ASUS ROG GR6: A Console-like SFF PC

In Emulation of Console-Gaming

In the rarefied spheres of hardcore gamers and enthusiasts, size has sometimes become synonymous with performance and power. In the DIY market, huge tower cases like the Corsair Obsidian 900D and NZXT Switch 810 have been designed to tickle the fancy of system builders who want to go for multi-GPU setups and elaborate water-cooling loops.

However, it’s still often the case that a significant number of gamers demand something a lot smaller and compact. These gamers may not have the space to accommodate a full-sized tower PC, and they probably don’t even need one. When it comes to casual gamers, the amount of available space for water-cooling radiators, E-ATX motherboards, and quad-GPU setups doesn’t matter one jot.

Instead, they’d much prefer a easily accessible and stylish system that will deliver playable frame rates on most modern games. We recently reviewed the ASUS ROG G20AJ and Aftershock Tremor, both small form factor (SFF) PCs that managed to deliver attractive performance to gamers who prefer not to go the DIY route.

The ROG G20AJ in particular stood out because of its compact 12.5L chassis. The way we saw it, it would do fine on a cramped desk and fit just about anywhere. But what if you wanted something even smaller? That’s where the ROG GR6 comes in.

Design and Features

Its 2.5L chassis – it measures 23.8 (h) x 24.5 (d) x 3.2cm (w) – is just a fifth of the ROG G20AJ so you can most definitely find a place for this diminutive PC, even if you live in a closet.

It sports the same signature red-and-black ROG color scheme and its design is very similar to the larger G20AJ. The narrow front panel is recessed, flanked by the two side panels that protrude beyond it. The front-facing edges of the panels even feature a vaguely futuristic design that is evocative of the Mayan-inspired mesh on the ROG G20AJ.

However, the design is overall a lot more restrained, and the front I/O ports and panel itself are colored black instead of the G20AJ’s striking red. There are two USB 2.0 ports at the front, along with separate jacks for a headphone and microphone.

The bottom USB port also has a tiny lightning icon next to it. It supports a useful USB Charger feature that allows the charging of mobile devices regardless of whether the GR6 is sleeping, hibernating, or even completely powered down. We actually really appreciate this feature and can see it coming in handy for those of you who just have one too many mobile devices to charge overnight.

The power button is located near the top, with a dedicated Steam Big Picture button located below it. This is actually quite interesting – pushing the latter button will launch Steam in Big Picture mode, providing a easier access to Steam’s interface designed for use with TVs and game controllers. Even if the machine is powered off, hitting the Big Picture button will cause the machine to boot up and launch Big Picture. Of course, do note that this isn't going to be an instantaneous launch. All it does is boot up your machine and then proceed to launch Big Picture from your desktop, so we were left waiting for at least a couple of minutes still (mostly because it's still running off a mechanical hard drive).

This feature is convenient for sure, but it also reveals quite a bit about ASUS’ intentions for the ROG GR6. The compact machine is intended to have a place in your living room and deliver a console-like gaming experience. This is further borne out by the fact that you can lay the GR6 quite comfortably on its side as well. In fact, there are four rubber base stands on the left side panel for just this purpose, so you don’t have to worry about the system sliding around on its side.

Heat is vented through air vents at the top and bottom of the chassis. When we put our hand close to the vent, we could palpably feel the steady stream of warm air exiting the chassis, so the cooling system is clearly keeping busy.

Round the back, the GR6 has four USB 3.0 ports, one HDMI output, a DisplayPort connector, one Intel Gigabit Ethernet port and one S/PDIF optical out. It’s lacking a DVI port so you’ll want to make sure that you have the right display cables on hand. There are also three audio jacks (Line in/Mic in/Speaker out) at the rear.

A Kensington Lock port sits at the bottom, so you can secure the machine with a compatible lock. This may seem a strange feature for a desktop PC, but the ROG GR6 is really more portable gaming machine than desktop. It’s the perfect size to take along to a LAN party, where you’ll definitely appreciate the ability to secure it.

The Kensington Lock port also doubles as a lock for the side cover. The lock works via a sliding cover – the side panel unlocks when you slide the tiny cover to right to reveal the “Unlock” text. Pushing the cover back in the other direction locks the side panel in place.

