Sony Vaio EB3E9E review

There’s no dedicated graphics processor, so the EB3E9E relies on the Core i3’s integrated chip. This can decode HD video content, but it struggles with games, posting a score of only 9.4fps in our Call of Duty 4 benchmark.

HD movies will look great on the 1,366×768 screen. It has a glossy finish, so it’s very reflective and you’ll also have adjust the tilt carefully as vertical viewing angles are fussy. However colours are vibrant and contrast is good: this is one of the better screens we’ve seen. The built-in speakers are loud, but they lack any bass.

There are VGA and HDMI outputs, plus four USB ports, one of which is shared with an eSATA port. Networking support is great, with 802.11n and Bluetooth wireless, as well as Gigabit Ethernet. The 320GB hard disk is the only real disappointment.

With its excellent design and build quality, many will be tempted to pay the extra for the EB3E9E, but MSI’s CX623 is better value at around £50 less. It’s just as fast, has similar expansion ports and a larger hard disk, plus it has an even better display. If you can find it cheaper, the Vaio is a great alternative, though.