•  Date Published: 24 Apr 2025
    • Intel Core i9-14900HX
    • NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 (Laptop, 175W)
    • 18.0", WQXGA (2560 x 1600), 240 Hz, Mini LED
    • 4000GB SSD
    • 64GB RAM
    • 3.10 kg (6.8 lbs)
    8.5
    TOTAL SCORE
    8.2 Portability Excellent
    8.0 Display Excellent
    8.6 For Work Excellent
    9.1 For Gaming EXCEPTIONAL

    Review

    ASUS ROG Strix SCAR 18 in-depth review

    As always, big gaming laptops offer plenty of power and the ASUS ROG Strix SCAR 18 (G834, 2024) is no exception. This fella is full of high-end hardware and features. This includes an Intel Core i9-14900HX, and a choice of the two most powerful NVIDIA RTX 4000 graphics cards with 175W TGPs (150W+25W Dynamic Boost). The upgradability is fine, the two SSD slots support RAID 0.The thirsty hardware is cooled by a hefty-looking 3-fan thermal system with 7 heat pipes. The manufacturer has preapplied Conductonaut Extreme liquid metal on both the CPU and GPU chips. Expectedly, the focus here is low temperatures and high clocks during full system combined loads.On paper, the huge 18-inch ROG Nebula HDR Display looks impressive. This Mini LED panel boasts 1600p resolution, 240Hz refresh rate[...]

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    Pros

    • Good upgradability
    • Very good overall performance
    • High CPU clocks and power limits during heavy stress in "Turbo" mode (3.34 GHz P-core clock + 141W)
    • Great "Performance" preset thanks to the lower fan noise and the 2.8 GHz P-core clock + 160W GPU TGP
    • G-Sync + MUX Switch + NVIDIA Advanced Optimus
    • Good port selection
    • Full DCI-P3 coverage + accurate color with our "Design and Gaming" profile (BOE0C58)
    • 240Hz refresh rate and 1600p resolution (BOE0C58)
    • High max brightness of 540 nits (BOE0C58)
    • The Armoury crate app offers tons of customization options
    • Comfortable and quiet RGB backlit keyboard + precise touchpad
    • Decent battery life considering the powerful hardware and the high-res display
    • The fans aren't that noisy even in "Turbo mode"
    • Many customizable RGBs
    • Metal lid
    • Huge cooling solution with a third fan over the chipset

    Cons

    • Thick and heavy (23.1 - 30.8 mm / 3.10 kg)
    • High NVMe temperatures during benchmarking
    • Lacks goodies such as Wi-Fi 7, Gen 5 SSD slot, thermals pad for the memory, and bigger pads for the SSDs
    • The battery connector is placed below the third fan
    • Plastic base
    • PWM-usage (BOE0C58)

    Disassembly, maintenance and upgrade options

    Step 1: Opening the ASUS ROG Strix SCAR 18 (G834, 2024)Ensure the device is powered off and placed on a clean, static-free surface. Remove the 11 Philips-head screws starting from the front, above the LED strap. Use a thin plastic tool to pry the panel up, beginning at the front. Employ two tools if necessary to carefully lift and separate the sides where the LED strap is located, continuing around to the back of the device.Step 2: Battery RemovalLocate the battery connector beneath the lower fan. Remove the two Philips head screws to access the connector. Wear glov[...]

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    DISPLAY: 18.0-inch, 2560x1600, IPS

    • Name
    • BOE NE180QDM-NM1 (BOE0C58)
    • Diagonal
    • 18.0"
    • Pixel density
    • 167.72 ppi
    • Brightness
    • 540 cd/m2
    • sRGB
    • 100%
    • PWM frequency
    • No PWM (Flicker-Free)
    • Panel Type
    • IPS
    • Resolution
    • 2560x1600
    • Becomes "Retina" from
    • 21 inches (52 cm)
    • Contrast
    • 1130:1
    • dE Color Checker
    • 1.4 0.9
    • PWM Rating
    • 10.0: (safe)

    Buy our profiles for BOE NE180QDM-NM1 (BOE0C58)

    In addition to receiving efficient and health-friendly profiles, by buying LaptopMedia's products you also support the development of our labs, where we test devices in order to produce the most objective reviews possible.

    Office Work

    Office Work should be used mostly by users who spend most of the time looking at pieces of text, tables or just surfing. This profile aims to deliver better distinctness and clarity by keeping a flat gamma curve (2.20), native color temperature and perceptually accurate colors.

    Design and Gaming

    This profile is aimed at designers who work with colors professionally, and for games and movies as well. Design and Gaming takes display panels to their limits, making them as accurate as possible in the sRGB IEC61966-2-1 standard for Web and HDTV, at white point D65.

    Health-Guard

    Health-Guard eliminates the harmful Pulse-Width Modulation (PWM) and reduces the negative Blue Light which affects our eyes and body. Since it’s custom tailored for every panel, it manages to keep the colors perceptually accurate. Health-Guard simulates paper so the pressure on the eyes is greatly reduced.

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