ASUS ROG Zephyrus GX501 Owner's Lounge

Strictly speaking from someone in the manufacturing industry, I would take a high quality Plastic over thin Aluminum any day. That being said MSI could do a far better job with presentation, like Alienware does with their plastic (minus the RGB and cheap looking head logo)

The Asus is made of mostly aluminum, which "feels" superior. As far as quality the MSI has ASUS beat with higher quality components: mosfets, PCH, RAM (Unfortunately ASUS has mismatch of timings and frequency due to half being soldered on), and the other non soldered stuff. And the ASUS if far more fragile

I think the ASUS would have been a considerably better product without that flimsy bottom cover. That is where it feels cheap and gimmicky for me. It doesn't need it at all. Fan vents exactly where the fans are would have been the same thing. And the opening mechanism could have been rubber padded feet

 

The lightest GTX 1080 gaming laptop ? The Asus GX501v Zephyrus UNBOXED

 

Asus ROG Zephyrus | Review

 

Review of Asus ROG GX501-pcworld.com

 

One hell of a GTX 1060
PC world has been lackluster on editing lately

 

Doesn't matter. Ain't the real 1080. Just look at the score Maybe Pcworld's editors should rather put in 1070 ?

 

In FS Extreme I get a score of around 9200 with an oc on gpu of 200 Mhz. No other tweaking involved. Under load GPU hovers around 1600MHz at a voltage of around 0.7V and a gpu powerdraw of around 110W (peak: 117W).

So the Zephyrus is at least better than a stock 17 Inch RBP. Wonder what score an oc´ed RBP might achieve. Also a comparison to the Acer Triton 700 will be interesting.

Regarding the inevitable and ongoing comparisons to a (mobile) 1070:
The question is how much voltage/powerdraw is needed to match a maxq 1080. To reach the level of the maxq 1080 my guess is that the overclock on the 1070 needs to be that high that the needed voltage leeds to a higher powerdraw and higher temps of an overclocked 1070 compared to a maxq 1080. This is the question that matters the most to me: Can a 1070 be as efficient as a maxq 1080 at the same performance level. If not, if the maxq 1080 is simply more efficient at the same performace level (i.e. the 1070 needs a higher powertarget to reach that level and therefore consumes more power) I am more than happy to pay the premium and I honestly give a **** how it´s called.

 

I got my replacement system today .. as I said before build quality is very nice . I'm going to test out performance tonight . I did run a firestrike with at OC of 220 and scored just at 15k. So not horrible just much Lower then my Alienware 17r4 .. but I'll see how that plays out in games


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Sorry but what AW17 GPU/CPU does it have? 1070 or 1080?
If I remember correctly a AW17 with 1080 gets around 17K in firestrike.

 

Is there some way to disable the keypress-induced touchpad delay on this thing? I'm never going to accidentally brush the touchpad while typing on it.

Update: It would appear the "Touchpad sensitivity" option does the trick.

 

Just a little update I've been using the laptop for the last couple days testing out on a few games Player unknown star citizen and just a little bit of battlefield 1. I must say the more I use it the more I am impressed. It's definitely not the highest performing laptop iPad but the fact that it's extremely easy to carry lightweight and very powerful for its form factor I'm starting to really enjoy it. I did do it 230mhz overclock on the GPU . So the games of been running between 1550 and 1900 MHz which I thought was very impressive. I'm leaning towards keeping it let me know if you guys have any questions on the laptop if I can test something for you I will as long as I have it let me know


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How are temps and does it get louder with the OC?
Really wish there was a 17" model then they would be able to put in a larger battery.

 

I leave mine with OC of 200/200, everyone has posted noise levels and looking at numbers honestly don't compare to actually using this laptop in person. The noise at peak is very tolerable.

I have an Aorus X7 DT V7 shipping next week and I am sure it will be louder but hoping its tolerable?

 

I have one right now and I can tell you it's definitely louder. The overcloked CPU is more responsible for the fans though.

 

I spoke too soon. Doing my testing now and I got 40dB at ear level with the Aorus x7 DT. I've run into this before where the amplitudes match but the noises are far more annoying than others. I'd argue that hte Zephyrus is a more pleasant noise than both the Aorus x5 MD and x7 DT though.

