ASUS ROG Strix Hero Edition - This Gaming Laptop Runs Cool! 👌

Summary

In this review, Matthew Mona discusses the Asus ROG Strix Hero Edition, a budget gaming laptop priced at $1,175 with a GTX 1050 Ti GPU. He critiques the design, calling it bulky and heavy at 2.6 kg, while appreciating the RGB lighting on the logo. Performance-wise, it runs cool thanks to a solid cooling system, though fan noise is a drawback. The 15-inch 120Hz TN panel is decent for gaming but less ideal for color work. Mona highlights solid build quality but notes it scratches easily. He recommends the laptop for users prioritizing cool temperatures over design and fan noise.

Takeaways

• 💻 The ASUS ROG Strix Hero Edition is a budget gaming laptop priced at $1175, featuring a GTX 1050 Ti graphics card.
• 🎨 The design includes a two-tone finish with an RGB-lit ROG logo, but the reviewer prefers a more uniform design.
• ⚖️ The laptop weighs 2.6 kg (5.7 lbs), making it heavier than most competitors in its price range.
• 🔌 The port selection includes power, RJ45, mini DisplayPort, HDMI, four USB 3.0 ports, and a USB Type-C that doesn't support Thunderbolt 3.
• 🔧 The laptop offers easy upgrade options, with a 5400 RPM hard drive and a 128GB m2 SSD, both of which can be replaced.
• 🔋 Battery life is around 4 to 4.5 hours, which is standard for a gaming laptop but not enough for full-day usage.
• 🖥️ The 15-inch 1080p display has a 120Hz refresh rate but is a TN panel, resulting in color shifting depending on viewing angles.
• 🔊 The sound quality is decent, with strong low and mid-range performance, but the highs could be clearer.
• 🎮 Performance-wise, the i7 CPU, 16GB of RAM, and GTX 1050 Ti handle most games well, maintaining cool temperatures even during long sessions.
• 📢 The major downside is the loud fan noise (61 decibels) and potential coil whine, which can be bothersome for some users.

Q & A

What is the model and price of the laptop being reviewed?

The laptop being reviewed is the ASUS ROG Strix Hero Edition, and it retails for $1,175.

What GPU does the ASUS ROG Strix Hero Edition have?

The ASUS ROG Strix Hero Edition comes with a GTX 1050 Ti GPU.

How does the reviewer feel about the laptop's design?

The reviewer is not a big fan of the laptop's design. While it's not terrible, the two-tone finish and different patterns are not to their liking. They wish the design had one consistent pattern.

How much does the ASUS ROG Strix Hero Edition weigh, and how does that compare to other laptops?

The laptop weighs 2.6 kilograms or 5.7 pounds, which is on the heavier side compared to other laptops in the same price range. It is comparable to the Helios 300 but heavier than options like the Lenovo Y530, Y730, and the Omen 15.

What ports and connectivity options does the laptop offer?

The ASUS ROG Strix Hero Edition has a barrel connector for power, an RJ45 port, a mini DisplayPort, a full-sized HDMI port, four USB 3.0 ports, a USB Type-C port (non-Thunderbolt 3), an SD card slot, and an audio input jack.

How easy is it to upgrade the storage and RAM in this laptop?

Upgrading the laptop is fairly easy. It has a 2.5-inch 5400 RPM hard drive that can be swapped for an SSD, and an M.2 SSD (128 GB) that can also be upgraded. The RAM can be expanded up to 32 GB.

What is the battery life of the ASUS ROG Strix Hero Edition?

The laptop has a 64-watt-hour battery, providing about 4 to 4.5 hours of usage before needing a recharge. It can last through a couple of classes but not an entire day.

What type of display does the laptop have, and how is its performance?

The laptop has a 15-inch, 1080p, 120Hz TN panel. While not an IPS panel, it offers good color accuracy for a TN display, though it suffers from some color shifting at different viewing angles, making it less ideal for color-sensitive work.

How does the reviewer rate the keyboard and typing experience?

The keyboard is full-sized with a numeric keypad, but the reviewer finds the arrow key placement awkward. Typing feels a bit mushy due to keyboard flex, although the keys themselves have good actuation. The RGB lighting with Aura Sync is a plus.

