ASUS Republic of Gamers (ROG) today announced Gladius II, the successor to the popular ROG Gladius optical gaming mouse. Gladius II features an ergonomic right-handed design that is optimized for first-person shooter (FPS) games. It has an exclusive push-fit switch socket design for varied click resistance, and durable switches rated to at least 50 million clicks. In addition, it features a dedicated DPI target button for more accurate sniping, an advanced 12000 DPI optical sensor and ASUS Aura RGB lighting technology with Aura Sync support.

ROG Gladius II was designed with input from professional gamers to ensure the right look and feel. The result is a comfortable gaming mouse that's optimized for FPS shooters and designed for right-handed gamers and all grip types. It features the ASUS-exclusive push-fit switch socket design that allows gamers to vary click resistance, and extend the lifespan of the mouse by replacing worn switches. Gladius II uses durable Omron mouse switches that are rated to at least 50 million clicks, and is bundled with an additional pair of high-quality Japanese-made Omron switches should gamers want a different click feel.

ASUS today introduced the Republic of Gamers (ROG) STRIX H270I socket LGA1151 motherboard in the mini-ITX form-factor. The board offers most of the feature-set of its more expensive sibling, the STRIX Z270I, minus some of its CPU overclocking features, and should hence be perfect for SFF gaming PC builders who don't intend to overclock their CPUs. It is based on a different PCB from its Z270-based sibling. The board draws power from a combination of 24-pin ATX and 8-pin EPS power connectors, and conditions it for the CPU using a simple 7-phase VRM (compared to the 9-phase setup on the STRIX Z270I). The CPU is wired to two DDR4 DIMM slots, supporting up to 32 GB of dual-channel DDR4 memory; and the board's lone expansion slot, a PCI-Express 3.0 x16.

Storage connectivity includes two M.2 slots (stacked on top of each other), one which has 32 Gb/s PCIe-only wiring with NVMe support, and another with 32 Gb/s PCIe plus SATA 6 Gb/s wiring; and four SATA 6 Gb/s ports. Networking is another interesting mix, with two 1 GbE interfaces, one driven by an Intel i219V controller, and the other by a Realtek RTL8111H; and a WLAN card with 802.11ac WLAN and Bluetooth 4.1, driven by an Intel-made controller. Audio is care of ASUS SupremeFX solution, which combines a Realtek ALC1220 (120 dBA SNR) CODEC with two headphones amplifier circuits, audio-grade capacitors, and ground-layer isolation. The board also features an RGB LED lighting element in addition to RGB LED headers, driven by its Aura Sync RGB software. The company didn't reveal pricing.

ASUS Republic of Gamers (ROG) today announced Strix GD30, a powerful gaming desktop featuring a sleek black-and-white design, with interchangeable front panels that allow gamers to customize the system to suit their unique style. Equipped with up to the latest 7th Generation Intel Core i7 processors and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 graphics, ROG Strix GD30 delivers unrivaled performance for incredible gaming and multimedia experiences.

An advanced thermal system - featuring large air vents at the front and underside plus an isolated power supply chamber - provides improved airflow for better cooling and greater system efficiency. Exclusive ASUS Aegis III software enhances gaming experiences by allowing gamers to track CPU and memory usage, monitor networking status, and control fan speeds and ASUS Aura RGB lighting effects.

Besides the NVIDIA reference-design $699-ish GeForce GTX 1080 Ti, which doesn't come with a $100 Founders Edition sucker-tax, ASUS is giving final touches to at least two custom-design models, the GTX 1080 Ti ROG STRIX, and the GTX 1080 Ti Turbo, pictured in a leaked press image, below. The GTX 1080 Ti Turbo is positioned to be the more affordable of the two, and it won't surprise us if ASUS prices it cheaper than even its reference-design SKU. The card features a lateral-flow cooling solution strapped onto a PCB that closely resembles the reference-design.

Next up, is the company's Republic of Gamers (ROG) STRIX card, which could likely come in two variants, an OC variant with factory-overclocked speeds, and a standard variant that either ticks at reference speeds, or close-to-reference speeds. These cards feature a beefier variant of the DirectCU III cooling solution the company launched with its GTX 1080 STRIX cards, which comes with ASUS Aura Sync RGB LED lighting. The cooler will be mated to a custom-design PCB with a strong VRM, multiple case fan-headers (yes, case fan headers), and preparation for front-panel VR HMD connectivity.

ASUS Republic of Gamers (ROG) today announced Strix Impact, a wired optical gaming mouse with a lightweight and ergonomic ambidextrous design optimized for multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) games. Built with the essential qualities of lightness, speed, comfort, and durability that MOBA gamers need to triumph and have fun during marathon sessions, ROG Strix Impact is a reliable and effective gaming weapon.

