AORUS Gaming Notebooks with Pascal, RGB LED keyboards - GTX 1060/1070/1080 13.9"/15.6"/17.3"

Here are the new AORUS notebooks with Pascal. Press release text below.



Notes:
--Looks like they're all coming with a Core i7-6820HK processor this time, including the 13.9" X3.
--Aorus has added the per-key RGB LED keyboard on the X5 and X7 models.
--Additional cooling intakes on the X7 DT.
--X7 series has a 120Hz/5ms panel, so does the X5 (FHD panel only)

I've seen them up for sale on a few sites, like Excaliber PC: http://www.excaliberpc.com/computer...ebooks.html?m=1814&pricefrom=206&priceto=5859

Prices: X3 v6: $2,099; X5 v6: $2,399; X7 v6: $2,399 (FHD)/$2,699 (QHD); X7 DT - doesn't seem to be available yet, but the first one was $2,899, this one will probably be right around that.

Press release:

17.3” X7 DT & X7 v6


Desktop-Grade Performance | Enhanced Cooling Design

The AORUS 17.3” X7 DT has been recognized for its innovative design; possessing superior performance while retaining a slim, mobile form factor as the recipient of the 2016 Computex Design and Innovation Award. With the announcement of the all-new GeForce® GTX 10 series graphics, the X7 DT has taken a huge jump in performance. Retaining the latest 6th Generation Intel® Core™ i7 overclocked processor and upgrading to a NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 1080 graphic, all within a thin and lightweight chassis, it is a mobile powerhouse. The other alternative for the AORUS 17.3” is the X7 v6. Also providing superior performance with the NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 1070, as well as the full range of features as the X7 DT.

With all that performance, comes the look display to back it up. The X7 series also now provides the world’s first 120 Hz laptop display with 5 ms response time, paired with Killer DoubleShot Pro to reduce game lag by utilizing connection priority for a smooth and fluid gaming experience. With subtle ID changes to the X7 design includes a welcomed improvement to thermal cooling with the addition further air intake. Along with the upgrade in spec, the X7 gets an upgrade in look with the all exclusive AORUS RGB Fusion Keyboard, providing full customizable, per-key RGB function.

15.6” X5 v6


Performance Breakthrough for Gaming On-The-Go

Maintaining the X5’s signature slimness and light weight, the X5 v6 offers a 15.6” option with one of the world’s most powerful all-new mobile GPUs, the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070, as well as the latest 6th Generation Intel® Core™ i7 overclocked processor. The 15.6” display now comes in two options: WQHD+ 2880x1620 IPS display for the stunning visual detail; or a Full HD 120Hz refresh rate display for the most fluid gameplay for the FPS enthusiasts, while Killer DoubleShot Pro prioritizes gaming ports and connections for a lag free experience. Adding to the aesthetics, the new X5 now features orange logo back-lighting and the per-key fully customizable RGB backlight keyboard, the AORUS RGB Fusion Keyboard.

13.9” X3 Plus v6

Most Portable Gaming Laptop for VR
The AORUS 13.9” X3 Plus v6 puts an emphasis on mobility, but does not stray away from performance, continuing its reign as the most powerful and light (22.9mm/1.8kg) 13.9-inch gaming laptop in the world. Its 6th Generation Intel® Core™ i7 overclocked processor and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 graphics is powering the QHD+ 3200x1800 IGZO display. The astonishing display of the X3 has the highest pixel density among the AORUS family, enabling it to provide gorgeous visuals and to be the complete. The amazing performance with such mobility also makes the X3 one of the most portable gaming laptop to meet the requirements for premium Virtual Reality experience.

AORUS All-In-One Streaming Solution

As streaming is becoming more and more an important part of the gaming community, AORUS has been committed to providing an all-inclusive solution for streaming. The newest addition to this is TriDef® SmartCam. SmartCam will now allow you to remove backgrounds without the hassle of using a green screen. Through the SmartCam application you can now apply live filters, and fully control your background, not only while streaming, but also through other video applications such as Skype.

The AORUS Hardware Live Stream Engine gives gamers an edge while streaming. Now available on the X5 and X7 models (optional), the fully integrated encoder card eliminates the fuss of connecting an extra compressor and enables you to record and stream simultaneously in high-definition quality without compromising system performance, or the loss of FPS. Along with the 1-year Premium subscription to both XSplit Gamecaster and Broadcaster, AORUS allows you to record, edit, and stream anytime, anywhere.

