TEAMGROUP, has created numerous innovative SSD products over the years with its cutting-edge research and development to offer the very best solutions in the storage market. Today it has announced MP44L M.2 PCIe 4.0 SSD, featuring a unique breakthrough cooling technology: the industry’s first SSD label to incorporate graphene copper foil.
This less than 1mm thick Heat Dissipating Graphene SSD Label has received Utility Patents and is tightly adhered to the SSD to provide precise cooling. The design of MP44L M.2 PCIe 4.0 SSD’s heat dissipating graphene SSD label eliminates the possibility of installation interference. Moreover, it allows users to enjoy double the cooling performance and the increased stability of PCIe Gen4 without the need to install additional thermal equipment when it’s paired with an M.2 slot heatsink.
TEAMGROUP’s brand new MP44L M.2 PCIe 4.0 SSD offers a read speed of 5,000MB/s and a write speed of 4,500MB/s and supports SLC Cache technology, which provides over double the operation efficiency of Gen3 SSDs.
The MP44L SSD provides excellent data transfer accuracy due to its LDPC (Low-Density Parity Check Code) technology. It supports Windows TRIM optimization commands and the latest NVMe 1.4 standard. With the allocation mechanism of NVM Sets, PLM (Predictable Latency Mode) and the latest RRL (Read Recovery Level) technology, the SSD’s latency is significantly reduced, and wear and tear at high read and write speeds is also diminished, extending the lifespan of the drive.
TEAMGROUP MP44L M.2 PCIe 4.0 SSD is available in a wide range of capacities, from 250GB to 2TB, to meet the needs of all types of users, whether they are seeking for a PC upgrade or expanding capacity. The first batch of MP44L is expected to be available for purchase on Amazon and Newegg in North America in late August 2022. For more sales and technical information about MP44L M.2 PCIe 4.0 SSD and its patented heat dissipating graphene SSD label, please stay tuned to TEAMGROUP’s official sales channels for the latest news.
The MP44L M.2 PCIe 4.0 SSD will be available in late August 2022. With a starting price of 49.99 USD for the 250GB variant, and up to 287.99 USD for the 2TB variant. Let us know what you think about the TEAMGROUP MP44L SSD and whether or not this is something that you would be interested in getting.
We have had plenty of listings for the AMD Ryzen 7000 series CPUs and the X670E and X670 motherboards from Asus. Now we have got an actual picture of the AMD Ryzen 7 7700X installed on an AM5 motherboard.
AMD Ryzen 7 7700X On AM5 Socket
The picture of the AMD Ryzen 7 7700X was posted by a user on AnandTech Forums. The particular user seems to have gotten a CPU ahead of time and most likely for review purposes. It does tell us that the final silicon is ready which is to be assumed keeping in mind that these CPUs are going to be officially launched soon. We can also see that reviewers have got their hands on samples for testing and reviewing.
You might see a small D at every bottom. This means that this is a non-retail unit. We have seen this on previous review samples. I can deduce that the AM5 socket seen in the image is of an X670E or X670 motherboard since B650 motherboards are far from launch at this point.
I have to say that looking at the CPU installed, it does seem a bit off compared to the CPUs that we have seen in the past. But if this is going to be the future then we should get used to it with time. We can see why the integrated heat spreader is internally called Octopus. Seeing the design, I would imagine that delidding the CPU is going to be harder.
The AMD Ryzen 7 7700X features 8 cores and 16 threads with a base clock speed of 4.5 GHz and a boost clock speed of 5.4 GHz. The CPU is supposed to have a TDP of 105W and should cost around $480.
Asus has confirmed that it will showcase its X670E and X670 motherboards at Gamescom 2022. We should be able to learn more about motherboard pricing at the unveiling. We have confirmation that the following motherboards are included in the lineup from Asus:
Other confirmed motherboards include the MSI MPG X670E Carbon WiFi and PRO X670-P WiFi which will range from 416.50 Euros to 562.19 Euros. Note that these prices are not official and have been taken from retailer listings, so do take this with a grain of salt.
Since the launch of the AM5 platform is around the corner Corsair has announced its upcoming MP700 PCIe Gen5 SSDs that are ready for AM5 and can do up to 10,000MB/s read, 9500, and 9500MB/s write speeds.
