Pros
- Lightweight and compact design
- High-refresh 144 Hz Full HD display
- 12th-Gen Intel Core i7 processor
- Long battery life with fast charging
- DDR5 RAM
Cons
- No RGB keyboard
- No micro SD card reader
Paired with high-end hardware components in a thinner and lighter design, the ASUS TUF Dash 15 lineup aims to meet all the requirements of every user, not only under the most demanding multitasking scenarios but also when playing the most anticipated videogames.
And in this review of the ASUS TUF Dash 15 FX517ZM-AS73, it's time for you to get to know one of the most prominent notebooks within the lineup.
Amongst its most outstanding features, this 15-inch ultrabook is packed with a 12th-Gen Intel Core i7 processor, a GeForce RTX 30 graphics card, and 16 GB of the latest generation DDR5 RAM.
Overall, it's clearly intended for those gamers and hardcore users looking for a powerful solution in a compact build capable enough to work on several demanding tasks simultaneously and run many highly-acclaimed AAA titles in high definition smoothly, thanks to its 144 Hz refresh rate.
Couple that with stellar customer ratings and an unbeatable price point and you've got yourself a serious contender for the title of best gaming laptop of the year.
Table of contents
ASUS TUF Dash 15 FX517ZM-AS73 Specifications
| Brand/Model | ASUS TUF Dash 15 FX517ZM-AS73 |
| Dimensions | 13.94 x 9.88 x 0.81 inches |
| Weight | 4.41 pounds |
| Display | IPS | Anti-glare | 15.6'' | 144 Hz |
| Resolution | Full HD (1920 x 1080 pixels) |
| Processor | 12th-Gen 10-Core Intel Core i7-12650H |
| RAM | 16 GB (DDR5) |
| GPU | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 | 6 GB (GDDR6) |
| Storage | 512 GB (SSD) |
| Battery | 76 Wh | Up to 10 hours |
| Operating System | Windows 11 Home |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi 6 Bluetooth 5.1 RJ-45 2x USB-A 3.2 1x USB-C 3.2 | DisplayPort 1.4 | Power Delivery 3.0 1x Thunderbolt 4 1x HDMI 2.0b 1x Audio jack HD Webcam |
Design, Display, and Keyboard
Like many other TUF Dash 15 models, the ASUS TUF Dash 15 FX517ZM-AS73 has been certified with the military standard MIL-STD-810H, which means that its black matte chassis is sturdy enough to put up with everyday use, and it has been tested on drops, high temperature, and humidity conditions.
And, as stated by most users, its extreme lightweight design that measures 0.81 inches in thickness and weighs just 4.41 pounds allows you to easily slid it into your backpack and take it everywhere when needed. Generally speaking, gaming laptops tend to fall around the 5-pound mark, so anything below that is positive.
When it comes to its cooling features, we've got an anti-dust dual-fan system that provides the reliability you need, especially when gaming while keeping the laptop very quiet when not working on demanding tasks.
Moving onto the display, it has a thin-bezel 144 Hz 15.6-inch Full HD screen that is colorful, fast, and immersive enough for working, gaming fast-paced titles, and streaming multimedia content, since it comes with anti-glare coating and IPS technology to allow you to see sharp images at almost any viewing angle.
As far as the keyboard is concerned, despite it not featuring RGB lighting, you get an elegant teal backlit with WASD keys highlighted to make it easier to locate them even in dim environments avoiding looking directly at the keyboard when playing games.
Also, it offers a pleasant feeling when editing texts and navigating through Windows 11's user interface thanks to its dedicated numeric pad on the right side, as well as its large and responsive touchpad that fully supports multi-gesture technology.
Regarding its key components, this laptop arrives with the brand-new 12th-Gen Intel Core i7-12650H processor powered by 10 cores (6 performance cores and 4 efficiency cores) at a clock speed of up to 4.70 GHz when pressed with CPU-intensive tasks.
On the other hand, it comes with an upgradeable 16 GB of RAM under the latest DDR5 standard so you can get the benefits of a wider bandwidth (4800 MHz) while working smoothly in multiple demanding tasks at once (photo/video editing, programming, virtualization, 3D rendering, and so on), as well as the basic everyday tasks.
When it comes down to the graphics department, it packs the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 6 GB GDDR6 graphics card so you can play many Triple-A games even on ultra settings.
Amongst the games you could play smoothly we've got F1 22 at 52 fps, The Quarry at 59.4 fps, and Cyberpunk 2077 1.5 at 62 fps. You'll also be able to get the most out of the second-generation of Ray Tracing technology in some of them, including Ghostwire: Tokyo (46.6 fps) and Resident Evil Village (77 fps).
