Asus’ TUF Gaming laptops consistently deliver solid performance. When the company sent us the TUF Gaming FX505DT featuring the new Nvidia GTX1650 GPU, excitement was warranted. This laptop excels in many aspects, promising high-end gaming experiences at an affordable price of Rs.81,990. After thorough testing, here’s my detailed review to help you decide whether this is the right choice for you.
Specifications:
| Display | 15.6-inch FullHD Anti-glare @120Hz |
| Processor | Ryzen 7 3750H @2.3GHz |
| Storage | 1TB HDD + 256GB PCIe SSD |
| RAM | 8GB |
| Graphics | Nvidia GeForce GTX1650 GPU with 4GB GDDR5 VRAM |
| Connectivity | WiFi 802.11ac; Bluetooth 5.0 |
| I/O | 2 x USB 3.0 Gen1 1 x USB 2.0 1x HDMI 2.0 1x RJ-45 Jack 1x 3.5mm headphone and microphone combo jack 1x Kensington lock |
| Battery | 48Whr |
| Price | starts at Rs. 81,990 |
The TUF Gaming FX505DT, priced at Rs. 81,990, boasts a Ryzen 7 and the new Nvidia GTX1650 GPU, alongside an HDD+SSD storage configuration.
Design and Build
The FX505DT features a familiar design from the TUF Gaming lineup, striking a balance between boldness and subtlety. The laptop’s matte outer lid showcases the Asus logo in a soft golden-yellow hue, departing from the typical red seen on other gaming models like the FX505DY. The black and gold combination is particularly appealing to me.
Moreover, the laptop’s outer chassis lacks any additional lighting, a feature that may disappoint RGB enthusiasts but adds to its versatility. This makes it suitable not only for gaming but also for professional settings, seamlessly transitioning from work to play.
Upon lifting the lid, you encounter a spacious 15.6-inch Full HD display, characteristic of contemporary gaming laptops, boasting minimal bezels on the top and sides, and a substantial bezel at the bottom adorned with the Asus logo.
The lid also illuminates your surroundings with vibrant RGB lighting emanating from the backlit keyboard, situated alongside the power button in the top right corner and the trackpad below. The keyboard, while akin to other TUF Gaming models, features transparent WASD keys for enhanced visibility.
Along the sides, you’ll discover a range of ports accompanied by cooling vents housing Asus’ anti-dust cooling system.
Wise in its build, the TUF Gaming series embodies toughness, as implied by its name. The TUF Gaming FX505DT adheres to US military grade tests, claiming resilience against drops, high temperatures, humidity, and solar radiation. While I didn’t personally test these capabilities, in my usage, the laptop remained unblemished and fully functional despite casual handling.
All considered, the FX505DT is a robustly constructed laptop with an appealing aesthetic, suitable for both gaming setups and professional environments. This versatility renders it an attractive choice for those seeking a gaming laptop that seamlessly transitions into daily use.
Display
The TUF Gaming FX505DT boasts a 15.6-inch FullHD IPS display with a 120Hz refresh rate, delivering stunning visuals. The 120Hz panel enhances overall smoothness, making animations and gaming, such as Far Cry 5, exceptionally enjoyable.
Moreover, the display offers impressive brightness and adjustable dimness, facilitated by an anti-glare coating. This versatility allows comfortable usage in various lighting conditions, including outdoors and late-night sessions, minimizing eye strain.
Media consumption excels on this laptop, thanks to the vibrant display and excellent color accuracy. While viewing angles are satisfactory, it’s unlikely you’ll frequently need to view the screen from extreme angles.
Overall, the display on the FX505DT is excellent. It struggles a bit with black shades, as evident in the black test, but excels with gradients. For gaming and everyday use, it’s reliable, and games look fantastic on this panel.
Performance
Equipped with a Ryzen 7, 8GB RAM, and the GTX1650 GPU, the FX505DT delivers solid performance, especially considering its price. Despite my initial uncertainty about the GTX1650’s gaming capabilities, the FX505DT proves to perform admirably in gaming scenarios.
On this laptop, I tested various benchmarks including Geekbench, Cinemabench R20, and 3DMark, as well as playing games like PUBG and Far Cry 5. The laptop performed exceptionally well in all tasks.
Synthetic Benchmarks
In synthetic benchmarks, the laptop performs well. Geekbench yielded a score of 3878 in the single core and 10550 in the multi-core test. It’s worth noting that the FX505DY with the Ryzen 5 processor scored slightly higher in the multi-core test on Geekbench when compared to this laptop. However, the difference was minimal.
In 3DMark, the FX505DT scored 3363 in the Time Spy test, significantly surpassing the score obtained on the FX505DY with the AMD RX560X GPU. Additionally, the laptop achieved a solid score of 1640cb in Cinebench R20, which is impressive considering its price range.
Regarding synthetic benchmarks, the FX505DT appears solid. But what about real-world performance?
Real World Performance
In daily tasks, the FX505DT breezes through without strain. My typical workload involves Chrome tabs for WordPress and news, a Photoshop session, plus YouTube and Spotify tabs – nothing hefty enough to challenge this laptop.
In gaming, the FX505DT excels. In PUBG, it effortlessly handles High settings, with Shadows at Medium, consistently delivering over 70FPS – impressive.
Setting everything to High, PUBG ran smoothly over 70FPS consistently, occasionally reaching 90FPS during quieter moments. Lowering graphics to Medium or Low may yield slightly higher frame rates, but maintaining 70+ FPS proved optimal without sacrificing visual quality.