Let us know what you think about this picture of the AMD Ryzen 7700X on an AM5 motherboard and whether or not you are interested in upgrading to the AMD Ryzen 7000 series.
Asus is known for making some of the best motherboards that you can buy and we have the listing prices for 9 upcoming Asus X670E and X670 motherboards. These include the Crosshair, STRIX, and Prime variants. It also seems that Gene is making a comeback.
Asus X670E, X670 Motherboard Prices
Credit: @momomo_us
Do note that these are listings and might not be the final MSRPs. These could be placeholders or inflated prices. The following are all the Asus X670 and X670E motherboards that are listed:
Note that the USD pricing is a 1-to-1 conversion and the pricing in the USA could be different. Still, these prices are pretty high but then again these should be taken with a grain of salt as they are not officially from Asus. Asus has confirmed that it will showcase its X670E and X670 motherboards at Gamescom 2022, so we might learn more about pricing at the event.
The ROG Crosshair X670E GENE is the model that seems to stand out. Fans have wanted the GENE variant to make a comeback and it seems that Asus has been listening. This is most likely going to be a high-end MATX motherboard with all the bells and whistles but a bit smaller footprint.
Credit: @momomo_us
Previously, we got listings for the upcoming AMD Ryzen 7000 series CPUs and if we add the price of these new X670E motherboards and DDR5 memory, it seems that upgrading to the new AM5 platform is going to be pretty expensive. AMD is expected to release mid-range CPUs and we should get B650 motherboards around the same time, so that should make things a bit less expensive.
Let us know what you think about these Asus X670E motherboard prices and whether or not you are interested in upgrading.
The official announcement of the AMD Ryzen 7000 series is around the corner and as we get closer to launch we keep getting more and more information regarding these upcoming CPUs. We have got some AMD Ryzen 7000 series CPU price listings that reveal that the processors aren’t cheap.
Note: The Prices mentioned below are in Canadian Dollars and have been converted to USD for estimation. The final USD pricing may vary.
AMD Ryzen 7000 Series CPUs Price
The following are the prices of the different AMD Ryzen 700 series CPUs in Candian Dollars:
AMD Ryzen 9 7950X (Tray) – $1140.99 (893 USD)
AMD Ryzen 9 7900X (Tray) – $777.99 (608 USD)
AMD Ryzen 7 7700X (Tray) – $613.99 (479 USD)
AMD Ryzen 5 7600X (Tray) – $423.99 (331 USD)
Tray means that you only get the CPU for the price. The cooler and the box are not included in the price.
For comparison’s sake, the Intel Core i9-12900K is available for around 589 USD. The Intel Core i7-12700K and Intel Core i5-12600K are available for 399.99 USD and 279.98 USD respectively.
If you want the box too then the following is the pricing in Canadian Dollars:
AMD Ryzen 9 7950X – $1158 (906 USD)
AMD Ryzen 9 7900X – $798 (624 USD)
AMD Ryzen 7 7700X – $631 (493 USD)
AMD Ryzen 5 7600X – $435 (340 USD)
Since these are X series CPUs, they do not come with coolers out of the box and you will need to buy one separately. So do keep that in mind. According to reports, these CPUs will have a higher TDP compared to the previous generation as well. The following is the TDP breakdown:
Ryzen 9 7950X – 170W
Ryzen 9 7900X – 170W
Ryzen 7 7700X – 105W
Ryzen 5 7600X – 105W
Take these prices with a grain of salt as they could change ahead of launch. AMD will supposedly make things official on Gamescom 2022 which is just a few days away. Asus has also confirmed that it will showcase the new AM5 motherboards at the event.
Let us know what you think about the price of the AMD Ryzen 7000 series CPUs and whether or not you are interested in upgrading to this new generation.
As the world dives further into the high-speed DDR5 generation, DDR5 technologies are urged to meet the demands for more reliable and durable products. TEAMGROUP, a world-leading memory manufacturer, continues to pursue advancement and is dedicated to providing an upgraded DDR5 solution to offer higher frequencies to users around the world. Today, TEAMGROUP launches ELITE PLUS DDR5 Desktop Memory with a brand new heat sink design to effectively increase reliability. Furthermore, TEAMGROUP announces a new frequency of 6,000MHz for ELITE DDR5 to further increase operating performance and deliver an ultra-smooth user experience. The ELITE PLUS DDR5 and ELITE DDR5 6,000MHz Desktop Memory will be available to global users via Amazon and Newegg in North America soon.
