That the world of gaming is today more booming than ever is something known to all. Currently there are many brands that offer products for computer games. Asus is one of these brands. The brand recently launched its Asus FX504 series of gaming laptops. There are several laptops that we can find under this alphanumeric series, but the one we are coming to talk about today is the Asus FX504GM , a computer that not only stands out for its specification sheet, but also for its price, which is found today around 1,400 euros . I have been lucky enough to test this raw power for a couple of weeks and then I will leave you all my impressions.
Asus FX504GM datasheet
| screen | 15.6 TN screen with Full HD resolution, 144 Hz frequency and 3 ms response |
| Processor | Intel Core i7-8750H with 2.2 GHz six cores (3.9 GHz max TurboBoost clock) |
| RAM | 16GB GDDR4 at 2,666MHz |
| Graphic card | NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 with 6GB of dedicated memory |
| Audio | Two stereo speakers |
| Internal memory | 256 GB SSD and 1 TB 5,400 RPM HDD |
| Battery | 48W battery with a duration of around 3 or 4 hours of normal use |
| Operating system | Windows 10 Home |
| Connections | Ethernet, WiFI 802.11 / ac and Bluetooth 4.0 |
| Ports | 2 x USB 3.0, 1 x USB 2.0, 1 x HDMI and 1 x headphone minijack |
| Colors | Black with silver tones |
| Dimensions | 38.4 x 262 x 2.5 cm and 2.3 kg |
| Featured Features | Manually adjustable fan speed and high frame rate on screen |
| Release date | Coming soon |
| Price | Around 1,399 euros |
120Hz display with too many pretenses
As we mentioned at the beginning of the article, the Asus FX504 series consists of various gaming computers. The GM version, unlike its younger brothers, has a TN panel with 120 Hz screen refresh . The rest of the features are identical to that of the rest of the laptops: 15.6-inch screen with Full HD resolution. How does this translate in real life?
Despite the fact that, as we have just seen, we find a TN panel, the quality of it both to play and to enjoy audiovisual content is more than decent. Its viewing angles and the fluidity of the interface stand out when moving around the system. This same fluidity is also palpable when watching videos and playing games, as the response time is just 3 milliseconds. Of course, the high frame rate per second of the monitor (remember that it has 120 Hz) also has to do with the fluidity of the interface. To give you an idea, most 2018 monitors have 60 Hz, that is, 60 images emitted per second. With the Asus computer screen that rate is doubled and results in one of the best experiences in terms of browsing and viewing images. And, as surely you already know, the computer is compatible with videos at 120 FPS, the same rate as some high-end televisions. You can see the real difference in the Asus video below.
But it is not all it is fluidity or viewing angles: color and its representation are also just as important, and Asus delivers outstandingly in this regard. According to the technical data, we find a panel with a percentage of 94% of NTSC and 130% of sRGB . This, coupled with the matte design of its screen coating, makes it an ideal computer for photographers and video editors. Of course, if you have to miss something, it is perhaps the brightness level , which is around 313 cd / m². Also the vividness of the colors can be improved.
Gaming design but with fine lines
The Asus FX504GM is a gaming computer, and that is especially noticeable in its aesthetics. Regarding its design, the computer has lines in the average of the rest of manufacturers of gaming products.
The color red, black and gray govern a good part of the finishes of the computer, which are made of plastic on the body and metal on the screen .
Of course, the keyboard also has a gaming line. This is not only noticeable in the design of the numbers and letters, but also in the backlighting of the keys, whose main color is red (the rear Asus logo also lights up in red).
But without a doubt, what stands out the most in its design is its lightness . Not only in the thickness of the computer, which does not exceed 2.5 centimeters, but because of its weight, which in this case is only 2.3 kilograms, something that should be highlighted taking into account the total size of the body.
Power for everything we want
If there is something that stands out for this Asus computer, it is precisely because of its power. It has practically the latest of the latest. The version I have been able to test has an Intel i7-8750H processor with six cores and 12 threads. This is accompanied by a 6 GB Nvidia GTX 1060 graphics card and 16 GB DDR4 RAM. On paper, we find a computer capable of moving almost any game in Full HD resolution. Does this happen when playing games?
CPU benchmark on Geekbench.
It depends. The computer is capable of running any game that comes its way without any kind of problem. However, for most of the titles I have tried (GTA V, Watch Dogs 2 and Sims 4) the performance obtained with all the graphics in Ultra quality has not been as expected, with an FPS close to 30. If we want to get it out of it all the juice to this computer, we will have to reduce certain parameters of the games to get closer to a stable 60 FPS .
CPU benchmark in Heaven Benchmark.
Not to mention the 120 FPS that the screen can offer. Reaching this value is only possible if we lower the native resolution of the game or try a title with low graphic demand, such as the Sims or League of Legends. In any case, the gaming experience is satisfactory if, as we just mentioned, we do not configure all the graphics settings in Ultra, which is logical considering the range of the graphics card. All these values are those obtained with the computer connected to the current, since with the battery the number of FPS is reduced by half or even a third.
Maximum GPU and CPU temperature playing.
