ASUS launched a trio of GeForce GT 740 graphics cards, the GT740-2GD3, which sticks to reference clock speeds of 933 MHz core and 1750 MHz (DDR), featuring 2 GB of DDR3 memory; the GT740-1GD5, featuring factory-overclocked speeds of 1053 MHz, and an untouched 5.00 GHz GDDR5 memory clock; and its 2 GB variant, the GT740-2GD5. Based on the 28 nm GK107 silicon, the GeForce GT 740 offers 384 CUDA cores 32 TMUs, 16 ROPs, and a 128-bit wide memory interface. It's NVIDIA's bid to capture the sub-$100 market.

ASUS today announced the GTX Titan Z, a brand new high performance graphics card with dual NVIDIA GeForce graphics processing units (GPUs) and GPU Tweak for real-time graphics tuning. Additional features like 12 GB GDDR5 memory and NVIDIA GPU Boost 2.0 provides users with the visual performance required for today's cutting-edge games.

Real-time graphics tuning for gamers
The high performance GTX Titan Z graphics card comes with GPU Tweak - an ASUS-exclusive interface that allows users to tune graphics parameters in real-time. This intuitive tool helps modify clock speeds and voltage levels, as well as cooling fan speeds to let gamers overclock the GTX Titan Z graphics card with confidence. The addition of an online streaming function lets users share their gaming action live with friends.

ASUS Republic of Gamers (ROG) today announces the G550JK gaming notebook, an ultra-compact powerhouse with an ultra-crisp 15.6-inch display that offers all the benefits associated with the award-winning ROG notebook range in an even more portable form factor. Powered by 4th-generation Intel Core i7 processors, and featuring an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 850M GPU that can be overclocked thanks to ASUS TurboMaster technology, G550 provides the ultimate gaming-on-the-go experience for discerning users.

Power to go
G550JK may be compact, slim and portable, but it packs a big punch. ROG-exclusive ASUS TurboMaster technology with GPU Tweak software allows the enthusiast-grade NVIDIA GeForce GTX 850M GPU to be safely overclocked by up to 5%. And even when running at maximum speed, G550JK keeps its cool thanks to the intelligent dual-fan cooling system, which uses two independent fans and copper heat-sinks to cool the CPU and GPU perfectly when needed.

The GeForce GTX 780 6 GB Strix isn't the only graphics card in the Strix series from ASUS, the company also launched one based on the Radeon R9 280, armed with 3 GB of memory (model: STRIX-R9280-OC-3GD5). The card appears to feature the same exact DirectCU II based cooling solution as the one on the GTX 780 Strix, and likely a similar PCB to the R9 280 DirectCU II series. The cooler offers 0 dBA cooling when the GPU is running at temperatures below 65 °C, and begins to spool up only beyond that. So handling most desktop and mild 3D loads should be completely quiet. The card also offers a factory OC. The GPU is clocked at 980 MHz, and the memory at 5.20 GHz, compared to reference clocks of 823 MHz core and 5.00 GHz memory. Based on the 28 nm "Tahiti" silicon, the Radeon R9 280 offers 1,792 GCN stream processors, 112 TMUs, 32 ROPs, and a 384-bit wide GDDR5 memory interface. APIs supported include DirectX 11.2 (feature level 11_2), OpenGL 4.4 and AMD Mantle. ASUS didn't reveal pricing.

ASUS today announced its new Strix brand and Strix Pro, a multi-platform gaming headset engineered with powerful 60mm neodymium-magnet drivers, full-size hexagonal ear cushions (130mm across at the widest point) and technology that filters our over 90% of environmental noise. Strix Pro is compatible with PCs, Macs, PlayStation 4 consoles and many smartphones and tablets.

Taken from the ancient Roman and Greek word for owl, Strix is the brand name for the stunning new ASUS gaming-gear series. Strix means the keenest hearing and sharpest eyesight and the ability to feel the environment, enabling the player to detect and react to even the slightest movement. Strix means survival on the very edge of instinct. Strix is in gamers' blood, just as it is in ours.

ASUS today took the veil off a new graphics card powered by NVIDIA's GK110 GPU, a custom GeForce GTX 780 that packs 6 GB of memory (double the amount found on 'regular' GTX 780s) and makes use of a DirectCU II cooling solution that can be totally silent, in certain situations. Named GeForce GTX 780 STRIX, the card in question will not be running its two fans when idle or during light workload scenarios (assuming the GPU temperature is below a threshold) but will power them up as soon as the GPU load increases.

