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Asus ROG Zephyrus Duo 15 GX550LXS in Review: Unique Gaming Laptop with Lots of Performance Below the Hood

Display Duo. With its powerful hardware, the Zephyrus Duo manages to display the latest games smoothly on its matte 4K screen (IPS, Pantone-validated, 100% AdobeRGB, G-Sync). There are other great features as well: 2x NVMe SSD (RAID 0), 32 GB of RAM (in dual-channel mode), Thunderbolt 3. Additionally, the laptop comes with many accessories.

The Asus Zephyrus Duo 15 GX550LXS is not your everyday gaming laptop. The keyboard and touchpad are not found in their usual positions; Asus has placed a secondary display with a touchscreen behind them. The octa-core Core-i9-10980HK CPU and a GeForce RTX 2080 Super Max-Q GPU provide enough performance for gaming. There are no direct competitors to the Zephyrus. Thus, we have included slim, lightweight gaming laptops such as the Acer Predator Triton 500 PT515-52, MSI GS66 Stealth 10SFS, and the Gigabyte Aero 15 OLED XB in our comparison.

Asus ROG Zephyrus Duo 15 GX550LXS (Zephyrus Duo 15 Series)
Processor
Intel Core i9-10980HK 8 x 2.4 - 5.3 GHz, Comet Lake-H
Graphics adapter
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Super Max-Q - 8 GB VRAM, Core: 1080 MHz, Memory: 1375 MHz, GDDR6, 256-bit interface, 27.21.14.5148 (Nvidia 451.48), Optimus
Memory
32 GB 
, DDR4-3200, dual-channel, one slot (occupied), 16 GB soldered
Display
15.60 inch 16:9, 3840 x 2160 pixel 282 PPI, AU Optronics B156ZAN03.1, IPS, G-Sync, X-Rite Pantone, glossy: no, 60 Hz
Mainboard
Intel HM470
Storage
2x Samsung PM981a MZVLB1T0HBLR (RAID 0), 2048 GB 
, 1780 GB free
Connections
2 USB 3.0 / 3.1 Gen1, 2 USB 3.1 Gen2, 1 Thunderbolt, 1 HDMI, 1 DisplayPort, Audio Connections: microphone input, headset (combined audio jack), TPM 2.0
Networking
Realtek RTL8168/8111 Gigabit-LAN (10/100/1000MBit/s), Intel Wi-Fi 6 AX201 (a/b/g/h/n = Wi-Fi 4/ac = Wi-Fi 5/ax = Wi-Fi 6/), Bluetooth 5
Size
height x width x depth (in mm): 20 x 360 x 268 ( = 0.79 x 14.17 x 10.55 in)
Battery
90 Wh, 5675 mAh Lithium-Ion, 15.4 V
Operating System
Microsoft Windows 10 Home 64 Bit
Additional features
Speakers: Stereo, Keyboard: Chiclet, Keyboard Light: yes, Headset, gaming mouse, external webcam, palm rest, second charger (Type-C USB) and laptop sleeve, McAfee LiveSafe (trial version), MS Office 365, 24 Months Warranty
Weight
2.512 kg ( = 88.61 oz / 5.54 pounds), Power Supply: 625 g ( = 22.05 oz / 1.38 pounds)
Price
4500 Euro
Note: The manufacturer may use components from different suppliers including display panels, drives or memory sticks with similar specifications.

 

Rating
Date
Model
Weight
Height
Size
Resolution
Best Price
84.5 %
07/2020
Asus ROG Zephyrus Duo 15 GX550LXS
i9-10980HK, GeForce RTX 2080 Super Max-Q
2.5 kg20 mm15.60"3840x2160
04/2020
Acer Predator Triton 500 PT515-52-70N3
i7-10750H, GeForce RTX 2080 Super Max-Q
2.1 kg18 mm15.60"1920x1080
82.8 %
05/2020
MSI GS66 Stealth 10SFS
i9-10980HK, GeForce RTX 2070 Super Max-Q
2.2 kg20 mm15.60"1920x1080
85.8 %
05/2020
Gigabyte Aero 15 OLED XB-8DE51B0SP
i7-10875H, GeForce RTX 2070 Super Max-Q
2.2 kg20 mm15.60"3840x2160

Case - Asus PC with a Sleek Metal Chassis

The Asus Zephyrus comes in a gray metal case. The Screenpad Plus - a secondary display with a touchscreen - is the main attraction and located above the keyboard. After opening the laptop, the Screenpad raises itself to be angled towards the user. The angle is fixed at 13 degrees and cannot be adjusted. The reasons for elevating the back of the display are not purely ergonomic. Below the Screenpad Plus, there are two airflow vents, through which cool air travels to the inside of the case. The battery is fixed. There is no maintenance hatch.

We have no complaints in terms of the build quality. The clearances are even and we did not notice any sharp edges. The base unit is very rigid and convincingly resists attempts at twisting it. Meanwhile, the lid is not as rigid. However, applying pressure to the back of the lid at least does not create distortions. The hinges hold the lid firmly in position. The display can be opened to a maximum angle of around 120 to 130 degrees. It can also be opened with just one hand.

Compared to its competitors, the Zephyrus weighs more and its dimensions are greater. This of course stems from the Screenpad and its tilt mechanism. The GX550LXS can still be considered a slim and light gaming laptop.

Size Comparison

360 mm / 14.2 inch 268 mm / 10.6 inch 20 mm / 0.787 inch 2.5 kg5.54 lbs358 mm / 14.1 inch 248 mm / 9.76 inch 20 mm / 0.787 inch 2.2 kg4.78 lbs359 mm / 14.1 inch 255 mm / 10 inch 18 mm / 0.709 inch 2.1 kg4.63 lbs356 mm / 14 inch 250 mm / 9.84 inch 20 mm / 0.787 inch 2.2 kg4.8 lbs297 mm / 11.7 inch 210 mm / 8.27 inch 1 mm / 0.03937 inch 5.7 g0.01257 lbs

Features - Onboard Thunderbolt 3

The laptop comes with three USB Type-A ports (2x USB 3.2 Gen 1, 1x USB 3.2 Gen 2). The Thunderbolt 3 port (USB Type-C form factor) opens up a wide variety of expandability options (docks, external GPU). Furthermore, it supports Power Delivery 3.0 and DisplayPort via USB-C version 1.4. According to Asus, the DisplayPort supports up to two 4K screens (60 Hz) or one 8K display. An additional monitor can be connected to the HDMI 2.0b port. The laptop does not integrate a card reader.

Left: AC adapter, microphone input, combined audio jack (headset)
Left: AC adapter, microphone input, combined audio jack (headset)
Right: 2x USB 3.2 Gen 1  (Type-A), Thunderbolt 3 (DP 1.4, Power Delivery 3.0)
Right: 2x USB 3.2 Gen 1 (Type-A), Thunderbolt 3 (DP 1.4, Power Delivery 3.0)
Back: Gigabit Ethernet, USB 3.2 Gen 2 (Type-A), HDMI 2.0b
Back: Gigabit Ethernet, USB 3.2 Gen 2 (Type-A), HDMI 2.0b

Communication

The integrated Intel Wi-Fi chip (Wi-Fi 6 AX201) supports the fast ax standard as well as Bluetooth version 5. We recorded excellent transfer rates under optimal conditions (no other Wi-Fi devices in proximity, short distance between the laptop and the server PC). Meanwhile, a Gigabit Ethernet controller from Realteks well-known RTL8168/8111 device family is responsible for wired networking.

