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Asus ROG Strix GL502VY-DS71 Notebook Review

GTX 980M update. The higher-end SKU adds G-Sync, a GTX 980M, and one more SODIMM slot over the lower-end GL502VT. Its lack of both an 8 GB GDDR5 option and external G-Sync support can be a bit of a bummer. Is this the 15-inch gaming notebook to get for $1700 USD?

Our overview on the GL502VT from earlier this month shows that Asus may have a winner on its hands as an alternative to the larger and more popular G752 series. Whereas the current 15.6-inch GL552, G501, and UX501 series are generally solid, none of them are able to carry the almighty GTX 980M GPU whereas the GL502 series at least has the option. This instantly pits the GL502 against flagship competitors like the Aorus X5S v5 and the thicker Acer Predator 15 and Alienware 15 R2.

Our page today focuses on the GL502VY and its GTX 980M and how this compares to our last GL502VT SKU and its GTX 970M GPU. While the Core i7-6700HQ CPU remains identical, there are indeed differences between them in terms of the display, RAM, and cooling solution. What steps has the manufacturer taken to make sure that the system can run reliably on a more demanding GPU?

The GL502VY currently retails for $1700 USD while the GL502VT can be found for as low as $1100 USD. Our test model was provided by reseller CUKUSA, so storage and RAM options here may not be exactly identical to a direct SKU from Asus. See our previous review on the GL502VT for more images and details on chassis quality, input devices, and connectivity options.

Asus Strix GL502VY-DS71
Processor
Intel Core i7-6700HQ 4 x 2.6 - 3.5 GHz (Intel Core i7)
Graphics adapter
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980M - 4 GB VRAM, Core: 1038 MHz, Memory: 5010 MHz, GDDR5, 359.23
Memory
16 GB 
, Samsung, DDR4-2132, PC4-17000, Dual-Channel, 15-15-15-36
Display
15.60 inch 16:9, 1920 x 1080 pixel 141 PPI, IPS, Name: LG Philips LP156W6, ID: LGD046F, glossy: no
Mainboard
Intel HM170 (Skylake PCH-H)
Storage
SanDisk SD8SN8U1T001122, 1024 GB 
, Secondary: 2TB Seagate ST2000LM007-1R8174
Soundcard
Nvidia GM204 - High Definition Audio Controller
Connections
3 USB 3.0 / 3.1 Gen1, 1 USB 3.1 Gen2, 1 HDMI, 1 DisplayPort, 1 Kensington Lock, Audio Connections: 3.5-mm-Audio, Card Reader: SD reader
Networking
Realtek RTL8168B/8111B Family PCI-E Gigabit Ethernet NIC (10/100/1000MBit/s), Killer Wireless-n/a/ac 1535 Wireless Network Adapter (b/g/n = Wi-Fi 4/ac = Wi-Fi 5/), Bluetooth 4.0
Size
height x width x depth (in mm): 23.5 x 390 x 266 ( = 0.93 x 15.35 x 10.47 in)
Battery
64 Wh Lithium-Polymer, 4-cell
Operating System
Microsoft Windows 10 Home 64 Bit
Camera
Webcam: HD camera
Additional features
Speakers: Stereo, Keyboard: Chiclet, Keyboard Light: yes, Cable ties , manual, warranty card, ROG Gaming Center, 12 Months Warranty
Weight
2.577 kg ( = 90.9 oz / 5.68 pounds), Power Supply: 665 g ( = 23.46 oz / 1.47 pounds)
Note: The manufacturer may use components from different suppliers including display panels, drives or memory sticks with similar specifications.

 

Case

The chassis is identical to the GL502VT and we can find no manufacturing defects or unintended gaps on our GL502VY test unit. As mentioned in our previous review, the bright traffic cone Orange may not resonate with all users compared to the deeper red, silver, and/or black colors of other ROG notebooks, but the quality of the chassis is superb and stronger than on the Aorus X5S. Nonetheless, it's not quite as rigid as the Alienware 15 or Asus G752 as these latter notebooks are much heavier, thicker, and with more limited serviceability options.

391 mm / 15.4 inch 300 mm / 11.8 inch 39 mm / 1.535 inch 3.6 kg7.94 lbs386 mm / 15.2 inch 262 mm / 10.3 inch 35 mm / 1.378 inch 3.4 kg7.5 lbs386 mm / 15.2 inch 270 mm / 10.6 inch 34 mm / 1.339 inch 3.1 kg6.86 lbs390 mm / 15.4 inch 266 mm / 10.5 inch 23.5 mm / 0.925 inch 2.6 kg5.68 lbs390 mm / 15.4 inch 272 mm / 10.7 inch 22.9 mm / 0.902 inch 2.5 kg5.58 lbs385 mm / 15.2 inch 271 mm / 10.7 inch 21 mm / 0.827 inch 2.6 kg5.81 lbs297 mm / 11.7 inch 210 mm / 8.27 inch 1 mm / 0.03937 inch 5.7 g0.01257 lbs

Connectivity

No changes have been made to its connectivity options. All ports are located towards the back edges of the notebook with none on the rear, so all are easy to reach for both left- and right-handed users. The lack of Thunderbolt 3 may irk some enthusiasts.

Front: No connectivity
Front: No connectivity
Right: 3.5 mm combo audio, 2x USB 3.0, SD reader, Kensington Lock
Right: 3.5 mm combo audio, 2x USB 3.0, SD reader, Kensington Lock
Rear: No connectivity
Rear: No connectivity
Left: Power adapter, Gigabit Ethernet, Mini DisplayPort, HDMI, 1x USB 3.0, 1x USB 3.1 Type-C gen. 2
Left: Power adapter, Gigabit Ethernet, Mini DisplayPort, HDMI, 1x USB 3.0, 1x USB 3.1 Type-C gen. 2

Communication

WLAN is provided by a 2x2 Killer 1535 M.2 module with more features designed around signal maximization (beamforming) and efficiency (MU-MIMO). Otherwise, its theoretical throughout is identical to the Intel 8260 at 867 Mbps via an 802.11ac network. More features of the Killer 1535 card can be found on its product page.

Maintenance

Serviceability is easy on the GL502 series and CUKUSA even offers a detailed disassembly guide for all users. As expected, the cooling system on the GL502VY is largely identical to the GL502VT. The heat pipes here do appears slightly thicker, however, and the heat sinks are designed a bit differently as well. Users will also notice that the GL502VY includes 2x SODIMM slots and no soldered RAM unlike on the GL502VT.

