Related Articles
HP Mini 311
Posted 02/05/10 at 12:30:09 PM by Nathan Edwards
Ion graphics can't turn this netbook into a gaming rig
To say that netbooks have historically been hobbled by Intel’s integrated graphics is to unfairly ignore their slow single-core CPUs, 1GB RAM maximum, miniscule keyboards, and awkward screen resolutions. It’s an unfair assertion, of course—netbooks came into existence to be cheap, portable, low-powered machines. But the definition of netbook has been stretched, to the point where HP’s new Mini 311, while still considered a netbook, has an 11.6-inch 1366x768 screen, Nvidia integrated graphics, a large keyboard, and can support up to 3GB of DDR3 RAM, for less than $500.
At first, the Mini 311 looks a lot like any other 11.6-inch netbook on the market: Intel Atom processor, 1GB of RAM, 3 USB ports, and a somewhat squashed keyboard. But the RAM is DDR3/1333, not the typical DDR2/667, and it’s soldered to the mainboard, leaving a SODIMM slot free for an additional 2GB of RAM. The screen has a maximum resolution of 1366x768, significantly better than the standard 1024x600—for one thing, websites and programs built for 1024x768 won’t break. And thanks to the Ion platform, the Mini 311 can display 720p HD video, and output 1080p over the HDMI port—that’s right, a netbook with an HDMI port.
The Mini 311's Nvidia Ion graphics are wonderful, but the keyboard feels like quicksand.
Aside from the graphics (and all that that implies) the rest of the Mini 311 is standard netbook fare, and non-graphics-related benchmark scores bear that out. Photoshop and MainConcept scores were within 5 percent of our zero point, as was battery life, which, at just over four hours, is good for anything with discrete graphics, but middle-of-the-road for netbooks. The Mini 311 played our Quake 3 benchmark at 142fps, compared to our zero point’s 58fps. Quake 4 performance on a standard netbook is akin to watching a violent PowerPoint; the Mini 311 pushed out a playable 34fps. It suffered more on current-gen games—Left 4 Dead caps at 10fps when zombies are on the screen, and both Modern Warfare games chug along at a nearly playable 15fps. The Mini 311 isn’t a modern gaming notebook—the single-core Atom CPU is too slow for that—but thanks to its Ion graphics and decent resolution, it can kind of play more modern games than its predecessors.
The Mini 311’s shell is slim and attractive, with a white or black patterned lid and a silver-and-black chassis. The screen is bright and not overly reflective; in fact, our only real complaint with this netbook is its keyboard. It’s big, true, with nice concave chiclet keys, but unlike the keyboard on the Mini 1000 series, the keys feel mushy and slick, rather than firm and matte, so typing is not as pleasant as it should be on a keyboard this big.
Though the Mini 311 is still hampered by the long-in-the-tooth Atom N280 processor, the Ion graphics make up for it. HD video and actual gaming capability on a netbook, plus HDMI-out and up to 3GB of DDR3 RAM? Heck yes. The Mini 311 is only the first in a doubtless long line of Ion-enabled netbooks, but if this is the shape of things to come, we’re excited.
HP Mini 311
411
Current-gen graphics; great screen; HDMI out; 1366x768 res; good build; supports up to 3GB DDR3.
Reno 911
Mushy keyboard; still stuck with single-core Atom processor.
Benchmarks
| Zero Point | HP Mini 311 | |
|---|---|---|
| Premiere Pro CS3 | 708 secs | 738 |
| Main Concept | 251 mins | 5:35 |
| 3DMark3 | 710 | 4,196 |
| Quake 3 | 60.9 fps | 142 |
| Quake 4 | 3.6 fps | 34.1 |
| Battery Life (mins) | 255 mins | 251 |
Our zero point netbook is a Lenovo IdeaPad S12 with a 1.6GHz Intel Atom N270, 1GB of DDR2/667 RAM, a 160GB hard drive, Intel GMA950 integrated graphics chipset, and Windows XP Home SP3.
Specifications
| HP Mini 311 | |
|---|---|
| Processor | 1.66GHz Intel Atom N280 |
| Chipset | nForce 730i |
| Graphics | Nvidia Ion LE |
| Display | 11.6-inch LED-backlit LCD@1366x768 |
| RAM | 1GB DDR3/1333 |
| Storage | 160GB HDD (5,400rpm) |
| Ports | Three USB 2.0, audio in/out, SD/multicard reader, VGA, HDMI, 10/100 Ethernet |
| Lap/Carry | 3 lbs, 5 oz / 4 lbs, 1.4 oz |
great job!!!!
Submitted by lacewigs on Tue, 06/08/2010 - 5:45pm
Prices will fall in line, we'll all be SSD'ing within 24 months! HDD's will go the way of Atari!
Submitted by jahnavipat on Tue, 06/01/2010 - 4:39am
The netbook that could, otherwise known as the Mini 311, is HP’s
flagship netbook. With its standard NVIDIA Ion platform that has
dedicated graphics memory and handy dandy HDMI output, it runs certain
video / gaming programs quite well, without breaking the bank or your
back.Thanks
<a href=http://www.onlinenotebook.com/hp-mini-311-review.html>HP Mini 311 review</a>
Submitted by charcaroth on Sun, 02/07/2010 - 7:12am
I greatly appreciated the article a few months ago on netbook gaming by Maximum PC. I hadn't really thought about trying to play older games on that hardware, getting a bit lost as to WHICH modern integrated video chipsets include which video features. (That's something I'd like to see in a review chart in MaximumPC, what level of "gamability" a particular notebook/netbook offers in a quantifiable value instead of just somewhat esoteric benchmarks, which have always been fine for desktops.) I never even considered, for example, that an Intel chipset even had transform and lighting support, for example. In any case, it made the netbook I use daily for travel at work more generally acceptable.
