ASUS China showcased a compelling new custom graphics card design during their presentation of a Hatsune Miku-themed product collection. Global audiences were treated to TUF Gaming x Hatsune Miku crossover peripherals/accessories, but Chinese gamers will get access to a wider gamut of options—under the TX Gaming banner; a regional spin-off of TUF Gaming—including a cutely decorated GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 8 GB model. ASUS seems to be reusing this card's basic shroud/backplate design—minus elaborate character illustrations and graphics—on a brand-new TX Gaming GeForce RTX 5070 12 GB SKU. A "Born to be Different" message adorns a largely plain white front section, and familiar "GeForce RTX" texts are placed on a side panel and on the 2.5-slot thick card's metallic silver backplate. A large X-formation cut-out grants a glimpse at an enclosed fin stack.

In the past, ASUS TX Gaming products have been accompanied by sci-fi "idol" characters—on related retail box art and in promotional material. Evidently, ASUS has extended this "marketing technique" into the NVIDIA "Blackwell" GPU generation. As expected, the TX Gaming GeForce RTX 5070 models—in standard and factory overclocked forms—will launch as Chinese market exclusives. VideoCardz did not find any global listings of these offerings, nor launch details—e.g. a release date and MSRPs. They noted that a TUF Gaming equivalent model features five display connectors; as opposed to the TX Gaming's deployment of four (1x HDMI 2.1b, 3x DisplayPort 2.1b).

ASUS today announced an all-new TUF Gaming A14 gaming laptop equipped with an AMD Ryzen AI 7 350 CPU and an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 Laptop GPU. Housed in an incredibly portable and lightweight 14-inch form factor chassis, the TUF Gaming A14 is the perfect companion for any gamer on the go.

Next-gen RTX 50 Series graphics
Backed by the incredible performance of the new NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 Laptop GPU, the TUF Gaming A14 is truly primed and ready for the latest AAA and esports games. This card features the latest DLSS suite of technologies, which uses AI and neural rendering to boost FPS, reduce latency, and improve image quality. ‌The latest breakthrough, DLSS 4, brings new Multi Frame Generation and enhanced Ray Reconstruction and Super Resolution, powered by GeForce RTX 50 Series GPUs and fifth-generation Tensor Cores. From old classics to the latest AAA titles, the A14 has the power to make games look and perform better than ever before.

We've snuggled NVIDIA's brand-new GeForce RTX 5060 and 5060 Ti GPUs inside a variety of ASUS graphics cards to bring game-ready NVIDIA 50 Series graphics power to more PC players. Between NVIDIA's Blackwell architecture and our cutting-edge hardware, these graphics cards offer users an accessible and exciting path to modern PC gaming. We have something for everybody, including rock-solid TUF Gaming GeForce RTX 5060 and 5060 Ti options, versatile Prime GeForce RTX 5060 and 5060 Ti offerings, and ultra-compact Dual GeForce RTX 5060 and 5060 Ti graphics cards. Whether you want something rugged, small form factor (SFF)-ready, or amped with enough VRAM to dig into more serious gaming, we have a graphics card that'll fit your needs.

Next-gen technology, hardware, and features for all
There are many constants across our RTX 5060 and 5060 Ti graphics card spread, ensuring you'll get lots of great features no matter what card you're keen on. All nine of our TUF Gaming, Prime, and ASUS Dual RTX 5060 and RTX 5060 Ti cards benefit from NVIDIA's Blackwell architecture, granting you 4th generation RT cores for improved ray tracing performance. RTX 5060 and RTX 5060 Ti GPUs also pack neural shaders, which game developers can use to compress textures and reduce memory usage. NVIDIA DLSS 4 will supercharge your gaming experience with its own feature suite. Super Resolution, Ray Reconstruction, and Frame Generation all get improvements with the latest version of DLSS, helping your games run well and look their best. And 5th Gen Tensor Cores give these GPUs the power of Multi Frame Gen, smoothing out your AAA gaming like never before. Together, these features help RTX 5060 and RTX 5060 Ti graphics cards punch above their weight class, giving you outsized performance.

