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| The FA401GM delivers up to 115 W to its GeForce RTX 5060 laptop GPU. |
It has been a busy start to the year for Asus’s portable gaming division. Earlier this month, the company finally rolled out the highly anticipated FA401EA version of the TUF Gaming A14 to the United States, marking the brand’s debut of the powerful "Strix Halo" architecture in a gaming chassis. Now, just weeks later, Asus is broadening the lineup with a very different—and slightly confusing—configuration aimed at users who prioritize dedicated graphics over raw integrated performance.
The new variant, designated the FA401GM, has officially gone live in Canada, bringing with it a brand-new processor from the next-generation "Gorgon Point" family and a dedicated Nvidia graphics card.
A Tale of Two A14s: Strix Halo vs. Gorgon Point
To understand the current TUF Gaming A14 landscape, it helps to look at the two distinct paths Asus is taking with this 14-inch chassis.
First, there is the FA401EA, the model that just hit US shelves. This is the "Strix Halo" machine enthusiasts have been waiting for. It retails for $2,199 and is powered by the Ryzen AI Max+ 392. This configuration skips a discrete GPU in favor of the powerful Radeon 8060S integrated graphics found on the Strix Halo chip, pairing it with 32GB of unified RAM and a 1TB SSD.
For those needing even more firepower in a portable form factor, Asus also offers the ProArt PX13 (HN7306EA), which can be configured with the top-tier Ryzen AI Max+ 395 and a massive 128 GB of RAM, catering to mobile workstations and AI developers.
However, the new FA401GM takes a traditionalist approach. Now available at retailers up north, this model is built around the Ryzen AI 9 465, a "Gorgon Point" APU. While "new" often implies "better," the specifications suggest this might not be the case for raw CPU horsepower when compared to the Strix Halo or even the older Zen 5-based chips.
Specifications: FA401GM (Canada)
- Processor: AMD Ryzen AI 9 465 (Gorgon Point)
- Graphics: Nvidia GeForce RTX 5060 Laptop GPU
- Memory: 32 GB RAM
- Storage: 1 TB SSD
- Price: CAD 2,599 (~$1,893 USD)
This puts the FA401GM in an interesting position. While the RTX 5060 will undoubtedly provide a boost in ray tracing and DLSS 4 capabilities over integrated solutions, the CPU performance of the Gorgon Point "Ryzen AI 9 465" remains a question mark.
Interestingly, Asus already offers the FA401WV variant, which houses the Ryzen AI 9 HX 370. Based on current benchmarks, the HX 370 (available in devices like the ones listed on Amazon) is expected to outperform the new 465 in multi-threaded productivity tasks. This creates a unique hierarchy within the same product line where the "newer" model may actually be a side-grade or a shift in focus toward GPU-centric gaming rather than CPU-centric productivity.
Pricing and Availability
Asus has positioned the FA401GM at a premium over its Strix Halo sibling in Canada. The company is charging CAD 100 (~$73) more for the FA401GM (RTX 5060) than the FA401EA (Strix Halo).
Here is where Canadian shoppers can currently find the new release:
- Asus Official Store: For full technical specs and direct purchasing, visit the official product page for the Asus TUF Gaming A14 (2026) FA401GM.
- Best Buy Canada: The laptop is also listed at major retailers. You can check stock and pricing at Best Buy Canada.
For US shoppers waiting for the FA401GM, the situation remains murky. Asus’s website had previously indicated that this specific model was US-bound, but as of now, only the Strix Halo (FA401EA) version is live south of the border. It is likely that the FA401GM will make its way to US storefronts in the coming weeks, barring any inventory allocation changes.
Which One Should You Buy?
The arrival of the FA401GM adds a layer of complexity to the TUF Gaming A14 lineup.
- Choose the FA401EA (Strix Halo) if you need a powerhouse for CPU-based creative work, AI tasks, or emulation, and you want a machine that runs cool and quiet without a discrete GPU sucking up power.
- Wait for the FA401GM (RTX 5060) if your primary driver is gaming at high settings and you want access to Nvidia-specific features like Broadcast and the latest DLSS upscaling technology.
If you are looking for the older HX 370 model to compare performance, you can often find competitive pricing on retailers like Amazon.
For now, the TUF Gaming A14 lineup proves that Asus is willing to experiment with silicon partners, offering both "all-in-one" APU monsters and traditional dGPU configurations to cover all corners of the gaming market.
