Zephyrus | KitGuru https://www.kitguru.net KitGuru.net - Tech News | Hardware News | Hardware Reviews | IOS | Mobile | Gaming | Graphics Cards Thu, 30 Mar 2023 14:15:06 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.4.3 https://www.kitguru.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/cropped-KITGURU-Light-Background-SQUARE2-32x32.png Zephyrus | KitGuru https://www.kitguru.net 32 32 CES 2023: Asus rolls out new ROG Maxed-Out laptops https://www.kitguru.net/lifestyle/mobile/laptops/matthew-wilson/ces-2023-asus-rolls-out-new-rog-maxed-out-laptops/ https://www.kitguru.net/lifestyle/mobile/laptops/matthew-wilson/ces-2023-asus-rolls-out-new-rog-maxed-out-laptops/#respond Tue, 03 Jan 2023 19:25:04 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=588951 The first day of CES has been eventful, with Intel unveiling new 13th Gen Core mobile processors for laptops and Nvidia rolling out a new line of RTX 40 series GPUs for laptops. Now, laptop makers are showing off their new designs for 2023 and Asus ROG is at the top of that list with …

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The first day of CES has been eventful, with Intel unveiling new 13th Gen Core mobile processors for laptops and Nvidia rolling out a new line of RTX 40 series GPUs for laptops. Now, laptop makers are showing off their new designs for 2023 and Asus ROG is at the top of that list with a full range of ‘Maxed-Out' laptops. 

Asus is unveiling brand new gaming laptops today with ROG Nebula (Mini LED) Displays, ROG Intelligent Cooling technology, and the latest CPUs and GPUs that Intel, AMD and Nvidia have brought to the table. While AMD has not yet officially announced its new laptop CPUs, Asus says that several of its upcoming laptops will ship with new Ryzen Zen 4 processors, and with AMD hosting its own CES keynote tomorrow, we should get confirmation on exact processor models soon.

For starters, we have the new ROG Strix laptop line-up, featuring the Strix SCAR 16 and 18 laptops, offering a QHD/240Hz HDR display, Tri-Fan cooling, and up to an Intel Core i9-13980HX 24-core processor and an RTX 4090 laptop GPU. With these specs, both laptops should be hugely impressive, offering the best performance possible with current hardware. Aside from the new SCAR family, Asus is also rolling out new Strix G16 and G18 laptops, configurable with up to an Intel Core i9-13980HX CPU and an RTX 4090. The Strix G17 and Strix Scar 17 will both use an AMD Ryzen Zen 4 processor instead.

The ROG Zephyrus also returns this year, offering a thin-and-light option with plenty of power under the hood. The new 2023 Zephyrus M16 also houses up to an RTX 4090 GPU, but the CPU has dropped down to a Core i9-13900H. For this year's model, the display has been updated to a QHD ‘Nebula' HDR display with 1024 local dimming zones for the Mini LED panel, meaning you'll get 2x better backlighting compared to last year's model. With 1100 nits of peak brightness and 100% DCI-P3 coverage, this display should have more than enough to offer exceptional HDR performance.

Other members of the Zephyrus family are also being upgraded for 2023. The Zephyrus G16 for instance will also boast an Intel Core i9-13900H CPU and up to an RTX 4070 laptop GPU. The Zephyrus G14 will utilise an AMD Ryzen Zen 4 CPU instead, with up to an RTX 4090 GPU. Finally, there is the Zephyrus Duo 16, which stands out from the crowd with its dual-display setup, featuring one 16-inch Mini LED panel, and a 4K touchscreen that slides up as you open the laptop.

Last on the list today is the Asus ROG Flow X13, featuring a Ryzen Zen 4 processor with up to an RTX 4070 laptop GPU. Liquid metal on the CPU helps tame temperatures inside the chassis, and you'll also find up to 32GB of LPDDR5 RAM under the hood to keep your system running snappy and responsive. The Flow chassis has been redesigned, shrinking its footprint by 10mm, all while maintaining the 15-inch keyboard layout. This redesign has also allowed Asus to fit in a bigger 75Wh battery.

Aside from the X13, there will also be an ROG Flow Z13, featuring an RTX 4060 laptop GPU with a TGP of up to 65W, and a 13-inch QHD/165Hz display. The ROG Flow X16 is also on the way, boasting a Core i9-13900H CPU and up to an RTX 4070 laptop GPU. Each ROG Flow 2023 laptop features Corning Gorilla Glass DXC too – a special coating that increases the display's toughness and reduces surface reflections.

The new Asus ROG Strix 2023 laptops will start at £1499, although that jumps up to a £3,299.99 starting point for the ROG Strix Scar laptops. The ROG Zephyrus series will start at £1699.99, while the ROG Flow laptops will start at £1899.99. All of these laptops are planned to launch in Q1 and Q2.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: What do you all think of Asus's 2023 laptop lineup? 

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Asus launches all new ROG laptops for 2022 with Ryzen 6000 and Intel 12th Gen processors https://www.kitguru.net/lifestyle/mobile/laptops/matthew-wilson/asus-launches-all-new-rog-laptops-for-2022-with-ryzen-6000-and-intel-12th-gen-processors/ https://www.kitguru.net/lifestyle/mobile/laptops/matthew-wilson/asus-launches-all-new-rog-laptops-for-2022-with-ryzen-6000-and-intel-12th-gen-processors/#respond Wed, 05 Jan 2022 17:00:12 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=545578 Today at CES 2022, ASUS unveiled a new arsenal of ROG gaming laptops, including an overhauled Zephyrus Duo 16, a redesigned Zephyrus G14, as well as new Strix series laptops and a new Flow Z13 gaming tablet.  With AMD and Intel announcing new Ryzen 6000 series and 12th Gen Core processors for laptops, as well …

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Today at CES 2022, ASUS unveiled a new arsenal of ROG gaming laptops, including an overhauled Zephyrus Duo 16, a redesigned Zephyrus G14, as well as new Strix series laptops and a new Flow Z13 gaming tablet. 

