Graphics card manufacturers are gradually starting to align their gaming brands with NVIDIA to get admission into the exclusive GeForce Partner Program (GPP). Although there isn't any official confirmation on behalf of the NVIDIA AIB partners, small but significant changes are starting to become evident. The first example comes from Gigabyte's Aorus gaming line. Gigabyte currently offers the Gaming Box external graphics enclosure with a GeForce GTX 1070, GTX 1080, or a Radeon RX 580. If we look at the packaging closely, we can clearly see that the RX 580 box lacks the Aorus branding. However, Gigabyte isn't alone though. MSI is apparently in favor of GPP too as they remove all their Radeon Gaming X models from their global website. Take the Radeon RX 580 for instance. The RX 580 models from the Armor lineup are the only ones present. Surprisingly the US website still carries the Gaming X models.

The latest rumor suggests that ASUS is the third AIB partner to jump on the GPP bandwagon. The Taiwanese manufacturer is allegedly creating the AREZ brand to accommodate their Radeon products. The AREZ moniker probably alludes to the Ares series of dual-GPU graphics cards historically centered around AMD GPUs. If this rumor is true, the Strix, Dual, Phoenix, and Expedition Radeon models are going to fall under the new AREZ branding. ASUS might even go as far as dropping their name from the AREZ models entirely.

ASUS Republic of Gamers (ROG) today announced the Huracan (G21), a compact gaming desktop powered by up to an 8th Generation Intel Core i7 processor and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 graphics for extraordinary gaming. The Huracan has a unique magnetically-secured side cover that sets it apart from other gaming desktops. This foldable side cover can be opened to improve airflow into the system, and activate Aura lighting effects. The extra airflow provides the cooling needed for its high-performance components, so gamers can play the latest games at their most extreme settings.

Open up for More Performance
Opening the patented magnetically-secured side cover increases airflow into the system for better cooling. The sensors also activate the integrated Aura lighting effects. To ensure the very best gaming performance, the Huracan is powered by up to the latest 8th Generation Intel Core i7 processor with up to 32GB of DDR4 2666MHz memory, and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 graphics. The Huracan is configurable up to a 512GB M.2 NVMe PCIe 3.0 x4 SSD and a 2TB HDD; and up to a 2TB HDD with Intel Optane Memory technology is also available. Intel Optane enables SSD-like performance from a large HDD, accelerating overall system performance and improving responsiveness for a blazing-fast computing experience.

ASUS Republic of Gamers (ROG) today announced the Zephyrus M, the world's slimmest gaming laptop to be powered by up to an 8th Generation Intel Core i7 processor and full-powered NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 graphics. The Zephyrus M features an IPS-level display with a superfast 144Hz refresh rate, lightning-quick 3ms response time, and NVIDIA G-SYNC technology. It also features the new Active Aerodynamic System (AAS) to improve cooling performance under high load. ROG-exclusive software lets gamers switch between integrated and discrete GPU modes: the Optimus power-saving mode prolongs battery life, while the G-SYNC mode synchronizes frame delivery for smoother gameplay without tearing.

Elevating gaming performance to new heights
The ROG Zephyrus M brings gaming-desktop levels of performance to the gaming laptop scene, with up to an 8th Generation Intel Core i7-8750H processor with 16GB of DDR4 2666MHz dual-channel memory, and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 graphics. It also features cutting-edge storage with a 256GB M.2 NVMe PCIe 3.0 x4 SSD and an additional 1TB Seagate FireCuda SSHD storage drive.

ASUS Republic of Gamers (ROG) today announced that its latest gaming systems, including the ROG Zephyrus M (GM501) gaming laptop and the ROG Huracan (G21) gaming desktop, powered by the latest 8th Generation Intel Core processors. Other products featuring 8th-Gen Intel Core processors include the ROG Zephyrus (GX501GI), ROG G703, ROG Strix SCAR Edition, ROG Strix Hero Edition, the ROG Strix GL12 desktop, and the H370 and B360 Series Motherboards. All products powered by the 8th Generation Intel Core processors feature Aura Sync technology for gamers to customize lighting to suit their own preferences.

