There are 2.5 billion gamers around the world, a diverse group united by their love of e-sports and gaming - and by being an overlooked group from a life-at-home perspective. But that is about to change: the new gaming range developed by IKEA in collaboration with Republic of Gamers (ROG) was launched at IKEA China on January 29, 2021. From May 2021 it will be available at IKEA Japan, and from October 2021 the range will be sales started globally. Gaming is more than a fun past-time. It is a way to wind down and take your mind off everyday hassles, and to connect with people everywhere. For some, it is even a livelihood. With an ever-increasing number of gamers worldwide and a rapidly growing market, getting into gaming was a natural step for IKEA.

At IKEA, we know a lot about smart home furnishing solutions, but we are novices at gaming. So, how to create a properly high-performing gaming range? To contribute to a better everyday life for all gamers, IKEA partnered with ROG (Republic of Gamers), an ASUS sub-brand, keeping the leading position in gaming industry and designing high quality, innovative hardware and gear for gamers. ROG has in-depth knowledge of the gaming industry and want to find new ways to make gaming blend into the home. Combining the best of these two worlds, the collaboration aimed to democratise the gaming experience, by creating relevant, functional, beautiful and affordable products and complete gaming solutions to make it easier for everyone to create the setup and the home they want.

IKEA and ASUS ROG announced a collaboration last September, for furniture and accessories targeted at gamers. The first products from this combine are out. From what we can tell, IKEA has given some of its existing home-office and garage furnishings an ASUS ROG trim, but we can also spot some new creations. Among the gear IKEA showed off are standing desks (both manual and motorized), wheeled desktop tower case stands, mats for your gaming chair, peg-boards with pegs, hooks, and Velcro straps for various kinds of hardware and peripherals; wheeled chests of drawers, and other accessories. What we're yet to see from IKEA x ROG, though, is a proper gaming chair. Perhaps one is in the works, since it would have to be a clean-slate design.

ASUS has showcased an update to their ROG Ryujin AIO, which features an LCD display that's far increased in size compared to the original's 1.77" OLED. The ROG Ryiujin 2 features a redesign of the OLED screen component (now an LCD, likely due to OLED burn-in) sitting on top of the CPU waterblock, now measuring in at a whopping 3.5", that can be user-configured to showcase ROG pre-installed graphics, system data such as temperatures, voltages, and etc, or even user-created graphics.

The ROG Ryujin II looks much the same as its predecessor, barring the new larger display. While the original sold at an MSRP of $220, the ROG Ryujin II will likely retail for higher than that. While the cooler features RGB lighting capabilities, ROG elected to showcase it in a more subdued approach, marrying the LCD graphics with the black aesthetics of its ROG Maximus Z590 Hero motherboard. A beautiful AIO loop, to be sure, although the expectedly high pricing may give would-be buyers some pause.

The original Zephyrus Duo revolutionized gaming laptops by integrating an additional screen that fundamentally transforms the experience. Its critically acclaimed ROG ScreenPad Plus puts touchscreen controls at your fingertips on a huge secondary display that enhances everything from gaming and streaming to content creation and multitasking. At CES 2021, we're back with a special edition that packs the latest components into its sleek metal chassis.

The new Zephyrus Duo 15 SE combines AMD Ryzen 5000 Series CPUs with NVIDIA GeForce RTX 30 Series GPUs, pairing next-gen horsepower with its next-level experience. Our innovative AAS Plus cooling system returns with redesigned fans that help dissipate up to 165 W of combined processor power. A premium 4K 120 Hz panel raises the stakes even higher, displaying uncompromised visuals for both gaming and creative work, while a blazing 300 Hz alternative offers esports-grade speed. And the RAID storage is much faster, nearly doubling throughput by connecting dual SSDs directly to the CPU.

With gaming laptops, power isn't just about fast hardware. It's also about impact, versatility, and everyday convenience. How much can a single device empower you—whether you're gaming, creating, or just kicking back on the couch? The answer lies in the all-new ROG Flow X13. Our first gaming 2-in-1 packs big utility in a compact package. It delivers serious power for everyday gaming and multitasking with up to an eight-core AMD Ryzen 9 5980HS CPU and dedicated GeForce GTX 1650 GPU. The 360° hinge maximizes touchscreen viewing and interaction, quickly flipping from laptop mode into convenient positions for gaming, drawing, and presenting. Choose between two 16:10 displays: a high-refresh 120Hz panel that makes gameplay smoother or an Ultra HD 4K option with richer detail for creativity and entertainment.

The Flow X13 travels easily in an ultraslim 13" body that's just 15.8 mm thin and 1.3 kg (2.9 lb). It's so streamlined and energy-efficient that it needs only a lightweight 100 W Type-C adapter to run at full power. When outlets aren't available, the battery lasts through up to 10 hours of video playback, so you can unplug and unwind anywhere.

The current watershed moment in graphics performance has everyone joining the Ultra HD party. The latest PC graphics cards make higher-refresh-rate 4K gaming easier than ever, and the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X consoles finally support 4K graphics with high dynamic range (HDR) imagery and high refresh rates over the HDMI 2.1 interface. To match this new wealth of pixel-pushing power, we've created the ROG Swift PG32UQ, which we're unveiling at CES 2021.

The PG32UQ's 4K pixel array measures 32" across its diagonal, for a density of 138 PPI. That size strikes a great balance between a sharp picture and keeping text and UI elements readable without scaling. The gorgeous IPS panel has a gray-to-gray response time of just 1 ms. Those speedy pixels make for blur- and ghosting-free motion that's as clear as that of fast TN panels, but with the enhanced color reproduction and viewing angles of IPS.

The ROG Gladius series of mice have long accompanied gamers on their way to the winners' circle. At CES 2021, we're bringing all the latest upgrades in gaming mice together in the Gladius III series. The championship-class Gladius III and Gladius III Wireless meld a brand-new design with a host of cutting-edge technologies, including new switch sockets, sensors, and available wireless connectivity.

The hybrid body shape of the Gladius III is the next evolution in the ROG Gladius series. It's carefully carved to fit palm, claw, and fingertip grip styles like a glove. The ROG Gladius III duo has been hitting the gym, too. The Gladius III Wireless's weight has fallen by 35%, from 130 g to a svelter 89 g. That makes it perfect for split-second reactions and whip-like movements. The wired version is even lighter at 79 g. The low weight helps prevent wrist and arm strain during marathon gaming sessions, as do our 100% PTFE ROG Omni mouse feet and the highly flexible, low-drag ROG Paracord cables. On the Gladius III Wireless, the cable is detachable and connects with a convenient USB Type-C port.

Life is always better when you have options. That philosophy guided our design of the new ROG Claymore II gaming keyboard, launching at CES 2021. This revamped modular keyboard is based on our exclusive rock-solid and super-fast ROG RX Optical Mechanical key switches. We also made the Claymore II wireless for a cleaner look on your desk.

The ROG Claymore II is built to impress both at rest and in use. The top cover is made of brushed aluminium for a premium feel and added durability, and each of the main components is designed with a minimal footprint in mind. The included magnetically attachable wrist rest is padded with soft leatherette for a comfortable, luxurious feel. But this board's beauty goes more than skin-deep. Its design solves a real problem for demanding users.

Back in 2015, the ROG Swift PG279Q gaming monitor was among the first to combine NVIDIA G-SYNC tech with a balanced 2560x1440 resolution, an IPS-type panel, and a high 165Hz refresh rate. It's since racked up a mountain of accolades. Five years on, graphics cards have gotten much more powerful, and gaming displays need even higher refresh rates in order to show every frame that top-end cards like the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 and GeForce RTX 3090 can draw. At CES 2021, we're raising the bar for 1440p gaming displays with the ROG Swift PG279QM, our first 27" 2560x1440 display with a 240Hz refresh rate.

A 240Hz refresh rate is a big step up in fluidity and responsiveness from the 144Hz max refresh rate typical of most 2560x1440 displays, but that's just one part of the puzzle for a top-end gaming experience. Blurry moving images can muddy your view of the action. To keep every frame crisp, the PG279QM employs the latest ASUS Fast IPS panel technology for a quick 1 ms gray-to-gray response time on average. That low response time results in a picture that's both sharp and fluid in motion, all while maintaining the wide viewing angles that IPS panels are known for.

A number of upcoming Z590 ASUS motherboards have recently been pictured. The four upcoming motherboards include the ASUS ROG Maximus XIII Extreme Glacial, ASUS ROG Maximus XIII Hero, ASUS Prime Z590-A, and the ASUS TUF Z590-PLUS WIFI. These new motherboards feature an LGA1200 socket the same one found on existing Z490 boards and are targeted towards Intel's upcoming 11th generation processors. The new Rocket Lake-S processors will introduce support for PCIe 4.0 which should be fully supported on these new boards.

The Z590 MAXIMUS XIII EXTREME GLACIAL is a high-end premium motherboard with integrated monoblock from EK. The board is similar to the Z490 GUNDAM and comes in an E-ATX form factor. The 13th edition ASUS ROG Maximus XIII Hero includes dual EATX12V 8-pin power connectors an upgrade from the 8+4 pin configuration found on the Z490 series. These new motherboards are expected to be announced in the coming days during CES.

EK, the leading computer cooling solutions provider, is ready to offer its premium high-performance GPU water block for ROG 3070 Strix graphics cards. This new block is named EK-Quantum Vector Strix RTX 3070 D-RGB and it shares the same backplate with the 3080/3090 Vector Strix water block. It also comes in two versions - with Plexi and Acetal top.

EK-Quantum Vector Strix RTX 3070 D-RGB water block is compatible with ROG Strix RTX 3070 graphics cards. This Vector water block actively cools the GPU, VRAM (at the front), MOSFETs in the VRM (voltage regulation module), PWM controller, and all the chokes including the input rail. The water block makes contact with every single inductor to suppress any potential coil whine.

ASUS today introduced White variants of its Republic of Gamers (ROG) Strix custom-design GeForce RTX 30-series graphics cards. These card have essentially the same board design as the original ROG Strix RTX 30-series, but with streaks of matte-white and brushed-metal making up the cooler shrouds, back-plates, and impellers of the three Axial-Tech fans. The PCB underneath is still black. The RGB LED embellishments are identical to those on the original ROG Strix cards. The cards also feature the same factory-overclocked speeds as their original-design siblings.

Among the variants ASUS is launching are the ROG-STRIX-RTX3090-O24G-WHITE and ROG-STRIX-RTX3090-24G-WHITE, based on the RTX 3090; ROG-STRIX-RTX3080-O10G-WHITE and ROG-STRIX-RTX3080-10G-WHITE based on the RTX 3080; and ROG-STRIX-RTX3070-O8G-WHITE and ROG-STRIX-RTX3070-8G-WHITE, based on the RTX 3070. The company didn't reveal pricing, although we expect these cards to be priced at a slight premium over the original ROG Strix RTX 30-series.

When AMD introduced its Smart Access Memory technology, everyone was wondering will other GPU and CPU providers, namely Intel and NVIDIA, develop a similar solution to complement their offerings. The SAM technology is just AMD's way of naming PCIe resizable Base Address Register (BAR) technology, which has been present in PCI specifications for years as an optional feature. Why it's emerging now you might wonder. Well, the currently used PCIe revision has reached enough bandwidth on the bus to complement the complex data movement that GPU requires and now supports the use of the wider VRAM frame buffer.

It appears that not only AMD has this technology in its portfolio. ASUS has updated its BIOS firmware for its ROG Maximus XII Apex motherboard based on the Intel Z490 chipset, with some pretty interesting features. According to Tom's Hardware, we have information that the next release of BIOS firmware update 1003 for the ROG Maximus XII Apex motherboard will bring support for resizable BAR, making it a first on an Intel platform. For now, the beta 1002 BIOS supports it, however, a stable version will roll out in BIOS 1003. With the motherboard using PCIe 3.0 standard, a lower-bandwidth revision compared to AMD's platform, it will be interesting to see how resizable BAR is performing once the first tests come.

Update 09:45 am UTC: Chris Wefers, ASUS PR Germany, has announced that resizable BAR will be coming to all ASUS motherboards with Intel Z490/H470/B460 chipset, with alleged 13.37% performance increase in Forza Horizon 4, per ASUSes testing. You can see the test configuration in the image below.

ASUS today introduced a new iteration of their Strix Scope keyboard, the Strix Scope RX. The new keyboard is now offering ASUS-developed ROG RX Red Optical Mechanical Switches - ASUS is promising consistent wobble-free keystrokes, superfast 1-millisecond response, and up to a 100-million-keystroke lifespan. ASUS says these are the first switches in the world to feature a hollow-square stem design with embedded RGB LEDs to provide all-round per-key lighting, offering near-zero debounce delay.

ASUS calls attention to the twice-as-wide CTRL key, ensuring easy, infallible access during gaming sessions, and also mentions the Stealth Key (marked by, as they say, "iconic cloaked figure") which allows for immediate hiding of all open apps and sound muting for instant privacy (an interesting feature, wonder what its perfect use case would be...). A Quick Toggle switch allows to change the top keyboard row between Media or Function (Fn) key input. The keyboard also offers a single USB 2.0 passthrough, and features dust and spill resistance. The keyboard's top plate is built out of brushed aluminium. The ASUS ROG Strix Scope RX will be available from Q1 2021 in Benelux with an MSRP of €139.

AMD has just recently announced its next-generation Radeon RX 6000 series GPU based on the new RDNA 2 architecture. The architecture is set to compete with NVIDIA Ampere architecture and highest offerings of the competing company. Today, thanks to the well-known leaker TUM_APISAK, we have some Geekbench OpenCL scores. It appears that some user has gotten access to the system with the Radeon RX 6800 and RX 6800 XT GPUs, running Cinebench 4.4 OpenCL tests. In the tests, the system ran on the Intel platform with Core i9-10900K CPU with 16 GB DDR4 RAM running at 3600 MHz. The motherboard used was ASUS top-end ROG Maximus XII Extreme Z490 board.

When it comes to results, the system with RX 6800 GPU scored anywhere from 347137 points to 336367 points in three test runs. For comparison, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 scores about 361042 points, showcasing that the Radeon card is not faster in any of the runs. When it comes to the higher-end Radeon RX 6800 XT GPU, it scored 407387 and 413121 points in two test runs. Comparing that to GeForce RTX 3080 GPU that scores 470743 points, the card is slower compared to the competition. There has been a Ryzen 9 5950X test setup that boosted the performance of Radeon RX 6800 XT card by quite a lot, making it reach 456837 points, making a huge leap over the Intel-based system thanks to the Smart Access Memory (SAM) technology that all-AMD system provides.

The processors may be a few days away from availability, but the overclocking records are already trickling out. Darklord posted a CPU-Z validation for a Ryzen 9 5950X 16-core processor overclocked to 5898.63 MHz (or roughly 5.90 GHz), with all 16 cores and 32 threads enabled, and dual-channel memory. It appears to be a straight up multiplier overclock with the multiplier set to 59.0X, and stock base-clock. What's interesting, though, is the core voltage that this feat took—a scorching 1.656 V. Other components include an ASUS ROG Crosshair VIII Impact X570 motherboard, dual-channel DDR4-3600 memory, and basic GT 710 graphics. There's no word on cooling, but with this kind of voltage, an extreme method such as LN2 won't surprise us. Find the validation here.

EK, the premium liquid cooling gear manufacturer, releases a new Momentum Monoblock for ROG Maximus XII Hero - an Intel Z490 chipset-based motherboard. The EK-Quantum Momentum ROG Maximus XII Hero monoblock is made available in Plexi and Acetal versions. The Plexi model is featuring addressable D-RGB LEDs compatible with ASUS AURA Sync software that offers full lighting customization for every single diode, at any given time.

This is a complete all-in-one (CPU and motherboard) liquid cooling solution for Intel Socket 1200 Series Processors. The monoblock is covering the entire VRM section of the ROG Maximus XII Hero motherboard. This monoblock boasts the latest generation Velocity cooling engine, used in the EK Quantum Lineup to ensure the best possible CPU cooling without reducing flow to other components. It cools the CPU, as well as the voltage regulation (MOSFET) module. Liquid flows directly over all critical areas, providing the enthusiasts with an excellent solution for high and stable overclocks. Like every EK monoblock, the EK-Quantum Momentum Maximus XII Hero features a high flow design, easily used in systems with weaker water pumps or lower pump speed settings. The Plexi version of this monoblock comes with sophisticated addressable D-RGB lightning, which connects to a standard 3-pin 5 V D-RGB addressable header on the ROG Maximus XII Hero.

As if on cue, AMD add-in board partners have started teasing their upcoming custom-design Radeon RX 6000 series graphics cards, which AMD claims are competitive with NVIDIA's fastest. Here's the first picture of the ROG Strix LC Radeon RX 6800 XT by ASUS, featuring a refreshing new board design that uses an AIO liquid cooler too cool the GPU, while other hot components such as the memory and VRM are cooled by heatsinks that are ventilated by a lateral blower. The GPU AIO cooler uses what looks like a 240 mm x 120 mm radiator. Both the cooler shroud and the radiator fans come with RGB embellishments.

Update 14:38 UTC: We also have pictures, courtesy of DonanimHaber, of the TUF Gaming RX 6800 XT OC, and air-cooled ROG Strix RX 6800 XT, which looks a lot like the ROG Strix series cards based on the NVIDIA RTX 30-series.

ASUS has held its Republic of Gamers (ROG) day, and at the event, there was a special graphics card. Spotted there was a GeForce RTX 3090 GPU in the form of ASUS ROG STRIX GUNDAM edition. With an appeal based on a famous anime series GUNDAM, ASUS has decided to launch a new product line made up of a motherboard and a graphics card. The new ASUS GeForce RTX 3090 ROG STRIX GUNDAM Edition features the same specifications as the regular RTX 3090 edition, just with an increased clock speed of 1890 MHz, three 8-pin power connectors, and a maximum power limit of 480 Watts.

The card features a white triple slot body with three fans cooling the heatsink. When it comes to the availability of this card, it is said to be a limited edition only sold to the Asian market. The price tag will carry a premium over the regular ROG STRIX model, with a cost of 16,999 Yuans (~2530 USD). The standard ROG STRIX model comes at a 1799 USD price tag, meaning that you will pay 730 USD more for this limited edition product. The availability is supposedly going to be even worse than with current cards, meaning that only a few people will get their hands on these if the current situation is any reference.More pictures follow.

As we explained in our older article about the new ASUS ROG Crosshair XII Dark Hero, AMD's Ryzen 5000 series Socket AM4 processors based on the "Zen 3" microarchitecture are unlikely to be accompanied by a new chipset, presenting motherboard makers with the opportunity to refresh their AMD 500-series chipset product stacks with new products. ASUS has a new premium product based on the AMD X570, in the form of the ROG Crosshair VIII Dark Hero. The company also unveiled a premium product based on the AMD B550 chipset—the ROG Strix B550-XE Gaming. While the Dark Hero is an incremental upgrade over the original Crosshair VIII Hero while retaining the PCB design, this particular board appears to be largely based on the ROG Strix B550-E Gaming.

ASUS has traditionally used the "XE" brand extension for ROG Strix series motherboard refreshes to denote improved CPU VRM, and this appears to be the case with the B550-XE Gaming, too. The board features a meatier 16-phase CPU VRM, with a more elaborate VRM cooling solution that uses larger heatsinks, which are interconnected by a flat heat-pipe, and unless we're mistaken, a 40 mm fan underneath the rear I/O shroud. The rest of the board's feature-set appears to be identical to that of the B550-E Gaming.

ASUS Republic of Gamers (ROG) today launched a collaboration with ACRONYM, a leading technical apparel design agency, to create a special edition ROG Zephyrus G14 gaming laptop that melds top-of-the-line hardware with a radical new vision for what technology can be. Available for sale worldwide starting today, this device is based on a design concept grounded in Errolson Hugh's vision of a more empowered user: not just a gamer, but a thinker and a creator.

