Asus invests in small-format graphics performance

This year’s CES trade show has so far offered processor launches for the portable segment, signed by both AMD and Intel. Nvidia also joins the chorus with the Geforce RTX 3000 series for laptops. With fresh hardware on the market, the result is many new computer models, where Asus is a candidate that invests heavily in performance in a minimal format.

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That computers in 13-inch format are compact and relatively competent stories is not uncommon today, but for those who want high-performance components and dedicated graphics, those interested are referred to larger models. With the ROG Flow X13, Asus ignores this, by equipping the compact package with both the Nvidia Geforce GTX 1650 and the brand new eight-core Ryzen 9 5980HS.

The computer has a 13.4-inch screen that can be configured for a 60 Hz variant with a resolution of 3,840 × 2,400 pixels, or a 120 Hz image update with 1,920 × 1,200 pixels. As you can see, in both cases it is a 16:10 format and regardless of the choice, touch functionality and a surface covered by Gorilla Glass are included. The hinge allows the screen to fold all the way back, or to any position in between.

Despite the high-performance components of the format, it is a neat laptop with a thickness of only 15.8 mm and a weight of 1.3 kg. In an accompanying design video about the computer, it is apparent that a large part of the construction consists of cooling, with double fans, heat conduction pipes, three cooling fins and liquid metal between circuits and coolers.

The Asus ROG Flow X13 will be released in four configurations, where the aforementioned Ryzen 9 5980HS is only available in the two models stamped “Supernova Edition”. The processor differs from 9 5900HS by a maximum turbo frequency of 4.8 GHz up from 4.5 GHz, but both have 16 wires according to the Zen 3 architecture. Just 9 5900HS and 7 5800HS stand for the processor bit in the other configurations.

All variants have a mobile Geforce GTX 1650 with 4 GB of GDDR6 memory, while only the Ryzen 7 5800HS model comes with less than 32 GB of primary memory and 1 TB of NVM Express-based storage – more specifically halved amount. On the battery front, the ROG Flow X13 has a capacity of 62 watt hours, with charging via the included USB Type-C charger of 100 watts. Battery life for video playback is claimed to be 10 hours.

Wireless connections consist of Wifi 6 and Bluetooth 5.1, while the wired ones are two USB 3.2 Gen2 (10 Gbps) of Type-C stucco, an equally capable connection according to Type-A, as well as full-size HDMI output and a 3.5 mm connection for audio. On the left side is also the proprietary connection that Asus calls the ROG XG Mobile Interface – a PCI Express 3.0 connection with eight lanes for use with external graphics cards.

Of course, the manufacturer follows up its home-bought standard with a home-bought accessory, which is named ROG XG Mobile. Unlike most external graphics card dolls, the accessory also follows the compact theme and Asus claims that the volume is 6 percent of the standard format for such dolls, while the weight stays at 1 kg. On the side of the device there are also connections such as Ethernet and more USB Type-A.

However, the minimal format requires smaller graphics cards and these are Nvidia’s mobile Geforce RTX 3000 cards, with the RTX 3080 as the top model. To power both computer and graphics card, ROG XG Mobile has a built-in 280-watt AC adapter.

At present, Asus omits data on price and availability of the compact power packs, but it is very likely that both the computer and the graphics card dock require thick wallets.

What do you think about the combination of high performance and small format? Tell us in the comments thread!