Tag Archives: ROG

Did AMD Just Spank ASUS For ROG Overheating Fiasco?

It looks like ASUS got spanked by AMD after publishing their gungho article accusing AMD for causing their ROG cards to overheat.

ASUS just amended their article to speak in far more respectful tones, with interesting tidbits on who was really to blame for the whole ROG overheating fiasco…

 

Overheating ASUS ROG RX 5700 Cards : What’s Going On?

The ASUS ROG Strix Radeon RX 5700 XT and Radeon RX 5700 are two of the more premium and expensive RX 5700 series graphics cards in the market, boasting premium alloy chokes, solid polymer capacitors, triple fans with axial fan blades, and a large and heavy heatsink.

They also feature the ASUS MaxContact Technology, which DOUBLES the cooler’s contact surface with the GPU for maximum thermal transfer.

Despite such an impressive list of premium power and cooling capabilities, users noticed that their expensive ASUS ROG RX 5700 cards keep overheating because the screws mounting the cooler were “loose”.

 

ASUS finally admitted the problem but blamed AMD for causing it on Valentine’s Day. Remember when lovers used to give each other flowers and chocolates? LOL!

They even created this infamous pressure vs temperature chart to prove that they were not at fault, and users should blame AMD.

With the exception of ASUS fans, that accusation and chart got roundly derided because :

  • AMD recommendations were for their reference design, not AIB custom designs
  • ASUS cards based on the AMD reference design did not have overheating problems
  • custom designs from other brands did not have overheating problems
  • ASUS TUF Gaming cards had overheating problems of a different nature

Recommended : ASUS TUF RX 5700 Cards Are Also Overheating, Remember?

Courtesy of the awesome Hardware Unboxed guys!

 

Looks Like AMD Spanked ASUS For ROG Overheating Fiasco…

Someone in the know just pointed out to us that ASUS quietly removed the chart and changed their article, which was curiously backdated to 15 February.

It really looked like AMD handed ASUS a nice spanking for their absurd accusations, because look at how meek and subservient their new statement looks like :

Initial batches of ROG Strix RX 5700-series graphics cards were torqued to 30-40 PSI based on AMD’s baseline recommendations.

While those guidelines provided leeway to apply more torque, we took a cautious approach because were [sic] dealing with a new 7nm GPU and didn’t want to risk damage to the die.

After receiving user reports regarding temperature issues, we performed extended R&D testing to find the optimal PSI range for our graphics cards without compromising GPU reliability. 

Compare that with what they posted earlier :

During the design phase, AMD shares documents with our engineers that outline specifications and tolerances to ensure performance and reliability margins are maintained.

Initial batches of ROG Strix 5700-series graphics cards were built following AMD’s guidelines.

After receiving user reports regarding temperature issues, we performed extended R&D testing to find the optimal PSI range for our graphics cards without compromising GPU reliability. 

 

Who Was Really At Fault For Overheating ROG Cards : AMD or ASUS?

Based on the two new sentences and what they left in the new press release, ASUS basically admitted that :

  • the AMD “guidelines” they referred to earlier were BASELINE / MINIMUM recommendations
  • they used the baseline / minimum mounting pressure meant for the reference design, for a custom cooler of their own design, which ironically includes a backplate for higher mounting pressures
  • they were not aware that their ROG Strix cards would overheat under normal gaming conditions, which would be obvious if they performed either pre-production or post-production tests
  • they did not perform proper mounting pressure tests for their ROG Strix cards, until users complained about overheating problems
  • after conducting those tests, they finally discovered that they should have mounted the coolers at 50-60 PSI, instead of 30-40 PSI the cards shipped with.
  • they started mounting those ROG Strix coolers at the higher pressures from January 2020 onwards

That’s what we can tell from their two press releases. We will leave it to you to decide if AMD was at fault, or ASUS.

Recommended : Why ASUS Cannot Blame AMD For Overheating ROG Cards

 

ASUS, Not AMD, Will Repair Your ROG Cards!

It is instructive to note that ASUS, not AMD, will be repairing your ROG cards for FREE!