ASUS today introduced the X870 MAX Gaming WiFi7 motherboard. This Socket AM5 motherboard comes in two color-based variants—its default black, and the white X870 MAX Gaming WiFi7 W, which features a white PCB, besides white/silver heatsinks. The X870 MAX Gaming is positioned below even the TUF Gaming X870 Plus, and separate from the company's Prime series. It is designed to lure gaming PC builders away from the likes of the GIGABYTE Gaming X and MSI Gaming Plus series. The board is built in the ATX form-factor and draws power from a combination of 24-pin ATX and two 8-pin EPS connectors. It features a 12+2+1 phase CPU VRM that uses 80 A-rated power stages.

The Socket AM5 is wired to four DDR5 DIMM slots, a PCI-Express 5.0 x16 slot, and just the one M.2 Gen 5 x4 NVMe slot. The second CPU-attached NVMe interface is wired out as M.2 Gen 4 x4. The third M.2 slot is Gen 4 x4 and wired to the X870 FCH. The board also puts out four SATA 6 Gbps ports. Besides the main Gen 5 x16 PEG slot, the board has three other physical x16 slots, two of these are Gen 4 x1, and the last one Gen 3 x1. Display connectivity includes an HDMI, and a DisplayPort that's wired to the board's two 40 Gbps USB4 type-C ports. Other USB ports include a 10 Gbps USB 3.2 Gen 2; three 5 Gbps USB 3.1 Gen 1, and four USB 2.0, there is a 20 Gbps USB-C header, besides two additional 5 Gbps ports through a standard header.

A past weekend leak has presented five unannounced custom GeForce RTX 5060 Ti graphics card models, courtesy of a momomo_us discovery. ASUS seems to be readying day one options in TUF Gaming and PRIME guises, configured with pools of 16 GB and 8 GB VRAM. NVIDIA and involved board partners are expected to launch new lower end "Blackwell" GPU products next week. Industry whispers suggest that Team Green will lift its GeForce RTX 5060 Ti review embargo on April 15.

Alleged benchmark results were highlighted last weekend, preceded by speculative price points—suggesting an imminent arrival. momomo_us did not disclose the origin of the mystery ASUS GeForce RTX 5060 Ti model identifiers, but VideoCardz has found various TUF Gaming and PRIME listings on retail and distributor web presences. Their short investigative piece envisions the eventual arrival of GB206 GPU-based budget-friendly DUAL and premium tier ROG Strix cards.

ASUS silently releases its first AMD B850 motherboard featuring the GC-HPWR connector, allowing it to deliver up to 600 W to a compatible graphics card without needing external cables. The TUF Gaming B850 BTF Wi-Fi W motherboard supports Ryzen 7000, 8000, and 9000 CPUs, including the latest 9950X3D, and offers all the typical features expected from a mid-tier AMD motherboard. On a quick look over main specifications, we can see it uses a 14+2+1 power stage design and an eight-layer PCB, supports DDR5 memory up to 8000 MT/s, PCIe 5.0 x16 with updated Q-Release system, one Gen 5 M.2 slot, ALC1220P audio, and BIOS flashback.

ASUS first created its Back to the Future (BTF) lineup with the intention of moving all motherboard connectors to the back of the PCB. While this makes installation and cable routing a bit more challenging, it results in a much tidier-looking motherboard and a cleaner overall system look without the usual mess of wires. BTF-compatible GPUs help eliminate power cables by replacing the standard 8-pin or 12VHPWR connectors with a metal plug at the end of the PCIe slot. ASUS is now bringing this connector to its more affordable B850 boards, which could help make this rare GPU power solution more common. As a BTF board, it hides all cable connectors on the front—even for GPU power as we said, you'll find the GC-HPWR connector at the end of the PCIe x16 slot, just below the RAM slots. However, you don't have to use this feature—the motherboard works fine with any modern graphics card, whether it relies on the new power option or standard connectors. That said, to achieve a completely cable-free setup, you'll need to pair it with one of ASUS's BTF graphics cards. This currently limits you to the RTX 40-series, as ASUS has yet to release any 50-series BTF cards. The fact that ASUS is adding this new type of connector to midrange motherboards could suggest that it plans to expand the BTF lineup in the future. ASUS didn't reveal pricing or any release date information for the TUF Gaming B850 BTF Wi-Fi W motherboard.

AMD is likely readying its Radeon RX 9060 Series graphics cards for launch in the near future—an official Q2 2025 release window was announced late last month, but company representatives did not go into great detail regarding specifications or pricing. Early March leaks indicated that Team Red board partners were preparing custom Radeon RX 9060 XT models in 16 GB and 8 GB forms; a recent discovery—courtesy of the ever intrepid harukaze5719—corroborates these configurations. Last week, ASUS registered multiple unannounced TUF Gaming, PRIME and DUAL Radeon RX 9060 XT models with the South Korean Radio Agency. Interestingly, only the TUF Gaming OC and non-OC cards are specced with pools of 16 GB VRAM. The rest of the pack makes do with 8 GB.

Similarly, several EEC registrations of Acer "Nitro" and "Predator BiFrost" Radeon RX 9060 XT 16 GB and 8 GB SKUs were spotted by harukaze5719 three weeks ago. According to VideoCardz, leaked AIB technical data suggests the use of GDDR6, 20 Gbps memory chips and 128-bit memory interfaces. TechPowerUp's GPU database still specifies that the Radeon RX 9060 XT is based on a Navi 48 LE GPU variant, but other sources reckon that a "smaller" Navi 44 model would be more appropriate for this class of graphics card. With the rumored delay of NVIDIA's GeForce RTX 5060 Ti and RTX 5060 models, AMD's lower end RDNA 4 offerings could launch during a quiet period.

"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.

Considering that CPUs like the AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D are turning heads everywhere for their unstoppable gaming prowess, you might be thinking about building a new PC in 2025. You'll need a potent graphics card to power your gaming ambitions. Today, you have more options on that front than ever. We're expanding our portfolio of AMD-powered graphics cards with Radeon RX 9070 XT and Radeon RX 9070 models from TUF Gaming and Prime.

Next-gen feature set
Armed with the latest RDNA 4 architecture and a supersized 16 GB serving of VRAM, these graphics cards stand poised to give you premium gaming experiences for years to come. Next-gen HYPR-RX tech delivers ultra-fast gaming, and you'll enjoy next-level immersion with the latest AI-powered features from AMD, including an improved experience with ray tracing. New for this generation is a machine-learning based super resolution mode compatible with select FSR 3.1 games that gives you an incredible balance of detailed images and fluid frame rates. DisplayPort 2.1 outputs give you incredible bandwidth for going big on resolution while supporting high-end refresh rates.

ASUS has taken the unusual step of formally announcing day one availability of its brand-new offerings—in TUF Gaming and PRIME forms—to the NVIDIA subreddit community. Today (March 5) marks the retail rollout of AIB-built GeForce RTX 5070 graphics cards—unfortunately, NVIDIA Founders Edition enthusiasts will have to wait a little longer for a now delayed launch. VideoCardz has called out ASUS on a number of occasions over the past month and a half, regarding alleged GeForce RTX 50-series "price manipulation" practices. In their latest bit of company coverage, the publication concedes that ASUS representatives are doing a better job in communicating launch day circumstances to its target audience. In contrast, other board partners have (reportedly) not reached out to the hardware gaming community.