Flexible customization options available in the intuitive ROG Armoury software let gamers change different aspects of the operation of ROG Strix Impact, and ASUS Aura Sync RGB lighting lets them express their personal style and synchronize lighting with other Aura-enabled products. ROG Strix Impact is built to last with durable Omron switches that are rated to 50 million clicks. Thoughtful design details include a DPI switch and indicator to adjust tracking speed on the fly, and a low-friction, drag-free cable for fast, easy movement.

With the AXP-100RH Thermalright presents a slightly higher version of the popular HTPC cooler to match the AXP-100H Muscle. We would also like to use the opportunity to introduce the Silver Arrow ITX-R, which will become available at the beginning of March. The AXP-100RH has been designed for users who are looking for maximum cooling capacity at minimal dimensions. The adjustment in height became necessary to match the higher VRM cooler of the most recent ASUS "Republic of Gamers" MAXIMUS motherboard series.

The black and red design of the original AXP-100R was meant as a homage to the "Republic of Gamers" series. In order to use the cooler on the new Mini-ITX motherboards, the height was increased by 7 mm. With its 51 mm (65 mm with the fan), it is the perfect cooler for compact home theater/multimedia systems or minimalistic work stations with a limited height.

Crosshair is the brand that kicked off ASUS' coveted Republic of Gamers (ROG) series. The NVIDIA nForce chipset based ROG Crosshair socket AM2 motherboard was the board to have, in AMD's hayday as the leader in CPU performance. Over the years, the Crosshair brand received lesser love from ASUS, as AMD's chipset releases became infrequent, due to the company's slower CPU product development cycle than Intel. With the new socket AM4 platform and its companion AMD X370 chipset for the high-end segment, ASUS is back with a Crosshair branded motherboard, the ROG Crosshair VI Hero. It's interesting that ASUS chose not to give it the "Formula," "Extreme" or "Apex" extensions, and instead with the "Hero" extension it reserves for the $200-230 ROG branded boards.

Nevertheless, the ROG Crosshair VI Hero looks to be one of the most elaborately designed socket AM4 motherboards, and will compete with the likes of the Aorus AX370 Gaming 5 and the MSI X370 XPower Gaming Titanium. Built in the ATX form-factor, the Crosshair VI Hero draws power from a combination of 24-pin ATX, 8-pin EPS, and 4-pin ATX power connectors, and conditions it for the CPU with a 12-phase VRM. The board features a "monochromatic design," so you can deck it up with your own LED lighting. It does feature RGB LED headers, with support for ASUS Aura Sync platform. The board has its own diagnostic LEDs that guide you through the POST sequence. Besides the ROG stylized chipset and CPU VRM heatsinks, the board features plastic I/O shield covers that run the length of the board.

ASUS launched its smaller yet more powerful gaming desktop than the VivoPC X, it also unveiled this CES. The Republic of Gamers (ROG) GR8 II is the second generation GR8 compact gaming desktop. It's roughly the size of a PlayStation 4 console, but packs a wallop - Intel Core i7-7700 "Kaby Lake" processor, and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 6 GB graphics. Also featured is up to 32 GB of dual-channel DDR4 memory, M.2 PCIe SSD, and an additional 2.5-inch SATA HDD. The chassis features RGB LED lighting elements, which can be controlled using the ASUS Aura Sync software.

NZXT announces today the Noctis 450 ROG, a Special Edition case aimed at dedicated PC Gamers. This ATX mid-tower case is ROG-certified, displays an exclusive Gun Gray finish and features Aura Sync RGB-lighting technology.

"The original Noctis 450 highlighted NZXT's return to bold and daring designs. As we joined forces with Republic of Gamers (ROG) to develop a dedicated case for high-end gaming systems, it felt like the perfect tailored fit to build a Special Edition case. With exclusive aesthetics, ROG certification and Aura sync compatibility leading to new features, Noctis 450 ROG focuses on users aiming at building powerful systems that leverages the Republic of Gamers ecosystem," says Johnny Hou, NZXT's founder and CEO.

Here are some of the first pictures of ASUS Republic of Gamers (ROG) Maximus IX Apex, the company's flagship motherboard based on the Intel Z270 Express chipset. The board has many first-in-segment features. To begin with, it features a non-rectangular PCB, which probably lets you quickly pull the board out of bench-tables. Designed for extreme overclocking, the Maximus IX Apex draws power from a 24-pin ATX, two 8-pin EPS, and one 4-pin Molex. The CPU is wired to three memory slots, two of these are DDR4, and make up the dual-channel DDR4 interface. The third slot is DDR3, and can be enabled at the flick of a switch, for troubleshooting the DDR4 memory OC.

