Product comparison · 2 laptops

Lenovo ThinkPad S531 Intel® Core™ i3 i3-3227U Laptop vs MSI Classic CX70 Intel® Core™ i5 i5-3230M Laptop

121specifications compared
31differ
90identical
46known for one product only

Key differences

Product colour
- ThinkPad S531 Intel® Core™ i3 i3-3227U Laptop:Black
- Classic CX70 Intel® Core™ i5 i5-3230M Laptop:Black, Grey
Display diagonal
- ThinkPad S531 Intel® Core™ i3 i3-3227U Laptop:39.6 cm (15.6")
- Classic CX70 Intel® Core™ i5 i5-3230M Laptop:43.9 cm (17.3")
Display resolution
- ThinkPad S531 Intel® Core™ i3 i3-3227U Laptop:1366 x 768 pixels
- Classic CX70 Intel® Core™ i5 i5-3230M Laptop:1600 x 900 pixels
Processor family
- ThinkPad S531 Intel® Core™ i3 i3-3227U Laptop:Intel® Core™ i3
- Classic CX70 Intel® Core™ i5 i5-3230M Laptop:Intel® Core™ i5
Processor generation
- ThinkPad S531 Intel® Core™ i3 i3-3227U Laptop:3rd gen Intel® Core™ i3
- Classic CX70 Intel® Core™ i5 i5-3230M Laptop:3rd gen Intel® Core™ i5
Processor model
- ThinkPad S531 Intel® Core™ i3 i3-3227U Laptop:i3-3227U
- Classic CX70 Intel® Core™ i5 i5-3230M Laptop:i5-3230M
Processor frequency
- ThinkPad S531 Intel® Core™ i3 i3-3227U Laptop:1.9 GHz
- Classic CX70 Intel® Core™ i5 i5-3230M Laptop:2.6 GHz
Thermal Design Power (TDP)
- ThinkPad S531 Intel® Core™ i3 i3-3227U Laptop:17 W
- Classic CX70 Intel® Core™ i5 i5-3230M Laptop:35 W

