ASUS finally joined the GeForce GTX 1650 GDDR6 party with a pair of ROG Strix series premium graphics cards. The cards feature a DirectCU II aluminium fin-stack heatsink with two copper heat pipes making direct contact with the GPU at the base; and a pair of AxialTech fans ventilating it. These fans are designed to guide most of their airflow axially as the edges of the impellers are webbed to prevent lateral airflow. You get a few segment-first features such as dual-BIOS and a FanConnect II 4-pin PWM case fan header. A metal back-plate is included.

The ASUS ROG Strix GTX 1650 GDDR6 series comes in two variants, the overclocked O4GD6 with 1815 MHz GPU Boost, and the mildly overclocked A4GD6 with 1620 MHz GPU Boost, compared to NVIDIA reference speeds of 1590 MHz for the GTX 1650 GDDR6. Both cards stick to 12 Gbps for the GDDR6 memory clock speeds. While most GTX 1650 GDDR6 cards are designed for no additional power connectors, the ASUS ROG Strix series needs a 6-pin PCIe input. Display outputs include two each of HDMI 2.0b and DisplayPort 1.4a The company didn't reveal pricing.

Back in January, AMD released its Radeon RX 5600 XT graphics card with a last-minute specifications update that made it competitive with NVIDIA's GeForce RTX 2060 graphics card. It did so by increasing GPU clock speeds, and more importantly, increasing memory clock speeds to 14 Gbps up from 12 Gbps in the original spec. Various AMD add-in board (AIB) partners released one-click BIOS updates on January 22nd (find them for ASRock, Sapphire, MSI, PowerColor, and Gigabyte). An easy updater from ASUS was missing in action at the time. The company finally got around to releasing easy, Windows-based programs that update the video BIOS of its ROG Strix Radeon RX 5600 XT O6G and TUF Gaming RX 5600 XT EVO OC graphics cards. The BIOS updates run the video memory at 14 Gbps since the cards physically do feature 14 Gbps-rated memory chips. The specifications update has had a profound impact on the price-performance positioning of the RX 5600 XT, from being able to outperform the GTX 1660 Ti to trading blows with the RTX 2060. Grab the BIOS update from the links below.

DOWNLOAD: ASUS RX 5600 XT Easy BIOS Updates for ROG Strix RX 5600 XT O6G | TUF Gaming RX 5600 XT EVO OC

ASUS today announced the launch of the ExpertBook B9450 laptop, the latest ASUS ExpertBook for business professionals that provides unmatched performance, durability and design within an incredibly thin and light form factor weighing in at just 2.2 lb with a 0.59 inch thin profile. The new ExpertBook-series laptops maintain a professional and reliable personality while incorporating innovation and flexibility in order to meet the requirements of modern businesses.

Designed for business professionals on-the-go, the ExpertBook B9450 delivers top-tier performance thanks to up to an 10th Gen Intel Core i7 processor, dual-storage design with two ultrafast 1 TB PCIe 3.0 x4 SSDs, and up to 16 GB of RAM and Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) connectivity. Expect uninterrupted performance on the B9450 with long-lasting battery life delivering up to an impressive 24 hours of use on a single charge, with extra comfort features like the ErgoLift hinge, built-in voice assistant support, and a Harman Kardon-optimized audio system.

ASUS today announced the launch of the ASUS Chromebook Flip C436, the latest in the ASUS Chromebook Flip family that pairs premium features with uncompromising performance. The ASUS Chromebook Flip C436 introduces an eye-catching and elegant convertible form factor, featuring a frameless NanoEdge touch display that's designed to maximize screen size in the smallest form factor possible. The C436 is housed in a durable yet lightweight magnesium alloy chassis, which measures only 13-inches diagonally at a weight of approx. 2.58 lbs - perfect for on-the-go productivity.

The ASUS Chromebook Flip C436 is verified by Intel's Project Athena innovation program and co-engineered for mobile performance. It brings unparalleled power in a convertible and ultra-portable form factor by integrating 10th Gen Intel Core processors with up to 16 GB of RAM, a 512 GB SSD, and cutting-edge Intel Wi-Fi 6 (Gig+) connectivity.

