Unboxing and Testing the GIGABYTE AORUS 17X Gaming Notebook with i9-13950HX, RTX 4090, and Four Super Crazy Fans

GIGABYTE-AORUS-17X.

GIGABYTE’s latest gaming notebook, the AORUS 17X 2023, features a powerful 13th-generation Intel Core i9-13950HX processor and a high-performance NVIDIA RTX 4090 notebook GPU. It also boasts a unique cooling system with four fins, heat conduction plates, heat pipe chips, and four fans, as well as Advanced Optimus’s DDS dynamic independent display direct connection technology. These cutting-edge technologies are all packed into a slim 2.18cm body. To determine whether this new generation of gaming notebooks can meet the needs of elite players in terms of performance and battery life, we will be putting it to the test with over 20 games.

AORUS 17X AZF Specifications
System: Windows 11 Pro
Processor: Intel Core i9-13950HX 8P+16E 24C32T 5.5GHz 55-157W
Memory: 32GB, DDR5-5600, SO-DIMM x 2, dual-channel
graphics chip: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 Laptop GPU 175W Dynamic Boost, Internal Display Intel Iris Xe
Main Display: 17.3\” 16:9 QHD(2560×1440) 240Hz, Advanced Optimus
Storage Space: 2 x 1TB PCIe 4.0 NVMe M.2 SSD
Keyboard: 100% Size 2mm Key travel, RGB Fusion colour single-point backlight, single-point macro support, glass touchpad
I/O ports: 1 x 3.5mm headphone/microphone, 3 x USB 3.2 Gen2, 1 x Thunderbolt 4 Type-C (PD, DP), 1 x HDMI 2.1, 1 x Mini DP 1.4 (120Hz), 1 x RJ45, 1 x Power Input
Audio: 2x 2.5W speakers, built-in microphone, DTS:X® Ultra surround sound
Network: 2.5GbE LAN, Wi-Fi 6 AX210 802.11ax 2*2 + Bluetooth 5.2
Battery: 99WHrs
Transformer: 19.5V, 16.92A, 330W
Dimensions: 39.6 x 29.3 x 2.18cm
Weight: 2.8 Kg
Video camera: FHD 1080p, support Windows Hello

AORUS 17X Gaming laptop unboxing test / top gauge i9-13950HX, RTX 4090 full blood 175W

The 2023 version of the AORUS 17X is designed to maintain a slim profile. It features a modern, understated black appearance with a clean and precise CNC cutting surface. The AORUS eagle logo with an iris illusion, as well as the RGB Fusion glare light effect on the tail, provide a subtle way of conveying the laptop’s powerful essence. These design elements make it a unique and individual gaming laptop for flagship players.

The new AORUS 17X AZF is equipped with the latest 13th generation Intel Core i9-13950HX processor, which features the same 8P+16E, 24 cores, and 32 threads as the desktop model. It has a maximum Turbo speed of 5.5GHz and a dynamic power consumption range of 55-157W. The independent display chip has been upgraded to the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 notebook GPU, which boasts a full-blooded 175W Dynamic Boost and delivers exceptional high-performance capabilities.

The AORUS 17X AZF also boasts a 17.3-inch QHD 240Hz screen and supports the NVIDIA Advanced Optimus dynamic display GPU switching function. This allows players to switch directly between Optimus (hybrid independent display and internal display) or NVIDIA GPU independent display modes through software. Other impressive specifications include dual-channel 16GBx2, DDR5-5600 high-speed memory, two 1TB PCIe 4.0 NVMe M.2 SSDs, 1GbE LAN, Wi-Fi 6, a 99WHrs battery, and other high-end configurations.

A completely black laptop case.

The surface of the AORUS 17X is crafted from CNC metal, creating a clean and refined texture. The Condor Logo in the centre features “Iris Symphony” micro-nanometer laser (NIL) optical lamination technology, which allows the logo to display different colours and angles depending on the lighting. The rear of the laptop features an RGB Fusion glare lighting effect that adds the finishing touch and highlights the uniqueness of the AORUS 17X thin gaming laptop.

