ASUS ROG Strix SCAR 18 (2025) G835LX / GIGABYTE AORUS MASTER 16 AM6H (BYHC5USE64SH)

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

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.

175 W includes the share Dynamic Boost shifts to the GPU when CPU load is low; GIGABYTE notes the figure may vary by scenario. The desktop RTX 5080 is a different card.

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.

240 Hz shows motion more clearly in fast games and puts the RTX 5080’s high frame rates on screen; 500 nits is an HDR peak, not sustained full-screen brightness.

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

Memory is not soldered. The BYHC5USE64SH ships with 2 × 16 GB, so both slots are filled and upgrading means swapping modules.

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.

A second SSD can be added. The Gen5 slot gives higher sequential speeds with a compatible Gen5 SSD; which slot the factory SSD uses can vary by configuration.

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.

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

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.

The carried weight rises noticeably with the adapters.

ASUS notes that accessories can vary by region.

Advanced Optimus switches the display between integrated graphics and the RTX GPU without a reboot: a direct GPU path in games, battery savings in light work.

True Black 500 certifies HDR peak brightness of 500 nits together with OLED’s deep blacks; ClearMR 10000 is a motion-clarity tier.

The Thunderbolt 5 port suits high-bandwidth external SSDs, docks and DisplayPort 2.1 monitors; HDMI 2.1 supports high-refresh TVs and monitors.

The two USB-C ports differ in speed and display version; for a high-resolution external display the left Thunderbolt 5 port is the better choice.

N-key rollover means every simultaneously pressed key is registered, avoiding missed inputs in games. Lighting is set in three zones, not per key.

99 Wh is close to the upper limit for laptop batteries allowed on planes. Full GPU power needs the 330 W adapter; USB-C charging via Power Delivery 3.0 is possible but performance is reduced.