Today we're taking the next step toward our vision for a more open computing platform for the metaverse. We're opening up the operating system powering our Meta Quest devices to third-party hardware makers, giving more choice to consumers and a larger ecosystem for developers to build for. We're working with leading global technology companies to bring this new ecosystem to life and making it even easier for developers to build apps and reach their audiences on the platform.

Introducing Meta Horizon OS
This new hardware ecosystem will run on Meta Horizon OS, the mixed reality operating system that powers our Meta Quest headsets. We chose this name to reflect our vision of a computing platform built around people and connection—and the shared social fabric that makes this possible. Meta Horizon OS combines the core technologies powering today's mixed reality experiences with a suite of features that put social presence at the center of the platform.

The ROG Keris II Ace is an ultralight 54-gram ergonomic tri mode gaming mouse with a shape tested by pro FPS players. Equipped with 42,000-dpi ROG AimPoint Pro optical sensor, ROG Optical Micro Switches and ROG SpeedNova wireless technology, the Keris II Ace levels up on ROG impressive polling rate and click latency via the ROG Polling Rate Booster, which enables polling rates up to 4,000 Hz in wireless mode and up to 8000 Hz in wired mode.

Super-light 54-gram weight with ROG Gaming mouse build quality: Ensures quick and precise movements with minimal handling fatigue. Premium quality continues as a hallmark of ROG mice ensuring outstanding fit, finish and feel. PBT L/R buttons also offer superior durability and resistance against wear and shine over time while also offering subtle texture. ROG Polling Rate Booster: Level up beyond ASUS ROG's already impressive 1,000 Hz polling rate performance & stability. The next level awaits for those demanding the lowest input latency. Attach the ROG Polling Rate Booster to enable polling rates up to 4000 Hz in wireless mode and up to 8000 Hz in wired mode. This new level of ultra-high polling rate performance perfectly complements the latest 240 Hz+ ROG gaming monitors.

NVIDIA's GeForce RTX 4090 D GPU was launched late last year in China—this weakened variant (of the standard RTX 4090) was designed with US trade regulations in mind. Chinese media outlets have toyed around with various custom models for several months—January 2024 evaluations indicated a 5% performance disadvantage when lined up against unrestricted models. The GeForce RTX 4090 D GPU is a potent beast despite a reduced core count and restricted TDP limit, but Chinese enthusiasts have continued to struggle with the implementation of worthwhile overclocks. HKEPC—a Hong Kong-situated PC hardware review outlet—has bucked that trend.

The mega-sized flagship ZOTAC RTX 4090 D PGF model has the technical credentials to break beyond the expected overclock increase of "2 to 5%," courtesy of a powerful 28-phase power PCB design and 530 W max. TGP limit. The Expreview team pulled a paltry 3.7% extra bit of performance from ZOTAC China's behemoth. In contrast, HKEPC wrangled out some bigger numbers with a sampled ASUS ROG STRIX RTX 4090 GAMING OC graphics card—matching unrestricted variants: "it turns out that NVIDIA only does not allow AIC manufacturers to preset overclocking, but it does not restrict users from overclocking by themselves. After a high degree of overclocking adjustment, the ROG Strix RTX 4090 D actually has a way to achieve the performance level of the RTX 4090 FE."

ASUS Republic of Gamers (ROG) today announced the ROG Cetra True Wireless SpeedNova gaming headphones. Designed for competitive gaming, these headphones boast ROG SpeedNova 2.4 GHz wireless technology for ultra-low-latency audio, reliable connection, and optimized power efficiency. The Cetra True Wireless SpeedNova offers high-resolution up to 24-bit / 96 kHz audio with details further enhanced by Dirac Opteo technology. Adaptive Active Noise Canceling optimizes noise cancelation based on the earpiece's fit and shape of the ear canal, and Auto mode also adjusts the ANC effect based on ambient noise levels to ensure full immersion. Plus, bone-conduction AI microphones effectively enable precise voice pickup so the wearer is heard loud and clear. In Bluetooth mode, the Cetra True Wireless SpeedNova offers up to 46 hours of battery life. Charging is done wirelessly, plus there's fast in-case charging to top up the headphones while on the go.