ELITE PLUS DDR5 Desktop Memory is equipped with a sleek, simple, and asymmetric aluminum heat sink that has been specially designed to be non-conductive and to protect against scratches, acids, rusting, and rotting to provide full protection for the DDR5 module. ELITE PLUS DDR5 Desktop Memory is also equipped with a 1.1V standard working voltage which further reduces energy consumption for each unit of bandwidth compared to the 1.2V in DDR4, providing a more efficient power usage. The DDR5 module is equipped with PMICs for effective power distribution, reliable power supply, and minimal noise interference. The IC supports on-die ECC, a feature that self-corrects DRAM cells for enhanced stability and reliability by reducing risks of information errors.
Leading the DDR5 generation, ELITE PLUS DDR5 modules are designed to be perfectly compatible with Intel and AMD systems and comes with three frequencies: 4800MHz, 5600MHz, and 6000MHz, in single/dual channel options from 8GB to 32GB of storage capacity to satisfy a wide range of user demands. ELITE PLUS DDR5 is expected to be launched in September, 2022, while ELITE DDR5 Memory with its latest 6,000MHz frequency will hit the shelves in August, 2022, both on Amazon and Newegg in North America. Make sure to stay tuned for an opportunity to give your computers a total upgrade in operating performance.
Product
Specification
Starting MSRP (USD)
Est. Launch Date
ELITE U-DIMM DDR5 6000MHz
Single/Dual Channel
129.99
August 9th, 2022
ELITE PLUS U-DIMM DDR5 4800MHz
Single/Dual Channel
45.99
Early September, 2022
ELITE PLUS U-DIMM DDR5 5600MHz
Single/Dual Channel
110.99
Early September, 2022
ELITE PLUS U-DIMM DDR5 6000MHz
Single/Dual Channel
269.99
Early September, 2022
Let us know what you think about the new Elite Plus DDR5 from TEAMGROUP and whether or not you are interested in upgrading to the new memory standard.
There are plenty of options to choose from if you need a monitor and are on a budget. You can pick from VA and IPS displays and even go for curved monitors. In this article, we are going to go over some of the best budget monitors under $200 that you can buy right now in 2022.
Best Budget 1080p Monitors You Can Buy In 2022
The following are some of the best budget 1080p monitors that you can buy right now in 2022:
The Asus VG246H is a budget monitor which is small but comes with impressive ergonomics. It has a low input lag of 7.8 ms and refresh rate of 75 Hz which makes it ideal for casual gamers. If you are a hardcore player then you might be interested in a higher refresh rate monitor.
The Asus VG246H has slim bezels around the sides and the design is pretty minimal. It has decent SDR peak brightness and great gray uniformity. It also supports FreeSync variable refresh rate in order to avoid screen tearing. For video output, you get an HDMI 1.4 port and a VGA port. While this is not a monitor that this the best at anything, it is a great budget 1080p monitor to consider.
The Breakdown
The following is what we like and dislike about the Asus VG246H:
Pros:
Decent SDR peak brightness
Excellent ergonomics
Great gray uniformity
FreeSync VRR support
Cons:
Black can look grey in dark environments
Acer Nitro QG241Y Pbmiipx – Best Budget 1080p Gaming Monitor
The design of the monitor is similar to other gaming monitors from Acer and it does look rather nice. Ergonomically speaking, the stand only supports tilt and there are no features like swivel and height adjustment. If that is important to you then you will want to invest in a mounting arm.
For video input, you get a pair of HDMI ports and a single VGA port. This is a VA panel so while the image quality is decent and the price of the monitor is reasonable, the colors aren’t the most accurate and the viewing angles are not the best. It does have higher contrast ratios which is ideal for content consumption.
This is a great budget monitor with features such as HDR 10, a high refresh rate, and low response times. If that is what you are looking for then this is a great pick.
The Breakdown
The following is what we like and dislike about the Acer Nitro QG241Y:
If you are interested in a curved gaming monitor but do not want to spend a lot of money then the AOC C24G1A is a great option. It comes with a great combination of high refresh rate, low response time, and a curved display. This is a VA panel so while you get a higher contrast ratio, the color accuracy and viewing angles are not as impressive as IPS displays.
