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Gigabyte Aero 17 HDR XB Laptop Review: Super Max-Q at the Start

Hardware upgrade. While the Aero 17 HDR corresponds to its predecessor externally, a lot has happened under the hood. In addition to the new CPU, the 17-inch gaming laptop also offers an updated GPU. Find out here how well these fresh components can work with one another.
Gigabyte Aero 17 HDR

As we are already familiar with from Gigabyte, the 2020 version of the Aero 17 is available in various equipment variations. Our test unit that bears the label HDR XB and currently costs about 2600 Euros (~$2814) is one of the medium configurations in terms of price and hardware. With the Core i7-10875H, an octa-core model from Intel's Comet Lake generation serves as the processor. Fitting to this high-end CPU, there is also a high-end graphics card on board. The GeForce RTX 2070 Super Max-Q replaces the RTX 2070 Max-Q, which is very popular particularly in thin and compact gaming notebooks. The CPU and GPU are accompanied by 2x 8 GB DDR4-3200 RAM in dual-channel mode and a 512 GB NVMe SSD. In our opinion, the HDR-capable 4K display is the absolute highlight, and we will evaluate it in detail below.

Note: Out test unit is a presample. Due to software adjustments (keywords BIOS and drivers), the measurements of the final product might deviate under some circumstances.

Gigabyte Aero 17 HDR XB (Aero 17 Series)
Processor
Intel Core i7-10875H 8 x 2.3 - 5.1 GHz, Comet Lake-H
Graphics adapter
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 Super Max-Q - 8 GB VRAM, Core: 930 MHz, Memory: 1375 MHz, GDDR6, ForceWare 445.87, Optimus
Memory
16 GB 
, 2x 8 GB SO-DIMM DDR4-3200, dual channel, all slots occupied, 64 GB max.
Display
17.30 inch 16:9, 3840 x 2160 pixel 255 PPI, AUO B173ZAN03.2 (AUO329B), IPS, X-Rite Pantone, UHD/4K, glossy: no, HDR, 60 Hz
Mainboard
Intel HM470
Storage
Samsung SSD PM981a MZVLB512HBJQ, 512 GB 
, NVMe, slots: 2x M.2 Type 2280
Soundcard
Realtek ALC255 @ Intel Comet Point-LP PCH - cAVS
Connections
3 USB 3.0 / 3.1 Gen1, 1 USB 3.1 Gen2, 1 Thunderbolt, 1 HDMI, 2 DisplayPort, Audio Connections: 1x headphones, 1x microphone, Card Reader: SD,SDHC,SDXC, 1 Fingerprint Reader
Networking
Killer E2600 Gigabit Ethernet Controller (10/100/1000MBit/s), Killer Wi-Fi 6 AX1650x Wireless Network Adapter (200NGW) (a/b/g/n = Wi-Fi 4/ac = Wi-Fi 5/ax = Wi-Fi 6/), Bluetooth 5.0
Size
height x width x depth (in mm): 21 x 396 x 270 ( = 0.83 x 15.59 x 10.63 in)
Battery
94 Wh Lithium-Polymer
Operating System
Microsoft Windows 10 Pro 64 Bit
Camera
Webcam: HD
Additional features
Speakers: 2x 2W, Keyboard: chiclet RGB, Keyboard Light: yes, 230-Watt power supply, quick start guide, thermal pad, Control Center, 24 Months Warranty
Weight
2.656 kg ( = 93.69 oz / 5.86 pounds), Power Supply: 724 g ( = 25.54 oz / 1.6 pounds)
Price
2600 EUR
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
87 %
04/2020
Gigabyte Aero 17 HDR XB
i7-10875H, GeForce RTX 2070 Super Max-Q
2.7 kg21 mm17.30"3840x2160
86.1 %
09/2019
Gigabyte Aero 17 XA RP77
i9-9980HK, GeForce RTX 2070 Max-Q
2.5 kg21.4 mm17.30"3840x2160
84.2 %
02/2020
Alienware m17 R2 P41E
i9-9980HK, GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q
2.6 kg20.5 mm17.30"1920x1080
82.9 %
06/2019
MSI GS75 Stealth 9SG
i7-9750H, GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q
2.3 kg18.9 mm17.30"1920x1080
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

The competitors of the Aero 17 include other 17-inch gaming notebooks with a Max-Q chip such as the Alienware m17 R2, the MSI GS75 Stealth 9SG, the Asus ROG Zephyrus S GX701GXR, and the Razer Blade Pro 17. The latter notebooks are listed as the comparison devices in our charts. 

Gigabyte Aero 17 HDR
Gigabyte Aero 17 HDR
Gigabyte Aero 17 HDR
Gigabyte Aero 17 HDR


Since Gigabyte apparently did not make any changes in the case, we are not discussing the case, the connections, or input devices further. You can find the corresponding information in the review of the predecessor.

Size Comparison

399.8 mm / 15.7 inch 295.5 mm / 11.6 inch 20.5 mm / 0.807 inch 2.6 kg5.7 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 lbs396 mm / 15.6 inch 270 mm / 10.6 inch 21 mm / 0.827 inch 2.7 kg5.86 lbs396 mm / 15.6 inch 259 mm / 10.2 inch 18.9 mm / 0.744 inch 2.3 kg5.03 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

SD Card Reader

SD Card Reader
average JPG Copy Test (av. of 3 runs)
Gigabyte Aero 17 HDR XB
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II)
207 MB/s
Gigabyte Aero 17 XA RP77
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II)
200.8 MB/s -3%
Razer Blade Pro 17 RTX 2080 Max-Q
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II)
174.4 MB/s -16%
maximum AS SSD Seq Read Test (1GB)
Gigabyte Aero 17 HDR XB
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II)
245 MB/s
Gigabyte Aero 17 XA RP77
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II)
238.3 MB/s -3%
Razer Blade Pro 17 RTX 2080 Max-Q
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II)
203.4 MB/s -17%

