The newest Acer Swift 3 has a shock for you. Concealed inside its unassuming and borderline generic aluminum physique is Ryzen 7 4700U, an 8-core CPU primarily based on AMD’s new 7nm Ryzen 4000 with Radeon graphics.
As a finances field, you don’t get Symmetrical Multi Threading (AMD’s model of Hyper-Threading) however that hardly appears to matter. This $650, 14-inch, 2.6-pound laptop computer is so quick, it really can compete with bigger, pricier gaming and content-creation laptops in CPU duties. Keep studying to search out out extra about this unlikely screamer of a PC.
Acer Swift 3 Specs
The Acer Swift 3’s configuration (Model SF314-42-R9YN) principally jibes with its inexpensive worth (presently $650 from Acer.com). For occasion, the 8GB of RAM is the minimal you’d need in a Windows 10 system for loading up a bunch of apps and browser tabs. The 14-inch show’s most brightness of 250 nits is about pretty much as good because it will get amongst finances machines. But that CPU opens up some surprising prospects. Here are the main points:
CPU: AMD 8-core Ryzen 7 4700U
RAM: 8GB of LPDDR4X/3733 in dual-channel mode
GPU: Integrated Radeon graphics
SSD: 512GB Samsung NVMe SSD
Display: 14-inch, 1920×1080, LG LP140WFA-SPD1 AH-IPS show rated at 250 nits.
Dimensions: 12.73 x 8.62 x 0.63 inches
Weight: 2.6 kilos (not counting the AC adapter)
Networking: Intel-based Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.0
Biometrics: EgisTec Fingerprint reader
Webcam: The Swift 3’s 720p webcam is OK. We did discover the auto-exposure a bit muddy and darkish in comparison with that of HP’s Elite Dragonfly. Its top-bezel mount is perfect for Zoom calls.
The Acer Swift 3’s webcam (proper) in comparison with HP’s Elite Dragonfly (left), taken in the identical lighting situation and setting . Also: Papyrus font.
Keyboard and trackpad
The keyboard felt as broken-in as a pair of comfy denims. This could bug some, as laptop computer keyboards can get looser as they put on in. All we are able to say at the moment is it’s good to have a keyboard that’s not painfully stiff.
Gordon Mah UngThe trackpad was so-so. It’s Microsoft Precision Driver-compliant, so it helps the complete checklist of Windows 10 controls. Our unit had a slight rattle to it, which might be an remoted incident.
Ports
Because the Acer Swift 3 isn’t making an attempt to win the America’s Next Thinnest Laptop contest, it gives loads of room for ports. This is a bonus you’ll discover on different finances notebooks, too, and we prefer it.
Gordon Mah UngThe proper aspect of the Swift 3 offers you a full-size Kensington lock, to not be confused with the 2 newer and smaller “wedge”-style locks in use.
There’s additionally a combo analog audio jack and a USB 2.0 port. Yes, USB 2.0. In our testing, we hit the complete 40MBps throughout the port. It’s sluggish. Acer retains this port on a number of of its extra finances laptops, and the logic is probably going that you just’ll plug your mouse (or keyboard) to this aspect, as a result of the one solution to exist on this world appropriately is to be right-handed.
Gordon Mah UngThe left aspect encompasses a funky, tiny barrel charger that’s principally the identical one used on Acer’s $150 Chromebooks, together with USB-C, full-size HDMI, and USB-A. Acer says the USB-A port solely helps USB 3.2 Gen 1, or 5Gbps. We measured file transfers on it at near 977MBps, which might make it USB 3.2 Gen 2 port rated at 10Gbps. We noticed the identical 977MBps on the USB-C port as effectively. Acer stated the USB-C port helps DisplayPort, however we didn’t check it.
The charger that comes with the Swift 3 is 65 watts and sure, it seems like a low-cost energy brick. The laptop computer additionally helps USB-Power Delivery, so you possibly can cost it with any aftermarket USB-PD charger. We used an HP charger with no points. You’ll simply want a 65-watt one to run it and cost it on the identical time.
There’s no Thunderbolt 3, however this fancier interface hardly ever makes it into lower-cost laptops. What’s extra, this Intel-led know-how hasn’t made it onto any AMD-based laptop computer we’ve seen.
Gordon Mah UngThe guts of the Acer Swift 3 exhibits pretty sedate cooling for the Ryzen 7 4700U.
Upgrades
In upgrade-land, the Swift 3 is on a par with most laptops: You can change the M.2 drive and Wi-Fi module. Because it makes use of LPDDR4X, the reminiscence modules are soldered to the motherboard. Although it’s not meant as an “upgrade,” you may as well simply entry the battery after it’s gone flat by eradicating 10 Phillips screws on the underside panel, and eradicating the panel utilizing a spudger or guitar decide.
Acer Swift 3 Performance
We coated quite a lot of the Acer Swift 3’s efficiency in our Ryzen 7 4700U review, however we’ll present you the way it stacks as much as a wider assortment of laptops right here. We embody on our chart the burly XPS 15 7590 with Intel’s Core i9-9980HK inside for context, regardless that that laptop computer actually is in a unique class.
