Without a doubt, gaming notebooks are hot items on the market. Laptop manufacturers have been churning out game-ready machines, but there’s one name, one brand that dominates the gaming market: ASUS. The Taiwanese computer maker has captured the majority of the market share thanks to its Republic of Gamers or ROG lineup.
ROG laptops can be really expensive, especially the beastly ones, but ASUS has affordable options, too. If there’s ROG, there’s also TUF which sits in the middle of the premium and entry-level gaming notebooks currently available in the market.
What I have here is the TUF Gaming FX705, a 17-inch gaming laptop that offers respectable gaming power. If you’re looking for an alternative gaming laptop with a large screen, this might just be the one for you.
ASUS’ TUF lineup has a robust look
It passed MIL-STD-810 tests
This one has a 17-inch display with a 144Hz refresh rate
It’s a 1080p IPS-level panel
The webcam is still on top despite thin bezels
ASUS calls the display NanoEdge
All the ports are on the left side
(L-R) Power, Ethernet, HDMI, 3x USB, headphone jack
The keyboard has customizable RGB lighting
With distinct WASD keys as well
The touchpad is responsive when you need it
It uses Windows Precision drivers
Heat also dissipates to the top chassis
To allow more airflow
Not sleek, but definitely not ugly
I’ve seen better-looking laptops within ASUS’ lineup, but the overall design of this TUF Gaming laptop is not that bad. It does have a bit of ROG DNA in its look, which is a good thing. The keyboard reminds me of the ROG Strix Scar II with the unique WASD keycaps. Speaking of the keys, they’re not mechanical, but they’re responsive with a good amount of travel.
The laptop is just about the size of a conventional 15-inch notebook, but it’s got a 17-inch display. Thanks to the screen’s slim bezels, the TUF Gaming FX705 has a smaller footprint. I can fit this 17-inch gaming laptop into my bag that has a slot for a 15-inch notebook.
Its display is not all about the bezels. ASUS claims the 1080p panel has 100 percent sRGB coverage for accurate colors. Also, the 144Hz refresh rate has spoiled my eyes; it should be a standard among gaming laptops.
While the display is indeed a treat, I can’t say the same for the speaker. It gets loud, but doesn’t hit the proper notes. DTS Headphone: X audio software comes pre-installed which should help with the sound quality, but it works best if you already have a pair of quality headphones.
Can play popular titles
Specs-wise, the TUF Gaming FX705 comes with an Intel Core i7-8750H processor paired with 8GB of memory. The unit I have for review has a combo drive of 1TB HDD and 128GB SSD for storage. Graphics performance is handled by the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti.
Obviously, the laptop’s setup is more than enough to run everyday applications like Chrome, Office, and whatnot. Although, customers will not buy this to only do office work.
During my time with the TUF Gaming FX705, I juggled between typing and gaming. I was able to quickly play the Resident Evil 2 remake and with the default settings applied, I had no issues with frame rates. I got above 70fps at 1080p, but this is not the highest preset available.
More graphics and resource intensive AAA titles like Assassin’s Creed Odyssey really put the GTX 1050 Ti to the test. By default, the game applied the medium graphics quality preset, but still in 1080p. The prologue of the game was already too much for the laptop with multiple characters fighting around, but it stayed above the 30fps mark. When there’s not much going on, it gets up to 90fps.
To help the laptop cope with the stress, I suggest turning on the Overboost Mode to keep the dual fans kicking. When not playing, the laptop also has a Silent Mode.
Keep it plugged in
I have yet to try a gaming laptop that can last for hours unplugged. Never leave the TUF Gaming FX705’s charger behind, because you’ll always need it. Not that the laptop can’t be used on battery power, but you can’t game for long. At best, I was able to do typing and browsing for about four hours on battery mode, which is not bad.
Is this your GadgetMatch?
ASUS has a lot of gaming laptops available. There are plenty of options to choose from, so why get the TUF Gaming FX705? I’d say it’s the most balanced and well-rounded. Too bad that it can’t take advantage of its 144Hz display all the time, but it’s a nice to feature to have.
The TUF Gaming FX705 I have here retails for PhP 81,995 in the Philippines. If you have extra cash, you can get the GTX 1060-equipped variant for PhP 91,995 for better graphics performance. The more expensive variant also comes with an upgraded 256GB SSD. Both are available in ASUS Robinsons Ermita Concept Store and all ASUS Concept Stores nationwide.
Gaming
ASUS ROG launches new gaming laptop in tandem with SCAR Runner
Announced at For Those Who Dare: Boundless event
During their For Those Who Dare: Boundless event, ASUS ROG announced the launch of their latest gaming laptops, accessories, and SCAR Runner for the ROG Citadel Game on Steam.
The launch covers the following:
- ROG Strix SCAR 17 Special Edition
- ROG Flow X16
- SCAR Runner first-person parkour game
- Expanded ROG Slash Fashion Line
- Team ROG partnerships
Pricing and availability of the models announced during the event are yet to be known.
ROG Strix SCAR 17 Special Edition
With more powerful specs than its predecessor, the Strix SCAR 17 SE is poised to be a class-leading gaming laptop.
