Gaming Credentials
Scan's 11.6in laptop isn't just strong on the CPU front, it has a capable GPU, as well. Understandably slotting in just behind the GTX 660M-based MSI GE70, it manages to score over 2,000 3DMarks.
The synthetic 3DMark 11 benchmark intimates that this is a laptop capable of gaming, and that's backed up by the Just Cause 2 results. At 1,366x768 with medium image quality settings, the Scan system scores almost 60 frames per second. This particular benchmark suggests that the GeForce GT 650M is about 25 per cent slower than the GTX 660M, which, remember, is stronger in regards to memory bandwidth, but the Graphite LG5 has got game.
Gaming Performance |
||
|---|---|---|
| Game | Quality Settings | Average FPS |
| Aliens vs. Predator | 1,366x768, 0xAA, 4xAF, Low Detail | 47.7 |
| 1,366x768, 2xAA, 8xAF, Medium Detail | 30.5 |
|
| 1,366x768, 4xAA, 16xAF, High Detail | 23.1 |
|
| DiRT Showdown | 1,366x768, 0xAA, Low Detail | 70.8 |
| 1,366x768, 2xAA, Medium Detail | 65.9 |
|
| 1,366x768, 4xAA, High Detail | 53.3 |
|
| Just Cause 2 | 1,366x768, 0xAA, 4xAF, Low Detail | 85.6 |
| 1,366x768, 2xAA, 8xAF, Medium Detail | 67.3 |
|
| 1,366x768, 4xAA, 16xAF, High Detail | 54.5 |
|
To see how much mileage you'll get from the NVIDIA GPU, we've benched a few titles at the laptop's native 1,366x768 resolution with varying levels of image quality. We had to dial down the settings to keep Aliens vs. Predator running smooth, but only having to push just over a million pixels has its benefits; at this resolution DiRT Showdown and Just Cause 2 ran smooth using high-quality settings.
Battery Life, Heat and Noise
The HEXUS battery life test involves playing back a 720p movie clip until the laptop is automatically forced into hibernation. A balanced power profile is chosen for the duration of the test, all wireless radios are disabled and screen brightness is set to 50 per cent.
We weren't too sure what to expect in regards to battery life. On the one hand, NVIDIA's Optimus technology and 62 Whr battery should keep the system going a good while whilst away from the mains, but on the other hand a 35W Intel CPU isn't the greenest choice.
Turns out the various ingredients have managed to balance each other out, allowing the Graphite LG5 to provide an Ultrabook-like runtime of just under four-and-a-half hours. Though, don't expect that sort of longevity when using the NVIDIA GPU - your game time will of course be reduced.
Battery life is decent, but Scan's high-performance configuration is less impressive in regards to heat and noise. We found the GeForce GT 650M hitting 82ºC during a stink of 3DMark 11, and in doing so we found the base of the chassis getting quite warm. We wouldn't go as far as to call it uncomfortable (we've actually quiet enjoyed it in the cold autumn mornings), but it's the sort of laptop you wouldn't want on your lap during the height of summer.
Where there's heat, there's noise, and when the Graphite LG5 is placed under load, the internal fan becomes quite loud. The laptop is thankfully quiet when idle or during basic use (it's almost inaudible at times), but when the fan spins up you'll definitely know about it.