The removable side panel essentially means that the ROG GR6 is user upgradeable. You’ll have the freedom to add in more RAM, or replace the hard drive. We’ll cover more details of the upgrade process and options in the next section.

In addition, the ROG GR6 comes with a couple of gaming-oriented audio features. It uses the SupremeFX audio hardware that’s also found on ROG motherboards. Compared to the standard audio components found on non-gaming OEM desktops, the ROG GR6 features higher quality Japanese-made ELNA audio capacitors, a Sonic SenseAmp to power higher impedance headphones, and the Sonic Studio audio-tuning software.

We can’t attest to the actual utility of these features, but they’re probably fun to play around with as you try to get the best possible in-game sound.

Hardware

Now for the important part – what is the ROG GR6 really packing? First teased back in April, the GR6 is powered by a dual-core Intel Core i5-5200U fifth-generation Broadwell processor. The CPU has a base speed of 2.2GHz and a Turbo Boost speed of up to 2.7GHz. It also comes with 3MB of L3 cache.

The U suffix in the processor’s name marks it as a ultra-low power part, and indeed it has a Thermal Design Power (TDP) of just 15 watts. In comparison, the Core i7-5700HQ on the Gigabyte Aorus X5 has a TDP of 47 watts. In fact, the Intel Core i5-5200U is also found on many other non-gaming notebooks and 2-in-1 hybrids like the Dell XPS 13 and Lenovo Yoga 3.

It may seem a little strange that ASUS has included a processor that appears to be geared toward power-savings in gaming machine that can only run off power from a wall adapter. Potential performance issues aside, ASUS is actually aligning itself with Intel’s strategy for its Broadwell processors.

The Atom and Core M processors have been reserved for ultra-thin and ultra-portable devices like the 2015 MacBook and the ASUS Transformer Book T300 Chi. On the other hand, mobile processors like the Core i5-5200U with a TDP of between 15 and 28 watts are reserved for slightly more powerful portable notebooks and mini PCs. If we think of the ROG GR6 as less of a desktop and more of a mini PC or portable console, this decision starts to make more sense.

However, that doesn’t mean that we have no qualms about what this would mean for performance though, and we’ll take a closer look at that in our Benchmarks section.

The graphics module used is a Maxwell-based NVIDIA GeForce GTX 960M 2GB GDDR5 mobile GPU. This is actually quite a modest GPU (as found in our review of the ASUS ROG G501 slim gaming notebook) so don’t be expecting to be gaming at quad HD or 4K resolutions on it. However, you should be able to achieve playable framerates at 1080p resolutions.

Our review unit of the GR6 was also equipped with a single 8GB stick of DDR3L-1600MHz SO-DIMM. As we mentioned earlier, the right side panel can be removed – just unlock the side cover lock, slide the panel toward the back, and lift – so we were able to take a peek at some of the actual hardware.

As you can see below, there’s space for an additional 8GB SO-DIMM module, so you’ll be able to upgrade your memory capacity to 16GB.

Our GR6 is also equipped with a 1TB mechanical hard drive for main storage. The GR6 supports an additional SATA based 2.5-inch SSD or HDD in the extension bay beside the SO-DIMM modules.

This drive is meant to be easily accessible, so you’ll be able to upgrade your storage configuration farther down the road. To access the extension drive bay, you’ll need to remove the four screws at the corners of the cover and pull on the flap to detach the lid.

Finally, the ROG GR6 is powered by a 120-watt power adapter. The power brick itself is actually quite big, especially when compared to the diminutive GR6, so that’s something to consider if you’re planning to move around often with the machine.

ASUS wraps things up with a bundle comprising an ROG Gladius 6400dpi optical gaming mouse and M801 gaming mechanical keyboard. The shape of the Gladius is reminiscent of the Razer Mamba, with a contoured side profile for a more ergonomic grip. We also really like the red Cherry MX switches on the M801 keyboard. This is quite a high-quality package, which adds good value to the entire system.

Test Setup and Performance

We’ll be putting the ROG GR6 through a series of synthetic and real-world benchmarks to assess its overall system performance and gaming capabilities.

