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).

G.SKILL International Enterprise Co., Ltd., the world's leading brand of performance overclock memory and PC components, is thrilled to unveil DDR5 memory with an ultra-high kit capacity of 256 GB (64 GB x4), overclocked to DDR5-6000 CL32. Built with high-performance SK hynix DDR5 ICs, this overclock memory speed and timing pushes the boundaries of memory overclocking by fully loading 4 modules of high-capacity DDR5 64 GB U-DIMM modules on a single system; marking a new milestone for high-performance computing, content creation, AI applications, and advanced workstation workloads.

Overclocked, Ultra-Capacity 256 GB (64 GB x4) at DDR5-6000 CL32 In content creation and recent advancements in AI, the need for higher DRAM capacity is essential. Whether calculating large language models or working with complex or high-resolution video content, high-speed memory of high-density 64 GB modules would help to provide a smoother and more efficient workflow. Loaded with AMD EXPO memory overclock profiles, see the DDR5-6000 CL32 256 GB (64 GB x4) kit being stress-tested in the screenshots below on the ASUS ROG CROSSHAIR X870E HERO motherboard with the AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D desktop processor, as well as on the MSI MPG X870E CARBON WIFI motherboard with the AMD Ryzen 9 9900X desktop processor.

ASUS Republic of Gamers today announced the ROG Crosshair X870E Extreme and ROG Crosshair X870E Apex, which join the previously-released ROG Crosshair X870E Hero to triple the number of premium ASUS motherboard options for high-end AMD Ryzen systems. Equipped with premium components, heavy-duty power solutions, and offering next-level connectivity options, these motherboards cater to those who dare to build a PC that shatters boundaries. ASUS AI Advisor, available within the ASUS DriverHub app, can help users learn all about this new hardware and get performance tips.

ROG Crosshair X870E Extreme
The ROG Crosshair X870E Extreme carries forward the AMD Ryzen 9000 Series of ROG motherboards with a no-holds-barred feature set and an all-new design that exudes luxury. Its massive power solution unleashes the full potential of new CPUs. 20+2+2 power stages effortlessly slake the thirst of the top-end AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D, even when firing on all cylinders. Thick-and-tall VRM heatsinks keep the power circuitry operating comfortably, while 8+8 ProCool II power connectors with solid pins give the CPU a direct line to the power supply.

ASUS today announced the new ASUS Chromebook CX14/CX15 series of powerful yet budget-friendly 14-inch and 15-inch laptops. The series features a stylish and sustainable premium design, and the laptops are also available with Chromebook Plus options for enhanced performance and Google AI experiences.

The series features an exciting range of seven colors—with five choices for CX14 and five for CX15—and three different surface finishes. The eco-conscious construction uses 30% recycled plastics.

NVIDIA's GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 8 GB graphics card design received little fanfare when review embargoes lifted mid-way through the working week. Reportedly by official instruction, involved board partners sent out 16 GB samples to evaluators. Multiple Western outlets are currently attempting to source GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 8 GB cards—on their own dime—including TechPowerUp. As mentioned in his conclusive rundown of PALIT's GeForce RTX 5060 Ti Infinity 3 16 GB model, W1zzard commented on this situation: "personally, I'm very interested in my results for the RTX 5060 Ti 8 GB, which I'm trying to buy now." The ever reliable harukaze5719 has already stumbled upon one such review. Yesterday, Carbon-based Technology Research Institute (CBTRI) uploaded their findings onto the Chinese bilibili video platform.

Two ASUS options were compared to each other: an 8 GB Hatsune Miku Special Edition card, and a better known property: PRIME RTX 5060 Ti 16 GB. In most situations the two variants perform similarly. A clear difference was demonstrated when CBTRI's lab test moved into a DLSS 4 with Multi-Frame Generation (MFG) phase. Both harukaze5719 and Tom's Hardware noted a significant gulf—the latter's report observed: "in Cyberpunk 2077, for example, the RTX 5060 Ti 8 GB inexplicably performed worse than the RTX 4060 Ti 8 GB at native 1440p resolution. While enabling MFG helped improve performance, pushing it to 4x delivered underwhelming results, with the 16 GB version providing 22% higher performance than the 8 GB card." Rumors have swirled about the late arrival of GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 8 GB cards at retail; potentially a week after the launch of 16 GB siblings. As evidenced by early results, potential buyers should consider paying a little extra ($50) for a larger pool of VRAM. Team Green's introductory material outlined starter price tags of $429 (16 GB) and $379 (8 GB).

