The Asus G73Jh is an aggressively priced gaming notebook capable of handling just about anything you throw at it. What makes this machine special is that it is the first Asus notebook that can offer some stiff competition to Alienware’s M17x.

Asus G73Jh-A2 Specs
CPU: 1.6GHz Intel Core i7-720QM
Operating System: MS Windows 7 Home Premium (64-bit)
RAM: 8GB
Hard Drive Size: 1 TB, 7200 rpm
Display Size: 17.3 inch display with 1920 x 1080 pixels
Graphics: ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5870 with 1GB of VRAM
Connectivity: WiFi 802.11b/g/n, Bluetooth 2.1
Optical drive: DVD /-R /-RW
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The G73Jh is powered by a quad-core processor and ATI graphics with 1GB of dedicated video memory. What’s more, it has a splendid 1080p display, and a full terabyte of storage. And you get all this for $1,599. Similarly configured Alienware M17x costs around $1,000 more.

Design

The Asus G73Jh-A2 comes coated in a black, rubberized material. Its design is inspired by the design of the F-117 Nighthawk stealth fighter.
The lid features an Asus emblem in silver and an etched Republic of Gamers logo below. The notebook weighs 8.8 pounds and measures 2.3 inches in thickness, still it looks pleasantly thin.

Heat and Noise
Heat levels are normal. Despite housing some cutting edge components which are prone to generate a great deal of heat, the machine does manage to remain comfortably cool during long gaming sessions. Noice levels are also normal.

Keyboard and Touchpad

The keys are quite responsive and make typing comfortable. The keys are also well sized. To enhance the gaming nature of this notebook, Asus has included white backlighting and icons on keys commonly used for movement.

The touchpad supports multitouch gestures. It is large. The touch surface is slightly recessed and shows good sensitivity. There is only a single mouse bar, but it is long enough, so you will not have any difficulty distinguishing the right click from the left. On the flip side, the touchpad button feels a little stiff.
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Display and Audio
The G73Jh-A2 has a 17.3 inch display with 1920 x 1080 pixels. Display itself is good. Colors are bright and vivid. There is a button on the upper left of the deck for switching between display modes. Viewing angles, particularly horizontal viewing angles, are extremely good. HD video looks great on the HD display, but standard definition video doesn’t fare just as well. Audio quality is excellent.

Ports and Webcam
There are 4 USB ports, Ethernet, HDMI, VGA, 8-in-1 card reader, headphone and mic jacks. There is no ExpressCard port, DisplayPort or eSATA. The 2 megapixel webcam atop the display captures crisp images.

Battery life
Gaming rigs have never really been known for their endurance. The G73Jh is no different. It manages to get only around 2 hours of uptime in some battery tests.

Configurations
The notebook is also available in other configurations. The G73Jh-A1, for instance, has the same specs as the G73Jh-A2, but adds a Blu-ray drive for an extra $100.

Verdict
The G73Jh lacks some cool features of the Alienware M17x, but it delivers incredible power for much less. The notebook is good choice for die hard gamers and multimedia enthusiasts who demand more horsepower than a traditional desktop replacement can offer.

Pros
Great display
Excellent performance
Normal heat and noise levels
backlit keyboard and large touchpad
Good speakers

Cons
Average battery life
No eSATA, ExpressCard Slot, DisplayPort or USB 3.0

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