Asus ROG Strix Scar 17 evaluate: positive, this one is sweet, too

Final week, I wrote concerning the ROG Strix Scar X3D: a huge, very costly gaming laptop computer with off-the-charts benchmark scores. The X3D is a really thrilling product by way of what it represents for the laptop computer sphere however not one thing I essentially see an entire bunch of individuals speeding to buy.

At present, we’re as a substitute discussing the ROG Strix Scar 17 — no X3D within the title. This Scar doesn’t use AMD’s fancy 3D V-Cache expertise. Nevertheless it does have an astonishingly highly effective pair of chips inside: AMD’s Ryzen 9 7945HX and Nvidia’s GeForce RTX 4090. It’s barely much less highly effective and, with a worth of $3,499.99, in comparison with the high-end Scar X3D’s $3,699.99, barely extra reasonably priced.

Other than the chip structure, the Strix Scar 17 is principally equivalent to the Scar X3D. It’s obtained the identical 17-inch QHD display, per-key RGB keyboard, considerably grainy FHD webcam, and big 6.6-pound chassis. On condition that similarity, in addition to the truth that $200 shouldn’t be all that a lot whenever you’re already paying upwards of three grand, I think about that many avid gamers could favor to attend for the X3D mannequin to hit cabinets (which is meant to occur in late September, per the final time I bugged Asus about it). Nonetheless, when you don’t need to wait that lengthy otherwise you discover $3,700 to be only a bit past what you possibly can afford, the common Scar 17 will nonetheless ship an distinctive gaming expertise that’s fairly far above the remainder of the sphere.

First, let’s discuss a very powerful matter right here: how effectively the factor can recreation.

Even at native 2560 x 1440 decision with ray tracing to the max, you can be hard-pressed to discover a recreation that provides the Scar 17 any issues.

The laptop computer left the 100fps ceiling out of the water on Purple Lifeless Redemption 2, Shadow of the Tomb Raider, and Cyberpunk 2077. Whereas that efficiency isn’t fairly as unbelievable as we noticed from the X3D mannequin, it isn’t too far behind. On Purple Lifeless, the distinction between the 7945HX and the 7945HX3D got here right down to 10-ish frames per second — a couple of proportion factors. The distinction was a bit greater in Shadow of the Tomb Raider however nonetheless not giant sufficient to materially influence the gameplay. In all instances, pictures have been easy and shiny with out seen glitches or hangups. In fact, these numbers have been additionally effectively above those who we noticed from MSI’s Titan GT77 HX, a way more costly RTX 4090 machine powered by Intel’s flagship Core i9. AMD is clearly forward within the premium efficiency area.

I additionally needed to see how effectively the Strix did on two of at this time’s hottest video games, Baldur’s Gate 3 and Star Wars Jedi Survivor. No issues in both case. The gadget did simply barely recover from the 60fps threshold in Jedi Survivor with settings maxed and ray tracing on, nevertheless it did make it. That recreation is a very demanding instance of ray tracing and commonplace rendering, so I used to be impressed to see how effectively it ran right here.

Be aware that these followers, when you put them in Turbo mode, will roar. They’re so loud that you’ll both must blast the sport audio or be carrying some first rate headphones in an effort to comfortably hear music and dialogue. Even when the Strix was idle and never working any video games, I may hear its followers at work from the opposite room. You possibly can, in fact, use Silent Mode for normal use, although the keyboard did get a bit toasty throughout these durations.

When it comes to battery life, I averaged round three hours of normal use with the display at 200 nits. I assume of us will principally be utilizing this factor on their desks, owing to the truth that it’s six and a half kilos, however, you already know. Simply in case you have been questioning. (The 330W charger took round 45 minutes to cost the gadget to 60 p.c.)

That’s going to be most of what it is advisable know concerning the Scar 17, particularly when you’ve already learn my evaluate of the X3D mannequin. In case you haven’t, listed below are a couple of different issues to name out.

It stands out. This isn’t a type of glossy, respectable-looking gaming laptops with an understated fashionable vibe (say, Razer Blade 16 or Alienware x17). From prime to backside, that is an old-school gaming rig — a flashy and colourful chassis that may flip heads wherever it goes. There’s a per-key RGB keyboard and a shiny RGB lightstrip alongside the underside and a light-up ROG brand on the lid. This laptop computer screams “gamer.” It’s massive. 6.6 kilos and virtually a full inch thick. It’s giant. I didn’t benefit from the occasions after I needed to carry this with one hand, and carrying it in my backpack alongside books and different issues made me very sad. I might not purchase this anticipating you can be bringing it too removed from your home. That’s very true as a result of the 330W charger, whereas good at its job, is gigantic.The ports are a bit of… one-sided. Actually, they’re distributed throughout the left facet and the again, with nothing on the best. I don’t love this type of association as a result of it could inconvenience some of us whose monitor and outlet setup favors right-hand connectivity. Additionally, I simply don’t love having to succeed in across the again to plug a number of issues in (I’ve brief little arms, sue me), although I acknowledge that others favor it. It’s laborious to complain concerning the choice itself, although. You get two USB-A on the left and two USB-C (supporting USB4), an HDMI, an ethernet, and an influence port on the again. I’m a fanatic about this keyboard. Each time I evaluate an ROG laptop computer, I gush about its keyboard. This Strix is not any exception. The aforementioned RGB is neat (and customizable to your coronary heart’s content material). The quantity pad on the best facet is helpful when you want it. There are devoted keys for adjusting quantity and fan pace, toggling the microphone, and pulling up Asus’ Armory Crate software program, and I want extra laptops had little buttons like this as a result of I’m very over having to stretch my hand throughout large keyboards to toggle quantity (taking a look at you, LG Gram). However most significantly, it has an extremely bouncy really feel and a uniquely snug texture. I fly on this factor.

A tool this massive and costly, with this little battery life and this flashy a glance shouldn’t be going to be the best alternative for everybody (or, let’s be trustworthy — most individuals). All types of traces, reminiscent of Lenovo’s Legion Professional, provide units which are each higher constructed, extra reasonably priced, and extra sensible to hold.

The Scar 17 has principally one factor going for it: It affords a number of the greatest gaming efficiency you may get. (And, to be honest, for effectively over $3,000, that needs to be an expectation.) It’s overshadowed by its X3D counterpart on the subject of the uncooked body charges, nevertheless it’s nonetheless blasting just about each different gaming laptop computer we’ve ever examined out of the water. I’m snug saying it most likely affords higher bang on your buck than the X3D mannequin does, although that’s seemingly not an element that issues a lot to people who find themselves looking for an RTX 4090.

Collectively, the Strix Scar 17 and the Strix Scar X3D ship a fairly clear message to the gaming world: AMD may be very far forward. And when you’re between the 2, both ought to serve you effectively.