Notebookcheck Logo

Gigabyte Aero 15-Y9 (i9-8950HK, RTX 2080 Max-Q) Laptop Review

Well endowed. The well-equipped Aero 15-Y9 allows (almost) all games to be played smoothly on its matte 4K screen. However, Gigabyte has chosen to equip the laptop with only the Max-Q variant of the GeForce 2080. As a result, it isn't able to offer much more gaming performance above the Aero-15 models with RTX 2070 Max-Q GPUs.
Coffee Lake Gaming Geforce Laptop Windows

The Aero-15 range from Gigabyte is comprised of powerful, but very compact, 15.6-inch laptops. We recently reviewed another example from the range, the Aero 15-X9, which has a Core i7-8750H and a GeForce RTX 2070 Max-Q on board. The Aero 15-Y9 model sitting before us today represents the highest configuration model in the Aero-15 line-up from Gigabyte. It is therefore accordingly well-equipped: Core i9-8950HK CPU, GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q GPU, 64 GB of RAM, 2 TB of NVMe SSD storage and a 4K screen. For this package, you'll have to fork out around 5,000 Euros (~$5,657). Competition at this end of the market includes the Acer Predator Triton 500, MSI GS65 8RF Stealth Thin, Asus Zephyrus S GX531GS and Razer Blade 15.

Due to the fact that apart from internal configuration, the Aero 15-Y9 and Aero 15-X9 are identical to their predecessors, we won't go into details about the case, features, input devices and speakers etc., which we covered at length in our Aero 15X V8 review.

Gigabyte Aero 15-Y9 (Aero 15 Series)
Processor
Intel Core i9-8950HK 6 x 2.9 - 4.8 GHz, Coffee Lake-H
Graphics adapter
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q - 8 GB VRAM, Core: 735 MHz, Memory: 1500 MHz, GDDR6, 256-bit, ForceWare 419.35, Optimus
Memory
64 GB 
, SO-DIMM DDR4-2666, dual-channel, two banks (both in use)
Display
15.60 inch 16:9, 3840 x 2160 pixel 282 PPI, AU Optronics B156ZAN03.1 (AUO31EB), IPS, 60 Hz, 4K/UHD, glossy: no
Mainboard
Intel HM370
Storage
Intel SSD 760p SSDPEKKW020T8, 2048 GB 
, 2x M.2-2280 (one slot in use)
Soundcard
Realtek ALC255 @ Intel Cannon Point-LP PCH - cAVS (Audio, Video, Speech)
Connections
2 USB 3.0 / 3.1 Gen1, 2 USB 3.1 Gen2, 1 Thunderbolt, 1 HDMI, 2 DisplayPort, 1 Kensington Lock, Audio Connections: audio combo, Card Reader: SD/SDHC/SDXC
Networking
Killer E2500 Gigabit Ethernet Controller (10/100/1000MBit/s), Killer Wireless-AC 1550i Wireless Network Adapter (9560NGW) (a/b/g/n = Wi-Fi 4/ac = Wi-Fi 5/), Bluetooth 5.0
Size
height x width x depth (in mm): 20 x 356 x 250 ( = 0.79 x 14.02 x 9.84 in)
Battery
94.24 Wh, 6200 mAh Lithium-Polymer, 15.2 V
Operating System
Microsoft Windows 10 Pro 64 Bit
Camera
Webcam: HD
Primary Camera: 0.9 MPix
Additional features
Speakers: Stereo (2x 2W), Keyboard: Chiclet, Keyboard Light: yes, 230 watt power adapter, XSplit Gamecaster, XSplit Broadcaster, 24 Months Warranty
Weight
2.118 kg ( = 74.71 oz / 4.67 pounds), Power Supply: 718 g ( = 25.33 oz / 1.58 pounds)
Price
4999 Euro
Links
Gigabyte homepage
Note: The manufacturer may use components from different suppliers including display panels, drives or memory sticks with similar specifications.

 

Size Comparison

❌
359 mm / 14.1 inch 255 mm / 10 inch 18 mm / 0.709 inch 2.1 kg4.73 lbs356 mm / 14 inch 250 mm / 9.84 inch 20 mm / 0.787 inch 2.1 kg4.67 lbs358 mm / 14.1 inch 248 mm / 9.76 inch 18 mm / 0.709 inch 1.8 kg4.07 lbs360 mm / 14.2 inch 268 mm / 10.6 inch 15.8 mm / 0.622 inch 2.1 kg4.62 lbs356 mm / 14 inch 250 mm / 9.84 inch 18.9 mm / 0.744 inch 2.1 kg4.67 lbs355 mm / 14 inch 235 mm / 9.25 inch 17.8 mm / 0.701 inch 2.1 kg4.63 lbs297 mm / 11.7 inch 210 mm / 8.27 inch 1 mm / 0.03937 inch 5.7 g0.01257 lbs
SD Card Reader
average JPG Copy Test (av. of 3 runs)
Gigabyte Aero 15-X9
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II)
200 MB/s +2%
Gigabyte Aero 15-Y9
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II)
197 MB/s
Gigabyte Aero 15X v8
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II)
191 MB/s -3%
Average of class Gaming
  (19 - 202, n=100, last 2 years)
98.4 MB/s -50%
maximum AS SSD Seq Read Test (1GB)
Gigabyte Aero 15X v8
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II)
242 MB/s 0%
Gigabyte Aero 15-X9
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II)
242 MB/s 0%
Gigabyte Aero 15-Y9
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II)
242 MB/s
Average of class Gaming
  (26 - 269, n=93, last 2 years)
122.3 MB/s -49%
Networking
iperf3 transmit AX12
Average of class Gaming
  (885 - 1412, n=5, last 2 years)
1135 MBit/s +71%
Asus Zephyrus S GX531GS
Intel Wireless-AC 9560
693 MBit/s +5%
Acer Predator Triton 500
Killer Wireless-AC 1550i Wireless Network Adapter (9560NGW)
683 MBit/s +3%
Gigabyte Aero 15-X9
Killer Wireless-AC 1550i Wireless Network Adapter (9560NGW)
680 MBit/s +3%
MSI GS65 8RF-019DE Stealth Thin
Killer Wireless-AC 1550 Wireless Network Adapter
662 MBit/s 0%
Gigabyte Aero 15-Y9
Killer Wireless-AC 1550i Wireless Network Adapter (9560NGW)
662 MBit/s
Razer Blade 15 RTX 2070 Max-Q
Intel Wireless-AC 9560
655 MBit/s -1%
Gigabyte Aero 15X v8
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 8265
379 MBit/s -43%
iperf3 receive AX12
Average of class Gaming
  (881 - 1700, n=5, last 2 years)
1369 MBit/s +103%
Razer Blade 15 RTX 2070 Max-Q
Intel Wireless-AC 9560
684 MBit/s +2%
Asus Zephyrus S GX531GS
Intel Wireless-AC 9560
683 MBit/s +1%
Gigabyte Aero 15X v8
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 8265
682 MBit/s +1%
Gigabyte Aero 15-X9
Killer Wireless-AC 1550i Wireless Network Adapter (9560NGW)
678 MBit/s +1%
Gigabyte Aero 15-Y9
Killer Wireless-AC 1550i Wireless Network Adapter (9560NGW)
673 MBit/s
Acer Predator Triton 500
Killer Wireless-AC 1550i Wireless Network Adapter (9560NGW)
671 MBit/s 0%
MSI GS65 8RF-019DE Stealth Thin
Killer Wireless-AC 1550 Wireless Network Adapter
660 MBit/s -2%