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.

Since teasing its next-gen flagship motherboard design—at CES 2025—the ASUS Republic of Gamers (ROG) team has spent time finalizing an option that is even more extravagant than their hardcore overclocking-oriented Crosshair X870E Apex model. Naturally, the premium sub-brand did not reveal pricing during preview events—instead, premature European e-tail listings suggested a €1200 (~$1350 USD) tag. Tony Wu and colleagues at ASUS China introduced an impressive swath of brand-new products at an official in-person showcase last week, in Changsha.

During proceedings, company representatives introduced their top-flight E-ATX format board with a hefty day one price: 9999 RMB ($1360 USD). The ASUS ROG Crosshair X870E Extreme is expected to launch later this month; likely starting off with the Chinese domestic market. At the time of writing, the manufacturer's various global branches have not disclosed localized details—be it pricing or availability. Last week's presser did not produce any surprises, since plenty of specification details (and promo shots) leaked out late last month. One interesting and very over the top feature is the model's integration of an adjustable full-color 5-inch LCD screen. The primary M.2 storage solution will be cooled by an "innovative" 3D vapor chamber heatsink. Well-heeled customers will be relieved to know that ASUS has outfitted the AAA board design with their revamped Q-Release Slim mechanism.

ASUS today announced the latest additions to its comprehensive range of business laptops - ExpertBook P1 (PM1403 and PM1503). Aimed at administrators and budget-conscious professionals who require essential computing services without compromise, and available in 14-inch or 15.6-inch FHD options, the new ExpertBook P1 models blend effective performance with everyday functionality, housed in a practical design that delivers where it counts. The compact and elegant ExpertBook P1 series starts at a lightweight 1.4 kg and features an elegant new design that unlocks impressive efficiency to supercharge daily productivity, empowered by Copilot in Windows - quickly accessed via a single tap of the dedicated Copilot key.

The new ExpertBook P1 laptops are engineered for superb performance, powered by up to an AMD Ryzen 7 processor and offering up to 1 TB of storage with up to dual SSDs for fast operation. They also feature a built-in fingerprint sensor and TPM 2.0 chip to protect privacy and business data - ensuring that ExpertBook P1 is a trusted, reliable traveling companion for modern workflows.

G.SKILL International Enterprise Co., Ltd., the world's leading brand of performance overclock memory, is thrilled to announce that renowned overclocker, Seby, has broken the overclocking world record for DDR5 memory frequency speed at a blistering DDR5-12772. This incredible frequency record was achieved with G.SKILL Trident Z5 DDR5 memory, built with high-performance SK hynix DDR5 ICs, running on the ASUS ROG Maximus Z890 Apex motherboard and Intel Core Ultra 9 285K desktop processor under extreme liquid nitrogen (LN2) cooling.

Reaching a New Height of DDR5 Memory Overclock Speed
This new milestone follows a long-standing legacy of record-breaking performance of G.SKILL Trident Z5 DDR5 memory, achieved by a single module from the F5-8000J3848F24GX2-TZ5K model, and highlights the exceptional overclocking capability of both the ASUS ROG Maximus Z890 APEX motherboard and the Intel Core Ultra 9 285K desktop processor. The overclock record has been submitted to and validated by HWBOT and CPU-Z; refer to the following links and screenshot to see the record submission:

ASUS Republic of Gamers (ROG) today announced a new and wide-ranging gaming peripherals lineup. The latest additions to the ROG arsenal include the Azoth X gaming keyboard, Keris II Origin gaming mouse, Scabbard II Arctic Gray XXL gaming mousepad, and the Delta II Moonlight White gaming headset.

