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MagyarAsus ROG GL503VD-DB74 (7700HQ, GTX 1050) Laptop Review
Asus is undoubtedly one of the juggernauts in the gaming notebook market, and with good reason. Their ROG-brand offers some of the best portable gaming experiences available today and has a gaming laptop to fit almost any budget. Our notebook under review today is the new GL503VD, a sleek and relatively thin entry-level notebook with a new case design. Despite the redesign, performance is largely the same as other entry-level devices sporting Intel's Core i7-7700HQ and Nvidia's GeForce GTX 1050; most games are playable on medium to high settings at Full HD, and 3D-intensive tasks are handled well.
So what makes the GL503VD stand out from the crowd? For one, the aesthetic appeal cannot be denied; this is a very good looking notebook. General gaming performance also offers a slight edge over other 1050-based machines, albeit at the cost of increased fan noise. The inclusion of a "Fan Overboost" mode pushes the cooling system even harder but does make a noticeable difference in controlling temperatures. We'll take a look at these and other facets of the GL503VD in this review.
There is no shortage of similar notebooks against which we can compare the GL503VD. We will mainly look at how our review device stacks up against other budget gaming machines, notably the Acer Aspire VX15 and Gigabyte's Sabre 15G. We'll also look at Asus' own GL553VD (another Asus device with a GTX 1050 that has a thicker case) and ZenBook Pro UX550VD (a non-gaming laptop with similar internals). Rounding out our comparison will be a few laptops sporting a GTX 1050 Ti, which is a slight bump in performance over the GTX 1050 for a slight bump in price; we'll look at the HP Omen 15, the Lenovo Legion Y520, and the Asus GL553VE. Let's get started.
Case
The GL503VD's aesthetic is decidedly less "gamery" than other ROG notebooks; gone are the bright orange accents that denoted the WASD keys and struck across the back of the lid. Instead, Asus has opted for a much more subtle approach to case design. The overall design is still aggressive with angular lines breaking up the brushed patterns on the lid and keyboard deck. However, the entire case is black, save the polished ROG logo adorning the left side of the lid. This logo lights up a dull red when the screen turns on. The WASD keys are still marked to stand out, but instead of orange keycaps, the keys have a simple white outline (likely to better reflect the RGB keyboard backlight). This is essentially a plastic derivative of the Asus Zephyrus GX501 and a smaller version of the GL703VD. Overall, the design is much simpler and, as a result, much more attractive than previous ROG GL laptops.
Case materials are fairly similar to other ROG notebooks. The lid is made from aluminum bearing a diagonally brushed pattern and the rest of the case is plastic. The lid readily shows fingerprints and smudges, but the palm rests have a smooth semi-matte finish that is very resistant to blemishes. The bottom-right corner of the palm rest is interrupted by plastic with a faux-brushed metal look to it. Some users may find this cutaway annoying, but others may find it a welcome experience, as the tactile difference can help a typist know when their hands are positioned under the number pad.
The display hinge is perfectly tuned for one-handed opening and remains stable while typing. The lid can open to about 135°. There is no screen wobble about which to complain. The lid is thin and can be easily twisted, bent, or warped when pressure is applied. The keyboard deck itself has minimal flex; it will bend, but only under direct, intentional pressure. While typing, the deck remains solid and firm. The underside of the case also remains firm. There is no audible creaking when bending either the lid or the main body. Gaps are even, but somewhat large, especially around ports and the touchpad. Lint and dust like to settle in these places, which is something potential owners will need to keep in mind.
The GL503VD is below the average size and weight for this tier of gaming notebook. While it's not as bulky as other entry-level gaming notebooks, such as the Gigabyte Sabre 15 or Acer Aspire VX15, neither is it as compact as the ZenBook Pro UX550VD. The profile is noticeably thinner than many other budget gaming notebooks, which lends to its premium feel. The GL503 VD is also lighter than many other options, weighing in at 2.2 kg (about 5 lbs). The weight is evenly distributed, which makes the laptop feel robust, solid, and well-made.
Connectivity
Connectivity is very good and leaves little to be desired. There are three USB 3.0 Type-A ports, a USB 2 port, HDMI 1.4, mini-DisplayPort 1.2, and a USB 3.1 (Gen 1) Type-C port. Port spacing and positioning are excellent.
While Thunderbolt 3 is sadly absent, its omission is understandable considering the target market. However, the inclusion of a Thunderbolt port for connecting external GPUs and other high-speed peripherals would have gone a long way in setting the GL503VD apart from the crowd.
SD Card Reader
SD Card Reader performance is average. Our Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II Reference-Card was able to hit about 70 MB/s when transferring a large folder of photos and clocked in at 87 MB/s in AS SSD. These speeds are good, if nothing spectacular, and will leave little cause for complaint from users that rely on SD Cards for file transfers.
| SD Card Reader | |
| average JPG Copy Test (av. of 3 runs) | |
| Gigabyte Sabre 15G | |
| Asus ZenBook Pro UX550VD | |
| HP Omen 15-ax213ng | |
| Asus GL503VD-DB74 | |
| Asus ROG Strix GL553VD-DS71 | |
| Acer Aspire VX15 VX5-591G-589S | |
| maximum AS SSD Seq Read Test (1GB) | |
| Asus ROG Strix GL553VD-DS71 | |
| Asus GL503VD-DB74 | |
| HP Omen 15-ax213ng | |
| Gigabyte Sabre 15G | |
| Acer Aspire VX15 VX5-591G-589S | |
Communication
WiFi speeds are also fairly good. Receive and transmit speeds hit 635 MBit/s and 420 MBit/s, respectively. Connections are rock solid with no drops and no signal interference on either the 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz bands. WiFi connectivity is smooth and reliable.
Maintenance
Maintenance is a mixed bag. There is a handy access hatch that pops off after a bit of applied pressure. This hatch allows access to one RAM slot, the PCIe drive, and the 2.5-inch drive bay. While these components are relatively simple to get to, the rest of the internals require much more effort. Removing the bottom panel difficult due to some screws that are easily overlooked (3 are hidden under the access hatch) and the stubborn plastic clips holding the bottom panel in place. Once inside, users will have access to the second RAM slot, the WiFi card, and the CPU and GPU heatsinks (should they wish to apply new thermal paste). Further disassembly is relatively straightforward at this point and shouldn't provide much challenge to experienced technicians and DIYers.
