Asus ROG Strix SCAR 18 2024 Quick Review: No better choice for gaming

Asus ROG Strix SCAR 18 2024 was introduced at CES 2024 – a gaming laptop that not only boasts the most powerful configuration available today but also showcases an impressive gaming-centric design and a stunningly beautiful screen that’s bound to captivate gamers.

Distinguished by a bold, gaming-inspired design, complete with a striking RGB LED backlight system, this laptop features a robust configuration powered by the Intel Core i9 14900HX Processor and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090. The icing on the cake is the Mini LED 2.5K display, stretching up to 18 inches. Without divulging too much upfront, this article aims to provide a quick review of the ROG Strix SCAR 18 2024, unraveling the elements that render this ASUS laptop the most potent in the tech world today.

Asus ROG Strix SCAR 18 2024 quick review

Design

Upon first glance, the Asus ROG Strix SCAR 18 2024 immediately impresses with its substantial size. Offering two screen size options, 16 and 18 inches, both versions exude a bold and expansive presence. We had the privilege of experiencing the 18-inch variant, and it undeniably stands out, captivating users with its gaming-inspired aesthetics and sizable display.

Beyond its sheer size, the overall design of the ROG Strix SCAR 18 is a wellspring of inspiration—striking, modern, and distinctly gaming-oriented. The rugged A-side design minimizes sweat and fingerprints, complemented by laser-engraved lines and a luminous ROG Slash logo that enhances the user’s sense of elegance and modernity.

The most captivating and valuable aspect of this laptop lies in its top and bottom bezels adorned with vibrant RGB LED lights spanning from the keyboard to all four edges (front, left, right, and back). This feature elevates the ROG design language, commonly seen in PC components within the same ecosystem, to a new and more enticing level.

Moving beyond the dimensions of a typical laptop, the Asus ROG Strix SCAR 18 2024 measures 35.4 x 26.4 x 2.26, weighing 2.50 kg. Its size is quite substantial for fitting into a briefcase or backpack, making it a hefty burden for users to carry around.

While the large size may pose some inconvenience for mobility, especially for those who frequent cafes, libraries, or friends’ houses, the 18-inch screen, rarely seen on gaming laptops, compensates for the challenge. The uniqueness of the product outweighs the difficulty of transporting it for on-the-go usage.

The hinge area and rear edge of the laptop extend beyond the screen, positioned higher to ensure a neater and more aesthetically pleasing appearance when folded.

On the left side of the device, you’ll find the heat vent, 1x 3.5mm headphone jack, 1x HDMI 2.1 FRL port, 1x USB 3.2 generation 2 Type-C port supporting DisplayPort/Power Delivery/G-SYNC, 1x 2.5G LAN port, and 1x Thunderbolt 4 port supporting DisplayPort/G-SYNC.

The right side of the laptop hosts a USB-C 3.2 port and an additional heat escape slot. Notably, it features impressive heat dissipation capabilities on both the left and right edges and the back boasts a sizable heat escape slot.

According to Asus, the device incorporates 3 cooling fans and 374 ultra-thin copper foils measuring only 0.1mm. This design significantly increases the surface contact area to a substantial 174,183 mm². With copper heatsinks occupying 33% of the internal component area and the addition of advanced liquid crystal heatsinks, the laptop effortlessly handles heavy gaming sessions or prolonged video rendering at 100% load.

The aesthetic appeal extends to the laptop’s bottom, featuring a ROG-style design with embossed letters that enhance the aesthetics of the heatsink slot. The bottom edge incorporates a high stand, rubber elements for stability, and support for elevating the laptop to facilitate optimal heat dissipation. This section also houses the device’s cooling system and four speakers.

Keyboard and touchpad

Moving to the interior, the C side of the laptop boasts a keyboard with integrated RGB LED lights, creating a visually stunning effect. The palm rest is transparent, allowing users a unique view of internal components while enhancing the visual impact of the RGB lighting.

The keyboard, in particular, is a standout feature, offering full-size keys with durability extending up to 20 million keystrokes. N-key rollover technology ensures smooth and responsive key presses. Specialized hotkeys for gaming needs are conveniently located on the keyboard, providing quick access to volume control, heatsink operating modes, and customizable Armory Crate lighting.