Dual-mode wireless connectivity
The ROG Cetra True Wireless SpeedNova's dual-mode wireless connectivity provides users with unrivaled flexibility, allowing them to connect via Bluetooth or 2.4 GHz wireless. The Hybrid Multipoint feature allows for simultaneous pairing of two devices, one via Bluetooth and the other via the 2.4 GHz band with the bundled dongle.

Last October, Intel handed over its Next Unit of Computing (NUC) product lines—in an official capacity—to a new patron; ASUS. A couple of months later, the latter's Republic of Gamers brand introduced a new NUC model—"Scorpion Canyon"—during their Transcendence Virtual Launch Live event at CES 2024. TPU staffers in attendance managed to spend some time with the ROG NUC, at the ASUS booth. A preview placard advertised that the best configuration could be powered by up an Intel Core Ultra 9 185H CPU and an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Mobile GPU. At the time, company representatives did not disclose any pricing information.

Finalized units are pre-orderable at one retailer, according to reports from Friday—Proshop's listing reveals that customers in Denmark, Germany and Finland can purchase the top-end ASUS ROG NUC 14 configuration (RNUC14SRKU9189A2I) for €2499 (~$2724). NotebookCheck has discovered the existence of six different SKUs—on ASUS Spain's official website. Despite the diverse list of (apparent) options, ROG: "only really offers Core Ultra 7 155H and GeForce RTX 4060, or (the aforementioned) Core Ultra 9 185H and GeForce RTX 4070 spec. While pricing for the former remains unknown, Proshop is selling the latter with 32 GB of RAM and 1 TB of storage for €2499 in the Eurozone...Currently, Proshop expects to begin shipping ROG NUC orders from April 10, signalling an April 2024 global launch."

ASUS Republic of Gamers (ROG) today announced that an international group of elite overclockers has set four world records with an ROG Maximus Z790 Apex Encore motherboard featuring the new Intel Core i9-14900KS processor. Along with the ASUS overclocking team, overclocking expert Elmor pushed this processor to a dazzling 9117.75 MHz. Safedisk used the same setup to achieve three additional world records: PiFast completed in just 6.79 seconds, SuperPI 1M finished in 3.768 seconds, and PYPrime 32B finished in 97.596 seconds.

The ROG Maximus Z790 Apex motherboard family is the ultimate choice for enthusiasts and overclockers seeking style and power in their gaming setup. The motherboards are built to help the world's most talented overclockers shatter barriers on their way to new records. In the past few years, the ROG Maximus Z790 Apex motherboard was used to push a 13th Gen Intel Core i9-13900K processor past the 9 GHz barrier for an impressive world record, and the ROG Maximus Z790 Apex Encore was used to push the 14th Gen Intel Core i9-14900KF to 9043.92 MHz.

Chinese review outlets have received MSI Claw sample units—the "Please, Xiao Fengfeng" Bilibili video channel has produced several comparison pieces detailing how the plucky Intel Meteor Lake-powered handheld stands up against its closest rival; ASUS ROG Ally. The latter utilizes an AMD Ryzen Z1 APU—in Extreme or Standard forms—many news outlets have pointed out that the Z1 Extreme processor is a slightly reworked Ryzen 7 7840U "Phoenix" processor. Intel and its handheld hardware partners have not dressed up Meteor Lake chips with alternative gaming monikers—simply put, the MSI Claw arrives with Core Ultra 7-155H or Ultra 5-135H processors onboard. The two rival systems both run on Window 11, and also share the same screen size, resolution, display technology (IPS) and 16 GB LPDDR5-6400 memory configuration. The almost eight months old ASUS handheld seems to outperform its near-launch competition.

Xiao Fengfeng's review (Ultra 7-155H versus Z1 Extreme) focuses on different power levels and how they affect handheld performance—the Claw and Ally have user selectable TDP modes. A VideoCardz analysis piece lays out key divergences: "Both companies offer easy TDP profile switches, allowing users to adjust performance based on the game's requirements or available battery life. The Claw's larger battery could theoretically offer more gaming time or higher TDP with the same battery life. The system can work at 40 W TDP level (but in reality it's between 35 and 40 watts)...In the Shadow of the Tomb Raider test, the Claw doesn't seem to outperform the ROG Ally. According to a Bilibili creator's test, the system falls short at four different power levels: 15 W, 20 W, 25 W, and max TDP (40 W for Claw and 30 W for Ally)."

