X-bit labs

New Powerful Alternative to Asus W6 Series: Asus W7J Notebook Review (page 7)

Category: Mobile

by Alexander Britvin

[ 03/06/2007 | 12:16 PM ]

Configuration

The W7J notebook features the new Intel Core 2 Duo T7200 processor with a clock rate of 2.00GHz. This CPU is based on the 65nm Merom core and has 4 megabytes of shared L2 cache memory.

The Core 2 Duo supports Intel’s 64-bit extensions to the x86 architecture and also features Intel Wide Dynamic Execution technology which means the CPU core now incorporates more decoders and execution units. The speed of processing SSE and floating-point instructions has been increased, too.

Besides Intel’s Enhanced SpeedStep technology that allows the notebook’s software and BIOS to control the CPU frequency multiplier (and to reduce it under low loads), this CPU supports Dynamic Power Coordination (power consumption of the cores can be separately adjusted depending on the current load; one core may even slip into Deep Sleep mode with the lowest power consumption possible) and Dynamic Cache Sizing (unused segments of the CPU cache can be turned off to save power). For more information about Intel’s Core 2 Duo processors refer to our Centrino Duo Mobile Platform Review.

This implementation of the refresh version of the Napa platform also incorporates an Intel PRO/Wireless 3945ABG adapter and an Intel Calistoga 945PM chipset. This chipset supports DDR2 SO-DIMMs, thus offering more memory bandwidth at lower power consumption, and a PCI Express x16 interface for an external graphics card. The ICH7-M chip is used as the chipset’s South Bridge. Connected to the North Bridge via a special-purpose Direct Media Interface, the South Bridge supports one Parallel ATA port, two Serial ATA ports, eight USB 2.0 ports and Intel High Definition Audio. It also offers six PCI Express x1 lanes to connect external devices. For more information about the platform, visit the manufacturer’s website.

The notebook is equipped with a discrete graphics core Nvidia GeForce Go 7400 that has 128MB of dedicated graphics memory and supports TurboCache technology. This 0.09-micron chip features low power consumption and is intended specifically for light and ultra-portable computers. TurboCache technology allows the GPU to use some portion of system memory in addition to the dedicated memory to ensure higher performance in 3D applications. The notebook comes with 1GB of system RAM and the GeForce Go 7400 can be allotted up to 512 megabytes of it.

The GeForce Go 7400 also features PureVideo technology for high-quality HD video playback and PowerMizer 6.0 technology for optimal power management. The Nvidia GeForce Go 7400 specifications are listed in the following table. You can also learn more about it at the developer’s website.

The notebook comes with a Fujitsu MHV2120BH PL hard disk drive (2.5” form-factor, 5400rpm spindle rotation speed, 120GB capacity) and a TSST TS-L632D DVD-drive with the following speed formula:

CD:

• Read - 24X
• Digital Audio Extraction (DAE) - 24X
• Write CD-R - 24X
• Write CD-RW - 24X

DVD:

• Read (Single Layer/Dual or Double Layer) - 8X
• Write DVD+/-R - 8X
• Write DVD+R Double Layer - 6X
• Write DVD+RW - 8X
• Write DVD-RW - 6X

The ASUS W7J is equipped with DDR2-533 SDRAM, not the fastest variety available today. One slot is easily accessible and you can replace the default module with a 1GB one to reach the maximum amount of system memory the notebook can support. The memory modules work in dual-channel mode as is shown in the next screenshot:

We measured the temperature of the hottest spots on the notebook’s surfaces with an infrared thermometer after it had worked for half an hour in the Classic test mode of Battery Eater Pro 2.60 (the ambient temperature remained constant at 22°C during this test) and got the following numbers:

• LCD panel – 39°C
• Keyboard – 35°C
• Bottom panel – 34°C

To keep the temperature of the small body of the ASUS W7J at an acceptable level the engineers had to deploy a powerful active cooling system which is rather noisy when its fans begin to work.