Asus ROG Strix Scar 18 review (2023 G834JY- Core i9 + RTX 4090)

That is my detailed evaluation of the Asus ROG Strix Scar 18 collection, essentially the most robust ROG – Republic of Players laptop to be had as of 2023.

The Scar 18 is a functionality laptop with an 18-inch show, a full-size chassis, and an up to date beefy tri-fan thermal module, required to deal with the bundled {hardware}.

Our evaluation unit is the highest-tier configuration to be had for this lineup, with the Intel Core i9-13980HX processor and an Nvidia RTX 4090 Pc dGPU, operating at as much as 175W TGP.

In only some phrases, this is a superb large-format paintings and gaming laptop, basically supposed for table use. It appears and feels similar to earlier ROG Scar notebooks, however the 18-inch show gives a bigger display real-estate than previous 17-inch choices used to, and all the package deal of features and thermals is best balanced on this up to date chassis than at the previous Scar designs.

On the identical time, this Scar 18 is quite higher and heavier than the former Scar fashions, however when you’re after a bit of extra compact, Asus additionally gives a ROG Scar 16 this yr.

Down underneath, on this detailed evaluation, we’ll get in-depth at the nooks and crannies that you simply will have to pay attention to when taking into consideration purchasing this laptop. Simply take into account that we’re trying out an early unit with early application, simply ahead of its release date in Feb 2023, thus some software-related sides may exchange with later updates.

Specifications sheet as reviewed – Asus ROG Scar 18 G834

This SCAR 18 G834JY is the top-specced configuration of the 2023 ROG Scar 18 collection, and likewise essentially the most robust ROG laptop of this era.

A relatively extra inexpensive configuration is to be had as neatly, with the ROG Scar 18 G834JZ variant that provides the similar options, however pairs the similar Core i9-13980HX processor with an RTX 4080 12GB dGPU. Mid-tier and lower-tier specifications aren’t to be had for the 2023 Scar, however are presented at the ROG Strix G18 lineup, which we’ve coated right here and we’ll additionally cover in long run evaluations.

Design and building

The ROG Strix Scar 18 is a full-size laptop with a big 18-inch 16:10 show. It’s more or less 400 x 295 mm in footprint, as much as 1.2″ (31 mm) thick, and 3.1+ kg (7 lbs) in weight.

Those make it a little bit higher, thicker and/or heavier than the former ROG Scar 17 (400x 280 mm, 28 mm thick, 2.8 kg) and ROG Scar 17 SE (400 x 280 mm, 28 mm thick, 3.1 kg) fashions from 2022. Upload within the heft of the 330W charger, at 1.1 pounds, and we will be able to conclude that that is basically supposed for table use, and no more so for any more or less touring.

Right here’s an image of this Scar 18 subsequent to the Scar 17 from closing yr. Notice that the Scar 18 chassis used on this representation is a pre-production style, and no longer the general variant that you’re going to see in all of the different integrated pictures. There also are no emphasised QWER ASDF keys at the ultimate design, as differently urged via their previous prototype.

Except for the exchange in length and weight, there are a couple of different main updates of the 2023 Scar collection:

• the display has been changed with a 16:10 layout that interprets into a bigger real-estate and smaller bezels, particularly at the backside chin;
• there’s a reversed notch on the peak of the show now, which includes a digicam and microphones, and acts as a leaver so that you can grasp the display from when opening the laptop;
• the keyboard has been quite redesigned, and a bigger touchpad was once carried out;
• all the rear fringe of the laptop has been redesigned, with a purpose to incorporate the brand new thermal module;
• consequently, there are not any ports at the again anymore, and all of the IO is at the lateral aspects.

Right here’s a better take a look at the IO.

I recognize that the pointless Keystone was once ditched from this new chassis design, and as a substitute changed with two USB-A slots at the correct edge.

Maximum ports are at the left, regardless that, the place you’ll to find the ability plug, the LAN port, the full-size HDMI 2.1, and the two USB-C ports. Certainly one of them helps Thunderbolt 4 with 40 Gbps USB, no charging, and DP during the iGPU, and the opposite is a typical USB-C 3.2 with 10 Gbps USB, 100W charging, and DP during the DGPU.

There’s nonetheless no card reader in this Scar collection, and no Lock of any sort.

Again to the design, the 2023 chassis is very similar to the former variants, however with a couple of slight adjustments. The lid continues to be a cast piece of aluminum with a black anodized end and a large RGB-eye brand. Be fault, it’s tied to the keyboard’s lighting fixtures and all the RGB lighting fixtures device, however may also be switched off independently if you wish to.

In the event you disable the RGB, this laptop is a horny muted black design and will have to be applicable in stricter paintings/faculty environments. The branding components are lovely muted as neatly, and you’ll peel off the arm-rest stickers that differently stand out.

The RGB lightbars had been quite up to date, with now a lightbar at the entrance lip and corners, and every other at the rear edge, in the back of the show. Those may also be managed for my part and switched off within the Auro application as neatly.

Right here’s a picture of the laptop with the RGB off and on, for comparability.

The laptop’s major chassis continues to be created from plastic, with a comfortable end for the inner, clear aspects, and a rougher end for the underbelly. The construct high quality is superb, without a observable flex within the keyboard deck or any place else, and no squeaky noises when grabbing and transferring this round. Nevertheless, this can be a large and heavy laptop, so I wouldn’t select it up from a nook.

The primary deck is partly clear against the end edge, and no longer within the nook, as previously design. This easy plastic end nonetheless smudges simply, regardless that, and calls for a major wipe to stay blank.

Right here’s how my unit takes care of a couple of days. I didn’t like this at the previous Scars and don’t love it on those new ones both. It’s in truth my major gripe with this design.