Software & Warranty
Asus includes their ROG Gaming Center, a staple of the ROG line. The main hub offers a rudimentary system monitor for CPU and GPU clock speeds and temperatures, the amount of available, and current storage capacity. There is also the usual bevy of included software, such as Aura Core to tune the 4-zone RGB keyboard backlight and ROG Gamefirst IV, which monitors and prioritizes network access by other programs. The included software is largely beneficial when utilized and stays out of the way when not.
The warranty is rather slim at a mere 12 months. Third party resellers typically offer options to extend this warranty with service and replacement offered by the reseller themselves. Please see our Guarantees, Return Policies & Warranties FAQ for country-specific information.
Input Devices
Keyboard
The keyboard is excellent. Drop is well-defined and travel is generous at 1.8 mm. The keys are responsive and quiet enough to be used in an office setting with almost no clatter. Our one complaint is that feedback is a bit on the spongy side; typing doesn't feel as crisp as on other offerings, particularly the Steelseries keyboards found in MSI's laptops. The dedicated volume, microphone toggle, and ROG Gaming Center keys are a nice touch.
The letter keys are well-sized and well-spaced, but the number pad keys may be a bit too narrow for some users. Arrow keys are the same size as the numpad keys and are shifted down to accommodate the space needed. We should also note the large left control key, which is the same size as the shift key above it. Again, this is nothing that detracted from our typing experience, but some users may find fault here.
The RGB lighting is handled via Asus' Aura Core software. There are 4 zones that can each be set to any of over 16 million colors. There are also a few lighting effects: breathing and color cycle. The latter does not allow for individual zone lighting; the keyboard will uniformly shift from red to green to blue, hitting some mixed colors in between. Overall, the keyboard is quite good and offers an excellent typing experience that falls behind only the best in the industry.
Touchpad
The touchpad has a simple, smooth surface made from plastic. Measuring 10.5 x 7.3 cm (~4.1 x 2.9 inches), the touchpad is about average in size compared to other 15.6-inch notebooks. Tracking is accurate and responsive with no delay, and gliding feels smooth. The absence of dedicated right- and left-click buttons is notable; the entire touchpad is hinged, and the bottom portion is used to register clicks. This mechanism feels fairly cheap and hollow and is not at all pleasing. The touchpad feels like it catches on the chassis on the way down, but that may be specific to our review unit. On the plus side, clicking is virtually silent.
Display
The display is another high point. The LG Philips panel is a high-quality Full HD display that offers vibrant and fairly accurate colors. As it is an IPS panel, viewing angles are solid and colors are full and vibrant.
The screen gets reasonably bright at about 300 nits, and the backlight is fairly even, although the left side is less bright than the right. This is not readily noticeable without extreme scrutiny and shouldn't be distracting in normal everyday use. Response times are also fairly quick for an IPS display; Black/white response time is particularly impressive at 26.2 ms. This is a fair bit quicker than most competing devices, such as the GL553VD and the HP Omen 15. PWM flicker is present at all brightness levels up to 99%, but at 21,000 Hz, it's not likely to be noticed. Contrast is decent at about 850:1, and black levels are average. Other options, like the Acer Aspire VX15 and HP Omen 15, offer deeper blacks and improved contrast ratios. White backgrounds have a slight grain to them when viewed from a close distance.
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Brightness Distribution: 88 %
Center on Battery: 315.9 cd/m²
Contrast: 854:1 (Black: 0.37 cd/m²)
ΔE Color 4.9 | 0.5-29.43 Ø5
ΔE Greyscale 3.8 | 0.57-98 Ø5.3
84% sRGB (Argyll 1.6.3 3D)
55% AdobeRGB 1998 (Argyll 1.6.3 3D)
61.7% AdobeRGB 1998 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
84.4% sRGB (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
64.3% Display P3 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
Gamma: 2.24
| Asus GL503VD-DB74 LG Philips LP156WF6, IPS, 15.60, 1920x1080 | Asus ROG Strix GL553VD-DS71 BOE HF NV156FHM-N43, IPS, 15.60, 1920x1080 | Lenovo Legion Y520-15IKBN 80WK0042GE LG Philips LP156WF6-SPK3, IPS, 15.60, 1920x1080 | Asus ZenBook Pro UX550VD CMN15E8 (N156HCE-EN1), IPS, 15.60, 1920x1080 | Gigabyte Sabre 15G ID: LGD0533, Name: LG Display LP156WF6-SPK3, IPS, 15.60, 1920x1080 | HP Omen 15-ax213ng AU Optronics AUO41ED, IPS, 15.60, 1920x1080 | Acer Aspire VX15 VX5-591G-589S BOE CQ NV156HFM-N42, IPS, 15.60, 1920x1080 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Display | 7% | -35% | 5% | -35% | -35% | -33% | |
| Display P3 Coverage | 64.3 | 67.6 5% | 39.01 -39% | 65.7 2% | 38.97 -39% | 38.59 -40% | 40.56 -37% |
| sRGB Coverage | 84.4 | 90.8 8% | 58.4 -31% | 90.3 7% | 58.2 -31% | 58 -31% | 59.4 -30% |
| AdobeRGB 1998 Coverage | 61.7 | 66.4 8% | 40.34 -35% | 65.9 7% | 40.3 -35% | 39.87 -35% | 41.9 -32% |
| Response Times | -50% | -6% | 4% | 3% | -11% | -20% | |
| Response Time Grey 50% / Grey 80% * | 36.4 ? | 57.6 ? -58% | 39 ? -7% | 38.8 ? -7% | 32 ? 12% | 42 ? -15% | 46 ? -26% |
| Response Time Black / White * | 26.2 ? | 37.2 ? -42% | 29 ? -11% | 27.2 ? -4% | 25.6 ? 2% | 28 ? -7% | 34 ? -30% |
| PWM Frequency | 21010 ? | 21000 ? 0% | 25910 ? 23% | 20000 ? -5% | 20000 ? -5% | ||
| Screen | 15% | -19% | 6% | -38% | 1% | 0% | |
| Brightness middle | 315.9 | 289.3 -8% | 283 -10% | 335 6% | 248.4 -21% | 230 -27% | 277 -12% |
| Brightness | 304 | 280 -8% | 281 -8% | 313 3% | 241 -21% | 228 -25% | 268 -12% |
