Asus G501VW-FY081T Notebook Review

For the original German review, see here.
The Asus G501VW-FY081T is a 15.6-inch notebook from the Republic of Gamer series. Considering the performance, the device is comparatively thin and light. We already reviewed two Haswell models of the G501. Our current review unit is equipped with a Skylake processor, which is the biggest difference to the Haswell models. The case is identical, but the Skylake model got an additional Thunderbolt 3 port. Rivals for the G501VW are notebooks like the Acer Aspire VN7-592G, the Dell Inspiron 15 7000 or the MSI GE62. You can also consider any other device from our Top 10 Lightweight Gaming ranking as a competitor.
Case
Asus uses a black and comparatively thin metal chassis with an appealing design for the G501VW. Some red elements create a visual contrast. Asus uses a matte surface for the base unit, while the lid has a brushed finish. Both components are very susceptible for fingerprints. The battery is integrated and there is no maintenance hatch. You have to remove the whole bottom cover to access the internal components. This is not a big deal, but more on that later.
There is no criticism for the build quality. The device is well-built and the stability is also good. You can slightly warp the case at the usual spots (next to the keyboard on both sides, below the touchpad). The base unit could be a bit more torsion-resistant, even more so for the lid. There are at least no picture distortions when we apply pressure on the back of the screen. The hinges keep the display well in position and it is possible to open the lid with one hand.
Connectivity
The G501VW has three USB ports and all of them support the USB 3.0 standard. Our previous review models from the G501 were equipped with a Mini-DisplayPort, which was now replaced by a Thunderbolt 3 port (Type-C). The Skylake model of the G501 does not have an Ethernet port, but Asus does provide a USB 3.0 to Gigabit-Ethernet adapter. We cannot understand this decision for a gaming notebook. There is more than enough room and we already reviewed smaller notebooks with an Ethernet connector. The ports of the review unit are located in the rear area of the two sides, so the area next to the palm rest is free of cables.
Communication
Asus uses a Wi-Fi module from Intel (Dual-Band Wireless-AC 7265) for the G501VW. It supports the standards 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac as well as Bluetooth 4.0. We did not experience connection issues, and the signal was very stable in a radius of 15 meters around the router. We already mentioned that you do not get an Ethernet port, but Asus does provide a USB 3.0 to Gigabit-Ethernet adapter.
Card Reader
The card reader performs pretty well. We manage up to 82 MB/s when we copy large files and 71 MB/s for 250 jpg pictures (~5 MB each). We use our reference card from Toshiba (Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II) to check the performance.
Accessories
Besides the usual documents (quick-start poster, warranty information), the notebook is shipped with a USB 3.0 to Gigabit-Ethernet adapter and a gaming mouse from Sica.
Operating System
The operating system of the notebook is Windows 10 Home (64-bit). A recovery DVD is not provided.
Maintenance
You have to remove the bottom cover of the notebook to access the components, which is a pretty simple procedure. First, you have to remove the two rubber feet at the rear, which cover a screw (Philips). Those screws have to be loosened. Then you can loosen the visible screws (Torx) at the bottom and lift the cover.
Warranty
The notebook comes with a two-year warranty including pickup service. You can expand the warranty period: A three-year warranty is available for around 80 Euros (~$90).
Input Devices
Keyboard
Asus equips the G501VW with an illuminated chiclet keyboard. The red illumination has three brightness levels and can be controlled via two function keys. The flat keys have average travel and a well-defined pressure point, but the resistance could be firmer for our taste. There is some bouncing in the center when you are typing. All in all, Asus implements a decent keyboard.
Touchpad
The ClickPad with multi-touch support is about 10.5 x 7.3 centimeters, so there is sufficient space for gesture controls. Asus’ Smart Gesture software allows the activation/deactivation of individual gestures. The smooth surface of the pad does not affect the gliding of the fingers. It has a short travel and a clearly audible as well as perceptible pressure point.
