AAEON, a leading provider of Computer-on-Modules, has today announced the launch of two new COM Express Type 6 Compact Size solutions, the COM-RAPC6 and COM-ADNC6. Targeting the advanced robotics and edge gateway markets, the COM-RAPC6 is compatible with a variety of embedded CPUs from the 13th Generation Intel Core Processor line on a compact 95 mm x 95 mm form factor. The module gives customers a range of SKUs from the 13th Generation series, from the efficient 15 W Intel Processor U300E to 13th Generation Intel Core i7 Processors, running at 45 W. This grants users up to 14 (6P/8E) cores and 20 threads of processing power alongside technologies for the acceleration of deep learning inference workloads and I/O device virtualization.

With the COM-RAPC6 clearly favoring high performance, AAEON's second addition to its COM Express Type 6 product line, the COM-ADNC6, focuses on efficiency. The COM-ADNC6 offers a selection of embedded CPUs from the Intel Atom X Series, Intel Processor N-series, and the Intel Core i3-N305 alongside 16 GB of SODIMM-based LPDDR5 system memory. Given its compatible CPUs are comparable to the Intel Atom Processor E and Intel Celeron Processor J Series CPUs in power consumption, but with far greater performance, the COM-ADNC6 is positioned as a natural successor to the COM-BT.

NVIDIA's recent launch of a "new" entry-level gaming GPU has not set pulses racing—their return visit to Ampere City arrived in the form of custom GeForce RTX 3050 6 GB graphics cards. The absence of a reference model sometimes signals a low expectation, but Team Green's partners have pushed ahead with a surprisingly diverse portfolio of options. Early last month, Galax introduced a low-profile white design—the custom GeForce RTX 3050 6 GB card's slot-powered operation presents an ideal solution for super compact low-power footprint builds. ASUS is readying its own dual-fan low-profile models—as evidenced by official product pages. The listings do not reveal release dates or recommended price points for the reference-clocked GeForce RTX 3050 LP BRK 6 GB card, and its OC sibling. ASUS believes that both models offer "big productivity in a small package."

Low-profile card enthusiasts have warmly welcomed new-ish GeForce RTX 4060 GPU-based solutions—courtesy of ASUS and GIGABYTE, but reported $300+ MSRPs have likely put off budget-conscious buyers. A sub-$200 price point is a more palatable prospect, especially for system builders who are not all bothered about cutting-edge gaming performance. A DVI-D connector ensures legacy compatibility, alongside modern port standards: HDMI 2.1 and DP 1.4a. As mentioned before, ASUS has not publicly disclosed its pricing policy for the GeForce RTX 3050 LP BRK 6 GB card (and its OC variant)—the manufacturer's Dual and Dual OC models retail in a range of $170 - $180. Graphics card watchdogs reckon that the LP BRK designs will warrant a small premium over normal-sized products.

ASUS Republic of Gamers (ROG) today announced that an international group of elite overclockers has set four world records with an ROG Maximus Z790 Apex Encore motherboard featuring the new Intel Core i9-14900KS processor. Along with the ASUS overclocking team, overclocking expert Elmor pushed this processor to a dazzling 9117.75 MHz. Safedisk used the same setup to achieve three additional world records: PiFast completed in just 6.79 seconds, SuperPI 1M finished in 3.768 seconds, and PYPrime 32B finished in 97.596 seconds.

The ROG Maximus Z790 Apex motherboard family is the ultimate choice for enthusiasts and overclockers seeking style and power in their gaming setup. The motherboards are built to help the world's most talented overclockers shatter barriers on their way to new records. In the past few years, the ROG Maximus Z790 Apex motherboard was used to push a 13th Gen Intel Core i9-13900K processor past the 9 GHz barrier for an impressive world record, and the ROG Maximus Z790 Apex Encore was used to push the 14th Gen Intel Core i9-14900KF to 9043.92 MHz.

ASUS today announced BIOS updates that enable support for up to 256 GB of memory on its Intel 700 and 600 series motherboards that use DDR5 modules. Such models with four DIMM slots can now support up to 256 GB of memory, while such models with two DIMM slots can now support up to 128 GB. These enhancements significantly improve multitasking potential, ensuring smooth and seamless computing. AMD AM5 motherboards from ASUS do not require a BIOS update to enable support for up to 256 GB of DDR5 memory modules.

