Asus ROG GL702ZC owners lounge

Hi all. I just recently bought this beast. And I have some questions.
1. Is it normal, when i use gpu related soft (like cinebench r15 opengl), or games. I can hear some weird noise, like GPU calculating something. (i have no idea how to describe it, similar like hdd noise when it start to work, but more louder) I thought it may be from fans, but it depends on GPU Load, and changes every 0.1s or smth like this.
2. I can't pass Cinebench R15 Opengl, I tried it 3x times on drivers, which came with laptop. Updated them to last ones. Again 3x tries, one passed (~65 fps), two others got crash.
3. Keyboard have only red light, so, nothing like Asus Aura available, right?

 

Apparently our laptop uses a special 3-prong barrel jack that's 6mm x 3.7mm..
Still no idea on where to get one..

 

1. That's very odd. I don't think what you describe is something I'm familiar with, unless it's the GPU fans coming on and off so rapidly.

2. That's also quite odd... but it might be because of several reasons: a) faulty GPU (lets hope this is not the case), b) problems with the Operating System (I experienced plenty issues with pre-installed Windows 10 on GL702ZC and the only thing that seemed to have fixed them was to wipe the SSD and do a clean install (should you want to try this, I suggest you first make a backup of of the OS as it came with the laptop, so you can restore it to default in case you might need to RMA the unit).

3. Yes, keyboard only comes with red light.

OpenGL in Cinebench should really be on the level of close to 90FPS...
I just ran mine and I got 92.14 FPS (in the early driver days of this machine, I think I gained maybe 85 FPS (I have some numbers at the start of this or another GL702ZC thread).

Check your drivers to make sure that you hadn't activated Frame Rate Target Control and Power efficiency under Global settings (if you have, then those could affect your benchmarks).

As for why the crashes are occurring in CB OpenGL... have you by any chance attempted to undervolt your CPU and GPU? Or overclock either?
CPU voltage instability might cause crashes with CB benchmarks... same with GPU undervolting if you overdid it.
But also try to download CB R15 again from the Internet (it could be a simple problem like bugged download).

If that doesn't solve the issue, and you hadn't touched the voltage at all, then the problem might be elsewhere.
I'd backup the OS as it exists right now to an external drive and do a clean Windows 10 install with fresh installation of all drivers and run the benchmarks again.
Another option is to run a game and play... as benchmarks might simply be unstable on OEM pre-installed Windows 10 (speaking of which, have you tried updating Windows at all?).

 

Nope, I didn't undervolt it yet, because it's first day with it and I first of all want to check everything. About CB, I already redownloaded it. Gonna install all windows updates, and check driver settings.
About "1." maybe it's fans, but MSI Afterburner won't let me change speed for some reason.

UPD "1.": In ROG Gaming Center if I click on Fan Boost, I can hear something like beep for a while. Also, If I alt-tab to desktop and get back to foreground of ROG Gaming Center as well this beep. Volume at 0% ofc.

 

Still no one has tested ECC ram?
That would make this a decent workstation replacement.

 

That's certainly odd, but then again, pure textual descriptions like this can be inaccurate.
Would it be possible you record an audio of this sound and upload it online so we can hear it?
It might help us better understand what it is.
If its more like a 'beeping' sound, then it could be coming from the motherboard (in which case you'd need to discover what's causing it)... but without actually hearing it, I can't ascertain whether we're talking about regular fan noise or not.

If it turns out its not fan noise, then it could be something I hadn't encountered before (but someone else might have)... still, it could also be a unit malfunction or error... in which case, I'd call Asus or the seller and ask for a replacement (depending on where you got the machine, most sellers should offer you the option to return it within 14 days and get a refund... alternatively, just get a replacement unit if nothing changes over the next few days).

Btw... for MSI to be able to affect voltages, you'd need to go into its settings and chekc/enable 'Unlock Voltage control' and 'Unlock Voltage Monitoring'.

You cannot affect GPU frequency with MSI Afterburner though (at least not in version 4.4.2)... only voltage regulation is allowed just now.

 

Yeah, I know. I thought maybe there is separate fan control for GPU. Driver crashed during this bench, right before I passed it with 85+ fps

 

Hmm... I might have heard a very faint 'screech' in the first half of the video... but not in the second half.