Communication

Networking
iperf3 transmit AX12
Gigabyte Aero 17 HDR XB
Killer Wi-Fi 6 AX1650x Wireless Network Adapter (200NGW)
1410 MBit/s
Asus ROG Zephyrus S GX701GXR
Intel Wireless-AC 9560
1110 MBit/s -21%
iperf3 receive AX12
Gigabyte Aero 17 HDR XB
Killer Wi-Fi 6 AX1650x Wireless Network Adapter (200NGW)
1390 MBit/s
Asus ROG Zephyrus S GX701GXR
Intel Wireless-AC 9560
924 MBit/s -34%

Webcam

ColorChecker
21.2 ∆E
11.7 ∆E
14.8 ∆E
10.4 ∆E
13.2 ∆E
5.2 ∆E
11.2 ∆E
22.3 ∆E
12.4 ∆E
16.4 ∆E
5.2 ∆E
4.8 ∆E
27.5 ∆E
10.6 ∆E
15.8 ∆E
6.6 ∆E
10.8 ∆E
7.8 ∆E
8.3 ∆E
8.3 ∆E
9.9 ∆E
6.8 ∆E
7.8 ∆E
6.5 ∆E
ColorChecker Gigabyte Aero 17 HDR XB: 11.47 ∆E min: 4.76 - max: 27.46 ∆E

Display

One of the strongest arguments for the purchase of the Aero 17 HDR XB is surely the UHD display, which had already been used in the old model (AUO B173ZAN03.2). 3840x2160 pixels ensures a high pixel density and produce an extremely sharp picture, with the GeForce RTX 2070 Super Max-Q hitting its limit in demanding games, as we will see later.

475
cd/m²
474
cd/m²
477
cd/m²
464
cd/m²
487
cd/m²
484
cd/m²
466
cd/m²
481
cd/m²
470
cd/m²
Distribution of brightness
AUO B173ZAN03.2 (AUO329B) tested with X-Rite i1Pro 2
Maximum: 487 cd/m² (Nits) Average: 475.3 cd/m² Minimum: 4 cd/m²
Brightness Distribution: 95 %
Center on Battery: 487 cd/m²
Contrast: 1282:1 (Black: 0.38 cd/m²)
ΔE Color 1.19 | 0.5-29.43 Ø5, calibrated: 0.5
ΔE Greyscale 1.45 | 0.57-98 Ø5.3
100% sRGB (Argyll 1.6.3 3D)
88% AdobeRGB 1998 (Argyll 1.6.3 3D)
100% AdobeRGB 1998 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
100% sRGB (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
86.5% Display P3 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
Gamma: 2.21
Gigabyte Aero 17 HDR XB
AUO B173ZAN03.2 (AUO329B), IPS, 3840x2160
Gigabyte Aero 17 XA RP77
AU Optronics B173ZAN03.2, IPS, 3840x2160
Alienware m17 R2 P41E
Chi Mei 173HCE, CMN175F, IPS, 1920x1080
MSI GS75 Stealth 9SG
Chi Mei N173HCE-G33 (CMN175C), IPS, 1920x1080
Asus ROG Zephyrus S GX701GXR
AU Optronics B173HAN05.1, IPS, 1920x1080
Razer Blade Pro 17 RTX 2080 Max-Q
AU Optronics B173HAN04.0, IPS, 1920x1080
Display
0%
-16%
-23%
-17%
-26%
Display P3 Coverage
86.5
86.8
0%
70.8
-18%
62.6
-28%
70
-19%
60.6
-30%
sRGB Coverage
100
100
0%
98.5
-1%
93.5
-6%
96.6
-3%
89
-11%
AdobeRGB 1998 Coverage
100
99.5
0%
72.2
-28%
64.7
-35%
72.3
-28%
62.1
-38%
Response Times
0%
64%
75%
81%
76%
Response Time Grey 50% / Grey 80% *
55.2 ?(26.8, 28.4)
45.6 ?(24.4, 21.2)
17%
17.2 ?(8.8, 8.4)
69%
7.2 ?(3.8, 3.4)
87%
5.6 ?(2.4, 3.2)
90%
6.8 ?(3.4, 3.4)
88%
Response Time Black / White *
26 ?(9.2, 16.8)
30.4 ?(16.4, 14)
-17%
10.8 ?(6, 4.8)
58%
10 ?(5.2, 4.8)
62%
7.6 ?(3.4, 4.2)
71%
9.6 ?(5.2, 4.4)
63%
PWM Frequency
26320 ?(25)
25510 ?(17)
Screen
-86%
-25%
-19%
-43%
-86%
Brightness middle
487
667.3
37%
384.2
-21%
366
-25%
288
-41%
299.3
-39%
Brightness
475
633
33%
357
-25%
343
-28%
276
-42%
294
-38%
Brightness Distribution
95
90
-5%
90
-5%
91
-4%
93
-2%
94
-1%
Black Level *
0.38
0.46
-21%
0.29
24%
0.29
24%
0.24
37%
0.29
24%
Contrast
1282
1451
13%
1325
3%
1262
-2%
1200
-6%
1032
-20%
Colorchecker dE 2000 *
1.19
3.53
-197%
1.35
-13%
1.51
-27%
1.92
-61%
2.55
-114%
Colorchecker dE 2000 max. *
2.43
6.88
-183%
3.45
-42%
3.22
-33%
4.57
-88%
4.73
-95%
Colorchecker dE 2000 calibrated *
0.5
3.79
-658%
1.42
-184%
0.71
-42%
1.14
-128%
2.9
-480%
Greyscale dE 2000 *
1.45
0.9
38%
1.2
17%
1.93
-33%
3.08
-112%
3.5
-141%
Gamma
2.21 100%
2.17 101%
2.23 99%
2.38 92%
2.42 91%
2.28 96%
CCT
6557 99%
6533 99%
6580 99%
6881 94%
7055 92%
7101 92%
Color Space (Percent of AdobeRGB 1998)
88
87.1
-1%
65.5
-26%
60
-32%
65
-26%
57
-35%
Color Space (Percent of sRGB)
100
100
0%
98.5
-1%
94
-6%
96
-4%
88.7
-11%
Total Average (Program / Settings)
-29% / -59%
8% / -12%
11% / -8%
7% / -23%
-12% / -55%

