Sunday, July 22, 2012

Lenovo IdeaCentre B520 Review

Lenovo Idea Centre B520 ($ 1,799 list) is one of the few truly 3D-capable all-in-one desktop PCs out of the market. However, for this price you get quad-core processor, plenty of hard disk space, and the ability to watch almost any video that exists today. You can watch Internet TV, Blu-ray (2D and 3D), a DVD, you can download videos over the air HDTV, HD DVR programming, and even video from old VCR (assuming that the deck still works). For those obsessed with the video-nuts out there that is Star Wars in all its forms, we can have a PC of your dreams. All the others, is more limited choices that work better than run-of-the mill PC touch screen.

Design

The B520 is an evolution of design is seen in systems like the Lenovo IdeaCentre B305 ($ 949 list, 3.5 stars) and B500 ($ 1,399 direct, 4 stars). The B520 from the look and feel of previous systems, including bar speakers prominent in the screen that blocks the sub-frame storage for keyboard and wireless mouse. A notable feature is the new transparent glass facade of the touch screen system. Previous touch screens require a gap between the surface of the screen and the outer casing to house the system's infrared light-based sensors. Essentially, the beam of infrared sensor system with a grid across the screen and when your finger crosses the creek, it registers a touch. The display uses transparent B520 projective capacitive technology, which is more like touch technology on most smartphones and tablets. The result is that the touch screen is more responsive and accurate.

Lenovo IdeaCentre B520
Lenovo IdeaCentre B520
B520 is a set of external ports in expansion, including six USB 2.0 ports, HDMI, HDMI output, composite video, audio, and the usual audio and Ethernet ports. The system does not have ports as newer USB 3.0 and eSATA, but two HDMI ports and composite AV port, means that this desktop will take on its internal technology. HDMI offers a way to extend the life of a track by providing a separate DVR, game console or the PC of the future. When the huge entrails B520 is updated, the display can not live as an external monitor to another on your laptop or desktop. Composite AV port looks to the past, allowing you to connect a VCR to see the relic of those old school garage recorded VHS. Behind the system is easy to open without tools, in order to obtain the hard drive and memory slots.

You have to replace if you want more space, but with 8 GB of memory and disk 2 TB 7200 rpm in this configuration, you probably will not update for a long time.

Lenovo IdeaCentre B520
Lenovo IdeaCentre B520

The system has a wealth of features to enjoy HD: HDTV tuner, Blu-ray, 1080p (1920 by 1080 resolution) screen, IR remote, the mouse motion control, and a 3D view of fashion. The B520 also has a webcam that acts as a motion control device (think Xbox Kinect), then the mouse motion control and a webcam, the system can function as a Nintendo Wii / Xbox 360 Kinect hybrids. Shame that there are many games that use these technologies outside of the demo games preloaded. The 3D display with NVIDIA GeForce 3D Vision technology, and the system comes with a pair of active shutter glasses from Nvidia. The effect was quite good, watch Blu-ray movies like Avatar and Monsters vs Aliens to give you a great experience at the movies. The integrated 5.1 B520 (simulated) speakers give a certain depth of sound, but not as a true surround speaker setup. The surround effect also works via a headset, which can be a better choice for lovers of film office.

The B520 comes with a large number of new software, including the services of Lenovo. Outside the trial version of 60 days short of McAffee VirusScan Plus, most of the other bundled applications can not be classified as bloatware / trial version. The system comes with some games webcam (you can control the game with a Kinect the body) and the mouse motion control (you can pick the mouse up and use it as a Wii Remote). Lenovo includes the software for the DVD (Power2Go), film plauback (WinDVD), webcam (YouCam), and comes with Lenovo Rescue and Recovery Utility. Lenovo has included a program launcher rudimentary touch-optimized which takes over the screen, but it is far from the polished HP TouchSmart interface. A moment of brilliance is the full version of Angry Birds that are included. What better way to get used to a touch screen with colorful birds that destroy the little Piggies green?

Performance

Thanks to quad-core Intel Core i7 2600 CPU and 8 GB of DDR3 RAM, B520 is one of the fastest high-end all-in-one desktop PC we've done. And 'dominated by video and photos of the benchmark tests, with a first class, 1:13 Handbrake video test of time, and 3:02 is a test of Photoshop CS5. To put that in perspective, which is faster than the HP TouchSmart 1065qd 610 ($ 1,789.99 list, 5 stars) (1:28 Handbrake, 3:38 CS5), the HP TouchSmart 610-1150y (1:29 brake Hand, 3:56 CS5), and the Apple iMac 27-inch (Thunderbolt) (1999 $ list, 4 stars) (1:18 Handbrake, 3:17 CS5). IMac is still a 3D game better, but because the Mac AMD Radeon HD 6970 graphics to produce quality games is very high and medium of our Crysis benchmark tests. B520 is only able to produce a playable frame rate in the average level of quality. Then again, the B520 has more to enjoy 3D video and 3D games.
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