Asus ROG Strix Scar 17 (2023): Two-minute review
The Asus ROG Strix Scar 17 represents a beardown contender for best gaming laptop of the year, pursuing up the smaller Asus ROG Zephyrus G15 oregon dual surface Asus ROG Zephyrus Duo 16.
Using the AMD-CPU-and-NVIDIA-GPU-set-up that’s go modular for the ROG brand, the latest Strix Scar 17 features a 16-core Ryzen 9 7945HX, 32GB RAM, 1TB of SSD and the enactment of either an RTX 4090 oregon 4080. In the U.S., determination are 2 versions for some GPU options each, truthful you astatine slightest person immoderate variety. The specs are much than capable to play immoderate of the best PC games similar Cyberpunk 2077 to Metro: Exodus astatine max settings with small effort.
It doesn’t wounded that the visual/audio presumption is reasonably beardown arsenic well. The Strix Scar 17 features a beauteous 17-inch 1440p show that offers a 240 refresh complaint which is bully capable for competitory gamers. Meanwhile, being Dolby Vision-capable ensures that HDR enhances images adjacent further.
Audio is adjacent much awesome done being some Dolby Atmos and Hi-Res Audio certified done its dual speakers. Alongside euphony and films sounding great, the speakers besides connection 5.1.2 transmission virtual situation dependable which is utile for gamers looking for much situational consciousness erstwhile playing Call of Duty: Warzone oregon Fortnite. However, the Strix Scar 17 does travel with immoderate limitations.
The precise constricted artillery beingness means users volition usually request to person this plugged up regularly. Attempting to usage the laptop connected a level thrust and the similar for tasks extracurricular of wide browsing and video contented viewing tin drain the Strix Scar 17 reasonably quickly.
Meanwhile, the plan does person a batch of ports but lacks biometric information oregon a paper scholar for gamers leaning much toward originative software. Gamers who don’t attraction astir creating oregon video conferencing connected the regular, however, should beryllium fine. Of course, the Strix Scar 17 comes astatine a steep terms careless of what NVIDIA GPU set-up imaginable purchasers use.
That said, superior PC gamers with heavy pockets who are lone looking for the highest ocular show successful a laptop signifier origin should powerfully see the Asus ROG Strix Scar 17 (2023). you won't beryllium disappointed.
Asus ROG Strix Scar 17 (2023): Price & availability
- How overmuch does it cost? Starting astatine $2,899.99 / £3,099.99 / AU$5,599.99
- When is it available? It is disposable now
- Where tin you get it? You tin get it successful the US, UK, and Australia
- $2,899.99 / £3,099.99 / AU$5,599
In the United States alone, determination are 4 configurations disposable for acquisition done Asus’ ROG store. Both RTX 4090 and 4080 configurations travel with 2 antithetic retention and RAM options.
The Strix Scar 17 is going to outgo $3,499.99 astatine the highest config, with RTX 4090, 32GB RAM, and 2TB SSD, which tin adjacent get you coagulated 4K video output if you privation much than the 1440p show tin provide. If that’s excessively much, though, the determination in-between $2,899.99 RTX 4080 provides 16GB RAM and 1TB SSD. This is bully capable for 1440p with coagulated framework rates.
In the UK, determination are 2 versions disposable with 1 offering an RTX 4090 and 2TB SSD for £3,799 and 4080/1TB combo astatine the £3,099.99 terms point. Both connection the aforesaid AMD Ryzen 9 and RAM acceptable up. Australian buyers are lone getting 1 AU$5,599 mentation featuring a RTX 4090, 16GB RAM and 1TB SSD.
- Price score: 4 / 5
Asus ROG Strix Scar 17 (2023): Specs
The Asus ROG Strix Scar 17 presently comes successful each configurations successful the United States, 2 successful the UK, and 1 successful Australia, with nary options to configure the models independently.
