Asus ROG Strix SCAR 16 Review (2023): Powerful 16-inch Laptop with RTX 4080

Boasting a robust Intel 13th Gen Raptor Lake CPU and NVIDIA RTX 4080 GPU, the Asus ROG Strix SCAR 16 2023 is a gaming laptop that packs a punch. Our ROG Strix SCAR 16 review unit comes with an Intel Core i9-13980HX processor and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 graphics card, making it the most potent 16-inch gaming laptop currently available. With such impressive hardware, it’s no doubt that the gaming experience will be taken to new heights on this laptop. In this review, we’ll dive deeper to see just how exceptional this laptop truly is.

Asus ROG Strix SCAR 16 Review (2023)

Design

The Asus ROG Strix SCAR 16 2023 boasts a refined appearance with striking gaming aesthetics. However, in contrast to its previous iteration, this year’s Strix SCAR version features a more subdued exterior design. The rear of the device flaunts a visually arresting LED strip that showcases seamless and elegant color transitions. Despite the minimalistic design, the ROG logo on the back and the LED arrays encircling the chassis remain prominent features. The heat dissipation system slots are strategically placed along the edges and back of the laptop.

Regarding the finishing materials, the rear portion of the laptop is constructed from a sturdy aluminum alloy while the remaining edges are adorned with plastic, similar to the previous models. Despite this, the device still possesses a compact and robust feel when held in one’s hand.

The Asus ROG Strix Scar 16 2023 gaming laptop features a familiar and sleek large design. It measures 354 x 264 x 30.4 mm and weighs 2.5kg, making it less suitable for users who are constantly on the go.

Staying true to its tradition, the ROG Strix Scar 16 2023 boasts a bold gamer design with a sturdy and robust chassis. As expected from a gaming laptop, the RGB LED system is a must-have feature, with RGB LEDs integrated into the ROG logo on the A side, the RGB keyboard with each key illuminated, and even the four-sided border has LEDs, allowing for personalized color and appearance.

The pre-installed Armory Crate software on the laptop offers users a hassle-free way to personalize the multi-color LED system. The system’s side A boasts the classic ROG Slash pattern, which is further accentuated by a glowing ROG logo that immediately draws attention.

The Armor Cap design remains, albeit with significant enhancements to its overall look and feel. Thanks to the system’s flexible customization and effortless assembly, users can unleash their creativity and 3D print their preferred color schemes to make a unique statement.

On the left side of the ROG Strix Scar 16 2023, you will find a DC power port, an RJ-45 LAN port with a speed of 2.5 Gbps, an HDMI 2.1 port, a USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C port equipped with DisplayPort 1.4 and Power Delivery 3.0, another USB Type-C port featuring Thunderbolt 4 and DisplayPort 1.4, and lastly, a 3.5mm audio jack.

As for the right side, it is fitted with two USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A ports. It’s safe to say that the connectivity options on the Scar 16 2023 are comprehensive and cater to all user requirements.

Display

Let’s continue our Asus ROG Strix SCAR 16 review with its screen analysis. The screen is undoubtedly the most striking feature. Boasting a 16-inch size and a 16:10 aspect ratio, the laptops’ edges are remarkably slim, which is sure to impress anyone who lays eyes on it.

Our first impression upon opening and using this gaming laptop was one of amazement. Despite its intended use, Asus has gone above and beyond by incorporating a high-quality panel into the SCAR 16 2023, complete with 2K (2560 x 1600) resolution, 240Hz refresh rate, IPS LCD, only 3ms latency, 100% DCI-P3, G-SYNC, Dolby Vision support, ROG Nebula HDR Display technology, and certified by PANTONE. Despite the slim screen border, Asus has also included a small webcam above it, which is a major plus for the brand.

Typically, gaming laptop screens are not highly regarded, but the ROG Strix Scar 16 2023 offers a unique experience that sets it apart from its peers. The main display boasts exceptional image quality with a high resolution, and its color accuracy is truly impressive. While this screen is ideal for gamers, it is also well-suited for graphic designers and other professionals who demand top-notch visuals. The laptop’s webcam is conveniently located at the top of the screen in a cluster, featuring a distinct “reverse notch” design.

Keyboard and heatsink

Regarding the laptop’s keyboard, it maintains its familiar design language, including the layout and outstanding RGB LED effects reminiscent of the ROG laptop line. However, what stood out to us was the touchpad’s rather large size on a gaming laptop. Although most gamers prefer using a separate mouse rather than relying on a touchpad, we believe that this is a reasonable move for Asus since not everyone buys a gaming computer exclusively for gaming. Sometimes, people need to office work in a cafe, and having a larger touchpad to use instead of carrying a mouse is quite convenient.

The keyboard on this laptop boasts Aura SYNC-compatible LEDs for every key, up to 2mm of key travel, and a keycap thickness of 0.25mm. Additionally, there are up to 5 hotkeys that users can customize according to their preferences. As for the touchpad, it has been increased in size by 10%, ensuring a more comfortable user experience.

