Gaming Laptop,  Review,  Tech Stuff

ASUS FX503VM-E4039T Gaming Laptop Review and Alternatives

Today I want to talk about a product that might be of interest for you: the ASUS FX503VM-E4039T gaming laptop. I’ve been a PC gamer for quite some time now and I always preferred desktop computers for their durability and better hardware in general. However, I recently decided to save money for a good laptop in order to have a second machine for my work (better being safe than sorry, right?) and I went for something that I could also use to play new generation games.

There are different models of this series though, plus other gaming laptops that may differ in price and specs. Here’s my honest review for the E4039T and a list of alternatives you can check for a wider choice!

Overview

The moment you want to go for a gaming computer, not only you have to pay attention to its hardware for a decent performance, but also the brand. Not all the expensive laptops are as reliable as you’d expect, forcing you to replace them after a very short time from the purchase or send it in for repairs. About this, Asus has never let me down once since I own it.

Considering my old laptop is from 2011 (HP G series) and surely not belonging to the gaming category, switching to the Asus FX503VME4039T has been quite a big jump for me. The first thing that I liked about it when I loaded its system for the first time is the red LED light coming from the keybord. This is obviously just an aesthetic factor, but it can be visually appealing and helpful if you need to type in a dark room (and red is also my favorite color, so hey two birds with one stone!).

The second aspect I ADORED the moment I noticed it, is the numpad incorporated into the laptop. Old models didn’t really have one and you were forced to buy an external keyboard in order to use those missing keys when needed. They may not be required for standard operations like simple writing or navigation, but some programs can hardly be used without a numpad nowadays.

The box includes the power cord and its charger (quite heavy I must say… yet again it’s not like the one for my old lappy was light). The computer has been wrapped into a soft white casing and even the keyboard has a protection on it.  It comes with a standard internet gateway, three USB ports (two on the left, one on the right) + HDMI and the classic audio jack.

Performance

The screen is a standard 1920×1080, but thanks to the GTX 1060 (6GB) you can push the default resolution up to 4k. This is not essential, but particularly useful if you want to enjoy your favorite games with a clearer image. The OS is Windows 10 64 bit and the processor is an Intel Core i7-7700HQ.

Its power is not the strongest available on the market though, being just 2.8GHz. This is a little compromise you need to consider if you don’t want to spend more for a Quad Core 3.00GHz or superior CPU. Still, with this hardware you will be able to play almost all the recently released video games (99% according to Can U Run It in fact) and it’s more than enough for 3D programs and generally heavy stuff.

I admit I was a bit worried about the processor’s speed at first, but it totally surpassed my initial expectations, most likely for being a more advanced model than my i7-4790 (3.60GHz) on desktop .

This is a test screenshot I took in Assassin’s Creed Syndicate. I installed a ReShade configuration using the latest framework and applied some filters for a better result (Fog, Sharpen, Monochrome, Ambient Light). The game is quite demanding in terms of resources, but seems to run pretty smoothly on the E4039T with a detailed image (the display settings are on 2103×1183, graphics set on Ultra).

Note: You most likely need to add the games to the Nvidia Control Panel. They didn’t run as they were supposed to in the beginning because they were excluded from the graphics card supported list.

The CPU temperature remains between 60°C and 70°C on heavy load, the GPU ranges between 70°C and 80°C with a cooling pad (a must-have to keep the heating under control through additional external fans and to make the laptop stand without pressing it on a hard surface or bed, risking to block the airflow). Idle temps are more or less stable on 40°C.

These values can look a bit frightening and extreme, but worry not because this is a standard in modern gaming. As long as you don’t go beyond 75°C (CPU) and 85°C-90°C (GPU) your components are safe. You can download Speedfan to keep both temps in check.

The battery can last around 3 hours when unplugged with normal operations, the only downside is that the piece is internal and impossible to remove unless you dismount the whole thing. This is sadly quite a flaw to me, considering it will be hard to replace in the future.

Detailed specs:

• 15.6” Full HD, 1920×1080 display
Intel Core i7-7700HQ 2.8GHz Processor
GTX 1060 6GB
• RAM 16GB
Hard Disk 1TB SSD 128GB
• Windows 10 x64

Now the important question would be: is the price/quality ratio worth it?

My answer is yes, it definitely is.
I had a lot of difficulties when I tried to find something equal in a local store, with so many expensive laptops showing off mediocre specs. I strongly discourage you from spending so much for something we can already consider outdated, so the FX503VM-E4039T is a very good choice among them all.

If you decide to pick this model, be sure to either find the E4039T specifically or a similar laptop with the same quality. Alternatively you can still find good laptops with slightly weaker components, but still good enough to play the majority of titles on high/ultra graphics (my desktop has a GTX 970 4GB mounted on it and despite its limitations it can still run the 95% of games without sacrificing the visuals too much).

Regarding some equally valid alternatives, I took some time to research on Amazon and found these models you may want to check out:

 

Is there any laptop you put your eyes on? What kind of gaming laptop do you have and what do you like about it? Feel free to drop a comment for any question or just to share your own experience! 🙂

 

 

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