Warranty

The standard one-year manufacturer warranty applies with a 30-day protection against any number of stuck pixels. CUKUSA also offers three-year warranty as standard for any aftermarket or modified hardware installed by the reseller. This can include the HDD, SSD, WLAN, and RAM modules depending on the configuration.

Strix GL502VY
Strix GL502VY
Strix GL502VT
Strix GL502VT

Input Devices

The keyboard should feel instantly familiar to anyone who has used an Asus G752, UX501, or GL552 as the manufacturer employs a similar Chiclet layout across most of its gaming notebooks. The touchpad here is slightly different, however, as it is not as recessed as on the UX501 or GL552 and is thus easier to press. Precision will always be a step below systems with dedicated mouse keys like the G752.

Auxiliary keys and/or dedicated Macro keys would have made the system more attractive to core gamers.

Display

Subjectively, the 1080p matte displays between the GL502VY and GL502VT appear similar with excellent clarity and minimal graininess. Look a bit deeper into the specifications, however, and the differences begin to show. This particular SKU is equipped with G-Sync and uses a LG Philips LP156W6 (LGD046F) panel compared to the Samsung SDC324C panel in our GL502VT. As a result, some differences in average brightness, color accuracy, and gamut can be measured. In particular, the GL502VY carries a slightly brighter display while keeping contrast about the same. Note that this particular panel from LG Philips is also used in number of other gaming notebooks including the Eurocom Shark 4, Acer Predator 15, Alienware 15 R2, and even the HP Spectre x360 convertible.

On the flip side, uneven backlight bleeding is more noticeable on our test unit compared to our GL502VT. We can see moderate light leaks from the top corners and bottom edges when viewing movies in letterbox. It's not severe enough to be a distraction, but we expected more from this price range.

313.8
cd/m²
326.3
cd/m²
325.3
cd/m²
328
cd/m²
347.2
cd/m²
338.2
cd/m²
304.8
cd/m²
332.6
cd/m²
323.6
cd/m²
Distribution of brightness
tested with X-Rite i1Pro Basic 2
Maximum: 347.2 cd/m² (Nits) Average: 326.6 cd/m² Minimum: 38.65 cd/m²
Brightness Distribution: 88 %
Center on Battery: 347.2 cd/m²
Contrast: 998:1 (Black: 0.348 cd/m²)
ΔE Color 4.53 | 0.5-29.43 Ø5
ΔE Greyscale 2.84 | 0.57-98 Ø5.3
84.1% sRGB (Argyll 1.6.3 3D)
54.7% AdobeRGB 1998 (Argyll 1.6.3 3D)
61.6% AdobeRGB 1998 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
84.3% sRGB (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
63% Display P3 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
Gamma: 2.05
Asus Strix GL502VY-DS71
15.60, 1920x1080
Asus Strix GL502VT-DS74
15.60, 1920x1080
Aorus X5S v5
15.60, 3840x2160
Alienware 15 R2 (Skylake)
15.60, 1920x1080
Asus G501VW-FY081T
15.60, 1920x1080
Display
11%
6%
-32%
11%
Display P3 Coverage
63
66.7
6%
63.5
1%
40.3
-36%
66.8
6%
sRGB Coverage
84.3
97.7
16%
92.7
10%
60.2
-29%
97.3
15%
AdobeRGB 1998 Coverage
61.6
68.4
11%
65
6%
41.67
-32%
68.6
11%
Response Times
-70%
-35%
-31%
-54%
Response Time Grey 50% / Grey 80% *
32 ?(12.4, 19.6)
56.4 ?(22.4, 34)
-76%
41.2 ?(20, 21.2)
-29%
48.8 ?(15.6, 33.2)
-53%
50 ?(22, 28)
-56%
Response Time Black / White *
25.6 ?(5.2, 20.4)
41.6 ?(6.8, 34.8)
-63%
36 ?(17.2, 18.8)
-41%
28 ?(6.8, 21.2)
-9%
39 ?(10, 29)
-52%
PWM Frequency
201.6 ?(99)
198 ?(20)
200 ?(25)
200 ?(90)
Screen
-17%
9%
-33%
0%
Brightness middle
347.2
296.8
-15%
324.7
-6%
180
-48%
341
-2%
Brightness
327
282
-14%
324
-1%
179
-45%
312
-5%
Brightness Distribution
88
86
-2%
90
2%
83
-6%
83
-6%
Black Level *
0.348
0.347
-0%
0.403
-16%
0.19
45%
0.32
8%
Contrast
998
855
-14%
806
-19%
947
-5%
1066
7%
Colorchecker dE 2000 *
4.53
5.24
-16%
2.62
42%
6.74
-49%
4.23
7%
Colorchecker dE 2000 max. *
11.01
11.36
-3%
4.59
58%
8.02
27%
Greyscale dE 2000 *
2.84
6.76
-138%
2.55
10%
6.44
-127%
4.69
-65%
Gamma
2.05 107%
2.24 98%
2.11 104%
2.29 96%
2.53 87%
CCT
6664 98%
8467 77%
7000 93%
6465 101%
7549 86%
Color Space (Percent of AdobeRGB 1998)
54.7
62.8
15%
59.4
9%
38
-31%
63
15%
Color Space (Percent of sRGB)
84.1
98.1
17%
92.3
10%
60
-29%
97
15%
Total Average (Program / Settings)
-25% / -18%
-7% / 2%
-32% / -32%
-14% / -5%

* ... smaller is better

Color coverage is approximately 55 percent and 84 percent of AdobeRGB and sRGB, respectively. In comparison, the Samsung panel in our GL502VT covers nearly 100 percent of sRGB and 63 percent of AdobeRGB. Even so, the GL502VY offers deeper colors than a handful of other 15-inch gaming notebooks including the Alienware 15 R2. Wider color spaces and more accurate colors are generally unimportant for gaming purposes compared to aspects like contrast ratio and ghosting.

vs. sRGB
vs. sRGB
vs. AdobeRGB
vs. AdobeRGB
vs. Asus GL502VT
vs. Asus GL502VT
vs. Aorus X5S
vs. Aorus X5S

Further analyses with an X-Rite spectrophotometer reveal colors that are about as accurate as the GL502VT out-of-the-box. However, since the gamut on the GL502VY display is slightly narrower, the system benefits less from calibration. Our measurements after a quick calibration prove this to be true as colors are still slightly inferior to the GL502VT. For example, color accuracy improves across all tested saturation levels, but they still become less accurate the deeper the saturation due to the panel's smaller sRGB coverage.