Display
The Asus notebook is equipped with a matte 15.6-inch screen with a native resolution of 1920x1080 pixels. Luminance (311.7 cd/m²) and contrast (1066:1) are convenient. The display unfortunately shows PWM flickering at 200 Hz when the brightness level is at 90% and lower, so sensitive users could have problems with their eyes as well as get headaches.
The G501VW is also available with a 4K screen (3840x2160 pixels); we already reviewed a Haswell model of the G501 with such a panel in 2015.
|
Brightness Distribution: 83 %
Center on Battery: 334 cd/m²
Contrast: 1066:1 (Black: 0.32 cd/m²)
ΔE Color 4.23 | 0.5-29.43 Ø4.9
ΔE Greyscale 4.69 | 0.5-98 Ø5.1
97% sRGB (Argyll 1.6.3 3D)
63% AdobeRGB 1998 (Argyll 1.6.3 3D)
68.6% AdobeRGB 1998 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
97.3% sRGB (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
66.8% Display P3 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
Gamma: 2.53
Screen Flickering / PWM (Pulse-Width Modulation)
Screen flickering / PWM detected | 200 Hz | ≤ 90 % brightness setting | |
The display backlight flickers at 200 Hz (worst case, e.g., utilizing PWM) Flickering detected at a brightness setting of 90 % and below. There should be no flickering or PWM above this brightness setting. The frequency of 200 Hz is relatively low, so sensitive users will likely notice flickering and experience eyestrain at the stated brightness setting and below. In comparison: 53 % of all tested devices do not use PWM to dim the display. If PWM was detected, an average of 8623 (minimum: 5 - maximum: 343500) Hz was measured. |
Asus ships the device with a preloaded color profile, so the color accuracy is actually not bad. We can measure a DeltaE-2000 deviation of 4.23 for the colors ex-works, while the ideal value would be smaller than 3. We cannot see a blue cast. The display can cover almost the whole sRGB reference at 97%, and the AdobeRGB color space is covered by 63%.
Display Response Times
↔ Response Time Black to White | ||
---|---|---|
39 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined | ↗ 10 ms rise | |
↘ 29 ms fall | ||
The screen shows slow response rates in our tests and will be unsatisfactory for gamers. In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.1 (minimum) to 240 (maximum) ms. » 96 % of all devices are better. This means that the measured response time is worse than the average of all tested devices (20.9 ms). | ||
↔ Response Time 50% Grey to 80% Grey | ||
50 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined | ↗ 22 ms rise | |
↘ 28 ms fall | ||
The screen shows slow response rates in our tests and will be unsatisfactory for gamers. In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.165 (minimum) to 636 (maximum) ms. » 85 % of all devices are better. This means that the measured response time is worse than the average of all tested devices (32.7 ms). |
