Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 Owner's Lounge

Initial Review posted here:
https://www.ultrabookreview.com/34951-asus-zephyrus-g14-14-inch-early-review/

 

I'm really interested in this. If the price is right, I'll probably pick one up.

 

Has there been any word on a release date?

 

I'm actually very curious about this. Given Asus has a six month exclusive for 2020, they better hurry up

 

This is what I'm looking forward to as I replace the almost two year old Zephyrus M.
The driver support pages for the various SKU offerings are already up and running.

 

Eh Gross. They're still doing the soldered memory plus one RAM slot. Though I guess it's easier to justify in such a small machine. But, I think I would take just soldered memory if it meant a second M.2 slot. Not gonna lie though that seems like a very beefy cooling solution. So I'm expecting it to be decent out of the box thermally. Though I'm gonna be curious how the 1660Ti will compare to the 2060 since it's 60w vs 65w. May not even be worth considering the 2060 at that point. If it's priced right though I'd probably be in for this type of machine. Would give me some nostalgia of my Blade 14 days.


*UPDATE*
So bestbuy has the RTX 2060, 1TB ssd, and the 4900HS for $1450. So this thing is definitely a value king.

https://www.bestbuy.com/site/asus-r...b-ssd-moonlight-white/6403816.p?skuId=6403816

 

ASUS G14 review.

 

Dang I think I found my next laptop...

 

While most other YouTube reviewers commented positively on the battery life per charge, notebookcheck says the battery life is poor!
https://www.notebookcheck.net/Asus-...iew-Kicking-Core-i9-to-the-Curb.457817.0.html

 

Also beware that the 1080p panel has significant response times meaning you'll get blur and ghosting if you like to play the fast twitch games.

 

All the laptops that were sent out where review samples. So it's possible they just got a bad unit. And I'm sure that could be patched with a bios update. So hopefully that is fixed by the time it gets sold to the general public. Subscribe to Jarrod's Tech on youtube. He will definitely cover that and anything else you'd want to know about the product.

Meh. . .I'm too old to be playing them forknights with you kids anyways. I'll stick to my adventure games.

But, this is the first 14" 120hz screen I've seen on the market. So that will be something for them to fix in later revisions. I'm just happy we have a high refresh rate model unlike the MSI Prestige.

 

Yeah... Few hours ago i spent roughly about 2hrs watching through reviews made by Austin Evans, Linus, Hardware Canuck, as well as the 2 Aussies Jarrod and Hardware Unbox. I've yet see any review made by Unbox Therapy as well as Gamer Nexus.

 

There's a lot impressive about this laptop and a fair few things that leave me cold. When I was looking for my last one, all the Asus models I looked at had the motherboards mounted upside down to make it very difficult to upgrade which really made me not want to consider them at all.

I'm looking forward to seeing these CPUs in larger laptops which are more my thing. Paired with a really nice 17" screen, this could be great for mobile video editing.

 

Right there with you. 17"+ is where it's at for me, unless they have dual screens (like the Asus duo).

 

I love this Laptop but is has a few downsides for sure.

8GB RAM soldered. So 24GB RAM max, then 16GB in dual channel, 8GB in singlechannel.
Intel 660p SSD in all tested configurations. Might change in different markets and in different production runs, they use what is available.
120 Hz FHD Screen has slow Response times, basically a 50Hz Screen, atleast in the Review pre production samples. Might be better in production samples.
Fans are always running, even in idle. Might be better with future BIOSes. Might...
No LAN port, ok you can carry an USB dongle with you.

The configurations are really bad. If i want a 1TB SSD i have to buy a 4900HS model which cost a huge premium.
RTX2060 models with 1TB SSd have the LED lid which costs another 200§ premium.
European Prices are ridiculous. The 1450$ US Model costs is not available in Europe, the similar model with LED lid and WQHD Display costs 2300€! Even if you substract the led lid and the WQHD Display it would costs 2000€ and therefore 300$ more as the us model+VAT.

I have to wait for a sale somewhere...

Here are all european configs with MRSP (Source: Computerbase.de):

 

This is confusing, why isn't there model with the RTX 2060 and the R7-4900HS? I only see 4800HS for the 120hz version with an RTX 2060

 

Different configs for Europe! The RTX2060 versions with FHD will follow later in the year in Europe.

