ASUS Republic of Gamers (ROG) today announced that new ROG Maximus Z890 Apex motherboards have been used to achieve 5 world records, 19 global first-place records and 31 first-place records. In the hands of some of the world's premier professional overclockers, the Maximus Z890 Apex has coaxed dazzling performance out of the latest Intel Core Ultra processor (Series 2) lineup and the latest high-performance memory kits.

Veterans of the overclocking scene will not be surprised to learn that these records were achieved with an Apex motherboard on the bench. This series has an undeniable pedigree. Since the very first model, ASUS has designed Apex motherboards for the singular purpose of helping the world's most talented overclockers shatter barriers on their way to new records.

ASUS Republic of Gamers (ROG) today announced an exciting array of gaming peripherals designed to give hardcore gamers and esports pros an edge over the competition. New peripherals include the Falchion Ace HFX and Strix Scope II 96 RX Wireless gaming keyboards, ROG Harpe Ace Mini and Strix Impact III Wireless gaming mice, and the ROG Pelta headset.

ROG Falchion Ace HFX gaming keyboard
The ROG Falchion Ace HFX wired gaming keyboard boasts a 65% layout in a 60% keyboard frame, and masterfully incorporates navigation and arrow keys into its design. It features ROG HFX Magnetic Switches that deliver solid keystrokes. The switch actuation points can be customized from anywhere between 0.1- 4.0 mm for instantaneous response. An 8000 Hz polling rate and 0.125 ms response time make the Falchion Ace HFX up to 8X faster than competitor keyboards. Plus, a Rapid Trigger toggle can be activated for the fastest typing response and key repeat rates, without the need for additional software. The Speed Tap mode prioritizes the last input and automatically releases the previous one to eliminate any time gap for counter-strafing and ensure precise aim, especially in FPS games.

EK, the leading manufacturer of premium liquid cooling gear, is doing a mid-life upgrade of its Quantum Vector² water blocks by releasing five new products. These new EVO version water blocks are compatible with Strix and TUF 4080 and 4090 series graphics cards. The new Vector² EVO water blocks efficiently tackle the excessive heat generated during high loads on the GPU. These water blocks, an evolution of the Quantum Vector² GPU water blocks from EK's premium Quantum Line, feature a 3rd-generation Vector cooling engine that has been tweaked to maximize cooling power. They cool not only the GPU die, but also the voltage regulation module, voltage controllers, and VRAM, providing comprehensive thermal management.

The main upgrades of the EVO water blocks include:

• A new stand-out end-piece design to shorten the water block
• A custom-made inner O-ring that prevents coolant from seeping between the channels and improves flow across the entire water block, focusing more coolant through the cooling fins
• New, high-performance pre-cut thermal pads
• A better-performing thermal paste

CPUID this week released the latest version of CPU-Z, and its change-log confirms the core-configurations of upcoming AMD Ryzen AI 300-series "Strix Point" processor SKUs. On paper, "Strix Point" packs a 12-core CPU based on the latest "Zen 5" microarchitecture, but there's more to this number. We've known since June 2024 that the chip has a heterogeneous multicore configuration of four full-sized "Zen 5" cores, and eight compacted "Zen 5c" cores. Only the "Zen 5" cores can reach the maximum boost frequencies rated for the chip, while the "Zen 5c" cores go a few notches above the base frequency, although it's expected that the gap in boost frequencies between the two core types is expected to slightly narrow compared to that between the "Zen 4" and "Zen 4c" cores in chips such as the "Phoenix 2."

The series is led by the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 375, an enthusiast segment chip that maxes out all 12 cores on the chip—that's 4x "Zen 5" and 8x "Zen 5c." This model is closely followed by the Ryzen AI 9 365, which AMD marked in its presentations as being simply a 10-core/20-thread chip. We're now learning that it has 4x "Zen 5" and 6x "Zen 5c," meaning that AMD hasn't touched the counts of its faster "Zen 5" cores. It's important to note here that "Zen 5c" is not an E-core. It supports SMT, and at base frequency, it has an identical IPC to "Zen 5." It also supports the entire ISA that "Zen 5" does.