Networking
iperf3 transmit AX12
Acer Predator Triton 500 PT515-52-70N3
Killer Wi-Fi 6 AX1650i 160MHz Wireless Network Adapter (201NGW)
1340 MBit/s +4%
MSI GS66 Stealth 10SFS
Killer Wi-Fi 6 AX1650i 160MHz Wireless Network Adapter (201NGW)
1330 MBit/s +3%
Gigabyte Aero 15 OLED XB-8DE51B0SP
Killer Wi-Fi 6 AX1650x Wireless Network Adapter (200NGW)
1310 MBit/s +2%
Asus ROG Zephyrus Duo 15 GX550LXS
Intel Wi-Fi 6 AX201
1290 MBit/s
Average Intel Wi-Fi 6 AX201
  (49.8 - 1775, n=324)
1161 MBit/s -10%
Average of class Gaming
  (450 - 1412, n=14, last 2 years)
1006 MBit/s -22%
iperf3 receive AX12
Acer Predator Triton 500 PT515-52-70N3
Killer Wi-Fi 6 AX1650i 160MHz Wireless Network Adapter (201NGW)
1390 MBit/s +10%
MSI GS66 Stealth 10SFS
Killer Wi-Fi 6 AX1650i 160MHz Wireless Network Adapter (201NGW)
1320 MBit/s +5%
Average Intel Wi-Fi 6 AX201
  (136 - 1743, n=324)
1261 MBit/s 0%
Asus ROG Zephyrus Duo 15 GX550LXS
Intel Wi-Fi 6 AX201
1260 MBit/s
Average of class Gaming
  (423 - 1700, n=14, last 2 years)
1203 MBit/s -5%
Gigabyte Aero 15 OLED XB-8DE51B0SP
Killer Wi-Fi 6 AX1650x Wireless Network Adapter (200NGW)
1170 MBit/s -7%

Accessories

There is no shortage of accessories. The large box contains a sleeve (ROG Ranger BP2500), a headset (ROG Delta), a mouse (ROG Gladius II Impact gaming mouse), a wrist rest, a second AC adapter (65 watts, USB-C) and a webcam (ROG Eye GC21; 1080p, 60 FPS).

Maintenance

In order to access the internal hardware, the bottom plate needs to be removed. Thankfully, the entire process is fairly easy. After loosening all the screws on the bottom, the bottom plate can be removed. The screw in the bottom right corner should be removed last, since it slightly raises the bottom plate, which makes it easier to remove.

Hardware within the Zephyrus 15 Duo
Hardware within the Zephyrus 15 Duo

Warranty

Asus offers a two-year warranty for the Zephyrus. For a warranty extension to three years, the manufacturer charges a premium of about 55 Euros (~$64).

Input Devices - The Keyboard of the GX550LXS Comes with RGB Backlighting

Keyboard

Asus has equipped the Zephyrus with a backlit chiclet keyboard. The flat, smooth keys have a short travel distance and a distinct actuation point. The required actuation force is adequate. The keyboard area does not yield while typing. Since there are no palm rests, typing comfortably is impossible. A rubberized wrist rest (width of approximately 6.5 cm or ~2.56 in, angled), which can be placed in front of the laptop, is supposed to alleviate this problem. However, a firm, flat surface is required for this to work. The RGB backlighting can be adjusted according to the user's preferences with the preinstalled Asus Aura software. Asus has delivered a keyboard that is suitable for daily use. That being said, it is not a good choice for regular typing tasks.

Input devices Zephyrus Duo 15
Input devices Zephyrus Duo 15
The laptop comes with a rubberized wrist rest
The laptop comes with a rubberized wrist rest

Touchpad

The multi-touch-compatible touchpad is located to the right of the keyboard in an upright position. It occupies an area of approximately 5.8 x 7.6 cm (~2.28 x 2.99 in). The space is sufficient for gesture controls. Furthermore, fingers glide effortlessly across the smooth touchpad surface. The two dedicated mouse buttons have a short travel distance and a distinct actuation point.

A press in the upper left corner of the touchpad activates the numpad
A press in the upper left corner of the touchpad activates the numpad

Asus Screenpad Plus - A Secondary Display for the Zephyrus

The main attraction of the System is the Asus Screenpad Plus - a secondary display with a touchscreen. It supports active pens. The Screenpad (14.1 inches) comes with a matte layer and a native resolution of 3840x1100 pixels. It acts like any other external display. A dedicated key switches it on and off.

In essence, Asus has improved upon Apple's Touchbar concept. This makes it possible to move applications or their control/navigation/input elements to the touchscreen. Support for the latter option depends on the application itself. As an example, chat windows can be moved to the Screenpad while a game runs on the main screen.

Asus has installed a few small applications that provide a look into the potential of the Screenpad. For example, it can be used for displaying a calculator or as a field for handwritten inputs. The Quick Key application displays a few frequently used operations (cut, copy, paste).

Display - Great Colors

The matte 15.6-inch display of the Zephyrus Duo has a native resolution of 3840x2160 pixels. The contrast ratio (1421:1) and brightness (385 cd/m²) are good. Positive: The display does not suffer from PWM flickering. Meanwhile, the response times of the display are nothing to write home about. Here, competing devices tend to achieve better results. However, an alternative configuration with a 300-Hz Full HD display and faster response times is also available.

Both our test device's 60-Hz panel and the aforementioned 300-Hz model support Nvidia G-Sync. It allows the display to dynamically synchronize its refresh rate to the frame rate of the GPU. This is supposed to make the image as smooth as possible - particularly while gaming.

401
cd/m²
398
cd/m²
361
cd/m²
401
cd/m²
398
cd/m²
360
cd/m²
385
cd/m²
395
cd/m²
368
cd/m²
Distribution of brightness
AU Optronics B156ZAN03.1 tested with X-Rite i1Pro 2
Maximum: 401 cd/m² (Nits) Average: 385.2 cd/m² Minimum: 21 cd/m²
Brightness Distribution: 90 %
Center on Battery: 398 cd/m²
Contrast: 1421:1 (Black: 0.28 cd/m²)
ΔE Color 1.53 | 0.5-29.43 Ø5, calibrated: 0.77
ΔE Greyscale 2.4 | 0.57-98 Ø5.3
100% sRGB (Argyll 1.6.3 3D)
100% AdobeRGB 1998 (Argyll 1.6.3 3D)
99.9% AdobeRGB 1998 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
100% sRGB (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
87% Display P3 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
Gamma: 2.19
Asus ROG Zephyrus Duo 15 GX550LXS
AU Optronics B156ZAN03.1, IPS, 3840x2160, 15.60
Acer Predator Triton 500 PT515-52-70N3
AUO B156HAN12.0 (AUO7A8C), IPS, 1920x1080, 15.60
MSI GS66 Stealth 10SFS
AUO B156HAN12.0 (AUO328E), IPS, 1920x1080, 15.60
Gigabyte Aero 15 OLED XB-8DE51B0SP
Samsung SDCA029, OLED, 3840x2160, 15.60
Display
-16%
-16%
4%
Display P3 Coverage
87
70.3
-19%
69.5
-20%
99.9
15%
sRGB Coverage
100
99.5
0%
99.6
0%
100
0%
AdobeRGB 1998 Coverage
99.9
72.2
-28%
70.8
-29%
98.2
-2%
Response Times
66%
68%
95%
Response Time Grey 50% / Grey 80% *
56.4 ?(26.4, 30)
14.4 ?(7.2, 7.2)
74%
14 ?(6.8, 7.2)
75%
2.2 ?(1, 1.2)
96%
Response Time Black / White *
24.4 ?(10, 14.4)
10.4 ?(5.2, 5.2)
57%
9.6 ?(5.2, 4.4)
61%
1.8 ?(1, 0.8)
93%
PWM Frequency
60 ?(80)
Screen
-48%
-31%
-30%
Brightness middle
398
320
-20%
316
-21%
385
-3%
Brightness
385
318
-17%
311
-19%
390
1%
Brightness Distribution
90
88
-2%
92
2%
93
3%
Black Level *
0.28
0.24
14%
0.21
25%
Contrast
1421
1333
-6%
1505
6%
Colorchecker dE 2000 *
1.53
4.03
-163%
3.03
-98%
2.46
-61%
Colorchecker dE 2000 max. *
3.69
8.43
-128%
7.32
-98%
4.01
-9%
Colorchecker dE 2000 calibrated *
0.77
0.98
-27%
1.1
-43%
2.6
-238%
Greyscale dE 2000 *
2.4
5.94
-148%
3.9
-63%
1.39
42%
Gamma
2.19 100%
2.42 91%
2.42 91%
2.31 95%
CCT
6996 93%
6751 96%
7439 87%
6395 102%
Color Space (Percent of AdobeRGB 1998)
100
66
-34%
65
-35%
98
-2%
Color Space (Percent of sRGB)
100
99
-1%
100
0%
100
0%
Total Average (Program / Settings)
1% / -28%
7% / -16%
23% / -5%

* ... smaller is better

The screen boasts an X-Rite Pantone validation, which guarantees a very natural color representation. With a DeltaE 2000 of 1.6, the display is already within the ideal range (DeltaE of less than three) in terms of color representation. It also does not suffer from a blue tint. We were able to improve the display further by calibrating it. This resulted in a lower color deviation of 0.73 and a more balanced grayscale. The display covers both the AdobeRGB and the sRGB color space.

