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Asus ROG Strix GL502VM Notebook Review

Powerful and Slim. The Asus GL502VM is a slim, 15.6-inch gaming laptop which can run games smoothly on its matte, FHD screen. The hardware needs a lot of cooling, so the laptop can become noisy.

For the original German review, see here.

The Asus GL502VM is the sister model of the recently reviewed Asus GL502VS. The GL502VM is slightly slimmer than the GL502VS, but the main difference between the two is the hardware: the GL502VS used a GeForce GTX 1070 GPU, whereas our test model has a GeForce GTX 1060. The competition includes laptops such as, the MSI GS63VR 6RF Stealth Pro, the Schenker XMG P507, the Acer Predator 15 or the HP Omen 15 (2016).

As the GL502VM and the GL502VS have the same case, we will skip certain sections, which we have already detailed in the review of the Asus GL502VS. These include the case, the connectivity, the input devices, the speakers and the display. For more information about these, head over to the Asus GL502VS.

Asus Strix GL502VM-FY039T (GL502 Series)
Processor
Intel Core i7-6700HQ 4 x 2.6 - 3.5 GHz (Intel Core i7)
Graphics adapter
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile - 6 GB VRAM, Core: 1405 MHz, Memory: 4000 MHz, GDDR5, 192 bit interface, ForceWare 375.95, kein Optimus
Memory
16 GB 
, DDR4-2133, Dual-Channel, one slot (occupied), 8 GB soldered on-board
Display
15.60 inch 16:9, 1920 x 1080 pixel 141 PPI, LG Philips LP156WF6-SPB6 (LGD046F), IPS, G-Sync, glossy: no
Mainboard
Intel HM170 (Skylake PCH-H)
Storage
Micron SSD 1100 (MTFDDAV256TBN), 256 GB 
, + Toshiba MQ01ABD100, 1 TB HDD, 5,400 rpm
Soundcard
Realtek ALC255 @ Intel Sunrise Point PCH - High Definition Audio Controller
Connections
4 USB 3.0 / 3.1 Gen1, 0 USB 3.1 Gen2, 1 HDMI, 1 DisplayPort, 1 Kensington Lock, Audio Connections: combo, Card Reader: SD,SDHC,SDXC,MMC, TPM 2.0
Networking
Realtek RTL8168/8111 Gigabit-LAN (10/100/1000MBit/s), Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 8260 (a/b/g/n = Wi-Fi 4/ac = Wi-Fi 5/), Bluetooth 4.2
Size
height x width x depth (in mm): 24 x 390 x 266 ( = 0.94 x 15.35 x 10.47 in)
Battery
64 Wh, 4240 mAh Lithium-Ion, 15.2 V, 4 cell
Operating System
Microsoft Windows 10 Home 64 Bit
Camera
Webcam: HD
Primary Camera: 0 MPix
Additional features
Speakers: Stereo, Keyboard: Chiclet, Keyboard Light: yes, 180 W power adapter, cable tie, McAfee Live Safe (trial), MS Office (trial), WPS Office for Asus, 24 Months Warranty
Weight
2.53 kg ( = 89.24 oz / 5.58 pounds), Power Supply: 575 g ( = 20.28 oz / 1.27 pounds)
Price
1700 Euro
Note: The manufacturer may use components from different suppliers including display panels, drives or memory sticks with similar specifications.

 

Case and Connectivity

The case of our test model is around 5 mm (~0.2 in) slimmer than its sister model, the GL502VS. To be more specific, the bottom of the laptop has been reduced in thickness, as our test model needs less space for ventilation. Otherwise, the two models have the same case.

Questions were raised about the USB Type-C port of the GL502 series in our forum. The GL502VM has one such port, which works with the USB 3.1 generation 1 standard. A Thunderbolt 3 interface is not included and we believe this series will not include one, as this feature is not mentioned in the manual or on the Asus website. If you are looking for this port, you might be interested in our recent review of the 17.3-inch Asus GL702VM (Asus GL702VM-GC102D), which includes a Thunderbolt 3 interface.

Size Comparison

391 mm / 15.4 inch 300 mm / 11.8 inch 39 mm / 1.535 inch 3.5 kg7.76 lbs390 mm / 15.4 inch 266 mm / 10.5 inch 30 mm / 1.181 inch 2.6 kg5.73 lbs390 mm / 15.4 inch 266 mm / 10.5 inch 24 mm / 0.945 inch 2.5 kg5.58 lbs390 mm / 15.4 inch 266 mm / 10.5 inch 23.5 mm / 0.925 inch 2.5 kg5.49 lbs385 mm / 15.2 inch 271 mm / 10.7 inch 25 mm / 0.984 inch 2.8 kg6.26 lbs382 mm / 15 inch 253 mm / 9.96 inch 25 mm / 0.984 inch 2.2 kg4.95 lbs380 mm / 15 inch 249 mm / 9.8 inch 18 mm / 0.709 inch 1.9 kg4.19 lbs297 mm / 11.7 inch 210 mm / 8.27 inch 1 mm / 0.03937 inch 5.7 g0.01257 lbs
SD Card Reader
average JPG Copy Test (av. of 3 runs)
Acer Predator 15 G9-592-7925
 
