Introduction

A big thank you goes out to Xotic PC for providing the review sample.

From the AORUS website:

Enter the Falcon

AORUS, a premium gaming brand powered by GIGABYTE, delivers a full spectrum of gaming products ranging from gaming laptops, motherboards, graphics cards, mechanical gaming keyboards, to many other gaming hardware and gears, offering the most extreme gaming experiences for enthusiasts worldwide!

Team Up. Fight On.

AORUS shares the same passion with gamers who devote their heart and soul to gaming. With AORUS, the pinnacle of our hardware excellence, we are committed to bring a wide array of gaming innovation that delivers ultimate performance and exemplifies the PC's capability for bringing gamers unprecedented delights.

AORUS will continue to take parts in global gaming events, connecting with the community and actively listening to gamers' desires in order to create marvelous products that meet gamers' genuine needs.

We are looking to team up with gamers in their quest for gaming, to challenge the limits without fear, and to fight on as we rise to the ultimate glory!

Gigabyte founded the AORUS brand in 2014. Since then, it has grown to become a major element of Gigabyte's operation featuring mice, keyboards, gaming chairs, motherboards, and laptops - to name just a few of the things they offer. Keeping that in mind, it is no wonder that a top motherboard vendor with massive brand awareness would see a rapid expansion of its new gaming brand.

In today's review, I look at the AORUS X5 V7-KL3K3D 15.6'' notebook. This high-end, but sleek laptop packs some serious hardware for the price without being a bulky monstrosity. Packing an Intel i7-7820HK, Nvidia GTX 1070, a proper SSD, and a 3K G-sync IPS display, it hits all the right points on paper. Before offering it any praise, however, let's take a closer look at the specifications.

Packaging and Contents

The outer box is fairly ordinary and plain with just the AORUS logo on a black backdrop. Barcodes and a few bits of info are the only other things here. With the box opened, we find a much nicer black and orange box with four foam corners for protection. Meanwhile, the laptop is safely situated inside a cloth bag and placed in a plastic tray.


The bundle is pretty sparse; what you see here is what you get. There's the notebook, charger, a quick start manual, and some optional feet. Then again, what more do you really need? That said, I was surprised by the optional feet, which, depending on the surface, are a nice inclusions for increasing the space under the unit for improved ventilation and cooling.

• Aorus X5 notebook
• 200 watt AC power brick
• Optional feet
• Quick start guide
• Warranty card
• USB thumb drive with drivers

A Closer Look

When it comes to gaming laptops, the AORUS X5 V7-KL3K3D from Gigabyte doesn't fall into the ultra-thin, lightweight, or heavyweight camps. At just 5.51 lbs / 2.5 kg, it's not tiring to lug around, nor is it that bulky due to its 15.6'' nature. On the left side are headphone and microphone jacks, a hole for a Kensington lock, and mini-Displayport, Thunderbolt 3, and USB 3.1 Type C ports. The back has two USB 3.0 ports, the DC jack, and an RJ45 LAN port. Of course, exhaust vents for cooling are located at the back as well.


Two more USB 3.0 ports are available on the right side, along with a full-size HDMI 2.0 port. An SD-card reader is also here. Finally, the bottom has multiple vents for air circulation.


Lift the display and you are at first glance greeted by a standard keyboard. However, a closer look shows there to be RGB backlighting and specific macro keys. A Full HD webcam has been put into the middle above the display. The power button is located front and center and is marked by the AORUS falcon logo. The speakers and subwoofers are both situated above the keyboard as well. When it comes to the monitor's hinge, it feels okay - not too stiff or loose. The lid can be lifted with a finger while the rest of the unit stays firmly on the desk, and the touchpad is from ELAN and has its buttons built-in. I myself much prefer the buttons separate, but that's a personal preference. It should also go without saying, but the AORUS falcon logo is prominently displayed on the touchpad itself.

Overall, the fit and finish of the AORUS X5 V7-KL3K3D are good, with no sharp edges or gaps to speak of. The display's hinge feels good, while the keyboard and touchpad are adequate. Connectivity is solid as well. Best yet for those wanting a gaming system on the go at 15.6'', it is the right size, and at 5.51 lbs, it's not so heavy as to be a burden to carry around. First impressions indicate that Gigabyte has a solid system here.

A look Inside

To access the unit's insides, users will have to remove all the TR6 screws. Two of these have stickers on them at the bottom of the front. With the screws removed, simply pop off the bottom's plastic shell to access the majority of the system.


The two heatsinks and fans are typical for a unit of this size. Both are comprised of a fan cooling a small heatsink that is fed heat via multiple heatpipes. The hot air is exhausted out the back and sides.


An extra M.2 slot is available here, with an empty slot where a third M.2 slot could have been placed. The second image shows two of the four SO-DIMM slots. While the AORUS X5 V7-KL3K3D features four SO-DIMM slots, the two that are populated are not as easily accessible and require near-complete disassembly to access. However, the two empty ones here are readily accessible for those looking to expand the system memory later on. That said, the system comes with two 8 GB G.Skill Ripjaws V F4-2400C16 DDR4 modules.


The M.2 SSD used in the AORUS X5 V7-KL3K3D is the Samsung SM961 256 GB, and it is located next to the Killer 1535 WLAN module. Storage is handled by a standard 2.5'' 1TB Travelstar 7k1000 7200 RPM disk drive from HGST. When it comes to the battery, Gigabyte used a Li Polymer 94.24 Wh model.