It is powered by the new Intel Core i9-12950HX processor and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 Ti GPU, on top of advanced features such as:
- Maximum GPU TGP of 175W with Dynamic Boost
- Maximum CPU TDP of 65W
- Boost frequency of 5.2GHz
- Up to 64GB DDR5 memory and PCIe Gen 4 storage
- ROG’s Conductonaut Extreme liquid metal
SCAR Runner: Vault to new heights
Available as an expansion of the ROG Citadel XV game, SCAR Runner is a first-person parkour game set in the world of ROG SAGA.
The protagonist, X, is in a race against time in Goemon City and needs to recover critical information while solving puzzles and challenges.
It’s no coincidence that the new Strix SCAR laptop and new game have same name, as they were released as a tandem.
Gamers can in fact find clues hidden on the laptop chassis itself, that will allow them to solve in-game puzzles.
SCAR Runner is launching with a giveaway campaign with over US$ 20,000 worth of prizes to be won from May 17 to June 30, 2022.
ROG Flow X16
In addition to the Strix SCAR 17 SE, the Flow X16 has been added to the ROG Flow series, the most powerful yet from the line.
It has a Ryzen 9 6900HS processor and an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Ti GPU. It likewise supports up to 64GB of memory and up to 2TB of SSD storage.
The Flow X16 features ROG’s Nebula HDR Display, a 165Hz Mini LED panel with 1100 nits peak brightness and 100 percent DCI-P3 gamut.
These are all complemented by Frost Force Technology and Pulsar Heatsink to ensure high performance but low temperatures.
ROG Slash accessories
Aside from the two new gaming laptops, ROG also introduced new apparels:
- Crossbody Bag
- Backpack
- Hip Bag
- Protective Laptop Bag
- Cobra Buckle Cap
- Bucket Hat
All these items are built with durable quality and have features like adjustable straps, multiple compartments, and water-repellent TPU materials.
Some of these items are also included in the SCAR Runner giveaway campaign.
The Team ROG initiative
Lastly, Team ROG is expanding its 2022 roster, pairing high-end ROG products with influencers, professional gamers, content creators, and athletes around the world.
A new partnership with ReKT Gaming has been announced while the current partnership with esports team Misfits Gaming has likewise been extended.
Gaming
505 Games releases 3 new titles available soon
Released after their first-ever product showcase
After their first-ever product showcase, global video game publisher 505 Games has announced three new exciting titles.
Among the Trolls (2022), Stray Blade (2023), and Miasma Chronicles (2023) will be available within the next two years on different platforms.
Gamers may now add them to their wishlists.
Among the Trolls
Among the Trolls is a first-person, survival, action-adventure game where strange mysteries of folklore-laden Finnish forests are unraveled.
Gamers will embark on a quest to find their characters’ grandparents who have disappeared in the wilderness, learning how to survive the wild in the process.
For the trailer and how to add to your wishlist, click here.
Stray Blade
An Action RPG, Stray Blade will allow players to assume a rogue Adventurer persona exploring the ancient Valley of Acrea.
The character will be accompanied by a mischievous companion, the Xhinnon wolf Boji.
The goal is to unveil the history of the forgotten valley and master the powers of the three Acrean Metals to restore balance to the war-torn land.
Stray Blade will be available in 2023 on PC Steam, Epic, PS5 and Xbox Series X|S.
Miasma Chronicles
From the creators of Mutant Year Zero: Road to Eden, comes an unforgettable and beautifully-crafted tactical adventure.
Players will embark on a quest across a post-apocalyptic wasteland, torn apart by a savage force known only as the “Miasma”, and unlock the dark secrets that are ravaging the world.
Wishlist Miasma Chronicles on Steam, Epic Games, Xbox and PlayStation now.
Lenovo has released its latest generation gaming devices in the Philippines, which are custom-built for top-notch performance. The new Lenovo Legion Gen 7 lineup includes six new battle-ready computers:
- Legion 5i and 5i Pro
- Legion 7i
- IdeaPad Gaming 3i
- Legion Slim 7i
- Legion Tower 7i
Depending on the model, the new gaming devices all come with these latest features:
- 12th Gen Intel Core (up to i9) processors
- NVIDIA GeForce RTX laptop GPUs (up to 3080Ti)
- Memory up to 32GB DDR5 and storage up to 2TB SSD Gen 4
- Adaptive refresh rate up to 240Hz
- IPS display up to 2960 x 1600
And thanks to gamer research, the laptops also come with the next-level Legion Coldfront 4.0, Legion TrueStrike keyboard, and Lenovo Vantage for gaming.
Pricing, specs, availability
All new Lenovo Legion Gen 7devices will be available in all Legion Exclusive Stores, as well as Lenovo Experience stores, authorized resellers, and the Legion Flagship Store in Lazada.
For the prices and basic specs of each laptop, check the table below.
| Device | Specs | Price |
| Legion 5i
|
|
Starts at PhP 89,995 |
Legion 5i Pro
|
|
Starts at PhP 119,995 |
Legion 7i
|
|
Starts at PhP 179,995 |
Legion Slim 7i
|
|
Starts at PhP 124,995 |
| Legion Tower 7i |
|
Starts at PhP 159,995 |
IdeaPad Gaming 3
|
|
Starts at PhP 69,995 |
More benefits
Additionally, all Legion and IdeaPad Gaming laptops also come with the following benefits and standard warranties:
- Free Microsoft Office Home & student 2021 Lifetime License
- Lenovo’s 3-Year accidental Damage Protection
- 3-Year Legion Ultimate Support
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