78 MB/s +4%
SCHENKER XMG P507
 
77 MB/s +3%
HP Omen 15-ax007ng
 
75 MB/s 0%
Asus Strix GL502VM-FY039T
 
75 MB/s
Asus Strix GL502VS-FY032T
 
74 MB/s -1%
Asus GL702VM-GC102D
 
72.6 MB/s -3%
MSI GS63VR-6RF16H22 Stealth Pro
 
26 MB/s -65%
maximum AS SSD Seq Read Test (1GB)
Acer Predator 15 G9-592-7925
 
88 MB/s +4%
HP Omen 15-ax007ng
 
86 MB/s +1%
SCHENKER XMG P507
 
86 MB/s +1%
Asus Strix GL502VM-FY039T
 
85 MB/s
Asus GL702VM-GC102D
 
84.6 MB/s 0%
Asus Strix GL502VS-FY032T
 
84 MB/s -1%
MSI GS63VR-6RF16H22 Stealth Pro
 
28 MB/s -67%
Networking
iperf3 transmit AX12
Asus Strix GL502VM-FY039T
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 8260
507 MBit/s
iperf3 receive AX12
Asus Strix GL502VM-FY039T
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 8260
677 MBit/s

Display

Subpixel
Subpixel

The GL502VM has a matte FHD IPS screen and it seems to be the same one which its sister model, the GL502VS uses. This is a bright display with good contrast and stable viewing angles. It supports Nvidia G-Sync. The values of the screens are slightly different, which is to be expected, as two screens of the same build never produce the exact same numbers (brightness, contrast, etc.).

According to the Asus website, the GL502VM is available with a 4K display. However, at the time of testing, we were not able to locate such a model.

282
cd/m²
294
cd/m²
289
cd/m²
305
cd/m²
321
cd/m²
318
cd/m²
282
cd/m²
284
cd/m²
293
cd/m²
Distribution of brightness
LG Philips LP156WF6-SPB6 (LGD046F) tested with X-Rite i1Pro 2
Maximum: 321 cd/m² (Nits) Average: 296.4 cd/m² Minimum: 36 cd/m²
Brightness Distribution: 88 %
Center on Battery: 321 cd/m²
Contrast: 973:1 (Black: 0.33 cd/m²)
ΔE Color 4.42 | 0.5-29.43 Ø5
ΔE Greyscale 3.34 | 0.57-98 Ø5.3
83% sRGB (Argyll 1.6.3 3D)
55% AdobeRGB 1998 (Argyll 1.6.3 3D)
60.9% AdobeRGB 1998 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
83.4% sRGB (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
64.5% Display P3 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
Gamma: 2.4
Asus Strix GL502VM-FY039T
LG Philips LP156WF6-SPB6 (LGD046F), 1920x1080, 15.60
Asus Strix GL502VS-FY032T
LG Philips LP156WF6-SPB6 (LGD046F), 1920x1080, 15.60
MSI GS63VR-6RF16H22 Stealth Pro
Samsung 156HL01-104 (SDC324C) , 1920x1080, 15.60
Acer Predator 15 G9-592-7925
LG Philips LP156WF6-SPP1 (LGD04D5), 1920x1080, 15.60
HP Omen 15-ax007ng
LGD0519, 1920x1080, 15.60
Asus Strix GL502VT-DS74
1920x1080, 15.60
SCHENKER XMG P507
LG Philips LP156WF6 (LGD046F), 1920x1080, 15.60
Display
0%
12%
-1%
-17%
11%
0%
Display P3 Coverage
64.5
64.5
0%
67.8
5%
63
-2%
59.9
-7%

40.34
-37%

66.7
3%
64.5
0%
sRGB Coverage
83.4
83.1
0%
97.4
17%
82.2
-1%
85.9
3%

60.3
-28%

97.7
17%
83.4
0%
AdobeRGB 1998 Coverage
60.9
60.8
0%
69.7
14%
60.1
-1%
61.6
1%

41.73
-31%

68.4
12%
61
0%
Response Times
7%
-4%
-2%
-31%
-54%
9%
Response Time Grey 50% / Grey 80% *
40 ?(15, 25)
38 ?(16, 22)
5%
43 ?(18, 25)
-8%
55 ?(22, 33)
-38%
56.4 ?(22.4, 34)
-41%
36 ?(12, 24)
10%
Response Time Black / White *
25 ?(5, 20)
23 ?(5, 18)
8%
26 ?(8, 18)
-4%
24 ?(4, 20)
4%
31 ?(8, 23)
-24%
41.6 ?(6.8, 34.8)
-66%
23 ?(5, 18)
8%
PWM Frequency
202 ?(100)
201.6 ?(99)
Screen
-3%
5%
-7%
-28%
-14%
-5%
Brightness middle
321
315
-2%
293
-9%
302
-6%
214
-33%
296.8
-8%
288
-10%
Brightness
296
290
-2%
279
-6%
287
-3%
203
-31%
282
-5%
292
-1%
Brightness Distribution
88
85
-3%
84
-5%
91
3%
79
-10%
86
-2%
87
-1%
Black Level *
0.33
0.32
3%
0.33
-0%
0.36
-9%
0.28
15%
0.347
-5%
0.3
9%
Contrast
973
984
1%
888
-9%
839
-14%
764
-21%
855
-12%
960
-1%
Colorchecker dE 2000 *
4.42
4.88
-10%
3.59
19%
4.93
-12%
6.04
-37%
5.24
-19%
5.1
-15%
Colorchecker dE 2000 max. *
9.78
8.88
9%
5.79
41%
12.34
-26%
12
-23%
11.36
-16%
9.44
3%
Greyscale dE 2000 *
3.34
4.17
-25%
3.86
-16%
3.47
-4%
5.91
-77%
6.76
-102%
4.43
-33%
Gamma
2.4 92%
2.53 87%
2.53 87%
2.16 102%
2.44 90%
2.24 98%
2.46 89%
CCT
6213 105%
6683 97%
7229 90%
6622 98%
7362 88%
8467 77%
6687 97%
Color Space (Percent of AdobeRGB 1998)
55
55
0%
63
15%
54
-2%
38
-31%
62.8
14%
55
0%
Color Space (Percent of sRGB)
83
83
0%
97
17%
82
-1%
60
-28%
98.1
18%
83
0%
Total Average (Program / Settings)
1% / -1%
4% / 6%
-3% / -5%
-25% / -24%
-19% / -14%
1% / -2%

