Alienware M18 R2 RTX 5080 vs ASUS ROG Strix SCAR 18 G835LX-XS97

Benchmark-weighted head-to-head · data updated 2026-09-10

Winner: ASUS ROG Strix SCAR 18 G835LX-XS97

ASUS ROG Strix SCAR 18 G835LX-XS97 takes 9.3 weighted points vs 5.5, winning on GPU Benchmark, Weight, Thickness. The winner also sits in a more competitive value tier — a clear-cut call.

Alienware M18 R2 RTX 5080

Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX · NVIDIA RTX 5080

Under $5000
4.1 (16)
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VS
Winner

ASUS ROG Strix SCAR 18 G835LX-XS97

Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX · NVIDIA RTX 5090

Under $5000
4 (38)
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Use-Case Scores

CategoryM18 R2 RTX 5080ROG Strix SCAR 18 G835LX-XS97
Gaming8.8/108.6/10
Productivity5.6/105.9/10
Programming6.6/106.8/10
Engineering / 3D7.8/107.9/10
Student4.2/104.7/10
Travel / Portability3/104.5/10
AI Workloads7.8/107.9/10
Value for Money7.9/108.2/10

Detailed Specification Comparison

SpecM18 R2 RTX 5080ROG Strix SCAR 18 G835LX-XS97
CPUIntel Core Ultra 9 275HXIntel Core Ultra 9 275HX
PassMark Score56,48855,695
CPU Cores8P+16E8P+16E
GPUNVIDIA RTX 5080NVIDIA RTX 5090
G3DMark Score27,93529,723
RAM32 GB DDR532 GB DDR5
RAM UpgradeableYesYes
Storage2 TBSSD2 TBSSD
Display18″ IPS18″ IPS
Resolution2560x16002560x1600
Refresh Rate300 Hz240 Hz
Pixel Density168 PPI168 PPI
TouchscreenNoNo
Weight9.56 lbs6.28 lbs
Thickness1.2″0.93″
Amazon Rating4.1 ★ (16)4 ★ (38)
Value Score7.9/108.2/10

CPU Comparison

The Alienware M18 R2 RTX 5080's Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX is ~1% faster in multi-threaded PassMark (56,488 vs 55,695). In practice the difference is marginal.

GPU & Gaming

The RTX 5090 in the ASUS ROG Strix SCAR 18 G835LX-XS97 is ~6% faster (29,723 vs 27,935 G3DMark) — a modest but real FPS edge.

Productivity & Battery

Office scores: 5.6/10 vs 5.9/10. Battery isn't in our dataset, but both share a similar power class, so expect comparable endurance.

Display

M18 R2 RTX 5080: 18″ IPS 2560x1600 @ 300 Hz. ROG Strix SCAR 18 G835LX-XS97: 18″ IPS 2560x1600 @ 240 Hz. The Alienware M18 R2 RTX 5080's higher refresh rate wins for motion clarity.

RAM, Storage & Upgradeability

M18 R2 RTX 5080: 32 GB DDR5 (upgradeable) + 2 TBSSD. ROG Strix SCAR 18 G835LX-XS97: 32 GB DDR5 (upgradeable) + 2 TBSSD.

Build & Portability

9.56 lbs / 1.2″ vs 6.28 lbs / 0.93″. The ASUS ROG Strix SCAR 18 G835LX-XS97 is 3.3 lbs lighter — significant for daily carry. Travel scores: 3 vs 4.5.

Value

Value scores land 7.9/10 vs 8.2/10. The ASUS ROG Strix SCAR 18 G835LX-XS97 extracts more performance per dollar.

Final Verdict

Buy the ASUS ROG Strix SCAR 18 G835LX-XS97 — it wins the weighted spec battle and costs less. Choose the Alienware M18 R2 RTX 5080 only if its specific strengths matter more to you.

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Also Consider

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