The Asus ROG Strix Scar 17 SE laptop has a number of strings to its bow but the big news is the mighty 12th Gen Intel Core i9-12950HX Processor that KitGuru covered in news HERE. This CPU is primarily intended for Mobile Workstations that will be used by engineers and data scientists, however Asus preferred to build a mighty gaming laptop and Holy Moly have they ever succeeded. The Asus ROG Strix Scar 17 SE kicks down doors, takes names and demands your attention. https://youtu.be/juHZAdKqzYc Time stamps 00:00 Is this laptop looking good? 02:01 Some details 02:58 Ports and connectors 04:03 The screen and hardware thoughts 04:55 Keyboard / RGB / UV (!) 05:52 Asus Armory Crate / power 06:42 Vapor Chamber cooling - liquid metal 07:15 Performance charts 09:52 Gaming Results 11:12 Battery test 11:22 Closing Thoughts Specification Processor: 12th Gen Intel Core i9-12950HX Up to 5.0GHz (30M Cache, 8 P-cores and 8 E-cores) Graphics: Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080 Ti Laptop 16GB GDDR6 ROG Boost: 1640MHz at 175W (1590MHz Boost Clock+50MHz OC, 150W+25W Dynamic Boost) Display: 17.3-inch WQHD (2,560 x 1,440) 16:9 anti-glare display IPS-level, 240Hz, 3ms response, Adaptive-Sync, 100% DCI-P3 MUX Switch + Optimus Memory: 2x 16GB DDR5-4800 SO-DIMM unbranded, Max 64GB, dual channel memory Storage: 2TB + 2TB Samsung PM9A1 PCIe 4.0 NVMe M.2 in RAID 0 I/O Ports: 1x 3.5mm Combo Audio Jack 1x HDMI 2.1 1x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C DisplayPort 1.4/100W power delivery 2x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A 1x 2.5G RJ45 Ethernet port 1x Thunderbolt 4 with DisplayPort 1.4 Keyboard and Touchpad: Backlit Chiclet Keyboard Per-Key RGB, Touchpad Audio: Smart Amp Technology Audio by Dolby Atmos AI noise-cancelling technology Hi-Res certification Built-in array microphone 4-speaker system with Smart Amplifier Technology Network and Communication: Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax) (Dual band) 2*2, Bluetooth 5.2, 2.5G Ethernet Operating System: Windows 11 Home Battery: 90WHrs, 5675mAh, 4-cell Li-ion, 330W Power adapter Dimensions: 395mm x 282mm x 28.3mm Weight: 3.0kg plus 1.1kg for power supply and mains cable Features Intel Core i9-12950HX processor with 16 cores and 24 threads, and up to 65W TDP Up to an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 Ti Laptop GPU with 175W max TGP and MUX Switch Conductonaut Extreme liquid metal on both the CPU and GPU and a custom vapour chamber keep the machine cool See a clear path to victory with FHD 360Hz/3ms or QHD 240Hz/3ms displays Multiple RGB lighting zones with per-key customisation are easily synchronized with Aura Sync Crack the code on the chassis with the included UV flashlight and unlock the hidden secrets within ROG’s new SCAR Runner game Intel 12th Gen Core HX Processors The Intel Core i9-12950HX processor sits at the top of a stack of HX processors that bring 12th Gen Alder Lake technology to laptops along with Pro features such as support for ECC memory. Ports and Connectors You get a reasonable selection of ports and connectors however a single Thunderbolt 4 is slightly disappointing as we would prefer to see two (or more) all-singing, all-dancing Type C ports. The bigger issue for us is that that sides are pretty much taken up by the cooling vents with the result that most of the ports are at the back where they are tricky to reach. Cooling The cooling system inside the Asus ROG Strix Scar 17 SE separates this laptop from a number of other high-end grunty laptops such as the MSI Titan GT77. The combination of a Vapour Chamber cooler and Thermal Grizzly Conductonaut Extreme liquid metal allows Asus to push more power through the CPU and GPU which in turn drives more clock speed and performance. Cinebench R23 Multi Core In Cinebench R23 Multi Core we see the Asus high up in the chart in all three power modes. In Turbo Mode it crushes the competition. Cinebench R23 Single Core Cinebench R23 Single Core also shows the Asus in a good light although the margins of separation are smaller. Blender 3.1 Blender 3.1 is a pure CPU test that repeats what we saw in Cinebench R23 Multi with the Asus winning by a decent margin in Turbo Mode. BAPCo CrossMark We know full well that BAPCo CrossMark favour Intel systems but this particular Asus laptop running on an Intel CPU beats every other laptop we have reviewed, regardless of the power mode. It is remarkable to see how well the Asus performs in Silent Mode. Testing and Performance - 3D Mark Time Spy CPU In the CPU test in 3DMark Time Spy the Asus does very well, much as it did in CrossMark, and even in Silent Mode the Asus stomps the field. 