Gaming laptops have evolved much since its inception as a portable alternative to gaming desktops. But the tradeoff with portability was always present with performance. As technology continues to progress, the tradeoff is starting to shrink and we have a gaming laptop that can give you a gaming desktop class replacement.
And the ASUS ROG STRIX Scar III (GL531GW) going one step closer. It rocks a 240Hz IPS panel, top-end internals – making it really good for gaming especially FPS games. ASUS is not the only company out there with an epic 240Hz screen but the ROG STRIX Scar III (GL531GW) has done a pretty good job.
The ROG STRIX Scar III (GL531) retails at S$3,598.
Unboxing
The ROG STRIX Scar III (GL531GW) comes in a huge package, and unboxing it you will get:
- ROG STRIX Scar III (GL531GW) laptop
- 230W charging brick
- GC21 external webcam + stand
- ROG Strix Impact gaming mouse
- ROG backpack
Build quality and design
The design of the ROG STRIX Scar III (GL531GW) looks really different from its Gen II, thanks to a collaboration with BMW Designworks Group. The new design looks really edgy and aggressive – but I like it. It also has lots of RGB effects especially on the bottom, so if you really dig RGB lights, this laptop has some crazy stuff going on.
The ROG STRIX Scar III (GL531GW) has a brushed metal finish for the lid, and a sleek carbon fibre print on the inside. The overall feel of the build quality is solid – with a strong chassis rigidity and sturdy hinge.
Having said that, the ROG STRIX Scar III (GL531GW) is pretty heavy and chunky, coming in at 2.57kg and 2.49cm thick.
Specifications
- Screen: 15.6-inch 1,920 x 1,080-pixel 240Hz IPS panel
- Processor: Intel Core i7-9750H (6-core)
- RAM: 16GB DDR4-2666 RAM
- GPU: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 8GB
- SSD: 1TB M.2 PCIe SSD
- Battery: 66Wh battery
- Dimensions: 360 x 275 x 24.9mm
- Weight: 2.57kg
Display
The highlight of the ROG STRIX Scar III (GL531GW) is definitely the 240Hz screen. This 240Hz screen is probably the best I’ve seen on a gaming laptop. Even using it for regular web browsing feels so satisfying. Other 240Hz screen may offer you a TN panel which has lesser color accuracy. But the ROG STRIX Scar III (GL531GW) has a 240Hz screen that is an IPS panel – meaning the color accuracy is way better.
And of course, you will realise that there are minimal bezels on the sides but there is still a chunky one at the bottom. Also, there is no webcam on the laptop, but if you’re gaming – most of the time you won’t need one (unless you’re streaming yourself). But if you really do need a webcam, ASUS is bundling a more capable external GC21 webcam that can capture 1080p at 60Hz and you could clip it to the top of the screen if you want to.
Performance
Having a 240Hz screen is of no use if the internals cannot support it. Thankfully, the ROG STRIX Scar III (GL531GW) rocks solid top-end internals such as 6-core Intel i9-9750H and NVIDIA RTX 2070 (8GB). With such specs, once you played games on this thing. It’s kinda hard to play on anything not as powerful as the ROG STRIX Scar III (GL531GW). In other words, you get spoiled.
Playing Assassin’s Creed Odyssey at 1920 x 1080, I’m getting an average fps of 57 on the standard setting. But where the ROG STRIX Scar III (GL531GW) really shines is on FPS games such as PUBG, Fortnite, and Overwatch. The 240Hz refresh rate and 3ms response time will surely give you an edge over your friends. With the hot keys at the top, the fan control key really makes it easy to switch between the presets (Silent, Performance, Turbo) whenever you need it. Do note that if you are not on battery only the Silent and Performance presets are available.
And if you’re into benchmarks, here are some on stock settings:
- Cinebench R20: 424 (Single Core), 2,534 (Multi Core)
- 3DMark (Fire Strike): 16,377
- 3DMark (Fire Strike – Graphics): 18,430
- 3DMark (Port Royal): 4,093
Apart of gaming, if you ever do video editing, the ROG STRIX Scar III (GL531GW) will definitely be able to handle Premiere Pro or After Effects with little to no problem.
As for cooling, the laptop has what ASUS is calling the heavily ventilated 3D Flow Zone at the back and an asymmetrical cut below the display that ensures unrestricted airflow while the machine is in use. There are multiple air vents located at the side, back and also the bottom of the laptop. The ROG STRIX Scar III (GL531GW) doesn’t get too hot even on heavy loads. However, this means that the ROG STRIX Scar III (GL531GW) can be quite noisy as the fans work real hard.
Keyboard and trackpad
The keyboard is tactile and has decent key travel and feedback, making it comfortable to game and type with. The keyboard also supports per-key RGB lighting. There are also dedicated hot keys for quick access to volume, microphone, fan control and the Armoury Crate software. The ‘W” key has a small extrusion, allowing you to locate the key just by touch, a pretty neat feature.
The Armoury Crate software allows you to customise many things such as RGB lighting, set customised performance presets, keystone stuff, etc.
The trackpad is Windows Precision, and even has the digital number pad like what we’ve seen on the ASUS ZenBook Pro Duo (UX581GV) and the ASUS ZenBook 14 UX433FN. Overall, it is pretty smooth to touch, but I would have prefer a larger surface area.
Ports selection
The ports on the ROG STRIX Scar III (GL531GW) is pretty decent, giving you:
- 3x USB 3.1 Gen 1 Type-A
- 1x USB 3.1 Type-C
- 1x HDMI 2.0”
- 1x RJ-45 Ethernet port
- 3.5mm audio jack
- 1x Keystone slot
The charging port, HDMI, Ethernet, and USB-C port is at the back, while the three USB-A ports and 3.5mm jack are on the left, leaving only the right side having the Keystone slot. It would have been nice to see more USB-C ports or at least one that supports Thunderbolt 3.
The Keystone is a NFC-enabled key that slots magnetically to the slot on the right side of the laptop. Once the Keystone is slotted it, the laptop gives off an orange accent and gives you access to an encrypted Shadow Drive and customised game-specific profiles or lighting effects.
Basically, the Keystone is a token that applies your personalised settings. The concept of this would seem to be helpful if you and your sibling share this laptop and each owning a keystone. But unless you are sharing the laptop, I can’t really see an average user benefiting much from this.
Battery and speakers
Battery life on the ROG STRIX Scar III (GL531GW) is not its best trait, and it is expected with its 66Wh battery. Although it is a gaming laptop, playing games on battery will pretty much last only about an hour or so before suffering a hit in performance. The short battery life is kinda expected from a laptop which such crazy specs. With brightness at 50% and RGB lighting disabled, watching YouTube videos at half volume lasted for about 5 hours.
Speakers sounded above average for a laptop with a decent bit of bass that gives off a slightly fuller sound. Volume wise, the speakers are more than loud enough but some clarity tends to be sacrificed at max volumes.
Conclusion
Design wise, the new ROG STRIX Scar III (GL531GW) has some nice aesthetic changes over the old Gen II. At S$3,598, it is quite a lot of money. And for that money, what you will get is to rock some top-end internals and of course enjoy that buttery smooth 240Hz screen. But as this is an expensive device, it may not be for everyone looking for a general gaming laptop. With the 240Hz screen and 3ms response time, this laptop is no doubt suited for fast shooters for FPS games. Also, do note that this machine can get loud.