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Asus ROG Zephyrus S GX701GXR laptop review: Slim gaming laptop scores points with a fast 300 Hz display

Exceptional gaming machine. The hardware of the Zephyrus S GX701GXR runs all current games smoothly on the matte 300 Hz IPS display. The laptop offers expansion/upgrade possibilities only to a very limited extent.

The Zephyrus S GX701GXR is one of the slim, compact gaming laptops in the 17.3-inch format. This is the identically built sister model of the Asus ROG Zephyrus S GX701GX that we already reviewed. The test device before us is powered by a Core i7-9750H processor and a GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q GPU. Competitors include devices such as the Razer Blade Pro 17, the Gigabyte Aero 17 XA, the Alienware m17 and the Lenovo Legion Y740-17ICH.

Since the two Zephyrus models are identical in construction, we won't go into the case, the connectivity, the input devices and the speakers. The corresponding information can be found in our review of the Zephyrus S GX701GX.

Asus ROG Zephyrus S GX701GXR (ROG Zephyrus S GX701 Series)
Processor
Intel Core i7-9750H 6 x 2.6 - 4.5 GHz, Coffee Lake-H
Graphics adapter
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q - 8 GB VRAM, Core: 990 MHz, Memory: 1500 MHz, GDDR6, 256-bit interface, ForceWare 441.66, Optimus
Memory
32 GB 
, DDR4 2666, dual channel, one memory slot (occupied), 16 GB soldered
Display
17.30 inch 16:9, 1920 x 1080 pixel 127 PPI, AU Optronics B173HAN05.1, IPS, 300 Hz, G-Sync, Full HD, glossy: no
Mainboard
Intel Cannon Lake HM370
Storage
Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB1T0HALR, 1024 GB 
, M.2 2280, NVMe, 850 GB free
Soundcard
Realtek ALC294 @ Intel Cannon Point PCH - cAVS (Audio, Voice, Speech)
Connections
3 USB 3.0 / 3.1 Gen1, 2 USB 3.1 Gen2, 1 HDMI, 1 DisplayPort, 1 Kensington Lock, Audio Connections: combo audio, TPM 2.0
Networking
Intel Wireless-AC 9560 (a/b/g/n = Wi-Fi 4/ac = Wi-Fi 5/), Bluetooth 5
Size
height x width x depth (in mm): 18.7 x 399 x 272 ( = 0.74 x 15.71 x 10.71 in)
Battery
76 Wh Lithium-Ion
Operating System
Microsoft Windows 10 Pro 64 Bit
Camera
Webcam: Full HD (external camera)
Additional features
Speakers: stereo, Keyboard: chiclet, Keyboard Light: yes, 230-watt power adapter, external Full HD webcam, gaming mouse, gaming headset, laptop case, McAfee Live Safe (trial version), MS Office 365 (trial version), 24 Months Warranty
Weight
2.67 kg ( = 94.18 oz / 5.89 pounds), Power Supply: 618 g ( = 21.8 oz / 1.36 pounds)
Price
3500 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
81.2 %
12/2019
Asus ROG Zephyrus S GX701GXR
i7-9750H, GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q
2.7 kg18.7 mm17.30"1920x1080
87.7 %
06/2019
Razer Blade Pro 17 RTX 2080 Max-Q
i7-9750H, GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q
2.8 kg19.9 mm17.30"1920x1080
86.1 %
09/2019
Gigabyte Aero 17 XA RP77
i9-9980HK, GeForce RTX 2070 Max-Q
2.5 kg21.4 mm17.30"3840x2160
87.4 %
04/2019
Alienware m17 P37E
i9-8950HK, GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q
2.6 kg23 mm17.30"3840x2160
85.6 %
03/2019
Lenovo Legion Y740-17ICH
i7-8750H, GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q
2.8 kg23 mm17.30"1920x1080

Size comparison

412.6 mm / 16.2 inch 304.9 mm / 12 inch 23 mm / 0.906 inch 2.8 kg6.17 lbs410 mm / 16.1 inch 292.5 mm / 11.5 inch 23 mm / 0.906 inch 2.6 kg5.8 lbs399 mm / 15.7 inch 272 mm / 10.7 inch 18.7 mm / 0.736 inch 2.7 kg5.89 lbs396 mm / 15.6 inch 270 mm / 10.6 inch 21.4 mm / 0.843 inch 2.5 kg5.51 lbs395 mm / 15.6 inch 260 mm / 10.2 inch 19.9 mm / 0.783 inch 2.8 kg6.06 lbs297 mm / 11.7 inch 210 mm / 8.27 inch 1 mm / 0.03937 inch 5.7 g0.01257 lbs
Networking
iperf3 transmit AX12
Asus ROG Zephyrus S GX701GXR
Intel Wireless-AC 9560
1110 MBit/s
Average of class Gaming
  (865 - 1412, n=12, last 2 years)
1078 MBit/s -3%
iperf3 receive AX12
Average of class Gaming
  (708 - 1700, n=12, last 2 years)
1310 MBit/s +42%
Asus ROG Zephyrus S GX701GXR
Intel Wireless-AC 9560
924 MBit/s

Display - 300 Hz IPS

The Zephyrus' 17.3-inch display has a native resolution of 1920x1080 pixels. While the display provides good contrast (1,200:1), the brightness (276 cd/m²) is slightly too low for the price. We consider a value beyond 300 cd/m² to be good. Pros: The screen doesn't show PWM flickering. The built-in 300 Hz panel pleases with short response times. It also supports Nvidia's G-Sync technology.

