Toshiba’s LX830 is the most affordable
system in this test and, on arrival, we were prepared to go easy – after all,
the reduced budget should mean this PC wouldn't be able to compete with pricier
rivals.
However, the Toshiba got off to a good
start with a screen that punches above its weight. The 1920 x 1080 resolution
is fine, and renders Windows 8's Live tiles crisply, and quality is good: the
1,244:1 contrast ratio delivers vibrant images across the whole color range,
and the average Delta E of 4.5 is in the middle of this month's group, which
means that colors are reasonably accurate.
The
PC ships with a remote control geared towards Windows Media Center
It's a good start but, unfortunately, the
LX830 doesn't continue in this vein. The Core i3-3110M is a low-power Ivy
Bridge processor that runs at 2.4GHz and, on paper, it's this test's weakest
processor. Its overall application benchmark result of 0.67 sits towards the
bottom of the group, and gaming power is no more generous – the Intel HD
Graphics 4000 chipset scored a slow 17fps in our Medium-quality test. This is a
system that will handle low- end computing tasks, but it'll struggle if it's
asked to run demanding applications and high-end games.
Other machines have demonstrated that even
low-end chips can run Windows 8 without complaint, but we had problems with the
Toshiba's touch-screen: while scrolling through the Windows 8 Start screen, the
LX830 juddered and paused frequently. It's not an issue that we replicated
using the mouse, which suggests it's a driver problem, but it's disconcerting
nonetheless.
The
LX830’s chassis isn’t as flashy as the Dell’s exterior
It's a mixed bag elsewhere. A TV tuner is a
generous inclusion in a system at this price, but there's no sign of a Blu-ray
drive, with a DVD writer included instead and the 4GB of RAM and single-band
wireless don't impress either, with other systems here offering twice the
memory and faster dual-band wireless. The speakers, meanwhile, lack both volume
and bite; there's simply not enough noise to fill a room, and quality simply
isn't up to scratch.
The whole package is wrapped up into an
underwhelming enclosure. Several of this test's systems manage to look
understated and classy, but the LX830 is just dull, with gunmetal grey plastic
that's a little too flimsy for our tastes used throughout.
Several
of this test's systems manage to look understated and classy, but the LX830 is
just dull, with gunmetal grey plastic that's a little too flimsy for our tastes
used throughout.
There's little versatility from the limited
rear kickstand, and there's a final kick in the teeth from the spongy keyboard
and cheap-feeling mouse – quality isn't up to scratch, and there are no
additional buttons to make use of the Toshiba's media functions or any of
Windows 8's shortcuts and gestures.
Toshiba's system undercuts its rivals,
then, but this test's lowest price doesn't necessarily make the LX830 good
value for money. The Asus ET2300 is only $120 more and includes a better screen
and a much stronger, more versatile case – so it’s a worthy winner, and we
wholeheartedly recommend it over the disappointing Toshiba.
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Details
§
Price: $1,199
§
Website: www.toshiba.co.uk
§
Ratings: 5/10
§
Screen size: 23in
§
RAM capacity: 4GB
§
CPU nominal frequency: 2.4GHz
§
Internal disk interface: SATA/300
§
Resolution: 1920 x 1080
§ USB
ports: 4
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