A New Front in the Value Slim Notebook Market-MSI X-Slim X340 Open Box Review

When you see a NetBook that weighs under 1.5kg in the 12 ~ 13.3" range,
you immediately think of high-end business models priced between 1700 ~ 2500 USD.
There are of course a few 11" Netbook products at this end of the market as well.

When the Intel Atom processor came out, there was a spate of Atom-based Netbook products released.
While the Atom's performance is no match for high-end notebooks, their lightness, thinness, portability and low price immediately made an impact.
But the maximum size for netbooks based on Atom N270/N280 was just 10",
leaving a gaping void for consumers looking for a slim notebook with a large display.

For years slim notebooks larger than 12" have come with a hefty price tag.
This is now about to change in the second half of 2009. Intel will soon release a new CPU based on CULV architecture.
This is a single-core processor designed for 12" and larger notebooks.
Two CULV based 13.3" notebook products have been released so far and they are both far lighter than their conventional peers.

When MSI released the Wind series in 2008, the leading U100 model performed well enough in the market to go mainstream.
MSI recently announced the new U200 12" slim netbook as the successor to the U100,
but what is really interesting is MSI's latest X-Slim series of "slim and aesthetic" notebooks.

The two X-Slim models known to date are the X320 and X340 which have a 13.3" display but weighs just 1.3kg.
Internet rumors suggest that a 14" X400 and 16" X600 are in the pipeline as well.
The star of this review is the X-Slim X340 that was released in May.
It has generated a lot of online discussion, and whether the opinions are good or bad, this new product offers consumers a new choice.

The "X" motif features prominently on the MSI X-Slim's external packaging.
It comes with two year global warranty and one year of on-site service.



The included carry case uses a leather-type material on the outside and has the msi logo printed on the inside.
The finish looks quite good and it's quite compact.




Include accessories
Windows Vista Vita Home Premium, driver CD and product manuals


The AC adapter is the smallest version in use right now.
It's really easy to carry around from my experience; it tends to get a little hot while charging.
The bundled mouse is quite small as well and comes in the same pearl white as the notebook.


It's not a wireless mouse but the cable is designed for easy storage.


The MSI X-Slim X340 chassis is constructed using aluminum-magnesium alloy.
The notebook top cover has a pearl white powder-coated finish. The texture varies slightly depending on the lighting conditions.


The msi logo on the top cover is covered with protective film. Once removed,
you can see that the X340's pearl white UV-coating is covered with another clear layer of UV-coating.


The X340's underside has a different kind of finish.
It has a matt surface and the powder-coating has a more silvery tint to it.


Open the lid and inside, there's protective foam printed with the msi logo cover the keyboard. The LCD has a protective film as well.

 

Below the keyboard is an extensive array of status lights.
The Fn key is needed to access shortcut functions.
The touch control panel is part of the chassis itself, and in practice the sensitivity is quite good.


The keyboard is big enough so you don't feel cramped while typing, though the keys feel a little spongy.
MSI has also returned the Fn key back to its normal position this time.


Ultra-slim 13.3" 16.9 mirror-finish LCD
The 1.3 Megapixel webcam is located at the top of the LCD right in the middle.
The microphone is on the left side.


There are two vents in the bottom. For this type of ultra-slim notebooks, keeping the cooling noise down is a major challenge.
The screw holes were also covered with white-colored pads more in keeping with the overall color scheme.


The 4-cell battery is spec'd at 2150mAh 32Wh. It uses the same pearl white powder coating as the notebook.


Left-side I/O
D-SUB output/RJ 45 network port/HDMI output/Card Reader




Right-side I/O
Power socket/ Audio in/out / USB 2.0 ports x 2




The streamlined ultra-thin styling

 

The msi mark on the top cover glows white when in use.