CalMAN: Grayscale
CalMAN: Grayscale
CalMAN: Saturation sweeps
CalMAN: Saturation sweeps
CalMAN: ColorChecker
CalMAN: ColorChecker
CalMAN: Grayscale (calibrated)
CalMAN: Grayscale (calibrated)
CalMAN: Saturation sweeps (calibrated)
CalMAN: Saturation sweeps (calibrated)
CalMAN: ColorChecker (calibrated)
CalMAN: ColorChecker (calibrated)
ROG Zephyrus Duo 15 vs sRGB (100%)
ROG Zephyrus Duo 15 vs sRGB (100%)
Subpixel array
Subpixel array
ROG Zephyrus Duo 15 vs. AdobeRGB (100%)
ROG Zephyrus Duo 15 vs. AdobeRGB (100%)

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
24.4 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined↗ 10 ms rise
↘ 14.4 ms fall
The screen shows good response rates in our tests, but may be too slow for competitive gamers.
In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.1 (minimum) to 240 (maximum) ms. » 51 % 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
56.4 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined↗ 26.4 ms rise
↘ 30 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. » 92 % of all devices are better.
This means that the measured response time is worse than 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.

The laptop is equipped with an IPS with great viewing angles. As a result, the display can be read from any position. The outdoor readability of the screen is convincing thanks to its high brightness.

The Zephyrus outdoors
The Zephyrus outdoors
Viewing angles
Viewing angles

Performance - Asus System with High-End Components

With the Zephyrus Duo 15 GX550LXS, Asus has created a 15.6-inch gaming laptop that not only runs the latest games smoothly, but also one that performs well in all other use cases. Our test device can be purchased for about 4,500 Euros (~$5,245).

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

Test Conditions

The preinstalled Armoury Crate control center allows users to choose between different power profiles ("Quiet", "Performance", "Manual", "Windows"). For this review, we selected the "Performance" profile (exception: We used the Windows power profiles for the battery tests). We repeated a few benchmarks using the "Turbo" profile, which the relevant sections will reflect.

Armoury Crate
Armoury Crate
Armoury Crate
Armoury Crate
Armoury Crate
Armoury Crate

Processor

The Zephyrus Duo is powered by an octa-core Core i9-10980HK (Comet Lake) CPU with a TDP of 45 watts. The CPU has a base clock speed of 2.4 GHz. Via Turbo, the clock speeds can be increased to up to 4.4 GHz (on eight cores) or 5.3 GHz (on a single core). Hyper-Threading (two threads per core) is also supported. Lastly, the open multiplier allows for simple CPU overclocking.

During the Cinebench multi-thread benchmark tests, the processor runs at 3.5 GHz to 4.5 GHz (mains) and 2.4 GHz to 4 GHz (battery mode). During the single-thread tests, the clock rates are stable at 4.5 GHz to 4.9 GHz.

Single-core rendering
Single-core rendering
Multi-core rendering
Multi-core rendering
GPU stress
GPU stress

In order to determine whether the CPU Turbo is permanently active while on mains, we run the Cinebench R15 multi-thread test in a loop for at least 30 minutes. Here, the scores drop by the third loop and remain fairly consistent for the remainder of the test. Meanwhile, Turbo Boost is active.

With the "Turbo" profile is selected via the Armoury Crate software, the scores are slightly higher.

