Content
- Specifications
- Appearance and equipment
- Display
- Keyboard and touchpad
- Software
- Performance and Benchmarks
- Autonomy
- findings
The ASUS TUF line of notebooks are gaming solutions,trying to provide serious performance and reliability, but without the frills inherent in the ASUS Strix line. Today we will talk about ASUS TUF Gaming 15 (2022) using the top model AX201NGW as an example.
TUF Gaming F15
on the official site of ASUS
Technical characteristics
 |
Specifications ASUS TUF Gaming F15 (2022) | AX201NGW |
|---|---|
| Device type | Gaming laptop |
| operating system | Windows 11 Home |
| CPU | Intel Core i7-12700H2.3 GHz (24 MB cache, up to 4.7 GHz),TDP 45W |
| GPU | Intel Iris Xe Graphics NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 for Notebooks, 1752 MHz at power limit140 W(Boost frequency 1702 MHz + overclocking by 50 MHz, 115 W + 25 W with Dynamic Boost), 6 GB GDDR6 |
| Ram | 16 GB (2×8) DDR5-4800, SO-DIMM Support up to 32GB |
| ROM | 512 GB M.2 NVMe PCIe 3.0 SSD 2 M.2 slots |
| Display | 15.6″, 16:9, 2560 x 1440 pixels, IPS, 165 Hz, 300 nits, up to 5 ms, 100% DCI-P3, matte finish, multiplexer |
| Keyboard | Membrane, digital block, programmable RGB backlight, functional NumPad, navigation keys on the right side |
| Wireless interfaces | Wi-Fi 6, 2.4 and 5 GHz Bluetooth 5.1 |
| Sound | Two, down-firing, Dolby Atmos Hi-Res Audio over 3.5mm Microphone array, intelligent noise reduction |
| webcam | 720p |
| Battery | 90 Wh (4 cells) |
| Power Supply | Proprietary ø6.0 mm, 240 W (20 V, 12 A) |
| Interfaces | 2× USB-A 3.2 Gen1 1× Thunderbolt 4/DisplayPort 1× USB-C 3.2 Gen2 / DisplayPort / G-SYNC 1 × HDMI 2.0b 1× 3.5 mm audio jack 1× Ethernet RJ-45 1× Kensington security slot |
| BY | MyASUS Armory Crate |
| Dimensions and weight | 35.4× 25.1× 2.49 cm 2.2 kg |
| Other | AURA SYNC TPM module MIL-STD-810H Reliability Certification |
Appearance and equipment
ASUS TUF Gaming 15 (2022) comes withpower supply a la brick 240 W and documentation. There are no optional add-ons like Keystone (like ASUS ROG Strix Scar – review, video review).
The body of the device is made of non-staining plastic.There are no complaints about the assembly: it’s not in vain that the manufacturer brandishes the MIL-STD-810H army reliability certification. However, plastic is plastic. The material is pressed through and can emit a slight creak under pressure, but it heats up less than metal.
At the bottom of the device are a pair of moderate-quality stereo speakers, several air vents and rubberized feet.
The following interfaces found their place on the right and left ends:
- 2× USB-A 3.2 Gen1
- 1× Thunderbolt 4/DisplayPort
- 1× USB-C 3.2 Gen2 / DisplayPort / G-SYNC
- 1× HDMI 2.0b
- 1× 3.5 mm audio jack
- 1× Ethernet RJ-45
- 1× Kensington security slot
The set is good.Of particular note is the support for G-SYNC technology on one of the USB-C ports. When connected to a suitable monitor, you can expect a minimum delay in signal transmission, which is useful in competitive shooters. On the other hand, the layout of the interfaces seems unoptimized to us: the left end is overloaded, while the rear end is not used at all, and the right one is responsible for only one USB-A.
Display
Our ASUS TUF Gaming 15 model is installed15.6″ IPS display with a resolution of 2560 by 1440 pixels, a refresh rate of 60/165 Hz, and anti-glare coating. The panel pleases with a smooth picture at high Hertz and 100% coverage of the DCI-P3 color space. The matrix has small flares around the perimeter that are unnoticeable during normal use.
HWiNFO: display characteristics
The display leans back 135°, which is enoughfor comfortable work at the table. For use on your knees or lying down, the laptop is not suitable. This is due to significant (in comparison with ultrabooks) dimensions and weight, as well as heating of the case during operation (even in ECO mode).
In the center of the upper frame of the display is mountedmediocre webcam and microphone array with noise-canceling technology. You should not expect a good picture quality from the camera, but it is capable of providing video communication if necessary. If this aspect of the laptop is important to you, I recommend evaluating the quality using the examples at the link below. Authorization via Windows Hello is not provided.
Example of photo and video shooting with a web camera
Keyboard and touchpad
Despite the fifteen-inch format, ASUSfit into the laptop almost a full-sized keyboard. There was a place for the numeric keypad, and an additional block of four function keys, and a medium-sized touchpad centered on the main part of the keyboard. Of the compromises that I notice, I can only note the navigation keys (PgUp, Home, etc.), combined with the arrows, and the absence of the fingerprint sensor that is popular today. As practice has shown, the keyboard requires a certain habit (at first I desperately smeared the keys).
Speaking of other features, I notethree-level RGB lighting, which can be configured in the pre-installed Armory Crate program. Color and behavior are defined for the entire keyboard at once, without the possibility of choosing an individual color for each key.
The touchpad feels a little sticky, picks up fingerprints, and has a little play when pressed. You can use it, but it is better to get an external mouse, as it should be in the case of a gaming PC.
Software
We got a model with Windows 11 Pro, but there are options without an OS. The system works quickly and demonstrates excellent smoothness in conjunction with the 165 Hz display.
