ASUS Zenbook Prime (UX21A) Review: The First of the 2nd Gen Ultrabooks
by Anand Lal Shimpi on May 22, 2012 2:46 PM EST- Posted in
- Laptops
- CPUs
- Asus
- Ivy Bridge
- Zenbook
- Zenbook Prime
- Ultrabook
- Notebooks
The Test
To keep the charts clean and simple I omitted a lot of the config details of each of the notebooks. For your reference, here's the configuration of each of the notebooks in our tests:
Dell Inspiron 11z (SU4100 + GMA4500 + HDD + 56Wh)
Performance
As I mentioned earlier in this review/preview, the deal ASUS worked out with Intel prevents us for discussing clock speeds or specifications of the ULV Ivy Bridge silicon in the Zenbook Prime. Obviously the silicon is going to fit within the same 17W TDP as its predecessor so don't expect huge differences in clock speeds.
If you take into account Quick Sync and its SSD, the Zenbook Prime is an extremely quick solution. Looking at the breakdown of PCMark scores you get a much more realistic look at where the ULV IVB fits into things.
In some areas the Sandisk U100 holds the Zenbook prime back, here it's actually slower than its predecessor. Despite all of its issues throughout most of last year, SandForce was always fast.
I threw in a PCMark Vantage graph as we have a lot of older data in that benchmark that can help put things in perspective:
It's amazing the sort of performance gains we're able to show over the older Core 2 based ultra portables like the Dell Inspiron 11z and Adamo 13. Again we see a slight performance deficit versus the SandForce based UX21E.
Facebook
Twitter
RSS
192 Comments
View All Comments
ananduser - Tuesday, May 22, 2012 - link
DPI scaling is only an issue with 3rd party programs. Windows featuring the best DPI scaling currently for desktop OSes.Conficio - Wednesday, May 23, 2012 - link
... does the article not demonstrate that DPI scaling even in some popular MS programs does not work?is ti fair to conclude, that either it is an inherent problem with the Windows 7 OS or it is so complicated APi wise that even Microsofts in house programmers can't get it right?
piroroadkill - Tuesday, May 22, 2012 - link
11.6 and 13.3" 1080p? Very nice. I'd rather it was an 8:5 ratio but still, very nice.GeorgeH - Tuesday, May 22, 2012 - link
That screen is a thing of beauty - Asus laptops just went from a personal overall 'meh' to 'hell yes'. Here's hoping Asus also starts adding high DPI models to their desktop display line.MobiusStrip - Tuesday, May 22, 2012 - link
Only if it's matte, which isn't specified in the chart. Otherwise it doesn't matter what kind of panel is in there; you'll be looking at yourself and the stuff behind you, and not the images generated by the computer.mike8675309 - Thursday, May 24, 2012 - link
I nearly had to spend some alone time when I read the resolution of this thing in an 11" panel. My goodness, I love it. That's higher resolution than what is standard (and even available in some) in many 17" laptop displays. Curious who makes that panel and for what other applications. Must be made of some rare stuff.Cygni - Tuesday, May 22, 2012 - link
This picture:http://images.anandtech.com/reviews/mobile/ASUS/Ze...
Goddamn REALLY asus? You are really going to release a picture with razerback aliasing, oval mic ports, and spellcheck underlines to the press? You have to be kidding me.
Also: lol mini-vga in 2012, jesus christ.
MobiusStrip - Tuesday, May 22, 2012 - link
Ha ha ha! You're right; that's pitifully unprofessional.Sunburn74 - Tuesday, May 22, 2012 - link
Geez people,Try and remember what the purpose of the machine is when filing complaints.
Kegetys - Tuesday, May 22, 2012 - link
Seems quite impressive, something I would have wished to see more detail on is the noise levels. My UL30VT with SSD keeps the fan completely off when its sitting idle on my desk and also on light desktop loads. Its awesome when it makes no noise at all*, that even a very slowly rotating fan inevitably does. I can leave it on during the night an sleep a meter away from it without being disturbed.* There's some slight electrical noises, but they arent audible from normal use distances.