According to the leaked listing posted on X by user @Orlak29_, reports suggest that Pro versions of the AMD Ryzen 7 AI and Ryzen 9 AI are in the pipeline, with a potential game-changer in the form of the high-end "Strix Halo" model. The standout feature of the Strix Halo is its rumored support for up to 128 GB of RAM, a significant leap from AMD's current offerings. This massive memory capacity could prove valuable for AI workloads and data-intensive applications, potentially positioning AMD better against offerings from Intel and Qualcomm. Leaked diagrams hint at a unique design for the Strix Halo, featuring a chiplet layout reminiscent of a graphics card. The processor is reportedly surrounded by memory on three sides, enabling the massive 128 GB capacity.

While this top-tier model is expected to carry a premium price, it could find a ready market among professionals and enthusiasts demanding both raw processing power and extensive memory resources. On the performance front, rumors suggest the Strix Halo will boast up to 16 Zen 5 cores and a GPU with 40 Compute Units based on RDNA 3.5 architecture. This combination might rival the performance of high-end mobile GPUs like the RTX 4060 or even the RTX 4070 for laptops.
As with previous generations, AMD is expected to release Pro versions of these processors with additional features like ECC memory support.

ASUS today announced the innovative concepts and upcoming designs that it will be demonstrating at its Computex 2024 booths, including AI PCs, prototype AMD and Intel motherboards, as well as fresh CPU coolers.

AI PC-ready hardware
With all the groundbreaking AI-powered apps and features available today, and many more on the horizon, PC enthusiasts the world over are searching for hardware that will let them run AI tools on their own AI PC in addition to using cloud-based subscriptions. At Computex 2024, ASUS is showing off the PC hardware that builders can leverage to explore the future of this revolution. An AI PC is an entire platform ready to unlock advanced AI features—in turn, revolutionizing the way that people build, customize, and use such a device.

AMD's Ryzen 7040 "Phoenix" mobile APUs debuted last year with Ryzen AI capabilities (via onboard Xilinx IP), thanks to the fitting of an on-board NPU—Team Red's first generation XDNA AI Engine received immediate support on Windows platforms. Naturally, Linux users expressed frustration about being left out in the cold—later on in the year, AMD put some feelers out (as reported by Phoronix), and gauged interest in a potential Linux deployment of Ryzen AI. Fast forward to January 2024, we see movement with an initial release on open platforms—according to Michael Larabel's latest article: "More than 1,000 requests for Linux support were logged following that October statement and since then I've been hearing quietly of AMD working on Linux support... Well, there's now an open-source but currently out-of-tree driver available. "

AMD's GitHub has been updated with the "first public code drop of the XDNA Linux driver." According to System Requirements, the entry point "to run AI applications (test machine) on an Ryzen AI processor" is Phoenix silicon, as expected. Ryzen 8040 "Hawk Point" is presumably on the support list, since it shares the same basic underpinnings—albeit with greater NPU performance. One of AMD's GitHub authors has teased that "Strix" will also be supported in the future—second generation XDNA NPUs are expected to drop later this year. Targets for GFX1150 and GFX1151 were uncovered earlier this week—"Strix Point" and "Strix Point Halo" (respectively) are codenames for next generation Team Red APUs.

EK, the renowned pioneer in premium liquid cooling, announces full compatibility with the newly launched GeForce RTX 40 SUPER series graphics cards powered by NVIDIA Ada Lovelace architecture. With the launch of the new GPU and all vendor partners announcing their complete lists of the upcoming graphics cards, EK has also updated all the water block compatibility lists found on the EK Compatibility Configurator and EK Custom Loop Configurator database.

The latest RTX 4080 SUPER promises competitive pricing and a lower entry point for PC users, and with that, it represents a more attractive product for custom-loop liquid cooling enthusiasts. RTX 4080 SUPER is bound to go on sale on January 31 with a price of $999 (MSRP), which is $200 less than the launch price of the original RTX 4080. With the release of the NVIDIA Ada Lovelace architecture, we have seen a plethora of new GPUs announced by the custom board partners, and EK strongly suggests using EK Compatibility Configurator or EK Custom Loop Configurator tools to find a suitable water block. EK is updating the compatibility database with newly released hardware from various manufacturers, adding compatible graphics cards to the list daily.

