ASUS ROG Strix SCAR 18 (2025) G835LX / MSI Crosshair 16 HX AI D2XWGKG-211US

ASUS ROG Strix SCAR 18 (2025) G835LX: G835LX-SA129X variant: Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 Laptop GPU (24 GB), 64 GB DDR5 and 2 × 2 TB SSDs in RAID 0, Windows 11 Pro. The RTX 5080 G835LW and the 16-inch SCAR 16 are separate models; within the G835LX family memory, storage and operating system can differ by country.

MSI Crosshair 16 HX AI D2XWGKG-211US: D2XWGKG-211US: Core Ultra 7 255HX, RTX 5070 Laptop GPU, 32 GB DDR5, 1 TB, Cosmo Gray. The D2XWFKG version of the same chassis uses an RTX 5060 Laptop GPU; other SKUs go up to a Core Ultra 9 275HX.

SpecificationASUS ROG Strix SCAR 18 (2025) G835LXMSI Crosshair 16 HX AI D2XWGKG-211US
Release year20252025
ProcessorIntel Core Ultra 9 275HX (24 cores / 24 threads, up to 5.4 GHz, 36 MB cache, 13 TOPS NPU)

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

ASUS		Intel Core Ultra 7 255HX; 1.8–5.2 GHz; Intel HM870 chipset

Other SKUs of the Crosshair 16 HX AI family use up to a Core Ultra 9 275HX.

MSI
GraphicsNVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 Laptop GPU; 24 GB GDDR7; ROG Boost 1647 MHz; 175 W (150 W TGP + 25 W Dynamic Boost)

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.

ASUS		NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Laptop GPU, 8 GB GDDR7; boost up to 2347 MHz; up to 115 W with Dynamic Boost

In MSI OverBoost mode, the processor and graphics card can draw up to 170 W combined; actual power varies by scenario. MSI quotes 798 AI TOPS for the GPU.

MSI
GPU switchingMUX Switch and NVIDIA Advanced Optimus

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.

ASUS		—
Display18-inch ROG Nebula HDR Mini LED; 2560 × 1600 (16:10); 240 Hz; 100% DCI-P3; G-Sync; anti-glare low-reflection (AGLR) surface; Pantone Validated

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.

ASUS		16-inch QHD+ (2560 × 1600), 16:10, 240 Hz; wide-viewing-angle thin-bezel panel; 100% DCI-P3

MSI’s family page lists the panel type as IPS-level. 100% DCI-P3 indicates coverage of the wide colour space used for cinema and HDR content. MSI gives no brightness or HDR figure for this SKU.

MSI
Memory64 GB (2 × 32 GB) DDR5-5600 SO-DIMM; 2 slots; up to 64 GB

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

ASUS		32 GB (2 × 16 GB) DDR5-5600; 2 slots

According to the family page, the two slots take up to 96 GB and support up to DDR5-6400; actual speed depends on the memory and processor combination.

MSI
Storage2 TB + 2 TB PCIe 4.0 NVMe M.2 SSD, RAID 0; 2 × M.2 slots

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.

ASUS		1 TB NVMe SSD (PCIe Gen4 x4); 1 × PCIe Gen4 and 1 × PCIe Gen5 M.2 slot

The free slot can be used for an extra SSD; MSI recommends consulting an authorised service centre for storage upgrades.

MSI
Ports2 × Thunderbolt 5 (USB-C; DisplayPort, Power Delivery, G-SYNC); 3 × USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A; HDMI 2.1 FRL; 2.5G LAN; 3.5 mm combo audio jack

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.

ASUS		1 × Thunderbolt 4 (DisplayPort, PD 3.0); 3 × USB-A 5 Gbps (USB 3.2 Gen1); HDMI 2.1; RJ45 Gigabit LAN; 3.5 mm combo audio

The only USB-C-type connection is the Thunderbolt 4 port, which handles both external displays and USB-C power. According to MSI, the HDMI 2.1 output drives an external display at 8K 60 Hz or 4K 120 Hz. There is no card reader.

MSI
WirelessWi-Fi 7 (802.11be, tri-band, 2 × 2); Bluetooth 5.4

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

ASUS		Intel Wi-Fi 6E AX211 (2×2); Bluetooth 5.3 MSI
Keyboard and cameraPer-key RGB keyboard with numeric keypad and Copilot key; 1080p IR camera (Windows Hello) ASUS—
Audio4 speakers; Dolby Atmos; Hi-Res audio; AI noise cancelation ASUS—
Battery and power90 Wh 4-cell lithium-ion battery; 380 W adapter; plus a 100 W USB-C adapter

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.

ASUS		—
Operating systemWindows 11 Pro ASUSWindows 11 Home MSI
LightingAniMe Vision dot-matrix display on the lid; Aura Sync light bar ASUS—
Size and weight39.9 × 29.8 × 2.35–3.20 cm; 3.30 kg

The carried weight rises noticeably with the adapters.

ASUS		—
In the boxROG backpack, ROG Fusion II 300 headset, ROG Gladius III Mouse P514

ASUS notes that accessories can vary by region.

ASUS		—
Battery and adapter—90 Wh, 4-cell lithium-ion; 240 W adapter MSI
Keyboard, camera and audio—SteelSeries 24-zone RGB keyboard (99 keys, anti-ghosting); 720p camera with shutter; 2 × 2 W speakers; microphone array

24-zone lighting allows separate colours for key groups; anti-ghosting aims to keep simultaneous key presses from being lost.

MSI
Dimensions and weight—359 × 266.4 × 21.8–27.9 mm; 2.5 kg MSI
Security—Firmware TPM 2.0; Kensington lock slot; webcam shutter MSI
Warranty—1-year limited warranty (includes 1 year global coverage)

Warranty terms can vary by country of purchase.

MSI