I additionally resent the best way Asus implements the standing LEDs in this laptop, with large signs situated correct beneath the show.

(*15*)

They’re correct within the line of sight and much more anxious than previously Scars when the use of the laptop at evening or gazing a film. I’d certain like to speak to the design staff in control of this replace and perceive their line of pondering right here…

So, if I had been to shop for this laptop, I’d attempt to dim them by hook or by crook with most likely a black everlasting marker, or preferably, determine tips on how to disconnect them.

Oh, and there’s nonetheless an needless always-on gentle within the persistent button. What’s the purpose of that?

(*20*)

As opposed to that, the ergonomics are reasonably excellent right here. The laptop sits neatly anchored on a flat floor, because of the large grippy rubber ft. Those ft are in truth a bit of taller now than previously Scar fashions and feature a customized design supposed to channel air into the followers, taking into consideration larger airflow and cooling. This may no longer appear so, however is crucial replace!

That apart, the hinges are robust and easy on the identical time, taking into consideration one-handed changes and protecting the display as arrange when transferring the laptop round. The again attitude continues to be restricted at round 135 levels, which isn’t superb, but in addition no longer that vital for this kind of design supposed for table use.

I’ll additionally upload that this Scar era nonetheless implements a device of 4x speakers (two beneath the display, two at the backside) and no biometrics: no IR digicam and no finger sensor.

Total, this 2023 Asus ROG Strix Scar 18 feels and appears similar to the Scars of previous years, regardless of the slight adjustments and refinements. The up to date display length is the putting novelty right here, whilst at the unfavorable facet, the truth that all the edge is now reserved for cooling and all of the ports are covered at the edges consequently may no longer attraction to a few of you. Then again, this facet lets in for better-cooled internals and a notable bump in persistent and features, so it’s a tradeoff I will settle for on this sort of functionality tool.

Keyboard and trackpad

The keyboard in this Scar 18 is a rubber-dome design derived from the closing iteration of the 2022 ROG Scar 17.

The one exchange is across the arrow keys, which might be now not small and spaced out, however full-size and built-in throughout the format. I’m no longer solely offered in this exchange, however I suppose full-size arrows make extra sense on this type of gaming computer.

(*11*)

The format features a complete set of major keys, a narrower NumPad phase, and five additional media keys at the top-right facet, function of ROG laptops.

The typing enjoy hasn’t modified in any notable approach, and that’s alright. It is a excellent keyboard with reasonable stroke intensity and excellent key comments. No court cases right here.

The keys are RGB backlit, with per-key regulate and more than a few results selectable in Armoury Crate and Air of secrecy Writer app. The LEDs are brilliant sufficient and uniform, with some gentle creeping from beneath the keycaps, however no longer noticeably or annoyingly.

Then again, the F1-F12 writing at the peak keys continues to be no longer lit, making them tough to determine at the hours of darkness. I’d have was hoping they mounted this factor via now, because it’s been plaguing many ROG collection over the previous few years.

For mouse, the bigger armrest in this 18-inch chassis allowed Asus to put into effect a taller glass clickpad than previously. I don’t intellect it in any respect. The outside is spacious, and easy to touch, and the bodily clicks are easy and strangely quiet. This nonetheless rattles with less attackable faucets, regardless that, so faucet it gently.

As for biometrics, there are nonetheless none in this 2023 ROG Strix SCAR 18.

Display screen

Asus gives a unmarried show possibility for this 2023 ROG Scar 18, with an 18-inch 16:10 matte and non-touch IPS panel.

If curious, this 18-inch 16:10 show is 383 x 242 mm in length, whilst a 17.3-inch 16:9 show is 381 x 214 mm. So this 18-inch display is most commonly taller via nearly 3 cm, however differently just about the similar width.

It’s in truth a excellent IPS panel, with QHD+ 2560 x 1600 px solution, 450-nits of brightness, 1000:1 distinction, and 100% DCI-P3 colour protection. It additionally gives 240Hz refresh and 3 ms reaction instances (marketed), plus GSync make stronger, making it a very good possibility for gaming.

The black ranges at top brightness aren’t nice, regardless that, and have an effect on the measured distinction as neatly. That apart, the bottom brightness atmosphere isn’t that low and may trouble a few of you who preffer the use of the laptop in a pitch-dark room. As opposed to those, no court cases right here.

Right here’s what we were given in our assessments, with an X-Ceremony i1 Show Professional sensor:

• Panel HardwareID: BOE BOE0B359 (NE180QDM-NZ2);
• Protection: 99.8% sRGB, 85.3% AdobeRGB, 99.0% DCI-P3;
• Measured gamma: 2.17;
• Max brightness in the course of the display: 454.72.47 cd/m2 on persistent;
• Min brightness in the course of the display: 23.25 cd/m2 on persistent;
• Distinction at max brightness: 1053:1;
• White level: 7200 Okay;
• Black on max brightness: 0.43 cd/m2;
• PWM: No.

Some additional colour calibration was once required out of the field in this unit, however I’d be expecting the retail fashions to be larger calibrated via default.

As soon as calibrated, our pattern proved uniform in luminosity and colour accuracy. I additionally didn’t enjoy dangerous bleeding or sparkling spots at the panel, even if there have been some spots pinching the panel within the top-left nook, as proven within the symbol.

I can upload that there’s no miniLED display possibility with zone dimming to be had for the Scar 18, however miniLED panels are a rarity on 18-inch laptops in the intervening time. Then again, a miniLED panel is obtainable at the 16-inch ROG Scar 16, and lots of different 16-inch laptops from each Asus and different manufacturers.

