ASUS ROG Zephyrus S (GX531): It is the world’s thinnest gaming laptop

The new ASUS ROG Zephyrus S manages to be 12% thinner than the previous version that is the Zephyrus (GX501) and above all, it is updated in the technical data sheet with the presence of the latest Intel Core i7-8750H processor which is supported by the NVIDIA graphics card GeForce GTX 2080 (Max-Q) making the laptop a great match for both work and gaming.

ASUS Zephyrus S: Design, Materials and much more

Let’s start with one of the most important features of the new Zephyrus S from ASUS, that is design. Here the company has tried to reason thinking about the fact that a really powerful gaming laptop doesn’t have to be ugly indeed.

Here the new device has been made with a mix of aluminum and magnesium alloys ensuring a perfect balance between strength and lightness. Starting from a solid block of aluminum and thanks to a painstaking work of CNC milling (consisting of 5 processing steps and 72 minutes to carve the details) it is possible to achieve perfection in wearability but also in rigidity.

Aesthetically there are then copper reflections accentuated with two-stage anodizing. Not only because the hinges positioned below the keyboard guarantee a thin thickness up to the opening of the laptop, when the innovative intake of the Zehpyrus comes into operation.

Finally, ASUS Zephyrus S possesses the MIL-STD-810G military level resistance against impacts and vibrations, a significant plus when using the device in extreme situations.

At the display level, the new ASUS ROG Zephyrus S has a large 15.6-inch display with extremely small frames, and a chassis size capable of not exceeding those of a smaller 14.2-inch notebook. On a technical level, the Taiwanese company has decided to work closely with the AUO panel manufacturer in order to guarantee the best gaming display.

Here in this new S version of the Zephyrus, ASUS, puts a 144Hz display, with reduced blurring and ghosting thanks to a response time of only 3ms. The IPS AHVA level panel also guarantees image quality thanks to a 100% sRGB color gamut coverage: color fidelity and wide viewing angles are the order of the day.

ASUS Zephyrus S: An innovative cooling system

Cooling down the critical components that make up Zephyrus S is a difficult engineering job due to the ultra-thin design of the laptop, but it is essential to do it to get the best performance. Here ASUS claims to have developed the innovative Active Aerodynamic System (AAS) which is a system made up of a special air intake that can open under the frame as soon as the laptop cover is raised.

This allows the laptop to circulate cooler air. Moreover, the 5mm air intake system extends over the entire rear of the body, and this only improves the air flow by up to 22% compared to traditional devices.

Five heat pipes placed under the surface are ready to dissipate the heat, which never exceeds 80°C, not only of the CPU and the GPU, but also of the circuits that supply them with energy. Four heat sinks where the thermal energy is conveyed, which also reaches the exhaust vents at the rear corners, doubled compared to the first Zephyrus model.

That’s not all because there is also a special anti-dust tunnel capable of capturing and conveying the dirt particles outside the frame, preventing them from accumulating on the fans.

The double 12V AeroAccelerator fans are made up of 83 blades, 17% more than the first-generation Zephyrus. This together with the shaped aluminum coating of the fan itself allows the airflow to improve. The rotation speeds are determined by an intelligent algorithm based on three modes: the Turbo mode which offers the highest fan speed to take full advantage of the Zephyrus S power during the most intense gaming sessions.

The silent mode which reduces fan speed and energy consumption for less demanding tasks; the balanced mode that offers the right compromise between the two previous modes. Through some keyboard shortcuts, it is possible to switch between the three different ventilation modes.

Gaming is also RGB and ASUS lighting with the new Zephyrus S allows players to customize it according to their preferences or to adapt to the type of game being played. Four independent zones illuminate the keyboard, and some additional LEDs create a slight glow inside the AAS fan.

Aura Sync coordinates the selected colors and effects with any compatible peripherals such as the ROG Delta headphones and the Gladius II Origin mouse, allowing you to customize the entire game configuration quickly.

Operating system	Windows 10 Home
Processor	Intel Core i7-8750H
Graphic card	NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 (Max-Q) 8GB GDDR6 VRAM
Memory	DDR4 2666MHz SDRAM Up to 24 GB (16GB installed)
SSD	512GB M.2 NVMe PCIE 3.0 x2
HDD	N / A
Display	IPS Full HD level panel (1920×1080) from 15.6 “, 144Hz, 3ms, 100% sRGB, Pantone Validated certified
VR Ready	YES
Keyboard	Backlit island keyboard Highlighted WASD keys N-key rollover 4 zones RGB Aura Sync Key travel 1.2mm
Audio	2 2W speakers with Smart AMP technology Integrated microphone
Software	Armory Crate GameFirst V GameVisual Sonic Studio Aura Core XSplit Gamecaster (free)
I / O interfaces	1 x USB3.1 Gen2 Type-C with DisplayPort 1.2 and Power Delivery system 1 x USB3.1 Gen 1 Type C 1 x USB3.1 Gen2 Type A 2 x USB 2.0 Type A 1x HDMI 2.0b 1x combo jack 3.5mm for headphones and 1x Kensington Security Lock microphone
Supply	230W power adapter Type-c support PD 3.0 up to 65W
Wi-Fi / Bluetooth	Intel® 802.11ac (2×2) Bluetooth 5.0 Gigabit Wi-Fi
dimensions	14.17 x 10.55 x 0.62 in
Weight	4.63 lbs.

ASUS Zephyrus S: Raised keyboard and immersive audio

The raised design of the Zephyrus S keyboard not only allows for greater cooling, but also ensures a more comfortable typing position similar to that of a desktop keyboard. Here we have the technology called Overstroke, and the excursion of the keys is 1.2 mm.

This allows for greater responsiveness and a better overall experience in every situation. ROG Zephyrus S, according to the company, guarantees up to 20 million keystrokes and thanks to the N-key rollover each pressure is precise regardless of the number of keys pressed simultaneously.

At the audio level, the new Zephyrus S has an improved system. There are two-front speakers integrated in the upper part of the hinge and characterized by an intelligent amplification technology that keeps the speakers within the thermal and excursion limits, so that the volume can reach higher levels without distorting the sound output or damaging the cones. Not only because at the software level the Sonic Studio III adds a surround sound virtualization for greater sound depth with stereo headphones.

ASUS ROG Zephyrus S: Prices and Availability

The new ASUS ROG Zephyrus S is proposed by the company with the new Intel Core i7-8750H CPU which is supported by a 2666 MHz fast DDR4 RAM and NVMe storage, while the 802.11ac Wave 2 Wi-Fi system connects to networks wireless compatible at speeds higher than gigabits. USB 3.1 Gen 2 Type-C and full-size HDMI 2.0 ports support desktop monitors and large-screen TV, allowing users to connect two additional displays.

In addition, additional USB ports are available to connect various gaming peripherals or external storage and a USB 3.1 Gen 2 Type-A port that offers additional capacity for compatible devices.

The latest version of the eighth-generation Intel Core i7-8750H processor offers 6 cores and 12 threads of parallel processing power that can easily handle complex jobs like compilation, rendering and content creation.

The additional cores provide ample possibilities for multitasking, allowing you to play and simultaneously perform live streaming, record a video or other activities. Not only, because the GeForce GXT 2080 graphics card (Max-Q) increases the performance of different gaming and non-gaming applications that support GPU acceleration.

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