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.

ASUS today announced the launch of the exclusive Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 Collector's Edition graphics card, developed in collaboration with AMD and Focus Entertainment and officially unveiled at the ROG press event during Gamescom on August 20. At the Gamescom press event, ASUS revealed that this card is based on the TUF Gaming Radeon RX 7900 XTX and is custom-built for a global giveaway for gamers and fans of Space Marine 2 and the Warhammer 40K universe.

To celebrate the game's launch, ASUS and AMD collaborated on a live stage event at the Gamescom Hall on August 23, where three randomly-chosen audience members competed to win one of the exclusive Space Marine 2 graphics cards. After several rounds of quickfire questions centered around Warhammer 40,000 lore and Space Marine 2, one of the participants received the first Space Marine 2 graphics card prize.

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 announced a press event on July 17 to launch at least nine notebook designs powered by AMD Ryzen AI 300 series "Strix Point" mobile processors. All these notebooks are AI PCs that meet Microsoft Copilot+ requirements. Each of the 9 designs will have several variants based on the processor model, discrete graphics, and other hardware differentiators, making up dozens of individual SKUs. The AMD "Strix Point" mobile processor is based on a 4 nm monolithic die. It combines a 12-core/24-thread CPU based on a combination of "Zen 5" and "Zen 5c" cores, a 50 TOPS-class NPU, and a powerful iGPU based on the RDNA 3.5 graphics architecture, with 16 compute units.

Among the notebook designs ASUS plans to announce on July 17 are the ROG Zephyrus G16 (GA605), the TUF Gaming A14 (FA401), the TUF Gaming A16 (FA608), the Zenbook S16 (UM5606), Vivobook S14 (M5406), Vivobook S16 (M5506 and M5606), ProArt P16 (HN7606) and ProArt PX13 (HN7306). With these, ASUS is covering pretty much all its notebook market segments, including enthusiast gaming, performance gaming, boutique ultraportability, mainstream, and creative professional.

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.

GeIL booth was packed with all kinds of memories, anyone could find something for their taste, but our eyes gazed in hope at a few (yet) CAMM2 / LPCAMM2 memory samples. GeIL says that those are capable of supporting data transfer rates up to 8533 MT/s with up to 128 GB capacity. Just next to those a myriad of DDR5 with up to 8400 MT/s and RGB features were trying to catch attention. TUF Gaming Alliance, Orion V RGB (with integrated power management on the DIMM), the EVO V series with active dual fan cooling system, or Polaris family to which GeIL feels the need to mention that it fits most CPU coolers without mechanical interference.More pictures follow.

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.