From ASUS Press Release: Today ASUS Republic of Gamers (ROG) introduces the ROG Strix G, which embodies streamlined design, and offers a formidable core experience for serious gaming at an affordable price point. Available in different sizes with refresh rates up to 144Hz, the 15.6” Strix G (GL531) and 17.3” Strix G (GL731) wrap key elements of a great gaming laptop in carefully designed chassis filled with the latest Intelligent Cooling technology. Featuring the latest 9th Gen Intel Core processors, up to a 9th Gen Intel Core i7-9750H CPU, and NVIDIA GeForce RTX™ GPUs, it brings impactful gaming performance to a wide audience. It includes a comfortable keyboard tuned for gaming, stronger Wi-Fi via ROG RangeBoost, and easy personalization with Aura Sync RGB lighting.
While the Zephyrus family dominates the ultra-slim segment, and the ROG Mothership and G703 are designed as desktop replacements, the latest Strix series represents the evolution of traditional gaming laptops. The Strix SCAR III and Hero III target esports professionals and serious players with bigger budgets
Taking a leaf out of the luxury playbook
Lots of people use the same computer for work and play, the ROG Strix G series was created to serve both worlds. Inspired by a collaboration with the BMW Designworks Group
Raised and carefully sculpted ridges on the laptop’s spine draw attention to the extra vents atop the rear exhausts. They rake across the back and down the right side, adding dramatic flair reminiscent of the gills on the “Face Off” concept produced by the collaborative project. Silky, scissor-door hinges are shifted forward to make more room for the extra ventilation at the back. They disappear into the laptop’s frame when closed, reducing exposure that can lead to cracking.
A brushed finish cuts diagonally across the lid with fine lines that flow toward the edges at contrasting angles. The unique pattern accentuates an asymmetrical cut-out between the hinges that allows unrestricted airflow around the additional vents. This offset element channels a design element explored during brainstorming workshops for the concept project.
Lifting the lid reveals similar styling echoed across the keyboard and palm rests. RGB lighting is implemented via an optional light bar that wraps around the front and side edges of the machine, casting a gentle glow onto the surrounding surface. More LEDs illuminate the keyboard to improve visibility for late-night play, and the all-important WASD keys have transparent caps to immediately distinguish them from the rest.
Winning graphics provided by RTX and high refresh
Beyond a striking design, ultimately it’s what’s on the inside that counts; especially when on a budget. The GPU is the most important component for gaming performance, so the Strix G is available with the latest NVIDIA GeForce RTX GPUs. Based on the new Turing™ architecture, these discrete GPUs blend CUDA, RT, and Tensor cores that allow developers to combine programmable shading, ray tracing, and artificial intelligence in real time.
Select games are already leveraging GeForce RTX hardware for more realistic lighting, reflections, and shadows. Titles with conventional effects can also benefit from optimizations to Turing’s CUDA cores, which offer improved performance with more traditional rendering. The top Strix G configuration features GeForce RTX 2070 GPUs with ROG Boost up to 1440MHz at 115W, surpassing the spec and performance of many laptops based on the same GPU.
ROG Boost provides an extra kick that helps users play their favorite games at higher frame rates, but even if the GPU pumps out more than 60 FPS, users won’t see all of those frames unless the panel can keep up. The Strix G offers display options with refresh rates up to 144Hz, which is fast enough for frame rates into the triple digits. Whether users are playing casually or competitively, they can experience smoother gameplay that improves input response and makes it easier to track moving targets in the thickest action.
The display is surrounded by super-narrow bezels that melt into the background for deeper immersion. Shrinking the frame also reduces the footprint of the chassis as a whole. The 15.6” Strix G (GL531) offers a more compact body for easier portability, while a 17.3” Strix G (GL731) is available for those who prefer a larger panel.
Striking a balance between work and play
The Strix G’s gaming prowess is balanced by serious computing power with up to a 9th Gen Intel Core i7-9750H processor. This new CPU can reach Turbo speeds up to an impressive 4GHz, ensuring excellent performance with most games and applications. It also boasts six cores with the ability to execute 12 parallel threads via Hyper-Threading, which expanding options for heavy duty work.
Not that long ago, users had to choose between gaming and streaming, or between rendering a 3D project and working on a paper, but Intel’s latest chips are primed for multitaskers with diverse and demanding workloads. Paired with up to 32GB of dual-channel memory, they make the Strix G well-equipped for power users who want to do more with their machines.
Dual drive bays allow users to enjoy the best of both worlds even on a tight budget. The M.2 slot can be configured with an NVMe SSD that loads games in a snap and ensures the system stays responsive even under heavy loads. There’s also a 2.5” bay with options for a standard 1TB hard drive or an SSHD with an integrated, flash-based cache that accelerates access to frequently used data.
ROG Intelligent Cooling for maintaining peak performance
Laptops can struggle to hold high clock speeds with sustained workloads. Their cooling systems can easily clog with dust over time, which compromises efficiency and makes faster frequencies even more difficult to maintain. The ROG Intelligent Cooling philosophy helps the Strix G avoid these issues by mixing the right hardware and software for the system configuration and scenario at hand.