276
cd/m²
277
cd/m²
277
cd/m²
274
cd/m²
288
cd/m²
272
cd/m²
267
cd/m²
279
cd/m²
274
cd/m²
Distribution of brightness
AU Optronics B173HAN05.1 tested with X-Rite i1Pro 2
Maximum: 288 cd/m² (Nits) Average: 276 cd/m² Minimum: 30 cd/m²
Brightness Distribution: 93 %
Center on Battery: 288 cd/m²
Contrast: 1200:1 (Black: 0.24 cd/m²)
ΔE Color 1.92 | 0.5-29.43 Ø5, calibrated: 1.14
ΔE Greyscale 3.08 | 0.57-98 Ø5.3
96% sRGB (Argyll 1.6.3 3D)
65% AdobeRGB 1998 (Argyll 1.6.3 3D)
72.3% AdobeRGB 1998 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
96.6% sRGB (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
70% Display P3 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
Gamma: 2.42
Asus ROG Zephyrus S GX701GXR
AU Optronics B173HAN05.1, IPS, 1920x1080
Asus Zephyrus S GX701GX
B173HAN04.0 (AUO409D), IPS, 1920x1080
Razer Blade Pro 17 RTX 2080 Max-Q
AU Optronics B173HAN04.0, IPS, 1920x1080
Gigabyte Aero 17 XA RP77
AU Optronics B173ZAN03.2, IPS, 3840x2160
Alienware m17 P37E
AU Optronics B173ZAN01.0, IPS, 3840x2160
Lenovo Legion Y740-17ICH
AU Optronics B173HAN03.2, IPS, 1920x1080
Display
-10%
-12%
22%
21%
-8%
Display P3 Coverage
70
62.9
-10%
60.6
-13%
86.8
24%
86.4
23%
64
-9%
sRGB Coverage
96.6
87.8
-9%
89
-8%
100
4%
99.9
3%
90.4
-6%
AdobeRGB 1998 Coverage
72.3
63.9
-12%
62.1
-14%
99.5
38%
99.1
37%
64.8
-10%
Response Times
-28%
-24%
-507%
-402%
-124%
Response Time Grey 50% / Grey 80% *
5.6 ?(2.4, 3.2)
7.2 ?(3.6, 3.6)
-29%
6.8 ?(3.4, 3.4)
-21%
45.6 ?(24.4, 21.2)
-714%
35.6 ?(19.6, 16)
-536%
15.6 ?(8, 7.6)
-179%
Response Time Black / White *
7.6 ?(3.4, 4.2)
9.6 ?(4.4, 5.2)
-26%
9.6 ?(5.2, 4.4)
-26%
30.4 ?(16.4, 14)
-300%
28 ?(16, 12)
-268%
12.8 ?(7.6, 5.2)
-68%
PWM Frequency
Screen
-7%
-23%
-6%
-77%
-59%
Brightness middle
288
288
0%
299.3
4%
667.3
132%
357.9
24%
299.1
4%
Brightness
276
287
4%
294
7%
633
129%
347
26%
273
-1%
Brightness Distribution
93
91
-2%
94
1%
90
-3%
94
1%
81
-13%
Black Level *
0.24
0.2
17%
0.29
-21%
0.46
-92%
0.33
-38%
0.27
-13%
Contrast
1200
1440
20%
1032
-14%
1451
21%
1085
-10%
1108
-8%
Colorchecker dE 2000 *
1.92
2.33
-21%
2.55
-33%
3.53
-84%
6.57
-242%
5.07
-164%
Colorchecker dE 2000 max. *
4.57
5.34
-17%
4.73
-4%
6.88
-51%
9.86
-116%
10.55
-131%
Colorchecker dE 2000 calibrated *
1.14
2.47
-117%
2.9
-154%
3.79
-232%
6.74
-491%
3.31
-190%
Greyscale dE 2000 *
3.08
1.19
61%
3.5
-14%
0.9
71%
4.3
-40%
6.8
-121%
Gamma
2.42 91%
2.41 91%
2.28 96%
2.17 101%
2.6 85%
2.46 89%
CCT
7055 92%
6710 97%
7101 92%
6533 99%
6403 102%
7805 83%
Color Space (Percent of AdobeRGB 1998)
65
57
-12%
57
-12%
87.1
34%
88.4
36%
58.5
-10%
Color Space (Percent of sRGB)
96
88
-8%
88.7
-8%
100
4%
100
4%
89.9
-6%
Total Average (Program / Settings)
-15% / -10%
-20% / -21%
-164% / -64%
-153% / -99%
-64% / -58%

* ... smaller is better

The display has an X-Rite Pantone certification, which ensures very natural colors. Therefore, it already shows a good color reproduction out of the box. With a DeltaE 2000 color deviation of 1.92, the target (DeltaE less than 3) is met. Calibration can be used to further improve color reproduction. In this way, the color deviation drops to a value of 1.14, and the grayscales are also shown in a much more balanced way. The AdobeRGB (65%) and sRGB (96%) color spaces aren't fully mapped.

CalMAN: Grayscales
CalMAN: Grayscales
CalMAN: Color saturation
CalMAN: Color saturation
CalMAN: ColorChecker
CalMAN: ColorChecker
CalMAN: Grayscales (calibrated)
CalMAN: Grayscales (calibrated)
CalMAN: Color saturation (calibrated)
CalMAN: Color saturation (calibrated)
CalMAN: ColorChecker (calibrated)
CalMAN: ColorChecker (calibrated)
Asus GX701GXR vs sRGB (96%)
Asus GX701GXR vs sRGB (96%)
Subpixel grid
Subpixel grid
Asus GX701GXR vs AdobeRGB (65%)
Asus GX701GXR vs AdobeRGB (65%)

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
7.6 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined↗ 3.4 ms rise
↘ 4.2 ms fall
The screen shows very fast response rates in our tests and should be very well suited for fast-paced gaming.
In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.1 (minimum) to 240 (maximum) ms. » 16 % of all devices are better.
This means that the measured response time is better than the average of all tested devices (21.6 ms).
       Response Time 50% Grey to 80% Grey
5.6 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined↗ 2.4 ms rise
↘ 3.2 ms fall
The screen shows very fast response rates in our tests and should be very well suited for fast-paced gaming.
In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.2 (minimum) to 636 (maximum) ms. » 12 % of all devices are better.
This means that the measured response time is better 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 Asus laptop is equipped with a viewing-angle-stable IPS panel. Therefore, the screen can be read from any position. Outdoors, the display can be read when the sun is not shining too brightly.

The Zephyrus outdoors (shot in overcast sky).
The Zephyrus outdoors (shot in overcast sky).
The Zephyrus outdoors (shot in overcast sky).
The Zephyrus outdoors (shot in overcast sky).
Viewing angles
Viewing angles

Performance - Zephyrus S comes with upper-class hardware

With the Zephyrus S, Asus delivers a slim 17.3-inch gaming laptop that can run all the latest computer games smoothly. For our test device, you'll currently have to cough up about 3,500 Euros (~$3,882). Other configuration variants are available, and prices start at 3,080 Euros (~$3,416).