Grayscale before calibration
Grayscale before calibration
Saturation Sweeps before calibration
Saturation Sweeps before calibration
ColorChecker before calibration
ColorChecker before calibration
Grayscale after calibration
Grayscale after calibration
Saturation Sweeps after calibration
Saturation Sweeps after calibration
ColorChecker after calibration
ColorChecker after calibration

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
25.6 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined↗ 5.2 ms rise
↘ 20.4 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. » 56 % 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
32 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined↗ 12.4 ms rise
↘ 19.6 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. » 36 % of all devices are better.
This means that the measured response time is similar to the average of all tested devices (33.9 ms).

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.

Outdoor visibility is above average under shade due to the bright backlight and matte panel to reduce glare and reflections. Direct sunlight still proves to be too much for the display, so colors and texts will become washed out and uncomfortable to read for long periods. Viewing angles are otherwise excellent as expected from an IPS panel. Colors and contrast do not degrade unless if viewing from abnormally obtuse angles.

Outdoors under sunlight
Outdoors under sunlight
Outdoors under sunlight
Outdoors under sunlight
Outdoors under shade
Outdoors under shade
Wide IPS viewing angles
Wide IPS viewing angles

Performance

Turbo Boost up to 3.5 GHz
Turbo Boost up to 3.5 GHz

Main hardware differences between the GL502VY and the GL502VT are the GPU (GTX 980M vs. GTX 970M), display (G-Sync vs. no G-Sync), WLAN (Killer 1535 vs. Intel 8260), RAM (2x SODIMM vs. 1x SODIMM), and slight variations to the cooling system. The RAM differences in particular are notable as this means that the GL502VY can be upgraded to 32 GB RAM vs. 24 GB on the GL502VT (8 GB soldered + 16 GB DDR4 SODIMM).

Hardcore gamers will notice that the only available GTX 980M option here includes just 4 GB GDDR5 VRAM compared to 8 GB GDDR5 VRAM on larger and pricier gaming systems.

Processor

The Core i7-6700HQ is probably the most common Skylake CPU option for gaming notebooks. Thus, its performance has been well documented in our database. Raw processor performance is not a huge upgrade over the previous generation Broadwell i7-5700HQ or even the Haswell i7-4700HQ while the desktop-class i7-6700K is roughly 15 percent and 30 percent faster in single-threaded and multi-threaded applications, respectively. No throttling occurred during our CineBench tests.

See our dedicated CPU page on the Core i7-6700HQ for more technical information and benchmark comparisons.

CineBench R10 32-bit
CineBench R10 32-bit
CineBench R11.5 64-bit
CineBench R11.5 64-bit
CineBench R15
CineBench R15
Cinebench R15
CPU Single 64Bit (sort by value)
Asus Strix GL502VY-DS71
GeForce GTX 980M, 6700HQ, SanDisk SD8SN8U1T001122
145 Points
DogHouse Systems Mobius SS
GeForce GTX 980M, 6700K, Samsung SSD 850 EVO 1TB
166 Points +14%
Gigabyte P55 V4
GeForce GTX 970M, 5700HQ, Lite-On LMT-128L9M
144 Points -1%
EVGA SC17
GeForce GTX 980M, 6820HK, Samsung SSD 950 Pro 512GB m.2 NVMe
136 Points -6%
Asus Strix GL502VT-DS74
GeForce GTX 970M, 6700HQ, Lite-On CV1-8B128
145 Points 0%
MSI GE70-2PC-036XPL
GeForce GTX 850M, 4700HQ, HGST Travelstar 7K1000 HTS721010A9E630
135 Points -7%
CPU Multi 64Bit (sort by value)
Asus Strix GL502VY-DS71
GeForce GTX 980M, 6700HQ, SanDisk SD8SN8U1T001122
677 Points
DogHouse Systems Mobius SS
GeForce GTX 980M, 6700K, Samsung SSD 850 EVO 1TB
865 Points +28%
Gigabyte P55 V4
GeForce GTX 970M, 5700HQ, Lite-On LMT-128L9M
721 Points +6%
EVGA SC17
GeForce GTX 980M, 6820HK, Samsung SSD 950 Pro 512GB m.2 NVMe
710 Points +5%
Asus Strix GL502VT-DS74
GeForce GTX 970M, 6700HQ, Lite-On CV1-8B128
670 Points -1%
MSI GE70-2PC-036XPL
GeForce GTX 850M, 4700HQ, HGST Travelstar 7K1000 HTS721010A9E630
631 Points -7%
Cinebench R11.5
CPU Single 64Bit (sort by value)
Asus Strix GL502VY-DS71
GeForce GTX 980M, 6700HQ, SanDisk SD8SN8U1T001122
1.66 Points
DogHouse Systems Mobius SS
GeForce GTX 980M, 6700K, Samsung SSD 850 EVO 1TB
1.91 Points +15%
Gigabyte P55 V4
GeForce GTX 970M, 5700HQ, Lite-On LMT-128L9M
1.54 Points -7%
EVGA SC17
GeForce GTX 980M, 6820HK, Samsung SSD 950 Pro 512GB m.2 NVMe
1.75 Points +5%
Asus Strix GL502VT-DS74
GeForce GTX 970M, 6700HQ, Lite-On CV1-8B128
1.68 Points +1%
MSI GE70-2PC-036XPL
GeForce GTX 850M, 4700HQ, HGST Travelstar 7K1000 HTS721010A9E630
1.47 Points -11%
CPU Multi 64Bit (sort by value)
Asus Strix GL502VY-DS71
GeForce GTX 980M, 6700HQ, SanDisk SD8SN8U1T001122
7.47 Points
DogHouse Systems Mobius SS
GeForce GTX 980M, 6700K, Samsung SSD 850 EVO 1TB
9.56 Points +28%
Gigabyte P55 V4
GeForce GTX 970M, 5700HQ, Lite-On LMT-128L9M
6.89 Points -8%
EVGA SC17
GeForce GTX 980M, 6820HK, Samsung SSD 950 Pro 512GB m.2 NVMe
7.72 Points +3%
Asus Strix GL502VT-DS74
GeForce GTX 970M, 6700HQ, Lite-On CV1-8B128
7.43 Points -1%
MSI GE70-2PC-036XPL
GeForce GTX 850M, 4700HQ, HGST Travelstar 7K1000 HTS721010A9E630
6.83 Points -9%
Cinebench R10
Rendering Multiple CPUs 32Bit (sort by value)
Asus Strix GL502VY-DS71
GeForce GTX 980M, 6700HQ, SanDisk SD8SN8U1T001122
19842 Points
DogHouse Systems Mobius SS
GeForce GTX 980M, 6700K, Samsung SSD 850 EVO 1TB
26150 Points +32%
Gigabyte P55 V4
GeForce GTX 970M, 5700HQ, Lite-On LMT-128L9M
20801 Points +5%
EVGA SC17
GeForce GTX 980M, 6820HK, Samsung SSD 950 Pro 512GB m.2 NVMe
21335 Points +8%
Asus Strix GL502VT-DS74
GeForce GTX 970M, 6700HQ, Lite-On CV1-8B128
20386 Points +3%
MSI GE70-2PC-036XPL
GeForce GTX 850M, 4700HQ, HGST Travelstar 7K1000 HTS721010A9E630
19132 Points -4%
Rendering Single 32Bit (sort by value)
Asus Strix GL502VY-DS71
GeForce GTX 980M, 6700HQ, SanDisk SD8SN8U1T001122
5358 Points
DogHouse Systems Mobius SS
GeForce GTX 980M, 6700K, Samsung SSD 850 EVO 1TB
6487 Points +21%
Gigabyte P55 V4
GeForce GTX 970M, 5700HQ, Lite-On LMT-128L9M
5516 Points +3%
EVGA SC17
GeForce GTX 980M, 6820HK, Samsung SSD 950 Pro 512GB m.2 NVMe
5697 Points +6%
Asus Strix GL502VT-DS74
GeForce GTX 970M, 6700HQ, Lite-On CV1-8B128
5364 Points 0%
MSI GE70-2PC-036XPL
GeForce GTX 850M, 4700HQ, HGST Travelstar 7K1000 HTS721010A9E630
4965 Points -7%
wPrime 2.10 - 1024m (sort by value)
Asus Strix GL502VY-DS71
GeForce GTX 980M, 6700HQ, SanDisk SD8SN8U1T001122
232.7 s *
DogHouse Systems Mobius SS
GeForce GTX 980M, 6700K, Samsung SSD 850 EVO 1TB
178.5 s * +23%
Gigabyte P55 V4
GeForce GTX 970M, 5700HQ, Lite-On LMT-128L9M
205.3 s * +12%
EVGA SC17
GeForce GTX 980M, 6820HK, Samsung SSD 950 Pro 512GB m.2 NVMe
224.8 s * +3%
Asus Strix GL502VT-DS74
GeForce GTX 970M, 6700HQ, Lite-On CV1-8B128
232.1 s * -0%
MSI GE70-2PC-036XPL
GeForce GTX 850M, 4700HQ, HGST Travelstar 7K1000 HTS721010A9E630
237.8 s * -2%
Super Pi Mod 1.5 XS 32M - 32M (sort by value)
Asus Strix GL502VY-DS71
GeForce GTX 980M, 6700HQ, SanDisk SD8SN8U1T001122
562 s *
DogHouse Systems Mobius SS
GeForce GTX 980M, 6700K, Samsung SSD 850 EVO 1TB
498.3 s * +11%
Gigabyte P55 V4
GeForce GTX 970M, 5700HQ, Lite-On LMT-128L9M
593 s * -6%
EVGA SC17
GeForce GTX 980M, 6820HK, Samsung SSD 950 Pro 512GB m.2 NVMe
569 s * -1%
Asus Strix GL502VT-DS74
GeForce GTX 970M, 6700HQ, Lite-On CV1-8B128
559 s * +1%
MSI GE70-2PC-036XPL
GeForce GTX 850M, 4700HQ, HGST Travelstar 7K1000 HTS721010A9E630
587 s * -4%