The arrival last year of Intel's 8th Generation Core processors alongside a high-end Z370 platform meant increased horsepower for people who do more with their PCs, whether it's serious work like content creation and video editing, or recreational tasks like live-streaming gaming sessions. But extra cores aren't limited to flagship territory. They extend all the way down to the entry-level Core i3, and today they're joined by new H370 and B360 platforms that bring additional connectivity to affordable price points. We've deployed these chipsets across a complete family of ASUS 300-series motherboards that are loaded with exclusive technologies, feature unparalleled durability and a focus on ease-of-use that help everyone get the most out of their PCs.

ASUS DNA is the Foundation of Your Build: Every build and user is different, so we have developed a deep lineup across ROG Strix, TUF Gaming, and Prime lines. While each family has distinct aesthetics and personalities, all three draw from core ASUS DNA that has been carefully refined over nearly 30 years of making motherboards. Signature features can be found throughout, from DIGI+ VRM circuitry that delivers reliable power to the CPU, to OptiMem trace routing that improves signaling for your memory resulting in increased stability and performance.

ASUS today introduced the VP228QG, an entry-level gaming-grade monitor. This 21.5-inch monitor covers all the essentials for a gaming PC built on a shoestring budget. Its TN-film panel features Full HD (1920 x 1080 pixels) resolution, but bolstered by 75 Hz refresh-rate, 1 ms (GTG) response time, support for AMD FreeSync technology, and TÜV Rheinland-certified flicker-free LED back-lighting.

Other vital specs include 170°/160° viewing-angles, 250 cd/m² maximum brightness, and dynamic mega-contrast ratio. You get ASUS GamePlus (OSD crosshairs, FPS counter, display alignment), and game genre-specific display presets. Inputs include DisplayPort 1.2a, HDMI 1.4a, and D-Sub. ASUS could price this monitor under the $200-mark.

ASUS today introduced the Radeon RX 570 Expedition graphics card (model: EX-RX570-O8G). The card is part of the company's Expedition family of graphics cards and motherboards designed for the rigors of gaming i-cafes, and is built with slightly more durable electrical components, and IP5X-certified dust-proof fans. The card features an engine clock (GPU clock) of up to 1256 MHz out of the box (against 1240 MHz reference), while its memory clock is untouched at 7.00 GHz (GDDR5-effective). It features 8 GB of memory.

The card is cooled by a custom-design aluminium fin-stack cooler to which heat drawn by a pair of 8 mm-thick nickel-plated copper heat-pipes is vented out by a pair of IP5X-certified 80 mm dual ball-bearing fans that are programmed to stay off when the GPU temperature is under 55 °C. The card is put through 144 hours of extreme stress-testing before being packaged. Power is drawn from a single 8-pin PCIe power connector. Display outputs include one each of DisplayPort 1.4, HDMI 2.0b, and dual-link DVI-D. The company didn't reveal pricing.

ASUS' top of the line X470 motherboard for the upcoming AMD Ryzen 200 series of CPUs has seen some sexy leaked images of it on the web. The new motherboard features, among other things, full drop-in support for AMD'snew 2000 series CPUs - without the need for any BIOS fiddling. The software features are expected to be on par with its X370 counterpart, with some added magic dust thrown in for the sake of keeping things fresh.

Hardware-wise, though, there are some slight changes as well. The most relevant of these is the addition of a second M.2 slot, for users who want to take their builds based on this form-factor to another level - smaller drives than the usual 2.5" is always welcome - and they usually look much better as well. One of the M.2 slots features a pre-installed heatsink for better heat dissipation. Other features include 6 SATA III ports (a decline from the X370 version's 8 due to the inclusion of the extra M.2 slot) and two less USB slots (from a total of 14 in the X370 to 12 on the X470) in exchange for a PS/2 port... Arguably the strangest "improvement" to the design. The heatsink design has been slightly reworked as well, in an effort to keep things fresh, but the power delivery mechanism seems to be the same. Don't ruin what works, right?