* ... smaller is better

If you disregard the mediocre response time, which is borderline for gaming purposes (26 ms black to white, 55 ms grey to grey), the 4K screen strikes a very good figure in terms of its quality. For example, the competitors do not even come near to the average brightness of 475 cd/m², and more than 400 cd/m² is extremely rare in the gaming segment. Thanks to its ample brightness, the Aero 17 HDR is well-suited for outdoor usage.

CalMAN: Grayscale
CalMAN: Grayscale
CalMAN: Saturation
CalMAN: Saturation
CalMAN: ColorChecker
CalMAN: ColorChecker
CalMAN: Grayscale (calibrated)
CalMAN: Grayscale (calibrated)
CalMAN: Saturation (calibrated)
CalMAN: Saturation (calibrated)
CalMAN: ColorChecker (calibrated)
CalMAN: ColorChecker (calibrated)

The contrast also gives no reason for complaint. Almost 300:1 is a typical value for a good IPS panel. Professional users and those with ambitions to create photo and video content should be pleased particularly with the high color-space coverage. 100% sRGB and 88% AdobeRGB place it at the top of the field of high-end laptops and are rarely achieved elsewhere.

Gigabyte Aero 17 HDR vs. sRGB (100%)
Gigabyte Aero 17 HDR vs. sRGB (100%)
Subpixel grid
Subpixel grid
Gigabyte Aero 17 HDR vs. AdobeRGB (88%)
Gigabyte Aero 17 HDR vs. AdobeRGB (88%)

The same goes for the color accuracy. Via X-Rite Pantone certification, Gigabyte ensures a very accurate and natural color reproduction, which is also confirmed by our CalMAN tests (see screenshots). All the measured values are within the ideal range, really making an additional calibration unnecessary, since it could hardly bring any improvements.

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
26 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined↗ 9.2 ms rise
↘ 16.8 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. » 57 % 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
55.2 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined↗ 26.8 ms rise
↘ 28.4 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. » 91 % 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 18100 (minimum: 5 - maximum: 3846000) Hz was measured.

Test Conditions

The preinstalled Control Center turns out as a very powerful tool that offers buyers dozens of setting and monitoring options (it almost has too many features for our taste). Following the desire and recommendation from Gigabyte, we ran our tests with the High Performance profile and Azure AI activated (it is also supposed to control the fans). Other modes would influence some of the measurements significantly.

Control Center
Control Center
Control Center
Control Center
Control Center
Control Center

Performance

As we already indicated, the Aero 17 HDR XB is not only targeted for gamers but also for the content creator segment. The 17-inch laptop turns out to be a very versatile device, which due to its fairly subdued design, also strikes a good figure beyond the desk at home.

CPU-Z
CPU-Z
CPU-Z
CPU-Z
CPU-Z
GPU-Z
HWiNFO
AS SSD Benchmark
CrystalDiskMark
 

Processor

While most gaming laptops use a hexa-core CPU, Gigabyte has equipped our test unit with an octa-core processor. The Core i7-10875H based on the Comet Lake architecture has a clock speed of 2.3 to 5.1 GHz under load and is able to run up to 16 threads in parallel via Hyper-Threading. Intel specifies a TDP of 45 watts.

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

Using Cinebench R15, we evaluated whether and how well the Aero 17 can use its CPU Turbo. The result: In the single-core applications, the i7-10875H can achieve between 4.2 and 5.0 GHz, while on the other hand, the clock speed is reduced after a short time to 4.3 - 3.6 GHz when all the cores are under load. This fact can be seen very well in the chart below. At least the performance drops significantly less than in the old Aero 17, whose Cinebench score dropped by almost 300 points after the first run. In the new model, this is only a drop of about 100 points.

08517025534042551059568076585093510201105119012751360144515301615Tooltip
Gigabyte Aero 17 HDR XB Intel Core i7-10875H, Intel Core i7-10875H: Ø1572 (1548.11-1671.4)
Gigabyte Aero 17 XA RP77 Intel Core i9-9980HK, Intel Core i9-9980HK: Ø1328 (1301.11-1593.37)
Alienware m17 R2 P41E Intel Core i9-9980HK, Intel Core i9-9980HK: Ø1640 (1625.22-1699.96)

If you look at the multi-core benchmarks, the CPU power places it between the predecessor and the Alienware m17 R2, which are both equipped with a Core i9-9980HK. So the performance jump of the new Intel generation remains within limits.