Anyway, if that's what you refer to, I'm not familiar with it... nor on what might cause it.
As for the driver crashes... try updating Windows first before re-testing again... but what you can also do is backup the OS as it is on an external drive before updating and then you'd have the original OS image to work with in case you decided to do a clean install (which might solve the driver crashing).

 

It exists for 100% time of video. One more example, this sound maybe similar to old modems or smth like this.
I recorded this after all updates. If this noise not normal, I don't think that I want to do clean install.

 

You can always restore existing operating system as it is if you do a backup of it on an external drive if you decide to do a clean install.

But I digress, someone else might step in and have a go at the video. I just might not hear it properly in the video but I honestly didn't hear anything like beeping in the second half of the video (which could be due to bad recording of the microphone not being able to capture it properly, or your hearing might be more sensitive to some higher frequencies).

Upon second viewing of the video, I don't hear a beeping sound of any kind at all through the video.
I really don't.

 

Maybe some electrical noise, i.e. "coil whine"? I hear it, and that would drive me insane.

 

Thanks, you described this sound much better So, seems it's not normal noise from this laptop, even fans at 100% more pleasant ear.
Today I launched laptop, GPU failed at desktop (black screen, then fans goes to 100%, only holding power button may help). After that I launched it again and tried Cinebench R15 OpenGL once again, white screen, black, fans 100%, power button. Looks like faulty GPU.

 

From what you describe, it seems like a faulty unit indeed.
Unless you wish to explore other options, I suggest you call the seller today, describe them these issues and ask for a replacement unit... though I might think they will just say you should turn to Asus directly for such problems.
In that instance, don't ask them to repair the laptop, just describe the issues and request a replacement unit.

It seems odd that Asus would ship GL702ZC's with these faults... granted, mine had a similar failure with fans running at 100% a month after I got it, and someone else reported a GPU failure in that month too.

 

Me neither, and I've spent some time looking. Please share if you find something you can purchase online that is compatible, as I'd be interested in having a spare too - even if it didn't provide the full 330w. Even just having something smallish that would drive the laptop for casual non-gaming use would add value to the machine for me.

 

Yea, I hear it. It's an electronic component stress sound, like a type of coil whine. Mine makes somewhat similar sounds under load sometimes, BUT NEVER ANYTHING NEAR THIS LOUD! The fans must be silent with no real ambient noise present to hear the sound my unit sometimes makes. I would recommend sending your laptop back even if the only symptom you were experiencing were the sound in the video, because it indicates component(s) under a great deal of excessive stress. Throw in the crashing and I feel it's clearly a defective unit.

 

Great procedure and pictures!

I can confirm that the "goop" can be replaced, if desired, with the K5 Pro thermal compound that was suggested to me earlier in this thread. Thanks again @hmscott - it worked great!!

I did try replacing the goop with common blue thermal pads first because it's cleaner but I just couldn't get the variations in gap thickness accommodated for perfectly enough. I was either running slightly too thin with 1mm pads everywhere, not making proper contact in some places, or slightly too thick with 1.5mm pads on the larger VRM gaps which then prevented the heatsink from seating flush on top of the CPU/GPU. I was able to get it "usable" with the pads in place but the thermals just weren't what they should have been - so I started over with my Thermal Grizzly Kryonaut on the CPU/GPU and K5 Pro as a replacement paste for all the other thick rubbery ASUS goop, and it's working really well!

My solution may not have the thermal conductivity of liquid metal but my thermals are better than stock and the machine is noticeably quieter while gaming. I'd recommend the Kryonaut/K5 Pro to anyone needing a safe and easy way to re-paste after removing the heatsink to upgrade RAM, etc.

 

I have not heard back from Asus, but I came across a plausible explanation for the battery capacity discrepancy:



For a given battery, the *discharge* capacity depends on the current. This is due to internal resistance, particularly ionic resistance, which includes several electrochemical factors intrinsic to the mechanism by which a battery delivers its stored energy. Internal resistance increases with current, meaning at higher currents, there are more internal losses resulting in a lower charge capacity available to an external load.

I don't know if this is the correct (or only) explanation for the discrepancy, but given the high power draw of this machine, it is plausible. IF this is correct, then there might not be a defect or error after all.

