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ASUS Republic of Gamers (ROG) today announced Zephyrus S GX701, an ultraslim gaming laptop that takes hardcore gaming to the next level with the latest NVIDIA GeForce RTX with Max-Q design graphics and 8th Generation Intel Core i7 processor.
Zephyrus S GX701 features a 17-inch display with a 144Hz refresh rate, and frames it with super-narrow bezels. It also adds NVIDIA G-SYNC and Optimus technology into the mix. The PANTONE Validated panel is ideal for immersive gaming or serious content creation.
Even with these upgrades and a much larger screen, Zephyrus S GX701 maintains an impressively slender profile and surprisingly compact footprint. It’s more immersive, powerful, and versatile than any Zephyrus before without sacrificing the portability that defines the family.
Pushing frame rates high enough to saturate the screen requires a powerful GPU, so Zephyrus S GX701 can be configured with up to a GeForce RTX 2080 with Max-Q Design. The new Turing architecture underpinning NVIDIA’s latest laptop GPU lineup melds programmable shading with real-time ray tracing and artificial intelligence to enable greater realism. Traditional CUDA cores join forces with dedicated RT cores for ray tracing and Tensor cores for AI to improve the quality of lighting, shadows, and other effects.
The processing power of this diverse array can also be harnessed to accelerate a range of other workloads, from content creation to 3D modeling to deep learning.
A potent processor allows Zephyrus S GX701 to tackle any task with confidence. The 8th Gen Intel Core i7-8750H CPU boasts six cores and 12 threads with a peak Turbo clock of 4.1GHz. It has ample resources for demanding applications like video editing and 3D rendering, and heavy multitasking like mixing gaming with streaming, recording, and separate voice chat.
There’s up to 24GB of fast DDR4-2666 system memory and up to 8GB of separate GDDR6 VRAM. Superfast storage is supplied by an NVMe SSD with up to 1TB of capacity and four lanes of PCI Express 3.0 bandwidth.
ROG created the first gaming laptop capable of being powered by DC or USB Type-C (USB-C) input, and Zephyrus S GX701 has the same technology. With support for USB Power Delivery, it can handle everyday work powered by a 65W Type-C adapter that’s much smaller than the required AC adapter for maximum gaming performance. The Type-C port is also capable of driving an external monitor via DisplayPort 1.4. Together with HDMI 2.0b output, Zephyrus S GX701 can support dual 4K displays running at 60Hz. Intel’s latest Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) gigabit Wi-Fi module with 2×2 MU-MIMO lets Zephyrus S GX701 deliver faster wireless throughput when paired with compatible routers like ROG Rapture GT-AC5300.
Staying connected is easy thanks to ROG RangeBoost, a patented wireless technology that constantly scans surroundings and automatically shifts between two pairs of antennas to maintain the best signal. Smart amplification expands the range of the dual 2.5W built-in speakers so they can produce louder sound with less distortion. Most users will opt for their favorite headset via the 3.5-mm audio jack or one of the USB ports. Zephyrus S GX701 can simulate surround sound for stereo devices like headphones, USB DACs, and VR headsets. It also has audio features designed specifically for streaming and recording, including automatic volume stabilization and noise and echo cancellation.
Zephyrus S GX701 fits most conventional laptop bags and backpacks thanks to its slim 6.9mm bezels that allow the massive 17.3-inch screen to squeeze into a body just 15.7 inches wide. It’s the most compact 17-inch gaming notebook around, and at only 18.7mm, it’s also the thinnest.
Performance varies constantly depending on the game and what’s happening in the scene. Most displays refresh at a consistent rate, which creates problems when new frames aren’t ready at the right time, but Zephyrus S GX701 uses NVIDIA G-SYNC technology to compensate. It synchronizes the refresh rate of the display with the frame rate of the GPU to eliminate visual tearing that distracts from immersion.