I am surprised Maximum PC hadn't reviewed the updated HP Mini-Note line before. Yes one was included in a netbook roundup, but that was a consumer class, not one of the HP business class line. I have an HP Mini-Note 2140 with similar specs, but with DDR2 and without the Ion chipset, of course. It DOES have a dual core Atom, two RAM slots, and that same gorgeous 1366x768 screen as the HP311. To me, what makes all the difference in a netbook, is not being able to render a whole web page in one viewing and having tiny chiclet keys. I have a friend with an Asus EEE model 901 netbook and though it was useful with Xandros Linux, it was difficult getting past the too-short screen and the inability to type on it normally. I use my 2140 daily and simply could not use the Asus 901 the same way. The newer Asus models have updated specs, but have terrible keyboards for typing and too tiny screens.
I suppose, though, if a netbook didn't involve some of these trade-offs, it would be a notebook ;-)
Submitted by p47riot on Sun, 02/07/2010 - 12:06pm
"The newer Asus models have updated specs, but have terrible keyboards for typing and too tiny screens."
Again, without trying to sound like an Asus fanboy here, check out the 1201n that just came out. It's got the same 12.1" screen at 1366x768 that this one has and has an oversized keyboard that's VERY comfortable to type on.
I agree though, it would be great if MaxPC would dig a little deeper into this niche...maybe round up the first batch of IONs and put em through the gauntlet, then compare to the latest non-ION's or something.
Submitted by Stomper88 on Sat, 02/06/2010 - 1:04am
Surely, I am not the only one who realizes the only difference between laptops and netbooks (besides gaming) is how well they play youtubeHD or HuluHD (or any other streaming HD video). Yes, just about everything can play H.264 files at 1080p, thats not what I/we care about, and thats not really what is implied when you say it can play HD. Just tell us if it can play a 1080p youtubeHD video (like the transformers trailer) smoothly without any stuttering. Thats what seperates the slow stuff from the fast stuff now.
Submitted by vistageek on Sat, 02/06/2010 - 7:31pm
I can't seem to be able to play HD youtube videos on my desktop.
Q6600
4 Gigs ram
GTX 260 core 216
Fresh install of windows 7 and latest version of flash
8mbps fiberoptic cable
I honestly don't think that is a fair benchmark. The problem is clearly youtube's.
Submitted by p47riot on Fri, 02/05/2010 - 2:45pm
After considering this net/note/ultraportbook (w/e you wanna call it) I compared it to the similarly specced Asus 1201n and chose to go with that one. They're comparable in alot of areas inluding price, screen res, hdmi out etc, but with a few critical differences: The Asus has the superior dual-core Atom N330, the full ION chipset (this sports the lesser LE version), 2 upgradable memory slots and a 250gb HDD for under $500. Bluetooth, Wireless N, Webcam, blah blah blah.
I'm very impressed at the performance of the ION chipset combined with the dual core Atom. It's not going to blow away any gaming benchmarks, but so far games like WoW, Oblivion, HL2 and Bioshock play very smooth with some tweaking on the detail settings.
If you're checking out the HP, look into the Asus before you buy. That is all.
Submitted by NumberSix on Fri, 02/05/2010 - 1:26pm
I don't know why you are so impressed by a netbook having a hdmi port like if it was the first one. May I remember you that Asus made the N10J in november 2008, a netbook with a nvidia 9300M video card, HDMI, 720P video playback. The only thing new is the DDR3 memory and the possibility to put 3GB instead of 2GB and the screen resolution.
Submitted by Cohiba on Fri, 02/05/2010 - 1:14pm
I'm interested in second tier games on a netbook, MMOs (warcraft, eve, free realms), strategy games, and last gen (half-life 2, etc)
Not looking for top tier performance, I have a main gaming desktop. But really looking for an enjoyable performance. Can I get that from a Atom / Ion combination?
Submitted by snapple00 on Fri, 02/05/2010 - 1:19pm
No.
It might be able to play it. But it is going to be a choppy and horrible experience.
Submitted by Who on Fri, 02/05/2010 - 12:53pm
I buy netbooks for battery life :)
Submitted by Keno5net on Fri, 02/05/2010 - 12:16pm
At what point are you better off with a laptop instead of a "netbook". It seems the lines are blurring probably due to netbook trendiness pushing sales.
Submitted by BobbyPhoenix on Fri, 02/05/2010 - 10:43am
Any screen size larger than the 10" range is, or should be, considered a notebook.
Connect with Maximum PC
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Must Read Articles
-
Feature -
Feature -
How-To -
Feature -
Feature
This Month's Issue
FEATURE29 Essential PC SkillsFEATUREAndroid Power Users GuideHOW TOGet Linux Power of Your Windows PCFEATUREMotherboard ManiaWHITE PAPERIntel's Light Peak
Maximum PC on Facebook
© 2010 Future US, Inc. All rights reserved.