And if you need an even more powerful gaming laptop, you might consider the MSI Pulse GL66 11UGK-001 equipped with an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 with 8 GB of GDDR6 graphics card which is capable enough to render 4K videos and run many popular games in 2K or even in 4K resolution.
Wrapping up this segment of the review, there's a 512 GB NVMe M.2 SSD drive that is way faster than the conventional SATA SSD units, reaching up to 3200 MB/s of reading/writing speed so you can run your programs at lightning speed while transferring heavy data, rendering 3D projects, and booting Windows in a matter of seconds.
Connectivity and Extras
Connectivity-wise, the FX517ZM-AS73 comes with essential terrestrial solutions such as two USB-A 3.2 ports, a high-speed Thunderbolt 4 port, and a single USB-C 3.2 port supporting DisplayPort 1.4 and Power Delivery 3.0 interfaces for connecting external monitors and charging the battery in less time, respectively.
Furthermore, it has an HDMI 2.0b output, an Ethernet port, and a 3.5 mm audio jack. There's also an HD webcam on the top bezel, as well as Bluetooth 5.1 and Wi-Fi 6 wireless standards, so you can get the benefits of a faster and steadier internet connection when playing, surfing the web, and streaming multimedia content.
Last but not least, it's important to acknowledge that the previously known 802.11ax Wi-Fi protocol is now known just as Wi-Fi 6 after the Wi-Fi Alliance updated its name back in 2018 to make it easier for users to understand which Wi-Fi standard was the latest.
And if you need a gaming laptop with a Micro SD card reader, we encourage you to look at the MSI Stealth 15M A11UEK-009 packed with an 11th-Gen Quad-Core Intel Core i7 processor.
What Are People Saying?
Based on the customer reviews, the Asus TUF Dash 15 FX517ZM-AS73 generally receives positive feedback. Customers appreciate the solid specifications and performance it offers for its price point. The laptop is often described as a good value for money, particularly for gamers and those in need of a powerful, multipurpose laptop.
The laptop's hardware, including the Intel Core i7-12650H processor and the GeForce RTX 3060 GPU, is highly regarded for delivering fast and smooth performance. Users report being able to play games on high settings without issues. The upgradeability of the laptop is also praised, with customers mentioning the ease of adding or replacing components such as RAM and SSD.
In terms of design, the Asus TUF Dash 15 FX517ZM-AS73 is often described as sleek and lightweight, making it convenient for on-the-go use. The keyboard, although not exceptional, is considered decent and functional. The screen quality is generally regarded as satisfactory, although it may not be the brightest.
In addition to the positive aspects mentioned earlier, customers also appreciate the laptop's versatility. It is not only seen as a gaming machine but also as a capable laptop for productivity tasks, coding, and running software like ML models or music production software. This versatility makes it appealing to a wider range of users who value both performance and functionality.
While there are some criticisms, such as concerns about battery life, heat generation, and the presence of bloatware, these issues do not seem to be widespread or deal-breakers for most customers. Overall, the laptop receives positive feedback for its performance, value, and suitability for gaming and general use.
Battery Life
Moving onto the battery life segment of the ASUS TUF Dash 15 FX517ZM-AS73 review, there's no reason to be disappointed since the 76 Wh battery inside this model almost reaches the impressive 10-hour mark claimed by its manufacturer.
Specifically, it lasts up to 9 hours of Netflix streaming with energy-saving settings and screen brightness set at 60%, while in spreadsheet editing conditions, you can get up to 7 hours with Wi-Fi turned on as many users can confirm.
This, in and of itself, is a major competitive advantage for the 15 FX517ZM-AS73 since most gaming laptops will generally just offer users something like 3-5 hours. Getting up to 9 hours on a gaming laptop is almost unprecedented, and it's something that should not be taken lightly.
Bottom Line: Is the ASUS TUF Dash 15 FX517ZM-AS73 worth buying?
The ASUS TUF Dash 15 FX517ZM-AS73 is an excellent gaming solution that's bound to make just about everybody happy. It's got a killer performance, the latest generation RAM, Wi-Fi 6 connectivity for a faster internet connection, a generous storage capacity, and a massive battery life when compared to other gaming notebooks on the market.
Also, its new Windows 11 interface is easier to work with, and it can run demanding software as well as almost every recent game at a high graphics setting without skimping on performance.
All of that combined makes us recommend this laptop to just about anyone who can afford its compelling price point. However, it will be especially useful for gamers, graphic designers, video editors, photographers, and programmers who need to work with numerous virtual machines simultaneously. A high-end laptop that is bound to fulfill all of your expectations.