"Second wave" ASUS price hikes were documented online over the past weekend; affecting air-cooled premium ROG Astral and mid-tier TUF Gaming GeForce RTX 5090 models. Looking at the company's North American webshop, visitors noticed a freshly adjusted price for the ROG Astral GeForce RTX 5090 32 GB OC Edition—going from a previous level of $3079.99 up to $3359.99. Curiously, the asking price of a liquid-cooled sibling was not adjusted—remaining at a "first wave" point of $3409.99. The "cheapest" model—TUF Gaming GeForce RTX 5090 (non-OC)—experienced a $460 (representing 20%) price hike, bringing total cost of ownership up to $2759.99. As a reminder, NVIDIA's baseline MSRP guideline was $1999—as announced at CES 2025—but ROG Astral and TUF Gaming designs demand a premium or two for fancier feature sets. VideoCardz has fervently explored worrying market trends in the recent past; several of NVIDIA's big board partner players have jacked up asking prices for GeForce RTX 50-series graphics cards. Availability of stock is still a major sore point for potential buyers, who were not able to secure launch day wares. Despite a driving up of costs, the ASUS US webstore has absolutely zero stock of GeForce RTX 5090 SKUs—at the time of writing.

In addition, VideoCardz and other PC hardware media outlets noted price hikes affecting the manufacturer's stable of recently launched AMD Radeon RX 9070 Series TUF Gaming and PRIME models. In the absence of AMD-built (MBA) reference card designs, board partners were tasked with the providing of baseline "MSRP" conformant custom cards. The ASUS PRIME Radeon RX 9070 XT OC and RX 9070 OC Editions were readied as $599 and $549 options (respectively). Weekend sleuthing work put the spotlight on newly adjusted price points of $719.99 and $659.99 (respectively)—representing further cases of plain 20% elevations over baseline. AMD's debut batch of RDNA 4 cards was met with unprecedented demand earlier on in March, but secondary/tertiary stock shipments face unclear market conditions—Team Red GPU enthusiasts have (similarly) voiced their collective displeasure about elevated prices at retail. Mid-way through last week, the PC hardware community heard about ASUS leadership considering a new pricing strategy. The company is reportedly accelerating its manufacturing exodus from China.

Alphacool has unveiled new waterblocks for NVIDIA's GeForce RTX 5090 and 5080 graphics cards at CES 2025. The company has redesigned its Core GPU waterblock series with updated component spacing and flow characteristics, developed through fluid dynamics simulations and practical testing. A change from previous water blocks for RTX 40 series includes the switch to chrome-plated copper cooling surfaces instead of nickel plating, which offers improved durability and surface finish. The waterblocks retain brass fittings and feature a Core emblem above the jetplate. The waterblocks will support cards from major manufacturers including ASUS, MSI, Palit, Gainward, and Inno3D. Specifically, compatibility extends to ASUS ROG Strix and TUF Gaming models, as well as MSI Suprim and Gaming variants. Both RTX 5090 and 5080 Core waterblocks are priced at €199.98.

At the 2025 International CES, ASUS showed off its Radeon RX 9070 XT TUF Gaming graphics card. This card was part of a multi-brand showcase AMD set up in its booth. The card features the latest generation of TUF Gaming board design that the company is debuting with the GeForce RTX 50-series and Radeon RX 90-series. The card features a triple slot cooling solution, with its Axial-Tech fans taking up an entire slot (thicker fans mean lower RPM). The PCB is 2/3 the length of the card, so all airflow from the third fan is vented through the heatsink and out a large cutout on the backplate.

Perhaps the most striking feature of the ASUS TUF Gaming RX 9070 XT is its power connectors. The card calls for three 8-pin PCIe power connectors. We've only seen one other custom RX 9070 XT come with three connectors, and that is the XFX RX 9070 XT Merc 319 Black. The question then arises, what is a small performance-segment GPU going to do with 525 W of power on tap? Most other cards, including the PowerColor Red Devil, come with just two 8-pin connectors (375 W), so does the presence of three connectors mean that the board power of overclocked RX 7090 XT exceed 300 W, and board partners are trying to reduce the load on the 75 W put out by the PCIe slot, by sneaking in a third 8-pin input? This isn't the only oddball power connector configuration we've seen at CES for the RX 9070 series. The ASRock RX 9070 XT Taichi comes with a 16-pin 12V2x6 power connector, although there's no way of telling yet if this is configured for 600 W—it could even be keyed for 300 W.