Cinebench R15
CPU Single 64Bit
Gigabyte Aero 17 HDR XB
Intel Core i7-10875H
211 Points
Gigabyte Aero 17 XA RP77
Intel Core i9-9980HK
201 Points -5%
Alienware m17 R2 P41E
Intel Core i9-9980HK
195 Points -8%
MSI GS75 Stealth 9SG
Intel Core i7-9750H
180 Points -15%
Razer Blade Pro 17 RTX 2080 Max-Q
Intel Core i7-9750H
180 Points -15%
Asus ROG Zephyrus S GX701GXR
Intel Core i7-9750H
173 Points -18%
CPU Multi 64Bit
Alienware m17 R2 P41E
Intel Core i9-9980HK
1754 Points +5%
Gigabyte Aero 17 HDR XB
Intel Core i7-10875H
1671 (1548.11min - 1671.4max) Points
Gigabyte Aero 17 XA RP77
Intel Core i9-9980HK
1481 Points -11%
MSI GS75 Stealth 9SG
Intel Core i7-9750H
1233 Points -26%
Razer Blade Pro 17 RTX 2080 Max-Q
Intel Core i7-9750H
1180 Points -29%
Asus ROG Zephyrus S GX701GXR
Intel Core i7-9750H
1097 Points -34%
Cinebench R20
CPU (Single Core)
Gigabyte Aero 17 HDR XB
Intel Core i7-10875H
499 Points
Gigabyte Aero 17 XA RP77
Intel Core i9-9980HK
487 Points -2%
Alienware m17 R2 P41E
Intel Core i9-9980HK
478 Points -4%
MSI GS75 Stealth 9SG
Intel Core i7-9750H
434 Points -13%
Asus ROG Zephyrus S GX701GXR
Intel Core i7-9750H
422 Points -15%
CPU (Multi Core)
Alienware m17 R2 P41E
Intel Core i9-9980HK
4136 Points +21%
Gigabyte Aero 17 HDR XB
Intel Core i7-10875H
3431 Points
Gigabyte Aero 17 XA RP77
Intel Core i9-9980HK
3104 Points -10%
MSI GS75 Stealth 9SG
Intel Core i7-9750H
2723 Points -21%
Asus ROG Zephyrus S GX701GXR
Intel Core i7-9750H
2357 Points -31%
Cinebench R10 Rendering Multiple CPUs 32Bit
44805
Cinebench R10 Rendering Single 32Bit
7803
Cinebench R10 Shading 32Bit
6835
Cinebench R11.5 CPU Single 64Bit
2.4 Points
Cinebench R11.5 CPU Multi 64Bit
18.69 Points
Cinebench R11.5 OpenGL 64Bit
88.5 fps
Cinebench R15 CPU Single 64Bit
211 Points
Cinebench R15 Ref. Match 64Bit
99.6 %
Cinebench R15 OpenGL 64Bit
143 fps
Cinebench R15 CPU Multi 64Bit
1671 Points
Help

System Performance

The system performance of the Aero 17 HDR XB is beyond any doubt. 6483 points in PCMark 10 correspond to the first place among the comparison devices with 7 to 18% distance to the second. Since Windows 10 is running on a modern PCIe SSD, the operating system responds incredibly fast (load times, program starts, installations, etc.). Only the boot time could have been even shorter. 

PCMark 10 - Score
Gigabyte Aero 17 HDR XB
GeForce RTX 2070 Super Max-Q, i7-10875H, Samsung SSD PM981a MZVLB512HBJQ
6483 Points
Asus ROG Zephyrus S GX701GXR
GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q, i7-9750H, Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB1T0HALR
6049 Points -7%
Gigabyte Aero 17 XA RP77
GeForce RTX 2070 Max-Q, i9-9980HK, Intel SSD 760p SSDPEKKW512G8
5955 Points -8%
MSI GS75 Stealth 9SG
GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q, i7-9750H, 2x Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB1T0HALR (RAID 0)
5804 Points -10%
Razer Blade Pro 17 RTX 2080 Max-Q
GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q, i7-9750H, Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB512HAJQ
5734 Points -12%
Alienware m17 R2 P41E
GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q, i9-9980HK, 2x SK Hynix PC601 NVMe 512 GB (RAID 0)
5502 Points -15%

DPC Latencies

There is room for improvement in the latencies. According to the LatencyMon tool, the Aero 17 HDR possibly has some problems with real-time audio or specific other tasks, and there is a danger of brief drops. 

DPC Latencies / LatencyMon - interrupt to process latency (max), Web, Youtube, Prime95
Gigabyte Aero 17 HDR XB
GeForce RTX 2070 Super Max-Q, i7-10875H, Samsung SSD PM981a MZVLB512HBJQ
1933 μs *

* ... smaller is better

Storage Solution

There is nothing standing out in terms of the storage solution. In contrast to the predecessor that was run by an Intel SSD, Gigabyte now uses a Samsung drive. The PM981a is used (sometimes without the "a" in the label) in a lot of gaming laptops and convinces with a very good performance during reading as well as writing. Those who want to expand the storage can also add a second M.2 SSD to the Aero 17.

Gigabyte Aero 17 HDR XB
Samsung SSD PM981a MZVLB512HBJQ
Gigabyte Aero 17 XA RP77
Intel SSD 760p SSDPEKKW512G8
Alienware m17 R2 P41E
2x SK Hynix PC601 NVMe 512 GB (RAID 0)
MSI GS75 Stealth 9SG
2x Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB1T0HALR (RAID 0)
Asus ROG Zephyrus S GX701GXR
Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB1T0HALR
Razer Blade Pro 17 RTX 2080 Max-Q
Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB512HAJQ
CrystalDiskMark 5.2 / 6
-5%
-6%
1%
-26%
-27%
Write 4K
123.4
169.6
37%
110.6
-10%
95.5
-23%
96.1
-22%
100.7
-18%
Read 4K
45.59
58
27%
41.46
-9%
42.59
-7%
40.86
-10%
41.03
-10%
Write Seq
2320
1516
-35%
2378
3%
2851
23%
1317
-43%
1146
-51%
Read Seq
2013
2362
17%
2114
5%
2696
34%
1030
-49%
1115
-45%
Write 4K Q32T1
489.3
481.8
-2%
445.4
-9%
402.6
-18%
350.4
-28%
384.6
-21%
Read 4K Q32T1
559
506
-9%
509
-9%
443.9
-21%
404.1
-28%
429.5
-23%
Write Seq Q32T1
2979
1530
-49%
2735
-8%
3420
15%
2396
-20%
1859
-38%
Read Seq Q32T1
3432
2645
-23%
3206
-7%
3514
2%
3194
-7%
3179
-7%
Samsung SSD PM981a MZVLB512HBJQ
CDM 5/6 Read Seq Q32T1: 3432 MB/s
CDM 5/6 Write Seq Q32T1: 2979 MB/s
CDM 5/6 Read 4K Q32T1: 559 MB/s
CDM 5/6 Write 4K Q32T1: 489.3 MB/s
CDM 5 Read Seq: 2013 MB/s
CDM 5 Write Seq: 2320 MB/s
CDM 5/6 Read 4K: 45.59 MB/s
CDM 5/6 Write 4K: 123.4 MB/s