 

I can't wait now to get it!! When will your review be up?

Thanks!

 

Just an update .. I have decided to keep the system . I am getting a little less performance when I would with a bigger system but with the 230mhz OC it's still keeps up and with the system for the system it's quit amazing


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NVIDIA Max-Q - 5 Minutes on Tech

 

Asus ROG Zephyrus GX501 Review - GTX 1080 Max-Q Portable Powerhouse

 

Best review yet. The 15 inch Zephyrus beating the 17 inch RBP...

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And this can tell everyone how Crippled the Razerbook's performing!!

 

But... this is not possible. The RBP is NOT a maxq notebook! How can this be??

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Yeah, but you gotta admit, the RBP 1080 is the grand daddy model for the Max-Q scheme. Razer pioneered promising a 1080, but delivering much less even though they charge as if they are delivering full performance.

And, Razer delivered the gimp 1080 into a blind open field, hoping and depending on the foolishness of their gullible fans.

Razer only needed to deliver a 1080, with a small PSU, small thin chassis incapable of cooling the full performance of a 1080, and charge a huge markup for unheard of profits.

Nvidia saw this and dreamed of pulling off the same scheme.

Max-Q had to "seem" to actually deliver performance, quiet, and thin at a slightly less cost. Solved with double talk and marketing glitz.

Max-Q had a target in form and function to beat, and they did it, they made a 1080 perform as well as an overclocked 1070.

Too bad Max-Q was chosen as the goal, instead of a thin full performance frame that would allow full GPU performance, like the slim Aorus X7 DT v7. In comparison the performance of a real full performance GTX 1080 makes the Max-Q results pale in comparison.

Win win designs like this Aorus X7 DT v7 are to be commended, and voting with your dollars is the way to do it

Check out @Darkhan 's posts with scores on his new slim Aorus X7 DT v7

Aorus X5 V7, X7 V7, DT X7 all estimated for June release in USA
http://forum.notebookreview.com/thr...e-release-in-usa.805021/page-35#post-10577365


He just got the laptop today, and had scores posted in 20 minutes... give that a thought and please do the same when you get your new laptops

Aorus X7 DT v7
https://www.aorus.com/product-detail.php?p=216&t=35&t2=59&t3=60

 

Max-Qripped should be called M as before. Aka Cheaper than the more powerful desktop version. Same as 980m was cheaper than 980 desktop version for laptops. But ideally should all be priced a lot less. Every models out there!! Nvidia stopped naming their weaker Mobile cards for more income. Scam!! Nvidia will win due people's stupidity!! As always.

 

The 980m is still more expensive than the GTX980 desktop. The 980m is only "cheaper" in comparison to the laptop version of the GTX980 desktop GPU, which is "outrageously" priced.

Practice for the Pascal desktop performance laptop GPU's, morphing into even more expensive Max-Q laptops.

 

Nvidia won a long time ago due to AMDs inability to compete. Contrary to Razer, Nvidia told everyone in the first place that maxq does not perform as a regular 1080. At least I knew exactly what I get when opting for the Zephyrus and I am not dissapointed.

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I get the same scores with the Zephyrus when overclocked. It will be interesting to see the scores of the Aorus at max oc and also its noise level.

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At max OC on your Max-Q 1080, your laptop is no longer running at 39dba noise output, is it?

And, at Max OC sustained for long gaming sessions, it's gonna be just as hot and loud as it can be, if it had been designed with a few more grams of mass and a few more square inches of volume, it could be a real 1080 in full bloom.

That would have been a wonderful design goal, that's probably why Aorus did it. They saw the honest solution opportunity, and made it happen.

That's the kind of behavior worth supporting

What's your best Firestrike Graphics score and Physics score, Link / image?. I've only see somewhere between 13,000-17,000 so far for Graphics score, and without enough power and the lack of a 7820HK there isn't any chance of matching the Aorus CPU Physics score.

