Processor: Intel ® Core ™ i5 Processor 2537M

Screen: 13.3 inch LED HD, 400 nits, 16 million colors

Graphics: Intel ® HD 3000 Graphics

Memory: 4GB DDR 3

Storage: 128GB SSD

Audio Speaker: 3 W Stereo Speaker (1.5 W x 2)

Integrated Web Camera: 1.3 MP HD

Battery: 6-Cell Lithium, 6300 mAh

Samsung NC215S has a 10.1-inch display with a resolution of 1024 x 600 pixels, Intel Atom N570 dual core processor with a clock rate of 1.66 GHz, 1 GB DDR3 RAM and hard disk 250 GB, with fast 5400 RPM. The handset comes with Ethernet connectivity and 10/100 LAN, WiFi 802.11b/g/n and Bluetooth 3.0, SDHC slot for memory, analog video output VGA and three USB 2.0 ports, one of which is capable of charging any external devices even when the notebook is off.

The NC215 is the first 10-inch netbook to be equipped with solar panels mounted on the cover. Through this solution you can recharge your batteries getting an hour of battery life per two hours of sun exposure, so a feature that makes it a very attractive device in those developing countries where access to sunlight is much easier than that to the electricity grid.

Samsung NC215 Laptops Specifications :

Intel ATOM Processor N570
802.11bg/n WiFI, 10/100 LAN, BT V3.0 High Speed
Windows 7 Starter
1 GB DDR3 RAM
250GB 5400 rpm HDD
6-cell battery

Price : $399 (Rs. 17.900/-)

Samsung launches new notebook the Samsung Shark SF410, this notebook is targeting the upper middle market because the price is pretty nice priced around $ 1,099.


Shark Samsung SF410 Specifications :

Operating system: Windows 7 Home Premium
Processor: Intel Core i5 460M (2.53 GHz)
Memory: 4GB DDR3
HDD: 500GB
Display: 14-inch LED with 1366 X 768 pixels
Graphics card: 512MB DDR3 Nvidia GeForce GT130M
Connectivity: Bluetooth 3.0, WiFi 802.11 g / n
Weight: 2.2 Kg
Battery: 6 cell

From the view outside Design Shark SF410 Samsung does look more ergonomic than the notebook in general. This notebook is equipped with a 14-inch monitor. The shape resembles the shell of the notebook is back whale with a thickness of only 1.27 inches.

Shark SF410 Samsung notebook equipped with 4 GB of RAM with a storage capacity of 500 GB. This notebook uses an Intel Core i5 is equipped with a hybrid graphics solution that allows us to use an external graphics card. Notebook Batteries Samsung Shark claimed to hold for 6.5 hours.

Another uniqueness of the Samsung Shark SF410 is capable of recharging batteries of other devices, like cell phone or MP3 player in a state of total dead. Shark Notebook Samsung SF410 has a Fast Start feature that allows the active notebook quickly. From the state of sleep until ready to be operated only takes 3 seconds.

In addition to Fast Start feature, the notebook also features All Share which allows the use of other Samsung products, such as MP3 players, cell phones, and cameras simultaneously in a notebook.

When trying to type, the latest notebook from Samsung is very adequate to perform type fast without worrying about going miss typing. Shark Samsung SF410 has a keyboard with keys type the shallow distance from each other.

Samsung has confirmed that the company will market Samsung NC215S which is a solar-powered netbook in the United States and Africa and Russia, but Indonesia is not yet known information. Samsung will be available in the U.S. on the week of July 3 at $ 499.



Samsung NC215S models sold in America has a 10.1 inch, 1024 x 600 pixels matte, 1GB of RAM, and dual-core processor 1.66 GHz Intel Atom N570. The main key features of the other netbook from a solar cell is built into the cover. Graphics capabilities of this netbook rely GMA 3150 integrated.



In ideal conditions the Samsung says youll also be able to get about 14.5 hours of battery life of netbooks by adding extra power from solar power. (source: beritateknologi.com)

Samsung RF710-S02 driver

Download Samsung RF710-S02 drivers for Windows 7 32bit / 64bit



Please select suitable drivers to download like Audio, Video, VGA, Display, Lan, Bluetooth, Wireless, Ethernet or USB for your Samsung RF710-S02 notebook.