The BIOS updates can be accessed on the ASUS support pages for the models listed below.

ASUS IoT, a global leader in AIoT solutions, today announced the release of MDS-M700—an all-new medical box PC expertly engineered to deliver exemplary performance and service in diverse healthcare settings. As display and video capture technologies advance to ultra-high definition (UHD) resolutions, MDS-M700 is at the forefront, boasting support for 4K UHD imaging that offers unparalleled clarity and precision in visualizing human tissue, vessels and body structures. MDS-M700 meets medical safety industry standards, including CE, FCC, and IEC 60601-1-2 certifications.

With the growing demand for digital operating rooms and intelligent healthcare, MDS-M700 is engineered to be a trustworthy medical box PC. With an ultra-low noise level of 45 dB and a seamless one-piece cover, MDS-M700 helps to maintain a hygienic environment with resistance to alcohol, making it ideal for sterile settings such as surgery centers, operating rooms and training facilities. Powered by Intel Core (13th gen) processors, and optional NVIDIA RTX A5000/A4000 GPU cards, MDS-M700 delivers exceptional computing performance while operating quietly across a spectrum of applications.

ASUS today announced the TUF Gaming GT302 ARGB chassis, a case that makes it easy to build a high-performance PC with great cooling. Prepped and ready for great out-of-the-box cooling, equipped for wide compatibility with high-performance parts, and thoughtfully constructed inside and out for an easy PC DIY experience, the GT302 ARGB resets expectations for a mainstream case.

Great cooling - right out of the box
Most PC builders go big on cooling to ensure an excellent balance of performance and quiet operation. From the moment it is pulled out of the packaging, the TUF Gaming GT302 ARGB gives users a superb foundation for high-end cooling. This starts with a front panel designed first and foremost to maximize airflow efficiency. It is constructed of a wide-open, high-porosity square-type mesh that leaves ample room for fresh air to enter a PC. Four pre-installed 140 mm ARGB case fans move cool air through the chassis. These fans are exceptionally thick, measuring 28 mm in depth. These fans deliver up to 3 mmH2O static pressure and 115 CFM airflow for excellent cooling with quiet operation.

V-COLOR today introduced a series of overclocking memory RDIMM kits for workstations powered by AMD Ryzen Threadripper 7000WX processors on the WRX90 platform that features 8-channel DDR5 memory. The kits include 8 RDIMMs, with densities ranging between 16 GB per RDIMM (128 GB per kit), to 96 GB per RDIMM (768 GB per kit); and comes in speeds ranging between DDR5-5600 and DDR5-7200. The best part? These modules feature AMD EXPO profiles, which should make enabling their advertised speeds as easy as a couple of clicks in the motherboard's UEFI setup program.

An EXPO profile not just applies the kit's memory speed, timings, and voltages, but also several sub-timings and settings that are specific to the AMD platform, which are not found on Intel. V-COLOR has tested its overclocking RDIMMs on popular AMD WRX90 chipset motherboards, namely the ASRock WRX90 WS EVO, ASUS PRO WS WRX90E-SAGE SE, and certain unreleased WRX90 workstation motherboards by Supermicro. Although the RDIMMs lack heatspreaders for the DRAM chips, V-COLOR is including what it calls "micro heatsinks" for the PMIC and RCDs. The RCD in particular is crucial to get Threadrippers to operate at speeds such as DDR5-7200. The kits should be available starting today, with all models available from mid-March. The company didn't reveal pricing.

ASUS today announced ExpertBook B3 Flip (B3402FVA), a refreshed model of the powerful and versatile convertible laptop designed for both hybrid working and learning, empowering maximum flexibility anytime, anywhere - and now with the added power of Copilot, just a button press away. ExpertBook B3 Flip is built to embrace the future of both work and education. It's the perfect colleague for business users and pros, and an ideal ally for educators and students alike. With its versatile and tough design, studying or working everywhere is no longer a dream.