 

P870 with single 980M was a lot cheaper than same machine with 980. But now will Max-Q as really should be called M as before cost about the same. And all know 1080M perform less than 1080. Same as next 2080M vs. the real deal 2080

 

MXM 980m's were around $850 back then, some charged more, some charged less. The 980 MXM GPU was around $1500-$1750. And the desktop 980 GPU was $450. The laptop GPU's have always been way overpriced.

Now Nvidia has figured out how to sell 1070 level performance for the cost of a full 1080 GPU... !! Include the 1080 GPU !!

It's sheer genius

They probably thought they could quadruple the 1080 GPU sales by sacrificing what were previously 1070 sales, and double or triple their profits.

Then scale the scam on down. Sell 1070's for a bigger profit in the slot 1060's used to sell.

Bringing up overall laptop prices one level. 1070's now sell for the price of 1080's, and 1080's sell for...

...as much as the new MSI GT75VR 1080 @ $4299... about $1000 more than they used to sell for.

It doesn't matter that MSI bundled more RAM and Storage - they get that stuff for 20% of retail MSRP in the quantities they purchase.

It's a nice scheme, high performance laptops were getting too inexpensive, competition was bringing down prices.

And so many seem eager to spend more for less.

 

Maybe I was a little bit too optimistic regarding my FS scores. But I am not that much behind in a 15 inch enclosure. I would like ASUS to build a 17 inch version of the Zephyrus. Even overclocked at sustained load for hours the Zephyrus is the quitest notebook I ever owned considering noise level and also noise characteristics. However I have no possibility to measrue the noise level in dB.


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My score is about identical, each test always varies. But I kept the sound monitor on the entire run at ear level from keyboard and hit a max of 48db.
I will do the same later with the Aorus and I am sure the Aorus will be more but from previous time with it, I can say it is probably 15% louder? (just a guess) but very tolerable.
I have to give Asus a thumbs up for a great job, I would not sale either system at this time. Both have there strengths, oddly I do type better on the Zeph, but maybe that is just due to needing more time on the Aorus?
I will be travelling next week and will carry the Zeph, but I would have no issue if I needed to carry the Aorus.

Right now its like having two hot girlfriends, I love playing with both.

 

So you can game for extended periods without thermal issues at these same settings you used for the benchmark?

The fan noise I've heard is just as high level as a normal laptop under load, certainly no where near 39dba, but the sound characteristics of the Zephyrus give a less offensive tone at full spin.

I hope Asus migrates that fan design tuning into the large fan's and laptops to give the same effect, that would tone down the complaints for full fan noise.

A 17" laptop wouldn't need to be a Max-Q 1080, it could be as near to the full performance 1080 with sustained performance at OC and full power draw as it can cool - if Asus put the same careful engineering into a 17" frame we could have the ideal full performance GTX 1080 laptop

When you are gaming in a AAA gaming title in 39dba mode, the FPS is well down from 120 FPS, but with the production release of Whisper Mode in the new Nvidia driver I would think it could kick in too, to provide even quieter gaming, at 30 FPS - 40 FPS.

Have you tried enabling Whisper Mode in Nvidia Geforce Experience?

BTW, what are the stock settings Firestrike scores?

 

I have finished 2 games on the Zephyrus under those same setting 200/200 oc on GPU.

Metro last light on ultra and Resident evil 7 on ultra. Max temps I got was 82GPU 88CPU that is with -140mv. But that was also a 5hour gaming session.

Its too bad that there is no new Games I want, until Sept, so unless I replay a game, I have no idea at this time what I would want to play?

Oh I forgot I preordered Hellblade that drops this Tuesday but no idea if it will be good? Looks cool though. Hopefully that will give me several hours on the Aorus to compare temps.

 

Well there are threads here on NBR for that, but one place to start would be to watch some of the recent Intel vs Ryzen CPU / GPU video's and see what games they are using.

What game are you playing now?
http://forum.notebookreview.com/threads/what-game-are-you-playing-now.787493/#post-10577578

Gaming (Software and Graphics Cards)
http://forum.notebookreview.com/forums/gaming-software-and-graphics-cards.26/

Hardware Unboxed channel on Youtube has about 30 games in their tests, so there should be one or two that suit your interests,

There are soooo many games on Steam, once you get into it, watch their sales, find newer stuff or older stuff as your interests fancy, look for play videos on Youtube to see the gameplay.