AORUS Exclusive Software

Fan Control
Exclusive fan control allows you full customization of your fan speeds, providing either Smart Control where the system automatically adjust your fans, or manual control that allows you to specifically set your fans at the RPM you choose.

OC Gauge
The best policy to win any game is to make sure your system is 100% with you. OC Gauge presents the user comprehensive system information with one-click overclocking control. A simple glance is all it takes to keep track of how your system status and Overclocking settings.

AORUS Audio:
Enhance your audio experience with various audio modes, the AORUS Audio provides you lifelike sound which allows you to immerse yourself in any usage situation. The Game mode even includes profiles specifically tuned for different game types, like FPS or RPG games. Every sound is produced with accuracy and clarity, bringing battlefield to life.

 

any info on whether the X5S has manually switchable graphics? It's got a 92whr battery but that won't be worth much if it has to be on the nvidia.

Are all the displays gsync, not just the 120hz ones? Also, you can use gsync on external monitors too, right? But only for the x5 and x7?

 

Isn't that 2k - 1440p ?
120hz at that resolution will be sweet though!

 

This looks promising.

 

The displays on the X5/X7 v6 models support G-Sync, according to Aorus's website.
http://www.aorus.com/Product/Spec/X3 Plus v6
http://www.aorus.com/Product/Spec/X5 v6
http://www.aorus.com/Product/Spec/X7 v6
http://www.aorus.com/Product/Spec/X7 DT v6
Only the X3 Plus is listed with Nvidia Optimus support. But the battery is pretty massive in the X5/X7 models, 94Wh. So they should still be able to have a decent runtime on battery.

It does sound like a pretty sweet display - this is the first I've seen a 2,560x1,440 resolution on a 17.3-inch panel, let alone one with 120Hz/5ms response time.

Charles

 

The x3's page doesn't show anything about gsync, so I'd assume it doesn't.

 

Its good to see the new lineup, the X7 dt looks great and could be the answer for a well rounded gaming laptop. I might have to purchase and see if it can fit my needs.

 

We gonna get camo on these guys?

 

Has anyone here owned an Aorus laptop in the past or plan on getting one of these? I watched the Aorus youtube channel yesterday where they went over all the specs for these new laptops. They look alot better than most other gaming laptops, so I definitely like that, but from watching videos its hard to tell the build quality. If I am paying $2,099 for a 13" laptop or $2,399 for a 15" then I would expect the build quality to be very good. Compare the x5 v6 to the Asus GL502VS, i'd rather spend the $1,699 on that if the build qualities are similar. I know the Aorus has better specs, but that's quite a big price jump.

 

Aorus is a step up in build quality from the Asus GL502 series. Here's two of our Aorus reviews:
X3 Plus v5
X5S v5 Camo

You're paying a premium for the Aorus's ultra-slim design, plus its RGB LED keyboard, and a few of its other extras. A Sager or Asus may offer more sheer performance per dollar, if that's your primary aim.

On another note, the specs on Aorus site indicate the X7 and X7 DT are the same dimensions. I had figured the DT would've been a bit thicker for the GTX 1080.

Charles

 

I am interested but I honestly cannot find anything about the thermal performance of them running pascal cards.
I am guessing the 13inch will throttle very often, but how about the 15inch?

 

I wouldn't mind dropping the cash stack for the 13.9 or the 15.6" versions, however AORUS is probably on the bottom of the list when it comes to thermals.

 

A vendor did a test a while back and CLU did wonders for the thermal results. I can promise it will make a big improvement with all models due to the slim design.

Sent from my LG-H901 using Tapatalk

 

Check youtube videos. Aorus laptops are not known for their impeccable build quality. Gaps between the plastic keyboard trays and aluminum palmrest for example. Screen flex, poor thermals etc.

 

Could you link me? The few that I know that has owned slim laptops from Aorus all said they throttled like a boss and sound like jets when under load. I'm just curious if the ones they are going to release with 10 series card will be any different.

I owned a P34W v5 and had bad experiences with it which lead me to return I'd the day I received it.