095190285380475570665760855950104511401235133014251520161517101805Tooltip
Asus ROG Zephyrus Duo 15 GX550LXS Intel Core i9-10980HK, Intel Core i9-10980HK: Ø1560 (1527.18-1799.01)
Acer Predator Triton 500 PT515-52-70N3 Intel Core i7-10750H, Intel Core i7-10750H: Ø1213 (1201.27-1287.87)
MSI GS66 Stealth 10SFS Intel Core i9-10980HK, Intel Core i9-10980HK: Ø1541 (1518.31-1635.12)
Gigabyte Aero 15 OLED XB-8DE51B0SP Intel Core i7-10875H, Intel Core i7-10875H: Ø1573 (1544.4-1818.6)
Asus ROG Zephyrus Duo 15 GX550LXS Intel Core i9-10980HK, Intel Core i9-10980HK; Turbo: Ø1671 (1636.19-1862.18)
CPU clock rates during the CB15 loop
CPU clock rates during the CB15 loop
CPU clock rates during the CB15 loop (Turbo)
CPU clock rates during the CB15 loop (Turbo)
Cinebench R15 CPU Single 64Bit
205 Points
Cinebench R15 CPU Multi 64Bit
1799 Points
Cinebench R15 OpenGL 64Bit
147.5 fps
Cinebench R15 Ref. Match 64Bit
99.6 %
Help
Cinebench R15
CPU Single 64Bit
Average of class Gaming
  (79.2 - 318, n=247, last 2 years)
265 Points +29%
Asus ROG Zephyrus Duo 15 GX550LXS
Intel Core i9-10980HK (Turbo)
219 Points +7%
Gigabyte Aero 15 OLED XB-8DE51B0SP
Intel Core i7-10875H
213 Points +4%
Average Intel Core i9-10980HK
  (198 - 219, n=15)
207 Points +1%
Asus ROG Zephyrus Duo 15 GX550LXS
Intel Core i9-10980HK
205 Points
MSI GS66 Stealth 10SFS
Intel Core i9-10980HK
201 Points -2%
Acer Predator Triton 500 PT515-52-70N3
Intel Core i7-10750H
190 Points -7%
CPU Multi 64Bit
Average of class Gaming
  (400 - 5663, n=248, last 2 years)
2986 Points +66%
Asus ROG Zephyrus Duo 15 GX550LXS
Intel Core i9-10980HK (Turbo)
1862 Points +4%
Gigabyte Aero 15 OLED XB-8DE51B0SP
Intel Core i7-10875H
1818 (1544.4min - 1818.6max) Points +1%
Asus ROG Zephyrus Duo 15 GX550LXS
Intel Core i9-10980HK
1799 Points
Average Intel Core i9-10980HK
  (1606 - 1862, n=15)
1739 Points -3%
MSI GS66 Stealth 10SFS
Intel Core i9-10980HK
1635 (1518.31min - 1635.12max) Points -9%
Acer Predator Triton 500 PT515-52-70N3
Intel Core i7-10750H
1288 (1201.27min - 1287.87max) Points -28%
Blender - v2.79 BMW27 CPU
Acer Predator Triton 500 PT515-52-70N3
Intel Core i7-10750H
368 Seconds * -27%
MSI GS66 Stealth 10SFS
Intel Core i9-10980HK
295 Seconds * -2%
Asus ROG Zephyrus Duo 15 GX550LXS
Intel Core i9-10980HK (Turbo)
292.8 Seconds * -1%
Asus ROG Zephyrus Duo 15 GX550LXS
Intel Core i9-10980HK
290.5 Seconds *
Gigabyte Aero 15 OLED XB-8DE51B0SP
Intel Core i7-10875H
285 Seconds * +2%
Average Intel Core i9-10980HK
  (239 - 299, n=13)
277 Seconds * +5%
Average of class Gaming
  (87 - 1259, n=241, last 2 years)
208 Seconds * +28%
7-Zip 18.03
7z b 4 -mmt1
Average of class Gaming
  (2685 - 7581, n=242, last 2 years)
6034 MIPS +12%
Gigabyte Aero 15 OLED XB-8DE51B0SP
Intel Core i7-10875H
5457 MIPS +2%
Average Intel Core i9-10980HK
  (5081 - 5542, n=13)
5386 MIPS 0%
Asus ROG Zephyrus Duo 15 GX550LXS
Intel Core i9-10980HK
5364 MIPS
MSI GS66 Stealth 10SFS
Intel Core i9-10980HK
5227 MIPS -3%
Asus ROG Zephyrus Duo 15 GX550LXS
Intel Core i9-10980HK (Turbo)
5081 MIPS -5%
Acer Predator Triton 500 PT515-52-70N3
Intel Core i7-10750H
5015 MIPS -7%
7z b 4
Average of class Gaming
  (11386 - 140932, n=241, last 2 years)
74398 MIPS +57%
Asus ROG Zephyrus Duo 15 GX550LXS
Intel Core i9-10980HK
47455 MIPS
Gigabyte Aero 15 OLED XB-8DE51B0SP
Intel Core i7-10875H
47170 MIPS -1%
Average Intel Core i9-10980HK
  (43786 - 49275, n=13)
47126 MIPS -1%
Asus ROG Zephyrus Duo 15 GX550LXS
Intel Core i9-10980HK (Turbo)
44959 MIPS -5%
MSI GS66 Stealth 10SFS
Intel Core i9-10980HK
43786 MIPS -8%
Acer Predator Triton 500 PT515-52-70N3
Intel Core i7-10750H
35130 MIPS -26%
Cinebench R20
CPU (Single Core)
Average of class Gaming
  (169 - 855, n=243, last 2 years)
690 Points +40%
Gigabyte Aero 15 OLED XB-8DE51B0SP
Intel Core i7-10875H
511 Points +3%
Asus ROG Zephyrus Duo 15 GX550LXS
Intel Core i9-10980HK
494 Points
Average Intel Core i9-10980HK
  (465 - 507, n=13)
488 Points -1%
MSI GS66 Stealth 10SFS
Intel Core i9-10980HK
477 Points -3%
Acer Predator Triton 500 PT515-52-70N3
Intel Core i7-10750H
468 Points -5%
CPU (Multi Core)
Average of class Gaming
  (930 - 13769, n=243, last 2 years)
7152 Points +90%
Average Intel Core i9-10980HK
  (3526 - 4487, n=13)
3933 Points +5%
Gigabyte Aero 15 OLED XB-8DE51B0SP
Intel Core i7-10875H
3801 Points +1%
Asus ROG Zephyrus Duo 15 GX550LXS
Intel Core i9-10980HK
3762 Points
MSI GS66 Stealth 10SFS
Intel Core i9-10980HK
3713 Points -1%
Acer Predator Triton 500 PT515-52-70N3
Intel Core i7-10750H
2932 Points -22%
Geekbench 5.5
Single-Core
Average of class Gaming
  (158 - 2193, n=246, last 2 years)
1786 Points +27%
Asus ROG Zephyrus Duo 15 GX550LXS
Intel Core i9-10980HK
1401 Points
Gigabyte Aero 15 OLED XB-8DE51B0SP
Intel Core i7-10875H
1347 Points -4%
Average Intel Core i9-10980HK
  (1283 - 1401, n=12)
1339 Points -4%
MSI GS66 Stealth 10SFS
Intel Core i9-10980HK
1283 Points -8%
Acer Predator Triton 500 PT515-52-70N3
Intel Core i7-10750H
1233 Points -12%
Multi-Core
Average of class Gaming
  (1946 - 22200, n=246, last 2 years)
13156 Points +56%
Asus ROG Zephyrus Duo 15 GX550LXS
Intel Core i9-10980HK
8416 Points
Average Intel Core i9-10980HK
  (7634 - 8666, n=12)
8175 Points -3%
Gigabyte Aero 15 OLED XB-8DE51B0SP
Intel Core i7-10875H
8087 Points -4%
MSI GS66 Stealth 10SFS
Intel Core i9-10980HK
7634 Points -9%
Acer Predator Triton 500 PT515-52-70N3
Intel Core i7-10750H
6216 Points -26%
HWBOT x265 Benchmark v2.2 - 4k Preset
Average of class Gaming
  (3 - 37.6, n=245, last 2 years)
20.5 fps +64%
Gigabyte Aero 15 OLED XB-8DE51B0SP
Intel Core i7-10875H
13 fps +4%
Average Intel Core i9-10980HK
  (12 - 14.6, n=13)
13 fps +4%
Asus ROG Zephyrus Duo 15 GX550LXS
Intel Core i9-10980HK
12.5 fps
Asus ROG Zephyrus Duo 15 GX550LXS
Intel Core i9-10980HK (Turbo)
12.5 fps 0%
MSI GS66 Stealth 10SFS
Intel Core i9-10980HK
12.2 fps -2%
Acer Predator Triton 500 PT515-52-70N3
Intel Core i7-10750H
10.1 fps -19%
LibreOffice - 20 Documents To PDF
Asus ROG Zephyrus Duo 15 GX550LXS
Intel Core i9-10980HK
54.8 s *
Average Intel Core i9-10980HK
  (44 - 89, n=13)
53.7 s * +2%
MSI GS66 Stealth 10SFS
Intel Core i9-10980HK
52.4 s * +4%
Gigabyte Aero 15 OLED XB-8DE51B0SP
Intel Core i7-10875H
52.4 s * +4%
Acer Predator Triton 500 PT515-52-70N3
Intel Core i7-10750H
52.1 s * +5%
Average of class Gaming
  (32.8 - 332, n=239, last 2 years)
49.6 s * +9%
Asus ROG Zephyrus Duo 15 GX550LXS
Intel Core i9-10980HK (Turbo)
48.89 s * +11%
R Benchmark 2.5 - Overall mean
Acer Predator Triton 500 PT515-52-70N3
Intel Core i7-10750H
0.606 sec * -4%
Asus ROG Zephyrus Duo 15 GX550LXS
Intel Core i9-10980HK (Turbo)
0.596 sec * -2%
MSI GS66 Stealth 10SFS
Intel Core i9-10980HK
0.592 sec * -2%
Asus ROG Zephyrus Duo 15 GX550LXS
Intel Core i9-10980HK
0.582 sec *
Average Intel Core i9-10980HK
  (0.561 - 0.596, n=13)
0.576 sec * +1%
Gigabyte Aero 15 OLED XB-8DE51B0SP
Intel Core i7-10875H
0.547 sec * +6%
Average of class Gaming
  (0.3609 - 4.47, n=242, last 2 years)
0.4753 sec * +18%

* ... smaller is better

System Performance

A powerful octa-core processor, dual-channel memory and RAID 0 drives make for a smooth and responsive system. The GPU belongs to the high-end range as well. The excellent PCMark benchmark results attest to the laptop's ability to perform well in all common usage scenarios.

The system memory (32 GB) runs in dual-channel mode. There is only one RAM slot (16 GB is soldered)
The system memory (32 GB) runs in dual-channel mode. There is only one RAM slot (16 GB is soldered)
PCMark 8 Home Score Accelerated v2
3821 points
PCMark 8 Creative Score Accelerated v2
4210 points
PCMark 8 Work Score Accelerated v2
4762 points
PCMark 10 Score
5277 points
Help
PCMark 10 - Score
Average of class Gaming
  (4477 - 9852, n=208, last 2 years)
7531 Points +43%
Gigabyte Aero 15 OLED XB-8DE51B0SP
GeForce RTX 2070 Super Max-Q, i7-10875H, Intel Optane Memory H10 with Solid State Storage 32GB + 512GB HBRPEKNX0202A(L/H)
6580 Points +25%
MSI GS66 Stealth 10SFS
GeForce RTX 2070 Super Max-Q, i9-10980HK, Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB1T0HALR
6490 Points +23%
Average Intel Core i9-10980HK, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Super Max-Q
  (5277 - 6574, n=2)
5926 Points +12%
Acer Predator Triton 500 PT515-52-70N3
GeForce RTX 2080 Super Max-Q, i7-10750H, Samsung SSD PM981a MZVLB512HBJQ
5484 Points +4%
Asus ROG Zephyrus Duo 15 GX550LXS
GeForce RTX 2080 Super Max-Q, i9-10980HK, 2x Samsung PM981a MZVLB1T0HBLR (RAID 0)
5277 Points
PCMark 8
Home Score Accelerated v2
Average of class Gaming
  (3570 - 6657, n=37, last 2 years)
5218 Points +37%
Asus ROG Zephyrus Duo 15 GX550LXS
GeForce RTX 2080 Super Max-Q, i9-10980HK, 2x Samsung PM981a MZVLB1T0HBLR (RAID 0)
3821 Points
Average Intel Core i9-10980HK, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Super Max-Q
 
3821 Points 0%
Work Score Accelerated v2
Average of class Gaming
  (4622 - 7085, n=36, last 2 years)
6071 Points +27%
Asus ROG Zephyrus Duo 15 GX550LXS
GeForce RTX 2080 Super Max-Q, i9-10980HK, 2x Samsung PM981a MZVLB1T0HBLR (RAID 0)
4762 Points
Average Intel Core i9-10980HK, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Super Max-Q
 
4762 Points 0%

DPC Latencies

We observed high DPC latencies during our standardized Latency monitor test (web browsing, 4K video playback, Prime95 high load). Thus, the system is not suitable for real-time video and audio editing.