Asus G501VW-FY081T IPS, 1920x1080 | Asus G501JW IPS, 3840x2160 | Asus G501JW-CN168H IPS, 1920x1080 | Acer Aspire V15 Nitro BE VN7-592G-79DV IPS, 3840x2160 | Gigabyte P55W v5 IPS, 1920x1080 | Asus ZenBook Pro UX501VW-DS71T IPS, 3840x2160 | Dell Inspiron 15 7559 IPS, 3840x2160 | HP Pavilion 15-ak003ng IPS, 1920x1080 | MSI GS60 6QE-002US IPS, 1920x1080 | Acer Aspire VN7-591G-727P IPS, 3840x2160 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Display | -24% | 10% | 26% | -25% | -6% | -6% | -35% | -10% | -12% | |
Display P3 Coverage | 66.8 | 50 -25% | 76.5 15% | 86.2 29% | 50.1 -25% | 64.3 -4% | 63.4 -5% | 43.03 -36% | 64 -4% | 64.9 -3% |
sRGB Coverage | 97.3 | 75 -23% | 100 3% | 100 3% | 73.5 -24% | 89.9 -8% | 90 -8% | 64.7 -34% | 82.7 -15% | 66.9 -31% |
AdobeRGB 1998 Coverage | 68.6 | 51.6 -25% | 76.4 11% | 99.5 45% | 51.2 -25% | 65.4 -5% | 64.6 -6% | 44.47 -35% | 60.4 -12% | 66.9 -2% |
Response Times | 146% | 22% | 22% | 35% | 16% | |||||
Response Time Grey 50% / Grey 80% * | 50 ? | 49 ? 2% | 44 ? 12% | 43.2 ? 14% | 32 ? 36% | 48 ? 4% | ||||
Response Time Black / White * | 39 ? | 25 ? 36% | 27 ? 31% | 27.2 ? 30% | 26 ? 33% | 28 ? 28% | ||||
PWM Frequency | 200 ? | 1000 ? 400% | ||||||||
Screen | -24% | -2% | 19% | -8% | -23% | -28% | -6% | -14% | -4% | |
Brightness middle | 341 | 336.8 -1% | 344 1% | 303 -11% | 254 -26% | 252.9 -26% | 276 -19% | 254 -26% | 291.2 -15% | 322 -6% |
Brightness | 312 | 317 2% | 337 8% | 291 -7% | 267 -14% | 250 -20% | 273 -12% | 241 -23% | 292 -6% | 325 4% |
Brightness Distribution | 83 | 77 -7% | 95 14% | 83 0% | 89 7% | 89 7% | 85 2% | 78 -6% | 83 0% | 90 8% |
Black Level * | 0.32 | 0.53 -66% | 0.31 3% | 0.22 31% | 0.28 12% | 0.5 -56% | 0.78 -144% | 0.27 16% | 0.547 -71% | 0.37 -16% |
Contrast | 1066 | 635 -40% | 1110 4% | 1377 29% | 907 -15% | 506 -53% | 354 -67% | 941 -12% | 532 -50% | 870 -18% |
Colorchecker dE 2000 * | 4.23 | 7.02 -66% | 5.98 -41% | 3.47 18% | 4.28 -1% | 5.22 -23% | 4.05 4% | 3.54 16% | 4.29 -1% | 3.77 11% |
Colorchecker dE 2000 max. * | 8.02 | 6.79 15% | 10.6 -32% | 8.33 -4% | ||||||
Greyscale dE 2000 * | 4.69 | 4.01 14% | 5.75 -23% | 1.17 75% | 2.77 41% | 6.74 -44% | 4.68 -0% | 2.29 51% | 2.51 46% | 5.36 -14% |
Gamma | 2.53 87% | 2.1 105% | 2.51 88% | 2.35 94% | 2.28 96% | 2.45 90% | 2.55 86% | 2.5 88% | 2.13 103% | 2.39 92% |
CCT | 7549 86% | 6642 98% | 7366 88% | 6658 98% | 6284 103% | 6026 108% | 6871 95% | 6698 97% | 6403 102% | 7163 91% |
Color Space (Percent of AdobeRGB 1998) | 63 | 47.67 -24% | 71 13% | 86 37% | 47 -25% | 58.4 -7% | 58 -8% | 41 -35% | 54 -14% | 61 -3% |
Color Space (Percent of sRGB) | 97 | 100 3% | 100 3% | 73 -25% | 89.7 -8% | 90 -7% | 64 -34% | 82 -15% | ||
Total Average (Program / Settings) | -24% /
-24% | 4% /
1% | 64% /
44% | -4% /
-7% | -2% /
-14% | 0% /
-14% | -8% /
-9% | -12% /
-13% | -8% /
-6% |
* ... smaller is better
Performance
Asus' G501VW is a compact 15.6-inch gaming notebook. It provides smooth gameplay for all modern games. Our review unit retails for around 1,300 Euros (~$1476), so it is currently the least expensive model from the series. Other configurations are available.