In default settings, Far Cry 5 utilized the integrated AMD GPU, resulting in a meager 12FPS on low settings. Switching to the Nvidia GPU improved performance significantly, allowing for decent gameplay. However, at Ultra settings, average FPS hovered around 44, occasionally dipping to 23, which could be bothersome considering the game’s demanding nature.
At High settings in Far Cry 5, I averaged 47FPS, with drops to 35FPS and peaks at 59FPS.
Opting for Normal settings yielded better performance, averaging 50FPS, with highs of 62FPS and lows of 38FPS.
In terms of performance, the FX505DT is solid, though it struggles with demanding games like Far Cry 5. While playable, achieving buttery smooth performance on High or Ultra settings is not feasible.
I/O and Ports
Regarding ports and I/O, the FX505DT offers all necessary ports without extras. It includes 2x USB 3 ports, 1x USB 2 port, an HDMI 2.0 port, an RJ-45 ethernet port, and a 3.5mm headphone and mic combo. This selection is sufficient for most users, although the absence of a USB Type-C or Thunderbolt 3 port slightly reduces its future-proofing compared to pricier alternatives.
Regarding connectivity, the FX505DT meets current standards. It supports WiFi b/g/n/ac, enabling connection to both 2.4GHz and 5GHz networks. Additionally, it features Bluetooth 5.0, providing improved connectivity, lower latency, and extended range for Bluetooth accessories.
Keyboard
The Asus TUF Gaming FX505DT features the ‘HyperStrike Gaming Keyboard’ by Asus. While I’m unsure about the ‘HyperStrike’ branding, I have no complaints about the keyboard itself. The keys offer ample travel and actuate at a comfortable distance, making typing and gaming sessions enjoyable. Additionally, the slight curve on the keycaps facilitates distinguishing between keys without needing to look at the keyboard.
Another feature I appreciate is the full-sized arrow-key layout, which is a welcome departure from the cramped layouts seen in many laptops.
Typing on this laptop is a delightful experience. Even after hours of use, I didn’t feel fatigued, thanks to the responsive keys that require minimal pressure to actuate.
Asus rates this keyboard for 20 million keypresses, which gives me confidence in its durability. This trait seems consistent with Asus’ TUF Gaming laptops, as my experience with the FX505DY was similar. Features like the extended spacebar and full-sized keyboard, complete with a numpad, enhance usability.
This keyboard is excellent, providing a great typing and gaming experience. The FX505DT’s keyboard stands out for its quality.
Trackpad
The trackpad on the FX505DT is reminiscent of previous TUF Gaming laptops. However, it’s not a drawback.
While not excessively large, the trackpad offers ample space. Users accustomed to larger trackpads, such as those on the MacBook Pro, might initially find it slightly cramped. Nonetheless, compared to other Windows laptops in its price range, the trackpad is relatively spacious and comfortable to use.
Adapting to the trackpad took some time, but it functions well. While it lacks the tactile satisfaction of a trackpad on devices like the HP Spectre, it’s still satisfactory, even superior to many laptops in its price range.
However, gamers will likely opt for a mouse regardless. Yet, for everyday use, this trackpad suffices.
Audio
Predominantly, headphones will accompany your gaming sessions. Nevertheless, your laptop serves purposes beyond gaming. Whether you’re streaming a movie or indulging in a TV series, the built-in speakers will come into play.
Fortunately, the speakers on the FX505DT are reliable. They can get loud without distortion at maximum volumes. While the bass isn’t exceptional (were you expecting it to be?), the overall sound quality is solid. I didn’t feel the need for a Bluetooth speaker every time I wanted to watch something on the laptop, which is excellent.
Battery
The FX505DT features the same 3-cell 48Whr battery as the FX505DY I previously reviewed, and it performs similarly. The laptop lasts around 4.5 to 5 hours with regular usage, which is impressive for a gaming laptop. This battery life is comparable to other TUF Gaming laptops. However, if you plan to use this laptop for work as well, you’ll need to carry your charger with you every day.
For gaming, battery life doesn’t need consideration since games are typically played while the charger is plugged in.
Pros and Cons
At Rs. 81,990, the FX505DT appears solid, but there are two sides to consider.
- Solid build and design
- 120Hz display
- Good performance
- Great keyboard
- No Thunderbolt 3 or USB-C ports
- 8GB RAM might be insufficient
Asus TUF Gaming FX505DT: Worth Checking Out
All things considered, the FX505DT gaming laptop is worth checking out. It offers a good Ryzen 7 processor, a solid GTX1650 GPU, a great keyboard, subtle design, and a solid build. The port selection might feel slightly constricting to some, but it’s not a deal breaker. If you’re exploring other options, consider the MSI GF63 (Rs. 82,990), which also features the GTX1650 GPU, a Core i7 processor, a 512GB SSD, and a USB-C port for just Rs. 1,000 extra.
Additionally, if you’re seeking a tough gaming laptop with reliable performance, the TUF Gaming FX505DT is worth checking out upon its launch in the next week or so.
Buy the Asus FX505DT (Rs. 81,990; Coming Soon)
Pritam Chopra is a seasoned IT professional and a passionate blogger hailing from the dynamic realm of technology. With an insatiable curiosity for all things tech-related, Pritam has dedicated himself to exploring and unraveling the intricacies of the digital world.
