[ntab Configuration]
The Asus TUF A15 is one of the most popular gaming laptops out there. Its popularity is mainly due to Asus’s brand recognition and the laptop’s medium-range specifications offered at a highly affordable price. While the Asus TUF A15 may not be the most fantastic budget gaming laptop out there, its relatively low price and the generally good Full HD gaming performance usually put it on most budget gamers choice list.
The Noteb team already took a comprehensive look at last year’s Asus TUF A15 (FA506IU). Since this is just a refresh model, having the same chassis but with upgraded components, the focus of this review will be mainly on the differences (good or bad) between the current 2021 model and the older 2020 model. for more in-depth information on the older, 2020 model, please click this link.
| Full name: Asus TUF A15 FA506QM | ||
|---|---|---|
| Configuration specifications: | ||
| Display | 15.6-inch, 1920 x 1080 @ 60Hz, Matte, IPS LM156LF-2F03 | |
| Processor | AMD Ryzen 7 5800H @ 3.20GHz | |
| Memory | 16GB DDR4 3200MHz dual-channel | |
| Video card | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Mobile (GA106M) 6GB GDDR6 | |
| Wireless card | MediaTek Wi-Fi 6 MT7921 | |
| Storage | SK Hynix 512 GB M.2 PCIe SSD | |
| Battery | 90 WHr | |
| Operating system | Windows 10 Pro (Version 20H2) | |
| Full specifications here | ||
[ntab General overview]
| Physical size: | ||
|---|---|---|
| Width: | 359 mm / 14.13 inches | |
| Depth: | 260 mm / 10.23 inches | |
| Height: | 26 mm / 1.02 inch | |
| Laptop weight: | 2.300 kg / 5.07 lbs | |
As mentioned before, the 2021 Asus TUF A15 model, the FA506QM, has the same chassis as the TUF A15 F506UI reviewed last year. Overall, the chassis build quality does not have any significant issues but feels a little bit inconsistent in terms of quality. From top to bottom, there are various building materials and various degrees of quality control. The laptop lid is made out of brushed aluminium with carbon fibre patterns, allowing for a better grip while also being pleasant to the eye. The keyboard deck is made out of hard plastic, and even though there is some flex under the “Spacebar” key, it feels sturdy. Sadly, the laptop’s bottom half feels very cheap and bendy as Asus probably ran out of “military-grade” plastic when building it. The bottom’s low-quality plastic makes it prone to scratches if the laptop is often moved around but should not be an issue as long as it is primarily used as a desktop replacement.
Typing on the single-zone RGB keyboard overall feels great. The travel time is slightly shorter than other laptops, but the keys are large enough and decently spaced. Asus scores a point here for not merging the Numpad with the arrow keys, an area which, for other laptop manufacturers, is often just an afterthought. But, after all of that being said, Asus loses that point for bundling together other important keys like Delete, Insert, Home, and End, requiring the user to press the Fn key to switch between their functionality.
We are happy to report that all the display’s adaptive sync problems are gone on the 2021 model. Last year the display would completely turn off when changing refresh rates in games, from 60 Hz to 144 Hz and vice-versa, which was unacceptable.But this year’s model uses a third revision of the LM156LF panel, which is still a lousy panel with high response times, washed-out colours, and backlight bleeding zones, but at least makes the laptop usable which cannot be said about the 2020 model.
Here is a link to the calibrated display profile of the reviewed unit. Because each display is unique, this profile will not perfectly match other displays of the same model. Still, using this profile should give better overall colours.
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Asus also improved the cooling system by increasing the number of heat pipes from 3 to 4 and covering the VRMs with bigger aluminium plates. Such improvements were necessary since this year’s TUF also uses more power-hungry components. Furthermore, to keep temperatures in check, Asus power throttles the RTX 3060. As if power throttling was not enough, the laptop sometimes even thermal throttles. As a result, the laptop offers underwhelming performance in some games, sometimes even comparable with a GTX 1660 Ti.
It is important to note that during testing, the Vulkan renderer did not work. Games with both Vulkan and DirectX would only work with the latter, and games that only had Vulkan, would not start. To help future owners of this laptop, here is a list of the games tested by the Noteb team which are affected by this issue:
After spending many hours researching and trying various fixes, it is safe to conclude that currently, there is no fix for this issue. Fortunately, this is a software-related issue that can easily get fixed through a driver update, and hopefully, Asus will address this problem in a future driver update.
IMPORTANT NOTE: In some regions, the 16 GB RAM version of this laptop is delivered with only one stick, making the laptop single-channel. Unfortunately, single-channel RAM seriously limits the performance of this laptop. Therefore, it is essential to ask the store before buying if the laptop has one or two RAM sticks.
