The ROG Strix G brings gaming fundamentals to affordable laptops

While the Zephyrus family dominates the ultra-slim segment, and the ROG Mothership and G703 have desktop replacements on lock, our latest Strix series represents the evolution of traditional gaming laptops. The Strix SCAR III and Hero III target esports professionals and serious players with bigger budgets, setting up the new ROG Strix G for the plum role of best pick for your pocketbook.

Available in different sizes with refresh rates up to 144Hz, the 15.6” Strix G G531 and 17.3” Strix G G731 wrap key elements of a great gaming laptop in carefully designed chassis filled with our latest Intelligent Cooling technology. Up to an Intel Core i7-9750H and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 hum under the hood to deliver smooth performance in a wide range of games. We didn’t skimp on the details, either. You still get a comfortable keyboard tuned for gaming, stronger Wi-Fi via ROG RangeBoost, and easy personalization with Aura Sync RGB lighting.

Taking a leaf out of the luxury playbook

Lots of people use the same computer for work and play, so we set out to create one that serves both worlds. Inspired by our collaboration with BMW Designworks Group to imagine the future of gaming laptops, the Strix G mixes elements of the classic ROG aesthetic with a stealthy vibe that’s stylish enough for any setting. Its understated design melds form and function for a low-key, almost professional feel that still catches your eye.

Raised and carefully sculpted ridges on the laptop’s spine draw attention to the extra vents atop the rear exhausts. They rake across the back and down the right side, adding dramatic flair reminiscent of the gills on the Face Off concept produced by the collaborative project. Silky, scissor-door hinges are shifted forward to make more room for the extra ventilation at the back. They disappear into the laptop’s frame when closed, reducing exposure that can lead to cracking.

A brushed finish cuts diagonally across the lid with fine lines that flow toward the edges at contrasting angles. The unique pattern accentuates an asymmetrical cut-out between the hinges that allows unrestricted airflow around the additional vents. This offset element channels a design feature explored during brainstorming workshops for the concept project.

Lifting the lid reveals similar styling echoed across the keyboard and palm rests. The refined look makes a statement without being too flashy, but it wouldn’t be ROG without RGB, so we augmented the lighting to let more personality shine through. If you want to fly your colors as you ride into battle, an optional light bar wraps around the front and side edges of the machine, casting a gentle glow onto your desk. More LEDs illuminate the keyboard to improve visibility for late-night play, and the all-important WASD keys have transparent caps to immediately distinguish them from the rest.

Rolling with RTX and high refresh

Ultimately it’s what’s on the inside that counts, especially when you’re on a budget. The GPU is the most important component for gaming performance, so the Strix G is available with the latest NVIDIA GeForce RTX graphics. Based on the new Turing architecture, these discrete GPUs blend CUDA, RT, and Tensor cores that allow developers to combine programmable shading, ray tracing, and artificial intelligence in real time.

Select games are already leveraging RTX hardware for more realistic lighting, reflections, and shadows. Titles with conventional effects can also benefit from optimizations to Turing’s CUDA cores, which offer improved performance with more traditional rendering. The top Strix G configuration features GeForce RTX 2070 graphics with ROG Boost up to 1440MHz at 115W in Turbo mode, surpassing the spec and performance of many laptops based on the same GPU.

ROG Boost provides an extra kick that helps you play your favorite games at higher frame rates, but even if the GPU pumps out more than 60 FPS, you won’t see all of those frames unless the panel can keep up. The Strix G offers display options with refresh rates up to 144Hz, which is fast enough for frame rates into the triple digits. Whether you're playing casually or competitively, you can experience smoother gameplay that improves input response and makes it easier to track moving targets in the thickest action.

To keep focus on what’s in front of you, the display is surrounded by super-narrow bezels that melt into the background for deeper immersion. Shrinking the frame also reduces the footprint of the chassis as a whole. The 15.6” Strix G G531 offers a more compact body for easier portability, while the 17.3” Strix G G731 lets you lose yourself in a larger panel.

Work it out

The Strix G’s gaming prowess is balanced by serious brains with up to a 9th Gen Intel Core i7-9750H processor. This new CPU can reach Turbo speeds up to an impressive 4GHz, ensuring excellent performance with most games and applications. It also boasts six cores with the ability to execute 12 parallel threads via Hyper-Threading, which expands your options for heavy duty work.