ROG Azoth X gaming keyboard
The ROG Azoth X is a 75% custom gaming keyboard built for discerning gamers and keyboard enthusiasts who demand precision and versatility. The keycaps feature a three-sided translucent design that amplifies RGB shine-through for a stunning visual display. The front and top of each keycap is dye-sublimated with the ROG Stellar theme for a signature look. A south-facing PCB ensures compatibility with a broad range of switches, while five dampening layers (one silicone and four PORON layers), a gasket mount, and an FR4 positioning plate work in unison to provide refined typing experiences. Hot-swappable ROG NX Snow Mechanical Switches V2 support diverse keycap profiles and deliver softer acoustics and smooth keystrokes.

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.

ASUS has launched its B850M AYW GAMING WiFi motherboard worldwide giving users a small but mighty option for AMD Ryzen desktop systems. This board comes in a narrow microATX form factor measuring 24.4 cm x 22.1 cm. It sports a six-layer black PCB and silver-white heatsinks keeping a tidy look while sticking to the ASUS AYW series style. The board uses an 8+2+1 phase setup with discrete MOSFETs and has one 8-pin EPS CPU power plug. For a compact board, it offers plenty of storage choices. You'll find one PCIe 5.0 M.2 slot that can handle speeds up to 128 Gbps and another PCIe 4.0 M.2 slot with speeds up to 64 Gbps. To add extra cards, the motherboard provides one PCIe 5.0 x16 slot running at full speed plus one PCIe 4.0 x16 slot that works at x8/x4 speed.

The B850M AYW GAMING WiFi has two DIMM slots for DDR5 memory in a dual-channel setup with AEMP support (up to 8400+ MS/s OC). It comes with Wi-Fi 6 wireless networking, 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet, various USB ports, including Type-C, and Realtek 7.1 channel audio CODEC. You'll find a pre-mounted shield on the rear I/O panel. This panel includes one HDMI 2.1 port, several USB ports at different speeds (10 Gbps, 5 Gbps, and 480 Mbps), one 2.5 GbE RJ45 network port, two Wi-Fi antenna connections, and three audio jacks. For those looking to customize, the board offers three Addressable RGB Gen 2 headers. Exact pricing is yet to be revealed.

Simply NUC, a global leader in customized computing solutions, proudly adds ASUS's NUC 15 Pro Cyber Canyon to its product lineup, setting a new benchmark for AI-optimized performance in a compact form factor. Engineered with Intel Core Ultra Series 2 processors and Intel Arc Graphics, the Cyber Canyon is designed to accelerate AI workloads, empower edge computing, and deliver seamless business productivity.

"The NUC 15 Pro Cyber Canyon is not just a step forward—it's a leap into the future of AI computing," said Ed Barkhuysen, VP of Product at Simply NUC. "With the latest Intel Core Ultra processors, Wi-Fi 7 connectivity, and cutting-edge security, Cyber Canyon is built for professionals and businesses looking for a powerful yet compact computing solution."

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 today announced the global unveiling of a signature edition series of its iconic Zenbook at the "Design You Can Feel" exhibition in Milan. This exclusive release transforms the celebrated Zenbook into a narrative of nature's splendor through four distinct, nature-inspired finishes, each a tribute to Earth's dynamic landscapes. At the same time, it reinforces the Zenbook series' legacy of combining high-performance technology with refined, functional aesthetics.

Signature Edition Series: A tribute to nature's elements
In this unique series, each Zenbook is transformed into a narrative piece that echoes the beauty and complexity of nature. Crafted using the revolutionary ASUS Ceraluminum technology—a breakthrough material that merges the strength of aluminium with the durability of ceramic—each signature edition finish is created with a sustainable, one-of-a-kind manufacturing process:

ASUS today announced its participation in the NAB Show 2025. Visitors to the ASUS booth will have the opportunity to experience the future of content creation with live demonstrations of the latest ASUS ProArt offerings. The showcase includes the debut of the ProArt Cinema PQ09 monitor, featuring the largest-ever ASUS microLED display. The ProArt Display 6K PA32QCV and the ProArt CaliContrO MCA02 three-in-one calibrator will also be showcased. Also on show will be the 16-inch ProArt P16, a creative powerhouse laptop equipped with a 50 TOPS NPU, AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 processor, and up to an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Laptop GPU. In addition, the NAB Show 2025 will feature the latest installment of the ProArt Masters' Talks series, with renowned creatives sharing their perspectives on current trends.