The GeForce GTX 780 STRIX has 2304 CUDA Cores, a 384-bit memory interface, SLI support, dual-DVI, HDMI and DisplayPort outputs and will be available in two versions - one with stock clocks and one with an overclocked GPU. ASUS is promising more information 'soon'.

ASUS today announced RT-N18U, a high-powered 2.4 GHz 802.11n Wi-Fi router that uses TurboQAM technology for speeds of up to 600 Mbit/s. RT-N18U features powerful hardware specifications, intelligent wireless technology for maximum multi-room coverage, a user-friendly interface and exclusive built-in applications. The RT-N18U is supremely versatile, with both USB 3.0 and USB 2.0 ports plus Gigabit Ethernet connectivity, making it the perfect choice for discerning users who demand the ultimate 2.4 GHz wireless performance.

Fast, reliable and powerful
At the heart of RT-N18U is a powerful but energy-efficient ARM Cortex-A9 processor running at 800 MHz that ensures fast and responsive performance. The 128 MB of Flash memory and 256 MB of DDR3 RAM further enhance multitasking performance and allow up 300,000 concurrent data sessions - making RT-N18U ideal for multimedia applications such as HD video streaming, online gaming and file sharing.

ASUS today announced the Z97-WS motherboard for workstations. Based on the Intel Z97 chipset, the Z97-WS is tailored for extreme graphics processing to cater to the requirements of design industry professionals and gaming enthusiasts. It features PCIe Gen3 4-Way Graphics Power with NVIDIA GeForce SLI Technology and AMD CrossFireX on demand; as well as advanced and efficient power solutions with integrated Dr MOS MOSFET, ultra-durable 12K solid capacitors, along with exclusive ASUS ProCool power connectors and Beat Thermal Chokes.

Ideal for graphics-intensive tasks
The Z97-WS motherboard boasts PCIe Gen3 4-Way Graphics Power with NVIDIA GeForce SLI Technology and AMD CrossFireX on demand to give users flexible multi-GPU solutions for more powerful graphics processing.

EK Water Blocks, Ljubljana based premium water cooling gear manufacturer, is proud to introduce company's second complete all-in-one (CPU and motherboard) liquid cooling solution, this time for ASUS Rampage IV Black Edition, a X79 Express based 4th generation Intel Core i7 LGA-2011 socket motherboard.

EK-FB ASUS R4BE Monoblock water block is a complete all-in-one (CPU and motherboard) liquid cooling solution for Intel LGA-2011 socket Ivy Bridge-E CPU and ASUS Rampage IV Black Edition motherboard.

Announced at the Intel/Google joint press event in San Francisco, ASUS' C200 (11.6-inch) and C300 (13.3-inch) Chromebooks have been confirmed to arrive (at least in the US) at the end of June. Both Chrome OS-running mobile PCs are powered by the 2.4 GHz Celeron N2830 dual-core processor and feature a screen resolution of 1366 x 768 pixels, a 720p webcam, an SD slot, USB 3.0 and HDMI ports, 802.11 b/g/n/ac and Bluetooth 4.0 support, and a battery allowing up to 10 hours of operation per charge.

The C200 comes with 2 GB of RAM and 16 GB of NAND-based storage while the C300 will be available with 4 GB and 16/32 GB storage options. ASUS says its upcoming Chromebooks start at $249.99 so that's likely the price of the C200.

Intel Corporation and other companies today introduced a new lineup of Chrome devices, including the first designs using Intel Celeron processors based on the Bay Trail-M system-on-chip (SoC). A new class of Chromebooks based on the 4th generation Intel Core i3 processor were also unveiled. The announcements were made at a press conference in San Francisco hosted by Navin Shenoy, vice president and general manager of Intel Mobile Client Platforms Group and Caesar Sengupta, vice president, product management, Chrome OS at Google as well as representatives from Acer, ASUS, Dell, HP, Lenovo, LG Electronics USA and Toshiba.