| Brightness Distribution | 88 | 93 6% | 91 3% | 83 -6% | 84 -5% | 88 0% | 91 3% |
| Black Level * | 0.37 | 0.29 22% | 0.39 -5% | 0.27 27% | 0.3 19% | 0.21 43% | 0.26 30% |
| Contrast | 854 | 998 17% | 726 -15% | 1241 45% | 828 -3% | 1095 28% | 1065 25% |
| Colorchecker dE 2000 * | 4.9 | 3.1 37% | 6.1 -24% | 4.7 4% | 7.5 -53% | 4.01 18% | 5.05 -3% |
| Colorchecker dE 2000 max. * | 9.7 | 7.1 27% | 11.08 -14% | 8.1 16% | 25.2 -160% | 7.26 25% | 8.93 8% |
| Greyscale dE 2000 * | 3.8 | 2.1 45% | 5.69 -50% | 5.8 -53% | 6.5 -71% | 3.18 16% | 2.97 22% |
| Gamma | 2.24 98% | 2.22 99% | 2.44 90% | 2.06 107% | 2.19 100% | 2.52 87% | 2.39 92% |
| CCT | 6847 95% | 6226 104% | 6702 97% | 6518 100% | 7852 83% | 6814 95% | 6466 101% |
| Color Space (Percent of AdobeRGB 1998) | 55 | 59 7% | 37 -33% | 58.7 7% | 37 -33% | 37 -33% | 38 -31% |
| Color Space (Percent of sRGB) | 84 | 91 8% | 58 -31% | 90.1 7% | 57.9 -31% | 58 -31% | 59 -30% |
| Total Average (Program / Settings) | -9% /
5% | -20% /
-19% | 5% /
5% | -23% /
-30% | -15% /
-8% | -18% /
-10% |
* ... smaller is better
Colors are fairly accurate out of the box. CalMAN pegs the DeltaE for color and grays at 4.9 and 3.8, respectively, which is above average for entry-level gaming notebooks. Calibration improves these numbers to 3.5 and 1.6, respectively. Typically, a DeltaE at or below 3 is considered acceptable for professional color work; the GL503VD is close to that boundary.
Color space coverage is average. The GL503VD's screen covers 84% of the sRGB color gamut and 55% of AdobeRGB. While this color reproduction is more than adequate for gaming and media consumption, professionals will be disappointed with the limited color space. That said, the GL503VD still provides one of the cleanest and most color-rich displays at this end of the market. Other budget offerings, like the Aspire VX15, Lenovo Legion Y520, and Gigabyte Sabre 15G all have inferior displays. The Asus GL553VD offers superior color reproduction and accuracy at the cost of lower overall brightness and response times, which may be a worthy tradeoff for interested creative professionals.
Display Response Times
| ↔ Response Time Black to White | ||
|---|---|---|
| 26.2 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined | ↗ 14 ms rise |  |
| ↘ 12.4 ms fall | ||
| The screen shows relatively slow response rates in our tests and may be too slow for gamers. In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.1 (minimum) to 240 (maximum) ms. » 61 % of all devices are better. This means that the measured response time is worse than the average of all tested devices (21.5 ms). | ||
| ↔ Response Time 50% Grey to 80% Grey | ||
| 36.4 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined | ↗ 16.4 ms rise |  |
| ↘ 20 ms fall | ||
| The screen shows slow response rates in our tests and will be unsatisfactory for gamers. In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.2 (minimum) to 636 (maximum) ms. » 46 % of all devices are better. This means that the measured response time is similar to the average of all tested devices (33.7 ms). | ||
Screen Flickering / PWM (Pulse-Width Modulation)
| Screen flickering / PWM detected | 21010 Hz | ≤ 99 % brightness setting |  |
The display backlight flickers at 21010 Hz (worst case, e.g., utilizing PWM) Flickering detected at a brightness setting of 99 % and below. There should be no flickering or PWM above this brightness setting. The frequency of 21010 Hz is quite high, so most users sensitive to PWM should not notice any flickering. In comparison: 53 % of all tested devices do not use PWM to dim the display. If PWM was detected, an average of 17900 (minimum: 5 - maximum: 3846000) Hz was measured. | |||
Viewing angles are excellent thanks to the IPS panel. Text remains legible and colors clear and accurate when viewed from angles greater than 45º off center, although the screen noticeably dims at these angles. Backlight bleed is almost non-existent, save for a small spot along the bottom bezel, directly to the left of center. This bleed is barely noticeable, however, and shouldn't be a distraction.
Performance
Equipped with an Intel Core i7-7700HQ and an Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050, the GL503VD is a capable multimedia machine with some decent gaming chops. We've seen this combination in many budget-oriented gaming notebooks before, as well as more expensive premium office devices. While the GL503VD is capable of handling any multimedia content thrown its way, gamers will need to temper expectations; the GTX 1050 can push most titles past 60 FPS, but settings or resolutions (or both) will need to be turned down.
Processor
The Intel Core i7-7700HQ has become a staple in multimedia and gaming laptops since its introduction earlier this year, and with good reason; the quad-core hyperthreaded CPU features a base clock of 2.8 GHz with a boost up to 3.8 GHz, making it one of the most powerful mobile processors currently on the market. Given adequate cooling, the 7700HQ yields impressive computational power.
That is definitely the case with the GL503VD. Using Cinebench R15 to test the CPU, the 7700HQ in the GL503VD yields expected results. The multi-threaded test hits 734 points, which is perfectly in line with the competition. The 7700HQ is about 42% faster than the Core i5-7300HQ found in other budget gaming machines such as the Lenovo Legion Y520 and Acer Aspire VX15.
Our long-term Cinebench R15 test, which loops the multi-threaded test 50 times in a row, shows that the 7700HQ is fairly stable. There are a few slight dips toward the beginning of the test. Near the end of the test, a few runs post scores about 100 points lower than the average. However, this dip doesn't appear consistent and shouldn't pose a problem in long-term use. There's not like to be any major CPU throttling during lengthy workloads.