Similar to other laptop manufacturers, ASUS will also give their ROG Zephyrus GX501 the special Coffee Lake treatment. The new model (GX501GI EI005T) is powered by an Intel Core i7-8750H six-core processor that operates at 2.2 GHz with a turbo boost clock of 4.1 GHz. With 9MB of onboard L3 cache, the Core i7-8750H boasts a 45W TDP. The Zephyrus GX501 comes with 16GB of DDR4-2400 memory and a 512GB SSD. The 15.6-inch display on the Zephyrus GX501 features a resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels, 144 Hz refresh rate, and support for NVIDIA's G-Sync technology. Unfortunately, the laptop's very slim body forces ASUS to implement the Max-Q variant of the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 GPU. Judging from the photographs of the latest Zephyrus GX501, the machine not only received a processor upgrade but also a slight facelift. It appears that ASUS has pushed the keyboard upwards closer to the display. The GX501GI EI005T was listed for 3499 Swiss francs at a Swiss retailer, which translates over to around $3657.

ASUS has announced Lyra Trio, a dual-band, three-hub mesh Wi-Fi system designed to deliver fast, secure and easy Wi-Fi connectivity throughout the home. Featuring high-bandwidth 3x3 MIMO technology for faster hub-to-hub communication and a unique pyramid antenna design that transmits the Wi-Fi signal vertically as well as horizontally for better reception across floors, Lyra Trio delivers ultrafast AC1750 Wi-Fi speeds in single and multi-story homes of up to 5400 square feet.

Lyra Trio provides always up-to-date protection with one-click firmware updates and AiProtection Classic cloud-based security powered by Trend Micro . These comprehensive security features safeguard online privacy and protect against internet threats for all devices connected to the network, even devices that do not have or are unable to run antivirus software - such as connected smart home devices. It also includes parental controls that can be configured with a smartphone to let parents easily manage the amount of time their children spend online.

ASUS today introduced the VG255H, a 24.5-inch "console gaming monitor." The company is targeting this Full HD (1920 x 1080 pixels) monitor at console gamers, as a better alternative to TV. We guess ASUS is also hedging its bets on PC gamers transitioning over to consoles (who prefer gaming on a desk), in the wake of the crypto-plague pricing out affordable graphics cards. HDMI is the only digital input this monitor has, it has two HDMI 1.4a ports, and supports AMD FreeSync over HDMI.

Besides FreeSync, the gaming-grade credentials of this TN-film monitor are bolstered by 1 ms response time, 75 Hz refresh-rate, GameFast Input Technology (which works to reduce input lag), and ASUS GamePlus, a set of features that include OSD crosshairs, FPS counters, timers, and bezel compensation. Also included are six game genre-specific display presets. Besides HDMI, the monitor includes a D-Sub input. Its stand offers height, tilt, and 90° rotation. The company didn't reveal pricing.

Whereas not the sexiest leak one can see these days, the packaging picture of ASUS' upcoming X470-F STRIX is nothing to scoff at. This ASUS motherboard is expected to enter ASUS' lineup in the same positioning as the X370-F STRIX motherboard from the previous generation, offering the same borderline functionality and features, with one or two design improvements thrown in for good measure. As a X470 motherboard, the ASUS X470-F STRIX should offer out-of-box support for AMD's upcoming Ryzen 2000 series of processors in the cleanest, more trouble-proof way possible.

Some small redesigns this X470-F STRIX has had over its X370 counterpart is that the southbridge heatsink has been extended to cover the top portion of the first PCIe x16 port - likely to house a second M.2 add-in slot, since that amount of heatsink over motherboard PCB would simply be wasteful. From the packaging, we can see that there are 3x PCIe x16 slots, two of which are reinforced. Some power delivery improvements have reportedly been done as well. The southbridge heatsink itself has seen a redesign, it seems, abandoning the angular look it had before - a step back, if you'll ask me. Expect this ASUS X40-F STRIX motherboard to be available from the Ryzen 2000 series' launch, on April 19th.

MSI was caught openly slandering AMD Radeon graphics processors in promoting its MSI Gaming Series notebooks featuring NVIDIA GeForce graphics chips. The company is a signatory of the draconian GeForce Partner Program (GPP) by NVIDIA which, in boilerplate regulator-baiting language, tells its add-in card (AIC) partners not to use the same gaming sub-brand (eg: ASUS ROG, MSI Gaming, GIGABYTE Aorus, etc.,) for GPUs from any other brand (i.e. AMD Radeon). When it's in effect, ASUS, for example, can't sell an ROG Strix-branded Radeon graphics card, MSI can't sell an RX Vega 64 Gaming X, and it's probably why GIGABYTE stripped the RX 580 Gaming Box of Aorus branding.