 

Are you serious? What is with the price premium? I watched a review of the older 13" Aorus and it seemed like there was some flex on the keyboard area, but it's hard to tell from videos unless they zoom in on the keyboard area while applying pressure. The 13" Aorus starts at $2,099. What is the reason to get this over the MSI GS43VR? Seems like the only specs on the Aorus that are better is screen and 2 M.2 slots? Even if the build quality of the MSI isn't great it sounds like the Aorus isn't either. I definitely like the looks of the Aorus better but not worth the price jump.

 

I am very serious. I was in the market for one but only came across users that had problems with it (V3 version). Bought a cheaper Gigabyte instead and I never felt more disappointed with a product with such a premium price). Checked the V4 and they still used the same chassis and manufacturing process. I love the concept. The X5 with a 1070 would be incredible to have IF it was durable, had support/service that matches the pricelevel and wasnt as loud.

 

In our numerous Aorus reviews, we haven't experienced issues with their overall quality, but their fan noise has always been one of our top complaints, along with the high temperature of the chassis while gaming. See our Aorus X5S v5 review as an example.
The press release for the X5S v6 doesn't indicate changes to its cooling. On the X7 v6 models, however, they indicate they've added additional cooling intakes. So you can bet they would have said something about the cooling if it changed on the X5S v6.

The Gigabyte P35X is quieter than the Aorus X5S (lacks the fan whine), but still runs very hot. It's actually a bit thinner than the X5S (0.82 inches vs. 0.90). It's less expensive, too. It lacks G-Sync support and has only two RAM slots, but has a second 2.5-inch bay via its swappable optical drive (the caddy is included).

We've yet to test an ultra-thin gaming notebook that didn't suffer from high noise and heat problems. So either deal with it, or buy a thicker notebook like an MSI GT62VR or Asus G752 series.

Charles

 

Dang, that's disappointing. I guess I can at least narrow my choices down a bit more now. Thanks for the info.

 

I've said this before: Cool. Thin. Fast.

Pick two out of three. There is no magic bullet.

That being said, I've personally experienced no build quality issues with my DT. People are much more likely to post about problems rather than praises; plenty are in some camp or another more than ready to offer an 'opinon' on a product they have zero personal experience with so take that for what it's worth.

 

I ended up returning a GS63VR based on the CPU fan screeching high pitch at the slightly program opening up.. I think it was honestly a faulty fan but when gaming full tilt with both GPU/CPU fans going, it was pretty overwhelming. I am spoiled by my current Asus G751 which is so whisper quiet and even under load, it's just a very hard to hear low sound. Followed by the keyboard being absolutely cold anywhere you rest your hands even under full load..

Since you have a lot of experience and hands on in the thin and light segment.. What's the good balance/trade off? I am interested in the MSI GT62VR because at 1.5" thick and an otherwise similar footprint to the GS63VR.. How would you compare it to the Asus G502 /w 1070 and other thin and lights on the sound/temp front?

 

Sorry to hear that about the MSI. I used the previous-gen GS60 Ghost Pro for a while, it was pretty loud/hot with the GTX 970M. What you experienced sounds like a problem with the fan control profile. Sometimes that's fixed with a BIOS update, though naturally you would have to wait for that update to come out.

From the models I've used, the ASUS G752VS (GTX 1070) is the one to beat for cooling. I didn't see its GPU temps go out of the mid-70's, and it was quiet and civilized in all scenarios.
The MSI GT62VR (GTX 1070 also) is an impressive performer, but its GPU was in the mid-80 degree range. I thought it should have run cooler, given the size of the chassis. It was quiet, but not quieter than the Asus G752VS.

I also used the Gigabyte P35X v6 (GTX 1070). It ran very hot under load, and was quite loud. The GPU topped out at 91 degrees, but my GPU-Z logs indicated it never throttled on its core/memory clocks. Despite its loud fans, it was still quieter than the Aorus X5S v5 I tested earlier this year. It was one of the hottest/loudest notebooks I remember testing. I wouldn't expect the Aorus X5S v6 to be any different, the haven't said they changed anything about the thermals.

Notebooks I don't have experience with as of yet are the new Clevo models. Those are said to have decent cooling, you might check the Sager forum for owner input.

