For multimedia performance, we use Maxon’s Cinebench R15 test, which is fully
threaded to make use of all available processor cores and threads. Cinebench
stresses the CPU rather than the GPU to render a complex image. The result is a
proprietary score indicating a PC’s suitability for processor-intensive
workloads; it’s clear that while the HP Envy is no workstation, it can handle
occasional rendering tasks much better than the Mac mini or IdeaCentre can.
The results of our Handbrake video encoding trial are similar.
We also run a custom Adobe Photoshop image editing benchmark. The
Photoshop test stresses the CPU, storage subsystem, and RAM, but it can also
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of these systems is great at photo editing, but the Envy Desktop and Acer Aspire
are a cut above their competitors thanks mostly to their more powerful CPUs.
A CAPABLE DAILY PC
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performance in an attractive chassis with a bit of room for expansion. While its
gaming performance is lackluster, that can easily be remedied by adding a
discrete GPU. But if you plan to add several PCIe cards or have lots of USB-C
peripherals, you’ll want to look elsewhere.
TOM BRANT
PC MAGAZINE DIGITAL EDITION (^) I SUBSCRIBE (^) I APRIL 2020