Mythlogic Callisto 1512 (Clevo W550EU) Ultrabook Review
by Dustin Sklavos on May 24, 2013 12:01 AM ESTApplication and Futuremark Performance
The overwhelming majority of notebooks we've tested with Ivy Bridge have been either based on ULV parts or 45W quad core parts, leaving us with a gap in our information. Thankfully, the Mythlogic Callisto 1512 shipped to us with a 35W dual core chip that starts at a higher nominal clock speed than the ULV kit but also is able to turbo up to higher speeds on the integrated graphics. This should result in a modest performance increase for the HD 4000 and a much more noticeable one on any tasks that are CPU bound.
The Futuremark results bear this out. The extra thermal headroom allows the HD 4000 in the standard voltage i5 to run at higher speeds and for longer, giving us a roughly 10%-15% improvement in performance. PCMark 7 benefits from both the stunningly fast Samsung 840 Pro SSD and the increased CPU speed.
Bounce over to our CPU-limited tests, and the only one that doesn't show a healthy improvement is the first pass of our x264 test. That first pass generally doesn't put the squeeze on the CPU quite as aggressively as the second one does, giving the ULV chips a little more thermal headroom. Once the second pass starts, the standard voltage i5 breaks away.
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Egg - Friday, May 24, 2013 - link
Looking at their configurator, it actually appears to be cheaper to get an mSATA version of the 840 Pro than the 2.5" one.Finally, logical pricing.
pastydave - Friday, May 24, 2013 - link
Now that you've mentioned it, I'm sure they will go correct the oversight.Friendly0Fire - Friday, May 24, 2013 - link
The specs look interesting (though surprisingly you've not listed the ability to put a dGPU, which is something boutique vendors tend to be good at), but in this day and age the design of the laptop is frankly inexcusable. It looks cheap, boring and already dated before it's even arrived!I'm not sure on what planet Clevo and co. are living, but if they don't wake up soon there won't be boutique vendors to speak of that'll sell their products. The offerings from vendors like Asus are getting really compelling.
Conficio - Friday, May 24, 2013 - link
I take boring design and quality at reasonable price over hip and trash any day!zenonu - Friday, May 24, 2013 - link
Has HTC has shown with the One, and Apple with its numerous laptops, you can have build quality along with a more interesting design.Thorburn - Friday, May 24, 2013 - link
As far as I'm aware Intel haven't changed the Ultrabook specifications to allow 35W or 45W chips even in above 14" and above.IntelUser2000 - Sunday, May 26, 2013 - link
Yea it isn't. It doesn't even meet the 21mm spec, as the thickest point is at 25mm.Their site seems to call it based on simple search engine queries, but its a mistake.
tunaman - Friday, May 24, 2013 - link
Nice review. Reasonable price for such an excellent notebook. Check for Laptop Exterior Accessories for this notebook. http://goo.gl/WKNp5Conficio - Friday, May 24, 2013 - link
SAPM!!!Conficio - Friday, May 24, 2013 - link
Sorry I'm so frustrated I can't even type. SPAM!