Skip to main content

Asus updates its budget TUF laptop range with a dedicated performance switch

Asus has launched a slate of new budget gaming laptops at CES 2022. The trio forms part of the company’s TUF laptop lineup, which is focused on the more affordable end of the gaming spectrum.

They include the TUF Gaming F15 and F17, the TUF Gaming A15 and A17, and the TUF Dash 15. All come with new features inside and updated designs on the outside, which Asus says makes for a “more refined” look inspired by “mecha anime.” Gaming laptops aren’t exactly known for their subtle designs, and Asus’ fare is no exception, so you might find the refreshed TUF range a welcome break if you’re a little tired of LED-festooned everything.

Related Videos
The Asus TUF range of gaming laptops.

The whole range comes with Asus’ hardware MUX switch. Rather than routing GPU frames through the CPU’s integrated graphics to save on battery life, this switch lets you flip to direct GPU throughput for better graphical performance, which Asus says translates to a 5% to 10% uptick. Unsurprisingly, Asus hasn’t mentioned the potential battery impact of using this direct mode, but we’d expect it will have you reaching for the power cable.

All three also come with a 26% larger trackpad for roomier navigation, although you’ll probably be sticking to a gaming mouse if you’re eyeing one of these primarily for gaming. Still, it’s a nice thing to have.

Performance on a budget

How about some specs? Let’s start with the TUF F15 and F17 laptops, which offer chips up to and including Intel’s 12th Generation Intel Core i7-12700H processor and an Nvidia RTX 3060 GPU. You can load each one with up to 16GB of DDR5 4800MHz memory and a 4TB PCIe 4.0 SSD. Both sizes let you choose between a 1440p 165Hz display or a 1080p option that offers an impressive 300Hz. As for ports, you’ll get a Thunderbolt 4.0 slot, one USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C port, and one USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A port.

The A15 and A17, on the other hand, stick with Team Red and can be maxed out with AMD’s Ryzen 6800H processor and an Nvidia 3050 Ti GPU. You’ll get the same 16GB DDR5 RAM and 4TB PCIe 4.0 SSD options, and the same 144Hz and 165Hz screen types, too. The A15 and A17 drop the Thunderbolt 4.0 and USB 3.2 Gen 2 slots, though, instead replacing them with two USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-C ports, an HDMI 2.0b port, and a Gigabit Ethernet jack.

Rounding out the trio is the TUF Dash F15, which is the highest performing laptop of the bunch. It ups the maximum chip options to a 12th-generation Intel Core i7-12650H CPU and an Nvidia RTX 3070 graphics card, while you can kit it out with up to 32GB of DDR5 4800MHz RAM and a 4TB PCIe 4.0 SSD. There’s a Thunderbolt 4.0 port and options for a 165Hz 1440p screen or a 300Hz 1080p display. Asus says the device is thin and light, although that’s somewhat relative when we’re describing a decked out 15-inch gaming laptop.

All three devices will be available in the first quarter of 2022, with pricing yet to be announced.

Editors' Recommendations

AMD’s integrated graphics might beat the most popular GPU on Steam
A woman sits by a desk and plays a game on a laptop equipped with an AMD processor.

Most people don't expect much from integrated graphics solutions, but it appears that AMD's new iGPU can do a surprisingly good job.

The AMD Radeon 780M was spotted in a benchmark by Wccftech, showing off the performance of the AMD Ryzen 7 7840HS and the RDNA iGPU itself. Who would have thought that this card would be able to beat Steam's No. 1 discrete GPU?

Read more
Ranking all 12 versions of Windows, from worst to best
Windows 7 desktop.

You can tell a person's age by which version of Windows is their favorite. I have fond memories of XP and Windows 98 SE, so you can take a guess at mine, but I have colleagues who are much more enamored with Windows 7, or Windows 95. We all have something disparaging to say about Windows 8 though, and the less said about Windows Vista the better.

Ranking the different versions of Windows is about more than what era of computing you grew up in, though. There are some very serious duds in Microsoft's back catalog, just as there are a few wins too. But whether you can look back on some of Microsoft's disastrous releases with rose-tinted glasses, or have some genuine love for Microsoft's missteps, here's every version of Windows ranked from best to worst.
12. Windows ME

Read more
Can you use PSVR2 on PC?
The back of a man's head wearing the PSVR2.

There are now a decent number of VR headsets on the market, and the newest headset on the block, the PlayStation VR2, is one of the most powerful in terms of technology. This upgrade from the original PSVR makes many improvements over the original design, including trimming down the necessary cables to a single USB-C. Being the only headset on the market made by a console maker, many PC gamers may be wondering if the PSVR2 would be a worthy investment if they could also use it on their PCs.

If you're mainly a PC gamer, or have yet to get your hands on a PlayStation 5, and are interested in the PSVR2, here's whether or not it will work on other hardware.
Does PSVR2 work on PC?

Read more