The clean, tangible surface of the laptop.
The rear of the laptop features an RGB Fusion glare lighting effect.
The notebook transformer uses 19.5V, 16.92A, 330W.

17.3-inch QHD 1440p, 240Hz, DDS G-SYNC supports

The AORUS 17X, with its gaming-style design, comes equipped with a 17.3-inch QHD 1440p resolution screen featuring a 240Hz refresh rate. Although it may be disappointing that it does not reach 4K resolution, it is still more than capable of delivering exceptional performance when paired with the RTX 4090 at a 2K resolution. Furthermore, it can still meet the needs of 4K games by using the external DP output.

The AORUS 17X also features the “NVIDIA Advanced Optimus” dynamic switching technology DDS. This technology enables users to switch between Optimus (hybrid independent display and internal display) or NVIDIA GPU independent display mode via the NVIDIA console. Moreover, the switching process doesn’t require a reboot for MUX models, making it more convenient for users.

The “NVIDIA Advanced Optimus” dynamic switching technology DDS also unlocks the G-Sync synchronization function of the laptop screen. When G-Sync synchronization is enabled, the game FPS is synchronized with the screen update rate, resulting in a smoother game image without tearing or jitter.

The handsome 17.3-inch AORUS 17X.

The 17.3-inch screen with narrow borders features a resolution of 2560 x 1440, a refresh rate of 240Hz, and an 8-bit colour depth. It also comes with a factory-built-in screen colour calibration setting (Color Profile) and provides screen colour temperature adjustment in the GIGABYTE Control Center.

The top of the screen also features a FHD 1080p video camera, which supports Windows Hello biometric login and includes a built-in microphone.

AORUS 17X also has an excellent screen performance.
The factory comes with a colour calibration setting (Color Profile).
Screen specifications 2560 x 1440, 240Hz, 8-bit.

With NVIDIA Advanced Optimus dynamic switching technology DDS, you can access the “Manage Display Mode” option in the NVIDIA console. This feature provides three options: Auto, Optimus, and NVIDIA GPU Only, which allows for mixed display use and optimizes battery life performance.

When the player is connected to the power supply, they can directly switch to NVIDIA GPU Only mode, which allows for the notebook screen to be outputted by the independent display, reducing overall delay and enabling the notebook screen G-Sync synchronization function. However, it is not recommended to set it to Auto mode because it will automatically switch according to the program used, resulting in a pause of about 1-2 seconds during the switching process.

DDS switches the Manage Display Mode.
After switching to NVIDIA GPU Only mode, the laptop screen can enable the G-Sync synchronization function. The AORUS 17X also features a single-key RGB backlight/macro, 2.0mm key travel, and a large-sized glass touchpad. The keyboard includes wider keys, a numeric keypad, and function keys. Additionally, it has multimedia keys combined with the Fn key and laptop function keys.

Switching

The keyboard of the AORUS 17X features 2.0mm key travel, providing clear and satisfying tactile feedback for both gaming and document typing. Additionally, it comes with a range of functions such as single-key RGB backlighting and customizable macros. The keyboard is also designed with shortcut keys and other convenient functions.

The touchpad of the laptop is made of glass surface material, providing a smoother touch experience. The left and right buttons are designed to press down and are hidden.

The large-sized laptop keyboard includes both number keys and function keys, and the power key is also designed to be independent.
Glass trackpad.

For keyboard settings, you can find the corresponding functions in the GIGABYTE Control Center. For example, with RGB Fusion, you can adjust the keyboard’s RGB lighting effect, brightness, and speed at the rear of the laptop.

RGB Fusion.

The Macro Center within the GIGABYTE Control Center provides macro recording and customization functions. Users can add macros and set execution modes, delays, and recording command operations, among other features. Simply press the “Record” button to record keyboard operations and then press “Apply” to save the macro.

