Appearance
The Samsung looks really chic. It is pleasantly flat, so as you would expect from an ultrabook and remains very discreet because of its matte black lid and the matt gray metallic held in (with a very fine reddish) interface and display frame in appearance. This I prefer much better than a painted glossy notebook. But the matt surfaces do not protect against fingerprints and dust. Especially on the lid you can see this clearly if you have little carried around it. However, the footprints and the dust can be good with a (microfiber) remove cloth. The only really disturbing is the high-gloss finish surrounding the keyboard. While it may look chic, but this has already resulted in just above fingerprints and dust mightily. And that's why I give the tip (like from another reviewer already mentioned), the protective film, which is in this area, simply leave it. For those that do not interfere with the few bubbles under which the simplest and stressfreiste variant is probably counteract the problem.
Processing
With the use of Ultrabooks unfortunately I'm not at all satisfied. In my model seems to have been sloppy unfortunately neatly in the assembly. No matter where I touch it, it creaks usually something somewhere. For instance when I abwische only the cover, it creaks out every nook and cranny. But the worst is when the left palm rest is (ie the area left of the touch pad). Once I got there easily top press gives this area a cracking itself. And this is also the case when I was just laying my hand when writing there. This is already partly annoying. And also the left edge of the keyboard are cheerfully feedback when you press it. Also in the context at the site of Webcam it creaks, there the cover is probably not perfectly connected to the display bezel. The outer frame is also slightly higher than the palm rest and is a little sharp. This I would now like to address only, since the notebook of my sister (the exact same model) does not have such processing Schnitzer. There, the processing is as good as you would expect for a laptop in this price range, nothing creaks or is not quite fixed. So here it is from me a clear point deduction.
Display
Why does the display of many is so criticized, I can not understand quite personally. While it may be true that it is not the brightest, but perfectly adequate, even for outdoor use, if you do not put in direct sunlight. And it is dull naturally helps tremendously here. A comparison with another notebook, which has an identical bright but glare display, showcasing the enormous advantage of matte displays. Even indoors so you can adjust the brightness low, because it is absolutely no reflection comes. And also on by some as too low denounced resolution of 1366x768 I can not understand. I am this from all other notebooks, which I own, usual and not feel it resolved as too low. Of course I can see individual pixels, but only if I look closely. So I am glad that not a Full HD screen has been installed, then everything would be well represented too small, which would be a matter of habit again. Even when gaming FullHD would overwhelm the Samsung.
Keyboard and Touchpad
The keyboard I like generally very good. The buttons are big enough and have a pleasant distance to each other. The pressure point is convincing, so that a good writing experience arises. Unfortunately, I must criticize the fact that the keys do not always hit, even if you press only one corner of the key, it does not respond. Since I'm used to this, I have to get used to it, fully press the keys. The left shift key and the spacebar worry me a little, because it (already?) A not sit little looser than the other, and the pressure point is not quite as crisp as that of others, and also a little more likely than other keys responding, which can be a bit annoying when you write and then have to correct often.
The touchpad also like it very much. It is very large and responds well the touchscreen features work well. Only the mechanical key click in my opinion a bit too loud. It can be made also many settings, so that you can better tune it for its taste.
Power
The Ultrabook is equipped with a neat Intel Core i5 3337U, 4GB RAM and comprehensive addition to a 500GB hard drive with a 24GB SSD cache. The i5 clocked at 1,80Ghz, but can be accelerated by Turbo Mode up to 2,5Ghz. Turbo mode is but only on AC power is available. In addition I am also glad that he is not working on battery because it would draw too much juice and then just has a higher heat generation result. But even without Turbo mode it is fast enough for everyday tasks.
By the SSD cache Windows boots up in 20 seconds, then you are already on the desktop. Then the laptop is still short busy more files etc. to load, thereby starting programs when you do this immediately after the appearance of the desktop, somewhat delayed, because the hard drive after booting up 100% is busy.
Programs like Firefox or iTunes Commonly used open quickly, the duration varies, sometimes it is only 4sec, then one again 8sec. (From idle with no activity). About the speed, so can not complain. :)
About the memory usage does. Because this is busy already after start-up to 56%. And you open Firefox and Word one is already at ~ 70% utilization. After a long search, I then found out what caused this: The driver for the Express cache or SSD cache. This takes about 1GB (!!) of RAM to complete. Unfortunately, there is no real way to resolve this issue, because there is no newer version of the driver or there are those on the Internet does not only uninstall the driver. But this is also not the whole point, because then the SSD cache can not be used and thus reduces the operating speed. Since optimization is anything but well done. On this occasion, I will probably upgrade to 8GB RAM soon.
