Lenovo IdeaPad B 5070 – a budget laptop that did a fine job with office tasks and help in the business. In other words, it can be expected of good work, including in the educational sphere. Is that some demanding tasks will be beyond him, since he is not the highest performance. In the filling of the device can be seen processor Pentium 3558U, integrated graphics Intel HD Graphics (Haswell), and 4 GB of RAM.

In general, if your circle of problems is reduced to the documentation, watching movies, surfing the web or, for example, the creation of presentations, the laptop Lenovo IdeaPad B5070 should be more than enough. Let’s see what are the chances of him, because competition among low-cost models is quite high.

Design

The notebook looks simple, it is low-key and no-nonsense. Matt smooth surface, made of plastic, dark colors – standard selection for most office devices are not spared and Lenovo IdeaPad B5070. To work it is very convenient, because nothing will distract. As you can see, the design is made in a minimalist style, and it is noticeable not only outside but also on the work surface. In principle, office workers more is needed. Is that add trouble fingerprints left on the body, because this notebook will periodically cleaned.

The bottom of the device is also not particularly stand out. It is possible to see several oblong ventilation grilles, the battery compartment with the corresponding sliders to eject it. In addition, you cover that hides the access to the internal components, and four stable legs. With regard to the strength of the body, you have to put up with a little slack lid and keyboard. But do not think that because of the latter, you will be uncomfortable to type texts.

Dimensions IdeaPad B5070 normal for a 15.6-inch laptop: 380h262h27-32 mm, and weight of 2.25 kg more than acceptable to take the device with you when traveling.

Display, sound, webcam

The laptop is equipped with a display diagonal of 15.6 inches and a resolution of 1366×768 pixels. We can not say that this is the best option, rather, not the best at the moment. However, this resolution is enough, if simply to work, typing, surfing, and not to engage in some professional tasks such as video editing. By the way, please do not display a high level of brightness, as it does not exceed 220 cd / m2, as well as wide viewing angles and rich colors. In general, this is a common fiscal TN-matrix, which is not enough stars in the sky. The only thing that’s nice to see a working laptop matte screen surface. It is thanks to her almost will not affect anything and shine that will deal with cases concentrated.

The camera in the laptop is suitable except for videoconferencing. Its resolution is only 0.3 megapixel, so count on high-quality images and video even more, of course, not worth it. Acoustics are also not up to par. It is represented by two built-in stereo speakers located above the keyboard; helping to set up the sound Dolby Advanced Audio. As for the office notebook IdeaPad B5070 sounds fine, but that’s to play video or music well enough, unbalanced, without bass, in a word, expressionless. The best option here would be to connect headphones.

Keyboard and Touchpad

Branded keyboard AccuType in this island, and a full-size laptop. It is supplemented by a separate number pad. The keypad buttons are pressed clearly, without much effort, they have a convenient shape and rounded at the bottom, which will allow for a long time to type texts without undue fatigue. Arrows and nampad only slightly narrowed, but to work with them will not be obstacles. Marking is also thought, in particular, the basic symbols and icons on the function keys are different white and orange, respectively. The keys are not backlit, which is to be expected for an inexpensive office laptop.

As for the touchpad, its size is not the best for, so to speak, extended position. This is especially true height, because of what seems to be pointing slightly flattened. However, this is the only drawback, otherwise touch pad is smooth, sensitive, you can use it to zoom and comfortable flip through pages of documents. If you do not like the touchpad to work, you can always connect a mouse.

To the right of the touch area is a fingerprint sensor. For a businessman, he is particularly relevant because it does not penetrate to the data allows an outsider.

Performance

In complete Lenovo IdeaPad B5070 (59435821) is provided DOS. This will install any you like the version Windows. The laptop runs on Intel Pentium 3558U, built on 22-nanometer technology microarchitecture Haswell. This low-voltage dual-core processor is, however, due to the lack of support for multi-threading technology Hyper-Threading, it can simultaneously handle only two data streams. Each core Pentium 3558U operates at a frequency of 1.7 GHz CPU cache is 2 MB (level 3). Incidentally, the basic frequency remains, as Turbo Boost is also not supported. Generally, said processor refers to the entry-level performance, he is not much better some family chips Ivy Bridge. Certainly, Pentium 3558U cope with a variety of simple calculations.

With processor running integrated graphics Intel HD Graphics (Haswell) with support for DirectX 11.1, OpenGL 4.0. Own video memory it does not, it utilizes a portion of RAM. For simple graphics tasks it will be enough to head, but for today’s game performance integrated adapter is not enough. Rather, you get to play with toys 2012-2013,. at low or medium settings.

Despite the fact that the manufacturer provides a complete set with discrete graphics AMD Radeon R5 M230, it is unlikely it will be a good alternative to the built-in graphics card family Haswell, because its performance is relatively low.

