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Asus refreshes ZenBook UX310 with seventh-generation Intel CPUs

Asus Zenbook 3
Matt Smith/Digital Trends
Asus is updating its ZenBook UX310 ultrabook with seventh-generation “Kaby Lake” processors, as two refreshed models have appeared on the company’s site. The ZenBook UX310UA is based on integrated graphics while the ZenBook UX310UQ packs a discreet GeForce 940M graphics chip from Nvidia. Outside the graphics, both models feature identical hardware options.

The seventh-generation Intel processors in question are the Core i7-7500U, the Core i5-7200U, and the Core i3-7100U. Here are the specs of each:

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Core i7-7500U Core i5-7200U Core i3-7100U
Process node: 14nm 14nm 14nm
Number of cores: 2 2 2
Number of threads: 4 4 4
Base speed: 2.70GHz 2.50GHz 2.40GHz
Boost speed: 3.50GHz 3.10GHz N/A
Cache: 4MB 3MB 3MB
TDP: 15 watts 15 watts 15 watts
Max memory support: 32GB 32GB 32GB
Processor graphics: Intel HD Graphics 620 Intel HD Graphics 620 Intel HD Graphics 620
Graphics base speed: 300MHz 300MHz 300MHz
Graphics max speed: 1.05GHz 1.00GHz 1.00GHz

These three “Kaby Lake” ZenBooks join current models with older sixth-generation “Skylake” processors consisting of the Core i7-6500U, the Core i5-6200U, and the Core i3-6100U chips. These include Intel’s HD Graphics 520 component, and provide base clock speeds between 2.50GHz and 2.30GHz. This trio of processors launched in the third quarter of 2015 whereas the new processors are fresh off the conveyor belt.

As for Nvidia’s graphics chip installed the UX310UQ model, the GeForce 940M is low on Nvidia’s laptop GPU totem pole, even more so now that the company can shove its GeForce GTX 10 Series graphics chips into laptop form factors. The GeForce 940M sits between the 930MX and the 940MX sporting the following specs:

Release date: February 2015
Core name: GM108
Architecture: Maxwell
Process node: 28nm
CUDA cores: 384
Texture mapping units: 24
Render output units: 8
Base clock speed: 1,072MHz
Maximum clock speed: 1,176MHz
On-board memory: 2GB DDR3
Memory frequency: 2,000MHz
Memory bus: 64-bit
Memory bandwidth: 16GB per second

Now here is an additional list of specs for the two new ZenBook devices, showing the hardware options made available to the UX310 models:

Operating system: Windows 10 Home
Windows 10 Pro
Processor: Core i7-7500U / 6500U
Core i5-7200U / 6200U
Core i3-7100U / 6100U
Memory: 4GB DDR4 @ 2,133MHz
Supports up to 16GB in a single SO_DIMM socket
Display: 13.3 inches, 3,200 x 1,800 @ 60Hz
13.3 inches, 1,920 x 1,080 @ 60Hz
Storage (5,200RPM hard drives): 500GB and 1TB
Graphics: Intel HD Graphics 520 / 620
Discreet graphics (UX310UQ only): GeForce 940M with 2GB GDDR3
Storage (SATA 3 M.2 solid state drives): 128GB, 256GB, and 512GB
Keyboard: Chicklet keyboard
Illuminated chiclet keyboard
Webcam: HD Webcam
Networking: Wireless AC
Battery: 3 cells 48 watt-hours
Ports: 1x SD card reader
1x Microphone/headphone combo jack
1x USB 3.1 Type-C
1x USB 3.0
2x USB 2.0
1x HDMI
Size: 12.7 x 8.8 x 0.7 inches
Weight: 3.1 pounds

As always, customers will see a mixture of these hardware components in set configurations, as Asus doesn’t have a tool for customers to configure their own setup. Right now, Asus doesn’t provide pricing for residents in the United States, but there are variants of each beginning to appear overseas packing the new seventh-generation processors, such as the UX310UQ-FC396T costing around $1,357 in the United States.

Kevin Parrish
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Kevin started taking PCs apart in the 90s when Quake was on the way and his PC lacked the required components. Since then…
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