ASUS ROG Strix SCAR 18 (2025) G835LX / ASUS ROG Zephyrus G16 (2024) GU605MI-QR194X

The cores are a mix of performance and efficiency cores; there is no Hyper-Threading, so core and thread counts are equal.

The NPU runs constant AI tasks such as background blur and noise suppression at low power instead of the CPU/GPU.

1647 MHz is the 1597 MHz boost clock plus a 50 MHz ASUS overclock. 175 W is the highest total graphics power; the 25 W Dynamic Boost share moves to the GPU when CPU load is low. The GPU is soldered and cannot be upgraded.

Dynamic Boost shifts a 20 W share of power to the GPU when CPU load is low, so 105 W is a conditional ceiling rather than a constant level. In the same series RTX 4060 SKUs are listed at 100 W and RTX 4080/4090 SKUs at 115 W. The GPU is soldered and cannot be upgraded.

The MUX switch connects the internal display directly to the NVIDIA GPU to reduce latency in games; Advanced Optimus does this switch without a restart.

The Mini LED backlight dims in many small zones independently, which keeps dark areas dark in HDR content; it is not as precise as pixel-level OLED control.

G-Sync matches the refresh to the game’s frame rate to reduce tearing. It is not a touchscreen. Some SKUs in the same series use an IPS-level panel.

Both slots are filled in this variant and ASUS’s stated maximum is already reached; an upgrade means replacing the modules.

Because memory cannot be added later, capacity has to be chosen at purchase.

RAID 0 combines the two drives into one fast volume; if either drive fails all data can be lost, so regular backups matter. ASUS states that only single-sided SSDs are supported.

The second M.2 slot allows an additional SSD.

Thunderbolt 5 can offer up to 120 Gb/s in one direction, useful for fast external storage and high-resolution monitors. Independent testing criticised the lack of rear ports.

Both USB-C ports support external displays and charging; there is no Ethernet port.

A compatible router is needed to benefit from Wi-Fi 7 speeds.

ASUS notes that Bluetooth features may vary with the OS and drivers.

The 380 W adapter is needed for gaming performance; the 100 W USB-C adapter is for light use and charging on the go. ASUS notes that box contents can vary by region.

Which adapter is in the box varies by country and model. Full GPU power should not be expected when charging over USB-C.

The carried weight rises noticeably with the adapters.

ASUS notes that accessories can vary by region.

Accessories may vary by country.

The MUX switch connects the display directly to the NVIDIA GPU, removing the overhead of routing through the integrated GPU in games; Advanced Optimus makes this switch automatically without a restart.

Slash Lighting is a programmable LED strip on the lid, controlled through AURA Sync.