Asus TUF Dash F15 FX517ZR: 2 kg gaming laptop with E-cores that can be switched off

The Asus TUF series features entry-level and mid-range gaming laptops. The devices are positioned below the Republic of Gamers models and cover the price segment up to about 2,000 Euros (~$2,038). Our review sample has a price tag of just under 1,600 Euros (~$1,630). Asus isn't going for maximum performance with the FX517ZR, but rather for compact dimensions and a low weight - the laptop weighs about 2 kg.

The combination of the Core i7-12650H CPU, the GeForce RTX 3070 laptop GPU and 16 GB of RAM (DDR4-4800, dual-channel mode) equips the device for every application scenario that demands performance - video editing, rendering, gaming. At best (dGPU mode), the GPU delivers performance rates that are around the average of all the RTX 3070 laptops tested so far - the relatively low TGP of 105 watts is noticeable here.

Issues related to the DRM mechanisms of various games have become known since the launch of the Alder Lake platform: The DRM software might recognize the CPU's E-cores as a different system and consequently refuse to launch the game. These problems should have been fixed to a large extent by now through various updates. If the latter isn't the case for a certain game, the Asus laptop offers a solution: Disabling or not using the E-cores.

The matte QHD display (15.6 inch, IPS, 165 Hz) made a good impression for the most part. Only the brightness is too low. This is accompanied by very decent battery life. A Thunderbolt 4 port provides expansion options in the form of a docking solution or an external GPU.

More information and many benchmark results are available in our review of the Asus TUF Dash F15 F517ZR.