ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 (2020)

ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 (2020)

Manufacturer	Asus
Product family	ROG Zephyrus
Release date	March 2020 (2020-03)
Introductory price	USD 1449 and above
Discontinued	No
Operating system	Windows 10 Home (Upgradeable to Windows 11)
CPU	AMD Ryzen 9 4900HS AMD Ryzen 7 4800HS
Memory	16 GB DDR4-3200 MHz (8 GB soldered + 8 GB SODIMM)
Memory slots	1 user accessible
Storage	1 TB PCIe 3.0 NVMe M.2 SSD
Storage slots	1 user accessible
Display	Screen size: 14 inch Panel type: IPS Coating: Anti-glare Resolution: 2560 x 1440 or 1920 x 1080 Aspect ratio: 16:9 Refresh rate: 60 or 120 Hz Brightness: 270 to 336 Nits sRGB: 91.3 to 93.6 % Adobe RGB: 65.4 to 66.7 % P3: 69.2 to 70.7 % Variable Refresh Rate: FreeSync
Graphics	Nvidia GeForce RTX 2060 Max-Q 6 GB GDDR6 Nvidia GeForce GTX 1660 Ti Max-Q 6 GB GDDR6 Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650 Ti 4 GB GDDR6 Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650 4 GB GDDR6
Sound	2 x 0.7 W tweeters, 2 x 2.5 W speakers with Smart Amp Technology, Dolby Atmos
Camera	Optional FHD 1080P@60FPS external camera
Touchpad	Glass clickpad, 10.5 centimetres (4.1 in) x 6 centimetres (2.4 in)
Connectivity	Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) Bluetooth 5.0 1 x USB 3.2 Gen 2 (Type-C, DP 1.4, power delivery, G-SYNC) 1 x USB 3.2 Gen 2 (Type-C) 2 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 (Type-A) 1 x HDMI 2.0b 1 x 3.5mm combo audio jack
Dimensions	W: 12.75 inches (32.4 cm) D: 8.74 inches (22.2 cm) H: 0.7 inches (1.8 cm)
Mass	3.52 pounds (1.60 kg)
Power brick	180W AC adapter
Battery	76 WHr Li-ion
Keyboard	White backlit
Chassis	Color: Magnesium and aluminum alloys Materials: Magnesium-aluminum chassis Cooling: Twin fans, five heat pipes
Number pad	No
Fingerprint reader	Yes
Facial recognition	No
Website	Asus

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The ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 (2020) is a compact gaming laptop that combines high performance with portability, powered by AMD Ryzen 4000 series processors and Nvidia GeForce RTX and GTX graphics. It is designed for gamers and content creators who require a powerful yet portable device.

Primary Hardware

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Processor

The ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 (2020) can be configured with the following processors:

• AMD Ryzen 9 4900HS with 8 cores and 16 threads, 12 MB cache, and a max boost frequency of 4.3 GHz.
• AMD Ryzen 7 4800HS with 8 cores and 16 threads, 12 MB cache, and a max boost frequency of 4.2 GHz.

The Ryzen 9 4900HS is noted for its excellent performance and efficiency, particularly in multi-threaded tasks, and is tuned to operate at 35 watts to maintain efficiency in the compact chassis. The Ryzen 7 4800HS also performs well, with clock speeds of 3.4+ GHz and temperatures around 77-80 degrees Celsius, making it suitable for demanding applications.

Benchmarks:

• Cinebench R15:
  • Ryzen 9 4900HS: Initial score of 1850 points, stabilizing to 1630 points
  • Ryzen 7 4800HS: CPU 1715 cb, CPU Single Core 186 cb

Graphics

The Zephyrus G14 is available with the following discrete GPUs:

• Nvidia GeForce RTX 2060 Max-Q with 6 GB GDDR6 memory.
• Nvidia GeForce GTX 1660 Ti Max-Q with 6 GB GDDR6 memory.
• Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650 Ti with 4 GB GDDR6 memory.
• Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650 with 4 GB GDDR6 memory.

The RTX 2060 Max-Q provides strong gaming performance, capable of running AAA titles at greater than 60fps and competitive multiplayer games at high frame rates. The GPU is overclocked on the Turbo profile, allowing for good gaming performance in a compact chassis.

Benchmarks:

• 3DMark Fire Strike: 15650 points
• 3DMark Time Spy: 6171 points

Memory

The Zephyrus G14 comes with 16 GB DDR4-3200 MHz RAM, with 8 GB soldered and 8 GB in a SODIMM slot, allowing for dual-channel memory configuration.

The RAM configuration supports smooth multitasking and enhances overall system performance, allowing for efficient handling of gaming and media tasks.

