If you want one of the best gaming PCs in 2023, building your own used to be great, but lately it isn’t an option. Prebuilts used to be expensive, underpowered options compared to building your own rig, but thanks to the recent GPU shortage, they are downright good deals. And that’s what the Asus ROG Strix G15 G15CF-AB766 is – an excellent deal for 2023.
While it doesn’t pack the latest 13th Gen CPU on Nvidia’s RTX 40 Series GPUs, it’s still a great gaming PC for anyone looking to spend less money on a gaming PC that will play most titles and can be upgraded down the road as needed. And, it isn’t as polished as boutique options from Origin and Maingear, but the ROG Strix G15 has plenty of power to impress.
It’s not too expensive, either, at least in the pricing crisis that’s plaguing PC components right now. For under $1500, you’re getting an Intel Core i7-12700F processor, an RTX 3060 GPU (12GB), 16GB RAM, and 1TB SSD storage. That spec sheet right there makes for a good choice, especially with high-end Asus hardware under the hood.
Asus ROG Strix G15 Specifications
| CPU | Intel Core i7-12700F |
| GPU | Asus ROG Strix RTX 3060 |
| Case | Custom Asus ROG case |
| Memory | 16GB unbranded DDR4-3200 |
| Storage | 1TB PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD |
| Power supply | Delta 850W 80+ Gold |
| USB ports | Nine USB-A, three USB-C |
| Networking | 1Gbit Ethernet |
Design
The case is pure black in its aesthetic, and on the whole, and you can leave it at that. However, there are a few accents to the design which are worth mentioning, and they make for good functionality.
First, there is a black handle at the top which helps with this huge PC’s maneuverability. Under this handle are the top-facing ports – a regular USB, a USB-C, and 3.5mm audio jacks, which are easy to reach particularly if the PC is kept lower than you are – but if the PC is kept on a desk, this may lead to cables needing draping down rather awkwardly. On ports though, it’s a standard but well-stocked combination on the rear, easily enough to accommodate the best gaming mouse, gaming headset, and the best gaming keyboard, and some more.
The very front of the case has a bunch of stripes and angles and a clickable flap that pops to reveal a clever trick: a side hook for holding your headset. Additionally, there’s an ROG logo and an RGB stripe cutting across the front, which you can change via the Asus’s software.
Both sides are the same dark gray color, but the desktop gets a transparent side panel for showing off your PC’s innards. The ROG G15CF-AB766 measures 7.28 x 16.57 x 19.61 inches, so its larger than other desktops with these souped-up specs, like MSI’s Trident X, which is petite in comparison at 15.6 x 15 x 5.1 inches, but almost similar in size as HP’s Omen 30L (GT13-0092) at 17.05 x 16.61 x 6.5 inches.
Performance
The Asus ROG Strix G15 puts all its components to great use. It packs an Intel Core i7-12700F, GeForce RTX 3060 12GB, 16GB DDR4 RAM, and 1TB SSD storage. In a way, it performs better than most RTX 3060-powered gaming PCs, and for the price, you’re getting an incredible bang for the buck.
At 1080p, this PC can provide blistering gaming experiences – getting over 70fps in Metro Exodus on its RTX benchmark is an achievement, for sure. This also stacks well for gaming at 1440p if settings are toned down, a bit. While it might not give you every tiny detail combined with incredibly high frame rates that a high-end Lenovo Legion T5 (RTX 4080 GPU) PC or Asus ROG Strix G16 (RTX 4070) laptop might offer, you’re still getting just as satisfying and enjoyable gaming experience on it.
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The ROG G15CF-AB766 never struggles to run a AAA or demanding game, and it’ll just go about its business delivering games to you at an enormously enjoyable level of fidelity and smoothness. It all runs quietly too, and you’ll barely hear it struggle – or even work hard, really – no matter the task or game.
A word of caution, though. Judging it purely on its specs on paper, while I’d say this is a great machine right now, it might not be the most futureproof. After all, the 40-Series of Nvidia graphics cards are now available in gaming PCs, and we’ve seen pretty solid alternatives available at great prices. So, if you want to get a gaming machine that you don’t have to worry about going out of date quickly, then you’d better of considering one with the latest hardware. The CyberpowerPC Gamer GXiVR8080A34 and HP Omen 45L are great RTX 40-Series alternatives that we’ve reviewed recently.
Otherwise, if you’re willing to spend as little as possible on a quality gaming PC right now that would be your go-to work PC as well, on the other hand. Then I can’t really think of a more affordable option performance-wise. The best of both worlds is to get the Asus ROG Strix G15 now, enjoy it, and then upgrade your build with a new GPU down the line. This is the beauty of PC gaming.
Overall – Should you buy it?
The Asus ROG Strix G15 G15CF-AB766 is an excellent machine, and, for the price tag, excellent value. The particular built in this review is an exceptionally well-considered choice for components and supporting hardware that makes a fantastic machine for gaming and work – all without breaking the bank. It might not quite be a cheap gaming PC, and it doesn’t have the latest CPU and GPU, but it’s certainly exquisite value, and if you get it on a sale, it’s a definite win.
The Asus ROG Strix G15 doesn’t claim to be a ridiculous powerhouse and is comfortable in its skin, not pretending to be anything that it isn’t. It’s a reliable, very well-performing gaming PC from a reputable gaming tech name, and it deserves to be applauded as one of the best pre-built gaming PCs for gamers on a tight budget. I would have no hesitation in recommending it to anyone, or, indeed, buying one for myself – using it every day for work and gaming is a joy.
The Review
Asus ROG Strix G15
The Asus ROG Strix G15 G15CF-AB766 is an excellent machine, and, for the price tag, excellent value. It is an exceptionally well-considered choice for components and supporting hardware that makes a fantastic machine for gaming and work – all without breaking the bank.
Recommended Configuration
ROG Strix G15 Gaming Desktop PC, Intel Core i7-12700F, GeForce RTX 3060 12GB, 16GB DDR4 RAM, 1TB PCIe 4.0 SSD, Windows 11 Home, G15CF-AB766
$1,257.00 in stock
5 used from $999.99
PROS
- Excellent balance of components
- Great performance
- Runs quiet
- Upgradeable design
CONS
- 40-Series cards are now available
Review Breakdown
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EDITORS RATING
Last update on 2024-12-22 at 11:46 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
