Asus TUF FX504
Will this be the last laptop standing?
Asus has brought its TUF naming convention to an all new laptop range that it hopes will be sturdier, more reliable and have a longer lifespan than a “standard laptop” thanks to a few new integrated technologies. Alongside a new six-core CPU — which, in theory, will help spread processing loads and keep the system cooler — the TUF FX504 has a new Anti-Dust Cooling system to actively expel systemdamaging dust before it can collect on fan blades and metal grills. A cutaway on the hinge-edge of the laptop shell creates space for a bigger fan vent that Asus claims offers 27% greater thermal dispersion over a conventional laptop. It’s also got some neat design perks, like the inlet fan below the WASD key group that keeps your hand well ventilated during long gaming sessions, and the keyboard’s reportedly twice as durable as the industry standard. The TUF FX504 hasn’t scrimped on processing power, with its Intel Core i7-8750H CPU and 16GB RAM combo scoring relatively well in all benchmarks. The Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050 Ti GPU also hits the sweet spot when it comes to budget gaming, with performance sitting almost perfectly between the GTX 1050 and the GTX 1060, giving a playable 30fps plus on modern titles like The Division and Far Cry Primal at Ultra/1080p settings. There’s a less-expensive FX504GD model with a GTX 1050 GPU and a 128GB SSD connected via PCIe for 1,500MB/s read speeds, but the model we tested had a 256GB SATA SSD. Both also offer an additional TB of HDD storage and have a woeful 1:28 hour movie playback battery life.