Another significant change to your ASUS X550CA is definitely the processor. Now it has moved up to using a third generation Intel Core i3-3217U dual core processor above the earlier 2nd generation processors. This delivers it with incredibly minor transform from the general processing electrical power on the program but it is usually a reduce energy consuming processor. While not a quickly processor, it really should be capable to take care of the basic computing duties of the average consumer that searching the web, streams media and makes use of productivity applications. The processor is matched up with 4GB of memory which is standard to the spending budget segment and delivers a smooth adequate encounter due to Windows 8 improved memory management.
Storage remains finish unchanged together with the X550CA-DB31. The storage is handled by a 500GB hard drive that’s the conventional sum of area offered in this value variety. The downside is several of your programs priced greater are both moving to solid state drives for principal storage or for efficiency caching. This means that the method fells extremely slow with boot times that get extra than half a minute to boot into the working system. When you do have to have further area, there may be a single USB three.0 port for use with high pace external storage drives. The downside right here is that the procedure still has just two USB ports total which is below most on this dimension that attribute both 3 or 4.
The display continues to utilize a 15.6-inch panel that characteristics the 1366×768 resolution so prevalent to lower value laptops. The color and brightness are respectable but almost nothing that stands out at this price tag stage because it utilizes a TN primarily based panel that are extremely cost-effective but present limited color and viewing angles. The graphics method did get an upgrade by using a move for the 3rd generation Core i processors since it now features the Intel HD Graphics 4000 built into in. This delivers improved 3D performance however it still isn’t definitely suited for Pc gaming except if you will be playing older 3D games at lower resolution amounts. It does give a significant enhance more than the Intel HD Graphics 2500 or 3000 when encoding media with Swift Sync compatible applications.
The battery pack for that ASUS X550CA did get lowered to a 4 cell battery pack by using a 37WHr capacity rating when compared to a 6 cell 47WHr capability model found in the past model. Though the third general Core i processors did make improvements to energy consumption, this is often nonetheless a rather major decline. In digital video playback testing, the laptop was able to last for three along with a half hours. It is a bit disappointing because it puts it at a reduce operating time than significantly in the competitors at this price point which seems to typical about four hours within this check.
Priced at $480, the ASUS X550CA is decently priced for its configuration. The primary competitors within this dimension and price range would seem to be through the Acer Aspire E1 and Dell Inspiron 15. The two characteristic pretty comparable pricing as well as the same 15.6-inch display size and comparable weights. The Acer differs principally because it lacks a DVD drive but it helps make up for this by including a more quickly Core i5 processor for some added overall performance. The Dell is virtually identical in effectiveness and capabilities but has the advantage of a lot more USB ports whilst still remaining somewhat thinner compared to the ASUS laptop.