ASUS has just announced two new IPS Full-HD monitors in 24" and 27" sizes, the VZ249HEG1R and VZ279HEG1R. These two new gaming monitors both feature refresh rates of 75Hz, a luminance of 250 cd/m², a contrast ratio of 1,000: 1, and a 1 ms response time. Input is barebones with only a single HDMI port and a D-Sub connector.

The stands are VESA compatible with 75 x 75 mm mounting options and can tilt -5 to 22 °. Pricing and availability have not been announced.

NVIDIA last week debuted its GeForce RTX 20-series SUPER Mobile GPU family with four SKUs: the RTX 2080 SUPER (mobile), RTX 2070 SUPER (mobile), and their Max-Q variants. An ASUS ROG marketing slide just revealed the third, unannounced SKU from the series, the RTX 2060 SUPER (mobile), courtesy of a Hardware Unboxed news bulletin. Likely based on the "TU106" silicon, this SKU has an identical core-configuration to its desktop counterpart, with 2,176 "Turing" CUDA cores, 136 TMUs, 64 ROPs, 272 tensor cores, 34 RT cores, and a 256-bit wide GDDR6 memory interface, holding 8 GB of memory.

Where the RTX 2060 SUPER (mobile) differs from the desktop part is clock speeds and aggressive power management. It's clocked at 1305 MHz GPU base, 1485 MHz GPU Boost (1470/1650 MHz for the desktop SKU). The memory clock is untouched at 14 Gbps (GDDR6-effective). Although the slide doesn't say so, it's highly likely that there is a Max-Q variant of this SKU with tighter clock speeds and significantly lower power targets. Find the Hardware Unboxed presentation in the link below.

ASUS has switched to a new liquid metal thermal compound for its entire 2020 ROG gaming laptop range, liquid metal has long been used in the enthusiast overclocking scene but this is the first time we've seen its widespread use in a mainstream laptop. ASUS had to develop new machinery to facilitate the application of the liquid metal thermal compound as traditionally it had only been applied manually which was not feasible in this case.

ASUS is utilizing the highly respected Conductonaut from Thermal Grizzly for the job to ensure the 10th Gen Intel Core processors powering the lineup stay cool, laptops featuring this new combination will be available from Q2. This press release from ASUS details their process in bringing liquid metal thermal compound to the gaming laptop market.

Speed and agility are crucial stats in the world of esports, where razor-thin margins make the difference between victory and defeat. In a massive melee, you need a gaming machine that can keep up with the action. Staying competitive at the highest levels demands a high-refresh display and power-packed GPU that can deliver the fluid frame rates required to catch every moment.

The flagship ROG Strix SCAR 17 represents the pinnacle of professional esports. Its blisteringly fast 300Hz gaming panel surpasses the current tournament standard, while its larger chassis and cooling module can run the new GeForce RTX 2080 SUPER GPU at a full 150 W. This config pumps out enough frames to saturate the expansive 17.3" display with the sublimely smooth gameplay required for competitive play.

ASUS Republic of Gamers has recently announced a new series of Electro Punk special-edition gaming devices decked out in a bold black-and-pink color combination. ROG has a long history of weaving Aura Sync into a huge ecosystem of devices to let gamers shine a light on their personalities through their gear. However, many gamers are looking for ways to express themselves without powering on their RGB lighting. That's why the ROG color palette is expanding to include a new cyberpunk-inspired shade.

Creating a new color for any ROG device takes care. Selecting a shade, implementing it, and matching it across a variety of materials is complicated for just one device, much less an entire collection. Fortunately, ROG designers agreed early on to focus on cyberpunk-inspired pinks. After scrutinizing approximately 10 shades of robust roses and crisp corals in different lightings and environments, ROG designers settled on a high-energy hue with the hex color code #F7266B.

ASUS today unveiled its top-spec ROG Strix GA35 series gaming desktop, the GA35-G35DX. This pre-built desktop comes with some serious hardware specs geared toward AAA gaming at 4K UHD resolution and future-proofing for many years. Under the hood is a potent combination of an AMD Ryzen 9 3950X 16-core processor, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Ti graphics, an ROG Strix X570 motherboard, and 64 GB of DDR4-3200 memory. Storage includes a 1 TB PCI-Express 4.0 x4 M.2 NVMe SSD, and a 2 TB SATA HDD. 802.11ac WLAN with Bluetooth 5.1, 1 GbE Ethernet, and SupremeFX integrated audio make for the rest of it.