The Maximus IX Apex features four PCI-Express 3.0 x16 slots, from which two are wired to the CPU (topmost slot and third slot), and run at x8/x8 when both are populated. The second and fourth x16 slots are electrical x4 and wired to the Z270 PCH. Although not visible, it's likely that this board features one or two M.2 slots, at the reverse side of the PCB. 8-channel HD audio, Intel gigabit Ethernet, four USB 3.1 ports (including type-C), and display outputs that include DisplayPort and HDMI, make for the rest of the connectivity. The board appears to feature a great deal of onboard OC buttons and switches. ASUS will reveal these features when it launches the motherboard a little later this month.

ASUS today announced the Republic of Gamers (ROG) XG Station 2 external graphics enclosure. A successor to the pioneering XG Station by the company, which launched way back in 2007, this box has the connectivity to drive high-end graphics cards, and expand connectivity of your machine. The enclosure features a PCI-Express 3.0 x16 slot, and two 6+2 pin PCIe power connectors, with which it can supply the card with up to 500W of power. Its power supply can further provide up to 100W of power to recharge your notebook. The internal power supply meets 80 Plus Gold efficiency rating.

The ROG XG Station 2 connects to your notebook or desktop using Thunderbolt 3 (40 Gbps). It uses this bandwidth to drive not just the graphics card, but also a gigabit Ethernet controller, and a 4-port USB 3.0 hub. You can supplement the main Thunderbolt connection's bandwidth with an additional USB 3.0 (5 Gbps) connection to your host machine. This isn't necessary, but ASUS claims it will improve performance. The enclosure opens up at a vertical seam like an oyster, letting you easily install your graphics card. The walls of the enclosure are perforated, but a trio of 70 mm fans actively ventilate it. The enclosure also features RGB LED lighting, which can be managed using ASUS Aura software. ASUS plans to sell the ROG XG Station 2 from Q1-2017.

ASUS Republic of Gamers (ROG) today announced GX800, a gaming laptop with the latest NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 SLI graphics and an advanced version of the Hydro Overclocking System liquid-cooling module. The 18-inch GX800 is the first gaming laptop designed to deliver real 4K UHD gameplay. It features NVIDIA G-SYNC technology and supports leading virtual-reality (VR) headsets for super-smooth and stutter-free VR gaming. In addition, GX800 features the Mechanical Tactile Advanced Gaming (MechTAG) keyboard with programmable ROG Aura RGB LED effects for individual keys.

ROG GX800's NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 SLI graphics provides super-fast, silky-smooth gameplay and detailed gaming environments. GX800 is paired with an advanced version of its predecessor's Hydro Overclocking System to give it the cooling performance required for extreme overclocking of the processor and graphics cards. The Hydro Overclocking System helps boost GX800 clock frequencies from 3.2GHz to 4.2GHz. When overclocked, GX800 achieves a 3DMark Fire Strike Ultra score of 10395.

ASUS Republic of Gamers (ROG) today announced the ROG Claymore and ROG Claymore Core mechanical gaming keyboards. Claymore is also the world's first RGB LED-backlit mechanical gaming keyboard with a detachable numpad design. Both keyboards feature Cherry MX RGB LED switches, ASUS Aura Sync RGB LED technology for synchronized light effects with various Aura-compatible products, and exclusive fan control hotkeys when paired with an ASUS motherboard for a superior gaming experience.

ROG Claymore is the world's first RGB mechanical keyboard to have a detachable numpad design that allows users to use it as a full-size keyboard at home, or as an 80% TKL (an abbreviation of 'tenkeyless', which refers to the lack of a numpad) mechanical gaming keyboard at LAN parties. The detachable keypad can be placed to the left or right of the keyboard to suit different scenarios - on the left side of the keyboard as macro keys for MMO gaming, or on the right for a more traditional keypad placement. ROG Claymore Core is a compact TKL mechanical gaming keyboard and does not have a detachable numpad.

DeepCool today unveiled a special-edition GamerStorm Genome chassis with ASUS Republic of Gamers (ROG) branding. This launch follows the mid-October announcement of the Genome II. The ROG Genome features a matte black appearance with the shade of red found on ROG products. It also features a red+white ASUS ROG logo. These LEDs are backed by an ASUS Aura compatible LED controller, which interfaces with ASUS' motherboards Aura RGB LED headers. The rest of its features are consistent with the original GamerStorm Genome.

