Asus ROG Strix Scar III (G731GU) Assessment

The Asus ROG Strix Scar III (G731GU) is an reasonably priced 17.3in laptop computer that provides well-balanced 1080p and e-sports gaming energy. It is not with out some flaws although, with a particularly hefty design, poor battery life and lack of show sync know-how. I nonetheless would not low cost the Scar III, particularly if you happen to’re on a decent price range or don’t want RTX 2060 energy

Execs

• Stable gaming speeds
• Spectacular 144Hz display screen
• Cheap RGB LED keyboard

Cons

• Inconsistent design and construct
• Poor battery life
• Noticeable fan noise

Key Specs

• Assessment Worth: £1399
• 17.3in, 1920 x 1080, 144Hz display screen
• Intel Core i7-9750H processor
• Nvidia GTX 1660 Ti graphics
• 16GB DDR4 reminiscence
• 512GB SSD
• 1TB onerous disk
• Home windows 10 64-bit
• Dimensions: 399 x 293 x 26.2 mm
• Weight: 2.9 kg

The Asus ROG Strix Scar III G731GU is a uncommon factor today: an old-school, 17.3in gaming laptop computer that doesn’t price an absurd amount of cash.

The G731GU has a mid-market value of £1399 within the UK and $1399 within the US, and its 17.3in display screen ought to guarantee immersive gaming.

Asus ROG Strix Scar III (G731GU) design – Blatant gaming aptitude

The Asus actually seems to be like an old-school gaming laptop computer. It has per-key RGB LED backlighting and the bottom of the machine has a hoop of lights that illuminates the desk.

A lot of the laptop computer is roofed in brushed aluminium with a daring, textured design, and the right-hand facet options outstanding plastic ridges. The bottom of the display screen is angled, and there’s an enormous ROG emblem on the lid.

The G731GU seems to be the half, however the £1399/$1,399 value means there are construct high quality compromises. The steel across the trackpad strikes somewhat an excessive amount of, and the plastic underside creaks. I’d actually suggest investing in a sleeve to guard the Asus in transit.

Weighing in at 2.9kg, this 17.3in machine is hefty; it weighs greater than loads of pricier 17.3in gaming laptops. It’s 26mm thick too, so it isn’t precisely slim.

Across the Asus’ edges you’ll discover three USB 3.1 ports, a Sort-C connection that helps DisplayPort and an HDMI output. Nonetheless, there’s no card reader, and just one audio jack. Handily, Asus has put in the ports on the rear and alongside the left-hand edge – so if you happen to’re utilizing a mouse on the suitable, cables gained’t get in the way in which.

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Asus ROG Strix Scar III (G731GU) keyboard – Sturdy and dependable

The ROG Strix Scar III has a traditional chiclet keyboard. A full-sized unit with a quantity pad, it additionally options an additional row of buttons for opening the Asus Armoury Crate instrument and altering fan speeds and speaker quantity. The keyboard additionally has n-key rollover, which is sweet for frantic gaming.

Its base is sturdy, the buttons have a very good quantity of journey, and their typing motion is dependable and comparatively crisp. For mainstream gaming and e-sports, it’s first rate.

As ever, although, mechanical laptops and keyboards provide higher journey and pace, with extra crisp and scientific typing. There stays a gulf in efficiency between the 2, so keener avid gamers could wish to hunt down the quicker {hardware}.

The trackpad is mediocre. It may very well be larger, and it’s set again from the entrance of the machine, ensuing within the fringe of the laptop computer generally digging into your palm. The buttons are delicate too. A USB mouse might be extra satisfying.

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Asus ROG Strix Scar III (G731GU) display screen – Speedy display screen

The Scar III has a 1080p panel with a 144Hz refresh charge, however with out syncing – and this isn’t uncommon for this value.

Regardless of that, it’s stable: the 1080p decision ensures video games look crisp with out overstretching the GPU, and the 144Hz refresh charge implies that e-sports titles run at excessive body charges whereas persevering with to look clean.

A brightness determine of 314 nits is excessive sufficient to make sure gaming underneath shiny lights or outside isn’t a problem, and a black stage of 0.19 nits is spectacular – it’s decrease than most gaming laptops, which suggests darkish areas could have extra depth.

These preliminary figures create a distinction ratio of 1652:1 – which is great. It’s larger than most gaming notebooks, delivering big vibrancy and depth.

