After testing the powerful NVIDIA RTX 4090 in mobile version in the Razer Blade 16, I wanted to see what the entry-level 4000 series had under the hood in terms of gaming. NVIDIA and MEDION suggested that I look at the Erazer Crawler E40, an entry-level laptop PC equipped with a 5th generation Intel Core i12, 16 GB of DDR5 RAM, and above all the small RTX 4050 supported by its maximum of 6 GB of VRAM. It seems very thin, doesn't it? And yet, you may be very surprised.
Characteristics of the model tested
- CPU Intel Core i5-12450H (2.00 to 4.40 GHz, 8 cores (4 P-cores, 4 E-cores), 12 Threads,
12 MB Intel Smart Cache) - NVIDIA GeForce RTXT Mobile 4050 GPU – 6 GB GDDR6
- 512 GB PCIe Gen4x4 SSD (M.2)
- 16GB DDR5 4800MHz RAM
- 15,6“ FHD 144Hz IPS screen (1920×1080)
- Intel Wi-Fi 6E AX211 / Bluetooth 5.1
- Integrated microphone and HD webcam
- Connections: 1 x USB 2.0 / 1 x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Typ-A / 1 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Typ-A / 1 x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Typ-C / 1 x Mini Display port 1.4 / 1 x HDMI out / 1 x LAN (RJ-45)
- Size and weight: 36,1 (L) x 2,5 (H) x 24,1 (D) cm / 2,2 kg
With the Erazer Crawler E40, Medion offers a gaming laptop PC at a low price. We are still talking about 800 euros for a set that is often on sale (when we still find it because it is a victim of its success). Despite this price, the technical sheet is not put aside and the specifications are those intended for gaming use, including a 15,6-inch Full HD screen with a refresh rate of 144 Hz.
So is the promise kept? Have a PC capable of running the latest games without breaking the bank? Let’s dissect the Crawler E40 a little.
A sufficient configuration to play in 2023?
The Medion Erazer Crawler E40 is undoubtedly not the most flashy gaming laptop, both in terms of its design and its technical sheet. Our test model is equipped with an Intel Core i5 12450H (max TDP of 45W), which has already managed to build a good reputation in the gaming world, supported by 16 GB of DDR-5 at 4800 MHz. The PC uses an Nvidia RTX 4050 GPU (Max TDP of 75W announced by GPU-Z but 100W by the manufacturer), which despite its low quantity of VRAM, embeds 4th generation Tensore Cores. Ultimately, it's the 512 GB SSD that spoils the party and won't allow you to install a large number of games when you know that the current big titles are close to or exceed 100 GB upon installation.
A few years ago, laptops had a really hard time finding an identity and having balanced components when we were trying to lower the cost. First element to suffer, the screen. And this is undoubtedly what surprised me the most when I first turned on this Crawler E40, despite its low price, the 15,6 Full HD IPS panel offers beautiful contrasts and decent brightness. The picture is sharp, colorful, and perfectly fluid thanks to 144 Hz. Matte, no reflection spoils the experience of use. I didn't expect to one day see such a decent panel for this price level. A very good point therefore. After calibration with the probe, and even before, the panel correctly displays the range of shades of gray and the colors are sufficiently respected to be able to do a little photo editing without being wrong.
A classic and plastic design
If there is one point where the Erazer Crawler E40 will not compete with the Razer Blade 16, it is the design. The chassis is dark, black, and all plastic. We find the “engraved” logo on the hood, between our fingerprints. Because yes, this type of coating likes scratches and the fat. If you want to keep the Crawler E40 in good condition when traveling, I recommend using a cover.
The design is not necessarily the most ergonomic for everyday use, with ports everywhere: USB and Ethernet on the right side (not practical for right-handed people if you are wired), 2 USB + headphone and microphone jack ports on the left side , and finally HDMI, Displayport, USB-C and power supply on the back.
The ventilation grilles are omnipresent, on the left, right and at the back. We're not necessarily going to complain about it, the Crawler E40 breathes and do not heat. The screen hinge is effective, the panel is well maintained even when moving the PC with the screen open but we already feel a little more flexibility in closing after several hours of "breaking in". To see after a few years. Those who suddenly close their screen risk overcoming this hinge one day or another.
The chiclet keyboard is nice, with good sensitivity to touch, and a contained stroke. Note the presence of a numeric keypad and adjustable backlighting with the in-house software. Without frills and rather sober, the keyboard does the job both in office and in gaming use. Under the keyboard we find a very basic touchpad which lacks a little “glide” and which “clicks” easily. Not being a user (I hate touchpads), I am not very objective and I much prefer to connect a small wireless mouse to accompany my mobile navigation. Brief…
Once closed, the Crawler E40 surprises with its dimensions. Its size remains contained, barely larger than an A4 sheet (360 x 240 x 28 mm for the PC), and allows it to be easily slipped into a backpack. On the scale, it only weighs 2,3 kg, which remains heavy for a set that uses so much plastic, but remains in the category of Gaming-oriented laptops.