RAM in the laptop has 4 GB DDR3-1600 MHz standard, for which there are two slots. For today’s program that is enough, especially since you can count on up to 16 GB, putting in each module to 8 GB – and it’s quite a big margin. As for the hard drive, it has a capacity of 500 GB, enough for a working laptop. Hard drive works with a standard speed of 5400 rpm on it you will be able to store documentation, a set of necessary applications, a small selection of video and audio content, and so on.

Ports and Communications

Most of the interfaces is located on the left side of the notebook. Here you can see two USB 3.0, HDMI, analog output VGA, as well as the network connector RJ-45 jack for charging connector and One-Link. It is designed for fast data transfer, including video. Moreover, it serves for charging devices. Also on the left side of the ventilation grille taken out, which eliminates warm air.

But on the right side is only available USB 2.0, composite audio jack, and Kensington lock slot and a built-in optical drive DVD RW Super Multi, supports dual-layer discs.

On the back of the laptop ports are not available, but the front has a card reader, readable format SD / MMC / SDHC / SDXC, and two LED lights to indicate the work drive and battery charge status.

From wireless communications in the Lenovo IdeaPad B5070 has a Wi-Fi 802.11 b / g / n, operating in the 2.4 GHz band, and Bluetooth 4.0. Desktop notebook that’s enough.

Battery

The laptop is equipped with 4-cell lithium-ion battery 2200 mAh (31.7 Wh). With it, he will work no more than five hours in maximum power saving mode. Even during normal office work at a reduced level of brightness by 40%, autonomy is not more than three and a half hours. In general, IdeaPad B5070 is not long lasting laptop while charging rather quickly – by 90% for a half hour 65-watt power supply.

Conclusion

It is unlikely that Lenovo IdeaPad B5070 become a favorite among office or notebook models of budget-line business class. However, as a modern working tool it is very easy to use. This toiler even in the face of fierce competition has to offer. In particular, with daily work tasks successfully handle the low-voltage processor Haswell, supplementing the 4 GB of RAM and integrated graphics. Also, the laptop is equipped with a built-in optical drive and the optimal number of ports and connectors needed to connect a variety of devices. As always, please ergonomic keyboard proprietary AccuType. Along with this, there are a number of shortcomings. For example, the display did not impress the budget, although a matte finish is certainly a plus, and a webcam with a resolution of 0.3 MP is nothing special is. At the same time, given the low cost of about $ 400, then it is some of the nuances, you can close your eyes and without a doubt buy this notebook.

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Today we introduce you to a 15.6-inch gaming laptop Lenovo IdeaPad Y500, which is characterized by the presence of the universal slots for plug-in modules in the form of a fan, hard drive, optical drive and discrete graphics card. In the latter case, the user is able to harness the power of two-card SLI-configuration of video graphics for games in the most modern designs.

Options

The gaming laptop Lenovo IdeaPad Y500 comes in everyday pack of undyed cardboard. No spaceships, monsters, heroes with guns blazing or other characters of computer games on the box you will not see, so to determine the positioning of the model on the package will not work.

In the box you will find just the device itself, documentation, and a massive “brick” 170-watt power supply. The only noteworthy piece of packaging is to transform polypropylene latches in … stand for your laptop. This DIY version is hardly a particularly useful or practical, but at first it may well help to avoid overheating of the system.

Design

Lenovo IdeaPad Y500 model is no different to the typical gaming solutions aggressive design, but a solid body thickness implies a powerful hardware stuffing, and black and red buttons hint at the fact that this is not a regular “office plankton”.

Laptop lid is finished in black sheet metal with a horizontally-oriented texture. Close lid side edges is slightly curved to facilitate visually body silhouette. The manufacturer’s logo is made with black, so it does not stand out too much against the dark cover. 

The base case is made of black plastic with interesting texture and two air grilles, and its shape is characterized by the same curves as the cover. The left side plate is decorated symmetrically on the right, although the second slot for plug-in modules are not there.

Front and two side faces Lenovo IdeaPad Y500 body made ​​in a single piece of plastic rough practical in turn is composed of a rear outer face of the battery, the two hinge loops and two curved elements of the bottom. Accordingly, connectors, and controls back there, and on the front face of decisions did not go only five status indicators, but also a full-sized card reader. 

On the left side wall taken out a pair of audio ports, “always-on” port USB 2.0, Kensington lock hole and the aforementioned slot Ultrabay. The right side panel contains two ports USB 3.0, connectors HDMI, RJ45, D-sub, as well as radiator cooling system, the charger and the button recovery utility company OneKey Recovery.