In one of its regional Facebook pages, an official Facebook page customer response handle was seen openly stating "NVIDIA currently are ahead in the GPU experience," (keyword being "experience" and not performance), suggesting that its competition is sub-par. The handle was responding to a question as to why the notebook didn't come with AMD Radeon graphics options. Facebook users were quick to torch the MSI handle with a flame-war, and MSI corporate redacted the post stating "We apologize for making an inappropriate comment. It did not represent MSI's official views."

ASUS introduced the VG258Q, a relatively cost-effective 25-inch gaming-grade monitor. Its Full HD (1920 x 1080 pixels) resolution is nothing to write home about, but the 144 Hz refresh-rate, 1 ms response time (gray to gray), ASUS Extreme Low Motion Blur (TV-type stutter compensation feature), and support for AMD FreeSync technology, and TUV Rheinland-certified flicker-free LED back-lighting, could pique your interest. Other vital specs include a TN-film panel, 400 cd/m² maximum brightness, dynamic mega-contrast ratio, and ASUS GamePlus enhancements, which include presets specific to game genres, OSD crosshair, frame-rate counters, etc. Display inputs include DisplayPort 1.2a (needed for FreeSync), HDMI 1.4, and dual-link DVI-D. The company didn't reveal pricing.

Ahead of their launch, motherboards based on Intel's cheaper H370 Express and H310 Express chipsets, hit the shelves in brick-and-mortar PC hardware stores in Thailand. Numerous pictures of ASRock-branded H370 and H310 motherboard models, namely the H370 Pro4, and the H310-HDV; GIGABYTE-branded Aorus H370 Gaming 3, and ASUS Prime H370-A, were posted to social media by PC buyers. Between March-April, Intel plans to launch cheaper H370 Express, B360 Express, and H310 Express chipsets, alongside newer Core i3 and Core i5 "Coffee Lake" quad-core and six-core SKUs; besides Pentium Gold and Celeron dual-core chips based on the silicon. The cheaper motherboards are expected to bring down the overall platform costs of 8th generation Core processors, which now require you to front over $100 on motherboards based on the expensive Z370 chipset. As with several generations of Intel chipset before it, cheaper chipsets lose out on key features such as CPU overclocking and NVIDIA SLI support.

Leaks surrounding motherboards based on AMD's upcoming X470 chipset, which will accompany its first-wave of Ryzen 2000-series "Pinnacle Ridge" processors, are on the rise. We now see a fairly clear picture of the retail packaging of ASUS Republic of Gamers (ROG) Crosshair VII Hero, specifically its "WiFi" sub-variant that includes a WLAN card. This board surfaced on benchmark database listings. There's no product image on the box, but the logos make things pretty cut and dry - AMD X470 chipset, socket AM4, support for NVIDIA SLI and AMD CrossFire; ASUS Aura Sync RGB LED management, and an unchanged Ryzen logo. We have confirmation of ASUS readying at least two ROG motherboards based on the X470 so far - the Crosshair VII Hero, and the Strix X470-F. It remains to be seen if the chipset also gets the company's coveted ROG "Extreme" treatment.

Hot on the heels of last week's possible ASUS ROG Strix X470 motherboard leak, the board layout drawings of at least three upcoming ASUS AMD X470 chipset motherboard models were leaked to the web. These drawings are typically part of the motherboards' user manuals. From these, we can make out that ASUS is using an identical PCB design for two products - the ROG Strix X470-F Gaming, and the Prime X470-PRO. The two have their I/O headers and ports at identical locations. ASUS will probably differentiate the two with different color schemes, heatsink designs, and a few ROG-exclusive software features on the Strix X470-F.

The third model is the TUF X470-PLUS Gaming. This product could be positioned a notch below the other two, it lacks one of the three PCI-Express x16 (electrical x4) slots, and uses Realtek-made gigabit Ethernet controllers, instead of Intel-made ones on the other two. The specs sheets of the Prime X470-PRO, which also appear to be sourced from the manuals, go into details of these specifications, most of which will be common with those of the ROG Strix X470-F. The specs sheet seems to suggest that the company's 2nd generation Ryzen "Pinnacle Ridge" processors support higher memory clocks.The specs sheets follow.

