When buying a laptop, each one relies on its own priorities: performance, design, screen size, build quality, lack of problems in operation and, of course, price. Each class of devices, whether it’s a business series or a budget option, has both pros and cons.
The hero of today's review is the ASUS K52D laptop, the technical characteristics of which we will examine in detail in the article. A device from a series of multimedia and low-cost laptops. Let's try to identify all its advantages along with disadvantages, based on the feedback of ordinary users and taking into account the opinions of experts. The average price of a device in Russia is about 25,000 rubles.
ASUS K52D Notebook: Specifications
Models in the K52 line have many modifications with a variety of fillings. They use modern processors of eminent brands AMD or Intel: from low-power single-core to high-frequency four-core models.
The modification considered and tested in the review is equipped with a dual-core processor from AMD - Turion II X2 P520, built on the Champlain core. The board has a built-in DDR3 controller with two megabytes of second-level cache memory with support for all modern instruction sets. The maximum clock frequency of the model in question is 2300 MHz with 128 kilobytes of cache in the first level.
ASUS K52D is equipped with four gigabytes of RAM from the company A-Data - two gigabytes each bar. RAM operates in dual channel mode at a maximum frequency of 1066 MHz.
The graphic stuffing is made in the face of a discrete video adapter from ATI Radeon model HD 5470. This option belongs to the budget series of graphics accelerators, so there is no point in counting on good FPS in modern games. The card has 1024 MB of GDDR3 memory on board without support for ATI HyperMemory technology.
But even despite some weaknesses in the graphics core, it is many times greater than the built-in counterparts. In addition, during heavy loads, the card does not affect the maximum revolutions of the cooling fan and the temperature of the device as a whole, which is an important detail when using external video cards.
Contents of delivery
ASUS K52D comes in standard corporate and easily recognizable packaging with stickers on the production date, serial number and specific marks. Inside is an instruction manual, warranty card, a driver disk, a power supply and the device itself.
The dimensions of the laptop are 390x260x36 mm with a weight of 2690 grams. A power supply unit (130x55x30 mm) adds another 470 grams to the final value.
Like many other similar Asus models, the K52D device comes without the Windows operating system pre-installed and is equipped with a free DOS. Therefore, reviews recommend stocking up a disk with the necessary software before buying a laptop. The company introduced this practice after numerous complaints from users complaining about the total amount, which includes the installation and license code of the installed OS. A significant plus for the average user is quite obvious - he can choose any operating system himself, without overpaying for an already installed in the store.
Appearance and build quality
The tested ASUS K52D laptop is made of very high-quality plastic. There are no metal inserts that have become popular in the business series. The outer cover of the lid is varnished and consists of a beautiful brown diamond-shaped pattern.
Users leaving reviews about the device are not always happy with such a surface: fingerprints easily remain on it, it quickly gets dirty, and scratching it will not be difficult.
The plastic on the display lid is rather thick, and it is extremely difficult to push it before the appearance of stains on the screen. The inside of the laptop consists mainly of embossed material of a light brown shade in a matte style, which saves the user from the above problems at least from the inside of the ASUS K52D device.
The characteristics of the keyboard and touchpad are similar to similar budget models from Asus. The laptop does not have an additional block of function keys, and all the usual actions are performed with the combination Fn + F1-F12. In addition, the panel has secondary buttons that allow you to control additional functions (Fn + right Enter = calculator, etc.).
Indication
At the bottom of the laptop there are several LED indicators of low power, showing the status of the device: the hard drive, battery, working mode, wifi, Caps Lock and Scroll Lock. The on / off button is located in the upper right part of the work surface. The left part is made by an LED, the right part - by the button itself. The blue diode does not hit the eyes even in the dark.
The working surface of the device is almost free from stickers of brands and manufacturers, but AMD logos are still present.
Ergonomics
The 15.6-inch wide-format display of the tested model rests on two plastic hinges, which, although they look reliable, sometimes there are complaints about cracks and other breakdowns in user reviews after one or two years of operation. When you open the lid you have to hold the laptop with your hand, otherwise it throws back.
The maximum level of disclosure of the display part is 135 degrees. For some, this value is too small, so fans who want to work in non-standard positions need to keep this in mind.
The display frame, made in glossy format, is quickly covered with scuffs and micro-scratches, according to reviews. The screen will become your second mirror, and you will have to get rid of the dust that it attracts like a magnet almost daily.
At the top of the frame is a regular webcam with an operation indicator and a resolution of 0.3 megapixels. Naturally, such a device does not shine with the quality of shooting and cannot boast of something distinctive.
The base of the ASUS K52D is made of rough black plastic. The support for the work are four rubber legs located in the corners of the laptop. Under the only cover are all the main elements of the laptop, and, by the way, that it does not bend anywhere and does not creak while using the device. In the K52D model, access to the hard drive and RAM is free without any warranty seals - change the hard drive along with the memory as and when you like. Many users respond to this brand attitude very flattering.
The overall build quality of the model is quite high. No backlash was noticed, all the parts fit tightly to each other, and the device does not differ in the presence of a creak or a crunch during operation.
ASUS K52D Notebook: Input Devices Specifications
The keyboard of the tested model is of a standard type (island-style), which prevents clogging and moisture from entering the device. The unit itself is full-sized, with additional digital functionality. The keys are standardized to a size of 15x15 mm with an average stroke. The upper row has a reduced size and is only 11 mm wide.
In general, the location of the keys along with the move can be called comfortable, and the only thing noted in user reviews as a minus of this model is the glossy plastic between the buttons, which successfully collects fingerprints and dust.
The touchpad material is similar to other models in the palmrest, and ripples are felt to the touch. The working area of the manipulator is 75x45 mm, which is a lot for a tandem with a screen of 15.6 inches. Working with the touchpad is comfortable, and the cursor moves smoothly, without jerking. The palm-Prof system saves the manipulator from accidental touches while working with the keyboard, which is very convenient.
Ports
The model does not shine with a variety of interfaces, but for a budget laptop they are quite enough.
Connectors and communications:
- microphone input;
- headphone output;
- D-Sub;
- USB 2.0 inputs - 3 pcs.;
- RJ45 Internet Connector
- HDMI port
- card reader type SD / MMC / MS;
- charger socket.
An IR receiver is located on the front of the laptop, and a DVD player is on the left side of the device.
Display
When turned on, the ASUS K52D screen is black, and after that it acquires its usual glossy shade. The claimed display diagonal is 15.6 inches, although the Everest program shows a maximum of 15.3 inches. The working screen resolution is 1366x768 Px with a 16: 9 format. For a display with this size, the resolution is not enough, so the elements on the desktop look somewhat exaggerated, but the problem is solved by reducing the icons in the settings of "Windows".
Due to its characteristics, Asus displays on test stands can sometimes give unpleasant numbers. Users quite often complain that the ASUS K52D does not turn on the screen when the OS boots. In most cases, removing the battery for a few minutes helps, and after that the display starts working again. If this does not happen, then you should contact the service center.
Many users ask whether it is possible and how to start the ASUS K52D laptop without a video card in case of breakdowns or device malfunction. Downloading an OS without a card with a discrete video chip alone is highly discouraged; it is better to contact a service center, otherwise you risk burning elements of the motherboard.
Summarizing
The K52D model is perfect for everyday tasks, especially since the line has a huge selection of modifications, where everyone can choose the best option for themselves. Modern games will run on this laptop, but the bar of graphic settings will have to be reduced to a minimum.
Having spent on the ASUS K52D 20-25 thousand rubles, you will get excellent build quality, excellent price / quality ratio and a two-year warranty from the manufacturer.