ASUS today announced the MB168 Series Portable USB-powered Monitor, a 15.6-inch companion display designed for laptop and desktop PCs. Both power and video signal are supplied over a single USB 3.0 cable, removing the need to carry a bulky power adapter and video cable. With a slim 8 mm profile and tipping the scales at just 800g, the MB168 Series is the world's slimmest and lightest companion display and is ideal for simple dual-monitor set-ups and presentations. With a mercury-free LED-backlit display that consumes just 5W in active use and 0W in standby mode, the ASUS MB168 Series delivers excellent performance with minimal impact on laptop battery life.

ASUS posted official BIOS updates for its socket LGA2011 motherboards, that let them support Intel Core i7 "Ivy Bridge-E" processors. The updates can be installed either using an old LGA2011 processor, or using ASUS USB BIOS Flashback, in the absence of an older processor. For ASUS' mainline P9X79 series, "Ivy Bridge-E" support is lent by BIOS version number 4301. The P9X79 series includes P9X79 LE, P9X79, P9X79 Pro, and P9X79 Deluxe. For ROG Rampage IV Extreme and Rampage IV Gene, it's version 4401, and for ROG Rampage IV Formula, it's 4402. For TUF Sabertooth X79 it's version 4309. Get your corresponding BIOS file here.

ASUS is excited to announce the world's first motherboard certified by Intel with Thunderbolt 2 technology, the Z87-Deluxe/Quad. Based on the new Intel Z87 chipset and ready for the latest 4th generation Intel Core processors, the ASUS Z87-Deluxe/Quad ATX motherboard has two Thunderbolt 2 ports which allow for up to 12 simultaneously connected devices. Each port is capable of up to a 20Gbit/s transfer rate and is backward compatible with first generation Thunderbolt.

"Z87-Deluxe/Quad has been subjected to a tremendous amount of compatibility, BIOS, as well as video/audio and other tests to verify its quality and design," said Joe Hsieh, ASUS Corporate Vice President and General Manager of the Motherboard and Desktop System Business Unit. "Being the world's first certified motherboard for Thunderbolt 2 technology also means setting the standard for all of the upcoming products, which is something that ASUS has always done."

ASUS today announced Maximus VI Impact, a mini-ITX gaming motherboard based on Intel Z87 chipset for the latest 4th generation Intel Core processors. Maximus VI Impact is the first ROG mini-ITX motherboard to be fully loaded with exclusive gamer-pleasing innovations and proves size is no longer an indicator of performance. It features the SupremeFX Impact discrete sound card for best-in-class 115 dB SNR audio and Impact Power digital power-management technology for the same renowned overclocking control as ROG full-size ATX motherboards. Maximus VI Impact also takes connectivity to the next level with onboard 802.11ac Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.0. Maximus VI Impact has undergone hundreds of rigorous tests to ensure compatibility with popular mini-ITX cases and processor coolers. So if something's made for mini-ITX, it's made for Maximus VI Impact.

ASUS announced six new entry-level motherboards based on the Intel H81 chipset in ATX, Micro-ATX and Mini-ITX form factors. Designed for 4th generation Intel Core processors, the ASUS H81 Series features exclusive ASUS 5X Protection technology for superior reliability and is available in a range of specifications that cater for a variety of PC needs.

The ASUS H81 Series comprises the H81-Plus ATX motherboard; the H81M-Plus, H81M-A, H81M-C and H81M-E Micro-ATX motherboards; and the H81I-Plus Mini-ITX motherboard. All models feature two DDR3 (1600MHz) DIMM slots for up to 16GB RAM, one PCI-Express x16 (@x16) slot and two SATA 6Gbit/s ports. All models also include the latest ASUS UEFI BIOS, Realtek 7.1 audio and USB 3.0 with USB 3.0 Boost technology for data transfer rates up to 1.7 times faster than ordinary USB 3.0 with industry-standard UASP (USB Attached SCSI Protocol) devices.

