Introduction and Design
Llano offers inexpensive mobile gaming.
Back in June of 2011, we reviewed AMD’s new Llano mobile processor line by taking a look at a testbed system. The overall review was favorable, but it was also based on the best AMD had to offer, a quad-core A8-3500M processor running alongside a separate Radeon discrete GPU.
If you take a tour through your local electronics retailer, you’ll find that this is not the most common combination of parts on store shelves. The less expensive and less powerful A4 and A6 processors are more common. In our original Llano laptop review, I theorized that these would remain competitive at their respective price points, but we didn’t have the opportunity to test a laptop equipped with the less expensive hard.
Now, via the ASUS K53T, we finally have a chance to thoroughly examine a mid-range Llano laptop.
As you can see from the specifications, this is as mainstream as it gets. Priced at about $670 on amazon, this laptop is affordable, but at this same price point you’ll be able to buy some Core i5 laptops. Let’s hope the K53T has been eating its Wheaties, because that’s a high bar to jump.
Design
ASUS has a tendency to heavily reuse a chassis among various different configurations, and the K53 is no exception. Search Amazon for “ASUS K53” or “ASUS A53” and you’ll find that this same design is used in a number of laptops ranging in price for $350 to as much as $750.
Although I’m sure this helps keep the accountants at ASUS in the black, it’s a tactic that sometimes bites the company in the rear. In our earlier ASUS K53 review, I concluded that the laptop’s high price wasn’t supported by the chassis, which was clearly suited for less expensive products.
That story doesn’t change with the K53T which, as far as I can tell, is simply a variant of the chassis used for the Intel-powered K53 we reviewed. The only significant difference is that the palmrest, once constructed with a thin layer of mocha-infused metal, is now mocha-infused plastic. Any luxury previously felt is gone as a result.
Connectivity isn’t incredible, either. While VGA and HDMI are provided, USB 3.0 is limited to a single port, with two additional USB 2.0 ports backing it up. Some competitors are offering two USB 3.0 ports, so ASUS is at a bit of a disadvantage.
There are more attractive laptops in this price range – HP’s latest entries, even those in the sub-$500 range, are more attractive – but it’s not bad, either. Enthusiasts will enjoy the widespread use of matte materials, and consumers will enjoy the solid construction. Adequate is the proper word to use here – the K53T’s design won’t blow you away, but it’ll do.
nice review
nice review
I would suggest to anyone
I would suggest to anyone buying this laptop to turn off the crossfire feature. You actually loose performance in many games especially since there are no official regular driver updates for the gpu.
Got a similar one with 4GB
Got a similar one with 4GB RAM for $450 at BB. At that price it was a no brainer though AMD could do a better job with crossfire and drivers though.
If glossy screens and that
If glossy screens and that fupid stawful ucking 1366 – 768 resolution (or all 16:9 resolutions) would just go away, these cheap, generic McNotebooks would be a lot more appealing.
Also, if Asus is going to give it discreet graphics anyway and harbor a pretense of gaming, would a faster clocked dual core A4 be a better fit.
“Also, if Asus is going to
“Also, if Asus is going to give it discreet graphics anyway and harbor a pretense of gaming, would a faster clocked dual core A4 be a better fit.”
Maybe. The only potential problem is that the A4 has a less powerful IGP component. It’s hard to say if the reduction in graphics performance from that would be made up for by a higher processor clock speed.
“Maybe. The only potential
“Maybe. The only potential problem is that the A4 has a less powerful IGP component. It’s hard to say if the reduction in graphics performance from that would be made up for by a higher processor clock speed.”
That’s a good point. I guess I should be posing my question to AMD instead of ASUS as to why they are giving their higher clocked processors the worst GPUs,(160 or 240 SPs vs 400 for the A8) but I guess I already know the answer to that. The A4 is the binned processor that salvages any yield issues.
I Brought 10 of these laptops
I Brought 10 of these laptops for use as rental laptops for my video production company and they have not faulted me yet.
This is a good computer I
This is a good computer I bought it for less than $500 at a local Best Buy Store. the one I have has the Same Processor but it came with a 1GB Video Card. Computer runs good but after 5 months of use the computer screen stopped working. I called the ASUS Customer service since they don’t have help online. I explained them the problem and They asked me to take the computer to the Geek Squad for repairs. Geek Squad took care of fixing the screen, and now my computer runs like new once again and I’m happy of having purchased about 6 months ago for less than it costs now.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005OCBPX0/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=emjay2d-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B005OCBPX0
Uhh, you talk about the A6
Uhh, you talk about the A6 yet use an e series cpu… That one’s meant to compete with atom, of course it will be slow.
woops, re read. nevermind, my
woops, re read. nevermind, my bad.
as far as the research iv
as far as the research iv dont including this page, it sounds like a decent laptop, im looking at one slightly used for $450
as far as the research iv
as far as the research iv done*
Here are the specs:
Display:
Here are the specs:
Display: 15.6″ 1366×768
CPU: AMD A6 – 3420M 2.2 Ghz
RAM: 6GB DDR3
Video cards: it has 2 videocards – one is Radeon 6520G , another one is Radeon 7670M with 1 Gb memory
Hard space: 750 GB
“What is the difference
“What is the difference between DSL, IDSL, HDSL, SDSL, ADSL, CDSL, Ci – DSL, etc. I’m Roni”
( you might want to use your own name) off course, don’t forget to look
directly into her “bridge” this will completely
create a subconscious breakdown in her mind.
I often equate the process of self-hypnosis as something that is as similar to driving a car.
Rattling nice design and
Rattling nice design and wonderful articles , absolutely nothing else we want : D.
This laptop is a litteral beast and I’m still playing wow on it pretty much Mac settings after a decade of use in the laptop and countless expansions to the game (graphics and content). Still handles the game very well with the settings tweaked.
I paid 250 dollars for this thing used ten years ago… Now that’s performancem. Asus ftw.