Here we are with the Acer Aspire 5 17-inch model, the A517-52-59SV unit with the latest 11th Generation of Intel Core i5-1135G7 chip.
This is the laptop you want to look at if you want to have a larger 17.3 inch IPS panel, the newest generation of Intel i5 processor, and a thin form factor. If you are considering the 15.6″ one with the 11th Gen i7, opt for this unit.
One of the great things about this laptop is, it has a bigger screen (17.3 inches) yet it is thin and lightweight. Whether this notebook is really worth looking at, let’s find that out now.
A517-52-59SV Key Features
First off, let’s start this review by taking you quickly around the key specifications of this Acer Aspire 5 17 inch i7 notebook.
| Unit | Acer Aspire 5 A517-52-59SV, 17.3" Full HD IPS Display, 11th Gen Intel Core i5-1135G7, Intel Iris Xe Graphics, 8GB DDR4, 512GB NVMe SSD, WiFi 6, Fingerprint Reader, Backlit Keyboard |
| Preview |
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| CPU/Processor | 11th Gen of Quad-Core Intel i5-1135G7 (2.40 – 4.2 GHz clock speed) |
| Display | 17.3″ Matte ComfyView IPS LED panel with 1920×1080 Full-HD resolution (no touchscreen) |
| Graphics ✅ | Intel Iris Xe |
| RAM | 8B (2x4GB) dual-channel DDR4 (2666Hz) |
| Storage | 512GB SSD |
| Connectivity | 1x HDMI 2.0, 2x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A, 1x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-C (data transfer up to 5 Gbps, 1x 3.5mm audio, 1x RJ-45 Ethernet port |
| Other features | 720p HD Webcam, IEEE 802.11 a/g/n/ac/ax, Backlit Keyboard, Fingerprint reader, Bluetooth 5.1 |
| Pros & Cons | VIEW |
Quad-Core i5-1135G7 chip
The Acer Aspire 5 A517-52-59SV comes with the Quad-Core 11th Generation of Intel i5 processor (i5-1135G7). Most Ultrabooks utilize this CPU, since it is a power-efficient chip yet powerful, our 17-inch laptop here has it.
For both Single and Multi-Core CPU performance, this generation brings over 17-22% speed improvement compared to its predecessor. For a CPU, this is massive! The 4-Cores and 8-Threads CPU has a clock base speed of 2.40 GHz and can go up to 4.20 GHz when necessary.
This new and fast CPU is sufficiently good for daily computer work, and will even allow basic to medium gaming, thanks to the new Intel Iris Xe Graphics. Of course, we can’t expect it to be a gamer notebook, but for basic gaming, it is capable.
Moreover, the 11th Gen i5 chip beats the Ryzen5 4600U in both single and dual-core speed. It also outperforms the 10th Gen Intel i7-10710U CPU.
Upgradable RAM & Storage
The Acer Aspire 5 17-inch A517-52-59SV with 11th Gen Intel i5 comes with two slots of memory of a total 8GB RAM capacity. One of the slots is populated with the 4GB factory-installed RAM, and it’s soldered to the motherboard. You can however upgrade the other slot by replacing the other 4GB factory’s RAM with your own.
So you can upgrade the RAM of this notebook to a maximal 20GB, this is a lot for a non-gaming laptop. Most entry-level gaming laptops come with only 8 to 16GB of RAM.
For extra storage, Acer also includes an SSD bracket and the cables under the hood to allow an upgrade. You can easily install your SSD in the empty bay.
So there is an option to do an upgrade, but the 8GB of the default RAM and the 512GB storage are more than sufficient for your daily computing tasks. But it is always nice to know that this notebook is indeed upgradeable.
How about gaming?
One of the cool things about this latest generation of processors is, it packs the Intel Iris Xe Graphics. For the first time, Intel includes discrete Graphics in its processor chip that is capable of gaming and a little more. The Intel Iris Xe Graphics is also an improvement of the previous Intel Iris Plus G7 Graphics.
This Graphics card can handle games better than its predecessor. Thanks to 65% faster performance compared to the previous generation of GPU.
Below is the list of basic to intermediate games that can be played at 1080p by this GPU;
However, this Acer Aspire 5 A517-52-59SV is not built for intensive gaming. To specifically game, we recommend this rig, which also has a 17-inch screen but was designed for gamers.
Does the fan sound like a drone?
This is what most users would ask before purchasing a laptop.
Well, to answer this question, this laptop has no noise during normal usage. But when you use it for a heavier load, it will make some noise but not loud, unless you are gaming, then there will be a spike in the fan noise. It is not intended to game intensively.
There is one cooling fan inside, and thanks to the power-efficient processor, this laptop can manage the cooling system adequately.
Convenient Features
Lastly, let’s talk about the additional features of this Acer Aspire 5 A517-52-59SV that you will like.
Fun Backlit Keyboard
If you are looking for a new laptop that has a backlit full-size keyboard for this price range, then this is the one. This laptop comes with a full-size keyboard with a number pad and LED lighting. Do you want to use your laptop during later hours in the dark? No problem, the keys will light up so you don’t need a light in the dark. And what nice is, you can turn it off as well.
Other similar-priced laptops do not have these physical features. So this laptop solves the pricing problem if you want to have a backlit keyboard and want it to be inexpensive.
Fingerprint reader!
There is a Fingerprint reader on this laptop. They place it on the top left of the trackpad. With this feature, you can easily access or log in to your desktop without typing a password, just use your fingerprint. This is a great feature since it is easier and faster. However, if you don’t like this feature, you can disable this as well.
Once again, it is very rare to have a fingerprint reader on a laptop at this price tag.
Aluminum Cover
Lastly, the Acer Aspire 5 A517-52-59SV has a top cover that is made from Aluminum, which also means, it is durable and looks very nice, premium.
The other nice feature is the Ethernet port. These days, most laptops do not come with it, this one has. So when you are working in a place where the Wi-Fi signal is weak, you can solve it with its Ethernet port.
Overall Verdict
If you want a thin, and sleek 17-inch laptop that is fast, this is it. It is the best option for the 17-inch range that has the new updated Intel CPU, a good amount of RAM, and new Graphics, all in a compact notebook. And the ability to easily upgrade the memory and the storage is a big advantage.
In conclusion for this Acer aspire 5 review, this machine is a nice affordable notebook that can perform like a $1k laptop in terms of specs.
Sure, you can find many other laptops with similar prices, but they won’t come with a Fingerprint reader and fun backlit keyboard like this one. This Acer Aspire 5 A517-52-59SV is definitely a steal.