{Hardware} and function

Our check style is the top-specced configuration of the ASUS ROG Strix Scar 18, code title G834JY, constructed on an Intel Core i9-13980HX processor, 32 GB of DDR5-4800 reminiscence in twin channel, 2 TB of rapid SSD garage, and twin graphics: the Nvidia RTX 4090 16GB dGPU and the Iris UHD iGPU built-in throughout the Intel processor.

Prior to we continue, take into account that our evaluation unit was once despatched over via Asus and it runs at the early application to be had as of early-February 2023 (BIOS 304, Armoury Crate 5.4.8, GeForce 528.37 drivers). Some sides may exchange with later application.

Spec-wise, this 2023 ASUS Strix ROG Scar 18 is constructed on the newest Intel and Nvidia {hardware} to be had up to now.

The Core i9-13980HX is the end cellular processor in Intel’s Raptor Lake Thirteenth-gen platform, with 24 Cores and 32 Threads. This is a hybrid design with 8 Prime-Efficiency and dual-threaded Cores, and 16 additional Potency cores, which paintings in combination or one after the other within the more than a few lots. The design and thermal module of this Scar additionally permit the processor to run at ~140-150W of sustained persistent in difficult CPU lots, at the Turbo or Handbook (max functionality) profiles.

For the GPU, the 2023 Scar 18 collection is to be had with top-tier RTX 4000 chips. What we now have in this pattern is the RTX 4090 Pc dGPU operating at as much as 175W with Dynamic Spice up. Asus bumped the ability settings of the GPU from the former Scar generations (150W at the common Scar 17, 175W at the Scar 17 SE Particular Version follow-up).

There’s nonetheless a MUX in this design, for uncompromised gaming functionality, however new for the yr is make stronger for Nvidia’s Complicated Optimus era and GSync at the major show. Complicated Optimus turns out to paintings alright right here, with the exception that the device freezes for 1-2 seconds when switching between GPU modes, which I discovered atypical however were given used to after some time. Optimistically, Asus can determine this out in later application updates.

As for the RAM and garage choices, the laptop nonetheless comes with two obtainable reminiscence DIMMs and two M.2 SSD slots. Our unit shipped with 32 GB of DDR5-4800 RAM in dual-channel and two gen4 Samsung SSDs in Raid0.

Getting within to the elements is a elementary process, you simply must pop up the again panel, held in position via a few Philips screws. The sunshine bar at the entrance is now not positioned at the D-Panel, this means that you now not have to fret about severing that ribbon cable used at the earlier chassis.

Inside of you’ll to find all of the elements, the large battery, and the thermal module. There’s nonetheless some unused house, and that’s as a result of Asus implements the similar inner design between this Scar 18 and the extra compact Scar 16, however with longer heatpipes at the GPU facet for the 18-inch style and a bigger GPU fan. Striking that house across the battery to a few use would had been great, regardless that, most likely for some beefier speakers.

Specifications apart, Asus be offering their usual persistent profiles within the Armoury Crate regulate app: Silent, Efficiency, Turbo, and Handbook, with more than a few persistent settings and fan profiles between them, summarized within the following desk.

Except for those major persistent profiles, there also are some GPU choices to make a choice from: Final (dGPU solely, calls for a restart when decided on), Same old (permits Complicated Optimus), Optimized (permits common Optimus), and Eco (common Optimus, however disables the dGPU). I most commonly saved the laptop on Same old for day-to-day use and assessments, and opted for Final for gaming.

Prior to we soar to the functionality phase, right here’s how this laptop handles on a regular basis use and multitasking at the Silent profile, unplugged from the wall. For what’s price, the followers stay most commonly idle in this Silent mode with informal use, because the dGPU is innactive and the CPU remains beneath 60 levels C.

Efficiency and benchmarks

Directly to extra difficult lots, we commence via trying out the CPU’s functionality via operating the Cinebench R15 check for 15+ instances in a loop, with a 1-2 seconds lengthen between every run.

The Core i9 processor stabilizes at ~145W of sustained persistent at the Turbo atmosphere, with temperatures of round 90-92 C and rankings of ~5000 issues. The followers spin at ~48 dB at head point on this mode.

The CPU run at top persistent for all the period of this check, and thermal throttling is rarely a subject matter. As an alternative, the device power-limits the processor after a couple of runs at round 140-145W. Nevertheless, that’s nonetheless a large number of persistent for a laptop chassis.

Voltage regulate is locked with each XTU and Throttlestop, however there’s an undervolting possibility within the BIOS that permits for as much as a -30 mV undervolt. The undervolt lets in the processor to stabilize at quite upper persistent and results in a 2-3% building up in rankings within the Cinebench R15 check. I additionally haven’t spotted any balance problems in this -30 mV undervolt right through my time with this laptop – by no means were given a blue display or any crashes in any packages.

There’s additionally the choice of the use of the Handbook profile and bumping the followers to 100% rpms. This interprets right into a noise building up (53 dBA) and a minimum building up in functionality (1-2%). The CPU continues to be power-limited on this mode, and runs at ~85 levels Celsius.

Switching over to the Efficiency profile interprets within the CPU stabilizing at ~115W and temperatures within the top 70s, with the followers spinning quieter at ~42 dB at head-level. Yet again, the device power-limits the CPU, and the functionality takes a 10% drop from the Turbo profile.

At the Silent profile, the CPU runs at round 90W for a couple of loops, after which stabilizes round 70W, with slightly audible followers (sub 35 dB) and temperatures within the mid-70s C. The i9-13980HX nonetheless rankings 3800 issues within the Cinebench check, about 70% of the Turbo functionality, and nonetheless a very good ranking for a laptop platform, as you’ll see in a little bit.

In any case, the CPU runs at ~70 W on battery, at the Efficiency profile, with nonetheless first rate rankings of round 3600 issues. Main points underneath.