As a mini-desktop system packed with hardware usually found in notebooks, the ROG GR6 straddles the line between both categories. As a result, we’ll be comparing it against the ASUS ROG G20AJ to see how it stacks up against a full-fledged, and of course pricer, desktop from the same brand. In addition, we’ll be pitting it against a series of high-end gaming laptops from the likes of ASUS, Gigabyte and MSI to see how it performs against actual notebooks. Unfortunately, we don't have a notebook with a GeForce GTX 960M to compare it against, so we've instead chosen notebooks running a GeForce GTX 970M, 980M, and dual 965Ms to give you an idea of how much performance you'll gain as you go up the price ladder.

Here is a full list of the benchmarks used:

• PCMark 8
• 3DMark 2013
• Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor
• Tomb Raider

And before we dive into the results, here’s how the specifications of the Aftershock Tremor stack up against the compared systems:

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PCMark 8

PCMark 8 tests overall system performance in areas like word processing, creative workloads, and web browsing. It can be taken as a general indicator of how the system performs in everyday workloads and tasks.

As expected, the ROG GR6 fell quite far behind the other tested systems because of its use of a low-power mobile processor and the lack of any solid state storage. It was around 28% behind the second slowest system, the ASUS ROG G751JT, in PCMark Home. The ROG G751JT is outfitted with a quad-core Intel Core i7-4710HQ processor, and the latter CPU’s higher clock speeds (2.5GHz base frequency, 3.5GHz Turbo frequency) and HyperThreading capability probably helped it pull ahead along with a slightly better main hybrid hard drive.

In fact, all the other test systems are equipped with either Intel Core i7 desktop or mobile processors, and the ROG GR6 is the only one to be equipped with a low-power Core i5 CPU. The better multi-tasking capabilities of the Core i7 CPUs help boost overall system performance in PCMark 8, which is why the ROG GR6 lags behind by so much. It does narrow the gap in the less demanding Work benchmark, so we see that it’s mostly the CPU holding back the performance.

If you’d like a real-world yardstick for the GR6’s system performance, its scores are actually much closer to ultrabooks that use the same processor, like the Dell XPS 13.

3DMark 2013

The ROG GR6 again trailed behind in 3DMark Fire Strike, but its performance was a lot closer to the ASUS ROG G751JT this time. Gaming-related workloads are usually more dependent on GPU performance, so the GR6 did not suffer as heavy a performance penalty this time.

The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 970M on the ROG G751JT was approximately 18% faster than the GR6’s GeForce GTX 960M. But while it might be relatively close to the ROG G751JT, it couldn’t hold a candle to the more powerful configurations on the other systems. The full-fledged desktop graphics card on the ROG G20AJ totally blew it away, coming in at a whooping 138% faster, more than double the performance. Even the MSI GT72 2 QE Dominator Pro and its NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980M was almost 111% quicker.

So if the GR6’s small form factor appeals to you, do bear in mind the performance penalty you’ll be paying in relation to other gaming systems. On the bright side, if we were to compare the performance to other mid-range gaming laptops like the ASUS ROG G501 and the Aftershock SM-15 (both use the same GeForce GTX 960M GPU found on the ROG GR6 machine), the GR6 actually fared slightly better.

Tomb Raider

The ROG GR6 handles Tomb Raider quite well, delivering more than playable frame rates at both Normal and High settings. That’s very decent, but the other systems again race ahead of it. The closest system was once again the ROG G751JT, which was almost 62% faster than the GR6.

In fact, Tomb Raider clearly fails to challenge most of the other systems at 1080p, as frame rates hovered comfortably in the 100s range at High settings. Because of its less powerful GPU, the ROG GR6 was the only system to end up with frame rates below 100.

But hard numbers aside, the figures on Tomb Raider show that the GR6 should be alright in delivering fairly high frame rates in less demanding MMO games like Dota 2 and League of Legends. Once more, we noticed that the GR6 actually performs better than some of the mid-range gaming notebooks using the same GPU.

Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor

Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor is quite a demanding game that will tax even the most capable GPUs, especially at Ultra settings with HD Textures enabled. Memory bandwidth is key here, and as expected, the ROG GR6 failed to keep up with the rest of the pack.

As it stands, Shadow of Mordor works better as an illustration of what you can reasonably expect from the ROG GR6 should you try to run similarly demanding games on it. It also provides a clearer picture of the performance gap between the GR6 and the other systems, so you can better match it to your needs.

