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Review Dell Latitute E4310 netbook

Review Dell Latitute E4310 Notebook

Dell Latitute E4310 is a business laptop with a 13.3-inch display from Dell.

Positioning itself in this class, the laptop must be productive and balanced, as well as meet all the requirements for safe operation. However, the included 3-cell battery does not meet these requirements very well. Let's see if this device becomes a worthy alternative to the Dell Latitude E6410 laptop?

Dell provides a range of different notebooks for business users. In this series there are both 10 "netbooks and solid devices with 15 and 16" displays. At 34 centimeters (13.3 inches), the Dell Latitude E4310 is the sweet spot between these machines. However, with a slight difference in dimensions, this model may well compete with the 14.1 "Latitude E6410.

In general, the E4310 does not differ much from the previous Latitude E4300. Basically, only the configuration has changed - the updated laptop has a faster Intel Core i5 processor with integrated Intel GMA HD graphics. Also, the device is equipped with a variety of controllers for connecting to networks and options for organizing the secure processing and storage of information.

High-performance components combined with high build and manufacturing quality of the laptop could not but affect the price of the device. The price starts at 1339 Euros (taxes included). The price of our test model with the advanced features, but without the UMTS module, is approximately 1,800 euros excluding taxes (with taxes about 2,150 euros). The manufacturer provides a warranty for the laptop for a period of three years with the possibility of repairing it directly at the buyer's workplace on the next business day after the user contacts the service center.

Perhaps, in view of the fact that recently information was received about the defectiveness of Intel motherboards for the new Sandy Bridge platform, earlier Core i processors will still be used for some time in business notebooks. Even though Dell has already announced new Latitude models. It is not yet known when the new Dell business notebooks based on the new Intel platform will go on sale.

Housing

The appearance and design are almost completely identical to the design of the previous model E4300 and 14.1-inch Latitude E6410. The case is based on a material based on a magnesium alloy with aluminum, which provides excellent case rigidity and is very pleasant to the touch.

In addition to the silver version of the model we have reviewed, you can also find the E4310 in blue and red colors on sale. But, a model with a red tint will cost the buyer 25 euros more. In general, solid matte surfaces look simple enough. But in work they prove to be very practical devices. The large metal display mounts are also a confirmation of the high quality workmanship. The hinges perfectly hold the display and prevent it from dangling when shaken. The display lid has a widest opening angle of 170 degrees, which allows it to work in all conditions.

The bottom cover of the device gives access to the most important components. Due to the presence of two corresponding slots, the maximum RAM size when using a 64-bit operating system is 8 GB of DDR3 10600S standard. During a short test for functionality, both two 4 GB sticks from OCZ with a frequency of 1333 MHz (OCZ3M13334G) and two 4 GB sticks from Kingston (1066 MHz, KVR1066D3S7 / 4G) worked without failures. The pre-installed 32-bit version of the Windows 7 Professional operating system makes it possible to use only 3.43 GB of the available 4 GB. Therefore, it would be wise to initially install a 64-bit operating system, especially if the owner is going to increase the amount of RAM in the future. Winchester can be freely replaced with any typical 2.5-inch drive, which has a height of 9.5 millimeters.

Communication capabilities

Unfortunately, the E4310 has a meager set of interfaces. Minimalism prevails at the ends of the case.Apart from the combined USB 2.0 / eSATA and one more USB 2.0 port, there are no other interfaces for connecting USB devices on the device. A microphone-in / headphone-out jack allowed Dell developers to save some more space. The front end of the device is characterized by the presence of a 7-in-1 memory card reader, which can read information from a wide variety of memory cards.

Despite the modern configuration, the Latitude E4310 is equipped with only VGA analog video output. For some unknown reason, the manufacturer decided not to use any of the modern interfaces (Displayport, HDMI) in the laptop for outputting information via a digital signal. In addition to the standard multi-format DVD writer, Dell allows itself to equip the E4310 BluRay with a disc drive or Travel Lite module, which acts as a simple dummy to reduce weight. For our tested model, it is not possible to install a second hard drive instead of an optical drive, as is often the case with other manufacturers of business notebooks.

It is possible to expand the set of connected communications using a special docking station. The Latitude E4310 has a port on the bottom base for attaching to it.

On the right is the ExpressCard 34 interface, USB 2.0, VGA, DVD drive.

On the left side you can find a combined USB 2.0 / eSATA, Smartcard reader, audio output. In front are two speakers and a 7-in-1 card reader. At the back you can find a connector for a charging adapter, an RJ-45 network interface, and a connector for installing a Kensington lock.