The screen has thin bezels and a 1500R curve. The monitor comes with FreeSync support to reduce screen tearing. For video input, you get a DisplayPort 1.2 port, a pair of HDMI 1.4 ports, and a single VGA port. The stand is sturdy and supports tilt and swivel adjustments.
The Breakdown
The following is what we like and dislike about the AOC C24G1A:
The Samsung CF396 is a great budget curved monitor. It only features a single HDMI and VGA output so the port selection is limited but it does come with a headphone jack. The screen supports AMD FreeSync but since the display has a max refresh rate of 60 Hz, you might not even need the feature.
The stands are not the best. The screen can wobble if you use the default stand. You can mount these to the wall if sturdiness is an issue. All things considered, the Samsung CF396 is a great budget curved gaming monitor for 1080p gaming.
The Breakdown
The following is what we like and dislike about the Samsung CF396:
The LG 24MP88HV-S Neo Blade III has a nice clean design and comes with super slim bezels which makes a multiple monitor setup ideal. You can have two or even three of these side by side. This is one of the better-looking budget 1080p monitors that we have seen on the market.
Since this is a budget monitor, it is not going to be perfect. While the stand is sturdy, it only supports tilt. So no swivel or height adjustment. While this is a 75 Hz refresh rate display, there is no adaptive sync so you might encounter some screen tearing when gaming.
For video input, you get dual HDMI ports and a single VGA port. These are outward facing rather than downward, so reaching them is easier. It also has a joystick controller which allows you to navigate the menu. The monitor also packs a pair of 5-watt speakers which provide decent audio compared to the 2-watt speakers that many budget monitors come with.
Since this is an IPS display you great impressive color accuracy and great viewing angles. If you are happy with sticking to 60 FPS for gaming and like watching movies or shows on the side then this is a great monitor for you.
The Breakdown
The following is what we like and dislike about the LG 24MP88HV-S Neo Blade III:
Pros:
Very thin bezels
Clean design
2x HDMI ports
Dual 5 Watt speakers
Great sRGB color coverage
Joystick controller
Cons:
Stand could be steadier
Needs tweaking for 60+ Hz refresh
These are some of the best budget 1080p monitors that you can buy right now in 2022. If you are interested in buying a graphics card to power your display then you can check out our recommended budget graphics cards.
ASRock has officially launched the Intel Arc A380 Challenger ITX custom graphics card. Previously the company only made AMD Radeon graphics cards but that seems to have changed. ASRock has officially jumped onto the Intel Arc bandwagon.
The ASRock Arc A380 Challenger ITX OC is a compact graphics card that comes with a single fan. It is aimed at the small form factor PC market. The graphics card has a boost clock speed of 2250 MHz and features 6 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 96-bit memory bus. It also comes with 8 Xe cores and 1024 stream processors.
While it does have plenty of VRAM for 1080p gaming the 96-bit memory bus might be a limiting factor. According to Intel, the Arc A380 should run games such as League of Legends, Fortnite, and PUBG at 1080p 60+ FPS. While that might be the case, we expect that this graphics card is going to struggle in more graphically intensive titles.
The card requires a single 8-pin power connector and supports PCI Express 4.0. It also supports all the functions of DirectX 12 Ultimate, including hardware-accelerated ray tracing. For video output, you get a single HDMI 2.0 port and 3x DP 2.0.
Previously we saw a model from GUNNIR that did not perform all that well, most likely due to driver optimization issues. The ASRock Arc A380 Challenger ITX OC is retailing for 1299 Yuan ($192) and is only available in China right now. We are not sure when these cards will be available in the rest of the world.
If you are interested in learning more about Intel Arc graphics cards then you can check out our Intel Arc A750 gaming benchmarks.
Steam Deck uses SteamOS which is based on Linux. Some games that use anti-cheat do not run well on Linux devices. So you might be interested in installing and running Windows on the Steam Deck. In this guide, we are going to go over how you can install and run Windows on a Steam Deck.
Installing Windows on the device can have other advantages such as access to Xbox Game Pass, PSN, Epic Games Store and even easier live streaming. Not to mention that you will have a portable computer.
