Notebook Review

Asus ROG Strix Scar II GL704 Notebook Review: Compact and Powerful

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At Gamescom 2018, Asusintroduced the new laptop Asus ROG Strix Scar II (GL704), based on the Intel Coffee Lake-H hardware platform. With a frame thickness on three sides of only 7 mm, the new model aims to become one of the most compact 17-inch gaming laptops.

Unlike entry-level ROG G or TUF FX machines, the GL704 series is aimed at professional gamers. So let's see what makes the Strix Scar II (GL704GM) special.

  • Specifications
  • Laptop design
  • Ports and communication
  • Keyboard and trackpad
  • Display ROG Strix Scar II
  • Performance
  • Data storages
  • Graphics chip in games
  • Cooling system
  • Speaker sound
  • Laptop autonomy
  • Warranty and accessories
  • Should I buy?
  • Asus ROG Strix Scar II GL704GM Specifications

    Screen

    17.3-inch AU Optronics B173HAN04.0, IPS, resolution 1920 × 1080 and 127 PPI, aspect ratio 16: 9

    CPU

    Intel Core i7-8750H

    Graphics

    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 1455 MHz, GDDR5

    Ram

    DDR4-2666 16,384 MB

    ROM

    SSD WDC PC SN520 SDAPNUW 256 GB + Seagate ST1000LM035 5400 RPM 1TB

    The size

    399.8 × 273.5 × 24.9 - 26.4 mm

    Weight

    2.9 kg

    Price

    $ 1600 ($ 105,900)

    Laptop design

    In a closed state, Asus ROG Strix Scar IIresembles the compact business of the Laptop, although in fact it is a full-fledged gaming machine. The edges and corners of its case are flat and smooth, with the result that the laptop looks upscale and not like a cheap fake. The front of the case, the logo on the lid and the keyboard have a four-band LED backlight, its effects are configured using the Asus AURA program. These details give the GL704 a peculiar look.

    7mm frames around the ROG Strix Scar II display(GL704GM) look tiny compared to most 17-inch laptops. This decision did not allow Asus to install the webcam in its usual place, here it is located at the bottom. The screen lid is the most durable element of the whole structure; it is very rigid.

    The laptop opens only 150 degrees,however, sturdy hinges prevent any oscillation of the cover. The build quality of the ROG Strix Scar II is excellent, free of defects or gaps. The laptop has dimensions of 399.8 × 273.5 × 24.9–26.4 mm and weighs 2.9 kg. Overall, the GL704 is one of the smallest 17-inch gaming laptops.

    Ports and communication

    Despite its compact size, the Asus ROG laptopStrix Scar II (GL704GM) got all the necessary connectors, including one USB Type-C port with Gen. 2 (10 Gb / s), so Thunderbolt 3 is not. Located on the right: SD card slot, USB Type-C Gen. 2, USB 3.1 Type-A Gen. 2 and Kensington Lock. On the left there is: AC-adapter, Gigabit RJ-45, mDP 1.2, HDMI 2.0, 3 × USB 3.1 Type-A, 3.5 mm combined audio jack.

    Wireless adapters are responsible for Wi-Fi 802.11ac and Bluetooth 5.0.

    Keyboard and trackpad

    Keyboard size and layout in the Strix Scar IIGL704GM is identical to GL703. The keys have a nice soft press, and the depth of the stroke is 1.8 mm. Pressing is almost inaudible, even on the "Space" or "Enter." There is a four-zone RGB backlight.

    Asus ROG Strix Scar II trackpad (GL704GM) withPrecision support has a size of 10.7 × 5.9 cm. The surface is smooth and the finger slides well along it. Below are two separate buttons that are very convenient to use.

    Display Asus ROG Strix Scar II

    The screen with narrow frames is the mainfeature Asus ROG Strix Scar II (GL704GM). The laptop is equipped with an IPS Full HD panel with a resolution of 1920 × 1080 pixels, a refresh rate of 144 Hz, a response time of 3 ms, a high contrast ratio and a wide color range.

    Despite the matte finish, the display contentsROG Strix Scar II looks clear. Players and content creators will especially appreciate the 144 Hz refresh rate. For any games, the color accuracy of this screen is more than enough. Measurement with a colorimeter showed medium hues up to the box. After calibration, the display accuracy has increased significantly, so before using I recommend to make individual adjustments.