CPU-Z
CPU-Z
CPU-Z
CPU-Z
CPU-Z
Intel XTU
GPU-Z
GPU-Z
HWInfo
LatencyMon

Test conditions

We chose the "Balanced" energy profile within the preinstalled Armoury Crate software (exception: We used the Windows power scheme for the battery tests). In addition, we ran some benchmarks with an active "Turbo" mode. The results can be found in the comparison tables. Furthermore, the integrated GPU was disabled. The latter can be switched on and off with a mouse click and a subsequent system restart.

Processor

The laptop has a Core i7-9750H hexa-core processor (Coffee Lake Refresh) on board. The CPU operates at a base speed of 2.6 GHz. Turbo Boost can increase the clock speed to 4 GHz (six cores), 4.1 GHz (five cores), 4.2 GHz (four cores), 4.3 GHz (three cores), 4.4 GHz (two cores) and 4.5 GHz (one core), respectively. 

The processor runs the multithread test of the Cinebench R15 benchmark at 2.6 to 4 GHz (Turbo mode: 3.7 to 4 GHz). The single-thread test is performed at 4 to 4.5 GHz (the same clock speeds are achieved in Turbo mode). On battery power, the working speed sits at a constant 2.3 GHz.

Single-core rendering
Single-core rendering
Multi-core rendering
Multi-core rendering
GPU load
GPU load

We check whether the CPU boost is also used consistently when plugged in by running Cinebench's R15 multithread test for a minimum of 30 minutes in a continuous loop. Outcome: The results drop significantly from the first to the eighth run and then stabilize at a fairly constant level. The Boost is only used to a small extent.

The Core i7 clearly lags behind its capabilities. Significantly better results are achieved when Turbo mode is activated within the Armoury Crate software. However, the fans also produce more noise then.

0801602403204004805606407208008809601040112012001280136014401520Tooltip
Asus ROG Zephyrus S GX701GXR Intel Core i7-9750H, Intel Core i7-9750H: Ø912 (890.85-1097.33)
Razer Blade Pro 17 RTX 2080 Max-Q Intel Core i7-9750H, Intel Core i7-9750H: Ø1076 (1067.18-1187.86)
Gigabyte Aero 17 XA RP77 Intel Core i9-9980HK, Intel Core i9-9980HK: Ø1328 (1301.11-1593.37)
Alienware m17 P37E Intel Core i9-8950HK, Intel Core i9-8950HK: Ø1206 (1178.9-1238.2)
Lenovo Legion Y740-17ICH Intel Core i7-8750H, Intel Core i7-8750H: Ø1139 (1122.59-1232.82)
Asus Zephyrus S GX701GX Intel Core i7-8750H, Intel Core i7-8750H: Ø1112 (1090.93-1218.55)
Asus ROG Zephyrus S GX701GXR Intel Core i7-9750H, Intel Core i7-9750H; Turbo: Ø1155 (1143.12-1216.51)
CPU clock speeds during the CB15 loop
CPU clock speeds during the CB15 loop
CPU clock speeds during the CB15 loop (Turbo)
CPU clock speeds during the CB15 loop (Turbo)
Cinebench R10 Rendering Single 32Bit
6679
Cinebench R10 Rendering Multiple CPUs 32Bit
28763
Cinebench R10 Shading 32Bit
13884
Cinebench R15 CPU Single 64Bit
173 Points
Cinebench R15 CPU Multi 64Bit
1097 Points
Cinebench R15 OpenGL 64Bit
126.9 fps
Cinebench R15 Ref. Match 64Bit
99.6 %
Help
Cinebench R15
CPU Single 64Bit
Average of class Gaming
  (79.2 - 318, n=245, last 2 years)
265 Points +53%
Gigabyte Aero 17 XA RP77
Intel Core i9-9980HK
201 Points +16%
Alienware m17 P37E
Intel Core i9-8950HK
191 Points +10%
Razer Blade Pro 17 RTX 2080 Max-Q
Intel Core i7-9750H
180 Points +4%
Asus ROG Zephyrus S GX701GXR
Intel Core i7-9750H (Turbo)
174 Points +1%
Asus ROG Zephyrus S GX701GXR
Intel Core i7-9750H
173 Points
Asus Zephyrus S GX701GX
Intel Core i7-8750H
170 Points -2%
Lenovo Legion Y740-17ICH
Intel Core i7-8750H
167 Points -3%
CPU Multi 64Bit
Average of class Gaming
  (400 - 5663, n=246, last 2 years)
2988 Points +172%
Gigabyte Aero 17 XA RP77
Intel Core i9-9980HK
1481 Points +35%
Alienware m17 P37E
Intel Core i9-8950HK
1238 Points +13%
Lenovo Legion Y740-17ICH
Intel Core i7-8750H
1233 Points +12%
Asus Zephyrus S GX701GX
Intel Core i7-8750H
1218 Points +11%
Asus ROG Zephyrus S GX701GXR
Intel Core i7-9750H (Turbo)
1216 Points +11%
Razer Blade Pro 17 RTX 2080 Max-Q
Intel Core i7-9750H
1180 Points +8%
Asus ROG Zephyrus S GX701GXR
Intel Core i7-9750H
1097 Points
Cinebench R10
Rendering Multiple CPUs 32Bit
Average of class Gaming
  (35806 - 112749, n=24, last 2 years)
59061 Points +105%
Asus ROG Zephyrus S GX701GXR
Intel Core i7-9750H
28763 Points
Shading 32Bit
Average of class Gaming
  (6822 - 24410, n=23, last 2 years)
16610 Points +20%
Asus ROG Zephyrus S GX701GXR
Intel Core i7-9750H
13884 Points
Cinebench R20
CPU (Single Core)
Average of class Gaming
  (169 - 855, n=241, last 2 years)
689 Points +63%
Gigabyte Aero 17 XA RP77
Intel Core i9-9980HK
487 Points +15%
Asus ROG Zephyrus S GX701GXR
Intel Core i7-9750H
422 Points
CPU (Multi Core)
Average of class Gaming
  (930 - 13769, n=241, last 2 years)
7164 Points +204%
Gigabyte Aero 17 XA RP77
Intel Core i9-9980HK
3104 Points +32%
Asus ROG Zephyrus S GX701GXR
Intel Core i7-9750H
2357 Points
Geekbench 3
32 Bit Multi-Core Score
Asus ROG Zephyrus S GX701GXR
Intel Core i7-9750H
21308 Points
32 Bit Single-Core Score
Asus ROG Zephyrus S GX701GXR
Intel Core i7-9750H
4137 Points
Geekbench 4.4
64 Bit Multi-Core Score
Average of class Gaming
  (27071 - 71700, n=28, last 2 years)
47975 Points +117%
Asus ROG Zephyrus S GX701GXR
Intel Core i7-9750H
22153 Points
64 Bit Single-Core Score
Average of class Gaming
  (5812 - 8936, n=28, last 2 years)
7514 Points +45%
Asus ROG Zephyrus S GX701GXR
Intel Core i7-9750H
5174 Points
Geekbench 5.0
5.0 Multi-Core
Average of class Gaming
  (6219 - 22107, n=58, last 2 years)
12906 Points +129%
Asus ROG Zephyrus S GX701GXR
Intel Core i7-9750H
5635 Points
5.0 Single-Core
Average of class Gaming
  (1377 - 2064, n=58, last 2 years)
1744 Points +55%
Asus ROG Zephyrus S GX701GXR
Intel Core i7-9750H
1127 Points
Mozilla Kraken 1.1 - Total
Asus ROG Zephyrus S GX701GXR
Intel Core i7-9750H (Edge 44)
1106 ms *
Lenovo Legion Y740-17ICH
Intel Core i7-8750H (Edge 44.17763.1.0)
1099 ms * +1%
Razer Blade Pro 17 RTX 2080 Max-Q
Intel Core i7-9750H (Edge 44.18362.1.0)
1076 ms * +3%
Gigabyte Aero 17 XA RP77
Intel Core i9-9980HK (Edge 44.18362.267.0)
980 ms * +11%
Average of class Gaming
  (421 - 882, n=217, last 2 years)
526 ms * +52%
Octane V2 - Total Score
Average of class Gaming
  (66558 - 111243, n=51, last 2 years)
90966 Points +165%
Gigabyte Aero 17 XA RP77
Intel Core i9-9980HK (Edge 44.18362.267.0)
42464 Points +24%
Razer Blade Pro 17 RTX 2080 Max-Q
Intel Core i7-9750H (Edge 44.18362.1.0)
36823 Points +7%
Lenovo Legion Y740-17ICH
Intel Core i7-8750H (Edge 44.17763.1.0)
35446 Points +3%
Asus ROG Zephyrus S GX701GXR
Intel Core i7-9750H (Edge 44)
34300 Points
JetStream 1.1 - Total Score
Average of class Gaming
  (356 - 639, n=27, last 2 years)
478 Points +109%
Gigabyte Aero 17 XA RP77
Intel Core i9-9980HK (Edge 44.18362.267.0)
301.6 Points +32%
Razer Blade Pro 17 RTX 2080 Max-Q
Intel Core i7-9750H (Edge 44.18362.1.0)
257.6 Points +13%
Lenovo Legion Y740-17ICH
Intel Core i7-8750H (Edge 44.17763.1.0)
252.1 Points +10%
Asus ROG Zephyrus S GX701GXR
Intel Core i7-9750H (Edge 44)
228.5 Points