Not that long ago, you had to choose between gaming and streaming, or between rendering a 3D project and working on a paper. Intel’s latest chips are primed for multitaskers with diverse and demanding workloads, though. Paired with up to 32GB of dual-channel memory, they make the Strix G well-equipped for power users who want to do more with their machines.

Dual drive bays let you enjoy the best of both worlds even if your budget is modest. The M.2 slot can be configured with an NVMe SSD that loads games in a snap and ensures the system stays responsive even under heavy loads. There’s also a 2.5” bay with options for a standard 1TB hard drive or an SSHD with an integrated, flash-based cache that accelerates access to frequently used data.

Heart of cold

Laptops can struggle to hold high clock speeds with sustained workloads. Their cooling systems can easily clog with dust over time, which compromises efficiency and makes faster frequencies even more difficult to maintain. ROG’s Intelligent Cooling philosophy helps the Strix G avoid these issues by mixing the right hardware and software for the system configuration and scenario at hand.

The 3D Flow Zone at the rear increases airflow through 181 individual perforations in the 15” G531 and 236 holes in the 17” G731. Thermals are dissipated by up to three heatsinks with 189 fins; the exact numbers vary depending on the GPU configuration, though all the fins are only 0.1mm thick. Their ultra-thin profile allows for a higher fin density and total surface area of the heatsinks while also lowering the air resistance through the them.

With 83 blades each, the Strix G features our densest n-Blade fans yet. Liquid-crystal-polymer blades are 33% thinner than regular designs, which allows us to increase airflow by fitting more blades onto each fan without sacrificing the strength required to spin at high RPMs. The intakes are carefully shaped with curved edges and raised guides to pull in more air into the blades, and each fan housing incorporates an anti-dust tunnel that catches particles and channels them out the back. This self-cleaning design helps keep dust and other debris from clogging the heatsinks and fans, leading to higher cooling efficiency and more consistent performance over time.

Underneath the keyboard sits an extended heat spreader with up to five heat pipes depending on the GPU config. The most robust version absorbs and distributes heat from the CPU, GPU, and VRM supplying them with power. Carefully-placed vents in the CoolZone keyboard ensure enough airflow around the WASD keys to reduce surface temperatures by 2° Celsius compared to the previous generation.

The carefully configured cooling hardware is aided by smart software that optimizes settings for the scenario. Cooling and performance requirements vary based on what you’re doing, so we offer multiple modes tuned for different needs. Silent mode minimizes acoustics for less demanding tasks like light work and entertainment, while Balanced mode strikes a balance between system speed and fan noise that’s ideal for gaming. When you need to squeeze every ounce of performance out of the machine, Turbo mode opens the taps and turns up the fans to help maintain higher speeds.

You can shift between operating modes on demand with a simple keyboard shortcut. ROG Armoury Crate software also includes Scenario Profiles that can be configured to automatically switch modes and adjust other system settings based on the active application, so you’re always in the right mode for the moment.

Make every keystroke count

The Strix G’s keyboard has a familiar desktop-style layout that helps you feel right at home no matter where you are. Dedicated hotkeys provide convenient access to volume controls and microphone mute, while strategic spacing between the function keys makes common shortcuts faster to find. Highlighted WASD keys identify crucial controls, offset directional keys speed up navigation, and the extended space bar is easier to hit with your thumb. The 17.3" versions have a dedicated numpad to the right of the keyboard, while the 15.6" models integrate one into the touchpad that lights up when you tap Num Lock.

ROG Overstroke technology raises each key’s actuation point to halfway through its travel, which means presses register a little faster than on common keyboards that only trigger when they’re depressed three quarters of the way down. N-key rollover ensures simultaneous presses register accurately, and the keys are built to withstand over 20 million presses, so even regular gamers can count on the keyboard’s durability over time.

While we worked hard to craft a subtle style that doesn’t look out of place at work or school, the Strix G can still light ‘em up when needed. Aura Sync RGB lighting is available across up to four distinct zones in the keyboard, and it can be coordinated to match the optional light bar beneath the chassis as well as compatible peripherals for a consistent look across your entire setup.

Strong signals and creature comforts

Reliable connectivity is a must when you’re away from the comfort and stability of your home network. Losing your connection in the middle of an important match or when there’s urgent work to deliver can mean the difference between winning and losing, or pass and fail. The Strix G uses ROG RangeBoost to ensure your connection stays strong; it evaluates the signal strength of four internal antennas and selects the best ones to use depending on your environment. This smart antenna switching can extend wireless range by up to 30% to keep you online longer. When you’re not on the move, you can switch from the Intel® 802.11ac (2x2) Gigabit Wi-Fi to wired Gigabit Ethernet with lower latency for serious multiplayer gaming and other activities that are sensitive to network performance.