ASUS today announced its latest all-in-one (AIO) liquid CPU cooler, the ROG Ryuo IV SLC 360 ARGB, at CES 2025. This new addition expands the comprehensive ASUS AIO cooler lineup, catering to the diverse needs of gamers, creators, and PC enthusiasts. These advanced solutions offer exceptional thermal performance, streamlined installation, and customizable aesthetics, ensuring optimal cooling for all types of builds. Fully compatible with the latest AMD and Intel 800 series motherboards, ASUS AIO coolers deliver unmatched performance and style.

From the premium ROG Ryuo IV SLC 360 ARGB for pristine BTF setups to the professional-grade ProArt LC 420 for demanding workstations, ASUS offers unparalleled versatility. The ASUS AIO cooler, when paired with a compatible ASUS motherboard, unlocks the full potential of the system, enabling seamless synchronization of RGB lighting, precise fan speed adjustments, and real-time monitoring of CPU statistics through the Armory Crate software.

ASUS today announced the 2025 TUF Gaming laptop lineup, including the first 18-inch member of the family. Featuring the latest processors from AMD, Intel, and NVIDIA, the TUF Gaming A16, F16, and A18 aim to deliver incredible performance without breaking the bank.

The first TUF Gaming 18-inch laptop
The TUF Gaming Alliance is proud to introduce the A18, the first 18-inch laptop in the TUF Gaming lineup. Equipped with up to an AMD Ryzen 7 260 processor and an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Laptop GPU, the TUF Gaming A18 can easily handle the latest games. Also featuring up to 32 GB of DDR5 5600 MHz memory and up to 2 TB of PCIe Gen 4 storage, gamers can easily game, stream, and store their entire library. The A18 also boasts a gorgeous 2.5K resolution 240 Hz display, with an extra-tall 16:10 aspect ratio, 500 nits of peak brightness, and 100% coverage of the DCI-P3 colors space for incredibly immersive gameplay.

ASUS extended its line of motherboards at CES 2025, featuring a design that moves power connectors to the back of the board. The company calls this approach "BTF" (Back To Future), aiming to improve cable management in PC builds. The TUF GAMING B850-BTF WIFI and B860-PLUS WIFI models demonstrate this new design, which can deliver up to 600 watts through the motherboard to support modern graphics cards. The boards include Wi-Fi 7 connectivity, PCIe 5.0 support, and multiple M.2 slots for storage devices. In the high-end segment, ASUS presented the ROG Maximus Z890 HERO BTF, compatible with Intel's LGA1851 processors. This board features DDR5 memory support, dual Thunderbolt 4 ports, and tools like Q-Release for easier graphics card removal.

For professional users, ASUS released the ProArt Z890 CREATOR WIFI, equipped with Thunderbolt 4 ports and specialized cooling systems. The company also showed new gaming-focused models including the ROG Crosshair X870E APEX, for the fastest Ryzen 9000X3D series gaming processors. The motherboards share several technical features across different price points. All models support PCIe 5.0 for graphics cards and storage, while most include Wi-Fi 7 capabilities. ASUS has added tool-free installation mechanisms for M.2 drives across the lineup. ASUS has not yet announced pricing or specific release dates for the new motherboards. The BTF design represents a significant change in motherboard layout, though it will require compatible PC cases and power supplies to function as intended. This marks one of the first major changes to standard motherboard design since the ATX format became common in the 1990s.

ASUS today announced the B850 and B840 series of AM5 motherboards for AMD processors, which includes models from the ROG Strix, TUF Gaming and Prime families. These motherboards give builders higher speeds, more ports and more slots for USB devices and M.2 SSDs. Many ASUS B850 motherboards also break into the next generation of wireless networking with WiFi 7 support, and also provide robust support for fast DDR5 kits. In addition, each model makes the PC building process easier than ever with tool-free M.2 SSD installation, easy troubleshooting and hassle-free installation and removal of graphics cards.