  1. Check and make sure the ROG Strix card you purchased is one of these models :
ROG Strix Radeon RX 5700 XT series ROG Strix Radeon RX 5700 series
90YV0D90-M0NA00 (Universal)
90YV0D90-M0TA00 (Taiwan)
90YV0D90-M0CA00 (China)
90YV0D90-M0IA00 (India)
90YV0D90-MTAA00 (North America)
90YV0D90-M0AA00 (North America)
90YV0D90-M0NB00 (Bulk pack)
90YV0DD0-M0NA00 (Universal)
90YV0DD0-M0TA00 (Taiwan)
90YV0DD0-M0CA00 (China)
90YV0DD0-M0IA00 (India)
90YV0DD0-MTAA00 (North America)
90YV0DD0-M0AA00 (North America)
90YV0DD0-M0NB00 (Bulk pack)
  1. Contact the local ASUS customer support team, and inform them you would like to have your ROG Strix card repaired.
  2. Wait for the replacement screws to arrive – ASUS says the COVID-19 outbreak is affecting the supply of these replacement screws.
  3. Once the screws are available, send your ROG Strix card to the local ASUS customer support team, and they will install those screws with higher mounting pressures.

Recommended : ASUS Blames AMD For Overheating ROG RX 5700 Cards!

 

Should We STOP Buying AMD Radeon Cards From ASUS?

No, ASUS cards based on AMD reference designs are perfectly fine. And the current slew of ROG Strix Radeon RX 5700 / 5700 XT cards now come with properly tightened coolers.

ASUS Radeon RX 5700 XT (Reference)

ASUS Radeon RX 5700 (Reference)

ASUS ROG Strix Radeon RX 5700 XT

ASUS ROG Strix Radeon RX 5700

But you should definitely NOT buy the TUF models, which lack proper memory cooling. Get the new TUF EVO models instead.

 

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Why ASUS Cannot Blame AMD For Overheating ROG Cards

ASUS blamed AMD for the overheating problems affecting their ROG Strix Radeon RX 5700 / 5700 XT cards, and it’s really quite ridiculous.

Find out what’s going on, and why ASUS is WRONG to blame AMD for their overheating ROG cards!

 

Overheating ROG RX 5700 Cards : Why Is ASUS Blaming AMD?

The ASUS ROG Strix Radeon RX 5700 XT and Radeon RX 5700 are two of the more premium and expensive RX 5700 series graphics cards in the market.

Instead of using the reference AMD design, both ASUS ROG cards use premium alloy chokes, solid polymer capacitors, triple fans with axial fan blades, and a large 2.7-slot cooler.

They also feature the ASUS MaxContact Technology, which allows ASUS says will DOUBLE the contact surface with the GPU for maximum thermal transfer.

Despite such an impressive list of premium power and cooling capabilities, users noticed that their expensive ASUS ROG RX 5700 cards keep overheating.

 

ASUS finally admitted on Valentine’s Day 2020, that their cooler (with MaxContact Technology) was not secured tightly enough.

However, ASUS blamed AMD for that mistake, claiming that they recommended a mounting pressure that was much too low.

They actually penned an article, and created this pressure vs temperature chart to prove that they were not at fault, and users should blame AMD.

 

Why ASUS Cannot Blame AMD For Overheating ROG Cards

The more we analysed this issue, the more we realised how absurd ASUS claims were.

Reason #1 : AMD Recommendations Are For Their Reference Design

We do not have access to AMD’s engineering specifications, but logically, their recommended mounting pressure would be for their reference design only.

Both ASUS ROG Strix cards use a custom 2.7-slot cooler design, with triple fans, and the ASUS MaxContact Technology. They even come with a reinforced frame, presumably to support higher mounting pressures.

So it would not be logical for the brilliant engineers at ASUS to simply use whatever mounting pressure AMD recommended for the reference design.

Reason #2 : ASUS Reference Cards Did Not Overheat

ASUS also offers reference design models like many other brands, but that card does NOT have an overheating problem.

So it shows clearly that the recommended mounting pressure worked when applied to the AMD reference design.