 

So, I got new one. Yeah, this sound exists under load, but way quieter. Maybe I did a mess before, I launched CB w/o admin privilegies, anyway, previous laptop had crashes at loading PUBG. 95 fps in CB OpenGL now, gonna download smth and try more.

 

Does anyone think we will be seeing a Zen+ version of this laptop anytime soon?

 

From what we can tell, there is no real difference between the new generation motherboards and existing ones sans in BIOS microcode support.
I'm hoping Asus will release the needed BIOS updates to support future/upcoming CPU's.

 

Right...and if they don't, this will be my first Asus laptop...and my last.

 

Probably my sentiment as well... but we need to keep in mind that the industry is likely going into a direction where (eventually) no component on a laptop will be interchangeable.
Heck, even now, we have limited upgradeability on laptops what with MXM dGPU's for example and locked BIOS'es (under the pretense that laptops cannot handle overclocking - which is not entirely accurate - and it should be really up to the user on whether to overclock or not - and even if they do, I still think the warranty should cover it - the amount of things OEM's say already violate warranties is borderline ridiculous).

Mind you, nothing is preventing the industry from making fully modular laptops that are much more powerful, thin and easy to upgrade right now (whereas older components and laptops in general can be harvested for their raw materials to make new ones - we piled up more than enough resources on the landfills to do exactly this multiple times over while doing ridiculous number of other things which could improve living standards for everyone and return a lot of the said matter back into the Earth in a manner that would repair the damage we caused).

I guess my point is that going forward, we may see increasingly limited upgrade paths from OEM's in general.
Seldom few OEM's will officially endorse upgrades (Asus for example endorses RAM upgrades, but designed a cooling assembly in a manner that makes it extremely difficult to upgrade the RAM, and if you remove the cooling assembly and they know about it, your warranty is void), and then there's an issue with most OEM's discontinuing BIOS support shortly into the unit's production cycle... whereas on desktops, this is somewhat better.

Plus, I don't think we can gain a whole lot by upgrading to Zen+ (what with the larger TDP and all). The biggest gains would likely be seen in Zen 2 and 3 architectures... and Asus could easily release microcode updates for them if they wish.
It's bound to be easier even for them to simply upgrade the BIOS microcode and even unlock the whole BIOS on these laptops than to recreate a completely new identical laptop with an 'updated [but otherwise identical] motherboard' that in reality simply needs a new BIOS written for it anyway (but given the culture of 'use and discard' these industries seem to follow, I wouldn't be surprised).

We will have to wait an see if Asus releases this laptop with Zen+ or not in the first place... and then see about BIOS revisions.

If anything, we 'could' technically request Asus to release a new BIOS with relevant microcode upgrades that also contain security fixes from AMD (which I know aren't really an issue, but in reality would be a legal loophole for us to exploit on which we could potentially demand new microcodes as well).

 

Good luck. I was rather irritated when Asus refused to update the BIOS on my last laptop to support the full amount of RAM the hardware/chipset could support (4GB). Tech support just stuck to the script of the official product specs (2GB max). By trying it, I did get 3GB to work, but never got 4GB... very frustrating. I'd be lying if I said it didn't affect my inclination to buy Asus again. But I suspect it's not just Asus and that most brands would respond similarly. A further irritation is with manufacturers soldering RAM. So far, I refuse to buy anything with non-upgradeable RAM.

 

I can definitely understand that... and Asus tech support was similarly unhelpful when I asked them numerous questions pertaining to GL702ZC.
At the very least, this laptop DOES officially support 32GB RAM and can be upgraded manually to that level... along with the SSD, the HDD and even the Wifi card. The CPU is also removable, but whether you can fit something like 1800x inside remains a question.
HIDevolution tried it, but said the stability was questionable... it might be that Asus did not fully integrate 1800x support into the BIOS... or at least earlier versions of the BIOS. HIDevolution didn't mention which BIOS version they used when they attempted to use 1800x in GL702ZC (as the 303 version does have AGESA 1.0.0.7 version).