ASUS Republic of Gamers (ROG) today announced availability of the ROG Swift OLED PG32UCDM gaming monitor. It boasts a 32-inch 4K QD-OLED anti-reflective panel that delivers astounding visuals at a buttery-smooth 240 Hz. Featuring third-generation QD-OLED technology, the PG32UCDM delivers vibrant colors, the deepest black hues, and the brightest imagery. Plus, a 0.03 ms gray-to-gray (GTG) response time ensures blur-free action, even in intense gameplay. Inside, an advanced custom heatsink offers exceptional cooling to reduce the likelihood of burn-in and improve performance and longevity of the OLED panel. This premium monitor is designed for gamers who demand the very best, offering an unbeatable combination of size, image quality, and refresh-rate speed for exhilarating gaming experiences.

The 240 Hz refresh rate of PG32UCDM eradicates motion blur and delivers buttery-smooth visuals, even in the most fast-paced titles. The 0.03 ms GTG response time eliminates ghosting and ensures pixel-perfect precision to provide gamers with a competitive edge. AMD FreeSync Premium Pro technology and NVIDIA G-SYNC compatibility ensure supersmooth, tear-free visuals with low latency. Plus, the back of the panel is wrapped in graphene film to improve heat dissipation while the custom heatsink with integrated airflow channels optimizes thermal performance to minimize the risk of burn-in.

Creating quality content requires quality gear - whether you're editing your latest video review or streaming your favorite games on Twitch. The ROG Carnyx is a professional-grade condenser gaming microphone that delivers detailed, high-fidelity audio with minimal setup, making it a good microphone for gaming and streaming that lets you can do what you do best: playing games, streaming, and creating content.

Crystal clear sound through the Carnyx gaming microphone
The Carnyx features a 25 mm condenser capsule and 192 kHz / 24-bit sampling rate, meaning every detail of your voice will come through in a clean, uninterrupted recording. Our high-pass filter enhances vocal clarity, the microphone's built-in pop filter to minimize vocal plosives, and the entire unit suspended onto a premium metal shock mount with a high quality elastic cord to reduce external vibrations and produce crystal-clear sound.

ASUS today announced the GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER Noctua OC Edition graphics card, designed for gamers and creators who seek cutting-edge performance that operates at whisper-quiet noise levels. Building on the class-leading design of the ASUS GeForce RTX 3070, RTX 3080, and RTX 4080 Noctua Edition variants, this premium graphics card achieves near-silent operation thanks to the Noctua fans, an ASUS custom-built vapor chamber and a massive heatsink.

The ASUS GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER Noctua Edition incorporates a pair of Noctua's state-of-the-art NF‑A12x25 fans to move air over an extra-large heatsink. These fans were developed in a partnership between the ASUS thermal R&D team and engineers at Noctua. The design involved tuning the fin density and heat pipe arrangement of the heatsink, optimizing each for the airflow characteristics of the NF-A12x25 fans. To prioritize low noise levels, a smooth acoustic signature and high cooling performance while making room for the pair of 120 mm fans, ASUS expanded the card's total volume to occupy 4.3 slots of space. The card also comes with a Dual BIOS switch, with Quiet mode enabled by default to minimize acoustics right out of the box.

MSI has officially confirmed the price for all three Claw gaming handheld SKUs, including two SKUs with the Intel Core Ultra 7-155H CPU and one equipped with the Core Ultra-135H CPU. The MSI Claw starts at $699.99 for the base version with an Intel Core Ultra 5-135H CPU, 16 GB of LPDDR5 memory, and 512 GB of PCIe Gen 4 M.2 storage. The other two SKUs, are priced at $749.99 and $799.99, both come with a Core Ultra 7-155H CPU, 16 GB of LPDDR5 memory, and either 512 GB or 1 TB of PCIe Gen 4 M.2 storage. Unfortunately, there is no word on the rumored SKU with 32 GB of LPDDR5 memory.