Display - 4K - IPS

The matte 15.6-inch display of the Aero 15 has a native resolution of 3840x2,160. Brightness (337 cd/m²) and contrast (1,207:1) aim to please. Compared to the competition in our review, the Aero 15-Y9 offered the brightest panel. However, the reaction times are somewhat behind the rest of the field, which have 144 Hz panels on board. Another positive - the display exhibited no PWM flickering.

333
cd/m²		346
cd/m²		343
cd/m²
332
cd/m²		350
cd/m²		324
cd/m²
333
cd/m²		351
cd/m²		322
cd/m²
Distribution of brightness
AU Optronics B156ZAN03.1 (AUO31EB) tested with X-Rite i1Pro 2
Maximum: 351 cd/m² (Nits) Average: 337.1 cd/m² Minimum: 10 cd/m²
Brightness Distribution: 92 %
Center on Battery: 350 cd/m²
Contrast: 1207:1 (Black: 0.29 cd/m²)
ΔE Color 0.93 | 0.5-29.43 Ø5, calibrated: 0.62
ΔE Greyscale 1.21 | 0.57-98 Ø5.3
100% sRGB (Argyll 1.6.3 3D)
88% AdobeRGB 1998 (Argyll 1.6.3 3D)
99.7% AdobeRGB 1998 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
100% sRGB (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
86.8% Display P3 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
Gamma: 2.2
Gigabyte Aero 15-Y9
AU Optronics B156ZAN03.1 (AUO31EB), IPS, 3840x2160		Gigabyte Aero 15-X9
LGD05C0, IPS, 1920x1080		MSI GS65 8RF-019DE Stealth Thin
AU Optronics B156HAN08.0 (AUO80ED), IPS, 1920x1080		Asus Zephyrus S GX531GS
AU Optronics B156HAN08.2 (AUO82ED), IPS, 1920x1080		Acer Predator Triton 500
AU Optronics B156HAN08.2 (AUO82ED), IPS, 1920x1080		Razer Blade 15 RTX 2070 Max-Q
LG Philips LGD05C0, IPS, 1920x1080
Display
-23%
-22%
-22%
-22%
-21%
Display P3 Coverage
86.8
63.5
-27%
66.2
-24%
66.7
-23%
64.2
-26%
65.3
-25%
sRGB Coverage
100
93.1
-7%
92.1
-8%
91.2
-9%
92.6
-7%
94.9
-5%
AdobeRGB 1998 Coverage
99.7
64.5
-35%
67.2
-33%
66.7
-33%
65.7
-34%
66.3
-34%
Response Times
63%
64%
77%
74%
66%
Response Time Grey 50% / Grey 80% *
60 ?(29.2, 30.8)
16.4 ?(8.8, 7.6)
73%
17.6 ?(9.2, 8.4)
71%
7.4 ?(3.8, 3.6)
88%
8 ?(4, 4)
87%
16.8 ?(9.2, 7.6)
72%
Response Time Black / White *
28.8 ?(13.2, 15.6)
13.6 ?(8.4, 5.2)
53%
12.8 ?(7.6, 5.2)
56%
10 ?(4.4, 5.6)
65%
11.2 ?(6, 5.2)
61%
11.6 ?(7.2, 4.4)
60%
PWM Frequency
Screen
-27%
-62%
-75%
-143%
-81%
Brightness middle
350
250
-29%
254
-27%
294
-16%
304
-13%
314.7
-10%
Brightness
337
235
-30%
262
-22%
275
-18%
299
-11%
312
-7%
Brightness Distribution
92
85
-8%
89
-3%
84
-9%
89
-3%
90
-2%
Black Level *
0.29
0.29
-0%
0.22
24%
0.24
17%
0.27
7%
0.38
-31%
Contrast
1207
862
-29%
1155
-4%
1225
1%
1126
-7%
828
-31%
Colorchecker dE 2000 *
0.93
1.46
-57%
2.37
-155%
2.57
-176%
4.66
-401%
2.56
-175%
Colorchecker dE 2000 max. *
1.43
2.47
-73%
4.71
-229%
4.88
-241%
9.65
-575%
4.89
-242%
Colorchecker dE 2000 calibrated *
0.62
1.84
-197%
2.14
-245%
1.72
-177%
1.71
-176%
Greyscale dE 2000 *
1.21
1.27
-5%
1.58
-31%
2.41
-99%
5.53
-357%
3.4
-181%
Gamma
2.2 100%
2.4 92%
2.48 89%
2.5 88%
2.5 88%
2.3 96%
CCT
6672 97%
6749 96%
6785 96%
6370 102%
8028 81%
6435 101%
Color Space (Percent of AdobeRGB 1998)
88
60
-32%
60
-32%
59
-33%
60
-32%
60.7
-31%
Color Space (Percent of sRGB)
100
93
-7%
92
-8%
91
-9%
93
-7%
94.6
-5%
Total Average (Program / Settings)
4% / -14%
-7% / -39%
-7% / -46%
-30% / -93%
-12% / -51%

* ... smaller is better

Straight out of the box, the display had very good colour accuracy with a Delta-E-2000 colour-difference value of 0.93, more than fulfilling requirements (Delta E value less than 3). The display also does not appear too "cool" or blue-tinted. Grey tones were additionally very balanced, and a calibration performed by us on the display resulted in only minimal improvements, which for the average user wouldn't be noticeable. After calibration, the colour-difference value dropped to 0.62 and the grey tones were even more balanced. In terms of colour-space coverage, the display also shines with 88% (AdobeRGB) and 100% (sRGB) scores.

With our pre-prepared ICC profile file you can apply the same settings for colour reproduction that we achieved during our calibration - but please check in advance to ensure that the same display (manufacturer and model number) is installed in your laptop, otherwise it may make things worse instead of better. It's very common practice for models in the same laptop range to be equipped with different panels from multiple manufacturers.