Reason #3 : ASUS Only Discovered The Right Pressure After Extended Tests

This is a puzzling statement, because it suggests that they shipped their ROG Strix cards without performing enough tests to determine the optimal mounting pressure for their custom cooler.

One would also expect ASUS to perform stress tests on these premium card designs, to make sure they work properly… before they are qualified for production.

While it is possible for any product to have bugs, overheating due to loose screws seem hard to miss…

Reason #4 : Even ASUS TUF Cards Are Overheating!

We should remember that the TUF Gaming versions of both cards also have overheating issues, albeit for a different reason.

Their impressively large coolers were found to lack proper cooling for the memory chips (XT model), or had no cooling at all (non-XT model).

That led to impressive memory temperatures that were far in excess of their rated specifications, and more than enough to boil water while you game.

Fortunately for AMD, ASUS could not blame them for that terrible design decision. But that exposed the sobering fact that ASUS was not above cutting corners in their cards…

Recommended : ASUS TUF RX 5700 Cards Are Also Overheating, Remember?

Reason #5 : No Other Brands Are Affected

This overheating issue does not seem to be a problem with other brands with custom coolers.

And as far as we can tell, reference designs from ASUS and other brands do not have overheating issues.

So it would be interesting to see ASUS explain why only their ROG Strix RX 5700 and ROG Strix RX 5700 XT cards are overheating…

 

Should We STOP Buying AMD Radeon Cards From ASUS?

No, ASUS cards based on AMD reference designs are perfectly fine. And the current slew of ROG Strix Radeon RX 5700 / 5700 XT cards now come with properly tightened coolers.

ASUS Radeon RX 5700 XT (Reference)

ASUS Radeon RX 5700 (Reference)

ASUS ROG Strix Radeon RX 5700 XT

ASUS ROG Strix Radeon RX 5700

But you should definitely not buy the TUF models, which lack proper memory cooling. Get the new TUF EVO models instead.

 

 

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ASUS TUF RX 5700 Cards Are Also Overheating, Remember?

While ASUS is blaming AMD for their overheating ROG Strix cards, we should remember that ASUS TUF Radeon RX 5700 cards are also overheating…

Let’s look at WHY these TUF Gaming cards are overheating, and HOW they reflect the shortcuts that ASUS are apparently taking with their cards

 

ASUS ROG + TUF RX 5700 Cards Are Overheating!

Not only are ROG Strix Radeon RX 5700 and RX 5700 XT cards overheating, their TUF Gaming brethren are also overheating. But they are overheating due to different reasons.

The ASUS ROG Strix cards are overheating because their coolers were not screwed tightly enough, so their GPUs were not being cooled properly.

The ASUS TUF Gaming cards are overheating because their coolers either lacked proper cooling for their GDDR6 memory chips, or did NOT provide any cooling at all.

After months of complaints, ASUS finally admitted what users already knew months ago – that the ROG Strix cooler wasn’t properly mounted.

But instead of just admitting and correcting their mistake, ASUS blamed AMD for recommending reference mounting pressures that were way too low.

You can read about their blame AMD effort in our article, ASUS Blames AMD For Overheating ROG RX 5700 Cards!

The good news, for ROG Strix users, is that ASUS will (FINALLY) be providing replacement screws to fix the problem.

 

ASUS TUF Gaming RX 5700 Cards Are Also Overheating, Remember?

When ASUS refused to send a review sample to awesome guys at Hardware Unboxed, the Internet funded their purchase, and lo behold, they discovered why ASUS was so reticent about sending them a sample!

They discovered that the ASUS TUF Gaming RX 5700 XT card did not have proper cooling for their GDDR6 memory, while the non-XT version had NO COOLING for the memory chips at all!

See that thin piece of metal? That’s what ASUS uses as a heat-spreader for the XT version of their TUF Gaming card. The non-XT version doesn’t even have this!

Even with a heat-spreader, the memory chips on the TUF Gaming Radeon RX 5700 XT were hitting 104°C – far above their maximum operating temperature!

Frankly, we have no idea how these cards actually passed pre-production validation tests. After all, ASUS boasts that they put their TUF Gaming cards through a 144-hour validation program to ensure “rigorous performance and reliability standards“.