Internet and networks

Dell has provided the E4310 with a variety of connectivity options for today's mobile devices and computer networks. The model we tested can transfer data via Wi-Fi 802.11n thanks to the preinstalled Intel Centrino Ultimate N 6300 AGN module, not to mention Gigabit Ethernet (Intel 82577LM), as well as Bluetooth 3.0 + HS. The installed antennas for the UMTS module make it possible to effortlessly connect it and enjoy access to the mobile Internet.

Safety

When choosing a laptop for business use, the capabilities of the device in the field of ensuring the security of the information processed and stored on it play an important role.

In addition to fingerprint recognition, the Latitude E4310 has a SmartCard reader and TPM 1.2 chip. As an optional feature, you can equip the device with a fully encrypted hard drive that is FIPS compliant. These security measures are more likely to be sufficient for all basic privacy requirements.

Delivery set and accessories

Despite the high cost of the device, the scope of delivery upset me with its rather meager set. In addition to the laptop itself, in this kit you can find only a charger with a corresponding connector. As well as 2 DVDs, instructions, 3-cell rechargeable battery and, depending on your preferences, licensed Microsoft Office. In accordance with the build-to-order principle (BTO, the principle of collect and order) from Dell, you can choose a variety of accessories for your laptop. However, the online configurator only presents a subset of the options. Based on information from Dell, if necessary, you can order everything you need, choosing from over 50,000 types of products, ranging from monitors and printers to a variety of special devices.

Guarantee

Dell offers a 36-month warranty for the Business Series, as opposed to 12-month warranty for the general consumer. The warranty includes repairs directly at the owner's site the next business day after contacting the service center. At an additional cost, you can extend and upgrade your warranty to ProSupport.More information can be found on the manufacturer's website.

Input Devices

Keyboard

For high quality business notebooks, the keyboard is essential. Our test model has a generously sized keyboard unit despite its rather narrow case width. The larger Dell Latitude E6410 has almost the same keyboard layout. It has a crisp ride and a pleasant pressing feel, with excellent rigidity of the installed substrate, which does not walk and does not bend anywhere. The arrow block has buttons that are slightly smaller than usual. Still, this is not so critical for potential owners of this device. Dell enables the user to select a backlit keyboard that greatly facilitates work in dark environments (train, airplane).

Touchpad

As a replacement for the standard mouse, the E4310 uses not one, but two solutions. The touch panel has quite adequate dimensions with dimensions of 7.5 centimeters diagonally. Its slightly rough surface allows fingers to glide perfectly on it. No difficulty was found when using the touchpad. In addition to the standard scroll bars, the manipulator allows you to use multitouch gestures. The mouse buttons have clear separation and an excellent pressing feel.

The second manipulator is Trackpoint, which is located in the center of the keyboard. To use it or not - it's as convenient as anyone. It takes practice to confidently own a trackpoint. The additional mouse buttons, which are located above the touchpad, work a little more resiliently than the same second set of them below.

Display

Matte screen

In our reviewed model, a panel from Samsung, model SEC5441, was installed. The WLED display has a resolution of 1366x768 pixels. Dell does not provide the option to select a clearer LCD display. The screen has a matte finish, as it is designed for use by professionals.

The screen of the E4310 is LED backlit. It has a fairly high maximum brightness, which is 258 cd / m2. The average brightness value is 224.3 cd / m2, which, in principle, is also tolerable, although it does not really stand out from competing models. The Dell Latitude E4300, the predecessor of the tested model, had a better display with a maximum brightness of 300 cd / m2. The uniformity of screen illumination is equal to 78 percent, but, fortunately, it is visually impossible to notice a special difference in the intensity of the image illumination with the naked eye.

Luminance distribution

Subjectively, the color reproduction proved to be quite adequate, although under ideal conditions the colors look fresher on glossy screens. Our tested model has a high black level of 1.77 cd / m2. What is a disadvantage for such a screen, since the black color does not look rich, saturated, and the contrast level is 146: 1. The predecessor, however, also did not excel in this parameter.

The color gamut of the display is at the standard level, far enough even from sRGB, despite the fact that the business series laptop is aimed at professionals. Although ordinary office users are unlikely to be affected, it will be a significant limitation for those involved in graphics.

The matte display makes it possible to use the laptop outdoors with little or no discomfort. True, in this case, you can get an unimportant color rendition, since the image on the screen burns out strongly in sunlight due to the low contrast value.

The viewing angles of the E4310 display are also not perfect. The horizontal plane looks pretty good, and you can safely look away from the impeccable position at rather impressive angles. However, in the vertical plane, one has only to change the viewing angle by a few degrees, and you will no longer see the true picture. In this respect, high-quality IPS panels are beyond competition.