Processor
The Asus notebook uses an Intel Core i7-6700HQ (Skylake) quad-core processor. This high-end model is currently used for many gaming notebooks. It provides more than sufficient performance for games and all common applications. The 45-Watt TDP of the processor is much higher compared to ULV-CPUs (15 Watts). The Core i7 has a nominal clock of 2.6 GHz, but it can be increased to 3.1 (four cores), 3.3 GHz (two cores), and 3.5 GHz (one core) via Turbo Boost. The latter is active both on mains as well as battery power.
The processor is not faster than its Broadwell predecessor (Core i7-5700HQ); they are actually pretty much on par. While the Skylake model has a small advantage in single-core scenarios due to improvements of the Skylake architecture, the Broadwell model is slightly ahead in the multi-tests thanks to the higher Turbo Boost.
JetStream 1.1 - Total Score | |
HP Pavilion 15-ak003ng | |
Asus G501VW-FY081T | |
Asus N552VX-FY103T | |
Acer Aspire V15 Nitro BE VN7-592G-79DV | |
Gigabyte P55W v5 |
Peacekeeper - --- | |
Asus G501JW | |
HP Pavilion 15-ak003ng | |
Asus G501VW-FY081T | |
Acer Aspire V15 Nitro BE VN7-592G-79DV | |
Gigabyte P55W v5 | |
Acer Aspire VN7-591G-727P |
* ... smaller is better
System Performance
That the system is responsive and runs smoothly is no surprise when you consider the powerful hardware. The PCMark scores are also very good, but the G501VW cannot beat a ULV notebook like the Acer Aspire VN7-572G-72L0 – despite the much more powerful CPU/GPU combination. This once again shows that faster hardware does not really pay off in common tasks. The quad-core processor needs applications that are optimized for multiple cores to show its potential. You can just slightly improve the performance of the Asus device. It is possible to implement another memory module; Asus maxed-out the other components.
PCMark 7 Score | 5020 points | |
PCMark 8 Home Score Accelerated v2 | 3495 points | |
PCMark 8 Creative Score Accelerated v2 | 4445 points | |
PCMark 8 Work Score Accelerated v2 | 4599 points | |
Help |
Storage Devices
The system drive of the G501VW is a Solid State Drive from LiteOn. This M.2 model has a total capacity of 128 GB, and around 90 GB is free for the user. The rest is occupied by the recovery partition and the Windows installation. The read performance of the SSD is on a normal level; but the write performance falls behind the possibilities of modern drives. However, you cannot notice it in practice. This SSD is not a high-end drive, it is a mid-range solution. The M.2 slot is attached via PCI Express x4 (NVMe). If you use corresponding SSDs, you can reach transfer rates up to three times (read) and eight times higher (write) compared to the integrated SSD.
Games need a lot of storage space, so the notebook is also equipped with an additional conventional 2.5-inch hard drive. It has a storage capacity of 1 TB and runs at 5400 rpm.