Graphics Card

We would describe the Super version of the RTX 2070 Max-Q with the words "fine tuning." Besides the increased amount of shaders (2560 vs. 2304), the optimized storage, and a few fresh features (Optimus and G-Sync simultaneously + dynamic TDP adjustment as long as the notebook manufacturer integrates this), Nvidia leaves a lot how it was. Both Turing models are still manufactured in the 12-nm process and contain 8 GB of GDDR6 VRAM with a 256-bit interface.

3DMark 06 Standard Score
43406 points
3DMark Vantage P Result
65101 points
3DMark 11 Performance
24130 points
3DMark Cloud Gate Standard Score
38593 points
3DMark Fire Strike Score
18582 points
3DMark Time Spy Score
7650 points
Help

The basic clock speed of the GeForce RTX 2070 Super Max-Q is 930 MHz. However, in practice significantly higher values are achieved thanks to the automatic GPU boost. During 3D applications, we were able to tickle between around 1300 and 1400 MHz on average out of the high-end GPU. As our 60-minute test with the The Witcher 3 role-playing game confirms (1920x1080, Ultra settings), the frame rate remains relatively constant during longer load, without showing any drops or anything similar.

051015202530354045505560657075Tooltip
Gigabyte Aero 17 HDR XB GeForce RTX 2070 Super Max-Q, i7-10875H, Samsung SSD PM981a MZVLB512HBJQ: Ø76.2 (70-80)

The Aero 17 HDR XB traverses the benchmark course in parts significantly ahead of the predecessor. In 3DMark 11 and the various tests of the current 3DMark, the performance plus is between 15% and 33% despite the rather subtle GPU innovations.

3DMark
1920x1080 Fire Strike Graphics
Razer Blade Pro 17 RTX 2080 Max-Q
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q
23032 Points +10%
Alienware m17 R2 P41E
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q
22391 Points +7%
Asus ROG Zephyrus S GX701GXR
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q
20917 Points 0%
Gigabyte Aero 17 HDR XB
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 Super Max-Q
20914 Points
MSI GS75 Stealth 9SG
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q
20119 Points -4%
Gigabyte Aero 17 XA RP77
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 Max-Q
16658 Points -20%
2560x1440 Time Spy Graphics
Razer Blade Pro 17 RTX 2080 Max-Q
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q
8844 Points +18%
Alienware m17 R2 P41E
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q
8479 Points +14%
Asus ROG Zephyrus S GX701GXR
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q
8036 Points +8%
MSI GS75 Stealth 9SG
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q
7923 Points +6%
Gigabyte Aero 17 HDR XB
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 Super Max-Q
7468 Points
Gigabyte Aero 17 XA RP77
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 Max-Q
6479 Points -13%
2560x1440 Port Royal Graphics
Razer Blade Pro 17 RTX 2080 Max-Q
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q
5148 Points +15%
Alienware m17 R2 P41E
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q
5092 Points +14%
Asus ROG Zephyrus S GX701GXR
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q
4713 Points +5%
MSI GS75 Stealth 9SG
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q
4545 Points +2%
Gigabyte Aero 17 HDR XB
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 Super Max-Q
4477 Points
Gigabyte Aero 17 XA RP77
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 Max-Q
3668 Points -18%
3DMark 11 - 1280x720 Performance GPU
Razer Blade Pro 17 RTX 2080 Max-Q
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q
30910 Points +8%
Alienware m17 R2 P41E
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q
29220 Points +2%
Asus ROG Zephyrus S GX701GXR
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q
29052 Points +2%
Gigabyte Aero 17 HDR XB
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 Super Max-Q
28555 Points
MSI GS75 Stealth 9SG
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q
27204 Points -5%
Gigabyte Aero 17 XA RP77
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 Max-Q
21464 Points -25%
SPECviewperf 13
3ds Max (3dsmax-06)
Gigabyte Aero 17 HDR XB
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 Super Max-Q
181.2 fps
Catia (catia-05)
Gigabyte Aero 17 HDR XB
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 Super Max-Q
128.9 fps
Creo (creo-02)
Gigabyte Aero 17 HDR XB
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 Super Max-Q
172 fps
Energy (energy-02)
Gigabyte Aero 17 HDR XB
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 Super Max-Q
18.47 fps
Maya (maya-05)
Gigabyte Aero 17 HDR XB
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 Super Max-Q
221.5 fps
Medical (medical-02)
Gigabyte Aero 17 HDR XB
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 Super Max-Q
52.6 fps
Showcase (showcase-02)
Gigabyte Aero 17 HDR XB
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 Super Max-Q
94.1 fps
Siemens NX (snx-03)
Gigabyte Aero 17 HDR XB
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 Super Max-Q
20.06 fps
Solidworks (sw-04)
Gigabyte Aero 17 HDR XB
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 Super Max-Q
91.3 fps

Gaming Performance

Even though the RTX 2070 Super Max-Q is very powerful, you should slightly decrease the resolution while gaming. 3840x2160 resolution often overtaxes the graphics chip, at least in maximum settings. Unfortunately, the integrated panel cannot handle the typical WQHD resolution of 2560x1440, and only 1920x1080 pixels is available as the next best 16:9 resolution, which is a bit annoying. 