But, I would imagine that Asus might be 'obligated' to provide security patches for their products (in this case, AMD's upcoming 'firmware fixes' which aren't really needed), and in the process, it's possible the AGESA will be upgraded as well.
Otherwise, Asus could be sued for security negligence if they don't provide the updated BIOS to patch up security vulnerabilities... though to be honest, I am 'sketchy' at best in regards to their liability in this particular instance.

 

It's hard enough cooling a 65W TDP chip in the GL702ZC. Dropping in a 95W CPU, as appealing as it sounds, probably won't go well.

Hate to be a downer, but I really doubt all the vulnerable devices out there are going to get patched. Since this model isn't EOL yet, there's a better chance, but I'm not overly optimistic.

 

You're not gonna get any official update to support new gen CPUs. Has never happened in the history of G-series. Asus notebook support is among the worst. Best you can hope for is some enterprising modder who can mod the BIOS with the required microcode.

 

I am now even happier with the laptop: I got Linux working perfectly with it (Had some issues like wifi and touchpad), someone created a new kernel and everything works now. I can even mine for coins while I'm using it -- I did beef up the cooling with a hacked laptop cooler (see my previous post), and that's blasting air into it from the bottom.. -t

 

Hi, putting LM in very soon and wondering if I should tape up anywhere around the CPU. I've not seen anyone do it on a desktop but this is going to move a lot more so I want to be extra cautious for spills
reference photo

 

Can't use tape on LGA socket

 

Any special foam to use or will anything work

 

I didn't use any foam or anything.. Then again I used those metal films.. See my pics I posted earlier

 

Even if ASUS don't release a new BIOS it isn't too difficult to slipstream updated microcode into the latest BIOS, which should theoretically allow CPU upgrade.

On another note, AMD wattman functionality now in the Linux kernel and from the brief interaction I've had with it, I'm happy so far. Thanks AMD for the wonderful open source drivers!

 

Hi, I just re-pasted but now my fans seem to be running backwards. Instead of bowing hot air out the back they're making two hot spots right where they are on the bottom of the laptop. Anyone know how to fix this.

 

Is there a possibility you could have mounted the connecting wire to the motherboard in reverse?

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That was my first thaught but when I checked they were put in place correctly

 

lol, there's a certain comedy in that situation! Ha, but no, if you've wired it all up in the same way & put it back to together the same way (not putting the fan upside down or something, but doubt it would even fit if you had), then it should still blow hot air out rather than suck it in. I would just double check you've put it all back together properly, including the wiring, and maybe check that your fan is actually spinning as the temperature increases (by looking at it or installing HWInfo and looking on the sensors page to see if fans are spinning). I suppose you've put your hand behind the laptop vents to confirm if air is coming out when doing something that gets the fans spinning - something CPU/GPU intensive.

 

I realized there was something wrong once I put my hand behind. I've run benchmarks and the fans are spinning up louder than before because of the higher temps. I never unscrewed the fans so they can't be uspidedown, but if this photo is right then the cables are plugged in right https://www.ultrabookreview.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/internals.jpg

 

Strange, I don't know what else to suggest. If the fans are spinning and you know for a fact that no air is coming out of the back, then perhaps airflow is blocked through the heatsink, something to do with how you put it together, but I can't imagine how that could be. And given that you said you connected the wiring up ok I can't imagine it running backwards, and normally the connections don't allow you to plug them in the wrong way anyway. I'm stumped! My last & final thought is that maybe your repaste didn't go well & you have poor contact between heatsink & chip which could explain a localised hot spot on the base of the laptop, and perhaps you can't feel the air coming out the back of the laptop because it's not hot air - but then again I think you'd feel the air regardless if it's hot or cold. Strange, strange problem.

 

So all I did was take of the bottom panel and turn it back on, now it’s blowing in the right direction. I’ve started a stability test, and I’m about 16c lower than when it was blowing the wrong direction. I feel no heat radiating from the hotspots which tells me that they were blowing wrong direction before. I just have no idea why it’s normal without the bottom panel. Going to put it back on and hope it stays this way

 

Could the fans be mounted upside down?

 

Nope, Never took them out. also because of their shape doesn't look like they could fit upsidedown.

 

Ok so I've put it together and now the GPU fan seems to be blowing out but the CPU fan is back to reversed.....