 

That is odd since Bestbuy has the R9-4900HS with 2060 as it's coming soon model for $1450. I hope that holds true as that seems like a nice all around model. Though the soldered memory kinda upsets me since I guess it only comes with 8GB. Would be nice to start with 16GB and a stick of RAM after the fact.

And you're actually interested in this?

https://www.notebookcheck.net/Launc...RTX-2060-Max-Q-finally-unveiled.459338.0.html

 

I personally am not but it's a nice option for friends or family.

 

Ah. That makes more sense. Probably gonna sell my ipad and this will be it's replacement for me. And I'll stick to desktop pc's for atleast the RTX 3000 series.

 

I currently have a Alienware 13 R3 and this looks like a decent replacement for that. The only thing that worries me is the screen. That $1450 version looks decent for the price. I wonder how different the production models are vs the review models... I have a weakness for subnotebooks.

 

could someone please explain to me why Asus teases us with wrong specs or a mistake on specs page which states that laptop can be configured with up to 32gb ram?

https://www.asus.com/Laptops/ROG-Zephyrus-G14/Tech-Specs/

while picture of internals of the laptop from review(s) and many other source show that 8gb ram is soldered on, which concludes max ram is 8+16= 24gb.

 

In the 32GB setups they likely have 16GB soldered on...

 

All tested configs have 8GB soldered. But These are pre production models. It is likely that the RTX2060 models will have 16GB soldered.

 

Hope you're right, but looking at the Asus store it shows that there is 8gb soldered:

https://store.asus.com/us/item/2020...-Gig+-Wi-Fi-6,-Windows-10-Home,-GA401IV-BR9N6

The bestbuy website also says it's expandable to 24gb as well.

Sent from my LM-V600 using Tapatalk

 

Just noticed that bestbuy https://www.bestbuy.com/site/asus-r...b-ssd-moonlight-white/6403816.p?skuId=6403816

Has this now on a preorder and says Release Date:04/15/2020

 

Yeah noticed that as well. Tempted to pull the trigger, but can't decide between this and the MSI gs66 stealth.

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So... If the bigger 15incher hv one expandable RAM slot...

...most likely the ROG G14 will be the same as well.

But how does TechEpiphany do a dual channel RAM test and...

...still manage to stick to the RAM size of 8GB?​

 

You can deny RAM to the System by software, that is not a problem.

 

The g14 does have the same setup, one 8gb ram stick is soldered, while there is one ram slot you can add a dimm to. The question is whether the laptops will have 16gb soldered, so that users can add another 16 to the dimm slot so they can get 32gb ram, as stated by Asus.

Sent from my LM-V600 using Tapatalk

 

Very tempted to pull the trigger. I’m pretty sure I will. I honestly don’t need anything super powerful since I can game on my desktop. And a 2060 max-q is plenty for the odd occasion when I do game away from home. But, I feel if I don’t show Asus and AMD some love they may never release this kind of CPU in one of their high end machines.

 

interested in this laptop but the ghosting issue is a cause for concern.

 

I wouldn’t really call it an issue. If you’re prone to be sensitive to that kind of thing then I can understand someone being disappointed by that. Really the only people that would honestly notice it would be overwatch and CS:GO players. And only if they were playing it religiously. So we’ll have to see what some members have to say about it once it’s finally out.

 

i play quite a bit of fast action games. Do we know if the units they reviewed are the same as what's going to be going out to retail? like any preproduction stuff?

 

From what I’ve seen I think most of if not all these units that are being reviewed are engineering samples. But something like the screen I think that will be the same. 14” is an uncommon screen size and this is definitely gonna have to be addressed in a v2 model. Something like that is out of Asus’s hands. Until now I don’t think there has been a “gaming” 14” screen. So I’m not surprised there are some draw backs.

The one issue I heard they were working on and really hope they fix is the keyboard backlight. It apparently is very dim and actually makes it harder to see in daylight.

Besides that I’d really want them to find a way to add a second RAM slot. I’m not big fan of soldered components that should be user replaceable.

 

I have a GS75 and a zephyrus G and the motion blur is noticeable. I have the zephyrus G running at 150hz with CRU.

The two feel just as smooth but going to the zephyrus G you can see some motion blur. There's only very little though, less than the very low setting in games but its still noticeable.

It's more of a smudging effect like fxaa but only when you're looking around quickly. Comparatively it looks softer and less crisp than my GS75.

Contrast and colour gamut are much much more important and I'm happy to see that the Zephyrus G14 at least has 99% srgb.