Samsung RF710-S02 Chipset Driver
OS : Win 7 (32bit / 64bit)
Driver version : ver.9.1.1.1025
Driver size : 2.67 MB
File name : Chipset_9.1.1.1025.zip
Download

Samsung RF710-S02 Sound / Audio Driver
OS : Win 7 (32bit / 64bit)
Driver version : ver.6.0.1.6171
Driver size : 89.97 MB
File name : Sound_6.0.1.6171.ZIP
Download

Samsung RF710-S02 VGA / Graphics Display Driver
NVIDIA Driver
OS : Win 7 (32bit)
Driver version : ver.8.17.12.5926
Driver size : 91.18 MB
File name : External_VGA_NVIDIA_32bit_8.17.12.5926.ZIP
Download

VGA / Graphics Display NVIDIA
OS : Win 7 (64bit)
Driver version : ver.8.17.12.5926
Driver size : 124.78 MB
File name : External_VGA_NVIDIA_64bit_8.17.12.5926.ZIP
Download

Samsung RF710-S02 Intel Turbo Boost Driver
OS : Win 7 (32bit / 64bit)
Driver version : ver.1.2.0.1002
Driver size : 1.51 MB
File name : Turbo_Boost_1.2.0.1002.zip
Download

Samsung RF710-S02 Touchpad Driver
OS : Win 7 (32bit / 64bit)
Driver version : ver.4.6.0.0
Driver size : 177.74 MB
File name : Touchpad_4.6.0.0.ZIP
Download

Samsung RF710-S02 HDMI Driver
OS : Win 7 (32bit / 64bit)
Driver version : ver.1.0.10.0
Driver size : 9.18 MB
File name : HDMI_1.0.10.0.zip
Download

Samsung RF710-S02 HECI Driver
OS : Win 7 (32bit / 64bit)
Driver version : ver.6.0.0.1179
Driver size : 7.36 MB
File name : HECI_6.0.0.1179.zip
Download

Samsung RF710-S02 USB 3.0 Driver
OS : Win 7 (32bit / 64bit)
Driver version : ver.2.0.26.0
Driver size : 6.98 MB
File name : USB_3.0_2.0.26.0.zip
Download

Samsung RF710-S02 Intel Rapid Storage Driver
OS : Win 7 (32bit / 64bit)
Driver version : ver.9.6.3.1001
Driver size : 11.66 MB
File name : Intel_Rapid_Storage_Technology_9.6.3.1001.zip
Download

Samsung RF710-S02 Bluetooth Driver
OS : Win 7 (32bit / 64bit)
Driver version : ver.6.3.0.8800
Driver size : 63.38 MB
File name : Bluetooth_6.3.0.8800.ZIP
Download

Samsung RF710-S02 Lan / Ethernet Driver
OS : Win 7 (32bit / 64bit)
Driver version : ver.11.24.7.3
Driver size : 2.02 MB
File name : LAN_11.24.7.3.zip
Download

Samsung RF710-S02 Wi-Fi / Wireless LAN Driver
Qualcomm Atheros WLAN Driver
OS : Win 7 (32bit / 64bit)
Driver version : ver.1.0.0.1
Driver size : 74.16 MB
File name : QCA_WLAN_Driver_1.0.0.1.ZIP
Download

ATHEROS Wi-Fi / Wireless LAN
OS : Win 7 (32bit / 64bit)
Driver version : ver.9.2.0.470
Driver size : 33.73 MB
File name : WLAN_Atheros_Win7_9.2.0.470.ZIP
Download

BROADCOM Wi-Fi / Wireless LAN
OS : Win 7 (32bit / 64bit)
Driver version : ver.5.100.82.95
Driver size : 46.03 MB
File name : WLAN_Broadcom_Win7_5.100.82.95.ZIP
Download

These are truly renaissance days for the thin-and-light laptop, with a wealth of superior models at very moderate prices. Samsung is trying to make a name for itself in this very competitive segment of the U.S. laptop market, and entries like its Q430-11 should certainly help. This 14-inch thin-and-light entry hits the sweet spot, delivering sleek-yet-understated good looks and strong performance in a package that will appeal to both everyday consumers and small-business buyers alike. Available exclusively from Best Buy (both in stores and online), the Q430-11 sells for a very reasonable $915. The battery life could be better, but by most other measures, the Q430-11 matches (and sometimes exceeds) the best in its price class.

