At Bilibili World 2025, ASUS introduced one-of-a-kind ROG Astral GeForce RTX 5090 Real Gold Edition, a GPU with literal real-world gold. Weighing in at 7.24 kg the card incorporates 5 kg of 24‑karat gold across its frame, backplate, and outer shell, giving its raw materials alone a value exceeding half a million US Dollars. ASUS China general manager Tony Yu, known online as "Uncle Tony," revealed the piece alongside content‑creator partner "Talented Cai Qian." According to ITHome, the sand‑mold casting process produced an uneven, almost molten texture on the calligraphy and cooling fins, clearly distinguishing this one‑off prototype from any mass‑produced design.

This solid‑gold edition follows the earlier Dhahab OC line, which featured only a thin layer of precious metal, and it now stands as a monument to luxury. At current bullion prices, the value of the gold alone surpasses that of a fully loaded AI server. ASUS has not confirmed the card's next destination, though it may be auctioned like previous limited editions signed by NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang, with proceeds benefiting children's hospitals. With gamers usually focusing on performance per watt, they will look elsewhere, as this is certainly not a value buy. The underlying RTX 5090D silicon remains unchanged, and the gilded cooler is too large for most standard chassis, meaning that only collectors will prize the GPU for its one-of-a-kind build.

G.SKILL International Enterprise Co., Ltd., the world's leading brand of performance overclock memory and PC components, is working closely with the ASUS ROG team to explore the overclock potential of the new DDR5 CAMM2 form factor and have successfully reached the early milestone of Memtest-stable at DDR5-10000 memory speed with a 64 GB capacity CAMM2 module on a modified custom ASUS ROG Maximus Z890 Hero CAMM2 motherboard with an Intel Core Ultra 7 265K desktop processor.

Overclocked CAMM2 Reaches DDR5-10000 Memtest-Stable Milestone
G.SKILL is always seeking out overclock memory performance wherever possible. With the in-development CAMM2 form factor and in cooperation with the ASUS ROG team, demonstrating stability is the first step toward enabling overclock memory specifications on future hardware platforms.

ASUS has expanded its BTF GPU ecosystem with the launch of the ROG Astral GeForce RTX 5090 32 GB GDDR7 BTF OC Edition, marking the first Astral model to adopt the detachable Graphics Card High-Power (GC-HPWR) connector. Building on improvements showcased in version 2.5, this new variant is engineered to supply over 1,000 watts through the high-power slot alongside the traditional 12V-2x6 connection located behind the PCIe connector. The ROG Astral RTX 5090 BTF Edition inherits the core specifications of its non-BTF sibling, which we reviewed here, but distinguishes itself with enhanced power delivery and compatibility. ASUS's removable GC-HPWR adapter allows integration with both standard motherboards and upcoming BTF-ready boards, promising greater flexibility for system builders and the aesthetic experience of no cables connected to the GPU.

This model employs the same four-fan configuration, vapor chamber, and optimized fin spacing, while a phase-change GPU thermal pad ensures maximum contact with the GPU die. According to ASUS, the quad-fan layout can boost airflow and pressure by up to 20%. Additional features include real-time monitoring of temperatures and power draw on the 12V-2x6 connector, accessible via GPU Tweak III, which also provides fine-tuning controls such as voltage and frequency adjustments, as well as thermal mapping. Although pricing has yet to be confirmed, ASUS will reflect the card's feature set with a price increase. Availability is expected in the third quarter, alongside other BTF products, such as the white-edged TUF Gaming Radeon RX 9070 XT and various ROG motherboards.

ASUS has recently held a charity auction with special edition ROG Astral GeForce RTX 5090 Dhahab Edition graphics card signed by NVIDIA's CEO, Jensen Huang. ASUS managed to raise $24,200, which will go to the TZU CHI USA Foundation, a volunteer-based non-governmental organization providing charitable assistance, medical aid, disaster relief, and educational services, and environmental protection programs to those in need.