Performance

The Dell Latitude E4310 is based on the Intel Arrandale platform, which is manufactured using a 32 nm process technology. Not so long ago, an update for this platform was presented, which is called Huron River and includes Intel Sandy Bridge processors. It seemed that soon devices based on the latest processors would displace old devices from their occupied places in store windows, but the latest information from Intel about a defect in the chipset design led to the fact that the production of the corresponding devices was postponed for an unknown period. The model we tested is powered by an Intel Core i5-560M processor clocked at 2.67 GHz. When Turbo Boost is activated, the processor reaches a maximum clock speed of 3.2 GHz. Our 560M processor, like all full-fledged Intel Cores, supports Hyper Threading technology, when activated, several virtual cores are added to a pair of physical cores when working with multi-threaded programs.

In addition to the powerful Intel Core i5-560M processor, the Dell Latitude E4310 can also be equipped with a less expensive 2.4 GHz Intel Core i5-540M processor. Since there is no dedicated graphics card, the Dell Latitude E4310 uses the integrated Intel GMA HD graphics for video. The GMA HD video core is also slightly overclocked thanks to the Intel Turbo Boost option. After that, the standard frequency of 500 MHz is increased to 766 MHz.

If we compare the performance of our tested model with that of its predecessor, it becomes clear that the new model gives a decent increase in performance. The Cinebench R10 benchmark allows you to compare different processors with each other. Our tested netbook scored 7,437 on all cores. Therefore, the Intel Core i5-560M processor in the Dell Latitude model is almost equal in performance on this benchmark to the more powerful Intel Core i7-620M processor (2.66 GHz). The Intel Core 2 Duo SP9400 processor installed in the E4300 does not offer any discernible competition with a score of 5009 points.

PCMark Vantage allows you to evaluate the performance of system components in their relationship. The E4310 got a decent enough score of 6144 points on it, which is somewhere close to the results of similarly equipped devices, for example, such as Dell Latitude E6410 (5235) or ThinkPad X201 (6299).

A tangible increase in system performance can be obtained by installing an SSD in the netbook. After such changes, the Dell Latitude netbook could, for example, squeeze out as much as 9753 points in PCMark Vantage instead of 6144. It is worth noting that the increase in performance from the introduction of a solid-state SSD is noticeable not only in synthetic tests, but also during normal operation.

The performance of all 32Bit cores is 7437 points.

The performance of one 32Bit core is 3486 points.

OpenGL 32Bit performance - 806 points.

In general, subjective judgments, the performance of the E4310 model is surprising. Several concurrently open applications will be handled with ease by this system. Intel dual-head processors provide excellent capabilities for solving any, even rather complex, tasks.

Although our review unit does not have the same powerful Intel GMA HD graphics card as most discrete graphics cards, its 3D performance should be sufficient for day-to-day office work. With a score of 1703 in Futuremark 3DMark 2006, our review unit ranks somewhere in the same spot as the Lenovo ThinkPad X201 (Core i5-540M, 1719 points). For displaying graphics, simple 3D effects, video rendering, performance, the speed of the built-in video card will be more than enough. Delays and artifacts can appear only when playing complex 3D calculations or when working with video content.

The online configurator on the Dell website provides a variety of storage options to choose from. Our tested model was equipped with a 320 GB hard drive with a rotational speed of 7200 rpm platters. The hard drive performed well in the benchmarks. Such a 250 GB hard drive will cost a little less. Dell also offers an optional 250GB hard drive that supports FIPS-certified data protection and encryption.To increase performance, you can opt for a 256 GB solid-state SSD, but this will cost the buyer 625 euros. Such a drive from Dell will be too expensive, it will be much cheaper to buy it yourself in a regular store and then install it.

The Seagate Momentus ST9320423AS hard drive installed in the E4310 has good performance for 2.5 ”drives. The maximum data transfer rate was reached in HDTune Pro 4.6 with a result of 96.7 MB / s, however, the access time was quite slow and averaged 17.7 ms. For example, in modern SSD drives, this value ranges from 0.1 to 0.2 s, which, in this number, leads to a significant increase in the received performance of applications, such as the speed of copying data, loading programs, opening documents, etc.

Noise level, temperature and dynamics

Noise level

In general, the sound profile of the netbook is implemented quite well. In the unloaded state, the average volume of the device was 33.3 dB (A). The fan most of the time runs at low speeds or is turned off and you can't hear it at all. However, the 7200 rpm hard drive seems to be almost the only source of noise in this mode of use. An additional disadvantage is that during use, it vibrates slightly in the area of ​​the wrist rest. In light of the above, replacing the drive with an SSD looks even more advisable, since a solid state drive will significantly increase performance and reduce noise levels by an order of magnitude.