The Witcher 3
1920x1080 Ultra Graphics & Postprocessing (HBAO+)
Razer Blade Pro 17 RTX 2080 Max-Q
GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q, i7-9750H
87.4 fps +16%
Asus ROG Zephyrus S GX701GXR
GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q, i7-9750H
80.7 fps +7%
Alienware m17 R2 P41E
GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q, i9-9980HK
78 fps +4%
MSI GS75 Stealth 9SG
GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q, i7-9750H
76.9 fps +2%
Gigabyte Aero 17 HDR XB
GeForce RTX 2070 Super Max-Q, i7-10875H
75.3 (63min) fps
Gigabyte Aero 17 XA RP77
GeForce RTX 2070 Max-Q, i9-9980HK
66.5 fps -12%
3840x2160 High Graphics & Postprocessing (Nvidia HairWorks Off)
Gigabyte Aero 17 HDR XB
GeForce RTX 2070 Super Max-Q, i7-10875H
49.7 (44min) fps
Gigabyte Aero 17 XA RP77
GeForce RTX 2070 Max-Q, i9-9980HK
46.9 fps -6%

Due to the high resource requirements, we would generally recommend the FHD version of the Aero 17 more for gamers. The RTX 2070 Super Max-Q can handle 1920x1080 pixels effortlessly even in demanding games. The 4K version tends to be more for content creators who know how to appreciate a large color space. 

low med. high ultraQHD4K
GTA V (2015) 182 175 160 89.9
The Witcher 3 (2015) 240 142 75.3 49.7
Dota 2 Reborn (2015) 163.9 146.6 139.5 131.4
Fortnite (2018) 133 132 108 86.2 43
Final Fantasy XV Benchmark (2018) 104 80 33
Kingdom Come: Deliverance (2018) 127 108 75.9 54.4 27.9
X-Plane 11.11 (2018) 119 104 87.6
Monster Hunter World (2018) 113 102 84.2 55.7 27.5
Shadow of the Tomb Raider (2018) 118 110 99 68 36
Assassin´s Creed Odyssey (2018) 99 81 62 47 32
Hitman 2 (2018) 89.2 83.2 79.7 76.1 41.5
Battlefield V (2018) 144 135 125 99.4 56.8
Darksiders III (2018) 135 118 107 71.6 36.4
Just Cause 4 (2018) 137 101 93.4 63.6 34.5
Apex Legends (2019) 144 144 143 109 61.1
Far Cry New Dawn (2019) 98 92 83 70 43
Metro Exodus (2019) 92 72 57.7 49.1 26.5
Dirt Rally 2.0 (2019) 183 155 85.8 66
The Division 2 (2019) 123 113 81 60 29
Anno 1800 (2019) 112 85.5 47.4 36.6 21.1
Rage 2 (2019) 119 99.5 97.1 62.8 30.1
F1 2019 (2019) 191 159 143 107 61
Control (2019) 92.6 68.4 43.9 21.1
Borderlands 3 (2019) 112 78 59.6 41.7 22.2
FIFA 20 (2019) 271 259 257 253 186
Ghost Recon Breakpoint (2019) 101 89 66 49 28
GRID 2019 (2019) 131 104 71.1 60.6 39.7
Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2019 (2019) 134 126 104 72.3 41
Need for Speed Heat (2019) 103 94 82.6 60.5 33.4
Star Wars Jedi Fallen Order (2019) 109 104 94.1 71.3 35.9
Red Dead Redemption 2 (2019) 91.3 61.8 40.2 32 20.5
Escape from Tarkov (2020) 121 116 107 79.8 36.8
Hunt Showdown (2020) 109 96.8 56.8 27.4
Doom Eternal (2020) 157 139 135 99.6 51.2

Emissions

Noise Emissions

Like almost all gaming notebooks, we also have to criticize the Aero 17 HDR XB for its hefty noise production. 47 to 54 dB under load screams for the use of a headset.

dB(A) 0102030405060708090Deep BassMiddle BassHigh BassLower RangeMidsHigher MidsLower HighsMid HighsUpper HighsSuper Highs2032.632.738.335.230.637.82535.238.340.440.438.541.9313233.433.332.729.9334036.633.433.233.228.335.15033.530.431.529.927.238.76330.928.630.330.826.936.18027.225.826.626.324.233.510028.127.427.827.124.632.512528.826.726.327.623.933.816029.127.829.827.723.434.420029.624.224.22521.73225031.324.72425.320.53431532.927.326.224.619.937.540033.728.827.425.618.639.850035.829.728.927.418.741.163034.42725.724.417.939.380035.626.825.724.817.640.6100035.226.425.324.417.342125036.227.625.923.919.342.7160036.927.525.823.918.744200036.626.824.823.317.544.5250035.425.824.626.717.343.2315035.326.5232117.342400035.322.5212017.441.8500032.321.319.81917.542.563002919.418.418.417.338.4800024.718.117.917.917.433.51000021.417.917.917.917.330.61250020.317.9181817.326.21600020.81817.918.217.322.2SPL46.637.736.235.330.153.7N5.62.82.52.31.39.3median 32.9median 26.5median 24.8median 24.4median 17.6median 39.3Delta4.33.43.23.71.75hearing rangehide median Fan NoiseGigabyte Aero 17 HDR XB

As long as you don't change to the Quiet mode, the 17-inch notebook is also very audible in idle operation. Between 35 and 38 dB is the worst value in our test field. The fans never deactivate while using the High Performance mode.