B3 Flip is equipped with a 360° any-position hinge for total display flexibility, a world-facing camera for a new perspective, and a fast-charging garaged stylus for simple, intuitive input. It includes several convenient health protection features, including ASUS Antibacterial Guard and a TÜV Rheinland-certified display for everyday eye care. The WiFi 6E technology is further enhanced by ASUS WiFi Master technology for faster, more stable connections; and it's also supplemented by an optional fast 4G LTE nano-SIM for fast and portable connectivity. Two-way AI-powered noise-cancelation technology and noise-reducing cameras ensure excellent remote learning and conferencing experiences.

The spirit of software pioneer Grace Hopper will live on at NVIDIA GTC. Accelerated systems using powerful processors - named in honor of the pioneer of software programming - will be on display at the global AI conference running March 18-21, ready to take computing to the next level. System makers will show more than 500 servers in multiple configurations across 18 racks, all packing NVIDIA GH200 Grace Hopper Superchips. They'll form the largest display at NVIDIA's booth in the San Jose Convention Center, filling the MGX Pavilion.

MGX Speeds Time to Market
NVIDIA MGX is a blueprint for building accelerated servers with any combination of GPUs, CPUs and data processing units (DPUs) for a wide range of AI, high performance computing and NVIDIA Omniverse applications. It's a modular reference architecture for use across multiple product generations and workloads. GTC attendees can get an up-close look at MGX models tailored for enterprise, cloud and telco-edge uses, such as generative AI inference, recommenders and data analytics. The pavilion will showcase accelerated systems packing single and dual GH200 Superchips in 1U and 2U chassis, linked via NVIDIA BlueField-3 DPUs and NVIDIA Quantum-2 400 Gb/s InfiniBand networks over LinkX cables and transceivers. The systems support industry standards for 19- and 21-inch rack enclosures, and many provide E1.S bays for nonvolatile storage.

ASUS today introduced its custom design Radeon RX 7900 GRE graphics cards for a wider product launch outside China. These include the RX 7900 GRE DUAL OC, and the TUF Gaming RX 7900 GRE OC. Given the nearly identical 260 W total board power (TBP) and ASIC pin-map of the RX 7900 GRE to the RX 7800 XT, ASUS appears to be reusing its RX 7800 XT custom-design board designs for these cards. The RX 7900 GRE DUAL OC features a 27.9 cm length, triple-slot thickness, and 13.39 cm height, and uses an aluminium fin-stack heatsink with two 100 mm Axial Tech fans—hence the name. There is no RGB lighting or other such frills to speak of, but you get dual-BIOS. The default P-BIOS runs the card at factory-overclocked 1927 MHz Game clock (vs. 1880 MHz reference); while the quieter Q-BIOS runs it at reference speeds, with a more tame fan profile.

The TUF Gaming RX 7900 GRE features the same version of the company's DirectCU III TUF Gaming cooling solution that the company uses with its RX 7800 XT TUF Gaming product, it's 31.9 cm in length, 3-slot thick, and 15 cm tall (about a 1 cm added due to the stub toward the tail-end). The cooler features a trio of 100 mm Axial Tech fans, and as is characteristic of TUF Gaming cooler designs, is well ventilated, exposing more of the heatsink underneath; than competing cooling solutions. You get a minimal amount of RGB lighting, in the form of a diffuser near the tail-end. You also get dual-BIOS, and a more pronounced factory OC than the DUAL OC card, with the P-BIOS enabling 1972 MHz Game clocks. The Q-BIOS again sticks to reference clocks for quieter fan settings. ASUS didn't release pricing, but given that both are factory-overclocked cards, we expect the RX 7900 GRE DUAL OC to be priced around the $570-mark; and the TUF Gaming OC at $600, if not more.

ASUS today announced that the latest ASUS MH series clinical displays have been listed as Class 1 Devices by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). These models include the 32-inch 8-megapixel MH3281A, the 27-inch 4-megapixel MH2741A, and the 23.8-inch MH2441A. All three displays are designed for radiology, as well as Picture Archiving and Communication System (PACS) use.

All three monitors meet the DICOM Part 14 Grayscale Standard Display Function (GSDF) AAPM TG270 standard, and each includes a scheduled calibration feature, dynamic brightness compensation, and dynamic DICOM compensation to ensure consistent and highly accurate medical images. The monitors feature an anti-glare, low-reflection (AGLR) coating on the panel, and have undergone stringent performance tests. They have been certified by TÜV Rheinland to ensure flicker-free performance and low blue light emissions. These clinical displays also meet ISO 13485 requirements, and are certified for use in clinics and large medical institutions.