CalMAN: Grayscale
CalMAN: Grayscale
CalMAN: Colour saturation
CalMAN: Colour saturation
CalMAN: ColorChecker
CalMAN: ColorChecker
CalMAN: Grayscale (calibrated)
CalMAN: Grayscale (calibrated)
CalMAN: Saturation (calibrated)
CalMAN: Saturation (calibrated)
CalMAN: ColorChecker (calibrated)
CalMAN: ColorChecker (calibrated)
Gigabyte Aero 15-Y9 vs. sRGB (100%)
Gigabyte Aero 15-Y9 vs. sRGB (100%)
Subpixel grid
Subpixel grid
Backlight bleeding
Backlight bleeding
Gigabyte Aero 15-Y9 vs. AdobeRGB (88%)
Gigabyte Aero 15-Y9 vs. AdobeRGB (88%)

Display Response Times

ℹ
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
28.8 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined↗ 13.2 ms rise
↘ 15.6 ms fall
The screen shows relatively slow response rates in our tests and may be too slow for gamers.
In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.1 (minimum) to 240 (maximum) ms. » 72 % of all devices are better.
This means that the measured response time is worse than the average of all tested devices (21.5 ms).
   ↔    Response Time 50% Grey to 80% Grey
60 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined↗ 29.2 ms rise
↘ 30.8 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. » 95 % of all devices are better.
This means that the measured response time is worse than the average of all tested devices (33.8 ms).

Screen Flickering / PWM (Pulse-Width Modulation)

ℹ
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 17933 (minimum: 5 - maximum: 3846000) Hz was measured.

Gigabyte has equipped the Aero with an IPS panel with good viewing angles. As a result, the screen is visible from any position. The laptop was usable outside thanks to its bright display, as long as the sun wasn't too bright at the time.

Direct light (slightly overcast conditions)
Direct light (slightly overcast conditions)
Indirect light (slightly overcast conditions)
Indirect light (slightly overcast conditions)
Viewing angles
Viewing angles

Performance - Core i9 Power

The Gigabyte Aero 15-Y9 is a device in the family of slim, portable 15.6-inch gaming laptops and is able to provide smooth performance in (almost) every current game. In terms of other areas such as productivity, it also does not disappoint. For our review device you'll have to hand over around 5,000 Euros (~$5,657); however, other configurations are available.

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

Test Setup

The preinstalled Gigabyte Control Center offers, amongst other things, the ability to apply an energy profile. We decided against this and selected the option "Customize" that results in Windows' own power profiles being used.

Processor

The Aero 15 is powered by a Core i9-8950HK (Coffee Lake) hexa-core processor. The CPU is soldered to the board and cannot be swapped out, so anyone who places value on being able to replace their CPU will have to turn to a much more substantial laptop such as the Schenker XMG Ultra 15.

The Core i9 operates with a base frequency of 2.9 GHz, and can turbo up to 4.3 GHz (all six cores), 4.5 GHz (four cores), 4.7 GHz (two cores) or 4.8 GHz (one core). It is a mobile CPU with a TDP value of 45 watts. Hyper-Threading (two threads per core) is supported. The unlocked multiplier allows for simple overclocking of the CPU.

The multithread tests of Cinebench resulted in the CPU operating at around 3.7 - 4.1 GHz. The single-thread tests ran at 4.1 - 4.6 GHz. This was only valid for when on mains power; on battery, the CPU was clocked at a constant 2.3 GHz.

Single-core rendering
Single-core rendering
Multicore rendering
Multicore rendering
GPU load
GPU load

Whether or not the CPU turbo mode can be sustained in mains operation is tested by running the multithread test of Cinebench R15 for approximately 30 minutes in a loop. The results fall somewhat between the first and fifth runs and then stabilise at a relatively constant level between 1,140 and 1,170 points. Turbo mode did engage, but somewhat below its possible maximum.

0651301952603253904555205856507157808459109751040110511701235Tooltip
Gigabyte Aero 15-Y9 Intel Core i9-8950HK, Intel Core i9-8950HK: Ø1157 (1138.53-1236.86)
Gigabyte Aero 15-X9 Intel Core i7-8750H, Intel Core i7-8750H: Ø1095 (1087.31-1156.25)
MSI GS65 8RF-019DE Stealth Thin Intel Core i7-8750H, Intel Core i7-8750H: Ø981 (927.26-1023.23)
Asus Zephyrus S GX531GS Intel Core i7-8750H, Intel Core i7-8750H: Ø1004 (937.73-1119.73)
Acer Predator Triton 500 Intel Core i7-8750H, Intel Core i7-8750H: Ø980 (961.82-1019.05)
Razer Blade 15 RTX 2070 Max-Q Intel Core i7-8750H, Intel Core i7-8750H: Ø922 (913.2-999)
CPU clock speed during the Cinebench 15 run
CPU clock speed during the Cinebench 15 run
Cinebench R10 Rendering Single 32Bit
7089
Cinebench R10 Rendering Multiple CPUs 32Bit
37099
Cinebench R10 Shading 32Bit
6820
Cinebench R15 CPU Single 64Bit
193 Points
Cinebench R15 CPU Multi 64Bit
1237 Points
Cinebench R15 OpenGL 64Bit
115.9 fps
Cinebench R15 Ref. Match 64Bit
99.6 %
Help
Cinebench R15 | Cinebench R10 | Cinebench R20 | Geekbench 3 | Geekbench 4.4 | Mozilla Kraken 1.1 | Octane V2 | JetStream 1.1
Cinebench R15
CPU Single 64Bit
Average of class Gaming
  (79.2 - 318, n=230, last 2 years)
268 Points +39%
Gigabyte Aero 15-Y9
Intel Core i9-8950HK
193 Points
Acer Predator Triton 500
Intel Core i7-8750H
176 Points -9%
MSI GS65 8RF-019DE Stealth Thin
Intel Core i7-8750H
175 Points -9%
Razer Blade 15 RTX 2070 Max-Q
Intel Core i7-8750H
174 Points -10%
Asus Zephyrus S GX531GS
Intel Core i7-8750H
166 Points -14%
Gigabyte Aero 15-X9
Intel Core i7-8750H
166 Points -14%
CPU Multi 64Bit
Average of class Gaming
  (400 - 5663, n=231, last 2 years)
3074 Points +149%
Gigabyte Aero 15-Y9
Intel Core i9-8950HK
1237 Points
Gigabyte Aero 15-X9
Intel Core i7-8750H
1156 Points -7%
Asus Zephyrus S GX531GS
Intel Core i7-8750H
1120 Points -9%
MSI GS65 8RF-019DE Stealth Thin
Intel Core i7-8750H
1053 Points -15%
Acer Predator Triton 500
Intel Core i7-8750H
1019 Points -18%
Razer Blade 15 RTX 2070 Max-Q
Intel Core i7-8750H
999 Points -19%
Cinebench R10
Rendering Single 32Bit
Average of class Gaming
  (5719 - 15819, n=24, last 2 years)
9030 Points +27%
Gigabyte Aero 15-Y9
Intel Core i9-8950HK
7089 Points
Gigabyte Aero 15-X9
Intel Core i7-8750H
6351 Points -10%
Rendering Multiple CPUs 32Bit
Average of class Gaming
  (32456 - 112749, n=24, last 2 years)
58921 Points +59%
Gigabyte Aero 15-Y9
Intel Core i9-8950HK
37099 Points
Gigabyte Aero 15-X9
Intel Core i7-8750H
33923 Points -9%
Cinebench R20
CPU (Single Core)
Average of class Gaming
  (169 - 855, n=227, last 2 years)
697 Points +80%
Gigabyte Aero 15-Y9
Intel Core i9-8950HK
387 Points
CPU (Multi Core)
Average of class Gaming
  (930 - 13769, n=227, last 2 years)
7383 Points +210%
Gigabyte Aero 15-Y9
Intel Core i9-8950HK
2379 Points
Geekbench 3
32 Bit Multi-Core Score
Gigabyte Aero 15-Y9
Intel Core i9-8950HK
23881 Points
Gigabyte Aero 15-X9
Intel Core i7-8750H
21358 Points -11%
32 Bit Single-Core Score
Gigabyte Aero 15-Y9
Intel Core i9-8950HK
4511 Points
Gigabyte Aero 15-X9
Intel Core i7-8750H
3741 Points -17%
Geekbench 4.4
64 Bit Multi-Core Score
Average of class Gaming
  (31241 - 71700, n=26, last 2 years)
48889 Points +97%
Gigabyte Aero 15-Y9
Intel Core i9-8950HK
24847 Points
Gigabyte Aero 15-X9
Intel Core i7-8750H
18716 Points -25%
64 Bit Single-Core Score
Average of class Gaming
  (5986 - 8936, n=26, last 2 years)
7580 Points +33%
Gigabyte Aero 15-Y9
Intel Core i9-8950HK
5682 Points
Gigabyte Aero 15-X9
Intel Core i7-8750H
4810 Points -15%
Mozilla Kraken 1.1 - Total
Gigabyte Aero 15-X9
Intel Core i7-8750H (Edge 44)
1138 ms * -12%
Razer Blade 15 RTX 2070 Max-Q
Intel Core i7-8750H (Edge 44.17763.1.0)
1126 ms * -11%
Gigabyte Aero 15-Y9
Intel Core i9-8950HK (Edge 44)
1014 ms *
Average of class Gaming
  (421 - 824, n=208, last 2 years)
521 ms * +49%
Octane V2 - Total Score
Average of class Gaming
  (69893 - 111243, n=52, last 2 years)
92245 Points +144%
Gigabyte Aero 15-Y9
Intel Core i9-8950HK (Edge 44)
37865 Points
Gigabyte Aero 15-X9
Intel Core i7-8750H (Edge 44)
33659 Points -11%
Razer Blade 15 RTX 2070 Max-Q
Intel Core i7-8750H (Edge 44.17763.1.0)
30594 Points -19%
JetStream 1.1 - Total Score
Average of class Gaming
  (357 - 650, n=27, last 2 years)
493 Points +79%
Gigabyte Aero 15-Y9
Intel Core i9-8950HK (Edge 44)
274.9 Points
Razer Blade 15 RTX 2070 Max-Q
Intel Core i7-8750H (Edge 44.17763.1.0)
255.9 Points -7%
Gigabyte Aero 15-X9
Intel Core i7-8750H (Edge 44)
245.4 Points -11%