Latency Monitor
Latency Monitor
Latency Monitor
Latency Monitor
DPC Latencies / LatencyMon - interrupt to process latency (max), Web, Youtube, Prime95
Acer Predator Triton 500 PT515-52-70N3
GeForce RTX 2080 Super Max-Q, i7-10750H, Samsung SSD PM981a MZVLB512HBJQ
6244 μs * -85%
Asus ROG Zephyrus Duo 15 GX550LXS
GeForce RTX 2080 Super Max-Q, i9-10980HK, 2x Samsung PM981a MZVLB1T0HBLR (RAID 0)
3375 μs *
MSI GS66 Stealth 10SFS
GeForce RTX 2070 Super Max-Q, i9-10980HK, Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB1T0HALR
1916 μs * +43%
Gigabyte Aero 15 OLED XB-8DE51B0SP
GeForce RTX 2070 Super Max-Q, i7-10875H, Intel Optane Memory H10 with Solid State Storage 32GB + 512GB HBRPEKNX0202A(L/H)
1877 μs * +44%

* ... smaller is better

Storage Solution

Asus has equipped the GX550LXS with two 1-TB NVMe SSDs (M.2 2280) from Samsung. Since they form a RAID 0, the operating system recognizes the two SSDs as one 2-TB SSD. All data stored on the array is distributed across both SSDs. This results in high transfer rates and short loading times - ideal for games.

Two SSDs form a RAID 0
Two SSDs form a RAID 0
2x Samsung PM981a MZVLB1T0HBLR (RAID 0)
CDM 5/6 Read Seq Q32T1: 3536 MB/s
CDM 5/6 Write Seq Q32T1: 3431 MB/s
CDM 5/6 Read 4K Q32T1: 529 MB/s
CDM 5/6 Write 4K Q32T1: 472.7 MB/s
CDM 5 Read Seq: 2984 MB/s
CDM 5 Write Seq: 2958 MB/s
CDM 5/6 Read 4K: 48.4 MB/s
CDM 5/6 Write 4K: 127.6 MB/s
Asus ROG Zephyrus Duo 15 GX550LXS
2x Samsung PM981a MZVLB1T0HBLR (RAID 0)
Acer Predator Triton 500 PT515-52-70N3
Samsung SSD PM981a MZVLB512HBJQ
MSI GS66 Stealth 10SFS
Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB1T0HALR
Gigabyte Aero 15 OLED XB-8DE51B0SP
Intel Optane Memory H10 with Solid State Storage 32GB + 512GB HBRPEKNX0202A(L/H)
Average 2x Samsung PM981a MZVLB1T0HBLR (RAID 0)
 
CrystalDiskMark 5.2 / 6
-8%
-13%
-4%
23%
Write 4K
127.6
131.7
3%
131.3
3%
127.4
0%
175.9 ?(110.4 - 236, n=4)
38%
Read 4K
48.4
47.34
-2%
45.84
-5%
147.5
205%
49.7 ?(47.1 - 55.1, n=4)
3%
Write Seq
2958
2884
-3%
2370
-20%
485.9
-84%
4078 ?(2958 - 4822, n=3)
38%
Read Seq
2984
2303
-23%
1509
-49%
1352
-55%
3653 ?(2933 - 5043, n=3)
22%
Write 4K Q32T1
472.7
423.9
-10%
481.5
2%
476.5
1%
540 ?(467 - 625, n=4)
14%
Read 4K Q32T1
529
487.7
-8%
560
6%
531
0%
456 ?(387 - 529, n=4)
-14%
Write Seq Q32T1
3431
2822
-18%
2392
-30%
1061
-69%
4457 ?(3424 - 5623, n=4)
30%
Read Seq Q32T1
3536
3478
-2%
3232
-9%
2552
-28%
5307 ?(3519 - 7130, n=4)
50%
AS SSD
2%
-1%
-36%
9%
Seq Read
2981
2767
-7%
1065
-64%
1200
-60%
3515 ?(2981 - 4981, n=4)
18%
Seq Write
2783
2613
-6%
2360
-15%
836
-70%
2878 ?(2561 - 3116, n=4)
3%
4K Read
43.98
47.55
8%
48.09
9%
65.8
50%
48.4 ?(43 - 57, n=4)
10%
4K Write
113.9
98.9
-13%
110.7
-3%
103.8
-9%
165.6 ?(102 - 261, n=4)
45%
4K-64 Read
1519
1205
-21%
1635
8%
789
-48%
1419 ?(1205 - 1549, n=4)
-7%
4K-64 Write
1296
2007
55%
1829
41%
929
-28%
1348 ?(1290 - 1426, n=4)
4%
Access Time Read *
0.062
0.065
-5%
0.071
-15%
0.103
-66%
0.0455 ?(0.032 - 0.062, n=4)
27%
Access Time Write *
0.033
0.038
-15%
0.034
-3%
0.045
-36%
0.04375 ?(0.033 - 0.061, n=4)
-33%
Score Read
1861
1529
-18%
1790
-4%
975
-48%
1818 ?(1751 - 1901, n=4)
-2%
Score Write
1688
2367
40%
2176
29%
1117
-34%
1801 ?(1688 - 1923, n=4)
7%
Score Total
4492
4677
4%
4950
10%
2594
-42%
4521 ?(4428 - 4583, n=4)
1%
Copy ISO MB/s
2438
2919 ?(2438 - 3357, n=4)
20%
Copy Program MB/s
604
706 ?(544 - 966, n=4)
17%
Copy Game MB/s
1404
1560 ?(1116 - 2051, n=4)
11%
Total Average (Program / Settings)
-3% / -2%
-7% / -6%
-20% / -22%
16% / 14%

* ... smaller is better

Continuous read performance: DiskSpd Read Loop, Queue Depth 8

No graph data

GPU Performance

The GeForce RTX 2080 Super Max-Q graphics card supports DirectX 12 and runs at a base clock speed of 735 MHz. Via boost, it is able to increase its clock speed to up to 1080 MHz. Higher speeds are possible, provided the GPU does not cross certain predefined temperature or energy consumption thresholds. We registered a peak of 1785 MHz. During our "The Witcher 3" test, it runs at an average clock rate of 1330 MHz. The GPU has access to fast GDDR6 video memory (8192 MB).

The 3DMark benchmark results match our expectations for this GPU. The integrated UHD Graphics 630 is active and the laptop uses Nvidia's graphics switching technology Optimus. Optimus - and with it, the iGPU - can be disabled via the Armoury Crate software.

Within the Armoury Crate software, the power profile "Turbo" can be selected to increase the graphics performance. This results in approximately 15% to 20% higher 3DMark benchmark scores.

Fire Strike Ultra
Fire Strike Ultra
Time Spy
Time Spy
Port Royal
Port Royal
Fire Strike Ultra (Turbo)
Fire Strike Ultra (Turbo)
Time Spy (Turbo)
Time Spy (Turbo)
Port Royal (Turbo)
Port Royal (Turbo)
3DMark 11 Performance
23526 points
3DMark Cloud Gate Standard Score
44534 points
3DMark Fire Strike Score
17714 points
3DMark Time Spy Score
7780 points
Help
3DMark 11 - 1280x720 Performance GPU
Average of class Gaming
  (1029 - 72070, n=246, last 2 years)
39499 Points +45%
Asus ROG Zephyrus Duo 15 GX550LXS
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Super Max-Q, Intel Core i9-10980HK (Turbo)
32946 Points +21%
Acer Predator Triton 500 PT515-52-70N3
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Super Max-Q, Intel Core i7-10750H
30456 Points +12%
Average NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Super Max-Q
  (26292 - 32995, n=10)
29663 Points +9%
Gigabyte Aero 15 OLED XB-8DE51B0SP
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 Super Max-Q, Intel Core i7-10875H
28900 Points +6%
Asus ROG Zephyrus Duo 15 GX550LXS
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Super Max-Q, Intel Core i9-10980HK
27202 Points
MSI GS66 Stealth 10SFS
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 Super Max-Q, Intel Core i9-10980HK
25135 Points -8%
3DMark
1920x1080 Fire Strike Graphics
Average of class Gaming
  (781 - 53059, n=250, last 2 years)
28955 Points +45%
Asus ROG Zephyrus Duo 15 GX550LXS
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Super Max-Q, Intel Core i9-10980HK (Turbo)
22967 Points +15%
Acer Predator Triton 500 PT515-52-70N3
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Super Max-Q, Intel Core i7-10750H
22326 Points +12%
Average NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Super Max-Q
  (19655 - 23649, n=10)
21743 Points +9%
Gigabyte Aero 15 OLED XB-8DE51B0SP
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 Super Max-Q, Intel Core i7-10875H
21121 Points +6%
Asus ROG Zephyrus Duo 15 GX550LXS
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Super Max-Q, Intel Core i9-10980HK
19914 Points
MSI GS66 Stealth 10SFS
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 Super Max-Q, Intel Core i9-10980HK
18992 Points -5%
2560x1440 Time Spy Graphics
Average of class Gaming
  (224 - 22547, n=248, last 2 years)
11781 Points +54%
Asus ROG Zephyrus Duo 15 GX550LXS
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Super Max-Q, Intel Core i9-10980HK (Turbo)
8979 Points +17%
Acer Predator Triton 500 PT515-52-70N3
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Super Max-Q, Intel Core i7-10750H
8379 Points +9%
Average NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Super Max-Q
  (7372 - 8979, n=11)
8210 Points +7%
Gigabyte Aero 15 OLED XB-8DE51B0SP
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 Super Max-Q, Intel Core i7-10875H
7829 Points +2%
Asus ROG Zephyrus Duo 15 GX550LXS
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Super Max-Q, Intel Core i9-10980HK
7665 Points
MSI GS66 Stealth 10SFS
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 Super Max-Q, Intel Core i9-10980HK
7084 Points -8%

