Gaming

ASUS TUF Gaming FX505DY Hands-on: Still needs an upgrade

Neither basic nor great

Published

April 6, 2019

Daniel Morial

After playing with the TUF Gaming FX705, I have another ASUS gaming laptop. This one is aimed at those who are looking for a gaming machine on a budget. Gaming and budget don’t go always hand in hand, but this particular model can make them work together.

What I have here is the TUF Gaming FX505DY. It’s practically a smaller version of the previous TUF Gaming laptop I have, plus it’s running on pure AMD power.

I’ll not make this long, so let’s get right to it.

It has a plastic body with a distinct design

Similar to other TUF Gaming laptops

The vents face backwards

The heat is directed away from the user

All the ports are on the left

(L-R) Power, Ethernet, HDMI, 3x USB, headphone jack

There’s virtually nothing on the right side

To give space for your gaming mouse

It sports a 15.6-inch IPS-level 120Hz display…

It’s a non-glare panel

… with slim bezels

One of the laptop’s highlighted features

Still, the webcam stays on top

Quality is just okay

The keyboard has a three-stage red backlight

Budget means no RGB

Decent-looking for its price

The looks of the FX505 is not much different from its bigger cousin, the FX705. Also, the overall aesthetic is pretty much copied from the ROG line of premium gaming notebooks. Design-wise, the FX505 is not lacking; it’s certainly a gaming notebook when you see it.

The FX505 borrows the keyboard design of other new gaming laptops from ASUS, which is good. The layout is ideal for games, although the keys feel a bit mushy. As for the trackpad, it’s okay. It uses Windows Precision and it’s responsive to every gestures.

No one would suspect that this is a budget gaming machine. The slim bezels of the 15.6-inch Full HD display make the FX505 truly modern-looking. Gone are the day of fat bezels, even on a budget laptop. It does have a pretty big chin, but I prefer to trade that for slimmer side bezels. This also means that the FX505 is smaller than conventional 15-inch notebooks out there.

Not only that, the 120Hz refresh rate of the panel adds greater value to the FX505. I wasn’t expecting a high refresh rate on budget gaming laptops, so having it is really a treat. Everything on the screen is smooth and buttery. I am writing this article on the FX505 and it’s always fun to see scrolling smoother than my everyday laptop.

While the added features are welcome, ASUS still has keep the FX505 within budget. The laptop’s plastic body feels hollow, but ASUS says this laptop has passed US military-grade tests, so I’ll just have to take their word for it when it comes to durability.

Upgrade the memory, ASAP!

Let’s get to the specs. The TUF Gaming FX505DY (that’s the specific model name) is powered by the new AMD Ryzen 5-3550H processor with Radeon RX560X discrete graphics. Ryzen chips already have a capable GPU on their own, but nothing beats having a dedicated one. Unfortunately, ASUS is selling this particular with 4GB of DDR4 memory. That’s part of the cost-cutting methods, and it’s a bottleneck.

The processor and the GPU are more than capable to run most games in medium to high settings nicely, but the available system memory couldn’t keep up. 4GB of memory might be enough to let me use the FX505 for browsing, watching videos, typing, and other stuff, but it ruins the gaming experience.

I am no hardcore gamer, so my go-to game is often Cities Skylines. Guess what? I wasn’t able to even load my cloud save on Steam. The loading screen for the game always stops midway.

Of course, I tested other games. I’m glad to report that both battle royale games — CS:GO and Fortnite — run above 60fps on high settings. But, that’s not without hiccups. Due to the limited 4GB RAM, even though the GPU can handle the titles well, you can’t escape the lag. Maybe games that don’t have open-world maps won’t be as affected, but I can’t say for sure.

Is this your GadgetMatch?

No doubt that the TUF Gaming FX505 (specifically FX505DY) is a good option in its range. It might even be the best one considering the features it offers and its price tag. For just PhP 39,995, you can already grab a decent starter gaming laptop that has a 120Hz display, slim bezels, and ROG-esque design.