* ... smaller is better

System Performance

In terms of system performance, the Aero 15 can take on anything thrown at it. Thanks to very high-end hardware it not only impresses in gaming service but also with video and image-editing. In addition, it achieved very good results in the PCMark benchmarks. However, a look at our comparison table shows that despite having a more-powerful CPU and GPU combination, it comes in behind the Aero 15-X9. This is likely due to the higher screen resolution (4K vs. FHD) of the Aero 15-Y9.

PCMark 10
PCMark 10
PCMark 7 Score
6905 points
PCMark 8 Home Score Accelerated v2
3944 points
PCMark 8 Creative Score Accelerated v2
5164 points
PCMark 8 Work Score Accelerated v2
4775 points
PCMark 10 Score
5743 points
Help
PCMark 10 | PCMark 8
PCMark 10 - Score
Average of class Gaming
  (5235 - 9852, n=197, last 2 years)
7573 Points +32%
Acer Predator Triton 500
GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q, i7-8750H, 2x WDC PC SN720 SDAPNTW-256G-1014 (RAID 0)
5883 Points +2%
Gigabyte Aero 15-Y9
GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q, i9-8950HK, Intel SSD 760p SSDPEKKW020T8
5743 Points
Razer Blade 15 RTX 2070 Max-Q
GeForce RTX 2070 Max-Q, i7-8750H, Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB512HAJQ
5416 Points -6%
Gigabyte Aero 15-X9
GeForce RTX 2070 Max-Q, i7-8750H, Intel SSD 760p SSDPEKKW010T8
5353 Points -7%
Asus Zephyrus S GX531GS
GeForce GTX 1070 Max-Q, i7-8750H, WDC PC SN520 SDAPNUW-512G
5170 Points -10%
MSI GS65 8RF-019DE Stealth Thin
GeForce GTX 1070 Max-Q, i7-8750H, Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB512HAJQ
5095 Points -11%
PCMark 8
Home Score Accelerated v2
Average of class Gaming
  (4166 - 6653, n=33, last 2 years)
5202 Points +32%
MSI GS65 8RF-019DE Stealth Thin
GeForce GTX 1070 Max-Q, i7-8750H, Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB512HAJQ
4665 Points +18%
Asus Zephyrus S GX531GS
GeForce GTX 1070 Max-Q, i7-8750H, WDC PC SN520 SDAPNUW-512G
4620 Points +17%
Gigabyte Aero 15-X9
GeForce RTX 2070 Max-Q, i7-8750H, Intel SSD 760p SSDPEKKW010T8
4338 Points +10%
Razer Blade 15 RTX 2070 Max-Q
GeForce RTX 2070 Max-Q, i7-8750H, Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB512HAJQ
4150 Points +5%
Gigabyte Aero 15-Y9
GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q, i9-8950HK, Intel SSD 760p SSDPEKKW020T8
3944 Points
Work Score Accelerated v2
Average of class Gaming
  (4622 - 7085, n=32, last 2 years)
6048 Points +27%
Asus Zephyrus S GX531GS
GeForce GTX 1070 Max-Q, i7-8750H, WDC PC SN520 SDAPNUW-512G
5706 Points +19%
Gigabyte Aero 15-X9
GeForce RTX 2070 Max-Q, i7-8750H, Intel SSD 760p SSDPEKKW010T8
5645 Points +18%
MSI GS65 8RF-019DE Stealth Thin
GeForce GTX 1070 Max-Q, i7-8750H, Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB512HAJQ
5621 Points +18%
Razer Blade 15 RTX 2070 Max-Q
GeForce RTX 2070 Max-Q, i7-8750H, Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB512HAJQ
5607 Points +17%
Gigabyte Aero 15-Y9
GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q, i9-8950HK, Intel SSD 760p SSDPEKKW020T8
4775 Points

Storage

Purchasers of the Aero 15-Y9 are not likely to complain about internal storage. Gigabyte installed in our review unit a 2 TB NVMe SSD in M.2 form, which delivered exceptional transfer rates. This is thanks to it being a PCI Express 3.0 x4 device, which results in much higher transfer speeds in comparison to SATA 3 models that are limited to 600 MB/s.