* ... smaller is better

Cinebench R10 Shading 32Bit
6769
Cinebench R10 Rendering Multiple CPUs 32Bit
19842
Cinebench R10 Rendering Single 32Bit
5358
Cinebench R11.5 OpenGL 64Bit
67.1 fps
Cinebench R11.5 CPU Multi 64Bit
7.47 Points
Cinebench R11.5 CPU Single 64Bit
1.66 Points
Cinebench R15 Ref. Match 64Bit
99.6 %
Cinebench R15 OpenGL 64Bit
108.6 fps
Cinebench R15 CPU Multi 64Bit
677 Points
Cinebench R15 CPU Single 64Bit
145 Points
Help

System Performance

PCMark 8 ranks our system in the same ballpark as many of its competitors and sometimes even higher depending on the individual test. We experienced no software or hardware issues specific to our test unit during our review.

PCMark 8 Home Accelerated
PCMark 8 Home Accelerated
PCMark 8 Creative Accelerated
PCMark 8 Creative Accelerated
PCMark 8 Work Accelerated
PCMark 8 Work Accelerated
PCMark 8
Home Score Accelerated v2 (sort by value)
Asus Strix GL502VY-DS71
GeForce GTX 980M, 6700HQ, SanDisk SD8SN8U1T001122
4413 Points
Alienware 15 R2 (Skylake)
GeForce GTX 980M, 6700HQ, Samsung PM951 NVMe MZ-VLV256D
3822 Points -13%
Asus Strix GL502VT-DS74
GeForce GTX 970M, 6700HQ, Lite-On CV1-8B128
3700 Points -16%
Asus G501VW-FY081T
GeForce GTX 960M, 6700HQ, Samsung CM871 MZNLF128HCHP
3495 Points -21%
Aorus X5S v5
GeForce GTX 980M, 6700HQ, Samsung SM951 MZVPV256 m.2
3260 Points -26%
Work Score Accelerated v2 (sort by value)
Asus Strix GL502VY-DS71
GeForce GTX 980M, 6700HQ, SanDisk SD8SN8U1T001122
4766 Points
Alienware 15 R2 (Skylake)
GeForce GTX 980M, 6700HQ, Samsung PM951 NVMe MZ-VLV256D
5011 Points +5%
Asus Strix GL502VT-DS74
GeForce GTX 970M, 6700HQ, Lite-On CV1-8B128
4716 Points -1%
Asus G501VW-FY081T
GeForce GTX 960M, 6700HQ, Samsung CM871 MZNLF128HCHP
4599 Points -4%
Aorus X5S v5
GeForce GTX 980M, 6700HQ, Samsung SM951 MZVPV256 m.2
3937 Points -17%
Creative Score Accelerated v2 (sort by value)
Asus Strix GL502VY-DS71
GeForce GTX 980M, 6700HQ, SanDisk SD8SN8U1T001122
6343 Points
Alienware 15 R2 (Skylake)
GeForce GTX 980M, 6700HQ, Samsung PM951 NVMe MZ-VLV256D
4541 Points -28%
Asus Strix GL502VT-DS74
GeForce GTX 970M, 6700HQ, Lite-On CV1-8B128
4588 Points -28%
Asus G501VW-FY081T
GeForce GTX 960M, 6700HQ, Samsung CM871 MZNLF128HCHP
4445 Points -30%
Aorus X5S v5
GeForce GTX 980M, 6700HQ, Samsung SM951 MZVPV256 m.2
4747 Points -25%
PCMark 8 Home Score Accelerated v2
4413 points
PCMark 8 Creative Score Accelerated v2
6343 points
PCMark 8 Work Score Accelerated v2
4766 points
Help