Turn your PC into an NFC-enabled system with ASUS' brand new USB 3.0 NFC receiver 'NFC EXPRESS'. Corresponding to the ASUS motherboards, the device allows you to manipulate your PC with smartphones equipped with NFC, and you can log in to Windows 8 with NFC tag attached to it. It also allows you transfer photos and videos that are stored in the tablet or NFC smartphone to the PC by simply holding the NFC receiver. In terms of specs, the NFC EXPRESS is equipped with a USB 3.0 connection interface and a 2-port USB 3.0 hub.

The NFC EXPRESS accessory has added a sensor box to the mix, this being the spot where you'll be tapping your smartphones to pair with your NFC EXPRESS-laden ASUS Z87 motherboard. This device connects to your PC with its two USB 3.0 ports and allows password-free Windows 8 login, automatic data syncing, and again, Remote Desktop connectivity - which we're especially interested in seeing due to the relative lack of dedicated services as such in the Android world aside services like SplashTop.

ASUS plans to expand its VivoBook series with a new AMD-powered member, the X102BA. This 10.2-inch ultra-portable should bring Windows 8 experience to the masses, with its cost-effective innards, including an AMD A4-1200 dual-core APU with Radeon HD 8180 graphics, 2 GB of RAM, and 320 GB of HDD storage. Its software bundle includes not just Windows 8, but also Office Home and Student 2013. ASUS reportedly plans to price the X102BA at 330 Euros, when the notebook hits stores some time next month.

ASUS today announced the ET2301, an all-in-one desktop PC that's perfect for the varied needs of today's home users, thanks to a 23-inch Full HD display that can be positioned at almost any angle for comfortable 10-point multi-touch control. Powered by a 4th generation Intel Core desktop processor, the ET2301 AiO PC features IPS display technology for brilliant colors and wide viewing angles, ASUS SonicMaster Premium technology with a powerful array speaker and desktop Intel Thunderbolt connectivity.

ASUS announced the PB298Q, a 29-inch widescreen monitor with an ultra-wide 21:9 aspect ratio and 2560 x 1080 resolution. The PB298Q features an AH-IPS (Advanced High Performance In-Plane Switching) display for rich, vibrant color and wide 178-degree viewing angles. It has a narrow 0.8mm bezel design which helps create the illusion of a frameless, edge-to-edge display. It also has rich connectivity options, ASUS-exclusive technologies, and an ergonomic stand with tilt, swivel, pivot, and height adjustments allow for enhanced productivity.

G.SKILL International Co. Ltd., the world's leading manufacturer of extreme performance memory and superior solid-state storage, tops the memory frequency world record chart once again with "G.SKILL TridentX" overclocked to an amazing DDR3 4400 MHz. Using 4th Generation Intel Core i7 4770K, ASUS Maximus 6 Impact and a steady flow of LN2, professional overclocker James "YoungPro" Trevaskis from TeamAU were able to push the factory spec G.SKILL TridentX DDR3 3000MHz C12 4GB stick to the world's fastest DDR3 4400MHz CL13.

ASUS today announced the Tytan G70 Gaming Desktop PC with the latest 4th generation Intel Core processor and one-click, no-reboot-required, all-core processor overclocking. The Tytan G70 also features NVIDIA GeForce GTX780 graphics that supports four displays for fully immersive gaming, a sophisticated multi-vented case design for efficient cooling, built-in wireless battery recharging for mobile devices, and SonicMaster audio.

ASUS Tytan G70 features one-click Turbo Gear overclocking that allows users to make the most of the 4th generation Intel Core i7-4770K processor without having to reboot. ASUS Turbo Gear technology provides simultaneous four-core CPU overclocking to push the Tytan G70's clock speed from the standard 3.7GHz to two stable levels - Level 1 at 3.9GHz and Level 2 at 4.1GHz. The latest NVIDIA GeForce GTX780 graphics card has the capacity to deliver smooth gameplay at the highest in-game graphics settings and can support up to four displays, as well as the option to game in 3D with NVIDIA 3D Vision Surround.

ASUS began rolling out BIOS updates to its socket LGA2011 motherboards based on the X79 Express chipset, which lets them support Intel's upcoming Core "Ivy Bridge-E" processors, namely the Core i7-4960X Extreme Edition, the Core i7-4930K, and the Core i7-4820K. The company's flagship LGA2011 motherboard, the ROG Rampage IV Extreme, gets support for these chips through BIOS version 4206. ROG Rampage IV Formula gets it through BIOS version 4004. The micro-ATX ROG Rampage IV Gene gets it through BIOS version 4206. Elsewhere in ASUS' LGA2011 lineup, the TUF Sabertooth X79 gets it with BIOS version 4104. The mainline P9X79 series gets it with BIOS version 4104. These updates are now available on ASUS support website.