The ProArt Cinema PQ09 is the latest addition to the ProArt Cinema microLED display lineup. This 162-inch 4K HDR monitor features advanced panel technologies, ultrasmall 0.93 mm pixel pitch, 1200nits peak brightness, high 1,000,000:1 contrast ratio, and 97% DCI-P3 color gamut. Compared to conventional microLED displays with a 1.2 or 1.5 mm pixel pitch, ProArt Cinema PQ09 delivers smoother and more vibrant visuals, making it the perfect large-screen display for home cinema, broadcasting or other uses.

TechPowerUp's W1zzard did not honor the ASUS ROG Astral RTX 5080 OC Edition graphics card model with any awards—as disclosed in his late January evaluation, a major negative point was highlighted: "no additional power limit increases allowed." The premium-tier ASUS offering managed to top TPU's "Maximum Overclock Comparison" GeForce RTX 5080-class table; comfortably leading the pack with an out-of-the-box (default) 400 W power setting. Reviewers and well-heeled owners—of this $1500+ special quad-fan package—have lamented the apparent lack of extra headroom. Sitting in fifth place was GIGABYTE's RTX 5080 GAMING OC SKU; a card that can support up to 450 W. As reported by VideoCardz earlier today, ASUS has taken onboard aforementioned feedback.

Resultant under-the-hood tinkerings were implemented mid-way through last month. The "ROG Astral GeForce RTX 5080 16 GB GDDR7 OC Edition" support page has welcomed a new downloadable file—authored on March 14—this BIOS update is advertised as being capable of: "increasing the (model's) maximum TGP to 450 W." Additional bragging rights will be granted with this patch; owners can boast about their expensive bits of kit being further enhanced—NVIDIA's reference specification TGP/TDP is 360 W. Thumbs up go to Team ASUS once again—mid-February Astral series updates tweaked noise profiles; not too long after an absorption of launch day criticism.

G.SKILL International Enterprise Co., Ltd., the world's leading brand of performance overclock memory and PC components, is thrilled to announce a new high-speed memory overclock DDR5 specification with an ultra-high kit capacity - DDR5-8000 CL44 with 128 GB (64 GB x2) kit capacity. This is the world's first DDR5 memory kit with 64 GB high-capacity modules to reach the extreme overclock level of DDR5-8000, setting a new milestone for high-performance computing, content creation, AI applications, and advanced workstation workloads.

New Era of Overclocking High-Capacity DDR5 64 GB Modules
Engineered for high-capacity overclocked performance, the DDR5-8000 128 GB (64 GB x2) combines ultra-high memory speed with massive memory kit capacity, surpassing the previous module capacity maximum at 48 GB per module. At last, power users and content creators who seek overclock performance memory for capacity-hungry applications will have the ideal DDR5 memory solution. Refer to the validation screenshot below to see DDR5-8000 CL44-58-58 128 GB (64 GB x2) tested on the ASUS ROG CROSSHAIR X870E APEX motherboard with the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X desktop processor.

It seems as though the high pricing and shortages surrounding NVIDIA's latest GeForce RTX 5000 series GPUs has resulted in gamers turning to previous GPU generations for salvation. According to the latest Newegg GPU bestseller charts, the $459.98 MSI Ventus NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 8 GB graphics card is currently the best-selling GPU. Curiously, the Gigabyte AMD Radeon RX 7800 XT OC 16 GB is close on its heels, with the Gigabyte AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT on its heels in third place. The first NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5000 series GPU on the Newegg bestseller list is the ASUS TUF Gaming RTX 5070 OC, which is in eighth place, behind several AMD Radeon RX 7900 XT, RX 9070 XT, and RX 6600 models. It's unclear whether this is due to high pricing or simply a lack of stock to sell, although the RTX 5070 OC is currently available on Newegg for $739.99. Curiously, this is also the only in-stock RTX 5000 series card amongst the top 20 best-selling GPUs on Newegg. Granted, this is only one vendor, but the majority of the GPUs on the list are either AMD Radeon RX 7000 series or NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4000 series GPUs.