* ... smaller is better

CalMAN: Grayscale
CalMAN: Grayscale
CalMAN: Grayscale (calibrated)
CalMAN: Grayscale (calibrated)
CalMAN: Saturation Sweeps
CalMAN: Saturation Sweeps
CalMAN: Saturation Sweeps (calibrated)
CalMAN: Saturation Sweeps (calibrated)
CalMAN: ColorChecker
CalMAN: ColorChecker
CalMAN: ColorChecker (calibrated)
CalMAN: ColorChecker (calibrated)
Asus GL502VM vs. sRGB (83 %)
Asus GL502VM vs. sRGB (83 %)
Asus GL502VM vs. AdobeRGB (55 %)
Asus GL502VM vs. AdobeRGB (55 %)

Screen Flickering / PWM (Pulse-Width Modulation)

To dim the screen, some notebooks will simply cycle the backlight on and off in rapid succession - a method called Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) . This cycling frequency should ideally be undetectable to the human eye. If said frequency is too low, users with sensitive eyes may experience strain or headaches or even notice the flickering altogether.
Screen flickering / PWM not detected

In comparison: 53 % of all tested devices do not use PWM to dim the display. If PWM was detected, an average of 18110 (minimum: 5 - maximum: 3846000) Hz was measured.

Display Response Times

Display response times show how fast the screen is able to change from one color to the next. Slow response times can lead to afterimages and can cause moving objects to appear blurry (ghosting). Gamers of fast-paced 3D titles should pay special attention to fast response times.
       Response Time Black to White
25 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined↗ 5 ms rise
↘ 20 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. » 53 % of all devices are better.
This means that the measured response time is worse than the average of all tested devices (21.6 ms).
       Response Time 50% Grey to 80% Grey
40 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined↗ 15 ms rise
↘ 25 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. » 55 % of all devices are better.
This means that the measured response time is worse than the average of all tested devices (33.9 ms).

Performance

The Asus GL502VM is a slim, 15.6-inch gaming laptop which can run the latest games smoothly on its FHD panel. This means that the notebook is strong enough to handle typical tasks, such as surfing the web or using office programs. We chose the top model of the series, which is available for around 1700 Euros (~$1777). The cheapest model of this series is available for around 1300 Euros (~$1359). However, that model would come without a Windows OS.

CPU-Z
CPU-Z
CPU-Z
CPU-Z
CPU-Z
GPU-Z
HWInfo
LatencyMon

Processor

Quad-core Kaby Lake processors will be available starting in 2017. As such, Asus has decided to go with the Core i7-6700HQ, which is a Skylake model used by many other gaming laptops. On the hardware side, the Kaby Lake and Skylake generations are almost identical. Rather, Intel has decided to focus on optimization during the Kaby Lake generation. A TDP value of 45 W means that the Core i7-6700HQ will require a lot more power than a conservative ULV processor (TDP: 15 W). The CPU runs at a base clock speed of 2.6 GHz, which, thanks to Turbo, can rise up to 3.1 GHz (4 cores), 3.3 GHz (2 cores) and 3.5 GHz (1 core). The Turbo is available at all times, which means that the user can activate it even on battery.