The auction period lasted from June 4 to June 13, and showing how tight the race was, the three highest bidders were just $10 apart. As the ROG Astral GeForce RTX 5090 Dhahab OC Edition is quite a rare graphics card and sold exclusively in the Middle East, the one signed by Jensen Huang is quite a catch. Hopefully, it won't end up on eBay.

Team Cherry first introduced Hollow Knight: Silksong back in February 2019, as a mainline sequel to the first entry (2017) in the series. Since then, the independent Australian development studio and publisher has produced a minimal amount of preview material. The last significant chunk was delivered during an Xbox 2022 presentation. Fast-forward to June (2025); many Metroidvania genre enthusiasts were hoping for some newer signs of life—potentially amid a flurry of special preview events. Pre-event SteamDB updates seemed to point to an imminent announcement of sorts. Days later, Sony's State of Play and Geoff Keighley's Summer Game Fest did not harbor any fresh Hollow Knight series updates.

Thankfully, yesterday's Xbox Games Showcase provided a hint of things to come. Sarah Bond (President of Xbox) discussed the status of Team Cherry's magnum opus during Microsoft's public unveiling of ASUS ROG's Xbox Ally and Ally X gaming handhelds: "the highly anticipated Hollow Knight: Silksong will be available at launch, and on Game Pass, when the Ally releases later this year." Unsurprisingly, Team Cherry did not launch a parallel promotion/hype campaign. Instead, Matthew Griffin—the team's resident PR and marketing expert—headed over to the official Hollow Knight Discord community channel, and disclosed some pleasing news: "I confirmed BEFORE Holiday—we are not tied to a console release." When pressed about a specific launch window, Griffin envisioned a pre-Christmas arrival.

G.SKILL International Enterprise Co., Ltd., the world's leading brand of performance overclock memory and PC components, is pleased to announce that CENS from Germany has once again claimed the title of OC Champion and the grand cash prize of $10,000 USD in the OC World Cup 2025 extreme overclock competition held live at Computex 2025. After an intense series of extreme overclocking challenges, CENS emerged victorious, demonstrating unmatched overclocking knowledge and technical skill with liquid nitrogen cooling, using the latest Intel Core Ultra 9 285K processor and ASUS ROG Maximus Z890 Apex motherboard. This is his second consecutive OC Champion title, after his victory last year at the OC World Cup 2024.

Exhilarating Competition with G.SKILL DDR5 24 GB Modules
This year at the live competition, the contestants are only allowed to use G.SKILL's high-performance 24 GB DDR5 module. It gave the contestants a new challenge to explore the 24 GB module's overclocking behavior and benchmarking potential. These 24 GB modules, built with SK hynix ICs, showcased exceptional headroom on Intel Z890 chipset platforms, allowing CENS to achieve up to DDR5-10266 CL32 2x24GB for benchmarking under LN2 cooling. At the same time, Seby, a rival overclocker contestant in the G.SKILL OC World Cup 2025, achieved DDR5-12666, which was the fastest memory frequency validation throughout the live competition.

Browse the list of bestselling PC cases on Amazon, and you'll see a pattern emerge very quickly. Today's PC builders aren't deciding whether they want a tempered glass side panel: they're deciding how many of these panels they want. Panoramic PC cases provide an undeniably gorgeous view of your internal PC hardware, so it's no wonder that they've soared in popularity. But that wide-open panorama does pose a problem for people who prefer a pristine PC. If you have a stray cable or wire in such a build, you'll notice it every time you sit down at your desk.

Already, we offer an ecosystem of BTF motherboards, PC cases, and graphics cards that help you tuck your PC's wires and cables out of sight. But we're interested in doing even more, and we're eager to present solutions that work with traditional PC hardware designs, not just BTF. Behind the scenes, we've been working on modular hardware concepts that cut down on cable clutter for two key components: chassis fans and AIO coolers. Visitors to our Computex 2025 booth will get to see this concept hardware in action, but perhaps a trip to Taipei isn't in the works for you this year. Let's take a closer look.

