Dell Studio 1558 review
It’s all change on the graphics front, too. The previous ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4570 graphics chipset has been updated to the HD 5470. Unfortunately, this is the one part Dell couldn't supply us with for this review, so we haven't been able to test it. From what we’ve seen of the HD 5470 in other laptops, expect performance to be almost identical – we'd expect around 20fps in our Medium Crysis test, so serious gamers may want to look elsewhere.
Where the HD 5470 will hopefully make a big difference is in cooling, as the move from 55nm to 40nm should ease some of the issues of the Studio 1557. The Core i5-430M processor plays its part, peaking at 20ËC lower than the old CPU and showing the benefits of 32nm. We'll have to hope the HD 5470 has a similar effect, or we'll be back to raising the rear of the laptop with a book to prevent overheating during games.
Dashed hopes
Any hopes that the new processor might aid battery life were soon dashed, too. Just 3hrs 36mins of light usage is almost the same as before. Considering the Studio 1557 had a hotter quad-core Core i7 processor thrumming away under the hood, it’s disappointing. If you need longer battery life, you’ll just have to consider the optional 9-cell battery which comes at a £51 inc VAT premium.
Elsewhere, Dell has added all the bells and whistles. The standard 802.11g wireless networking gets upgraded to 802.11n at a reasonable £9 premium, while Bluetooth costs an altogether more considerable £26. Ports and connectors, meanwhile, are plentiful: three USB ports, eSATA, mini-FireWire, VGA, HDMI, ExpressCard/34 and a card reader cluster around the Studio 1558’s left and right hand edges.
Conclusion
Dell’s Studio 1557 may have reigned supreme due to its early arrival, but the Studio 1558 finds itself flanked by far more serious competition. Even lesser priced models manage to match many of its charms: with Samsung’s R580 offering a broadly similar performance for just £493 exc VAT, albeit without the Core i5 and Full HD screen, it's tough to view the Dell as a triumph. In some regards it's an excellent laptop but, even without the uncertainty over past cooling issues, the increased competition leaves the Studio 1558 short of inspiration.
Price when reviewed: £646 (£759 inc VAT)Laptops