Single-core rendering
Single-core rendering
Multi-core rendering
Multi-core rendering
CPU & GPU high usage
CPU & GPU high usage
Cinebench R10 Shading 32Bit
6832
Cinebench R10 Rendering Multiple CPUs 32Bit
20528
Cinebench R10 Rendering Single 32Bit
5463
Cinebench R11.5 OpenGL 64Bit
56.8 fps
Cinebench R11.5 CPU Multi 64Bit
7.5 Points
Cinebench R11.5 CPU Single 64Bit
1.68 Points
Cinebench R15 Ref. Match 64Bit
99.6 %
Cinebench R15 OpenGL 64Bit
59.7 fps
Cinebench R15 CPU Multi 64Bit
680 Points
Cinebench R15 CPU Single 64Bit
148 Points
Help
Cinebench R15
CPU Single 64Bit
SCHENKER XMG P507
Intel Core i7-6700HQ
148 Points 0%
Asus Strix GL502VM-FY039T
Intel Core i7-6700HQ
148 Points
HP Omen 15-ax007ng
Intel Core i7-6700HQ
147 Points -1%
Asus Strix GL502VS-FY032T
Intel Core i7-6700HQ
147 Points -1%
Asus Strix GL502VT-DS74
Intel Core i7-6700HQ
145 Points -2%
Acer Predator 15 G9-592-7925
Intel Core i7-6700HQ
142 Points -4%
MSI GS63VR-6RF16H22 Stealth Pro
Intel Core i7-6700HQ
139 Points -6%
Asus GL702VM-GC102D
Intel Core i7-6700HQ
134 Points -9%
CPU Multi 64Bit
SCHENKER XMG P507
Intel Core i7-6700HQ
682 Points 0%
Asus Strix GL502VM-FY039T
Intel Core i7-6700HQ
680 Points
HP Omen 15-ax007ng
Intel Core i7-6700HQ
678 Points 0%
Asus GL702VM-GC102D
Intel Core i7-6700HQ
678 Points 0%
Acer Predator 15 G9-592-7925
Intel Core i7-6700HQ
676 Points -1%
Asus Strix GL502VS-FY032T
Intel Core i7-6700HQ
676 Points -1%
Asus Strix GL502VT-DS74
Intel Core i7-6700HQ
670 Points -1%
MSI GS63VR-6RF16H22 Stealth Pro
Intel Core i7-6700HQ
667 Points -2%
Cinebench R10
Rendering Multiple CPUs 32Bit
Asus Strix GL502VM-FY039T
Intel Core i7-6700HQ
20528 Points
Asus Strix GL502VT-DS74
Intel Core i7-6700HQ
20386 Points -1%
Asus GL702VM-GC102D
Intel Core i7-6700HQ
20111 Points -2%
Rendering Single 32Bit
Asus Strix GL502VM-FY039T
Intel Core i7-6700HQ
5463 Points
Asus Strix GL502VT-DS74
Intel Core i7-6700HQ
5364 Points -2%
Asus GL702VM-GC102D
Intel Core i7-6700HQ
5126 Points -6%
Geekbench 3
32 Bit Single-Core Score
Asus Strix GL502VM-FY039T
Intel Core i7-6700HQ
3459 Points
Asus GL702VM-GC102D
Intel Core i7-6700HQ
2926 Points -15%
32 Bit Multi-Core Score
Asus Strix GL502VM-FY039T
Intel Core i7-6700HQ
12818 Points
Asus GL702VM-GC102D
Intel Core i7-6700HQ
11903 Points -7%
Geekbench 4.0
64 Bit Single-Core Score
Asus Strix GL502VM-FY039T
Intel Core i7-6700HQ
4286 Points
Asus GL702VM-GC102D
Intel Core i7-6700HQ
3663 Points -15%
64 Bit Multi-Core Score
Asus Strix GL502VM-FY039T
Intel Core i7-6700HQ
12974 Points
Asus GL702VM-GC102D
Intel Core i7-6700HQ
11033 Points -15%
JetStream 1.1 - Total Score
Asus Strix GL502VM-FY039T
Intel Core i7-6700HQ
250.1 Points
MSI GS63VR-6RF16H22 Stealth Pro
Intel Core i7-6700HQ
241 Points -4%
Asus Strix GL502VS-FY032T
Intel Core i7-6700HQ
234.2 Points -6%
Asus GL702VM-GC102D
Intel Core i7-6700HQ
232.4 Points -7%

System Performance

Subjectively, we like the performance of the laptop, as the system runs smoothly. The very good results in the PCMark benchmarks show that the notebook also has objectively high performance. The GL502VM will provide a base for gaming and image/video editing. It is hard to increase the performance any further. Asus has done a good job of bringing out the most from this system.

Only a single RAM slot: 8 GB module soldered on-board.
Only a single RAM slot: 8 GB module soldered on-board.
PCMark 7 Score
6527 points
PCMark 8 Home Score Accelerated v2
4741 points
PCMark 8 Creative Score Accelerated v2
7095 points
PCMark 8 Work Score Accelerated v2
5109 points
Help
PCMark 8
Home Score Accelerated v2
Asus Strix GL502VM-FY039T
GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile, 6700HQ, Micron SSD 1100 (MTFDDAV256TBN)
4741 Points
Asus GL702VM-GC102D
GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile, 6700HQ, HGST Travelstar 7K1000 HTS721010A9E630
4670 Points -1%
Asus Strix GL502VS-FY032T
GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile, 6700HQ, SanDisk SD8SNAT256G1002
4651 Points -2%
MSI GS63VR-6RF16H22 Stealth Pro
GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile, 6700HQ, Samsung SM951 MZVPV256HDGL m.2 PCI-e
4060 Points -14%
HP Omen 15-ax007ng
GeForce GTX 965M, 6700HQ, Adata IM2S3138E-128GM-B
3946 Points -17%
Asus Strix GL502VT-DS74
GeForce GTX 970M, 6700HQ, Lite-On CV1-8B128
3700 Points -22%
Work Score Accelerated v2
Asus Strix GL502VM-FY039T
GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile, 6700HQ, Micron SSD 1100 (MTFDDAV256TBN)
5109 Points
Asus Strix GL502VS-FY032T
GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile, 6700HQ, SanDisk SD8SNAT256G1002
5011 Points -2%
HP Omen 15-ax007ng
GeForce GTX 965M, 6700HQ, Adata IM2S3138E-128GM-B
5003 Points -2%
MSI GS63VR-6RF16H22 Stealth Pro
GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile, 6700HQ, Samsung SM951 MZVPV256HDGL m.2 PCI-e
4859 Points -5%
Asus GL702VM-GC102D
GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile, 6700HQ, HGST Travelstar 7K1000 HTS721010A9E630
4809 Points -6%
Asus Strix GL502VT-DS74
GeForce GTX 970M, 6700HQ, Lite-On CV1-8B128
4716 Points -8%

Storage Devices

The system drive is an SSD from Micron (M.2 format 2280). The total capacity of the drive measures 256 GB and the user will be able to use 200 GB of this (the rest is for the Windows installation and the Recovery partition). The transfer speeds of the SSD are very good as this is a SATA III SSD. However, the laptop can use even faster (and more expensive) PCIe/NVMe models.