Prior to official kick-off day, the TechPowerUp team was kindly invited to have a sneak peek around the ASUS booth. Brand-new Republic of Gamers (ROG) Harpe II Ace gaming mice were on full view (with black or white livery), sitting atop second-gen Sheath XXL mouse pads. The original ROG Harpe design was released over two years ago; as an Ace Aim Lab Edition. Last year, two spin-offs were introduced last summer: Harpe Ace Extreme and Harpe Ace Mini. ROG's freshest offering appears to utilize familiar internal components; most notably the cutting-edge AimPoint Pro optical sensor—very likely derived from Pixart's flagship PAW3950 model. Other mainstays include ROG's Optical Micro Switches (rated up to 100 million clicks) and SpeedNova 8K wireless system.

The ROG Harpe II Ace is built with a special and innovative bio-based nylon material, that contributes very little weight. A product placard advertises a total unit weight of 49 grams; only 2 g lighter than the ultra-premium Harpe Ace Extreme model. This $249.99 (MSRP) option features a fully CNC-machined carbon fiber top shell. The company has collaborated with Max "Demon1" Mazanov and other esport champions; thus refining the right-hand ambidextrous Harpe design for a new generation. Instead of using three or four skates, the Harpe II Ace is outfitted with two large chunks of rounded-edge pure PTFE. Gear Link—a web-based platform—grants access to hardware configuration; a massive plus point. TechPowerUp's pzogel has often directed criticism at the manufacturer's Armoury Crate software suite. A "lighter" and "less intrusive" package—called Armoury Crate Gear—was pushed out in recent times, but gaming mouse purists (largely) remain unconvinced.

At the Computex 2025 booth, we checked out ASUS's latest keyboard offering: the ROG Falcata. ASUS touts it as a thoughtfully engineered tool for gamers and creatives who demand precision. Visually, the Falcata's 75% split‑layout immediately stands out, inviting a more natural hand position and reduced wrist strain. ASUS has paired this ergonomic design with detachable silicone wrist rests, so you can fine‑tune your setup for marathon sessions. But the real magic happens beneath the keycaps. ASUS's brand‑new ROG HFX V2 switches employ Hall‑effect sensors to detect actuation with an astonishing 0.01 mm accuracy. That translates to virtually zero debounce time and flawless, lightning‑fast input registration. The Falcata's acoustic profile is refined by a layered damping system, ensuring each keystroke feels solid yet sound‑muted.

On the connectivity front, the Falcata offers dual‑mode flexibility. Engage the ROG SpeedNova 8K wireless link for an ultra‑low‑latency 8 kHz polling rate, or plug in via USB‑C to eliminate any potential lag. Beyond basic settings, configuration lives in the cloud: Gear Link, ASUS's new web‑based portal, stores your profiles and lighting schemes online, so you can pick up exactly where you left off—at home, at the office, or at a tournament. A dedicated "Zone Mode" further enhances competitive play by optimizing key matrices and virtually eliminating ghosting, no matter how frenetic the keystrokes become. And, of course, per‑key RGB lighting lets you customize every detail. ROG aficionados can expect the Falcata on shelves in early July 2025.More images follow, with silicon pads attached.

ASUS at the 2025 Computex showed off the ROG Astral RTX 5080 DOOM Edition graphics card. If you've been paying attention to the company's ROG Astral Dhahab Edition cards lately, you know that ASUS is on a spree releasing custom variants of the ROG Astral series. Much like the Dhahab Edition, the DOOM Edition isn't just a sticker job, ASUS put in effort to customize the color of its cooler shroud, and other body panels. The card commemorates "DOOM: The Dark Ages," which released late last week. You can see sticker artwork from the game on the backplate. The cooler shroud is in a color scheme matching the aesthetic of the game. Decals of the Slayer shield takes up the fan impeller hubs. More interestingly, the aluminium fin-stack heatsink has a reddish copper-like finish. This is a different shade from the gold ones in the Dhahab Edition, and the silver-chrome ones in the regular ROG Astral cards. Shown at Computex is the RTX 5080 DOOM Edition. We've tested the technical aspects of the game, and can tell you that the RTX 5080 can max out the game at 4K UHD, so it's unlikely that there will be an RTX 5090 DOOM Edition.