The 2023 edition of the Asus ROG Strix SCAR 16 comes loaded with an upgraded cooling system designed to maximize performance. The latest iteration of Intelligent Cooling features three powerful fans strategically placed heat vents, and a cutting-edge Conductonaut Extreme liquid metal adhesive applied to both the CPU and GPU. Additionally, the system boasts a seven-copper tube heatsink, highlighting Asus’ dedication to achieving optimal temperatures and peak performance.

Asus ROG Strix SCAR 16 2023 specifications

• CPU: 13th Gen Intel Core i9-13980HX (2.20GHz) 24-core (8P+16E) Raptor Lake Processor, Turbo 5.60 GHz, 36 MB CPU L3 Cache, Intel HM770 chip
• Display: 16-inch 2560 x 1600 (WQXGA) Mini LED, 240 Hz, 100% DCI-P3, ROG Nebula HDR Display, QHD+ 16:10, 1100nits Brightness, 100000:1 Contrast ratio, Anti-glare, 3ms, G-Sync, Pantone Validated, MUX Switch + NVIDIA Advanced Optimus, Dolby Vision HDR
• OS: Windows 11 Pro 64-bit
• GPU: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080/4090 Laptop GPU, 16GB
• Storage: 1 TB + 1 TB PCIe 4.0 NVMe M.2 Performace SSD (RAID 0), 512GB / 1TB / 2TB G4x4 PCIe SSD support
• Memory: 32GB DDR5 4800, 16 GB x 2, up to 64 GB
• Connectivity: 2.5 Gbps, Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax) (Triple band) 2×2, Bluetooth 5.2
• Ports: 1 x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C support DisplayPort / power delivery / G-SYNC, 2 x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A, 1 x Thunderbolt 4 support DisplayPort / G-SYNC, 1 x HDMI 2.1 FRL, 1 x RJ-45 (2.5Gbps), 1 x 3.5mm Combo Audio Jack
• Audio: 4x Speakers, microphone, AI noise-canceling technology, Dolby Atmos, Hi-Res, Smart Amp Technology, Support Microsoft Cortana near field/Far field
• Keyboard: Backlit Chiclet Keyboard Per-Key RGB
• Webcam: 720P HD camera
• Battery: 90WHrs, 4S1P, 4-cell Li-ion, 330W AC Adapter
• Dimensions: 13.94″ x 10.39″ x 0.89″-1.20″
• Weight: 5.51 lbs.

Performance

Our Asus ROG Strix SCAR 16 review unit packs a punch with its Intel 13th Gen Core i9-13980HX Raptor Lake processor, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 GPU, and 32GB of RAM. It’s a highly capable device that can handle both gaming and workloads without any concerns about running out of memory. This laptop is an excellent choice for individuals who are passionate about gaming or require high processing speeds for their work.

Even though it doesn’t feature the most powerful RTX 4090 graphics card, the RTX 4080 is still an impressive contender, and it’s supported by a Mux Switch and NVIDIA Advance Optimus. This combination enables the SCAR 16 2023 to deliver optimal gaming performance, making it an ideal choice for gamers who want to immerse themselves in graphically intensive games without worrying about performance issues.

By utilizing the MUX Switch and NVIDIA’s advanced Optimus technology, the system can effortlessly identify and enhance performance levels during gaming and application usage, regardless of whether the device is connected to a power source or running on a battery. This is achieved by managing the output from the iGPU or discrete GPU to the display without requiring manual input from the user.

Software performance

During this Asus ROG Strix SCAR 16 review, we kept the Turbo mode on with the Mux Switch turned on.

Let’s examine how the Intel Core i9-13980HX processor with 24 cores and 32 threads fares in terms of real-world speed through the initial trial using the Cinebench R23 software. During the multi-core examination, the laptop achieved a remarkably high score of over 28,000 points. Despite the test temperature reaching 95 degrees Celsius, the device didn’t exhibit any throttling effects.

With a score of 2099 points in the single-core test, the laptop displayed an impressive performance. We firmly believe that this is the most potent chip currently available in a laptop, given its total score in both evaluations. Its processing power is exceptionally high, making it a top-notch option.

In the Geekbench 5 application test, the ROG Strix SCAR 16 2023 obtained an impressive score of 2799 Single-core points and 16,579 Multi-Core points. Additionally, in the Computer Benchmark, the device delivered a remarkable score of 183,824 points, surpassing any current gaming laptop we have ever experienced.

Equipped with a robust 1TB PCIe Gen 4.0 x4 NVMe SSD from Samsung, our Asus ROG Strix SCAR 16 review unit boasts the fastest read and write speed in the gaming laptop segment today. With a read speed of 6985 MB/s and a write speed of 5119 MB/s, this device boasts an impressive number with a PCIe Gen 4 SSD.