3D Mark Time Spy Graphics In the Time Spy graphics test we see the Asus beating the rest of the field in Turbo Mode where it draws 175W. Switching the Asus to Performance Mode cuts the power slightly and now the Asus is beaten by the MSI Raider GE76. In Silent Mode the Asus only provides 60W to the graphics which slows the performance significantly. 3D Mark Time Spy Overall The Overall score in Time Spy combines the CPU and Graphics scores so there is no surprise when we see the Asus ROG Strix Scar 17 SE topping the chart in Turbo Mode and also doing well in Performance Mode. Testing and Performance - Gaming 1 Cyberpunk 2077 at 1440p In the two higher power modes the Asus gave us a fine gaming experience in Cyberpunk 2077 at 1440p and was also fairly decent in Silent Mode. Cyberpunk 2077 at 1080p At 1080p we were impressed at the speed with which Cyberpunk 2077 flew along and it is worth reminding ourselves the image quality is set to Ultra. Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy at 1440p Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy flies along at 1440p on the Asus and gives a great experience, no matter which settings you choose. Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy at 1080p Switching to 1080p, we once again see the Asus topping the chart in Turbo Mode with a frame rate that is heading towards 200fps. Testing and Performance - Gaming 2 Far Cry 6 at 1440p With Far Cry 6 set to 1440p we see the Asus delivering frame rates that approach those of a high end gaming desktop PC, which is pretty amazing. Far Cry 6 at 1080p Far Cry 6 at 1080p will play well on many high end gaming laptops however on this Asus ROG Strix Scar 17 SE the frames hurtle past at high speed. Watch Dogs: Legion at 1440p Watch Dogs: Legion plays very nicely at 1440p although it doesn't make much difference whether or not you ramp up the power settings. Watch Dogs: Legion at 1080p Watch Dogs: Legion at 1080p is a win for the MSI Raider GE76 that we reviewed earlier in 2022 and yes, it would be intriguing to retest that particular laptop. Anyway, the Asus once again does very handily and delivers a superb gaming experience. Battery We are well used to chunky gaming laptop with awful battery life so it is great to see the Asus ROG Strix Scar 17 SE delivering a pleasant surprise; the battery life is really good. The Asus ROG Strix Scar 17 SE is an impressive gaming laptop that sports a workstation CPU, gaming GPU and heaps of RGB lighting. Those components could have easily been used to create a powerful laptop that ran as hot as a furnace, however Asus avoided that potential problem by using a vapour chamber cooler that covers both the CPU and GPU. Most people will never see the cooler inside their laptop so it gladdens our heart that they really made a feature of this critical component with engraving that shows the layout of the hardware beneath. To maximise cooling Asus has used Conductonaut Extreme liquid metal in place of conventional thermal compound. The end result is a superb laptop that answers all the important questions and which does a fine job. Most of the negative points we raise are inherent to building a high end gaming laptop, so yes it is large, and yes it is heavy, and yes the power adapter is chunky. It is also unfortunate the cooling system blows hot air on your mousing hand and takes up space that might be used by the ports and connectors but we can understand the thinking that led us to this point. The one unforgivable sin that Asus has committed with the ROG Strix Scar SE is the removal of the webcam which obviously belongs in the top bezel of the screen. Apart from that, good work Asus. You can buy the Asus ROG Strix Scar SE for £3700 from Overclockers UK HERE. Discuss on our Facebook page HERE. Pros: Huge performance Impressive QHD 240Hz display Loads of RGB lighting SSDs in RAID 0 run at blazing speed Invisible ink pattern on the lid is fun Cons: Heat vents to the sides, directly towards your mousing hand No webcam included Ports and connectors on the back are awkward to reach Laptop is large and fairly heavy KitGuru says: We are deeply impressed by the Asus ROG Strix Scar 17 SE, however the size and weight cause us issues.
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