Meanwhile, B840 motherboards are designed to serve the needs of builders who do not intend to overclock their CPUs or install a PCIe 5.0 M.2 SSD or graphics card. For anyone looking to build a very affordable and efficient PC—perhaps one centered around a CPU with powerful integrated graphics capabilities—ASUS B840 motherboards are a cost-effective choice. The first ASUS B840 motherboards all hail from the tried-and-true Prime family.

Earlier today, ASUS uploaded a first sneak peek of several upcoming AMD AM5 motherboards—which we assume will feature the B850 and B840 chipsets—which according to the post on Facebook, will be launching within a couple of weeks. The boards will most likely be on display at CES, which kicks off on the 7th of January. The picture is obfuscated for obvious reasons, but what is clear is that there will be several different SKUs from all of ASUS' typical sub-brands such as TUF Gaming and ROG.

What we can also make out is that there will be at least one Mini-ITX board and one micro-ATX board, with the latter being the TUF Gaming branded board. We tried to clean up the picture a bit, but ASUS has managed to hide all details of possible models names and most of the text is kind of hard to make out. Nothing really sticks out in terms of features, although it's clear we'll end up seeing some higher-end B850 boards, judging by the fact that there are at least three ROG Strix SKUs coming. The question is if there's a market for these boards, considering the B850 chipset is pretty much the same as the B650E chipset, but with optional PCIe 5.0 support for the M.2 slots and no USB4, unlike its X870 counterpart.

Update Jan 1st: ASUS posted a picture of their upcoming mid-range Intel boards on Facebook as well, but as with the AMD boards, ASUS obfuscated the image, although not quite as badly this time around. For its Intel lineup, there's also a lower-end Prime board included, in addition to the TUF Gaming and ROG Strix boards. ASUS didn't reveal any launch window for the Intel boards.

By now, it's a surprise to almost nobody that NVIDIA plans to launch its next-generation RTX 5000-series "Blackwell" gaming graphics cards at the upcoming CES 2025 event in Las Vegas in early January. Previously, leaks and rumors gave us a full run-down of expected VRAM amounts and other specifications and features for the new GPUs, but these have yet to be confirmed by NVIDIA—for obvious reasons. Now, though, it looks as though iBuyPower has jumped the gun and prematurely revealed the new specifications for its updated line-up of pre-built gaming PCs with RTX 5000-series GPUs ahead of NVIDIA's official announcement. The offending product pages have since been removed, but they both give us confirmation of the previously leaked VRAM amounts and of the expected release cadence for RTX 5000, which will reportedly see the RTX 5070 Ti and RTX 5080 launch before the RTX 5090 flagship.

On iBuyPower's now-pulled pages, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 16 GB and GeForce RTX 5070 Ti 16 GB can be seen as the GPUs powering two different upcoming Y40 pre-built gaming PCs from the system integrator. The VRAM specifications here coincide with what we have previously seen from other leaked sources. Unfortunately, while an archived version of the page for the pre-built containing the RTX 5080 appears to show the design for an ASUS TUF Gaming RTX 5080 with a triple-fan cooler, it looks like iBuyPower is using the same renders for both the 5080 and 5070Ti versions of the pre-built PCs. What's also interesting is that iBuyPower looks to be pairing the next-gen GPUs with 7000-series AMD X3D CPUs, as opposed to the newly released AMD Ryzen 9000 X3D chips that have started making their way out into the market.

ASUS today announced the TUF Gaming A2 SSD enclosure for gamers seeking a superfast and reliable storage solution. The enclosure features USB-C 3.2 Gen 2x2 connectivity to deliver data transfer speeds of up to 20 Gbps—twice that of TUF Gaming A1. With IP68-rated water- and dust-resistance plus durability that meets U.S. MIL-STD-810H standards, TUF Gaming A2 keeps the SSD safe in almost any environment. Additionally, its silicone-rubber exterior provides superior on-the-go protection for the SSD. The Q-Latch mechanism allows for easy, tool-free SSD installation, while an efficient thermal management system ensures outstanding cooling to ensure consistent performance. With broad compatibility across PC, Mac, mobile devices, and the latest game consoles, TUF Gaming A2 is perfect for anyone looking to maintain an extensive library of games.

