Conclusion
Final Words
The ROG Strix SCAR 17 (G733PYV) features an AMD Ryzen 9 7945HX3D 16-core ZEN4 based processor and an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 laptop GPU, marking it as a noteworthy technical advancement in laptop computing and in fact, offering a near-perfect symbiosis. The 17-inch QHD 240Hz panel is characterized by a 3ms response time and a peak brightness level of 300 nits. With the emergence of AMD's 65W desktop CPUs, there was an expectation of enhanced performance in their mobile counterparts. This device is integrated with 16 high-calibre desktop-equivalent cores, ensuring efficient processing. The RTX 4090 GPU further supports high framerates at WQHD resolutions, even in the absence of DLSS2/DLSS3.
There are notable limitations. Its battery life diminishes rapidly during gaming sessions, indicating its role more as a desktop substitute reliant on an external power connection. The CPU's operating frequency lies between 4.0 to 5.0 GHz, but temperatures may exceed 90°C during intensive multi-core tasks. The GPU's clock rate, memory clock, temperature, and board power consumption stabilize at values of 2000-2250 MHz, 80°C, and 150W respectively. Users have the flexibility to select from multiple performance modes. Specifically, in Turbo mode, the GPU's clock rate can reach up to 2300 MHz, while its board power consumption rises close to 175W. In gaming scenarios, the average power consumption hovers around 250 Watts.
Gaming performance
We compared game results of this laptop performance of the Ryzen 9 7945HX/X3D to the desktop GeForce RTX 4090, which is not an objective comparison. However, the RTX 4090 mobile proved to be a strong contender and held its own compared to its big brother the desktop version. The Ryzen 9 7945HX3D, with its latest-gen Zen 4 design and superb extra cache, performed exceptionally well and held its ground against the desktop 4090. It's probably the best combination for a GPU of this kind. Also, the mobile RTX 4090 is creating the GPU bottleneck here, as the CPU delivers plenty of performance for what it needs to do.
We tested games with the same quality settings we use in our graphics card reviews, ergo, best quality settings. As you can see, the SCAR 17 has serious gaming stamina backed by a 240 Hz GSYNC display. It's worth noting that the thought of a Ryzen 9 7945HX with X3D cache immediately came to mind. It might do wonders in a laptop like this as X3D offers exceptional energy efficiency and removes CPU bottlenecks. With a resolution of 2560x1440, this laptop performs extremely admirable, and as mentioned before, we haven't even cranked open DLSS3 capabilities incl. frame generation.
Conclusion
In the technology and gaming sector, the AMD Dragon range, with now specifically the Ryzen 9 7945HX3D, stands out. The inclusion of the RTX 4090 and the extra cache on this processor enhances, even maximized mobile RTX 4090 performance and thus its ability at QHD resolution. The 2023 ROG Strix Scar 17 has a 17-inch Quad HD 240Hz IPS panel. The power consumption metrics observed were higher, but the uptick in performance can validate this increase. The Ryzen 9 CPU has moments where it matches the performance of the desktop-grade 7950X. Concurrently, the GPU consistently provides exceptional frame rates. On occasions, single-threaded performance slightly lags, but its multi-threaded capabilities often get close to the desktop 7950X3D.
In terms of this laptop overall; you should be cognizant of certain drawbacks. The laptop's price point, combined with its repeated design, 16:9 display ratio, mediocre webcam quality, and compromised battery life due to specific component choices, may deter some. The device weighs approximately 3 kg. However, the X3D based ROG Strix Scar 17 is a performance behemoth, both for gaming and creative and creation tasks. Its primary Gen 4 SSD delivers read speeds exceeding 7 GB/s and write speeds around 4-5 GB/s. An additional M.2 slot is present for those considering storage expansion, further enhanced by swift WIFI6E connectivity and a 2.5 Gbps LAN jack. Test results indicate commendable LAN/WLAN throughput. While the Scar 17 is a top contender for those emphasizing raw performance, users should note its propensity to produce elevated sound levels in turbo mode. Measurements indicate levels surpassing 43 Dba during gaming sessions, potentially troublesome given the proximity of the device during use. Various modes, such as a silent option, are available, albeit at a slight performance trade-off. Despite the advancements in the current year's processors, areas for improvement in the ROG Strix Scar 17 persist. Notably, CPU temperatures during gaming sessions exceed anticipated levels, the Samsung PCIe4 x4 SSD occasionally throttles under intense use, and there are design issues with the numpad, arrow keys, and some key labels. The right side of the device also lacks USB ports.
As configured, the Asus ROG Strix Scar 17 G733PY retails at $3599 or 3499 euros. While the investment is substantial, the returns in terms of gaming speed and the 16-core processing power with X3D cache are unmistakably fabulous. The 7945HX3D 16-core CPU's capabilities are comparable to desktop versions. Future iterations of gaming laptop processors might benefit from a more expansive 3D cache, and faster DDR5 memory would enhance this device. For those aiming for optimal multi-threading performance combined with a 240 Hz adaptive-sync screen, the Scar 17 remains a consideration, albeit an expensive one. The 7945HX3D in a laptop with a fast mobile GPU, well, is just pretty darn terrific.
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