The DVD drive installed in the netbook is also another source of noise. Its maximum volume can reach 50.3 dB (A) during normal disc reading. While the netbook was running under load, the volume level was fixed at around 40 dB (A), however, in practice, in everyday office work, the user will hardly be able to bring the E4310 to that level.

I wanted to ask a question to the manufacturer: "The components are more powerful, and the cooling system is old, which remained from its predecessor?" This seems to have been the case, as the surface of the case was consistently heated significantly during our testing. In general, when working without a special load, the case temperature remains quite low, mostly due to the materials from which it is made. The maximum temperature, which was noted on the right side of the case, in the area of ​​the cooler of the cooling system, and it was 37.5 degrees Celsius. Therefore, during normal office work, problems should not be expected.

However, things change during work under load. The working surface of the case is heated to a very noticeable mark of 43.4 degrees Celsius in the area above the cooler of the cooling system. The keyboard keys, however, stay cool enough even in such conditions. The maximum heating of the processor when all components are fully loaded is 89 degrees Celsius (stress test). In practice, this figure is unlikely to be achieved, since in our test such a load is not natural for this netbook.

Loudspeakers

Due to the small size of the cabinet, both stereo speakers of the E4310 model are located on the front panel of the cabinet. The emitted sound lacks bass and low frequencies, so the sound can be described as average. The volume at the maximum level is quite high, and, in general, the quality of the speakers is quite enough for talking on Skype or listening to podcasts. Our netbook is equipped with just one audio jack, which combines a microphone input and a headphone output. In order to find a suitable headset for him, he will have to sweat.

Battery life.

The Intel Core i5-560M processor in our tested model, along with the integrated graphics card, does not stand out as being too gluttonous. The netbook consumes about 9.2 watts during idle operation with power saving turned off.16.7 Watts is the maximum idle power consumption, which is also acceptable for our configuration. Its predecessor, the Dell Latitude E4300, has similar power consumption despite lower performance components.

The E4310 uses 35.1 to 57.9 watts under load. This is quite a lot, although it is completely understandable. However, a 3-cell 30 Wh battery will obviously not be enough to provide optimal battery life.

In addition to the 3-cell battery we have reviewed, Dell also has a 6-cell 56 Wh battery. The Latitude E4310, due to the fact that it is a compact device, especially in comparison with its 15-inch counterparts, battery life is not at all insignificant for it. Dell also provides a dedicated solution in the form of a battery plugged into the dock connector of the model we are reviewing. This battery has a capacity of 48 Wh, so the maximum battery capacity that can be connected to the E4310 at the same time is 104 Wh. The price of such a battery is 179 euros.

Using the Classic Test, BatteryEater programs have established the minimum battery life. With full screen brightness and Wi-Fi active, the 30-watt battery ran out after 58 minutes. When using the Internet using a wireless Wi-Fi module or watching a DVD, the rechargeable battery will last for 80-90 minutes of operation.

In stand-alone mode, the maximum operating time of a 3-cell battery is also not encouraging. In the "Reader's Test" our non-laptop showed a rather low result, which resulted in 2 hours and 43 minutes. The predecessor model Dell Latitude E4300, for comparison, with its capacious 6-cell battery lasted 6 hours and 31 minutes in this test. Based on this, we advise you to immediately purchase a battery with a larger capacity, but you will have to accept the fact that it sticks out in the rear area of ​​the case.

Conclusion

The netbook model Dell Latitude E4310 for business users left a positive impression of itself. High-quality case materials and modern design, as well as high build quality and strict adherence to style and proportions without unnecessary frills made me very happy. The equipment with interfaces is quite small, however, the use of a docking station provides a solution to this problem. There are many safety measures available that match today's business notebooks.

The keyboard is marked as comfortable enough. It is a pleasure to work with, does not bend and can be equipped with a backlight. In general, it is very similar to the keyboard of the Dell Latitude E6410 with a 14.1-inch screen. If we talk about the display, then Dell took a step back. The installed Samsung LCD display is fully comparable to a similar display in the budget inexpensive Dell Vostro 3300. The E4310 display, despite the fact that it allows you to work outdoors in daylight, gives very narrow viewing angles, very limited color gamut, low level we didn’t like the contrast.

Compared to the Dell Latitude E4300 low-voltage counterpart, the 2010 Intel Core i5-560M Intel Arrandale processor used in the E4310 gives a good boost in speed and performance. Nevertheless, we still expect when versions of these netbooks powered by Sandy Bridge processors will be available to us.

A small 3-cell battery with a capacity of 30 Wh is not suitable for feeding a netbook during transport, on trips, outside of a stationary place of work. If you want to use the Dell Latitude E4310 as a portable assistant, then, in our opinion, it would be reasonable to buy a normal 6-cell 56 Wh battery.

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