Gigabyte Aorus 17X review: High-end internals and a giant screen

IDG / Chris Hoffman

IDG / Chris Hoffman

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    </div></figure><p class="imageCredit">IDG / Chris Hoffman</p></div>

The Gigabyte Aorus 17X is all about power. We tested a top-end model with the fastest CPU and GPU you’ll find on a gaming laptop today. Our review model included Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090 and an Intel Core i9-14900HX CPU – the HX series is based on the previous-generation Raptor Lake and is faster than Intel’s current Meteor Lake hardware. It doesn’t get any higher-end than that on a spec sheet – not unless you choose a gaming desktop over a gaming laptop.

The Aorus 17X we got our hands on also had 32 GB of DDR5 RAM and a 1 TB SSD. Specifically, it was a Gigabyte Aorus 17X AZG 2024 model. It’s worth noting that Gigabyte offers some other variations, including a version of this laptop with an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080 GPU instead of a 4090.

Finally, our review model had a 1 TB SSD inside if. At review time, we noticed Gigabyte wasn’t selling a laptop with this specific configuration on online stores like Best Buy. Instead, Gigabyte is selling an Aorus 17X laptop with all the same specs but a 2 TB SSD instead of a 1 TB SSD for $3,700. If you could find a model with a 1 TB SSD, like our review unit, it might be a few dollars less.

• CPU: Intel Core i9-14900HX
• Memory: 32 GB DDR5-5600MHz
• Graphics/GPU: Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090
• Display: 17.3-inch 2560×1440 IPS display with 240Hz refresh rate
• Storage: 1 TB PCIe Gen4 SSD
• Webcam: 1080p webcam
• Connectivity: 3x USB Type-A (USB3.2 Gen 2), 1x USB Type-C (Thunderbolt 4/USB4 with DisplayPort 1.4 and Power Delivery 3.0), 1x combo audio jack, 1x HDMI 2.1, 1x Mini DisplayPort 1.4, 1x RJ-45 Ethernet, 1x DC power in
• Networking: Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.2, 2.5 gigabit Ethernet
• Biometrics: IR camera for Windows Hello
• Battery capacity: 99 Watt-hours
• Dimensions: 15.6 x 11.5 x 0.86 inches
• Weight: 6.17 pounds
• MSRP: $3,700 as tested

Gigabyte Aorus 17X: Design and build quality

IDG / Chris Hoffman

            <div class="lightbox-image-container foundry-lightbox"><div class="extendedBlock-wrapper block-coreImage undefined"><figure class="wp-block-image size-large enlarged-image"><img decoding="async" data-wp-bind--src="selectors.core.image.enlargedImgSrc" data-wp-style--object-fit="selectors.core.image.lightboxObjectFit" src="" alt="Gigabyte Aorus back open" class="wp-image-2410907" width="1200" height="904" loading="lazy" /></figure><p class="imageCredit">IDG / Chris Hoffman</p></div>

    </div></figure><p class="imageCredit">IDG / Chris Hoffman</p></div>

The Gigabyte Aorus 17X packs a 17.3-inch display into a sleek-for-the-size all-black metal chassis. There’s a splash of color on the back with an “RGB Fusion Light Bar” that syncs to the keyboard’s customizable lighting. Out of the box, the keyboard’s RGB lighting animates, shifting between the different colors of the gaming LED rainbow, but they’re customizable. It’s a good combination of restrained styling with classic “gamer LED” aesthetics, and of course you can turn those LEDs off – or turn them to plain white – if you aren’t looking for the rainbow LED look.

With top-end Intel Core i9 HX CPU and Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090 graphics, I enjoyed incredibly smooth game play when playing Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty and cranking all the ray tracing settings up to their maximum.

Aside from the colorful LEDs, the laptop’s design is reasonably restrained. The Aorus bird-head design appears faintly on the touchpad, and in the form of a silver logo on the laptop’s lid.

IDG / Chris Hoffman

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