HP ProBook 4520s With Intel Core i5 430M Processor and 15.6-inch LED The Review


HP ProBook 4520s With Intel Core i5 430M Processor and 15.6-inch LED The Review The HP ProBook 4520s is a small and medium business notebook that replaces the older 4510s from last year. The new model bumps the configuration from the older Intel Core 2 Duo family of processors to the newer Intel Core line, including the Core i3, i5 and i7 processors. 


The Specifications:
  • Intel Core i5 430M Processor (2.26GHz, 3MB cache)
  • Microsoft Windows 7 Professional (32-bit)
  • 15.6-inch LED-backlit anti-glare HD display (1366 x 768)
  • Intel GMA HD Integrated Graphics
  • 4GB DDR2 800MHz RAM
  • 320GB 7200RPM HDD
  • LightScribe DVD+/-RW Optical Drive
  • Atheros AR9285 BGN Wifi, Bluetooth 2.1, 1Gb LAN
  • 6-Cell 47WHr Battery
  • Limited 1-year standard parts and labor warranty
  • Dimensions: 14.64 x 9.83 x 1.09-inches
  • Weight: Starting at 5.27lbs
  • Price as configured: $749

 Build and Design
The HP ProBook 4520s has a clean and semi-rugged outside appearance; a step up from the previous generation model. Besides those changes the notebook retains much of the same design as the previous model. The keyboard is a chiclet design with a glossy black plastic inlay, continuing to the screen bezel which shares the same look. The bottom of the notebook has the same clean design at the expense of removing access to all user-upgradable parts.
Build quality is very good and a step up from the older model. The brushed metal lid gives the 4520s some much needed strength and screen protection that the plastic lid on the previous model lacked. The palmrest and speaker grill also gained some rigidity and now offer very little flex under strong pressure. The keyboard tray has some minor flex under pressure which wouldn't be a problem on the more expensive models.
The solid bottom cover has very little flex, which you might find if the bottom was covered in individual panels. 

Screen and Speakers
The ProBook 4520s comes equipped with a 15.6" anti-glare display with a 16:9 widescreen ratio. 

The speakers on the HP ProBook 4520s performed roughly on average with other small and medium business notebooks. Peak volume levels were fine for a small or medium size room.
Each key is relatively flat with a nice matte texture and the keys sit above a glossy black support frame. The support frame surrounding the keys is quite firm thanks to the design of the chassis which adds additional support for the keyboard. The individual key presses are quiet without loud clicking sounds as you type. The depth of each key press is excellent, though some people may dislike the flat, chicklet-style keys. Overall the keyboard layout is extremely nice for a 15-inch laptop.

HP updated the touchpad on the 4520s from the older 4510s, with the notebook now including a button-free Synaptics ClickPad. The primary difference is a larger surface to use for making gestures and a cleaner appearance without additional buttons. If you are a notebook user who likes to rest their fingers on the touchpad buttons while you move your cursor around the screen you will be in for a world of surprise. Even in the defined touchpad button zones the touchpad picks up your stationary finger input and tries to incorporate it into a multitouch gesture. Making the touchpad button areas a "dead zone" would completely resolve this problem.

Overall the touchpad was very sensitive and easy to use (not including the aforementioned problems). Multitouch gestures were quickly recognized and worked smoothly. If the touchpad didn't have the problems associated with the left and right buttons with fingers resting on the surface, it would have been one of the nicer models we have used on a notebook.

Ports and Features
Port selection on the HP ProBook 4520s is good for a small-business notebook but it seems there is room leftover that could have been used for additional ports. The notebook has three USB 2.0 ports, one eSATA/USB combo port, VGA and HDMI-out, LAN, dialup modem, and audio jacks. The system also features an ExpressCard/34 slot and SDHC-card reader for expansion.

Performance and Benchmarks
System performance on the HP ProBook 4520s is very good with the newer 2010 Intel Core processor lineup. HP offers preconfigured models with the Intel Core i3 350M processor as well as the Intel Core i5 430M, which is included in our review unit. The newer Intel GMA HD graphics increased 3D performance and the newer processor is much faster than the old Core 2 Duo seen in the past model.

Heat and Noise
The HP ProBook performed exceptionally well in our thermal tests, keeping case temperatures well within our comfortable range. Under a full load the system barely broke a sweat with a peak recorded body temperature of 81 degrees Fahrenheit on the top and 89 degrees Fahrenheit on the bottom. During this time system noise levels were very reasonable and a hair above ambient levels.

Battery Life
The HP ProBook 4520s comes with a 47Wh 6-cell battery standard, but for the same price the older 4510s configuration gave you a 63Wh 8-cell battery. 

Conclusion
The HP ProBook 4520s offers many improvements from the previous Core 2 Duo-based 4510s. The metal exterior cladding improves looks over the older plastic finish and gives the body a stronger feel. Inside, the brushed metal surface is used above and below the keyboard. Looks are improved but in use we found the all-in-one touchpad surface to cause problems with resting fingers on the touchpad surface over the buttons.

The Intel Core i5 processor in the 4520s performed very well in our tests, offering improvements of more than 30% over the previous model.

Plus:
  • Great keyboard
  • Very good performance
  • Good looks and build quality
Minus:
  • Frustrating touchpad
  • Smaller battery than previous model
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