ASUS is using a 240 mm AIO liquid CPU cooler for the Ryzen 9 3950X, while the graphics card retains ASUS's custom-cooling solution for the ROG Strix A11G variant of the RTX 2080 Ti. The ASUS in-house design case features several RGB embellishments which, along the with AIO and graphics card, can be controlled using the Aura Sync tab in Armory Crate. The case features a plastic handle along the top. The front hides a panel that reveals two 2.5-inch hot-swap drive bays with SATA 6 Gbps back-planes. Front-panel connectivity includes two USB 3.1 type-C, two USB 3.1 type-A, and HDA jacks. A 700 W 80 Plus PSU powers it. The desktop ships with Windows 10 Pro pre-installed. The company didn't reveal pricing.

EK Water Blocks, the Slovenia-based premium computer liquid cooling gear manufacturer, makes another push into the HEDT market by releasing the world's first Socket sTRX4 based monoblock made for made for the ROG Zenith II Extreme motherboard. This is a complete all-in-one (CPU and motherboard) liquid cooling solution for the ASUS motherboard that is based on AMD TRX40 chipset for AMD Ryzen Threadripper processors. This monoblock is compatible with the ASUS ROG Zenith II Extreme motherboard.

Designed and engineered in cooperation with ASUS, this monoblock uses Velocity sTR4 cooling engine to ensure the proper cooling of the large IHS that hides the spread-out chiplets. This water block directly cools AMD sTR4X type CPU, as well as the voltage regulation module (VRM). This kind of efficient VRM cooling on a TRX40 platform opens up even greater overclocking capabilities. Using a monoblock gets rid of the small fans that can be found on these TRX40 motherboards, hidden under the VRM heatsink grill.

CORSAIR, a world leader in high-performance gaming peripherals and enthusiast components, today announced that the extensive RGB lighting customization in CORSAIR iCUE software now extends to ASUS Aura Sync compatible motherboards. With both iCUE and the latest version of ASUS' Aura Sync Utility installed, users can now fully control the RGB lighting on their ASUS motherboard through iCUE, as well as synchronize lighting with every iCUE-compatible CORSAIR device throughout their setup, from high-performance DRAM and CPU coolers to keyboards and mice.

CORSAIR iCUE software already offers the most robust system-wide RGB lighting control available, enabling users to customize all their CORSAIR product lighting in just a few clicks, or create complex multi-layer lighting effects and synchronize them across CORSAIR components and peripherals. With the addition of ASUS Aura Sync motherboard compatibility, iCUE can now control the lighting for nearly every component in a PC, all consolidated into a single interface, for incomparable system-wide light shows.

ASUS, the leading IT Company in server systems, server motherboards, workstations and workstation motherboards today announced exclusive Power Balancer technology to support the new 2nd Gen Intel Xeon Scalable Processor (extended Cascade Lake-SP refresh SKUs) across all server product lineups, including the RS720/720Q/700 E9, RS520/500 E9 and ESC8000/4000 G4 series server systems and Z11 server motherboards.

In complex applications, such as high-performance computing (HPC), AI or edge computing, balancing performance and power consumption is always a challenge. With Power Balancer technology and the new 2nd Gen Intel Xeon Scalable Processor, ASUS servers save up to 31 watts power per node on specific workloads and achieve even better efficiency with more servers in large-scale environments, significantly decreasing overall power consumption for a much lower total cost of ownership and optimized operations.

ASUS today rolled out the TUF Gaming GT301 case for gaming PC builds meant for the road (i.e. BYO LANs). It's design is characterized by a mostly ABS front panel that has a honeycomb outer grille with a metal inner mesh, and inserts through which a nylon strap zig-zags through. The top panel features another mesh surface, while the left side panel is tempered glass. The rest of the case, including its inner chassis and right side panel, are made of SECC steel. Adding to the aesthetic are three included ARGB fans along the front intake. A fourth dark 120 mm fan vents exhaust. Two additional 120 mm spinners can be mounted along the top exhaust. A headphones hanger can be mounted on either side of the case.