How does the laptop handle performance and cooling?

The laptop performs well for its price, running games like Overwatch and Fortnite at high settings smoothly. It has an efficient cooling system with three heat pipes and fans placed on opposite sides of the CPU and GPU, keeping temperatures between 70-75°C even during extended gaming sessions.

Outlines

00:00

💻 First Impressions and Design Overview

Matthew Mona introduces the Asuza ROG Strix Hero Edition, a budget gaming laptop priced at $1175, featuring a GTX 1050 Ti graphics card. He shares his mixed first impressions, describing the two-tone design as not his favorite but better than the typical black-and-red gaming laptops. The laptop weighs 2.6 kg (5.7 lbs), making it heavier compared to other options like the Y530 and Omen 15. The port selection includes power, RJ45, mini DisplayPort, HDMI, USB 3.0, and USB Type-C. The absence of Thunderbolt 3 is a drawback. The laptop's internals are easily accessible, allowing upgrades for storage and RAM.

05:01

🖥️ Display, Keyboard, and Audio Quality

The laptop features a 15-inch 1080p display with a 120Hz refresh rate but uses a TN panel instead of the more common IPS at this price range. Despite some color shifting typical of TN panels, it offers good color accuracy for gaming. The thick bezels around the screen house a 720p webcam that Matthew humorously calls a 'potato camera.' Sound quality is decent, with two speakers providing loud output and good mid-range and bass, though the highs could be better. The full-size keyboard includes a numeric keypad, but the typing experience is slightly mushy due to keyboard flex. The touchpad is accurate and responsive, supporting Windows Precision drivers.

Keywords

💡Asus ROG Strix Hero Edition

This is the gaming laptop being reviewed in the video. The Asus ROG Strix Hero Edition is positioned as a budget gaming laptop priced at $1175. The review focuses on its design, performance, and features, evaluating its strengths and weaknesses for gaming and general use.

💡GTX 1050 Ti

The GTX 1050 Ti is the graphics card featured in the Asus ROG Strix Hero Edition laptop. It's a mid-range GPU that offers decent performance for gaming at medium settings. In the video, it's highlighted as a key selling point for the laptop, allowing the user to play games like Overwatch and Fortnite with good frame rates.

💡TN panel

TN (Twisted Nematic) panel refers to the type of display technology used in the laptop. TN panels are known for fast response times but often suffer from poor color accuracy and viewing angles. The video mentions that the 15-inch 1080p TN panel on this laptop offers a 120Hz refresh rate, but it also exhibits color shifting, making it less ideal for creative work but fine for gaming.

💡RGB lighting

The Asus ROG Strix Hero Edition features RGB lighting, which allows users to customize the colors of the lights on the laptop. This is controlled via Aura Sync software, giving users the ability to personalize their laptop's look. The video emphasizes this feature as a unique aspect of this budget laptop, appealing to gamers who enjoy visual customization.

💡Heat management

Heat management refers to the system's ability to regulate its internal temperature. The Asus ROG Strix Hero Edition uses a three-pipe cooling solution, with fans on opposite sides of the CPU and GPU, which the reviewer notes helps keep the laptop cool even during long gaming sessions. This is a standout feature of the laptop, as it never surpasses 70-75°C even during intense gaming.

💡Fan noise

Fan noise is an important consideration for gaming laptops, especially during high-performance tasks. In the video, the reviewer points out that while the Asus ROG Strix Hero Edition has effective cooling, the fans can become very loud, reaching 61 decibels, which is louder than most comparable laptops. The reviewer also mentions an idle noise that could bother users who are sensitive to sound.

💡Ports

The Asus ROG Strix Hero Edition is equipped with various ports, including USB 3.0, a USB Type-C, HDMI, mini DisplayPort, and an SD card slot. However, the USB Type-C port is not Thunderbolt 3 compatible, meaning users can't connect higher-end peripherals, which limits the laptop's upgrade potential. This is a notable drawback mentioned in the video.

💡Battery life

The laptop's battery life is 64 watt-hours, providing around 4 to 4.5 hours of usage on a single charge. This is typical for gaming laptops, which prioritize performance over extended battery life. In the video, the reviewer mentions that the battery life may not last through a full day, but it should suffice for shorter gaming sessions or classes.