There's a never ending supply of games to play

 

I have not, I am still on the stock driver. I will look and see if I can locate it in the stock driver.

 

I did try it . The noise when wayyyyy down however so did performance . With a 200/200
OC firestrike gets two 20k graphic score the newer drivers are much lower .


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Yep.

That´s why I wish ASUS does a 17 incher;-)

Nope, I have no need for whisper mode because at least my unit is very quite when gaming even for hours with a 200MHz oc on the gpu and vram and cpu at stock with -130mV. Maybe I got an especially quite unit, I am exited to hear from brother @Darkhan what his impressions and measurements are regarding noise levels of both units at max oc.

Regarding oc, I just realized that said FS scores of the Aorsus are already under overclocked conditions. I am very interested what the power limit of the Aorus GPU is, I would guess 130-140W.

 

I have over 200 games in steam, problem is I have played all of them *that I liked* to the point I do not want to play it again.

Maybe I will try and get into ghost recon wildlands, I tried it for a few hours but got bored.

 

Digging through the game play videos for games you have never thought to play is a good way to get inspired to try unknown games.

There are far more than 200 good games on Steam.

Maybe you are burned out on gaming right now, find another way to spend time?

 

@Darkhan @bsch3r
With Whisper Mode the FPS drops to ~40 FPS, how does that play with 120 FPS G-sync? Or does the Whisper Mode adjust the refresh or otherwise disable G-sync? I would think that FPS would be too low for 120 FPS G-sync to handle without dropping into an occasional black screen.

How often are games at 120 FPS limited in frame rate? Few games seem capable of running at 120 FPS @ 1080p, just wondering how that works out as far as load. Is the GPU pegged at 99% utilization? CPU Utilization?

I recall when G-sync first came out people were amazed how quiet their new laptops were compared to previous, and it turned out the frame rating limit of 60 FPS was reducing the GPU / CPU utilization so far it wasn't even taxing the system during gaming

 

I agree that selling the Max Q at non max Q prices is the biggest scam in history (besides the 3.5 GB 970 scam). No one here would be complaining at all if Ngreedia sold the 1080 max Q for 10% more than a 1070 regular. There price, performance lines up properly. But it doesn't because they're selling what's basically OC'd 1070 performance for 1080 prices. The same goes for 1070 max Q compared to 1060, although this delta isn't as big.

One thing you do have to remember is that BOTH the 1080 and 1070 are still cripped in full form, due to the power limits. 1070 at 115W TDP is pretty significantly slower than the desktop card. But if you hard mod the vbios and force flash it to 170W TDP and overclock it, you gain 15% performance+, making it FASTER than the desktop 1070, and then it's no longer gimped. The stock 1080 is also held back by power limits, but not as much as the stock 1070, as the 1080 has a 200W TDP (at least the MSI and Clevo versions). The 150W 1080 versions are very castrated though. You can TDP mod a 200W 1080 card as well, but I haven't seen anyone mod the 1080 yet, probably because the 200W versions are already running closer to their limits (its only suggested to go from 200W to 215W TDP. 258W TDP is only going to work well with a unlocked Prema Bios and EC).

 

G-sync matches the frame rate from the video card to the display. It need not be fixed at the max refresh rate of the display.

 

Yes, but I thought there was a bottom limit for G-sync, and if the frame rate drops from 120 FPS to 30-40FPS for Whisper Mode, I thought WM might step in and disable or affect G-sync.

I looked it up, the monitor G-sync switches off and V-sync takes over under 30 FPS, not sure if that's true with laptop displays that don't have G-sync hardware.

 

What is the specific range of g-sync for GX501 monitor?

 

G-Sync supports 30Hz to 144Hz. The supported range is a requirement of G-Sync certification.

 

What is the best ram that is compatible with the zephyrus?

Thanks,
Mason

 

1.2v DDR4, 2400 MHz SODIMM.

 

Does the hyperx 2400 work?

 

Yes it should work fine.