MSI X-Slim X370

MSI's latest version of the X-Slim X370 is more affordable than an ultrabook, has a 13.3-inch screen and, rather than an Intel processor, uses an AMD Fusion E-450 APU. Will the MSI X370 help AMD to return to form in the mobile laptop segment or is Intel destined to rule the roost with its ultrabooks for some time to come?

Hardware, design & build: what happened to USB 3.0?

In spite of all the plastic, MSI has come up with a nice-looking chassis. The coating on the hood may well be glossy, but the fact that it’s white means that you don’t notice finger marks as much as you would with black. Only the palm rest needs revisiting in terms of finish: it tends to sink in when you press down on it.

On the visuals available on the Internet this laptop looks flat but its 8-cell battery (sold as standard on the model tested) sticks out quite a bit and makes it quite a bit thicker.



The keyboard is in the chiclet style. The keys are well-proportioned, well-positioned and make for supple, instinctive keying that minimises errors and gives the user a comfortable typing experience. The only exception is the Enter key that’s quite small and therefore sometimes causes keying errors. You do however get used to it.
    
The touchpad glide is light and it's easy to move the cursor around rapidly. The click buttons are responsive, neither too stiff, nor too supple. The touchpad also includes multitouch. While you can scroll up and down and zoom/de-zoom with two fingers, horizontal scrolling – less commonly used – isn’t supported.

The webcam delivers a decent image and is perfectly okay for occasional video conferencing. For anything more, you’ll have to go for a better quality external model. Reproduction of movements leaves something to be desired, as does that of the darker areas of the image.

The connectivity is in line with everyday needs but there are a few gaps, the main one being that both USB ports are limited to USB 2.0. The lack of any high speed connector (USB 3.0, eSATA and so on) is likely to make itself felt when transferring large chunks of data. Apart from this, there’s a headphones socket, a mic socket, an RJ45 (Ethernet) connector, an SD card reader and the VGA and HDMI outs.

Like HP on the DM3-2160sf, MSI has opted for an external DVD reader that is linked up via USB. This is a bit better than what you get on some other models but you really notice the lack of a third USB port when it’s linked up.

When it comes to noise levels however, the X370 is very discreet, even when you push the components hard. It'll therefore go unnoticed at the office or in a room where noise levels are low. There are no major issues with heat either, though we’ve seen machines equipped with large graphics cards (e.g. the Samsung NP700G7A) do just as well if not better.
 

Processor power: the capacity of a good netbook

According to our tests, the AMD E-450 APU is hardly any more powerful than the E-350 (see test for the Acer Aspire 5253). The overall difference between the two is only 2% on average. If you compare these results with the processor used in ultrabooks – Core i5-2467M (low consumption) – the E-450 will take three times as long to complete the same tasks.

This, then, is not a model designed for regular handling of demanding applications. Unless you have a lot of time on your hands, it’ll be best to confine yourself to office documents, Internet browsing and checking your emails.

Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit takes 59 seconds to boot. You’ll need to wait another 10 to 25 seconds for the various background applications to start running (antivirus off). It turns off in 25 seconds.

Gaming: reduced capacity

The X370 can handle playback of 1080p videos (Blu-ray equivalent) perfectly okay. Indeed, this is the main usage for the AMD HD 6320M graphics part. In video gaming however it very quickly gets out of its depth. Virtually any title will require you to reduce graphics settings and resolution for it to be playable. This won’t however always be enough with more demanding games.   

Audio: very average

This computer doesn’t shine for its audio. The ins/outs and volume are okay but there’s a hiss, especially on the mic socket. Audio performance will be okay for occasional chatting but will quickly become annoying.

The speakers give relatively powerful output, enough to be audible in any case. Unfortunately, the sound is deformed. At full volume, the speakers saturate and the chassis starts to vibrate.

Battery life: 4 hrs 05 mins

4h05 battery life is reasonable for this type of machine. With its large 8-cell battery however, we had hoped for more. The X370 weighs 1.7 Kg (with battery) and is light enough to carry around in a bag or rucksack. You will find lighter and more powerful — as well as more costly — models however, such as the Asus U36SD (5h15 battery life and 1.66 kg).