💡Build quality

The build quality of the Asus ROG Strix Hero Edition is described as solid but prone to scratches, especially on the plastic parts. The reviewer notes that while the laptop is heavier than some of its competitors, its durability is average. The plastic finish and the two-tone design are mentioned as points of critique, making the laptop look less premium compared to others in the same price range.

💡Keyboard and touchpad

The keyboard on this laptop is full-sized, with a numeric keypad and RGB lighting, but the reviewer criticizes the mushy feel due to keyboard flex. The arrow key placement is also mentioned as a minor inconvenience. The touchpad, however, is praised for its size and accuracy, as it uses Windows Precision drivers, ensuring smooth navigation.

Highlights

The ASUS ROG Strix Hero Edition is a budget gaming laptop priced at $1175, featuring a GTX 1050 Ti GPU.

The design includes a two-tone finish with a glowing ROG logo, but the reviewer wishes it had a more consistent pattern.

The laptop weighs 2.6 kg (5.7 lbs), making it one of the heavier options compared to others like the Y530 and Omen 15.

Ports include an RJ45, mini DisplayPort, full-sized HDMI, and four USB 3.0 ports, along with a USB Type-C that is not Thunderbolt 3 compatible.

The laptop features a 2.5-inch 5400 RPM hard drive and an M.2 128GB SSD, both of which are upgradeable.

There are two RAM slots, with the laptop coming with 16GB but expandable up to 32GB.

The 64-watt-hour battery lasts around 4 to 4.5 hours, making it suitable for short gaming sessions or classes.

The display is 15 inches, 1080p with a 120Hz refresh rate, but uses a TN panel, which has color shifting and is not ideal for creative work.

The webcam is a 720p, 0.9-megapixel camera that the reviewer describes as poor, making them look 'ten times uglier.'

The speakers are loud with decent low-end and mid-range, but the highs could be crispier.

The keyboard includes a numeric keypad, but the placement of the arrow keys is awkward, and the typing experience feels mushy due to keyboard flex.

The laptop includes RGB lighting with Aura Sync, allowing users to customize different lighting zones.

Powered by an Intel i7-7580H processor and GTX 1050 Ti, the laptop performs well in games like Overwatch and Fortnite at high settings, but PUBG requires medium settings.

The cooling solution with three heat pipes and fans on opposite sides keeps the laptop under 70-75°C during gaming sessions.

The major drawback is the fan noise, which reaches 61 decibels under load and even has a noticeable noise or coil whine when idle.