The most recent Steam Hardware & Software Survey, updated for March 2025, however, tells a more confusing story. While adoption rates for NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5000 series GPUs is certainly slow, with the RTX 5080 being the only 5000 series GPU to even feature on the chart, with 0.19% growth over the last month, gamers seem to be moving away from the RTX 4000 series even faster. The GPU that showed the most growth during the last Steam Survey is the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650, which is already six years old. It's also interesting to note that most of the AMD GPUs in the Steam Survey results also saw minor upticks in adoption. Recent reports out of Japan show that AMD has garnered massive interest since the launch of the RX 9070 series GPUs, with claims of 45% market share coming as a surprise after NVIDIA reached 90% GPU market share in December last year. While NVIDIA's supply issues are likely at least partially to blame for AMD's increased popularity, there is also a growing sentiment amongst gamers, backed by some of our own testing, that NVIDIA is more interested in AI and simply isn't equipping its gaming graphics cards with enough VRAM for high-resolution and high-refresh rate gaming.

ASUS Republic of Gamers (ROG) today announced availability of the ROG Strix OLED XG27UCDMG gaming monitor, the second 27-inch 4K OLED gaming monitor offered by ROG. Positioned just under the flagship ROG Swift OLED PG27UCDM, the XG27UCDMG caters to a wider audience looking for a monitor for gaming, content consumption, and daily use. It features 4th generation ROG QD-OLED technology with a pixel density of 166 pixels per inch to deliver supersharp imagery, incredibly clear text, and infinite contrast.

It also offers the latest ASUS OLED Care Pro features, including a Neo Proximity sensor that protects the OLED panel from burn-in. New firmware updates to optimize the Neo Proximity sensor for both the Swift OLED PG27UCDM and the Strix OLED XG27UCDMG will be available in April 2025. In addition, ROG OLED Anti-Flicker 2.0 technology minimizes onscreen flicker even during intense gaming sessions. XG27UCDMG offers a host of comprehensive features including Auto KVM, a full-function USB-C port with DP Alt mode and 90-watt Power Delivery, along with Aspect Ratio Control.

NVIDIA and its laptop/notebook manufacturing partners have just about managed a very last minute launch of GeForce RTX 5090 Mobile, RTX 5080 Mobile, RTX 5070 Ti Mobile GPU-powered devices at retail. According to the latest reports, yesterday's—March 31—small trickle out of high-end portable "Blackwell" hardware qualified as a launch within the first quarter of 2025. Due to Team Green's GeForce RTX 50 series being affected by ROPs anomalies—across desktop and mobile platforms—involved firms anticipated deliveries being delayed into April. As stated early last month, unnamed industry sources divulged details about official instructions: "manufacturers (must) inspect already-produced notebooks with new mobile GeForce RTX 5000 graphics chips." Going further back in time, supply chain moles predicted that the entire product stack—starting at the top with GeForce RTX 5090 M, going down to RTX 5070 M—would be subject to postponements.

PC gaming hardware watchdogs noticed a very limited supply of GeForce RTX 5090 Mobile-based laptops on "day one," at least in North America. VideoCardz spent some time combing through Newegg listings, after hearing about the Q1 launch via official social media announcements. The likes of ASUS, GIGABYTE, HP, Lenovo, MSI and Razer opened up direct pre-orders on February 25, but yesterday's embargo lift seemed to extend to general retails outlets. VideoCardz noted that the cheapest—at $4299—GeForce RTX 5090 Laptop options were already sold out. MSI's North American store lists an "out of stock" Titan 18 HX Dragon Edition Norse Myth 18-inch model with an eye-watering price tag of $6199.99. Additionally, the publication pointed out the best GeForce RTX 5080 Laptop starting price: $2499.99. GeForce RTX 5070 Ti Laptops start at $1899.99 on Newegg, but RTX 5070 Mobile-based options seemed to be absent. The online retailer's stock notification system predicts late April or early May replenishments of higher-end stock.

NVIDIA's stellar quality control with the $2,000 GeForce RTX 5090 saw quite a few customers end up with cards that had fewer ROPs than they should—168 as opposed to its original spec of 176. The 8 fewer ROPs results in a roughly 5% drop in performance. When you're ponying up over two grand, this is the last thing you want. But what if we told you there are cards out there were more ROPs than they should have? We have with us an ASUS ROG Astral GeForce RTX 5090 LC graphics card that we detected 192 ROPs on. That's right, the card has all the 192 ROPs active that are present in the "GB202" silicon, or two ROP partitions (16 ROPs) more than it should have. We received our ROG Astral RTX 5090 LC sample just a few weeks ago, and haven't had time to thoroughly test it yet, because we're in the middle of a full retest with new games and new drivers.