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Price: | $2,799.99 | $2,899.99 / £3,099.99 | $3,499.99 / £3,799 / AU$5,599 |
CPU: | AMD Ryzen 9 7945HX | AMD Ryzen 9 7945HX | AMD Ryzen 9 7945HX |
Graphics: | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 |
RAM: | 16GB | 16GB | 32GB |
Screen: | 17-inch WQHD 240Hz IPS (2560 x 1440) | 17-inch WQHD 240Hz IPS (2560 x 1440) | 17-inch WQHD 240Hz IPS (2560 x 1440) |
Storage: | 2TB | 1TB | 2TB |
Ports: | 1 x HDMI 2.1, 2 X USB-A 3.2, 1 x USB-C 3.2, 1 x powerfulness delivery, 1 x USB-C 3.2 Gen 2, 1 x 3.5mm Combo Audio Jack, 1 x 2.5G RJ45 | 1 x HDMI 2.1, 2 X USB-A 3.2, 1 x USB-C 3.2, 1 x powerfulness delivery, 1 x USB-C 3.2 Gen 2, 1 x 3.5mm Combo Audio Jack, 1 x 2.5G RJ45 | 1 x HDMI 2.1, 2 X USB-A 3.2, 1 x USB-C 3.2, 1 x powerfulness delivery, 1 x USB-C 3.2 Gen 2, 1 x 3.5mm Combo Audio Jack, 1 x 2.5G RJ45 |
Wireless: | Wi-Fi 6E(802(Triple band) 2*2 + Bluetooth® 5.2.11ax) | Wi-Fi 6E(802(Triple band) 2*2 + Bluetooth® 5.2.11ax) | Wi-Fi 6E(802(Triple band) 2*2 + Bluetooth® 5.2.11ax) |
Camera: | 720P HD camera | 720P HD camera | 720P HD camera |
Weight: | 3.00 Kg (6.61 lbs) | 3.00 Kg (6.61 lbs) | 3.00 Kg (6.61 lbs) |
Dimensions: | 39.5 x 28.2 x 2.34 ~ 2.83 cm (15.55" x 11.10" x 0.92" ~ 1.11") | 39.5 x 28.2 x 2.34 ~ 2.83 cm (15.55" x 11.10" x 0.92" ~ 1.11") | 39.5 x 28.2 x 2.34 ~ 2.83 cm (15.55" x 11.10" x 0.92" ~ 1.11") |
- Specs score: 4.5 / 5
Asus ROG Strix Scar 17 (2023): Design
- Despite a integrative chassis, the laptop plan is aesthetically bold yet sturdy
- Keyboard features per-key lighting and feels comfy to use
- There are plentifulness of ports disposable though it would person been bully to person biometric information and SD Card
The matte-black integrative plan of the Asus ROG Strix Scar 17 chassis gives disconnected an all-around assertive look. Be mindful that it besides smudges beauteous easy arsenic well; particularly if hands are adequately moisturized. Like the erstwhile iteration of the gaming laptop, the show hinge is offset to marque country for the speakers and rear facing ports it sits adjacent erstwhile opened. When closed, determination is plentifulness of customizable lighting everyplace from the airy barroom that somewhat wraps astir the bottommost to the ROG logo.
There are besides plentifulness of ports disposable connected the ROG Strix Scar 17 starting with the close side's 2 USB-A ports and 3.5 audio combo jack. Meanwhile, the rear features a HDMI 2.1 port, 2 USB-C ports with DisplayPort support, an ethernet jack and complaint larboard that connects done a reasonably ample powerfulness brick. It would person been bully to person an SD slot considering its almighty capable to edit assorted contented connected done Adobe Suite (and there's much than capable abstraction successful the honking large chassis for it).
Considering the 17-inch surface size and components stuffed successful the laptop, it’s beauteous ample and whitethorn instrumentality immoderate maneuvering to acceptable wrong a backpack. Though immoderate whitethorn person an contented with the matte-black plastic, it does assistance support the ROG Strix Scar 17 weighting importantly nether 10 lbs.
Once opened, the aforesaid fantastic RGB keyboard with per-key lighting remains arsenic beauteous to look astatine arsenic ever. This includes the 5 customizable macro keys that by default grip volume, mic on/off power and instrumentality velocity among others. It doesn’t substance if it's browsing the web and sending emails oregon gaming, keystrokes connected the mechanical consciousness beauteous good.
The deficiency of information features similar a fingerprint scanner oregon webcam shutter feels behind-the-times, though. Gamers volition request a abstracted rodent to play genres including shooters and RTS but wide cursor question connected the touchpad is smooth.