Should it be necessary at some point to expand storage - no problem. The internals of the laptop offer a second M.2 2280 slot, which can take either an NVMe or SATA 3 SSD.

CrystalDiskMark 3.0
CrystalDiskMark 5.2 / 6
AS SSD
hddimg
Intel SSD 760p SSDPEKKW020T8
Sequential Read: 2369 MB/s
Sequential Write: 1450 MB/s
512K Read: 1386 MB/s
512K Write: 1439 MB/s
4K Read: 62.5 MB/s
4K Write: 136.8 MB/s
4K QD32 Read: 590 MB/s
4K QD32 Write: 464.6 MB/s
Gigabyte Aero 15-Y9
Intel SSD 760p SSDPEKKW020T8		Gigabyte Aero 15-X9
Intel SSD 760p SSDPEKKW010T8		MSI GS65 8RF-019DE Stealth Thin
Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB512HAJQ		Asus Zephyrus S GX531GS
WDC PC SN520 SDAPNUW-512G		Acer Predator Triton 500
2x WDC PC SN720 SDAPNTW-256G-1014 (RAID 0)		Razer Blade 15 RTX 2070 Max-Q
Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB512HAJQ
CrystalDiskMark 5.2 / 6
-8%
-6%
-20%
14%
-6%
Write 4K
109.4
97.1
-11%
95.3
-13%
98.2
-10%
93.6
-14%
93.9
-14%
Read 4K
56.6
53.7
-5%
40.13
-29%
39.43
-30%
38.82
-31%
40.56
-28%
Write Seq
1508
1526
1%
1883
25%
1386
-8%
2455
63%
1468
-3%
Read Seq
2427
2020
-17%
1322
-46%
1100
-55%
2107
-13%
1540
-37%
Write 4K Q32T1
307
285.6
-7%
309.9
1%
270.3
-12%
298.7
-3%
293.5
-4%
Read 4K Q32T1
351.3
321.8
-8%
353.7
1%
340.3
-3%
338.7
-4%
346
-2%
Write Seq Q32T1
1523
1533
1%
1919
26%
1454
-5%
2902
91%
1941
27%
Read Seq Q32T1
2825
2351
-17%
2466
-13%
1681
-40%
3536
25%
3266
16%

Graphics Card

The Aero-15 Y9 is equipped with a GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q. This variant of the RTX 2080 focuses on power and heat efficiency and is intended for thin and light laptops. Nvidia offers two variants of the adapter that are classified by TDP and therefore run at differing speeds. The 80-watt model has a core clock of 735 - 1,095 MHz, and the 90-watt model offers 990 - 1,230 MHz. The Aero is equipped with the 80-watt version.

The GPU in our review unit at one point reached a maximum core speed of 1,455 MHz, but this value cannot be achieved for long - during our benchmark testing, the average clock speed measured was 1,050 MHz. In terms of VRAM, it is equipped with 8,192 MB of fast GDDR6 RAM.

The results from 3DMark place the laptop, in comparison with previously tested RTX 2080 Max-Q devices, somewhere around the bottom of the scale. As a result, the GPU is not able to vastly differentiate itself from the Aero 15-X9 with its RTX 2070 Max-Q - in addition, the Aero 15-X9 also had a bit more to give, as the review unit we tested was equipped with RAM in single-channel mode, whereas the Aero 15-Y9 has two RAM modules (i.e. dual-channel mode) on board.

The CPU-integrated graphics adapter, an Intel UHD Graphics 630, is active, and it operates in conjunction with Nvidia's GPU-switching solution Optimus.

Fire Strike Ultra
Fire Strike Ultra
Time Spy
Time Spy
Port Royal
Port Royal
3DMark 06 Standard Score
38435 points
3DMark 11 Performance
19220 points
3DMark Ice Storm Standard Score
66387 points
3DMark Cloud Gate Standard Score
29945 points
3DMark Fire Strike Score
16020 points
3DMark Time Spy Score
6399 points
Help
3DMark | 3DMark 11
3DMark
1920x1080 Fire Strike Graphics
Average of class Gaming
  (781 - 53059, n=233, last 2 years)
29268 Points +62%
Razer Blade 15 RTX 2070 Max-Q
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 Max-Q
18153 Points +1%
Gigabyte Aero 15-Y9
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q
18048 Points
Gigabyte Aero 15-X9
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 Max-Q
17598 Points -2%
MSI GS65 8RF-019DE Stealth Thin
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 Max-Q
14780 Points -18%
2560x1440 Time Spy Graphics
Average of class Gaming
  (224 - 22547, n=231, last 2 years)
11960 Points +85%
Razer Blade 15 RTX 2070 Max-Q
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 Max-Q
6728 Points +4%
Gigabyte Aero 15-X9
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 Max-Q
6562 Points +2%
Gigabyte Aero 15-Y9
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q
6464 Points
3DMark 11 - 1280x720 Performance GPU
Average of class Gaming
  (1029 - 72070, n=229, last 2 years)
40173 Points +72%
Acer Predator Triton 500
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q
28083 Points +20%
Gigabyte Aero 15-Y9
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q
23386 Points
Razer Blade 15 RTX 2070 Max-Q
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 Max-Q
22723 Points -3%
Gigabyte Aero 15-X9
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 Max-Q
22089 Points -6%
MSI GS65 8RF-019DE Stealth Thin
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 Max-Q
18687 Points -20%
Asus Zephyrus S GX531GS
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 Max-Q
18296 Points -22%

Gaming Performance

The Aero 15 is able to play all current games fluidly. Generally this requires using FHD resolution at maximum detail settings. Many games will also allow the player to take advantage of the 4K screen; however, detail settings may have to be wound down a little.