The notebook employs an SSD and a 2.5-inch HDD (1 TB, 5400 rpm). This combination provides sufficient space for large games and files. The two drives can be swapped out. This will require the user to take off the bottom plate, as there is no maintenance access.

Solid State Disk ...
Solid State Disk ...
... and HDD can be swapped.
... and HDD can be swapped.
Micron SSD 1100 (MTFDDAV256TBN)
Sequential Read: 462.5 MB/s
Sequential Write: 462.7 MB/s
512K Read: 335 MB/s
512K Write: 407.1 MB/s
4K Read: 25.61 MB/s
4K Write: 86.3 MB/s
4K QD32 Read: 246.7 MB/s
4K QD32 Write: 301.5 MB/s
Asus Strix GL502VM-FY039T
Micron SSD 1100 (MTFDDAV256TBN)
MSI GS63VR-6RF16H22 Stealth Pro
Samsung SM951 MZVPV256HDGL m.2 PCI-e
Acer Predator 15 G9-592-7925
Samsung SSD PM871 MZNLN512HCJH
HP Omen 15-ax007ng
Adata IM2S3138E-128GM-B
Asus Strix GL502VS-FY032T
SanDisk SD8SNAT256G1002
SCHENKER XMG P507
Samsung SM951 MZVPV256HDGL m.2 PCI-e
CrystalDiskMark 3.0
163%
16%
-16%
-19%
160%
Read Seq
462.5
1973
327%
510
10%
475.7
3%
485.4
5%
1857
302%
Write Seq
462.7
1292
179%
455.3
-2%
169.2
-63%
312.4
-32%
1240
168%
Read 512
335
1279
282%
415.9
24%
327.6
-2%
294.8
-12%
971
190%
Write 512
407.1
1288
216%
422.3
4%
169.6
-58%
287.8
-29%
1239
204%
Read 4k
25.61
52.3
104%
32.46
27%
33.14
29%
21.44
-16%
54.1
111%
Write 4k
86.3
153.2
78%
92.5
7%
81.4
-6%
75.7
-12%
167.4
94%
Read 4k QD32
246.7
464.4
88%
358.6
45%
276.8
12%
149.4
-39%
695
182%
Write 4k QD32
301.5
384.4
27%
329.1
9%
168
-44%
256.3
-15%
386.8
28%

Graphics Card

Notebooks with an integrated and a dedicated GPU usually offer an automatic switching option. The dedicated GPU takes over when the laptop deals with intensive graphics processing. Otherwise, the integrated GPU is used, so as to save on power. The Asus GL502VM does not conform to this principle: the HD Graphics 530 is turned off. The Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060 is always running. Although this GPU is part of the current Nvidia high-end series, it is the weakest one. It is based on the Pascal architecture and supports DirectX 12. It uses 6144 MB GDDR5 memory. The GTX 1060 reaches speeds of up to 1889 MHz, but this maximum value is only held for a short time. The 3DMark benchmark results are at the expected level for this GPU.

3DMark 06 Standard Score
27436 points
3DMark 11 Performance
12682 points
3DMark Ice Storm Standard Score
104690 points
3DMark Cloud Gate Standard Score
23340 points
3DMark Fire Strike Score
9663 points
3DMark Fire Strike Extreme Score
5100 points
3DMark Time Spy Score
3613 points
Help
3DMark 11 - 1280x720 Performance GPU
Asus Strix GL502VS-FY032T
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile
22022 Points +43%
Asus Strix GL502VM-FY039T
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile
15387 Points
MSI GS63VR-6RF16H22 Stealth Pro
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile
15075 Points -2%
Asus GL702VM-GC102D
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile
14317 Points -7%
SCHENKER XMG P507
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile
14222 Points -8%
Acer Predator 15 G9-592-7925
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 970M
9845 Points -36%
Asus Strix GL502VT-DS74
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 970M
9824 Points -36%
HP Omen 15-ax007ng
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 965M
7919 Points -49%
3DMark - 1920x1080 Fire Strike Graphics
Asus Strix GL502VS-FY032T
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile
16525 Points +42%
MSI GS63VR-6RF16H22 Stealth Pro
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile
11730 Points +1%
Asus Strix GL502VM-FY039T
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile
11622 Points
Asus GL702VM-GC102D
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile
11311 Points -3%
SCHENKER XMG P507
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile
11045 Points -5%
Acer Predator 15 G9-592-7925
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 970M
7624 Points -34%
Asus Strix GL502VT-DS74
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 970M
7321 Points -37%
HP Omen 15-ax007ng
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 965M
5904 Points -49%

Gaming Performance

Asus packs a lot of power into a slim case. This allows the GL502VM to run the latest games at Full HD (with high settings). A look at our database reveals that the laptop only has trouble running “X-Plane” at high resolutions/settings. 4K gaming is possible, but it is limited to a few games. The Asus GL502VS would be a better choice for 4K gaming, as the GeForce GTX 1070 offers higher performance.