Storage Devices

Like our GL502VT configuration, our GL502VY SKU includes a SATA III M.2 SSD and a secondary HDD. The exact models are different, of course, as our reseller has equipped a 1 TB SanDisk SD8SN8U1T001122 M.2 SSD and a secondary 2 TB Seagate ST2000LM007 HDD. This particular SanDisk SSD was also featured on our Gigabyte P55K v5 and overall performance according to AS SSD is similar between them. Gaming systems with NVMe SSDs can perform up to 3x or 4x faster especially in sequential read rate. The Asus notebook supports NVMe despite the fact that our test unit did not come with a NVMe-enabled SSD.

See our growing table of SSDs and HDDs for more benchmark comparisons.

AS SSD (Primary SSD)
AS SSD (Primary SSD)
CDM (Primary SSD)
CDM (Primary SSD)
CDM (Secondary HDD)
CDM (Secondary HDD)
HD Tune (Secondary HDD)
HD Tune (Secondary HDD)
PCMark 8 Storage
PCMark 8 Storage
 
Asus Strix GL502VY-DS71
GeForce GTX 980M, 6700HQ, SanDisk SD8SN8U1T001122
Asus Strix GL502VT-DS74
GeForce GTX 970M, 6700HQ, Lite-On CV1-8B128
Aorus X5S v5
GeForce GTX 980M, 6700HQ, Samsung SM951 MZVPV256 m.2
Gigabyte P55K v5
GeForce GTX 965M, 6700HQ, SanDisk SD8SN8U1T001122
Asus G501VW-FY081T
GeForce GTX 960M, 6700HQ, Samsung CM871 MZNLF128HCHP
AS SSD
-3%
143%
-2%
-70%
Copy Game MB/s
369.6
377.7
2%
688
86%
377.5
2%
141.5
-62%
Copy Program MB/s
263.4
178.8
-32%
357.9
36%
178.2
-32%
99.9
-62%
Copy ISO MB/s
399.8
342
-14%
1319
230%
354.5
-11%
163
-59%
Score Total
879
790
-10%
2433
177%
868
-1%
269
-69%
Score Write
308
249
-19%
509
65%
311
1%
63
-80%
Score Read
380
363
-4%
1298
242%
366
-4%
152
-60%
Access Time Write *
0.088
0.052
41%
0.032
64%
0.085
3%
0.225
-156%
Access Time Read *
0.086
0.086
-0%
0.049
43%
0.087
-1%
0.207
-141%
4K-64 Write
235.1
164
-30%
290.8
24%
227.9
-3%
19.4
-92%
4K-64 Read
304.6
283.1
-7%
1059
248%
294.6
-3%
87.6
-71%
4K Write
42.43
67.6
59%
115.9
173%
46.73
10%
30.66
-28%
4K Read
24.36
28.06
15%
45.81
88%
25.09
3%
13.87
-43%
Seq Write
300.1
174
-42%
1019
240%
360.4
20%
126.9
-58%
Seq Read
506
516
2%
1925
280%
467.6
-8%
504
0%

* ... smaller is better

SanDisk SD8SN8U1T001122
Sequential Read: 496.8 MB/s
Sequential Write: 454.8 MB/s
512K Read: 281.1 MB/s
512K Write: 400 MB/s
4K Read: 26.43 MB/s
4K Write: 50.2 MB/s
4K QD32 Read: 347.8 MB/s
4K QD32 Write: 263.1 MB/s

GPU Performance

3DMark benchmarks show the GTX 980M in the Asus to be just as fast as the GTX 980M in the much larger and pricier DogHouse Systems Mobius SS. Thus, performance and clock rates aren't artificially throttled in any way. Moving from the GTX 970M to the GTX 980M will lead to a raw performance boost of about 30 percent while moving from the GTX 980M to the GTX 980 Notebook will lead to yet another 30 percent gain according to Fire Strike benchmarks.