G.SKILL International Enterprise Co., Ltd., the world's leading brand of performance overclock memory and PC components, in collaboration with ASUS ROG and Intel, celebrates a monumental achievement of setting a new SuperPi-32M overclocking world record at an astonishing 2 min 59 sec 919 ms, marking the first time this benchmark category was achieved in under 3 minutes. This amazing world record was achieved by SAFEDISK, the legendary South Korean extreme overclocker, using G.SKILL Trident Z5 RGB DDR5 memory, ASUS ROG Maximus Z790 Apex Encore motherboard, and Intel Core i9-14900KF desktop processor under liquid nitrogen cooling, demonstrating the bleeding edge of hardware performance of the latest computing hardware. For more information, visit the validation page on hwbot.org.

Overclocking Milestone Unlocked - SuperPi-32M at 2 min 59 sec 919 ms
SuperPi-32M is one of the most popular benchmarks for CPU and memory overclockers, and this extreme overclocking milestone commemorates the first time a score of under 3 minutes was achieved. Using liquid nitrogen extreme cooling, SAFEDISK lowered the CPU temperature as low as -188°C to reach a remarkable 8449.2 MHz and the G.SKILL Trident Z5 RGB DDR5 memory as low as -60°C to reach DDR5-9052 with 32-48-45-36 timings on an ASUS ROG Maximus Z790 Apex Encore motherboard. This expertly configured setup and operation under extreme conditions gives testament to the breathtaking technical performance of modern computer systems.

ASUS IoT, the global AIoT solution provider, today announced the launch of its new lineup of industrial motherboards and edge AI computers powered by the latest Intel Core (14th gen) processors. These cutting-edge solutions offer supreme computing performance, enhanced power efficiency, and accelerated connectivity, making them ideal for a wide range of industrial applications. One of the key features of these new solutions is the accelerated transfer speeds and enhanced power efficiency offered by DDR5 memory. Compared to DDR4, DDR5 memory provides 50% faster transfer speeds and 8% improved power efficiency, ensuring reliability with ECC technology.

ASUS IoT industrial motherboards also support double-speed PCI Express (PCIe) 5.0, which doubles the speed of PCIe 4.0, while maintaining full backward compatibility for system flexibility. This allows for faster data transfer and expandability, meeting the demands of modern industrial applications. The integrated Intel UHD Graphics technology in ASUS IoT motherboards supports up to 8K60 HDR video and multiple 4K60 displays, providing vivid graphics and powerful AI acceleration. This makes them ideal for various applications, including retail, healthcare and AI in smart factories.

ASUS today announced brand-new ASUS Vivobook S series laptops for 2024, designed for a sleek and lightweight lifestyle. These laptops - all featuring ASUS Lumina OLED display options - are driven by up to the latest AI-enabled processors from AMD, and offer exceptional performance. The series includes the 14.0-inch ASUS Vivobook S 14 OLED M5406, the 15.6-inch ASUS Vivobook S 15 OLED M5506, and the 16.0-inch ASUS Vivobook S 16 OLED M5606. ASUS Vivobook S series laptops are not only powerful but also lightweight, making them perfect for individuals who need both productivity and entertainment while on the move. They come in contemporary color options and feature a minimalist, high-end design, striking a balance between mobility and performance.

The latest 2024 ASUS Vivobook S series laptops are equipped with up to AMD Ryzen 8040 Series Processors, boasting a TDP of up to 50 watts and built-in AMD Ryzen AI acceleration for efficient performance in modern AI applications. A dedicated Copilot key on the keyboard allows users to effortlessly dive into Windows 11's AI-powered tools with just one press.The laptops provide lifelike visuals through ASUS Lumina OLED displays, offering resolutions of up to 3.2K (M5606), a 120 Hz refresh rate, a 100% DCI-P3 color gamut, and VESA DisplayHDR True Black 600 certification. The ASUS ErgoSense keyboard, known for its style and comfort, now features customizable single-zone RGB backlighting, and there's an extra-large ErgoSense touchpad. Prioritizing user experience, these ASUS Vivobook S models include a lay-flat 180° hinge, an IR camera with a physical shutter, a full range of I/O ports, and immersive Dolby Atmos audio from the powerful Harman Kardon-certified stereo speakers.