low med. high ultra
Tomb Raider (2013) 395.7 342.8 293.4 144.9
BioShock Infinite (2013) 212.1 176.7 168.6 102.3
Battlefield 4 (2013) 199.4 197.6 188 99.8
Far Cry Primal (2016) 109 87 78 60
Hitman 2016 (2016) 73.7 72.1 58.3 56
Ashes of the Singularity (2016) 70.4 61.8 57.4
Titanfall 2 (2016) 143.8 143.5 87.1 78.5
Call of Duty Infinite Warfare (2016) 123.1 123.3 99.2 86.5
Dishonored 2 (2016) 89.3 82.7 69.4 58.7
Watch Dogs 2 (2016) 109.1 94.9 65.4 44.1
BioShock Infinite - 1920x1080 Ultra Preset, DX11 (DDOF)
Asus Strix GL502VM-FY039T
GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile, 6700HQ
102.3 fps
MSI GS63VR-6RF16H22 Stealth Pro
GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile, 6700HQ
101.8 fps 0%
Asus GL702VM-GC102D
GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile, 6700HQ
98.9 fps -3%
SCHENKER XMG P507
GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile, 6700HQ
98.1 fps -4%
Asus Strix GL502VT-DS74
GeForce GTX 970M, 6700HQ
69.5 fps -32%
Battlefield 4 - 1920x1080 Ultra Preset AA:4x MS
Asus Strix GL502VS-FY032T
GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile, 6700HQ
132.7 fps +33%
Asus Strix GL502VM-FY039T
GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile, 6700HQ
99.8 fps
Asus GL702VM-GC102D
GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile, 6700HQ
99.1 fps -1%
SCHENKER XMG P507
GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile, 6700HQ
92.9 fps -7%
Ashes of the Singularity - 1920x1080 high
Asus Strix GL502VM-FY039T
GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile, 6700HQ
57.4 fps
Asus GL702VM-GC102D
GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile, 6700HQ
47.5 fps -17%
Far Cry Primal - 1920x1080 Ultra Preset AA:SM
Asus Strix GL502VM-FY039T
GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile, 6700HQ
60 fps
SCHENKER XMG P507
GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile, 6700HQ
56 fps -7%
HP Omen 15-ax007ng
GeForce GTX 965M, 6700HQ
27 fps -55%

Emissions

System Noise

While idle, the GL502VM is not very noisy. One of the two fans runs at a very low speed. Many gaming laptops turn off their fans while idle, but our test model does not fit this description. Under load, the fans kick in hard and the emissions rise to 44 dB(A) (39 to 49 dB(A)). During our stress test, the emissions reached a maximum of 53 dB(A). In addition, it emits other noises when the laptop is starting applications or loading up. The main suspect for this behavior is the SSD.

Noise Emissions - Idle
Noise Emissions - Idle
Noise Emissions - Load
Noise Emissions - Load
Noise Emissions - Speaker
Noise Emissions - Speaker
Two fans ...
Two fans ...
... are installed.
... are installed.

Noise Level

Idle
32 / 33 / 34 dB(A)
HDD
34 dB(A)
Load
44 / 53 dB(A)
  red to green bar
 
 
30 dB
silent
40 dB(A)
audible
50 dB(A)
loud
 
min: dark, med: mid, max: light   Audix TM1, Arta (15 cm distance)   environment noise: 31 dB(A)
Asus Strix GL502VM-FY039T
6700HQ, GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile
Asus Strix GL502VS-FY032T
6700HQ, GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile
MSI GS63VR-6RF16H22 Stealth Pro
6700HQ, GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile
Acer Predator 15 G9-592-7925
6700HQ, GeForce GTX 970M
HP Omen 15-ax007ng
6700HQ, GeForce GTX 965M
Asus Strix GL502VT-DS74
6700HQ, GeForce GTX 970M
SCHENKER XMG P507
6700HQ, GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile
Noise
3%
5%
4%
1%
7%
0%
off / environment *
31
30
3%
30
3%
30
3%
28.7
7%
30
3%
Idle Minimum *
32
32
-0%
32
-0%
31
3%
32
-0%
31
3%
31
3%
Idle Average *
33
33
-0%
33
-0%
32
3%
33
-0%
31
6%
32
3%
Idle Maximum *
34
34
-0%
34
-0%
36
-6%
36
-6%
32
6%
38
-12%
Load Average *
44
39
11%
37
16%
40
9%
43
2%
40.7
7%
46
-5%
Load Maximum *
53
51
4%
46
13%
47
11%
49
8%
47.6
10%
49
8%

* ... smaller is better

Temperature

During our stress tests (Prime95 and FurMark run for at least an hour together), the GL502VM performed at slightly different speeds when it was plugged in and when it was running on battery. While plugged in, the CPU operated at 2.7 to 2.8 GHz. The GPU runs at 1400 MHz. While on battery, the GPU drops to 900 MHz. The CPU jumps between 800 MHz and 3.1 GHz. During our stress test, the laptop heats up significantly. We measured two measurement points crossing 60 degrees Celsius (~140 degrees Fahrenheit) mark.