With AMD and Intel announcing new Ryzen 6000 series and 12th Gen Core processors for laptops, as well as new laptop GPUs from both Nvidia and AMD, it is time for new gaming laptops to hit the market. ASUS ROG will have a ton of them, which we have detailed below.

ROG Zephyrus G14 and Zephyrus Duo 16

The new ROG Zephyrus G14 is a slim and stylish gaming laptop with a host of new improvements for 2022. For starters, specs have improved to include Windows 11 out of the box, AMD Ryzen 9 processors, and Radeon RX 6000S series graphics. Under the hood you'll find a custom vapor chamber cooling system and up top you will find a brand new Nebula display, offering 120Hz at 1440p resolution, 500 nits of peak brightness for HDR content, 3ms response time and an impressive 91% screen to body ratio.

ROG Zephyrus Duo 16 reaches new heights of innovation in dual-display laptops. ROG’s ScreenPad Plus adds a secondary screen for extra productivity real estate, streaming gameplay, or even controlling supported games like Dying Light 2. The ScreenPad Plus rises up and slides back to meet the primary display as the laptop opens, thanks to a new 4-directional hinge. Compared to the previous generation, this closes the gap between the two displays, providing a nearly bezel-less experience.

This Windows 11 machine is powered by an AMD Ryzen 9 6980HX CPU and an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 Ti laptop GPU at 150W with Dynamic Boost, bolstered by upgraded cooling. The AAS Plus 2.0 air intake created by the raised secondary screen creates 30% more airflow above the fans, allowing for better sustained performance in games and creative apps.

The Zephyrus Duo offers two ground-breaking panel choices for the main display, and supports Dolby Vision in both choices. The first, new for 2022, is ROG Nebula HDR, which has all the specs of ROG’s standard Nebula Display but with 512 mini LED dimming zones, able to reach 1100 nits of peak brightness. This QHD, 16:10 panel boasts a refresh rate of 165Hz and is VESA DisplayHDR 1000 certified.

The second display, co-developed with BOE, is a brand-new ROG-exclusive display called a Dual Spec panel, which is able to switch between 4K 120Hz and Full HD 240Hz, allowing gamers to choose whether to prioritize resolution or framerate on a game-by-game or app-by-app basis.

Strix Scar, G15 and G17

The Strix SCAR is available in 15-inch and 17-inch models, with the 15-inch offering three IPS-level display choices: QHD 240Hz, Full HD 300Hz, and QHD 165Hz. The 17-inch SCAR offers QHD 240Hz or Full HD 360Hz. The Strix SCAR models all support Dolby Vision HDR, together with Adaptive-Sync in the display, and 3ms response time.

The new ROG Strix G15 and G17 are powered by up to an AMD Ryzen 9 6900HX processor and an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 Ti laptop GPU at 150W with Dynamic Boost for similarly high-end horsepower. The G15 offers Full HD 300Hz and QHD 165Hz display options, while the G17 offers Full HD 360Hz and QHD 240hz for competitive gaming. All of the Strix G models support Dolby Vision. All displays come with 3ms response times, and Adaptive-Sync.

All Strix models are equipped with a quad-speaker design and Dolby Atmos spatial sound. Two-way AI Noise Cancelation filters out background noise for both ingoing and outgoing communications. In addition, Strix models come with a 90Wh battery, plus 100W Type-C charging for on-the-go usage. WiFi 6E and 2.5G LAN provide cutting-edge networking for minimal lag on both wired and compatible wireless networks.

ROG Flow Z13, X13, and XG Mobile

The world's most powerful gaming tablet has improved once again with the ROG Flow Z13, packing Windows 11, an Intel Core i9-12900H and an RTX 3050 Ti GPU, along with LPDDR5 memory running at 5200MHz and a 1TB PCIe SSD. The Flow Z13 features two display options: a 4K 60Hz display with 85% DCI-P3 coverage, or a Full HD 120Hz screen with 100% sRGB coverage. Both displays are 16:10 with Corning Gorilla glass protection on the touch screen, Adaptive-Sync and 500 nits of peak brightness.

The Flow Z13 sports a retro-futurist design inspired by the 20th-century Space Race, but encompassing ROG’s vision for the future of gaming: ultimate portability. A CNC-milled window on the rear of the chassis allows a look straight into the machine’s mainboard, and the chassis is covered in spacecraft-inspired machining. The built-in kickstand can be opened up to 170 degrees for optimal usage in nearly any scenario. ROG has also updated the Flow X13 with the latest AMD Ryzen 9 6000 Series CPU and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 Ti Laptop GPU for 2022.

For extra gaming horsepower and I/O expansion, the Flow Z13 and X13 are both compatible with the XG Mobile family of external GPUs. Connect it to the 2021 XG Mobile with an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080, or this year’s new addition to the XG Mobile family, which includes an AMD Radeon RX 6850M XT GPU.

Finally, we have the new ROG Strix GT15 desktop PC, which has been upgraded for 2022 with an Intel Core i7-12700KF, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080, and 64GB DDR4-3200 RAM.

