ASUS Republic of Gamers (ROG) has announced their latest 17.3-inch addition to the ROG Strix gaming laptop lineup, the Strix SCAR II (GL704).
Strix SCAR II puts an industry-leading 17.3-inch display — with a 144Hz refresh rate, 3ms response time, and complete sRGB coverage, delivering immersive visuals. The Strix SCAR II GL704 is equipped with powerful components and innovative features including the latest 8th Generation Intel® processors — up to Core i7-8750H — and an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 GPU with 6GB of video RAM. Strix SCAR II also includes ROG RangeBoost technology. The HyperCool Pro cooling system incorporates three heatsinks and two fans, ensuring optimal system performance. All of this packed into a 15.7-inch chassis while sporting durable camouflage and Kevlar textures adorning the chassis, having drawn inspiration from FPS games.
ROG set a new standard for gaming laptops by framing an ultrafast display panel with super-narrow bezels in the 15.6-inch versions of Strix SCAR II and Hero II (GL504). Strix SCAR II (GL704) continues this trend, and is the first 17.3-inch laptop under 400 mm wide. The 7.05mm borders are up to 50% narrower than those found on other 17-inch gaming laptops on the market.
Stacked with features for gaming versatility
The Strix SCAR II comes loaded with features that provide a versatile and complete gaming experience. Intel’s latest 802.11ac Wave 2 Wi-Fi uses faster frequencies for link speeds up to 1.73Gbps with compatible routers, so now the wireless connection can download games and updates as quickly as a wired one. Strix SCAR II will also have four USB Type-A ports, a reversible USB Type-C™ (USB-C™) port, a Mini DisplayPort connection that supports G-SYNC gaming monitors, and an HDMI 2.0 port that can drive 4K UHD monitors and big-screen TVs at 60Hz.
Internal storage is split between a speedy M.2 NVMe® SSD, plus an optional secondary 1TB solid-state hybrid drive (SSHD). The speakers are powered by smart amplifier technology that lets users turn up the volume without fear of blowing the voice coils.
Laptops have limited space to dissipate heat, so ASUS has devoted significant effort into cutting-edge cooling. The HyperCool Pro cooling system spreads across three heatsinks and two fans. One heatsink is linked exclusively to the GPU to handle the additional heat produced by typical gaming loads. The other two are shared to ensure optimal cooling performance with a wide range of scenarios, including situations where the CPU is doing most of the work. Patented trapezoid cuts in the lid ensure that the flow of warm air out the exhaust vents at the back is not impeded.
Aesthetically, the Strix SCAR II is designed with FPS gaming in mind, with contrasting Kevlar and camouflage textures created with an eight-stage IMR process. A hairline finish brushes across the Gun Metal lid, while the copper cooling fins provide flashes of color through the vents.
The keyboard on Strix SCAR II has a desktop-style layout, with a wider space bar and separated blocks of function keys to make shortcuts easier to execute. The keyboard’s switches are rated for 20 million key presses, and Overstroke technology allows them to fire halfway through the 1.8mm key travel for a faster response. These features ensure that the Strix SCAR II keyboard retains a comfortable typing feel for years to come.
Through Aura Sync, RGB lighting can be customized across seven zones: four for the keyboard, two located within the light bar stretching across the front edge, and the last one inside the ROG logo on the lid. The lights can then sync to Aura Sync-enabled peripherals such as the Strix Fusion 700 headset and the Gladius II Origin mouse.
replacing the ROG Game Center is the Armoury Crate. Armoury Crate currently covers system settings and Aura Sync lighting, and users can save changes to one of four profiles that automatically load their preferences for specific games and applications. The companion Mobile Dashboard extends the interface to Android™ and iOS devices, allowing remote monitoring and adjustments
Availability & Pricing
ROG Game Center will be available before the end of Q3 in all ROG stores nationwide.