You Win Some, You Lose Some

If y'all desire a premium gaming laptop experience, at that place's no incertitude in my mind that you'll get information technology with the Aorus X5 v7. The collection of elevation-end hardware, particularly the overclockable Core i7-7820HK and loftier-resolution G-Sync display, delivers a noticeably better gaming experience over more bones GTX 1070 gaming laptops with the Core i7-7700HQ inside.

The additional CPU power in the X5 v7 doesn't always lead to a ameliorate average frame rate at 1080p, merely it does produce noticeably better minimum frame rates at this resolution, which creates a smoother feel. The difference at times is pregnant, enough that in some games information technology makes ultra settings playable where previously they weren't with the same GPU.

The X5 v7 is simply available with loftier-resolution Thousand-Sync displays, either 1620p or 4K depending on the model. At 4K, the GTX 1070 can struggle to striking playable frame rates at Ultra settings. However if y'all're willing to drop down to loftier or medium, 4K is a realistic option, and G-Sync really helps smoothing out sub-sixty frame rates. With a high-res display, you likewise get the best of both worlds: the ability to play at lower resolutions where the GTX 1070 thrives, and the ability to play at 4K where the GTX 1070 can handle it.

The display on the Aorus X5 v7 benefits from 10-Rite Pantone certification, which we first saw in the Gigabyte Aero 15. This certification leads to meliorate out-of-the-box accuracy than well-nigh laptops on the marketplace.

I'1000 also a fan of the X5 v7's size. It'due south non every bit slim equally Max-Q laptops, but information technology'due south still pretty portable at 2.5kg (5.5 lbs) heavy and 23mm thick. Often when companies produce gaming laptops with HK-series CPUs, they brand them thick and heavy; that's non the case here at all. The keyboard is worth mentioning, too, because it's great to blazon on and has full RGB backlighting. The trackpad… not as good.

The just major issue I have with the laptop is its loud cooling solution, which runs at audible levels fifty-fifty when the workload is light. Some tweaks to the fan bend would improve this, merely it certainly won't go on the system quiet while gaming. You'll need to wearable headphones to cake out the loudness of the cooler under total load, and while this isn't unusual for a laptop, the X5 v7 is at the upper end of the volume scale.

Shopping shortcuts:

  • Gigabyte Aorus X5 v7 on Amazon
  • Gigabyte Aorus X5 v7 on Newegg

To get the Aorus X5 v7'due south GTX 1070 gaming experience, y'all'll need to pay a hefty premium. GTX 1070 laptops tend to first around the $1,499 to $1,699 marker, but the entry-level X5 v7 costs a whopping $ii,399. Of class, you're getting much ameliorate hardware in every regard, though some will certainly notice that $900 margin very hard to swallow. We're not quite hitting GTX 1080 laptop pricing, but this laptop does come pretty close.

Pros: Improve performance than nearly GTX 1070 laptops thanks to its overclocked CPU. High-resolution Yard-Sync brandish with X-Rite Pantone certification. Portable design with a swell keyboard.

Cons: Loud cooling solution. Awful trackpad. Expensive.