The ASUS ROG Strix G17 offers high performance suitable for intensive gaming, 3D rendering, machine learning, and engineering tasks due to its powerful processor and dedicated graphics. However, it is less portable because of its size and weight. On the other hand, the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 is more portable and offers a touch screen, making it a good fit for general use and lighter tasks, but it may not handle demanding applications as well. The ASUS comes at a higher price reflecting its performance capabilities, while the Surface is more budget-friendly but limited in power and storage. Give Feedback
this description is based on the product variant with some specs and product variant with some specs. At the time of writing, the variant with some specs cost some dollars and the variant with some specs cost some dollars.
Advantages of the ASUS ROG Strix G17
Very good for engineering and design
Very good for gaming and AI
Very good for content creation
Very good overall display quality
Best in class speakers
Very good keyboard
Advantages of the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2
Excellent portability
Good battery life
Key differences
General Use
7.9/10
7.0/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1536 x 1024
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
320.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
401.0 nits
3.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
8.0 Hours
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
5.6/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
9.2/10
The ASUS ROG Strix G17 and Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 are both good for general use, though the ASUS ROG Strix G17 is somewhat better.
The ASUS ROG Strix G17 is highly regarded for general use because it has a powerful CPU and a large amount of RAM, making it responsive for a variety of tasks, along with a high-quality, large screen, which enhances the viewing experience, although its size and battery life impact its portability negatively. Conversely, the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 is more portable with a better battery life and a smaller, touch-enabled screen, but it has a less powerful CPU and less RAM, which may limit performance for demanding applications.
Gaming and AI
8.4/10
6.0/10
8.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1536 x 1024
240Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
Yes
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.2/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.5/10
The ASUS ROG Strix G17 is very good for gaming and AI, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 is only fair.
The ASUS ROG Strix G17 is a strong choice for gaming and 3D due to its high-performing Nvidia RTX graphics and a screen with a high refresh rate, which make for smooth and immersive visuals. In contrast, the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 offers an Intel Iris Xe GPU and a standard refresh rate screen, which suffice for less demanding tasks but don't provide the same level of gaming and 3D experience.
Engineering and Design
8.8/10
6.5/10
9.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.9/10
8.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
The ASUS ROG Strix G17 is very good for engineering and design, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 is only fair.
The ASUS ROG Strix G17 outshines the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 for engineering and design because it has a more powerful CPU, more RAM, and a superior GPU suited for intensive tasks and complex computations, complemented by excellent screen quality with higher resolution and refresh rates. While both devices offer good portability and quality keyboards, the Surface Laptop Go 2 is more portable and has a better battery life but falls short in performance metrics crucial for demanding engineering software and detailed design work.
Content Creation
8.3/10
7.1/10
9.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.9/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1536 x 1024
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The ASUS ROG Strix G17 is very good for content creation, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 is good.
PerfectRec’s Content Creation Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for photo editing, video editing and other content creation tasks.
Software Development
7.7/10
7.0/10
9.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.9/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1536 x 1024
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
The ASUS ROG Strix G17 and Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 are both good for software development, though the ASUS ROG Strix G17 is somewhat better.
PerfectRec’s Software Development Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for software developers.
Screen Quality
8.4/10
6.9/10
17.3in
SIZE
12.4in
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1536 x 1024
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
240Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
320.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
401.0 nits
The ASUS ROG Strix G17 has a better screen than the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
The ASUS ROG Strix G17 has a high-resolution display that offers clear and sharp visuals for engineering and design work, with color coverage that benefits professional applications, but for gaming, its lower refresh rate may not provide the smoothest experience. The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 delivers sufficient resolution and brightness for general tasks and is lightweight for portability, but its smaller color range and modest refresh rate aren’t ideal for color-critical engineering tasks or high-frame-rate gaming. When choosing between the two, consider that the ASUS excels in tasks requiring color accuracy and detail, while the Surface is better suited for everyday tasks with its added bonus of being more mobile.
Battery
3.0 Hours
8.0 Hours
The ASUS ROG Strix G17 has 3 hours of battery life. The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 has 8 hours of battery life.
Battery life estimate is based on a mix of common use patterns. More portable and higher performing laptops tend to have less battery life.
Portability
Poor
Excellent
17.3in
SIZE
12.4in
6.1 lbs
WEIGHT
2.4 lbs
1.2in
THICKNESS
0.6in
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 has excellent portability, while the ASUS ROG Strix G17 has poor portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$1,391
$565
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The ASUS ROG Strix G17 has a price of $1,391 and the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 costs $565.
"The Asus ROG Strix G17 is an attractive but unbalanced gaming laptop. Its potent AMD Ryzen 9 processor excels in 1080p gaming, but playing at 1440p leaves the middling GeForce RTX 4060 GPU shouldering most of the burden. The display is exceptionally colorful, which is handy for content creators, but since this is a gaming laptop it would be better served with improved HDR capabilities. If battery life isn't a priority, the Strix G17 could serve as a designer by day and a gamer by night."
"The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 review is a compact companion with old hardware. The Surface Laptop Go 2 shows some weaknesses. Microsoft didn't really develop the second generation of the Surface Laptop Go 2 any further but has only equipped it with a slightly more powerful Core i5 processor. However, the performance still remains at a fairly low level overall, but for many users, it definitely should still be sufficient for everyday tasks."
Get a great deal on the ASUS ROG Strix G17 or the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2
About ASUS
ASUS, a Taiwanese electronics brand, is one of the largest personal computer vendor by market share. The majority of their laptops are targeted towards personal use or gaming. Their most popular product lines include the budget-friendly VivoBook, more premium ZenBook, and their TUF and ROG gaming laptops, the latter of which has a reputation for excellent gaming performance.
About Microsoft
Microsoft is an American technology corporation. Microsoft is best known for their Windows operating system and Surface laptop series. The Surface Laptop is their standard notebook offering, while their Surface Go, Surface Pro, and Surface Studio are their 2-in-1/tablet offerings in order of increasing capability. Although Microsoft charges a premium price tag for their laptops, buyers can expect a well integrated and packaged device since Microsoft develops the Windows operating system.
This information was produced and vetted by the PerfectRec laptops team. We are a product research and recommendation organization that meticulously reviews and evaluates the latest laptop information and makes it digestible for you.
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