Laptops
Intro to laptops
A laptop is basically a mobile computer, because it is a small all-in-one solution to taking a computer with you. Without lugging around a computer box.
Ranging in size from 13" to 17" Inches. (Travel size, conveniently fits in thin small backpacks)
Built-in keyboard, touchpad and monitor. (Number keypad not always available and all you need is a mouse to function like a desktop computer)
Note that Laptops due suffer a loss in performance, since their wattage and cooling capability levels are lower. This is mainly due to the lack of a GPU or simply not having enough cooling so it can keep a small form factor. The more parts you get and the more powerful, typically increases the weight of the laptop as well.
Light weight would be 2-3 lbs. (typically does not have a GPU or graphics card)
Gaming and greater spec laptops will generally weigh 4-6 lbs or more. (Comes with GPU or graphics card)
Laptops in general are also flawed in an upgrade sense, due to the fact they can't be fully upgraded the same way a desktop can.Â
Typically, the RAM and Storage is usually upgradable, everything else is only upgradable if you are an experienced laptop technician.Â
However, even the RAM and Storage on some laptops are not removeable, so I think it's best to find those that are.Â
You also want a laptop that is going to last at least for the next 2-5 years before replacing it.
Your choice of CPU will vary between Intel and AMD. (Intel usually gets more attention, but AMD is the power efficient chip.)
Your choice of GPU will vary between Nvidia and AMD. (Possibly also Intel in the future, while Nvidia is the poster boy of GPUs and AMD is the more affordable brand.)
Lucky for me, my laptop had both AMD for CPU and GPU, making it perform well, excellent power efficiency and best cost to performance.
A very low price may or may not be your reason to buy, but I would take that into consideration since most of the laptop is not going to be upgradable...So, if you were to find a top-of-the-line laptop with a huge discount, then that is a no-brainer. What is a top-of-the-line laptop? Simply a laptop with the latest computer parts. When I started making this section, the best GPU for Nvidia was a 3090Ti. Now the best graphics card for Nvidia is a 4090, so you can see the latest tech is what you want in your laptop. However, if there is a new tech coming out, that may lead to some serious deals on previous tech. If the previous tech serves you well and the new tech is out of your budget, I'd say wait for the previous tech to go on sale. This is exactly what happened to me. I got the best AMD had to offer for laptops (6800M first, but ended up with a 6700S GPU, my total cost with tax was $950. If I were to buy the newest tech laptop now, it would cost between $2000-$5000 for a 4000 series graphics card laptop. The new AMD graphics cards have not been announced for laptops as of yet.
Just make sure you get an idea of the spec's YOU need for your use case and then look for the price range of those parts, in a laptop.
Laptops range from $250-$2000+ The more expensive, the more current the specs should be. With big tech still pushing pandemic prices and forcing inflation on citizens, the new Nvidia 4000 series laptops will range in price of $2000-$5000. (2/13/2023)
The objective of a laptop ranges and depending on the list below, will decide what specs you need... Examples of use case are below:
Entertainment, Basic tasks (YouTube, Hulu)
Creation, Advanced tasks (Video Editing, Excel)
Gaming, Mixed tasks (High Monitor hertz with FPS stability)
Tablet Replacement (Touch screen)
If you want to just do normal browsing and documents, usually low weight.
Low specs 4-8gb RAM and typically no GPU required or with CPU/APU is okay. An APU is a small graphics capability, built inside a CPU.If you just want a great screen, they make OLED laptops now. Or you can go with one like mine, capable of 500 nits brightness and high resolution over 1600p. The Higher the resolution, the crisper your screen content will be.
Keep in mind, I haven't seen any OLED laptop with a good GPU yet. Mostly entertainment purposes. You will also need to consider the laptop screen size, such as having 4k resolution on a 14" laptop would be too small to see anything properly. I would get at least a 17" if you wanted 4k resolution. 13" would be good for 1080p and 14"-16" would be great for 1440p-1600p.Being a creator with lots of video editing projects or excel work, you want a nice screen to visualize on, CPU and lots of RAM. Medium weight to heaviest.