Surely, the ASUS engineering team would have noticed during that 144-hour validation program that the memory chips were hot enough to fry eggs?

 

Overheating ASUS TUF Gaming RX 5700 : New Models, But No Fix!

After this issue was exposed, ASUS came up with new TUF EVO versions, with improved memory cooling.

Unfortunately, they are NOT going to offer users of their TUF Gaming versions a fix or replacement.

Perhaps, with sufficient public pressure, ASUS can be convinced to do the right thing, and replace their badly-designed TUF cooler with the improved TUF EVO cooler.

So it is up to us to REMEMBER, and REMIND EVERYONE, that TUF Gaming Radeon RX 5700 and Radeon RX 5700 XT cards are also overheating, not just their more expensive ROG Strix brethren.

Of course, ASUS cannot blame AMD for overheating memory chips… LOL!

But if their GDDR6 memory supplier needs to take the blame, we hope they will bite the bullet and take the hit, so poor TUF Gaming users do not have to live with memory chips so hot they can boil water…

 

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ASUS Blames AMD For Overheating ROG RX 5700 Cards!

ASUS is blaming AMD for the overheating problems affecting their ROG Strix Radeon RX 5700 and ROG Strix Radeon RX 5700 XT cards!

Find out what’s going on, and whether ASUS was right to blame AMD for the overheating ROG graphics cards!

 

Overheating ASUS ROG RX 5700 Cards : What’s Going On?

The ASUS ROG Strix Radeon RX 5700 XT and Radeon RX 5700 are two of the more premium and expensive RX 5700 series graphics cards in the market.

Instead of using the reference AMD design, both ASUS ROG cards use premium alloy chokes, solid polymer capacitors, triple fans with axial fan blades, and a large and heavy heatsink.

They also feature the ASUS MaxContact Technology, which allows for TWICE the contact surface with the GPU for maximum thermal transfer.

Despite such an impressive list of premium power and cooling capabilities, users noticed that their expensive ASUS ROG RX 5700 cards keep overheating.

Some even pointed out that the screws mounting the cooler were “loose”, and that this overheating problem could be resolved by tightening those screws, or adding washers.

Recommended : ASUS TUF RX 5700 Cards Are Also Overheating, Remember?

 

Overheating ASUS ROG RX 5700 Cards : ASUS Blames AMD

ASUS offered BIOS updates to fix the issue, but that failed because the problem wasn’t firmware in nature.

They finally folded on 14 February 2020, admitting that their cooler (with MaxContact Technology) was not secured tightly enough.

However, ASUS blamed AMD for that mistake, claiming that AMD recommended a mounting pressure that was much too low.

They actually penned an article, and created this pressure vs temperature chart to prove that they were not at fault, and users should blame AMD.

We’d like to address user concerns related to the thermal performance and cooler mounting pressure we use on ROG Strix Radeon RX 5700-series graphics cards.

During the design phase, AMD shares documents with our engineers that outline specifications and tolerances to ensure performance and reliability margins are maintained. For the Radeon RX 5700 series of GPUs, AMD recommends the following mounting pressure range for coolers:

Initial batches of ROG Strix 5700-series graphics cards were built following AMD’s guidelines. After receiving user reports regarding temperature issues, we performed extended R&D testing to find the optimal PSI range for our graphics cards without compromising GPU reliability. 

As a result, all ROG Strix Radeon RX 5700-series graphics cards shipped from January 2020 forward feature new screws that increase cooler mounting pressure to 50-60 PSI, resulting in improved heat transfer from the GPU to the heatsink.

Of course, we are committed to supporting our customers. We would like to offer the same benefits of the new mounting screws to users that have already purchased an ROG Strix Radeon RX 5700-series graphics card. If you already have one of these cards and would like it modified to use the new mounting screws, please contact your nearest ASUS service center starting in March of 2020* and we’ll happily perform the upgrade for you.

To determine whether your graphics card is eligible for this free upgrade, please consult the following table of model numbers. For further assistance or information, please contact your local ASUS customer support team.

