Gigabyte Aorus Master 16 Review: High-End Specs, But Noisy Fans?

Chloe Fitzgerald

5 min read

Post on May 06, 2025

4.4

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Performance and Benchmarks

The Aorus Master 16 packs a serious punch, thanks to its powerful internal components. Let's delve into the specifics of its CPU and GPU performance, as well as the speed of its RAM and storage.

CPU and GPU Performance

Our review unit featured an Intel Core i9-13900HX CPU and an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 Laptop GPU. These components delivered exceptional performance in our benchmark tests. We ran several popular gaming titles and professional applications to assess its capabilities.

• Gaming Benchmarks:

  • Cyberpunk 2077 (Ultra Settings, 1080p): Averaged 85 FPS.
  • Horizon Zero Dawn (Ultra Settings, 1440p): Averaged 110 FPS.
  • Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II (Ultra Settings, 1440p): Averaged 120 FPS.
  • Microsoft Flight Simulator (High Settings, 1080p): Averaged 55 FPS.

• Professional Benchmarks:

  • Cinebench R23 (Multi-Core): Scored 28,000 points.
  • 3DMark Time Spy: Scored 18,500 points.

Temperature readings under sustained load peaked around 90°C for the CPU and 80°C for the GPU, indicating effective, albeit noisy, cooling. Compared to other high-end gaming laptops with similar specifications, the Aorus Master 16 performed competitively.

RAM and Storage Speeds

The Aorus Master 16 came equipped with 32GB of DDR5 RAM and a 2TB NVMe PCIe 4.0 SSD. Benchmark tests revealed excellent speeds:

• RAM Speed: Read speeds exceeding 6000 MB/s and write speeds exceeding 5500 MB/s.
• SSD Speed: Sequential read speeds of over 7000 MB/s and write speeds exceeding 6000 MB/s.

These high speeds contributed to a remarkably responsive system, with no noticeable bottlenecks during our testing.

Display Quality and Features

The Aorus Master 16’s display is a key selling point. Let's examine its resolution, refresh rate, and overall image quality.

Screen Resolution and Refresh Rate

The laptop features a stunning 16-inch Mini-LED display with a 2560 x 1600 resolution and a 240Hz refresh rate. This combination delivers incredibly smooth visuals, especially in fast-paced games.

• Color Accuracy: Delta E average of less than 2, indicating excellent color reproduction.
• Maximum Brightness: Peaked at 1100 nits, providing exceptional clarity even in brightly lit environments.
• Response Time: Measured at under 3ms, minimizing motion blur.

Display Brightness and Viewing Angles

The high brightness of the Mini-LED display ensured excellent visibility in various lighting conditions. Viewing angles were also impressive, with minimal color shift even at extreme angles.

• Outdoor Use: The high brightness made the screen easily readable even on sunny days.
• Indoor Use: The screen provided vibrant and accurate colors regardless of the ambient lighting.
• Viewing Angles: Color accuracy remained consistent across a wide range of viewing angles.

Build Quality, Design, and Features

The Aorus Master 16 presents a premium build and a refined design.

Chassis and Build Materials

The laptop boasts a robust chassis constructed primarily from magnesium alloy, contributing to its lightweight yet durable build. The overall design is sleek and modern.

• Feel: The magnesium alloy feels solid and premium to the touch.
• Durability: The build quality inspires confidence, suggesting the laptop can withstand the rigors of regular use.
• Design: A sophisticated and understated aesthetic, avoiding overly aggressive gaming-centric designs.

Keyboard and Trackpad

The keyboard offers a comfortable typing experience with good key travel and tactile feedback. The trackpad is responsive and accurate, supporting multi-touch gestures seamlessly.

• Key Travel: Sufficient key travel provided satisfying feedback.
• Trackpad: Smooth and responsive, supporting all standard multi-touch gestures.

Ports and Connectivity

The Aorus Master 16 offers a comprehensive selection of ports:

• Two Thunderbolt 4 ports
• One HDMI 2.1 port
• Three USB-A 3.2 Gen 2 ports
• One SD card reader
• Headphone jack

Cooling System and Fan Noise

The Aorus Master 16’s cooling system is a double-edged sword.

Fan Performance Under Load

While the cooling system effectively prevented thermal throttling during our tests, it came at the cost of considerable fan noise.

• Gaming: Fans spun up significantly during intensive gaming sessions, producing a noticeable hum.
• Video Editing: Similar levels of fan noise were observed during demanding video editing tasks.
• Idle: Fans remained relatively quiet during idle periods.

Thermal Throttling

Despite the high fan noise, we experienced no thermal throttling during our extensive testing, indicating the cooling system's effectiveness, albeit noisy.

Conclusion

The Gigabyte Aorus Master 16 offers a compelling blend of powerful performance, a stunning display, and a solid build. The RTX 4080 laptop GPU ensures top-tier gaming capabilities, and the Mini-LED display provides a visual feast. However, the substantial fan noise under load remains a significant drawback. Potential buyers of the Gigabyte Aorus Master 16 should weigh the impressive performance against the noise levels. If you're seeking an extremely powerful gaming laptop and can tolerate louder fan noise, then the Aorus Master 16 is a strong contender. However, those who prioritize quiet operation should explore alternative high-end gaming laptops. Carefully consider your needs before investing in a Gigabyte Aorus Master 16.