For more information about the Intel Core i7-7700HQ, please visit our dedicated processor page hereIntel Core i7 7700HQ Notebook Processor.
| Cinebench R15 | |
| CPU Single 64Bit | |
| Aorus x3 Plus v7 | |
| Asus ZenBook Pro UX550VD | |
| HP Omen 15-ax213ng | |
| Asus GL553VE-FY022T PL | |
| Gigabyte Sabre 15G | |
| Razer Blade (2016) FHD | |
| Asus ROG Strix GL553VD-DS71 | |
| Acer Aspire VX15 VX5-591G-589S | |
| MSI GE72VR-6RF16H21 | |
| Dell Inspiron 15 7566 PL | |
| Acer Aspire V Nitro VN7-792G-55SF | |
| Asus GL503VD-DB74 | |
| CPU Multi 64Bit | |
| Aorus x3 Plus v7 | |
| Asus ZenBook Pro UX550VD | |
| HP Omen 15-ax213ng | |
| Gigabyte Sabre 15G | |
| Asus GL553VE-FY022T PL | |
| Asus GL503VD-DB74 | |
| Asus ROG Strix GL553VD-DS71 | |
| Razer Blade (2016) FHD | |
| MSI GE72VR-6RF16H21 | |
| Dell Inspiron 15 7566 PL | |
| Acer Aspire VX15 VX5-591G-589S | |
| Acer Aspire V Nitro VN7-792G-55SF | |
| wPrime 2.10 - 1024m | |
| Acer Aspire V Nitro VN7-792G-55SF | |
| Aorus x3 Plus v7 | |
| Asus ROG Strix GL553VD-DS71 | |
| Dell Inspiron 15 7566 PL | |
| Asus GL553VE-FY022T PL | |
| Gigabyte Sabre 15G | |
| Asus GL503VD-DB74 | |
* ... smaller is better
System Performance
Overall system performance is responsive. Apps open quickly and feel snappy. The combination of the Core i7-7700HQ, GeForce GTX 1050, and speedy Adata SSD make for a quick, reliable machine. Using PCMark 8 to evaluate overall system performance, the GL503VD comes in about the middle of the pack in every test. An NVMe SSD would increase system performance, but the difference wouldn't be noticed by most users and may not justify the increased cost of an NVMe drive.
| PCMark 8 Home Score Accelerated v2 | 3852 points | |
| PCMark 8 Creative Score Accelerated v2 | 4960 points | |
| PCMark 8 Work Score Accelerated v2 | 4973 points | |
| PCMark 10 Score | 4250 points | |
Help | ||
Storage Devices
The GL503VD attempts to offer the best of both storage worlds by offering a fast NVMe SSD with a large capacity HDD for storage. CrystalDiskMark 5 pegs sequential read and write speeds at 1019 MB/s and 811 MB/s, respectively, which is about average for an NVMe SSD. Users that want even faster drive speeds can opt to install a drive themselves via the access hatch. The main downside of the included SSD is its limited 256 GB capacity, 237 GB of which are available to the end user.
The 1 TB HDD is meant for mass storage (think photos, videos, and music). It's decently fast for a mechanical drive, averaging about 110 MB/s in HD Tune. Potential buyers on a more constrained budget can opt to eschew the SSD for about $200 less but will be left with a slower SSHD with a small 8GB SSD Cache. Users can also swap out the existing drive for either a 7 or 9.5 mm SATA drive.
| Asus GL503VD-DB74 ADATA SX7000NP 256 GB | Asus GL553VE-FY022T PL ADATA IM2S3138E-256GM-B | Lenovo Legion Y520-15IKBN 80WK0042GE Samsung PM961 NVMe MZVLW128HEGR | Asus ZenBook Pro UX550VD Samsung PM961 NVMe MZVLW512HMJP | Gigabyte Sabre 15G Liteonit CV3-8D128 | HP Omen 15-ax213ng Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP | Acer Aspire VX15 VX5-591G-589S Hynix HFS128G39TND | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AS SSD | -29% | 19% | 122% | -49% | 96% | -87% | |
| Copy Game MB/s | 197.3 | 889 | 323.5 | 157.6 | |||
| Copy Program MB/s | 127.3 | 336.4 | 195.3 | 111.1 | |||
| Copy ISO MB/s | 497.6 | 1678 | 446.8 | 195 | |||
| Score Total | 1476 | 897 -39% | 1434 -3% | 3731 153% | 752 -49% | 3034 106% | 882 -40% |
| Score Write | 851 | 370 -57% | 368 -57% | 1158 36% | 234 -73% | 719 -16% | 218 -74% |
| Score Read | 419 | 350 -16% | 746 78% | 1727 312% | 337 -20% | 1583 278% | 444 6% |
| Access Time Write * | 0.034 | 0.043 -26% | 0.032 6% | 0.028 18% | 0.073 -115% | 0.024 29% | 0.261 -668% |
| Access Time Read * | 0.104 | 0.056 46% | 0.07 33% | 0.031 70% | 0.141 -36% | 0.052 50% | 0.077 26% |
| 4K-64 Write | 658 | 258.3 -61% | 158.6 -76% | 870 32% | 132.2 -80% | 442.2 -33% | 113.9 -83% |
| 4K-64 Read | 265.4 | 272.6 3% | 463.2 75% | 1430 439% | 257 -3% | 1249 371% | 361.4 36% |
| 4K Write | 110.7 | 82 -26% | 127.9 16% | 133.2 20% | 53.8 -51% | 161.4 46% | 90.8 -18% |
| 4K Read | 31.4 | 26.76 -15% | 46.98 50% | 54 72% | 28.3 -10% | 50 59% | 32.29 3% |
| Seq Write | 825 | 291.9 -65% | 814 -1% | 1540 87% | 479.8 -42% | 1154 40% | 130.2 -84% |
| Seq Read | 1226 | 507 -59% | 2362 93% | 2429 98% | 516 -58% | 2834 131% | 507 -59% |
* ... smaller is better
GPU Performance
The GeForce GTX 1050 is marketed as Nvidia's budget option for gamers. Based on Nvidia's Pascal architecture, the GTX 1050 does a fair job with 3D applications at HD and Full HD, provided settings are lowered accordingly. The GTX 1050 in our review device features a base clock of 1454 MHz with a boost up to 1593 MHz, which are tuned 100 MHz higher than factory defaults.
The GL503VD offers acceptable performance in 3DMark Fire Strike but falls behind competitors by a small margin. The difference is small (only about 1-4%) but is worth noting. A score around 6000 in Fire Strike's Graphics test is decent, but the GTX 1050 Ti offers a 30% gain in performance. As such, users in need of a more powerful GPU should look to notebooks sporting the 1050 Ti. It should be noted that while on battery, the GL503VD scores about 10-15% lower in Fire Strike.