These prices make the MSI Claw just a tad bit more expensive than the ASUS ROG Ally and the Lenovo Legion Go, but it should do well if the performance is there. MSI has also confirmed to The Verge that the Claw's 7-inch 1080p screen comes with Variable Refresh Rate (VRR) operating between 48 and 120 Hz. The MSI Claw is rumored to launch in February or March.

Techlusive India has reported an exclusive announcement—courtesy of ASUS India's Arnold Su—the interviewee bears an elaborate and long job title: Vice President of Consumer and Gaming PC System Business Group. The wider discussion explores the region's gaming market conditions, although Su dropped a bombshell when discussing his company's current generation handheld gaming computer. The ASUS ROG Ally rolled out midway through 2023, as one of the first mainstream Windows 11 handheld gaming PCs. Competition in this market segment has ramped up significantly since then—Lenovo's Legion Go arrived last autumn, Valve's Steam Deck OLED refresh followed two months later, and MSI unveiled its Intel Meteor Lake-powered Claw at CES 2024.

Valve is not rushing out a proper next generation Steam Deck anytime soon—an urgent or immediate response to a lot of new competition is not necessary. An MSI representative revealed to gaming news media outlets (at CES 2024) that a Claw 2 model is already in the development pipeline. ASUS appears ready to launch new handheld hardware within a relatively short period—ASUS India's VP stated: "we most likely will launch a second generation (ROG Ally) this year. We will still keep the Windows (11) features, but we will focus more on gaming." He also revealed that original Ally models have sold "around 70,000 - 80,000 units" since the launch date in India—Techlusive labels this as a promising and "kind" response. Su's analysis of recent regional sales figures shows a trend of gaming branded laptops outpacing traditional desktop, in terms of adoption rates.

ASUS Republic of Gamers (ROG) today announced the availability of the ROG Falchion RX Low Profile gaming keyboard. This 65% keyboard was recently unveiled at CES 2024 and was selected as a 2024 CES Innovation Award honoree. It has an ultrathin 26.5 mm profile and masterfully incorporates arrow and navigation keys within a compact 60% frame.

The Falchion RX Low Profile is armed with pre-lubed ROG RX Red or Blue Low-profile Optical Switches featuring centralized lighting and providing consistent wobble-free keystrokes with near-zero debounce delay. A multifunction button and interactive touch panel on the Falchion RX Low Profile allows users to intuitively adjust volume, play/pause media or keyboard lighting; with commands customizable through Armoury Crate. Tri-mode connectivity enables users to connect to three devices simultaneously via Bluetooth, or use ROG SpeedNova 2.4 GHz wireless technology or wired USB connection. The ROG Omni Receiver allows the user to connect to multiple supported devices via a single receiver to free up an additional USB port. Inside, two layers of silicone foam eliminate echoes and switching pinging for great acoustics to enhance the typing experience.

ASUS Republic of Gamers (ROG) today announced ROG Swift OLED PG34WCDM, a 34-inch ultrawide 800R curved 3440 x 1440 OLED gaming monitor featuring a 240 Hz refresh rate and a 0.03 ms gray-to-gray (GTG) response time. The PG34WCDM boasts a custom heatsink and improved airflow design to reduce internal temperatures to reduce the risk of panel burn-in. The monitor features 3rd generation ROG OLED technology with DisplayHDR True Black 400 compliance and 30% brighter imagery than its predecessor. It also features the Clear Pixel Edge algorithm and Extreme Low Motion Blur technology (ELMB) to reduce color fringing and enable crisp fast-paced visuals respectively. NVIDIA G-SYNC -compatibility ensures supersmooth, tear-free visuals with low latency. In addition, built-in ROG Smart KVM software allows users to control two devices with a keyboard and mouse, with USB 3.2 enabling superfast file transfers across two input sources. The PG34WCDM also offers multiple connectivity options including DisplayPort 1.4, HDMI 2.1, and USB-C with 90 W power delivery.

Immersive gaming experiences
The ROG Swift OLED PG34WCDM pushes the boundaries of gaming innovation with its 34-inch ultrawide 800R curved panel and superfast 240 Hz refresh rate and 0.03 ms GTG response time. Inside, a custom heatsink and improved airflow design help reduce operating temperatures and minimize the potential for burn-in to ensure the display's longevity.