Our diverse lineup of GeForce RTX 50 Series graphics cards is getting even larger with the arrival of new White Editions. With these high-performance, cutting-edge cards, you'll be able to keep your frost-hued battlestation color coordinated. Check out the snazzy new White Edition offerings from ROG, TUF Gaming, and Prime.

Max out your snow-white rig with peak power from ROG Astral
If you want the most power possible in a ravishing white graphics card, consider the ROG Astral GeForce RTX 5090 White Edition 32 GB and ROG Astral GeForce RTX 5080 White Edition 16 GB. These VRAM-loaded cards comprise the top of the power stack. They both feature a quad-fan design for more airflow than last-gen's flagship cards, our patented vapor chamber tech, and eight heatpipes for incredible heat dissipation. These cards also swap out thermal paste for a premium phase-change thermal pad, enhancing the longevity of the graphics card's thermal interface material.

Earlier this month, the global ASUS website was updated with a slew of new graphics card product pages. The most striking examples—TUF Gaming and PRIME White Editions—appeared online with little PR fanfare. Fast-forward to the start of this week; with the ASUS Republic of Gamers (ROG) France social media account teasing already revealed models, alongside a surprise pale spin-off of a hot topic flagship. The manufacturer's air-cooled Astral GeForce RTX 5090 and RTX 5080 models were debuted during CES 2025. Since then, various special edition variants have attracted additional press and community attention—most notably, a spectacularly expensive Gold-plated MENA region-exclusive.

The French ASUS office's (May 12) message implied that company leadership had paid close attention to PC hardware community feedback. As a result of these requests, a new marketing campaign—bearing a "Stay Frosty, Play Flawlessly" slogan—is pushing alternate designs. As interpreted by the usual media outlets, the brand seems to be teasing an imminent launch: "you asked for it. We delivered. ASUS GeForce RTX 50 Series White Edition graphics cards are coming soon." Given the current lay of the land, next week's Computex trade event will serve as an ideal platform for White Edition showcasing—as hinted by an appropriate hashtag. ASUS is expected to unveil its (already leaked) portfolio of custom Radeon RX 9060 XT cards, but any in advance hype would break signed NDAs.

Not long after the launch of its "standard" Astral GeForce RTX 5090 (air-cooled) flagship card, ASUS ROG unveiled a gaudy golden alternative. According to a past weekend VideoCardz news report, the brand's extremely special "Astral RTX 5090 Dhahab OC Edition" has finally settled on retail shelves in the Middle East. During preview events, ASUS did not let slip any pre-release pricing details—industry watchdogs theorized numbers well above the regular "OC" version's (then) $3000+ tag. A Jensen Huang-signed specimen was auctioned off—for charity—during NVIDIA's GTC 2025 conference week. The latest investigations have unearthed varying costs of ownership; VideoCardz found listings across MENA (Middle-East and North Africa) territories.

The cheapest example was priced at $6700, while a "jaw-dropping" entry was discovered going for ~$10,600. The online publication's detective work concluded that price variations were dependent on differing conditions within each country. An ASUS-authored "Certificate of Authenticity" demonstrates the use of a key premium material; 6.5 grams of "999 Gold Fineness." Official grading indicates the very best purity of this precious metal—largely reserved (and prized) by prime Middle Eastern markets. ASUS is reportedly working on a (presumably) less expensive GeForce RTX 5080 variant—enabled via the selection of lesser silicon, rather than a downgraded level of decoration. Special edition ASUS ROG Astral enthusiasts—outside of MENA—could be eyeing up a DOOM prequel-themed option.