Next, let's see how the performance benchmarks go
MSI X-Slim X340 with Intel's Core Solo CPU
Model number is SU3500 (1.4GHz, L2 3MB, single core)

CPU performance testing
CPUMARK99 201 & Super PI 1M 35.490s


Nuclearus Multi Core & Fritz Chess Benchmark


The CPU performed quite well. It's a single-core model but comes with a 3MB cache so is good enough for most applications.
The latest CPUZ 1.51 doesn't recognize it though and reported a SU9400 at 1.6GHz instead.

In standby mode the temperature is 42 degrees


When running at full speed the temperature is 60 degrees


The cooling system is controlled by the CPU workload.
In standard or standby mode, the fan turns slowly so is relatively quiet.
At full speed, the fan speeds up and the extra air flow creates wind noise.
The noise level is still within the acceptable range however.

2GB of DDR2 memory is provided.
These are clocked at 800MHz, however, which is rare to see in a notebook.
Sandra Memory Bandwidth-4351MB/s
EVEREST Memory Read-5232MB/s


Overall system performance
CrystalMark 2004R3


PCMark Vantage


VISTA


With this kind of hardware specifications, there's no perceptible lag with the X340 when running Windows Vista.
It remains quite responsive even with several different programs open.

 

Chipset is Intel GS45 with integrated GMA4500MDH.
This is the best onboard graphics chip offered by Intel right now.

3DMARK2005


CINEBENCH R10


While no match for standalone graphics cards, the 3D performance was quite good for an ultra-slim notebook.

TOSHIBA 320GB 5400rpm HDD Performance
HD Tune Pro & CrystalDiskMark


ATTO Disk Benchmark & FDBENCH


TOSHIBA hard disks are quieter during use.
I personally prefer 5400 rpm because it offers decent performance while still keeping temperatures and power consumption down.
I did use 7200 rpm for a while but the noise and temperature was too much so I got rid of it.

As for battery endurance, the X340 runs for about 3 hours if used just for surfing the Internet wirelessly or watching movies.
The 4-cell battery was good about 2 hours and 44 minutes of viewing time.
At this point, Vista reported that the battery was at 10% and had 18 minutes of use left.
Apparently 8-cell batteries will be an option for the X340.




MSI X-Slim X340 Summary
Strengths
1. A 13.3" notebook that weighs just 1.3kg makes this probably one of the lightest notebooks now on the market.
2. The aluminum-magnesium alloy chassis, slim styling and feel of quality make for a great overall impression.
3. Careful attention was paid to the product packaging. The protective bag has a nice feel as well.
4. D-SUB and HDMI outputs available. I/O offers good expandability.
5. 4-cell battery offers decent endurance. Around 3 hours can be achieved when surfing the Internet wirelessly or watching movies.
6. Has high resolution 1366 x 768 display. DDR2 can run at 800MHz for better performance.
7. CULV CPU performs 150~ 200% faster than Atom (depending on the software) and can play 1080p videos without stuttering.
8. Uses 5400 rpm 320GB 2.5" HDD. Can be upgraded to 7200rpm or a larger capacity HDD later on.
9. The cooling system uses temperature control technology so it runs quieter when not under full load.
10. Uses Intel WiFi Link 5100 wireless network card. Supports 802.11 AGN b/g/n AGN as well as WiMAX.

Weaknesses
1. Not used to typing on such a soft keyboard.
2. The battery is whiter than the underside of the notebook so it looks a little out of place.
3. When running at full speed, the fan noise is more noticeable.
4. Uses a mirror-finish LCD. A matt surface LCD would be better.

