PCMark 7 Results: Comparing Other Tablet PCs
Specifications (Architecture) | Lenovo ThinkPad X230T(Ivy Bridge) | Asus Eee Slate(Arrandale) | Samsung Series 711.6" Slate(Sandy Bridge) |
---|---|---|---|
PCMark Overall | 2773 PCMarks | 1508 PCMarks | 2566 PCMarks |
Lightweight Score | 1318 PCMarks | 1287 PCMarks | 1994 PCMarks |
Productivity Score | 941 PCMarks | 1100 PCMarks | 1409 PCMarks |
Video Playback and Transcoding | 23.05 FPS | 18.58 FPS | 23.14 FPS |
Video Playback and Transcoding: Downscaling | 43.79059 MB/s | 1.23366 MB/s | 6.64269 MB/s |
System Storage: Gaming | 3.71 MB/s | 10.62 MB/s | 13.44 MB/s |
Graphics: DX 9 | 14.99 FPS | 3.44 FPS | 5.67 FPS |
Image Manipulation | 9.56 Mpx/s | 4.87 Mpx/s | 4.51 Mpx/s |
System Storage: Importing Pictures | 5.38 MB/s | 4.69 MB/s | 22.52 MB/s |
Web Browsing and Decrypting / Web Browsing | 9.62 pages/s | 5.44 pages/s | 5.58 pages/s |
Web Browsing and Decrypting / Data Decrypting | 86.10 MB/s | 28.77 MB/s | 30.89 MB/s |
System Storage: Windows Defender | 1.27 MB/s | 4.20 MB/s | 5.03 MB/s |
Web Browsing With 3 Tabs | 11.38 pages/s | 6.13 pages/s | 6.43 pages/s |
System Storage: Adding Music | 1.18 MB/s | 1.22 MB/s | 1.38 MB/s |
System Storage: Starting Applications | 2.06 MB/s | 12.16 MB/s | 30.98 MB/s |
Text Editing | 0.95 operations/s | 0.56 operations/s | 0.57 operations/s |
Lenovo's X230T is the performance leader among the tablet PCs we've reviewed. It employs a much faster processor with a 35 W TDP, compared to the 17 W part in Samsung's Series 7 11.6" Slate. In truth, the CPU is only one factor in the PCMark 7 results, though. In our review of the Samsung system, it was able to outperform a faster Sandy Bridge-based notebook, also with a 35 W CPU, specifically because the Series 7 included an SSD.
And thus, storage becomes the real story here. Intel's Ivy Bridge architecture certainly delivers a performance benefit, evidenced by CPU-bound subtests like "Web Browsing with 3 Tabs" and "Text Editing." However, the X230T suffers due to its conventional 7200 RPM hard drive, falling behind in the storage-based tests. Even Asus' Eee Slate, equipped with a low-quality SanDisk P4 SSD, outdoes the X230T.
SSD prices are now falling well below $1/GB, providing ample incentive to upgrade any prospective system purchase. Unfortunately, ordering an SSD-equipped Lenovo X230T is quite costly. You'd be better off performing the upgrade yourself and cloning the tablet PC's disk using a utility like Acronis True Image. At the very least, it wouldn't be difficult to propel the X230T's storage performance to match faster storage subsystems.