"Intel has grown to become the No. 1 microprocessor in Chrome systems," said Shenoy. "We've been working on five generations of Chrome and after Google, Intel is the largest contributor to the Chromium OS. Intel chips are the first and only to support 64-bit Chrome OS. This deep history and investment combined with our stellar Bay Trail and Haswell SoCs mean Intel can offer the best performing devices at every price point in the Chrome category. When people are shopping for Chrome devices, they should look for Intel Inside."

ASUS today announces the availability of the CP220 and CP240 Zero Client Monitors along with the CPX20 Zero Client Box for enterprises looking to create an efficient and cost effective IT management system to enhance their VMware-based Virtual Desktop Infrastucture (VDI). These innovative solutions feature Teradici PCoIP (PC-over-IP) technology that compresses, encrypts and encodes the entire computing process at the data center and transmits it as 'pixels only' to the CP series Zero Client Monitor or CPX20 Zero Client Box. With all software and data stored on a centralized platform, it minimizes the organization's exposure to security risks and provides an easy to maintain network.

"With the introduction of the CP Series, ASUS is delivering a brand new portfolio of PCoIP zero client form factors that meet today's most stringent enterprise computing requirements for security, performance and ease of IT manageability," said, Ziad Lammam, Director of Product Management at Teradici. "We're delighted to welcome ASUS as the newest member of Teradici's robust partner ecosystem."

ASUS today announced a full range of ASUS-branded motherboards powered by the brand new Intel Z97 Express and H97 Express chipsets, and including support for 4th, New 4th, and 5th-generation Intel Core processors (Haswell, Haswell Refresh, Haswell Refresh K-series / Devil's Canyon). ASUS Z97 and H97 Series motherboards are fully-featured and perfect for any desktop PC build, whether it's a high-performance PC, a potent gaming rig or a multimedia entertainment center. With ASUS-exclusive technologies to enhance performance and reliability, plus support for the latest ultra-high-speed SATA Express and M.2 storage technologies, the ASUS Z97 and H97 Series take PCs to the next level.

A brand new premium look
ASUS Z97 and H97 Series motherboards feature a gleaming new design, with a unique and distinctive perfectly circular heat-sink on the next-generation Platform Controller Hub (PCH) chip. Anodized in a light gold color, this heat-sink is the signature visual feature of the new range. These design elements combine to project an understated, subtle and smooth image that exudes undeniable superiority, and which is perfectly suited to this comprehensive new range of ASUS motherboards. Z97 and H97 motherboards are suitable for any build, whether it's a productivity, gaming or entertainment PC.

ASUS Republic of Gamers (ROG) today announced the Maximus VII Gene mATX, Maximus VII Hero ATX, and the new Maximus VII Ranger ATX gaming motherboards. These Intel Z97 chipset-based Maximus VII motherboards feature the LGA 1150 socket and support Intel 4th, new 4th and 5th-generation processors (Haswell, Haswell Refresh, Haswell Refresh K-series/ Devil's Canyon) to give enthusiasts unmatched gaming performance.

These three gaming motherboards build on the renowned and trusted ROG gaming legacy. All three motherboards sport the distinctive ROG black and red color scheme, with the Maximus VII Gene and Hero featuring the world's first dual-color PCB with a matte black and red finish. The Maximus VII series features premium components, black nickel processor socket covers and improved circuit layouts. The Maximus VII series also boasts advanced networking and audio for gaming, along with an upgraded UEFI BIOS and M.2 (PCIe x2) with up to 10 Gbit/s data transfer speeds.

ASUS has unveiled the TUF Z97 Series motherboards, which are built around the latest Intel Z97 Express chipset. The new TUF Sabertooth Z97 Mark 1 and Sabertooth Z97 Mark 2, Gryphon Z97 and Gryphon Z97 Armor Edition motherboards support up to the latest 5th-generation Intel Core processors and - exclusively on the Sabertooth Z97 Mark 1 - the new 10 Gbit/s SATA Express interface for high-speed external storage. Available in both ATX and mATX form factors, there's a TUF Z97 motherboard suitable for any build.

Looks TUF, performs tougher
TUF motherboards are world-renowned for their toughness, long-term stability, durability and bold styling, and the new models continue this proud tradition with a powerful new military-inspired design and the use of premium components throughout. The robust TUF motherboards have upgraded thermal management with the brand new TUF ICe cooling for precise fan control and thermal monitoring. Other features include the comprehensive Thermal Radar 2 cooling control, including the innovative Dust Diverter reversible fan technology and VGA Fan Control, making TUF motherboards cooler, more stable and even more reliable.