3DMark 11
3DMark 11
Ice Storm Extreme
Ice Storm Extreme
Cloud Gate
Cloud Gate
Fire Strike
Fire Strike
Fire Strike Extreme
Fire Strike Extreme
Fire Strike Ultra
Fire Strike Ultra
3DMark 11
1280x720 Performance GPU (sort by value)
Asus Strix GL502VY-DS71
GeForce GTX 980M, 6700HQ, SanDisk SD8SN8U1T001122
12472 Points
Eurocom Sky DLX7
GeForce GTX 980 (Laptop), 6700K, Samsung SM951 MZVPV512HDGL m.2 PCI-e
17109 Points +37%
DogHouse Systems Mobius SS
GeForce GTX 980M, 6700K, Samsung SSD 850 EVO 1TB
12967 Points +4%
Asus Strix GL502VT-DS74
GeForce GTX 970M, 6700HQ, Lite-On CV1-8B128
9824 Points -21%
MSI GL62-6QFi781H11
GeForce GTX 960M, 6700HQ, Toshiba HG6 THNSNJ128G8NY
4938 Points -60%
1280x720 Performance Combined (sort by value)
Asus Strix GL502VY-DS71
GeForce GTX 980M, 6700HQ, SanDisk SD8SN8U1T001122
8343 Points
Eurocom Sky DLX7
GeForce GTX 980 (Laptop), 6700K, Samsung SM951 MZVPV512HDGL m.2 PCI-e
11260 Points +35%
DogHouse Systems Mobius SS
GeForce GTX 980M, 6700K, Samsung SSD 850 EVO 1TB
10625 Points +27%
Asus Strix GL502VT-DS74
GeForce GTX 970M, 6700HQ, Lite-On CV1-8B128
7952 Points -5%
MSI GL62-6QFi781H11
GeForce GTX 960M, 6700HQ, Toshiba HG6 THNSNJ128G8NY
5417 Points -35%
3DMark
1920x1080 Fire Strike Graphics (sort by value)
Asus Strix GL502VY-DS71
GeForce GTX 980M, 6700HQ, SanDisk SD8SN8U1T001122
9608 Points
Eurocom Sky DLX7
GeForce GTX 980 (Laptop), 6700K, Samsung SM951 MZVPV512HDGL m.2 PCI-e
12977 Points +35%
DogHouse Systems Mobius SS
GeForce GTX 980M, 6700K, Samsung SSD 850 EVO 1TB
9963 Points +4%
Asus Strix GL502VT-DS74
GeForce GTX 970M, 6700HQ, Lite-On CV1-8B128
7321 Points -24%
MSI GL62-6QFi781H11
GeForce GTX 960M, 6700HQ, Toshiba HG6 THNSNJ128G8NY
4239 Points -56%
Fire Strike Extreme Graphics (sort by value)
Asus Strix GL502VY-DS71
GeForce GTX 980M, 6700HQ, SanDisk SD8SN8U1T001122
4623 Points
Eurocom Sky DLX7
GeForce GTX 980 (Laptop), 6700K, Samsung SM951 MZVPV512HDGL m.2 PCI-e
6109 Points +32%
DogHouse Systems Mobius SS
GeForce GTX 980M, 6700K, Samsung SSD 850 EVO 1TB
4673 Points +1%
Asus Strix GL502VT-DS74
GeForce GTX 970M, 6700HQ, Lite-On CV1-8B128
3517 Points -24%
3840x2160 Fire Strike Ultra Graphics (sort by value)
Asus Strix GL502VY-DS71
GeForce GTX 980M, 6700HQ, SanDisk SD8SN8U1T001122
2299 Points
Eurocom Sky DLX7
GeForce GTX 980 (Laptop), 6700K, Samsung SM951 MZVPV512HDGL m.2 PCI-e
3046 Points +32%
DogHouse Systems Mobius SS
GeForce GTX 980M, 6700K, Samsung SSD 850 EVO 1TB
2297 Points 0%
3DMark 11 Performance
11177 points
3DMark Ice Storm Standard Score
103899 points
3DMark Cloud Gate Standard Score
23034 points
3DMark Fire Strike Score
8282 points
3DMark Fire Strike Extreme Score
4407 points
Help

Gaming Performance

The GTX 980M is capable of playing today's titles on High settings at 1080p60. Note, however, that its 4 GB VRAM will become more of a bottleneck in the following years and especially if users decide to game on higher resolutions through an external monitor. The Aorus X5S, for example, outperforms the Asus by a few frames more in newer games and the gap is expected continue for future demanding titles.

See our dedicated GPU page on the GTX 980M for more technical information and benchmark comparisons.

Thief - 1920x1080 Very High Preset AA:FXAA & High SS AF:8x
Eurocom Sky DLX7
GeForce GTX 980 (Laptop), 6700K, Samsung SM951 MZVPV512HDGL m.2 PCI-e
86.5 fps +48%
Aorus X5S v5
GeForce GTX 980M, 6700HQ, Samsung SM951 MZVPV256 m.2
62.1 fps +6%
Asus Strix GL502VY-DS71
GeForce GTX 980M, 6700HQ, SanDisk SD8SN8U1T001122
58.6 fps
Asus Strix GL502VT-DS74
GeForce GTX 970M, 6700HQ, Lite-On CV1-8B128
47.5 fps -19%
MSI PE60 6QE-056XUS
GeForce GTX 960M, 6700HQ, Intel SSD 535 SSDSCKJW120H6
27.9 fps -52%
BioShock Infinite - 1920x1080 Ultra Preset, DX11 (DDOF)
Eurocom Sky DLX7
GeForce GTX 980 (Laptop), 6700K, Samsung SM951 MZVPV512HDGL m.2 PCI-e
124.4 fps +44%
Aorus X5S v5
GeForce GTX 980M, 6700HQ, Samsung SM951 MZVPV256 m.2
87 fps +1%
Asus Strix GL502VY-DS71
GeForce GTX 980M, 6700HQ, SanDisk SD8SN8U1T001122
86.4 fps
Asus Strix GL502VT-DS74
GeForce GTX 970M, 6700HQ, Lite-On CV1-8B128
69.5 fps -20%
MSI PE60 6QE-056XUS
GeForce GTX 960M, 6700HQ, Intel SSD 535 SSDSCKJW120H6
45.8 fps -47%
Sleeping Dogs - 1920x1080 Extreme Preset AA:Extreme
Eurocom Sky DLX7
GeForce GTX 980 (Laptop), 6700K, Samsung SM951 MZVPV512HDGL m.2 PCI-e
82.5 fps +43%
Aorus X5S v5
GeForce GTX 980M, 6700HQ, Samsung SM951 MZVPV256 m.2
58.6 fps +2%
Asus Strix GL502VY-DS71
GeForce GTX 980M, 6700HQ, SanDisk SD8SN8U1T001122
57.5 fps
Asus Strix GL502VT-DS74
GeForce GTX 970M, 6700HQ, Lite-On CV1-8B128
44.9 fps -22%
Metal Gear Solid V - 1920x1080 Extra High / On
Eurocom Sky DLX7
GeForce GTX 980 (Laptop), 6700K, Samsung SM951 MZVPV512HDGL m.2 PCI-e
60 fps 0%
Aorus X5S v5
GeForce GTX 980M, 6700HQ, Samsung SM951 MZVPV256 m.2
60 fps 0%
Asus Strix GL502VT-DS74
GeForce GTX 970M, 6700HQ, Lite-On CV1-8B128
60 fps 0%
Asus Strix GL502VY-DS71
GeForce GTX 980M, 6700HQ, SanDisk SD8SN8U1T001122
60 fps
MSI PE60 6QE-056XUS
GeForce GTX 960M, 6700HQ, Intel SSD 535 SSDSCKJW120H6
39.1 fps -35%
Fallout 4 - 1920x1080 Ultra Preset AA:T AF:16x
Asus Strix GL502VY-DS71
GeForce GTX 980M, 6700HQ, SanDisk SD8SN8U1T001122
57.9 fps
Aorus X5S v5
GeForce GTX 980M, 6700HQ, Samsung SM951 MZVPV256 m.2
55.3 fps -4%
Asus Strix GL502VT-DS74
GeForce GTX 970M, 6700HQ, Lite-On CV1-8B128
43.5 fps -25%
MSI PE60 6QE-056XUS
GeForce GTX 960M, 6700HQ, Intel SSD 535 SSDSCKJW120H6
24.9 fps -57%
Rise of the Tomb Raider - 1920x1080 Very High Preset AA:FX AF:16x
Asus Strix GL502VY-DS71
GeForce GTX 980M, 6700HQ, SanDisk SD8SN8U1T001122
55 fps
Aorus X5S v5
GeForce GTX 980M, 6700HQ, Samsung SM951 MZVPV256 m.2
47.1 fps -14%
Asus Strix GL502VT-DS74
GeForce GTX 970M, 6700HQ, Lite-On CV1-8B128
42.8 fps -22%
MSI PE60 6QE-056XUS
GeForce GTX 960M, 6700HQ, Intel SSD 535 SSDSCKJW120H6
23 fps -58%
low med. high ultra
Sleeping Dogs (2012) 137.8 57.5
BioShock Infinite (2013) 166 86.4
Thief (2014) 94.6 58.6
Batman: Arkham Knight (2015) 73
Metal Gear Solid V (2015) 60 60
Fallout 4 (2015) 72.6 57.9
Rise of the Tomb Raider (2016) 59.6 55
Doom (2016) 57 56
Overwatch (2016) 138.4 87.3