KitGuru Says: What do you all think of the new suite of ROG gaming laptops for 2022? Will you be upgrading this year?

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ASUS announces 11 new gaming laptops with RTX 3050 series graphics https://www.kitguru.net/lifestyle/mobile/laptops/matthew-wilson/asus-announces-11-new-gaming-laptops-with-rtx-3050-series-graphics/ https://www.kitguru.net/lifestyle/mobile/laptops/matthew-wilson/asus-announces-11-new-gaming-laptops-with-rtx-3050-series-graphics/#respond Tue, 11 May 2021 14:10:57 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=515074 Today, we've seen Nvidia announce its new RTX 3050 and RTX 3050 Ti laptop GPUs and Intel announce its 11th Gen Core mobile series processors. Coinciding with that is the announcement of 11 new ASUS gaming laptops, featuring the latest tech from Nvidia and Intel.  ROG Flow X13: Kicking off the list is the ASUS …

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Today, we've seen Nvidia announce its new RTX 3050 and RTX 3050 Ti laptop GPUs and Intel announce its 11th Gen Core mobile series processors. Coinciding with that is the announcement of 11 new ASUS gaming laptops, featuring the latest tech from Nvidia and Intel. 

ROG Flow X13:

Kicking off the list is the ASUS ROG Flow X13, the very first Republic of Gamers 2-in-1 system. This is an ultraslim 13-inch convertible notebook with a 360 degree hinge to switch from laptop to tablet mode. Under the hood, you will find an AMD Ryzen processor, up to the Ryzen 9 5980HS, in addition to an RTX 3050 or RTX 3050 Ti depending on the configuration.

The ROG Flow X13 also comes with two display options, providing a choice between 120Hz gaming, or an Ultra HD 4K display for sharper details. This laptop also supports the optional ROG XG Mobile eGPU, so you can hook up an external graphics card for even more gaming performance.

ROG Zephyrus and ROG Strix:

Next we have a refresh of the ROG Zephyrus series, including new M16, G14 and G15 models. Starting at the top, the ROG Zephyrus M16 is built to double as a creator laptop. The 16″ display sounds large, but with a 94 percent screen-to-body ratio, this laptop is incredibly slim. The display is capable of 1440p resolution at up to 165Hz for smooth gaming, but it also delivers 100% of the DCI-P3 colour gamut, making it a great choice for creative use cases, like photo or video editing. The ROG Zephyrus M16 packs up to an Intel Core i9-11900H processor and an RTX 3050 Ti GPU.

The ROG Zephyrus G14 2021 model builds on the foundation set with the previous G14. The sleek and stylish design remains intact, but under the hood you will find up to an AMD Ryzen 9 5900HS processor and up to an RTX 3050 Ti GPU. The 14-inch display is configurable, so buyers can choose between 1440p at 120Hz or a 1080p/144Hz display.

The Zephyrus G15 is slightly larger, with a 15-inch WQHD display with 165Hz refresh rate. Just like its smaller sibling, the G15 also packs an AMD Ryzen CPU, up to the Ryzen 9 5900HS and an RTX 3050 Ti GPU. Other improvements include a 20 percent larger touchpad with responsiveness improved by 40 percent, you will also find a low profile ‘Stealth Type' keyboard and USB Type-C Fast Charging.

Finishing off the line up of new Republic of Gamers laptops is the ROG Strix G15 and G17. Both are available in Original Black and Eclipse Gray colour variants and have a diagonal dot-matrix design across the keyboard deck and aluminium-capped lid. Under the hood, you will find either an RTX 3050 or RTX 3050 Ti laptop GPU and up to a Ryzen 7 5800H processor

TUF Gaming:

Moving on from ROG, ASUS also has several new TUF Gaming laptops on the way – the A15/A17 and the F15/F17. The TUF A-series continue to feature AMD processors and Nvidia RTX 3050 series graphics. Meanwhile, the TUF F-series makes the jump to Intel's brand new 11th Gen Core H-series processors, with options up to the Core i9-11900H with 8 cores and 16 threads.

KitGuru Says: We have a lot of new ASUS gaming laptops on the way. Are you going to be keeping your eye on one of these for an upgrade this year? 

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ASUS ROG claims gaming laptop market share crown https://www.kitguru.net/channel/generaltech/matthew-wilson/asus-rog-claims-gaming-laptop-market-share-crown/ https://www.kitguru.net/channel/generaltech/matthew-wilson/asus-rog-claims-gaming-laptop-market-share-crown/#respond Mon, 06 Jul 2020 17:00:40 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=475673 We've previously seen ASUS take the gaming monitor market by storm and lately, the company has also been seeing a boom in the gaming laptop market. April was a particularly huge month, with ASUS and ROG gaming laptops increasing to 22.6 percent global market share.  ASUS and ROG gaming laptops represented nearly a quarter of …

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We've previously seen ASUS take the gaming monitor market by storm and lately, the company has also been seeing a boom in the gaming laptop market. April was a particularly huge month, with ASUS and ROG gaming laptops increasing to 22.6 percent global market share. 

ASUS and ROG gaming laptops represented nearly a quarter of the company's laptop sales in April 2020, with high-end ROG models with RTX graphics becoming best sellers. ROG gaming laptops in particular are the most popular in the world so far in 2020.

This growth can be attributed to several brand new ROG gaming laptop models, including the Zephyrus Duo 15 with its innovative secondary touchscreen display, the Zephyrus S17 with its 300Hz display, the Zephyrus S15 with its ultra-thin 18.9mm chassis and the Zephyrus M15 featuring high refresh rate display options as well as up to RTX 2070 graphics.