ASUS Republic of Gamers (ROG) today announced the ROG Strix LC III series and ROG Ryujin III WB, two CPU liquid-cooling solutions tailored to diverse user needs, at the 2024 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. The ROG Strix LC III AIO cooler series is designed to be easy to install, and it offers excellent cooling performance and a variety of models suited to different scenarios. Meanwhile, the ROG Ryujin III WB creates a one-of-a-kind gaming PC experience for users pursuing ultimate customization and extreme cooling performance.

Introducing the ROG Strix LC III series
The ROG Strix LC III series of 240 mm and 360 mm coolers features an Asetek-designed cold plate and 7th gen V2 pump armed with a robust motor that delivers premium cooling performance. This cooling innovation iterates on previous designs with new Turbulence-Channel cold plate technology to provide greater thermal performance than is possible with traditional split-flow cold plates.

ASUS Republic of Gamers (ROG) today announced the 2024 Strix family of laptops, including the Strix SCAR 18, the first 18-inch ROG laptop equipped with the mini LED ROG Nebula HDR Display. As the vanguard of gaming laptops, all 2024 Strix machines feature the latest flagship Intel Core i9 processor 14900HX, with the Strix SCAR 16 and SCAR 18 sporting up to an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 Laptop GPU with 175 W max TGP. Paired with a complete suite of the latest intelligent cooling improvements, including Tri-Fan technology and Conductonaut Extreme liquid metal on both the CPU and GPU, the 2024 Strix family of laptops has arrived to dominate the competition.

Brilliant detail
This year marks the introduction of the first ROG 18-inch display powered by Mini LED technology. HDR content and games have arrived on the big screen with the arrival of the 2024 Strix SCAR 18, with its Nebula HDR Display boasting over 2000 discrete dimming zones and 1100 nits of peak brightness. On an 18-inch panel, this dimming zone density coupled with the ROG Nebula HDR Engine minimizes blooming and haloing even in challenging scenes, giving the Strix SCAR 18 incredibly vivid HDR performance.

Intel has officially pulled back the curtain on its 14th Gen Core CPUs, giving gamers, creators, enthusiasts, and everyday users a new tier of processors that elevate everything they do. We've already teased several of our Z790 motherboards purpose-built for the latest Intel Core CPUs, but now we're ready to share all the details. In total, we're releasing seven new Z790 motherboards for your consideration as you hunt for the best motherboard for your 14th Gen Intel CPU. Our cutting-edge ROG Maximus motherboard family is expanding with the ROG Maximus Z790 Dark Hero, the ROG Maximus Z790 Apex Encore, and the ROG Maximus Z790 Formula. For gamers everywhere, we're expanding our ROG Strix lineup with three new models, and fans of our TUF Gaming series will be pleased to see the TUF Gaming Z790-Pro WiFi make its debut. These new motherboards join our existing Z790 and Z690 motherboards, which also support Intel's latest and greatest chips through a simple firmware update.

There's a lot to go over with the new additions to our Z790 motherboard family: they mark the debut of our first WiFi 7 motherboards, for one, and we're increasing the number of models with onboard PCIe 5.0 M.2 slots. They offer our latest game-changing innovations like DIMM Flex, and they make the process of building a PC easier than ever with their DIY-friendly features.

"Strix Point" is the codename for AMD's next-generation mobile processor succeeding the current Ryzen 7040 series "Phoenix." More details of the processor emerged thanks to "All The Watts!!" on Twitter. The CPU of "Strix Point" will be heterogenous, in that it will feature two different kinds of CPU cores, but with essentially the same ISA and IPC. It is rumored that the processor will feature 4 "Zen 5" CPU cores, and 8 "Zen 5c" cores.

Both core types feature an identical IPC, but the "Zen 5" cores can hold onto higher boost frequencies, and have a wider frequency band, than the "Zen 5c" cores. From what we can deduce from the current "Zen 4c" cores, "Zen 5c" cores aren't strictly "efficiency" cores, as they still offer the full breadth of core ISA as "Zen 5," including SMT. In its maximum configuration, "Strix Point" will hence be a 12-core/24-thread processor. The two CPU core types sit in two different CCX (CPU core complexes), the "Zen 5" CCX has 4 cores sharing a 16 MB L3 cache, while the "Zen 5c" CCX shares a 16 MB L3 cache among 8 cores. AMD will probably use a software-based solution to ensure the right kind of workload from the OS is processed by the right kind of CPU core.