Inside, the ASUS TUF Gaming GT301 features a conventional horizontally-partitioned layout, with the top compartment serving up room for graphics cards up to 32 cm in length, and CPU coolers up to 16 cm in height. Storage options include four 2.5-inch drive mounts along the motherboard tray, and two 3.5-inch drive bays in the bottom compartment. Front panel connectivity includes two USB 3.2 type-A ports, and HDA audio jacks. Measuring 426 mm x 214 mm x 482 mm (LxWxH), the case weighs around 7.2 kg. The company didn't reveal pricing.

ASUS unveiled the GeForce RTX 2060 DUAL Mini series, a new pair of RTX 2060 graphics cards purpose-built to compete with AMD Radeon RX 5600 XT, and possibly priced to match the EVGA RTX 2060 KO. The series consists of two otherwise identical looking cards differentiated with clock speeds - the reference speed "DUAL-RTX2060-6G-MINI," and the slightly overclocked "DUAL-RTX2060-O6G-MINI." The DUAL Mini common board design measures 19.7 cm in length, 12.1 cm height, and is strictly 2-slot thick. Under the hood is PCB that's built to cost, and probably repurposing the company's GTX 1660 Ti series PCBs, since the TU116 and TU106 are pin-compatible.

The cooling solution of the ASUS RTX 2060 DUAL Mini features an aluminium fin-stack heatsink that makes direct contact with the GPU at the base; ventilated by a pair of 90 mm Axial-Tech fans that are designed to guide all their airflow axially. The impellers of these fans feature IP5X dust-resistance coating. The card also offers idle fan-stop feature. As mentioned earlier, the base RTX 2060 DUAL Mini ticks at NVIDIA reference clock speeds, while the DUAL Mini O6G offers overclocked speeds of 1365 MHz base and 1725 MHz GPU Boost (vs. reference speeds of 1365/1680 MHz). The memory clock is untouched on both cards, at 14 Gbps (GDDR6 effective). The card draws power from a single 8-pin PCIe power connector. Display outputs include one each of dual-link DVI-D, HDMI 2.0b, and DisplayPort 1.4 connectors. The cards don't appear to feature a back-plate. We expect the DUAL Mini to be priced at USD $299, and the DUAL Mini O6G at a $20-30 premium.

ASUS launched its ROG Huracan G21 mini gaming PC a long time ago intending to provide a small form factor gaming machine. Today, ASUS decided to update the Huracan with the latest hardware available. Inside a 17.7 liter chassis measuring 129.9×372.4×366.1 mm, ASUS managed to pack some powerful hardware. Starting with CPU, the ROG Huracan G21 is a house to Intel's Core i9-9900K 8 core, 16 thread CPU. There are also configurations available with Intel Core i7-9700K and Core i5-9400 CPUs. The CPU is installed on Mini-ITX Z390 motherboards made by ASUS, so it is technically possible to overclock it, however with an inadequate cooling solution for that it is not recommended.

To make a gaming PC, you need to have a good GPU to push all the framerates, and ASUS opted to equip the G21 with up to NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 graphics card with a blower-type cooler. Other options include GeForce RTX 2070 and RTX 2060 GPUs as well. For storage, there are quite a few options. There is one M.2 SATA SSD which can range from 128 GB to 512 GB in capacity. In addition to a 3.5-inch HDD that is available in 1 TB and 2 TB capacity, there is a hot-swap bay for a 2.5-inch drive. As far as the main memory goes, there is room for up to 32 GB of DDR4 2666 MHz memory. For IO, two USB 3.1 Gen 2 Type-A and one USB 3.1 Gen 1 Type-C port is available on the front of the chassis. In the back, there are two USB 3.1 Gen 2 Type-A ports, along with four USB 3.1 Gen 1 Type-A ports. Video outputs are dependant on which graphics card is equipped in a given configuration. Additionally, to power this PC, ROG Huracan G21 relies on external power adapters that come in 180, 230, or 280 Watt options that again depend on the configuration of the machine. It is also worth pointing out that for audio, the G21 uses Realtek ALC1150 with ESS DAC and amplifier. Support for RGB is not lacking and of course, and it is compatible with ASUS Aura Sync software.