ROG Strix Radeon RX 5700 XT series ROG Strix Radeon RX 5700 series
90YV0D90-M0NA00 (Universal)
90YV0D90-M0TA00 (Taiwan)
90YV0D90-M0CA00 (China)
90YV0D90-M0IA00 (India)
90YV0D90-MTAA00 (North America)
90YV0D90-M0AA00 (North America)
90YV0D90-M0NB00 (Bulk pack)
90YV0DD0-M0NA00 (Universal)
90YV0DD0-M0TA00 (Taiwan)
90YV0DD0-M0CA00 (China)
90YV0DD0-M0IA00 (India)
90YV0DD0-MTAA00 (North America)
90YV0DD0-M0AA00 (North America)
90YV0DD0-M0NB00 (Bulk pack)

We’d like to apologize for any inconvenience caused and thank you for your continued loyalty and trust in ROG.

 

Overheating ASUS ROG RX 5700 Cards : Was It AMD’s Fault?

Now, we are not in the business of casting aspersions at ASUS’ claims. But let’s consider what they said logically.

AMD Recommended A Mounting Pressure Of 30-40 PSI

We do not have access to AMD’s engineering specifications, but it would be logical that the mounting pressure they recommended in those specifications would be for their reference design.

The ASUS ROG Strix cards use a custom 2.7-slot cooler design, with triple fans, and the ASUS MaxContact Technology. They even come with a reinforced frame, presumably to support higher mounting pressures.

So it would not be logical for the brilliant engineers at ASUS to simply use whatever mounting pressure AMD recommended for the reference design.

Initial ROG Strix Batches Were Built Following AMD Guidelines

ASUS also offers a reference design model like many other brands, but that card which is based on the AMD reference design and guidelines do NOT have an overheating problem.

It would be really odd for ASUS to apply reference design guidelines to the radically-different design used for the ROG Strix Radeon RX 5700 and ROG Strix Radeon RX 5700 XT models…

ASUS Performed Extended Testing To Find The Optimal PSI Range After User Complaints

This is a puzzling statement, because it suggests that they shipped their ROG Strix cards without performing enough tests to determine the optimal PSI range for their custom cooler.

One would also expect ASUS to perform stress tests on these premium card designs, to make sure they work properly… before they are qualified for production.

While it is possible for any product to have bugs, overheating due to loose screws seem hard to miss…

New ASUS ROG Strix Cards Shipped With Higher Mounting Pressure Since January 2020

If the ASUS engineering team were already aware that the mounting pressure was much too low by November or December 2019, why did they wait until 14 February 2020 to announce it?

It is unlikely that they were preparing to distribute replacement mounting screws to their customer support teams worldwide, because they announced that those new mounting screws will NOT be available until sometime in March 2020.

But AMD will be glad to know that they are not being blamed for the delay, just COVID-19. LOL!

 

Overheating RX 5700 Cards : Are Other Brands Affected?

This overheating issue does not seem to be a problem with other brands with custom coolers.

And as far as we can tell, reference designs from ASUS and other brands do not have overheating issues.

So it would be interesting to see ASUS explain why only their ROG Strix RX 5700 and ROG Strix RX 5700 XT cards are overheating…

 

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Why ROG Phone 2 STRIX Is BETTER Than Elite / Ultimate!

ASUS just introduced the STRIX and Ultimate Editions for the ROG Phone 2, so gamers are wondering – which is the best model for them?

Believe it or not – the best option for mobile gaming is also the CHEAPEST – the ROG Phone 2 STRIX. Don’t waste your money on the other two!

 

ROG Phone 2 STRIX = Tencent Edition for Global Market!

From the very beginning, we have been advising people to forego the expensive Elite Edition for the ROG Phone 2 Tencent Edition, or the Black Shark 2 PRO (MY | SG | AU | UK).

Why? Because those two options offer the best value for your money, and are really what REAL GAMERS need. Not what ASUS wants us to buy.

You can read all about that in our article, Why ROG Phone II Tencent Is Better Than The Elite Edition!

The new ROG Phone 2 STRIX Edition is basically the ROG Phone 2 Tencent Edition, without the Tencent logo.