Installing Windows On Steam Deck
Steam has posted drivers to enable Windows 10 on the Steam Deck if that is what you are interested in doing. Most of the drivers are there but there are no audio out drivers which means that you will not get audio from the speakers or the headphone jack when using Windows 10. You can however use Bluetooth headphones.
It is also worth mentioning that you cannot switch between Windows 10 and SteamOS on the Deck. So you will need to uninstall Windows 10 and set up SteamOS again if you want to use it again.
Once you have the drivers proceed to install Windows on the Deck by following the steps mentioned below:
Plug in USB drive to the Steam Deck via USB Type-C port.
Pressing volume down and power buttons at the same time.
Select EFU USB Device and begin activating Windows.
Agree to Windows terms and conditions.
Select custom install.
Delete the largest Partition from the Steam Deck.
Select Drive 0 Unallocated Space.
Note that during the installation process, the buttons and joysticks of the device are not going to work and you will need to use the touchscreen for navigation.
Once you have completed these steps, Windows will start installing on the device and after some time you will be able to use Windows 10 on the device just like any other Windows PC. This is how you can install Windows on the Steam Deck.
Curved monitors provide a unique experience by increasing immersion when gaming and consuming content. Larger displays are also ideal for work and multitasking. In this article, we are going to go over some of the best curved monitors that you can buy right now in 2022 for gaming, content creation, and multitasking.
Best Curved Monitors 2022
The following are some of the best curved monitors that you can buy right now in 2022:
Asus ROG Swift PG35VQ – Best Premium Curved Monitor
If you are interested in a premium curved gaming monitor that checks all the boxes then the Asus ROG Swift PG35VQ is a great option. The monitor has slim bezels around the sides and comes with a variety of connectivity features including an integrated headphone DAC for better audio.
The monitor has a sturdy stand that supports height adjustment, tilt, and swivel but you cannot turn the screen and set it up vertically using the included stand. The monitor features RGB lighting on the back and it also has a joystick to navigate the menus.
It is worth mentioning that while the monitor does support 200 Hz refresh rate, without chrome subsampling that is only possible with 8-bit color, and in that case, you cannot use HDR. You can use 12-bit color up to 120 Hz and 10-bit color up to 144Hz. Only Windows 10 supports 8-bit HDR with RS4 dithering.
With chroma subsampling on you can hit 200 Hz at 12-bit color but you will notice fringing. You can notice this in text but you might not notice it in games. So your mileage is going to vary. It is best to use this monitor at 144 Hz, all things considered, for a better all-around experience.
While this model is a bit old, it still stands the test of time and comes with all the features that you would want. This also means that you can get it at a discounted price.
The Breakdown
The following is what we like and dislike about the Asus ROG Swift PG35VQ:
Pros:
200 Hz refresh rate
Excellent color accuracy
Great HDR
Integrated headphone DAC
Low input lag
Cons:
Expensive
Heavy
Samsung Odyssey G9 – Best For Flight And Racing Sims
The Samsung Odyssey G9 is a massive display and is equal to two 27-inch monitors side by side. It also has a very aggressive curve which means increased immersion when gaming and consuming content. This is a QLED panel so you get excellent color accuracy and viewing angles. You will need a DP 1.4a connection in order to power all the pixels and take advantage of the 240 Hz refresh rate.
At max resolution, you will need to drop down to 8-bit color but you can still use RGB as the color format. This means text readability should not be compromised. There is RGB lighting on the back and the implementation is really good but it is on the back so you will not see it most of the time.
It is worth mentioning that the high 5120×1440 resolution demands top-tier hardware. You will need decent hardware in order to run games on this monitor at the max resolution even if you are not going for the 240 Hz refresh rate.
The Breakdown
The following is what we like and dislike about the Samsung Odyssey G9:
The Asus ProArt PA34VC is aimed at content creators. This is a 10-bit display so it is great for content creation and while it supports HDR the brightness drops with the feature on. So you do not really get a true HDR experience. It has an IPS display so the color accuracy is great and so are the viewing angles.
The Asus ProArt PA34VC has a matte display so most of the reflections are going to be blocked and you will not glaring by lights. It has a dE of less than 2 which is great for color grading and correction. You can also set different color profiles depending on your use case. You can have a different profile for working in the dark and another one for gaming.
