Asus G74SX-A2
Specifications
Price comparison
Average of 2 scores (from 3 reviews)
Reviews for the Asus G74SX-A2
Source: CNet
Archive.org versionAfter a season of wafer-thin ultrabooks and pocket-sized ultraportables, there's nothing quite like a giant desktop-replacement gaming rig. Asus has built a very nice sideline over the years with its gaming laptops, including the G74SX, which is a strong, if expensive, quad-core rig that works fine, but looks like it should cost less.
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 12/02/2011
Rating: Total score: 70% performance: 80% mobility: 60%
Source: AnandTech
Archive.org versionI must admit that the G73SW left me feeling a little underwhelmed; it was nearly the same as the G73JW, only with a Sandy Bridge CPU. Yes, Sandy Bridge is a noteworthy upgrade from Clarksfield, but we wanted more. The G74SX is the answer, bringing some minor and some not-so-minor updates to the G7 series.
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 10/06/2011
Source: Laptop Mag
Archive.org versionWith the G74SX-A2, ASUS has updated its desktop gaming notebook in all the right ways. While the changes to the chassis are subtle, the design feels fresh and is comfortable to use for long stretches. Inside, the SSD, quad-core CPU, and one of Nvidia's most powerful GPUs mean that gamers won't be wanting for performance, either. While we prefer the Alienware M17x because it offers even more muscle along with a multicolor, backlit keyboard, that system carriers a $690 premium when similarly configured. If you're looking for a full HD notebook that provides a stellar gaming experience for a reasonable price, the G74SX-A2 is the way to go.
Single Review, online available, Medium, Date: 07/20/2011
Rating: Total score: 80%
Comment
Series:
Under the label „Republic of Gamers“ (R.O.G.) Asus continiues the story and shows off the G74 series for gamers. With a premium 17.3-inch display (optional: 3D-capable) and the latest Intel Sandy Bridge CPUs the Asus G74 reveled on the CeBIT 2011 Exhibition in Hannover, Germany. At this time Asus shows a early mock-up of the fourth generation. So the new series take over the succession of the previous series G71, G72 and G73. Strong Hardware, the overall weight and the big chassis are mobility-killers. For the most customers are these points only a marginal note.
Asus offers different configurations of the G74 series, which should appeal mainstream-users as well as extreme gamers. The entry in this series is not cheap, but competitors like Alienware are also located in this area. The cheapest model includes an Intel Core i7-2630QM processor, 8 GB of DDR3-RAM, 1.5 TB HDD, a Blu-ray drive and the gaming-GPU Nvidia GeForce GTX 560M.
The available high-end model costs over 2.000 USD. Therefore the customer get a nimble Solid State Drive with 160 GB capacity (+ 750 GB HDD), 16 GB of DDR3-RAM and a matte 3D-screen (120 Hz). At Dells daughter Alienware the high-end notebooks are mostly a little bit more expensive than this series from Asus. Otherwise Alienware offers a wide range of configurations and additional options. E.g. various RAID-systems, which can be very expensive, but quite fast.
In our review oft he Asus G74SX-3DE the chassis, the comfortable keyboard, the excellent screen, including the 3D-functionality, the good performance, the load noise level and the low surface temperatures are some advantages of this notebook. On the other side: the noise in idle mode, hardware throttling under extreme load and the missing Nvidia Optimus support are disadvantages.
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560M:
The successor of the GeForce GTX 460M based on the new GF116 chip. The performance is about 13% better than the 460M but with similar power requirements due to hardware optimizations.
Modern games should be playable with these graphics cards at low settings and resolutions. Casual gamers may be happy with these cards.
» Further information can be found in our Comparison of Mobile Graphics Cards and the corresponding Benchmark List.
Intel Core i7: The Intel Core i7 for laptops is based on the LG1156 Core i5/i7 CPU for desktops. The base clock speed of the CPUs is relatively low, but because of a huge Turbo mode, the cores can dynamically overclock to up to 3.2 GHz (920XM). Therefore, the CPU can be as fast as high clocked dual-core CPUs (using single threaded applications) but still offer the advantage of 4 cores. Because of the large TDP of 45 W / 55 W, the CPU is only intended for large laptops.
2630QM: Fast Quad-core processor based on the Sandy Bridge architecture with an integrated graphics card and dual-channel DDR3 memory controller. » Further information can be found in our Comparison of Mobile Processsors.
17.30": This display size is a standard format for desktop replacements (DTR). The DTR laptops are heavier to carry, need more power, but texts are easy to read and high resolutions are no problem. DTR are mainly intended for stationary desk use, where weight and energy hunger don't matter. In return, you enjoy the advantages of high resolutions (more details, better legibility).» To find out how fine a display is, see our DPI List.
4.5 kg:
A laptop in this weight range is a heavyweight that you rarely carry around. This is meant for desktops and the devices tend to score with a large display and high performance and replace desktop devices.
Asus: ASUSTeK Computer Inc. is a major Taiwanese computer hardware manufacturer based in Taipei, founded in 1989. Under the Asus brand name, the company manufactures a wide range of products, including laptops, desktops, motherboards, graphics cards, monitors, smartphones and networking equipment, complete systems and PC components for end users.
Under the ROG (Republic of Gamers) brand name, ASUS manufactures gaming laptops known by gamers for their powerful specifications, dedicated graphics cards, high refresh rate displays and advanced cooling systems.
Beyond gaming, a wide range of notebooks are offered for different needs and budgets, from ultra-slim and lightweight ultrabooks to versatile 2-in-1 convertibles and budget-friendly options. In 2023, Asus had a 7% global market share of the PC market.
Customer satisfaction with ASUS notebooks concerns performance, the features, and the good price-performance ratio of ASUS notebooks. However, as with any brand, there are occasional reports of problems such as overheating, driver compatibility, or build quality issues.
75%: This rating is poor. More than three quarters of the models are rated better. That is rather not a purchase recommendation. Even if verbal ratings in this area do not sound that bad ("sufficient" or "satisfactory"), they are usually euphemisms that disguise a classification as a below-average laptop.
» Further information can be found in our Notebook Purchase Guide.