 

Hello

Don't know if this was posted but please find youtube video how g14 perform after LM applied.

 

I just pre-ordered through Best Buy. I'm in the market for a new laptop for myself and wife since we're both working at home for the foreseeable future. I ordered a new MacBook Air and then heard all about this laptop (and read about Apple's idiotic cooling design). True innovation, imo. Will be my first AMD system. I have a capable gaming desktop so don't need a cutting edge laptop. For a couple hundred dollars more than the MB Air it's a no-brainer. Canceled my Apple order and can't wait for this to arrive next week. I'll no longer have to lug my desktop into the living room to use Wii Fit / Sports via Dolphin!

 

Are they still using a heat spreader over the CPU with a fan that isn’t even connected by any heatpipes?

Should definitely be a better fit I would think for your use case. But you’re now officially an early adopter and we’re gonna wanna hear back once you get it.

 

Yes, I'll use it for office work and light gaming. Got even more excited when I read that FreeSync works with the 2060 max-q in this laptop. It seems like the perfect laptop for me, haven't been this excited about tech in awhile. I'm hoping for no dead or stuck pixels and above average screen uniformity. I was thinking of buying from HIDevolution to get the 30 day panel guarantee and backlight bleed check, but ultimately felt it wasn't worth the price premium. I will post my impressions (whatever they are worth haha) when I get it up and running.

I couldn't believe it when I saw the tear down videos on the Air. There is no heatpipe. I understand that most people won't be affected by it, but it's just inexcusable to me and an automatic no-buy. I'm glad it went down this way, the G14 completely obliterates it (among other 13" and 14" ultraportables) and it's less than 1 pound heavier. No-brainer.

 

I think this is going to be a great device for a lot of people. Some are gonna be disappointed because some people have high hopes for it being something it isn’t. But I think as a second pc it’s hitting a lot of the right notes. I’m giving myself a few more days to decide if I want it or not. The size, battery life, and usb-c charging are all features I want and not many machines have it. So if I can replace my iPad with it then I’ll be happy. Just gotta figure out if that’s the right move. Lol.

Yeah I have no idea why Apple keeps making cuts like that. Like weight and looks are more important than properly building a laptop. And it’s like you say the G14 is gonna turn heads. Xps 13, Blade stealth, Hp x360 aren’t gonna be that much smaller and the G14 is gonna smoke them all in pretty much all departments. It should be a hot seller.

 

The only issue I have with the G14 is lack of webcam. I have a USB webcam that I use at my office that fits atop any monitor. But it'll look really awkward and may be impractical with a laptop? I can't say I use a webcam often, hopefully it won't be an issue.

 

Looks like this is sold out at BestBuy now, I got my preorder in a few days ago, I hope it actually goes though. My status is: "Reserving Item"

 

Good luck and post impressions!

I canceled my preorder, I just can't trust AMD yet and want to see the real user reviews come out. Hopefully someone else on here got the preorder that I canceled.

 

The only things that are concerning are the really lackluster screen and high price for the specs...

 

I was actually eyeing the g14 since last week and have been doing as much as research as possible. I was trying to decide between the g14 and gs66 stealth. While I prefer the smaller form factor of the g14, the ghosting/response time issue was a concern for me. As was the lack of information on whether the laptop has 8gb or 16gb soldered onto the board (since the laptop is supposed to support 32gb RAM). I eventually decided to go with the gs66 since it seems to have more long term upgradability (2 ssd slots, 2 upgradable ram slots). It also has a faster 240hz screen, rtx 2060 vs the 2060 max-q in the g14, per-key rgb lighting. The battery is also bigger In the gs66 (actual battery life remains to be seen). While the processor in the g14 is definitely a beast, for my use-case scenarios, the i7-10th gen will more than suffice.

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I am in the same boat, really eyeing the GS66.

 

Yep. I definitely prefer the smaller form factor of the g14, but the gs66 just has so many more pro's going for it that i can overlook a slightly bigger form factor/weight.

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Sadly a big deciding factor for me is the ability to charge the laptop with USB-C. Sounds stupid, but I have USB-C chargers everywhere and find it's easy to travel with a small USB-C charger...

 

I don't think usb-C charging is an INTEL system exclusive thing.
Look at Lenovo's AMD ThinkPads, quite a number of models are usb-C chargeable!
Just wondering... why... other LAPTOP makers cannot do it, or making usb-C chargeable AMD systems so exclusive?