The Asus ROG Strix SCAR 17 G733 is configured with the class-leading overclocked model G733QSA-KH222R, featuring an 8-core AMD Ryzen 9 5900HX processor clocked at 4.15GHz (base is 3.3GHz) and a 16GB version of Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080. The main difference from the other G733 models is the awe-inspiring 360 Hz screen.

However, the resolution of the 360Hz panel is limited to 1080p, whereas the other 17-inch models have a 165Hz panel at 1440p. But this means it leans toward competitive gaming as opposed to casual, slow-paced gaming. And backed by 32GB of RAM, this is probably one of the most powerful gaming laptops we've ever seen.

The ROG Scar 17 outperforms any gaming laptop we've had this year when it comes to raw performance, especially CPU multithreading capabilities. the 8-core, 16-thread Ryzen 9 5900HX is already a champion in its own right, but overclock When overclocked, Cinebench R20 performance is outstanding, averaging 43 FPS in X264 video encoding. In other words, with this machine, productivity issues go out the window.

There is also no shortage of gaming; even the CPU-intensive Dartmoor benchmark of Hitman 3 averaged 95 fps on the Ultra setting.

With DirectX 12 enabled and Ultra settings, the Asus Rog Strix Scar 17 pushed out an average of 120 fps, and F1 2020 recorded at least 110 fps. Hitman 3's Dubai benchmark also hit an average of 100 fps at Ultra settings, and and even graphically intensive open-world games like Horizon Zero Dawn are not far behind. [As for the infamous "Metro Exodus," the Ultra setting was no hurdle: with DX12 enabled, it averaged 81 fps, and even with the help of DLSS, it hit an average of 72 fps in the full glory of RTX. These are more than adequate results. Imagine what you could do with games like CS:GO and Fortnite if you lower the settings. [A 360 Hz screen means that no frames are wasted when lowering graphics settings to maximize frame rate. In addition, the 3ms response time means that reactions can be critical as long as you complete the setup with the best gaming mouse. And with Adaptive Sync Technology on board, we never once witnessed screen tearing.

Despite all this power, it is relatively lightweight (I'm a wimp, but I can move it mostly with one hand) and has only one reasonably sized power adapter to carry around. In other words, unlike the desktop alternatives you might see around the corner, it is actually portable. And if you want to enjoy a quick game without being tied down by cables, the battery power will keep the frame rate steady for 100 minutes.

CPU and GPU temperatures were slightly above average at 91°C and 84°C, respectively. However, this reflects the fact that we ran benchmarks all day and reached their absolute limits. Nevertheless, the machine always seemed to maintain a cool feel. The overall cooling system is excellent, as is the plastic chassis.

With such a cooling system, one would expect to hear a screeching sound upon power-up. Impressively, however, it makes almost no sound. The closest I can come to describing the noise at full load is like an alien spaceship. It's a pleasant, low, warbling sound. It averages about 20 decibels, a very bearable pitch that would put the jet-engine laptops of yore to shame.

So while the Scar 17 is stealthy, don't forget to turn off the sword-swinging startup sound if you plan on sneaking in a late-night gaming session. To disable it, just dive into the BIOS and turn off boot sound in the advanced settings. If you don't, you'll likely piss people off, including your half-asleep self.

Speaking of ridiculous sound, you won't be disappointed with the sound of these speakers; Dolby Atmos virtual 5.1.2 channel surround sound means that the richness of the sound is incredible, and if you plan on cranking it up to full, the bass notes and There's no rumble whatsoever, even when in-game explosions are blaring across the enclosure or table.

On a superficial level, the quiet clicking optomechanical keyboard is fun. Not only is it a full keyboard, with a numeric keypad and the benefit of a wide 17" chassis, but each keypress works great, and I honestly wish I could write all my articles on this keyboard.

One rather novel feature that Asus decided to include is NFC's "Keystone II," a strange little physical key fob that slots into the side of the laptop (which I will no doubt lose one day). The idea is that you can pull it out and insert it to switch between custom profiles or quickly launch certain games or apps without having to press a single button. So, after setting the system to boring old work mode, sliding the Keystone in produces a satisfying "ping" sound and lighting effect, and boom: game mode is activated.

Keystone is also there to protect personal data, as it can unlock access to certain features and reveal hidden shadow drives. This is an interesting little novelty feature that makes the overall experience a bit more tactile and potentially more secure. You also get a badass looking keychain carabiner to store it in.

As for general storage, the machine utilizes a pair of RAID 0 performance SSDs, and with disk striping, data access between the drives should be fast. One small caveat is that if one drive fails, all data is dead. However, we need to get it right first.

Overall, there is not much negative to say about the Scar 17 G733. It will be able to handle whatever you throw at it, whether it's gaming or productivity, and all of it is housed in a gorgeous chassis with plenty of RGB. This model is in the same price range as the 8th generation Core i9 and RTX 2080 combo laptop that came out last year. If you're willing to spend $3,000 on a gaming laptop this year, you won't be disappointed.