ASUS G72Gx-X1 17.3-inch Desktop Replacement Laptop PC

Jan 19 2010 - The ASUS G72Gx-X1 feels more like a repackaged G71G than a dramatically improved desktop replacement. They have built a new case to house the larger 17.3-inch display and upgraded the processor and graphics for more performance. The problem is that it is still built around the older Core 2 and DDR2 memory. This puts it at a slight disadvantage in general applications compared to the new Core i7 systems in the same price. The one advantage it does provide is a faster graphics processor making it better suited for PC gaming on the go.

Jan 19 2010 - Rather than building a new laptop from the ground-up, ASUS has apparently decided to use relatively time tested platform used in previous G series laptops and upgrade the processor to an Intel Core 2 Quad Q9000 quad-core processor. This certain gives it an advantage in performance over the more traditional Core 2 dual-core processors when it comes to certain applications such as desktop video. The 6GB of DDR2 memory is more than the standard 4GB you see which does help with multitasking. The problem is that there are similarly sized and prices laptops that use the newer Core i7 processors with DDR3 memory that give a better overall level of performance while consumer less overall power.

Storage in the ASUS G72Gx-X1 is a bit different than most desktop replacements in its price range. It provides 640GB of storage space which is above average. It does this by using two 320GB 7200rpm hard drives. This does have certain advantages especially for those that take the time to combine the two into a RAID-0 array. The downside is that these two power hungry drives will consume more power which has an impact on battery life. A standard dual-layer DVD burner is also included.

Gamers will be happy with the overall abilities of the ASUS G72Gx-X1. The 17.3-inch display provides a high 1920x1080 resolution screen that is both bright and colorful. The key though is the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 260M graphics with 1GB of memory. This should allow the system to play most games up to the panel's full resolution without too much difficulty. Some games may be restricted to not having anti-aliasing turned on too high but this isn't much of a problem at such high resolutions.

Battery life is never terribly high for desktop replacement laptops. With the high power quad core processor, the ASUS G72Gx-X1 provides roughly two hours of running time during DVD playback and a slightly higher two and half hours through typical usage. Gamers should expect the lower running time due to the high power consumption of the graphics processor.

Overall, the ASUS G72Gx-X1 is really mixed. The system is well suited for those looking at a solid mobile gaming platform thanks to the higher graphics processor. It also does better than most dual-core processors for general usage. The problem is that with the wide range of Core i7 quad core laptops available for roughly the same price, it just doesn't stack up for general usage. This makes the laptop best suited for those looking at gaming than anything else.