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MSI CR610 C61M32-HDSB Review

MSI CR610 C61M32-HDSB
  • AMD Athlon II M320 (2.1 GHz)

  • ATI Radeon HD 4200

  • 2 GB RAM Size

  • 320 GB HDD Capacity

2

Our summary of all reviews

  • Performance

    10 /100

    This low level of performance allows some multitasking. Word processing and similar applications work at an acceptable speed, as well as online games like “FarmVille”. At this level, gaming or HD videos are impossible, office work is suitable though.

    • 3DMark 06 1024 x 768

      1750 #

    • Cinebench xCPU 64Bit

      3452 #

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  • Design

    3.0/5

    The reviewers’ opinions tended predominantly towards moderate satisfaction concerning the laptop design. The notebook’s appearance was decently received and should prove to be at the taste of many users.

  • Build Quality

    3.5/5

    The build quality is above average providing for the necessary protection of the computer’s internal parts. The build quality should be acceptable for users moving the laptop around on a frequent basis, even after a couple of years. The external parts might however wear out after medium-term usage , resulting in cracks or squeaking sounds.

    • Base Unit Flex

       : 

      3.5/5

      The laptop chassis is quite resistant, however few imperfections with gaps and cracking sounds might annoy the user. The surface will suffer from some scratches if the computer is not protected during transportation.

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  • Display

    4.0/5

    The monitor provides good potential for professional designers and photographers. Gaming and multimedia users will be satisfied with this display. Looking at the screen both indoors and outdoors is a generally enjoyable experience. Therefore, even demanding business users will be satisfied with this great display.

    • Display Resolution

      1366 x 768

      This resolution is also called HD-ready. Viewing more than one website on the monitor is almost impossible, as one window takes up almost the whole space. Graphic designers might not be completely satisfied with this resolution, as this latter might be too small. High resolution picture and video editing is plainly impossible. This resolution is a good option for gamers as many graphic cards will be powerful enough to support the native resolution of this display. Watching most movies will be possible without any black bars at the top and bottom of the display.

    • Color Reproduction

       : 

      4.0/5

      The wide color spectrum covered with this computer provides an enjoyable experience of vibrant colors. This laptop allows professional designers to carry out their tasks smoothly and comfortably. It is as well more than adequate for gaming and watching HD movies.

    • Contrast

       : 

      4.0/5

      This computer features a good contrast between black and white. Dark letters are very easy to distinguish from the bright background, fulfilling the needs of office workers. Mobile users will be content, as this contrast improves outdoor readability. Shadows are well displayed bringing this screen to the liking of any Horror, Mystery or Action movie fan. This notebook will also conform to the needs of professional designers and gamers alike. Small displays will particularly benefit from this contrast.

    • Brightness

       : 

      4.0/5

      Setting the computer to its maximum brightness will allow you to see the screen even when a strong light is shining on it. Outdoor usability is enhanced with this level of display brightness. Under most indoor light settings however, the screen would be too bright and should be dimmed for comfortable use. Making the display darker has the additional benefit of greatly increasing the battery life. The laptop brightness is evenly distributed over the whole screen, meaning the brightness is not concentrated on one spot of the monitor.

    • Reflections

       : 

      1.0/5

      The reflections on this screen cause its usability to be close to minimal. Users will only be able to comfortably view the display in either dark environment or with the least possible amount of lighting. Outdoor use will prove to be absurd; patience and continuous focus will be required for any actual and efficient use of this laptop under medium lighting conditions.

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  • Keyboard

    2.5/5

    This keyboard will be just enough for causal use, as it will be quite hard to make it fulfil the comfort and endurance required for long typing hours. It will for example be perfect for your 15-minute morning news session, or for checking and answering short emails. It will be very challenging to use this keyboard for extensive gaming or for any tasks requiring considerable typing speed.

    • Layout

       : 

      2.0/5

      Many users will have a hard time readjusting to the layout of this keyboard. Some of the keys might be placed, shaped or sized differently compared to a conventional keyboard layout, leading to frequent typing mistakes and a decrease in typing speed. Overall users will not be satisfied with this layout, although with persistence it can still be manageable.

    • Key Responsiveness

       : 

      3.0/5

      The responsiveness of this keyboard allows for most users to be satisfied with individual key feedback. The keys do require some pressure for efficient typing, without being either too soft or too stiff for manipulation. Most users will find this keyboard supportive for long typing hours as the keys can be pressed down without any difficulty and they respond back quite fast. Although this keyboard might not be responsive enough for some, the general feel of the keyboard should be within the ranges of satisfaction for most of us.

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  • Battery Surfing

    3:06 h

    This battery life should be enough for users planning to spend just a bit over a couple of hours away from a power source. If you want, for example, to check your emails in the garden, or during a short train ride, you should make sure that your display is set on low brightness. You should as well turn on your energy saving mode, and avoid running any other parallel programs other than the one you are using. With all these precautions, this battery might still not be enough for you, in this case you should have a second battery to secure longer working hours away from a power socket.

    • Battery DVD/Video

      2:31 h

      This battery will only provide for 2 to 3 hours of work with energy demanding applications. You will probably be able to watch one movie or stream a couple of videos. Gaming will consume much more energy compared to watching videos, thus the battery will not last as long. For mobile use, an external battery is a good idea as it will double the time you are independent from power sockets.

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  • Weight

    5.60 lbs

    Some users will be exhausted carrying the computer with them, even for a few minutes. Although the weight is within the range of acceptability, it might yet be challenging to find a fitting bag for comfortable mobility. If you take into account the extra weight of the charger, this notebook will be tiring to walk around with even for a short period of time. It might as well occupy too much space for convenient use in cafes or airplanes.

  • Noise

    4.0/5

    This laptop stays pleasantly silent most of the time. It is well fitted for use in public places when one does not want to annoy others. Most users will hardly ever notice any noise coming from the laptop fan, hard-drive, or any other parts.

  • Temperature

    3.0/5

    The laptop may occasionally get too warm. Most reviewers found, at normal room temperature, you can comfortably use the laptop without burning your fingers or legs. The notebook may only become too warm when you stress it, watching a movie or alike.

A

All external reviews  MSI  CR610 C61M32-HDSB

Language Source URL Review Date Author

English

www.techradar.com 3/1/10 Alex Bentley

English

www.hexus.net 10/29/09 Tarinder Sandhu
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Total number of reviews: 2