Verdict
Modern stacked 3D V-Cache makes the Asus ROG Strix Scar 17 X3D even quicker in Triple-A video games however the primary design is beginning to look dated alongside the brand new Asus ROG Scar Strix 18 fashions.
Execs
- Even higher gaming efficiency from new 3D V-Cache Ryzen 9 CPU
- Expansive, feature-laden keyboard
- Cool and quiet even beneath heavy load
Cons
- New CPU solely accessible with premium RTX 4090 GPU
- 720p webcam is a poor effort
- Unbalanced format of I/O ports
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Modern new CPU designThe brand new 3D V-Cache model of the AMD Ryzen 9 7945H brings noticeable enhancements. -
The essential design is getting outdatedNonetheless makes use of the 2021-era design slightly than the brand new Strix Scar 18 look.
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ROG Clever CoolingThermal Grizzly’s Conductonaut Excessive liquid steel and Clever Cooling for boosted efficiency.
Introduction
The ROG Strix Scar 17X3D comes with a brand new variant of AMD’s Ryzen 9 7945HX Dragon Vary processor known as the 7945HX3D. The 7945HX3D makes use of what AMD calls “3D V-Cache Expertise” to double the quantity of L3 cache from 64MB to 128MB in comparison with the standard 7945HX. Let’s put it to the take a look at.
The 3D V-Cache packaging expertise stacks further cache layers on high of the CPU, which suggests you may enhance the CPU’s reminiscence with out growing the dimensions of the die or shrinking the logic circuits.
Within the case of AMD’s 16-core Ryzen 9 7945HX3D, solely one of many 2 blocks of 8 cores will get the extra stacked L3 3D V-Cache as a result of it has a adverse impression on clock velocity. The 8 cores within the non-3D block run on the identical 5.4Ghz increase clock because the 7945HX, however AMD hasn’t launched particulars of the decrease most increase clock for the 3D V-Cache block.
This design ought to present extra flexibility, permitting functions that profit from the extra cache and functions that profit from increased core clock speeds to run quicker. This then ought to be the most effective cell gaming CPU on the planet.
Design and Keyboard
- Identical primary design because the 2021 and 2022 fashions
- Chiclet keyboard is stable and nicely laid out
- Styling is kind of subdued for a Strix machine
The brand new Strix Scar 17 X3D is similar to the Strix Scar 17 I reviewed again in Could. It nonetheless weighs 3 kg and measures up at 395 x 282 x 28.3mm, which is similar because the 2022 and 2021 fashions. That is nonetheless basically a 2022 Strix Scar SE with revised silicon.
The age of the design to at least one aspect, it’s nonetheless a stable machine comprised of aluminium and high-quality plastic with just one actual fault: fingerprints present up badly on the keyboard deck.
The association of the I/O ports is similar, with two USB-A 3.2 Gen 1 ports on the left aspect and two Kind-C ports (each USB 3.2 Gen 2 spec with DisplayPort video output), HDMI 2.0 and a couple of.5G LAN ports together with the DC-in and three.5mm audio jacks on the again. I would favor information ports on each side for the Kind-A ports to be additional aside.
The keyboard is a well-known chiclet affair with 2mm of journey. It’s a stable affair for nicely suited to severe gaming, although it may well’t match the mechanical keyboards fitted to the Medion Erazer Beast X40 or MSI Titan GT77.
The format is typical ROG which suggests it’s each complete and expansive although you need to tolerate lowered–measurement cursor and keypad keys. 5 devoted (and programmable) hotkeys give fast entry to options comparable to the quantity, fan velocity and the Armoury Crate software. The stylised key-cap graphics are a matter of style, however they’re clear sufficient.
The RGB lighting is proscribed to a stable color or considered one of twelve preset patterns utilizing solely the Armoury Crate management panel. You’ll be able to arrange a per-key lighting association, however it’s removed from simple. The trackpad measures 130 x 77mm, is completely responsive and has a crisp click-action.
Getting contained in the Strix Scar 17 requires care as a result of a ribbon cable connects the lights within the entrance and aspect of the bottom to the motherboard. As soon as inside, you may simply entry the 2 SODIMM RAM slots, wi-fi card and two SSD slots.
The 720p webcam is a crude and drab affair, missing Home windows Howdy IR facial recognition. In truth, there isn’t any biometric safety of any type, which given the asking value, is taking the proverbial.
Asus makes no claims relating to the quantity of recycled materials within the ROG Strix Scar 17, however the packaging is freed from plastic derivatives.
