Acer Aspire TimelineX 5820T review | Laptops | Reviews | PC Pro
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Acer Aspire TimelineX 5820T
Verdict Switchable graphics and a Core i5 CPU make it a very versatile laptop at a reasonable price Review Date: 3 May 2010 Price when reviewed: 765 (899 inc VAT) Acers Timeline laptops have always been about efficiency, with lowvoltage CPUs and long battery life coming ahead of performance in the priority stakes. That's all about to change, though, as Acer updates the Aspire side of the range to use an efficient CPU that can handle a little more strain. We are, of course, referring to Intel's Core i3 and i5 processors, which are making their way into various models in the Timeline family. Unlike the 45nm, Penryn-based CULV chips in existing models, this TimelineX 5820T uses a Core i5, built on the more efficient 32nm Westmere architecture with all its accompanying benefits. The Core i5-430Ms 2.27GHz frequency, for instance, is far in excess of any CULV chip, and both of its cores are kitted out with Turbo Boost so a busy core can borrow a little boost of power from an idle one as required. Theres also HyperThreading technology, as well as a 500MHz GPU integrated on to the die itself. These technical improvements manifested themselves in much more laptop-like benchmark scores. The TimelineX 5820T sped to an overall score of 1.54, which is only a shade slower than the ever-popular Dell Studio 1557, with its mobile Core i7720QM processor. The upgrade isn't so much about processing speed, though, it's about the freedom the Core i5 brings to the table. As well as the aforementioned Intel graphics, an ATI Radeon HD 5650 chip is present to take the strain when required. It can only be enabled when the Acers plugged in which scuppers any chance of portable gaming but it managed a commendable 37fps in our Medium-quality Crysis benchmark. The High quality benchmark was a step too far, but theres enough there to tempt casual gamers.
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03/05/2010

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The key thing about the dual-graphics setup is that they're switchable. Not in the dynamic sense of Nvidia's latest innovations you still need to manually select one or the other in the driver menu, unfortunately but when you're out and about the power-hungry ATI chip is disabled so it won't impact on battery life. While the TimelineX 5820T cant match the nine-hour lifespan of previous CULV siblings, its light use time of 6hrs 42mins is impressive in the arena of 15in laptops, and it's efficient enough to give 2hrs 30mins when under full load, too.
The rest of the internals lack the same excitement of change, but they're solid enough. Theres a 500GB hard disk and DVD writer, Bluetooth and 802.11bgn wireless. Ports-wise, you get four USB inputs, D-SUB and HDMI outputs, and a card reader. Exterior changes are also minor, although it could be argued little needed changing in the first place. The TimelineX 5820Ts wristrest is as sturdy as any you'll see at this size, and the lid while understandably malleable given its mere 6mm thickness protects the panel far better than it would appear. Theres a hint of creaking when the base is twisted, but its nothing unusual or excessive. The 15.6in display is good, too. The 1,366 x 768 native resolution is a decent fit at this size, and we found colours accurate and vivid, with no sign of backlight bleeding. Our only qualm was the glossy coating, which could prove frustrating if you regularly work under bright office lights or enjoy forays into a sunny garden. The keyboard and trackpad havent strayed far from their original designs, either, although the extra width on this 15.6in machine allows the inclusion of a numeric keypad. The keyboard has Scrabble-tile keys with wide gaps between and its responsive, light and comfortable enough for extended typing sessions. The trackpad offers similar quality. Its wide and responsive, with a scrolling area on the right and a comfortable rocker button beneath. We're a tad disappointed to see the trackpad deactivation button has been removed, so its all too easy to nudge the cursor while typing at speed. The slate-grey style of the original Timeline machines remains, although the lid has been switched to a darker finish, with a similar effect across the wristrest. The small changes certainly make the TimelineX attractive, if not quite stunning enough to really stand out. All in all, the Acer Aspire Timeline range has undergone quite a transformation, and the 5820T is something of a success. The price is admittedly a touch higher than we'd like, which keeps it from a total recommendation, and CULV models will still make more sense if that all-day battery life is a must. But there's more than enough power on offer here in a versatile package, and the increasing prevalence of Intel's GPU-equipped processors means those switchable graphics will quickly become the norm. Author: Mike Jennings