Acer Aspire AZ3-615-UR11 Highlights -
Pros: Affordable. Full HD display.
Cons: Non-touchscreen. Integrated graphics card not suitable for high-end gaming.
Keeping up with this weeks theme of reviewing All-In-One (AIO) desktops, we came across a desktop from Acer that will appeal to users looking for a simple no fuss all-in-one that offers a reasonably good performance. The Acer Aspire AZ3-615-UR11 aims to bring a balance between features, functionality and price. Similar to Toshiba PX35T-A2300, the desktop features a big 23 inch full HD resolution screen. However, the display is non-touch which is why this desktop is much cheaper than it's other high-end competition. However, don't get fooled by the cheap price. The desktop offers good performance features with it's Intel Pentium dual-core processor, 4GB of memory and massive 1TB storage space. The whole black plastic body of Acer Aspire AZ3-615 sits on a silver metal stand that holds the system firmly in place. Acer has tried to add some variety to the design by incorporating a silver speaker grille below the display. As mentioned, Acer has focused on simplicity, so design-wise users won't find anything too special.
Performance - The dual-core Intel Pentium G3220T processor which clocks at 2.6GHz offers decent performance. The processor has no Hyper-Threading support therefore only a few processes can be run simultaneously. Also, the processor is built for efficiency and requires very little power to run. The processor performance was below that of similar Intel Core i3 processors in benchmark tests carried out by CPU Boss (refer below), but performed well when compared to the Intel Celeron processor. Nevertheless, the processor has enough power to smoothly run daily tasks like office productivity, web-browsing, checking email and streaming videos and music.
Storage & Memory - Acer Aspire AZ3-615-UR11 comes with a 4GB of DDR3 memory and 1TB (7200 RPM) hard drive. The memory is a bit average for multi-tasking but it can be expanded up to 16GB if required. The storage is pretty good for storing large amount of multimedia files and documents. Also, the faster 7200 RPM drive will improve overall boot time and responsiveness. This will be especially noticeable when dealing with large files.
Display, Graphics & Sound - The desktop features a glossy 23 inch widescreen IPS LCD display with support for full HD resolution (1920x1080 pixels) and features a wide viewing angle (178°). The contrast ratio is not high enough, but colors are vibrant when watching videos on Netflix or Youtube. The screen can be tilted (5° to 25°) to adjust to your viewing preference. The processor integrated Intel HD Graphics will give users average performance in handling graphics related tasks like playing games. Nevertheless, the graphics card won’t have any issues playing older games, watching videos or performing simple multimedia editing tasks. Also, the desktop features a Dolby-optimized surround sound system with two built-in front-facing stereo speakers. To us the sound quality seems pretty average at best.
Operating System - Windows 8.1
Click here for a closer look and buyer reviews.
Acer Aspire AZ3-615-UR11 connectivity includes 5 USB ports (2 USB 3.0 ports, 3 USB 2.0 ports), HDMI in and out, Bluetooth, a media card reader, a DVD writer, front facing webcam and a wireless keyboard and mouse. For internet connectivity, there is a Gigabit Ethernet port and wireless 802.11 b/g/n support. These features are pretty much what you should expect from an AIO desktop. The desktop measures 22.80 x 2.13 x 19.25 inches and weighs 19.3 pounds.
ReviewsBucket's Verdict:
The Acer Aspire AZ3-615-UR11 AIO is what a respectable mid-tier AIO should be. While it doesn’t excel in any one area, this Acer AIO is an all-rounder and comes at an affordable price. It offers reasonable performance and speed which is more than sufficient for most users and robust connectivity options. However, the lack of touchscreen is a bit disappointing but when you consider the price and the benefits that you get including a big 23 inch full HD monitor packed with a massive storage space and good multitasking capability, we think it is well worth the money. If you really want touchscreen capability, then there is the Acer Aspire AZ3-615-UR13 model. All other specifications remain the same.
The Acer Aspire AZ3-615 series comes in several other models, most popular being Acer Aspire AZ3-615-UR14 and Acer Aspire AZ3-615-UR15 featuring a faster Intel Core i3 and Intel Core i5 processor respectively. Both of these models have touchscreen capability as well. As there are many models in this series, the choice is yours.
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