Ahead of their anticipated May 9th launch, various motherboards based on Intel's upcoming Z97 Express chipset began appearing on US retailer Newegg.com. The boards are up for order, and ready to ship. Notable mentions include MSI Z97 MPower MAX AC, the company's flagship motherboard based on this chipset, which is going for US $259.99; its slightly toned down variant, the Z97 MPower, priced at $199.99; ASUS TUF Sabertooth Z97, the company's tough-nut motherboard based on this chipset, priced at US $249.99; MSI Z97-Gaming 7, priced at $189.99; GIGABYTE Z97X-UD3H, the company's mid-range Z97 model, priced at $149.99; and the similarly priced ASUS Z97-A. Featuring out of the box support for Intel's upcoming Core "Haswell" refresh processors, including the new high-end Core i7-4790K, Z97 Express brings SATA-Express and M.2 support to the table.

ASUS today announced the dual-band RP-AC52 wireless range extender, which uses next-generation 802.11ac Wi-Fi with concurrent 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz operation to work provide combined data transmission speeds of up to 733 Mbit/s. It is an elegant solution to the common problem of reception 'dead zones' caused by obstacles.

RP-AC52 is a hassle-free way to extend fast and reliable wireless coverage, and is particularly useful in large buildings or multi-floor environments. With RP-AC52, bringing wireless access to areas such garages, basements, backyards or roofs is no longer a problem. With its 3.5 mm audio jack, the RP-AC52 can also be used to stream music wirelessly from PCs and mobile devices to home entertainment and Hi-Fi systems, bringing music enjoyment to any room in the house. RP-AC52 is fully compatible with all current Wi-Fi standards, allowing it to be used with any existing Wi-Fi router or other device.

ASUS and ASUS Cloud today jointly announce the provision of 100 GB ASUS WebStorage space for one year for new ASUS Desktop and All-in-One (AiO) PC users. Customers who purchase select desktop or AiO PC models will receive special offers from ASUS WebStorage which include increased storage capacity to save, sync, and share files easily through the cloud.

"In 2013, the percentage activation rate of ASUS WebStorage for desktop and AiO users was three times higher than in 2012. People are getting used cloud storage and appreciate the added convenience and flexibility it brings to them. This is a step in the right direction. We'll continue investing resources to expand our cloud services to benefit our end users," said Mr Joe Hsieh, Corporate Vice President & General Manager of ASUS Desktop Systems.

ASUS today announced the PB287Q True 4K/UHD (ultra-high-definition) monitor, a 28-inch display designed for prosumers and gamers.

The ASUS PB287Q features a 16:9 aspect 28-inch white light emitting diode (WLED) display that delivers next-generation 4K/UHD visuals, with resolutions up to 3840 x 2160. With a pixel density of 157 pixels per inch (PPI), the PB287Q provides four times the pixel density of standard Full HD displays for astonishingly detailed visuals. With 300% more onscreen space than similarly-sized Full HD displays, the ASUS PB287Q provides a larger area for multiple work windows for more productive multitasking.

Here are some of the first pictures of the Z97 WS from ASUS, its first workstation motherboard based on Intel's new 9-series chipset. Built in the standard ATX form-factor, the board offers a boat-load of enterprise-relevant connectivity, and out of the box support for not just Core "Haswell" Refresh processors, but also Xeon processors based on the "Haswell" silicon. The board draws power from 24-pin ATX and two 8-pin EPS connectors, with an optional 6-pin PCIe power input to stabilize power supply to add-on cards. It features an 8-phase CPU VRM, with additional heatsinks to dissipate heat from the MOSFETs.

The LGA1150 socket is wired to four DDR3 DIMM slots, and a PLX PEX8747 PCI-Express gen 3.0 x48 bridge chip. This chip wires out four PCI-Express 3.0 x16 slots, which auto-configure between x16/NC/x16/NC, x16/NC/x8/x8, and x8/x8/x8/x8, depending on how you populate the four slots. Other expansion slots include two PCIe 2.0 x1, and one PCIe 2.0 x4, wired to the PCH. Storage connectivity includes eight SATA 6 Gb/s, from which four convert to two SATA-Express ports, and one M.2 slot. Display outputs appear to include DisplayPort and HDMI. There are two gigabit Ethernet interfaces on offer, both driven by Intel-made controllers. 8-channel HD audio, several USB 3.0 ports, and legacy ports by headers, make for the rest of the connectivity. Its feature-set include Ai-Suite III, reinforced power connectors, and the ability to log system events onto USB flash drives.