(*13*)

Total, those are some superb effects in comparison to any of the opposite cellular platforms we’ve examined previously. Moreover, not like the former Scar generations, this Scar 18 chassis with the up to date {hardware} and cooling is now not thermally restricted whatsoever on this sustained CPU check.

To place those findings in viewpoint, right here’s how this Core i9-13980HX implementation fares towards different functionality laptops on this check, each Intel and AMD.

First off, it’s 30% sooner than the Core i9-12950HX within the Asus ROG Scar 17 SE and 60% sooner than the Core i9-12900HX within the 2022 Lenovo Legion 7i. After which, it’s just about 2x the functionality of the usual Core i9-12900H {hardware} from 2022, carried out at the Scar 15/17 and lots of different functionality laptops.

On the identical time, the AMD Ryzen 9 6900HX and the former Intel Core i9 platforms fall even additional again in features. We haven’t but examined the 2023 AMD Ryzen 9 7000 {hardware}, however search for updates in our long run evaluations.

(*12*)

We then went forward and extra verified our findings with the extra taxing Cinebench R23 loop check and Blender – School room, which led to equivalent findings to what we defined above (140W restrict for Turbo, 110W for Efficiency, 70W for Silent).

We additionally ran the 3DMark CPU check at the Turbo and Turbo UV profiles.

In any case, we ran our blended CPU+GPU pressure assessments in this pocket book. 3DMark pressure runs the similar check for 20 instances in a loop and appears for functionality variation and degradation over the years.

This evaluation unit handed the check with each the laptop at the table and with it on a raiser stand, with a purpose to desire airflow into the followers. The raised ranking is upper, this means that that the device heats up with longer lots, however no longer whatsoever that results in notable functionality throttling. We’ll additional speak about this within the Gaming phase underneath.

Subsequent, we ran all the suite of assessments and benchmarks, at the Turbo profile with the GPU set at the Same old mode (MUX on Complicated Optimus), and with the display set on the local QHD+ solution. The CPU runs on inventory voltage for those assessments.

Right here’s what we were given:

• 3DMark 13 –CPU profile: max – 12999, 16 – 9817, 8 – 7542, 4 – 4324, 2 – 2184, 1 – 1154;
• 3DMark 13 – Fireplace Strike (DX11): 36036 (Graphics – 47622, Physics – 40243, Blended – 12087);
• 3DMark 13 – Port Royal (RTX): 13564;
• 3DMark 13 – Time Secret agent (DX12): 20350 (Graphics – 21222, CPU – 16509);
• 3DMark 13 – Pace Manner (DX12 Final): 5514;
• Uniengine Superposition – 1080p Excessive: 12641;
• Uniengine Superposition – 1080p Medium: 33326;
• Handbrake 1.3.3 (4K to 1080p encode): 78.73 reasonable fps;
• Handbrake 1.6.1 (4K to 1080p encode): 120.58 reasonable fps;
• PassMark 10: Score: 7232 (CPU: 53897, three-D Graphics: 27962, Reminiscence: 3374, Disk Mark: 36486);
• PCMark 10: 7662 (Necessities – 11434, Productiveness – 9844, Virtual Content material Introduction – 10847);
• GeekBench 5.5.1 64-bit: tbu;
• CineBench R15 (easiest run): CPU 5050 cb, CPU Unmarried Core 308 cb;
• CineBench R20 (easiest run): CPU 12210 cb, CPU Unmarried Core 818 cb;
• CineBench R23: CPU 31664 cb (easiest unmarried run), CPU 27730 cb (10 min run), CPU Unmarried Core 2131 cb;
• x265 HD Benchmark 64-bit: 17.93 s.

And listed here are some workstation benchmarks, at the identical Turbo profile:

• Blender 3.01 – BMW scene – CPU Compute: 1m 16s ;
• Blender 3.01 – BMW scene – GPU Compute: 10.03s (CUDA), 5.91s (Optix);
• Blender 3.01 – School room scene – CPU Compute: 3m 02s;
• Blender 3.01 – School room scene – GPU Compute: 19.68s (CUDA), 13.51s (Optix);
• Blender 3.41 – BMW scene – CPU Compute: 1m 16s;
• Blender 3.41 – BMW scene – GPU Compute: 9.78s (CUDA), 5.28 (Optix);
• Blender 3.41 – School room scene – CPU Compute: 3m 02s;
• Blender 3.41 – School room scene – GPU Compute: 17.64s (CUDA), 9.81s (Optix);

• Pugetbench – DaVinci Get to the bottom of: 2007;
• Pugetbench – Adobe After Results: tbu;
• Pugetbench – Adobe Lightroom: 1513;
• Pugetbench – Adobe Photoshop: 1274;
• Pugetbench – Adobe Premiere: 1242;

• SPECviewperf 2020 – 3DSMax: 200.05;
• SPECviewperf 2020 – Catia: 112.91;
• SPECviewperf 2020 – Creo: 134.65;
• SPECviewperf 2020 – Power: 73.67;
• SPECviewperf 2020 – Maya: 517.80;
• SPECviewperf 2020 – Scientific: 58.73;
• SPECviewperf 2020 – SNX: 34.58;
• SPECviewperf 2020 – SW: 434.68.
• V-Ray Benchmark: tbu;

That is the primary Intel HX + RTX 4090 laptop we’re reviewing, and I’m baffled via those effects.

At the CPU facet, the Intel i9-13980HX smokes another examined platform in multi-threaded functionality, however may be a just about 10% building up in functionality in single-core lots in comparison to the Twelfth-gen Core i9 HX choices, the quickest cellular platform of the previous.

