ASUS ROG GX700VO Review

Performance and Benchmarks

Running under the hood of our review unit is an Intel Core i7-6820HK CPU clocked at 2.7GHz, NVIDIA GeForce GTX980 GDDR5 at 8GB, and 64GB of RAM. However, the model that will be offered in the Philippines is 32GB RAM. As one might expect, performance is top notch and can certainly handle the latest games and the most demanding software out there.

Temperature-wise, the Hydro Overclocking System does wonders in keeping the GX700 cool. When idle and not connected to the system, it has an average temperature of 37 C. It goes down to 34 C when connected. We also took note of its temperature when benchmarking with 3DMark and Unigine Heaven. Below are our observations:

3DMark
Cooled – CPU: 43 C / GPU: 44 C
Uncooled – CPU: 55 C / GPU: 56 C

Unigine Heave 4.0
Cooled – CPU: 42 C / GPU: 45 C
Uncooled – CPU: 71 C / GPU: 65 C

Aside from the temperature benefits, the Hydro Overclocking System also helps the GX700 use its full potential. Using the ROG Gaming Center, you can select from four performance presets: Standard (unplugged from power source, undocked), Optimized (plugged, undocked), and Extreme (plugged, docked), and Manual (plugged, docked).

We also noticed the bump in performance from Optimized to Extreme when comparing the benchmark scores. See below in uncooled then cooled setup:

Cooled:

 

Uncooled:

As for framerate performance, as said earlier, the GX700 can handle the most demanding games out there. We tested it out with the games in we have on hand at their maximum graphic settings to see where it stacks up:

Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain – Avg: 59.942 fps – Temp: 51 C
FarCry 4: Avg: 61.700 fps – Temp: 52 C
Dying Light: Avg: 72.558 fps – Temp: 55 C
Fallout 4: Avg: 72.975 fps – Temp: 56 C

As you can see, running games in Full HD resolution at a minimum of 60fps is a piece of cake for the GX700. It kind of makes us wonder how the performance would be when it’s pushing 4K. Buyers would surely appreciate the bumped resolution given its asking price.

Battery Life

The ROG GX700VO carries a 93 Whrs battery. It’s not a lot considering the specs running under the hood. Normal usage which involves 100% brightness, constant WiFi connectivity with heavy Internet browsing and word processing and it can only last for a little over 2 hours on average. It’s a juice guzzler, so if you’re traveling with this machine or plan to work on it for long periods, make sure that you bring its power supply and stay close to a wall socket.

Conclusion

We’d like to think of the ASUS ROG GX700VO and the ROG Hydro Overclocking System as Iron Man and his Hulk Buster suit. On its own, it’s already a powerful machine and a solid multimedia powerhouse, but if you require more power, just bring out the Hydro Overclocking System. From there the ROG GX700VO becomes one of the powerful laptops out there designed to deliver one thing – top-notch gaming experience.

However, it’s not a perfect machine and obviously it’s not for everyone. There’s the short battery life, absence of 4K display, limited 512GB SSD storage, bulky and heavy build, not to mention the multiple components you need to carry for the entire rig, and the lack of optical disc drive which is still very useful especially if you buy your games in discs. Then there’s the asking price of Php249,995, a quarter of a million. It’s expensive, a luxury, but if money is not an issue, it’s definitely worth it.

ASUS ROG GX700VO specs:
17.3-inch Full HD (1920 x 1080) Anti-Glare display
2.7GHz Intel Core i7-6820HK Processor
NVIDIA GeForce GTX980 GDDR5 (8GB) GPU
32GB DDR4 2800MHz RAM
512GB NVMe PCIe SSD RAID0 (2x256GB)
WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac
Microphone-in jack
Headphone-out jack
USB 3.1 TYPE C port
3x USB 3.0 ports
RJ45 LAN Jack for LAN insert
HDMI
mini Display Port
Thunderbolt port
SD card reader
AC adapter plug
2-in-1 card reader ( SD/ MMC)
HD Web Camera
ASUS Sonic Studio
93 Whrs battery
Windows 10 Pro 64-bit
Laptop: 429 x 309 x 33 ~35 cm, 3.6 kg
Dock: 417 x 368 x 114 cm, 4.8 kg

Pros:
* Great performance
* Good display
* Attractive design and premium build
* ROG Hydro Overclocking System
* ROG SICA gaming mouse included
* ROG Command Case
* Good speakers

Cons:
* Heavy and bulky
* No 4K display for PH offering
* Limited 512GB SSD storage
* No optical disc drive
* Expensive