The first Core M laptop paints a depressing, mediocre picture for Intels Broadwell
To say theres a great deal riding on the launch of Intels Core M is something of an understatement. The chip and Intels 14nm hardware is nearly a year late. The delays have raised investor questions about Intels ability to maintain or leverage a technological advantage over its rivals,
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While many reviewers praise its diminutive size, low weight, and display quality, complaints about battery life, heavy throttling, and poor performance are common.
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Curiously, reviewers are completely split on whether or not the system even has a fan. Some reputable outlets make specific note that the computer lacks one, while others complain about the sound level. What everyone agrees on is that the system throttles constantly, possibly in part because Lenovo chose to set a 3.5W target for the chip rather than the 4.5W TDP that Intel specifies
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Lenovos claim of up to nine hours on battery life is farcical. WindowsCentral.com claims 5-6 hours, at the very most. PC Pro hit eight hours, but only by turning screen brightness to its lowest levels; turn brightness up and battery life plummets. UltraBookReview reports that under various workloads battery life ranges from 6 hours to 4 hours 40 minutes depending on workload.