ASUS Republic of Gamers (ROG) today announced Maximus VI Formula, an ATX gaming motherboard ready for the latest 4th generation Intel Core processors and packed with exclusive ROG features.

Based on the new Intel Z87 chipset, Maximus VI Formula is brimming with the kind of innovative and exclusive features that ROG fans expect. CrossChill hybrid air and water-cooling gives efficient heat dissipation for extreme overclocked performance, SupremeFX Formula onboard audio with a dedicated 600ohm headphone amplifier ensures immersive high-quality audio and a mini-PCIe Combo II card adds dual-band 802.11ac Wi-Fi for next-generation wireless networking. Maximus VI Formula also features Extreme Engine DIGi+ III technology and high-quality electronic components for precise power delivery with stable performance.

What do you call a person who sets up three 32-inch 4K (that's 3840 x 2160 pixels each) side-by-side, pairs three of ASUS's HD 7970 GPUs together to play games using AMD's EyeInfinity technology, all of which costs a whopping $17,000? Insane is one word, rich another or a crazy gamer? Perhaps a mix of all the three.

The setup consists of three Sharp PN-K321 4K monitors connected to three AMD HD 7970 GPUs which are together capable of pushing a mind-blowing 1.5 billion pixels on the combined 12K screen resolution, together with a Power Supply Unit that conks off in a few minutes, perhaps just not able to bear the pure awesomeness of the setup. Oh, to get the setup working, AMD put together some custom drivers to make sure that EyeInfinity works well. Before using the custom drivers, the whole rig was able to pull together a measly 8 frames per second, to be more accurate, a slideshow.

ASUS ROG today announced RAIDR Express, the first PCI Express-based SSD in the world with a DuoMode feature that allows it to work with either legacy (traditional) or modern UEFI BIOS. Aimed at hardcore gamers and PC enthusiasts demanding a faster and more reliable computer experience, RAIDR Express combines the best compatibility and great performance with incredible durability.

With 240 GB capacity, sequential 830 MB/s read and 810 MB/s write speeds, and bundled with tons of features that maintain the high-speed performance and extend the lifespan, RAIDR Express is made for real speed-demons. Boasting the gorgeous ROG red and black design with double-sided metal shielding and an incredible 620,000 hours mean time between failure (MTBF) to ensure quality, RAIDR Express is built to last.

EK Water Blocks, Ljubljana based premium water cooling gear manufacturer, is proud to introduce two new Full-Cover water blocks for non-reference design NVIDIA GeForce GTX 770 graphics cards.

EK-FC770 GTX DCII is a high performance full-cover water block engineered specifically for ASUS design GeForce GTX 680 as well as GTX 770 DirectCU II series graphics cards. 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 high overclocks. EK-FC770 GTX DCII water block also features a very high flow design therefore it can be easily used in liquid cooling systems using weaker water pumps. EK-FC770 GTX DCII is a modified version of EK-FC680 GTX DCII featuring EK-FC Terminal port system instead of EK-FC Bridge & Link CSQ system. As a result these new water blocks are fully compatible with existing EK-FC680 GTX DCII Backplate. Two versions are available:

Over the past couple of months, motherboard vendors from across the industry offered BIOS updates for their motherboards based on Intel B85 Express and H87 Express chipsets, which enable CPU overclocking for Intel's unlocked Core processors denoted by "K" brand extension (Core i7-4770K, i5-4670K). This reportedly hasn't gone down well with Intel. Intel's Bxx and Hxx chipsets are significantly cheaper than its Zxx series chipset. Sensing a clear threat to its revenue, from the prospect of motherboard vendors coming up with high-end or overclocking-ready (strong CPU VRM) motherboards based on cheaper chipsets in the near future, Intel cracked down on them.