Gaming Performance

All the latest games run smoothly on the Asus system. For the most part, the FHD resolution and maximum graphics settings can be chosen. Although naturally, the installed GPU is powerful enough to also handle resolutions above Full HD, the quality settings may then have to be dialed back - particularly at 4K.

Selecting the power profile "Turbo" from within the Armoury Crate software results in higher frame rates. The FPS gain depends on the game, resolution and the graphics settings. Specifying a fixed value is not possible. The following comparison table also reflects this.

The Witcher 3 - 1920x1080 Ultra Graphics & Postprocessing (HBAO+)
Average of class Gaming
  (8.61 - 216, n=245, last 2 years)
114 fps +50%
Asus ROG Zephyrus Duo 15 GX550LXS
Intel Core i9-10980HK, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Super Max-Q (Turbo)
95.8 fps +26%
Average NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Super Max-Q
  (74.3 - 96, n=11)
85.3 fps +13%
Acer Predator Triton 500 PT515-52-70N3
Intel Core i7-10750H, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Super Max-Q
83.4 (67min) fps +10%
Gigabyte Aero 15 OLED XB-8DE51B0SP
Intel Core i7-10875H, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 Super Max-Q
79.1 (64min) fps +4%
Asus ROG Zephyrus Duo 15 GX550LXS
Intel Core i9-10980HK, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Super Max-Q
75.8 (63min) fps
MSI GS66 Stealth 10SFS
Intel Core i9-10980HK, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 Super Max-Q
70.5 (55min) fps -7%
BioShock Infinite - 1920x1080 Ultra Preset, DX11 (DDOF)
Asus ROG Zephyrus Duo 15 GX550LXS
Intel Core i9-10980HK, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Super Max-Q (Turbo)
181.1 fps +5%
Average NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Super Max-Q
  (170.2 - 181.1, n=4)
174.4 fps +1%
Asus ROG Zephyrus Duo 15 GX550LXS
Intel Core i9-10980HK, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Super Max-Q
173.1 fps
Doom Eternal - 1920x1080 Ultra Preset
Asus ROG Zephyrus Duo 15 GX550LXS
Intel Core i9-10980HK, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Super Max-Q (Turbo)
165.2 fps +9%
Average NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Super Max-Q
  (140 - 177.7, n=8)
155.7 fps +2%
Asus ROG Zephyrus Duo 15 GX550LXS
Intel Core i9-10980HK, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Super Max-Q
152.1 fps
Acer Predator Triton 500 PT515-52-70N3
Intel Core i7-10750H, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Super Max-Q
147 (94min) fps -3%
Average of class Gaming
  (22.2 - 198.4, n=6, last 2 years)
142 fps -7%
MSI GS66 Stealth 10SFS
Intel Core i9-10980HK, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 Super Max-Q
137 fps -10%
Red Dead Redemption 2 - 1920x1080 Maximum Settings
Asus ROG Zephyrus Duo 15 GX550LXS
Intel Core i9-10980HK, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Super Max-Q
44.9 fps
Acer Predator Triton 500 PT515-52-70N3
Intel Core i7-10750H, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Super Max-Q
43.7 (28min) fps -3%
Average NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Super Max-Q
  (40.6 - 45, n=5)
43 fps -4%
Gigabyte Aero 15 OLED XB-8DE51B0SP
Intel Core i7-10875H, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 Super Max-Q
42.4 (25min) fps -6%
Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2019 - 1920x1080 Maximum Settings AA:T2X Filmic SM
Acer Predator Triton 500 PT515-52-70N3
Intel Core i7-10750H, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Super Max-Q
107 (72min) fps +17%
Average NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Super Max-Q
  (91.2 - 107, n=4)
96 fps +5%
Asus ROG Zephyrus Duo 15 GX550LXS
Intel Core i9-10980HK, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Super Max-Q
91.2 fps
Far Cry 5 - 1920x1080 Ultra Preset AA:T
Average of class Gaming
  (14 - 218, n=135, last 2 years)
124.3 fps +22%
Asus ROG Zephyrus Duo 15 GX550LXS
Intel Core i9-10980HK, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Super Max-Q
102 fps
Average NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Super Max-Q
  (91 - 110, n=4)
101 fps -1%
Shadow of the Tomb Raider - 1920x1080 Highest Preset AA:T
Average of class Gaming
  (27 - 271, n=33, last 2 years)
157 fps +76%
Gigabyte Aero 15 OLED XB-8DE51B0SP
Intel Core i7-10875H, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 Super Max-Q
100 (77min) fps +12%
Acer Predator Triton 500 PT515-52-70N3
Intel Core i7-10750H, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Super Max-Q
97 (75min) fps +9%
Average NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Super Max-Q
  (89 - 106, n=10)
95.8 fps +8%
MSI GS66 Stealth 10SFS
Intel Core i9-10980HK, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 Super Max-Q
91 (72min) fps +2%
Asus ROG Zephyrus Duo 15 GX550LXS
Intel Core i9-10980HK, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Super Max-Q (Turbo)
91 fps +2%
Asus ROG Zephyrus Duo 15 GX550LXS
Intel Core i9-10980HK, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Super Max-Q
89 fps

In order to assess whether the frame rates remain consistent over a longer period of time, we ran "The Witcher 3" for about 60 minutes at Full HD resolution and maximum graphics settings. During the test, the character portrayed by the player was not moved. We did not observe any frame rate drops.

051015202530354045505560657075808590Tooltip
Asus ROG Zephyrus Duo 15 GX550LXS GeForce RTX 2080 Super Max-Q, i9-10980HK, 2x Samsung PM981a MZVLB1T0HBLR (RAID 0): Ø76.3 (71-79)
Acer Predator Triton 500 PT515-52-70N3 GeForce RTX 2080 Super Max-Q, i7-10750H, Samsung SSD PM981a MZVLB512HBJQ: Ø84.4 (72-91)
MSI GS66 Stealth 10SFS GeForce RTX 2070 Super Max-Q, i9-10980HK, Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB1T0HALR: Ø71.1 (67-75)
Gigabyte Aero 15 OLED XB-8DE51B0SP GeForce RTX 2070 Super Max-Q, i7-10875H, Intel Optane Memory H10 with Solid State Storage 32GB + 512GB HBRPEKNX0202A(L/H): Ø80.3 (75-84)
GPU readings during our The Witcher 3 test
GPU readings during our The Witcher 3 test
low med. high ultraQHD4K
BioShock Infinite (2013) 425.1 349.2 324.2 173.1
The Witcher 3 (2015) 330.5 237 143.4 75.8 53.5
Far Cry 5 (2018) 143 115 108 102 77 42
Shadow of the Tomb Raider (2018) 103 95 93 89 67 36
Total War: Three Kingdoms (2019) 245.5 136.4 86.5 62.5 39.9 19.6
Ghost Recon Breakpoint (2019) 128 93 87 65 49 29
Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2019 (2019) 172.3 123.6 104.3 91.2 64.7 36.3
Red Dead Redemption 2 (2019) 131.4 99.7 68.3 44.9 36.2 23.5
Doom Eternal (2020) 205 168.3 154 152.1 116.7 64
Gears Tactics (2020) 210.4 161.2 110.6 89.7 57.9 30.3
F1 2020 (2020) 253 167 149 118 89 51

Emissions - Acceptable Heat and Noise Levels

System Noise

The twin fans permanently run at low speeds during idle. This causes a tolerable amount of noise. Under load, their RPM increases. We registered maximum sound pressure levels of 49 dB(A) (stress test) and 48 dB(A) (The Witcher 3 test). Using a headset is almost mandatory.