For more information about the Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050, please visit our dedicated GPU page here.
| 3DMark 11 | |
| 1280x720 Performance GPU | |
| Acer Aspire 7 A717-71G-72VY | |
| Lenovo Legion Y520-15IKBM 80YY001APB | |
| HP Omen 15-ax213ng | |
| Lenovo Legion Y520-15IKBN 80WK0042GE | |
| Acer Predator 15 G9-592-7925 | |
| Asus Strix GL502VT-DS74 | |
| Asus GL553VE-FY022T PL | |
| Acer Aspire VX15 VX5-591G-589S | |
| Gigabyte Sabre 15G | |
| Asus GL503VD-DB74 | |
| Asus ZenBook Pro UX550VD | |
| Asus ROG Strix GL553VD-DS71 | |
| Asus G752VL-T7023T | |
| Gigabyte P55K v5 | |
| Asus GL552VW-DK725T | |
| Asus Zenbook UX510UW-CN044T | |
| 1280x720 Performance Combined | |
| Asus GL553VE-FY022T PL | |
| Acer Predator 15 G9-592-7925 | |
| Asus Strix GL502VT-DS74 | |
| Asus ZenBook Pro UX550VD | |
| Asus GL503VD-DB74 | |
| Asus ROG Strix GL553VD-DS71 | |
| HP Omen 15-ax213ng | |
| Asus G752VL-T7023T | |
| Gigabyte P55K v5 | |
| Gigabyte Sabre 15G | |
| Lenovo Legion Y520-15IKBN 80WK0042GE | |
| Acer Aspire 7 A717-71G-72VY | |
| Lenovo Legion Y520-15IKBM 80YY001APB | |
| Acer Aspire VX15 VX5-591G-589S | |
| Asus GL552VW-DK725T | |
| Asus Zenbook UX510UW-CN044T | |
| 3DMark 06 Standard Score | 25816 points | |
| 3DMark 11 Performance | 7465 points | |
| 3DMark Ice Storm Standard Score | 115145 points | |
| 3DMark Cloud Gate Standard Score | 20169 points | |
| 3DMark Fire Strike Score | 5440 points | |
| 3DMark Fire Strike Extreme Score | 2779 points | |
Help | ||
Gaming Performance
The GL503VD is an entry-level gaming notebook capable of playing most titles on medium settings at Full HD. Demanding titles, such as The Witcher 3 or Hitman (2016) will need settings lowered even further or a drop in resolution to achieve playable framerates. Even older demanding titles like Metro: Last Light will fall short of the 60 fps threshold without a drop in details.
The GL503VD typically hits higher framerates than its competitors, likely thanks to the 100 MHz frequency boost enabled by Asus. However, future titles will likely be playable only at 1366x768 on medium to high details, which is something gamers should keep in mind before making a purchase. The GTX 1050 Ti is more "future-proof" when it comes to gaming.
Long-term gaming performance is steady. Running The Witcher 3 for an hour, we see no major dips in framerates. Performance is a bit low but steady at Ultra settings. the GTX 1050 doesn't throttle; as such, gamers should experience smooth and consistent gaming performance over long periods.
| BioShock Infinite - 1920x1080 Ultra Preset, DX11 (DDOF) | |
| Aorus x3 Plus v7 | |
| MSI GE72VR-6RF16H21 | |
| Razer Blade (2016) FHD | |
| Lenovo Legion Y520-15IKBM 80YY001APB | |
| Asus GL553VE-FY022T PL | |
| HP Omen 15-ax213ng | |
| Lenovo Legion Y520-15IKBN 80WK0042GE | |
| Asus Strix GL502VT-DS74 | |
| Asus GL503VD-DB74 | |
| Acer Aspire VX15 VX5-591G-589S | |
| Asus ROG Strix GL553VD-DS71 | |
| Gigabyte Sabre 15G | |
| Asus G752VL-T7023T | |
| Gigabyte P55K v5 | |
| Asus GL552VW-DK725T | |
| Asus Zenbook UX510UW-CN044T | |
| Metro: Last Light - 1920x1080 Very High (DX11) AF:16x | |
| Aorus x3 Plus v7 | |
| Asus Strix GL502VT-DS74 | |
| Gigabyte Sabre 15G | |
| Asus GL503VD-DB74 | |
| Asus ROG Strix GL553VD-DS71 | |
| Gigabyte P55K v5 | |
| Thief - 1920x1080 Very High Preset AA:FXAA & High SS AF:8x | |
| Lenovo Legion Y520-15IKBM 80YY001APB | |
| Asus GL553VE-FY022T PL | |
| Asus Strix GL502VT-DS74 | |
| Asus GL503VD-DB74 | |
| Gigabyte Sabre 15G | |
| Asus ROG Strix GL553VD-DS71 | |
| Aorus x3 Plus v7 | |
| Gigabyte P55K v5 | |
| Asus G752VL-T7023T | |
| Asus GL552VW-DK725T | |
| The Witcher 3 - 1920x1080 Ultra Graphics & Postprocessing (HBAO+) | |
| Aorus x3 Plus v7 | |
| Acer Aspire 7 A717-71G-72VY | |
| MSI GE72VR-6RF16H21 | |
| Lenovo Legion Y520-15IKBM 80YY001APB | |
| HP Omen 15-ax213ng | |
| Lenovo Legion Y520-15IKBN 80WK0042GE | |
| Gigabyte Sabre 15G | |
| Asus GL503VD-DB74 | |
| Asus ZenBook Pro UX550VD | |
| Asus G752VL-T7023T | |
| Asus GL552VW-DK725T | |
| Asus GL553VE-FY022T PL | |
| Fallout 4 - 1920x1080 Ultra Preset AA:T AF:16x | |
| Aorus x3 Plus v7 | |
| Asus Strix GL502VT-DS74 | |
| Asus GL503VD-DB74 | |
| Gigabyte Sabre 15G | |
| Asus ROG Strix GL553VD-DS71 | |
| Gigabyte P55K v5 | |
| Rise of the Tomb Raider - 1920x1080 Very High Preset AA:FX AF:16x | |
| Aorus x3 Plus v7 | |
| MSI GE72VR-6RF16H21 | |
| Asus Strix GL502VT-DS74 | |
| Asus GL503VD-DB74 | |
| Gigabyte Sabre 15G | |
| HP Omen 15-ax213ng | |
| Asus ZenBook Pro UX550VD | |