Performance ★★★★★★★★★☆
Construction ★★★★★★★★☆☆
Appearance ★★★★★★★★★☆
Price ★★★★★★★★★☆





The video conferencing quality was quite good.
There was no pixilation and the colors looked quite natural.
As for the speakers, the high range was a little sharp, the treble was quite clear while the bass came through relatively well though was still a little light.
This is a problem common with most notebooks.
On the 13.3" ultra-thin LCD with a native resolution of 1366x768, the font was still legible and no clear bias was noticed in the LCD colors.
I first came across this kind of compact transformer on my personal double A netbook.
It is only rated for 45W so tends to heat up during charging. It's very portable though.
While charging the X340, I tested the temperature with my hand and found that it didn't get as hot as it did with the double A product.
It took longer to charge though.
I suspect MSI lowered the power rating to keep the portability without having to worry about high temperatures.
The downside is longer charge times, but I think the trade-off is okay.

The pre-order price for the MSI X-Slim X340 in the US is 1099 USD.
The price on the DM given out at the computer fair in Taiwan in April was 36900 NTD.
Online vendors in the US have now updated their prices and hopefully Taiwan will do the same soon.
After all, it's going to be compared against ACER's Timeline series (approx. 26900 NTD).
Both have a metal casing while the X340 is lighter, thinner and looks better too.
Rumors have it that the X340 will be priced under 30,000 NTD in the future. This should make it a more attractive proposition.

Since the MSI X-Slim X340/X320 was announced, its resemblance to another major brand's product has led to a lot of online discussion.
In my opinion though, there's a lot of mutual learning and refining going on in the IT industry.
This kind of competition is what keeps things fresh in the market and produces better or more advanced products.

Of course, this kind of competition is only meaningful if no patents are being violated. 　
On the consumer end, the question of imitation doesn't really matter. Patent disputes should be left up to the manufacturers to settle among themselves.
As far as the consumer is concerned, what really matters are better quality, better pricing, better technology and better cost vs. price.


The launch of MSI's new X-Slim series will undoubtedly take a bite out of the market for some high-end business notebooks.
It also means that light, slim and high quality products will finally become affordable for general consumers as well.
There are currently two CULV 13.3" notebooks on the market – the MSI X-Slim and the Acer Timeline.

We can expect more CULV products of this type from other manufacturers in the future as well.
So, the biggest winners will no doubt be the consumer.
So, let's us look forward to the day when the CULV notebook market can offer more choices and lower prices

 

Wow! Excellent review! Thanks so much for taking the time to post, I know from experience that it's a fair amount of effort. I found this very helpful and an excellent quality review, one of the best I could find. Nice job on the pictures and benchmarks, too! Kudos!

 

As always, its a pleasure to have you reviewing magnificently.

Great job!

 

Wow,
Excellent !

 

Got mine and very happy with it. Perfect fit for my needs -- use it mainly as a 'super netbook' for web surfing, email, some old lite games (e.g. HOMM II/III), and other general purpose stuff. Very light, sleek, nice display, runs Vista very well.

Thanks again for the great review!

 

great review, but i had a quick question. you mentioned that the laptop is made of magnesium alloy, but i read somewhere that it is plastic. i just wanted to clarify which one it is, magnesium alloy or plastic?

 

The case, the parts you see and touch are a sturdy plastic, the frame is metal and I guess is the mag alloy referred to. Everything is very solid except for the keyboard which is the only weak spot. Key placement etc is good, but the keyboard flexes quite a bit on mine. I can live with it, but it's a shame, because it detracts from an otherwise stellar notebook.

That said, the sleek design is awesome. I use mine every day and enjoy it. As a general purpose notebook, it's great. Even better if you do a lot of traveling, I would think. (I use mine mostly at home.)

 

thanks for the clarification, i was thinking of buying this in the black color as a secondary computer, because tigerdirect has a deal going on for this laptop, 499 dollars with free shipping.

i can live with a little keyboard flex if its not too bad. Are there any other negative points about the laptop? and how does it handle high def videos?

 

That's what I paid and I think it's a good deal for an ultra-thin notebook. They're generally pretty pricey.

The keyboard flex is the worst I've ever seen, but as I said, it wasn't a deal breaker for me. There are some things you can do (supposedly) to fix it, but I've never bothered. The pluses far outweigh the minuses. I'm running it still stock as received (Vista Premium) and happy. Vista runs well and snappy.