High CPU tech and high RAM count is needed 32gb+, GPU is less important but still also required for at least a mid-level tech. Most systems will have 16gb RAM and be fine, but creators will use 32gb and even go up to over 100gb+.Having a gaming machine and getting the highest fps in video games, usually requires at least 120-240hz monitor and will be heavy in weight.
High tech CPU, 16gb RAM is okay but 32gb is excellent if you like many tabs open. Best GPU tech on the current market, that you can afford for highest FPS in games, GPU is your power horse. You also want to keep in mind, that your GPU can run the monitor at its rated hertz. My laptop is 120hz at 1600p, my GPU is a 6700s for example. It does a decent job for entertainment but could use more juice on gaming. So, my primary function is entertainment and basic tasks with decent gaming.Lastly, you can have a smaller laptop to replace the need of a tablet. This is done on say a 13" laptop that comes with touch screen. You would then have a much faster and stronger performing tablet, with attached keyboard. Low weight.
As tablets have stupidly low specs overall, a small touch screen laptop would be a huge touch screen tech upgrade. This can be convenient for say out in the field for a job or a receptionist at a desk taking payments. I'm sure there are other uses out there, this would perform much better than a tablet in those use cases.
#2 ASUS ROG Zephyrus WQXGA 1600p 120Hz 14", 3.64 lbs, $950 w/tax
#1 Asus ROG Strix G15 AE 1440p 165Hz 15.6", 5.51 lbs, $1,099 B4/tax
Research, Price, Review
Asus ROG Strix G15 Advantage Edition 15.6", 5.51 lbs
Model# G513QY-SG15.R96800 See the build details from ASUS here. **note not exact model**
Serial# N2.. Manufactured 02/2022, newer model. Very Happy with this! (As older models have various issues)
("N" 2022, "M" 2021, "2" February, "8" August, "A" October, "B" November, "C" December)
My use case is Browsing, Gaming, Video Editing. 3 of the 4 categories I listed above.
Specs - What parts are inside the laptop.
165hz 15.6", 100% sRGB color, IPS monitor display.
1440p Resolution QHD
5980HX Ryzen 9 AMD Mobile CPU with Integrated Radeon Vega 8 Graphics, 8 Core/16 Thread (Max temp 105c) Spec Sheet
16gb DDR4 RAM 3200mhz (both sticks removeable, upgradable up to 64gb total)
6800M 12gb GDDR6 AMD Radeon RX Mobile GPU (115w-150w, powerful) Spec Sheet
WiFi 6 2x2 w/Bluetooth 5.2, Mediatek (Removeable/Upgradable)
Backlit keyboard with RGB color/IR sensor
4-Cell Battery (90 Whr) (Can be permitted to stop charging at 60% battery life through myAsus, in order to expand the lifespan of the battery, if always plugged in)
Windows 11 Home OS (64-bit)
512GB M.2 PCIe NVMe storage and x1 empty M.2 storage slot. (2 slots total with access to both, removable/upgradable)
Ports - What can we connect to it.
USB C 3.2 gen 2 (x1) (connects to GPU for external monitors to reach full bandwidth)
USB A 3.2 gen 1 (x3)Â
HDMI 2.0 (x1) (connects to APU for limited bandwidth)
Power Connection (x1)
Ethernet Connection (x1)
Dual Microphone/Headset Input (x1)
Cooling System - Can it cool itself down or not.
Vents are designed well for intake and exhaust.
Vapor chamber inside.
Liquid metal thermal compound for CPU+GPU chips. The best pre-purchase thermal solution.
Note: As with any laptop, a separate cooling pad or tilt stand raising the bottom to allow more air flow, will add even more cooling and ergonomic functionality.
Chassis - Quality of the laptop chassis/frame and parts.
Solid construction, no flimsy frame.