Transcripts

what's going on guys Matthew Mona's here

and right in front of me I have the

Asuza ROG Strix hero Edition this is a

budget gaming laptop that retails for

1175 it comes packed with the GTX 1050

Ti

now based on my first impressions the

design of the laptop is not my favorite

it's not terrible like your typical

black and red gaming laptop but it has

this two-tone finish where I kind of

wish it was just one type of pattern so

on the top you have these lines going

back and forth and then on the other

side you have this kind of pattern with

the ROG logo in the middle now the ROG

logo does light up it has RGB inside so

it does flash red when the laptop is on

and the bottom is also made out of

plastic now to all the laptops I

reviewed this here especially at this

price point this is one of the more

heavier ones this one weighs about 2.6

kilograms or 5.7 pounds so to give you

guys some context it's about the same

weight as the Helios 300 but there's

much lighter options available like the

Y 530 the Y 730 The Omen 15 pretty much

every other laptop well almost every

other laptop besides that on the left

hand side we have a barrel connector for

your power we have an rj45 port you have

your mini DisplayPort full-sized HDMI

and two USB 3.0 ports and of course your

audio in Jack on the right-hand side you

have your noble Lock you also have two

more USB 3.0 ports and of course your

USB type-c before I talk about the USB

type-c there's also a SD card slot just

below here so if you're a creative

professional or if someone has a camera

you can easily insert it into that slot

now the USB type-c port is not

Thunderbolt 3 so if down the road if you

want to hook this up to something a

little bit more powerful you can't do it

with this laptop getting inside is super

easy on the bottom portion of the lid

you have your 2.5 inch hard drive this

one is 5400 rpm so if you want you can

swap it out for a regular SSD if you

want something faster the other drive

it's an m2 SSD this one's 128 gigs and

just like the other one you can also

swap it out if you want a faster nvme

Drive you have two slots for your RAM

this one has 16 gigabytes but it can be

expanded up to 32 the battery life 64

watt hours so this can

me about four to four and a half hours

of use before needing to charge so it's

not gonna get you through the entire day

this is a gaming laptop but it can get

you through a couple of classes before

needing to plug in heat management I'll

talk about that later but it is using

three heat pipes which I like and of

course the fans are on opposite sides of

both the CPU and GPU which is also good

now the display is kind of interesting

it's 15 inches it's 1080p it's a hundred

and twenty Hertz which is great but it's

a TN panel most of the laptops we're

seeing at this price point today is IPS

now it's not a terrible TN panel you're

not gonna be disappointed with it but it

does provide some color shifting

depending on what angle you're looking

at this is very typical for TN panels

but it's not as bad as back in the day

where it was atrocious to look at color

accuracy on this is actually quite

exceptional for a TN panel but it is

very contrast II and because you get

that shifting I wouldn't rely on this

for color work but if you're just gaming

on this you're just streaming the the

panel on this is absolutely fine now

around that display we do have pretty

thick bezels but on top of that you get

a sexy point nine megapixel 720p potato

camera this is what I look on it this is

how it sounds and quite frankly I'm an

ugly guy now I'm ten times uglier for

sound it's coming out of two speakers on

the bottom of the laptop it actually

gets quite loud no problem filling up a

medium sized room doesn't distort it max

volume it has good low-end and mid-range

but the highs could be slightly crispier

the keyboard is full-size so you do get

that sexy numeric keypad the only thing

I don't like is the placement of the

arrow keys typing it's a bit mushy and

that's not because the keys themselves

are mushy they actually have pretty good

actuation it's just the keyboard flex

makes the typing experience mushy it's

not the worst experience I've had I give

that to the msi GF 63 for this year but

it comes in a close second RGB lighting

the aura sync so you can change the

different zones to whatever color you

want most other laptops at this price

point don't have RGB lighting so if

that's something that interest to you

this one has it touch pad it does use

Windows precision drivers I do like the

size of it and it's fairly accurate I

have no complaints there so let's talk

performance and this unit comes with an

i7 a 758 16 gigabytes of RAM and the GTX

1050

TI i mean for the price that's pretty

much what you're gonna get you can find

a gtx 1060 as well if you're lucky maybe

the Helios 300 but for what this does

it's actually pretty good in fact out of

all the laptops that I tested this year

or at least most of them this one ran

very cool and I'm talking about never

surpassing 70 to 75 degrees Celsius

even when I was gaming for like two

hours straight the three pipe solution

in here with the fans on opposite ends

really plays a big role along with a

pretty thick chassis at keeping this

thing cool overwatch I could play on

high settings with really good frame

rates I was able to play for tonight at

high settings with really great frame

rates pop G I had to drop it down from

high settings to medium settings but it

also did a very good job on this laptop

now the only major complaint I have

about this laptop is the fan noise this

gets really loud when the fans are on

max I'm talking about 61 decibels that's

louder than most of the other laptops

that are reviewed over the last 6 months

they usually top out between 55 to 58

decibels and also there's this little

fan noise or it could be coil line when

the laptop is idle is very very annoying

so if you're very picky about sound

you're not gonna like that noise you

know what here have a listen so here my

closing thoughts the asou Strix hero

Edition does one thing very well and it

does a good job of keeping cool I don't

think it's the best laptop for the price

I don't like the TN panel it's not my

favorite thing the build quality is

pretty good but as you can see here it

scratches very easily the one thing that

does well is still a management and if

you're all about longevity and you want

your laptop to run cool you can't go

wrong with this one right here so I want

to hear your thoughts what do you guys

think of this laptop let me know in the

comments below if you have any questions

hit me up on discord behind the scenes

on Instagram subscribed if you loved the

video like it if you liked it and I'll

see you guys in the next one

[Music]