Review: Asus ROG Strix GL702ZC

Conclusion

Attempting to deploy desktop-grade components in a laptop form factor is a process typically fraught with danger. The trade-offs tend to include excessive heat and noise, poor battery life, and a bulky form factor that doesn't lend itself to everyday portability.

These caveats all apply to the ROG Strix GL702ZC, yet in this case the component choices also introduce a few noteworthy benefits. Offering something a little different to the norm, Asus equips the 17.3in mobile powerhouse/desktop replacement with an AMD Ryzen 7 1700 processor and AMD Radeon RX 580 graphics. The latter is merely adequate at the native 1080p resolution and is aided by FreeSync support, but it is the former that helps the laptop stand out from the crowd.

Armed with eight cores and 16 threads, Ryzen 7 1700 empowers ROG Strix GL702ZC with outstanding multi-core performance never before seen at this price point. It isn't for everyone, and we'd like to see Asus offer the option of dual-channel memory, GeForce graphics and a higher-resolution display, yet if your workload demands as many cores and threads as possible, the GL702ZC serves as a surprise option.

Bottom line: ROG Strix GL702ZC is far from perfect, yet it echoes AMD Ryzen's penchant for disruption. Where else can you get an eight-core, 16-thread laptop for under £1,500?

Asus ROG Strix GL702ZC

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The Asus ROG Strix GL702ZC is available to purchase from Amazon.

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