Stress Test

We stress the notebook with synthetic benchmarks to identify for any throttling or stability issues. Core temperatures are not wildly different than the GL502VT despite our previous SKU running a GTX 970M. GPU temperature is just a few degrees warmer under Unigine Heaven stress while the CPU is slightly cooler in the low 70 C range. Otherwise, users will be glad to know that no throttling should occur when gaming as the GPU will run at a constant 1114 MHz clock rate. The CPU in particular is very good at maintaining its Turbo Boost speeds even when under extreme stress.

Running on battery power will throttle GPU performance while the CPU remains unaffected. A 3DMark 11 run on batteries returned Physics and Graphics scores of 8683 points and 4882 points, respectively, compared to 8650 points and 12472 points when on mains.

Prime95 stress
Prime95 stress
FurMark stress
FurMark stress
Prime95+FurMark stress
Prime95+FurMark stress
Unigine Heaven stress
Unigine Heaven stress

CPU Clock (GHz) GPU Clock (MHz) Average CPU Temperature (C) Average GPU Temperature (C)

Prime95 Stress

3.1 -- ~77 --

FurMark Stress

-- 861 -- ~77

Prime95 + FurMark Stress

3.0 282 - 848 ~94 ~80

Unigine Heaven Stress

3.1+ 1114 ~71 ~78

Emissions

System Noise

Fan noise (Red: Background, White: System idle, Blue: Unigine Heaven, Green: Prime95+FurMark)
Fan noise (Red: Background, White: System idle, Blue: Unigine Heaven, Green: Prime95+FurMark)

With an almost identical cooling solution to the GL502VT, we were curious as to how the system would handle a more powerful GTX 980M. As readers have probably predicted, the GL502VY runs noticeably louder than its lesser-equipped SKU under gaming loads (45 dB(A) vs. 41 dB(A)). Fan noise is also louder when simply idling on desktop or when under maximum load with both Prime95 and FurMark active. It's thankfully not as loud as the Aorus X5S, though the noise is still difficult to ignore if gaming in a quiet room without any headphones.

Fortunately, the fans are not sensitive to undemanding workloads like word processing, video playback, or light-medium browsing. Thus, users won't need to worry about constantly pulsating fans during more casual workloads.

Asus Strix GL502VY-DS71
GeForce GTX 980M, 6700HQ, SanDisk SD8SN8U1T001122
Asus Strix GL502VT-DS74
GeForce GTX 970M, 6700HQ, Lite-On CV1-8B128
Aorus X5S v5
GeForce GTX 980M, 6700HQ, Samsung SM951 MZVPV256 m.2
Alienware 15 R2 (Skylake)
GeForce GTX 980M, 6700HQ, Samsung PM951 NVMe MZ-VLV256D
Asus G501VW-FY081T
GeForce GTX 960M, 6700HQ, Samsung CM871 MZNLF128HCHP
Noise
4%
-6%
-1%
2%
off / environment *
29.4
28.7
2%
28.3
4%
31.2
-6%
Idle Minimum *
32
31
3%
34.3
-7%
33.6
-5%
32.1
-0%
Idle Average *
32.2
31
4%
34.4
-7%
33.8
-5%
32.1
-0%
Idle Maximum *
32.2
32
1%
34.4
-7%
34
-6%
32.1
-0%
Load Average *
45.3
40.7
10%
50
-10%
39.3
13%
43.3
4%
Load Maximum *
50.1
47.6
5%
54
-8%
51.4
-3%
44.3
12%

* ... smaller is better

Noise Level

Idle
32 / 32.2 / 32.2 dB(A)
HDD
33 dB(A)
Load
45.3 / 50.1 dB(A)
  red to green bar
 
 
30 dB
silent
40 dB(A)
audible
50 dB(A)
loud
 
min: dark, med: mid, max: light   BK Precision 732A (15 cm distance)   environment noise: 29.4 dB(A)

Temperature

Surface temperatures are not wildly different from the GL502VT. The louder fans may have a hand here in keeping temperatures cooler especially on the underside of the unit. The Asus system also does a better job than both the Aorus X5S and Alienware 15 R2 at keeping heat as close to the back of the unit as possible. Note that the WASD keys in particular are much cooler than the surrounding keys when under heavy processing loads for more comfortable gaming.

Maximum load (Top)
Maximum load (Top)
Maximum load (Bottom)
Maximum load (Bottom)
Max. Load
 37 °C
99 F
60.4 °C
141 F
38.4 °C
101 F
 
 28.6 °C
83 F
43 °C
109 F
31.6 °C
89 F
 
 26.2 °C
79 F
26.8 °C
80 F
30.6 °C
87 F
 
Maximum: 60.4 °C = 141 F
Average: 35.8 °C = 96 F
38.2 °C
101 F
38 °C
100 F
44 °C
111 F
33.2 °C
92 F
30.4 °C
87 F
23.8 °C
75 F
27.6 °C
82 F
23.8 °C
75 F
23.4 °C
74 F
Maximum: 44 °C = 111 F
Average: 31.4 °C = 89 F
Power Supply (max.)  48 °C = 118 F | Room Temperature 24 °C = 75 F | Fluke 62 Mini IR Thermometer
(±) The average temperature for the upper side under maximal load is 35.8 °C / 96 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 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 44 °C / 111 F, compared to the average of 43.2 °C / 110 F
(+) In idle usage, the average temperature for the upper side is 28.6 °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 30.6 °C / 87.1 F and are therefore cool to the touch.
(±) The average temperature of the palmrest area of similar devices was 28.9 °C / 84 F (-1.7 °C / -3.1 F).