First up is Maxon’s Cinebench R15 benchmark, primarily based on its 3D modelling engine from Cinema4D. While few patrons of Acer Swift 3-class laptops are doing 3D modelling, it’s a broadly used and dependable gauge for multi-core efficiency.
All laptops primarily based on Intel’s extra superior, however decrease core-count Core i7-1065G7 get left within the mud by the Swift 3. Laptops primarily based on Intel’s much less superior, however extremely refined Core i7-10710U, with 6 cores and 12 threads, handle to squeeze previous the Swift 3 on the end line, however we’d name it a near-tie.
IDGCinebench R15 is an effective solution to measure multi-core efficiency even when most individuals aren’t doing 3D modelling on their laptops.
Because few purposes in use on this class of laptop computer name for multi-core efficiency, we additionally run Cinebench R15 set to make use of only one thread. Loads of picture modifying apps are surprisingly reliant on one or two threads for a lot of their work. Most capabilities in Office seemingly don’t use many cores both.
The Swift 3 doesn’t win, nevertheless it’s principally dead-even with a lot of the pack. Few may inform the distinction between most of those laptops for many single-threaded duties.
IDGSingle-threaded efficiency sees a lot of the laptops bunch up, with the highest-clocked chips in entrance. For essentially the most half, although, you in all probability couldn’t really feel the distinction.
One subject with Cinebench R15 is that it’s a reasonably brief job, finishing in perhaps a minute. Depending on the cooling within the laptop computer, trendy CPUs increase after which ease down as they warmth up. On longer masses, the Core i7-10710U laptops fall behind the Acer Swift 3 and its Ryzen 7 4700U. Even the MSI Prestige 14 with its followers cranked up, can’t sustain with the Swift 3.
IDGOn heavier masses, the Core i7-10710U-based laptops hand over floor as the warmth builds up and their increase clocks burn off.
The Swift 3’s efficiency ought to excite low-cost efficiency freaks, however let’s pour a bit chilly water in your fantasy with the subsequent check: PCMark 8 Work. This benchmark measures efficiency in simulated office-drone duties of doc dealing with, video conferencing, and working a spreadsheet. Yup, work that you just nearly don’t need to get performed sooner, as a result of it simply results in extra work.
The Ice Lake laptops and the Swift 3 all bunch up in entrance, we predict due to the superior media and graphics cores on the chips. The check largely appears to disrespect laptops with discrete GPUs. With PCMark 8 Work it doesn’t actually matter that a lot which laptop computer you have got, as TPS reviews course of on the principally the identical velocity on all of them.
IDGThe laptops with Intel’s Core i7-1065G7 and Ryzen 7 4700U prepared the ground right here.
The Swift 3 isn’t meant for gaming, however 3DMark Sky Diver offers you a style for the way effectively it could carry out if you happen to tried. Depending on the sport’s classic, what settings you utilize, and what your tolerance is for body charges, sure video games needs to be superb at 1080p, whereas others ought to in all probability be responsibly performed at 720p. Basically, the Swift 3 will simply crush the “gaming” experiences you’ve had with Intel’s older UHD graphics, nevertheless it’s no alternative for a correct discrete GPU.
IDGGaming on the Swift 3 needs to be corresponding to “gaming” on a low-wattage GeForce MX150 chip or Intel’s latest Iris Plus.
The most necessary laptop computer metric for a lot of is battery life. The battery capability within the Swift 3 is rated at 50.29 Watt-hours, nevertheless it safely tops as much as 49Wh.
For our video rundown check, we put the fully-charged laptop computer into airplane mode and loop a 4K video utilizing Windows 10’s Movies & TV app. We join earbuds (with quantity at midpoint) to cut back variability from the audio subsystem. We set the show brightness to 250 to 260 nits, which is the Swift 3’s most anyway.
The battery efficiency, at 490 minutes or a bit over 8 hours, is nothing particular, nevertheless it’s principally in keeping with the outcomes from the three earlier Swift 3 models we have seen. Two have been primarily based on Eighth-gen Intel CPUs (one with a GeForce MX150), and one with a 10th-gen Core i5-1035G1. But hey, for $650, nobody ought to anticipate the moon.
IDGBattery life on the Ryzen 7-based Swift 3 is in keeping with Intel-based Swift 3 laptops we’ve seen, however actually nowhere close to what you will get on premium laptops.
Conclusion
As the primary Ryzen 7 4700U laptop computer we have seen, Acer’s pedestrian Swift 3 is all of the sudden a sprinter, delivering unprecedented efficiency for a laptop computer this gentle and this small. It can compete with some gaming and content-creation laptops in CPU-focused duties.
Gordon Mah UngDon’t overlook the worth. Priced at simply $650, that is really an unbeatable quantity of efficiency per buck.
Sure, it may use a greater and brighter display screen, a much less creaky trackpad and, effectively, there’s no Thunderbolt 3 both. But for these on a tighter finances who’re prepared to surrender match and end for rubber-burning efficiency, it’s exhausting to be Acer’s Swift 3 at the moment.