G.SKILL International Enterprise Co., Ltd., the world's leading manufacturer of extreme performance memory and gaming peripherals, is thrilled to announce an all-new high capacity, low-latency memory kit, Trident Z Neo DDR4-3600 CL16-20-20 256 GB (32GBx8) 1.35 V, for the latest AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3990X processor. Built with the latest high-density 16Gb components, this new DDR4 memory specification offers a perfect choice for those pursuing ultimate memory performance or attempting to build a powerful workstation for heavy content creation workloads.

With the ultra-high kit capacity of 256 GB, G.SKILL is now pushing the performance boundary of 32 GB modules to a high level of DDR4-3600 on the high core-count AMD Threadripper platform. Optimized to unlock the full potential of the newest AMD 64-core processor, the Trident Z Neo DDR4-3600 CL16 256 GB (32 GB x8) has been validated with the AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3990X processor and the ASUS ROG ZENITH II EXTREME ALPHA motherboard, as shown in the screenshot below.

Back in November 2019, ASUS released a special "White Edition" variant of its ROG Strix RTX 2080 Ti graphics card. The company is now extending the whitewash to the RTX 2080 SUPER. The new ROG Strix GeForce RTX 2080 SUPER White Edition retains the PCB design of the original black ROG Strix card, but extends matte white finish to its cooler shroud, the three Axial-Tech fans, the cooler's base-plate, and the back-plate. The company hasn't finalized clock-speeds, but if the RTX 2080 Ti White Edition is anything to go by, the new card could be clocked silghtly higher than the original ROG Strix RTX 2080 SUPER O8G, which ticks at 1650 MHz base and 1860 MHz GPU Boost, with 15.5 Gbps (GDDR6-effective) memory. Based on the "TU104" silicon, the RTX 2080 SUPER offers 3,072 CUDA cores, 384 tensor cores, 48 RT cores, 192 TMUs, and 64 ROPs.

ASUS today rolled out the TUG Gaming X3 Radeon RX 5700-series EVO graphics cards. These include the SKUs "TUF 3-RX5700-O8G-EVO-GAMING" for the RX 5700, and "TUF 3-RX5700XT-O8G-EVO-GAMING" for the RX 5700 XT. The two cards feature certain design tweaks over the original TUF Gaming RX 5700-series graphics cards that were criticized by tech reviewers for bad cooling performance. The updated TUF Gaming EVO cards feature an entirely different aluminium fin-stack heatsink from the one in the original TUF Gaming cards, which offers better contact with the various hot components on the PCB.

ASUS also updated the ventilation of the cooler, with three Axial-Tech fans replacing the conventional fans on the original. These fans feature impellers that are webbed at the edges, so air is guided axially (through the heatsink), and some of it isn't bled laterally. The fan in the center is slightly smaller than the ones on its sides. Clock speeds are unchanged between the two revisions, with up to 1720 MHz game clocks and up to 1750 MHz boost clocks for the RX 5700 model, and up to 1795 game clocks and up to 1905 MHz boost clocks for the RX 5700 XT model. Both cards feature a software-based "OC mode" that dials up clock-speeds by roughly 70 MHz. ASUS will replace the original TUF Gaming with the new EVO cards at current prices.

ASUS has released a ROG-branded riser cable for your graphics card, which will allow you to display it in different configurations on your case. Whether you make a custom solution or have a case that supports vertical graphics cards already, the ROG Strix Riser Cable is the perfect solution. There is no RGB lighting, but ASUS has equipped the ROG Strix Raiser Cable with EMI shielding and special PCB layout to prevent any signal losses from the extended travel distance between your graphics card and your boards' PCIe slot.

The ROG Strix Riser Cable also includes ASUS' patented Safe Slot design, which they employ in their motherboards for securely fastening your graphics cards to your system. The ROG Riser Cable supports PCIe 3.0 x16 signaling, and is available for a relatively hefty €49.99.