GIGABYTE is planning to expand its subsidiary AORUS into motherboards and graphics cards. The company currently sells gaming notebooks and gaming peripherals, including keyboards and mice, under the AORUS brand. This could be GIGABYTE's third attempt at establishing a premium motherboard/VGA brand that rivals ASUS Republic of Gamers and MSI Gaming Series; besides its G1.Gaming and Xtreme Gaming extensions under its main brand. AORUS is a brand unto itself, with products lacking any prominent GIGABYTE markings.

The first AORUS branded motherboards will be socket LGA1151, based on Intel's upcoming 200-series chipset, with out of the box support for 7th generation Core "Kaby Lake" processors. The motherboards will hit the shelves in January 2017. The first AORUS-branded graphics cards will launch when AMD and NVIDIA launch their next high-end GPUs (think NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 Ti and AMD "Vega"). Last we heard, the GTX 1080 Ti is headed for a January 2017 launch.

ASUS Republic of Gamers (ROG) today announced G701VI, a slim and stylish gaming laptop with overclockable NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 graphics for incredible virtual-reality (VR) gaming performance. ROG G701VI has a wide-viewing-angle display that features NVIDIA G-SYNC technology and an ultra-fast 120 Hz refresh rate for smooth and fast gaming visuals. It also has an anti-ghosting keyboard with 30-key rollover technology for total gaming control.

The VR Ready NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 graphics card used in ROG G701VI provides exceptional graphics performance and energy efficiency to give gamers incredible VR gaming experiences. ROG G701VI is the world's first laptop with a super-fast 120Hz wide-viewing-angle panel with NVIDIA G-SYNC technology. NVIDIA G-SYNC reduces lag, minimizes frame-rate stutter and eliminates visual tearing. It gives gamers the smoothest and fastest gaming experience, all without affecting system performance.

ASUS today announced the Republic of Gamers (ROG) Strix GeForce GTX 1050 Ti and Strix GeForce GTX 1050, all-new gaming graphics cards powered by the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti and GeForce GTX 1050 graphics processing units (GPUs) that deliver ultra-fast performance, advanced cooling and reliability, and ASUS Aura Sync technology for personalized styling.

Also announced were the ASUS Expedition, Dual, and Phoenix series, three all-new graphics cards series powered by the latest NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti and GeForce GTX 1050 GPUs that give gamers a range of options for building the perfect gaming PC. Expedition series graphics cards are built for non-stop gaming action with extra-durable designs. Dual series cards feature color themes that perfectly match ASUS Z170-A and Z170-PRO motherboards, making them easy to design and build a great-looking PC. Phoenix series cards feature compact designs, making them the ideal choice for smaller gaming PCs. ASUS Expedition, Dual, and Phoenix series graphics cards' low power consumption when run at stock clock speed keeps them below the 75W power limit provided by PCI Express (PCIe) expansion slots. All power to the graphics cards is delivered by the slot, with no need for an auxiliary connection to the power supply.

Here are some of the first pictures of ASUS' upcoming flagship gaming keyboard, the Republic of Gamers (ROG) Claymore. This RGB LED-lit mechanical keyboard features a detachable NUM pad, so you get the convenience of the NUM pad at home, and the portability of a shorter 80-key keyboard when out on LANs. The detachable NUM pad provides two additional conveniences, a vertical multi-function scroll-wheel (volume control by default), and an additional USB 3.0 port. The company did not provide details such as the switch manufacturer, or the electronics at play, but you can bet that the lighting management will be care of the ASUS Aura suite.

ASUS today announced that all 100-series motherboards will now support next-generation Intel Core processors. A quick and easy UEFI BIOS update unleashes the full potential of the next-generation high-performance CPUs for socket LGA 1151, reaffirming ASUS as the BEST leading motherboard brand - Best Selling, Easy to Use, Stable and Trusted. Owners of ASUS Republic of Gamers (ROG), Pro Gaming, Signature and TUF Z170, H170, B150 and H110 motherboards are able to take advantage of the easy upgrade to the award-winning ASUS UEFI BIOS, which is available today via the relevant ASUS Support web page.

All ASUS 100-series motherboards that include the ASUS USB BIOS Flashback feature allow users to apply UEFI BIOS updates with ease. For other ASUS 100-series motherboards the necessary UEFI BIOS update takes just one click in an easy-to-use Windows-based BIOS updater application, ASUS EZ Update, which is available to download from the ASUS website.

With simplicity and elegance in mind, BitFenix introduce you Aurora chassis, midnight black and artic white. Aurora is designed for high end aesthetically pleasing builds with water-cooled systems carrying an elegant theme of curved lines and glass windows with "BitFenix RGB Chroma Control" and "BitFenix SSD Chroma" certified by "ASUS AURA" letting you take control of the illumination of your system.