- Design score: 4 / 5
Asus ROG Strix Scar 17 (2023): Performance
- General gaming show is arsenic fantastic arsenic ever
- Image and audio accentuates gaming performance
- Weak webcam makes video conferencing a hassle
Asus ROG Strix Scar 17 (2023) Benchmarks
Here's however the Asus ROG Strix Scar 17 (2023) performed successful our suite of benchmark tests:
3DMark: Speed Way: 5318; Fire Strike: 41,391; Time Spy: 18,343
GeekBench 6: 2,746 (single-core); 15,730 (multi-core)
Total War: Warhammer III (1080p, Ultra): 150 fps; (1080p, Low): 336 fps
Cyberpunk 2077 (1080p, Ultra): 144 fps; (1080p, Low): 160 fps
Dirt 5 (1080p, Ultra): 181 fps; (1080p, Low): 239 fps
25GB File Copy transportation rate: 1,185.68 MBps
Handbrake 1.6: 2:47
CrossMark: Overall: 2,062 Productivity: 1,905 Creativity: 2,428 Responsiveness: 1,603
Web Surfing (Battery Informant): 4:20:53
PCMark 10 Battery Life: 1:24
General computing tasks let the Asus ROG Strix Scar 17 (2023) to amusement disconnected its comparatively quiescent quality and quality to enactment chill connected your lap. When it's gaming time, the laptop handles 1440p gaming without overmuch problems. The ROG Strix Scar 17 truly goes to enactment connected modern titles with the quality to play large AAA games astatine max settings with respectable framework rates.
There isn’t a amended illustration than Cyberpunk 2077 which tin play astatine 144 fps astatine ultra settings. Adding ray-tracing volition dilatory that show rather a bit, but acknowledgment to the RTX GPU’s quality to execute DLSS upscaling, it tin instrumentality ray-traced framework rates to respectable numbers.
Other games from Forza Horizon 5 to Metro:Exodus execute conscionable arsenic well. When it comes to much competitory leaning games similar Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, question show is much than good and input lag is astir non-existent. Helps that the show itself provides crisp and wide representation prime arsenic well.
This besides makes the ROG Strix Scar 17 a large enactment for creatives. During our trial of Handbrake 1.6, it encoded a astir 12 infinitesimal 4K video to 1080p successful astir 2 minutes and 47 seconds. This means that users of Photoshop and Premiere Pro tin get immoderate speedy export times. Add Dolby Vision into the premix and compatible video contented looks phenomenal too.
Speaker prime is large arsenic good with punchy volume, coagulated bass and wide clarity. They besides diagnostic virtual situation dependable and Dolby Atmos for compatible games alongside video content. Some gamers whitethorn consciousness much comfy gaming connected headphones but the interior speakers are bully enough.
One of the weaker elements successful the ROG Strix Scar 17 is the 720p webcam. Beyond being truly unspeakable successful debased airy conditions, it’s reasonably nary frills. Individuals who are looking to stream, it’ll astir apt beryllium champion to put successful 1 of the best webcams for outer use.
- Performance score: 4.5 / 5
Asus ROG Strix Scar 17 (2023): Battery
- General computing task usage is astir 4 hours.
- Battery takes a small nether 2 hours to charge.
Like galore gaming laptops utilizing the latest and astir almighty CPU and GPU combinations, the Asus ROG Strix Scar 17 (2023) features a reasonably lackluster artillery life.
Thankfully, it’s bully capable for 4 coagulated hours of wide computing usage, according to my testing, truthful the artillery should past agelong capable for a bi-coastal travel if watching video contented oregon web browsing.
Doing thing beyond that similar attempting to play immoderate crippled with heft to it similar Forza Horizon 5 without being plugged successful is going to deterioration down the artillery beingness reasonably quickly, unfortunately, but you knew that coming in. Gaming connected a gaming laptop conscionable isn't thing you tin efficaciously bash connected artillery power.
The Strix Scar 17 does marque the astir retired of its 90WHr battery, however, with a afloat recharge via its ample powerfulness ceramic taking conscionable a mates of hours.
- Battery score: 2.5 / 5
Should you bargain the Asus ROG Strix Scar 17 (2023)?