The Breakdown
The following is what we like and dislike about the Asus ProArt PA34VC:
Compared to previous models the BenQ EX3501R has thinner bezels, HDR support, and a USB Type-C port. The refresh rate is not 144 Hz but 100 Hz is still decent for gaming. The monitor has a compact stand compared to the competition which means that it does not take a lot of space on your desk.
It comes assembled out of the box so you do not have to set it up and there is a cutout in the stand for cable management. So you can keep things nice and tidy. While you can tilt the screen a bit and there is height adjustment, the flexibility ends there. It does support VESA mounting so you can get a mount for it.
The monitor comes with a light sensor that detects the amount of light around the screen and adjusts the brightness of the display in order to minimize eye strain. You can disable this feature in the settings if you do not want the dimming to take place.
There is no joystick for navigation so you are left to figure out what all the different buttons do. This is a VA panel so you do not get the brightness of the Samsung panels and the viewing angles are not as great as IPS displays. You will also not be taking full advantage of HDR because of the low brightness even though HDR is supported.
The Breakdown
The following is what we like and dislike about the BenQ EX3501R:
The Samsung CF396 is a great budget curved monitor. It only features a single HDMI and VGA output so the port selection is limited but it does come with a headphone jack. The screen supports AMD FreeSync but since the display has a max refresh rate of 60 Hz, you might not even need the feature.
The stands are not the best. The screen can wobble if you use the default stand. You can mount these to the wall if sturdiness is an issue. All things considered, the Samsung CF396 is a great budget curved gaming monitor for 1080p gaming.
The Breakdown
The following is what we like and dislike about the Samsung CF396:
Pros:
Curved on a budget
Decent brightness for the price
Good sRGB color coverage
Joystick controller
Cons:
Limited port selection
Stand only supports tilt adjustment
Gigabyte G32QC A – Best Budget 1440p Curved Monitor
The Gigabyte G32QC A is a great mid-range option keeping in mind that it has a resolution of 2560 x 1440 and a 165 Hz refresh rate. This is a reasonably large display and should occupy your field of view and the 1500R curve is great.
The stand is sturdy but it does take up a lot of space. There is no RGB lighting and the back of the monitor is all black. The display has a nice design with slim bezels but since this is not a premium product, it is mostly plastic.
All things considered, if you are interested in getting a curved monitor for gaming then the Gigabyte G32QC A is a solid option. It is a VA panel but the factory calibration is impressive.
The Breakdown
The following is what we like and dislike about the Gigabyte G32QC A:
Pros:
Curved on a budget
Impressive value for money
AMD FreeSync Premium Pro
165 Hz refresh rate
Cons:
Minor light bleed
These are some of the best curved monitors that you can buy right now in 2022. If you are interested in graphics cards to power these monitors then you can check out our recommended RTX 3060 Ti and RX 6750 XT graphics cards.
If you are looking for high-end gaming performance on the go then you want a laptop that has an Nvidia RTX 3080. This is one of the top-of-the-line graphics cards that Nvidia has to offer right now and it can play pretty much any game with all the settings cranked up. In this article, we are going to go over some of the best RTX 3080 laptops that you can buy right now.
Best RTX 3080 Laptops 2022
The following are some of the best RTX 3080 laptops that you can buy right now in 2022:
The Asus ROG Zephyrus G15 is a very well-thought-out device. When you open up the screen the bottom lifts up in order to increase airflow and keep the components inside cool. The laptop is available in black and white, we recommend getting the black model since the backlighting of the keyboard is white and it is annoying on a white keyboard.
The G15 comes with a fingerprint scanner and the glass trackpad is pretty large and one of the best that I have used on a gaming laptop. The RTX 3080 is paired with the 8-core AMD Ryzen 9 5900HS, so you get incredible multi-core performance if that is what you are looking for.
One of the downsides to this device is that it does have thick bezels around the screen, especially the chin. This is a bummer because clearly, Asus put a lot of thought into the design and the internals but the bezels are not as thin as other devices available right now. The display itself is very good with a 1440p resolution and 165 refresh rate.