Storage

The Zephyrus G14 is equipped with a 1 TB PCIe 3.0 NVMe M.2 SSD, providing ample space for games and applications.

The SSD offers good performance, though not as fast as some competitors, but it is sufficient for gaming and general use.

Benchmarks:

• Sequential Read: 1278 MB/s
• Sequential Write: 1624 MB/s

Input Devices

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Keyboard

The Zephyrus G14 features a backlit chiclet keyboard with moderate key travel and a responsive feel. The feedback is crisp and responsive, making it suitable for typing and gaming.

Touchpad

The laptop includes a glass clickpad measuring 10.5 centimetres (4.1 in) x 6 centimetres (2.4 in). It is smooth and responsive, though some users may find the physical clicks slightly clunky.

Webcam

The Zephyrus G14 does not include a built-in webcam, but Asus offers an optional FHD external camera.

Microphone

The laptop is equipped with built-in array microphones, providing decent quality for video calls and voice recordings.

Output Devices

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Display

The Zephyrus G14 offers two display options:

• 14-inch WQHD (2560 x 1440) IPS-level, 60 Hz, anti-glare, Pantone Validated.
• 14-inch FHD (1920 x 1080) IPS-level, 120 Hz, anti-glare, Pantone Validated.

The displays provide good brightness and color accuracy, suitable for gaming and media consumption. The FHD panel is brighter but has middling response times, making it less ideal for fast-paced gaming.

Audio

The Zephyrus G14 is equipped with quad speakers, including two 0.7 W tweeters and two 2.5 W speakers with Smart Amp Technology and Dolby Atmos support. The audio is loud and punchy for a small laptop, providing a good audio experience for media consumption.

Connectivity

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WiFi

The laptop features Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) and Bluetooth 5.0, providing fast and reliable wireless connectivity.

The wireless performance is strong, allowing for seamless online gaming and streaming.

USB

The Zephyrus G14 includes the following USB ports:

• 1 x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C with DisplayPort 1.4, power delivery, and G-SYNC.
• 1 x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C.
• 2 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A.

Display Outputs

The laptop provides HDMI 2.0b and DisplayPort outputs, allowing for external display connections and supporting up to 4K resolution.

Case

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The Zephyrus G14 features a magnesium-aluminum chassis with a sleek and modern design. The laptop is compact, measuring 0.7 by 12.75 by 8.74 inches and weighing 3.52 lbs, making it easy to carry or slip into a bag.

The chassis feels premium to the touch and is built with strong rigidity, though the lid may be more flexible than desired.

Maintenance

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The bottom panel of the Zephyrus G14 can be removed by unscrewing a handful of Philips screws, allowing access to the RAM and storage for upgrades.

Cooling System

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The Zephyrus G14 is equipped with a complex thermal module featuring twin fans and several heat pipes. The cooling system is efficient, but the fans can be loud under load, with noticeable pulsing even in Silent mode.

Heat

The laptop manages heat well overall, though the compact chassis has less thermal room, requiring the cooling system to work hard during demanding tasks.

Energy Management

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Power Consumption

The Zephyrus G14 comes with a 180 W AC adapter and supports USB-C charging up to 65W. The laptop is efficient with daily use, especially on the Silent profile, which helps extend battery life during light tasks.

Battery Life

The laptop is equipped with a 76 WHr Li-ion battery, providing a tested battery life of around 9.5 hours under WLAN use and 7+ hours for browsing. Gaming significantly reduces battery life, with around 1.5 hours during intensive gaming sessions.

Biometrics

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The Zephyrus G14 includes a smart finger-sensor integrated within the power button, providing a convenient and secure way to access the device.

Software

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The Zephyrus G14 ships with Windows 10 Home, with a free upgrade to Windows 11 available. It includes Armoury Crate for system management and performance tuning.

Accessories & Warranty

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The Zephyrus G14 comes with a 180 W AC adapter and optional FHD external camera. Asus offers a one-year limited warranty.

Reviews Summary

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Overall Sentiment

The ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 (2020) is praised for its impressive performance in a compact form factor, making it a standout choice for gamers and content creators. It combines high performance with portability, though some users may find the fan noise and flexible lid to be drawbacks.

Problems Summary

• Fan noise can be loud under load.
• Flexible lid may affect overall user experience.
• No built-in webcam, optional external camera available.
• Limited GPU/screen options compared to larger models.

Links

Ryzen 9 4900HS, RTX 2060 Max-Q, 16 GB RAM, 1 TB SSD: PCMag, Ultrabookreview, Notebookcheck