Asus G501VW-FY081T Samsung CM871 MZNLF128HCHP | Acer Aspire V15 Nitro BE VN7-592G-79DV Lite-On CV1-8B512 M.2 512 GB | Dell Inspiron 15 7559 SK hynix SC300 M.2 | HP Pavilion 15-ak003ng Samsung CM871 MZNLF128HCHP | MSI GE62 2QC-468XPL Samsung SSD PM851 256 GB MZNTE256HMHP | Acer Aspire VN7-591G-727P Toshiba HG6 THNSNJ256G8NU | Asus G501JW Samsung SSD SM951 512 GB MZHPV512HDGL | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
AS SSD | 239% | 148% | 2% | 225% | 121% | 531% | |
Seq Read | 504 | 514 2% | 509 1% | 492.3 -2% | 513 2% | 506 0% | 1410 180% |
Seq Write | 126.9 | 424.8 235% | 202 59% | 65.6 -48% | 253.3 100% | 454.4 258% | 1118 781% |
4K Read | 13.87 | 21.75 57% | 25.01 80% | 16.17 17% | 32.57 135% | 17.88 29% | 39.75 187% |
4K Write | 30.66 | 67.9 121% | 59.3 93% | 29.04 -5% | 90.5 195% | 53.9 76% | 92.6 202% |
4K-64 Read | 87.6 | 259.4 196% | 310.3 254% | 87.8 0% | 340.4 289% | 362.9 314% | 937 970% |
4K-64 Write | 19.4 | 243.8 1157% | 135.5 598% | 25.49 31% | 201.4 938% | 59.7 208% | 362.8 1770% |
Access Time Read * | 0.207 | 0.071 66% | 0.106 49% | 0.194 6% | 0.087 58% | 0.182 12% | 0.045 78% |
Access Time Write * | 0.225 | 0.053 76% | 0.116 48% | 0.195 13% | 0.037 84% | 0.066 71% | 0.041 82% |
* ... smaller is better
GPU Performance
Nothing changed for the G501VW compared to the G501 models we reviewed in 2015 in terms of graphics card. The GeForce GTX 960M GPU from Nvidia is the entry-level model of the high-end range. It supports DirectX 11 and runs with a nominal clock of 1097 MHz, which can be increased up to 1176 MHz via GPU Boost. The chip is supported by 4 GB GDDR5 memory (128-bit interface) and the 3DMark scores are on the expected level for this GPU.
Besides the GeForce GPU, you can also use Intel’s HD Graphics 530 GPU from the processor. It is a switchable graphics solution (Optimus), where the GeForce GPU handles demanding applications like games, while the Intel GPU is active during light workloads and on battery power. The switch between both GPUs happens automatically, but it is also possible to adjust the allocation manually.
3DMark 06 Standard Score | 23347 points | |
3DMark 11 Performance | 5533 points | |
3DMark Ice Storm Standard Score | 58706 points | |
3DMark Cloud Gate Standard Score | 17094 points | |
3DMark Fire Strike Score | 4028 points | |
Help |
3DMark 06 - 1280x1024 Standard Score AA:0x AF:0x | |
Gigabyte P55W v5 | |
Acer Aspire V15 Nitro BE VN7-592G-79DV | |
Asus G501VW-FY081T | |
Asus G501JW | |
HP Pavilion 15-ak003ng | |
Acer Aspire VN7-572G-72L0 |
Gaming Performance
The notebook manages smooth gameplay in all modern titles. Many games reach playable frame rates in the HD resolution (1366x768 pixels) and medium quality settings. The lower the hardware requirements for a game are, the higher the resolution/quality can be. The native resolution of the screen (1920x1080 pixels) is only possible for a couple of games though. Examples would be titles like FIFA 16 and World of Warships. More gaming performance is provided by notebooks with a GeForce GTX 970M or GTX 980M GPU, which start at around 1,300-1,400 Euros (~$1476-~$1590).
low | med. | high | ultra | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Tomb Raider (2013) | 267.3 | 158.9 | 107.5 | 53.1 |
BioShock Infinite (2013) | 152.5 | 125.4 | 111 | 45 |
Battlefield 4 (2013) | 146.2 | 109.5 | 80.8 | 33.8 |
Rise of the Tomb Raider (2016) | 65.4 | 43.7 | 25.7 | 21.5 |
Far Cry Primal (2016) | 71 | 33 | 29 | 24 |
The Division (2016) | 70.4 | 50.7 | 23.8 | 17.6 |
Hitman 2016 (2016) | 42 | 37.7 | 18.7 | 17.7 |
Need for Speed 2016 (2016) | 78.3 | 72.6 | 39.3 | 30.4 |
Emissions
System Noise
You cannot hear a lot from the G501VW while it's idling, because the fans are often deactivated. The only thing you can hear is the murmur of the 2.5-inch hard drive. This changes under load, where we can measure up to 44.3 dB(A) during our stress test. This is similar to the result under medium workloads. The CPU is periodically throttled to 800 MHz during the stress test, so the fans are not stressed as much.