The folks at VideoCardz received a picture of a soon-to-be-released ASUS X470 motherboard from an unnamed sender. Judging by the motherboard's aesthetics and design, we suspect that it belongs to the Strix Series. Although there are no signs of the Strix branding on the motherboard, the rear I/O cover and the 8+2 phase VRM resemble the ones used on the ASUS ROG Strix X370-F Gaming motherboard. Initially, the "Republic" marking threw us off as ASUS isn't known for placing the Republic of Gamers branding on their previous Strix motherboards. The "Hybrid" marking remains a mystery though. The Chinese characters 玩家 that are located beside one of the memory slots literally translates to "Players", which certainly suggests that this will be a gaming-oriented motherboard. As of the time of this article, there are five confirmed X470 motherboards from ASUS: Prime X470-Pro, ROG Strix X470-F Gaming, ROG Strix X470-I Gaming, ROG Crosshair VII Hero, ROG Crosshair VII Hero (WI-FI), and TUF X470-Plus Gaming.

ASUS today rolled out the MG248QE, an entry-level 24-inch gaming monitor. This monitor misses out on the coveted Republic of Gamers (ROG) branding by ASUS, but is still targeted at gamers, albeit on a tight budget, owing to is sub-$300 pricing. Don't stop reading at Full HD (1920 x 1080 pixels) resolution just yet - you get 144 Hz refresh-rate, 1 ms (GTG) response time, and support for AMD FreeSync. Many of ASUS' GamePlus features are carried over from its ROG monitor lineup, such as GameVisual game genre-specific display presets, OSD crosshairs, timers, frame-rate counters, and monitor-based bezel-compensation adjustments for multi-monitor setups.

Other vital specs of the ASUS MG248QE include a TN-film panel with 16.7 million-colors, 170°/160° (V/H) maximum viewing-angles, LED backlit illuimation with low blue-light, 350 cd/m² maximum brightness, 100000000:1 "ASUS Smart Contrast Ratio," and passive anti-ghosting that takes advantage of the panel's high refresh-rate. Display inputs include HDMI 1.4a, DisplayPort 1.2a, and dual-link DVI. Since this monitor is succeeding the company's VG248QE with a slightly refreshed feature-set (FreeSync and low blue-light), we expect it to sell at a similar price-point $250-$280.

EK Water Blocks, the Slovenia-based premium computer liquid cooling gear manufacturer, is further expanding its RGB portfolio by releasing the EK-FC1080 GTX Ti Strix RGB water block that is compatible with all the current ASUS ROG Strix GeForce GTX 1080 Ti models on the market. A while back, the GPU manufacturer had slight changes to the GPU PCB and now this full cover water block is compatible with all the PCB versions that are on the market.

This water block directly cools the GPU, RAM as well as VRM (voltage regulation module) as water flows directly over these critical areas, thus allowing the graphics card and it's VRM to remain stable under full load and high overclocks. EK-FC1080 GTX Ti Strix RGB water block features a central inlet split-flow cooling engine design for best possible cooling performance, which also works flawlessly with reversed water flow without adversely affecting the cooling performance. Moreover, such design offers great hydraulic performance allowing this product to be used in liquid cooling systems using weaker water pumps.

ASUS released the first 16:10 aspect-ratio monitor in ages - the Pro Series C624BQH. This 24.1-inch monitor features many of the display innovations ASUS made in recent years, but comes with an eye-pleasing 16:10 aspect-ratio, and WUXGA (1920 x 1200 pixels) resolution, which should please professionals and gamers alike. Under the hood, is an IPS panel with 100% sRGB coverage, TÜV Rheinland-certified flicker-free LED backlighting, blue-light reduction, and an office-friendly stand that offers height, tilt, and 90° rotation.

