Dell Studio 1557 Review

Dell Studio 1557 15.6-Inch Laptop powered by the 1.6GHz quad-core Intel Core i7-720QM processor, which provides a speed boost to 2.8GHz in Turbo Mode. Providing Quad Core experience in the notebooks and that too at a price less than a thousand pound, it is the Dell Studio 1557.

When compared to the previous Core 2 Duo generation of processors, the Intel Core i7 Quad Core series performance has increased up to 137 percent. Tackle virtually any graphics requirement with the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5470 graphics card featuring 512MB of dedicated VRAM. The Studio 1557 features 15.6-inch LED-backlit TrueLife widescreen display with 1366 x 768-pixel resolution. The TrueLife high-gloss/anti-reflective technology features a sharp contrast finish that’s well suited to immersive 3D games and watching videos. Other features include ultra-fast DDR3 RAM, an 8-in-1 memory card reader, Express Card 34 slot, and pre-loaded Microsoft Works (with 60-day trial of Microsoft Office Home and Student 2007). Windows 7 is designed for faster and more reliable performance, so your PC just works the way you want it to.

ATI powered

Graphics performance is equally impressive. The dedicated ATI graphics card is designed to smoothly process high definition (HD) video and also provides power for basic gaming. An HDMI port is in place for connecting to an HDTV.

Predictably, this power impacts on mobility. While previous Core 2 Duo models ran for as long as 293 minutes, this latest machine runs for just 186-minutes. Bear this in mind, as a Core 2 Duo machine provides ample power for most users and Core i7 will be overkill for many buyers.

The impressive build quality of the previous model remains and you can customize the chassis with various colors and designs. The glossy lid of the basic model is a magnet for fingerprints,.

The keyboard is equally well made and extremely comfortable to use. All the keys are large and feature a smooth, tactile finish and respond accurately and quietly, even when typing at speed. The entire board is also backlit, making it easy to keep working in low light conditions.

Performance

Describing the i7-720QM as entry-level, though, is akin to calling Lewis Hamilton a trumped up go-kart racer. Its four processing cores may all operate at a modest-sounding 1.6GHz, but it’s capable of ramping up its clock speed as far as 2.8GHz when the occasion demands it.

And it’s entirely thanks to the presence of Intel’s Core i7 that, despite weighing a reasonable 2.65kg, the Studio 15 finds itself transformed into a true performance heavyweight. That 4GB of memory is now of the faster DDR3 variety, and allied with a fast 7,200rpm hard disk the Studio demolished our benchmarks with a staggeringly quick overall score of 1.59.

And while the relatively compact chassis precludes the inclusion of a really powerful graphics chipset, the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4570 finds a supremely able partner in the Core i7. Our least-demanding Crysis test cruised to a result of 56fps, and while upping the ante to medium detail saw it struggle to an average of 15fps, it’s worth restating that Crysis is as demanding as games get. For a mid-range laptop, the Studio is preternaturally able.