However, the ROG GR6 actually didn't do too badly on absolute terms, if we ignore how it performs relative to the other test systems. At a 1080p resolution and Ultra settings, it achieved just over a 30fps average, a fairly playable result. However, we did record a minimum frame rate of 5.30fps, so you will likely experience some notable stutter as frame rates dip during more demanding scenes.

Things improved on High settings, with a 44.55fps average and a minimum frame rate of 25.93fps, still in the playable range. From the looks of it, the ROG GR6 is capable of delivering a playable experience at 1080p resolutions, provided you run at less demanding graphical settings.

Straddling the line between desktop and notebook

The ASUS ROG GR6 is a product that defies categorization. Right off the bat, we found it interesting because of its console-like design and exceedingly compact form factor. However, a closer look at the specifications revealed a CPU found on ultrabooks that are hardly used for gaming, raising questions about how it would really perform as a gaming machine. Furthermore, the modest NVIDIA GeForce GTX 960M GPU meant that quad HD and 4K gaming is probably out of the question.

Given these limitations, the upgrade options on the GR6 feel like they’ve been tacked on merely as a value-added feature. More memory is great, and so is the ability to add extra storage, but they don’t really do much to address the main performance shortcomings.

But don’t get us wrong, we’re not outright slamming the GR6. At S$1,399, it’s also a lot more affordable than our other test systems we've compared against. After all, you do get what you pay for, especially when it comes to electronics. At that price, you can’t possibly expect a GeForce GTX 980M with your system.

However, it’s not like ASUS is incapable of designing a powerful desktop system. The ROG G20AJ is testament to what it can do when it sets out to deliver performance, which begs the question – perhaps the GR6 isn’t designed to be a performance machine at all.

Its strengths are obvious. This thing would sit happily in your living room as an alternative to a console, but you’d also be able to take it with you to LAN parties and all-night gaming sessions. However, we’re guessing you’re not going to play a single-player game like Witcher 3 at a gaming get-together. Instead, you’re probably more likely to play something like League of Legends, Dota 2, or even Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, all of which are a lot less demanding.

You’ll get decent frame rates on these games, and it seems like that’s what ASUS is gunning for. We’d definitely have liked to see a more capable processor on the GR6, but that would also mean higher cost and more heat. In such a compact chassis, heat dissipation is also of paramount importance, and a less capable but cooler CPU might have been a necessary trade off. The 6cm-thick chassis also rules out the inclusion of a full-sized desktop GPU, and there's no way we could enjoy such a svelte profile if ASUS chose to use one. Perhaps the inclusion of an SSD would have been the least we could have asked for without actually having to compromise on its form factor and yet delivering a more snappier to use system. After all, we're increasingly seeing SSDs becoming a mainstay for most new computing systems.

As a result, we can't fault the ROG GR6 too much for lagging behind more expensive machines with better hardware. After all, the price hierarchy does exist for a reason. We were actually quite satisfied with the GR6's performance in Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor, as it managed to deliver a rather playable average of 44.55fps at High settings and a 1080p resolution. We also recorded a minimum frame rate of 25.93fps at the same settings, so the overall experience should turn out to be quite consistent.

Shadow of Mordor is no slouch to run, so the ROG GR6 should actually churn out a decent experience on most games at 1080p, provided you hold back on some of the more aggressive eye candy.

But for users who want to achieve over 60fps in modern games, a proper gaming desktop might serve them better. For S$1,399, you can put together a more capable DIY desktop system that will last you longer, but you're not going to get one that's of the size and form of the ROG GR6.

Ultimately, the ROG GR6’s performance won’t satisfy demanding gamers who want the frame rates to get the most out of 144Hz monitors or play at resolutions exceeding 1080p. It’s more likely to appeal to you if you actually attend LAN parties, game at 1080p, or just want a pretty gaming machine to display in your living room. In these scenarios, the GR6 is a fairly decent option for your money. And you even get a free gaming mouse and mechanical keyboard to boot. For discussion sake, if you deduct the value of these input devices, the actual cost of the ROG GR6 comes up to be closer to about S$1,250, which is not bad at all for what you get and its proposition.

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