At the GPU facet, the RTX 4090 175W is just about 50% sooner than the 3080Ti 175W (within the Legion 7i or the ROG Scar 17 SE) in rasterization assessments, and 60% sooner in Ray-Tracing assessments.

Spectacular!

i9 (Thirteenth gen) + RTX 4090 vs i9 (Twelfth-gen) + RTX 3080Ti functionality

Right here’s a short lived comparability of those effects at the i9 + RTX 4090 175W Scar 18 configuration subsequent to the 2022 heavyweight i9 + RTX 3080Ti 175W configurations (within the Legion 7i and Scar 17 SE).

The 2023 platform is extra succesful in just about each and every check, each at the CPU and the GPU facet.

We’ll have a separate extra detailed article the place we’ll speak about the functionality variations between those platforms.

Undervolted Processor

As discussed previous, there’s an approach to undervolt the CPU within the BIOS, and listed here are some benchmark effects with a -30 mV undervolt (the best possible imaginable possibility).

• 3DMark 13 –CPU profile: max – 13229, 16 – 9925, 8 – 7700, 4 – 4329, 2 – 2184, 1 -1162;
• 3DMark 13 – Fireplace Strike: 35608 (Graphics – 47078, Physics – 41422, Blended – 11722);
• 3DMark 13 – Time Secret agent: 20332 (Graphics – 21268, CPU – 16277);
• Uniengine Superposition – 1080p Excessive: 13118;
• CineBench R15 (easiest run): CPU 5172 cb, CPU Unmarried Core 310 cb;
• CineBench R20 (easiest run): CPU 12565 cb, CPU Unmarried Core 822 cb;
• CineBench R23: CPU 33076 cb (easiest unmarried run), CPU 31598 cb (10 min run), CPU Unmarried Core 2141 cb;
• Blender 3.41 – School room scene – CPU Compute: 2m 58s.

I’m seeing a minor 2-3% bump in CPU rankings with the undervolt, and likewise a slight bump in GPU rankings.

That’s why, since I haven’t skilled any crashes or balance problems with the undervolt, I’ve saved the -30 mV tweak for the gaming assessments as neatly (additional down).

Turbo Mode vs. Efficiency, Silent

However first, let’s contact at the Efficiency and Silent profiles presented in Armoury Crate.

The ones Turbo-mode effects are mind-blowing, however the laptop runs at as much as 48-49 dB at the Turbo profile, which it’s possible you’ll to find noisy. Thus, when you’re prepared to sacrifice the functionality to a point with a purpose to stay the followers quieter, the Efficiency and Silent profiles will have to be of passion.

Right here’s how this 2023 Scar 18 plays at the Efficiency profile, which limits the followers to round 42-43 dB at head point.

• 3DMark 13 – Fireplace Strike: 33223 (Graphics – 44342, Physics – 36581, Blended – 11007);
• 3DMark 13 – Time Secret agent: 18916 (Graphics – 19826, CPU – 15013);
• Uniengine Superposition – 1080p Excessive: 12516;
• CineBench R20 (easiest run): CPU 11077 cb, CPU Unmarried Core 812 CB;
• Blender 3.41 – School room scene – CPU Compute: 3m 16s.

The CPU and GPU run at quite decrease persistent in this profile, therefore the rankings take a slight hit. Not anything important, however you will have to remember that the internals also are operating at quite upper temperatures in blended lots on this mode. We’ll speak about extra about this facet within the Gaming phase additional down.

You’ll be able to additionally go for the Silent profile, through which case the followers gained’t cross over 35 dB. Right here’s what we were given on this case:

• 3DMark 13 – Fireplace Strike: 27717 (Graphics – 39785, Physics – 28340, Blended – 8379);
• 3DMark 13 – Time Secret agent: 9771 (Graphics – 9324, CPU – 13425);
• Uniengine Superposition – 1080p Excessive: 6976;
• CineBench R20 (easiest run): CPU 10452 cb, CPU Unmarried Core 792 cb;
• Blender 3.41 – School room scene – CPU Compute: 3m 35s.

Each the CPU and the GPU finally end up considerably persistent restricted on this mode, however nonetheless carry out competitively given how quietly the laptop runs.

Talking off, I spotted some coil whining when launching difficult lots in this Silent profile, simply ahead of the followers begin to spin. One thing to rigorously glance into in your gadgets.

All in all, it’s as much as you whether or not the functionality/noise stability is justifiable in this Silent profile. I for one favor protecting Asus laptops on Silent just about at all times, even if operating video games. So long as Silent mode works correctly, in fact.

Efficiency on USB-C persistent

You’ll be able to fee this laptop by the use of USB-C, one thing helpful when touring with out bringing alongside the cumbersome major charger.

Simplest the Efficiency and Silent profiles are to be had on USB-C persistent supply. I plugged in a 100W ROG charger and the laptop treated elementary use and multitasking neatly on this mode, however was once restricted in features in difficult lots.

The {hardware} is persistent restricted compared to the use of the principle charger. No wonder, since that major charger is 330W and the USB-C charger is solely 100W.

Be expecting as much as 115W sustained in CPU only-loads, 55W in GPU lots, and round 75-80W in blended CPU+GPU lots.

Listed below are some benchmarks rankings on Efficiency mode on USB-C persistent.

• 3DMark 13 – Fireplace Strike: 18402 (Graphics – 19236, Physics – 40022, Blended – 8619);
• 3DMark 13 – Time Secret agent: 5351 (Graphics – 4796, CPU – 15570);
• Uniengine Superposition – 1080p Excessive: 4117;
• CineBench R20 (easiest run): CPU 11010 cb, CPU Unmarried Core 803 cb.

The CPU rankings are on par with Efficiency mode with the principle charger plugged in, however the GPU rankings are a lot decrease, because the GPU is capped at 55W on USB-C persistent.