Another thing worth mentioning is that there is no webcam. If you need to video call then you will need to get an external webcam or look into a different device. All things considered, this is an ideal laptop that is reasonably thin, light, and packs a lot of power.
The Breakdown
The following is what we like and dislike about the Asus ROG Zephyrus G15:
The Gigabyte AORUS 15G is a very powerful machine that you can take with you. The weight is on par with the 16-inch Macbook Pro which makes it a great Windows alternative. The laptop has a very clean stealthy design which makes it less of a head-turner. The bezels around the screen are very thin but there is a slight chin.
The Intel Core i7-10870H is a bit dated but paired with the RTX 3080, it does deliver great performance and since the CPU is a bit older, you can get this laptop at a discounted price. Both RAM slots are accessible and there are 2 M.2 slots. One is populated and there is an extra one for storage expansion. The Wi-Fi card can be swapped as well.
The keyboard is a bit squashed together. While there is a Numpad, the keys can feel cramped. So this can be a hit or a miss depending on what you are used to. Another thing to keep in mind is that the webcam is located at the bottom of the screen or on the top portion of the keyboard which does not provide the ideal angle when video calling.
The Breakdown
The following is what we like and dislike about the Gigabyte AORUS 15G:
The MSI GS76 Stealth is a 17-inch model so you get a bigger screen compared to other models on this list. The laptop has a matt black finish and looks very stealthy. Corners and edges are rounded off. The laptop is pretty thin coming in between the Aero 17 and Razer Blade Pro 17.
The laptop does come with a webcam in its proper location which is great. Previous models did have some keyboard sag while typing but that has been improved a lot and there is no keyboard flex while typing. The laptop is fairly simple to open but since the motherboard is inverted you only have easy access to the storage and Wi-Fi card.
Battery life is not great when gaming and you can play intensive titles for around 1.5 hours. You can however watch videos and stream content for around 5 hours before the battery drains entirely.
The Breakdown
The following is what we like and dislike about the MSI GS76 Stealth:
The Razer Blade 14 has one of the best build quality and comes in a metal design. This does make it a fingerprint magnet but it feels amazing. It also has a very satisfying snap sound when closing the lid. It is pretty thin and light even when compared to the Asus ROG Zephyrus G15.
The RTX 3080 is paired with the 8-core AMD Ryzen 9 5900HS, so you get incredible multi-core performance if that is what you are looking for. The webcam is on the top of the screen which is great. The keyboard is one of the best on the market right now and has per-key RGB lighting.
The glass trackpad is pretty high and is nice and accurate. There are speakers on both sides of the keyboard but the sound quality of mediocre with not a lot of base. It is worth mentioning that while you can open up the laptop and swap the storage and Wi-Fi card, the RAM is soldered on and cannot be upgraded.
All things considered, this is a great performing machine that has a small footprint. If portability is important to you then this is a great option. The downside is that the RAM cannot be upgraded.
The Breakdown
The following is what we like and dislike about the Razer Blade 14:
The Asus ROG Strix Scar 15 does not focus on being thin and light but provides better gaming performance instead. The back of the screen has a shiny ROG logo that has RGB lighting. The device is made of plastic but it does not feel cheap. There is a massive RGB lighting bar under the screen and the base of the laptop that provides an underglow.
The right side of the device is translucent and you can see through it. It is prone to fingerprints. The keyboard has optical switches so the keys are fast and tactile but they are loud as well. One of the cool features of that laptop is that the trackpad can turn into a Numpad if you press the Numlock button on it.
The RTX 3080 is paired with the 8-core AMD Ryzen 9 5900HS, so you get incredible multi-core performance if that is what you are looking for. The performance is great and the fans do not get too loud either. The laptop does not have a webcam so if you want to do video calls then you will need to get an external webcam or look into another device.
The Breakdown
The following is what we like and dislike about the Asus ROG Strix Scar 15 (2021):
Pros:
Tactile keys
Flashy design
Upgradable RAM and SSDs
Decent thermals
Easily accessible storage and Wi-Fi card
Cons:
Fingerprint magnet
Plastic build
Power button does not have fingerprint reader
No Thunderbold 3 support
No webcam
These are some of the best RTX 3080 laptops that you can buy right now. If you are interested in a desktop gaming PC build then you can check out our recommended RTX 3080 and RX 6750 XT graphics cards.