Noise Level

Idle
35 / 36 / 38 dB(A)
Load
47 / 54 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)
Gigabyte Aero 17 HDR XB
i7-10875H, GeForce RTX 2070 Super Max-Q
Gigabyte Aero 17 XA RP77
i9-9980HK, GeForce RTX 2070 Max-Q
Alienware m17 R2 P41E
i9-9980HK, GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q
MSI GS75 Stealth 9SG
i7-9750H, GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q
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
Noise
6%
7%
5%
7%
11%
off / environment *
30
29.3
2%
29.1
3%
30
-0%
30
-0%
28.2
6%
Idle Minimum *
35
33
6%
29.4
16%
31
11%
32
9%
28.2
19%
Idle Average *
36
33
8%
29.4
18%
32
11%
33
8%
28.2
22%
Idle Maximum *
38
33
13%
31.5
17%
38
-0%
34
11%
30.8
19%
Load Average *
47
42.5
10%
49.7
-6%
47
-0%
40
15%
42
11%
Witcher 3 ultra *
49
42
14%
49.5
-1%
48
2%
49
-0%
51
-4%
Load Maximum *
54
59.6
-10%
53.3
1%
49
9%
50
7%
53
2%

* ... smaller is better

Temperatures

In return, the 17-inch laptop is slightly cooler than some of the competitors. As long as the system has nothing to do, the temperatures of the surface remain below the 30-°C mark (86 °F). During the stress test with the FurMark and Prime 95 tools, at times we measured up to 53 °C (127 °F) on top and 59 °C (138 °F) on the bottom. Therefore we wouldn't really recommend gaming sessions on your lap, also since the performance in battery operation drops sharply - like in most laptops.

The Witcher 3
The Witcher 3
Stress test
Stress test

If we dare take a brief look inside the case, we will find a maximum CPU temperature of 90 °C (194 °F) and a maximum GPU temperature of 83 °C (181 °F), which are quite high. However, there is no throttling of the components even under full load.

Max. Load
 45 °C
113 F
53 °C
127 F
46 °C
115 F
 
 37 °C
99 F
44 °C
111 F
42 °C
108 F
 
 34 °C
93 F
36 °C
97 F
35 °C
95 F
 
Maximum: 53 °C = 127 F
Average: 41.3 °C = 106 F
59 °C
138 F
59 °C
138 F
46 °C
115 F
57 °C
135 F
57 °C
135 F
40 °C
104 F
36 °C
97 F
38 °C
100 F
35 °C
95 F
Maximum: 59 °C = 138 F
Average: 47.4 °C = 117 F
Power Supply (max.)  45 °C = 113 F | Room Temperature 22 °C = 72 F | Fluke t3000FC (calibrated), Voltcraft IR-900
(-) The average temperature for the upper side under maximal load is 41.3 °C / 106 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 53 °C / 127 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 59 °C / 138 F, compared to the average of 43.2 °C / 110 F
(+) In idle usage, the average temperature for the upper side is 25.9 °C / 79 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 °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 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).
Gigabyte Aero 17 HDR XB
i7-10875H, GeForce RTX 2070 Super Max-Q
Gigabyte Aero 17 XA RP77
i9-9980HK, GeForce RTX 2070 Max-Q
Alienware m17 R2 P41E
i9-9980HK, GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q
MSI GS75 Stealth 9SG
i7-9750H, GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q
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
Heat
-4%
-20%
-9%
-3%
9%
Maximum Upper Side *
53
46.8
12%
54.2
-2%
55
-4%
50
6%
43
19%
Maximum Bottom *
59
62.2
-5%
61.4
-4%
65
-10%
47
20%
47.2
20%
Idle Upper Side *
27
29
-7%
37.8
-40%
30
-11%
33
-22%
27.2
-1%
Idle Bottom *
29
34
-17%
38.6
-33%
32
-10%
34
-17%
30
-3%

* ... smaller is better

Speakers

dB(A) 0102030405060708090Deep BassMiddle BassHigh BassLower RangeMidsHigher MidsLower HighsMid HighsUpper HighsSuper Highs2030.635.32538.538.93129.931.74028.336.25027.237.26326.940.18024.235.610024.637.912523.947.216023.444.720021.754.925020.559.131519.960.240018.668.150018.769.463017.977.180017.679100017.376.8125019.373.8160018.773.2200017.571.5250017.370.1315017.372.5400017.474.5500017.572.7630017.373.9800017.466.51000017.360.81250017.364.51600017.369SPL30.185.6N1.366.8median 17.6median 69.4Delta1.76.844.442.144.442.240.442.240.83840.84038.74036.736.636.738.539.138.535.737.335.736.73536.741.934.141.954.432.754.460.733.160.76232626732.36771.931.371.973.630.173.677.529.677.579.228.379.273.429.173.470.928.770.97428.27478.328.178.372.728.172.772.92872.971.427.871.465.227.665.262.927.762.968.727.668.772.227.672.268.127.668.166.327.466.385.840.685.867.8467.8median 70.9median 28.3median 70.95.11.45.1hearing rangehide median Pink NoiseGigabyte Aero 17 HDR XBAlienware m17 R2 P41E
Frequency diagram (checkboxes can be checked and unchecked to compare devices)
Gigabyte Aero 17 HDR XB audio analysis