ASUS has unwillingly revealed its upcoming ROG Ally 2 handheld through FCC filings and certification images, offering an early glimpse at two distinct models. According to Indonesian certification entries and a linked US FCC listing, the Ally 2 will launch in both black and white finishes. The black version includes a dedicated Xbox button, suggesting tighter integration with Microsoft's gaming services, while the white model adheres to the traditional ROG control scheme. This latest reveal follows ASUS's April 1st teaser of "Project Kennan," which showed an animated fusion of an ROG Ally and an Xbox controller, hinting at a formal collaboration between the two companies. Under the hood, the black edition of the Ally 2 represents ASUS's most ambitious handheld to date. It employs AMD's Ryzen Z2 Extreme processor, an eight‑core chip rated at 36 W, paired with 64 GB of LPDDR5X‑8533 memory. In contrast, the white model will feature AMD's Aeirth Plus APU with four cores operating at 20 W. These hardware choices position the black version as a high‑performance Xbox-linked system, while the white version aims to balance power efficiency and sustained battery life.

Both variants are confirmed to sport a 7‑inch display with a 120 Hz refresh rate. Notably, the screen bezels appear unchanged from the original Ally and the higher‑end Ally X. The new design instead focuses on ergonomics, with larger rear grips that resemble those of a traditional controller. The top-mounted I/O includes a pair of USB Type‑C ports, and side‑view images suggest a somewhat bulkier profile. However, the final weight and comfort will depend on ASUS's manufacturing refinements. No powered‑on images have emerged, so details about display quality or software remain unverified. We assume it could support the standard Windows 11 OS, with SteamOS being an option since we reported multiple software patches for ASUS ROG Ally on SteamOS. With multiple certifications now completed in Indonesia, the United States, and Korea, ASUS seems poised to announce the ROG Ally 2 at Computex 2025. Enthusiasts are now left to await official specifications, pricing, and availability when ASUS takes the stage next month.

ASUS Republic of Gamers (ROG) announced the arrival of new configurations of its popular and acclaimed Strix line-up as well as the new ASUS TUF A18—now available for pre-order. Both ASUS' and ROG's cutting-edge line-up involves the latest from NVIDIA, with innovative graphics technologies like DLSS 4 and Frame Generation to enjoy ray tracing at more accessible price points. Our line-up available for pre-order includes both Intel and AMD equipped ROG Strix G16 or ROG Strix G18 as well as our refreshed TUF 16 and new TUF A18—the first 18-inch laptop in the TUF Gaming line-up. These will be made available at our select retail partners for pre-order.

ROG Strix G16 & G18 (Intel): Empowering Every Gamer
Designed to unite squads and elevate gaming experiences, the ROG Strix G18 deliver fast AAA gaming performance and seamless content creation, powered by Intel Core Ultra 9 Processor 275HX. Paired with up to NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Laptop GPUs, these devices offer unmatched performance and stunning graphics. With up to 32 GB of DDR5 RAM, they ensure smooth multitasking and efficient handling of resource-intensive applications. The advanced Tri-Fan Technology, full-width heatsink, and full-surround vents provide exceptional thermal management, allowing users to maintain peak performance during intense gaming sessions. Both models are equipped with dual PCIe Gen 4.0 SSD slots and designed for tool-less access, with Intel models supporting PCIe Gen 5 on one of the slots for Strix G this allows for seamless storage upgrades. With customizable hotkeys for quick access to essential functions, the ROG Strix G18 empowers gamers to rise to victory.

ASUS earlier this year introduced the limited edition ROG Astral GeForce RTX 5090 Dhahab graphics card. The card sports a gilded appearance, with sapphire blue metallic accents, and ASUS ROG branding resembling calligraphy. The card was debuted in the UAE and was expected to be available in limited quantities in the region. It looks like the company wants to extend this niche brand to even the GeForce RTX 5080, and is working on the ROG Astral RTX 5080 Dhahab Core. This card is based on the air-cooled ROG Astral RTX 5080 OC, but with the same aesthetic treatment as the RTX 5090 Dhahab.