* ... smaller is better

System performance

The GX701GXR does not lack system performance. A powerful hexa-core processor, memory running in dual-channel mode and a fast NVMe SSD provide a fast and smooth system. This is complemented by an upper-class GPU. The results in the PCMark benchmarks are very good.

PCMark 10
PCMark 10
PCMark 8 Home Score Accelerated v2
5319 points
PCMark 8 Creative Score Accelerated v2
6716 points
PCMark 8 Work Score Accelerated v2
6593 points
PCMark 10 Score
6049 points
Help
PCMark 10 - Score
Average of class Gaming
  (4477 - 9852, n=206, last 2 years)
7542 Points +25%
Lenovo Legion Y740-17ICH
GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q, i7-8750H, Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB256HAHQ
6053 Points 0%
Asus ROG Zephyrus S GX701GXR
GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q, i7-9750H, Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB1T0HALR
6049 Points
Gigabyte Aero 17 XA RP77
GeForce RTX 2070 Max-Q, i9-9980HK, Intel SSD 760p SSDPEKKW512G8
5955 Points -2%
Razer Blade Pro 17 RTX 2080 Max-Q
GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q, i7-9750H, Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB512HAJQ
5734 Points -5%
Alienware m17 P37E
GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q, i9-8950HK, SK Hynix PC401 512GB M.2 (HFS512GD9TNG)
5632 Points -7%
Asus Zephyrus S GX701GX
GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q, i7-8750H, Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB1T0HALR
5596 Points -7%
PCMark 8
Home Score Accelerated v2
Asus ROG Zephyrus S GX701GXR
GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q, i7-9750H, Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB1T0HALR
5319 Points
Average of class Gaming
  (3570 - 6657, n=37, last 2 years)
5218 Points -2%
Lenovo Legion Y740-17ICH
GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q, i7-8750H, Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB256HAHQ
5107 Points -4%
Razer Blade Pro 17 RTX 2080 Max-Q
GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q, i7-9750H, Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB512HAJQ
4412 Points -17%
Gigabyte Aero 17 XA RP77
GeForce RTX 2070 Max-Q, i9-9980HK, Intel SSD 760p SSDPEKKW512G8
3841 Points -28%
Alienware m17 P37E
GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q, i9-8950HK, SK Hynix PC401 512GB M.2 (HFS512GD9TNG)
3812 Points -28%
Work Score Accelerated v2
Asus ROG Zephyrus S GX701GXR
GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q, i7-9750H, Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB1T0HALR
6593 Points
Average of class Gaming
  (4622 - 7085, n=36, last 2 years)
6071 Points -8%
Lenovo Legion Y740-17ICH
GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q, i7-8750H, Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB256HAHQ
5882 Points -11%
Razer Blade Pro 17 RTX 2080 Max-Q
GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q, i7-9750H, Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB512HAJQ
5672 Points -14%
Alienware m17 P37E
GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q, i9-8950HK, SK Hynix PC401 512GB M.2 (HFS512GD9TNG)
4765 Points -28%
Gigabyte Aero 17 XA RP77
GeForce RTX 2070 Max-Q, i9-9980HK, Intel SSD 760p SSDPEKKW512G8
4668 Points -29%

Storage

The system drive is an NVMe SSD (M.2 2280 format) from Samsung, which provides 1 TB of storage space. The SSD provides very good transfer rates. The laptop does not have room for additional storage devices.

