Conclusion

Outfitted with a quad-core Intel Haswell processor, dual GeForce GTX 860M graphics, 16GB of memory and a trio of SSDs in RAID 0, the X7 v2 really is as fast as it sounds.

Building on the foundations of the original X7, the v2 refresh takes the same sexy-looking and svelte 17.3in chassis and packs in some of today's highest-performing gaming components.

Outfitted with a quad-core Intel Haswell processor, dual GeForce GTX 860M graphics, 16GB of memory and a trio of SSDs in RAID 0, the X7 v2 really is as fast as it sounds. Yet, performance was never really this laptop's weak point - it's in terms of battery life and fan noise that this 17.3in powerhouse disappoints, and neither of those shortcomings has been addressed.

The v2 upgrades are meaningful for gamers seeking maximum performance in a desktop-replacement 17.3in form factor, but this is a minor refresh and Aorus has something arguably more interesting in the pipeline with the soon-to-be-released X3. Squeezing much of the aforementioned performance into a higher-res 13.3in frame, we reckon it's worth holding fire to see what the smaller machine is capable of, and we'll be bringing you an in-depth review in the very near future.

The Good

Outstanding all-round performance
Quad-core Intel Haswell processor
Dual GeForce GTX 860M graphics
Extremely fast three-SSD storage array
Thin and sleek for a 17in gaming laptop

The Bad

Mediocre battery life
Gets frustratingly loud when gaming
CPU may throttle under extreme load
SLI more temperamental than single GPU

HEXUS.awards

Aorus X7 v2

HEXUS.where2buy

The Aorus X7 v2 gaming laptop is available to purchase from Scan Computers*.

HEXUS.right2reply

At HEXUS, we invite the companies whose products we test to comment on our articles. If any company representatives for the products reviewed choose to respond, we'll publish their commentary here verbatim.

*UK-based HEXUS community members are eligible for free delivery and priority customer service through the SCAN.care@HEXUS forum.

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This is what alienware would of done if not bought out by dell

Because it's a gaming laptop, would be good to see the standard array of games testing (like what graphics cards get)

The battery life and it being noisy is enough to put me off. Its ugly to look at as well.
Surely in a gaming machine a few more millimetres on the girth for better cooling and a bigger battery has to be a bigger selling point than slim and sleek.

Im assuming its using the new more power efficient maxwell GPU's. Makes sence to run there in SLI, it will generate less heat than a single 880m :-)

I like the low power SLI graphics. I don't like that ledge underneath the back of the screen though!