Configuration

The ASUS M6B00N and the Acer TravelMate 803 LCi have a similar architecture, so it is the more interesting to compare their performance. Both notebooks are based on the Intel 82855PM chipset and feature the Pentium M 1.6GHz processor (Banias core, 0.13-micron technology) with 400MHz FSB and 1024MB of L2 cache. The ASUS has a 4200rpm Hitachi IC25N080ATMR04-0 hard disk drive (8MB cache buffer, 80GB storage capacity); the Acer is equipped with a 4200rpm Toshiba MK6021GAS drive (2MB cache buffer and 60GB capacity).

The notebooks both have two memory slots, occupied by 256MB PC2700 modules (the maximum supported memory amount is 2048MB for both notebooks). One slot is found at the bottom of the case, under a cover. The second memory slot of the ASUS M6B00N is located under the keyboard. To access this slot you have to remove the keyboard (undo two screws at the back side of the case; press three clips at the top line of the keyboard; and remove the keyboard by shifting it out of its place towards the display). Under it, you also find a miniPCI card bay.

Unfortunately, we couldn’t find the location of the second memory slot in the Acer TravelMate 803LCi.

The use of independent graphics controllers with dedicated graphics memory – ATI RADEON Mobility 9600 with 64MB memory in the ASUS M6B00N and RADEON Mobility 9000 with 64MB in the Acer TravelMate 803 LCi – allows the user to enjoy 3D games with various video effects. Games and applications speak to you through integrated audio subsystems and stereo speakers.

The configurations of the two notebooks also include optical drives. The ASUS M6B00N uses a DVD-RW drive that can read CDs and DVDs at 24x and 8x speeds, respectively. It rewrites CDs and DVDs at 10x and 1x speeds and burns them at 24x and 2x. The DVD/DW-RW drive of the Acer TravelMate 803 LCi has the following characteristics: 6x DVD reading, 24x CD reading, 10x CD rewriting, 24x CD burning. None of the reviewed notebooks has a floppy drive.

Both systems boast Wi-Fi units of the IEEE 802.11b standard and network controllers from Broadcom. The ASUS M6B00N comes with a Gigabit Ethernet controller even, but the Acer TravelMate 803 LCi features support of the wireless Bluetooth interface instead.

The notebooks both have rather quiet cooling systems (a very important factor of any computer!) We measured the temperatures with an infrared thermometer during the Multimedia Content Creation Winstone 2004 test to get the following results:

• ASUS M6B00N: 31°C top, 40°C bottom, 38°C at the output of the cooling system;
• Acer TravelMate 803LCi: 36°C top, 39°C bottom and 39°C at the output of the cooling system.

The following table details the technical characteristics of the ASUS M6B00N and the Acer TravelMate 803LCi: