ASUS TUF Gaming A15 AMD GPU Underperforming Windows 11: Fix Guide

The ASUS TUF Gaming A15 AMD is a gaming laptop powered by AMD Ryzen and AMD Radeon discrete GPU. When the AMD GPU is underperforming on Windows 11 — games run below expected frame rates or the GPU usage is low despite high game settings — driver and performance profile issues are usually the cause. This guide covers every fix.

Why ASUS TUF Gaming A15 AMD GPU Is Underperforming

GPU Running in Integrated Mode Instead of Discrete

The TUF Gaming A15 AMD uses AMD SmartShift technology to switch between the integrated Radeon iGPU and the discrete Radeon RX GPU. When Armoury Crate is set to Optimus or Power Saving mode, games may run on the slower integrated GPU rather than the discrete Radeon. This results in GPU usage showing near 100% on the iGPU while the dedicated Radeon sits idle.

AMD Radeon Power Mode Set Too Low

AMD Adrenalin software manages discrete GPU power states on the TUF Gaming A15. When the Radeon performance mode is set to Power Saver or Balanced, the GPU reduces its clock speed and power limit during gaming. This cap on GPU power prevents the Radeon from reaching maximum performance even in demanding games. Signs that this is the cause include:

• GPU clock speeds appear lower than expected in GPU monitoring tools
• Frame rates fluctuate even when the scene complexity is constant
• Switching to a performance power plan improves frame rates noticeably
• GPU temperatures are lower than expected, suggesting the GPU is not being pushed

AMD Radeon Driver Not Correctly Installed

If the AMD Radeon driver is installed incorrectly or was partially overwritten by Windows Update, SmartShift may not function correctly and the discrete GPU may not receive proper scheduling from the AMD driver. A clean DDU reinstall of the ASUS-validated AMD Radeon driver restores correct discrete GPU scheduling.

How to Fix ASUS TUF Gaming A15 AMD GPU Underperforming

Step 1: Set Armoury Crate to Performance Mode with Discrete GPU

1. Open Armoury Crate from the Start menu or system tray.
2. Go to System, Performance and change the mode to Turbo or Performance.
3. Look for GPU Mode settings and select Ultimate Mode if available (discrete GPU directly to display) or Hybrid Mode for SmartShift to use discrete GPU for games.
4. Apply settings and restart the laptop when prompted.
5. Launch your game and check GPU usage in Task Manager — the dedicated AMD Radeon RX should now show active usage.

Step 2: Set AMD Radeon to High Performance Mode

Open AMD Adrenalin software (AMD Radeon Software). Go to Performance, Tuning. Set the Global Tuning to Game Mode or the GPU power to High Performance. Also go to Gaming, Global Graphics and set GPU Workload to Gaming and Texture Filtering Quality to Performance. These settings allow the Radeon RX GPU to run at full power during games.

Step 3: Reinstall AMD Radeon Driver with DDU

Download the AMD Radeon driver from the ASUS support page for your TUF Gaming A15 AMD model. Boot into Safe Mode and run Display Driver Uninstaller (DDU) to completely remove the AMD display driver. After reboot, install the ASUS AMD Radeon driver. This clean installation resolves incorrect SmartShift behavior caused by partial driver overwrites from Windows Update.

My TUF A15 Radeon was barely using 30% GPU in games. Switching Armoury Crate to Turbo and setting AMD Adrenalin to High Performance fixed it. Frame rates nearly doubled in some games. Always check performance mode first. — Marcus T., ASUS TUF Gaming A15 AMD user

Frequently Asked Questions

What AMD Radeon GPU does ASUS TUF Gaming A15 AMD use?

The TUF Gaming A15 AMD is available with AMD Radeon RX 6600M, RX 6700M, RX 7600S, or RX 7700S depending on the specific generation and configuration. All are AMD RDNA 2 or RDNA 3 discrete GPUs that support AMD SmartShift, FidelityFX Super Resolution (FSR), and DirectX 12 Ultimate. Check AMD Adrenalin or Device Manager to confirm the specific GPU in your unit.

Does AMD SmartShift actually help gaming performance on TUF A15?

Yes. AMD SmartShift dynamically adjusts the power split between the CPU (Ryzen) and GPU (Radeon RX) based on workload. In GPU-heavy games, SmartShift pushes more power to the Radeon RX. This can improve gaming frame rates by 5 to 10 percent compared to fixed power limits. SmartShift requires both AMD chipset driver and AMD Radeon driver installed from ASUS support for correct operation.

Should I use AMD FSR on TUF Gaming A15 for better frame rates?

Yes. AMD FidelityFX Super Resolution renders at a lower resolution and upscales using AMD algorithms. FSR Quality mode offers a good balance between image quality and performance, typically adding 20 to 40 percent more frame rates with minimal visual quality reduction. Enable FSR in supported games from the graphics settings menu and select your preferred quality level.

How do I check if the discrete AMD GPU is being used in a game?

Open Task Manager, Performance tab, and look at all GPU entries. If the laptop has integrated and discrete GPUs, two GPU entries appear. Watch the GPU usage during gameplay. The dedicated Radeon RX should show high usage (60 to 100%) while the integrated Radeon remains low. If both show moderate usage, SmartShift is distributing load across both GPUs, which is normal behavior.

Conclusion

ASUS TUF Gaming A15 AMD GPU underperforming on Windows 11 is most commonly caused by Armoury Crate running in Power Saving mode, AMD Adrenalin power mode set too low, or an incorrect driver installation. Switch Armoury Crate to Performance or Turbo mode, set AMD Adrenalin to High Performance, and reinstall the AMD Radeon driver with DDU if needed. These steps restore full discrete GPU performance on the TUF Gaming A15 AMD.