Exceptional SSD performance
TUF Gaming A2 doubles the data transfer speeds of its predecessor, TUF Gaming A1, with USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 connectivity delivering up to 20 Gbps of bandwidth. Even though the latest AAA titles often exceed 100 GB in size, it takes just 90 seconds to transfer an entire game from the SSD to a console such as ROG Ally, or to any other popular gaming platform. When it comes to installing or removing the M.2 SSD, the innovative Q-Latch makes it easy, without requiring specific tools. The latch design employs a simple locking mechanism to secure the drive, so there's no need for screws. Additionally, TUF Gaming A2 features both PCIe NVMe and SATA interfaces, and can accommodate various 2242/2260/2280 SSD form factors while providing up to 4 TB of storage capacity.

Yesterday, we got a leak about Intel's "Arrow Lake" Core Ultra 200 series CPUs official public announcement on October 10 and the review embargo and official retail launch on October 24. However, today, we are able to look at some of the upcoming motherboards powering Core Ultra 200 CPUs, based on the Z890 chipset. Thanks to VideoCardz, we can look at ASUS high-end motherboard pictures and decipher some of the common features that will be present on high-end boards, like a hefty VRM configuration, along with some new color schemes. We notice that there are new GPU slot reinforcement and M.2 release mechanisms, alongside WiFi 7 and Thunderbolt 4. Some leaked pricing also suggests that ASUS ROG Maximus boards could be retailing for more than the highest-end Core Ultra 9 285K SKU, while there are more budget "Prime" series of motherboards present as well. Here are all leaked ASUS boards:

ASUS ROG Maximus Z890 Extreme:

ASUS today announced the TUF Gaming GT502 Horizon, a mid-tower PC case with a seamless panoramic view, exceptional cooling and unbeatable style. The front pillar that separated the front and side tempered glass panels on the original GT502 has been removed to give users a seamless window into a build that stretches nearly halfway around the entire case.

Advanced reinforcement techniques strengthen the TUF Gaming GT502 Horizon to maintain its structural integrity without the support of a front pillar. It can comfortably withstand up to 30 kg of weight from above, and its sturdy fabric handles are perfectly capable of helping users adjust the position of their PC, as they could with the original GT502. The TUF Gaming GT502 Horizon is also available in two colors: Classic Black and Snowy White, with color-matched modular cables.

ASUS and GIGABYTE have registered a large number of Intel Z890 motherboards with the Eurasian Economic Commission (EEC). For ASUS, the registrations suggest that these will be released on October 10, followed by an official market launch on October 24. ASUS has added no less than 29 Z890 motherboards to its ROG MAXIMUS, ROG STRIX, TUF GAMING, PRIME, and other series, while GIGABYTE has added 18 models to both its AORUS and non-AORUS series.

ASUS Z890 Motherboards

• ROG MAXIMUS Series
  • ROG MAXIMUS Z890 EXTREME
  • ROG MAXIMUS Z890 FORMULA
  • ROG MAXIMUS Z890 APEX
  • ROG MAXIMUS Z890 APEX ENCORE
  • ROG MAXIMUS Z890 HERO
  • ROG MAXIMUS Z890 DARK HERO
  • ROG MAXIMUS Z890 HERO BTF

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

ASUS is readying a limited edition TUF Gaming Radeon RX 7000 series graphics card themed after Warhammer 40000: Space Marine 2. AMD last week announced the Q3-2024 edition of its "This is Why We Game" bundle that sees the company give away the latest Warhammer 40000 title and Unknown 9 Awakening with select RX 7000 series graphics cards, select Ryzen 7000 series desktop processors, and prebuilts. The ASUS TUF Gaming Warhammer 40000: Space Marine 2 Radeon RX 7000 sees the card draped in colors of the Space Marine armor, including the backplate, and cooler shroud. This isn't a sticker job, but actual metal embellishments. Even the fan impellers come in Space Marine blue, and bear insignia on the impeller hubcaps. At this point we don't know which exact GPU model ASUS is using—our guess looking at the level of detail into the board design, is the very top-end RX 7900 XTX, so ASUS can get the most margins out of it to cover the product design costs. ASUS will launch this graphics card (which will include the game), on August 20, 2024.The teaser trailer follows.