Side by side

Differences highlightedShow differences only

Comparison of S531, CX70
167 specifications	A Lenovo ThinkPad S531 Intel® Core™ i3 i3-3227U Laptop Model S531 View product	B MSI Classic CX70 Intel® Core™ i5 i5-3230M Laptop Model CX70 View product
Design1 differ
Product type	Laptop	Laptop
Product colourDiffers	Black	Black, Grey
Form factor	Clamshell	Clamshell
Display2 differ
Display diagonalDiffers	39.6 cm (15.6")	43.9 cm (17.3")
Display resolutionDiffers	1366 x 768 pixels	1600 x 900 pixels
HD typeKnown for one	Unknown — not stated by the source	HD+
LED backlight	Yes	Yes
Native aspect ratio	16:9	16:9
TouchscreenKnown for one	No	Unknown — not stated by the source
Processor8 differ
Processor manufacturer	Intel	Intel
Processor familyDiffers	Intel® Core™ i3	Intel® Core™ i5
Processor generationDiffers	3rd gen Intel® Core™ i3	3rd gen Intel® Core™ i5
Processor modelDiffers	i3-3227U	i5-3230M
Processor cores	2	2
Processor threads	4	4
Processor boost frequencyKnown for one	Unknown — not stated by the source	3.2 GHz
Processor frequencyDiffers	1.9 GHz	2.6 GHz
System bus rate	5 GT/s	5 GT/s
Processor cache	3 MB	3 MB
Processor cache type	Smart Cache	Smart Cache
Processor socket	BGA 1023	BGA 1023
Processor lithography	22 nm	22 nm
Processor operating modes	64-bit	64-bit
Processor seriesDiffers	Intel Core i3-3200 Mobile Series	Intel Core i5-3200 Mobile series
Processor codename	Ivy Bridge	Ivy Bridge
Bus type	DMI	DMI
FSB Parity	No	No
Stepping	L1	L1
Thermal Design Power (TDP)Differs	17 W	35 W
Tjunction	105 °C	105 °C
Maximum number of PCI Express lanes	16	16
PCI Express configurations	1x16, 2x8, 1x8+2x4	1x16, 2x8, 1x8+2x4
PCI Express slots versionDiffers	2.0	3.0
CPU multiplier (bus/core ratio)Differs	19	26
ECC supported by processor	No	No
Memory1 differ
Internal memoryDiffers	4 GB	8 GB
Internal memory type	DDR3-SDRAM	DDR3-SDRAM
Memory clock speed	1600 MHz	1600 MHz
Storage1 differ
Total storage capacity	500 GB	500 GB
Storage media	HDD	HDD
Number of HDDs installed	1	1
HDD capacity	500 GB	500 GB
HDD interface	SATA	SATA
Optical drive typeDiffers	No	DVD Super Multi
Card reader integrated	Yes	Yes
Compatible memory cardsKnown for one	Unknown — not stated by the source	MS PRO, MS PRO Duo, MS PRO Duo Mark 2, SD, SDHC, SDXC
HDD speedKnown for one	7200 RPM	Unknown — not stated by the source
Graphics1 differ
On-board graphics card	Yes	Yes
Discrete graphics cardKnown for one	Unknown — not stated by the source	Yes
Discrete graphics card modelKnown for one	Unknown — not stated by the source	NVIDIA® GeForce® GT 640M
Discrete graphics card memoryKnown for one	Unknown — not stated by the source	2 GB
Discrete graphics memory typeKnown for one	Unknown — not stated by the source	GDDR3
On-board graphics card family	Intel® HD Graphics	Intel® HD Graphics
On-board graphics card model	Intel® HD Graphics 4000	Intel® HD Graphics 4000
On-board graphics card base frequencyDiffers	350 MHz	650 MHz
On-board graphics card dynamic frequency (max)	1100 MHz	1100 MHz
On-board graphics card ID	0x166	0x166
Audio1 differ
Audio systemDiffers	Dolby Home Theater	HD
Number of built-in speakers	2	2
Built-in microphone	Yes	Yes
Speakers manufacturerKnown for one	JBL	Unknown — not stated by the source
Cameraidentical
Front cameraKnown for one	Unknown — not stated by the source	Yes
Front camera resolution	1280 x 720 pixels	1280 x 720 pixels
Video capturing speedKnown for one	Unknown — not stated by the source	30 fps
Network2 differ
Mobile network connectionKnown for one	Unknown — not stated by the source	Yes
Mobile network generationKnown for one	Unknown — not stated by the source	4G
4G standardKnown for one	Unknown — not stated by the source	WiMAX
Wi-Fi	Yes	Yes
Wi-Fi standardsDiffers	802.11b, 802.11g, Wi-Fi 4 (802.11n)	802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11g
Ethernet LAN	Yes	Yes
Ethernet LAN data rates	10,100,1000 Mbit/s	10,100,1000 Mbit/s
BluetoothDiffers	No	Yes
Bluetooth versionKnown for one	Unknown — not stated by the source	4.0
Cabling technology	10/100/1000Base-T(X)	10/100/1000Base-T(X)
4G WiMAXKnown for one	Unknown — not stated by the source	Yes
Integrated 4G WiMAX	Yes	Yes
Top Wi-Fi standardKnown for one	Wi-Fi 4 (802.11n)	Unknown — not stated by the source
Ports & interfaces5 differ
USB 2.0 ports quantityDiffers	0	2
USB 3.2 Gen 1 (3.1 Gen 1) Type-A ports quantity	2	2
eSATA/USB 2.0 ports quantity	0	0
eSATA/USB 3.2 Gen 1 (3.1 Gen 1) ports quantity	0	0
eSATA ports quantity	0	0
Ethernet LAN (RJ-45) ports	1	1
HDMI ports quantity	1	1
DisplayPorts quantity	0	0
VGA (D-Sub) ports quantityDiffers	0	1
Firewire (IEEE 1394) ports	0	0