| Asus ROG Strix GL553VD-DS71 | |
| Gigabyte P55K v5 | |
| Hitman 2016 | |
| 1920x1080 Ultra / On AA:SM AF:16x | |
| Asus GL503VD-DB74 | |
| 1920x1080 High / On AA:FX AF:8x | |
| Asus GL503VD-DB74 | |
| Ashes of the Singularity - 1920x1080 high | |
| Aorus x3 Plus v7 | |
| Razer Blade (2016) FHD | |
| Asus GL503VD-DB74 | |
| Gigabyte Sabre 15G | |
| Asus ROG Strix GL553VD-DS71 | |
| Asus Zenbook UX510UW-CN044T | |
| Doom | |
| 1920x1080 Ultra Preset AA:SM | |
| Aorus x3 Plus v7 | |
| Asus GL503VD-DB74 | |
| Asus ROG Strix GL553VD-DS71 | |
| Gigabyte Sabre 15G | |
| Asus Zenbook UX510UW-CN044T | |
| 1920x1080 High Preset AA:FX | |
| Asus GL503VD-DB74 | |
| Asus ROG Strix GL553VD-DS71 | |
| Gigabyte Sabre 15G | |
| Asus Zenbook UX510UW-CN044T | |
| Deus Ex Mankind Divided - 1920x1080 Ultra Preset AA:2xMS AF:8x | |
| Asus GL503VD-DB74 | |
| MSI GE72VR-6RF16H21 | |
| Razer Blade (2016) FHD | |
| Asus Zenbook UX510UW-CN044T | |
| Civilization VI | |
| 1920x1080 Ultra Preset AA:4xMS | |
| Asus GL503VD-DB74 | |
| 1920x1080 High Preset | |
| Asus GL503VD-DB74 | |
| Resident Evil 7 | |
| 1920x1080 Very High / On AA:FXAA+T | |
| Asus GL503VD-DB74 | |
| Acer Aspire VX15 VX5-591G-589S | |
| 1920x1080 High / On AA:FXAA+T | |
| Asus GL503VD-DB74 | |
| Acer Aspire VX15 VX5-591G-589S | |
| low | med. | high | ultra | |
| BioShock Infinite (2013) | 66 | |||
| Metro: Last Light (2013) | 44 | |||
| Thief (2014) | 43.2 | |||
| The Witcher 3 (2015) | 22 | |||
| Fallout 4 (2015) | 37 | |||
| Rise of the Tomb Raider (2016) | 39 | |||
| Hitman 2016 (2016) | 34 | 24 | ||
| Ashes of the Singularity (2016) | 35.2 | |||
| Doom (2016) | 59 | 57 | ||
| Deus Ex Mankind Divided (2016) | 33 | |||
| Civilization VI (2016) | 44 | 34 | ||
| Resident Evil 7 (2017) | 60 | 22 |
Stress Test
Stressing the GL503VD gives us a good idea of how the machine will operate under the absolute worst conditions. Running Prime95 for an hour to place the CPU under an unrealistically heavy workload, we see the 7700HQ boost to and hold at 3.4 GHz for most of the test. Temperatures peak at 87º C before the fans ramp up and bring temperatures down to an average of 77º C. The graphics-tuned analogue to Prime95, FurMark fully taxes the GPU. After an hour of rendering a fuzzy donut, the GTX 1050 averages about 1466 MHz, which is fairly close to its base clock. On the plus side, temperatures for both the CPU and GPU remain admirably cool at about 66º C. Running Prime95 and FurMark together sees the CPU average about 3.2 GHz and the GPU hold at about 1460 MHz. Unfortunately, the CPU runs rather hot during this test, peaking at about 97º C and averaging a toasty 94º C. This is within thermal limits, and the CPU doesn't seem to throttle at these temperatures. The Fan Overboost mode doesn't help much with synthetic benchmarks; temperatures and performance remain largely the same.
Running The Witcher 3 for an hour gives a more realistic view on how the components handle long-term stress. While the CPU pulls back to about 1.7 GHz, the GPU shines and shoots well past its rated boost clock, averaging about 1730 MHz. This is fantastic performance and lends more evidence as to why the GL503VD bests its competition in most games. Heat is also very well controlled; temperatures across the CPU and GPU average about 70º C. Enabling the "Fan Overboost" mode sees a slight bump in CPU performance but has a very noticeable impact on temperatures: the CPU and GPU each drop by 6º C.
| CPU Clock (GHz) | GPU Clock (MHz) | Average CPU Temperature (°C) | Average GPU Temperature (°C) | |
| Prime95 Stress | 3.4 | - | 77 | - |
| FurMark Stress | 2.8 | 1466 | 66 | 67 |
| Prime95 + FurMark Stress | 3.2 | 1461 | 94 | 75 |
| Prime95 + FurMark Stress (Fan Overboost) | 3.3 | 1468 | 92 | 76 |
| Witcher 3 Stress | 1.7 | 1730 | 69 | 70 |
| Witcher 3 Stress (Fan Overboost) | 1.9 | 1730 | 63 | 64 |
Emissions
System Noise
Fan noise is fairly well managed under most circumstances. At idle, system noise is almost non-existent. There is no noticeable coil whine, and the fans remain virtually silent at about 30 dB(A). The fans likely won't be heard over normal office or room noise when the notebook is under light load. Gaming and heavier tasks make the fans ramp up aggressively. Under load, the fans average 37 dB(A), but gaming pushes the fans to about 45-47 dB(A). This is worsened by the high-pitch of the fans, which will cut through ambient noise like a knife. Enabling the Fan Overboost mode will push the fans even harder, which peak at a noisy 53 dB(A).
