ASUS ROG Strix SCAR 18 (2025) G835LX / MSI Vector A18 HX A9WIG-223US

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 Vector A18 HX A9WIG-223US: Vector A18 HX A9WIG-223US: Ryzen 9 9955HX, RTX 5080 Laptop GPU 16 GB, 32 GB DDR5, 1 TB SSD, 18-inch QHD+ 240 Hz, Cosmo Gray. The A9WIG-076US comes with 64 GB / 2 TB and Windows 11 Pro; the RTX 5070 Ti A9WHG and other display options are separate SKUs.

SpecificationASUS ROG Strix SCAR 18 (2025) G835LXMSI Vector A18 HX A9WIG-223US
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		AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX; 16 cores / 32 threads, 2.5–5.4 GHz

This is the Zen 5 version with 64 MB of L3 cache; the 9955HX3D with 128 MB of cache is a separate processor. AMD gives a 55 W default TDP with a 55–75 W configurable range.

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 5080 Laptop GPU, 16 GB GDDR7; up to 175 W with Dynamic Boost; boost up to 2287 MHz

The laptop RTX 5080 is a different chip from the desktop RTX 5080. 175 W is the top power limit for this GPU; with MSI OverBoost Ultra the combined CPU and GPU power reaches 260 W. The GPU is soldered and cannot be replaced.

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		18-inch 16:10 QHD+ (2560 × 1600), 240 Hz, IPS-level panel, 100% DCI-P3

The same family also has SKUs with FHD+ 144/165 Hz, UHD+ 220 Hz and UHD+ Mini LED 120 Hz panels. 240 Hz shows motion more smoothly in fast games, provided the game reaches high frame rates.

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

There are two SO-DIMM slots; MSI supports up to 96 GB. Actual speed depends on the memory combination and the processor.

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)

Of the two M.2 slots one is PCIe Gen4 and the other PCIe Gen5 compatible; a second SSD can be added.

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		2 × USB4 Type-C (DisplayPort, Power Delivery 3.1); 3 × USB-A; HDMI 2.1; RJ45 2.5 GbE; SD card reader; headphone/mic jack

MSI describes the USB-C ports as Thunderbolt 4 compatible. HDMI 2.1 outputs 8K at 60 Hz or 4K at 120 Hz. The USB-A generation differs between MSI documents, so it is not given here.

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		MediaTek Wi-Fi 7; Bluetooth 5.4 MSI
Keyboard and cameraPer-key RGB keyboard with numeric keypad and Copilot key; 1080p IR camera (Windows Hello) ASUSSteelSeries 26-zone RGB keyboard (99 keys, with number pad); IR FHD camera with privacy shutter

The IR camera enables Windows Hello face sign-in.

MSI
Audio4 speakers; Dolby Atmos; Hi-Res audio; AI noise cancelation ASUS4 × 2 W speakers; array microphone MSI
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 ASUS—
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		404 × 307.5 × 24–32.05 mm; 3.6 kg MSI
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—4-cell 99.9 Wh lithium-ion; 400 W adapter

Gaming performance is available on the adapter; power limits drop on battery.

MSI
Operating system and warranty—Windows 11 Home; 1-year limited warranty (including 1-year global coverage) MSI