Extreme Laptop Performance: GeForce GTX 1080 SLI Review

[Steve]

Nvidia recently gifted laptop gamers with fully functional GeForce 10 series GPUs. Our coverage of the launch and details on Nvidia's new mobile lineup can be found here, but for those who missed the announcement the big news is that Pascal brings GPUs with near exact specifications to laptops as their desktop counterparts. This is in stark contrast to essentially every other mobile GPU ever released.

In other words, on a GeForce GTX 1080-powered laptop you can expect 1080-like desktop performance, or thereabouts.

To put those claims to the test we received a prototype of Asus' ROG GX800. Those of you familiar with the previous-gen ROG GX700 will know it's an over the top liquid cooled laptop. Well, brace yourself because the GX800 is even more extreme. The G-Sync panel on the new model is larger, the Core i7 processor is clocked higher, there are now three SSDs of the NVMe variety, the keyboard is mechanical and not just the GPU is liquid cooled but also the CPU.

Read the complete review.

 

[Hammayon]

I would want a 17" thin and light laptop with a 1060.

Big screen means movies and games will look great.
Light and thin means I'll take it to school or work everyday
And having a 1060 means I can play most of the games on full spec.
And since it's a 1060, it'll be more affordable.
I wonder if the Dell XPS 15" with have the 1060?

It's about time laptops caught up . Thanks to NVIDIA investing a billion dollars into the 10 series.
If they didn't have such a great lead and profits over AMD, then maybe they would NOT have done it and NOT have advanced the industry this far.

I always thought having competition enhanced industry. But NVIDIA showed that having NO COMPETITION with huge profits invested into research and development also enhances the state of the industry too. Way to go Nvidia!

 

[Theinsanegamer]

"mobile gaming" I dont think asus understands what that means. I mean, this is cool, but who will buy this, when a desktop with dual 1080s would probably be cheaper (ignoring the problems currently associated with SLI)

I always thought having competition enhanced industry. But NVIDIA showed that having NO COMPETITION with huge profits invested into research and development also enhances the state of the industry too. Way to go Nvidia!

I guess you missed the part about AMD still existing, and selling gangbusters with the 480? Also, I wouldnt call higher prices and founders editions "enhancing the industry"

 

[Burty117]

I always thought having competition enhanced industry. But NVIDIA showed that having NO COMPETITION with huge profits invested into research and development also enhances the state of the industry too. Way to go Nvidia!

I guess you missed the part about AMD still existing, and selling gangbusters with the 480? Also, I wouldnt call higher prices and founders editions "enhancing the industry"

I was going to respond to this guy but I assume it was purely a comment to start a flame war...

 

[Spence1115]

So, if the mobile 1080s are performing the same as desktop (which, more or less, appears to be the case), can we get a dual mobile 1080 single card for desktop? They'd fit, right? Or a super small 1080 card based on the mobile version, since that'd be fantastic for mini PCs.

 

[madboyv1]

So, if the mobile 1080s are performing the same as desktop (which, more or less, appears to be the case), can we get a dual mobile 1080 single card for desktop? They'd fit, right? Or a super small 1080 card based on the mobile version, since that'd be fantastic for mini PCs.

Oh myyyyyyyyyyy.... a Dual GPU "GTX 1090" single slot Liquid cooled only card would be insane... But one can dream

 

[poohbear]

Looks like overkill but I'm well aware that there are people out there to whom $5000 is like $5 to most of us, so hey if there's a market all the power to Nvida and Asus.

 

[Kenrick]

Great review Steve! That prototype is really a badass.

I'm hoping Asus can donate one to techspot that and we can make a contest so that avid readers can own one. (wink)

 

[Squid Surprise]

Wow.... My Alienware 18 now feels old and slow... Look to spend at least 7k or more on this laptop though... You can build a much cheaper desktop that performs on par...

Now that we can get desktop performance in a laptop, let's get desktop PRICE in a laptop

 

[Darth Shiv]

That is insane! Great review thanks!

Really excited about the advance in GPU tech in this gen. Almost there on 4k single GPU.

1440p on laptops looks possible on 1060 or greater so that's a great sign. Seeing a lot of screens at just 1080p or 4k but not many at 1440p native.

 

[Phr3d]

It ran How long on battery? j/k, Great stuff, Steve..

 

[gazmatic]

They should make these compatible with mini itx boards. Talk about mobile gaming.

 

[Darth Shiv]

They should make these compatible with mini itx boards. Talk about mobile gaming.

This laptop board is pretty small and they have SLI 1080s. That's pretty mobile!

 

[Mackylos]

A wonderful read. Not very practical a laptop as you say but kudos to the manufacturers for creating it. I am a bit bummed however having recently spent 2.5k on a brand new Alienware 17 R3 with 980m (8gb).

I suspect that in most cases the 1060 will perform similarly to the 980m, though it should be a bit better. I have zero experience with sli but the numbers you show here are impressive. Does SLI normally double performance in the older architectures?

 

[Edin Hidic]

"GPU Operating Temperature (Higher is better)"
Looks like a correction needs to be made.

 

[herpaderp]

I suspect that in most cases the 1060 will perform similarly to the 980m, though it should be a bit better

Absolutely not, a 1060 will be significantly faster. It is already known that a 980 is 30-40% faster than the 980m, and the 6GB 1060 is usually on par with a 980, so you should expect the same performance delta out of these new models.

 

[SirGCal]

Just let me know when I can buy one...

 

[Hammayon]

"mobile gaming" I dont think asus understands what that means. I mean, this is cool, but who will buy this, when a desktop with dual 1080s would probably be cheaper (ignoring the problems currently associated with SLI)



I guess you missed the part about AMD still existing, and selling gangbusters with the 480? Also, I wouldnt call higher prices and founders editions "enhancing the industry"

How is any AMD card comparable to the 1080? They always seem to be farther behind

 

[Nobina]

Wow, so you get desktop like performance from a desktop. Impressive.

 

[Squid Surprise]

Will the official review of this laptop ever be posted? Saw the MSI one today and figure this is comparable (but better and pricier)...