Noise Level
| Idle |
| 30.6 / 30.8 / 32.8 dB(A) |
| Load |
| 37.6 / 53.5 dB(A) |
 | ||
30 dB silent 40 dB(A) audible 50 dB(A) loud |
||
min:  , med:  , max:  BK Precision 732A (15 cm distance) environment noise: 28.3 dB(A) | ||
| Asus GL503VD-DB74 GeForce GTX 1050 Mobile, i7-7700HQ, ADATA SX7000NP 256 GB | Asus ROG Strix GL553VD-DS71 GeForce GTX 1050 Mobile, i7-7700HQ, HGST Travelstar 7K1000 HTS721010A9E630 | Asus GL553VE-FY022T PL GeForce GTX 1050 Ti Mobile, i7-7700HQ, ADATA IM2S3138E-256GM-B | Lenovo Legion Y520-15IKBN 80WK0042GE GeForce GTX 1050 Ti Mobile, i5-7300HQ, Samsung PM961 NVMe MZVLW128HEGR | Asus ZenBook Pro UX550VD GeForce GTX 1050 Mobile, i7-7700HQ, Samsung PM961 NVMe MZVLW512HMJP | Gigabyte Sabre 15G GeForce GTX 1050 Mobile, i7-7700HQ, Liteonit CV3-8D128 | HP Omen 15-ax213ng GeForce GTX 1050 Ti Mobile, i7-7700HQ, Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP | Acer Aspire VX15 VX5-591G-589S GeForce GTX 1050 Mobile, i5-7300HQ, Hynix HFS128G39TND | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Noise | -7% | -7% | 5% | 7% | -6% | -8% | 8% | |
| off / environment * | 28.3 | 30.6 -8% | 30.6 -8% | 29.4 -4% | 28.2 -0% | 30 -6% | 30 -6% | |
| Idle Minimum * | 30.6 | 33.4 -9% | 31.5 -3% | 31.9 -4% | 29.4 4% | 33 -8% | 32 -5% | 30 2% |
| Idle Average * | 30.8 | 33.4 -8% | 33.6 -9% | 31.9 -4% | 29.9 3% | 33.3 -8% | 34 -10% | 30 3% |
| Idle Maximum * | 32.8 | 33.4 -2% | 37.9 -16% | 31.9 3% | 29.9 9% | 34.7 -6% | 36 -10% | 31.1 5% |
| Load Average * | 37.6 | 46.5 -24% | 45.8 -22% | 34.6 8% | 38.3 -2% | 44.5 -18% | 48 -28% | 31.3 17% |
| Witcher 3 ultra * | 47 | 39.3 16% | 39.8 15% | 49.2 -5% | 49 -4% | |||
| Load Maximum * | 53.5 | 49.6 7% | 46.5 13% | 41.7 22% | 39.6 26% | 52.8 1% | 51 5% | 38.9 27% |
* ... smaller is better
Temperature
Exterior heat is well-managed. While under extreme load, the chassis can get extremely hot in some spots, hovering between 55-60° C. However, users are unlikely to come into contact with these hot spots. The chassis is hottest above the keyboard at the top intake vent, which lies directly above the CPU and GPU. Heat is directed away from the keyboard and toward the fans in the back corners of the underside. Users should avoid holding the device on their laps when gaming or pushing the notebook. Otherwise, the device remains fairly cool across the keyboard and touchpad.
(-) The maximum temperature on the upper side is 60.4 °C / 141 F, compared to the average of 40.4 °C / 105 F, ranging from 21.2 to 68.8 °C for the class Gaming.
(-) The bottom heats up to a maximum of 55.2 °C / 131 F, compared to the average of 43.2 °C / 110 F
(+) In idle usage, the average temperature for the upper side is 26 °C / 79 F, compared to the device average of 33.8 °C / 93 F.
(±) Playing The Witcher 3, the average temperature for the upper side is 33.1 °C / 92 F, compared to the device average of 33.8 °C / 93 F.
(+) The palmrests and touchpad are cooler than skin temperature with a maximum of 29 °C / 84.2 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).
Speakers
The speakers get reasonably loud, peaking at about 80 dB. Sound remains clear even at these levels with no noticeable distortion. The chassis doesn't rattle, either. The speakers are otherwise average. Bass is almost entirely absent with mids and highs securing their dominance. The speakers are tinny overall and create a very thin body of sound. Most users will opt for headphones.
Asus GL503VD-DB74 audio analysis
(-) | not very loud speakers (71.4 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(±) | reduced bass - on average 8.6% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (9.3% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(±) | higher mids - on average 5.2% higher than median
(±) | linearity of mids is average (10.2% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(±) | reduced highs - on average 8% lower than median
(±) | linearity of highs is average (9.8% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(±) | linearity of overall sound is average (24.5% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 87% of all tested devices in this class were better, 4% similar, 9% worse
» The best had a delta of 6%, average was 18%, worst was 132%
Compared to all devices tested
» 70% of all tested devices were better, 6% similar, 23% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%
Lenovo Legion Y520-15IKBN 80WK0042GE audio analysis
(-) | not very loud speakers (65.8 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 16.9% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (13.9% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(+) | balanced mids - only 4.6% away from median
(±) | linearity of mids is average (8.8% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(+) | balanced highs - only 3.6% away from median
(±) | linearity of highs is average (12.7% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(±) | linearity of overall sound is average (22.6% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 79% of all tested devices in this class were better, 5% similar, 16% worse
» The best had a delta of 6%, average was 18%, worst was 132%
Compared to all devices tested
» 62% of all tested devices were better, 6% similar, 32% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%
Acer Aspire VX15 VX5-591G-589S audio analysis
(-) | not very loud speakers (69 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(±) | reduced bass - on average 8.1% lower than median
(+) | bass is linear (6.6% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(+) | balanced mids - only 2.1% away from median
(+) | mids are linear (3.2% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(+) | balanced highs - only 3.8% away from median
(+) | highs are linear (6.5% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(+) | overall sound is linear (12.6% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 14% of all tested devices in this class were better, 3% similar, 83% worse
» The best had a delta of 6%, average was 18%, worst was 132%
Compared to all devices tested
» 9% of all tested devices were better, 2% similar, 89% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%
Frequency Comparison (Checkbox selectable!)
Graph 1: Pink Noise 100% Vol.; Graph 2: Audio off
Energy Management
Power Consumption
Owing mostly to its lower-specced GPU, the GL503VD doesn't draw much power. At idle, the machine pulls only about 11 Watts, which falls in line with similarly equipped machines. Under load, average power draw hovers around 80 Watts, which is again average. When pushed to its absolute limits, the GL503VD draws 123 Watts, which is about 82% of the 150 Watt AC adapter. As such, there is ample headroom for the power brick. Notebooks sporting the less power-hungry Core i5-7300HQ CPU draw about 10-20% less power under load, while notebooks with a Core i7-7700HQ and GTX 1050 Ti typically draw about 20-30% more.