Noise Level

Idle
33 / 34 / 35 dB(A)
Load
48 / 49 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: 30 dB(A)
dB(A) 0102030405060708090Deep BassMiddle BassHigh BassLower RangeMidsHigher MidsLower HighsMid HighsUpper HighsSuper Highs2037.632.638.230.938.52540.235.340.533.239.23132.432.631.329.931.34034.831.532.335.733.75041.835.834.631.742.46333.228.528.329.135.38028.526.727.425.731.810025.62526.224.726.912528.225.525.824.627.81603227.827.725.831.220031.124.424.322.83125031.522.923.522.132.931530.823.423.521.33240034.224.923.119.53550031.922.9221933.46303423.42217.835.480036.925.424.21837.4100039.326.726.317.940.212503924.923.318.939.9160037.822.420.817.939.1200037.522.220.417.739.4250035.920.519.517.637.3315034.521.619.51836.440003519.518.917.936.6500035.119.2191836.6630032.918.518.517.935.7800028.218.818.61830.21000025.819.218.817.926.91250025.119.81917.8241600022.11918.617.920.1SPL47.934.533.530.449.2N6.22.121.46.8median 32.9median 22.9median 22median 18median 35Delta3.82.831.24.3hearing rangehide median Fan NoiseAsus ROG Zephyrus Duo 15 GX550LXS
Asus ROG Zephyrus Duo 15 GX550LXS
i9-10980HK, GeForce RTX 2080 Super Max-Q
Acer Predator Triton 500 PT515-52-70N3
i7-10750H, GeForce RTX 2080 Super Max-Q
MSI GS66 Stealth 10SFS
i9-10980HK, GeForce RTX 2070 Super Max-Q
Gigabyte Aero 15 OLED XB-8DE51B0SP
i7-10875H, GeForce RTX 2070 Super Max-Q
Average NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Super Max-Q
 
Average of class Gaming
 
Noise
0%
-4%
-5%
4%
12%
off / environment *
30
30
-0%
30
-0%
30
-0%
27.9 ?(24.4 - 30.1, n=8)
7%
24.1 ?(19.5 - 29.9, n=194, last 2 years)
20%
Idle Minimum *
33
30
9%
32
3%
34
-3%
29.7 ?(24.4 - 33, n=8)
10%
25.6 ?(21.9 - 41.6, n=195, last 2 years)
22%
Idle Average *
34
33
3%
34
-0%
36
-6%
30.8 ?(24.4 - 35, n=8)
9%
27.4 ?(21.9 - 42.1, n=195, last 2 years)
19%
Idle Maximum *
35
36
-3%
39
-11%
41
-17%
35.4 ?(24.4 - 44, n=8)
-1%
30.7 ?(21.9 - 47, n=195, last 2 years)
12%
Load Average *
48
50
-4%
53
-10%
48
-0%
47.2 ?(39.5 - 53, n=8)
2%
43.2 ?(25.2 - 62.9, n=195, last 2 years)
10%
Witcher 3 ultra *
48
48
-0%
48
-0%
48
-0%
Load Maximum *
49
50
-2%
53
-8%
54
-10%
49.6 ?(45 - 59.4, n=8)
-1%
53.2 ?(42.1 - 68.2, n=195, last 2 years)
-9%

* ... smaller is better

Temperature

The processor runs at 2 GHz during our stress test (running Prime95 and FurMark for at least one hour). Meanwhile, the graphics card runs at approximately 1215 MHz. In battery mode, the speeds fluctuate between 800 MHz and 2.4 GHz to 4 GHz (CPU) and 300 MHz to 1500 MHz (GPU). The stress test represents an extreme scenario that does not occur during daily use. We use this test to determine whether the system is stable under maximum load.

The Witcher 3
The Witcher 3
Stress test
Stress test
Maximum load top
Maximum load top
Maximum load bottom
Maximum load bottom

We recorded multiple hot spots with temperatures in excess of 50 °C (122 °F) during our stress test and our "The Witcher 3" test. These values are fairly moderate when considering the powerful hardware inside the laptop. That being said, the device is not fit for use on one's lap. Users will not need to worry about the temperatures during day-to-day use.

Max. Load
 34 °C
93 F
36 °C
97 F
35 °C
95 F
 
 43 °C
109 F
43 °C
109 F
41 °C
106 F
 
 42 °C
108 F
42 °C
108 F
40 °C
104 F
 
Maximum: 43 °C = 109 F
Average: 39.6 °C = 103 F
52 °C
126 F
53 °C
127 F
47 °C
117 F
50 °C
122 F
51 °C
124 F
44 °C
111 F
43 °C
109 F
44 °C
111 F
42 °C
108 F
Maximum: 53 °C = 127 F
Average: 47.3 °C = 117 F
Power Supply (max.)  47 °C = 117 F | Room Temperature 23 °C = 73 F | Voltcraft IR-900
(-) The average temperature for the upper side under maximal load is 39.6 °C / 103 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 43 °C / 109 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 53 °C / 127 F, compared to the average of 43.2 °C / 110 F
(+) In idle usage, the average temperature for the upper side is 29.4 °C / 85 F, compared to the device average of 33.8 °C / 93 F.
(-) Playing The Witcher 3, the average temperature for the upper side is 40.1 °C / 104 F, compared to the device average of 33.8 °C / 93 F.
(-) The palmrests and touchpad can get very hot to the touch with a maximum of 44 °C / 111.2 F.
(-) The average temperature of the palmrest area of similar devices was 28.9 °C / 84 F (-15.1 °C / -27.2 F).
Asus ROG Zephyrus Duo 15 GX550LXS
i9-10980HK, GeForce RTX 2080 Super Max-Q
Acer Predator Triton 500 PT515-52-70N3
i7-10750H, GeForce RTX 2080 Super Max-Q
MSI GS66 Stealth 10SFS
i9-10980HK, GeForce RTX 2070 Super Max-Q
Gigabyte Aero 15 OLED XB-8DE51B0SP
i7-10875H, GeForce RTX 2070 Super Max-Q
Average NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Super Max-Q
 
Average of class Gaming
 
Heat
3%
-2%
-2%
-1%
-1%
Maximum Upper Side *
43
44
-2%
53
-23%
49
-14%
47.9 ?(35.2 - 57, n=8)
-11%
46.3 ?(28.2 - 61, n=194, last 2 years)
-8%
Maximum Bottom *
53
50
6%
55
-4%
61
-15%
51.9 ?(32.5 - 62, n=8)
2%
49.7 ?(30 - 66.3, n=194, last 2 years)
6%
Idle Upper Side *
32
29
9%
28
12%
27
16%
30 ?(27.4 - 34, n=8)
6%
31.5 ?(21.2 - 43, n=194, last 2 years)
2%
Idle Bottom *
31
31
-0%
29
6%
29
6%
31 ?(28 - 33, n=8)
-0%
32.7 ?(22.6 - 45, n=194, last 2 years)
-5%

* ... smaller is better

Speakers

The stereo speakers are located near the front corners on the bottom of the device. While they produce decent sound, they are somewhat lacking in terms of bass. The maximum volume level of the speakers is relatively high.

dB(A) 0102030405060708090Deep BassMiddle BassHigh BassLower RangeMidsHigher MidsLower HighsMid HighsUpper HighsSuper Highs2030.936.32533.241.83129.933.34035.738.35031.740.56329.133.68025.743.410024.752.212524.654.916025.853.820022.853.425022.156.931521.359.840019.5655001964.263017.865.88001867.8100017.971.4125018.972.4160017.976.5200017.773.1250017.671.631501870.3400017.97850001879.3630017.977.580001878.31000017.976.21250017.871.21600017.959.9SPL30.487.1N1.469.2median 18median 70.3Delta1.28.2hearing rangehide median Pink NoiseAsus ROG Zephyrus Duo 15 GX550LXS
Frequency diagram (checkboxes can be checked and unchecked to compare devices)
Asus ROG Zephyrus Duo 15 GX550LXS audio analysis

(+) | speakers can play relatively loud (87 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 15.2% lower than median
(+) | bass is linear (6.2% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(+) | balanced mids - only 3.8% away from median
(+) | mids are linear (5.2% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(±) | higher highs - on average 5.6% higher than median
(+) | highs are linear (4.5% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(+) | overall sound is linear (14.5% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 25% of all tested devices in this class were better, 7% similar, 69% worse
» The best had a delta of 6%, average was 18%, worst was 132%
Compared to all devices tested
» 15% of all tested devices were better, 3% similar, 82% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%

Energy Management - Zephyrus Duo with Mediocre Battery Life

Energy Consumption

While idling, the GX550LXS consumes up to 39 watts. This is a consumption value we would have expected to see after disabling Optimus. The Gigabyte Aero 15 OLED XB draws about the same amount of power. During the stress test and our "The Witcher 3" test, this value jumps to up to 208 watts and an average of 152 watts, respectively. The AC adapter is rated for 230 watts.