In addition, there are a couple of brandedprograms from the manufacturer - MyASUS and Armory Crate. The first allows you to easily update drivers, set charge settings and link your smartphone. The second is more focused on gaming aspects: for example, choosing a performance preset (and creating your own), setting the backlighting of the keys and the AURA lighting system.
MyASUS
Armory Crate
Performance and tests
Finally, the most important thing for a gaming device is hardware:
- Intel Core i 7-12700 H 2.3GHz processor (24MB cache, up to 4.7GHz), TDP 45W.
- Integrated graphics chip Intel Iris Xe Graphics.
- NVIDIA GeForce RTX discrete graphics chip3060 for laptops, 1752MHz @ 140W power limit (Boost frequency 1702MHz + 50MHz overclock, 115W + 25W with Dynamic Boost technology), 6GB GDDR6.
- 16 GB (2×8) RAM DDR 5-4800, SO – DIMM. Up to 32 GB supported.
- 512 GB M.2 NVMe PCIe 3.0 SSD permanent storage. There is an additional M .2 slot for memory expansion.
HWiNFO: information about components
CPU-Z: Component Information
SSD speed tests. Productive mode. From the network and autonomously.
Fresh 12th generation Alder Lake processorhas the letter H in its name, which indicates uncut performance. In the Cinebench R23 benchmark, we saw a short-term boost of up to ≈103 W and 90 W at 90° for a long time.
Cinebench R23*
*Screenshot order:
- Off the grid, one-time run.
- Off mains, stress test 30 minutes.
- Standalone, one-time run.
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The cooling system is clearly shown above.Includes two 84-blade Arc Flow fans and 5 heatpipes. Only the placement of the display cable looks doubtful: the cable runs too close to one of the thermotubes.
What cools the lower thermotube?
During times of stress, the greatestThe case temperature is observed in the area of the F5–F8 keys. The bottom gets hot even in “ECO” mode, making it unpleasant to work from your knees or lying down. And in general, standard performance controls do not provide an option in which the far part of the case did not seem at least warm. During measurements in particularly demanding projects (for example, RDR2), the CPU temperature in a short distance approached 100° (then dropped to ≈90°), and the video card - to 80°.
The power of the system and the volume of the fans directly depend on the preset selected in the Armory Crate. Noise measurement 20 cm from the case showed the following values when working under load:
- Turbo - 45 dB (you can only work with headphones).
- Balance - 35 dB.
- Quiet – 30 dB (CPU – 20 W, GPU – 45 W).
Results of discrete NVIDIA GeForce RTX3060 for laptops is measured in the Unigine Superposition benchmark. In turbo mode, TDP reached as much as ≈135 W! The screenshots below are presented in the following order:
- Offline, Turbo, Medium 1080p.
- Offline, Turbo, Extreme 1080p.
- Off the grid, turbo, 4K Optimized.
- Offline, balance, Medium 1080p.
- Standalone, balance, built-in GPU, Medium 1080p.
Graphics benchmark Superposition
The available capacity is sufficient to launchmost modern projects in native resolution on ultra settings at 60+ fps. Of course, some gems like Cybepunk 2077 will require some compromises. Our measurements showed the following results:
- Cyberpunk 2077 (Digital Foundry settings)
- 2560×1440, without DLSS – 20-25 fps
- 2560×1440, with DLSS – 40-45 fps
- 1080p, no DLSS - 35 fps
- 1080p, with DLSS – 66 fps
- Apex (2560×1440, ultra) – 90-118 fps
- Dota 2 (2560×1440, ultra) – 95-105 fps (CPU – 25%, GPU – 55%)
- Gears 5 (2560×1440, ultra) – 68 fps
- RDR 2 (2560×1440, ultra)
- without DLSS - 50 fps
- with DLSS – 53 fps
- Total War: ROME II (2560×1440, ultra) – 48 fps
Cyberpunk 2077
Gaming performance
Autonomy
For autonomy, the laptop relies onbattery with a capacity of 90 Wh, which can be charged with a power supply of 240 W (20 V, 12 A) with a proprietary plug ø6.0 mm. The timings are as follows: 30 minutes – 50%, 60 – 87%, 92 – 100%. Charging via USB-C is not provided (which is a pity).
Discharge rate depends on the scenariousage, performance preset, display mode (60/165 Hz) and GPU mode. The latter is selected in the Armory Crate: the choice of "Standard" - demanding processes run on a discrete GPU, "ECO" - only the built-in GPU is used and "Optimized" - a discrete GPU is used only when working from the mains. Our measurements of autonomy in a bunch of 60 Hz, ECO, 50% brightness showed the following results:
- 60 minutes YouTube (Wi-Fi, 1080p) - 19%.
- 60 minutes of work in the browser (Wi – Fi, Chrome) – 16%.
- 30 minutes Dota 2 (Wi – Fi, 1080p, minimum settings, 100% scaling, 27-34 fps) – 14%.
Conclusions
Our model ASUS TUF Gaming F15 (2022) pleasedserious iron power (GeForce RTX 3060 up to 140 W!), a display with a smooth picture at 165 Hz and a wide color coverage (DCI-P3), a capacious battery and an additional slot for expanding permanent memory. Of the nuances, we note not the most convenient placement of interfaces, as well as typical for gaming laptops, heating under load and restrained autonomy.
For those who do not need WQHD resolution,the manufacturer offers two more options - FHD / 144 Hz / 62.5% sRGB and FHD / 300 Hz / 100% sRGB. The 300-Hz option will definitely please fans of online battles, but 144-Hz is more difficult to recommend due to the low color gamut.
TUF Gaming F15
on the official site of ASUS
© Dmitry Pivnev.