ASUS today announced brand-new ASUS Vivobook S series laptops for 2024, designed for a sleek and lightweight lifestyle. These laptops - all featuring ASUS Lumina OLED display options - are driven by the latest AI-enabled the latest Intel Core Ultra processors, and offer exceptional performance. The series comprises the 14.0-inch ASUS Vivobook S 14 OLED (S5406), the 15.6-inch ASUS Vivobook S 15 OLED (S5506), and the 16.0-inch ASUS Vivobook S16 OLED (S5606). These sleek, powerful and lightweight Intel Evo -certified ASUS Vivobook laptops offer the ultimate experience for those seeking on-the-go productivity and instant entertainment, with modern color options and minimalist, high-end aesthetics, making them the perfect choice for balanced mobility and performance.

ASUS Vivobook S 14/15/16 OLED are powered by Intel Core Ultra processors, with up to a 50-watt TDP and a built-in Neural Processing Unit (NPU) that provides power-efficient acceleration for modern AI applications. Moreover, ASUS Vivobook S series laptops all have dedicated Copilot key, allowing you effortlessly dive into Windows 11 AI-powered tools with just one press. Lifelike visuals are provided by world-leading ASUS Lumina OLED displays with resolutions up to 3.2K (S5606) along with 120 Hz refresh rates, a 100% DCI-P3 gamut and DisplayHDR True Black 600 certification. The stylish and comfortable ASUS ErgoSense keyboard now features customizable single-zone RGB backlighting, and there's an extra-large ErgoSense touchpad. As with all ASUS Vivobook models, the user experience is prioritized: there's a lay-flat 180° hinge, an IR camera with a physical shutter, a full complement of I/O ports, and immersive Dolby Atmos audio from the powerful Harman Kardon-certified stereo speakers.

Chinese review outlets have received MSI Claw sample units—the "Please, Xiao Fengfeng" Bilibili video channel has produced several comparison pieces detailing how the plucky Intel Meteor Lake-powered handheld stands up against its closest rival; ASUS ROG Ally. The latter utilizes an AMD Ryzen Z1 APU—in Extreme or Standard forms—many news outlets have pointed out that the Z1 Extreme processor is a slightly reworked Ryzen 7 7840U "Phoenix" processor. Intel and its handheld hardware partners have not dressed up Meteor Lake chips with alternative gaming monikers—simply put, the MSI Claw arrives with Core Ultra 7-155H or Ultra 5-135H processors onboard. The two rival systems both run on Window 11, and also share the same screen size, resolution, display technology (IPS) and 16 GB LPDDR5-6400 memory configuration. The almost eight months old ASUS handheld seems to outperform its near-launch competition.

Xiao Fengfeng's review (Ultra 7-155H versus Z1 Extreme) focuses on different power levels and how they affect handheld performance—the Claw and Ally have user selectable TDP modes. A VideoCardz analysis piece lays out key divergences: "Both companies offer easy TDP profile switches, allowing users to adjust performance based on the game's requirements or available battery life. The Claw's larger battery could theoretically offer more gaming time or higher TDP with the same battery life. The system can work at 40 W TDP level (but in reality it's between 35 and 40 watts)...In the Shadow of the Tomb Raider test, the Claw doesn't seem to outperform the ROG Ally. According to a Bilibili creator's test, the system falls short at four different power levels: 15 W, 20 W, 25 W, and max TDP (40 W for Claw and 30 W for Ally)."

ASUS Republic of Gamers (ROG) today announced availability of the ROG Swift OLED PG32UCDM gaming monitor. It boasts a 32-inch 4K QD-OLED anti-reflective panel that delivers astounding visuals at a buttery-smooth 240 Hz. Featuring third-generation QD-OLED technology, the PG32UCDM delivers vibrant colors, the deepest black hues, and the brightest imagery. Plus, a 0.03 ms gray-to-gray (GTG) response time ensures blur-free action, even in intense gameplay. Inside, an advanced custom heatsink offers exceptional cooling to reduce the likelihood of burn-in and improve performance and longevity of the OLED panel. This premium monitor is designed for gamers who demand the very best, offering an unbeatable combination of size, image quality, and refresh-rate speed for exhilarating gaming experiences.