Touch pad is responsive and feels great.
Keyboard feels premium, RGB is a nice touch and layout is almost similar to a normal size keyboard.
Speakers on this really sound theater grade, exceptional quality and I would actually be really happy watching movies with these.
Screen is good, my model came with minimal light bleed in black screens and 1440p is true to its size.
Exchangeable cap on the body, Silver, Red, Clear. I put the silver on mine.
Body comes with RGB lighting effects along the laptop frame, as well as backlit keyboard and a dim light on the cover with the logo. Very Sleek RGB design.
Misc Notes - Things that I have noticed going into this deal & finding out when I used it
Does not come with a Number pad
Does not come with a MUX switch (Ability to turn off the iGPU, you can still set the 6800M as primary GPU for games)
Does not come with thunderbolt 4
HDMI port is connected to the iGPU (Integrated graphics on the CPU, May connect to external monitor but with limited bandwidth)
USB C port is connected to the GPU (Full bandwidth capable, however needs a USB C dongle to connect to external monitor)
Serial number determines your manufacture batch. I have an "N2", which was made in 2022 and fixed most known issues below. Earlier models started with "M".
Had to convert my PC to windows 11, so that I could transfer files between Win10. Apparently, this is not the case, should transfer files no problem between Windows versions 10 and 11. Going to test it now... Tested and confirmed, does not matter if Win11 or Win10 for file transferring with an external storage drive. Theoretically, I should now be able to transfer an M.2 drive to the laptop once the PC is converted to Win11. It may also not have mattered, I just feel better about making the PC Win11 and transferring the M.2 drive, since they will both be the same operating systems that way.
Known Issues from reviewers - Potential things you may have to troubleshoot or return if bad enough
WiFi card is of low quality and most reviews upgrade it. (No problems for me yet)
RAM is of low quality and most reviews upgrade it. (I do plan to upgrade to atleast 32gb RAM later)
Storage is low quantity, and most reviews add an additional M.2 drive. (TBD on if I will add more storage or not)
Panel lottery is in effect for any new monitor, most reviews are probably a Quality Control issue. (My panel looks great)
Random re-booting, which I have not encountered at all.
Would have been the perfect laptop if...
OLED or AMOLED or 16:10 ratio with 2560x1600 resolution, with 500 nits... similar to Lenovo Legion 7's screen, because that is probably the best non-OLED screen on the market right now and no burn-in worries.
32GB RAM
Better WiFi card
1Tb M.2 NVMe
Thunderbolt 4 port
Newer 6000 series CPU
MUX switch
Future Upgrades
64GB RAM Kit (2x32GB, it is currently 2x8) this would allow me to have more processes running in the background.
New WiFi card if trouble arises, so far no issues with internet speed or connection.
Adding another M.2 Drive for more storage, there is an empty slot available.
Optional Accessories
Keyboard protector - A layer of protection to prevent gunk/spills/dust from building up in between the keys. Note this may or may not hinder cooling.
Monitor screen protector - A layer of protection to help with glare if your screen is not already matte, also potentially blocks blue light. May have air bubbles if not perfect.
Laptop backpack/bag - A travel companion should have a nice protective case or backpack.
USB hub - Connecting this USB device into x1 USB port and being able to connect 1-4 USB devices to that hub, instead of using all the ports on the laptop itself.
USB C dongle to HDMI - For external monitor use.
Laptop Cooler - Heat is what wears down machinery, this would certainly help cool it down and potentially increase the laptops lifespan. Granted, you have a cooler that keeps it below the standard temps. If the laptop cooler does not decrease temps, it should be returned as it is ineffective. You should take a look at temps without a cooling pad and then take temps with one to make sure its working. Typically, an effective laptop cooler will lower temps -10 degrees Celsius or more.