This release is a slap in the face of those who bought the expensive Elite Edition earlier, and those who claimed that the Tencent Edition was only possible because of Tencent’s sponsorship in China.

ASUS have basically admitted that they can release a much cheaper ROG Phone 2, without sponsorship of any kind… and yes, that the Elite Edition was really just a way for them to make extra money off the foolish and the gullible.

 

ROG Phone 2 Ultimate = Elite Edition With 1TB Storage

The ROG Phone 2 Ultimate is yet another marketing ploy to pick the pockets of gullible gamers. It is nothing more than the already expensive ROG Phone 2 Elite Edition with 1TB of storage and a higher price tag.

Let’s be honest – how many of you will actually use up 128 GB of storage, much less 512 GB or 1 TB? In fact, many of us are still using laptops with just 256 GB or 512 GB of storage!

So yes, it is colossally STUPID for anyone to buy for gaming. We will show you why…

 

ROG Phone 2 Specification + Price Comparison

First, let’s take a quick look at what’s different between the ROG Phone 2 STRIX vs Elite vs Ultimate in this table :

Specifications ROG Phone 2
STRIX Edition
ROG Phone 2
Elite Edition
ROG Phone 2
Ultimate Edition
Display 6.59-inch AMOLED display (1080 x 2340 pixels)
– 108% DCI-P3 colour gamut, 10,000:1 contrast ratio
– up to 120 Hz refresh rate, 1 ms response time
System Platform Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 Plus
Processor 1 x Qualcomm Kryo 485 Gold core (2.96 GHz)
3 x Qualcomm Kryo 485 Gold cores (2.42 GHz)
4 x Qualcomm Kryo 485 Silver cores (1.8 GHz)
GPU Qualcomm Adreno 640 (672 MHz)
RAM 8 GB LPDDR4X 12 GB LPDDR4X
Storage 128 GB UFS 3.0 512 GB UFS 3.0 1 TB UFS 3.0
Front Camera 24 MP front camera
Rear Cameras 48 MP main camera, with Sony IMX586 sensor, and f/1.79 lens
13 MP ultra-wide camera, with 125-degree field of view
4G LTE Cat16
– 150 Mbps UL
– 1.0 Gbps DL
LTE Cat18
– 211 Mbps UL
– 1.2 Gbps DL
LTE Cat20
– 316 Mbps UL
– 2.0 Gbps DL
Connectivity WiFi : 802.11ac, 2×2 MIMO
Bluetooth : BT 5.0
WiFi : 802.11ad, 4×4 MIMO
Bluetooth : BT 5.0
Sensors Accelerometer, E-Compass, proximity sensor, Hall sensor, ambient light sensor, in-display fingerprint sensor, gyro, ultrasonic AirTrigger shoulder buttons
Audio Dual front-facing speakers with DTS:X Ultra
Battery 6,000 mAh battery
Charger 18 watt 30 watt
Dimensions 77.6 mm wide x 170.99 mm tall x 9.78 mm thick
Weight 240 g
Price £599 / $599 £829 / $829 £899 / $899

 

Why ROG Phone 2 STRIX Is BETTER Than Elite / Ultimate!

Now, let’s show you why the the ROG Phone 2 STRIX is the best option of the three, and why you should NOT pay extra for the Elite or Ultimate Editions!

Performance : They Are ALL EQUALLY FAST

The STRIX, Elite and Ultimate Editions are powered by the SAME Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 Plus mobile platform, as well as the same LPDDR4x RAM.

The Elite and Ultimate Editions come with 12 GB of RAM, while the STRIX Edition only comes with 8 GB of RAM. However, which mobile game do you know needs more than 2 GB of RAM?

In fact, high-end mobile games like PUBG Mobile and Asphalt 9 use less than 1.2 GB of RAM!

So all you are getting when you purchase the Elite or Ultimate Edition is the right to brag about how your ROG Phone 2 has 4 GB of additional RAM just sitting there doing nothing.

Recommended : The Snapdragon 855 Plus vs Snapdragon 855 Comparison!