Not too many other negatives I can think of off hand. Only two USB ports (they added an HDMI out for one vs the 3 on the X-320) which is fine for me. The screen is not the best for full screen video due to the blacks/brightness, but it's OK if you get the angle just right. (Screen quality on notebooks seems to have actually declined in the last couple of years, overall, in my opinion. A general problem not just w/MSI, but also ASUS and others.)

I can play YouTube "HD" video fine, but I have not really played any true hi-def video on mine. It could only do 720p, not 1080p since the screen rez is 1366x768. I'd say it's fine for casual viewing, would not be my first choice for a real video-oriented notebook, there are better choices for that.

But for a general use notebook, i.e. email, surfing the net, casual video, games, etc., I think it's fine. I have not seen anything thinner, lighter, or better for my needs. And if you register it with MSI you get a great 3-year warranty.

Hope this helps.

 

thanks, that info, it helped quite a bit. i'm just deciding whether to go with this or the alienware m11x because i also do game (although i have a desktop as my primary gaming machine), and i just need a secondary machine when i go out of town, etc.

also, you mentioned that there are some things (supposedly) that you can do to fix the keyboard flex, if u have any links for that info i'd really appreciate it if you could post them here.

thanks once again.

 

Hmm, when people say flex, they don't mean like bouncy keys, it'l generally be stirdy (Flex is overated tbh.)

It just means don't apserlutely slam the thing or you'l bend the board a bit.

 

No links. Search here. Somebody said you could shim it or something. Not really worth the trouble to me, but might work.

 

The keyboard flexes easily- it moves up and down under fairly light pressure - not slamming it at all. It's not just my opinion. Every review I've seen has mentioned it. As I said, it's the worst I've ever experienced and I have used a lot of notebooks. Really, it's the only serious flaw in an otherwise stellar notebook, as I said. I do not think it's being over-emphasized. It's very real. Best to be honest about it, in my opinion, so potential purchasers have a realistic expectation.

I've gotten used to it and it does not bother me a bit now, but it was a bit disconcerting at first. If I had paid the full price, I would have returned it. At the $499 price point, this notebook is a bargain even with the flex.

Basically, I loved the netbook idea, but just could not live with a 10-11" screen for web surfing (I'm online a lot). But the 13.4" screen is a delight and I still have the small form factor and light weight, super portability and so on. Battery life is a little low, but I use it mostly at home, so not a problem for me. (If you travel a lot, get a spare battery so you can swap.)

 

rahz I believe the model that bron5 bought is the first gen x340-021 and it has the bad flex to the keyboard mentioned.

The model sold at tigerdirect.com for 499$ is the x340-218 model which is the updated model with revised keyboard(stiffer) and 8 cell battery (8h48m)tested by laptopmag.com. they confirmed the keyboard is much better and for that they bumped the rating to 4/5 for this notebook.

http://www.msimobile.com/level3_productpage.aspx?cid=8&id=168

So I don't think you will regret it. I'm actually thinking about getting one too.

It might be possible to overclock the cpu too with setfsb and up to 1.9ghz if the memory can handle it. at that speed you got one hell of a super netbook.

I find it interesting that if you go take a look in the manual online, it says ram: 2gig (4gig optional). most say that it only supports max 2 gigs. If 4gig works that would be pretty cool.

 

thanks for the info, i hadn't realized that the new revised version had a better keyboard. that actually makes me even more tempted to lean towards this laptop instead of the m11x, cuz of the price difference.

and 4gigs would be great if it does support it, along with the oc'ing ability.

now i'm confused, lol

 

Well i haven't found that on any of the MSI notebooks i have tbh, nor the ones of tested (And i've tested from my model 1722, all the way down to the little winds, u100 blah blah)

What i have occasionally noticed is manufacturers sneakily slipping in double sided tape to solve the issue of any bouncing.

