ASUS ROG GR8 Gaming PC Review

First unveiled in Computex 2014, the ASUS Republic of Gamers (ROG) GR8 gaming PC boasts gaming desktop performance in a console-size package with a sleek and attractive design that will appeal to most PC gamers. It sports an Intel Core i7 processor, 1TB hard drive, 8GB RAM, and comes with a free M801 mechanical keyboard and ROG Gladius optical mouse. Is the ROG GR8 worth getting? Find out by reading our full review.

Design and Construction

When the ROG GR8 was first unveiled in Computex 2014, along with its bigger brother, the ROG G20, people were excited primarily because of its bad-ass design. While most PCs go for squarish builds, the new ROG gaming desktops were different and eye-catching.

If I were to describe it I would say it’s alien-like. We’re a fan of the Command and Conquer franchise and this one reminds us of the NOD Obelisk. It’s more angular than squarish and applies Mayan-inspired detailing on the red parts of the chassis.

Speaking of the chassis, the GR8 boasts a sleek and compact 2.5L chassis. It’s significantly smaller compared to your standard PC and won’t take up much desk space. Those who are not familiar might even mistake it for a game console instead of a PC. You can position it in two ways – vertically which is designed to be, and horizontally which looks weird.

On the front we have the power button, the Miracast Receiver button, headphone jack, microphone jack, and two USB 2.0 ports. At the back we have the HDD status indicator, audio jacks, S/PDIF optical out, HDMI, Display Port, Gigabit Ethernet, four USB 3.0 ports, 19V DC-IN, and Side Cover Lock / K-Lock.

Located at the top is the air vent while down at the bottom is another air vent and couple of long strips of rubber for its base. Found on the left side are four rubber nubs when you want to prop it horizontally, while on the right side is the removable panel which gives you access to the HDD and RAM compartment.

The GR8 is mostly made of plastic but features a metallic look with matte finish. As mentioned earlier, one of its best features is its size. It’s relatively light too at 1.284 Kg which makes it easy to transport and carried around in a backpack.

Keyboard and Mouse

The ROG GR8 comes with an optional M801 mechanical keyboard. It is compact in size (at the sacrifice of not having a numeric pad) and comes with a non-glossy finish that resists fingerprints and smudges.

It also has an MX-Grade Red mechanical switch, red backlit illumination with six backlighting modes for low-light gaming environments, and gold-plated USB 2.0 connection. Other features include anti-ghosting technology, N-Key rollover, and a Game / PC mode switching which lets you disable the Window key while playing games.

When used in gaming, the M801 feels very sturdy like it is designed to withstand those moments when you’re in a keyboard rage. It is clicky as well so you will certainly hear and feel your key presses. Performance-wise, it’s very responsive and we liked how we don’t have to press the keys all the way in for it register. It would have been better though if it came with a wrist-rest to make it more comfortable to use.

Now for the mouse, the GR8 also comes with an optional ROG Gladius wired optical gaming mouse. It’s attractive, ergonomic and features a smooth metallic finish and Mayan-patterned side grips, and red illumination. It has Omron switches with easy-swap switch sockets, two-level DPI switch with DPI indicator, Alps scroll wheel encoder, two slide-to-press programmable buttons, and detachable micro-USB cable with secure design.

So far, the Gladius has proven itself very capable when it comes to gaming with the help of its 6400dpi optical sensor. Like the M801 keyboard, it feels durable and responsive. The clicks feel a bit soft though for our liking but doesn’t present as a major issue but more of preference. The DPI switch is very handy but it would have been better if ASUS went for 4 levels instead of just two.

Software and Storage

Running the software side for the ROG GR8 is Microsoft’s Windows 8.1 64-bit which will surely be upgraded to Windows 10 when it arrives. Pre-installed applications are present but mostly are those made by ASUS like the ASUS WebStorage, ASUS AI Suite 3, ASUS MultiFrame, ASUS Secure Delete, ASUS HomeCloud Server, ROG Sonic Radar II, and ROG Game First III. These apps can be uninstalled and doesn’t consume much storage space.

Speaking of storage, the GR8 comes with an internal 2.5-inch hard drive with 1TB capacity. If that is not enough, the GR8 comes with an extra hard drive tray that supports 2.5-inch high-performance SSDs or HDDs. Just remove the side panel, unscrew the tray, and install your drive.

Performance and Benchmark

The ROG GR8 is powered by an Intel Core i7 4510U Processor clocked at 2.0GHz, 8GB RAM, and a NVIDIA GeForce GTX750Ti 2GB GPU. Performance is good and can handle the following games well:

• Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare (Extra Settings, 1920 x 1080) – AVG: 45.55fps
• Far Cry 4 (Ultra Settings, 1920 x 1080) – AVG: 26.78fps
• Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes (Extra High Settings, 1920 x 1080) – AVG: 33.98fps
• Dying Light (High Settings, 1920 x 1080) – AVG: 35.45fps

As for benchmark performance, take a look at the results below:

3DMark
* Fire Strike 1.1 – 3,426
* Sky Diver 1.0 – 9,540
* Cloud Gate 1.1 – 8,965
* Ice Storm 1.2 – 37,341
* 3DMark Vantage – P13,574

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Conclusion

The ASUS ROG GR8 is a powerful gaming machine in a portable yet good-looking package. It’s good for those who want a gaming rig that is quiet, doesn’t take up much space and can be easily moved around. It’s ideal in small offices, bedroom, and the living room. In addition, it comes with a free M801 mechanical keyboard and ROG Gladius gaming mouse so all the user needs to provide is a monitor.

On the downside, it’s not for those who prefer to tinker with the internals of their machine. Surely you can add and replace hard drives and RAM but the GPU and CPU are intact while the rest of the parts are not easily accessible. At Php55,990 SRP, PC builders may also find its price hefty for the reason that they can build a more powerful rig with that budget.

If you are, however, in the market of for a pre-built gaming system that can comfortably run popular games at 30fps in 1080p settings and has little or no plans of upgrading internal PC components, then the Asus GR8 should definitely be on your list.

ASUS ROG GR8 specs:
2.0GHz Intel Core i7 4510U Processor
NVIDIA GeForce GTX750Ti 2GB
Intel HD Graphics 4400
8GB RAM (up to 16GB) Dual Channel, DDR3L at 1600MHz
2 x SO-DIMM
2.5″ 1TB SATA 6Gb/s Hard Drive (7200RPM)
2.5″ x 1 extension bay for additional HDD/SSD
802.11a/b/g/n/ac , Built-in Miracast receiver
Intel Ethernet, 10/100/1000/Gigabits Mbps
ROG SupremeFX Audio
High Definition 5.1 Channel Audio
Sonic SoundStage/Sonic SenseAmp/Sonic Studio/Sonic Radar II
DTS Connect
2 x USB 2.0
1 x Headphone
1 x Microphone
1 x RJ45 LAN
1 x HDMI
4 x USB 3.0
1 x Kensington Lock
1 x DC-in
1 x Optical S/PDIF out
1 x Display
3 x Audio Jack(s) (Line in/Mic in/Speaker out)
120 W Power adaptor
Windows 8.1 64-bit OS
6 x 24.5 x 23.8 cm
1.284 kg
Price: Php55,990

What we liked about it:
* Attractive design
* Compact form factor
* Decent performance
* Gaming keyboard and mouse included

What we didn’t like:
* Limited upgradability
* Pricey compared to custom-built PCs