Toshiba Satellite Pro L770 review
Great value if you’re looking for a large laptop, but not so great for anyone wanting to travel with one
Desktop performance comes from an Intel Core i5-2430M running at 2.4GHz. The dual-core chip can use Turbo Boost to reach 3GHz when it’s within a certain thermal range, temporarily increasing performance when you need it. Paired with its whopping 8GB of RAM, it flew through our multimedia benchmarks with an overall score of 54. This isn’t too far off the pace of last year’s desktop PCs, so you should have no trouble running all your applications here.
Intel’s processors all have integrated graphics, but Toshiba has also added a dedicated Nvidia card for increased gaming potential. The GeForce GT 525m isn’t exactly cutting edge, but it can still perform well. It managed a borderline smooth 30.6fps in our Dirt 3 test, so disabling anti-aliasing should let you play newer titles. Older games won’t be a problem, even at higher resolutions.
Sadly, the combination of Intel processor and dedicated graphics has a negative impact on battery life. The L770 lasted just under four hours in our light-use test, so it won’t last long away from the mains. Then again, anyone buying a 17in laptop probably won’t be using it on the move that much, so this might not be a deal-breaker.
For £670, the Satellite Pro L770 is great value. Its large screen and Blu-ray optical drive make it a compelling desktop replacement. Its desktop performance is also impressive and you can even play games. However, if you want something more portable with better battery life, the HP Pavilion DV6 or the excellent Samsung Series 5 13in Ultrabook are our current choices.
Basic Specifications | |
---|---|
Rating | **** |
Processor | Intel Core i5-2430M |
Processor clock speed | 2.4GHz |
Memory | 8.00GB |
Memory slots | 2 |
Memory slots free | 0 |
Maximum memory | 8GB |
Size | 38x414x270mm |
Weight | 2.7kg |
Sound | Realtek HD Audio |
Pointing device | touchpad |
Display | |
Viewable size | 17.3 in |
Native resolution | 1,600×900 |
Graphics Processor | Nvidia GeForce GT 525M |
Graphics/video ports | HDMI |
Graphics Memory | 1,024MB |
Storage | |
Total storage capacity | 750GB |
Optical drive type | BD-RE + DVD+/-RW +/-DL |
Ports and Expansion | |
USB ports | 3 |
Bluetooth | yes |
Wired network ports | 1x 10/100/1000 |
Wireless networking support | 802.11n |
PC Card slots | none |
Supported memory cards | SDHC, MMC |
Other ports | minijack audio output, minijack microphone input, 1x USB3 |
Miscellaneous | |
Carrying case | No |
Operating system | Windows 7 Professional 64-bit |
Operating system restore option | restore partition |
Software included | Microsoft Office 2010 Starter Edition |
Optional extras | none |
Buying Information | |
Warranty | one year international |
Price | £670 |
Details | www.toshiba.co.uk |
Supplier | http://www.saveonlaptops.co.uk |