The ASUS_MKTLeeM account has produced a useful "Day 1 Pricing and Availability in US and CA" buying guide for TUF Gaming GeForce RTX 5070 OC Edition ($739.99 USD) and ASUS Prime GeForce RTX 5070 models (standard: $549.99, OC: $699.99). The company rep disclosed the outlook for this opening salvo: "we expect that most, if not all of these will be available at 6am PST for the US. Of course, things happen sometimes; and a particular e-tailer or retailer may have a website issue or may be pending for stock to reach them. Feel free to ask later in the day and we can track this down...For Canada, I do not have confirmation on which stores will have Day 1 stock at this time, unfortunately. If I receive confirmation before the end of the day I will update it." They noted that Best Buy Canada may experience delayed shipments (1-3 weeks) of TUF Gaming RTX 5070 OC Edition stock. Unfortunately, higher-end options are not releasing alongside "cheaper" brethren parts—MKTLeeM stated: "the ROG Strix cards will not be available Day 1. There is currently no ETA for when these cards will be available, but we will update the post and/or the availability post in the comments when we have an update." Press outlets have highlighted the apparent limited range of ASUS launch day models. Interestingly, the TUF Gaming RTX 5070 (non-OC) option was not included in MKTLeeM's subreddit thread.

One feature that gamers have loved about AMD Ryzen processors is the company's commitment to socket longevity. If you have a PC with an AMD Ryzen 7000 Series CPU and an AM5 motherboard, for example, you're able to upgrade to an AMD Ryzen 9000 Series CPU without stripping your PC down to the studs and replacing the motherboard. But perhaps you're starting from scratch with your first AM5 PC. In that case, you have several years' worth of AM5 motherboard options to consider, including the TUF Gaming B850-Plus WiFi from our B850 motherboard family.

For years, one of the most popular AM5 motherboards has been the TUF Gaming B650-Plus WiFi. This rock-solid, battle-proven board delivers on all fronts with its durable design, comprehensive cooling, and ruggedized aesthetic. Yet if you're building a new PC in 2025, we think you'll be happier in the long run with this board's successor, the TUF Gaming B850-Plus WiFi. Armed with key updates like a bolstered power solution, PCIe 5.0 x16 slot, Wi-Fi 7, and more and faster USB ports, this motherboard offers incredible value for your gaming rig.

We build our TUF Gaming components for users who want an emphasis on substance, meaning you're paying for pure performance when you go TUF. That focus on function is where the TUF Gaming GeForce RTX 5090 and TUF Gaming GeForce RTX 5080 graphics cards excel, providing you with next-gen graphics capabilities as well as high-performance thermal solutions that'll hold up under 4K AAA gaming pressure. If you've been waiting to upgrade your rig and want to treat yourself to a premium power bump, now's the time to pull the trigger. You're in for a truly substantial generational leap with these high-end components featuring the power of NVIDIA's latest GPU architecture alongside the sophistication of our latest graphics card designs.

Next-gen tech for tomorrow's heavyweight games
The GeForce RTX 5090 and 5080 comprise the top of the power stack for NVIDIA's 50 Series GPUs, so when you invest in either a TUF Gaming GeForce RTX 5090 or 5080 graphics card, you're setting yourself up for years to come. The 50 Series is powered by NVIDIA's Blackwell architecture, meaning these GPUs feature 4th generation RT cores to give gamers the best ray tracing performance yet. They also pack neural shaders, which compress textures to cut down on memory usage and produce incredible real-time visuals. And NVIDIA has ensured its 50 Series is equipped for neural processing via a built-in AI management processor, so you'll get an optimal experience when harnessing the power of NVIDIA DLSS 4. Powered by 5th generation Tensor Cores, DLSS 4 uses a Multi Frame Generation solution to boost your framerate to new heights.

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 today announced its NVIDIA GeForce RTX 50 Series graphics cards, including the all-new ROG Astral line that ushers in a new generation of performance. The ROG Astral series combines top-tier frame rates and a sleek, stellar design, with both air-cooled and liquid-cooled variants ready to power a user's next PC.

Powered by NVIDIA Blackwell, GeForce RTX 50 Series GPUs bring game-changing capabilities to gamers and creators, Equipped with a massive level of AI horsepower, the RTX 50 Series enables new experiences and next-level graphics fidelity. Users can multiply performance with NVIDIA DLSS 4, generate images at unprecedented speed, and unleash creativity with NVIDIA Studio. Plus, they can access NVIDIA NIM microservices—state-of-the-art AI models that let enthusiasts and developers build AI assistants, agents, and workflows with peak performance on NIM-ready systems.