The Republic of Gamers (ROG) department at ASUS started to tease its lineup of official Evangelion tie-in products in late July, with a ROG Strix customized NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 card attracting some attention thanks to its very prominent red and black aesthetic. The marketing spiel revealed that: "the EVA Editions of the ROG Strix GeForce RTX 4090 come equipped with a myriad of performance-enhancing ASUS features, such as Axial-tech fans with reverse rotation and 0 dB technology, an exclusive vapor chamber design, top-shelf power delivery and a sleek metal exoskeleton for maximized rigidity. The expertly engineered fan shroud and right-hand side of the card now sport an EVA-02 color theme, and Asuka art takes over the backplate."

The ROG Strix GeForce RTX 4090 OC EVA-02 Edition was shown off at last month's Gamescom trade fair in Germany, but PC hardware enthusiasts in China will be getting first dibs on retail units. As reported by ITHome and VideoCardz, units can be pre-ordered via JD.com, with shipments starting tomorrow (September 5). The special edition livery and pack of themed accessories will set you back 17,999 RMB (~$2475) in the region. ASUS ROG has not revealed pricing for Western territories.

With Intel about to launch its 14th generation of Core processors, the motherboard makers are refreshing their LGA-1700 motherboards, as Intel won't be releasing a new chipset for the 14th gen CPUs. ASUS has now revealed three new boards that will come ready out of the box for Intel's 14th gen Core CPUs. This kind of meagre lineup is likely what we'll be seeing from all of the major board makers, since it doesn't make sense to overhaul all of their boards for the new CPUs, since only a BIOS/UEFI update is needed for the new CPUs to function in just about any 600- or 700-series motherboard. ASUS' lineup of new boards consist of the ROG Maximus Z790 Dark Hero, the ROG Strix Z790-A Gaming WiFi II, and the TUF Gaming Z790-Pro WiFi.

Apart from a design overhaul of all three models with some minor changes to slot placements, which includes new, improved M.2 heatsinks with a much more refined look, ASUS has added WiFi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4 support to two of the three new models. On the ROG Hero board, ASUS has dropped the Hyper M.2 Card in favour of an onboard M.2 slot with a taller heatsink, looking much like what we've seen on some AMD X670E boards. ASUS has also added support for USB PD 3.0 and Quick Charge 4+ to the front USB Type-C ports and even made an app that shows how much power is being delivered by the port in question. Furthermore, ASUS has added support for AEMP II which the company claims makes it easier to optimise memory performance on the boards. ASUS did not reveal when the new boards will be available or what they'll cost. Specs of all three boards after the break.

ASUS Republic of Gamers (ROG) today announced collaboration centered around EVA-02 and Asuka from the long-celebrated Evangelion anime series. PC DIY builders and anime lovers can now enjoy a second impact of premium ROG components and peripherals elevated by the classic EVA-02 red and orange colorway with a variety of custom Evangelion-themed decals and graphics. The new powerhouse arsenal includes a ROG Maximus motherboard, ROG Strix GeForce RTX graphics card, ROG Ryujin AIO cooler, ROG Hyperion gaming case, graphics card holder, peripherals and other gear.

ROG Maximus Z790 Hero EVA-02 Edition motherboard
This special version of the feature-packed ROG Maximus Z790 Hero arrives with EVA-02's signature red and orange theme, with traces of green. The backplate design comes with EVA-02 Beast Mode and Evangelion patterns, supporting this motherboard's immense power and control, as it takes 13th Gen Intel Core processors and DDR5 memory kit to the next level. And an A.T. Field design around the CPU socket and Polymo lighting on the I/O cover switches between Asuka and regular EVA-02 as another artistic flourish.