In the ROG Strix realm, there are two new laptops for 2020, the ROG Strix Scar G15 and G17. Both come powered by 10th Gen Intel Core i7 CPUs and can house up to RTX 2070 SUPER graphics.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: There are a lot of excellent ROG gaming laptops on the market, with quite a few new additions arriving this year. Did any of you pick up a new gaming laptop this year?  

 

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ASUS ROG expands its Zephyrus laptop family with three new models https://www.kitguru.net/lifestyle/mobile/notebook/dominic-moass/asus-rog-expands-its-zephyrus-laptop-family-with-three-new-models/ https://www.kitguru.net/lifestyle/mobile/notebook/dominic-moass/asus-rog-expands-its-zephyrus-laptop-family-with-three-new-models/#respond Tue, 23 Apr 2019 13:00:23 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=411038 ASUS ROG's global press conference was a busy event, with multiple launches taking places. Alongside three new Strix laptops, ROG also expanded its premium thin-and-light Zephyrus range with three new models. To keep things clear and easy to understand, ASUS ROG has segmented its three new Zephyrus models into a clear hierarchy. Zephyrus S sits at the …

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ASUS ROG's global press conference was a busy event, with multiple launches taking places. Alongside three new Strix laptops, ROG also expanded its premium thin-and-light Zephyrus range with three new models.

To keep things clear and easy to understand, ASUS ROG has segmented its three new Zephyrus models into a clear hierarchy. Zephyrus S sits at the top, Zephyrus M is the middle child, and Zephyrus G is the entry-level laptop.

Zephyrus S GX502

Starting with the top dog, the Zephyrus S GX502 is not to be confused with the Zephyrus S GX701 – though the name is clearly very confusing. The easiest way to differentiate between the two is screen size, as the GX502 is a 15.6in laptop when GX701 is 17.3in. This is still a high-end model, though, with a price-tag of £2999.99. For the money that gets you an i7-9750H processor with RTX 2070 graphics, alongside 32GB RAM and a 1TB NVMe SSD. The IPS panel is also rocking a blistering 240Hz refresh-rate.

As this is a high-end Zephyrus laptop, the chassis is also very impressive in that it measures just 18.9mm thick, while it weighs 2KG. It also sports the same Active Aerodynamic System (AAS) we have seen previously from Zephyrus laptops, where the back of the chassis actually opens up to increase airflow to the components – ASUS says this can increase total airflow by up to 22% over ‘traditional designs.'

Zephyrus M GU502

The Zephyrus M GU502 makes a lot of sense if you want a premium, thin-and-light laptop but don't need as much gaming power as offered by the GX502. That brings the price down significantly – to £1899.99 – but you still get a i7-9750H processor with RTX 2060 graphics which should prove a very capable combination for gaming on the 15.6in 144Hz IPS display. Alongside those core components, there is also a 512GB NVMe SSD and 16GB RAM.

On top of that, the changes to the internal hardware has reduced the weight of the machine slightly, to 1.9KG – though it retains the same 18.9mm thickness as its more expensive sibling. There is no AAS cooling, however, which no doubt helps reduce the overall cost of manufacture, though the choice of graphics is seemingly affected.

Zephyrus G GA502

We won't say too much about the Zephyrus G here – other than that it is a £1249 machine with a Ryzen 7 mobile processor and GTX 1660 Ti that is still less than 20mm thick. We've produced a separate hands-on article over HERE – including video overview – so if you are interested in the most affordable of the Zephyrus laptops, full details can be found in that article.

Availability

We have been told by ASUS that pre-orders for these laptops will be going live today, with the devices shipping early May – starting with Amazon and the ASUS E-Shop.

KitGuru says: ASUS ROG's Zephyrus family continues to offer impressively thin-and-light solutions, but now with more products across a wider price range.

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ASUS ROG announces trio of new Strix gaming laptops https://www.kitguru.net/lifestyle/mobile/notebook/dominic-moass/asus-rog-announces-trio-of-new-strix-gaming-laptops/ https://www.kitguru.net/lifestyle/mobile/notebook/dominic-moass/asus-rog-announces-trio-of-new-strix-gaming-laptops/#respond Tue, 23 Apr 2019 13:00:22 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=410983 As part of its global press conference held last week, ASUS ROG announced a slew of new gaming laptops. Among these were three new entries to the Strix laptop family, each aimed at a slightly different market segment. With prices varying from £1400 all the way up to £2800, there's a fair bit of difference …

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As part of its global press conference held last week, ASUS ROG announced a slew of new gaming laptops. Among these were three new entries to the Strix laptop family, each aimed at a slightly different market segment.

With prices varying from £1400 all the way up to £2800, there's a fair bit of difference between some of these Strix laptops. We'll start with the cheapest and work our way up to the most expensive entry within the series.

Strix G

The first of three new Strix laptops, the Strix G comes in two sizes – 15.6in and 17.3in. As ROG laptops go, both are relatively affordable, with the smaller unit set to cost £1399.99, while the bigger model is £100 extra. The price means you aren't getting a load of fancy bells and whistles, but the Strix G is all about the ‘fundamentals', as ASUS ROG describes it.

What that means is you are simply getting a solid gaming laptop with a modern design without the unnecessary extras which might drive the price up. Gaming hardware comes in the form of the Nvidia GTX 1660 Ti graphics, with an i7-9750H mobile processor. Alongside this we find 16GB of DDR4 memory and a single 512GB NVMe SSD. Both laptops have IPS displays, too, but do note the 15.6in model sports a 120Hz refresh-rate, while the 17.3in ups this to 144Hz.