Macro Center.

To customize keyboard functions, go to the Keyboard Tool setting and select the key to be customized as either a shortcut key or a macro key. Then select “MACRO” and choose the macro that was previously recorded. This allows for the laptop keyboard to be defined with its own personalized functions.

Keyboard Tool.

I/O Configuration: 2.5GbE LAN, USB 3.2 Gen2, Thunderbolt 4, HDMI 2.1 Support 3 screen outputs

The latest version of the AORUS 17X features a unique and powerful 4-fan cooling system, resulting in large cooling holes and cooling fins on the left and right sides of the laptop. As a result, there are fewer I/O configurations on the left and right sides, and most of the I/O ports are concentrated at the rear of the laptop. This design also allows players to connect additional peripherals, such as a mouse, without taking up space on the right side.

The left side of the laptop includes a 3.5mm headphone/microphone jack, as well as two USB 3.2 Gen2 ports. The right side features a USB 3.2 Gen2 port and a Thunderbolt 4 Type-C port, which supports USB PD charging and DP video output. It’s worth noting that Gigabyte recommends using a charging head above 86W when using PD charging to effectively charge the laptop.

At the rear of the laptop, there are HDMI 2.1, Mini DP 1.4, 2.5GbE RJ45, and power input ports. This configuration enables users to connect external peripherals such as a high-speed USB SSD or up to 3 screen outputs with ease. Additionally, the external mouse buttons can be used without occupying space on the right side of the laptop.

I/O on the left side of the laptop.
The I/O is on the right side of the laptop.
I/O on the rear of the laptop.

The laptop is capable of supporting up to 4 screens, including its own screen and up to 3 external screens. These external screens can be connected using HDMI 2.1, Mini DP 1.4, and Thunderbolt 4 Type-C outputs, all of which are output by the RTX 4090. When an external monitor is used, the laptop screen will automatically switch back to the internal monitor for output.

Up to 4 screen usage scenarios.
RTX 4090 is responsible for the external screen output of the laptop.

WINDFORCE Infinity thermal plate and 4-fin cooling fan configuration

The AORUS 17X features the WINDFORCE Infinity thermal plate and 4-fin cooling fan configuration, providing a stronger cooling airflow. However, this can result in higher fan noise levels. The laptop is also designed with larger heat dissipation openings and side air outlets that are much larger than previous models.

The cooling holes on the bottom of the laptop.
The interior of the laptop is configured with a heat conduction plate and a 4-fin cooling fan.
The D part at the bottom of the notebook is designed to take advantage of the trend of heat dissipation for the SSD and chipset. This allows for efficient cooling of these components and can help improve the overall performance and longevity of the laptop.

The laptop features a large heat conduction plate covering both the CPU and GPU, allowing for efficient heat dissipation for the power supply module and video memory. The heat conduction plate also extends above the left and right rear cooling fins, guiding the heat to the side fins through heat pipes, and is supported by 4 fans to provide better cooling pressure.

The thermal plate above the CPU and GPU.
On the left side of the laptop, there are dual fans and cooling fins that extend through heat pipes to improve heat dissipation. This helps to keep the laptop running at optimal temperatures even during intensive tasks such as gaming or video editing.
Similarly, the right side of the laptop also features dual fans, heat pipes, and cooling fins to ensure efficient heat dissipation. This design helps to prevent the laptop from overheating and maintains stable performance during high-demand tasks.

The laptop includes 2 DDR5 SO-DIMM memory slots, allowing for up to 32GB of memory. The notebook uses SK hynix’s 16GB DDR5-5600 memory, which provides high-speed performance and improved overall system responsiveness.

DDR5 SO-DIMM.

The laptop uses its own GIGABYTE AG470S1TB-SI B10, a PCIe 4.0 x4 NVMe SSD with a capacity of 1TB, ensuring fast data transfer speeds and efficient storage capabilities. Additionally, the laptop battery has a capacity of 99Wh or 6514mAh, providing ample power to keep the laptop running for extended periods of time.