Charles

 

Thanks for the insight. I am actually selling my (in signature) G751 due to it's size but it is such a nice machine that has spoiled me with zero noise and zero thermal issues. I am looking at a 15.6" that cools well and doesn't sound annoying like the GS63 did (which if that fan is supposed to hit 50+ db then I can't deal with that).

So would you say so far the quietest 15" with 1060/1070 would go to the GT62? I'd be willing to give that model a shot next time, I really prefer a quieter laptop vs trying to shave a lb off and thinness since I plan on keeping it for at least 2~ years and want to be happy and comfortable around my machine and not severely annoyed as I was with the GS63.. I have sensitive hearing and when I do work, the last thing I want to hear is the up and down nature of the sharp fan tones that thing put out. It was more about how sharp those fans sound.. I've had plenty of MacBook Pros and they have tiny tiny fans and they never sounded sharp/harsh.. And only got to a "shhhh" sound when under load and that wasn't annoying at all.

Anyways, I think i'll go for a "medium" 5.5 ish lb laptop for my travel and coffee table warrior machine for the next couple of years so I value a deeper, less harsh fan sound under load. I may have to wait and see what the new Alienwares do since I had a AW15 with 970m for about 6 mo's and it was pretty quiet under load.

 

im excited about the new fan intake above the laptop in x7v6, maybe this will avoid using external cooling pads. Im using x7pro 970m sli and i disable the cpu turbo to avoid high cpu temp and the fans will be more quiet. hopefully I see a test with new air intake and see difference with thermal and fan loudness.

 

Speaking of X3 Plus v6 still no Thunderbolt 3 ports right?

Btw it should have come with Kaby Lake CPU, like updated Razer Blade.

 

That isn't possible. The razer blade hasn't been updated because the 7th gen HQ processors aren't out yet. Only the U series are out, thus why razer's stealth was upgraded.

 

To clarify a bit on this post, although the Razer blade's GPU has been updated to the pascal 1060, the CPU hasn't been updated because it uses an 'H' processor (high performance) and the Kabylake 'H' processors won't come out till dec/jan. The Razer Stealth's CPU has been updated to a Kaby Lake processor, but that's because it uses a 'U' processor ('under-powered'.... 'ultra-low voltage' really).

 

Thanks, but what about Thunderbolt 3 support?

 

They haven't adopted it yet because they don't want me to buy one yesterday :/

 

Ya, TB3 would be nice, but I'm curious what your use case is that you consider it a deal breaker? The only thing that comes to mind for me would be using an external graphics amplifier in the future (since I don't see the need of using one now when there's only 1ish GPU out there that performs faster). Is that your use case, or is it just general future proofing of the laptop.... or perhaps some other use case? I'm having a hard time thinking of what can tap 10gbps bandwidth of usb 3.1 other than an external, high-end gpu (I guess some crazy raid environment with SSDs, but I doubt anyone is doing that), but maybe I'm missing something.

 

External GPU. a 1060 is only slightly better than my old 970. Also, the smaller laptops (which I want) run very hot with the GPU. I don't want to run games off the internal GPU while I'm at home unless I have to.

 

TB3 is incredibly important for me. I have a 980M laptop now which I have for 1 year and it is totally outclassed by the 1070 and 1080. I have a desktop at home with a 1070GTX. But I am looking into ditching my desktop and move the GPU to a TB3 enclosure.

 

Update Aorus dt v6 (1080) should start showing up Mid Octobish so FYI.

Sent from my LG-H901 using Tapatalk

 

Looking fwd to temperature and battery life test results.

 

Where are X7 V6 with 4K display? I've looked all over the net for them and there is only 2K option, or 3K as they call it

 

That 3K display is 1440p 120hz. That's an incredible display option. Not sure I'd recommend 4K over that for most people.

 

I'm not looking to game, I rather want to use it for my digital design work that sometimes include 3D rendering as well as motion graphics or animation. Unfortunately close color reproduction is a must and X7 default 1080p display is crap. I'm not sure about 2K option but at least with 4K they have to make it right, I'm not aware of any 4K panels that suck in sRGB color reproduction and brightness. It's not going to be Eizo or even Dell Precision but at least it's something to work with.