An SSD serves as system drive.
An SSD serves as system drive.
Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB1T0HALR
Sequential Read: 1093 MB/s
Sequential Write: 1695 MB/s
512K Read: 551 MB/s
512K Write: 1895 MB/s
4K Read: 59.1 MB/s
4K Write: 119.5 MB/s
4K QD32 Read: 576 MB/s
4K QD32 Write: 497 MB/s
Asus ROG Zephyrus S GX701GXR
Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB1T0HALR
Razer Blade Pro 17 RTX 2080 Max-Q
Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB512HAJQ
Gigabyte Aero 17 XA RP77
Intel SSD 760p SSDPEKKW512G8
Alienware m17 P37E
SK Hynix PC401 512GB M.2 (HFS512GD9TNG)
Lenovo Legion Y740-17ICH
Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB256HAHQ
Asus Zephyrus S GX701GX
Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB1T0HALR
CrystalDiskMark 5.2 / 6
-1%
34%
6%
12%
-6%
Write 4K
96.1
100.7
5%
169.6
76%
120.2
25%
99.8
4%
92.4
-4%
Read 4K
40.86
41.03
0%
58
42%
44.3
8%
40.81
0%
39.59
-3%
Write Seq
1317
1146
-13%
1516
15%
1278
-3%
1385
5%
1221
-7%
Read Seq
1030
1115
8%
2362
129%
1389
35%
2089
103%
1005
-2%
Write 4K Q32T1
350.4
384.6
10%
481.8
38%
436.2
24%
380
8%
292.5
-17%
Read 4K Q32T1
404.1
429.5
6%
506
25%
515
27%
445.5
10%
330.8
-18%
Write Seq Q32T1
2396
1859
-22%
1530
-36%
1157
-52%
1380
-42%
2385
0%
Read Seq Q32T1
3194
3179
0%
2645
-17%
2671
-16%
3471
9%
3339
5%

Graphics card

The built-in GeForce RTX 2080 Max Q graphics core supports DirectX 12 and operates at a base speed of 990 MHz. An increase to up to 1,230 MHz is possible through Boost. Higher speeds are feasible if the GPU doesn't reach a set temperature and/or energy threshold. In this way, we register a maximum of 1,815 MHz. The Witcher 3 test is performed at an average speed of 1,365 MHz. The GPU can access fast GDDR6 graphics memory (8,192 MB).

The results in the 3DMark benchmarks are at a normal level for the GPU. The UHD Graphics 630 chip built into the processor is switched off in G-Sync mode, but it can be activated if needed.

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 06 Standard Score
36228 points
3DMark 11 Performance
20578 points
3DMark Ice Storm Standard Score
171155 points
3DMark Cloud Gate Standard Score
32628 points
3DMark Fire Strike Score
17374 points
3DMark Time Spy Score
7484 points
Help
3DMark
1920x1080 Fire Strike Graphics
Average of class Gaming
  (781 - 53059, n=248, last 2 years)
29013 Points +39%
Razer Blade Pro 17 RTX 2080 Max-Q
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q, Intel Core i7-9750H
23032 Points +10%
Asus ROG Zephyrus S GX701GXR
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q, Intel Core i7-9750H (Turbo)
22217 Points +6%
Asus Zephyrus S GX701GX
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q, Intel Core i7-8750H
21515 Points +3%
Asus ROG Zephyrus S GX701GXR
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q, Intel Core i7-9750H
20917 Points
Alienware m17 P37E
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q, Intel Core i9-8950HK
20323 Points -3%
Lenovo Legion Y740-17ICH
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q, Intel Core i7-8750H
18520 Points -11%
Gigabyte Aero 17 XA RP77
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 Max-Q, Intel Core i9-9980HK
16658 Points -20%
2560x1440 Time Spy Graphics
Average of class Gaming
  (224 - 22547, n=246, last 2 years)
11809 Points +47%
Razer Blade Pro 17 RTX 2080 Max-Q
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q, Intel Core i7-9750H
8844 Points +10%
Asus Zephyrus S GX701GX
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q, Intel Core i7-8750H
8512 Points +6%
Asus ROG Zephyrus S GX701GXR
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q, Intel Core i7-9750H (Turbo)
8479 Points +6%
Asus ROG Zephyrus S GX701GXR
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q, Intel Core i7-9750H
8036 Points
Alienware m17 P37E
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q, Intel Core i9-8950HK
7446 Points -7%
Lenovo Legion Y740-17ICH
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q, Intel Core i7-8750H
7202 Points -10%
Gigabyte Aero 17 XA RP77
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 Max-Q, Intel Core i9-9980HK
6479 Points -19%
3DMark 11 - 1280x720 Performance GPU
Average of class Gaming
  (1029 - 72070, n=244, last 2 years)
39642 Points +36%
Razer Blade Pro 17 RTX 2080 Max-Q
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q, Intel Core i7-9750H
30910 Points +6%
Asus ROG Zephyrus S GX701GXR
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q, Intel Core i7-9750H (Turbo)
30320 Points +4%
Asus Zephyrus S GX701GX
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q, Intel Core i7-8750H
29453 Points +1%
Asus ROG Zephyrus S GX701GXR
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q, Intel Core i7-9750H
29052 Points
Alienware m17 P37E
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q, Intel Core i9-8950HK
28083 Points -3%
Lenovo Legion Y740-17ICH
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q, Intel Core i7-8750H
25765 Points -11%
Gigabyte Aero 17 XA RP77
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 Max-Q, Intel Core i9-9980HK
21464 Points -26%

Gaming performance

The 17.3-incher runs all games found in our database smoothly. Full HD resolution and high to maximum quality settings can normally be selected. The RTX 2080 Max Q GPU can also handle resolutions beyond Full HD (this would require an external monitor). However, the quality settings must then be chosen more conservatively - especially at 4K level.