ASUS today announced an exclusive collaboration with Boosteroid, a global cloud gaming provider, to offer a 50% discount on the first month of a Boosteroid subscription, empowering gamers to level up their gaming experience at a fraction of the cost. The promotion will apply to selected ASUS and ROG gaming products, which includes routers, a range of motherboards, graphics cards, peripherals, displays, cases and power supplies in the Prime, TUF Gaming and ROG families, plus the ROG NUC. The offer runs from August 1 to December 31, 2024.

Beyond this bundle promotion, ASUS and Boosteroid share a deep-rooted partnership. Since 2019, ASUS has been a vital technology partner for Boosteroid, providing the high-performance server solutions that power the platform's infrastructure. The partnership ensures that Boosteroid can deliver smooth, low-lag gameplay for its users. "This partnership leverages our complementary strengths to propel gaming to new heights," states Ivan Shvaichenko, CEO of Boosteroid. "The ASUS dedication to cutting-edge hardware is a perfect match for Boosteroid's innovative cloud gaming solutions. Together, we empower the highest levels of performance and flexibility."

ASUS today announced that selected routers in designated countries in the APAC region will bundle a complementary trial subscription to GearUP Console Booster, a service that optimizes the network connection for more than 1,000 online games, reducing latency and improving overall gaming experiences for popular game consoles and smart handhelds. The ASUS RT-AX86U Pro and RT-AX82U routers will include a three-month subscription, while the TUF-AX6000 and TUF-AX4200 routers will include a two-month subscription. Existing owners of these routers can add support for GearUP Console Booster with a firmware update. The RT-AX86U Pro is available in the APAC region now, and the other routers in this promotion are currently scheduled to be available starting in July 2024.

Accelerate gaming with GearUP Console Booster
Through the in-house Adaptive Intelligent Routing (AIR) system, GearUP Console Booster quickly determines and activates the fastest connection to a game server. Adaptive QoS on a compatible ASUS router can prioritize this connection over others on the network to ensure that it remains fast and stable. The ASUS Router mobile app and web interface includes an intuitive setup wizard to get GearUP Console Booster running.

ASUS today announced TUF Gaming TR120 ARGB case fans, which offer exceptional airflow and polished aesthetics from every point of view. Next-gen refinements boost the cooling power of TUF Gaming TR120 ARGB fans. The redesigned fan blades are extra-wide, and are now housed in a 28 mm frame - up to 12% thicker than the previous generation. Combined, these elements increase airflow by up to 77.4 CFM and static pressure by up to 3.3 mmH2O. When dialing in a tough workload, these 120 mm fans make sure that a build has the steady stream of cooling air that it needs.

TUF Gaming TR120 ARGB case fans are primed to perform, and they're also built for quiet operation. At most, they produce 29 dB(A) of noise. In the heat of battle, users are unlikely to hear them at all. When standard case fans are used as intakes in a panoramic chassis, they are not always displayed to advantage, as users can only see their sides and rear. This means that elements like structural supports, wires, and visible parts of the motor get the front-and-center treatment instead of RGB LED illumination and any front-facing decorations.

ASUS today announced that the TUF Gaming Capture Box-4K Pro has won a prestigious iF Design award. This high-performance device allows users to capture and broadcast their gaming, video or live events in stunning 4K resolution. With seamless compatibility, variable refresh rate and up to 4K 60 FPS capture, it's the essential tool for content creators and streamers. Thanks to HDMI 2.1, the TUF Gaming Capture Box-4K Pro has the bandwidth to support lossless high-resolution and high-refresh-rate passthrough of up to a 4K 144 Hz HDR signal, in addition to 4K 60 FPS capture. Or, for users who want to high-refresh-rate experiences, both 1440p and 1080p capture resolutions support 120 FPS, with passthrough of 144 Hz and 240 Hz, respectively.