GIGABYTE AG470S1TB-SI B10.
AG470S1TB-SI B10 is installed on both M.2 slots.

GIGABYTE Control Center monitoring, performance switching and Ai Boost

The GIGABYTE Control Center is a comprehensive software that provides laptop monitoring, performance, and function-switching capabilities. In the General setting, users can manually switch the operating mode of the laptop, such as Creator, Turbo, Gaming, Meeting, and more. Alternatively, users can enable Ai Boost to allow the software to automatically switch modes. However, based on testing, it is recommended to manually adjust the laptop’s operating mode for optimal performance.

The GIGABYTE Control Center also provides various adjustment functions that allow users to customize their laptop experience. Users can adjust the keyboard lighting effect, keyboard backlight brightness, and screen colour temperature and enable the Ai GPU Boost feature, among other functions. This level of customization provides users with greater control over their laptops and can improve their overall experience.

General Settings.

The Dashboard section of the GIGABYTE Control Center provides users with access to real-time monitoring of various system components, including the CPU, GPU, and RAM. Users can view usage statistics, temperature readings, fan speeds, and battery information, among other metrics, allowing them to keep track of their laptop’s performance and ensure optimal operation.

Dashboard.

The GIGABYTE SSD Tool provides users with access to detailed information about the laptop’s SSD, including usage status, health, and SMART data. This allows users to monitor the health and performance of their SSD and take any necessary action to maintain optimal performance.

SSD Tool.

AORUS 17X creation PR, Blender, V-Ray test

The AORUS 17X was tested for performance while in Turbo mode with FAN Power mode and Display Mode set to NVIDIA GPU only. The laptop is equipped with an Intel Core i9-13950HX, 32GB DDR5-5600 dual-channel memory, and an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 laptop GPU with a power consumption of 175W.

The CPU-Z can display information about the Intel Core i9-13950HX processor, which is codenamed Raptor Lake and has a 10nm process. It is a laptop processor with 8 physical cores and 16 execution threads, allowing for a total of 32 threads. The processor has a maximum boost clock frequency of 5.5GHz and a thermal power consumption of 55W TDP. Additionally, the laptop has dual-channel memory with 32GB of DDR5-5600.

CPU-Z.

The GPU-Z utility provides information about the GeForce RTX 4090 laptop GPU. The GPU has 9728 rendering cores, 16GB of GDDR6 memory, and a GPU Boost clock speed of 2040 MHz. Resizable BAR has also been enabled. The driver version used during the test was NVIDIA 528.49. It is worth noting that the laptop also has an integrated Intel UHD Graphics display.

GPU-Z.

The UL Procyon Video Editing Benchmark test tool was used to test the conversion output of Adobe Premiere Pro 2020. The test was conducted using a 2160p video at 30/60 frames per second, with the output formats being H.264 – YouTube 1080p Full HD and HEVC (H.265) – 4K UHD. The performance of pure CPU output was compared to that of adding GPU acceleration.

The AORUS 17X achieved a score of 8,584 points in this benchmark. With RTX 4090 GPU acceleration, the laptop was able to complete H.264 1080p Full HD output in just 17.5 seconds, while H.265 4K UHD output took only 46.2 seconds. This provides audio-visual creators with extremely powerful mobile capabilities for their creative work.

UL Procyon Video Editing Benchmark.

The UL Procyon Photo Editing Benchmark test tool was used to test Adobe Photoshop and Lightroom Classic. The test consisted of two working conditions: Image Retouching and Batch Processing. The Image Retouching test involved using Photoshop for photo editing, with the time for each step recorded. The Batch Processing test involved using Lightroom to adjust a large number of photos in batches with output.

The AORUS 17X achieved a score of 9510 points in the UL Procyon Photo Editing Benchmark test tool. Specifically, the laptop scored 8139 points for Image Editing and 11114 points for Batch Processing. The laptop’s performance is more than sufficient for video workers to edit photos anytime and anywhere.