Show and Sound
- 240Hz 2,560 x 1,440 IPS show
- Extensive color gamut protection
- Good movement dealing with
The show is a stable performer with a peak brightness of 348cd/m2 and a good distinction ratio of 1102:1. There’s loads of color accessible with gamut coverages of 99.9% sRGB, 98.2% DCI-P3 and 84% AdobeRGB whereas color accuracy is suitable with a Delta E of two.8 vs. the sRGB profile.
It’s been my expertise that the ROG Nebula shows fitted to the brand new Scar Strix 16 and 18 laptops are extra colour-accurate.
In purely gaming–associated phrases, the display ticks all the correct packing containers. A 240Hz refresh charge and 3ms response time with overdrive retains ghosting to a minimal, there’s help for Nvidia’s G–Sync adaptive sync expertise, and also you get Superior Optimus which acts as a MUX change with out the palaver of getting to reboot.
Most quantity might not be something out of the abnormal at 72.3dB(A), however the sound the stereo audio system produce is sweet, with ample bass and good excessive–frequency copy.
Efficiency
- New 3D V cache delivers spectacular gaming efficiency
- Runs cool and quiet for a hardcore gaming laptop computer
The X3D incarnation of the Strix Scar 17 makes use of the identical 175W Nvidia RTX 4090 GPU because the common mannequin, so does the flamboyant 3D cache CPU make it run video games any quicker? In a phrase, sure.
As we’ve modified our testing methodology right here at Trusted Critiques since I reviewed the Strix Scar 17, I’ve targeted on the elevated efficiency of the brand new X3D mannequin vs. the usual Dragon Vary machine, which, as we already know, is a really potent gaming platform.
For a direct comparability, I ran three Triple-A gaming benchmarks at 2,560 x 1,440 with ray tracing maxed out and element ranges set to the very best potential with no DLSS upscaling.
On the X3D machine, Metro Exodus ran at 71fps in comparison with 63fps on the usual 7945HX mannequin. Cyberpunk 2077 ran at 48fps in comparison with 35fps, whereas Returnal ran at 101fps in comparison with 80fps.
These body charges have been noticed beneath probably the most demanding settings potential, the type normally reserved for highly effective desktop gaming PCs, not laptops. As you may see from the benchmark scores within the desk, these titles will all run two or thrice as quick should you forgo ray tracing, drop the decision to Full HD or engager DLSS.
Much less demanding titles like Horizon Zero Daybreak don’t must be dialled again to hit a three-figure body charge, averaging 175fps in comparison with 153fps from the 7945HX, at display native decision with the very best element settings.
These are some fairly spectacular will increase and are all broadly in keeping with the 15% common efficiency leap AMD reckons the additional L3 cache would ship although the advance can differ relying on a recreation’s potential to utilise the 3D V-Cache.
It’s not all excellent news, although. Each the Cinebench R23 multicore and PCMark 10 benchmarks scored 5% decrease than the usual Dragon Vary mannequin. Presumably, the decrease clock velocity on one of many core blocks offset the advantage of the 3D cache.
The distinction is bordering on irrelevant as a result of each variations of the Strix Scar 17 are amongst the quickest laptops I’ve ever examined. I’m very happy to commerce off a 5% drop in productiveness efficiency for a 15% enhance in gaming velocity.
The 1TB SK Hynix SSD confirmed quicker sequential learn speeds however slower write speeds than the usual mannequin at 7.4GB/sec and a couple of.6GB/sec, respectively. The identical 6Ghz MediaTek MT7922 card and a RealTek 2.5GbE LAN controller deal with communications.
Software program
- Armory Crate is a really complete CP
- Some easy duties are unnecessarily complicated
- Common ranges of bloat
Asus ROG’s Armory Crate management panel is likely one of the most in depth management panels of its kind. In addition to managing the efficiency ranges of the laptop computer and the essential lighting system, you can too use it to arrange energetic wallpapers and handle your recreation library.
My beef with Armory Crate is that it’s essential to use the Aura Creator app (additionally preinstalled) and the Aura Sync function to create your personal lighting eventualities, even all the way down to easy issues like simply having the WASD keys lit. Such primary operations ought to be a lot simpler to execute.
Bloat ranges are about common with a McAfee anti-virus suite preinstalled together with Begin menu hyperlinks for the likes of WhatsApp, Netflix, Spotify and Instagram. Eradicating these is the work of moments.
Battery Life
- New CPU has no adverse impression on effectivity
- Cool and quiet for an RTX 4090 laptop computer
The 2023 Strix Scar 17 carried out nicely within the PCMark 10 Workplace productiveness battery take a look at operating for six hours and 12 minutes earlier than the 90Wh battery gave up the ghost. The X3D carried out a lot the identical, operating for six hours and 5 minutes. This implies that the brand new processor has a minimal impact on the general effectivity.
