Gaming laptops have gotten more powerful, but not everyone wants to spend a fortune on a high-end rig and that’s where the ASUS TUF Gaming FA506NFR comes in. This is a budget-friendly gaming laptop with enough power to handle modern titles, but it’s not without its limitations. If you’re looking for an affordable gaming machine, this might be worth a look.

Build and Design

The TUF Gaming FA506NFR follows ASUS’s signature rugged design. It has a durable chassis that feels solid, but it doesn’t scream premium. The laptop leans into its military-grade toughness, which should reassure those who plan to take it on the go. At 2.3kg, it’s not exactly lightweight, but it’s manageable for a gaming laptop.

The 15.6-inch 1080p display runs at 144Hz, which is a nice touch for smoother gameplay. The colors aren’t the most vibrant, and brightness could be better, but for a laptop at this price, it gets the job done.

Performance and Gaming Tests

Under the hood, you’re getting a Ryzen 7 7435HS processor, an RTX 2050 GPU, 8GB of DDR5 RAM, and a 512GB WD PC SN740 SSD. The CPU is decent, especially for multi-threaded tasks, but the RTX 2050 holds this system back from being a true gaming powerhouse. Here’s how it handled some real-world gaming tests:

Cyberpunk 2077

Cyberpunk 2077 is a tough test for any GPU, and the RTX 2050 struggles to keep up. On Medium settings, frame rates fluctuate heavily, with an average of 39.2 FPS, dipping to a low of 10.8 FPS in demanding scenes. Even on Low settings, the average FPS barely improves to 40.2, making it playable but far from smooth. If you’re aiming for a consistent experience, you’ll need to tweak settings aggressively.

Armored Core 6

This fast-paced mech action game runs significantly better than Cyberpunk. On High settings, the average frame rate lands at 59.3 FPS, with lows of 21 FPS during chaotic battles. While not flawless, the experience remains fluid enough to keep gameplay enjoyable, though an occasional frame drop is noticeable in intense firefights.

Baldur’s Gate 3

For RPG lovers, Baldur’s Gate 3 fares much better. Medium settings deliver an average of 81.8 FPS, making it one of the smoother experiences on this laptop. There are occasional frame dips as low as 6.3 FPS, which can be jarring in cutscenes or large battles, but overall, performance is respectable.

Valorant

Esports players will appreciate how well the FA506NFR handles less demanding titles. Valorant hits a ridiculous 416.2 FPS max on Medium settings, with an average of 169.5 FPS. Competitive gaming is effortless here, though the minimum frame rate of 2.8 FPS suggests some extreme dips, possibly during loading screens or background processes.

For esports titles like Valorant, this laptop has no problem hitting high frame rates. More demanding AAA games, however, require some compromise in settings. Cyberpunk 2077 struggles even at low settings, while Baldur’s Gate 3 runs well but has occasional frame dips.

Thermal and Power Management

Cooling is always a concern with gaming laptops, and the FA506NFR does a decent job of managing heat. Here’s what I recorded:

• CPU Temperature: Minimum – 85°C, Average – 86°C, Max – 86°C
• CPU Power Draw: Minimum – 31W, Average – 39W, Max – 45W
• GPU Temperature: Minimum – 76°C, Average – 78°C, Max – 79°C
• GPU Power Draw: Minimum – 40W, Average – 48W, Max – 57W

The CPU runs hot, but it doesn’t throttle too aggressively. The GPU stays under control, but pushing demanding games will keep the fans working overtime.

Storage and Benchmarks

The WD PC SN740 512GB SSD is solid, delivering 5031.91MB/s read speeds and 3151.26MB/s write speeds. Load times are snappy, and the OS runs smooth with minimal lag.

In Cinebench R23, the laptop scored:

• Multi-core: 10,745 points
• Single-core: 1,282 points

These scores show that while the CPU is capable, it’s not breaking any records. It’s a decent processor for gaming and multitasking but won’t compete with Intel’s newer chips in raw performance.

Who Should Buy This Laptop?

If you’re looking for an entry-level gaming laptop that can handle esports titles and some AAA games at medium settings, this is a solid choice. The 144Hz display, durable build, and Ryzen 7 CPU are all great for the price. However, the RTX 2050 is a bottleneck, and 8GB of RAM is limiting in 2025. Upgrading to 16GB RAM would make a big difference.

Final Verdict

The ASUS TUF Gaming FA506NFR is a budget gaming laptop with good build quality and a solid CPU but a weak GPU. It’s great for esports and casual gaming but struggles with more demanding titles. If you’re on a budget and want something that can game without breaking the bank, it’s worth considering—but be ready to tweak settings and manage expectations.

Pros:

• Sturdy build and military-grade durability
• 144Hz display for smooth gameplay
• Ryzen 7 7435HS delivers solid performance
• Fast SSD with good read/write speeds

Cons:

• RTX 2050 struggles with AAA games
• Runs hot under load
• Only 8GB RAM (upgrade highly recommended)

Filed under: Editor's Picks,Gadget Reviews,Reviews - @ February 4, 2025 4:01 pm