Asus ROG Strix G15 (G513QR-AS98) Review

The G513QR-AS98 is the latest addition to the Asus ROG Strix G15 line of gaming laptops, which runs a series from affordable models to high-end beasts. The model we’re reviewing slots into the high-end category, launching with not only Ryzen 5000 processors but paired with the latest high-end Nvidia GeForce RTX 3070 graphics card.

So, admittedly a lot is riding with the G513QR-AS98 gaming laptop, as it goes against the grain of hardware, we typically see in gaming devices, especially in its price range. Well, around two grand for a laptop is a pretty high price, and that puts it in between the Razer Blade and Asus’ own Zephyrus G15, both of which are some of the best gaming laptops in the world right now.

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And for the most part, this ROG Strix G15 G513Q does hold its own against its competitors. You can squeeze some pretty solid performance out of it, and the overclockable AMD Ryzen R9-5900HX processor is straight-up incredible.  Fans of competitive gaming will find some value in this laptop, too – it has a 300Hz 1080p display with a per-key RGB keyboard. Do these extras make the Asus ROG Strix G14 one of the best gaming laptops around?

Asus ROG Strix G15 Specs

Design and Keyboard

• Good-looking, RGB-filled exterior
• Great keyboard quality
• Solid features, but no webcam

If you’re familiar with other Asus gaming laptops, then the ROG Strix G15 G513QR design and keyboard will not come as a surprise. It’s cut from dark grey plastic, and large sections of the base and lid sport a gorgeous ROG pattern. One end of the hinge has a black panel that features the ROG logo. Other variants of the Strix G15 are available with red or grey plates.

As ever with gaming laptops, there are plenty of RGB LEDs. The keyboard has per-key RGB lighting, and there’s a band of lights that run around the laptop’s base. All these are customizable and can be synchronized with other Asus devices.

Unfortunately, the Asus G513QR-AS98 makes some compromises, that don’t necessarily compromise performance, but we feel they hold it back from being the best in its class. For instance, while it isn’t weak, the plastic below the keyboard and at the bottom of the display has some flex more than the Razer 15’s aluminum body. The ROG Strix G15 weighs 5.07 pounds and is 1.07 inches thick, meaning the Razer Blade is lighter and slimmer (3.92 pounds, 0.66 pounds).

Available port options on the G15 include three USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports, one USB 3.2 Type-C with DisplayPort 1.4 (with power delivery), one HDMI 2.0b (up to 60Hz), and a Gigabit Ethernet port. Wireless connectivity comes in way of dual-band Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.1.

The G15 also misses out elsewhere, it doesn’t come with a built-in webcam, fingerprint, or card reader. But in all honestly, I don’t think these are features you’re going to miss, laptops that come with so-so webcams and a fingerprint reader aren’t a requirement after all.

The keyboard and trackpad are impressive – with good layout, doesn’t get a number pad, but at least you get an extra column of media keys and bonus buttons for adjusting the volume and launching the Asus Armory Crate app. The trackpad is pleasantly large and accurate, with two shallow and fast buttons. But, as always, a USB gaming mouse like the  Logitech G Pro is better.

Screen – Simply great at 300Hz

• A superb 300Hz refresh rate make this display ideal for gaming
• Colours are accurate
• The Asus offers good contrast, but it could be better

The Asus ROG Strix G15 G513’s display is a 15.6-in IPS panel with a 1080p resolution, 3ms response time, and 300Hz refresh rate. It lacks support for Nvidia G-Sync, but it’s still great for gaming: the refresh rate is more than enough for quick motion games. If you’re into eSports, the refresh rate is something you’ll find useful when playing some of the busiest games.

The screen has a peak brightness of 312 nits, which is just good enough for indoor use. Its black point of 0.27 nits is a bit high for my liking, though. Those figures add up to a contrast ratio of 1155:1 – a good measure for an IPS display, and it’s way better than the Razer Blade. With a good contrast ratio, it means games look colorful and punchy. However, it isn’t unusual to find IPS panels with higher contrast, and such machines will certainly deliver a punchier image.

In addition, if you’re looking for a display for work, I’d recommend that you look elsewhere. This screen can’t handle the Adobe RGB or DCI-P3 color gamuts, and other panels like the MSI GE66 Raider (11UH-227) offer higher resolutions, and similarly great gaming performance.

Performance – Best of both AMD and Intel

• The RTX 3070 is a superb gaming chip, even if others are quicker
• The AMD CPU is a fantastic productivity processor
• The Asus is cooler and quieter than the competition

The Asus ROG G513QR-AS98 packs a GeForce RTX 3070 graphics card with the usual 8GB of memory and 5120 stream processors, and this machine it’s allowed to run with a peak TDP of 130W – just as high as Nvidia allows this GPU to run. Everything else considered, the RTX 3070 is a decent GPU.

In Horizon Zero Dawn, played at 1080p Ultimate setting, the RTX 3070 averages 78fps, and it’s three frames quicker in Borderlands 3. It’s powerful, and you’ll be able to play today’s demanding triple-A titles at a butter-smooth average of 60fps or beyond, without sacrificing the visual fidelity.

The Asus runs Dirt Rally at 99fps, which is nothing less of spectacular. You’ll be able to play eSports games comfortably on this laptop, and it won’t stutter on titles such as League of Legends, Overwatch, and Fortnite at triple-figure frame rates required to take advantage of the 300Hz panel.

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When not gaming, the G15 is a great productivity workhorse. The eight-core AMD Ryzen 9-5900HX processor is fantastic, and it’s paced with 32GB OF RAM and 1TB of SSD storage. This Asus machine is a better option for content creation and multi-tasking than any of Razer’s options, all thanks to that beefy AMD processor, and it’s a great thermal performer.

The laptop doesn’t get too hot: the underside remains cool enough for on-lap use, no matter the power mode, and the side vents don’t pump out too much hot air.

Battery Life

• Average longevity in games
• The Asus is far better in work and media-viewing situations

If you’re going to play games using the ROG Strix G15 G513’s battery then don’t expect it to last that much – you’ll only get away with under three hours – and using the battery will mean reduced graphics power. For your gaming sessions, you’ll be better off plugged in.

On the other hand, while this laptop may not have the battery life for long gaming sessions away from the mains, it will comfortably last half a day and beyond for everyday work tasks. With reduced screen brightness, it lasts 7 hours 34 minutes for productivity tasks and can handle video brightness at half brightness for two hours longer.

Verdict – Great value, but competition is better

The Asus ROG Strix G15 G513 is a great gaming laptop with solid hardware to tackle any 1080p gaming alongside a top-tier processor, a crisp 300Hz screen, and a great keyboard and it tops out with a decent battery. A combination of a class-leading AMD CPU and peppy GPU make for a versatile gaming laptop, that excels at both gaming and creative applications.

However, if your budget can stretch a little, you can easily find an RTX 3070 laptop with improved gaming performance and better features. The Razer Blade 14 is one such laptop – it boasts superior gaming performance, a super-slim, elegant design, and packs decent battery life as well. It remains our editors’ Choice for midrange gaming laptops.

Last update on 2023-04-02 at 00:51 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API