The Witcher 3 - 1920x1080 Ultra Graphics & Postprocessing (HBAO+)
Average of class Gaming
  (8.61 - 216, n=243, last 2 years)
114.3 fps +42%
Razer Blade Pro 17 RTX 2080 Max-Q
Intel Core i7-9750H, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q
87.4 fps +8%
Asus Zephyrus S GX701GX
Intel Core i7-8750H, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q
81.7 (68min) fps +1%
Asus ROG Zephyrus S GX701GXR
Intel Core i7-9750H, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q
80.7 fps
Alienware m17 P37E
Intel Core i9-8950HK, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q
75.7 fps -6%
Lenovo Legion Y740-17ICH
Intel Core i7-8750H, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q
73.1 fps -9%
Gigabyte Aero 17 XA RP77
Intel Core i9-9980HK, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 Max-Q
66.5 fps -18%
BioShock Infinite - 1920x1080 Ultra Preset, DX11 (DDOF)
Razer Blade Pro 17 RTX 2080 Max-Q
Intel Core i7-9750H, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q
177.7 fps +1%
Asus ROG Zephyrus S GX701GXR
Intel Core i7-9750H, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q
176.5 fps
Alienware m17 P37E
Intel Core i9-8950HK, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q
164.7 fps -7%
Lenovo Legion Y740-17ICH
Intel Core i7-8750H, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q
161.5 fps -8%
Gigabyte Aero 17 XA RP77
Intel Core i9-9980HK, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 Max-Q
155.7 fps -12%

To check whether the frame rates also remain largely constant over a prolonged period of time, we run the game The Witcher 3 for about 60 minutes at Full HD resolution and maximum quality settings. The character embodied by the player isn't moved over this entire period.

051015202530354045505560657075808590Tooltip
Asus ROG Zephyrus S GX701GXR GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q, i7-9750H, Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB1T0HALR: Ø79.8 (72-85)
Razer Blade Pro 17 RTX 2080 Max-Q GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q, i7-9750H, Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB512HAJQ: Ø83.5 (31-90)
Gigabyte Aero 17 XA RP77 GeForce RTX 2070 Max-Q, i9-9980HK, Intel SSD 760p SSDPEKKW512G8: Ø59.3 (54-64)
Alienware m17 P37E GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q, i9-8950HK, SK Hynix PC401 512GB M.2 (HFS512GD9TNG): Ø73.4 (67-80)
Lenovo Legion Y740-17ICH GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q, i7-8750H, Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB256HAHQ: Ø69.7 (63-76)
Asus Zephyrus S GX701GX GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q, i7-8750H, Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB1T0HALR: Ø80.8 (71-85)
GPU measurements during The Witcher 3 test
GPU measurements during The Witcher 3 test
low med. high ultra
BioShock Infinite (2013) 350.6 306 285.9 176.5
The Witcher 3 (2015) 295.5 230.3 153.2 80.7
Metro Exodus (2019) 121.7 94.6 72.1 59
Control (2019) 231.9 92.8 71.9
Borderlands 3 (2019) 128.8 110.8 84.7 67.1
FIFA 20 (2019) 214.6 208.1 197.7 197.1
Ghost Recon Breakpoint (2019) 105 95 92 71
GRID 2019 (2019) 213.5 187.6 120.7 81.3
Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2019 (2019) 171.5 126.7 104.9 90.6
Need for Speed Heat (2019) 85.6 66 63.6 57.2
Star Wars Jedi Fallen Order (2019) 94.5 84.2 82.3
Red Dead Redemption 2 (2019) 121 102.6 72.8 45.6
Escape from Tarkov (2020) 121 121 120 117
Hunt Showdown (2020) 184 134 121
Doom Eternal (2020) 156 140 138 134

Emissions - Heat and noise development are acceptable

Noise emissions

When idle, the fans constantly work at low speeds. The whole thing is reflected in a subtle noise. During the stress test, we measure a sound pressure level of 50 dB(A). It gets similarly loud when playing games: When performing our The Witcher 3 test, the GX701GXR reaches a level of 49 dB(A). The use of the included headset is almost indispensable.

From the inside of the laptop, a relatively loud electronic crackling can be heard in certain situations, which is drowned out by the noise of the fans at higher rotation speeds.

Noise Level

Idle
32 / 33 / 34 dB(A)
Load
40 / 50 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 Highs2035.634.735.532.835.82540.84140.636.341.13134.532.834.529.341.34034.136.636.132.135.75030.931.935.135.9336333.632.933.933418028.828.434.332.631.810026.825.927.327.328.812528.925.428.126.432.916030.727.731.830.134.220029.827.529.624.63325027.92526.624.431.831528.625.125.323.434.240028.923.323.418.835.850029.222.823.619.936.463027.921.223.921.635.180028.922.122.61737.310002921.92217.137.5125028.822.322.12137.5160029.221.421.217.538.7200029.821.220.816.640.22500292120.416.839.7315029.220.820.816.840.3400027.219.419.216.638.5500024.718.218.316.936.563002117.917.916.634.1800019.417.917.916.630.31000018.917.917.816.426.61250019.117.917.816.522.91600018.818.217.916.319.8SPL39.933.133.430.549.7N3.41.921.57.1median 28.8median 21.4median 22median 17.1median 35.1Delta3.22.93.72.43.5hearing rangehide median Fan NoiseAsus ROG Zephyrus S GX701GXR
Asus ROG Zephyrus S GX701GXR
i7-9750H, GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q
Razer Blade Pro 17 RTX 2080 Max-Q
i7-9750H, GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q
Gigabyte Aero 17 XA RP77
i9-9980HK, GeForce RTX 2070 Max-Q
Alienware m17 P37E
i9-8950HK, GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q
Lenovo Legion Y740-17ICH
i7-8750H, GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q
Asus Zephyrus S GX701GX
i7-8750H, GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q
Average of class Gaming
 
Noise
4%
-1%
1%
8%
-0%
9%
off / environment *
30
28.2
6%
29.3
2%
28.2
6%
28.3
6%
29
3%
24.1 ?(19.5 - 29.9, n=192, last 2 years)
20%
Idle Minimum *
32
28.2
12%
33
-3%
28.2
12%
31.5
2%
29
9%
25.6 ?(21.9 - 41.6, n=193, last 2 years)
20%
Idle Average *
33
28.2
15%
33
-0%
28.2
15%
31.6
4%
32
3%
27.4 ?(21.9 - 42.1, n=193, last 2 years)
17%
Idle Maximum *
34
30.8
9%
33
3%
31
9%
31.6
7%
33
3%
30.8 ?(21.9 - 47, n=193, last 2 years)
9%
Load Average *
40
42
-5%
42.5
-6%
50.8
-27%
32.3
19%
47
-18%
43.2 ?(25.2 - 62.9, n=193, last 2 years)
-8%
Witcher 3 ultra *
49
51
-4%
42
14%
50.8
-4%
43
12%
49
-0%
Load Maximum *
50
53
-6%
59.6
-19%
50.8
-2%
45.5
9%
51
-2%
53.3 ?(42.1 - 68.2, n=193, last 2 years)
-7%

* ... smaller is better

Temperature

Our stress test (Prime95 and FurMark run for at least an hour) is carried out by the Zephyrus in different ways when plugged in and on battery power. When plugged in, the processor runs at 2 to 2.1 GHz. The graphics core works at 1,455 MHz. On battery power, the CPU clock speed jumps back and forth between 800 MHz and 2.3 GHz. The GPU operates at speeds between 300 and 1,100 MHz. The stress test represents an extreme scenario that doesn't occur in everyday life. With this test, we check whether the system remains stable even under full load.

