An LED Light Show: Asus ROG Strix G GL731GU Laptop Review

[Redaktion]

Asus' latest upper mid-range gaming laptop is big on performance and visual flare, but it misses the mark when it comes to serviceability. The unique LED lights shouldn't come at the expense of features that users would have otherwise had.

https://www.notebookcheck.net/An-LED-Light-Show-Asus-ROG-Strix-G-GL731GU-Laptop-Review.427419.0.html

[Rob C]

I just picked up the G731GU a couple of weeks ago in part based on this review. I have the 1660Ti version that came standard with 2x8GB RAM, a 17" 144HZ screen and a 500GB M2 SSD.

A couple of things I noted that differ from the review:

- It comes with an M2 SSD. Given it has a spot for a 2.5" standard SSD, I automatically assumed that would be the hard drive type. This is a nice feature given this type of SSD tends to be faster than the normal SSD. Also a free slot if you need to add a mechanical drive in the unit for extra storage.

- It does come with 2x8GB DDR4 2666 RAM included with abysmal stock timings. They were bog slow CL19. Prior reviews I read on some of the Asus laptops indicated the 16 GB units came with a single stick of 16GB of RAM which obviously would be an issue because it would be running single channel and would be a bugger to get an exact match (which is important, if the EPROM settings are off on the RAM, it could cause issues, never mix and match). I picked up a set of 2x16GB Kingston Hyper X RAM that have much faster stock timings and now the laptop is blazing fast.

- All the USB ports being on the left is actually kind of brilliant. If you are using a laptop tray (which I do), mine has a built in mouse pad on the right which I use with a wireless mouse. If there is anything to plug in, it would interfere with the use of the mouse.

- Regarding the finicky light strip mentioned above when servicing the unit, it really isn't an issue at all unless you are doing something major. When I opened the unit (keep track of your screws as some are different lengths...) I was able to easily get at the RAM slots without even bothering to disconnect the ribbons. The 2.5" drive bay is flush against the edge of the unit and would have been even easier to install.

The M2 drive is a bit farther in but rotating the device and you can access it easily. It's a bit fiddly holding it up (I propped it up) but literally anything that you would change can be accessed without even bothering to take the ribbons off.

The only things I don't like is you can't disable the LED ribbon around the base separate from the keyboard (and I might open it back up and actually disconnect those ribbon cables...). The lights look nice enough but they are a bit of a gimmick. Also the keyboard backlighting looks great but it doesn't get incredibly bright, a minor thing.

Otherwise a great laptop. The power brick and powercords are massive and the laptop itself weighs a ton but that is to be expected.

The keyboard has the best typing experience of any laptop I've used (And I have owned Macs; Razor's etc).

Great device for the price.

[OlegYch]

Oh boy, i'm trying to replace my now deceased Acer 792g and was scared when i read about unfriendly  servicability of this one.
Let me tell you that this single cable is nothing compared to acers monstrocity - it has three of those, and you have to remove motherboard and display to access ram and m2 slots.

[Jemmie Reynolds]

I bought this system at Best Buy. Loved it until I realized it does not have a camera. I was completely shocked. Really? A gaming system without a camera? What were they thinking? I'll never make this mistake again. I assumed ... won't happen again. Now I am stuck at home in quarantine and won't have a camera for a good long while because nothing is shipping out any time soon per the pandemic. If you want a camera, this is not a good system. Kicking myself for not noticing.