The aluminium fins in the cooler have golden appearance (not actually gold-plated); as do the alloy cooler shroud, the fan impeller hubcaps, and the copper heat pipes. In place of chrome accents, it has contrasting sapphire blue metallic tones. There are other cultural icons, such as gold calligraphy set against black. At this point we're not sure what ASUS is referring to with the "Core" branding. Perhaps Core could denote the entry level into the Dhahab brand itself, with the RTX 5080 serving as a nice entry point.

ASUS has quietly added a useful new feature called "Equipment Installation Check" to its ASUS ROG Astral GeForce RTX 5090 series graphics cards, and many users only noticed it after a recent GPU Tweak III update. This tool watches for any unwanted tilt or sag in the GPU and sends an alert if it spots more movement than ASUS thinks is safe. The secret sauce here is a tiny Bosch Sensortec BMI323 inertial measurement unit, or IMU. It's essentially an accelerometer and gyroscope in one, and it costs just a couple of US Dollars. Tracking the card's angle lets GPU Tweak III know when you might need to give your graphics card a little extra support. That's especially handy for models like the air-cooled ROG ASTRAL RTX 5090, which can weigh about 3 kg and put real stress on your motherboard's PCIe slot over time. Equipment Installation Check joins two other hardware monitoring tools ASUS already offers.

Additionally, some features like Power Detector+ monitors each of the 16-pin 12 V rails for any odd current spikes. Thermal Map shows temperatures from sensors scattered around the PCB so you can spot hotspots at a glance. Together, these features give you power, heat, and tilt monitoring all in one place. Most PC builders use third-party GPU brackets or reinforced PCIe slots to hold up heavy cards. Some of those supports might be optional because the software will remind you if it senses a problem or if a support bracket slips or loosens. That's a big deal if you only move your desktop once in a blue moon and don't notice slow shifts in component alignment. GPUs keep getting bigger and more demanding mechanically, so it's easy to forget that they're also a mechanical load on your system, especially when moving the PC for cleaning or part upgrades.

G.SKILL International Enterprise Co., Ltd., the world's leading brand of performance overclock memory and PC components, is thrilled to unveil DDR5 memory with an ultra-high kit capacity of 256 GB (64 GB x4), overclocked to DDR5-6000 CL32. Built with high-performance SK hynix DDR5 ICs, this overclock memory speed and timing pushes the boundaries of memory overclocking by fully loading 4 modules of high-capacity DDR5 64 GB U-DIMM modules on a single system; marking a new milestone for high-performance computing, content creation, AI applications, and advanced workstation workloads.

Overclocked, Ultra-Capacity 256 GB (64 GB x4) at DDR5-6000 CL32 In content creation and recent advancements in AI, the need for higher DRAM capacity is essential. Whether calculating large language models or working with complex or high-resolution video content, high-speed memory of high-density 64 GB modules would help to provide a smoother and more efficient workflow. Loaded with AMD EXPO memory overclock profiles, see the DDR5-6000 CL32 256 GB (64 GB x4) kit being stress-tested in the screenshots below on the ASUS ROG CROSSHAIR X870E HERO motherboard with the AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D desktop processor, as well as on the MSI MPG X870E CARBON WIFI motherboard with the AMD Ryzen 9 9900X desktop processor.

Since teasing its next-gen flagship motherboard design—at CES 2025—the ASUS Republic of Gamers (ROG) team has spent time finalizing an option that is even more extravagant than their hardcore overclocking-oriented Crosshair X870E Apex model. Naturally, the premium sub-brand did not reveal pricing during preview events—instead, premature European e-tail listings suggested a €1200 (~$1350 USD) tag. Tony Wu and colleagues at ASUS China introduced an impressive swath of brand-new products at an official in-person showcase last week, in Changsha.

During proceedings, company representatives introduced their top-flight E-ATX format board with a hefty day one price: 9999 RMB ($1360 USD). The ASUS ROG Crosshair X870E Extreme is expected to launch later this month; likely starting off with the Chinese domestic market. At the time of writing, the manufacturer's various global branches have not disclosed localized details—be it pricing or availability. Last week's presser did not produce any surprises, since plenty of specification details (and promo shots) leaked out late last month. One interesting and very over the top feature is the model's integration of an adjustable full-color 5-inch LCD screen. The primary M.2 storage solution will be cooled by an "innovative" 3D vapor chamber heatsink. Well-heeled customers will be relieved to know that ASUS has outfitted the AAA board design with their revamped Q-Release Slim mechanism.