Games Performance
Although the Ultrabook is not intended for playing but for working, I wanted to still test as ambitious players the games ability when AMD HD8750M already is installed. I have the ability games just checked in network operation where the Turbo mode of the processor is also available. And all the games have been tested in the native resolution of 1366x768. In FullHD (for externally connected monitor) only undemanding games would run smoothly.
Unfortunately, I must say at once that the graphics card for the CPU is almost oversized, because the CPU slows the GPU.
Most one sees this in Battlefield 3. The CPU utilization is permanently at 100%, whereas the GPU utilization is only ~ 70%, so this could still afford much more. And so the game play is sometimes not quite as smooth as desired. If a lot is going on on the screen, the fps go happy times at the 30. But usually runs it with 30-40fps what is still sufficient. Oddly enough, you realize not much difference in the fps number between low and medium details.
Less demanding games like DiRT 3 or Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 run without problems at high details at the 40-50fps.
Finally, I've tested Guild Wars 2. That runs smoothly from a mix of low to high details, there have simply allowed the automatic settings for testing purposes and then not looked up what is a maximum there. This then runs depending on section with ~ 40fps or a little more. If many players and then also effects on the screen, as is the case with a Boss Fight, the fps go also like to 20 fps down what can be but then still play fairly well, as it is not here comes to fractions of a second, such as in shooters.
So for casual gamers of this Ultrabook is quite interesting if they can not interfere on lower details, depending on the game, of course.
Battery life
The battery life is really impressively! If I only surf the Internet and kill Office work (I usually have a low display brightness) then extends the battery for 5-6 hours, often even up to 7. So would that be! Here kudos to Samsung.
Volume and heat generation
The volume is a double-edged sword. But let's start with the battery mode. There, the fan is in idle and surf at office work or internet (as long as there are no sophisticated pages with lots of Flash use) most of the time out, so you only hear the hard drive and the device is barely audible. The CPU temperature is then between 48-50 ° C. The surface and the keyboard warm up a bit, but this falls a little on.
Once the CPU is claimed and the temperature climbs to 55 ° C, the fan starts. He may be described as quiet, but I am in terms of volume when working, a bit sensitive, but then why it bothers me a bit when the fan is on. This is then again from when the CPU temperature was lowered to 45 ° C. However, this takes a long time until it actually reaches the 45 ° C depending on the load on the CPU. The only way around this is, activating the silent mode via a FN key. Then the unit will enter the power saving mode and the fan goes off. If we make this about when the CPU temperature is 50 ° C, but the fan would need some time to get to the 45 ° C, the fan will remain off if you disable the silent mode again. So one has to keep in battery mode rather good possibilities the Ultrabook as often as possible still.
The situation is different in network operation. There, the fans always adhere to, regardless of whether the CPU temperature is only 40 ° C. You can do it here while at rest with the Silent Mode, but in this case the CPU speed is throttled to 0,77Ghz and you want precisely in grid operation not waive the requirement. And deactivating the Silent mode is activated again the fan. Originally I wanted to use the laptop much of the use on AC power, but which I will now dispense well. Since this can be much better resolved, there are also points deduction here.
When playing, the CPU goes high temperature to up to about 80 ° C, but a Throtteling does not occur. The fan then turns right on, so the laptop then almost as loud as my PC, but I find this is not so bad because I aufhabe headphone to play. The housing is then already really warm, almost hot. The keyboard heats up relatively strong, but really disturbing and uncomfortable it is not.
WIFI
As WLAN module is an Intel Centrino Advanced N6235, which makes for a good reception. So finally surf the 2nd floor no longer a problem (router is in the basement). Also supports Bluetooth module, I tested this yet, however.
I am but noticed that the data throughput when browsing is low. He is (according to Task Manager) only to 120kbit / s, although maximum 2,1mbit / s in it would. So sometimes it takes forever until one side completely loaded. Is yet to find out, whether it is due to my slow internet here or whether the notebook is to blame. The maximum achievable 2,1Mbits only be achieved at Downloads.
Speaker
Of these have been also very surprised at how well this sound. I was of course previously been clear that it is certified by JBL speakers or just JBL, but in times of beats and Co. may be no longer completely trust this whole awards. Bass of course you can but do not expect, but after all the centers are well available and of course a few delicate depths. Even at higher volumes distorted anything. Those who are not quite as audiophile, will be pleased with the speakers also listen for music.
Conclusion
All in all, the Samsung 530U4E a successful Ultrabook class of 14. The working speed is good, it is also suitable for casual and largely very low on battery power and has an excellent battery life. The problem of processing defects appears to be default, and the fan problems could be theoretically solved yet and so make this Ultrabook to the ideal working tool. From me, there are therefore 4 stars (actually irgendow 3.5 to 4), yet a buy recommendation.
PS: If you have questions about the device I am happy to help.