[ntab Disassembly]
[ntab Benchmarks]
|
SCORE |
39910 |
|---|---|
| Graphics score | 60520 |
| Physics score | 13623 |
|
SCORE |
17484 |
|---|---|
| Graphics score | 18559 |
| Physics score | 23684 |
| Combined score | 9571 |
|
SCORE |
37239 |
|---|---|
| Graphics score | 50101 |
| Physics score | 18285 |
| Combined score | 27175 |
|
SCORE |
7628 |
|---|---|
| Graphics score | 7441 |
| Physics score | 8904 |
|
SCORE |
9163 |
|---|---|
| Average frame rate | 199.74 fps |
| Target frame rate | 109.00 fps |
|
SCORE |
7454 |
|---|---|
| Average frame rate | 162.48 fps |
| Target frame rate | 88.90 fps |
|
SCORE |
2240 |
|---|---|
| Average frame rate | 48.83 fps |
| Target frame rate | 109.00 fps |
| DLSS Off | 20.28.00 fps |
|---|---|
| DLSS On | 50.60 fps |
| Single Core | 555 pts |
|---|---|
| Multi Core | 4983 pts |
| CPU blend time | 3m 20s |
|---|---|
| GPU blend time | 0m 52s |
| Single-core score | Multi-core score |
| 6136 | 31153 |
| Single-core score | Multi-core score |
| 1454 | 7421 |
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PCMark 10
|
| Unigine Superposition benchmark | ||
|---|---|---|
| 720p Low | 22068 | |
| 1080p Medium | 13689 | |
| 1080p High | 10087 | |
| 1080p Extreme | 4532 | |
| 4K Optimized | 6070 | |
| 8K Optimized | 2512 | |
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Crystal Disk Mark
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[ntab Gaming benchmarks]
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[ntab Temperatures]
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And as mentioned before, the cooling system has been upgraded with an extra heat pipe, and the aluminium plate covering the VRMs is now larger, allowing for better heat dissipation. While these improvements are a welcomed change, they seem to be insufficient for the heat generated by the laptop’s components. Knowing this, Asus went a step further, and power throttled the RTX 3060 depending on the situation, from 95W to 75W.
All temperature measurements were performed at an ambient temperature of 26° C (78.8° F).
During the standard 30 minutes AIDA64 stress test (CPU, FPU, cache), the processor reached an average temperature of 95.9 °C (204.6 °F), with a maximum of 96.4 °C (205.5 °F). The processor managed to keep an average frequency of 3.63 GHz at these temperatures, with occasional dips to as low as 1.44 GHz on some of its cores. Thus, even though the temperatures are relatively high, the processor manages to run at a much higher frequency than its minimum all-core speed of 3.2 GHz, showing that the extra heatpipe is doing its job. However, the processor could perform better with even better cooling since its maximum all-core boost speed is 4.4 GHz.
| AIDA 64 CPU Stress Test [Frequency] | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 5800H | Minimum | Maximum | Average |
| Core 0 Clock | 1.548 MHz | 4.121 MHz | 3.638 MHz |
| Core 1 Clock | 1.448 MHz | 4.096 MHz | 3.639 MHz |
| Core 2 Clock | 1.448 MHz | 4.096 MHz | 3.639 MHz |
| Core 3 Clock | 1.448 MHz | 4.096 MHz | 3.639 MHz |
| Core 4 Clock | 1.448 MHz | 4.096 MHz | 3.639 MHz |
| Core 5 Clock | 1.448 MHz | 4.096 MHz | 3.639 MHz |
| Core 6 Clock | 1.448 MHz | 4.096 MHz | 3.639 MHz |
| Core 7 Clock | 1.398 MHz | 4.096 MHz | 3.639 MHz |
In the combined AIDA64 + Unigine Superposition stress test (which had both the processor and the dedicated graphics card under heavy load for 30 minutes), the processor reached a maximum temperature of 97.1 °C (206.7 °F) and throttled until it settled at a temperature of 96.3 °C (205.3°F). During this time, the processor kept an average clock speed of 3.16 GHz with occasional dips to as low as 2.77 GHz, under the guaranteed base clock frequency of 3.2 GHz.
| AIDA64 + Unigine Superposition Stress Test [Frequency] | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 5800H | Minimum | Maximum | Average |
| Core 0 Clock | 2.777 MHz | 3.871 MHz | 3.148 MHz |
| Core 1 Clock | 2.777 MHz | 3.846 MHz | 3.157 MHz |
| Core 2 Clock | 2.777 MHz | 3.821 MHz | 3.159 MHz |
| Core 3 Clock | 2.777 MHz | 3.821 MHz | 3.161 MHz |
| Core 4 Clock | 2.777 MHz | 3.821 MHz | 3.160 MHz |
| Core 5 Clock | 2.777 MHz | 3.821 MHz | 3.163 MHz |
| Core 6 Clock | 2.777 MHz | 3.821 MHz | 3.165 MHz |
| Core 7 Clock | 2.777 MHz | 3.821 MHz | 3.168 MHz |
Finally, the laptop was tested with the AIDA64 stability test, which is another combined stress test for the video card and processor. The processor heated up until it reached a maximum temperature of 96.3°C (205.3°F), at which point the fans started to kick in. Eventually, the processor settled at an average temperature of 95.8°C (204.4°F) with an average frequency of 2.71 GHz and occasional dips to as low as 2.34 GHz. The dedicated graphics card maintained an average clock speed of 1527 MHz with a maximum boost of 1710 MHz. Temperature-wise, the video card hovered between 87 and 86°C (188.6 – 186.8°F).