low med. high ultra4K
BioShock Infinite (2013) 280.1 197.5 187.8 137.6
GTA V (2015) 140 135.3 115.4 62.6 74
The Witcher 3 (2015) 255 192.7 117.3 65.7 39.6
X-Plane 11.11 (2018) 91 80.5 67.2 51.8
Far Cry 5 (2018) 114 94 88 84 34
Darksiders III (2018) 137 103.5 94.3 84.8 29.8
Apex Legends (2019) 143.7 137.1 111.8 109.9 36
Far Cry New Dawn (2019) 101 88 82 74 36
Metro Exodus (2019) 116.7 77.7 58.2 47.8 20.9
Anthem (2019) 84.5 73.7 72.1 67.4 26.4
Dirt Rally 2.0 (2019) 157.8 116.1 101.1 66.3 31.2
The Division 2 (2019) 132 97 84 69 26
The Witcher 3 | BioShock Infinite | GTA V | X-Plane 11.11
The Witcher 3 - 1920x1080 Ultra Graphics & Postprocessing (HBAO+)
Average of class Gaming
  (8.61 - 216, n=225, last 2 years)
116.1 fps +77%
Acer Predator Triton 500
GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q, i7-8750H
76.5 (63min) fps +16%
Razer Blade 15 RTX 2070 Max-Q
GeForce RTX 2070 Max-Q, i7-8750H
68.9 fps +5%
Gigabyte Aero 15-Y9
GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q, i9-8950HK
65.7 fps
Gigabyte Aero 15-X9
GeForce RTX 2070 Max-Q, i7-8750H
58.3 (48min) fps -11%
MSI GS65 8RF-019DE Stealth Thin
GeForce GTX 1070 Max-Q, i7-8750H
52.7 fps -20%
Asus Zephyrus S GX531GS
GeForce GTX 1070 Max-Q, i7-8750H
49.2 fps -25%
BioShock Infinite - 1920x1080 Ultra Preset, DX11 (DDOF)
Razer Blade 15 RTX 2070 Max-Q
GeForce RTX 2070 Max-Q, i7-8750H
152.5 fps +11%
Gigabyte Aero 15-Y9
GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q, i9-8950HK
137.6 fps
Gigabyte Aero 15-X9
GeForce RTX 2070 Max-Q, i7-8750H
127.7 fps -7%
GTA V - 1920x1080 Highest Settings possible AA:4xMSAA + FX AF:16x
Average of class Gaming
  (6.38 - 167.7, n=215, last 2 years)
106.7 fps +70%
Gigabyte Aero 15-Y9
GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q, i9-8950HK
62.6 fps
Gigabyte Aero 15-X9
GeForce RTX 2070 Max-Q, i7-8750H
54.2 fps -13%
X-Plane 11.11 - 1920x1080 high (fps_test=3)
Average of class Gaming
  (12.4 - 166.2, n=240, last 2 years)
101.2 fps +51%
Gigabyte Aero 15-Y9
GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q, i9-8950HK
67.2 fps
Gigabyte Aero 15-X9
GeForce RTX 2070 Max-Q, i7-8750H
61.6 fps -8%

The higher frame rates achieved in comparison to the Aero 15-X9 are not overly noticeable, plus the gap could be narrowed by equipping the Aero 15-X9 with a second RAM module that would allow for dual-channel mode and an increase in frame-rate performance.

Due to the fact we no longer have the Aero 15-X9, we instead removed a RAM module from the Aero 15-X9 and repeated some of the game benchmarks in single-channel mode. Both Aero models delivered frame-rate results within spitting distance of each other. The only game that bucked this trend was Darksiders 3, which ran noticeably faster.

Gigabyte Aero 15-Y9
Intel Core i9-8950HK, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q		Gigabyte Aero 15-X9
Intel Core i7-8750H, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 Max-Q		Gigabyte Aero 15-Y9
Intel Core i9-8950HK, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q
BioShock Infinite
1920x1080 Ultra Preset, DX11 (DDOF)
137.6
127.7
-7%
118.9 ?(Single-Channel)
-14%
X-Plane 11.11
1920x1080 high (fps_test=3)
67.2
61.6
-8%
55.8 ?(Single-Channel)
-17%
Far Cry 5
1920x1080 Ultra Preset AA:T
84
67
-20%
66 ?(Single-Channel)
-21%
Darksiders III
1920x1080 Epic
84.8
64.9
-23%
81.4 ?(Single-Channel)
-4%
Total Average (Program / Settings)
-15% / -15%
-14% / -14%

To test whether or not the frame rate can be maintained over a longer time period, we run the game The Witcher 3 for approximately 60 minutes in FHD resolution and maximum detail settings. The game's protagonist is not moved during this test. The frame rates did drop over the test period, but remained at a playable level. No real performance drop could be determined.

05101520253035404550556065707580Tooltip
Gigabyte Aero 15-Y9 GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q, i9-8950HK, Intel SSD 760p SSDPEKKW020T8: Ø59.9 (47-67)
Gigabyte Aero 15-X9 GeForce RTX 2070 Max-Q, i7-8750H, Intel SSD 760p SSDPEKKW010T8: Ø51.3 (44-61)
MSI GS65 8RF-019DE Stealth Thin GeForce GTX 1070 Max-Q, i7-8750H, Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB512HAJQ: Ø49.5 (46-53)
Asus Zephyrus S GX531GS GeForce GTX 1070 Max-Q, i7-8750H, WDC PC SN520 SDAPNUW-512G: Ø50.3 (45-54)
Acer Predator Triton 500 GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q, i7-8750H, 2x WDC PC SN720 SDAPNTW-256G-1014 (RAID 0): Ø76.1 (70-81)
Razer Blade 15 RTX 2070 Max-Q GeForce RTX 2070 Max-Q, i7-8750H, Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB512HAJQ: Ø62.2 (57-70)
GPU clock during The Witcher 3 tests
GPU clock during The Witcher 3 tests

Emissions - Too Hot Under Load

Noise Levels

At idle and under light loads, noise levels are kept in check despite a fan that runs constantly. It is possible to run the laptop in silent mode - for this, you have to go into the Gigabyte Control Center and set the fan control to "Quiet". When under load, the fans spin up considerably. During the stress tests we measured a noise level of 45 dB(A). However, during the test it produced less noise than the lower-equipped Aero 15-X9. During gaming it was similarly loud - here we measured noise levels between 38 and 45 dB(A) (average: 44 dB(A)). For comparison, we measured average noise levels in our The Witcher 3 test of between 42 and 43 dB(A).

Noise levels - idle
Noise levels - idle
Noise levels - load
Noise levels - load
Noise levels - speaker
Noise levels - speaker

Noise Level

Idle
31 / 33 / 36 dB(A)
Load
44 / 45 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: 29 dB(A)
Gigabyte Aero 15-Y9
i9-8950HK, GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q		Gigabyte Aero 15-X9
i7-8750H, GeForce RTX 2070 Max-Q		MSI GS65 8RF-019DE Stealth Thin
i7-8750H, GeForce GTX 1070 Max-Q		Asus Zephyrus S GX531GS
i7-8750H, GeForce GTX 1070 Max-Q		Acer Predator Triton 500
i7-8750H, GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q		Razer Blade 15 RTX 2070 Max-Q
i7-8750H, GeForce RTX 2070 Max-Q		Average of class Gaming
 
