Earlier this year I had the opportunity to test my first laptop with Intel 13th Gen CPU-RTX 40 series GPUs and I was blown away. Thanks to its hardware suite and DLSS 3 support in some titles, it is now possible to play the latest games with high FPS without sacrificing high graphics quality or needing a desktop computer. Still, that was already the case with the ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 2023, so how does the ASUS ROG Strix Scar 2023 compare?
The short answer is…at a very good level. This latest advancement in laptop hardware is no small feat and has dramatically narrowed the gap between laptops and desktops. I’ll explain some of the data to prove it in a moment, but before that I’ll talk a bit about the design and shape of the latest Strix Scar, which is definitely aimed primarily at gamers.
This laptop doesn’t have an immediately striking case design, but its large air vents, RGB elements and size make it clear that this is a device created for the most avid gamers. It’s quite heavy and even has a translucent material that lets you peek into some of the components inside. However, its proportions aren’t gigantic and it doesn’t have any kind of details or additions that try to give it a more futuristic touch, as has been the case with many other gaming laptops. This one has also a clear game appearance, but only because it has elements that are necessary for it to reach its maximum performance, for example the many air intakes.
The Strix Scar saves a lot of space thanks to its thin screen, which takes up about a quarter of the total width of the case. With QHD (1440p) resolution, 240Hz maximum, HDR support, 3ms response time, and DCI-P3 coverage (all in 16-inches), this display can compete with the best on the market. . It’s perfect for this device, since DLSS 3 allows you to push all of its components to the limit. With its ultra-thin bezel, so thin that even the webcam sits in a protruding hole, you feel like you’re using every part of the monitor.
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Anyway, back to the performance issue. With a 13th Gen Intel i9-13980HX CPU, RTX 4080 GPU, and 32GB of DDR5 RAM, you’ve probably guessed that the FPS that the Strix Scar manages to achieve is impressive. And in this case, you’re right.
Atomic heart:
- Minimum quality: 230 fps
- Ultra quality: 135 fps
- Ultra quality with DLSS 3 enabled: 218 fps
Jurassic World Evolution 2:
- Minimum quality: 225 fps
- Ultra quality: 140 fps
- Ultra quality with DLSS 3 enabled: 207 fps
Marvel’s Spiderman:
- Minimum quality: 157 fps
- Ultra quality: 86 fps
- Ultra quality with DLSS 3 enabled: 139 fps
God of the war:
- Minimum quality: 152 fps
- Ultra quality: 118 fps
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Planet Coaster:
- Minimum quality: 150 fps
- Ultra quality: 96 fps
Past days:
- Minimum quality: 180 fps
- Ultra quality: 122 fps
Dirt 5:
- Minimum quality: 170 fps
- Ultra quality: 92 fps
In general, the FPS drop that occurs when you go from minimum graphics quality to ultra is around 40%, a percentage that reduces to 10% when you activate DLSS 3. Precisely for this reason, having a A monitor that can run up to 240Hz with QHD enabled is almost essential for DLSS 3 products because then you’ll be able to enjoy the best of both worlds, which has been a long-time dream.
The problem with laptops (and computers in general) is that when you try to push them to the limit, the fan noise increases a lot as they try to dissipate the heat generated by those bulky components. Although the Strix Scar suffers from the same flaw, the noise isn’t worse than most laptops I’ve tested, and that’s a big plus (considering its performance). This level of success can be attributed to the triple fan and integrated liquid metal cooling solutions, which work very well in keeping the heatsinks at a reasonable temperature level. If you’re planning on gaming without headphones, you’ll need to use the Dolby-Atmos speaker system, because while the noise isn’t excessive by typical laptop standards, it can still be deafening.
Asus’ Armory Crate software is very useful for those who want to tinker with settings and see how each component performs when in use, and is also the primary way to change the RGB effects seen on the logo on the computer’s lid. laptop, the keyboard and the light bar running through its base. It has plenty of connectivity options (eight ports, including the battery port: four USB-A and USB-C ports, one HDMI, one Ethernet, and one for 3.5mm audio jacks) and a 90 Wh that will last you all day. , as long as you don’t constantly play. The result is a laptop that can do everything you need.
This level of utility means that Asus’ ROG Strix Scar 16 (2023) costs an arm and a leg, around $3,700, but when you think about the price of a desktop computer with comparable components, the price n is no longer so important. . If you want the best for gaming on the go and don’t care about the price, you can’t go wrong with the latest Strix Scar model.