Once more replicating the 7945HX mannequin, the X3D proved an impressively quiet and funky efficiency even when operating in Turbo mode beneath a heavy load. Most exterior temperatures by no means jumped above 37°, and fan noise by no means turned annoying, peaking at 54dB(A).
As regards to noise, I’ve learn some customers complaining of coil whine when operating video games, however this wasn’t one thing I skilled.
Newest offers
Must you purchase it?
The quickest gaming laptop computer in the marketplace
By including the revised AMD Ryzen R9 7945HX3D processor to the 2023 ROG Strix Scar 17, Asus has made an already highly effective gaming laptop computer much more highly effective. The ROG Strix Scar 17 X3D is probably the most highly effective gaming laptop computer cash should buy.
The ROG Strix Scar 18 laptops have a bigger, higher show
The Ryzen R9 7945HX3D CPU and RTX 4090 GPU could also be on the slicing fringe of cell gaming efficiency, however why put them in a laptop computer whose primary design is three years outdated? This silicon ought to be within the Strix Scar 18 slightly than the 17.
Remaining Ideas
Proper now, you will get the RTX 4090 / 7945HX Strix Scar 17 for £3,300 (down from the standard value of £3,800) and the RTX 4080 / 7945HX mannequin for £2,900. Within the UK, the Strix Scar 17 X3D could have an RRP of £3,799, however I don’t know if it is going to be accessible with the cheaper RTX 4080 GPU.
There isn’t a doubt that the most recent model of AMD’s already spectacular Dragon Vary Ryzen R9 7945H CPU has moved the goalposts relating to gaming efficiency. The ROG Strix Scar 17 X3D can run video games even quicker than MSI’s monstrous Titan GT77 and leaves different RTX 4090 machines we’ve examined, just like the Medion Erazer Beast X40, in its mud.
The excellent efficiency does put into sharp aid the truth that the essential design of the ROG Strix Scar 17 is now getting slightly lengthy within the tooth and has been supplanted by the ROG Strix Scar 18 within the Asus ROG hierarchy. I’m positive there are good the explanation why Asus has taken this route, however it nonetheless leaves the patron paying high greenback for an outdated design of automotive, albeit one with a brand new engine.
How we take a look at
Each laptop computer we evaluation goes by means of a sequence of uniform checks designed to gauge key issues, together with construct high quality, efficiency, display high quality and battery life.
These embrace formal artificial benchmarks and scripted exams, plus a sequence of real-world checks, comparable to how nicely it runs standard apps.
We use evaluation machines as our most important laptop computer for no less than per week.
We take a look at the efficiency by way of each benchmark exams and real-world use.
We take a look at the display with a colorimeter and real-world use.
We take a look at the battery with a benchmark take a look at and real-world use.
FAQs
Sure. The additional cache has a huge impact on gaming efficiency as a result of video games require the CPU to course of information in a short time, and further cache reminiscence is the important thing to creating that occur.
No. Not like Alienware, Asus ROG doesn’t provide the choice of a mechanical keyboard, however its chiclet design continues to be appropriate for gaming.
Trusted Critiques take a look at information
PCMark 10
Cinebench R23 multi core
Cinebench R23 single core
Geekbench 5 single core
Geekbench 5 multi core
Geekbench 6 single core
Geekbench 6 multi core
3DMark Time Spy
CrystalDiskMark Learn velocity
CrystalDiskMark Write Velocity
Brightness (SDR)
Black degree
Distinction ratio
White Visible Color Temperature
sRGB
Adobe RGB
DCI-P3
PCMark Battery (workplace)
Horizon Zero Daybreak body charge (Quad HD)
Horizon Zero Daybreak body charge (Full HD)
Cyberpunk 2077 (Quad HD)
Cyberpunk 2077 (Full HD)
Cyberpunk 2077 (Full HD + RT)
Cyberpunk 2077 (Full HD + Supersampling)
Returnal (Quad HD)
Returnal (Full HD)
F1 22 (Quad HD)
F1 22 (Full HD)
Fan noise beneath stress
Temperature beneath stress
UK RRP
USA RRP
CPU
Producer
Display screen Measurement
Storage Capability
Entrance Digicam
Battery
Battery Hours
Measurement (Dimensions)
Weight
Working System
Launch Date
First Reviewed Date
Mannequin Quantity
Decision
Refresh Charge
Ports
GPU
RAM
Connectivity
Colors
Show Expertise
Contact Display screen
Convertible?