As laptops go these days, neither is particularly thin or light, but considering the pricing that isn't really an issue. The 15in model weighs 2.4KG and is 25.8mm thick, while the 17in model weighs 2.85kg and measures 26.5mm thick.

Strix Hero III

KitGuru readers will be familiar with the Strix Hero and Strix Scar families. Both models have generally been very similar in look/feel but the Hero was aimed at MOBA gamers, when Scar was meant for FPS. That distinction is less relevant now, however, as the internal components clearly set these two laptops apart from each other. The Hero III is still available in both 15.6in and 17.3in models, but both feature the i7-9750H processor with RTX 2060 graphics. Alongside that, there is 16GB of DDR4 memory and a 1TB SSHD + 512GB NVMe drive. Both displays are also IPS 144Hz panels.

Pricing for the 15.6in model is set at £1799.99, while the bigger version will cost £1899.99. The 15in model weighs 2.57KG and measures 24.9mm thick, while the 17in model weighs 2.85KG and is 26.2mm thick.

Strix Scar III

We mentioned that the internal hardware is now quite difference between the Hero and Scar laptops, and it becomes clear that the Scar is being positioned as a higher-end model. This is made clear by the use of RTX 2070 graphics in all of the Scar models – so if you want a better GPU, you want Scar and not Hero. On top of this, there will also be two 15.6in Scar models, both with 240Hz IPS displays. One comes with the i7-9750H and will cost £2199.99, but you can get an i9-9980HK CPU instead for £2799.99. Both also ship with 16GB RAM and a 1TB NVMe SSD.

If you prefer a 17.3in laptop, however, there are another two Scar models in this size. Both have 144Hz displays instead of the faster 240Hz panels, but the cheaper model – at £2199.99 – comes with an i7-9750H and 16GB RAM. The top-end model costs £2799.99 and again steps the CPU up to the i9-9980HK, but also comes with 32GB RAM. Again, both 17.3in models ship with 1TB NVMe SSDs.

Lastly, dimensions are the same across both the Scar and Hero models – so the 15in models weigh 2.57KG and measure 24.9mm thick, while the 17in models weigh 2.85KG and come in at 26.2mm thick.

ROG Keystone

The last feature to touch on is the new ROG Keystone. This isn't a laptop but rather is a feature of both the new Scar and Hero III devices. It is essentially a small key which slots into place on the side of the new laptops, and uses NFC to transfer saved profiles and system settings from the Keystone to the laptop itself. For most people this may not sound too useful, but ASUS ROG says it could be a lifesaver for esports teams who regularly use different laptops but want to keep their RGB lighting and other settings consistent.

On top of that, Keystone also lets users access a secret ‘Shadow Drive' where you can safely store encrypted data on a HDD partition, which would otherwise remain locked without Keystone. ROG is aiming to add a lot more functionality to the Keystone in the future, so we will have to wait and see how that pans out.

Availability

We have been told by ASUS that pre-orders for these laptops will be going live today, with the devices shipping early May – starting with Amazon and the ASUS E-Shop.

KitGuru says: The new Strix laptops have covered a lot of ground for ASUS ROG – from the Strix G with its GTX 1660 Ti, all the way up to the Scar III with an i9 and RTX 2070. Do you have your eye on a particular model?

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Asus Zephyrus S GX701GX Review – The Incredible Vanishing Bezel https://www.kitguru.net/lifestyle/mobile/laptops/leo-waldock/asus-zephyrus-s-gx701gx-review-the-incredible-vanishing-bezel/ https://www.kitguru.net/lifestyle/mobile/laptops/leo-waldock/asus-zephyrus-s-gx701gx-review-the-incredible-vanishing-bezel/#respond Wed, 27 Mar 2019 10:27:03 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=408086 It's a very sleek laptop from ASUS ROG, packing RTX 2080 Max-Q graphics. Is it worth £3200?!

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When we reviewed the Asus ROG Zephyrus GX501VI back in June 2017 we were taking our first look at Nvidia Max-Q technology. The spec of that laptop included a 7th Gen Intel Core i7-7700HQ CPU and Nvidia GTX 1080 Max-Q graphics, and we were impressed by the way Asus had combined decent gaming power with a very thin chassis.

In the intervening nearly-two years a huge amount of new technology has arrived and now it is time for the slightly larger and considerably more powerful Asus Zephyrus S GX701GX. This laptop packs a 17.3-inch screen in a chassis that looks more like a 15.6-inch, and it is powered by a Core i7-8750H CPU with six cores and Nvidia RTX 2080 Max-Q graphics.

To put it another way, everything has changed and only the Zephyrus name remains.

Specification:

Processor Intel Core i7-8750H
Graphics Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q 8GB GDDR6
Memory 16GB or 32GB DDR4-2666MHz (24GB in our sample, 8GB+16GB).
SSD 1TB Samsung M.2 NVMe PCIe 3.0 x4 SSD
Display 17.3-inch Full HD (1920×1080) IPS-level panel, 144Hz, 3ms, 100% sRGB, Optimus, G-Sync, Pantone Validated
Keyboard Per-key RGB; backlit chiclet keyboard, Aura Sync, Support N key, 1.4mm travel distance
Audio 2x 2.5W speaker with Smart AMP technology
Array Microphones