Thunderbolt ports quantity	0	0
Headphone outputsDiffers	0	1
S/PDIF out portDiffers	No	Yes
Microphone inDiffers	No	Yes
Headphone connectivityKnown for one	Unknown — not stated by the source	3.5 mm
Microphone connectivityKnown for one	Unknown — not stated by the source	3.5 mm
DVI portKnown for one	No	Unknown — not stated by the source
Combo headphone/mic portKnown for one	Yes	Unknown — not stated by the source
Docking connectorKnown for one	No	Unknown — not stated by the source
ExpressCard slotKnown for one	No	Unknown — not stated by the source
CardBus PCMCIA slots quantityKnown for one	0	Unknown — not stated by the source
CardBus PCMCIA slot typeKnown for one	No	Unknown — not stated by the source
SmartCard slotKnown for one	No	Unknown — not stated by the source
Performanceidentical
Motherboard chipsetKnown for one	Unknown — not stated by the source	Intel HM76 Express
Keyboard1 differ
Pointing deviceDiffers	ThinkPad UltraNav	Pointing Stick
Numeric keypad	Yes	Yes
Keyboard number of keysKnown for one	Unknown — not stated by the source	102
Keyboard layoutKnown for one	Unknown — not stated by the source	QWERTY
Windows keysKnown for one	Yes	Unknown — not stated by the source
Software1 differ
Operating system installedDiffers	Windows 7 Professional	Windows Vista Home Premium
Operating system architecture	64-bit	64-bit
Recovery operating systemKnown for one	Windows 8 Pro	Unknown — not stated by the source
Processor special features4 differ
Intel® Wireless Display (Intel® WiDi)	Yes	Yes
CPU configuration (max)	1	1
Embedded options available	No	No
Enhanced Intel SpeedStep Technology	Yes	Yes
Execute Disable Bit	Yes	Yes
Graphics & IMC lithography	22 nm	22 nm
Idle States	Yes	Yes
Intel 64	Yes	Yes
Intel Clear Video Technology	No	No
Intel Demand Based Switching	No	No
Intel Dual Display Capable Technology	Yes	Yes
Intel Enhanced Halt State	Yes	Yes
Intel FDI Technology	Yes	Yes
Intel Fast Memory Access	Yes	Yes
Intel Flex Memory Access	Yes	Yes
Intel Identity Protection Technology version	1.00	1.00
Intel Rapid Storage Technology	No	No
Intel Secure Key Technology versionKnown for one	Unknown — not stated by the source	1.00
Intel Trusted Execution Technology	No	No
Intel VT-x with Extended Page Tables (EPT)	Yes	Yes
Intel Virtualization Technology (VT-x)	Yes	Yes
Intel Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O (VT-d)	No	No
Intel® AES New Instructions (Intel® AES-NI)Differs	No	Yes
Intel® Anti-Theft Technology (Intel® AT)	Yes	Yes
Intel® Clear Video HD Technology (Intel® CVT HD)	Yes	Yes
Intel® Clear Video Technology for Mobile Internet Devices (Intel CVT for MID)	No	No
Intel® Hyper Threading Technology (Intel® HT Technology)	Yes	Yes
Intel® Identity Protection Technology (Intel® IPT)	Yes	Yes
Intel® InTru™ 3D Technology	Yes	Yes
Intel® Insider™	Yes	Yes
Intel® My WiFi Technology (Intel® MWT)	Yes	Yes
Intel® Quick Sync Video Technology	Yes	Yes
Intel® Secure KeyKnown for one	Unknown — not stated by the source	Yes
Intel® Small Business Advantage (Intel® SBA)Known for one	Unknown — not stated by the source	No
Intel® Smart Cache	Yes	Yes
Intel® Turbo Boost TechnologyDiffers	No	2.0
Processor ARK IDDiffers	72057	72056
Processor codeDiffers	SR0XF	SR0WX
Processor package size	31 x 24 (BGA1023)	31 x 24 (BGA1023)
Supported instruction sets	AVX	AVX
Thermal Monitoring Technologies	Yes	Yes
Conflict-Free processor	Yes	Yes
Battery1 differ
Battery technologyKnown for one	Unknown — not stated by the source	Lithium-Ion (Li-Ion)
Number of battery cellsDiffers	4	6
Battery capacityKnown for one	62.8 Wh	Unknown — not stated by the source
Battery life (max)Known for one	9 h	Unknown — not stated by the source
Poweridentical
AC adapter powerKnown for one	Unknown — not stated by the source	65 W
DC-in jack	Yes	Yes
Security1 differ
Cable lock slotDiffers	Yes	No
Fingerprint readerKnown for one	Yes	Unknown — not stated by the source
Weight & dimensions1 differ
WeightDiffers	2.29 kg	2.7 kg
WidthKnown for one	Unknown — not stated by the source	418 mm
DepthKnown for one	Unknown — not stated by the source	269.3 mm
HeightKnown for one	Unknown — not stated by the source	39 mm
Packaging contentidentical
Manual	Yes	Yes
AC adapter includedKnown for one	Yes	Unknown — not stated by the source
Cables includedKnown for one	AC	Unknown — not stated by the source
Optical driveidentical
LightScribeKnown for one	No	Unknown — not stated by the source

A dash means the value is not stated by the source. Unknown values are never counted for or against a product, and there is no overall score.

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