ACRONYM 's co-founder Errolson Hugh has been a pioneer in the technical apparel industry since the company's founding in 1994. In the 26 years since, their agency has built an extensive design portfolio dedicated to fusing singular style with the latest technology. Whether they're designing product lines for Nike and Arc'Teryx, virtual video game gear for Square Enix / EIDOS, or creating clothing under their own flag, ACRONYM has a proven track record as a visionary in the apparel industry with a commitment to sourcing top notch materials to create utilitarian designs that go far beyond style.

Here's a much clearer picture of the ROG Strix GeForce RTX 3090 "Ampere" graphics card by ASUS. A render of this card was revealed back in July, when the RTX 3090 was still speculated to be called the "RTX 3080 Ti." The card features the latest iteration of the ROG Strix design scheme by ASUS, with more shiny metal bits that conceal lighting elements. The cooler features a chunky aluminium fin-stack heatsink that's ventilated by three Axial-Tech fans. The card is 3 slots thick, and about an inch taller than what would constitute "full height." VideoCardz, which is also the source of the image, predicts that ASUS could use same board design for both the RTX 3090 and the RTX 3080. We've seen custom-design RTX 3090 cards featuring as many as three 8-pin PCIe power inputs, while those based on the RTX 3080 have been shown with two. With the RTX 3090 and RTX 3080 being based on the common silicon, the GA102, differing in memory and core configurations, the R&D costs for custom-design board partners is greatly reduced.

ASUS ROG has recently teased their upcoming ROG keyboard switches in a post captioned "Who's ready to switch up their gaming?!" with a picture of the upcoming switch. ASUS is holding a virtual launch event on September 1st where the switches will be officially announced along with a wide range of new ASUS products. This event will likely explain the rationale behind the development of these switches and their advantages compared to traditional Cherry MX switches. These switches feature the ROG eye logo indicating these will only be used in ROG branded keyboards.

ASUS today announced the ROG PG259QN monitor, a 24,5" monitor featuring a blazing fast 360 Hz refresh rates paired with a 1 ms response time. Of course, driving that refresh rate means that the monitor itself only offers 1080p resolution - albeit it does so using an IPS panel. Color-accuracy isn't reported as of yet, though, so save your money, at least for now, if you're also looking at color-critical applications. But the defining purpose for this monitor is for it to be one of the best solutions for twitch gaming scenarios. According to an NVIDIA-led study, gamers with a 360 Hz monitor improved their K/D ratio by 4% compared to using a "mere" 240 Hz solution, so there's that. The addition of a G-Sync module, according to ASUS, allows the PG259QN to have the best smoothness of any gaming monitor, bar none.

The ROG PG259QN supports ASUS AURA Sync, slim bezels, tilt, pivot, height, and swivel adjustments. I/O is guaranteed by 1x DisplayPort 1.4 cable and 1x HDMI 2.0 port, alongside 1x 3.5 mm headset jack and 1x USB 3.0 pass-through port, as well. No word on pricing at time of writing.

ASUS at its Asia ROG event announced a new monitor, approaching stores and shores (eventually). The ROG Swift PG329Q is being launched with a "Super Kill" marketing line, which aims to showcase just how impressive this monitor will be in aiding users' gaming capabilities. The ROG Swift PG329Q features a 32" "Fast IPS" panel - fast IPS here meaning that it's capable of running at 175 Hz whilst keeping a 1 ms Gray-to-Gray response time - all of this with IPS' renowned color rendition.

The monitor features a sane 2560 x 1440 resolution and HDR 600 certification from VESA, and thanks to the usage of Quantum Dot tech, will be able to offer 98% DCI-P3 color gamut coverage and 160% sRGB ultra-wide color gamut coverage. The monitor supports Adaptive Sync tech (whether via FreeSync or G-Sync compatible), as well as ASUS' ELMB SYNC technology. There's also the usual RGB tech going on in the back of the monitor. The ASUS ROG Swift PG329Q will be released in the fourth quarter of this year. No word on pricing, but expect a monitor with these features to be leaning heavily on the $ side of the equation.