Then again, to hit the top CPU persistent in sustained lots, the device attracts persistent from each the charger and the battery. Thus, the battery discharges in no time in CPU-heavy lots; I estimate about 30-40 mins of complete load in line with the Cinebench loop check.

With blended lots, the battery nonetheless discharges, however very very slowly, so that you’ll get 10++ hours of enjoying video games or workloads, even if this mileage will range in line with how CPU-heavy your packages are.

Moreover, the battery doesn’t discharge with day-to-day use and multitasking, and those actions are the supposed use-case for the use of this laptop on PD persistent.

I’d take into account that the full conduct may exchange with long run updates, regardless that, since that is operating on early application and our enjoy with previous ROG laptops on USB-C persistent didn’t enjoy the similar more or less GPU limitation.

Gaming functionality

Because the ROG Scar 18 is essentially the most robust ROG (Republic of Players) laptop of the 2023 era, let’s see the way it handles trendy video games.

We examined a few several types of video games at the more than a few to be had profiles on the display’s local QHD+ solution, all with the MUX set at the Final GPU mode and the CPU quite undervolted.

Listed below are the effects:

• Battlefield V, Cyberpunk, Doom, Witcher 3 – recorded with Fraps/in-game FPS counter in marketing campaign mode;
• Some distance Cry 5, 6, Metro, Crimson Lifeless Redemption 2, Tomb Raider video games – recorded with the integrated Benchmark utilities;
• Crimson Lifeless Redemption 2 Optimized profile in line with those settings.

The ones above are rasterization assessments, and listed here are some effects for RTX – Ray Tracing functionality, with and with out DLSS.

This configuration can simply deal with all of the trendy video games at QHD+ solution and Extremely settings, without or with RT. The gaming functionality of this RTX 4090 Scar 18 is a notable step up from the quickest gaming laptops of the previous, with the Core i9 HX processors and the RTX 3080Ti 175W dGPU.

DLSS functionality may be spectacular. Nvidia made a giant fuss about DLSS3 at the RTX 4000 chips, and for a excellent reason why. Just a handful of video games make stronger DLSS 3 for now, regardless that (Witcher and Cyberpunk are amongst them). We’ll speak about extra about DLSS3 specifics, functionality and enter lag in a separate article, after we get to check a couple of extra RTX 4000 laptops.

4K gaming may be imaginable with maximum titles when you plan to run this hooked to an exterior observe. We’re discussing 4K gaming in this RTX 4090 configuration on this separate article.

With that out of the best way, let’s cross over some functionality and temperature logs.

The Turbo mode ramps up the followers to ranges of ~49 dB with the laptop sitting at the table. It is a honest point for a top-performance profile, however you’ll nonetheless preferably need to use headphones to cover it up.

The CPU runs reasonably heat at between 80-90 levels Celsius between the examined titles, in line with how a lot persistent every sport allocates. The GPU runs at 78-80 levels and between 160 to 175 W of TGP persistent.

Those aren’t low temperatures whatsoever, however they’re inside of applicable limits for this kind of robust computer.

You’ll be able to bump up the again of the laptop off the table, and this improves the airflow beneath the chassis and into the followers, translating in a notable lower in CPU and GPU temperatures.

On this case, in our assessments the CPU finally ends up operating at 78-85 levels Celsius, and the GPU at sub-75 levels Celsius. y counsel this setup for longer gaming classes.

You want to additionally go for the Handbook profile which permits customizing the ability atmosphere and fan profiles. For trying out, I’ve driven all of the followers to 100% rpms, bumped the laptop on a raiser stand, and saved the ability settings as they arrive via default.

This Handbook profile interprets into additional persistent being allotted to the CPU, this means that the CPU runs any place between 70 to 95 levels C in those examined titles. It additionally interprets into an building up in fan noise (53 dB vs 49 dB on Turbo) and a slight lower in GPU temperatures.

The functionality isn’t affected in any notable approach, regardless that, with the one receive advantages being a slight growth in 1% lows, because of the additional CPU persistent.

Total, this kind of max-fan Handbook profile doesn’t make a lot sense right here. However different kinds of tweaks may. I’ll mean you can mess around with the settings.

In the event you’re prepared to sacrifice the framerates to a point and get a quieter gaming enjoy, the Efficiency and Silent profiles are price pursuing.

On our unit, the Efficiency profile drops the followers’ noise to 42-43 dBA at head point, and marginally limits the CPU/GPU persistent. This interprets right into a 5-10% aid in framerates, which I to find completely applicable.

The temperatures also are superb in this Efficiency profile, within the mid to top 70s at the CPU and GPU, with the laptop positioned flat at the table, and sub 75 with it raised up. I’m happy there’s in spite of everything a purposeful Efficiency profile at the Scars.

The Silent profile is a little bit unpolished in this pattern imo.

From what I will determine, the GPU runs at top persistent for some time (130-140W) after which, as soon as a definite temperature restrict is reached (round 75 C), it powers down aggressively to 55W. As soon as that occurs, the framerates take a big hit, so that you’ll must just about drop the solution to FHD or even trim down the graphics settings for a tight gaming enjoy. The fluctuation additionally varies between titles, with some video games keeping up the next persistent in this Silent mode, and a few being extra aggressively restricted to the 55W TGP atmosphere.

On the identical time, the followers stay quiet on this mode, at round 35 dBA, and the interior temperatures stay low.

In any case, I’ll point out the gaming functionality on battery persistent, at the Efficiency profile.

This pattern restricted the GPU to round 40W of persistent in this profile, which translated into low framerates at QHD solution, and 1+ hour of runtime. I’ll must additional glance into this in long run assessments, however for now, I wouldn’t be expecting a lot in relation to gaming on battery persistent.