UL Procyon Photo Editing Benchmark.

Blender is a 3D creation tool that is open-source and cross-platform. It offers support for both CPU and GPU rendering acceleration functions, as well as a variety of 3D operations such as Modeling, Rigging, Animation, Simulation, Rendering, Compositing, and Motion Tracking.

Using the Blender Benchmark 3.1.0 test, the RTX 4090 achieved a significant increase in the speed of 3D rendering and creation. The GPU was able to produce 4163.93 samples per minute for the monster scene, 2020.7 samples per minute for the junkshop scene, and 2065.4 samples per minute for the classroom scene. These results are much faster than CPU rendering and demonstrate the powerful capabilities of the RTX 4090 in 3D rendering and creation.

Blender Benchmark – RTX 4090.
Blender Benchmark i9-13950HX.

V-Ray is a ray rendering software developed by Chaos Group. It is designed based on the laws of physics and allows for calculation tests on both CPU and GPU for ray-traced rendered images. The V-Ray Benchmark tool is used to test the performance of CPUs and GPUs in rendering tasks.

The RTX 4090 is capable of achieving 2573 vpaths using CUDA operations and 3498 vrays using RTX operations. These results demonstrate the powerful rendering capabilities of the RTX 4090, particularly when utilizing the GPU for rendering tasks.

V-Ray Benchmark CUDA.
V-Ray Benchmark RTX.

AORUS 17X computer performance benchmarks

CINEBENCH R20 and R23 are software developed by MAXON, based on Cinema 4D. These tools are used to evaluate the 3D rendering performance of computer processors and provide a reliable way to quickly evaluate CPU multi-core computing performance.

In CINEBENCH R20, the i9-13950HX achieved a CPU score of 10108 points and a single-core score of 756 points. In the R23 version, the CPU score increased to 26466 points, while the single-core score increased to 1976 points. These results demonstrate the strong multi-core computing performance of the i9-13950HX processor.

CINEBENCH R20 and R23.

Geekbench 6 CPU test is a comprehensive benchmark tool that uses tests such as data compression, image processing, machine learning, and code compilation to estimate the single-core and multi-core performance of the processor. On the other hand, Geekbench 6 GPU test includes image processing, computational photography, and computer vision tasks, along with machine learning workloads, which are performed using the OpenCL API.

The AORUS 17X achieved a multi-core score of 15189 points and a single-core score of 2665 points in the Geekbench 6 CPU test. Additionally, the laptop achieved a GPU test score of 204621 points. These results demonstrate the impressive processing and graphics capabilities of the AORUS 17X.

Geekbench 6 CPU.
Geekbench 6 GPUs.

In the AIDA64 memory test, the AORUS 17X was equipped with dual-channel DDR5-5600 32GB memory. The laptop achieved a memory read speed of 86245 MB/s, and a memory write speed of 76841 MB/s. Additionally, the memory delay was measured at 88.7ns. These results demonstrate the high-performance memory capabilities of the AORUS 17X.

AIDA64 memory.

PCMark 10 is used to evaluate the overall performance of a computer. The test can score the Essentials of basic computer work such as app startup speed, video conferencing, and web browsing performance. The Productivity test evaluates the computer’s ability to handle spreadsheets and paperwork. For Digital Content Creation, the test focuses on video content creation and measures the computer’s performance in photo/video editing, rendering, and visualization.

The AORUS 17X achieved a score of 8735 points in the PCMark 10 test, demonstrating its strong overall performance. The laptop’s scores for general computer work, productivity, and digital content creation were 11482, 10018, and 15721 points, respectively. The highest CPU clock during the test was recorded at 5.48 GHz. These results indicate that the AORUS 17X is a powerful and versatile computer that can meet the demands of various tasks, including basic use, productivity, and digital content creation.

PCMark 10.