Intel is giving final touches to a CPU microcode update that restricts Core "K" Haswell processors from overclocking on chipsets other than Z87 Express. A microcode update can be deployed both through BIOS updates, and surreptitiously through Windows Update. Intel's used the tried and tested "stability" bogey to justify the update. While it's true that motherboards based on B85 and H87 tend to feature weaker CPU VRM, there's nothing to say that ASUS wouldn't have gone on to design its next ROG Maximus on H87 Express, and save on manufacturing costs. While it's purely hypothetical, something like that wouldn't be in Intel's commercial interests. What next? Intel will push this new microcode update on to motherboard vendors, instructing them to issue BIOS updates with it; and future batches of Intel "K" CPUs may not support overclocking. If that isn't enough to contain the problem, Intel may give Microsoft a ring, and ask it to push the update through Windows Update. It tried that once in the past.

ASUS today announced the P1801-T Portable AiO, a new kind of portable that combines the easy flexibility of an Android tablet with the broader productivity and entertainment options offered by an 18.4-inch multi-touch display with Full HD resolution.

With a sleek, self-contained design, Portable AiO slips easily into the smallest of rooms and a built-in kickstand positions the screen at a comfortable angle for tabletop use. At just 2.4kg, Portable AiO can be carried easily around the home using the integral handle and is light enough to use on the lap when relaxing. The built-in battery removes the need for a nearby mains socket, too, and Portable AiO lasts for up to five hours with 1080p Full HD video playback.

ASUS today announced that its Z87-C is the first motherboard in the world based on the Intel Z87 chipset to receive Windows Hardware Quality Labs (WHQL) certification for Window 8.1. The ASUS Z87-C is a Socket 1150 motherboard for use with 4th generation Intel Core, Pentium and Celeron processors. WHQL certification is a confirmation from Microsoft that both the ASUS Z87-C hardware and drivers are fully reliable and compatible with Windows 8.1. ASUS makes the best motherboards in the world and this pioneering WHQL certification for Windows 8.1 is further testament to the fact. ASUS is a key Microsoft partner and offers wide support for Windows 8.1 with Intel and AMD-based motherboards. WHQL certification for other models will be announced at a later date.

ASUS announced the Designo Series MX299Q Ultrawide 21:9 Cinematic Monitor, a 29-inch widescreen display with an ultra-wide 21:9 aspect ratio and 2560 x 1080 resolution. The MX299Q features the latest AH-IPS (Advanced High Performance In-Plane Switching) display for rich, vibrant color with 178-degree wide viewing angles, and ASUS SonicMaster audio, co-developed with Bang & Olufsen ICEpower for superlative sound quality with its built-in stereo speakers. It also features an award-winning, simple and elegant sundial-inspired design.

With a display area equivalent to that of two 17-inch (5:4 aspect ratio) monitors placed alongside each other, the ASUS Designo Series MX299Q Ultrawide 21:9 Cinematic Monitor has a display area 33% wider than a similar Full HD monitor. The 21:9 aspect ratio gives more room for working with multiple windows side-by-side, removing the need for a secondary desktop monitor. The ultra-wide 2560 x 1080 resolution also means there are no black bars above and below the image when watching widescreen 2.35:1 movies and gamers can also enjoy games in immersive cinematic widescreen.

ASUS today announced that the latest UEFI BIOS for its motherboards based on Intel H87 and B85 chipsets unlocks previously inaccessible overclocking features for 4th generation Intel Core processors. Before this update, the overclocking features of new Haswell 'K Series' processors could be enjoyed only with motherboards based on the Intel Z87 chipset. Now, however, performance enthusiasts can exploit the power of Haswell K Series processors using ASUS 8 Series motherboards like the ASUS H87M-PRO and B85-PRO. The BIOS update is a free download for 10 ASUS motherboards - the H87-PRO, H87-PLUS, H87M-PRO, H87M-PLUS, H87M-E, H87I-PLUS, B85-PRO, B85-PLUS, B85M-E and B85M-G.

Once installed, the update enables frequency multiplier-based overclocking in one simple step for unlocked Intel K Series processors such as the Intel Core i7-4770K and Core i5 4670K. The BIOS also includes several features to make life simpler for PC users. A 'Last Modified' log makes it easy to determine when and how a particular setting was changed, and custom settings can be saved to a 'favorites' list for rapid switching to suit different applications.