Stress test
Stress test
Full load - top (Optris PI 640)
Full load - top (Optris PI 640)
Full load - bottom (Optris PI 640)
Full load - bottom (Optris PI 640)
Max. Load
 54.1 °C
129 F
65.3 °C
150 F
50.5 °C
123 F
 
 32.9 °C
91 F
49.5 °C
121 F
40.5 °C
105 F
 
 21.8 °C
71 F
24.1 °C
75 F
23.9 °C
75 F
 
Maximum: 65.3 °C = 150 F
Average: 40.3 °C = 105 F
56 °C
133 F
64.4 °C
148 F
54.1 °C
129 F
46.4 °C
116 F
47.6 °C
118 F
41.3 °C
106 F
25.7 °C
78 F
24.9 °C
77 F
24.5 °C
76 F
Maximum: 64.4 °C = 148 F
Average: 42.8 °C = 109 F
Power Supply (max.)  41.8 °C = 107 F | Room Temperature 20 °C = 68 F | Voltcraft IR-900
(-) The average temperature for the upper side under maximal load is 40.3 °C / 105 F, compared to the average of 33.8 °C / 93 F for the devices in the class Gaming.
(-) The maximum temperature on the upper side is 65.3 °C / 150 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 64.4 °C / 148 F, compared to the average of 43.2 °C / 110 F
(+) In idle usage, the average temperature for the upper side is 28.2 °C / 83 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 24.1 °C / 75.4 F and are therefore cool to the touch.
(+) The average temperature of the palmrest area of similar devices was 28.9 °C / 84 F (+4.8 °C / 8.6 F).
Asus Strix GL502VM-FY039T
6700HQ, GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile
Asus Strix GL502VS-FY032T
6700HQ, GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile
MSI GS63VR-6RF16H22 Stealth Pro
6700HQ, GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile
Acer Predator 15 G9-592-7925
6700HQ, GeForce GTX 970M
HP Omen 15-ax007ng
6700HQ, GeForce GTX 965M
Asus Strix GL502VT-DS74
6700HQ, GeForce GTX 970M
SCHENKER XMG P507
6700HQ, GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile
Heat
15%
19%
32%
18%
3%
15%
Maximum Upper Side *
65.3
48
26%
45.3
31%
42.6
35%
48.5
26%
61.4
6%
49.3
25%
Maximum Bottom *
64.4
46.8
27%
62.6
3%
38.7
40%
59
8%
70.2
-9%
52.7
18%
Idle Upper Side *
35.4
33.7
5%
25.3
29%
27.2
23%
28.7
19%
29.6
16%
32.6
8%
Idle Bottom *
31.6
30.5
3%
27.3
14%
22.8
28%
25.7
19%
32
-1%
29.5
7%

* ... smaller is better

Speakers

dB(A) 0102030405060708090Deep BassMiddle BassHigh BassLower RangeMidsHigher MidsLower HighsMid HighsUpper HighsSuper Highs2038.135.72544.241.1314038.84032.337.25029.334.26331.429.9803134.510024.335.412523.525.616026.634.820022.343.525022.851.731521.260.740020.36150019.260.663018.764.880018.464.6100018.667.5125019.465.8160018.662.7200018.863.5250018.864.7315018.764.6400018.863.4500018.966.9630018.965.9800018.953.7100001949.71250018.849.31600018.745.4SPL31.276.3N1.538.8median 18.9median 61Delta1.38.737.230.229.929.329.2293328.729.228.126.826.825.928.624.928.324.329.622.437.722.447.120.347.820.750.719.261.718.666.318.965.418.461.618.760.417.863.51862.417.862.818.164.818.164.91858.417.857.71862.518.161.718.160.918.158.8185730.474.71.435.4median 18.1median 60.916.8hearing rangehide median Pink NoiseAsus Strix GL502VM-FY039TSCHENKER XMG P507
Asus Strix GL502VM-FY039T audio analysis

(±) | speaker loudness is average but good (76 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 19.1% lower than median
(-) | bass is not linear (18.1% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(+) | balanced mids - only 2.9% away from median
(+) | mids are linear (4% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(±) | higher highs - on average 5.6% higher than median
(±) | linearity of highs is average (8% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(±) | linearity of overall sound is average (23% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 80% of all tested devices in this class were better, 6% similar, 14% worse
» The best had a delta of 6%, average was 18%, worst was 132%
Compared to all devices tested
» 63% of all tested devices were better, 6% similar, 30% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%

SCHENKER XMG P507 audio analysis

(±) | speaker loudness is average but good (75 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 20.7% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (8.8% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(+) | balanced mids - only 2.2% away from median
(±) | linearity of mids is average (7.6% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(+) | balanced highs - only 2.3% away from median
(+) | highs are linear (5.3% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(±) | linearity of overall sound is average (19% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 60% of all tested devices in this class were better, 8% similar, 32% worse
» The best had a delta of 6%, average was 18%, worst was 132%
Compared to all devices tested
» 39% of all tested devices were better, 8% similar, 53% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%

Frequency diagram for comparison (checkboxes above can be selected!)

Energy Management

Power Consumption

Due to the deactivated iGPU, the GL502VM needs a lot of power while idling. We measured a maximum consumption of 23 W when idle. The consumption with an active iGPU would be around 5 to 7 W less. During the stress test, the consumption rises to 157 W. If the CPU and GPU were allowed to run at their full speeds, the laptop would need more power. For gaming, the laptop should consume around 70 W (+/-20 W). The power adapter can handle the consumption patterns of this model, thanks to its 180 W supply capacity.