The laptop’s touchpad is generously sized, enhancing user comfort and facilitating smooth operation while using the mouse.

Display

Let’s delve into side B of the Asus ROG Strix SCAR 18 2024, featuring an expansive 18-inch display with a 16:10 ratio that provides a roomy and extensive visual canvas, ideal for seamless multitasking or, for gamers, offering an enhanced ability to navigate maps comprehensively.

This impressive screen is equipped with a Mini LED panel meeting the ROG Nebula HDR standard. Boasting a 2K QHD+ resolution (2,560 x 1,600, WQXGA), 100% DCI-P3 color coverage, and an impressive maximum brightness of 1100 nits, the display offers users an exceptional experience for both work and immersive gaming. I consider this screen quality among the best in gaming laptop displays today.

Furthermore, it boasts a swift 240Hz refresh rate with low latency, ensuring a smooth experience for high-intensity FPS games such as Counter-Strike 2 or Valorant, eliminating any irritating delay for fellow gamers.

At the top edge of the laptop, you’ll find the 720P HD webcam with a microphone. While providing sufficient quality for gamers to stream and communicate with teammates, it adds another dimension to the laptop’s functionality.

Performance

In terms of gaming and working performance, the ROG Strix SCAR 18 2024 exhibits similarities to its 2023 counterpart. The Core i9-14900HX maintains its power consumption at a maximum of 175W, with an impressive single-core clock reaching 5.6GHz for exceptional raw performance.

In CPU benchmark tests, there’s no notable deviation from the previous version. Despite a high CPU temperature during benchmarking (approximately 90 degrees Celsius), the overall performance remains unaffected. Given the power-hungry nature of the Core i9-14900HX, the elevated temperature is understandable.

Furthermore, the device features integrated ROG Boost technology, clocking at 2090MHz with a power consumption of 175W (2040MHz + 50MHz OC, 150W + 25W Dynamic Boost). With this level of power, I am confident that the CPU+GPU tandem can unleash the full potential of this laptop.

Concerning the GPU, no changes have been implemented, and its gaming performance remains robust, effortlessly handling current games at QHD+ resolution. The cooling system on the ROG Strix SCAR 18 stands out as one of the most effective among laptops today. Since 2023, the company has maximized the advantages of the large and thick chassis for efficient heat dissipation, incorporating 3 cooling fans and 7 copper pipes to disperse heat from the CPU, GPU, VRM, and other components. Additionally, ASUS ROG continues to utilize liquid metal thermal paste for the CPU.

Even under heavy gaming or load, the GPU’s temperature consistently maintains an ideal level (below 80 degrees Celsius), despite its consumption of up to 175W of power. The RTX 4090, with a default TGP of 150W, benefits from ASUS ROG’s Dynamic Boost technology, which provides an additional 25W, resulting in improved performance.

A notable change in the ROG Strix SCAR 18 2024 compared to its predecessor is the adoption of DDR5 RAM with a higher bus speed (5600MHz versus 4800MHz). Testing reveals that the new DDR5 RAM outpaces the old version by about 15%.

With this robust configuration, I firmly believe that the ROG Strix SCAR 18 can effortlessly handle heavy graphics tasks such as video editing, image manipulation, and CAD operations. I am confident that this configuration can sustain maximum game settings for at least the next three years.

Battery

The battery capacity remains a weak point for the ROG Strix SCAR 18 2024, and gaming laptops, in general, face similar challenges. The maximum laptop battery capacity currently achievable is 90Whr. Under typical usage conditions – sound on, 75% brightness, discrete GPU off, Dynamic refresh rate set at 120-240Hz, and operating in the most balanced performance mode – it can only sustain around 3 hours of usage.

Arguably, the most significant distinction between the two versions emerges at launch, particularly concerning the operating system. The 2023 version lacks the Windows 11 23H2 update, whereas the 2024 version introduces tools like Microsoft Copilot AI in applications such as Paint and Photos.

Should I buy Asus ROG Strix SCAR 18 2024?

Now, with the Asus ROG Strix SCAR 18 2024 in hand and having firsthand experience, we’re presented with the most potent gaming laptop configuration currently available, unflinchingly capable of tackling any game in the market. The product is set to be available for purchase on Amazon.com, Bhphotovideo.com, and Amazon.co.uk, priced at $3,099.