During the CES 2024 show, the ASUS booth had a wide variety of products on display. Among the more interesting solutions was the highly-anticipated ROG NUC. Initially, Intel sold the NUC design and manufacturing license to ASUS, and we were left wondering how ASUS would adapt its compact design. We had a booth tour and took pictures of the new design in person. The ASUS ROG NUC can be configured with Intel's flagship Meteor Lake-H Core Ultra 9 185H processor, a 16-core/22-thread CPU with a 115 W maximum turbo TDP that boosts up to 5.1 GHz. It features six performance cores, eight efficiency cores, and two low-power performance cores. The system can be equipped with up to an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Laptop GPU for graphics.

A more affordable option pairs the Core Ultra 7 155H processor with an RTX 4060 Laptop GPU. Other key specifications include support for up to 32 GB of DDR5 memory across two SO-DIMM slots, three M.2 PCIe Gen 4 x4 SSD slots, Intel Killer WiFi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3, 2.5G LAN, Thunderbolt 4, as much as six USB ports, HDMI and DisplayPort outputs, and a choice of Windows 11 Home 64-bit, Ubuntu 22.04 LTS, or no pre-installed OS. The 2.5-liter chassis shows that miniature size can equal big performance and can easily provide great gaming and productivity results.

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.

During its "Transcendence Virtual Launch Live Event at CES 2024, ASUS has finally revealed a bit more details about its new ASUS Republic of Gamers NUC, codenamed Scorpion Canyon. The ROG NUC will be powered by up to Intel's Core Ultra 9 CPU and up to NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Laptop GPU, all packed in a 2.5-liter chassis.

The flagship CPU choice is the Intel Meteor Lake-H Core Ultra 9 185H CPU, a 16-core/22-thread CPU (6 P-cores, 8 E-cores, and 2 low-power P-cores) which has a 115 W maximum Turbo TDP and Boosts up to 5.1 GHz. The ASUS ROG NUC can also be equipped with up to NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Laptop GPU. The less expensive SKU pairs up the Core Ultra 7 155H with NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU. The rest of the specifications include two DDR5 SO-DIMM slots with support for 32 GB of memory, three M.2 2280 PCIe Gen 4 x4 slots, Intel Killer WiFi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3, 2.5G Intel LAN, single Thunderbolt 4 port and plenty of other USB ports, HDMI and DisplayPort 1.4a outputs, and choice between Windows 11 Home 64-bit, Ubuntu 22.04 LTS, or no OS.

ASUS Republic of Gamers (ROG) today announced an arsenal of gaming peripherals and gear at CES 2024. ROG strives to transcend the limits of what's currently possible and its latest offerings are designed to empower gamers with the tools to dominate gaming worlds. These offerings include the ROG Keris II Ace ultralight gaming mouse, ROG Falchion RX Low Profile 65% gaming keyboard, ROG Cetra True Wireless SpeedNova gaming headphones, ROG Carnyx USB condenser microphone, and the ROG Archer ErgoAir Gaming Backpack.

ROG Keris II Ace
The ROG Keris II Ace is an ultralight gaming mouse made for competitive gamers and esports athletes. Designed with input and feedback from esports professionals, the Keris II Ace's sleek, minimalist aesthetic offers the perfect balance of functionality and form. Its environmentally friendly, bio-based nylon shell is derived from renewable castor oil, giving it an overall weight of just 54 grams to significantly reduce wrist fatigue during marathon gaming sessions. The optical micro switches used in the Keris II Ace offer consistent actuation and are extremely durable with a 100-million-click lifespan.

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.

The electronics brand JSAUX has a New Year's treat for Steam Deck, ROG Ally and Legion Go users. The transparent RGB dock adds a black transparent case to the popular RGB docking station: now you can match your transparent handheld device with a dock that not only shows its inner workings but that also lights your living room. The 8-in-1 transparent RGB docking station is available for $69.99 (discounted to $49 during its release) while the 12-in-1 transparent RGB docking station is available for $99.99 (discounted to $70 during its release)

About the RGB docking station
This new transparent RGB docking station is not only adding a black transparent casing to the former product. JSAUX has upgraded the product to better show its internal structure as well as the RGB lighting effects. A new chip now supports Variable Refresh Rate (VRR) and Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM) functionalities, two new features that will improve the user experience.