ASUS today announced its participation in the NAB Show 2025. Visitors to the ASUS booth will have the opportunity to experience the future of content creation with live demonstrations of the latest ASUS ProArt offerings. The showcase includes the debut of the ProArt Cinema PQ09 monitor, featuring the largest-ever ASUS microLED display. The ProArt Display 6K PA32QCV and the ProArt CaliContrO MCA02 three-in-one calibrator will also be showcased. Also on show will be the 16-inch ProArt P16, a creative powerhouse laptop equipped with a 50 TOPS NPU, AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 processor, and up to an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Laptop GPU. In addition, the NAB Show 2025 will feature the latest installment of the ProArt Masters' Talks series, with renowned creatives sharing their perspectives on current trends.

The ProArt Cinema PQ09 is the latest addition to the ProArt Cinema microLED display lineup. This 162-inch 4K HDR monitor features advanced panel technologies, ultrasmall 0.93 mm pixel pitch, 1200nits peak brightness, high 1,000,000:1 contrast ratio, and 97% DCI-P3 color gamut. Compared to conventional microLED displays with a 1.2 or 1.5 mm pixel pitch, ProArt Cinema PQ09 delivers smoother and more vibrant visuals, making it the perfect large-screen display for home cinema, broadcasting or other uses.

TechPowerUp's W1zzard did not honor the ASUS ROG Astral RTX 5080 OC Edition graphics card model with any awards—as disclosed in his late January evaluation, a major negative point was highlighted: "no additional power limit increases allowed." The premium-tier ASUS offering managed to top TPU's "Maximum Overclock Comparison" GeForce RTX 5080-class table; comfortably leading the pack with an out-of-the-box (default) 400 W power setting. Reviewers and well-heeled owners—of this $1500+ special quad-fan package—have lamented the apparent lack of extra headroom. Sitting in fifth place was GIGABYTE's RTX 5080 GAMING OC SKU; a card that can support up to 450 W. As reported by VideoCardz earlier today, ASUS has taken onboard aforementioned feedback.

Resultant under-the-hood tinkerings were implemented mid-way through last month. The "ROG Astral GeForce RTX 5080 16 GB GDDR7 OC Edition" support page has welcomed a new downloadable file—authored on March 14—this BIOS update is advertised as being capable of: "increasing the (model's) maximum TGP to 450 W." Additional bragging rights will be granted with this patch; owners can boast about their expensive bits of kit being further enhanced—NVIDIA's reference specification TGP/TDP is 360 W. Thumbs up go to Team ASUS once again—mid-February Astral series updates tweaked noise profiles; not too long after an absorption of launch day criticism.

G.SKILL International Enterprise Co., Ltd., the world's leading brand of performance overclock memory and PC components, is thrilled to announce a new high-speed memory overclock DDR5 specification with an ultra-high kit capacity - DDR5-8000 CL44 with 128 GB (64 GB x2) kit capacity. This is the world's first DDR5 memory kit with 64 GB high-capacity modules to reach the extreme overclock level of DDR5-8000, setting a new milestone for high-performance computing, content creation, AI applications, and advanced workstation workloads.

New Era of Overclocking High-Capacity DDR5 64 GB Modules
Engineered for high-capacity overclocked performance, the DDR5-8000 128 GB (64 GB x2) combines ultra-high memory speed with massive memory kit capacity, surpassing the previous module capacity maximum at 48 GB per module. At last, power users and content creators who seek overclock performance memory for capacity-hungry applications will have the ideal DDR5 memory solution. Refer to the validation screenshot below to see DDR5-8000 CL44-58-58 128 GB (64 GB x2) tested on the ASUS ROG CROSSHAIR X870E APEX motherboard with the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X desktop processor.

