A L L 4 M O B I L E: Review Acer Aspire 5742G Notebook (GT 540M

Review Acer Aspire 5742G Notebook (GT 540M

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Geforce bargain. Acer puts interesting hardware in a low priced bundle that is available for starting at 699 euros. The newest GeForce GT 540M is still extremely uncommon and we also don't find eight gigabyte of RAM very often. Performance for money in excess?

A boring notebook with interesting hardware is what we thought when we looked at the Aspire 5742G-458G64Mnkk's configuration. A seasoned Core i5-450M beside 8 GB of RAM and a strong NVIDIA GeForce GT 540M. The latter includes the graphics switcher, Optimus. This means it's possible to switch to the Intel HD (in CPU) for saving energy.

This competent hardware is on the shelves for starting at 699 euros. Gaming suitable bargain or beefed up budget laptop? How do waste heat and system noise coincide with the strong performance? If Acer invests in graphics and memory components, then where has the manufacturer made cutbacks? Is the GeForce GT 540's aptness for the latest games superior to that of the new Radeon HD 6550M or the older HD 5650? All answers in our detailed review.

Case

: Resistant case

: made of textured plastic

: and plain looks.

The Aspire 5740G's case is viable for both mobile use and the desk. The hands are treated to a pleasantly matt and textured work surface. Fingerprints don't have a chance here. They only find retreat on the glossy display bezel.

The case is sufficiently stable and makes an impression of endurance with their clean gaps. We can however twist the chassis slightly with both hands. The wrist-rest can be depressed marginally on the right. In return, the key bed yields evidently under slight pressure. The base plate can be dented selectively with one finger – especially on the vents. The large cover on the bottom bids upgrade options. The hard disk, RAM and WLAN (mini PCIe) modules can be accessed.

We can twist the lid evidently (picked up at the corners). Nevertheless, due to the stiff surface and grip, a stable impression is created anyway. The non-slip texture provides a very good everyday suitability as well.

The battery can be removed for permanent use on the desk. No gap is created in the work environment and there aren't any feet on the battery pack. The battery is rolled out and fits very securely.

The hinges keep the lid firmly in position and they hardly teeter. They are pulled tight so that we need both hands for opening. The hinges sit very tight in their mounting in the case. The wide maximum opening angle of 160 degrees is more than sufficient for use on the lap.