The ASUS ROG Zephyrus GX501VI-XS74 is a bestselling premium gaming laptop that has received positive reviews for its thin and light design, powerful hardware and for its dedicated GTX 1080 graphics card. However, some reviewers have mentioned the fact that the laptop will heat up while you game or run intensive applications. The new keyboard layout might scare off some users, but it’s a far better layout for gaming than traditional keyboards.
We all know of the mammoth ASUS ROG laptops that have been on sale for a number of years now. However, times are changing at ASUS and the new ROG Zephyrus range is far from what the ROG range used to be. You now get a powerful gaming laptop that is a mere 0.7 inches thin and weighs in at a light 4.9 pounds. However, that is not all that ASUS have redesigned, they have also made major changes to the keyboard and the trackpad. While this might scare off some users, this new layout is far better for gaming than traditional layouts.
This new layout better simulates gaming on a desktop PC and you will no longer bump the trackpad while gaming like on traditional laptop layouts. The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 GPU with 8GB of dedicated video memory will run any of the latest gaming titles on the highest settings. The GPU will even allow you to use this ROG as a 4K gaming laptop and play games on a connected 4K monitor. However, the 15.6-inch display of the ROG Zephyrus GX501 offers great image quality and boasts an impressive 120Hz refresh rate, which is rare for most laptops.
Not only do you get a higher refresh rate, the display also offers NVIDIA G-SYNC which allows the graphics card to synchronize its frame rates with that of the display. Not only do you get the most powerful mobile GTX 10-series GPU, you also get a powerful Intel Core i7-7700HQ processor and 16GB of DDR4 2400MHz RAM.
This combination will not only allow you to play your favorite games, but will also allow you to run even more demanding applications on the ROG Zephyrus GX501. However, all this power has been crammed into a very thin laptop and while ASUS have promised that its cooling system will handle the heat, some users have commented that it does heat up quickly while gaming.
Note: This laptop originally appeared in our best high-end gaming laptops guide. For newer laptop models be sure to check out the latest high-end gaming laptops there. Full Guide
Pros
- GTX 1080 GPU
- 120Hz refresh rate
- Great keyboard layout
- Powerful i7 CPU
- Windows 10 Pro
Cons
- Heats up under load
- No full size HDMI or DP ports
- Price
Bottom Line
The ASUS ROG Zephyrus GX501 is a thin and light gaming laptop that can handle anything that you can throw at it. Don’t be scared off by the new keyboard layout, it is far better for hardcore gamers.
- Weight: 4.9 lbs
- Processor: Intel Core i7-7700HQ 2.8GHz
- Display Size: 15.6 inch
- RAM: 16GB DDR4
- Operating System: Windows 10 Pro
- Graphics: Nvidia Geforce GTX 1080
Critic Reviews
- TechRadar July 24, 2017
The Asus ROG Zephyrus sets a high bar for powerful, thin gaming laptops with exceptional performance, whisper quiet operation and a truly innovative design.
Read full review - LaptopMag June 27, 2017
The Asus ROG Zephyrus squeezes a powerful Nvidia 1080 GPU into a thin-and-light chassis, giving you a 5-pound monster you can take anywhere.
Read full review
Full Specifications
| Processor | Intel Core i7-7700HQ 2.8GHz [View Benchmarks] |
|---|---|
| Graphics | Nvidia Geforce GTX 1080 [View Benchmarks] |
| Graphics Type | Discrete |
| Graphics Memory | 8GB GDDR5 |
| RAM | 16GB DDR4 |
| Operating System | Microsoft Windows Windows 10 Pro |
| Weight | 4.9 lbs |
| Battery Life | 2.75 hours |
| Hard Drive 1 | 512 SSD |
| Display Size | 15.6 inch |
| Display Type | IPS |
| Display Resolution | 1920 x 1080 |
| Display Technology | LED backlight | NVIDIA G-SYNC |
| Connectivity | HDMI 2.0 | Thunderbolt 3 | USB 3.0 | Bluetooth | Wi-Fi |
| Audio | Stereo speakers | Smart Amp technology |
| Webcam | 1080p FHD |
| Additional Features | ROG Active Aerodynamic System |
| Dimension (LxWxH) | 14.9 x 10.3 x 0.7 |
| Warranty | 1 year |