I/O Ports:
1 x USB 3.1 Gen2 Type-C with DisplayPort 1.4 and Power Delivery
1 x USB 3.1 Gen1 Type-C
1x USB 3.1 Gen2 Type-A
2x USB 3.1 Gen1 Type-A
1 x HDMI 2.0b
1 x 3.5mm headphone and microphone combo jack
1 x Kensington lock
External Camera 1080p@60FPS
Wi-Fi / Bluetooth 802.11ac 2×2 WLAN and Bluetooth 5.0
Dimensions 399mm(W) x 272mm(D) x 18.7mm(H)
Weight 2.7 kg
Power 230W power adaptor
Operating System Windows 10 Pro
Software Armoury Crate, ROG GameFirst, ROG GameVisual, Sonic Studio & Sonic Radar, Aura Core, XSplit Gamecaster (Free), Android/iOS App

Be sure to check out our sponsors store EKWB here

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CES 2019: ASUS ROG RTX 2080Ti Matrix, ROG Dominus, Zephyrus, Mothership and more https://www.kitguru.net/components/matthew-wilson/ces-2019-asus-rog-rtx-2080ti-matrix-rog-dominus-zephyrus-mothership-and-more/ https://www.kitguru.net/components/matthew-wilson/ces-2019-asus-rog-rtx-2080ti-matrix-rog-dominus-zephyrus-mothership-and-more/#respond Fri, 11 Jan 2019 10:50:52 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=400863 Today at CES, Leo sat down with JJ and Sascha from ASUS to discuss all of the latest hardware. From the all new RTX 2080Ti Matrix edition, to the ROG Mothership laptop, ROG Dominus motherboard and new monitors. We've covered quite a few ASUS announcements this week already, with dedicated news posts on the RTX …

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Today at CES, Leo sat down with JJ and Sascha from ASUS to discuss all of the latest hardware. From the all new RTX 2080Ti Matrix edition, to the ROG Mothership laptop, ROG Dominus motherboard and new monitors.

We've covered quite a few ASUS announcements this week already, with dedicated news posts on the RTX 2080Ti Matrix with all-in-one liquid cooling and a preview for the ROG Mothership– which seems like an absolute beast.

The ROG Dominus is something we have talked about a bit less. This extremely high-end motherboard is set to be a technical showpiece, with support for Intel's upcoming 28-core Xeon. It has a 14-layer PCB, which is typically reserved for server and workstation grade hardware. Beyond that, as JJ puts it, the motherboard is heavy, in large part due to the use of aluminium across the entire board, with full length heatsinks for the VRMs with four active fans under the hood. As we reported yesterday, EKWB will have a custom waterblock to replace this is you really want to push things to the absolute limit.

The Dominus has six channel memory with support for up to 192GB, there is a ton of power delivery baked in. The I/O shield includes a Live Dash display, which we first saw on the new Asus ROG AIO coolers and much more. Another interesting tidbit is that the board includes dual 24-pin connectors, to get the full benefit of Intel's new Xeon platform, you'll want dual power supplies.

A new all-in-one liquid cooler is joining the family. The Ryujin and Ryuo will be joined by the ROG Strix AIO, which will be cheaper than the other two while retaining the awesome Live Dash screen on the CPU block.

Three new ROG monitors were announced this week. In the video above, Leo takes a closer look at the new ROG Swift PG35VQ, which is the 35-inch, ultra-wide, HDR, 200Hz beast. There is also a new 4K and a new 1440p HDR monitor on the way, which we discussed in detail, HERE.

What we didn't see earlier in the week was the brand new ASUS ProArt PA32UCX display, which Leo is very impressed by. The panel MicroLED with 1,000 zones of lighting, 4K resolution and HDR support. In all likelihood, this will end up being the most expensive monitor in the current lineup but spec-wise, it is also above and beyond the rest.

We have a preview up for the new Asus ROG GZ700GX ‘Mothership’ & 17.3-inch ROG Zephyrus S GX701GX laptops. This video goes in to a bit more detail on specific specifications. The Zephyrus S will utilise an RTX 2080 Max-Q, a 17-inch 1080p/144Hz G-Sync display and beyond that, it is the slimmest 17-inch laptop in the world. Battery life has been improved thanks to a new ‘Optimus' mode, which puts the RTX 2080 to sleep and deactivates G-Sync when you are running on battery and not playing games.

The ROG Mothership is even more exciting. The keyboard/base of the laptop can be completely detached from the display and used wirelessly. Alternatively, you can keep the display propped up and plug in any other keyboard/mouse of preference. Under the hood you'll find a fully fledged (non Max-Q) RTX 2080, and an Intel Core i9-8950HK to boot. There are four memory slots, so you can pack plenty of RAM in. All in all, it is an absolute beast.

KitGuru Says: There was a lot to see from ASUS this year. We'll be looking forward to getting more hands on in the coming months and preparing reviews. 

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ASUS ROG GX531 Zephyrus S Preview https://www.kitguru.net/lifestyle/mobile/laptops/briony-hannam/asus-rog-gx5310-zephyrus-s-preview/ https://www.kitguru.net/lifestyle/mobile/laptops/briony-hannam/asus-rog-gx5310-zephyrus-s-preview/#respond Thu, 16 Aug 2018 13:00:24 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=382789 The world's thinnest gaming laptop just got thinner! We preview the new ROG Zephyrus S

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We first saw ASUS ROG's Zephyrus laptop last year, when the first model launched with GTX 1080 Max-Q. Ahead of Gamescom 2018, we got to look at the newest model – Zephyrus S. This laptop is even slimmer than before and sports the latest Intel 6-core processors. With a 144Hz display and GTX 1060 graphics, it looks great for the gamer on the go.

