Acer Aspire 5: Unbeatable Performance and Easy Upgrades

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. Build Quality and Design
3. CPU Performance
4. Graphics Performance
5. Ease of Upgrades
6. Display Quality
7. Keyboard and Trackpad
8. Battery Life
9. Thermal Heat Management
10. Audio and Webcam
11. Port Selection
12. Conclusion

Introduction

🌟 Acer Aspire 5: Impressive Performance and Upgradeability 🌟

The Acer Aspire 5 is a powerful and versatile laptop priced at $750, offering outstanding performance, a long-lasting battery life, and a user-friendly design that allows for easy upgrades. Having used this laptop for over 100 days, this Techno Panda VIP Review will thoroughly examine the Acer Aspire 5, putting it through 10 rounds of extensive testing. By the end of this review, you'll have a clear understanding of whether this laptop is worthy of your investment. So, let's dive right in!

1. Build Quality and Design

🏢 Solid Build and Sleek Design 🌟

The Acer Aspire 5 retains the same sturdy build quality as its predecessor. Although it is primarily made of polycarbonate, the laptop feels reasonably solid in HAND, thanks to Acer reinforcing the top lid with an aluminum sheet. The chassis is constructed using an aluminum frame, providing ample rigidity while keeping the laptop lightweight. The tapered wedge-shaped design gives the Acer Aspire 5 a modern and sleek appearance. Furthermore, the hinge runs the entire length of the screen, allowing for a 180-degree tilt, making it comfortable to use on your lap or while relaxing on a couch or bed.

2. CPU Performance

💪 Powerful 8-Core AMD Ryzen 7 5700U Processor 🚀

The Acer Aspire 5 is equipped with an impressive 8-core, 16-thread AMD Ryzen 7 5700U processor, currently one of the best CPUs on the market. This processor outperforms Intel's 11th generation Tiger-Lake processors in terms of core count, thread count, and superior TSMC process technology. Synthetic benchmarks, such as the Cinebench R23 Benchmark, reflect the Ryzen's superiority, showcasing a 57.4% performance lead in multi-core workloads. However, it falls slightly behind Intel's processors in single-core performance by approximately 18%. Overall, the AMD configuration of the Acer Aspire 5 delivers exceptional performance at an affordable price, making it a compelling choice for internet surfing, casual gaming, productivity tasks, and demanding applications like video editing and Photoshop.

3. Graphics Performance

🎮 Integrated Radeon RX Vega 8 GPU for Decent Gaming 🎯

The Acer Aspire 5 features an integrated Radeon RX Vega 8 GPU based on the Renoir architecture. This GPU, built on TSMC's 7nm process technology, offers 8 execution units, 512 shaders, and a base clock speed of 1.9 GHz. It fully supports h264, h265, and vp9 codecs, ensuring smooth playback of 4K videos. Despite being an integrated GPU, the Acer Aspire 5 handles GPU-intensive applications like Davinci Resolve video editing software and AutoCAD without any issues, even though these applications typically prefer discrete GPUs. In terms of gaming performance, the Acer Aspire 5 performs well, providing an average frame rate of 45 to 60 fps in games like Fortnite at default settings. For optimal gaming performance, upgrading the RAM is recommended.

4. Ease of Upgrades

🔧 User-Friendly Upgradeability 👍

In a pleasant departure from most modern laptops, the Acer Aspire 5 is refreshingly easy to upgrade. With just a dozen screws and a removable back cover, users can access the motherboard and make upgrades effortlessly. The laptop comes with 8GB of DDR4 RAM, but adding an additional 8GB stick is hassle-free, thanks to the two user-accessible memory DIMM slots. Populating these slots with symmetrical RAM sticks enables a dual-Channel memory configuration, boosting gaming performance by approximately 20%. Acer has also provided compatible RAM and storage options, making the upgrade process more convenient. Additionally, the laptop includes a 512GB PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD, with an available SATA 3 slot for expanding storage.

5. Display Quality

🖥️ Full-HD IPS Display with Good Indoor Performance 🔆

The Acer Aspire 5 Sports a 15.6-inch LED backlit Full-HD IPS display, delivering a brightness of 250 nits. Thanks to the IPS panel, the viewing angles are generous, and the anti-glare matte coating minimizes reflections from ambient lighting. For indoor use, this display provides bright images, vibrant colors, and sharp text. However, the screen may disappoint in bright outdoor conditions due to its limited brightness. While the display may not excel in color accuracy or brightness, it is more than satisfactory considering the laptop's price point. For HDR video editing or advanced Photoshop work, connecting the laptop to a more color-accurate external monitor is recommended.

6. Keyboard and Trackpad

⌨️ Comfortable Typing and Smooth Tracking 💻

The Acer Aspire 5 features a silver-colored chassis housing a full-size keyboard with black keys and white backlighting. While the backlighting can be toggled on and off, the intensity is not adjustable. The keyboard also includes a 10-key numeric keypad, catering to spreadsheet users. The keys offer excellent tactile feedback, ensuring a comfortable typing experience even during extended usage. Moving on to the trackpad, it measures 4.2 by 3 inches and is made of plastic. Although it may not match the quality of Glass trackpads, it offers a smooth surface that allows fingers to glide effortlessly. The trackpad's clicks are firm, and it supports various multi-finger gestures, providing a satisfactory experience overall.