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Noise, Warmth, Connectivity, speakers, and others

Asus have totally up to date the thermal design of this 2023 Scar 18 compared to the former 2022 generations.

There are three followers now, a extra plentiful set of heatpipes, and radiators at the facet and throughout all the again edge. There’s a large heatsink over all the again now, with a heatpipe on peak that feeds into the principle CPU/GPU heatpipes. Asus calls this complete ensemble the Pulsar heatsink.

I additionally discovered it attention-grabbing that the GPU fan in this Scar 18 style is bigger than at the Scar 16 variant, applying the additional house in this higher chassis. Asus didn’t do this at the previous Scar fashions.

Moreover, Thermal Grizzly’s Conductonaut Excessive liquid steel compound is implemented on each the CPU and the GPU.

This up to date thermal module lets in for the next persistent implementation than on previous Scar laptops, with decrease inner temperatures in sustained lots on all profiles. Each Turbo and Efficiency modes at the moment are completely usable in this Scar 18, with the Efficiency mode being strangely neatly balanced, whilst sacrificing features via solely more or less 10% compared to the Turbo mode.

The ground panel has been redesigned as neatly, with quite taller rubber ft and a customized format supposed to make sure stress in the course of the chassis, whilst additionally channeling air into the followers. The followers are nonetheless relatively choked with the laptop sitting at the table, regardless that, particularly at the CPU facet, so hanging this on a raiser stand is beneficial when operating difficult lots and video games.

We’ve coated inner temperatures at the CPU and GPU within the earlier phase.

So far as noise ranges cross, be expecting 53 dBA on Handbook with max-fans, 48-49 dBA on Turbo, 42-43 dBA of Efficiency, and 35 dBA at the Silent profile.

Now, so far as the outer case temperatures cross, there are some hotspots within the house above the keyboard and at the underbelly, over the principle elements, which cross previous 50 levels Celsius on Efficiency and Turbo, however the arm-rest and keyboard spaces, the surfaces that you simply’ll get in touch with hardly ever cross above mid-30s. Thus, this laptop by no means felt sizzling to touch right through my time with it.

Needless to say I’ve measured the underneath FLIR recordings in a 24-25 C ambient room, with the laptop at the table. Hanging the laptop on a raised stand will undoubtedly have an effect on those temperatures, losing them via 2-3 levels in the most up to date spots, and the outer prerequisites on your position may even have an effect on the readings.

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(*7*)(*6*)

*Gaming – Silent – enjoying Cyberpunk for half-hour, Silent profile, followers at ~40 dB
*Gaming – Efficiency – enjoying Cyberpunk for half-hour, followers at ~43 dB
*Gaming – Turbo, on table – enjoying Cyberpunk 2077 for half-hour, followers at ~49 dB

Gaming apart, this laptop is a breeze with on a regular basis use, with multitasking, surfing, or video streaming. The 0dB Era lets in the followers to fully transfer off with gentle use at the Silent profile, so long as the {hardware} remains beneath 60 C, which is more often than not. And that’s each on battery or when plugged in.

I did understand some coil profitable in this pattern, most commonly when launching any difficult load and ahead of the followers get started spinning. I haven’t skilled digital noises with day-to-day use, regardless that.

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*Day by day Use – streaming Netflix in EDGE for half-hour, Silent profile,  followers at 0 dB

For connectivity, there’s Wi-fi 6E and Bluetooth 5 in this unit, in addition to 2.5 Gigabit Lan, an replace from the former generations. This pattern carried out neatly on wireless with my setup.

The audio high quality this is lovely excellent for laptop speakers, with two major speakers firing at the backside and additional tweeters firing during the grills beneath the show.

The sound is reasonably wealthy and with some bass, in addition to loud at 78+ dB at head point. I haven’t spotted any distortions at top ranges, however the armrest vibrates at upper volumes, so that you’ll need to use headphones on your video games if that is one thing that bothers you. Headphones may even lend a hand cover up the fan noise at the Turbo/Handbook profiles. So far as I will inform, Asus didn’t skimp at the headphone output right here, however you will have to glance into different assets as neatly, since headphones aren’t rather my box of experience.

In any case, the digicam… neatly, there’s an integrated digicam now, positioned on the peak of the display and flanked via microphones. It’s an HD shooter, regardless that, so no longer a lot in symbol high quality. However a minimum of it’s there for while you’ll want it.

Battery lifestyles

There’s a 90Wh battery within all of the 2023 ROG Scar fashions, similar to within the earlier generations.

The device may be set to robotically transfer the display’s refresh to 60 Hz when the use of the laptop on battery persistent, so when you’ll understand a handy guide a rough display flicker while you disconnect the laptop from the wall, that’s a side-effect of this tweak. I’ll additionally upload that when you’re taking a look to maximise runtimes, it’s vital to make use of the laptop on any possibility however the Final dGPU mode in Armory Crate.

Right here’s what we were given on our evaluation unit in relation to battery lifestyles, with the display’s brightness set at round 120 nits (~60 brightness) and on Same old dGPU mode.

• 14 W (~5-6 h of use) – textual content modifying in Google Power, Silent  Mode, display at 60%, WiFi ON;
• 15 W (~5-6 h of use) – 1080p fullscreen video on Youtube in Edge, Silent Mode, display at 60%, WiFi ON;
• 15 W (~5-6 h of use) – Netflix 4K HDR fullscreen in Edge, Silent Mode, display at 60%, WiFi ON;
• 22 W (~4-5 h of use) – surfing in Edge, Silent Mode, display at 60%, WiFi ON;
• 75 W (~1+ h of use) – Gaming – Witcher 3, Efficiency Mode, display at 60%, WiFi ON, no fps restrict.