ASUS demonstrated its first SSD, the HyperXpress. As its name might give away, the drive is co-developed by HyperX, the enthusiast memory and storage brand of Kingston. Built in the 9.5 mm-thick 2.5-inch form-factor, the drive features SATA Express interface, which will hit the consumer space this May, with the arrival of Intel's Z97 Express chipset, and Core "Haswell Refresh" processors. Internally, there's not much to this drive. It's a host-agnostic RAID 0 array of two mSATA 6 Gb/s SSDs, wired to a host controller made by ASMedia. To the host machine, it will look like a single drive. The sample demoed to the press, ASUS claims, is a very early prototype, and future iterations could run two M.2 SSDs instead of mSATA, for even higher throughput. The drive was tested to offer sequential transfer rates as high as 778 MB/s. At Computex 2014, flash memory manufacturers are expected to launch legions of new SSDs in the SATA-Express and M.2 form-factors.

ASUS today announced M32, a new high-value desktop computer that features a choice between discrete NVIDIA GeForce or AMD Radeon graphics for immersive gaming and high-definition (HD) video experiences. M32 has been carefully engineered with powerful Intel Core processors for seamless multi-tasking, exclusive SonicMaster technology for hi-fi-quality audio experiences and USB 3.0 for super-speed connectivity.

With a premium brushed-metal finish that exudes chic elegance, an HDMI port for connection to HD TVs and monitors, and an affordable price point, M32 strikes the perfect balance between cost and performance for those seeking a desktop PC for effective productivity and quality multimedia reproduction.

ASUS today announced that research and development work supported by Intel has led to the discovery of a BIOS structure that unleashes the true full potential of the latest SATA Express interface standard on future ASUS motherboards. Following the CES 2014 debut of the ASUS Z87-Deluxe/SATA Express concept motherboard, ASUS and Intel continued working together to ensure that users enjoy the full performance of the SATA Express interface and SATA Express components.

The joint research effort means that ASUS is the first motherboard manufacturer in the world to discover and implement a technology that is critical for SATA Express to perform at its best - the Separate Reference Clock with Independent Spread Spectrum Clocking Architecture, or SRIS for short.

ASUS is expected to launch two The Ultimate Force (TUF) series motherboards based on Intel's upcoming Z97 Express chipset, ready for Core "Haswell" refresh and "Devil's Canyon" processors, TUF Sabertooth Z97, and the micro-ATX TUF Gryphon Z97. Designed with durability in mind, the two will feature the highest-grade electrical components the industry has to offer, and a boat-load of electrical, electro-static, electro-magnetic, and thermal protections. You can either take advantage of them to better your overclock, or build one for your post-apocalyptic bunker PC. The Sabertooth Z97 will feature three PCI-Express 3.0 x16 slots, an 8-phase CPU VRM, thermal armor with a recirculating fan, and eight SATA 6 Gb/s ports. We only have a teaser picture of the Gryphon Z97.

Here's the first picture of a market-ready version of ASUS' Z97 Deluxe motherboard, from the company's mainline computer brand. ASUS seems to have received screaming feedback from some quarters that bright gold isn't the best choice heatsink color, and if Z97 Deluxe is anything to go by, we might see a softer champagne tone of gold, with a more minimalist heatsink design. The Z97 Deluxe is packed to the brim with features, beginning with a 16-phase CPU VRM. The LGA1150 socket is wired to four DDR3 DIMM slots, and three PCI-Express 3.0 x16 slots. Storage connectivity appears to include six SATA 6 Gb/s, one SATA-Express, one M.2, and possibly one or more eSATA. Other connectivity includes 8-channel HD audio with ground-layer isolation, dual gigabit-Ethernet interfaces, WLAN, and a large number of USB 3.0 ports. We also scored a teaser pic of the flagship mini-ITX motherboard from ASUS based on the Z97 chipset, likely named the Z97-I Deluxe. It should give you a closer look of the chipset heatsink design.