The Aorus 17X is the latest in a number of great gaming laptops released this year, with more to come. Numerous manufacturers have adopted Nvidia's RTX Super Max-P GPUs, and the machines are getting more and more powerful.

At the top end of the spectrum, Gigabyte has added a fierce new addition to its muscle-class laptop family with the Aorus 17X. The median-spec model retails for about $3,000. While this is certainly a premium price, some hardware offerings like this are worth the big bucks.

There are a few models to choose from, with the lower-end WB and XB models each featuring an Nvidia GeForce RTX 2070 and RTX 2070 Super GPU, respectively. We were sent the Aorus 17X YB model with the RTX 2080 Super. However, you will need to add a 330W adapter power brick, which we will discuss later.

Other spec options for the 17X model include Intel Core i7 10875H/10750H or i9 10980HK, 2x DDR4 RAM slots (up to 64GB at 2666MHz/2933MHz), and numerous different SSD and HDD combinations. If you want the most powerful option of 64GB RAM, 8TB PCIe SSD, and 4TB SATA3 SSD, you can also get a core i9 and RTX 2080 super for a whopping $6730.

If you only want to install a few of your favorite games, YB's minimum 32GB RAM, 1TB PCIe SSD, and 2TB HDD is more reasonable at $3,900. It also comes with a choice of Windows Pro/Home and a free 3-month premium membership to Xsplit Gamecaster & Broadcaster, so you can show off the raw power of your new toy.

To give you an idea of the kind of power we're talking about, YB averaged 65 FPS on Metro Exodus with RTX turned on and an impressive 100 FPS with Farcry New Dawn cranked up to Ultra. This is better than the Razer Blade 15 (our top pick for 2020 so far), the MSI GS66 10SGS, and the Asus Zephyrus GX502 with similar specs. But such performance comes at an extra third of the cost. [17X also pushes sturdy performance gains from its predecessor, the Aorus 17G XB, and the bar has definitely been raised with this model.

It is a bulky laptop to say the least. I haven't tried to take it outside yet because I'm worried about it breaking my spine. Also, I don't lift. If it were just the laptop, it would be fine, but if I wanted to play a serious game (80+ minutes), I would have to figure out a way to carry both power adapters. Not only would that take up both sockets on the train (greedy), but these adapters would add weight to my luggage.

Nevertheless, with both cables connected, the Aorus 17X engine runs really well. With both cables connected, the average frames per second will undoubtedly improve significantly with the Ultra setting.

Furthermore, if you are just walking around the house, such as for general browsing, the two cables are easily accessible, with one cable in two separate rooms. The main point here is that Aorus is really a desktop replacement and is not necessarily intended to be completely portable.

Under the title "the slimmest and lightest gaming laptop in the muscle class," Gigabyte is trying to market the Aorus 17X as a laptop, but I'm not going to give them the satisfaction. Weighing 8.3 pounds, it is heavier than the average newborn baby when placed on your lap. However, this baby is sharp, angular, and makes a fairly high pitched squeal. This sound, emanating from the Windforce Infinity Cooling System, is not exactly intense, but if you want to hear the sound of your game muffled by the exhaust noise, you might want to invest in the best gaming headset available.

Even after an hour of gameplay, I never got third degree burns from putting my hand on the bottom. Also, my house is very warm with exhaust fumes, which saves on heating bills.

One feature that is pretty snazzy if you want to switch back and forth between gaming and less demanding tasks is the Nvidia Optimus technology. This gives you the option to manually or automatically switch from "performance" mode to "battery saving" mode. If you frequently switch between high-load and low-load programs, this "graphics switching" option in the Aorus Control Center is a useful feature, but requires a reboot to activate.

The overall design is inspired by exotic supercars, fighter jets, and the majestic and mythical Fire Phoenix. While I generally tend to swoon over such edgy designs, I found the edges too sharp. I'm sure you could kill someone with this, either with a beating or a laceration, but it does enhance the overall beauty of the piece. The phoenix design on the reverse is gorgeous, if you have the arm strength to flip it over.

Gigabyte gave us the thinnest laptop with a mechanical keyboard in the 15G XB. And now, the Aorus 17X stands apart from the competition, boasting the title of the world's first laptop with Omron mechanical gaming switches. This means a truly smooth and satisfying click feel and short key travel of less than 2.5mm from the 1.6mm actuation point. It also promises 15 million keystroke life, N-key rollover, and easily programmable lighting with Aorus RGB Fusion 2.0 lighting software.

The lighting software is not the most comprehensive we have seen, but it is easy to use and offers some funky presets. It also includes customizable "ambiance lighting" for the headlights and taillights, so you can draw attention to your crotch or dazzle your peers with your favorite colors. Several levels of brightness are available, including on, off, and piercing retinas.

The screen uses X-Rite Pantone calibration to achieve dreamy color fidelity on the 17.3" FHD panel; it is a 1080p panel, not 4K, but the frame rate is improved. It's also a 240Hz screen, so if you're into esports, you can really benefit from the high frame rate. The panel is covered by a 7mm bezel and has a sub-panel camera in a terrific position.

The likelihood of bothering with the touchpad is pretty low, but the buttonless touchpad is a bit classy, especially when you're waiting for the best gaming mouse to be snatched up. At first it seemed a bit large, but the more I used it, the more I came to appreciate its smoothness and sensitivity. For most standard non-gaming tasks, I've come to prefer using the touchpad over a mouse.

I was also very impressed with the clarity and punch of the speakers; the YB is equipped with an ESS Sabre HiFi Audio DAC and has a subwoofer. It would stand up well as the main rig for a house party, but at this price, you wouldn't want to let partygoers anywhere near it.

All in all, the Aorus 17X is a great machine overall, although some questions remain about aesthetics, weight, and camera positioning. The 80-minute battery life is a little underwhelming, but when plugged in, it really shines. If you're looking for a rugged and relentlessly powerful alternative to a desktop PC, it's worth a look. But if you want to move around with it, you might want to invest in a suitcase. Otherwise, a wheelbarrow will suffice.