Today, ASUS launched another additional product in its lineup of portable monitors, called the ROG STRIX XG17AHPE. This portable gaming monitor features a 17.3-inch display with an astonishing 240 Hz refresh rate. Being targeted at "gamers on the go" this monitor is equipped with features to make the user experience as good as possible. Featuring a 17.3-inch IPS panel with a 1080p resolution, the display of this monitor is very decent. Maximum brightness goes up to 300 nits, the contrast ratio is 1000:1, and the panel has 3 ms GtG response time. The Variable Refresh Rate (VRR) technology used is VESA's Adaptive-Sync.

When it comes to the I/O options, the display is capable of taking a USB-C (that is capable of DisplayPort alternative mode) or Micro HDMI 2.0 as its inputs. There is a built-in ESS Sabre 9118 DAC to transfer digital audio signals to an analog signal for speaker and headphones output. There are also two 1 W stereo speakers integrated into the monitor body. To power the monitor there is a 7800 mAh battery capable of providing 3.5 hours of usage.

Monitors being hailed as bezel-free is one of those gimmicks of which you know as soon as you read that listed feature. While some monitors carry bezels as thin as one can imagine, the fact of the matter is that there is always some extra material on the edges of the panel, which will always detract from a multi-monitor experience. Back in 2018, ASUS showcased a Bezel-free kit that would be available for sale. The workings are simple: align your monitors at a certain angle (130º is what ASUS recommends), use the transparent (PET + film) material on bezels that are less than 13 mm, attach the clips to the bottom and top of your monitors, and voila. By the miracle of refraction, your bezels will disappear, while your monitor's images will be extended, seamlessly transitioning between monitors.

This is an interesting solution, and certainly of value for gamers on multi-monitor systems. Keep in mind your screen diagonals will have to be smaller than 27" for this piece of technology to work. The ASUS ROG Bezel-Free Kit is now available at $110 a pop.

ASUS updated its AMD socket sTRX4 motherboard series with the new ROG Zenith II Extreme Alpha, a slight step-up from the original ROG Zenith II Extreme that debuted with AMD's 3rd gen Ryzen Threadripper family. Although ASUS' entire sTRX4 motherboard lineup will support the upcoming 64-core Threadripper 3990X, the new Extreme Alpha is better designed for overclocking it. The new board looks visually identical to the original ROG Zenith II Extreme, and has an almost-identical feature-set, with the only difference being the CPU VRM solution. The new ROG Zenith II Extreme Alpha implements a 16-phase CPU VRM with Infineon TDA21490 power-stages replacing the TDA21472 power-stages on the original ROG Zenith II Extreme (possibly increase output current or I-out from 70 A to 90 A). This could marginally increase the product price. The rest of the feature-set is identical.

EK Water Blocks, the EU-based liquid cooling gear manufacturer, would like to inform its key partners about the new version of the already launched EK-Quantum Vector Dual Evo RTX 2070/2080 D-RGB block. This water block will now be available in the Nickel + Acetal version as well.

The EK-Quantum Vector Dual Evo RTX 2070/2080 D-RGB water blocks are specifically engineered for ASUS Dual GeForce RTX 2070, 2080, 2070 SUPER and 2080 SUPER graphics cards. The water block itself uses the signature EK single slot slim look, and it covers the entire PCB length. This sophisticated cooling solution will transform your powerful ASUS graphics card into a minimalistic, elegant piece of hardware with accented D-RGB LED lighting.

ASUS today rolled out the ROG Theta Electret, a premium stereo variant of the ROG Theta headset from 2019, featuring a hi-fi grade 120 mm electret driver in charge of reproducing extremely precise high and mid frequency sound; while a conventional 45 mm neodymium driver handles lows (bass). Both drivers sit in an airtight chamber. The headset is purely analog, and features conventional 3.5 mm jacks, and ASUS made sure to get rid of all digital components, such as the USB DAC and even the RGB-illuminated ROG logo. Thanks to the electret driver, the headset enjoys a wide frequency-response of 20-40,000 Hz. The detachable microphone, too, is fully analogue. The headset supports both single headphones+mic jack, and split 3.5 mm jacks. ASUS didn't reveal pricing.