ASUSTOR Inc., a leading innovator and provider of network storage solutions, has announced the launch of its brand new AS 3 Series Network Attached Storage (NAS). The AS 3 Series NAS devices feature powerful multimedia applications including support for 1080p high definition video playback and are the first devices in its class to come equipped with Intel Atom 1.6 GHz dual-core processors along with 1 GB of DDR3 memory. The devices in this new series consist of the 2-bay AS-302T model and the 4-bay AS-304T model. All devices boast a wealth of power saving features including internal and external disk hibernation, Night Mode and System Sleep Mode (S3). During System Sleep Mode, only 0.8 W of power is consumed, helping users to save a significant amount of energy.

With respect to hardware, the AS 3 Series was designed with multimedia and home cloud server applications in mind. In addition to its HDMI interface inherited from ASUSTOR's AS 6 Series, the AS 3 Series features an infrared receiver and 3.5 mm audio jack giving users added convenience and flexibility for multimedia applications. After installing the XBMC multimedia player App from ASUSTOR's App Central, users will be able to use the HDMI interface to play audio and video from the NAS directly to any HDMI ready display. Further pairing XBMC with the ASUSTOR remote control (optional purchase) will allow users to freely and conveniently control all multimedia playback from their NAS. Additionally, users are also free to play the music they have stored on their NAS by connecting it to USB speakers, utilizing the audio jack or connecting the NAS to an amplifier via HDMI.

ASUS, a worldwide leader in high performance large screen displays, today announced the exclusive pre-order for the highly-anticipated PQ321Q True 4K UHD monitor. Starting July 1st, US consumers will be able to pre-order the world's first consumer 4K monitor through Newegg, Amazon, or TigerDirect at an introductory MSRP of $3,499 USD. The PQ321Q True 4K UHD Monitor, a desktop display with a stunning Ultra HD 3840 x 2160 resolution, delivers a screen resolution equivalent to four Full HD displays combined. It has a 31.5-inch LED-backlit 4K Ultra HD display (140 pixels-per-inch) with a 16:9 aspect ratio, and supports 10-bit RGB 'deep color' for vibrant images with more natural transitions between hues.

ASUS today announced the GeForce GTX 760 DirectCU II, GTX 760 DirectCU II OC, and GTX 760 DirectCU Mini graphics cards, based on the latest 28nm NVIDIA GPU technology. They use 1152 CUDA cores, and have 2GB GDDR5 on a 256-bit memory interface. Exclusive DirectCU coolers ensure up to 20% lower temperatures and twice quieter operation compared to a reference GTX 760. The DirectCU Mini design has been created especially for small form factor PCs and other situations where gamers have to consider interior chassis spacing while demanding fully-fledged performance. It uses the CoolTech fan for wider heat dissipation and lower in-case temperatures.

All cards feature exclusive Super Alloy Power components to enhance high load endurance and extend graphics card lifespan. They also use Direct Power architecture to increase stability, lower impedance and power delivery latency, and reduce PCB heat levels. For user-friendly overclocking, the GPU Tweak utility enables intuitive adjustment of graphics card settings.

Ahead of its launch, a press-shot of ASUS' GeForce GTX 760 DirectCU II graphics card (model: GTX760-DC2OC-2GD5) was leaked to the web. This is the same exact card that showed up on the radar of European price aggregator Geizhals.at, last week. The picture reveals a card with a compact PCB, and a slightly compacted new-generation DirectCU II cooler, which made its debut with the GTX 770/780 DirectCU series. The cooler uses a combination of 8 mm and 10 mm-thick nickel-plated copper heat pipes to draw heat directly from the GPU die, conveying it to a dense aluminum fin-stack, that's ventilated by a pair of 80 mm spinners. The DirectCU II series will likely be available in a reference clock-speed base model, featuring 980 MHz core, 1033 MHz GPU Boost, and 6.00 GHz memory; and the OC variant pictured below, which reportedly features 1006 MHz core, and 1072 MHz GPU Boost, while leaving the memory untouched. As usual, the card is expected to be priced in the $250 to $300 range.