Sleeve case - They have sleeve cases with designs to more personally design the look of your laptop, It may also offer protection from scratches. This is the portion of the laptop behind the monitor, essentially the top of your laptop when it is closed. I like the look of this laptop, unless I find a sleeve with a cutout of the nice ROG strix light logo on the back, I wouldn't even consider one. It may or may not also create heat build-up on the monitor itself, would have to research that.
Out of the box Setup
Charge the laptop
First boot to activate/setup windows.
Color test the monitor for dead/damaged pixels with a full color shown on the screen.
Armoury Crate is this laptop's command center. Updating this will prompt you to restart and begin updating the BIOS.
Manually Install GPU drivers from AMD here. Graphics > AMD Radeon RX 6000M Series > Same > AMD Radeon RX 6800M
Manually Install Chipset drivers from AMD here. Chipsets > Laptop Chipsets > AMD Ryzen & Athlon Mobile (Chipset)
Make sure you get full internet speeds by running a test here.
Download all your apps/programs to fully test your laptop.
Download your browser or keep Microsoft Edge as default. I kept Edge as default to save space from downloading Chrome.
I am currently in a dilemma where I want to exchange data between my Win10 PC and this laptop Win11. I thought that my files from Win10 would not be accepted on Win11 and that was wrong. I have an external drive to easily store files and transfer them between devices. Copying files from Win10 PC and plugging into this laptop with Win11 showed no problems in file transfers at all. About an hour of research concluded, when I should have just tried it haha! A problem that was not actually a problem. Regardless I changed this setting in the BIOS "AMD CPU fTPM" back to Enabled. Originally Disabled for a AMD Gpu to run S.A.M. .. Now that I am back with a 3070 Ti, I can turn this back on it made me eligible for Win11 afterwards. Note, It did take a day to register my PC as eligible though.
Next was actually setting up games. I was only getting 90-100 FPS in World of Warcraft with low settings. The max FPS this monitor supports is 165, so that was a very poor test run. Unfortunately, I had to lower the resolution to 1080p to get over 150+ FPS and low settings. Normally lowering the resolution creates black bars on the left and right sides of the screen. However, going into AMD software and enabling GPU Scaling fixes this issue. I now have a fully usable screen with 1080p and over 150+ FPS in World of Warcraft. UPDATE, I have since changed settings back to 1440p and lowered the rendering in-game. This seems to have the same effect as lowering resolution, without actually doing so. There is then open to increase UI Scale in-game and you can play with that if your UI is too small or too big. Further tweaking needs to be done to make even more optimal performance.
I had researched which browser used the least amount of RAM, many rumors said Microsoft Edge. I transferred all my 150+ bookmarks to microsoft edge and now use it as the laptops sole browser. The only issue it has is that it has no setting to open new links into a new tab. As someone who keeps 5+ tabs open everyday, this is inconvenient to open an entirely new window when clicking on links. A work around is holding SHIFT key when clicking on links, as that should just open a new tab.
I had an issue with the lock screen not saving correctly, after being set with my own pictures. I had activated Wallpaper Engine and forced the image onto my lockscreen. After deciding to change the lockscreen, it was ignoring or not registering other images anymore. I had to disable "forcing image of wallpaper engine" and deleted some files with a run.exe command. After about 20 minutes it re-registered the images I selected and started working normally again. When I upgrade my RAM to 32gb or 64gb, I may go back to using Wallpaper Engine. As of now, 16gb is low and I will save the memory by not using it.
Price - Get your dollars worth.
Inside the Box
Outer laptop sealed in plastic cover + anti-static cloth on screen inside.
Power brick and cable.
Misc flyers to read.
No manual found inside box. See here for manual guide from ASUS.
The left side came completely empty, lol. Nothing in there.
AMD Software Settings
Global Graphics
Global Graphics Advanced
Display Settings LEFT
Display Settings RIGHT
System Information
This laptop is now ready to use at leisure. Total time updating everything and troubleshooting was 2 days. I am just fine tuning the gaming settings here and there.
I will be keeping this laptop, unless I find a better deal elsewhere.