"A gaming laptop shouldn’t need to pretend it’s aimed at style-conscious users who like to show off their gadgets in coffee houses, and the ASUS G73W certainly wears its gaming heart on its sleeve"
Matthias Scherer
Modelled after a fighter jet, the ASUS G73W laptop is a pretty mean gaming machine. It is basically a slightly improved version of the ASUS G73JH, in terms of processing and graphics, but still weighs around a ton.
What we like best
One powerful feature of the ASUS G73W is its USB 3.0 “superspeed” port, which allows for a data transfer rate ten times as big as the USB 2.0 rate of 480Mbps. You’ll be able to transfer large files ridiculously quick and charge external devices in less time, too.
The laptop’s design will probably divide people – some will be turned off by the almost weapon-like, fingerprint-resistant and rubbery exterior, others will appreciate the lack of concessions to the aesthetic consensus. We think that a gaming laptop shouldn’t need to pretend it’s aimed at style-conscious users who like to show off their gadgets in coffee houses, and the ASUS G73W certainly wears its gaming heart on its sleeve.
Users will be satisfied with the glossy, 17.3 inch, full HD-supporting display (resolution 1920 x 1080), and its cooperation with the GeForce GTX 460 graphics card (which has a whopping 1536 Mb video memory)– everything from background scenery and landscape details to explosions and colours will look fantastic on the ASUS G73W, as will HD streams and Blu-ray movies.
It’s almost superfluous to mention, but the performance is strong to the point of being brutal – i.e., ideal for playing games. The 1.73 GHz Intel Core i7-740QM processor is the ideal vehicle for your 40 hour-long, soft-drink-fuelled gaming sessions.
As a little plus, there are dual exhausts at the back of the notebook to ensure your gaming isn’t interrupted by overheating.
What we like least
For a laptop that makes the non-haptic elements of gaming (visuals, speed, sound) so enjoyable, the keyboard is surprisingly uncomfortable. There is little space between the different keys, and little definition, so you end up hitting the wrong key a lot more often than you’d like.
And if you do hit the right one, you have to really hit it to get your command across. The arrow keys and the number pad are slightly smaller than the other keys, which is a bit baffling considering they are among the most important keys for gaming.
The ASUS G73W isn’t exactly a beauty in many users’ eyes, heavy, and with a slippery, frustrating keyboard fails one of the most important tests gaming laptops will face. But its sturdy design will endear it to most gamers, and its processing and graphics specifications are beyond reproach. For playing games and watching films, this is a great laptop – although you might want to invest in an external keyboard at some point.
Processor Speed
1.73 GHz
Processor
ntel Coreâ„¢ i7-740QM
RAM
Up to 9 Gb
Screen Size
17.3 inch
Graphics
Nvidia GeForce GTX
Hard Drive Storage
Up to 1.5 Tb
Battery
8-cell Li-ion battery
Multimedia
Mic/Headphone jack
Stereo speakers
Blu-ray combo
Webcam
8-in-1 Card reader
Ports
4 x USB
1 x RJ-45
1 x HDMI
Weight & Size
(W) 420 x (H) x 189 x (D) 310 mm
3.85 Kg
Connectivity
Bluetooth
WLAN
Operating System
Windows 7 Home Premium
The ASUS G73W laptop is quite literally a heavyweight among gaming laptops – at 4Kg, you could kill someone if you whacked them with it. But really, you should use the ASUS G73W laptop for gaming instead, because that is where it excels.
ASUS G73W
The ASUS G73W laptop was modelled on a fighter jet, and it shows. Its dark, rubbery, no-frills exterior is definitely reminiscent of highly effective weapon technology, which will appeal to a lot of gamers. It is equipped with a GeForce GTX 460M (which comes with 1536 Mb video memory), and a glossy, 17.3 inch display with a full HD-supporting resolution of 1920 x 1080. Watching videos on the ASUS G73W laptop is a colourful and fantastic experience.
The ASUS G73W is equipped with a processor that is more than capable of handling the demands posed by modern-day gaming technology – the Intel Core i7-740QM will not bat an eyelid if you spend hours playing shooters or strategy games.
If you want to find out more about this extraordinary laptop and its features, read our ASUS G73W laptop review.
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