UltraBay slot

With further study, the notebook was found that the most interesting part of the Lenovo IdeaPad Y500 is a base case, since this is where the main elements of the Ultrabay. In order to take advantage of its capabilities need to start to remove the removable battery, and then move the extra clip in the battery compartment, and then with one hand to pull down the slider in the center of the bottom, and the second – remove the optional plug-in module. 

In our case, it was an additional discrete card, but depending on the chosen configuration in its place could be: optical drive, second hard drive, an additional cooling fan or a regular plug.

Installing a removable module in reverse order. Thus, the owners of the Lenovo IdeaPad Y500 can independently choose which features they want to improve the laptop.

Ergonomics

Interior panels Lenovo IdeaPad Y500, as well as external, are decorated in a rather simple way. The display unit is adapted to the classical scheme it uses two thin and rather broad loop (especially in the upper part) of the screen border impractical glossy plastic. 

The operating panel is a sheet of metal with holes for the touchpad, keyboard, and a pair of multimedia speakers from JBL. Solid square touchpad makes it easy to handle the interface of the operating system, but during the game it’s worth to prefer an external mouse. The only thing that may not like it when you look at the laptop in the open state, so it’s glossy design elements – screen bezel and speakers, as well as backing keyboard.

Thanks to the red sidewalls of each key island keyboard looks great during the day, but it looks even better at night with the backlight on, the level of which can be adjusted in the range of two grades. The concave surface of the keys made for greater user comfort, and should be commended, and tactile characteristics of the keyboard. At the same time talk about any particular game optimization keyboard is not necessary, since it is not marked even the standard cross control, not to mention the more subtle improvements.

Functionality

Lenovo IdeaPad Y500 notebook is available with a glossy 15.6-inch matrix TN + film with a standard resolution of 1366 by 768 pixels or optional Full HD screen with a resolution of 1920 by 1080 pixels. We were ranked second screen option, its viewing angles are traditionally for the technology are small, so care should be taken to choose the optimum angle display unit. The brightness of the display backlight is adjustable from 10 to 250 cd/m2 in the range of 10 shades, which is enough for most models use.

Model Lenovo IdeaPad Y500 is equipped with processors Intel Core “Ivy Bridge”, RAM 6 GB and above, as well as one or two discrete graphics NVIDIA GeForce GT 650M or 750M. A more recent modification processor-based Intel Haswell received index Y510, but it is just beginning to appear on the market. An interesting feature of the system is to lock the integrated graphics core into the processor, the laptop uses a discrete video, even when running on batteries.

As a result of testing in the configuration of the laptop Intel Core i5-3230M, 6GB RAM and two video cards NVIDIA GeForce GT 750M, running in SLI-mode, the following results were shown in actual benchmarks. The battery life on a removable 6-cell battery capacity of 72 Wh (6700 mAh, 10.8 V) was 1 hour 50 minutes at maximum load, and three and a half hours in the emulation mode of reading.

The highest results in the graphical benchmark were obtained as expected in SLI-configuration, however, and not without a little surprise. As it turned out later, the easiest test SLI-configuration was even worse than odnokartochnaya.

The fall of 3D-performance in the transition to a single graphics card increases with the complexity of the benchmarks. If Ice Storm was performed better than in the case of SLI-configuration, then, for each subsequent test results falling in an arithmetic progression from 5% to 45%.

Finally, the third mode, we have shown how strongly reduced graphics performance when running on battery power, even if you use two graphics cards simultaneously. In the simplest test (Ice Storm) results were down “only” 3.5 times in the benchmark average complexity (Cloud Gate) values ​​dropped 5 times already, but the most revealing look at the comparison of the results of game test Fire Strike, where we got results in a drop 20 (!) times.

So the question is truly mobile gaming, as it is depicted by some marketers (on a bench in the park without a diesel generator in the bush), even for the most powerful in the inpatient gaming notebook is closed.

Operation

During the test operation of mission-critical claims to the Lenovo IdeaPad Y500 has not arisen. Not too liked the gloss on the screen bezel and keyboard backing, as well as the release of hot air from a second graphics card for the right hand, in which the player usually holds the arm. I liked the metal insert in the right places, stylish keyboard, both in daylight and at night (backlit) version and of course the modular Ultrabay. 

The results

As a result, Lenovo IdeaPad Y500 – a productive gaming laptop made ​​in a stylish metal body that can boast of a universal slot UltraBay, allowing the simultaneous use of two discrete graphics card NVIDIA. If you like this model, but you want to get more actual hardware platform, the wait is definitely worth visiting selling an updated version of Lenovo IdeaPad Y510 on chips Intel Haswell. 

Liked

+ Modular system upgrade functionality UltraBay
+ The ability to use two graphics cards in SLI-mode
+ Stylish body semimetallic
+ Keyboard with adjustable red backlighting

Do not like it

– Hot air distribution under the right arm using a second graphics card
– Insertion of glossy plastic
– The lack of game optimization keyboard

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