ASUS is readying a wider range of Evangelion-themed ROG product line, building on the collaboration the company built with the popular Japanese action anime in 2022. The 2023 lineup is comprehensive, and includes a special Evangelion edition of the ROG Maximus Z790 Hero motherboard, special edition variants of GeForce RTX 40-series ROG Strix graphics cards (could be anything from the RTX 4070 thru RTX 4090), a special edition ROG Hyperion GR701 case, themed ROG Ryujin II AIO CPU cooler, a themed ROG Thor ATX 3.0 power supply, and lastly, keycap and body panel sets for its various ROG gaming peripherals. ASUS is planning to showcase the 2023 Evangelion lineup at Bilibili World, later this month.

As reported by Phoronix—references to GFX1150 & GFX1151 targets have been added to the AMDGPU LLVM backend/compiler, which seems to indicate that these are upcoming AMD APU models. AMD engineers have made to reference to GFX1150 as "Strix1" (full codename: Strix Point) in the past according to several sites, but the recent leak has GFX1151 mentioned for the first time.

Previous reports suggest that Team Red could be developing two Strix/Zen 5/RDNA 3.5 APUs with AI engine enhancements for laptops—a discovery of two separate GFX targets suggests that we are likely looking at different 12-core and 16-core models. The former is said to be a monolithic design with a TDP going up to 54 W. The 16-core "Strix Halo" (also known as "Starlak") is a very different type of product with leaks suggesting that it will have a maximum TDP of 120 W, and be based on a chiplet design. Zen 5 processor products are expected to arrive in the second half of 2024—with Granite Ridge filling in the desktop platform segment.

ASUS today announced GeForce RTX 4060 graphics cards for the ROG Strix, ASUS Dual and ProArt families, a lineup that stands poised to launch new gamers, or those who need an upgrade, directly into high-fidelity 1080p gaming - thanks to the latest NVIDIA Ada Lovelace GPU architecture and technologies like DLSS 3 and frame generation. The Dual and ROG Strix GeForce RTX 4060 card will be available on June 29, and the Dual White and ProArt GeForce RTX 4060 will be available shortly thereafter.

Game on with the ROG Strix GeForce RTX 4060
Gamers looking for the perfect blend of power, features and ROG styling should keep their eyes on the ROG Strix GeForce RTX 4060. Sharing the same powerful cooling solution and cyberpunk aesthetic as the ROG Strix GeForce RTX 4060 Ti, this new card runs cool even during the most demanding games. Requiring only a single 8-pin power connector, the 3.1-slot design is 311.4 mm long, granting it wide compatibility with existing or brand-new builds.

NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 "Ada" started selling today, with its baseline price at USD $299. The swanky new performance segment graphics card is meant to succeed the popular RTX 3060 "Ampere," offering around 10-20% higher performance, at 50% lower power-draw thanks to the 5 nm foundry process. The card sports the new DLSS 3 Frame Generation feature that nearly doubles performance at comparable image quality, as it generates entire alternate frames entirely using AI, without involving the graphics rendering machinery. NVIDIA is ensuring its board partners have products at the $299 MSRP, most of the premium overclocked RTX 4060 cards are priced $20-40 higher, with the notable exception of the ASUS ROG Strix, which is going for $389, just short of the RTX 4060 Ti MSRP.

Be sure to check out our large selection of reviews that include:

ASUS RTX 4060 DUAL OC | ASUS ROG Strix RTX 4060 OC | MSI RTX 4060 Gaming X | MSI RTX 4060 Ventus 2X | Gigabyte RTX 4060 WindForce OC | Gigabyte RTX 4060 Gaming OC | Galax RTX 4060 EX | Palit RTX 4060 Dual OC | PNY RTX 4060 XLR8 OC | Zotac RTX 4060 Spider-Man

ASUS Republic of Gamers (ROG) today announced the Strix Scope II 96 Wireless gaming keyboard. Offering outstanding versatility, this compact keyboard features a 96% layout that retains all of the function and number keys found in a standard 100% keyboard, packed in a space-saving design. Gamers can pair the Strix Scope II 96 Wireless with up to three devices via Bluetooth. Users also have the option to use RF 2.4 GHz with ROG SpeedNova wireless technology and Omni Receiver, or a wired USB connection.