Power Consumption
Off / Standbydarklight 0.3 / 0.7 Watt
Idledarkmidlight 16 / 19 / 23 Watt
Load midlight 68 / 157 Watt
 color bar
Key: min: dark, med: mid, max: light        Voltcraft VC 940
Currently we use the Metrahit Energy, a professional single phase power quality and energy measurement digital multimeter, for our measurements. Find out more about it here. All of our test methods can be found here.
Asus Strix GL502VM-FY039T
6700HQ, GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile
Asus Strix GL502VS-FY032T
6700HQ, GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile
MSI GS63VR-6RF16H22 Stealth Pro
6700HQ, GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile
Acer Predator 15 G9-592-7925
6700HQ, GeForce GTX 970M
HP Omen 15-ax007ng
6700HQ, GeForce GTX 965M
Asus Strix GL502VT-DS74
6700HQ, GeForce GTX 970M
SCHENKER XMG P507
6700HQ, GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile
Power Consumption
-24%
-15%
-0%
25%
7%
5%
Idle Minimum *
16
20
-25%
18
-13%
12
25%
7
56%
11.1
31%
11
31%
Idle Average *
19
24
-26%
22
-16%
16
16%
11
42%
14.1
26%
16
16%
Idle Maximum *
23
29
-26%
30
-30%
22
4%
19
17%
18.4
20%
21
9%
Load Average *
68
86
-26%
77
-13%
96
-41%
79
-16%
96.5
-42%
80
-18%
Load Maximum *
157
183
-17%
165
-5%
166
-6%
119
24%
159.5
-2%
174
-11%

* ... smaller is better

Battery Life

A full battery will last 3:40 hours in our practical WLAN test. For this test, we check the battery life while running a script which loads different websites. The "Balanced" profile is active and power saver options turned off. The brightness is regulated to around 150 cd/m². The laptop lasts a little longer in our video test, but the device is still depleted at 3:55 hours. We ran the short movie, Big Buck Bunny (H.264 coding, 1920x1080 pixels) in a loop. Wireless modules were turned off and the brightness was set to 150 cd/m².

The deactivated iGPU has a definite impact on the battery life, as with it on (while the dedicated GPU is off), the laptop would be far more conservative. All-in-all, the GL502VM has slightly better run times than the GL502VS, which uses a more powerful GPU.

In our forum, we found notes from a few readers about the battery situation in the GL502VS: it depletes while running games. Thankfully, our test model is spared this problem. During our stress test, the battery stays topped up, as long as the power cable is plugged in. We also ran “Dirt Rally” (Full HD, max settings) in a continuous loop to check the laptop and found no abnormal behavior.

The battery has a capacity of 64 Wh.
The battery has a capacity of 64 Wh.
Battery Runtime
Idle (without WLAN, min brightness)
5h 15min
WiFi Websurfing (Edge 38)
3h 40min
Big Buck Bunny H.264 1080p
3h 55min
Load (maximum brightness)
1h 27min
Asus Strix GL502VM-FY039T
64 Wh
MSI GS63VR-6RF16H22 Stealth Pro
65 Wh
Acer Predator 15 G9-592-7925
 Wh
HP Omen 15-ax007ng
61.5 Wh
Asus Strix GL502VT-DS74
64 Wh
Asus Strix GL502VS-FY032T
62 Wh
SCHENKER XMG P507
60 Wh
Asus GL702VM-GC102D
76 Wh
Battery Runtime
3%
116%
21%
37%
-22%
32%
9%
Reader / Idle
315
358
14%
467
48%
584
85%
243
-23%
409
30%
353
12%
H.264
235
271
15%
244
4%
262
11%
WiFi v1.3
220
210
-5%
476
116%
272
24%
356
62%
196
-11%
274
25%
250
14%
Load
87
76
-13%
93
7%
56
-36%
58
-33%
123
41%
87
0%

Pros

+ matte IPS screen
+ fast SSD
+ lot of storage space thanks to the extra HDD
+ G-Sync
+ slim case
+ fast WLAN module

Cons

- relatively high power consumption while idle
- during times of high usage, the laptop gets loud

Verdict

In review: Asus ROG Strix GL502VM-FY039T. Test model provided by Cyberport.de
In review: Asus ROG Strix GL502VM-FY039T. Test model provided by Cyberport.de

The Asus GL502VM is a slim 15.6-inch gaming laptop.

The powerful hardware allows this model to run most games at high to maximum settings. In addition, Nvidia G-Sync enables smoother processing of frames. At load, the laptop gets really loud and the case gets noticeably hot. Overall, we like the GL502VM better than the GL502VS. It seems that the more powerful graphics card of the GL502VS is too demanding at times for the power adapter to handle. This depletes the battery fast. Thankfully, our test model does not show this behavior.

A fast SSD makes sure the system runs well. A 1 TB hard disk offers sufficient storage space for games and the two disks can be swapped out. The bottom of the laptop must be removed for this procedure. The matte IPS screen offers nice, stable viewing angles and good values. The keyboard will suffice users for home use, but typists should look elsewhere.

If you like bigger models, the GL702VM is the 17.3-inch sister of our test model: it runs quieter and heats up less. Furthermore, the configuration we reviewed had a Thunderbolt 3 port, which is lacking in the GL502VM in front of us.

Asus Strix GL502VM-FY039T - 12/10/2016 v6(old)
Sascha Mölck

Chassis
82 / 98 → 83%
Keyboard
84%
Pointing Device
78%
Connectivity
63 / 81 → 77%
Weight
60 / 10-66 → 89%
Battery
73%
Display
87%
Games Performance
94%
Application Performance
93%
Temperature
80 / 95 → 85%
Noise
72 / 90 → 79%
Audio
70%
Camera
55 / 85 → 65%
Average
76%
85%
Gaming - Weighted Average

Pricecompare

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Sascha Mölck, 2016-12-17 (Update: 2018-05-15)