Does mobile SLI compare to a desktop-class GPU? - Aorus X7 Pro v5 Review
0 up · 0 down · 0 ratings
Channels and socials
Does the SLI graphics card configuration in Aorus' latest X7 Pro stand up against the recent laptops we've seen with desktop-grade GTX 980s? Corsair link: linustechtips.com Pricing & discussion: linustechtips.com Support us: linustechtips.com Join our community forum: bit.ly twitter.com @LinusTech Intro Screen Music Credit: Title: Laszlo - Supernova Video Link: youtube.com iTunes Download Link: itunes.apple.com Artist Link: soundcloud.com Outro Screen Music Credit: Approaching Nirvana - Sugar High youtube.com Sound effects provided by freesfx.co.uk
The Aorus X7 Pro v5 review begins by setting the context for a crowded high end laptop market where desktop grade GPUs, NVMe solid state drives, and even water cooling docks are entering laptops. The presenter emphasizes the X7 Pro v5’s flagship features, notably its mobile SLI configuration and HDMI 2.0, and frames the comparison against laptops that use desktop-class GPUs. The build is described as slim for a 17.3 inch chassis, with a focus on portability despite a solid weight. Inside, the machine sports an unlocked Skylake Core i7, 32 GB of DDR4 memory, and dual NVIDIA GTX 970M GPUs in SLI, paired with two NVMe drives in RAID 0 and an additional 1 TB HDD. The review delves into the connectivity, including two HDMI outputs, a mini DisplayPort, USB-C, and a variety of USB 3.0 ports, underscoring the versatility for external displays and peripherals. The display, keyboard, and trackpad are examined next, noting a 17.3 inch 1080p 75 Hz IPS panel with G-Sync, a backlit keyboard with macro keys, and a glossy touchpad that some find too grippy. In performance testing, Cinebench reveals the X7 Pro v5 compares favorably to a desktop GTX 980 in several GPU-bound scenarios, while CPU-bound tests show the SLI laptop falls behind a desktop Skylake i7, yet remains competitive. Overclocking results show a stable 4.0 GHz CPU and a +100 MHz GPU offset, though thermal and fan noise increase during intense loads, inviting headphones as a practical workaround. The reviewer concludes that the X7 Pro v5 offers compelling value for its price, delivering strong gaming performance with G-Sync, USB 3.1 Type-C, and an NVMe storage array, and notes that at mid-range pricing it challenges desktop-class GPUs while offering additional features. Overall, the verdict is positive, highlighting the price-to-performance proposition and the feature set as reasons to consider the X7 Pro v5 as a strong option in the gaming laptop space, especially for buyers who want desktop-like performance on the go.
Topics · technology · hardware · laptops · graphics · performance
Questions answered
- What is the key performance takeaway of the Aorus X7 Pro v5 compared to a desktop GTX 980 in GPU-bound tasks?
- In GPU-bound tasks like Crisis and Tomb Raider, the X7 Pro v5 with dual GTX 970M in SLI beats the desktop GTX 980 in several tested scenarios, though the desktop still leads in CPU-bound benchmarks.
- Does the X7 Pro v5 offer features that justify its price relative to desktop solutions?
- Yes, the X7 Pro v5 provides desktop-like graphics performance in a laptop form factor along with features such as G-Sync, USB 3.1 Type-C, HDMI 2.0, NVMe RAID storage, and a dedicated hardware encoder for streaming, which can justify its price for mobile gaming and productivity.