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Somehow ASUS has made the Zephyrus S even slimmer than its predecessors and ASUS claims it is now the worlds thinnest gaming laptop, coming in 14.95mm at its thinnest point. Reducing the thickness while keeping all the components cool proved to be a challenge, though, as ASUS had to redesign its heat pipe configuration from the inside out.

The weight has also been reduced down to an impressive 2.1KG without sacrificing build quality. The lid of the laptop is now made of CNC machined aluminium, which can be time consuming to produce, but it means that even though it's very thin it retains a lot of strength and a premium feel. Other materials used include zinc alloy hinges and an aluminium & magnesium body.

In terms of the display, it's a 3ms 144Hz AHVA panel, which is lightning fast. ASUS told us that to achieve this fast response time – when many laptops have a response time of over 20ms – they worked closely with AUO, the panel manufacturer, to get the response time as low as possible. In essence, this is possible thanks to overdrive – where each pixel ‘aims’ for black as it refreshes, and stops at grey, rather than aiming for grey and stopping there. This allows the GTG response time to be fast as possible.

Elsewhere, we all know gaming laptops aren't renowned for having great battery life so we asked ASUS if it made any battery improvements for the Zephyrus S. They explained that by ditching G-Sync support – which requires the continuous use of discrete GeForce graphics – they were thus able to utilise Nvidia Optimus technology which automatically switches to Intel HD graphics to save power. This means when users are out and about and using the laptop for less demanding tasks, the integrated graphics are doing all the work to power the screen, instead of using the more demanding discrete graphics.

As you would expect high end tech in a tiny chassis doesn't come cheap and the UK model of the Zephyrus S we took a look at has a MSRP of £1999. We don't have a confirmed release date at the moment but we are expecting this laptop to be available around October time this year.

Unfortunately the Zephyrus S in this sneak peak was an engineering sample so we weren't able to do any testing. However we look forward to getting our hands on a review sample of the Zephyrus S and seeing if it is as good as it sounds! 

UK specifications for the Asus Zephyrus S GX531: 

  • Model Name: GX531GM-ES009R
  • Weight: 2.1kg
  • GPU: NVidia GTX 1060 – 6GB
  • CPU: Intel Core i7-8750H 2.2GHz (9M Cache, up to 3.9GHz)
  • Display: 15.6’ FHD IPS-Level panel. 144Hz refresh. 3Ms response time. Slim Bezel
  • RAM: 16GB DDR4
  • Storage: 512GB SSD
  • Dimensions: 36.0cm(W) x 26.8cm(D) x 1.49 ~ 1.57cm(H)

ASUS ROG has also launched the 17.3in Strix Scar II today. You can read/watch a preview of that laptop HERE.

KitGuru says: Is the worlds thinnest gaming laptop on your wish list? Stay tuned for a full review.

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Asus ROG GX501VI Zephyrus 120hz IPS (GTX 1080 NVIDIA MAX-Q) FULL Review https://www.kitguru.net/lifestyle/mobile/laptops/leo-waldock/asus-rog-gx501vi-zephyrus-120hz-ips-gtx-1080-nvidia-max-q-full-review/ https://www.kitguru.net/lifestyle/mobile/laptops/leo-waldock/asus-rog-gx501vi-zephyrus-120hz-ips-gtx-1080-nvidia-max-q-full-review/#comments Tue, 27 Jun 2017 13:00:37 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=339004 Super Thin, super quiet, 120hz IPS panel, New GTX 1080 Max-Q, Intel Core i7 7700HQ. Is this the new laptop YOU want?

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Our recent preview of the Asus ROG GX501VI Zephyrus laptop was frustrating as we weren’t allowed to discuss performance, frame rates, temperatures, clock speed or battery life. 

The good news is that the Nvidia NDA has lifted on Max-Q technology and we can now talk turkey about exactly is going on inside the GTX 1080 Max-Q and how that affects game play and the way the laptop performs.

There are two points we need to clarify in the video. The first is that Asus told us they have a temporary exclusive on the Max-Q version of GTX 1080 and Nvidia told us the opposite – which led to confusion. It is safe to say the Asus ROG GX501VI is the only GTX 1080 Max-Q laptop on sale today.

The second point is we speculated that Nvidia had binned GTX 1080 chips to select the best silicon before they applied a different power curve to a regular GTX 1080, thus lowering performance by X percent while saving Y power and Z heat. We have since learned from an Nvidia tech person that the GPUs are not binned and that all GTX 1080s are identical, and it is the power profile and clock speeds that define Max-Q.

Asus ROG GX501VI Zephyrus Specification:
CPU: Intel Core i7-7700HQ (2.8GHz-3.8GHz)
Display: 15.6″ 1,920×1,080 120Hz IPS Anti-Glare LCD with Nvidia G-SYNC Technology
System Memory: 16GB DDR4-2400MHz SO-DIMM (24GB in our sample)
Chipset: Mobile Intel HM175 Express Chipset
Graphics: Nvidia GeForce GTX 1080 Max-Q GDDR5X 8GB
Storage: 512GB Samsung SM961 NVMe (1TB in our sample)

I/O Ports:
1x HDMI 2.0
4x USB 3.0 (Type-A)
1x Thunderbolt 3 (Type-C)
1x Headset Audio Jack
DC Jack x 1
Audio: Dual TI-255 Smartamp audio with 2x 6W output
Wireless LAN: Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 8265 (802.11ac, a/b/g/n compatible)
Bluetooth: Bluetooth V4.2
Webcam: HD UVC
Security: Kensington Lock
Battery: Li Polymer 50Wh
Power Adapter: 230W
Dimensions: 379mm (W) x 262mm (D) x 16.9mm (H)
Weight: 2.2kg
OS: Windows 10 Pro

At the heart of the Max-Q design we have the GTX 1080 GPU. Nvidia has made a considerable song and dance about the wizardry involved in cutting the power draw of a 180W add-in graphics card down to 90W for a mobile GTX 1080, but in general terms what they have done looks fairly simple. They have taken a regular GTX 1080 with 2,560 shaders and cut the operating voltage which in turn requires under clocking of the core and bingo, less power is required to drive GTX 1080 Max-Q.