The display alone is a great selling point, but the 4GB RAM will never do it justice. I wish I could test out more games on the laptop, but I couldn’t even run my staple titles without any hiccups. The low memory is simply a pain and it limits the capabilities of the laptop.

Out of the box, this variant of the FX505 is not totally ready for gaming. If you’re getting one of these, make sure to buy some extra RAM. An additional 4GB stick doesn’t cost much; it’s even cheaper than fancy gaming mice out there.

Gaming

The Adventures of Elliot: The Millennium Tales out now

Physical edition available in Southeast Asia

Published

June 19, 2026

GadgetMatch

The Adventures of Elliot: The Millennium Tales is out now for multiple consoles and PC. In addition, a physical edition for PlayStation 5 and Nintendo Switch 2 is available in Southeast Asia.

Those interested in checking out the game before purchasing can also play the free demo available across all platforms. Saved data from the demo can be carried over to the full game.

There is also a physical Collector’s Edition available, which includes the base game, an original soundtrack, and a desk clock statue featuring Faie.

The Adventures of Elliot: The Millennium Tales lets players explore the World of Philabieldia in Iconic HD-2D Graphics.

The duo of Elliott and Faie traverse a vast world across four ages, teeming with enemy hordes, hidden caves, and ancient ruins.

Elliot can wield seven weapon types, ranging from close-quarters swords to versatile chains and sickles that can reel in enemies.

Each weapon is customisable through Magicite, allowing players to tailor their combat style.

Meanwhile, Faie’s powerful Magic is formidable in and out of battle, whether she’s striking enemies, retrieving hard-to-reach items, or aiding in exploration.

The ultimate goal after all the exploration, character progression, and quests in between is to lift a mysterious curse from Princess Heuria of Huther, saving humanity in the process from beast tribes.

Gaming

Gundam Rogue Orbit coming to consoles, PC in 2027

Bold new take on Gundam through fast, cinematic action

Published

June 17, 2026

GadgetMatch

Bandai Namco Entertainment Asia has announced that Gundam Rogue Orbit is coming to PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Steam in 2027.

The announcement trailer has also been released, showcasing high-mobility action. The title delivers a bold new take on Gundam through fast, cinematic combat in an all-new universe.

Gundam Rogue Orbit lets players suit up for humanity and become the pilot they were born to be.

RE-X is the protagonist and pilot of Gundam Helix. He boards the Gundam and fights to confront threats.

As players step into the cockpit, they will join a rag-tag crew of unsung soldiers, ready to face a powerful unknown threat.

Meanwhile, Sophia serves as the title’s heroine. She is a mysterious girl who monitors RE-X’s situation.

Gaming

K-pop Idol Stories: Road to Debut lets you become a K-pop group’s manager

K-pop Idol management sim launches July 16th

Published

June 17, 2026

GadgetMatch

PQube and Wisageni Studio have announced that K-pop Idol Stories: Road to Debut will release on July 16.

The K-pop Idol management sim is launching both physically and digitally on PlayStation 5 and Nintendo Switch, as well as digitally on Xbox Series X|S and PC (Steam).

In addition, a newly updated demo is available right now on Xbox Series X|S and Steam.

The title invites players to recruit and manage their dream K-pop group on their journey to debut — a behind-the-scenes process those well into K-pop culture and fandom are pretty knowledgeable about.

The game lets players get a taste of life as a K-pop Idol manager, navigating the unpredictable challenges of the industry. There’s scouting talent, managing schedules, choosing outfits, planning social media, and organizing the perfect album.

Players can choose from eight unique trainees, from Minji to Ai. The lineup and skillset of your group is in your hands.

As the manager, it is your job to balance stamina, finances, and workload. Moreover, the bonds you build shape every outcome. Decisions influence how each character perceives you, unlocking new encounters, storylines, and endings.

K-pop Idol Stories: Road to Debut also features exclusive music and special vocal tracks for your group’s debut, produced just for the game. In between, there are mini-games which also contribute to your success as a manager.

As players wait for the game’s release next month, the new demo offers French, German, and Spanish localization, new interactions between trainees, and improved graphics.