Noise Level
Idle |
| 32.1 / 32.1 / 32.1 dB(A) |
Load |
| 43.3 / 44.3 dB(A) |
![]() | ||
30 dB silent 40 dB(A) audible 50 dB(A) loud |
||
min: ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Asus G501VW-FY081T 6700HQ, GeForce GTX 960M | Asus G501JW 4720HQ, GeForce GTX 960M | Asus G501JW-CN168H 4720HQ, GeForce GTX 960M | Acer Aspire V15 Nitro BE VN7-592G-79DV 6700HQ, GeForce GTX 960M | Gigabyte P55W v5 6700HQ, GeForce GTX 970M | Asus ZenBook Pro UX501VW-DS71T 6700HQ, GeForce GTX 960M | Dell Inspiron 15 7559 6700HQ, GeForce GTX 960M | HP Pavilion 15-ak003ng 6700HQ, GeForce GTX 950M | MSI GS60 6QE-002US 6700HQ, GeForce GTX 970M | Acer Aspire VN7-591G-727P 4720HQ, GeForce GTX 960M | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Noise | -2% | -2% | -3% | -6% | 6% | -2% | -9% | -6% | 1% | |
off / environment * | 31.2 | 31.3 -0% | ||||||||
Idle Minimum * | 32.1 | 31.3 2% | 31 3% | 31.2 3% | 33 -3% | 28.9 10% | 32.6 -2% | 34 -6% | 35.2 -10% | 30 7% |
Idle Average * | 32.1 | 33.4 -4% | 33.8 -5% | 31.2 3% | 34 -6% | 28.9 10% | 32.6 -2% | 35 -9% | 35.3 -10% | 32.2 -0% |
Idle Maximum * | 32.1 | 36.3 -13% | 34.1 -6% | 36.2 -13% | 35 -9% | 30.2 6% | 32.6 -2% | 36 -12% | 35.5 -11% | 35 -9% |
Load Average * | 43.3 | 39.5 9% | 44.3 -2% | 45.3 -5% | 43 1% | 41.8 3% | 40.5 6% | 44 -2% | 40.4 7% | 41.7 4% |
Load Maximum * | 44.3 | 46.3 -5% | 44.4 -0% | 47.3 -7% | 49 -11% | 43.9 1% | 49.1 -11% | 51 -15% | 47.2 -7% | 42.6 4% |
* ... smaller is better
Temperature
Our stress test (Prime95 and FurMark for at least one hour) reveals different results for the G501VW on mains and battery power. The CPU starts at 3.1 GHz on battery power and will then start to drop its speed stepwise, while the GPU runs at 849 MHz. The CPU can usually maintain 3.0-3.1 GHz on mains but periodically drops to just 800 MHz, while the GPU reaches 980 MHz. The laptop does not get very warm; the temperatures do not surpass 50 °C at any spot.
(±) The maximum temperature on the upper side is 41 °C / 106 F, compared to the average of 40.5 °C / 105 F, ranging from 21.2 to 68.8 °C for the class Gaming.
(-) The bottom heats up to a maximum of 48.2 °C / 119 F, compared to the average of 43.2 °C / 110 F
(+) In idle usage, the average temperature for the upper side is 24.8 °C / 77 F, compared to the device average of 33.9 °C / 93 F.
(+) The palmrests and touchpad are cooler than skin temperature with a maximum of 28.8 °C / 83.8 F and are therefore cool to the touch.
(±) The average temperature of the palmrest area of similar devices was 28.9 °C / 84 F (+0.1 °C / 0.2 F).