No longer dangerous, no longer nice both, and just about on par with previous Intel Core H and HX platforms examined closing yr. There’s a probability the runtimes will beef up with later application tweaks, as we’re trying out an early pattern right here with early application. I wouldn’t be expecting main adjustments, regardless that.

When compared, right here’s what we were given on closing yr’s Scar 17.

• 18 W (~5 h of use) – textual content modifying in Google Power, Silent  Mode, display at 60%, WiFi ON;
• 17 W (~5 h of use) – 1080p fullscreen video on Youtube in Edge, Silent Mode, display at 60%, WiFi ON;
• 15 W (~5-6 h of use) – Netflix fullscreen in Edge, Silent Mode, display at 60%, WiFi ON;
• 24 W (~3-4 h of use) – surfing in Edge, Efficiency Mode, display at 60%, WiFi ON;
• 75 W (~1+ h of use) – Gaming – Witcher 3, Efficiency Mode, display at 60%, WiFi ON, no fps restrict.

I’ll additionally upload that this ROG Scar 18 G834 configuration comes with a 330W persistent brick, quite higher and heavier than the 280W variant at the 2022 Scars. The battery absolutely fees from 10% in about 2 hours, with rapid charging for the primary part an hour, and USB-C charging is supported, as much as 100W.

You gained’t be capable of use the laptop on Turbo/Handbook whilst hooked over USB-C, however that’s sufficient for on a regular basis multitasking and coffee heavy workloads on Efficiency, in case you don’t need to deliver alongside the heavier major brick when at the cross. Over right here an USB-C charger isn’t integrated within the field with this style, but it surely could be in different areas.

Worth and availability- 2023 ASUS ROG Strix SCAR 18

The 2023 Asus ROG Scar 18 is indexed in some areas on the time of this text.

The highest-tier ROG Strix Scar 18 G834JY, with the i9-13980HX, RTX 4090 dGPU, 32 GB of RAM, 1 TB of SSD garage, begins from $3899 in US retail outlets, and 4299 EUR right here in Europe.

The mid-tier ROG Strix Scar 18 G834JZ with the similar specifications, however the RTX 4080 12GB dGPU, is anticipated at round 3499 in Europe, however I haven’t but discovered it indexed in US retail outlets. There’s a notable distinction in functionality between the 4080 and the 4090, however no longer rather on par with that value hole.

Observe this hyperlink for up to date configurations and costs on your area on the time you’re studying this text.

Ultimate thoughts- 2023 ASUS ROG Strix SCAR 18 evaluation

So far as the functionality and thermal design cross, this 2023 ROG Scar 18 is miles larger than the former Scar fashions.

No longer solely is it sooner with difficult CPU lots, blended paintings actions, and video games, but it surely’s additionally snappier with day-to-day use multitasking and will closing for 4-6 hours of use on battery persistent if wanted.

Moreover, the up to date tri-fan cooling does a very good activity at taming the robust elements, each at the top-tier Turbo mode, however particularly at the mid-level Efficiency profile, which nonetheless smokes another previous laptop configuration out of the water, however with superb temperatures and noise ranges (mid-70s at the CPU/GPU, 42-43 dBA fan noise).

Upload in an attractive 18-inch show, excellent inputs, a well-known ROG design, and durable construct high quality, and this ROG Scar 18 is a transparent advice in its elegance.

I will have to point out that I haven’t run into main problems with this pattern, however QC may also be problematic with first-batch merchandise, particularly on a brand-new chassis with new {hardware} akin to this one. So be sure to’re purchasing from a excellent retailer when you’re in a rush to get this early within the first a part of 2023, simply to be secure.

Now, in fact, this isn’t a really perfect design, there’s no such factor. I do assume Asus can have been a bit of extra cautious and addressed a few of my nits expressed within the article, such because the annoyingly positioned standing LEDs, the smudgy plastic used for the principle deck, or the truth that the F1-F12 writing at the keys isn’t backlit. I’d have additionally favored a card reader in this laptop, or even hinges that will permit the show to lean additional again, for the days it’s possible you’ll need to use this in your lap or at the sofa.

After which there are some inherent adjustments related to the design selections taken right here, akin to the truth that this Scar 18 teams all of the ports at the left and correct edges now, since all the again is occupied via the thermal module. Plus, the truth that this Scar 18 is a bigger and heavier laptop than the former Scar 17 era. Then again, that massive Pulsar heatsink performs a big position in the entire thermal design, and so far as length is going… neatly, you’ll’t beat physics, are you able to?

In truth, when you’re after a extra compact laptop with equivalent features, the mid-sized ROG Scar 16 2023 is an approach to believe, along different full-size 16-inch functionality laptops such because the Alienware m16, Lenovo Legion Professional 7, Razer Blade 16, or the MSI Raider GE68 lineups, amongst others.

As for choices for this 18-inch Scar 18, there are a couple of different fashions price taking a look into, with the Alienware m18 status out because the one that would fit (Or even outmatch) the functionality and cooling features of this chassis, and the Razer Blade 18 as a extra subtle design, however no longer rather as robust. We’ll know extra after we get to check those (with a bit of luck).

Anyway, this gorgeous a lot wraps up my evaluation of the 2023 Asus ROG Strix Scar 18 functionality and gaming laptop. Search for updates over the following weeks and months as we get to retest sure sides with up to date application, and let me know what you take into accounts this collection within the feedback phase down underneath.

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Overview via:
, Editor-in-Leader. I have a Bachelor’s in Pc Engineering and I have been protecting cellular era because the 2000s. You can most commonly to find evaluations and thorough guides written via me right here at the web site, in addition to some occasional first-impression articles.