The Witcher 3
The Witcher 3
Stress test
Stress test
Full load - top
Full load - top
Full load - bottom
Full load - bottom

In terms of the computing power in the laptop, heat development is at an acceptable level. Temperatures between 40 °C (~104 °Fand 50 °C (~122 °F) are reached at most measuring points. Heat development is minimally stronger when performing our The Witcher 3 test. Therefore, the device shouldn't be placed on the lap. In everyday use, the values are in the green range.

Max. Load
 50 °C
122 F
50 °C
122 F
49 °C
120 F
 
 44 °C
111 F
46 °C
115 F
40 °C
104 F
 
 36 °C
97 F
36 °C
97 F
33 °C
91 F
 
Maximum: 50 °C = 122 F
Average: 42.7 °C = 109 F
46 °C
115 F
47 °C
117 F
45 °C
113 F
45 °C
113 F
46 °C
115 F
45 °C
113 F
40 °C
104 F
42 °C
108 F
42 °C
108 F
Maximum: 47 °C = 117 F
Average: 44.2 °C = 112 F
Power Supply (max.)  45 °C = 113 F | Room Temperature 22 °C = 72 F | Voltcraft IR-900
(-) The average temperature for the upper side under maximal load is 42.7 °C / 109 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 50 °C / 122 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 47 °C / 117 F, compared to the average of 43.2 °C / 110 F
(+) In idle usage, the average temperature for the upper side is 31.2 °C / 88 F, compared to the device average of 33.8 °C / 93 F.
(-) Playing The Witcher 3, the average temperature for the upper side is 44.1 °C / 111 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 38 °C / 100.4 F.
(-) The average temperature of the palmrest area of similar devices was 28.9 °C / 84 F (-9.1 °C / -16.4 F).
Asus ROG Zephyrus S GX701GXR
i7-9750H, GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q
Razer Blade Pro 17 RTX 2080 Max-Q
i7-9750H, GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q
Gigabyte Aero 17 XA RP77
i9-9980HK, GeForce RTX 2070 Max-Q
Alienware m17 P37E
i9-8950HK, GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q
Lenovo Legion Y740-17ICH
i7-8750H, GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q
Asus Zephyrus S GX701GX
i7-8750H, GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q
Average of class Gaming
 
Heat
11%
-4%
-6%
9%
5%
3%
Maximum Upper Side *
50
43
14%
46.8
6%
55
-10%
38.6
23%
53
-6%
46.3 ?(28.2 - 61, n=192, last 2 years)
7%
Maximum Bottom *
47
47.2
-0%
62.2
-32%
60
-28%
43.6
7%
50
-6%
49.7 ?(30 - 66.3, n=192, last 2 years)
-6%
Idle Upper Side *
33
27.2
18%
29
12%
30.4
8%
30.2
8%
27
18%
31.5 ?(21.2 - 43, n=192, last 2 years)
5%
Idle Bottom *
34
30
12%
34
-0%
31.8
6%
35
-3%
30
12%
32.7 ?(22.6 - 45, n=192, last 2 years)
4%

* ... smaller is better

Speakers

dB(A) 0102030405060708090Deep BassMiddle BassHigh BassLower RangeMidsHigher MidsLower HighsMid HighsUpper HighsSuper Highs2032.834.32536.338.53129.333.74032.135.45035.938.4633338.68032.636.210027.339.812526.450.716030.164.420024.666.225024.470.931523.471.540018.872.950019.968.763021.672.38001775.3100017.17512502171.8160017.572.4200016.670.6250016.872.5315016.870.7400016.668.7500016.970.1630016.667.8800016.661.91000016.461.91250016.555.81600016.346.1SPL30.583.3N1.561.7median 17.1median 70.1Delta2.45.143.64438.140.737.939.338.939.537.336.336.836.435.337.234.242.933.148.433.558.332.962.331.467.831.171.43170.130.271.629.472.629.175.728.773.828.175.327.974.627.671.127.667.727.463.127.466.327.170.927.271.127.164.32759.226.956.726.954.640.283.63.960.4median 28.1median 67.81.95.6hearing rangehide median Pink NoiseAsus ROG Zephyrus S GX701GXRRazer Blade Pro 17 RTX 2080 Max-Q
Frequency diagram (checkboxes can be checked and unchecked to compare devices)
Asus ROG Zephyrus S GX701GXR audio analysis

(+) | speakers can play relatively loud (83 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(±) | reduced bass - on average 10.3% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (11.1% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(+) | balanced mids - only 2.6% away from median
(+) | mids are linear (4.3% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(+) | balanced highs - only 3.3% away from median
(+) | highs are linear (4.1% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(+) | overall sound is linear (12.5% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 13% of all tested devices in this class were better, 3% similar, 84% worse
» The best had a delta of 6%, average was 18%, worst was 132%
Compared to all devices tested
» 8% of all tested devices were better, 2% similar, 90% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%

Razer Blade Pro 17 RTX 2080 Max-Q audio analysis

(+) | speakers can play relatively loud (83.6 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(±) | reduced bass - on average 10.5% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (14.4% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(±) | higher mids - on average 5.3% higher than median
(+) | mids are linear (4.6% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(+) | balanced highs - only 3.5% away from median
(±) | linearity of highs is average (10% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(±) | linearity of overall sound is average (17.9% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 51% of all tested devices in this class were better, 9% similar, 40% worse
» The best had a delta of 6%, average was 18%, worst was 132%
Compared to all devices tested
» 31% of all tested devices were better, 8% similar, 61% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%

Energy management - The Asus laptop doesn't have much endurance

Energy consumption

When idle, we register a maximum power consumption of 36 watts - a fairly high value. If the built-in GPU were active, the value would be significantly lower. The stress test increases the demand to up to 187 watts. During the execution of our The Witcher 3 test, we measure a power consumption of about 155 watts. The output of the power adapter is 230 watts.