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.

ASUS today unveiled a lineup of Z890 motherboards from the ROG Maximus, ROG Strix, TUF Gaming, Prime and ProArt families, supporting Intel Core Ultra processors (Series 2). ASUS is marking the occasion with all-new motherboard features that accelerate performance and streamline the build process. ASUS AI Advisor is a new natural-language build assistant powered by AI. AEMP III, NitroPath DRAM Technology and DIMM Fit unleash DDR5 memory kits. NPU Boost provides overclocking of the integrated NPU in an Intel Core Ultra (Series 2) CPU for accelerated AI performancei. ROG M.2 PowerBoost provides more M.2 slots on a motherboard than ever before. On top of all that, there is Thunderbolt 5, WiFi 7 and new PC DIY features to discuss.

Primed to perform with Intel Core Ultra processors (Series 2) in a new socket
Intel Core Ultra processors (Series 2) use the new LGA 1851 socket. Users of these processors will need an Intel 800 series motherboard to use one, and a Z890 motherboard specifically to take advantage of CPU overclocking. These options feature up to 24 cores in a new disaggregated architecture. Performance-cores, aka P-cores, take center stage with their high clock rates, while a cluster of Efficient-cores, aka E-cores, provide high-end multithreaded performance.

ASUS Republic of Gamers (ROG) today released a significant update to its bundled Virtual Assistant software (formerly known as Virtual Pet). This new software package comes preinstalled on the ROG Zephyrus G16 gaming laptop and leverages the incredible power of AI to significantly level up the capabilities of the Virtual Assistant, including an intelligent chat and Q&A interface, written document summarization, and voice transcription tools. This update is available on laptop models with AMD Ryzen AI 300 Series processors as a free download via ASUS Live Update.

Intelligent chat support
The Virtual Assistant gives users a leg up when they're using an unfamiliar program or system tool. With a local chat and Q&A feature, even when disconnected from the internet, the Virtual Assistant can help users navigate complicated menus and activate the features and settings they need. For example, if a new user is looking to adjust fan settings, they can request that from the Virtual Assistant, and it will direct them to the appropriate settings menu within the Armoury Crate app. Applications like MyASUS, GlideX, and ProArt Creator Hub are supported, and the chat functionality adds a new layer of support for end users.

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.

We've known for the past couple of weeks that AMD is working on the Ryzen 5 7600X3D—a 6-core/12-thread processor based on the older "Zen 4" microarchitecture, but featuring 3D V-cache that enables significant gaming performance uplifts. The company finally launched the chip, but here's the bummer—it's only available in the US, and is a MicroCenter exclusive, where's it's going for $299.99. Here's the second bummer—you can't buy the processor on its own, but in a 3-part bundle that includes it, an ASUS TUF Gaming B650-Plus Wi-Fi motherboard, and an unspecified brand of 32 GB (2x 16 GB) DDR5-6000 memory kit. When you add up the prices of the three parts when purchased separately, you arrive at $630, but MicroCenter is selling the bundle for an impressive $450—a $180 discount.

The AMD Ryzen 5 7600X3D comes with a maximum boost frequency of 4.70 GHz, which is a steep 600 MHz fall from that of the regular Ryzen 5 7600X, and 400 MHz less than that of the 65 W Ryzen 5 7600 (non-X). Much like the 7600, the 7600X3D comes with a 65 W TDP. Where it loses on clock speeds, it makes up for with its large cache—1 MB of L2 cache per core, and 96 MB of L3 cache (or 102 MB of L2+L3 "total cache."). The bundle could offer good value for those building PCs from scratch, or coming in from the older Socket AM4 platform. The TUF Gaming B650-Plus Wi-Fi is a fairly feature-packed mid-range ATX motherboard.