CyberPower Xplorer X6-9100: Gamers Need Not Apply
by Dustin Sklavos on May 4, 2011 12:00 AM EST- Posted in
- Laptops
- Intel
- Sandy Bridge
- CyberPowerPC
- Intel SSD 510
Battery Life
Given the lack of dedicated graphics, really the two heaviest hitters are going to be the 45-watt TDP on the processor and the 15.6", 1080p screen. We've already talked about the former and we'll get into more detail on the latter on the next page, but for now let's see how much of a toll they take on the CyberPower Xplorer X6-9100's admittedly mediocre six-cell, 48Whr battery. (CyberPower is currently looking into making an 8-cell battery available.)
Jarred was excited about the potential for quad-core Sandy Bridge to save power on the battery, and that potential bears fruit again here. We tested the Xplorer X6-9100 at about the same time as the Toshiba M645, and despite the 10W higher TDP and larger screen on the X6-9100, it more or less ties the Toshiba when it comes to useful running time. The X6-9100 is a little on the big side, but if you need to run it off the mains you shouldn't have any issues. Still, we would appreciate manufacturers standardizing on bigger than 48Whr batteries, especially on 15.6" and larger notebooks.
Noise and Heat
Since the X6-9100 doesn't have a dedicated GPU to cool, the fan shouldn't have to work as hard and thermals can stay reasonable. As a result, the X6-9100's insides ought to stay frosty even under load.
Uh oh. The OEM seems to have erred on the side of silence; the i7's idle temperatures are reasonable for a notebook and the load temperatures aren't horrible, but they aren't great either. Things get worse when you take a look at the temperatures radiating from the chassis.
These are far from the worst temperatures we've seen, but the traditional notebook hotspot (the bottom center) gets particularly toasty under load. An unfortunate side effect of the glossy shell also makes the palm rests less than ideal when putting the notebook to work, as they're liable to generate enough heat to make your palms sweat and stick to the surface.
The corollary is that the X6-9100 runs quiet, especially for normal workloads (as opposed to heavy multi-threaded work), but we'd prefer a bit more noise at load with lower temperatures.
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TrackSmart - Wednesday, May 4, 2011 - link
I would also enjoy a "back to school" version of the buyer's guide, though I appreciate how much work must go into such articles.Regarding your future laptop, are you set on another tablet? That would certainly narrow the field dramatically... Plus you never stated a budget, which leaves things wide open. Nor did you state what you'd want to use the system for, generally. If you need a good quality display then you have also narrowed the field dramatically (sadly).
Belard - Thursday, May 5, 2011 - link
Agreed... a nice list of choices based on their market type.Mobile Workstations MUST have supergraphics. That is the point. As in this review of the CyberPower, the CPU / system performance is stellar at $1000. But its in a cheap glossy case with crappy keyboard and screen. No Professional will ever touch such a computer.
Workstations are for those who need power GPU to handle CAD, Photoshop, 3D output, etc. Such computers typically go for $2000~4000.
- - - - - - -
Minecraft is a simple game... works on anything.
Are you looking for another tablet/hybrid? Personally, I never liked them - still don't. My iPad is for more usable and easier to work with. There is a modern ThinkPad X-Tablet with a 12" screen and i3 CPU for about $1300.
But for $1200 or so, I'd go for a normal notebook with an i5-dual core CPU and a 14" screen, 4lbs~5lbs. I hate glossy screens - so I'm a thinkpad fan ;)
But if you want something modern and light weight:
ThinkPad X120e = $550 / AMD E350 @ 1.6Ghz / 4GB RAM /320HD - 2.9lbs / 7hr battery. 11.6" screen Its faster than what you have, but its more of a high-end netbook.
But I think the X220 would be more of what you want. i3~i7 CPUs... but i7 isn;t worth the extra $250 IMHO. Maybe the 2.5Ghz CPU... any i3~i5 CPU would be about 10x faster than what you have now.
