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Averatec AV7170-EC1This reasonably priced, big-screen notebook comes up short in terms of performance. Price:
$1,099
By John R. Delaney 
Like its single-core sibling, the AV7160, the Averatec AV7170-EC1 ($1,099) is a stylish 17-inch desktop-replacement notebook with a few nice multimedia options. This time around, the system comes with an AMD dual-core processor and Nvidia graphics. Despite the upgrades, this system's performance falls way short of our expectations.
The AV7170's sleek black-and-silver exterior gives way to a matching full-sized keyboard and two-way touch pad that maintains the same aspect ratio as the 17-inch screen. With a maximum resolution of 1440 x 900 pixels, the widescreen display delivers vivid colors and excellent viewing angles, but the AveraBrite coating is a bit too reflective when viewed under bright lighting conditions. Weighing 7.2 pounds and measuring 1.3 inches thick, the system is a bit more portable than most desktop replacements but still too hefty to be considered a full-time travel companion. Averatec gets it right when it comes to positioning frequently accessed ports. A 5-in-1 card reader, three audio jacks (including headphones), and a FireWire port are conveniently located on the system's front edge, while all three USB ports, an S-Video port, and a VGA output are mounted on the sides, along with the dual-layer DVD burner and the ExpressCard and PC Card slots. Only the Ethernet, modem, and power connections are located around back. The stereo speakers embedded in the lower bezel are underpowered and lack any kind of bass response, resulting in tinny music playback and uninspired gaming sound effects. In fact, if gaming is high on your priority list, the AV7170 will likely disappoint. Although the Nvidia GeForce Go 6100 graphics card will handle most low-level 3D tasks, a score of 1,205 on our 3DMark03 tests indicates that this system is not equipped to render high-res visuals smoothly. The AV7170 is more than capable of handling everyday business and home productivity tasks, but we were unimpressed with its overall performance. Its MobileMark 2005 score of 104 was surprisingly low considering the machine is powered by a 1.6-GHz AMD Turion 64 X2 dual-core CPU and 1GB of DDR2 memory. In fact, the less powerful AV7160 turned in a better score. Battery life was about average for this class of system, with two hours and six minutes of runtime. The AV7170 comes with Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition, and Averatec does include an MCE remote, a real plus if you want to easily navigate the media center interface. The company does not offer a TV tuner option. Bundled software is also sparse; other than Cyberlink DVD Solution 4, you get 30-day trial versions of Zone Alarm's Internet Security Suite and Phoenix Recover Pro software. A standard one-year warranty covers parts and labor and provides round-the-clock toll-free technical support, but the battery is only protected for six months. You can extend the warranty to two years for an additional $169. Overall, the Averatec AV7170-EC1 is a mediocre desktop replacement system that doesn't quite cut it as a media center and lacks the power to handle demanding business and 3D graphic workloads with aplomb. While its $1,099 price is appealing, there are better-performing systems to be had for the money. Compare Prices | Averatec AV7170-EC1 Specifications
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