(+) | speakers can play relatively loud (86 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 18.7% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (9.5% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(+) | balanced mids - only 4.6% away from median
(+) | mids are linear (6.4% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(+) | balanced highs - only 4% away from median
(+) | highs are linear (6.1% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(±) | linearity of overall sound is average (15.5% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 32% of all tested devices in this class were better, 7% similar, 61% worse
» The best had a delta of 6%, average was 18%, worst was 132%
Compared to all devices tested
» 19% of all tested devices were better, 4% similar, 78% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%

Alienware m17 R2 P41E audio analysis

(+) | speakers can play relatively loud (85.8 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 17.1% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (12.3% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(+) | balanced mids - only 3.9% away from median
(±) | linearity of mids is average (8.2% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(+) | balanced highs - only 3.1% away from median
(±) | linearity of highs is average (8.4% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(±) | linearity of overall sound is average (17% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 42% of all tested devices in this class were better, 12% similar, 46% worse
» The best had a delta of 6%, average was 18%, worst was 132%
Compared to all devices tested
» 25% of all tested devices were better, 7% similar, 67% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%

Power Management

Power Consumption

For an Optimus device with a Max-Q GPU, the power consumption is neither low nor particularly high. While the 17-inch notebook draws between 16 and 30 watts of power during idle operation, it is between 109 and 246 watts under load.

Power Consumption
Off / Standbydarklight 0.2 / 1.2 Watt
Idledarkmidlight 16 / 19 / 30 Watt
Load midlight 109 / 246 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 17 HDR XB
i7-10875H, GeForce RTX 2070 Super Max-Q
Gigabyte Aero 17 XA RP77
i9-9980HK, GeForce RTX 2070 Max-Q
Alienware m17 R2 P41E
i9-9980HK, GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q
MSI GS75 Stealth 9SG
i7-9750H, GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q
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
Power Consumption
-7%
-52%
12%
-26%
3%
Idle Minimum *
16
13.9
13%
24.7
-54%
13
19%
32
-100%
16.2
-1%
Idle Average *
19
24.3
-28%
35.9
-89%
17
11%
34
-79%
20.4
-7%
Idle Maximum *
30
35.5
-18%
69.6
-132%
25
17%
36
-20%
26.1
13%
Load Average *
109
127.6
-17%
141.8
-30%
96
12%
95
13%
96.5
11%
Witcher 3 ultra *
167
158
5%
185.8
-11%
156
7%
155
7%
182.9
-10%
Load Maximum *
246
237.5
3%
235.4
4%
239
3%
187
24%
214.3
13%

* ... smaller is better

Battery Life

Usually, gaming notebooks don't offer a long battery life, but the Aero 17 HDR is one of the few exceptions here. The main reason for the good result is the combination of the graphics switching with the big battery. The competitors do not even come close to 94 Wh, offering only 70 to 80 Wh instead. Although the predecessor lasted even slightly longer away from the charger, about 6 hours of Internet surfing via WLAN at medium brightness is still respectable. Under perfect conditions (no load, minimum display brightness), the 17-inch notebook lasts for almost 10 hours. During 3D applications, the device lasts for about 2 hours.

Battery Runtime
Idle (without WLAN, min brightness)
9h 52min
WiFi Websurfing
6h 12min
Load (maximum brightness)
2h 20min
Gigabyte Aero 17 HDR XB
i7-10875H, GeForce RTX 2070 Super Max-Q, 94 Wh
Gigabyte Aero 17 XA RP77
i9-9980HK, GeForce RTX 2070 Max-Q, 94.24 Wh
Alienware m17 R2 P41E
i9-9980HK, GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q, 76 Wh
MSI GS75 Stealth 9SG
i7-9750H, GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q, 80.25 Wh
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
Battery Runtime
2%
-43%
-24%
-53%
-38%
Reader / Idle
592
711
20%
426
-28%
461
-22%
246
-58%
295
-50%
WiFi v1.3
372
431
16%
290
-22%
357
-4%
182
-51%
280
-25%
Load
140
98
-30%
31
-78%
74
-47%
69
-51%
86
-39%
H.264
410
168

Pros

+ advantages of the 4K display: brightness, color space, accuracy
+ robust and elegant case
+ modern connections
+ very good performance
+ powerful battery

Cons

- disadvantages of the 4K display: response times, only 60 Hz
- secondary functions not illuminated
- positioning of the ports less than optimal
- bad webcam position
- fairly loud in 3D operation

Verdict

In review: Aero 17 HDR, test unit provided by Gigabyte Germany
In review: Aero 17 HDR, test unit provided by Gigabyte Germany

The update of the Gigabyte Aero 17 HDR should satisfy almost every type of user.

While content creators will appreciate a bright 4K display with accurate colors, thanks to the octa-core CPU and high-end GPU, gamers also get what they need. Also Gigabyte has thought of (almost) everything else as well. The robust case scores with good input devices and an ample amount of connection equipment including Thunderbolt 3. The battery life is also impressive for a gaming notebook.

If it wasn't for the high noise development under load and a few details (unfortunate webcam position, lack of illumination for secondary functions, and a port positioning that is less than optimal), we would really like everything about the Aero 17 HDR.

Gigabyte Aero 17 HDR XB - 04/21/2020 v7
Florian Glaser

Chassis
87 / 98 → 89%
Keyboard
85%
Pointing Device
81%
Connectivity
68 / 80 → 85%
Weight
59 / 10-66 → 87%
Battery
70 / 95 → 73%
Display
94%
Games Performance
95%
Application Performance
95%
Temperature
80 / 95 → 84%
Noise
58 / 90 → 64%
Audio
81%
Camera
39 / 85 → 46%
Average
77%
87%
Gaming - Weighted Average

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> Expert Reviews and News on Laptops, Smartphones and Tech Innovations > Reviews > Gigabyte Aero 17 HDR XB Laptop Review: Super Max-Q at the Start
Florian Glaser, 2020-04-23 (Update: 2020-04-24)