Its .75~1.3" thick - 12.5" screen and is about $1000 with 4GB RAM... still at 3lbs and an 8~9hour battery (Sweet!).
* I don't work for Lenovo. But I do recommend and sell them to my clients and friends. (I'm not selling to you)
This is the best list of performance chart for mobile GPUs: http://www.notebookcheck.net/Mobile-Graphics-Cards... I use it as my reference, pretty hardcore. ;)
QChronoD - Thursday, May 5, 2011 - link
I'm hoping to keep it under $1000 is possible. I'm mostly concerned about it having a good screen, and being light (since I'll be carrying it around all day at school) Battery life isn't as big of a factor since I can usually find a place to plug in between classes, but 5hr + would be nice.I've read about the new X220s and they sound great, but are pushing the upper end of my budget. And of course I've fallen in love with the Samsung series 9, but its just ridiculously expensive.
I've been eyeing the Toshiba R835, since it sounds like its got everything i need, and starts under $900. Also I'd expect Asus to come out with some new SNB models soon since everything that I've found is still using the old core chips. I still have some time till I need to pull the trigger.
Belard - Monday, May 9, 2011 - link
I just got a DELL business catalog (flyer thingy) They have some upper end notebooks starting at $1000. ;)Compared to whats in the review, it has less memory and a dual core CPU... but it has a FULL keyboard with a proper numeric keypad. :)
Check on the screen, if glossy screens are not an issue... I'm not a fan of Toshiba, but they have made vast improvements compared to 4 years ago or so... like sticking the Windows key on the top row... ? ugh.
I'm very much not a fan of island keyboards, yeah the flat keys do look nice, but I like my keys curvy.
Check out the gallery and feature list at Lenovo
ThinkPad Edge E420s = $750 with i5 / 4gb / 250gb HD 14" display 4lbs.
It has semi-island modern type keyboard.
But I'd go at least with a ThinkPad L420 $700~800. i5 / 4gb / 250gb HD 14" display 5lbs. It has the world-class Thinkpad keyboard, but a more non-Thinkpad like layout - still nice.
I've worked on many notebooks, seen Thinkpad tech support work on warranty repairs. Many ThinkPad owners still like the T-Series because they are so much more rugged. Than an Edge or L, which are more typical of todays notebooks. A T-Series T420, configured like the L420 is $980 ($900 with 2GB RAM), but last week, they had a 2GB free sale :)
Personally, I'd take a 2GB T420 over a 4GB L420 :P
A cool thing, is that none of these are loaded up with crap-ware. Other than ThinkPad tools. (I remove the automated software update manager) so unlike many other brands, you don't have to rip out a bunch of junk.
;)
Get at least an i5-25xx CPU type computer. The performance is very nice.
epons - Wednesday, May 18, 2011 - link
like Stanwood, I appreciate Anandtech's strong technical content.The only things I ask for a laptop isn't realy the exterior beauty. ( but if it's ok, why not...) . My job ask me to have workstation power for development, so have always a good desktop with good screens.
Data, and programacion and a little aplications are what I always working on, except, i'm photographer too. So at home I have all for a good job.
This little x6-9100 is perhaps better for me than a Dell: it will not be my first computer. only a " rescue pc" when I have to go out, or when I'm going to a photo trip. Therefore I must have a lot of power, a descent screen to program and previewing my photos.
In the place I live, i compared the prices: Dell xps 15 vs x6-9100 in the min config I want: 1100$ with x6-9100 and 2200$ for the Dell. For a "rescue pc" it's very tempting to take the x6-9100, no?
my specs min: 2820QM+8GB ram + ssd.+ 1080p screen. For a rescue pc, i don't ask for the best looking, best screen, but yes with power and capacity. Don't require any graphics power. So, at first page, you said that the construction is good. At home , i always using a mouse/keyboard and external monitor.
In this case, ins't it the best value/price on the market?
So , for readers like me, and like Stanwood, games aren't the goal. The goal are the capacity to do a good job, witch is the first goal of a computer, isn't it?