ROG Strix G15/G17 Advantage: Gaming notebooks with AMD technology

Asus’ gaming division ROG presents two new notebook highlights that are quite different from the competition. The ROG Strix G15 and the G17 Advantage are supposed to be fully equipped with AMD hardware. In addition to the Ryzen 9 5900HX, a Radeon RX 6800M is installed. The goal that the self-proclaimed Republic of Gamers has linked to this sounds quite ambitious. A stronger graphics power than competing gaming notebooks is to be offered.

Nvidia is to be beaten

Asus ROG’s move is really a bold one. While AMD has been at least on par with Intel’s competition in the processor sector for quite some time, things look completely different when it comes to graphics cards. Nvidia is still the blocking leader with its GeForce series when it comes to GPUs in desktop PCs or gaming notebooks. AMD has already tried to put a suitable competitor GPU in front of Nvidia with the Radeon RX 5000M. However, this step failed miserably.

Today, we only find the graphics card in exotic models like the MacBook Pro. The Radeon RX 6000M is supposed to change everything. It is supposed to prove that the powerful AMD CPUs of the Ryzen family can not only work brilliantly with Nvidia graphics cards. Instead, the combination of dual AMD hardware with CPU and GPU is supposed to enable maximum performance in the system.

Saturated basic equipment

Asus seems to have quite a bit planned with the ROG Strix G15 and G17 Advantage Edition. After all, this is a real first in the gaming notebook sector. No other manufacturer has managed to launch a notebook with AMD features in the CPU and GPU segment that meets AMD’s challenging Advantage program. The hardware features of both notebooks should be independent of whether you choose the model with a 15.6 inch screen diagonal or the big 17 incher. Since we are “only” supposed to enjoy the smaller model in Germany for now, we do not have to fear any performance deficits. Even in the basic configuration, the new gaming behemoths from Asus sound quite competitive.

A powerful Ryzen 9 5900HX is said to be joined by the brand new Radeon RX 6800M. This is nothing less than AMD’s upcoming flagship when it comes to GPU technology. The VRAM alone, which AMD estimates at 12 GB, sounds promising. The mobile RDNA-2 graphics card is supposed to offer 40 CUs and a game clock rate of 2.3 GHz on top of that. Of course, you can also make adjustments to the features. This mainly concerns the memory. You can choose up to 32 GB of RAM and up to 1 TB of storage in the form of an SSD. There is also freedom of choice for the display. Besides a Full HD display with a refresh rate of 300 Hz, you can also opt for a display with a slightly higher WQHD resolution and 165 Hz.

Modern cooling technology

In order for the processor and graphics card to achieve peak performance, Asus relies on modern cooling technology. In particular, liquid metal is to be used here for the CPU and GPU. Compared to classic thermal paste, this is supposed to offer much better protection against overheating. In addition to the liquid metal, a vapor chamber with (according to the manufacturer) “gigantic dimensions” is supposed to cool the hardware. A total of 168 propeller blades, which are equally divided between two fans, are supposed to reliably remove the excess heat. Thanks to this cooling technology, not only the computing and graphics power should keep a cool head. Asus itself also calls the keyboard of both gaming notebooks a “CoolZone”. It should not get hotter than 40 °C.

Fruitful partnership in design as well

Asus is visibly proud of its partnership with AMD and literally writes this on its banner. Thus, the Taiwanese emphasize the cooperation with a few fancy accents on the case of the gaming notebooks. In addition to the prominent ROG logo on the top, there is also a small AMD logo in the form of a small lettering on the case of the devices.

Speaking of the case design. It comes in a noble matte black and is thus pleasantly inconspicuous.  However, that ends at the latest when you turn the devices on. A lot of RGB effects in the lid, the front and the keyboard provide real eye-catchers here.

Nothing for video conferencing

Those who justify the purchase of an expensive gaming notebook with its multi-purpose should have one less argument with the two new ROG machines. After all, ROG had to forgo the installation of a webcam without further ado due to a simple lack of space. In times of increasingly popular video conferencing, this is a brave but consistent step. After all, these are pure gaming machines. Otherwise, there is the usual variety of connections. The integrated battery is supposed to allow a runtime of up to 11:40 hours with its 90 watt hours. However, this value only applies to video playback. Asus does not yet tell us how it looks in gaming.