The PCMark 10 Application test is a productivity performance test that uses actual software applications, such as Microsoft Office Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Edge, to evaluate a computer’s performance. This test provides a more realistic assessment of a computer’s productivity performance by using real-world applications that are commonly used in the workplace.

The AORUS 17X achieved a score of 16501 in the PCMark 10 Application test. The fact that all programs can be opened and run within 1 second demonstrates the laptop’s strong performance capabilities, particularly for productivity tasks such as paperwork. With such a high score, the AORUS 17X is definitely suitable for tasks that require running multiple programs simultaneously and efficiently.

PCMark 10 Application.

CrossMark is a free, cross-platform computer performance testing tool developed by BAPCo. It supports platforms such as Windows, iOS/iPadOS, macOS, and Android, and is designed to evaluate computer productivity for tasks such as text editing, spreadsheets, web browsing, and creative photo and video editing, as well as computer response speed. CrossMark is a versatile tool that can provide valuable insights into a computer’s performance capabilities across a range of tasks and operating systems.

In the CrossMark test, the AORUS 17X achieved a total score of 2049 points, with 1884 points for Productivity, 2315 points for Creativity, and 1825 points for Responsiveness. These scores demonstrate the laptop’s strong performance capabilities across various productivity, creativity, and responsiveness tasks.

CrossMark.

The AORUS 17X laptop is equipped with a 1TB PCIe 4.0 NVMe M.2 SSD. According to the CrystalDiskMark test, the SSD is capable of achieving sequential read and write speeds of 6906 MB/s and 4592 MB/s, respectively. These results indicate that the laptop’s SSD provides fast and efficient data storage and retrieval capabilities.

CrystalDiskMark.

The 3DMark Fire Strike test is used to evaluate a laptop’s performance for old DX11 API and AAA games. In the mainstream 1080p resolution Fire Strike test, the AORUS 17X scored 30,223 points. The laptop achieved a score of 23,849 points in the 1440p Extreme test, and an even higher score in the 4K 2160p resolution’s Ultra test, with a score of 13,552 points. These results demonstrate the laptop’s strong graphics capabilities and ability to handle demanding gaming tasks.

3DMark Fire Strike.
3DMark Fire Strike Extreme.
3DMark Fire Strike Ultra.

The 3DMark Time Spy test is designed using DirectX 12 API and is also locked at the AAA game level. The AORUS 17X achieved a score of 20,250 points on the Time Spy test at 1440p, and a score of 10,412 points in the Extreme test. These scores demonstrate the laptop’s ability to handle demanding graphics-intensive tasks, particularly in high-resolution gaming scenarios.

3DMark Time Spy.
3DMark Time Spy Extreme.

The 3DMark NVIDIA DLSS test uses the Port Royal ray tracing test scene to evaluate the performance gap before and after DLSS 3 is turned on. By turning on DLSS 3 Performance acceleration, the ray tracing performance of the AORUS 17X can be increased from 30.29 FPS to 120.65 FPS, which represents a significant 3.9x performance improvement. These results demonstrate the powerful capabilities of the RTX 4090 GPU in handling demanding graphics tasks, particularly in scenarios that involve ray tracing.

3DMark NVIDIA DLSS.

AORUS 17X – 4 e-sports games performance test

In the test of 4 entry-level e-sports games including “Rainbow Six: Siege”, “League of Legends”, “APEX Legends” and “CS:GO”, all games were tested at 1440p resolution and the highest setting of special effects. The AORUS 17X was able to perform exceptionally well in all of these games due to its powerful hardware components. With the RTX 4090 GPU, the laptop was able to provide smooth and lag-free gameplay even at the highest settings of special effects, ensuring a seamless gaming experience for users.

The AORUS 17X performed exceptionally well in the e-sports games “CS:GO” and “Rainbow Six: Siege”. With an average of 571.92 FPS in “CS:GO” and an average of 447 FPS in “Rainbow Six: Siege”, the laptop has more than enough performance to handle e-sports games at 1440p resolution. Additionally, the laptop is capable of handling even 4K resolution, making it a versatile option for gamers who demand high-quality graphics and smooth gameplay.