Power Consumption
Off / Standbydarklight 0.6 / 1.2 Watt
Idledarkmidlight 32 / 34 / 36 Watt
Load midlight 95 / 187 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 S GX701GXR
i7-9750H, GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q
Razer Blade Pro 17 RTX 2080 Max-Q
i7-9750H, GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q
Gigabyte Aero 17 XA RP77
i9-9980HK, GeForce RTX 2070 Max-Q
Alienware m17 P37E
i9-8950HK, GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q
Lenovo Legion Y740-17ICH
i7-8750H, GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q
Asus Zephyrus S GX701GX
i7-8750H, GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q
Average of class Gaming
 
Power Consumption
14%
4%
-3%
16%
11%
15%
Idle Minimum *
32
16.2
49%
13.9
57%
21.2
34%
20.2
37%
19
41%
13.8 ?(2 - 64, n=189, last 2 years)
57%
Idle Average *
34
20.4
40%
24.3
29%
29.6
13%
27.2
20%
22
35%
19 ?(6.5 - 67, n=189, last 2 years)
44%
Idle Maximum *
36
26.1
27%
35.5
1%
34
6%
28.7
20%
30
17%
26.6 ?(9 - 101.1, n=189, last 2 years)
26%
Load Average *
95
96.5
-2%
127.6
-34%
130.9
-38%
90.8
4%
104
-9%
112 ?(32.1 - 202, n=189, last 2 years)
-18%
Witcher 3 ultra *
155
182.9
-18%
158
-2%
177.5
-15%
152.1
2%
167
-8%
Load Maximum *
187
214.3
-15%
237.5
-27%
219.7
-17%
165.4
12%
203
-9%
250 ?(64.5 - 418, n=188, last 2 years)
-34%

* ... smaller is better

Battery life

In our practical Wi-Fi test, the GX701GXR achieves a runtime of 3:02 h (iGPU disabled) and 5:13 h (iGPU switched on), respectively. We use a script to simulate the load caused by accessing websites. The "Balanced" profile is active, and the display brightness is adjusted to about 150 cd/m². The 17.3-incher completes our video test after 2:48 h. We run the short film Big Buck Bunny (H.264 encoding, 1920x1080 pixels) in a continuous loop here. The "Power Saving Mode" profile is active, the radio module is deactivated, and the display brightness is reduced to 150 cd/m².

Battery Runtime
Idle (without WLAN, min brightness)
4h 06min
WiFi Websurfing (Edge 44, no Optimus)
3h 02min
WiFi Websurfing (Edge 44, Optimus)
5h 13min
Big Buck Bunny H.264 1080p
2h 48min
Load (maximum brightness)
1h 9min
Asus ROG Zephyrus S GX701GXR
i7-9750H, GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q, 76 Wh
Razer Blade Pro 17 RTX 2080 Max-Q
i7-9750H, GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q, 70 Wh
Gigabyte Aero 17 XA RP77
i9-9980HK, GeForce RTX 2070 Max-Q, 94.24 Wh
Alienware m17 P37E
i9-8950HK, GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q, 90 Wh
Lenovo Legion Y740-17ICH
i7-8750H, GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q, 76 Wh
Asus Zephyrus S GX701GX
i7-8750H, GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q, 76 Wh
Average of class Gaming
 
Battery Runtime
33%
123%
52%
4%
7%
95%
Reader / Idle
246
295
20%
711
189%
543
121%
298
21%
548 ?(57 - 1290, n=90, last 2 years)
123%
H.264
168
392 ?(56 - 747, n=97, last 2 years)
133%
WiFi v1.3
182
280
54%
431
137%
296
63%
190
4%
230
26%
365 ?(57 - 745, n=190, last 2 years)
101%
Load
69
86
25%
98
42%
49
-29%
52
-25%
85.5 ?(36 - 173, n=153, last 2 years)
24%

Pros

+ 300 Hz panel
+ Pantone certification
+ short response times
+ good color reproduction
+ compact metal case
+ moderate weight
+ choice between G-Sync and Optimus
+ NVMe SSD
+ outstanding Wi-Fi transfer speeds
+ headset, gaming mouse, and laptop case included in the box

Cons

- display brightness somewhat too low
- only one memory slot
- space for only one storage device
- limited maintainability
- occasional crackling inside the case
- no Thunderbolt 3
- no memory card reader
- no Ethernet port

Verdict

The ROG Zepyhrus S GX701GXR, provided by Asus Germany.
The ROG Zepyhrus S GX701GXR, provided by Asus Germany.

With the Zephyrus S GX701GXR, Asus delivers a compact 17.3-inch gaming laptop that brings all current games smoothly to the matte Full HD display thanks to the Core i7-9750H processor and the GeForce RTX 2080 Max Q GPU. Heat and noise development are at an acceptable level. Battery life is hardly worth mentioning, but it can be increased by activating the integrated GPU.

The 300 Hz IPS display scores points with short response times, stable viewing angles, good contrast, an X-Rite Pantone certification and great color reproduction.

The display's maximum brightness is slightly too low. A laptop in this price range should offer more in this respect.

Upgrade options are very limited. Only one storage medium (M.2 SSD) can be installed; there is no space for a 2.5-inch hard drive. In addition, the computer only has one memory slot (16 GB of RAM is soldered). More than the installed 32 GB of memory is not supported. Moreover, opening the case turns out to be more complex than with many competitors.

There's also room for improvement in terms of ports. Asus doesn't equip the laptop with a Thunderbolt 3 port, and only equips it with two USB Type-C 3.1 ports (1x Gen 1, 1x Gen 2). The device doesn't provide a memory card reader or an Ethernet port either. Users who expect more in terms of upgrade/maintenance or port selection must resort to a competitor device - for example, the Razer Blade Pro 17 or the Gigabyte Aero 17 XA. 

Asus ROG Zephyrus S GX701GXR - 05/14/2020 v7
Sascha Mölck

Chassis
80 / 98 → 81%
Keyboard
75%
Pointing Device
72%
Connectivity
56 / 80 → 70%
Weight
59 / 10-66 → 87%
Battery
49 / 95 → 52%
Display
86%
Games Performance
94%
Application Performance
85%
Temperature
80 / 95 → 85%
Noise
72 / 90 → 80%
Audio
88%
Average
69%
81%
Gaming - Weighted Average

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> Expert Reviews and News on Laptops, Smartphones and Tech Innovations > Reviews > Asus ROG Zephyrus S GX701GXR laptop review: Slim gaming laptop scores points with a fast 300 Hz display
Sascha Mölck, 2019-12-27 (Update: 2019-12-28)