Just like LG and HP, ASUS is gearing up to launch a dual mode 4K 240 Hz / 1080p 480 Hz OLED monitor and the company has released a little teaser ahead of the official CES 2024 reveal of the monitor. The display will unsurprisingly fall under ASUS' ROG brand and will be known as the ROG Swift OLED PG32UCDP and spec wise it appears to use the same OLED panel as LG's 32GS95UE and possibly HP's Omen Transcend, since all three monitors should feature the dual mode option of 4K 240 Hz or 1080p 480 Hz. ASUS claims that the PG32UCDP is "the world's first dual-mode gaming monitor" which we've already seen isn't the case, but it's still the matter of who will be first to offer their displays in the retail market.

Interestingly, ASUS announced the similar ROG Swift OLED PG32UCDM at Gamescom 2023, which was said to offer a QD-OLED display with a 4K resolution and a 240 Hz refresh rate. The PG32UCDM appears to lack the 1080p 480 Hz mode though, but with only one letter difference in the model name, potential buyers are going to have to pay close attention so they don't end up with the wrong display. We're going to have to wait for a release and review of the displays before we'll know which one is the better of the two ASUS models.

Elmor Labs unveiled plans for its own OCP (overclock panel) accessory, which combines the most important machine controls and diagnostic readouts from a compatble motherboard into a handy desktop gadget, so overclockers don't crane their neck over to the test bench while staring at a black screen between OC attempts. ASUS has developed such an accessory a few years ago, although the last such device was released almost a decade ago during the Socket LGA1150 days, and although ASUS continued to release high-end motherboards with the OCP headers, the panel itself has been hard to come by in the market. This is what Elmor hopes to address.

Elmor's panel looks like a scientific instrument, a big departure from the ROG aesthetic of ASUS's OCP. Each of its buttons is an bare SMD switch that imitates the look of some 2-pin threaded connectors on instruments. There is a monochrome LED matrix display that puts out pretty much all the real-time monitoring and diagnostic readouts as the ASUS OCP. Elmor Labs hasn't put out pricing information yet.

EK, the leading liquid cooling gear manufacturer, is ready to support the new enthusiast-favorite ROG MAXIMUS Z790 FORMULA motherboard with a unique, patented liquid distribution VRM Bridge. The EK-Quantum Momentum² VRM Bridge ROG Maximus Z790 Formula D-RGB is a purpose-engineered connection piece that bridges the integrated ASUS HyperChill III VRM cooling on the motherboard and EK-Quantum Velocity² 1700 CPU water block into a single entity.

And for those with the last-gen Z690 VRM Bridge, EK has an upgrade kit with a two-fold use. It can convert EK-Quantum Momentum² VRM Bridge ROG Maximus Z690 Formula to feature a white stand-out piece that fits its color scheme. It also allows you to use the existing Z690 bridge with the new ROG MAXIMUS Z790 FORMULA motherboard. It is confirmed that the integrated ASUS HyperChill III VRM Z790 Formula water block is copper-based and poses no issues for custom loop liquid cooling. The use of purpose-made PC liquid cooling coolant is still mandatory to avoid corrosion issues. All the users who encountered issues with the VRM water block on the Z690 Formula should contact ASUS directly to get the issue resolved.

Seagate Technology Holdings plc, today introduced the new FireCuda 520N NVMe solid state drive (SSD) with 2230-S2 M.2 form factor. The new drive is a perfect storage upgrade for Valve's Steam Deck, Microsoft Surface, ASUS ROG Ally, Lenovo Legion Go, and other compact devices with 2230 M.2 slots.

Available in 1 TB and 2 TB capacities, the FireCuda 520N is a PCIe Gen 4 NVMe SSD specifically designed for high performing hand-held gaming devices with high octane read/write speed of up to 5,000 MB/s for the 2 TB capacity and up to 4,800 MB/s for the 1 TB model. The drive offers PCIe Gen 4 NVMe SSD performance of desktop gaming, and it is backward compatible with Gen 3 and Gen 2 PCIe slots. The FireCuda 520N includes Seagate's three-year Rescue Data Recovery Service plan and a five-year limited warranty. It is available now for $109.99 (1 TB) and $189.99 (2 TB).