The powerful Asus G73Jh gaming notebook is now available in the US

This 17.3” giant is equipped with an Intel Core i7-720QM and an ATI HD 5870, and starts at $1549.99

G73Jh: an exceptional gaming experience

Cool and quiet under pressure

Asus' Republic of Gamers (ROG) brand contains notebooks to rival some of the best gaming machines available. Last month the company unveiled several new notebooks under the ROG brand at the CES in Nevada, with one of the highlights being the G73Jh. The G73Jh is now available in the US; Laptopmag.com spotted the notebook at Newegg.com being sold for $1429.99. Its current price is $1549.99 so it may be worth shopping around to see if you can get it cheaper elsewhere.

Our hands-on review of Asus' enormous gaming machine revealed its excellent gaming performance, and its ability to stay cool and quiet under pressure. Three aspects of the notebook's specifications are immediately conspicuous: the processor, RAM and GPU. Asus has placed exceptional components inside this machine: an Intel Core i7-720QM processor, 8GB of DDR3 RAM, and an ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5870 GPU; which for this kind of price, is quite a bargain.

The exceptionally powerful ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5870 is ranked 5 in our GPU benchmark list, and is only beaten by SLI configurations; because of this, it is the best single card graphics option for notebooks available today. Needless to say, this GPU runs every single game listed in our gaming benchmark list (except for Crysis Warhead) at the highest possible settings; achieving fluid frame rates that almost match the SLI configurations.

Whilst a GPU is central to any gaming machine, a good processor is required to unlock its potential, and the i7-720QM is a more than adequate partner for the HD 5870. It is ranked 5 in our CPU benchmark list (when discounting the desktop processors listed), and provides plenty of processor power for demanding games. For a detailed assessment of the i7-720QM, please click here.

Another noticeable characteristic of the G73JH is its size: 16.6” x 12.8” x 0.8” - 2.3”, and weight: 8lb. Portability is therefore a secondary consideration for anyone considering buying this machine, and even with an 8-cell battery, this notebook would probably not run for very long whilst gaming on battery power alone. The benefits of having such a large machine are twofold however: users get a full HD 17.3” display and plenty of room for cooling. The machine has an innovative cooling method (pictured), which makes good use of two large fan exhausts at the rear of the machine.

Do gamers need a desktop replacement?

Detractors of such a machine will undoubtedly disparage it in light of similarly equipped desktops, which are usually far cheaper. What are the benefits, therefore, of buying a system that isn't very portable, and has its performance constrained by its inherent design? Whilst large machines such as the G73Jh aren't as portable as netbooks, they can still be moved far easier than a desktop, meaning the G73Jh can be brought to most social gaming events with ease. Once a gamer has arrived at his or her destination, gaming can commence almost immediately – with only a power socket and a suitable surface as requirements.

Mobility aside, two other important factors favor the notebook over the desktop – wattage and noise. A notebook will always have a lower wattage than a desktop, especially considering that serious gaming rigs need at least a 700W PSU, as well as additional power for its display, speakers and other external peripherals. Notebooks are quieter than desktops too. For a balanced discussion of the subject: notebooks versus desktops, please read our insightful article here.

Specifications of the Newegg.com model