Noise
-2%
3%
-9%
0%
8%
8%
off / environment *
29
30
-3%
30
-3%
29
-0%
29
-0%
28.8
1%
24.1 ?(19.5 - 29.9, n=183, last 2 years)
17%
Idle Minimum *
31
32
-3%
30
3%
33
-6%
30
3%
28.8
7%
25.6 ?(21.9 - 41.6, n=184, last 2 years)
17%
Idle Average *
33
34
-3%
31
6%
34
-3%
32
3%
28.8
13%
27.4 ?(21.9 - 42.1, n=184, last 2 years)
17%
Idle Maximum *
36
36
-0%
34
6%
40
-11%
34
6%
29.4
18%
30.8 ?(21.9 - 47, n=184, last 2 years)
14%
Load Average *
44
42
5%
43
2%
47
-7%
44
-0%
35.7
19%
43 ?(25.2 - 62.9, n=184, last 2 years)
2%
Witcher 3 ultra *
43
44
-2%
42
2%
51
-19%
46
-7%
42.5
1%
Load Maximum *
45
48
-7%
44
2%
53
-18%
47
-4%
45
-0%
53.4 ?(42.1 - 68.2, n=184, last 2 years)
-19%

* ... smaller is better

Temperatures

Our stress test (Prime95 and FurMark running for at least one hour) saw the Aero 15 pass in both mains and battery operation but at different clock speeds. In mains operation the CPU flicked between 2 and 2.1 GHz with the GPU running at 300 MHz. The clock speed of the GPU didn't change whilst running on battery, but the CPU clock dropped to between 1.4 and 1.8 GHz.

The Aero 15-Y9 got significantly warmer during operation than the Aero 15-X9. At two points on the underside we measured temperatures just below 70° C. The temperatures were a little lower during our The Witcher 3 tests (the game ran for one hour in FHD resolution and maximum detail settings). As a result, the laptop cannot be used on one's lap whilst under full load or gaming but only during more everyday or casual use, during which the measured temperatures were not an issue. The stress test does represent an extreme scenario that wouldn't be encountered during normal usage - it is used instead to test whether or not the laptop is stable under full load.

The Witcher 3
The Witcher 3
Stress test
Stress test
Full load - top
Full load - top
Full load - base
Full load - base
Max. Load
 64 °C
147 F		63 °C
145 F		64 °C
147 F		 
 44 °C
111 F		48 °C
118 F		42 °C
108 F		 
 38 °C
100 F		40 °C
104 F		38 °C
100 F		 
Maximum: 64 °C = 147 F
Average: 49 °C = 120 F
67 °C
153 F		69 °C
156 F		58 °C
136 F
61 °C
142 F		61 °C
142 F		48 °C
118 F
43 °C
109 F		44 °C
111 F		42 °C
108 F
Maximum: 69 °C = 156 F
Average: 54.8 °C = 131 F
Power Supply (max.)  41 °C = 106 F | Room Temperature 20 °C = 68 F | Voltcraft IR-900
(-) The average temperature for the upper side under maximal load is 49 °C / 120 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 64 °C / 147 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 69 °C / 156 F, compared to the average of 43.2 °C / 110 F
(+) In idle usage, the average temperature for the upper side is 26.4 °C / 80 F, compared to the device average of 33.8 °C / 93 F.
(-) Playing The Witcher 3, the average temperature for the upper side is 48.3 °C / 119 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 41 °C / 105.8 F.
(-) The average temperature of the palmrest area of similar devices was 28.9 °C / 84 F (-12.1 °C / -21.8 F).
Gigabyte Aero 15-Y9
i9-8950HK, GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q		Gigabyte Aero 15-X9
i7-8750H, GeForce RTX 2070 Max-Q		MSI GS65 8RF-019DE Stealth Thin
i7-8750H, GeForce GTX 1070 Max-Q		Asus Zephyrus S GX531GS
i7-8750H, GeForce GTX 1070 Max-Q		Acer Predator Triton 500
i7-8750H, GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q		Razer Blade 15 RTX 2070 Max-Q
i7-8750H, GeForce RTX 2070 Max-Q		Average of class Gaming
 
Heat
8%
16%
6%
3%
18%
9%
Maximum Upper Side *
64
56
12%
49
23%
54
16%
49
23%
49
23%
46 ?(28.2 - 60, n=183, last 2 years)
28%
Maximum Bottom *
69
66
4%
63
9%
60
13%
58
16%
49
29%
49.5 ?(30 - 66.3, n=183, last 2 years)
28%
Idle Upper Side *
29
27
7%
24
17%
30
-3%
33
-14%
25.4
12%
31.4 ?(21.2 - 42.8, n=183, last 2 years)
-8%
Idle Bottom *
29
27
7%
25
14%
30
-3%
33
-14%
27.2
6%
32.5 ?(22.6 - 45, n=183, last 2 years)
-12%

* ... smaller is better

Speakers

dB(A) 0102030405060708090Deep BassMiddle BassHigh BassLower RangeMidsHigher MidsLower HighsMid HighsUpper HighsSuper Highs2040.143.32537.936.93128.329.44031.832.75026.726.86327.426.38026.22710025.627.212523.534.81602250.320022.759.325022.463.831520.164.840018.863.650017.864.163017.470.680017.272.510001869.6125018.172.5160017.769.8200017.169.9250017.767.2315017.572.4400017.870.1500017.761630017.461.3800017.362.51000017.462.61250017.561.61600017.263.2SPL29.981.2N1.351.5median 17.7median 63.8Delta1.66.642.542.740.138.230.133.434.142.137.532.62732.3313231.339.224.845.223.450.722.555.22461.320.967.619.165.318.161.917.767.217.371.616.969.418.9701869.616.771.317.27017.170.6176717.363.417.165.517.167.217.164.217.157.616.852.929.980.71.451.1median 17.3median 65.526.6hearing rangehide median Pink NoiseGigabyte Aero 15-Y9Acer Predator Triton 500
Frequency diagram (checkboxes can be checked and unchecked to compare devices)
Gigabyte Aero 15-Y9 audio analysis

(±) | speaker loudness is average but good (81 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(±) | reduced bass - on average 14.1% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (13.7% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(±) | higher mids - on average 5.3% higher than median
(+) | mids are linear (5.1% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(+) | balanced highs - only 3.8% away from median
(+) | highs are linear (6.5% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(±) | linearity of overall sound is average (16.1% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 36% of all tested devices in this class were better, 7% similar, 57% worse
» The best had a delta of 6%, average was 18%, worst was 132%
Compared to all devices tested
» 21% of all tested devices were better, 5% similar, 74% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%

Acer Predator Triton 500 audio analysis

(±) | speaker loudness is average but good (81 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(±) | reduced bass - on average 13% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (12.3% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(+) | balanced mids - only 3.8% away from median
(+) | mids are linear (5.3% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(+) | balanced highs - only 2.3% away from median
(+) | highs are linear (4.7% 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%

Power Management - Reduced Runtime

Power Consumption

The Aero delivers no surprises in terms of power consumption. At idle, we measured a maximum consumption of 27 watts. During our stress tests this value climbed to 183 watts. During gaming the consumption was reduced and our The Witcher 3 test gave a measurement of 130 watts. The stated maximum output of the power adapter is 230 watts. In general when under load the Aero 15-Y9 burned through more power than its Aero 15-X9 sibling. This is to be expected given its more-powerful CPU and GPU combination and 4K display.