| AIDA64 stability test [Frequency] | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 5800H | Minimum | Maximum | Average |
| Core 0 Clock | 2.373 MHz | 3.347 MHz | 2.704 MHz |
| Core 1 Clock | 2.323 MHz | 3.222 MHz | 2.703 MHz |
| Core 2 Clock | 2.348 MHz | 3.222 MHz | 2.713 MHz |
| Core 3 Clock | 2.348 MHz | 3.222 MHz | 2.713 MHz |
| Core 4 Clock | 2.348 MHz | 3.222 MHz | 2.714 MHz |
| Core 5 Clock | 2.348 MHz | 3.222 MHz | 2.715 MHz |
| Core 6 Clock | 2.348 MHz | 3.222 MHz | 2.715 MHz |
| Core 7 Clock | 2.348 MHz | 3.222 MHz | 3.715 MHz |
After all the tests conducted by the Noteb review team, it is safe to conclude that Asus’ cooling solution is barely enough for the laptop’s components. Even though playing games at 95°C is theoretically okay, constantly running at this temperature will impact the laptop’s life span. However, it is not necessarily a deal-break since the premature ageing of the components due to excess heat should only become apparent after 2-3 years of operation, the earliest.
[ntab Noise]
The TUF A15 can be a quiet machine during normal use or really loud when gaming. The users can choose between four pre-defined fan profiles: Windows, Silent, Performance and Turbo. These profiles can be switched by pressing Fn+F5 keys or from the Armoury Crate app. When gaming, the laptop can reach around 48-49 dB, however, because the spinning fans don’t make a high pitch noise, the perceived noise isn’t as stressful as the on other gaming laptops.
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The LatencyMon test evaluates if a laptop is suitable for video/audio editing and recording. Throughout the test, the machine did not experience any high latency, which makes it ideal for sound recording. The test was run multiple times to eliminate any flukes, and it always returned with the same results.
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| LatencyMon test – WIFI | LatencyMon test – LAN |
[ntab Battery life]
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Since most laptops are used on battery for mundane office activities and web browsing, the laptop was tested using a simulated continuous web browsing session over the WiFi. The browsing session involved checking emails/news, social media and accessing multimedia websites, similar to the behaviour of an average user. The level of brightness was set according to visibility and usability. At 50% brightness, the laptop provided an enjoyable viewing experience. The sound volume was also set to 50%.
| Battery details: | ||
|---|---|---|
| Device name: | A32-K55 | |
| Manufacturer Name: | ASUS | |
| Unique ID: | ASUS A32-K55 | |
| Battery type: | Li-ion | |
| Designed Capacity: | 90006 mWh | |
| Full Charged Capacity: | 89783 mWh | |
With its 90 WHr battery, the laptop lasted 2 hours and 3 minutes on “Windows Mode”. The machine was tested using both Firefox and Edge and yielded similar battery life results regardless of the browser.
While gaming on Performance Mode (Turbo Mode is only allowed while plugged in), the laptop lasted 1 hour and 15 minutes.
Charging the laptop from 5% to 95% took 1 hour and 20 minutes, and then another 10 minutes for the last 5%.
[ntab Conclusion]
Pros:
- good performance for 1080p gaming;
- high refresh rate display;
- decent selection of ports;
- VR/RTX ready
- RGB keyboard.
Cons:
- poor colour coverage display
- power/thermal limited graphics card;
- below average battery life;
- bad placement of ports;
- runs hot.
In conclusion, the Asus TUF A15 FA506QM is a budget gaming laptop with excellent specifications but with a terrible screen and an average quality chassis at best. Furthermore, the cooling system barely keeps up with its components, which leads to limited performance despite the excellent on-paper specifications.
Is it worth the price? Current retail prices for laptops are relatively high due to various market factors, so it is hard to judge. However, if this laptop goes on sale, and it will, it is worth taking into consideration. Currently, it does not make much sense to pay extra for the latest Ryzen 7 processor and a powerful RTX graphics card if they are severely power/thermal limited. In this laptop, the components are sometimes throttling to the point that gaming performance becomes similar to a configuration with a Ryzen 5 and a GTX 1650 Ti dGPU, which is way cheaper.
[ntab Videos]
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