Pre-lubed, hot-swappable ROG NX Snow mechanical switches provide fast actuation, refined and linear keystrokes, and improved key stability. Built-in sound-dampening foam and a switch-dampening pad absorbs pinging noises and echoes to improve acoustics of the keyboard. Typing feel is exceptional as well, with pre-lubed, low-friction keyboard stabilizers enabling smoother keystrokes and stability for longer keys. The switches are topped with durable ROG PBT doubleshot keycaps or UV-coated ABS keycaps that offer premium feel and shine resistance. The Strix Scope II 96 Wireless will soon be joined by the Strix Scope II and Strix Scope II RX full-size gaming keyboards.

ASUS today announced the ROG Strix AMD Radeon RX 7600, ASUS Dual AMD Radeon RX 7600 and ASUS Dual AMD Radeon RX 7600 V2 graphics cards, which are designed to strike the perfect balance between affordability and gaming power, with stunning visuals and fluid performance. Key generation-over-generation upgrades make the ROG Strix AMD Radeon RX 7600 graphics card a serious contender for a user's next gaming PC. Compared to the last-gen ROG Strix AMD Radeon RX 6600 XT, it operates more quietly while running at broadly similar temperatures, and it has a TGP (total graphics power) of 145 watts.

An efficient GPU and an effective cooling solution make all the difference. Two of the 11-blade Axial-tech fans keep a steady stream of cooling air moving through its 2.9-slot heatsink, and dual-ball fan bearings help ensure a long lifetime. Venting in the aluminium protective backplate provides another pathway for heat to dissipate from the card. It is equipped with 0 dB tech as well, so the fans will entirely spin down for silent operation whenever temperatures permit. A Dual BIOS switch lets gamers easily prioritize performance or quiet operation.

ASUS today announced four new NVIDIA GeForce RTX graphics cards: the ROG Strix GeForce RTX 4070, TUF Gaming GeForce RTX 4070, ASUS Dual GeForce RTX 4070 and Dual White GeForce RTX 4070.

The GeForce RTX 4070 GPU includes all the advancements of the NVIDIA Ada Lovelace architecture, including the new standards in gaming such as DLSS 3 neural rendering and real-time ray tracing technologies. Starting at $599, the GeForce RTX 4070 runs most modern games at over 100 frames per second at 1440p resolution.

AMD has announced the immediate availability of its Ryzen 7045 HX-series (Dragon Range) processors for high performance laptop devices. In a Youtube video released on March 10, AMD's Jason Banta has announced the availability of the world's most powerful mobile processor, the Ryzen 9 7945HX. He listed the OEM partners who have integrated the 7945HX into flagship level laptop models. He also declared that this range topping CPU is a competition beater. Gaming benchmark tests have demonstrated that the Ryzen 9 7945HX beats Intel's Raptor Lake Core i9-13950HX by an average margin of 10%.

ASUS today announced BIOS updates for its Intel 700 and 600 series motherboards in partnership with Corsair, adding support for up to 192 GB of DDR5 memory and support for the new Corsair Vengeance DDR5 48 GB (2 x 24 GB) 7000 MT/s modules.

When builders acquire a 700 or 600 series Intel motherboard from the ROG Maximus, ROG Strix, ProArt, TUF Gaming or Prime lineups, they often have a choice to make: grab an option with support for budget-friendly last-gen DDR4 memory, or future-proof their purchase with a DDR5 model. As the market for DDR5 RAM has matured, it has become difficult for enthusiasts to ignore the performance potential of next-generation memory. With this latest BIOS update, ASUS motherboards with DDR5 support are formidable options. The entire selection of ASUS 700 and 600 series motherboards now supports the latest 24 and 48 GB DDR5 memory modules.

ASUS today announced availability of a BIOS update for its X670 and X670E motherboards that enables full compatibility with the latest AMD Ryzen 7000 Series X3D CPUs featuring AMD 3D V-Cache technology.

The proven gaming performance of the AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D CPU made it a long-standing favorite for PC builders. ASUS motherboards gave those builders high-performance, feature-rich options for assembling a potent gaming machine built around one of these chips. Now, AMD is upping its game with two new Ryzen 7000 Series CPUs with AMD 3D V-Cache technology: the Ryzen 9 7950X3D and the Ryzen 9 7900X3D. Combining a 3D vertical cache and all the advantages of the cutting-edge X670 platform, these chips are poised to seize the gaming performance crown.