At all resolutions, the TUF Gaming Capture Box-4K Pro also supports Variable Refresh Rate (VRR) passthrough, ensuring a local video signal never has lag or screen tearing. It also features an onboard processor to support up to 4K upscaling and downscaling, ensuring that users can play at whichever resolution they prefer and send their stream at any resolution the platform supports. And thanks to support for both consoles and PC graphics cards, it's easy for users to stream their adventures to the world, however they choose to play.

ASUS today announced the TUF Gaming GT302 ARGB chassis, a case that makes it easy to build a high-performance PC with great cooling. Prepped and ready for great out-of-the-box cooling, equipped for wide compatibility with high-performance parts, and thoughtfully constructed inside and out for an easy PC DIY experience, the GT302 ARGB resets expectations for a mainstream case.

Great cooling - right out of the box
Most PC builders go big on cooling to ensure an excellent balance of performance and quiet operation. From the moment it is pulled out of the packaging, the TUF Gaming GT302 ARGB gives users a superb foundation for high-end cooling. This starts with a front panel designed first and foremost to maximize airflow efficiency. It is constructed of a wide-open, high-porosity square-type mesh that leaves ample room for fresh air to enter a PC. Four pre-installed 140 mm ARGB case fans move cool air through the chassis. These fans are exceptionally thick, measuring 28 mm in depth. These fans deliver up to 3 mmH2O static pressure and 115 CFM airflow for excellent cooling with quiet operation.

ASUS today introduced its custom design Radeon RX 7900 GRE graphics cards for a wider product launch outside China. These include the RX 7900 GRE DUAL OC, and the TUF Gaming RX 7900 GRE OC. Given the nearly identical 260 W total board power (TBP) and ASIC pin-map of the RX 7900 GRE to the RX 7800 XT, ASUS appears to be reusing its RX 7800 XT custom-design board designs for these cards. The RX 7900 GRE DUAL OC features a 27.9 cm length, triple-slot thickness, and 13.39 cm height, and uses an aluminium fin-stack heatsink with two 100 mm Axial Tech fans—hence the name. There is no RGB lighting or other such frills to speak of, but you get dual-BIOS. The default P-BIOS runs the card at factory-overclocked 1927 MHz Game clock (vs. 1880 MHz reference); while the quieter Q-BIOS runs it at reference speeds, with a more tame fan profile.

The TUF Gaming RX 7900 GRE features the same version of the company's DirectCU III TUF Gaming cooling solution that the company uses with its RX 7800 XT TUF Gaming product, it's 31.9 cm in length, 3-slot thick, and 15 cm tall (about a 1 cm added due to the stub toward the tail-end). The cooler features a trio of 100 mm Axial Tech fans, and as is characteristic of TUF Gaming cooler designs, is well ventilated, exposing more of the heatsink underneath; than competing cooling solutions. You get a minimal amount of RGB lighting, in the form of a diffuser near the tail-end. You also get dual-BIOS, and a more pronounced factory OC than the DUAL OC card, with the P-BIOS enabling 1972 MHz Game clocks. The Q-BIOS again sticks to reference clocks for quieter fan settings. ASUS didn't release pricing, but given that both are factory-overclocked cards, we expect the RX 7900 GRE DUAL OC to be priced around the $570-mark; and the TUF Gaming OC at $600, if not more.

European buyers are facing a baseline MSRP of €1109 for the upcoming GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER graphics card family, thanks to extra sales taxes affecting purchases in the region's various countries. North American customers are set to "enjoy" a more reasonable entry point of $999 come January 31, including various custom options from NVIDIA's board partners—ZOTAC lead the charge with their non-overclocked offerings matching Team Green's Founders Edition MSRP. A small selection of brave retailers have already delivered GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER graphics cards to customers, while others have simply gone live with their asking prices.