Asus G501VW-FY081T 6700HQ, GeForce GTX 960M | Asus G501JW 4720HQ, GeForce GTX 960M | Asus G501JW-CN168H 4720HQ, GeForce GTX 960M | Acer Aspire V15 Nitro BE VN7-592G-79DV 6700HQ, GeForce GTX 960M | Gigabyte P55W v5 6700HQ, GeForce GTX 970M | Asus ZenBook Pro UX501VW-DS71T 6700HQ, GeForce GTX 960M | Dell Inspiron 15 7559 6700HQ, GeForce GTX 960M | HP Pavilion 15-ak003ng 6700HQ, GeForce GTX 950M | MSI GS60 6QE-002US 6700HQ, GeForce GTX 970M | Acer Aspire VN7-591G-727P 4720HQ, GeForce GTX 960M | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Heat | -16% | -1% | -16% | -10% | -3% | -19% | -17% | -20% | -39% | |
Maximum Upper Side * | 41 | 42.2 -3% | 43.1 -5% | 50.1 -22% | 50 -22% | 44.2 -8% | 54 -32% | 59.3 -45% | 43.2 -5% | 53 -29% |
Maximum Bottom * | 48.2 | 47.6 1% | 47.4 2% | 56.2 -17% | 57.7 -20% | 48 -0% | 53.4 -11% | 61.2 -27% | 53.4 -11% | 53.2 -10% |
Idle Upper Side * | 26.4 | 34.4 -30% | 26.2 1% | 28.3 -7% | 25.7 3% | 26.2 1% | 30.4 -15% | 26.4 -0% | 34.2 -30% | 38.6 -46% |
Idle Bottom * | 26.7 | 34.6 -30% | 27.1 -1% | 31.1 -16% | 27.2 -2% | 27.8 -4% | 31.3 -17% | 25.6 4% | 35.6 -33% | 45.9 -72% |
* ... smaller is better
Speakers

The stereo speakers are located at the bottom of the notebook, but there is no additional subwoofer. They produce a decent sound, which lacks bass. You will have to use headphones or external speakers for a better sound experience.
Energy Management
Power Consumption
We can measure a maximum idle consumption of 13.2 Watts – a good result for such a powerful notebook. The value will fluctuate between 74 and 108 Watts during the stress test, because the CPU clock varies between 800 MHz and 3.0-3.1 GHz. The gaming consumption will be at around 82 Watts (+/- 10 Watts). The nominal output of the power adapter is 120 Watts.
A look at our comparison table shows that the G501 Haswell model from last year consumed up to 40.7 Watts while idling. We also noticed such a high value for our review unit at first as well. This can happen for one device, but it is very unlikely for two notebooks. We therefore had a closer look at the system and found the reason in the Task Manager. One of the applications from the XRite software we use for the display measurements continuously created partial load for the processor (30 – 40%) – even when we did not use the software. After the removal, the power consumption dropped to the value in the table. The same applies for the noise development and the battery runtimes. Only ROG devices showed this behavior so far, so there is most likely a conflict between the XRite software and software exclusively used for ROG models.
Off / Standby | ![]() ![]() |
Idle | ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Load |
![]() ![]() |
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | |
Key:
min: ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Asus G501VW-FY081T 6700HQ, GeForce GTX 960M | Asus G501JW-CN168H 4720HQ, GeForce GTX 960M | Acer Aspire V15 Nitro BE VN7-592G-79DV 6700HQ, GeForce GTX 960M | Gigabyte P55W v5 6700HQ, GeForce GTX 970M | Dell Inspiron 15 7559 6700HQ, GeForce GTX 960M | HP Pavilion 15-ak003ng 6700HQ, GeForce GTX 950M | Acer Aspire VN7-591G-727P 4720HQ, GeForce GTX 960M | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Power Consumption | -110% | -22% | -28% | -27% | -2% | -70% | |
Idle Minimum * | 6.9 | 13.6 -97% | 8.9 -29% | 9 -30% | 9.4 -36% | 7 -1% | 16.2 -135% |
Idle Average * | 10.7 | 38.1 -256% | 13.9 -30% | 13 -21% | 14.4 -35% | 11 -3% | 20.2 -89% |
Idle Maximum * | 13.2 | 40.7 -208% | 15.6 -18% | 17 -29% | 15 -14% | 17 -29% | 22.8 -73% |
Load Average * | 82 | 81.6 -0% | 89 -9% | 81 1% | 102 -24% | 69 16% | 96.4 -18% |
Load Maximum * | 94 | 81.6 13% | 118 -26% | 152 -62% | 120 -28% | 89 5% | 126.9 -35% |
* ... smaller is better
Battery Runtime
Our realistic Wi-Fi test determines a runtime of 5:30 hours for the Asus notebook. This test simulates web browsing with the Balanced power profile and a display brightness of around 150 cd/m². We use our video test to determine the runtime with a loop of the short movie Big Buck Bunny (H.264, 1920x1080 pixels). The wireless modules are deactivated and the display brightness is adjusted to around 150 cd/m². The G501VW shuts down after 5:03 hours.