In short, this Medion does not shine with its accessories. But at this price level, the whole thing remains quite adequate and we easily turn a blind eye to all these little complaints.
Your ears will quickly ask for headphones
If until now the components were well chosen and the quality-price ratio rather good, it's because I haven't yet mentioned the sound part. Sound from the speakers, but also sound, or rather noise, from the ventilation. The HP really don't deliver good sound. Really !
Located on the sides, towards the front, the sound that reaches your ears is neutral, without bass or treble, or even power. Some people even say that it is harsh on the ears and unpleasant. Opt directly for a helmet, without hesitation. It will have a dual role, that of providing better sound than the Crawler, but also masking the noise of the fan blowing during a gaming phase.
The Crawler E40 is truly capable of the best and the worst. In office use, ventilation is triggered very rarely. There's even a silent mode that turns off the fans and the NVIDIA card. But in entertainment mode, on a very big game, it comes out through all the ventilation grilles! 60 db measured! And it can go even further, since the management software allows you to turn on the fans to full capacity (totally useless by the way). Enough to rival the takeoff of a Starship.
More seriously, it is simply NOT possible to play without headphones. You have been warned. But at least the laptop doesn't heat up. Let's look on the bright side.
Performance: it has everything a great one!
Despite its entry-level status, the Medion can count on high-performance components. The technical sheet is balanced, avoiding the CPU or GPU bottleneck phenomenon. The Core i5 12450H (there is also a model with a Core i5 13500) has often been mentioned as one of the best value for money for gaming. 16 GB of RAM is now a standard (and even a minimum) on current gaming computers. Just like the screen resolution, which will be difficult to exceed anyway with the amount of VRAM on board. The choice of a NVIDIA 4000 series GPU is undoubtedly what allows the Crawler to hold the road, even on the big titles released in 2023.
Despite its entry-level status, the 4050 still has the 4th generation of NVIDIA's Tensore Core. In the program, Raytracing, DLSS 3.5, image generation, the latest fashionable technologies are available and usable. 60 fps in full HD are systematically achieved when using the help of AI.
Here are some measurements taken on games using DLSS. Graphics settings are systematically placed in “high” mode and DLSS in “performance” mode, for a final rendering in 1920×1080.
Game name | Average FPS over a gaming session |
Lords of the fallen | 63 |
Farming Simulator 22 | 104 |
Starfield | 104 |
Cyberpunk (RT) | 99 |
Red Dead Redemption 2 | 100 |
Flight Simulator | 69 |
It's only a small panel, but the results are very correct and I didn't expect such a level on an entry-level PC in Full HD and despite the 6 GB of VRAM on this little 4050. We almost end up wondering “why spend more to play? ». The performance is generally at the level of a 3060 mobile, but becomes superior when we use DLSS 3.5 and Frame Generation which doubles the number of FPS on compatible games.
In daily use, apart from games, we remain in the presence of a powerful and autonomous PC. The “Control Center” software installed on Windows 11 allows you to personalize the experience: keyboard color, fan speed, maximum battery charge percentage, performance or economy mode. In short, it's simple and it gets to the point.
In normal use, on battery, while writing this article with a music video on YouTube in the background, the Craler E40 easily lasted 4 hours, without having triggered its fans once. When plugged in, at rest, I measure 33W. A value which rises to 160W at full load on a game requiring all the components.
To conclude
More than testing the Medion Erazer Crawler E40, my goal was above all to see what the NVIDIA RTX 4050. On paper, the technical sheet does not sell the dream compared to a 3060, and yet, the figures are not the things to look at. They do not reveal the efficiency of new technologies, like here the 4th generation Tensore Core. And yet this is what allows the RTX 4050 to stand out from the crowd.
When I see that it was possible to play at 60 fps+ games that only run at 30 fps on Xbox Series or Playstation 5, I begin to wonder if the future of gaming is not in this search for efficiency rather than displaying muscular figures which are only good for serving a marketing message with great fanfare. “1024-bit XXL bandwidth”, or “53256 GB of RAM for 24K gaming”.
Where to buy the Medion Erazer Crawler E40
•Erazer Crawler E40 RTX 4050 on Cdiscount
•Erazer Crawler E40 RTX 4050 on Rueducommerce
•The version with RTX 4060 8GB