While a mere one-week experience may not suffice to fully capture the impressive capabilities of the ROG Strix SCAR 16, the following high-performance games can provide a glimpse of its prowess. Our objective evaluation of this powerhouse gaming laptop has been based on its performance among the most potent devices available today.

Gaming performance

We put the ROG Strix SCAR 16 2023 to the test with demanding games such as GTA V, PUBG, League of Legends, Resident Evil, and Howard Legacy – all of which require substantial graphic resources. Our Asus ROG Strix SCAR 16 review unit stood up to the challenge with ease, maintaining smooth, stable temperatures even when pushing graphics to their limits.

GTA V

These are the average FPS scores we obtained during a brief playthrough of GTA V on the ROG Strix SCAR 16 2023. During our gaming session, our Asus ROG Strix SCAR 16 review unit exhibited no lag for up to an hour of gameplay. Upon activating Turbo mode, the machine’s fan emitted a loud noise, but all movements remained smooth, and the FPS ranged from 179-240 FPS.

The graphics settings were set to High, and the laptop ran on 2K WQHD resolution with Turbo mode enabled. The highest FPS recorded was 240, while the lowest FPS was 179. The average temperature reached approximately 82 degrees Celsius.

PUBG

In Turbo mode, SCAR 16 2023 maintains a stable frame rate while running the PUBG game, and the CPU temperature remains at a reasonable level, ranging from 72 to 83 degrees Celsius.

The graphics settings have been configured to High, resulting in a maximum frame rate of 240 FPS and a minimum of 177 FPS. The average temperature during gameplay hovers around 78 degrees Celsius, with the CPU power consumption ranging from 115 to 140W.

After approximately 15 minutes of gameplay, the fan began to spin faster and emit a noticeably louder noise. We must acknowledge that despite the laptop’s high settings and 2K resolution screen, it handles FPS admirably, surprising us with its impressive performance. The CPU temperature has, however, climbed above 90 degrees Celsius, which is somewhat concerning.

League of Legends

When it comes to playing League of Legends on this laptop, even at the highest graphics settings, it’s an effortless task. The test yielded an average FPS of over 240 with no signs of throttling or FPS drops. The CPU temperature averaged over 70 degrees Celsius, while the GPU temperature ranged from 50 to 62 degrees Celsius.

Howard Legacy

Continuing our Asus ROG Strix SCAR 16 review, we’ll now delve into one of the hottest games of today – Howard Legacy. Before commencing the game, let’s take a look at the graphics processing settings which include Ultra mode, Ray Tracing turned on, and NVIDIA DLSS Quality.

The game displays an impressive level of detail, and the visual effects of using magic are nothing short of stunning. Despite the high level of graphics, the laptop manages to deliver a smooth gaming experience with FPS levels ranging from 157-215. Overall, the RTX 4080 handled 2K graphics with Ultra settings exceptionally well, even with a new game like Howard Legacy.

Resident Evil

Finally, it was the turn of the Resident Evil game, but at that time we had played a lot of games on the laptop, due to which the device generated more heat than it did previously. Despite this, we have maintained the highest setting, with the FPS varying between 151 to 248 FPS during gameplay. The current CPU temperature is approximately 81 degrees Celsius, while the GPU temperature is 82 degrees Celsius. However, there are instances where the CPU temperature exceeds 90 degrees Celsius, resulting in slight throttling. Nevertheless, we believe that these temperatures are still adequate for a laptop that continuously runs games at such high settings.

Asus ROG Strix SCAR 16 2023 has undoubtedly breathed new life into the gaming community by introducing an incredibly powerful laptop that is relatively more affordable than the ROG Strix SCAR 18 2023, yet still satisfies the demands of AAA gaming, graphic design, 3D rendering, and high-level video editing.

Battery life

According to the manufacturer’s announcement, the notebook has a battery capacity of 90Wh, which allows for 8.5 hours of video playback and a 0% to 50% charge time of only 30 minutes. However, during a WiFi web browsing test with active graphics switching, the laptop lasted over 9 hours, surpassing the manufacturer’s claim.

When the GeForce RTX 4080 is active, battery life significantly decreases, sometimes lasting only an hour under high load. However, to take full advantage of the laptop’s maximum performance, users will need to use the charger. The charging adapter for the Scar 16 2023 has a capacity of up to 330W, but some users may find it less than ideal.

Final line

Following multiple game tests on a laptop, we are thoroughly impressed with the powerful hardware combination of the ROG Strix SCAR 16 2023. Even at the highest game settings, this device remains unfaltering. Despite our brief one-week review, the laptop’s exceptional performance has caught us off guard. We frequently use the Strix SCAR 16 2023 for work and gaming outside the cafe with friends. Its portability offers the utmost convenience for those on the go.

Price and availability

The 2023 model of the Asus ROG Strix SCAR 16 (G634) gaming laptop can be found on several online stores, namely Amazon.com, Newegg.com, Bhphotovideo.com, and Amazon.co.uk. The laptop’s price ranges from $2,899.99 and up, depending on the selected configuration.