Microsoft Surface Pro 3. Are they any good in 2020? 5 years old. Benchmark & Game tested GTAV TF2
71The Surface Pro 3 is the third-generation Surface-series 2-in-1 detachable, designed, developed, marketed, and produced by Microsoft. It originally ran the Windows 8 Pro operating system (OS), but the optional upgrade to Windows 10 Pro (OS) operating system was later added.[18]
Let's have a look at this 5 year old computer and see if it can still be used for anything these days.
History
The older, original Surface and Surface 2, with their ARM-based processors and Windows RT operating system, are pitched against the iPad and other tablets. The Surface Pro 3 (like the preceding Surface Pro and Surface Pro 2), with its x64 Intel CPU and Windows 8 OS, is a full-fledged PC that competes against Ultrabooks (particularly those convertible laptops with touchscreens for a tablet functionality, flexible hinges, detachable keyboards, or sliders) and other high-end sub notebooks such as the MacBook Air.[19][20][21]
The Surface Pro 3 was announced on May 20, 2014, at a New York City event,[9][22][23] pre-orders were opened on May 21, 2014, and the first models were released on June 20, 2014 in the U.S. and Canada,[9] with the Intel Core i3 and Intel Core i7 models released on August 1, 2014.[11] The Surface Pro 3 was launched in 25 additional markets on August 28.[24]
On October 6, 2015, Microsoft released its successor, the Surface Pro 4 with a bigger screen with a higher resolution and reduced bezels, faster CPU options, a thinner body and improved cooling system.
Features
Hardware
The Surface Pro 3 has a body made of magnesium alloy giving a gray matted finish to the back of the device. The charging port is magnetized and connects securely to the charger.
It comes with an improved kickstand, allowing the device to be set at any angle between 22 and 150 degrees. The kickstand has a high resistance which provides firmness and prevents accidental sliding.
The Surface Pro 3 features a larger 12 inches (30 cm) (screen display area 25.4 cm x 16.9 cm) display over its predecessor. The screen has a 3:2 aspect ratio which Microsoft claims allow the device to be used more comfortably in the portrait orientation. Because the touch screen digitizer and the pen digitizer are combined into a single layer, the screen is physically thinner than one of earlier models, which improves viewing angle.
Although the Surface Pro 3 has a larger screen than its predecessor, it is both thinner and lighter, weighing 100 grams (0.22 lb) less. Microsoft claims the Surface Pro 3 is capable of up to 9 hours of web browsing.[25]
The Surface Pro 3 is built on the 4th generation Intel Core processor with TPM chip for enterprise security. It includes a USB 3.0 port and a Mini DisplayPort on the right, an audio jack on the left, and a hot swap microSD slot on the back of the device. The microSD slot supports memory cards up to 200 GB.[26] The internal solid-state drive and system memory are not user upgradeable.
Surface Pro 3 external display connectivity[10]
Surface Pro 3 configuration options[27]
Price tier (USD) CPU Integrated GPU RAM Internal storage
799 Intel Core i3-4020Y (1.5 GHz) HD 4200 4 GB 64 GB
999 Intel Core i5-4300U (1.9 to 2.9 GHz) HD 4400 128 GB
1299 8 GB 256 GB
1299 Intel Core i7-4650U (1.7 to 3.3 GHz) HD 5000 128 GB
1549 256 GB
1949 512 GB
External display connectivity
Like its predecessor, the Surface Pro 3 is capable of connecting up to three external displays. To connect a third display the 2-in-1's own screen should be turned off.
The device itself has a single Mini DisplayPort output and in order to connect two external displays one can additionally use a secondary Mini DisplayPort on a docking station accessory (sold separately). To attach three (or fewer) displays, an aftermarket DisplayPort Multi-Stream Transport hub can be used or a daisy chaining feature of compatible displays. One of external displays can be attached over-the-air utilizing Intel Wireless Display (WiDi) technology.
In a single external display mode over DisplayPort, the i5 and i7-based models also support a resolution of 3840x2160 at 60 Hz, known as 4K Ultra HD.[28]
Software
The Surface Pro 3 initially shipped with Windows 8.1 Pro, but since the Windows 10 release on July 29, 2015, new devices come with the updated OS pre-installed, eliminating the need to upgrade as is the case on existing devices.[18] The Windows 10 upgrade, among other features, brings a Tablet mode, which can be useful when device is used as a tablet, that is without a keyboard attached.
InstantGo
The Surface Pro 3 is one of the first 64-bit Windows devices that features InstantGo (formerly Connected Standby),[29] allowing for smartphone-type power management capabilities.