That of the ASUS ROG Strix Scar it is a family of gaming laptops that gamers know very well and which this year is enriched with a 16″ version released this year. In this review of the ASUS ROG Strix Scar 16″ we will analyze all the features and potential of the graphics card GeForce RTX 4080.
Needless to say, the focus will be mainly on video games and how it manages even the most high-performance and latest generation ones. Obviously there will be an analysis on design, performance, heat dissipation and the much feared (especially when talking about gaming laptops) issue of cost!.
Our review of the ASUS ROG Strix Scar 16
In case you hadn’t guessed it yet, The ASUS ROG Strix Scar laptop is a high-end gaming laptop, equipped with a 13th generation Intel Core i9-13980HX processor, an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 Laptop GPU video card and a 16-inch Nebula QHD display.
On paper, we find components that make the computer powerful, fast and capable of handling any game or application with ease, all at one cost (we’ll spoil it for you) of around €3499. Will it be excessive or does it compensate for the actual power of the laptop?
Before answering this question, let’s start with a nice…
…data sheet
- Dimensions: 35.4 x 26.4 x 2.26 ~ 3.04 cm
- Weight: 2.50 Kg
- Display: ROG Nebula Display da 16″, Refresh Rate 240Hz
- Processor: 13th Gen Intel Core i9 2.2 GHz
- RAM: 16GB DDR5-4800 SO-DIMM x 2
- Memory: SSD 1TB
- Video Card: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 12GB GDDR6
- Porte: 1x 3.5mm Combo Audio Jack, 1x HDMI 2.1 FRL, 1x USB 3.2 Tipo-C, 2x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A, 1x 2.5G LAN port, 1x Thunderbolt 4 support DisplayPort / G-SYNC
- Network and communication: Wi-Fi 6E 2*2 + Bluetooth 5.3 Wireless Card
- Drums: 90WHrs, 4S1P, 4-cell lithium-ion
Design
This ASUS ROG Strix Scar 16 is characterized by a futuristic, fascinating design full of RGB lights in perfect ASUS style. The Laptop dimensions are undoubtedly important. We are talking about 35.4 x 26.4 x 2.26cm for a total of approximately 3kg in weight.
The design is aggressive and eye-catching, with a Customizable RGB backlit QWERTY keyboard and a semi-transparent back panel showing some internal components including the Tri-Fan cooling system (which we’ll talk about later). The Chassis boasts a anti-fingerprint coating which enhances the black color and keeps it clean. The coating has in fact been laser polished for extra shine and cleanliness. In addition to the backlit ASUS ROG logo that heads at the top, we also find a diagonal laser-engraved trail with ROG mini-logos.
The attention to detail is also reflected in the lower part of the laptop, usually overlooked, which here instead takes up the models of the lid and there enhances it with a gray color alongside black. Rubber bases, both on the corners and on the central body of the laptop, guarantee an exceptional grip on the desk. Last but not least, this model comes with a Backglow RGB panel which, together with the RGB lighting of the keys and the light bar, enormously increases the light component. Because there is never enough RGB lights!
The QWERTY keyboard without numeric keypad boasts professional performance thanks to the high precision and quality that allows it to resist up to 20 million pressures. Key rollover also ensures that the system never misses a command even if you are pressing multiple keys at the same time. It all concludes large touchpad equipped with a glass coating which offers a premium feel and excellent precision. This it can also become a NumberPad to replace the numeric keypad with great efficiency.
Technology
Beautiful on the outside and high-performance on the inside. The computer is powered by a 13th generation Intel Core i9-13980HX processor supported by up to 64GB of DDR5 RAM and up to 1TB of PCIe Gen4x4 storage. Thanks to NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 Laptop graphics card with a maximum TGP of 175W, the computer is able to manage the most demanding and latest generation video games without any problem as well as programs that require the greatest number of resources such as those dedicated to editing or computer graphics.
The flagship of this laptop is the Mini LED Nebula HDR display with a 240Hz refresh rate and 100% DCI-P3 coverage. Added to this is one peak brightness of 1100 nits and HDR support for exceptional visual quality regardless of the video game in action. We also find the same quality in the audio componentvery important for video games. The speakers of this laptop include two tweeters and two woofers with Dolby Atmos technology positioned towards the bottom to offer all-round audio performance. Not even one is missing AI noise cancellation two-way. Noise cancellation settings can also be customized per program, filtering out specific applications like voice chat without affecting game audio.
In terms of autonomy we have one 90Wh battery. For greater versatility, charging via USB Type-C is supported up to 100W. When using the included 330W power adapter, the SCAR 16 can charge from zero to 50% in just 30 minutes.
Cooling system
To accommodate such demanding performances in a relatively small space, The Strix SCAR 16 chassis and motherboard have both been redesigned to accommodate the new 62.59% larger heatsink compared to 2022’s Strix SCAR 15. The copper fins, also used for dissipation, have also been positioned near the hot air outlets to maximize the path available for the hot air to escape and lower the temperature.
Furthermore, unlike most gaming laptops, the ASUS ROG Strix SCAR 16 uses a triple fan system which helps cool the GPU and VRAM as well. As if that wasn’t enough we also count 7 heatpipes and Conductonaut Extreme liquid metal on both the CPU and GPU to reduce temperatures even further even when playing the most demanding video games.
Our test of the ASUS ROG Strix Scar 16
For this review we tested the ASUS ROG Strix Scar 16 for about 3 weeks during which it became our main use laptop whether for gaming, streaming or writing this article.
Starting from the design, this Strix Scar screams “I’m an ASUS ROG laptop” from all the chips. Every graphic and stylistic detail is perfect, characterized by premium materials that provide an excellent feel. Both the chassis, the keyboard and the pad look their best and also offer spectacular performance. In regards to this, the incredible mix of processor power, RAM and video card offer everything you need to get the most out of any video game.
Every single title we tested moved beautifully and was handled best by the laptop. Also with the most challenging video games, such as Cyberpunk 2077, Starfield or Red Dead Redemption 2the laptop did that thing all gamers live for: set the graphics options to the maximum yourself. We never encountered any drops in performance or FPS (that were not due to the internet) and we were able to move quickly and without any difficulty between the various applications.
And the defects?
Finding a negative element in such a beast is not very simple. Without a doubt the most complicated aspect is that of weight. This is a flaw that gaming laptops can hardly do without but to manage the power of a processor and video card of this caliber, theeither the thickness or the almost 3 KG of weight are a necessary evil.
Heat dissipation achieves exceptional results for the components it houses but forget about playing for a long time with the laptop on your lap. The temperatures are high as is the noise of the fans. Here too an unavoidable logistical problem.
Given the large dimensions of the laptop, we also expected a more important battery life than the approx 4-5 hours with “normal” use which drops to less than an hour if important games are started. Autonomy is certainly not a characteristic of gaming laptops but these numbers place the ASUS ROG Strix SCAR 16 in the field of replacements for fixed computers rather than in that of a gaming laptop for use on the move.
The ASUS ROG Strix Scar review in brief
The ASUS ROG Strix SCAR 16 is a truly powerful gaming laptop, a true next-generation top of the range capable of handling any video game currently available on the market. All accompanied by a truly attractive design even if not the most comfortable to carry.
The price of around 3,500 euros may seem exaggerated but fitting the incredible components of this laptop into such a small space requires an extreme effort and honestly, There aren’t many gaming laptops on the market that can match the features of this ASUS ROG Strix SCAR 16.