Gaming laptops have come a long way coming from the bulky machines 10 years ago, to sleek high-performance machines capable of delivering AAA gaming experiences. I have now the opportunity to talk about the ROG Strix SCAR 16 (G634JZR-RA091WS), a creation from ASUS designed with elite gamers in mind. With its tagline “For those who dare,” this powerhouse aims to bring AAA gaming performance in a package that will fit right at home in my backpack (without breaking your back!).

Aesthetic Appeal

The SCAR 16’s design stands out in the sea of gaming laptops. It has a distinct off-black finish and features customizable RGB lighting on the rear glow Aura panel and light bar, giving it an unmistakable gaming vibe. Translucent keyboard decks with laser-etched styling and interchangeable Armor Caps further allow gamers to personalize their device, making it a reflection of their style. I got an older generation ROG STRIX myself and I’ve dabbled into 3D printing my own Armor Caps for that level of personalization.

Stunning Visuals

A gaming laptop lives and dies by its display, and the SCAR 16 delivers an immersive experience with its 16-inch ROG Nebula HDR display. The specs alone—WQXGA (2560×1600) resolution, 240Hz refresh rate, 100% DCI-P3 coverage, and NVIDIA G-SYNC support—are sure to bring the gaming experience we’ve all been dreaming of. Combined with HDR capabilities, this display brings AAA games to life, making every detail pop in expansive open-world games or a fast-paced FPS.

The 16:10 aspect ratio adds extra screen real estate providing more room for immersion and multitasking with ease. Gamers looking for buttery-smooth performance and vibrant colors won’t be disappointed.

Performance: Built for AAA Dominance

At the heart of the SCAR 16 is a 14-core Intel Core i9-14900HX processor, paired with NVIDIA’s RTX 4080 GPU with 12GB GDDR6 VRAM, delivering an astonishing 175W of combined TGP performance. These specifications ensure the machine is ready for the most demanding tasks, from high-intensity gaming to 4K video editing and streaming.

Performance benchmarks reveal, showcasing the laptop’s dominance in gaming and productivity tasks. The inclusion of MUX Switch and NVIDIA Advanced Optimus further allows seamless switching between integrated and discrete GPUs, maximizing performance during gameplay and extending battery life during less demanding activities.

First up is a gaming test with Cyberpunk 2077 on RTX Overdrive, DLSS set to Quality and Frame Generation turned on. The FPS capture bugged out on the max FPS, but we can solve for the estimated Max FPS by taking the Average and Minimum FPS in a formula.

To solve for the maximum FPS (XX) using the given values of minimum FPS (M=37.5M=37.5) and average FPS (A=98.7A=98.7), we can use the formula for the average FPS: A=M+X2A=2M+X)​.

Even with the Graphical settings in RTX Overdrive, we can see that we were able to achieve a smooth Average FPS of 98.7, Max FPS of 159.9, and Minimum FPS of 37.5.

Ready or Not is a recent game title that is also difficult to run even on fairly spec’d gaming systems and here we can see that have an Average FPS of 288.1, Maximum FPS of 381.8, and Minimum FPS of 20.4.

Next, Rainbow Six Siege is an esport title that demands high fps and low GPU latency and this gaming laptop definitely delivers the experience easily. With an Average FPS of 262.2, we are able to take advantage of the 240hz low latency display to easily click heads in-game. The FPS Maxed out at 516.3 FPS and gaining a minimum of 28.6 FPS.

In synthetic benchmarks, the Intel Core i9-14900HX Tops the Single core charts with 2173 pts and a Multi-core score of 26387pts.

The included SK Hynix PCIe Gen4 SSD is also one of the fastest drives available in the market right now taking full advantage of the 4x PCIe lane with over 7152.33MB/s read speed, and 4650.79MB/s write speed.

Keeping Cool Under Pressure

Gaming laptops often face the challenge of heat management, but ASUS has gone the extra mile with ROG Intelligent Cooling. Featuring Tri-Fan technology and liquid metal thermal compounds on both the CPU and GPU, this system claims to reduce temperatures by up to 15°C.

During extended gaming sessions, ensures sustained performance without the risk of thermal throttling. The thoughtful cooling design makes the SCAR 16 an ideal choice for gamers who demand consistent, top-tier performance.

The sensor data showed the following readings on our gaming tests:

• CPU Power – 42w max
• CPU Temp 91°C max
• GPU Power – 175w max
• GPU Temp 87°C max

Value-Added Features

The SCAR 16 comes packed with thoughtful extras. Three months of PC Game Pass allows gamers to explore a vast library of titles, offering excellent value right out of the box. Additionally, the ASUS 4A Quality and Service Warranty Package provides peace of mind with comprehensive coverage, including accidental damage.

In the box, gamers will find premium accessories like the ROG Gladius III Mouse and ROG Backpack, completing the ensemble for gamers on the go.

The Final Verdict

With a price tag of PHP 214,995, the ROG Strix SCAR 16 isn’t a casual purchase. The cost is justified with its top-tier specs, stunning visuals, and unique design. It’s a machine tailored for AAA gamers who demand the best if you want to conquer virtual worlds or stream their adventures to fans.

Filed under: Gadget Reviews,Reviews - @ November 30, 2024 4:11 am

Tags: Gaming Laptop Review