NVIDIA's stellar quality control with the $2,000 GeForce RTX 5090 saw quite a few customers end up with cards that had fewer ROPs than they should—168 as opposed to its original spec of 176. The 8 fewer ROPs results in a roughly 5% drop in performance. When you're ponying up over two grand, this is the last thing you want. But what if we told you there are cards out there were more ROPs than they should have? We have with us an ASUS ROG Astral GeForce RTX 5090 LC graphics card that we detected 192 ROPs on. That's right, the card has all the 192 ROPs active that are present in the "GB202" silicon, or two ROP partitions (16 ROPs) more than it should have. We received our ROG Astral RTX 5090 LC sample just a few weeks ago, and haven't had time to thoroughly test it yet, because we're in the middle of a full retest with new games and new drivers.

The ASUS ROG Astral LC is a factory overclocked card, with ASUS giving the card a generous OC to benefit from the liquid cooling solution (2580 MHz boost vs. 2407 MHz reference or +7.1%). To account for that, we tried our best to clock the card back down to reference specs, which is presented as the orange bar. This still isn't the same card as the RTX 5090 Founders Edition, because the superior cooling solution and power limits mean that the GPU enjoys better boost frequency residency, but this is as close as we can get to simulating reference spec. We ran the card through a battery of game tests, which show an average of 8% performance gains over the RTX 5090 Founders Edition.

The upcoming collaboration project between Microsoft and ASUS is slowly materializing in the form of a handheld gaming console, as recently released promotional material shows. The latest teaser video shows an ASUS ROG Ally and Xbox controller merging into a single unit, becoming an animated character, indicating a hardware partnership that combines Microsoft's software ecosystem with ASUS's portable hardware expertise. Project Kennan, as the device is reportedly codenamed, contradicts earlier Xbox executive statements regarding development timelines. Initial projections suggested the hardware launch within a 2-3 year window, yet current information suggests a potential Q3/Q4 2025 release, with perhaps an announcement in Q2 this year. Following Steam Deck's market success, the accelerated schedule may come from increased competitive pressure in the handheld PC gaming segment.

The device appears to feature a predominantly black chassis, though other specifications remain undisclosed. AMD architecture integration will likely continue the foundation established in both Xbox Series consoles and the ROG Ally platform. This hardware choice would prioritize performance-per-watt efficiency crucial for portable gaming applications. A significant technical decision remains regarding the operating system implementation: whether to deploy standard Windows with Xbox integration or develop a custom Xbox-centric interface layer. This choice will directly impact ecosystem compatibility, application support, and user experience fluidity. Both companies have maintained limited official communication regarding the project, with the teaser video serving as the primary confirmation of their collaboration.

ASUS has readied its first all-in-one water cooler with a built-in curved AMOLED screen called ROG RYUO IV SLC 360 ARGB. The upcoming ASUS ROG RYUO AIO cooler integrates a 6.67-inch 60 Hz AMOLED display for system monitoring, significantly larger than any commercial AIO cooler with a built-in display on the pump/water block combo. The cooler operates at 39.6 dB while its 120 mm fans deliver 71.4 CFM airflow at speeds between 500-2650 RPM through PWM/DC control. A copper water block connected to a 360 mm aluminium radiator forms the thermal transfer system, joined by 200 mm FEP sleeved tubing. Socket compatibility includes current-generation Intel LGA-1851/1700 and AMD AM4/AM5 platforms, with no support for legacy sockets.

The expanded display provides real-time data visualization during intensive computational workloads without requiring additional monitoring software. ASUS plans to release the cooler before the "618" Mid-Year Shopping Festival. While the initial product features a 360 mm radiator, smaller variants may follow for space-constrained builds. No pricing details have been announced. A similar solution to this is TRYX Panorama AIO, which features a 6.5-inch L-shaped 3D screen as well, but ASUS has outdone it with a 6.7-inch screen variant now. We are curious how this cooler will look in real life, and some photos are already available below.