Energy Management

Power Consumption

With no Optimus to curb the more demanding GTX 980M, the GL502VY SKU draws more power than the GL502VT under all tested conditions. Gaming will demand just over 130 W of power, which is similar to the Aorus X5S v5. Note that our power consumption measurement at maximum load is lower than expected due to the throttling GPU when subjected to simultaneous Prime95 and FurMark loads. Nonetheless, 177 W is awfully close to the 197 W limit of the included AC power adapter.

Asus Strix GL502VY-DS71
GeForce GTX 980M, 6700HQ, SanDisk SD8SN8U1T001122
Asus Strix GL502VT-DS74
GeForce GTX 970M, 6700HQ, Lite-On CV1-8B128
Aorus X5S v5
GeForce GTX 980M, 6700HQ, Samsung SM951 MZVPV256 m.2
Alienware 15 R2 (Skylake)
GeForce GTX 980M, 6700HQ, Samsung PM951 NVMe MZ-VLV256D
Asus G501JW-CN168H
GeForce GTX 960M, 4720HQ
Power Consumption
27%
-27%
18%
-5%
Idle Minimum *
20.6
11.1
46%
27.4
-33%
11.4
45%
13.6
34%
Idle Average *
22.1
14.1
36%
30.7
-39%
16.5
25%
38.1
-72%
Idle Maximum *
22.5
18.4
18%
31.2
-39%
22
2%
40.7
-81%
Load Average *
130.6
96.5
26%
130.4
-0%
94.2
28%
81.6
38%
Load Maximum *
177.2
159.5
10%
216.6
-22%
192.2
-8%
81.6
54%

* ... smaller is better

Power Consumption
Off / Standbydarklight 0.41 / 1.27 Watt
Idledarkmidlight 20.6 / 22.1 / 22.5 Watt
Load midlight 130.6 / 177.2 Watt
 color bar
Key: min: dark, med: mid, max: light        Metrahit Energy
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.

Battery Life

Runtimes are significantly reduced when compared to the GL502VT. Instead of a near 10-hour battery life when idling on desktop and on the most conservative settings, our GL502VY SKU clocked in just 4.5 hours under the same settings. Lkewise, WLAN runtimes are almost halved from about 6 hours on the GL502VT to just over 3 hours. Runtimes are short even when compared to other gaming notebooks of this size class including the Alienware 15 and Aorus X5S v5.

Maximum runtime (Reader's Test)
Maximum runtime (Reader's Test)
Minimum runtime (Classic Test)
Minimum runtime (Classic Test)
WLAN runtime
WLAN runtime
Asus Strix GL502VY-DS71
64 Wh
Asus Strix GL502VT-DS74
64 Wh
Aorus X5S v5
73 Wh
Alienware 15 R2 (Skylake)
96 Wh
Asus G501VW-FY081T
60 Wh
Battery Runtime
59%
14%
124%
61%
Reader / Idle
273
584
114%
313
15%
769
182%
610
123%
WiFi v1.3
187
356
90%
223
19%
446
139%
330
76%
Load
76
56
-26%
82
8%
114
50%
64
-16%
Battery Runtime
Idle (without WLAN, min brightness)
4h 33min
WiFi Websurfing
3h 07min
Load (maximum brightness)
1h 16min

Pros

+ faster display response times than GL502VT
+ Nvidia G-Sync; no Optimus
+ 2x DDR4 SODIMM slots
+ no system throttling
+ USB Type-C Gen. 2
+ good build quality
+ easy accessibility

Cons

- non-replaceable or upgradeable CPU and GPU
- GeForce GTX 980M w/ only 4 GB GDDR5 VRAM
- narrower color gamut than GL502VT
- shorter battery life than GL502VT
- louder fan noise than GL502VT
- touchpad a fingerprint magnet
- moderate backlight bleeding
- no Thunderbolt 3
- no RAID options
- no subwoofer

Verdict

In review: Asus ROG Strix GL502VY-DS71. Test model provided by CUKUSA.com
In review: Asus ROG Strix GL502VY-DS71. Test model provided by CUKUSA.com

Our fears of a throttling system can be put to rest as the GL502VY performs at its maximum when under gaming loads. Both core and surface temperatures are kept in check by louder and faster fans, so headphones are recommended even more so than on the GL502VT.

G-Sync and Optimus continue to be mutually exclusive and this has its toll on battery life. Fortunately for most gamers, long runtimes and wide color gamuts aren't normally on the top of the list, anyway. The panel on the GL502VY enjoys faster response times and adaptive sync for a better gaming experience than the GL502VT outside of the obvious graphics advantages when jumping to a GTX 980M from a GTX 970M.

Our biggest gripe with the GL502VY is perhaps its lack of a GTX 980M w/ 8 GB GDDR5 VRAM and external G-Sync support. These features in particular would have given the system longer legs down the road.

There aren't too many 15.6-inch notebooks with GTX 980M options outside of barebones and the previously mentioned Alienware 15, Gigabyte P35X, Acer Predator 15, and Aorus X5S. The GL502 series does not have upgradeable CPU or GPU options compared to barebones and has fewer features than both the Alienware 15 and Aorus X5S. It is, however, built more strongly than the Gigabyte and Aorus while being smaller than the Alienware and Predator.

Asus Strix GL502VY-DS71 - 08/21/2016 v5.1(old)
Allen Ngo

Chassis
84 / 98 → 86%
Keyboard
85%
Pointing Device
81%
Connectivity
58 / 81 → 71%
Weight
59 / 10-66 → 88%
Battery
70%
Display
86%
Games Performance
92%
Application Performance
90%
Temperature
88 / 95 → 92%
Noise
76 / 90 → 84%
Audio
50%
Average
77%
83%
Gaming - Weighted Average

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> Expert Reviews and News on Laptops, Smartphones and Tech Innovations > Reviews > Asus ROG Strix GL502VY-DS71 Notebook Review
Allen Ngo, 2016-06-28 (Update: 2020-06- 8)