The ASUS ROG Astral LC is a factory overclocked card, with ASUS giving the card a generous OC to benefit from the liquid cooling solution (2580 MHz boost vs. 2407 MHz reference or +7.1%). To account for that, we tried our best to clock the card back down to reference specs, which is presented as the orange bar. This still isn't the same card as the RTX 5090 Founders Edition, because the superior cooling solution and power limits mean that the GPU enjoys better boost frequency residency, but this is as close as we can get to simulating reference spec. We ran the card through a battery of game tests, which show an average of 8% performance gains over the RTX 5090 Founders Edition.

The upcoming collaboration project between Microsoft and ASUS is slowly materializing in the form of a handheld gaming console, as recently released promotional material shows. The latest teaser video shows an ASUS ROG Ally and Xbox controller merging into a single unit, becoming an animated character, indicating a hardware partnership that combines Microsoft's software ecosystem with ASUS's portable hardware expertise. Project Kennan, as the device is reportedly codenamed, contradicts earlier Xbox executive statements regarding development timelines. Initial projections suggested the hardware launch within a 2-3 year window, yet current information suggests a potential Q3/Q4 2025 release, with perhaps an announcement in Q2 this year. Following Steam Deck's market success, the accelerated schedule may come from increased competitive pressure in the handheld PC gaming segment.

The device appears to feature a predominantly black chassis, though other specifications remain undisclosed. AMD architecture integration will likely continue the foundation established in both Xbox Series consoles and the ROG Ally platform. This hardware choice would prioritize performance-per-watt efficiency crucial for portable gaming applications. A significant technical decision remains regarding the operating system implementation: whether to deploy standard Windows with Xbox integration or develop a custom Xbox-centric interface layer. This choice will directly impact ecosystem compatibility, application support, and user experience fluidity. Both companies have maintained limited official communication regarding the project, with the teaser video serving as the primary confirmation of their collaboration.

Here are some of the first pictures of the ASUS ROG Crosshair X870E Extreme, the company's new flagship Socket AM5 motherboard. Until now, the company's AMD 800-series chipset motherboard lineup topped off with the ROG Crosshair X870E Hero for connectivity and the ROG Crosshair X870E Apex for overclocking chops, and the company is looking to push things up a notch, especially given that AMD's Ryzen 9000X3D series is established as the fastest processor series for gaming PC builds. This board is designed to compete with the likes of the MSI MEG X870E Godlike and the GIGABYTE X870E AORUS Xtreme. It is firmly into the E-ATX territory in terms of dimensions. The board draws power from a combination of 24-pin ATX, two 8-pin EPS, and an 8-pin PCIe power. It uses the company's most powerful CPU VRM solution for the AMD platform, above even the 22-phase solution of the Hero.

The ASUS ROG Crosshair X870E Extreme comes with a large number of 4-pin PWM fan and water pump headers. Storage connectivity includes one M.2-22110 Gen 5 on the board with a chunky heat pipe-based cooler; a second Gen 5 and two Gen 4 slots on the board, and a DIMM.2 module that provides additional slots. The expansion slots provided are a PCI-Express 5.0 x16 and a second PCI-Express 4.0 x4 (physical x16). There are a boat-load of USB ports, including a couple of 40 Gbps USB4, 20 Gbps USB 3.2 Gen 2x2, and several 10 Gbps and 5 Gbps USB 3.2 ports. Networking interfaces include Wi-Fi 7, a 10 GbE, and a 5 GbE. The board features the company's most premium onboard audio solution that probably combines a Realtek ALC4082 with an ESS ES9219 DAC for the front channels, an audiophile-grade OPAMP, and premium capacitors. The board offers many of the exclusive overclocker-friendly features found in the company's ROG Maximus Extreme motherboards. A star-attraction is its 4-inch true-color display over the VRM heatsinks, which can be programmed to show anything. There is no word on availability or pricing.