Germany's Notebooksbilliger (translation: cheaper laptops) online store has produced product pages for all sorts of custom GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER cards—prices start off at NVIDIA's €1109 baseline, and ramp up to a maximum of €1379 for the fanciest option (ASUS ROG STRIX RTX 4080 SUPER OC). A VideoCardz report focuses mostly on the cheapest products listed by Notebooksbilliger.de. Five non-overclocked custom designs sits at the bottom of the webshop's RTX 4080 SUPER pricing pile: ASUS TUF GAMING, GIGABYTE SUPER WINDFORCE, SUPER WINDFORCE V2, Inno3D X3 and ZOTAC's Trinity Black Edition. At the time of writing, Notebooksbilliger's customers cannot pre-order any of the listed GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER cards—the full checkout process could be unlocked early next week, a few days ahead of the official January 31 launch day.

Cooler Master's research and design team seems to be up to all sorts of shenanigans lately—company representatives at CES 2024 had the joyful experience of hyping up a curiosity/prototype bearing the moniker "Project VGA Cooler." It certainly is a tough sell to explain to punters how an aftermarket part can usurp the performance offered by a manufacturer's standard fitting of triple-fan arrays on already pricey custom high-end GeForce RTX 40xx cards. The plucky Project VGA Cooler was showcased in white or dark silver forms, accompanied by twin Mobius 120 mm fans. The spec sheet states that these utilize special loop dynamic bearings, although we are not certain whether the special Mobius fans are customized for this project specifically.

TPU staff witnessed an ASUS GeForce RTX 4090 TUF graphics card getting the refit treatment—its original triple-fan array was removed, and the experimental aftermarket part was attached to the TUF's remaining heatsink and shroud. Cooler Master's demonstration proceeded smoothly, but this publication questions whether these prototype GPU cooling units are truly prepared for a universal fit across a wide variety of expensive current generation GeForce RTX models, or Radeon RX equivalents. Cooler Master's design team likely has to be careful in choosing specific or popular GPU models, once "Project VGA Cooler" exits the conceptual phase of development and approaches final retail form.

ASUS today announced the TUF Gaming AMD Radeon RX 7600 XT and the ASUS Dual AMD Radeon RX 7600 XT graphics cards, two new members of the Radeon RX 7000 product family. Featuring 16 GB of high-speed GDDR6 memory, the new graphics cards offer fast, smooth, and visually stunning gaming and ray tracing experiences at 1080p and beyond, ready to unleash users' creativity in next-gen AI and content creation workloads. These cards offer excellent gaming performance and serious affordability, making them the perfect addition to a new or current gaming PC build.

The TUF Gaming AMD Radeon RX 7600 XT graphics card is an incredible addition to any gaming arsenal, thanks to its large heatsink, vented backplate, and tri-fan design. With its incredible cooling efficiency, gamers will never be distracted in-game, and the fans even turn off entirely during light loads like web browsing for truly silent operation with our 0 dB technology. A Dual BIOS switch allows gamers to easily prioritize performance or silent operation, and an all-aluminium backplate offers bold TUF styling and additional structural support, for a card that will stand the test of time in any gaming rig.

Patriot Memory brought their latest ware to the 2024 International CES that use recent advancements in tech on both the SSD and memory fronts. On the SSD front, this year sees 14 GB/s capable PCIe Gen 5 NVMe SSDs thanks to Phison's E26 Max14um controller; and a new crop of USB4 portable SSDs; while the memory front sees DDR5 speeds go far north of DDR5-6000, thanks to on-module CKDs. Patriot showed us examples of each.

First up, there's the Patriot Viper PV573 Gen 5 NVMe SSD. This thing comes in capacities of up to 4 TB, and combines a Phison E26 Max14um controller with Micron's latest B58R TLC NAND flash chips that offer 2400 MT/s per flash channel. The controller also gets some incremental thermal optimizations, which means the cooling solution for the PV573 is a 16.5 mm-tall fan-heatsink. The drive offers up to 14 GB/s sequential reads, with up to 12 GB/s sequential writes. There's also a slightly de-rated version of this drive, the Viper PV553, which has the same combination of controller and NAND flash, but with transfer speeds of up to 12.4 GB/s reads, with up to 11.8 GB/s writes.