The Q430-11 weighs 5 pounds and measures 1.3 inches thick. That makes it a bit bulkier than our current Editors’ Choice in this class, the HP Pavilion dm4t, which weighs 4.4 pounds and measures an inch thick at the front (expanding to 1.3 inches at the rear). Like the dm4t, the Q430-11 features a sleek aluminum chassis; the Q430-11’s case has a brushed black lid that looks sharp, while the dm4t goes with a brushed-silver design with etching that looks equally good. The clean, modern look of the Q430-11 continues inside, where a brushed-silver area surrounding the keyboard sets off the simple black keys, and the screen’s edge-to-edge glass suggests high-end consumer electronics. Two details were compromised, however: The chrome-finish mouse buttons look cool but show off every fingerprint, and to keep the minimalist look, Samsung opted not to include multimedia or other shortcut buttons.

Around the edges, you’ll find the typical array of ports and slots, with one expected item missing and one unexpected item present. The USB port on the left edge employs Samsung’s Chargeable USB feature, which lets the laptop charge a connected device (iPhone, iPod, Flip camera, or what-have-you) even when the laptop is in standby mode or completely off. You also get two regular USB ports, a LAN jack, VGA and HDMI ports for connecting external displays, and an SD/SDHC/MultiMediaCard flash-memory slot. (Note that the slots on most other notebooks support more formats.) Like many other consumer-oriented laptops, the Q430-11 doesnt include an ExpressCard slot. Less forgivable is the absence of an eSATA port for connecting high-speed external hard drives and the like. eSATA is common even on many budget notebooks these days.

As for other features, the Q430-11 does not disappoint. You’ll find a multiformat DVD burner, a generous 500GB hard drive, and wireless networking in the form of 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi. At this price, we would also like to see Bluetooth wireless for communicating with smartphones and the like, a feature the Q430-11 lacks. On the plus side, the full-size keyboard is roomy, comfortable, and quiet. We also have no complaints about the unit’s VGA Webcam, which delivered an excellent image in a brightly lit room, displaying sharp detail, good exposure and color reproduction, and no motion blur. In a dim room, the camera also did well, with decent exposure (although noticeable motion blur), and the camera even delivered a usable image with only the light from the screen.

The 14-inch screen is another gem. The LED backlight helps colors pop and lets the panel conserve power. The 1,366x768 resolution is appropriate (and typical) for a panel this size, delivering crisp, legible text and icons. The panel also did well with video, exhibiting natural colors, excellent detail in shadow areas, and no discernible motion blur in action scenes. As with other laptops, the Q430-11’s stereo speakers are fine for typical Web video and for watching a movie, but the volume isn’t powerful enough to fill a room. Music reproduction is mediocre at best.

What isn’t mediocre is the performance from the Q430-11. Powered by a 2.4GHz Intel Core i5-450M CPU and 4GB of RAM, the laptop delivered scores on our tests that were generally above average for the class and in line with like-priced competitors such as the HP Pavilion dm4t and Asus U30Jc-1A. For example, on the 32-bit version of our PCMark Vantage test suite, which measures overall system performance, the Q430-11 scored 5,553, which is essentially a tie with the dm4t’s 5,516 on that test and notably higher than the Asus U30Jc-1A’s 4,744. On the 64-bit version of the same test, the Q430-11 scored 6,019—slightly above the HP entry’s 5,933, nearly 1,000 points better than the Asus systems result, and 600 points better than the average for this class of laptop. On the 64-bit version of another of our standard tests, Cinebench 10, which taxes all the available cores of the CPU, the Samsung entry scored 8,332 to the HP’s 8,190. It also handily beat the class average of 5,867 and the Asus U30Jc-1A’s 6,857.

The Q430-11 also proved to be a strong multimedia performer. It completed our Windows Media Encoder trial (in which the test laptop converts a standard video clip) in a tick under four minutes (compared with 4:09 for the HP Pavilion dm4t, 4:50 for the Asus model, and over five minutes for thin-and-lights as a whole). And on our iTunes test (which measures the time it takes to convert 11 standard MP3 files to AAC format), the Q430-11 took a bit longer than the HP and Asus competitors—3:41, versus 3:09 and 3:15. Thats a detectable, but not huge, real-world difference.