Asus offers two different battery modules. Models without a 2.5-inch hard drive are equipped with a 96-Wh battery. Configurations with a 2.5-inch hard drive besides the M.2-SSD, like our review unit, have a 60-Wh battery.
We already reviewed a Haswell model of the G501 with such a 96-Wh battery back in 2015. Our comparison chart shows that this model usually falls behind our current review unit. This is partly due to the previously mentioned issues with the XRite software. Another reason is the 4K screen, which consumes more power than an FHD panel. Our current review model should be able to manage Wi-Fi and video runtimes of around 7 hours with the 96-Wh battery.
Asus G501VW-FY081T 60 Wh | Asus G501JW 96 Wh | Asus G501JW-CN168H 60 Wh | Acer Aspire V15 Nitro BE VN7-592G-79DV 52 Wh | Gigabyte P55W v5 61 Wh | Asus ZenBook Pro UX501VW-DS71T 96 Wh | Dell Inspiron 15 7559 74 Wh | HP Pavilion 15-ak003ng 48 Wh | MSI GS60 6QE-002US 47 Wh | Acer Aspire VN7-591G-727P 52 Wh | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Battery Runtime | 57% | -42% | -14% | 15% | 37% | 2% | -6% | -55% | -42% | |
Reader / Idle | 610 | 415 -32% | 530 -13% | 604 -1% | 689 13% | 709 16% | 572 -6% | 116 -81% | 216 -65% | |
H.264 | 303 | 231 -24% | 332 10% | 283 -7% | 176 -42% | |||||
WiFi v1.3 | 330 | 286 -13% | 190 -42% | 218 -34% | 348 5% | 379 15% | 232 -30% | 304 -8% | 97 -71% | 166 -50% |
Load | 64 | 202 216% | 75 17% | 93 45% | 117 83% | 76 19% | 62 -3% | 56 -12% | 58 -9% |
Pros
Cons
Verdict
The G501W from Asus is a nice and thin gaming notebook with a 15.6-inch screen. The processor provides more than enough performance for all common applications. It is usually a quiet and cool device in practice. A fast SSD ensures a responsive system and there is sufficient storage thanks to the additional 1 TB hard drive (2.5-inch). Both drives can easily be replaced since you can remove the bottom cover of the notebook. We also like the bright and high-contrast IPS screen. The battery runtimes are more than decent for such a powerful notebook.
The Asus G501VW is primarily an update of the predecessor. You get a new processor generation and a new Thunderbolt 3 port (Type-C connector). Asus, unfortunately, does not implement an Ethernet port – a questionable decision for a gaming notebook.
Priced at around 1,300 Euros (~$1476), the notebook is not one of the less expensive models. Asus should have offered more for the price; a 256 GB SSD and/or 16 GB RAM are not unrealistic for this price tag.
Asus G501VW-FY081T
- 04/18/2016 v5.1 (old)
Sascha Mölck