    Outdoor visibility is average. The Asus GL704GM backlight is not designed to withstand sunlight. The viewing angles are very wide, with a minimum shift of colors and shades.

    CPU performance

    ROG Strix Scar II (GL704GM) is equipped with 6-coreIntel i7-8750H processor with Turbo Boost technology. The system reaches 1040 points in the CineBench R15 Multi-Thread test, compared to 930 points on the earlier GL703GM. Obviously, productivity has grown by almost 12%.

    In the PCMark tests, the GL704 overlookedslower than the GL703, although both are equipped with the same processor. Probably the culprit is a slow SSD, since the GL703 has a faster Samsung PM961 SSD. Nevertheless, the overall system performance is high.

    Data storages

    Observed Asus ROG Strix Scar II is equipped with256 GB solid state drive Western Digital PC SN520 SDAPNUW-256G M.2 NVMe SSD. Its performance is average at best. The sequential read speed reaches 1100 MB / s compared to 1500 MB / s or 1900 MB / s for Samsung PM981.

    Extra Seagate 1 TB Hard DriveST1000LM035 has an average data transfer rate of 102 MB / s, which is standard for a drive with a rotational speed of 5400 rpm. Both drives can be easily replaced if necessary.

    Gaming graphics processor

    Installed in the Asus ROG Strix Scar II (GL704GM)NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 graphics card is quite common for high-end gaming laptops, so its performance does not cause issues. Nevertheless, users upgrading their old laptops, equipped with video chips such as the GTX 960M or 970M, will get a noticeable performance boost.

    ROG Strix Scar II (GL704GM) performance ingames are stable, without choking. However, in order to make the most of the 144 Hz panel, users will strive for a sustainable 144 FPS. But only old or less demanding names like CS: GO or DOTA 2 will be able to achieve this mark in 1080p considering the GTX 1060 GPU. Therefore, it would be preferable to have a GTX 1070 here.

    Cooling system

    The cooling system of Asus ROG GL704GM consists oftwo 50 mm fans and three heat pipes between them. The fans are almost silent, especially in Asus Silent mode. But, you should be ready to increase the noise up to 35 dB or even 38 dB in a balanced or high-performance mode.

    Constantly changing fan noise occurs at low loads, so I recommend staying in power saving mode or silent without additional power being required.

    Speaker sound

    2The 5-channel stereo speakers of the Asus ROG Strix Scar II (GL704GM) provide excellent sound quality, with balanced mid and high frequencies, as well as high maximum volume. Even the bass is better than expected, despite the lack of a subwoofer.

    Higher volume settings make the surface near the trackpad vibrate, as the drivers are directly below it. Still a static sound or cod is inaudible.

    Laptop autonomy

    Battery 66 watts per hour ROG Strix Scar II a littleless compared to 74 W / h in the previous model. Despite this, the battery life is 4 hours 30 minutes, which is an average result for a 17-inch gaming laptop. Charging the battery from 0 to 100% takes about 1.5 hours.

    ROG Strix Scar II Warranty (GL704GM) and Accessories

    The GL704 from Asus ROG comes with a standard one-year warranty. Optional accessories include a small carbine for carrying in a bag and a large velvet cloth for cleaning surfaces.

    Total

    New Asus ROG Strix Scar II GL704 can be considereda good laptop. This is the first 17-inch gaming laptop with a narrow display frame, as well as one of the most powerful and compact in the class. Users no longer have to choose between performance, mobility and a large screen. Ease of use here on top.

    The system performed well in heavyapplications. Working for the ROG Strix Scar II (GL704GM) is nice, and carrying in a bag is comfortable. Only the noise of the fans and poor autonomy spoils the impression a bit, and you also want to see a more enduring battery. But if this is not a problem for you, then the Asog ROG Strix Scar II GL704 is definitely your choice.

    Benefits

    • Productive.
    • Convenient and compact.
    • With narrow display frames.
    • Fast display response time.
    • Loud 3.5W stereo speakers.
    • No pulse width modulation.
    • High-quality 1080p IPS display 144 Hz.

    disadvantages

    • Average SSD Western Digital performance.
    • Inconvenient webcam placement.
    • Average battery life.
    • Noisy with loads.
    • No Thunderbolt 3 and G-Sync.

    Review of gaming laptop Asus ROG Strix Scar II - video