Review of ROG Strix SCAR 15 (2022): Bold Gaming Design, Beastly Performance with Intel Gen 12 Chip, Impressive Cooling

After much anticipation, ASUS has finally unveiled the Strix SCAR 15 (2022), a laptop hailed as a masterpiece in the gaming laptop arena. Combining the power of Intel 12th Gen processors with comprehensive cooling solutions, the Strix SCAR 15 (2022) delivers exceptional performance. So, how powerful is the Strix SCAR 15 (2022)? What's its configuration like? Or how effective is its cooling system? Let's explore the detailed review of the Strix SCAR 15 (2022) to find out!

Note: The version of ASUS ROG Strix SCAR 15 (2022) used for this review is equipped with the Core i7-12700H processor and RTX 3060 graphics card.

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ROG Strix SCAR 15 (2022) boasts a simple yet bold gaming design

Let's skip discussing the performance of the Strix SCAR 15 2022 for now and delve into its design first! In my opinion, the Strix SCAR 15 (2022) features a design that doesn't deviate much from its predecessor.

The front panel of the Strix SCAR 15 (2022) is crafted from metal with the integrated ROG eye logo featuring RGB LED lighting. Additionally, the ROG Slash lines intersecting the letter A serve as a highlight, preventing the front design from appearing plain. In my view, the front panel design of the Strix SCAR 15 (2022) appears relatively straightforward, similar to previous iterations of this series. However, this design still unmistakably portrays the robust appearance of a gaming laptop at first glance.

Additionally, in the top left corner of Strix SCAR 15 (2022), users can easily remove and replace it with one of the three included Armor Cap sets (metal, transparent plastic, and textured plastic). I find the process of replacing these Armor Caps quite straightforward, as they are equipped with strong magnets and securely attach to the device. According to ASUS, users can also customize the Armor Caps with their own designs using 3D printing technology.

I quite like the design of the screen on Strix SCAR 15 (2022). The bezels on the sides and top of the device are thin, with the bottom bezel being slightly thicker. However, the bottom edge design of the screen gives me a sense of sturdiness when using Strix SCAR 15 (2022). The screen of the device measures 15.6 inches, equipped with an IPS panel with QHD resolution (2,560 x 1,440 pixels). Thanks to the IPS panel, even when using Strix SCAR 15 (2022) in backlight conditions, the screen still displays details clearly. Overall, the display quality on the screen of Strix SCAR 15 (2022) is extremely impressive during usage.

The design of the C side on Strix SCAR 15 (2022) also has some impressive features. For a gaming laptop, RGB LED lighting on each key is essential, and Strix SCAR 15 (2022) is no exception. The device boasts vibrant RGB LED lighting, supporting Aura Sync for personalized customization. Additionally, a portion of the C side is designed with a fascinating translucent style, allowing easy visibility of some internal components of Strix SCAR 15 (2022).

A subtle detail I noticed on the keyboard of Strix SCAR 15 (2022) is on the W key. ASUS has designed a small raised circular ridge on the W key, allowing my fingers to easily locate and place it correctly during gaming without needing to look down at the keyboard. This can be seen as a positive aspect of the keyboard on Strix SCAR 15 (2022) when gaming at night. However, one aspect I didn't quite like here is perhaps the navigation keys on Strix SCAR 15 (2022). They are made quite small compared to my hand, making it somewhat challenging to get used to when first using it.

In the Strix SCAR 15 2022 version, the trackpad of the machine integrates the numeric keypad (NumLK) system right on the mouse area. This makes it more convenient for users when they need to enter numerical data without having to use the numeric keypad on the keyboard. Additionally, the trackpad area of the machine is quite wide and smooth, providing comfortable mouse movement when using Strix SCAR 15 (2022).

Furthermore, the Bezel Glow border on the bottom side of Strix SCAR 15 (2022) is also equipped with bright LED lights. Combined with the LED lights on the keyboard, it provides me with an incredibly magnificent gaming corner, especially during nighttime gaming sessions, exuding the ultimate gaming essence.