| Off / Standby | 0.1 / 0.8 Watt |
| Idle | 8.2 / 11.1 / 11.8 Watt |
| Load |
81 / 123.3 Watt |
   
| |
| Asus GL503VD-DB74 i7-7700HQ, GeForce GTX 1050 Mobile, ADATA SX7000NP 256 GB, IPS, 1920x1080, 15.60 | Asus ROG Strix GL553VD-DS71 i7-7700HQ, GeForce GTX 1050 Mobile, HGST Travelstar 7K1000 HTS721010A9E630, IPS, 1920x1080, 15.60 | Asus GL553VE-FY022T PL i7-7700HQ, GeForce GTX 1050 Ti Mobile, ADATA IM2S3138E-256GM-B, , 1920x1080, 15.60 | Lenovo Legion Y520-15IKBN 80WK0042GE i5-7300HQ, GeForce GTX 1050 Ti Mobile, Samsung PM961 NVMe MZVLW128HEGR, IPS, 1920x1080, 15.60 | Asus ZenBook Pro UX550VD i7-7700HQ, GeForce GTX 1050 Mobile, Samsung PM961 NVMe MZVLW512HMJP, IPS, 1920x1080, 15.60 | Gigabyte Sabre 15G i7-7700HQ, GeForce GTX 1050 Mobile, Liteonit CV3-8D128, IPS, 1920x1080, 15.60 | HP Omen 15-ax213ng i7-7700HQ, GeForce GTX 1050 Ti Mobile, Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP, IPS, 1920x1080, 15.60 | Acer Aspire VX15 VX5-591G-589S i5-7300HQ, GeForce GTX 1050 Mobile, Hynix HFS128G39TND, IPS, 1920x1080, 15.60 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Power Consumption | -1% | -39% | 20% | 11% | 5% | -6% | 2% | |
| Idle Minimum * | 8.2 | 7.7 6% | 10 -22% | 5.2 37% | 5.05 38% | 8 2% | 6 27% | 8.4 -2% |
| Idle Average * | 11.1 | 11.7 -5% | 19.4 -75% | 8.3 25% | 8.2 26% | 10.9 2% | 11 1% | 13.1 -18% |
| Idle Maximum * | 11.8 | 12 -2% | 20.3 -72% | 10.1 14% | 12.2 -3% | 11 7% | 18 -53% | 14.2 -20% |
| Load Average * | 81 | 80.5 1% | 110.3 -36% | 62.7 23% | 82 -1% | 76.7 5% | 81 -0% | 50 38% |
| Witcher 3 ultra * | 95.1 | 94 1% | 93.1 2% | 94.9 -0% | 90 5% | |||
| Load Maximum * | 123.3 | 128.4 -4% | 111.2 10% | 100 19% | 120 3% | 106.4 14% | 146 -18% | 111 10% |
* ... smaller is better
Battery Life
Gaming laptops aren't typically known for stellar battery life. Even at the lower segment of the market, most gaming notebooks are lucky to last 3-4 hours under normal use. Herein lies one of the strengths of the GL503VD. Its 64 Wh battery is quite a bit bigger than most other gaming notebooks; combined with efficiency measures like Nvidia Optimus, the GL503VD can last quite a while under light to normal load. Running our WiFi v1.3 test (Balanced power mode, screen set to 150 nits, loading a new webpage every 30-40 seconds), the GL503VD survives for 5 hours 48 minutes. While not enough to get through a workday, this is still a sizeable bump over most other devices in this category. Under load, the machine dies after a bit more than an hour, so gamers will definitely need to bring the power adapter with them.
| Asus GL503VD-DB74 i7-7700HQ, GeForce GTX 1050 Mobile, 64 Wh | Asus ROG Strix GL553VD-DS71 i7-7700HQ, GeForce GTX 1050 Mobile, 48 Wh | Asus GL553VE-FY022T PL i7-7700HQ, GeForce GTX 1050 Ti Mobile, 48 Wh | Lenovo Legion Y520-15IKBN 80WK0042GE i5-7300HQ, GeForce GTX 1050 Ti Mobile, 45 Wh | Asus ZenBook Pro UX550VD i7-7700HQ, GeForce GTX 1050 Mobile, 73 Wh | Gigabyte Sabre 15G i7-7700HQ, GeForce GTX 1050 Mobile, 47 Wh | HP Omen 15-ax213ng i7-7700HQ, GeForce GTX 1050 Ti Mobile, 63.3 Wh | Acer Aspire VX15 VX5-591G-589S i5-7300HQ, GeForce GTX 1050 Mobile, 52.5 Wh | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Battery Runtime | -30% | -55% | -1% | 38% | -15% | 25% | -5% | |
| Reader / Idle | 647 | 440 -32% | 288 -55% | 634 -2% | 1061 64% | 493 -24% | 765 18% | |
| WiFi v1.3 | 348 | 276 -21% | 310 -11% | 535 54% | 261 -25% | 428 23% | 330 -5% | |
| Load | 73 | 47 -36% | 81 11% | 70 -4% | 77 5% | 97 33% | ||
| WiFi | 148 | |||||||
| Witcher 3 ultra | 68 |
Pros
Cons
Verdict
There is a lot to like about the Asus GL503VD. The new design is quite appealing and far more subdued than previous ROG notebooks. The main body of the notebook is stable and feels good underhand. The keyboard is able to hold its own against the best in the industry and the RGB effects are well executed and add a bit of panache. The screen is bright and offers excellent color reproduction at this price point. System performance is rock steady, and gaming performance is a bit above other GTX 1050-equipped notebooks. Battery life is also great for a gaming machine and should last most of the workday.
There are a few quibbles, however. Some gaps around the device are a bit too large for our liking and tend to gather dust and small particles. Fan noise can also get loud, and the fans' high pitch can grate on the ears. The speakers are also anemic and thin. Some spots on the chassis get very hot, but it should be noted that heat is largely directed away from where a user's hands will rest.
The notebook is largely held back by the GTX 1050. The GTX 1050 Ti would offer a noticeable jump in gaming performance, but that would also drive the already high price even higher. There are other notebooks that offer similar performance for hundreds less. The Lenovo Legion Y520 and Acer Aspire VX15 both compete well against the GL503VD and come in under $1000, whereas the GL503VD starts at $1100. Our model (which is equipped with a 256 GB SSD) comes in at about $1300.
All said, the GL503VD is a well-executed and beautiful machine. This is quite possibly the best entry-level gaming notebook available at the moment. The notebook is much more attractive and well-built than the machines against which it competes. However, the sleek look, excellent keyboard, and better battery life come with a notable bump in price. It's also very possible that Asus will introduce models of the GL503 sporting a GTX 1050 Ti or GTX 1060 in the near future. While not officially announced, it may be worth a wait to see what Asus has up its sleeve.
Asus GL503VD-DB74
-
11/01/2017 v6(old)
Sam Medley
Pricecompare