The 240 Hz refresh rate of PG32UCDM eradicates motion blur and delivers buttery-smooth visuals, even in the most fast-paced titles. The 0.03 ms GTG response time eliminates ghosting and ensures pixel-perfect precision to provide gamers with a competitive edge. AMD FreeSync Premium Pro technology and NVIDIA G-SYNC compatibility ensure supersmooth, tear-free visuals with low latency. Plus, the back of the panel is wrapped in graphene film to improve heat dissipation while the custom heatsink with integrated airflow channels optimizes thermal performance to minimize the risk of burn-in.

ASUS, a global infrastructure solution provider, is excited to announce its participation at Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2024, the highly-anticipated annual event taking place at Fira Gran Via in Barcelona, Spain, from February 26 - 29, 2024. It is the largest and most influential event for the connectivity ecosystem, bringing together industry leaders, innovators and decision-makers from around the world to explore and discuss the latest advancements in mobile communications industry. As a key player in the industry, ASUS invites valued customers and partners to explore its groundbreaking lineup of server solutions at the ASUS showroom, located in Hall 2 at booth #2A2MR.

ASUS is also proud to announce its strategic partnership with FuriosaAI, a fast-growing startup focusing on next-gen data-center AI accelerators. Its first-generation chip, WARBOY, accelerates vision intelligence and has demonstrated exceptional performance across diverse computer vision models at MLPerf Inference. ASUS servers have successfully qualified WARBOY cards, reinforcing our belief that this collaboration will empower customers to shape the future of AI without constraints. FuriosaAI will showcase WARBOY at ASUS showroom. Attendees will also have the opportunity to delve into a range of cutting-edge server solutions designed to seamlessly integrate with AI and 5G frameworks.

Simply NUC, Inc, a leading computing solutions company focused on small form factor PCs, announced the launch of Bravo Canyon (ASUS NUC 13 Rugged), the newest addition to the Intel-based Rugged NUC lineup. Set to revolutionize embedded computing with its robust features, unparalleled versatility, and engineered to excel in demanding environments, Bravo Canyon offers a range of processor variants and customization options to meet the diverse needs of industrial applications.

"Bravo Canyon represents a significant leap forward in embedded computing," said Aaron Rowsell, Founder & President of Simply NUC. "With its powerful processor variants, rugged design, and extensive customization options, it's a game-changer for industries seeking reliable and adaptable computing solutions. We're proud to introduce a product that sets a new standard in the field."

Creating quality content requires quality gear - whether you're editing your latest video review or streaming your favorite games on Twitch. The ROG Carnyx is a professional-grade condenser gaming microphone that delivers detailed, high-fidelity audio with minimal setup, making it a good microphone for gaming and streaming that lets you can do what you do best: playing games, streaming, and creating content.

Crystal clear sound through the Carnyx gaming microphone
The Carnyx features a 25 mm condenser capsule and 192 kHz / 24-bit sampling rate, meaning every detail of your voice will come through in a clean, uninterrupted recording. Our high-pass filter enhances vocal clarity, the microphone's built-in pop filter to minimize vocal plosives, and the entire unit suspended onto a premium metal shock mount with a high quality elastic cord to reduce external vibrations and produce crystal-clear sound.

TrendForce's latest findings reveal global monitor shipments declined 7.3% in 2023 down to 125 million units—a figure below pre-pandemic levels. Looking ahead to 2024, given the low shipment base in 2023, alongside the potential for a gradual economic recovery and the typical 4 to 5-year PC replacement cycle, PCs purchased during the pandemic are expected to be upgraded between the second half of 2024 and 2025. This is anticipated to drive a 2% increase in global monitor shipments in 2024, reaching approximately 128 million units.

The top three commercial monitor brands experienced over twenty percent decline in shipments
A surge in unfulfilled business orders in Europe and America in the first half of 2022 elevated the shipment baseline for commercial brands that year. However, by 2023, commercial market demand saw a significant contraction, leading to a YoY shipment decrease of 20.4% for Dell, 20.7% for HP, and 21.4% for Lenovo—each dropping by over twenty percent.