The 3D Flow Zone at the rear increases airflow through 181 individual perforations in the 15” (GL531) and 236 holes in the 17” (GL731). Thermals are dissipated by up to three heatsinks with 189 fins; the exact numbers vary depending on the GPU configuration, though all the fins are only 0.1mm thick. Their ultra-thin profile allows for a higher fin density and total surface area of the heatsinks while also lowering the air resistance through them.
Dual 12V fans¹ can reach higher speeds than conventional 5V units. With 83 blades each, they are the densest n-Blade fans yet. The liquid-crystal-polymer blades are 33% thinner than regular designs, which allows an increase in airflow by fitting more blades onto each fan without sacrificing the strength required to spin at high RPMs. The intakes are carefully shaped with curved edges and raised guides to pull in more air into the blades, and each fan housing incorporates an anti-dust tunnel that catches particles and channels them out the back. This self-cleaning design helps keep dust and other debris from clogging the heatsinks and fans, leading to higher cooling efficiency and more consistent performance over time.
Underneath the keyboard sits an extended heat spreader with up to five heat pipes depending on the GPU configuration. The most robust version absorbs and distributes heat from the CPU, GPU, and VRM supplying them with power. Carefully-placed vents in the CoolZone keyboard ensure enough airflow around the WASD keys to reduce surface temperatures by 2° Celsius compared to the previous generation.
The carefully configured cooling hardware is aided by smart software that optimizes settings for the scenario. Cooling and performance requirements vary based on what the user is doing, so multiple modes are offered, which are tuned for different needs. “Silent mode” minimizes acoustics for less demanding tasks like light work and entertainment, while “Performance mode” strikes a balance between system speed and fan noise that’s ideal for gaming. When optimal performance is required, “Turbo mode” opens the taps and turns up the fans to help maintain higher speeds.
Users can shift between operating modes on demand with a simple keyboard shortcut. ROG Armoury Crate software also includes Scenario Profiles that can be configured to automatically switch modes and adjust other system settings based on the active application, so the right mode is always activated for the right moment.
Ensuring every keystroke counts
The Strix G’s keyboard has a familiar desktop-style layout. Dedicated hotkeys provide convenient access to volume controls and microphone mute, while strategic spacing between the function keys makes common shortcuts faster to find. Highlighted WASD keys identify crucial controls, offset directional keys speed up navigation, and the extended space bar is easier to hit with thumb presses. The 17.3" versions have a dedicated number pad to the right of the keyboard, while the 15.6" models integrate one into the touchpad that lights up when Num Lock is tapped.
ROG Overstroke technology raises each key’s actuation point to halfway through its travel, which means presses register a little faster than on common keyboards that only trigger when they’re depressed three quarters of the way down. N-key rollover ensures simultaneous presses register accurately, and the keys are built to withstand over 20 million presses, so even regular gamers can count on the keyboard’s durability over time.
While the overall design provides a subtle style that doesn’t look out of place at work or school, the Strix G can still light up when needed. Aura Sync RGB lighting is available across up to four distinct zones in the keyboard, and it can be coordinated to match the optional light bar beneath the chassis as well as compatible peripherals for a consistent look across any gaming setup.
Powerful connectivity paired with a variety of I/O ports
Reliable connectivity is a must when on the go. Losing a connection in the middle of an important match or when there’s urgent work to deliver can mean the difference between winning and losing, or pass and fail. The Strix G uses ROG RangeBoost multi-antenna Wi-Fi to ensure connections remain strong; it evaluates the signal strength of four internal antennas and selects the best ones to use depending on the surrounding environment. This smart antenna switching can extend wireless range by up to 30% to keep users online longer. When not on the move, users can switch from the Intel® 802.11ac (2x2) Gigabit Wi-Fi to wired Gigabit Ethernet with lower latency for serious multiplayer gaming and other activities that are sensitive to network performance.
If hard-wired in at home, the ROG Strix provides the option to connect an external monitor. Gaming on a bigger screen is easy via the HDMI 2.0b output, which is good for resolutions up to 4K UHD at 60Hz. Models with GeForce RTX GPUs also offer DisplayPort over USB Type-C, including support for external monitors that vary their refresh rate to make gameplay smoother and more immersive.
There are three USB Type-A ports for connecting preferred peripherals like a gaming mouse, gamepad, and external storage. The audio combo jack and surround sound virtualization adds positional cues to give provide an edge when gaming.
In addition, the Strix G's dual speakers pump out plenty of volume. Smart Amp tech monitors and adjusts audio output in real time to ensure the speakers stay within their thermal and excursion limits. This cuts down on distortion at higher volume and improves dynamic range and bass response.
¹ Configurations will vary between 12V fans and 5V fans. Please see the specification sheets for more detailed information about each configuration.
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AVAILABILITY AND PRICING
ROG Strix G will be available in late May 2019 starting at $999. Additional pricing and configurations will be announced.
