ASUS ROG Strix GL502VT-GS74 Gaming Laptop Review
Intro To The ASUS ROG Strix GL502VT-DS74
ASUS takes gaming seriously. So seriously, in fact, that it has two sub-brands dedicated to hardware for gamers. One is the Republic of Gamers (ROG), a brand ASUS created in 2006 to designate products that deliver "innovative hardcore PC performance," and the other is Strix, a more recent creation that's taken from the ancient Roman and Greek word for owl. No, we're not kidding.
"Strix means the keenest hearing and sharpest eyesight. Strix means feeling your environment so that you detect and react to the slightest movement. Strix means survival on the very edge of instinct. Strix is in your blood, as it is in ours," ASUS explains.
Though the two brands exist separate from one another, ASUS has begun creating a line of ROG Strix products, including the ROG Strix GL502, a 15.6-inch gaming laptop that aims to strike a balance between gaming prowess and portability. It's also the first gaming laptop from the recent marriage of ROG and Strix. Confused? All that marketing jargon aside, the ROG Strix GL502 is a laptop for gamers who want a high end gaming experience without the weight and bulk that comes from a typical desktop replacement configuration.
The ROG Strix GL502VT-DS74 model reviewed here pairs a 6th generation Intel Core i7-6700HQ quad-core processor (Skylake) with an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 970M GPU wielding 6GB of GDDR5 memory. It also has 16GB of DDR4-2133 RAM, a 128GB M.2 SATA3 SSD paired with a 1TB HDD for bulk storage duties, and an assortment of ports packed in a plastic chassis that measures 15.35 x 10.47 x 0.92 inches and weighs 4.85 pounds.
Before we go any further, let's take a moment to talk about the warranty. ASUS backs the ROG Strix GL502VT-DS74 for a year and includes accidental damage protection, provided you purchase the laptop in "brand new factory sealed condition" from select authorized ASUS resellers in the United States and Canada, and register within 60 days. That's a rare perk to come standard with a laptop and it certainly adds to the value proposition
The 1-year warranty also includes a 30-day zero bright dot guarantee, 24/7 technical support, and free standard shipping to and from ASUS in the event that warranty service is required.
ASUS sells different configurations of the ROG Strix GL502. The ones that are available at the time of this writing all have Full HD 1080p displays, though ASUS also plans to offer models with 4K Ultra HD panels at some point
"Strix means the keenest hearing and sharpest eyesight. Strix means feeling your environment so that you detect and react to the slightest movement. Strix means survival on the very edge of instinct. Strix is in your blood, as it is in ours," ASUS explains.
Though the two brands exist separate from one another, ASUS has begun creating a line of ROG Strix products, including the ROG Strix GL502, a 15.6-inch gaming laptop that aims to strike a balance between gaming prowess and portability. It's also the first gaming laptop from the recent marriage of ROG and Strix. Confused? All that marketing jargon aside, the ROG Strix GL502 is a laptop for gamers who want a high end gaming experience without the weight and bulk that comes from a typical desktop replacement configuration.
The ROG Strix GL502VT-DS74 model reviewed here pairs a 6th generation Intel Core i7-6700HQ quad-core processor (Skylake) with an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 970M GPU wielding 6GB of GDDR5 memory. It also has 16GB of DDR4-2133 RAM, a 128GB M.2 SATA3 SSD paired with a 1TB HDD for bulk storage duties, and an assortment of ports packed in a plastic chassis that measures 15.35 x 10.47 x 0.92 inches and weighs 4.85 pounds.
Reputations start with first impressions, and at a glance the first laptop to bear the ROG Strix branding seems well equipped to handle a premium gaming experience. Will that remain true once we get to know this laptop beyond its spec sheet? Let's find out.
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|
| Processor Options |
6th Gen Intel Core i7-6700HQ (6M Cache, 2.6GHz to 3.5GHz) |
| Display |
15.6-inch FHD (1920x1080) IPS Anti-Glare |
| Graphics |
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 970M w/ 6GB GDDR5 |
| Memory |
16GB DDR4 2133MHz |
| Storage |
128GB M.2 SATA3 Solid State Drive |
| Optical | N/A |
| Ethernet | GbE LAN |
| Wireless Connectivity |
802.11ac WiF (WIDI support)i and Bluetooth 4.1 |
| Interface (Left) |
Power/DC-In Jack; Gigabit Ethernet; mini DisplayPort; HDMI; USB 3.0; USB Type-C |
| Interface (Right |
Kensington Lock; SD Card Reader; 2 x USB 3.0; Headphone-Out/Microphone-In Combo |
| Interface (Back) | N/A |
| Webcam |
1.2MP HD |
| Operating System |
Windows 10 Home 64-Bit |
| Battery | 4-cell (non-removable) |
| Dimensions | 15.35x10.47x0.92 inches (WxDxH) |
| Weight |
4.85 |
| Manufacturer Warranty |
1 Year w/ Accidental Damage Protection |
| Pricing | $1,599 - Find it @ Amazon |
Before we go any further, let's take a moment to talk about the warranty. ASUS backs the ROG Strix GL502VT-DS74 for a year and includes accidental damage protection, provided you purchase the laptop in "brand new factory sealed condition" from select authorized ASUS resellers in the United States and Canada, and register within 60 days. That's a rare perk to come standard with a laptop and it certainly adds to the value proposition
The 1-year warranty also includes a 30-day zero bright dot guarantee, 24/7 technical support, and free standard shipping to and from ASUS in the event that warranty service is required.
ASUS sells different configurations of the ROG Strix GL502. The ones that are available at the time of this writing all have Full HD 1080p displays, though ASUS also plans to offer models with 4K Ultra HD panels at some point