Edit: started it without the bottom panel and it was the same as before, then I clipped the panel back on and temperatures rose back up. This change is from 62c too 78c. Doesn't seem quite right to me. While this was happening, the GPU fan was either off or reversed but the GPU got up to 65c (without load) GPU idles are around 52.
The problem could be the GPU fan not turning on. It was the only one I was actually feeling for airflow thinking the CPU was on the right of the keyboard. So got any ideas for that?
problem is GPU fan not turning on. hnnnn

 

lol, madness!

 

more madness!

 

Hey guys I have a weird question. My GPU at idle reads 300mhz in the memory bar in the rog gaming center. When editing in premiere it is almost always maxed out at 2000, never anywhere between those two numbers. The top mhz reading seems to always be at 608. I'm getting more choppy images in my timeline than I expected with this build. Is there something I can adjust? Also it rarely hits more than 55 degrees, which would lead me to believe it's not working very hard? On a possibly related but most likely unrelated side note I have a faint high pitch frequency type of noise at all times right from startup. It isn't very loud but is a terrible sound if you put your ear close to the keyboard. Do they all do this?

 

Hi,
I wanna commend you all on choosing this laptop (great CPU!). I just bought it after lurking this thread for few days. Thanks to everybody who wrote his experience here and especially Deks for opening this thread and others for their valuable input. I learned a lot.
My experience with this laptop 'til now is almost flawless. I stressed it, benchmarked it and gamed on it to test it. Everything is more than fine ad I'm not going to oc/mod or repaste it it for now, cuz there's no need. At least for me. Only thing that I hate about this laptop is the branding. omg I hate anything ROG, I wished it had a more professional look but other than this everything including updates/drivers/thermals is perfect. I didn't have to do anything special. I guess I got lucky in that regard.

@Technooby I just checked my unit and coincidentally my gpu also was on 608 MHz but it's goes up and down and 300 MHz memory 53 degrees. (idle) Sorry I don't use premier.
I also noticed this faint high pitch noise on first use. After some research i found that it could be the rx580 normal noise but I don't hear it anymore. Not sure if this's something I did when I opened my laptop (remounted ram, tightened some screws a little bit, reconnected battery and cleaned) or that I simply got used to it after 2-3 days.

 

It really is great this thread is here and so many great people contribute. Glad you're liking your new laptop! It is a great machine! Thanks a lot for looking at your GPU info. I'm wondering if maybe that's just maxed out. Hopefully more people will let us know what their systems show. That's really great to hear you had the same noise! Maybe it's normal. Definetly doesn't sound like any laptop I've ever had before. Hopefully again more people will comment on that. Someone in this thread recently posted something similar but it sounds like it was a much louder noise. Anyway thanks for the reply and congrats on the new computer/welcome to the thread!

 

Thanks @Technooby. Yes I've heard that noise mentioned in this thread it's not just louder but also different if I'm not mistaken. I thought you put it perfectly "Faint high pitch noise" it irked me at the beginning, but somehow I don't hear it anymore. I guess if you have the time you can open your laptop, turn it on and point a microphone at different components to check where the noise is coming from. Hope that helps.

 

Just found this laptop with Ryzen 7 1700. Was thinking to wait laptops with i7-8750h but they will probably come in 2-3 months in my country and price will be very high. I could really use CPU power.. that is one of the most important things for me along with fast SSD (I am doing some sims and work with DB). Not playing games.

2 things that concerns me:

1. Doesn't have thunderbolt 3. I use 4k monitor @60hz but monitor has only HDMI 1.4 so I need to use display port. Laptop has mDP but not sure what gen? What is TB gen? Could it run 4k@60hz?
2. Cpu fan noise.. I wouldn't like more then 45db in load (I'm comparing to Asus N550JV which I use now and in reviews they say it's ~44db). I work a lot at night when everything is quite so really don't want loud cpu fan. I don't play games so I guess gpu fan is not important.

 

In short this laptop is not for you, GPU fan noise is allot to take in , as you said it's not important but it's good to keep in mind.
CPU fan's sound just as loud but they won't kick in even in 85°+ degrees, however if you'd like to see the temps go down and you give the cooling a fan boost, you will hear the airplane taking off .
I'm not sure if it can run 4k at 60 but if it does you will likely put some strain on the GPU causing the fan's to start

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