Although G-SYNC delivers the best gaming experience, it requires the GPU to be active at all times, which increases power consumption and decreases battery life. That’s fine when the laptop is plugged to a power source, but potentially problematic when working on battery power. NVIDIA Optimus technology provides the solution by defaulting to the CPU’s power-efficient integrated graphics and only turning on the discrete GPU when it’s needed for gaming and other graphics-intensive tasks.
ASUS engineers developed an exclusive GPU switch that lets users go between G-SYNC and Optimus modes. With a few clicks and a reboot, Zephyrus S GX701 transforms from a gaming powerhouse with buttery smooth graphics to a productivity workhorse with longer battery life.
A premium high-refresh-rate display Since the original Zephyrus, ASUS works closely with panel providers to push the limits of gaming laptop displays. Much of this collaboration has been in the pursuit of performance, which is why the screen found on Zephyrus S GX701 runs up to a super-smooth 144Hz. In addition, the 3ms GTG response time makes the picture especially sharp at speed, whether lining up targets in a fast-paced shooter or quickly scrolling through web pages on the desktop.
This display is not only perfect for playing the latest blockbuster games, but for creative content work where accurate colors are critical. It’s carefully tuned at the factory to ensure each one meets stringent PANTONE Color Validation requirements for accuracy and uniformity. ProArt TruColor Technology guarantees color accuracy that is better than most desktop monitors.
Ultraslim chassis leave little room for airflow, which makes cooling the CPU and GPU incredibly difficult. To avoid compromising performance, the innovative Active Aerodynamic System (AAS) exposes a large intake when the lid is lifted to increase airflow compared to traditional designs. It draws additional air through vents above the keyboard, and dual fans propel it all through four heatsinks and exhaust vents flanking the rear corners to ensure Zephyrus S GX701 runs cool in all conditions.
Dust and other particles inevitably get sucked into laptop fans, but this self-cleaning cooling system helps to avoid accumulation inside. Each fan has a special anti-dust tunnel that catches particles and directs them out the back of the chassis, preventing buildup on the heatsink fins that could reduce performance and stability over time.
Fan speeds are controlled by an intelligent algorithm that responds automatically to temperature changes.
Users can choose between three expertly tuned profiles via a convenient keyboard shortcut to quickly adapt to different usage scenarios. With the highest fan speeds, Turbo mode is the best for maximum performance. Balanced mode optimizes performance and cooling to lower noise levels for casual gaming, while Silent mode goes even further to take acoustics for lighter work and entertainment.
Shifting the keyboard forward improves cooling by not only leaving more room for the fans, but also moves users’ hands away from warmer regions around the CPU and GPU. Surface temperatures on the keyboard are much lower than with traditional designs, especially after hours of heavy gaming.
Light it up. Each key is illuminated by an independent RGB LED capable of producing a brilliant glow at peak brightness. Users can easily customize the intensity and configure colors and effects to suit different scenarios, like identifying important keys for specific games and choosing a subtler look for serious work.
Lighting extends to the touchpad on the right, which turns into a numpad at the touch of a button, and to the integrated volume roller, which sits within easy reach of the user’s left hand. Familiar from desktop gaming keyboards like ROG Strix Flare, the volume wheel makes quick adjustments easy. The brightness of the backlighting even changes automatically based on the volume. With Aura Sync, it’s easy to coordinate RGB colors and effects with compatible peripherals like the ROG Gladius II Origin mouse and Delta headset. Synchronized lighting can make a gaming setup look a lot more cohesive and professional, and it only takes a few clicks in the intuitive Armoury Crate software.
The slim bezels surrounding the screen leave little room for an integrated webcam, so ASUS R&D teams looked at how gamers actually use their webcams and decided to make an external module that offers a better experience overall. The optional ROG GC21 external camera captures crisp FHD footage at a silky 60 fps, doubling the speed of conventional webcams without sacrificing resolution.
ROG GC21 can be placed on top of the display for a conventional angle or use the aluminum base to mount it on a table or shelf. A clever folding design collapses the camera to the size of a thumb drive, so it easily slips into a pocket or bag along with the included USB cable.
The release date for the ROG Zephyrus S GX701 is still to be advised.
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