BitFenix Aurora comes with two high quality tempered black glass windows on either sides. The left side glass is tinted crystal clear to give a premium look to the system while showcasing the high end hardware of your build. The right side is tinted completely dark to have your cable management behind motherboard tray hidden. With tempered glass panels, cable management need to be easy, and with the large space behind motherboard tray and cable tie brackets, Aurora provides excellent cable management room. Tempered glass panels are designed to be held to the chassis when removing the screw preventing accidental falling. Thus the user only need to support them while removing the screws.

ASUS Republic of Gamers (ROG) today announced Strix RX 460, an all-new gaming graphics card with ultra-fast performance, advanced cooling and reliability, and personalized styling. Powered by the latest AMD Radeon RX 460 graphics processing unit (GPU), clocked at 1256MHz in OC mode, ROG Strix RX 460 delivers up to 8.2%-faster performance than reference cards in 3DMark Fire Strike Extreme and 38.6%-faster gaming performance in Hitman.

ROG Strix RX 460 is packed with exclusive ASUS technologies, including DirectCU II with a patented dual wing-blade 0dB fan designed to deliver maximum airflow for 30%-cooler and three-times (3X) quieter performance, and ASUS FanConnect, which features a GPU-controlled fan header to connect to a system fan for targeted supplemental cooling. Industry-exclusive Auto-Extreme technology with Super Alloy Power II components ensures premium quality and reliability.

ASUS Republic of Gamers (ROG) today announced Strix RX 470, an all-new gaming graphics card with ultra-fast performance, advanced cooling and reliability, and personalized styling. Powered by the latest AMD Radeon RX 470 graphics processing unit (GPU), clocked at 1270 MHz in OC mode, ROG Strix RX 470 delivers up to 23%-faster performance than R9 380 reference cards in 3DMark Fire Strike Extreme and 25%-faster gaming performance in Hitman.

ROG Strix RX 470 is packed with exclusive ASUS technologies, including DirectCU II with a patented dual wing-blade 0dB fan designed to deliver maximum airflow for 30%-cooler and three-times (3X) quieter performance, and ASUS FanConnect, which features a GPU-controlled fan header to connect to a system fan for targeted supplemental cooling. Industry-exclusive Auto-Extreme technology with Super Alloy Power II components ensures premium quality and reliability.

ASUS Republic of Gamers (ROG) today announced Strix RX 480, an all-new VR-ready gaming graphics card with ultra-fast gaming performance, advanced cooling and reliability, and personalized styling. Powered by the latest AMD Radeon RX 480 graphics processing unit (GPU), clocked at 1330MHz in OC mode, ROG Strix RX 480 delivers up to 15%-faster performance in 3DMark Fire Strike Extreme and 19%-faster gaming performance in Hitman and Doom.

ROG Strix RX 480 is packed with exclusive ASUS technologies, including DirectCU III with a patented triple wing-blade 0dB fan designed to deliver maximum airflow for 30%-cooler and three-times (3X) quieter performance, and ASUS FanConnect, which features GPU-controlled fan headers to connect to system fans for targeted supplemental cooling. Industry-exclusive Auto-Extreme technology with Super Alloy Power II components ensures premium quality and reliability.

ASUS Republic of Gamers (ROG) today announced Strix GeForce GTX 1060, an all-new VR-ready gaming graphics card with ultra-fast gaming performance, advanced cooling and reliability, and personalized styling. Powered by the latest NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 graphics processing unit (GPU), clocked at 1873MHz in OC mode, ROG Strix GeForce GTX 1060 delivers up to 5%-faster performance in 3DMark Fire Strike Extreme and 6.5%-faster gaming performance in Doom.

ROG Strix GeForce GTX 1060 is packed with exclusive ASUS technologies, including DirectCU III with a patented triple wing-blade 0dB fan designed to deliver maximum airflow for 30%-cooler and three-times (3X) quieter performance, and ASUS FanConnect, which features GPU-controlled fan headers to connect to system fans for targeted supplemental cooling. Industry-exclusive Auto-Extreme technology with Super Alloy Power II components ensures premium quality and reliability.

ASUS unveiled a Republic of Gamers branded XG2 external graphics enclosure, which uses bandwidth from two USB 3.1 ports to power not just a high-end graphics card, but also additional connectivity such as a pair of USB 3.0 type-A ports, and gigabit Ethernet. One source tells us that the USB 3.1 ports are bi-directional, and can be used to increase bandwidth to the enclosure. A single Thunderbolt 3 port provides the same amount of bandwidth, but is known to post higher latencies due to protocol layer.