Not everyone wants a mainstream notebook with the same big-name branding. Today, we look at custom notebook seller AVADirect's new W765CUH, a 15.6-inch multimedia notebook sporting a Core i5 processor and ATI graphics card.
Our test notebook of the AVADirect Clevo W765CUH has the following specifications:
- 15.6-inch 720p (1366 x 768) display with LED backlighting
- Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit
- Intel Core i5-540M processor (2.53GHz, 3MB L3 cache)
- ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4570 512MB DDR2 graphics card
- 4GB DDR3-1333 Kingston RAM
- 500GB 7200RPM hard drive (Seagate Momentus 7200.4/ST9500420AS)
- Realtek RTL8191SE 802.11n Wireless LAN adapter
- Built-in Bluetooth 2.1+EDR
- 8X DVD Super Multi drive
- One year limited warranty
- Weight: 5.82 pounds
- Dimensions: 14.75” (W) x 10.13” (D) x 1.5” (H)
- MSRP: $1,147
AVADirect allows full customization of the Clevo W765CUH. It is available with the quad-core Intel Core i7 processor, up to 8GB of RAM, and a variety of SSDs. Our test notebook has a more mainstream configuration although still a good performer in its own right.
Build and Design
The W765 has a generic look with no outstanding features. The notebook was clearly designed without aesthetics in mind. The W765 masks its somewhat chunky 1.5-inch high chassis with inward-cut sides, making it appear slimmer.
The W765 is constructed entirely of plastic and build quality is acceptable. The plastic exhibits little flex, however, feels somewhat second-rate and makes a cheap rattling sound when tapped. We like that the chassis is nearly devoid of glossy plastic; matte plastic is more durable and easier to clean. Only a thin screen surround is glossy plastic. The matte plastic on the visible surfaces of the notebook has a metallic sparkle to it, which shows up under light.
While the notebook feels cheap, it is actually quite strong. The chassis is just as stiff as other notebooks in its price range; it does not twist willingly, indicating a strong internal frame. The display is stronger than expected and resists twisting very well. Additionally, pushing in on the back of the display does not yield ripples on the screen. Two strong hinges anchor the display to the chassis. One minor annoyance with the notebook is that the screen does not tilt back far, only about 15-20 degrees past vertical. While using this notebook in my lap, I wished it tilted back another 20 degrees. Overall, while the notebook feels and looks generic and cheap, it has above average construction and a strong internal frame.
Screen and Speakers
AVADirect offers the W765 with two different screen resolutions: HD (1366 x 768) and HD+ (1600 x 900) and our review unit has the former. The display is LED backlit and has a glossy surface. The display’s quality is top-notch, with excellent brightness and ample contrast. Horizontal viewing angles are good, exhibiting little distortion. Vertical viewing angles are narrow; colors quickly shift if the display is viewed more than 15 degrees off center either up or down.
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The 1366 x 768 resolution is low for a 15.6-inch screen. We would have preferred 1600 x 900 (which is available on this notebook), which is more productive to work on since it has more screen space. A higher resolution means less scrolling and easier multitasking.
The W765’s two speakers are located in the bottom of the display, not a place where speakers are typically found. Sound quality is poor, even for a notebook; it's very tinny and has no tangible bass.
Keyboard and Touchpad
The W765 has a full-size keyboard with separate numeric keypad. It has a “Chiclet” or island-style keyboard, where the keys are raised above the keyboard's surface and have more spacing. The keyboard has a hollow and unsettled feel even though it exhibits little flex, echoing the feel of the chassis. The key action is unsophisticated, yet direct, so typing accuracy is a nonissue. The key spacing and throw is spot-on. We like the matte key surfaces, which should wear well over time.
The downside of the keyboard is a lack of dedicated home, end, page up, and page down keys, which are integrated as secondary functions in the arrow keys. If number lock is disabled they can exist as dedicated keys, but then the functionality of the number pad is lost. Speaking of the number pad, it has an odd three-column layout (as opposed to the standard four-column), however all standard keys are present.
The touchpad is a mixed bag. While it is responsive, this is the first touchpad I tested where I felt the surface was too textured. It feels overly rough to the touch and is not something I would care to use for extended periods. On the positive side, we like the touchpad buttons, which are quiet and give responsive feedback.
Ports and Features
The W765 has a wide array of input and output ports, including HDMI and eSATA. All picture descriptions are left to right.
Left Side: Power, VGA out, Gigabit Ethernet, eSATA, HDMI, 2x USB 2.0, ExpressCard/54 (top), 7-in-1 media card reader (bottom)
Right Side: S/PDIF, headphone, microphone, USB 2.0, optical drive, 56k modem, Kensington Lock slot
Front: Status lights
Back: Display hinge
Performance and Benchmarks Wprime processor comparison results (lower scores mean better performance): PCMark05 measures overall system performance (higher scores mean better performance): 3DMark06 measures overall graphics performance for gaming (higher scores mean better performance): Left 4 Dead 2 benchmark (1024x768, Medium-Low Settings): HDTune storage drive performance test: The W765 as equipped puts up some respectable numbers in our tests, however, is not much of a gaming machine. The Mobility Radeon HD 4570 graphics card is equipped with slow DDR2 memory and struggles to run the latest games; in Left 4 Dead 2, we had to lower the settings significantly for a playable experience. Heat and Noise The cooling system fortunately did an excellent job of keeping internal components cool; the GPU never reached 70 degrees C and the processor topped out in the mid-60 degree C range. These are low temperatures, especially compared to some modern notebooks. Battery Life Conclusion Pros: Cons:
Our W765 houses some mid- to high-end components including the fastest Core i5 dual-core processor available, 4GB of RAM, a speedy 500GB 7200RPM hard drive, and a basic ATI Radeon HD 4570 dedicated graphics card.
The W765 is cooled by a single fan that vents hot air from the left side of the chassis. We found the fan remains on most of the time and is noticeable; it sounds like a constant rush of air and adds to the ambient noise level. Although we wish the fan was quieter, at the very least, the fan noise is consistent and does not escalate under load.
The W765 has a six-cell lithium-ion battery (10.8V, 4400mAh, 47.52Wh). While surfing the Web with minimum screen brightness, we observed a runtime of three hours and 17 minutes. This is a respectable for a notebook with a six-cell battery and dedicated video card.
The AVADirect W765CUH is an unremarkable 15.6-inch multimedia notebook. It has generic look and feels rather cheap and hollow due to an all-plastic construction. Although the outer plastic construction does not reflect its quality; the W765 is actually a well put-together machine. It has little to make it stand out from a crowd other than the fact there's isn't a Dell or Acer label on the lid. We liked the W765CUH’s screen and wide port selection, but would have preferred a quieter cooling system and a less-textured touchpad. The W765CUH’s performance is notable and the low-end graphics card makes it less than ideal for gamers. Overall, the notebook performed satisfactorily in our tests, but has nothing beyond what we expected, and we won't recommend or condemn it against competing brands.
Individual Ratings: *
Software & Support
Upgrade Capabilities
Usability
Design
Performance
Features
Price/Value Rating
* Ratings averaged to produce final score
from
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