Where you will see a difference in real-world use is in 3D-graphics performance. The Samsung Q430-11 employs a dedicated Nvidia GeForce 310M graphics chip, compared with the integrated graphics solution found in most—but not all—machines in this price class. That allowed the Q430-11 to deliver excellent scores on our 3D tests. On our 3DMark06 test (which measures DirectX 9 graphics performance) at 1,024x768 resolution, the Q430-11 managed 4,209, which is double the score posted by the HP Pavilion dm4t (2,098). However, the like-priced Asus U30Jc-1A kept pace. It features Nvidias battery-saving Optimus hybrid graphics technology, which automatically activates the discrete graphics when necessary and then reverts to integrated graphics when not. The Asus machine scored a very close 4,091 on 3DMark06 at the same resolution.

The 3D-gaming abilities of the Q430-11 were also a pleasant surprise, seeing as some similarly priced competitors make you forgo high-frame-rate 3D gaming. For example, the HP Pavilion dm4t mustered only 22.3 frames per second (fps) at 1,024x768 resolution on our Company of Heroes test, and that number shrank to an unplayable 15.9fps at 1,366x768 with graphics effects set to high. In contrast, the Q430-11 rolled along at 47.2fps at the lower resolution setting and a still-playable 29.4fps at the higher one. (For its part, the Nvidia GeForce 310M chip in the Asus U30Jc-1A delivered an identical 47.2fps at 1,024x768 and a slightly better 33fps at the higher resolution.) What this tells us: Gaming within reason at these moderate resolutions is well within the skill set of the Q430-11, and social-media or Web-centric games will present no problem.

The Q430-11 cedes ground to its competitors, though, in battery life. On our DVD rundown test, in which we loop a DVD movie (with screen brightness set to 50 percent) until the battery dies, the Q430-11’s six-cell battery lasted 2 hours and 41 minutes, well short of the 4:27 we saw from the HP Pavilion dm4t and shy of the three-plus hours typical for the class. What’s more, this is where Nvidia’s Optimus technology really stands out: The Optimus-equipped Asus U30Jc-A1 lasted 4:18 on this test. There’s no reason for Samsung not to include it on this system, and the omission costs the notebook a bunch of much-needed runtime.

You don’t get short-changed when it comes to software, however. In addition to the Windows 7 Home Premium operating system and all its goodies, Samsung preloads the excellent CyberLink DVD Suite for multimedia playback and creation. The easy-to-use suite includes PowerDVD 8 for DVD playback; PowerDirector 7 for video editing; PowerProducer 8 for DVD creation; and Power2Go 6 for burning all manner of data, video, photo, and music CDs and DVDs. You also get CyberLinks YouCam software for use with the Webcam, another intuitive utility that features frames, stamps, avatars, filters, and more. (It also lets you send video captures to YouTube or via e-mail with a single click.)

Samsung also preloads its own handy utilities. At initial boot-up, the Samsung Recovery Solution 4 software prompts you to create a backup image to the hard drive or an optical disc. The company also delivers a battery-life extension utility; Easy Content Share (for allowing Q430-resident music, photos, and video to be accessed by other Windows 7- and Vista-based PCs on your network); Easy File Share (used to transfer files from the host PC via Wi-Fi); and more.

We also like how Samsung (and partner Best Buy) have handled the problem of “offerware.” Instead of cluttering the desktop with teasers for software and services, Samsung and Best Buy rolled them all up into a single Best Buy Software Installer applet. You can launch that and see the offers, or ignore it and delete the icon from the desktop.

Another piece of software, the Samsung Support Center (SSC) app, is a centralized location that houses troubleshooting/diagnostic utilities and support info. Samsung’s warranty for the Q430-11 is typical for the class: a single year for parts and labor, with toll-free tech support or live chat (including assistance via remote desktop). Whats unusual is that you can launch the latter via the SSC utility.

The Samsung Q430-11 does exact a few compromises to get its price under $1,000: namely, sacrificing Bluetooth, an eSATA port, and a few other extras. The machine’s dedicated graphics chip is a welcome step up from the integrated graphics of competitors like the HP Pavilion dm4t, but without Optimus technology to extend battery life (a feature that costs $0 to $22 per notebook, depending on whom you ask), Samsung comes up short on the Q430-11 in that regard. On the other hand, the Core i5 processor makes this one of the fastest sub-$1,000 thin-and-lights we’ve tested. If battery life is your main concern, go with the HP Pavilion dm4t, and if battery life and graphics are your two big things, you’ll be better served by the Asus U30Jc-A1. But if you want the fastest plugged-in CPU and GPU performance—and you get seduced by its looks—the Q430-11 is definitely your best bet.
Price (at time of review): $915 (mfr. est., as tested)


Source : [computershopper.com]