Power Consumption
Off / Standbydarklight 0.4 / 2.1 Watt
Idledarkmidlight 23 / 30 / 39 Watt
Load midlight 156 / 208 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.
Asus ROG Zephyrus Duo 15 GX550LXS
i9-10980HK, GeForce RTX 2080 Super Max-Q
Acer Predator Triton 500 PT515-52-70N3
i7-10750H, GeForce RTX 2080 Super Max-Q
MSI GS66 Stealth 10SFS
i9-10980HK, GeForce RTX 2070 Super Max-Q
Gigabyte Aero 15 OLED XB-8DE51B0SP
i7-10875H, GeForce RTX 2070 Super Max-Q
Average NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Super Max-Q
 
Average of class Gaming
 
Power Consumption
31%
23%
10%
28%
23%
Idle Minimum *
23
11
52%
13
43%
18
22%
12.9 ?(9 - 23, n=8)
44%
13.7 ?(2 - 64, n=191, last 2 years)
40%
Idle Average *
30
15
50%
16
47%
21
30%
17.3 ?(12.6 - 30, n=8)
42%
18.9 ?(6.5 - 67, n=191, last 2 years)
37%
Idle Maximum *
39
25
36%
27
31%
38
3%
26.9 ?(15.8 - 42, n=8)
31%
26.5 ?(9 - 101.1, n=191, last 2 years)
32%
Load Average *
156
95
39%
109
30%
113
28%
123.9 ?(94.8 - 156, n=8)
21%
111.7 ?(32.1 - 202, n=191, last 2 years)
28%
Witcher 3 ultra *
152
140
8%
155
-2%
149
2%
Load Maximum *
208
211
-1%
236
-13%
256
-23%
205 ?(169 - 216, n=8)
1%
249 ?(64.5 - 418, n=190, last 2 years)
-20%

* ... smaller is better

Battery Life

The gaming laptop lasts 3:05 hours in our real-world Wi-Fi test (periodically loading web pages via a script). The 15.6-inch device completes our video test after 5:25 hours. For this test, we play the short film Big Buck Bunny (H.264 codec, 1920x1080 pixels) in a continuous loop. Test conditions: The energy saver features and the wireless modules (only applies to the video test) are disabled and the display brightness is set to around 150 cd/m².

The battery has a capacity of 90 Wh
The battery has a capacity of 90 Wh
Battery Runtime
Idle (without WLAN, min brightness)
8h 00min
WiFi Websurfing (Edge 44)
3h 05min
Big Buck Bunny H.264 1080p
5h 25min
Load (maximum brightness)
1h 12min
Asus ROG Zephyrus Duo 15 GX550LXS
i9-10980HK, GeForce RTX 2080 Super Max-Q, 90 Wh
Acer Predator Triton 500 PT515-52-70N3
i7-10750H, GeForce RTX 2080 Super Max-Q, 84 Wh
MSI GS66 Stealth 10SFS
i9-10980HK, GeForce RTX 2070 Super Max-Q, 99.99 Wh
Gigabyte Aero 15 OLED XB-8DE51B0SP
i7-10875H, GeForce RTX 2070 Super Max-Q, 94.2 Wh
Average of class Gaming
 
Battery Runtime
38%
48%
79%
38%
Reader / Idle
480
495
3%
505
5%
518
8%
548 ?(57 - 1290, n=90, last 2 years)
14%
H.264
325
392 ?(56 - 747, n=99, last 2 years)
21%
WiFi v1.3
185
378
104%
364
97%
364
97%
366 ?(57 - 745, n=191, last 2 years)
98%
Load
72
78
8%
102
42%
166
131%
86 ?(36 - 173, n=155, last 2 years)
19%

A Second Charger for Traveling

Aside from the 230-watt AC adapter (625 grams/~1.4 lb), Asus has included a smaller USB Type-C 65-watt charger (225 grams/~7.9 oz). The latter provides an alternative to the heavy AC adapter that can be used to power the laptop via the Thunderbolt 3 port during non-stationary operation.

The CPU and GPU performance is limited when the USB charger is connected. However, the performance is still sufficient for common day-to-day tasks. Even gaming is possible.

Cinebench R15 (65-watt charger)
Cinebench R15 (65-watt charger)
3DMark 11 (65-watt charger)
3DMark 11 (65-watt charger)
Time Spy (65-watt charger)
Time Spy (65-watt charger)

Pros

+ bright, high-contrast 4K display
+ Pantone validation
+ good color accuracy
+ high system performance
+ overclockable CPU
+ metal chassis
+ fairly moderate weight
+ users have the choice between G-Sync and Optimus
+ RAID 0 drives (2 TB)
+ excellent Wi-Fi transfer rates
+ accessories include a headset, gaming mouse, external webcam, palm rest, second charger and a laptop sleeve
+ Thunderbolt 3

Cons

- mediocre display response times
- only one RAM slot
- no card reader

Verdict

The Asus ROG Zephyrus Duo 15 GX550LXS, courtesy of Asus Germany
The Asus ROG Zephyrus Duo 15 GX550LXS, courtesy of Asus Germany

With this Zephyrus device and its Screenpad Plus, Asus is trying to provide additional value to the target group of gamers, streamers, and content creators. Generally, the Screenpad tends to be useful in one way or another. However, this comes at a cost: Compared to other gaming laptops without a secondary display, the weight of the Zephyrus is higher and dimensions are greater.

Thanks to the octa-core Core i9-10980HK CPU and the GeForce RTX 2080 Super Max-Q GPU, the laptop does not lack performance. The processing cores are accompanied by 32 GB of RAM (in dual-channel mode), which is comprised of a 16-GB module and 16 GB of soldered memory. Upgrades to up to 48 GB are possible. The two NVMe SSDs in RAID 0 offer high transfer speeds and a lot of storage (2 TB).

All the latest games run smoothly on the Asus Zephyrus Duo 15 GX550LXS.

The G-Sync-enabled IPS 4K display shines with high brightness, a good contrast ratio, good viewing angles, and - thanks to the Pantone validation - great colors. Additionally, it covers the entire AdobeRGB color space. The response times are mediocre. For better response times, an alternative 300-Hz Full HD display option is also available.

The generous port selection notably includes a Thunderbolt 3 port. It can be used to connect feature-rich docks or external GPUs. Additionally, the port can be used to power the device at a reduced performance level, for example when travelling, with the included second AC adapter (65 watts).

Asus ROG Zephyrus Duo 15 GX550LXS - 07/22/2020 v7
Sascha Mölck

Chassis
83 / 98 → 84%
Keyboard
80%
Pointing Device
83%
Connectivity
64 / 80 → 80%
Weight
60 / 10-66 → 89%
Battery
57 / 95 → 60%
Display
93%
Games Performance
94%
Application Performance
89%
Temperature
80 / 95 → 84%
Noise
69 / 90 → 77%
Audio
80%
Average
72%
85%
Gaming - Weighted Average

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> Expert Reviews and News on Laptops, Smartphones and Tech Innovations > Reviews > Asus ROG Zephyrus Duo 15 GX550LXS in Review: Unique Gaming Laptop with Lots of Performance Below the Hood
Sascha Mölck, 2020-07-26 (Update: 2020-07-28)