7. Battery Life

🔋 Moderate Battery Performance ⚡

The Acer Aspire 5 boasts a battery life of around 7 to 8 hours, falling short of Acer's claimed 11-hour battery life. The laptop charges using a 45-watt power brick through a barrel port, rather than the more modern USB Type-C charger option. While a USB Type-C charger would have been preferable, the Acer Aspire 5's thermal heat management deserves praise. Despite housing an 8-core, 16-thread processor, the laptop runs relatively cool, thanks to the copper heat sink and pipe employed by Acer. Under a sustained 100% load, the CPU temperature remained around 60 degrees Celsius, and the CPU clock frequency stayed above the base clock frequency, indicating excellent thermal performance. Under normal usage, the fans operate quietly, rarely becoming audible.

8. Audio and Webcam

🔊 Adequate Audio and Standard Webcam 📹

The Acer Aspire 5 features bottom-firing stereo speakers, which provide decent audio for casual YouTube videos but are not exceptional. For better audio quality during gaming or movie nights, a pair of headphones is recommended. The laptop is equipped with a standard 720p webcam mounted at the center of the top bezel, providing an ideal angle for video calls. While the video quality is average, it suffices for typical video conference calls. To enhance video quality, an external 1080p USB webcam is recommended, especially for professional video calls or content creation.

9. Port Selection

🔌 Impressive Variety of Ports 🎛️

The port selection on the Acer Aspire 5 is commendable. On one side of the laptop, you will find 1 USB 3.2 Type-C Gen 1 port, 2 USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A ports, an HDMI port, and an Ethernet port. The other side houses a USB 2.0 port and a headphone jack. Additionally, the laptop features Intel Wireless Wi-Fi 6, supporting dual-band 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands. The HDMI port supports 4K resolution at 60 Hz, and the Radeon RX Vega 8 graphics effortlessly support this resolution when connected to an external 4K monitor. Overall, the Acer Aspire 5 offers a satisfying array of ports to cater to various connectivity needs.

10. Conclusion

💼 An Exceptional Laptop with Ample Upgrade Potential 🌟

In conclusion, the Acer Aspire 5 exceeds expectations for its price, delivering top-notch performance and offering the unique advantage of "right to repair." Its user-friendly upgradeability allows for easy RAM and storage expansions, setting it apart from most competing laptops. The solid build quality, sleek design, and powerful AMD Ryzen processor make the Acer Aspire 5 an attractive choice for a wide range of tasks, from casual internet use to video editing. Although the laptop's battery life falls short of its claims, the impressive thermal heat management keeps the laptop cool even during demanding workloads. The audio quality and standard webcam may require external solutions for optimum performance. However, considering its extensive port selection and reasonable price, the Acer Aspire 5 is a standout option for users seeking both performance and upgrade potential.

Highlights

• Acer Aspire 5 offers impressive performance, long battery life, and easy upgradeability for a $750 price tag.
• The sturdy build quality, reinforced by an aluminum sheet, provides a solid feel.
• The AMD Ryzen 7 5700U processor outperforms Intel's Tiger-Lake processors, delivering exceptional CPU performance.
• The integrated Radeon RX Vega 8 GPU ensures smooth video playback and decent gaming performance.
• Upgrading RAM and storage is hassle-free, thanks to the user-accessible memory DIMM slots and provided storage options.
• The 15.6-inch Full-HD IPS display offers good indoor performance but may struggle in bright outdoor conditions.
• The full-size keyboard with backlighting and the smooth trackpad provide satisfactory input experiences.
• Battery life ranges from 7 to 8 hours, slightly below the promised 11-hour mark.
• The laptop's thermal heat management keeps it cool under load, while the fans remain quiet during normal usage.
• The laptop features adequate audio with bottom-firing stereo speakers and a standard 720p webcam.

FAQ

Q: Can I upgrade the RAM on the Acer Aspire 5? A: Yes, the Acer Aspire 5 allows for easy RAM upgrades through its user-accessible memory DIMM slots. Adding another 8GB stick of RAM is recommended for dual-channel memory performance.

Q: Is the Acer Aspire 5 suitable for gaming? A: The Acer Aspire 5 performs well in casual gaming scenarios, providing an average frame rate of 45 to 60 fps in games like Fortnite. Upgrading the RAM can further enhance gaming performance.

Q: What is the battery life of the Acer Aspire 5? A: The Acer Aspire 5 offers a battery life of approximately 7 to 8 hours, falling slightly short of Acer's claimed 11-hour battery life.

Q: Does the Acer Aspire 5 support external monitors? A: Yes, the Acer Aspire 5 supports external monitors through its HDMI port, which can handle 4K resolution at 60 Hz.

Q: Can I connect a wired internet connection to the Acer Aspire 5? A: Yes, the Acer Aspire 5 features an Ethernet port, allowing for a wired internet connection.

Resources:

• Compatible RAM sticks: [Link]
• Compatible SATA3 and Nvme SSDs: [Link]
• Recommended 1080p USB webcams: [Link]
• Purchase links based on region: [Link]