The ASUS 17.3" Republic of Gamers Zephyrus S17 Gaming Laptop is built for users who aren't going to compromise between performance and portability. Unfitting of it's thin, compact design, it's actually equipped with powerful components such as a 2.3 GHz Intel Core i7-10875H eight-core processor, 32GB of 3200 MHz DDR4 RAM, a 1 TB NVMe PCIe M.2 SSD, and an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 SUPER graphics card. Rivaling desktop-like performance, this system can easily take on demanding games on its 1080p 300 Hz NVIDIA G-SYNC IPS display. Connectivity options include USB Type-A, Thunderbolt 3, HDMI, Wi-Fi 6, and Bluetooth 5.1. The operating system installed is Windows 10 Pro.
Design
The ROG Zephyrus S17 features a compact design, but houses powerful hardware. Its internal layout combined with narrow bezels enables a 17.3" display to fit within a 15.6" form factor with an 81% screen-to-body ratio.
300 Hz NVIDIA G-SYNC Pantone-Validated IPS Panel
NVIDIA G-SYNC syncs the display's refresh rate with your graphics card's frame rate output to reduce screen tearing, stuttering, and ghosting for a more fluid experience. A high 300 Hz refresh rate can improve how smooth actions feel, which is important for fast-paced genres like FPS, fighting, racing, and more. Furthermore, this display is Pantone-validated for color accuracy whether you're playing games or doing some creative work on the side.
NVIDIA Optimus Mode
NVIDIA Optimus Mode is a battery-saving mode built for multitasking and general use by accessing the integrated GPU. For full-performance G-SYNC mode, it switches over to the dedicated GPU for increased performance.
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 20-Series Graphics
Based on NVIDIA's Turing architecture, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 20-series graphics card provides major improvements in performance, memory bandwidth, and power efficiency over its predecessor, the Pascal architecture. Moreover, it features dedicated Ray-Tracing cores for enhanced graphical quality and life-like images.
Thunderbolt 3
Thunderbolt 3 is a hardware interface that utilizes the reversible USB Type-C connector. Doubling the speed of its predecessor, Thunderbolt 3 features a maximum throughput of 40 Gb/s when used with compatible devices. The connector also transmits data via USB 3.1 at up to 10 Gb/s, and dual-bandwidth DisplayPort 1.2 allows you to connect up to two 4K displays simultaneously. Additionally, you can daisy chain up to six devices from a single Thunderbolt 3 port.
Cooling
Ultra-slim laptops have little space for cooling. Therefore, ASUS has outfitted the ROG Zephyrus S17 with a liquid metal compound rather than standard thermal paste, a large number of heatsinks and heatpipes, as well as anti-dust self-cleaning fans.
Keyboard
The ASUS Aura RGB backlit keyboard can be customized per-key with a variety of color and lighting effects to suite your style. The keyboard also has N-Key rollover to ensure your multi-key commands are input correctly.
Audio
The integrated audio system features loud bass and a wide dynamic range. It can also support 7.1-channel surround sound for an immersive listening experience. A convenient volume wheel will let users adjust settings on-the-fly.
USB Type-C Charging
When in a pinch and power is low, the ROG Zephyrus S17 can be charged with a portable battery pack. It can also fast-charge portables and peripherals when needed.
Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax)
Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) is the next-gen Wi-Fi standard, improving a variety of features including data rates, capacity, performance in dense environments, and power efficiency.
Windows 10 Pro
Start Menu
After its hiatus in Windows 8, the Start Menu has returned. Utilizing a combination of the traditional menu system and Windows 8's Live Tiles, the improved Start Menu gives you more information at a glance, showing notification information alongside your applications and other pinned items.
Cortana
Microsoft's digital personal assistant, Cortana can answer your questions with information gleaned from both your device and the internet at large. You can type or even talk with her, if your system has a microphone. Using her Notebook, Cortana keeps track of your needs and wants, and she learns over time to improve her information gathering skills.
Microsoft Edge
After nearly 20 years, Microsoft has finally replaced its Internet Explorer web browser. With Microsoft Edge, users can write directly on web pages and share notes with friends and colleagues. It also improves the online reading experience by adding a distraction-free mode and read-it-later functionality. Edge also has built-in Cortana integration; you can have her help you find a restaurant, make a reservation, and pull up directions without leaving your browser.
Windows Store
For Windows 10, Microsoft has unified the Windows Store. Now, apps for PCs, tablets, and phones will all be accessible from one place. And with support for Universal Apps, one version of an app can work across all your compatible devices automatically.
Windows Continuum
Windows 10 was designed for a variety of screen sizes and input styles, and with its Continuum feature, it automatically adapts to fit your needs. A Windows 10 tablet on its own requires a touch-centric approach, but attaching a mouse and keyboard will shift everything to a more traditional interface. You can even attach an external monitor to your Windows 10 phone for a near-desktop experience. But it's not just the operating system; Windows Universal Apps take advantage of Continuum as well.
Xbox on Windows 10
Gaming is a big focus of Windows 10. Xbox integration allows for PC players to match up against Xbox One players on supported games, and if you have an Xbox One, you can even stream compatible titles to your PC. Native support for recording with the new Game DVR feature makes it easy to capture and share your gameplay. The new DirectX12 takes better advantage of multi-core processors, giving games a performance boost, even on older hardware. Windows 10 also features native support for virtual reality headsets, such as the Oculus Rift.
Additional Windows 10 Pro Features
The Pro version of Windows 10 includes all of the features of Windows 10 Home plus many designed specifically for business users, including Hyper-V virtualization, BitLocker disk encryption, and remote desktop access. Devices will also be able to join domains and the Azure Active Directory, and they can even access a specialized version of the Windows Store featuring custom, company-specific applications.