A stock GTX 1080 has a base speed of 1582MHz and boosts to 1771MHz. The GTX 1080 Max-Q in our Asus laptop idles at 1297MHz and boosts to 1436MHz. So, give or take, Max-Q lops 300MHz off the clock speed of a GTX 1080 and slashes the power draw by at least 60W. The exact figure is a bit vague as different slides in the Nvidia presentation quoted different numbers but let’s put that to one side and consider the facts.

An Asus ROG G701VI with Core i7-6820HK and GTX 1080 graphics draws 40W at idle and 265W in 3D Mark. By contrast the Asus ROG GX501VI Zephyrus draws a slightly higher 45W at idle but only 170W under full load.

The difference between 265W and 170W power looks amazing. The obvious question is how that massive reduction in power affects the performance of Zephyrus.

Testing

We never expected that Zephyrus would match a laptop with a ‘full-blown' GTX 1080 and we were quite correct. We are not running the figures from the ROG G701VI side-by-side with the ROG GX501VI Zephyrus as we did not test the two laptops at the same time. There are clear differences but the surprising fact is that Max-Q runs in the same ballpark as the previous, higher clocked GTX 1080.

For example Ashes of the Singularity on Crazy settings averages 55fps but increases to 69fps when you drop IQ to High. The only outlier is the Minimum Frame Rate figure in Deus Ex which is a lowly 6fps. This must be a momentary occurrence as the game looked good each time we gave it a run.

Clearly it helps that Asus has specified a screen that is 1,920×1,080 as we are confident that more pixels might give the Max-Q GPU a hard time. It also helps that the panel is a high quality IPS panel with 120Hz refresh rate as it looks great and means you can leave Sync turned on at all times. We doubt you will find many modern games that want to play faster than 120fps although we noted Rise of Tomb Raider hustled along at 134fps with IQ set to High.

Cooling Performance

This is the interesting part. Asus has set the fan curve low to keep the noise level down with the result that both CPU and GPU idle at relatively high temperatures; 60 degrees for the CPU and 45 for the GPU. Under load when gaming the CPU remained just below 90 degrees and spiked at 94 degrees under synthetic load which made it throttle. By contrast the Max-Q GPU topped out at 79 degrees which is relatively cool for a high end Nvidia chip and emphasises the low power nature of the hardware.

At first glance those figures might look peculiar but when you consider this is a thin and light gaming laptop it all makes perfect sense. In an ideal world we prefer the CPU and GPU to run nice and cool but the critical point is they need to avoid throttling and in regular use this laptop manages that perfectly well.

Acoustics Performance
The Asus ROG GX501VI Zephyrus is very quiet. Nvidia chose a target figure of 40dBA that falls between a whisper and normal conversation and is essentially the lowest level of ambient noise. We have often heard cooling systems where the noise levels aren’t especially loud but the way the fan curve operates with pulsing noise levels can drive you to distraction. Zephyrus hits 39dBA and handles the job with aplomb as it is quiet, so while you can hear the fans spinning up and then spinning down it doesn’t sound the least intrusive. Big tick, thumbs up, success.

Battery life

Battery life is poor. The 50Wh/3255mAh battery has presumably been sized to fit in the available space under the keyboard and the result is about two and a half hours of real world battery life. This isn’t necessarily a problem in a thick, chunk, heavy laptop but Zephyrus is so thin and light you will want to take it on your travels. The battery life is likely to prove a real limitation.

Closing Thoughts

We have mixed feelings about the Asus ROG GX501VI Zephyrus. Asus and Nvidia have proved you can install a decent GPU and CPU inside a thin and light laptop without killing 1080p gaming performance.

This will not come as news to the aficionado who knows perfectly you can buy a thin and light gaming laptop. The fact that Asus has also made the Zephyrus very quiet is clearly a positive point for which they deserve praise.

Balanced against that the laptop chassis has been designed around the cooling system which is located in the rear half. This forces the keyboard to the front and the touchpad to the side in a configuration we find aggravating. To add to our woes the keyboard has very short travel keys and the battery is absolutely tiny. It only seems fair to comment that the selection of ports and connectors is very good and the Intel Wi-Fi is absolutely fabulous.

Asus has delivered on the promise of Nvidia Max-Q. Nonetheless we cannot get away from the thought that a GTX 1080 Max-Q that runs 300MHz slower than a regular GTX 1080 should probably have a name that reflects the lower performance.

Pros:

  • 120Hz IPS panel with G-Sync looks very good.
  • Very quiet even under full load.
  • Excellent Intel 802.11ac Wi-Fi.
  • Powers through games at 1080p
  • Impressively thin and light.

Cons:

  • Battery life is poor.
  • The keyboard and mouse positions make them awkward to use.
  • Is a slower GTX 1080 really a GTX 1080?
  • Keyboard has incredibly short travel keys.

KitGuru says: Asus ROG GX501VI Zephyrus takes laptop design in an interesting direction.

Be sure to check out our sponsors store EKWB here

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