Average FPS of 4 e-sports games.

AORUS 17X – 11 games performance test

The AORUS 17X underwent 11 AAA game performance tests at 1080p resolution and with full special effects. The games tested included racing games such as “F1® 22” and “Forza Horizon 5”, adventure games such as “Tomb Raider: Shadow”, “The Division 2”, “Horizon: Waiting for Dawn”, and “Death Stranding”, as well as demanding games such as “Borderlands 3”, “Doom Eternal”, “Assassin’s Creed: Viking Era”, and “God of War”. The laptop performed exceptionally well in all of these tests, delivering smooth and high-quality graphics even at the highest settings of special effects. Even in demanding games like “God of War” and “Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice”, the AORUS 17X was able to provide seamless and lag-free gameplay.

In the 11 AAA game performance tests, the AORUS 17X achieved an impressive average performance of 141.2 FPS. The laptop was able to deliver smooth and high-quality graphics even in demanding games like “Horizon: Waiting for Dawn”, which averaged 152 FPS, and “Green Blood 2”, which averaged 118.6 FPS with DLSS enabled. Additionally, the AORUS 17X was able to achieve a remarkable 132 FPS in “God of War” through DLSS image quality acceleration, demonstrating the power of its hardware components. In “Crouching Dragon: Fallen Sky”, the laptop achieved an average of 118 FPS, further demonstrating its ability to handle even resource-intensive games.

AAA Game Benchmark.

AORUS 17X – 9 ray-chasing DXR game tests

In the 9 ray-tracing game performance tests, the AORUS 17X achieved exceptional performance. Games such as “Dian Yu Ren Ke 2077”, “Spider-Man: Miles Moras”, “Far Cry 6”, “Evil Castle Village”, “Control”, “Watch Dogs 2”, “Marvel Interstellar Attack Team”, and “Tunnel Tremor: Exile” were all tested at 1080p resolution, with the highest special effects and DLSS enabled/FSR acceleration. The laptop was able to provide seamless and high-quality graphics even in demanding games like “Dian Yu Ren Ke 2077”, with an average FPS of 99.2 with DLSS and 78.6 FPS without. Similarly, in “Spider-Man: Miles Moras”, the laptop was able to achieve an average FPS of 139.6 with DLSS and 70.6 FPS without. These results demonstrate the laptop’s powerful hardware components and its ability to handle demanding graphics-intensive tasks.

The AORUS 17X performed exceptionally well in the 9 ray-tracing game performance tests, achieving an impressive average of 130.1 FPS. In “Dian Yu Ren Ke 2077”, the laptop achieved an average of 122.4 FPS, while “Control” had an average of 124 FPS. “Spider-Man: Miles Moras” had the highest average FPS of 163 FPS. With DLSS 3’s AI frame supplement technology, the ray tracing games were able to achieve better picture quality performance and high performance, further demonstrating the power and versatility of the AORUS 17X.

Light chase game performance test.

AORUS 17X temperature test

In the temperature test, the AORUS 17X was tested in Balanced mode to evaluate its performance during standby, as well as under stress conditions such as the AIDA64 CPU and Cinebench R23 tests, the Time Spy Stress test (GPU), and after playing the game “Dian Yu Ren Ke 2077”. The results showed that the laptop was able to maintain a comfortable temperature throughout all the tests, with the CPU and GPU temperatures peaking at around 80°C and 75°C respectively, during the most demanding tests. Even after playing “Dian Yu Ren Ke 2077” for an extended period, the temperature of the laptop remained at a manageable level, indicating excellent thermal performance.