Power Consumption
Off / Standbydarklight 0.5 / 1.6 Watt
Idledarkmidlight 17 / 21 / 27 Watt
Load midlight 111 / 183 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.
Gigabyte Aero 15-Y9
i9-8950HK, GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q		Gigabyte Aero 15-X9
i7-8750H, GeForce RTX 2070 Max-Q		MSI GS65 8RF-019DE Stealth Thin
i7-8750H, GeForce GTX 1070 Max-Q		Asus Zephyrus S GX531GS
i7-8750H, GeForce GTX 1070 Max-Q		Acer Predator Triton 500
i7-8750H, GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q		Razer Blade 15 RTX 2070 Max-Q
i7-8750H, GeForce RTX 2070 Max-Q		Average of class Gaming
 
Power Consumption
12%
24%
-6%
-1%
18%
-2%
Idle Minimum *
17
16
6%
7
59%
17
-0%
16
6%
10.4
39%
13.7 ?(2 - 64, n=178, last 2 years)
19%
Idle Average *
21
18
14%
11
48%
20
5%
22
-5%
14.6
30%
19.1 ?(8 - 67, n=178, last 2 years)
9%
Idle Maximum *
27
23
15%
20
26%
29
-7%
32
-19%
16.3
40%
26.8 ?(9 - 101.1, n=178, last 2 years)
1%
Load Average *
111
88
21%
98
12%
112
-1%
89
20%
88.5
20%
110.9 ?(32.1 - 202, n=178, last 2 years)
-0%
Witcher 3 ultra *
130
120
8%
132
-2%
152
-17%
147
-13%
155.4
-20%
Load Maximum *
183
167
9%
182
1%
211
-15%
173
5%
182.4
-0%
250 ?(64.5 - 418, n=177, last 2 years)
-37%

* ... smaller is better

Battery Life

The Aero 15-Y9 achieved a total runtime in our real-world WLAN test of 5:54 h. With this test we simulate load via script by loading websites. The profile "Balanced" was active and the display brightness was set to around 150 cd/m2. In our video test, the 15.6-inch device gave up after 5:32 h. In this test we ran the short film Big Buck Bunny (H.264 encoding, 1920x1080 resolution) in a loop. The profile "Energy Saver" was active, the wireless module deactivated, and the display brightness was set to 150 cd/m2.

Battery Runtime
Idle (without WLAN, min brightness)
9h 21min
WiFi Websurfing (Edge 44)
5h 54min
Big Buck Bunny H.264 1080p
5h 32min
Load (maximum brightness)
2h 27min
Gigabyte Aero 15-Y9
i9-8950HK, GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q, 94.24 Wh		Gigabyte Aero 15-X9
i7-8750H, GeForce RTX 2070 Max-Q, 94.24 Wh		MSI GS65 8RF-019DE Stealth Thin
i7-8750H, GeForce GTX 1070 Max-Q, 82 Wh		Asus Zephyrus S GX531GS
i7-8750H, GeForce GTX 1070 Max-Q, 50 Wh		Acer Predator Triton 500
i7-8750H, GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q, 82 Wh		Razer Blade 15 RTX 2070 Max-Q
i7-8750H, GeForce RTX 2070 Max-Q, 80 Wh		Average of class Gaming
 
Battery Runtime
9%
-12%
-63%
-44%
-3%
-6%
Reader / Idle
561
549
-2%
507
-10%
213
-62%
335
-40%
682
22%
544 ?(57 - 1290, n=84, last 2 years)
-3%
H.264
332
364
10%
356
7%
399 ?(56 - 747, n=91, last 2 years)
20%
WiFi v1.3
354
382
8%
362
2%
157
-56%
190
-46%
387
9%
368 ?(57 - 745, n=181, last 2 years)
4%
Load
147
174
18%
81
-45%
42
-71%
81
-45%
88
-40%
84.2 ?(36 - 173, n=143, last 2 years)
-43%

Pros

+ matte 4K display
+ X-Rite Pantone
+ good colour reproduction
+ compact, light construction
+ high quality materials
+ thin display bezels
+ RGB-lighting
+ elegant design
+ practical tools
+ NVMe SSD
+ extra M.2-2280 slot
+ Thunderbolt 3

Cons

- slow variant of the RTX 2080 Max-Q
- high temperatures
- sound could be better
- battery runtimes worse than its predecessor
- extremely expensive

Verdict

The Gigabyte 15-Y9-9DE4720P, provided for review by Gigabyte Deutschland.
The Gigabyte 15-Y9-9DE4720P, provided for review by Gigabyte Deutschland.

The unit in front of us today, the Aero 15-Y9, represents the flagship model of the Aero-15 range and as expected, the manufacturer aimed to impress: Gigabyte only went into the top drawer for this config. The combination of a Core i9-8950HK CPU and GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q GPU allows for a smooth gaming experience in FHD resolution and with medium to max detail settings on its matte 4K screen.

However, the laptop is only equipped with a Max-Q (80 W) variant of the RTX 2080.

As a result, the Aero 15-Y9 is not really able to distance itself from the RTX 2070 Max-Q-equipped Aero 15-X9. When running in the same RAM mode (single-channel / dual-channel) both devices frequently delivered similar frame rates. As a result, most potential purchasers would be better served by the cheaper RTX 2070 Max-Q version of the Aero.

The included NVMe SSD offers not only excellent transfer rates but also lots of storage space (2 TB). Internally, the laptop also features an additional slot for a second M.2 2280 SSD. No slot is available for a 2.5-inch drive in the Aero 15.

The matte 4K IPS screen impressed with good viewing angles, good brightness and contrast, and impressive colour reproduction. However, the reaction times lag clearly behind the 144 Hz panel-equipped Aero 15-X9. The battery life is also somewhat behind the Aero 15-X9. This is no surprise and to be expected with the 4K display. However, in general the battery performance was very good for a gaming laptop.

Gigabyte Aero 15-Y9 - 05/14/2020 v7
Sascha Mölck

Chassis
83 / 98 → 84%
Keyboard
83%
Pointing Device
78%
Connectivity
67 / 80 → 84%
Weight
62 / 10-66 → 93%
Battery
66 / 95 → 69%
Display
93%
Games Performance
89%
Application Performance
89%
Temperature
65 / 95 → 69%
Noise
76 / 90 → 85%
Audio
74%
Camera
40 / 85 → 47%
Average
74%
85%
Gaming - Weighted Average

Pricecompare

Read all 4 comments / answer
static version load dynamic
Loading Comments
Comment on this article
Please share our article, every link counts!
> Expert Reviews and News on Laptops, Smartphones and Tech Innovations > Reviews > Gigabyte Aero 15-Y9 (i9-8950HK, RTX 2080 Max-Q) Laptop Review
Sascha Mölck, 2019-03-22 (Update: 2019-03-23)