The IPS panel offers 178°/178° viewing angles, 5 ms (GTG) response time, 60 Hz refresh-rate, 300 cd/m² maximum brightness, 1000:1 static- and dynamic mega-contrast ratios; and a matte-black surface. Inputs include DisplayPort, HDMI, D-Sub, and DVI. Other features include a multi-format card reader, two downstream USB 3.0 ports, and audio jacks. The company didn't reveal pricing.

EK Water Blocks, the Slovenia-based premium computer liquid cooling gear manufacturer, is releasing EK-FC Radeon Vega Strix water blocks that are compatible with the ASUS ROG Strix RX VEGA64. This kind of efficient cooling will allow your high-end graphics card to reach higher boost clocks, thus providing more performance during gaming or other GPU intense tasks.

This water block directly cools the GPU, HBM2 memory, and VRM (voltage regulation module) as water flows directly over these critical areas thus allowing the graphics card and it's VRM to remain stable under high overclocks. EK-FC Radeon Vega Strix water block features a central inlet split-flow cooling engine design for best possible cooling performance, which also works flawlessly with reversed water flow without adversely affecting the cooling performance. This kind of efficient cooling will allow your high-end graphics card to reach higher boost clocks, thus providing more performance during gaming or other GPU intense tasks. Moreover, such design offers great hydraulic performance allowing this product to be used in liquid cooling systems using weaker water pumps.

ASUS rolled out GeForce GTX 1050 and GTX 1050 Ti Cerberus series graphics cards. Much like the GTX 1070 Ti Cerberus card launched late-2017, these cards come with 144-hour burn-in quality-control by ASUS, and are targeted at gaming iCafes. The GTX 1050 Ti Cerberus (model: CERBERUS-GTX1050TI-O4G) comes with 4 GB of memory, while the GTX 1050 Cerberus (CERBERUS-GTX1050-O2G) comes with 2 GB.

Both cards are based on an identical board design, featuring a 17 cm long full-height PCB, and a monoblock aluminium GPU heatsink that's ventilated by a pair of IP5X-certified (dust resistant) 80 mm fans. A 3+1 phase VRM with ASUS' highest grade Super Alloy Power II chokes power the card. Both cards rely on the PCI-Express slot for power. Display outputs include one each of dual-link DVI-D, HDMI 2.0b, and DisplayPort 1.4 connectors. Both cards are factory-overclocked, with the GTX 1050 Ti Cerberus shipping with 1341/1455 MHz (core/GPU Boost), and an untouched 7.00 GHz (GDDR5-effective) memory; while the GTX 1050 Cerberus ships with 1404/1518 MHz (core/GPU Boost). The company didn't reveal pricing.

ASUS today announced the ASUS Windows Mixed Reality Headset HC102. Its unique and innovative design, featuring a beautiful 3D pattern and a comfy weight-balanced construction with premium antibacterial cushioned materials, means it's not only stylish but also supremely cool and comfortable for extended use.

Unlike other headsets, the ASUS Windows Mixed Reality Headset HC102 doesn't need any external sensors, making initial setup incredibly easy - users will be ready to play in less than 10 minutes. What's more, the headset supports over 20,000 Windows apps and more than 2,000 Steam VR titles, so users can watch immersive 360° videos, play games like never before or get on with important work or school projects. And importantly, the headset is also compatible with a wide range of affordable PCs. The ASUS Windows Mixed Reality Headset HC102 is the revolutionary, easy-to-use and affordable way for users to explore their imaginations.

ASUS has launched the third iteration of their Gladius gaming mouse, the Gladius II Origin (a missed chance for a Gladius III, uh?) There's a 12,000 DPI optical sensor under the hood (unclear if it's a PixArt solution), and the switches are both Omron-developed, though two different ones at that - there's an Omron D2FC-F-K switch and an Omron D2F-01F, with different clicking resistances, likely to incentivize sensitivity in the left mouse button. All in all, there are five buttons on this mouse (there's a DPI selector button and two thumb buttons on the left side of the mouse).

Other features include detachable, replaceable rubber and braided cables; RGB lighting with ASUS' Aura Sync support for the RGB zones (bottom, scroll wheel, and ROG logo); and support for ASUS' Armoury app. The Gladius II Origin weighs in at 110 g (sans cable), and has dimensions of 126 x 67 x 45 mm, and is available now from select etailers and retailers for $99.