During standby, the AORUS 17X’s CPU and GPU temperatures were measured at 56°C and 40.9°C, respectively. In the AIDA64 CPU stress test, the laptop’s temperature reached a maximum of 68°C after running for 10 minutes. Similarly, during the Cinebench R23 CPU test for 10 minutes, the CPU temperature reached a maximum of 76°C. These results demonstrate the laptop’s ability to handle demanding tasks while maintaining a comfortable temperature, which is crucial for ensuring optimal performance and longevity of the device.

During the Time Spy Stress test, the AORUS 17X’s CPU temperature reached a maximum of 86°C, while the GPU temperature reached a maximum of 77°C. When playing the light-chasing game “Dian Yu Ren Ke 2077”, the CPU temperature reached a maximum of 83°C, while the GPU temperature reached a maximum of 73°C. Despite the demanding nature of these tests, the laptop was able to maintain a manageable temperature, which is a testament to its impressive cooling system.

Overall, the AORUS 17X’s heat guide plate, four fans, and four-fin heat dissipation configuration are quite impressive. The laptop’s CPU temperature is well-controlled during demanding tasks, and the overall temperature management during gaming is also quite good. However, the fan noise can be relatively high, with a noise value of approximately 56 dBA. While this noise level can still be heard when wearing headphones, it is not uncommon for high-performance laptops with powerful cooling systems to generate some noise during operation.

Laptop temperature test.

During gaming, a thermal imager was used to capture the surface temperature of the AORUS 17X’s keyboard. The hottest spot in the center reached 51.9°C, while the QWER temperature in the keyboard area was only 27.9°C. The palm rest area was relatively close to ambient temperature. This suggests that the laptop’s heat dissipation performance is quite remarkable. However, it is unfortunate that the heat generated at the chipset position below cannot be effectively dissipated through the heat guide plate.

Laptop keyboard surface temperature.
The temperature at the back of the laptop.

AORUS 17X Endurance Test

The laptop endurance test used the PCMark 10 Battery Profile Applications scenario, which involves using Office software to test the actual working endurance performance of the AORUS 17X. The laptop was set to 50% screen brightness, Wi-Fi On, RGB Off, and Optimus mode enabled.

The AORUS 17X has a battery life of 5 hours and 29 minutes when using the manual Gaming Mode, but this is reduced to 2 hours and 31 minutes when switching to the Power Saving Silence mode, as Ai Boost is forced to be turned on in this mode to maximize power savings.

That’s a good point. It’s always better to have more control over the performance of your laptop, especially when it comes to power management. While AI Boost can be useful in certain scenarios, it’s always better to have the option to manually adjust the power settings according to your needs.

Notebook battery life test.

Summarize

The latest version of GIGABYTE AORUS 17X incorporates top-of-the-line features such as the i9-13950HX processor, RTX 4090 graphics card, and DDR5-5600 memory. Furthermore, the upcoming AI supplemental framework significantly enhances gaming performance.

In cases where DLSS is not applicable to a game, Advanced Optimus’ DDS can be utilized to seamlessly switch to the RTX 4090 for screen output. Enabling G-Sync also ensures a consistent and fluid visual display during gameplay. Moreover, the laptop is equipped with two 1TB M.2 PCIe 4.0 x4 SSDs, 2.5GbE LAN, Thunderbolt 4 Type C, and up to three screen outputs, catering to the diverse requirements of users for work, creativity, and gaming.

The AORUS 17X’s latest cooling system design efficiently manages the temperature of both the CPU and GPU, although the fan noise is comparatively louder. Even when wearing headphones, the fan sound can still be audible. The Normal mode is recommended for regular document work and other similar tasks.

In Taiwan, the AORUS 17X AZF is priced at NT$ 109,900, providing gamers with the most formidable gaming performance on a mobile platform available presently.

If this article is helpful for you, please share this article with your friends on social media. Thank you!

This article is based on the personality of the reviews. You are responsible for fact-checking if the contents are not facts or accurate.

Title: Unboxing and Testing the GIGABYTE AORUS 17X Gaming Notebook with i9-13950HX, RTX 4090, and Four Super Crazy Fans

en_GBEnglish