ASUS today announced the GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER Noctua OC Edition graphics card, designed for gamers and creators who seek cutting-edge performance that operates at whisper-quiet noise levels. Building on the class-leading design of the ASUS GeForce RTX 3070, RTX 3080, and RTX 4080 Noctua Edition variants, this premium graphics card achieves near-silent operation thanks to the Noctua fans, an ASUS custom-built vapor chamber and a massive heatsink.

The ASUS GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER Noctua Edition incorporates a pair of Noctua's state-of-the-art NF‑A12x25 fans to move air over an extra-large heatsink. These fans were developed in a partnership between the ASUS thermal R&D team and engineers at Noctua. The design involved tuning the fin density and heat pipe arrangement of the heatsink, optimizing each for the airflow characteristics of the NF-A12x25 fans. To prioritize low noise levels, a smooth acoustic signature and high cooling performance while making room for the pair of 120 mm fans, ASUS expanded the card's total volume to occupy 4.3 slots of space. The card also comes with a Dual BIOS switch, with Quiet mode enabled by default to minimize acoustics right out of the box.

On February 1, ASUS announced that it has been included in Fortune's list of the 2024 World's Most Admired Companies, the ninth time it has achieved this honor. ASUS was recognized for its extraordinary achievements in areas such as global competitiveness, social responsibility, product service quality, and more. "We are honored to be recognized by Fortune Magazine once again," said Jonney Shih, Chairman of ASUS. "The reputation we have achieved is testament to our Design Thinking approach and our commitment to leveraging collective wisdom to bring users seamless and joyful digital experiences."

ASUS continues to relentlessly pursue incredible technological innovation, maintaining global leadership in motherboards, computers, monitors, graphics cards, and routers. Through collaborations with strategic partners, ASUS has strengthened its presence in the gaming, commercial, and industrial markets. Fueled by artificial intelligence, ASUS has also rapidly advanced its AI applications, integrating cloud services, efficient computing power, and big-data platforms, as well as expanding into diverse fields such as smart healthcare, smart transportation, smart manufacturing, smart education, smart cloud, and smart retail. Leveraging its impressive suite of services, ASUS is firmly establishing itself as a comprehensive AI enterprise.

Mr Matt Lee (a filmmaker and YouTuber) enjoys the powerful yet quiet performance of ASUS and Noctua collaborative graphics cards, but (like many enthusiasts) is not fully appreciative of the latter's default choice of oddball brown and beige color schemes. A weekend social media post highlighted an alternative reality with a slickly produced mockup and an accompanying message: "What if ASUS x Noctua made a 𝗖𝗵𝗿𝗼𝗺𝗮𝘅 GPU? 👀 Here's something I've been working on to give you an idea of how it could look! Two Chromax NF-A12x25 fans with matching mono accents… it's certainly a vibe 🖤 Would you have this in your rig?" Mister Lee made sure to tag the ASUS UK office and Noctua accounts—we are fairly certain that both manufacturers have received plenty of feedback over the years since beginning their custom design partnership a few years ago. The latest collaborative fruit of their combined labors is the GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER 16 GB Noctua OC Edition, so the brown tradition looks to continue in 2024.

Everyone's favorite PC hardware tipster, momomo_us, has spotted a bunch of interesting SKUs registrations—the Eurasian Economic Commission (EEC) portal is normally a good source of pre-release information. ASUS appears to have submitted (on January 30) a wide range of AMD and Intel chipsetted mainboards with the Customs Union of Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Russia. The presence of Pro WS X690E-SAGE SE and Pro WS X690E-SAGE SE WIFI models attracted the most attention—fellow tipster HXL/@9550pro proposed that AMD's incoming X690 tech could be an X670 offshoot. They made reference to an AORUS BIOS screenshot showing a "common options" setting for AM4 generation X570 and X590 chipsets. The latter was a workstation solution that never reached finalized retail form.

Team Red has not officially announced the X690 chipset, so we know little else beyond this week's SKU filings. ASUS has produced a number of Pro Workstation Series for AMD platforms—the most recent examples being very fancy WRX90 and TRX50 motherboards for the mighty "Storm Peak" Threadripper 7000 processor family. VideoCardz reminds us that ASUS has not updated its Ryzen and Ryzen PRO "consumer and business" mainboard product range since the X570 days, so it is encouraging to see some potential new AM5 options on the horizon. On occasion, EEC SKU registrations do not lead to finalized retail products, so plans are subject to change.