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Value | Expensive terms aside, the ROG Strix Scar 17 is simply a premium merchandise erstwhile it comes to wide performance, larboard assortment and diagnostic set. | 4 / 5 |
Specs | With immoderate of the astir almighty hardware available, you can't spell incorrect here, adjacent if it's not truly customizeable. | 4.5 / 5 |
Design | The plan of the Strix Scar 17 whitethorn disconnected enactment immoderate individuals with the matte-black plastic, but it looks conscionable arsenic almighty arsenic its performance. Add the customizable lighting and it becomes a existent looker. | 4 / 5 |
Performance | Having a operation of the AMD Ryzen 9 and NVIDIA RTX 4090 spell a agelong mode successful making this a superior performing gaming laptop. | 4.5 / 5 |
Battery | With the powerfulness down the Strix Scar 17, artillery beingness isn’t the champion here. Meanwhile, wide computing usage lone nets little than 4 hours. | 2.5 / 5 |
Average rating | Design and 1440p gaming show are the highlights of the costly Strix Scar 17. The laptop provides thing for gamers and creatives contempt issues with artillery beingness and deficiency of information features. | 3.8 / 5 |
Buy it if...
Don't bargain it if...
Asus ROG Strix Scar 17 (2023): Also consider
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Price: | Starting astatine $2,799.99 / £3,099.99 / AU$5,599.99 | $4,499.99 / £4,799 including VAT / astir AU$6,700 | Starting astatine $4,299.99 (about £3,570 / AU$6,240) |
CPU | AMD Ryzen 9 7945HX | 13ᵗʰ Gen Intel Core i9-13900KF | Intel Core i9-13980HX (Up to 5.6 GHz) |
GPU | Up to NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 | Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090 24GB GDDR6X | Up to Nvidia RTX 4090 12GB Laptop GPU (175W) |
RAM | Up to 32GB DDR5 | Up to 64GB DDR5 5600MHz | Up to 128GB DDR5 3600MHz |
Screen | 17-inch WQHD 240Hz IPS (2560 x 1440) | 16-inch WQXGA (2560x1600) IPS 500nits, 100% sRGB, 240Hz | 17.3-inch IPS, mini LED, 4K, 144hz |
Storage | Up to 2TB NVMe SSD | Up to 4TB NVMe SSD | Up to 4TB NVMe SSD Gen4x4 |
Ports | 1 x HDMI 2.1, 2 X USB-A 3.2, 1 x USB-C 3.2, 1 x powerfulness delivery, 1 x USB-C 3.2 Gen 2, 1 x 3.5mm Combo Audio Jack, 1 x 2.5G RJ45 | 4 x USB-A 3.2, 1 x USB-C, 1 x Thunderbolt 4, 1 x HDMI 2.1, 1 x RJ45, 1 x powerfulness input, 1 x physics e-shutter switch, 1 x 3.5mm audio jack | 3 x USB 3.2 Gen 2, 2 x Thunderbolt 4 w/ DP, 1 x HDMI 2.1, 1 x Mini DisplayPort 1.4, 1 x 3.5mm combo jack, 1 x SD paper slot, 1 x RJ45 |
Wireless | Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.2 | Wifi 6E, Bluetooth 5.1 | Wifi 6E, Bluetooth 5.2 |
Camera | 720P | 1080p | 720p |
Weight | 6.61lbs (3.0kg) | 6.17lbs (2.8 kg) | 7.28 lbs | 3.30 kg |
Dimensions | 15.55 x 11.10 x 0.92 ~ 1.11 inches | 395 x 282 x 23.4mm | 14.3 x 10.32 x 0.86-1.01 inches (363.4 x 262.15 x 21.95-25.9 mm; W x D x H) | 15.63 x 12.99 x 0.91 inches | 397 x 329.95 x 23.11 mm |
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How I tested the Asus ROG Strix Scar 17 (2023)
- I tested the gaming laptop for a small implicit a week
- I played assorted games including Cyberpunk 2077, Forza Horizon 5, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II and Bright Memory: Infinite
- I utilized different apps utilized included Google Chrome alongside Adobe Photoshop and Premiere Pro
The Asus ROG Strix Scar 17 was tested for a small implicit a week, divided betwixt wide computing, originative suites, and plentifulness of games. Games played including Cyberpunk 2077 and Forza Horizon 5 among others.
Those titles were played astatine afloat 1440p solution astatine max settings, portion respective photos for this reappraisal were edited connected Photoshop and a illustration 1080p video record was exported done Premiere Pro. Between those times, I browsed the web done Google Chrome and opened respective twelve tabs.
I've been investigating and reviewing gaming laptops for respective years now, and arsenic a nonrecreational photographer, among different originative pursuits, I cognize my mode astir Adobe Creative Cloud apps and what benignant of show to expect from a precocious prime laptop with hardware this powerful.
Read much astir however we test
First reviewed May 2023