 

This is catching my eye, especially the screen, 1440p. I want the screen for the real estate, mostly coding but when I game I would be happy with 1080 resolution. Do you think gaming on this laptop on such a resolution other than its native would look terrible?

 

Not sure which laptop you're referring to exactly with 'this' since there's the x3, x5, and x7, but the 1070 and 1080 in the x5 and x7 shouldn't have any issues pushing the 3k display at 60+ fps in AAA titles; even if it does dip below, gsync is there to the rescue. However, if you want to see what it would be like, you can turn down the resolution in a game on your current laptop/monitor by the same % and see what it looks like as it will be similar experience.

 

Looks like the first review of the x5 is in: http://hexus.net/tech/reviews/laptop/97201-aorus-x5-v6/
Newegg also has a video for it (that keyboard flex....):

 

Ugh why won't gigabyte learn from their mistakes so I can throw my money at them?

1. Mux switch
2. Tb3
3. NO BUILD QUALITY ISSUES ON A 2K+ COMPUTER

 

Agreed on all 3, though they still might be catching my money since it's hard to find anything better.... though tb3 isn't as relevant to me since given the specs the laptop should last me the usual 2-3 years.

 

There are a lot of better options.

The concept is great though of Aorus, but they really need to step up their quality control. If it wouldn't have any quality issues I would not hesitate to give them my money. Buf for 2k+ money I want a laptop to be reliable for at least 3 years.

 

What other options are there honestly with the same weight range, 17" and has such a panel? Also, the review does not mention any response rates of the Aorus panel, that I would like to see..

 

AW17R4 that just has been released for example.

 

Well that "better options" is all subjective. I need a portable laptop that is a powerhouse since it will be taken to and from work on a daily basis where I need performance for dev work and some gaming at home. Even at 5.5 pounds the x5 is already at the top of what I would consider weight and size wise, with the other options being the P35 (similar to x5 but with slightly lesser specs and supposedly worse build quality), the GS63, or Blade. Anything alienware is also an easy 'no' since it can't scream 'gaming laptop' and again the aorus is right at the edge regarding gaming aesthetic (my current gs60, which has been great, doesn't look like a gaming laptop at all, especially once the logo is covered up with some sticker). Of those, aorus has by far the most power, though it is slightly bigger and heavier.

 

Its subjective indeed. But if your turn off the lightning on an alienware and especially with the new versions it looks quite similar to the aorus with a similar footprint. What you get in return for the weight is an magnesium chassis with aluminum. Not plastic with some aluminum sheets. Also the cooling will probably be better. The blade and ghost are just a different tier laptops.

 

Just to chip in the Gigabyte P35X while a great budget machine is not very impressive feeling, but has nearly alarming cooling. They all throttle.

The Aorus X5 is a costly machine, but if you can afford it its really powerful for its form factor.

 

Ya, I do wish the build was better on the x5, I'm curious what it feels like compared to my current gs60 (which I'm very happy with regarding build quality; I'll note I've had quality plastic laptops in the past in the form of thinkpads....those things were practically indestructible, just don't have the premium feel of metal nor the extra heat dissipation).
As for the stealth and blade being different tier.....well yes and no. Although they have a 1060 instead of 1070 (and 6700hq instead of 6820hk), all of them would fall into portable/thin & light gaming laptops category (albeit the stealth and blade at the bottom and x5 at the top regarding weight). But then again these are pretty arbitrary and open to interpretation as well.
Ya, I'm sure the cooling on the alienware will be better (prolly by a large margin), but that's to be expected with the larger footprint and unfortunately I'm already at the top of what will work for me for size and weight with the x5 (roughly same size as my current gs60, but a good pound heavier).

That seems in line with what I've been finding regarding P35X. It seems like it's a budget version of the aorus without quite the same power & 'upgradeability' as the x5. As for throttling, I like to think that with good paste (or CLU) that it won't be an issue, and there's always undervolting as well (once I undervolted the gpu & cpu on the gs60 it never thermal throttled again, and still left enough juice to overclock but that's the silicone lotto for you).

 

By they all I meant the P35X. And in that case idk if paste will save you, I seriously haven't seen one with good temps (though undervolting may work). The X5 is different, it has a better cooling solution. The best OCer for the thin and light category is the Clevo P650 with a prema bios.