The latest ROG Strix SCAR laptop models also come with a special accompanying component, the Keystone. This is a physical key with magnetic connectivity, NFC support, neatly tucked into the edge of the chassis. This Keystone will help synchronize my Strix SCAR 15 (2022) with gaming setups and profiles on the machine easily and conveniently. Besides this function, I find the Keystone to be a noteworthy design highlight on Strix SCAR 15 (2022).

Additionally, Strix SCAR 15 (2022) also supports Dolby Atmos and Hi-Res Audio technology for even better sound quality. The machine's connectivity ports remain the same as the previous generation, including 2 USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A ports, 1 USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C port (supporting DisplayPort 1.4 and Power Delivery), 1 RJ-45 network port (2.5G Lan), 1 HDMI 2.1b port, and 1 3.5mm audio port. Especially, this 2022 version has been upgraded with an additional USB Type-C port compared to the previous generation, supporting Thunderbolt 4 standard.

ROG Strix SCAR 15 (2022) unleashes beastly performance with Intel 12th Gen chip

Before diving into performance evaluation, let's take a look at some configuration specs of Strix SCAR 15 (2022)!

• Display: 15.6-inch size, IPS panel, QHD resolution (2560 x 1440 pixels), supports 240 Hz refresh rate.
• CPU: Up to Intel Core i9-12900H 12th Gen.
• Graphics card: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 Ti GDDR6 16GB.
• RAM: 64 GB DDR5 4800 MHz.
• Storage capacity: 2 TB SSD PCIe 4.0.
• Operating system: Windows 11.
• Battery: 90 Wh.

Strix SCAR 15 (2022) (the highest-end version) will harness power from the latest Intel Core i9-12900H chip. Additionally, the graphics performance of the machine is significantly enhanced with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 Ti graphics card. With such specifications, Strix SCAR 15 (2022) can undoubtedly deliver the ultimate gaming experience to users.

Moreover, Strix SCAR 15 (2022) is designed with 14 cores and 20 threads along with a completely new architecture and hybrid design, combining high-performance Performance-cores (P-cores) and power-efficient Efficient-cores (E-cores). With the version equipped with Intel Core i9-12900H 12th Gen, single-core performance is improved by 25% and multi-core performance is increased by 43% compared to the previous generation (tested with Cinebench R20 software).

The Strix SCAR 15 (2022) version I have here is equipped with an Intel Core i7-12700H chip along with an RTX 3060 card. Although not the most powerful configuration, the performance scores delivered by Strix SCAR 15 (2022) are very impressive. In my opinion, surely with the highest-end configuration, Strix SCAR 15 (2022) can deliver even more impressive results. You can refer to some performance results of Strix SCAR 15 (2022) below.

Furthermore, Strix SCAR 15 (2022) impresses me with the latest generation DDR5 RAM, clocked up to 4,800 MHz, and PCIe Gen 4x4 SSD, delivering blazing-fast response and processing speed.

Through these numbers, surely you've somewhat evaluated the power of Strix SCAR 15 (2022). The laptop brings a monstrous configuration with extremely powerful performance in its segment. Besides using software to benchmark the performance of Strix SCAR 15 (2022), I also played some relatively graphically demanding games. The result is that Strix SCAR 15 (2022) can handle most games at the highest graphics settings, with an average frame rate of 60 FPS or higher. You can check out some results below to understand how strong Strix SCAR 15 (2022) is in gaming.

Most gaming laptops are equipped with two types of graphics cards: a discrete graphics card (dGPU) with high performance and an integrated graphics card (iGPU). When we play games, the discrete graphics card will handle rendering frames, while the integrated card will handle displaying image data to the screen. However, historically, there has been an issue where the iGPU is not powerful enough to process data sent from the dGPU, leading to a bottleneck and affecting the machine's performance.

For instance, when playing Valorant on a laptop with an RTX 3080, the laptop's power should enable you to experience the game with a minimum of 300FPS. However, both Intel and AMD integrated cards may struggle to output all 300 frames in a short period, resulting in actual FPS hovering around 200FPS - a figure easily achieved by an RTX 3060.