If you’re hard-wired in at home, you may was well connect an external monitor. Models with GeForce RTX graphics offer DisplayPort over USB Type-C, so you can multitask more efficiently on a multi-screen setup. Gaming on a bigger screen is easy via the HDMI 2.0b output, which is good for resolutions up to 4K UHD at 60Hz.

There are three USB Type-A ports for connecting your favorite mouse, gamepad, and external storage. The audio combo jack lets you pump up the volume without disturbing those around you, and surround sound virtualization adds positional cues to give you an edge when you’re gunning to be the last man standing.

When you’re home alone and able to let loose, the Strix G's dual speakers pump out plenty of volume. Smart Amp tech monitors and adjusts audio output in real time to ensure the speakers stay within their thermal and excursion limits. This cuts down on distortion at higher volume and improves dynamic range and bass response.

	ROG Strix G G531	ROG Strix G G731
Processor	Intel Core i9-9880H Intel Core i7-9750H Intel Core i5-9300H	Intel Core i7-9750H ​Intel Core i5-9300H
Display	15.6" FHD 60Hz/120Hz vIPS display, anti-glare 15.6" FHD 144Hz, 3ms IPS display, anti-glare	17.3" FHD 60Hz vIPS display, anti-glare 17.3" FHD 144Hz, 3ms IPS display, anti-glare
Graphics	NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 GDDR6 4GB NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 GDDR6 4GB NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti GDDR6 6GB NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 GDDR6 6GB NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 GDDR6 8GB	NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 GDDR6 4GB NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti GDDR6 6GB NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 GDDR6 6GB NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 GDDR6 8GB
Memory	Up to 32GB DDR4 2666MHz	Up to 32GB DDR4 2666MHz
Storage	128GB/512GB/256GB M.2 NVMe PCIe SSD 1TB 5400RPM 2.5" SATA SSHD (Firecuda) 1TB 5400RPM 2.5" SATA HDD	256GB/512GB/1TB M.2 NVMe PCIe SSD 1TB 5400RPM 2.5" SATA SSHD (Firecuda) 1TB 5400RPM 2.5" SATA HDD
Wireless	Intel 9560 2x2 802.11ac Wave 2 Gigabit WiFi Bluetooth 5.0	Intel 9560 2x2 802.11ac Wave 2 Gigabit WiFi Bluetooth 5.0
Connectivity	3 x USB 3.1 Gen 1 Type A 1 x HDMI 2.0 1 x 3.5 mm audio combo jack	1 x USB 3.1 Gen 2 Type C with DisplayPort 1.4 3 x USB 3.1 Gen 1 Type A 1 x HDMI 2.0b 1 x 3.5 mm audio combo jack
Keyboard	RGB-backlit chiclet keyboard with highlighted WASD keys, 2 mm travel distance, N-key rollover, and Overstroke	RGB-backlit chiclet keyboard with highlighted WASD keys, 2 mm travel distance, N-key rollover, and Overstroke
Audio	2 x 3.5W with smart amplifier	2 x 4W with smart amplifier
Battery	48Wh 3-cell Lithium-ion 66Wh 4-cell Lithium-ion	66Wh 4-cell Lithium-ion 48Whrs 3-cell Lithium-ion
AC Adapter	150W AC Adapter 230W AC Adapter 280W AC Adapter (Core i9 model)	150W AC Adapter 230W AC Adapter
OS	Windows 10	Windows 10
Size	14.2 (W) x 10.8 (D) x 1.02 (H) inch	15.7 (W) x 11.5 (D) x 1.02 (H) inch
Weight	2.4 kg	2.9 kg

Primed to perform

Among professional-grade gaming laptops that spare no expense and have price tags to match, the ROG Strix G stands out for its restraint. It packs a punch without going overboard, focusing on fundamental features and performance to provide a great gaming experience to a broader range of budgets. GeForce graphics and 9th Gen Intel Core CPUs deliver the speed you need, while conveniences like RangeBoost Wi-Fi and a comfortable keyboard keep you on top of your game. The ROG Strix G will be available in May 2019 starting at $999 USD. Contact your local ROG representative for more information on configurations, pricing, and availability in your region.

By Joseph Kincaid