Worth mentioning is also the temperature of the computer and the quality of its fans (the speed of these can be regulated by means of a simple combination of keys through three configurable modes). As is usual in this type of computer, the fact of playing a relatively demanding game requires the activation of the fans in an almost obligatory way. Thanks to this, the temperature achieved is lower than that of other computers that I own. Neither in the CPU nor in the GPU the maximum temperature reaches 80º . Specifically in CPU, the average temperature when playing is 70º. The GPU, on the other hand, has an average of 75º, remarkable considering the thickness of the computer, which is only 2.5 centimeters .
Speed of the SSD disk in reading and writing.
And what about the rest of the uses? Perfect. Whether to navigate the system, open heavy programs or use several applications at the same time, the computer is more than enough . In my usual workflow, I usually have Photoshop and several dozen windows in Microsoft Edge and the experience has been totally satisfactory. This is also noticeable when the computer is turned on, as the startup time is only a few seconds (less than 10). The fault of this is mainly the integration of a 256 GB SSD with M2 technology. The 16 GB of DDR4 RAM at 2,666 MHz also has to do when it comes to handling different applications and heavy programs.
Battery for - solo - part-time
Like all gaming computers, the battery is one of the aspects where this Asus FX504GM stands out least. Although the capacity of the battery and the charger is, to say the least, remarkable (48 W for the battery and 120W for the charger), it seems insufficient for the hardware of the equipment , even more so when the battery module cannot be removed.
Battery life with normal use (left) and with gaming use (right).
Under my tests, the results obtained in a day of normal use (use of Photoshop, multitasking and office automation) leave a lot to be desired. Specifically, about 3 and a half hours with a medium brightness level and with Windows power mode set to half (a little more if we set the power mode to Better battery life).
If we are going to a demanding use with games and heavy programs, then the average duration does not exceed one hour with the same level of brightness. Its duration is also influenced by the level of the fans, which, as mentioned in the previous section, is configurable from the keyboard.
Trackpad and keyboard better than expected
We come to one of the sections that has surprised me the most about the Asus FX504GM. Although I have to admit that I did not expect great qualities especially compared to my MacBook Pro from 2017, the truth is that the Asus gaming computer has surprised me and for the better.
The keyboard feel is very good. The response is almost instantaneous and the key travel is long enough to get good feedback when typing. The size of the keys, although somewhat small for my taste, is also enough to consider this Asus a computer for those of us who are dedicated to the world of blogging. Best of all, it includes a full numeric keyboard , ideal for those of us who handle programs like Excel.
The mouse also gave me excellent sensations. As I said at the beginning, of its quality I expected rather little due to my origin from Apple computers. Nothing could be further from the truth: the Asus trackpad responds to touch without any delay . Added to this is its compatibility with Windows 10 Precision Drivers, which allow you to perform all kinds of gestures in the windows operating system interface, even with up to four fingers.
Upgradeable connectivity and multimedia
In the section on connectivity and multimedia, the impressions are not as good as in the previous ones. Starting with the connectivity of the Asus team, the computer leaves a lot to be desired , especially for the price of it.
In summary, we find two USB 3.0 connections, a USB 2.0 connection, a full HDMI output and an Ethernet port, in addition to dual-band WiFi and Bluetooth 4.0. No USB Type C compatible with Thunderbolt 3 or SD and micro SD card reader , something inconceivable for a computer launched in 2018. In this sense I would have liked to see at least a USB C connection with compatibility with Thunderbolt technology.
Regarding the multimedia section, and ignoring the screen by having treated it at the beginning of the article, in this aspect the impressions are somewhat better. Starting with the sound, although the volume is enough to enjoy a relatively satisfactory experience, its quality is not remarkable at all . Canned sound and rather poor nuances, probably due to its location on the sides and size.
If we refer to its webcam, the quality, as with the speakers, leaves to be desired. Although it can record in HD quality at 720p and 0.9 megapixels , both the focus and the brightness level seem insufficient to obtain a good image in programs like Skype. Otherwise it is the microphone, since it has a higher volume and definition level than other computers in the same price range .
Conclusions
Having seen all the points of the Asus gaming computer, it is time to draw conclusions. From my point of view, it is a highly recommended computer considering its price , which, as I have already mentioned, can be found for about 1,400 euros. Several are the points that can be highlighted from the Asus FX504GM. First of all, its bulky specification sheet allows us to enjoy a gaming experience that has nothing to envy that of competitive computers.
Its high-end processor, the integration of a GTX 1060 graphics card or the 16 GB of RAM make it an option to consider in its price range , in addition to its SSD + HDD storage configuration. The screen also accompanies this experience, in addition to the keyboard and of course, the mouse.
But not everything is gold that glitters. If you have to get any but from this team it is its lack of connectivity and autonomy , as well as the waste of the hertz of its screen. Although it is something that a priori may not directly influence the experience of it, I think this team would have liked a screen with 60 or 75 hertz. After all, the power obtained by its graphics card does not allow us to achieve such high FPS rates.
The best of the Asus FX504GM
Excellent performance both when playing games and navigating the system and programs
Display with good viewing angles, fluency and color rendering
The cooling system does its job, with temperatures that do not exceed 80 degrees in any case
It is not excessively thick. Its weight allows it to be carried in almost any standard-size backpack or briefcase
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It could get better…
Its autonomy in intermediate use
Connectivity. The addition of a USB Type-C port with Thunderbolt 3 is missing
The quality of the Webcam forces us to resort to an external camera
Sound that can be improved both in quality and volume