To address this, ROG has equipped its laptops with a component called the MUX Switch. This chip allows data from the dGPU to be sent directly to the screen, similar to high-end PCs. This helps avoid bottlenecks and reduces latency since data no longer needs to pass through multiple components. I believe gamers who require high FPS in games like CS:GO, LoL, Valorant, Apex Legends, etc., will appreciate this new technology from ASUS.

The MUX Switch can be customized using ROG's dedicated software. Each time it's toggled, you'll need to restart the laptop to apply the changes, but I believe this won't affect gamers who primarily use their laptops for gaming.

ROG Strix SCAR 15 (2022) Impressive Battery Life and Cooling Performance

In addition to the configuration requirements, battery life and cooling capability are also points of concern for many gamers when choosing a gaming laptop. Here, I used BatteryMon software to test the 90 Wh battery of the Strix SCAR 15 (2022). I conducted two different usage scenarios for testing, and the results are as follows:

- Scenario 1: Regular tasks without gaming.

• Battery life: 3 hours 23 minutes.
• Measurement duration: 1 hour.
• Screen at 100%, volume at 70%, and battery saver mode off.
• Keyboard backlight on.
• Bluetooth connection on for keyboard, and USB mouse connected.

- Scenario 2: Regular tasks with 20 minutes of gaming.

• Battery life: 2 hours 41 minutes.
• Measurement duration: 1 hour.
• Screen at 100%, volume at 70%, and battery saver mode off.
• Keyboard backlight on.
• Bluetooth connection on for keyboard, and USB mouse connected.

With these results, I find the battery life of Strix SCAR 15 (2022) quite commendable. For regular tasks without gaming, the battery life reaches 3 hours 23 minutes. However, when combining with 20 minutes of gaming, the battery life achieved is only 2 hours 41 minutes.

Whether gaming or not, in my opinion, the battery life of Strix SCAR 15 (2022) is quite good for a gaming laptop. Additionally, with a 240Hz refresh rate display, this is also a great point for battery life, so I feel okay with this trade-off. However, for a smoother experience, it's advisable to carry the charger for Strix SCAR 15 (2022) when taking the laptop out.

Playing a crucial role in maintaining performance and stable temperatures is ASUS Strix SCAR 15 (2022)'s intelligent cooling system. Opening the back of the laptop, what catches my eye is the system of 6 densely packed copper pipes, covering about 90% of the important component surfaces. The copper pipes are also coated with a matte black layer to minimize oxidation over long-term use.

My favorite aspect of the cooling system in the ROG Strix SCAR 15 2022 model is the use of Thermal Grizzly's liquid metal thermal paste. Historically, the biggest concern with using liquid metal thermal paste has been the difficulty in application and the risk of leakage, which could severely impact the circuits and capacitors. However, by completely automating the paste application process, ASUS has eliminated this risk for users. For those who may not know, the new thermal paste for this laptop is called Conductonaut Extreme, reducing CPU temperatures by up to 15 degrees Celsius!

For a more visual representation, I used the HWiNFO64 software to test the cooling performance of the Strix SCAR 15 (2022). During the test, I performed various tasks such as gaming, working, having multiple Chrome tabs open, and continuously using Photoshop for 1 hour.

The average temperature I obtained for the CPU is 60 degrees Celsius and for the GPU is 62.7 degrees Celsius. A quite impressive result regarding the cooling capability of the Strix SCAR 15 (2022). Despite being equipped with a powerful configuration, the temperature doesn't raise significant concerns during usage. Thanks to its excellent thermal optimization, the performance of the Strix SCAR 15 (2022) remains relatively unaffected even during prolonged use.

Summary

According to the information released by ASUS, the starting price for the Strix SCAR 15 (2022) will be around 54 million VND. Personally, I believe this is a reasonable price considering what the Strix SCAR 15 (2022) has to offer, from its gaming-oriented design with LEG RGB lighting system to its powerful configuration.

What are your thoughts on the Strix SCAR 15 (2022)? Do you think the Strix SCAR 15 (2022) is suitable for your usage and entertainment needs? Don't forget to leave your comments below so that I and everyone else can know. Thank you for reading through my article.

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