A Delta E of two.52 is first rate; the color temperature of 7083K is somewhat chilly, however not a lot as to trigger points. The display screen is definitely ok for gaming: it gives loads of punch, and hues are correct.

The Scar III’s audio system are surprisingly spectacular too. They’re loud sufficient to fill a room; the high-end is crisp relatively than tinny, and the treble vary is evident and punchy. There’s even a little bit of bass on show. A headset might be higher for gaming, however this audio package is definitely usable.

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Asus ROG Strix Scar III (G731GU) efficiency – Stable Full HD gaming

The Nvidia GeForce GTX 1660 Ti is an effective graphics card for mainstream gaming and e-sports. This laptop computer’s cell model has 1536 stream processors and 6GB of reminiscence, and it has base and enhance clocks of 1455MHz and 1590MHz – so it’s the full-power model, not the cut-back Max-Q mannequin.

Additionally making an look right here is the favored Intel Core i7-9750H processor, and its six cores imply that it’s going to simply deal with 1080p gaming, workplace duties, internet searching and mainstream photograph modifying.

Rounding off the specification is 16GB of 2666MHz dual-channel reminiscence, a 512GB SSD and a 1TB onerous disk. Connectivity is dealt with by dual-band 802.11ac wi-fi, Bluetooth 5 and Gigabit Ethernet – however there’s no Wi-Fi 6.

By default, the Asus runs in its Efficiency mode, and there’s simply sufficient energy to deal with triple-A video games at 1080p. Importantly, any huge e-sports recreation will run at triple-figure body charges, too – you’ll simply get to the 144fps required to profit from the display screen.

The GTX 1660 Ti is first rate, however the Nvidia RTX 2060 will add round 10 extra frames of efficiency, and it’s accessible in comparable 17.3in laptops for round £1499 and $1500. Additionally, keep in mind: RTX 2060 machines assist ray-tracing, too.

The Core i7 CPU is dependable. In Cinebench R15 the Asus scored 12,564cb, which is a stable outcome; sufficient to keep away from gaming bottlenecks and to deal with day-to-day work. Its PCMark 10 results of 4785 is equally first rate.

The one efficiency draw back is the SSD, which delivered learn and write speeds of 1261MB/s and 314MB/s. These are mediocre outcomes – higher than a tough disk and enough to ship cheap boot and loading occasions, however they nonetheless are available in behind the very best drives.

The G731GU makes use of its Efficiency mode by default, however it additionally has a number of different choices. Don’t count on a lot from these, nonetheless: the Home windows mode didn’t have any impression in CPU benchmarks, with the Asus’ Cinebench rating remaining at 1262cb.

Enchancment was seen with the Turbo gaming mode: this noticed the Asus’ 3DMark: Fireplace Strike rating elevate from 12,840 to 13,241 – however that was solely sufficient to ship an additional body or two in video games.

The Silent possibility did dwell as much as its billing, however it impacts efficiency: the Asus’ Cinebench rating dropped to 1078cb, and its 3DMark: Fireplace Strike rating dropped to 12,237.

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Asus ROG Strix Scar III (G731GU) battery life – Poor performer

This reasonably priced Asus is a middling thermal performer. The followers produce a noticeable whirr, even throughout comparatively undemanding conditions, and it’s somewhat louder in Turbo mode.

The audio system are ok to masks the output, and a headset will drown it out. However word that this laptop computer is way from silent.

Don’t count on a lot battery life, both. The Strix Scar III lasted for simply over three hours in a video and web-browsing take a look at, and it ran for an hour throughout gaming.

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Do you have to purchase the Asus ROG Strix Scar III (G731GU)?

The ROG Strix Scar III is a good laptop computer, displaying stable performances in key areas. It has enough gaming pace for 1080p titles and e-sports, and the CPU can deal with day-to-day computing and mainstream work.

Elsewhere, it has a clean 144Hz display screen providing nice distinction and stable colors, alongside an inexpensive set of audio system and a good mainstream gaming keyboard.

The ROG Strix Scar III is reasonably priced, however that has led to compromises. The display screen doesn’t sync, battery life is poor, and the design is inconsistent. It may be loud, too. Spending somewhat additional cash will purchase you a slimmer, lighter laptop computer, or one with RTX 2060 graphics.

Nonetheless, I wouldn’t low cost the Scar III, particularly if you happen to’re on a decent price range or don’t want RTX 2060 energy. The Asus ROG Strix Scar III G731GU is an efficient, well-designed gaming laptop computer that doesn’t price the earth.