 

yeah its better and you also get much better battery life with the 8 cell.

well if you game and want a small portable, the m11x is better, but you have to decide what you want.

It would be nice to find someone who can try to overclock his x-340 with setfsb just to see if it works. Bron5 can you try it out ?

alot of laptop have the same configuration. someone could try with the clock generator available and see if it works.

 

Yes I have the 021 model with the flex. Sorry for any confusion, I just assumed you were talking about the same model - my bad!

 

Well, it's possible mine is worse than normal, of course. Not that big a deal, really. I'm used to it now.

 

Ya, no time to fool around with this, unfortunately. I would also be a bit shy about over-clocking an ultra-thin model due to possible cooling issues. But I'm not that much in to over-clocking anyway, so what do I know?

Mine performs fine for me. I run a few games on it, but it's not really designed for gaming. But for surfing the web and stuff, it's great.

 

Yeah man, that'd be quite strange :S, manufacturers also tend to use maybe a cover with holes (part of the chasis?) under the keyboard itself, i'd imagine the game is to add airflow? so maybe a little bit of flex is actually there on the designs behalf to aid cooling, although it'd be quite stupid like that.

 

can i ask exactly what games have u run on this notebook? and at what sort of settings?

i'm leaning towards this notebook since there's such a price difference between this and the m11x.

 

you can easily take off the keyboard and put some pieces of double sided tape nicely placed. that should improve alot your keyboard stiffness.

here is a tutorial for taking apart an x-340/x-320.

http://forum-en.msi.com/moderator/assembly-guides/MS-1352%20Disassemble%20SOP.pdf

 

New X360 model announced with Arrandale i5-ulV.

http://www.fudzilla.com/content/view/18010/1/

 

9 hours battery life ?

Does the 32nm Core i5 processor consumes less power than a CULV processor ?

 

i5 ULV is rated at an 18W TDP which includes the IGP so yeah the platform has a lower power rating than the CULV.

i5 should also end up costing more though.

 

I bought the x340-218US model. I will receive it friday. will see if I like it. I'm gonna test it fully. I have a 30 days satisfaction period. If I don't like it , i'll return it for full refund.

will see if I can overclock it with setfsb.

 

The single core CULV has only 5.5W TDP and the dual core 10W

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consumer_Ultra-Low_Voltage

 

Where did you check for i5 TDP? I checked CPU-World and they have only 520M and 540M, both 35W TDP. If it is 10W for dual core it will be perfect.
Considering not very good power management of Intel's chipsets I think Phinagle and Laptopaddict are talking about the same thing.
There was an article that I've read last year, when nVidia made their chipset for Intel Atom CPUs. nVidia's chipset was with much better performance than Intel and also with lower power consumption. But of course a giand like Intel would never let the thing like that, so they go to a trial for that. What happened next I don't know, but it's obvious - some of you ever seen a netbook with nVidia chipset?

 

Yeah, I found it, not the article I've read, before, but almost the same thing. The name of nVidia's chipset is Ion and look what happened after the profit is involved! What do you think can happen? - only bad things for the final consumers - us. Some stupid box, which greatly improves Intel's Atom CPUs, but they can't use it in actual netbook.

 

Just found about the x360 recently. Have to say I'm wowed by the specs but skeptical about the build construction with its older sister.

The X340/350 were known for flex issues near the keyboard and the touchpad area and really bad touchpad!

Someone please tell me the X360 will be somehow different!

 

@zeth006: nobody knows about the x360 at this point since it hasn't even shipped yet. so we can only speculate. but I talked with msi technical support and they said the new chiclet keyboard is much better.

by the way , the x350 is also new model and hasn't shipped yet.

the upgraded x340 aparently doesn't have the flex issues from the keyboard. It was confirmed by laptopmag.com

I'm receiving an x340-218us tomorow. will test it to see how it is.

 

So I talked with msi technical support and I was right.

the x340 supports 4gig through a 4 gig stick. thats great news!!!

when they come down more in price I will buy one.

 

Good to hear. If the flex issue is solved, I'll be putting the X360 back in my list of contenders. If the bad touchpad issue is solved, that'll most definitely leave it was the top contender as of this moment.

 

well I heard that you can download the latest drivers. aparently its much better than the windows drivers that comes preinstalled with the OS. Improves alot.

 

Coolness. I'm no stickler for having flawless navigation with multitouch gestures that can brew my coffee. As long I can skip using the click buttons with tap-to-click, maybe zoom in/out of windows with the gestures becoming increasingly available with current generation of laptops, and scroll without problems, I'm a happy customer.

 

Now add the 12W TDP for the GS45 Northbridge + IGP part of the CULV platform.

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/mobile-core-i5-arrandale,2522-2.html

 

well the x350 and x360 will have multitouch gestures integrated so no biggie.

with the sentelic drivers on x340, you can scroll, tap to click perfectly aparently , etc..

i will test all this when I receive the laptop today.

 

Looking forward to it!

 

NBR Review here but it's from 2009, early pre-production model. Another review I read shows a lot of the flex issues were solved though some still remain.


Here's to hoping the materials and build construction are improved upon.

At this point, I'm down to paying $1,100+ for a 13" MBP when it gets refreshed (rumors say April) or $800 for a Sony Y if it gets the refresh as well.

 

I just got my x340-218 and first impression are pretty good.

I'm letting it charge fully first because its better for the battery.

the lid is glossy , but doesn't pick up too much finger prints from what I can see. the rest is matt black so thats nice.

The keyboard does not have flex from what I can feel typing normally. The feel of it is pretty good. not like a chicklet keyboard like an apple or sony , but its good enough. I'm not too picky about that.

construction feels good too. when I hold it from a corner I don't feel any flex. feels pretty sturdy. of course its a thin notebook so you still gotta becareful.

I put it on my balance to see exactly how much it weighs with the 8 cell battery. 1525gr with 8 cell. the charger weighs 328gr.

I'm pretty impressed about the aesthetics. I think its the nicest notebook after apple macbooks.

i'll let you guys know about what I think after I tune it and clean the bloatware

 

Cool. Looks like it's vastly improved. I'm willing to guess MSI's just been getting a handle on the thin/light segment? Looks like the teething issues and growing pains have been ironed out.

So judging from the way the X340 has been out some time, how much do you think the X360 will cost?

 

I've run mostly older games like Combat Mission Overlord, HOMM, Strike Fighters. I ran Painkiller awhile back and some RPG's. While you can run more than you might think, it's not a gaming rig by any means. For casual older games, it's fine, but if gaming is important, you need something with a discrete graphics card. Not much room for that in this ultra-slim design.

I think of it as a "super" netbook.that's why I got mine, to replace my netbook. I just couldn't live with the small screen and low rez. Now I am quite happy w/the X-340. For on-line web stuff, it's great. And the sleek design is without peer in this price range.

The m11x would be a far better gaming rig, though. No doubt about that.

 

Looking forward to your take on the updated X-340 model.

P.S. I've seen some X-320's out there now for $400 - that's a pretty good deal too for someone looking for a "better netbook."

 

I can currently say that I have an overclocked x340

currently at 1.7ghz fsb 973 mhz. memory is running at the same speed since its single channel and 1:2

temperatures around 35 degrees idle and about 45-50 under load.

computer feels much faster now.

I found the clock gen PLL looking at the disassembly guide lol. I could see a bit of it so I found the PLL that matched in setfsb and it worked.

here is the PLL : ICS9LPRS133BKLF

 

Kudos, dude! Great work. I know how pleased you must be. I believe you are probably the first to achieve this with the X-340.

 

Awesome clocks, great temps, compatible ICS...

Great job Mr Overclocker .