Storage : They Are ALL EQUALLY FAST

All three ROG Phone 2 models use fast UFS 3.0 storage. The only difference is how much storage they come with :

  • ROG Phone 2 STRIX : 128 GB
  • ROG Phone 2 Elite : 512 GB
  • ROG Phone 2 Ultimate : 1 TB

Storage may be important for some users, but frankly speaking, 128 GB is plenty of storage for most users.

For gamers, it’s actually A LOT more than they will ever use. Even PUBG Mobile only takes up 1.54 GB of space.

128 GB of storage in the STRIX Edition should be more than enough to let you install 50-80 large games. Oh, you don’t have that many games? See what we mean?

  • Paying extra for 512 GB of storage in the Elite Edition is really pointless… at least for mobile gamers.
  • Paying extra for 1 TB of storage in the Ultimate Edition? That’s just plain stupid for mobile gamers.

Connectivity : Practically The Same

The Snapdragon X24 LTE modem supports LTE Cat 20 and WiFi-AD connectivity, but ASUS artificially limited their capabilities slightly to differentiate the three models :

  • ROG Phone 2 STRIX : LTE Cat16 (1 Gbps DL, 150 Mbps UL) + WiFi-AC
  • ROG Phone 2 Elite : LTE Cat16 (1.2 Gbps DL, 211 Mbps UL) + WiFi-AD
  • ROG Phone 2 Ultimate : LTE Cat20 (2 Gbps DL, 316 Mbps UL) + WiFi-AD

But for all practical purposes, you won’t be able to tell the difference because mobile games are designed to use very little data!

PUBG Mobile, for example, only uses between 15 MB and 50 MB of data for an entire 20-30 minute game. That works out to a MAXIMUM of 1.7 MB per minute, or 28 KB per second.

And how many of you actually have a WiFi-AD router? Most gamers still rely on a WiFi-AC router, which is plenty fast enough.

Charging : ROG Phone 2 Elite / Ultimate

The only clear-cut performance advantage the ROG Phone 2 Elite and Ultimate Editions offer is the 30-watt fast charger.

The ROG Phone 2 STRIX Edition only comes with a 18-watt fast charger, but in case you are wondering – it’s still fast enough to recharge the phone while you game on it.

Bundled “Freebies” : ROG Phone 2 Elite / Ultimate

The Elite and Ultimate Editions come bundled with the AeroActive Cooler II and the Aero Case, while the STRIX Edition comes with just a bumper case.

But guess what – you can purchase the AeroActive Cooler II and Aero Case for the STRIX Edition as separate upgrades! And you can get them both for less than $100.

Price : ROG Phone 2 STRIX Edition

Now, this is the real kicker.

The Elite Edition costs 38~41% more than the STRIX Edition, for no difference in gaming performance!

The Ultimate Edition costs 50% more than the STRIX Edition, for no difference in gaming performance!

  • ROG Phone II STRIX Edition : US$599 / £599 / ~A$868 / S$799 / ~RM 2,479
  • ROG Phone II Elite Edition : US$829 / £829 / ~A$1,201 / S$1,299RM 3,499
  • ROG Phone II Ultimate Edition : US$899 / £899 / ~A$1,303 / ~S$1,218 / ~RM 3,722

Recommended : ASUS ROG Phone 2 vs Black Shark 2 PRO : Who Wins?

 

Why We Recommend ROG Phone 2 STRIX Edition

Of the three models, the ROG Phone 2 STRIX Edition is the true gamer-centric model.

It focuses on delivering top-notch gaming capabilities with the same 120 Hz display, at a much lower price point than the Elite and Ultimate Editions!

All you are getting with the Elite or Ultimate Edition is a 38% to 50% higher price tag for more storage, a more powerful charger, and the AeroActive Cooler II and Aero Case.

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If you want to buy one for mobile gaming, get the STRIX Edition. Your wallet will thank you!

If you want to buy one for bragging rights, get the Elite or Ultimate Edition. ASUS will thank you!

 

Recommended Reading

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Why ROG Phone II Tencent Is Better Than The Elite Edition!

After the special ROG Phone II Tencent Edition was launched, ASUS immediately sent out a press release that the Elite Edition would be quite different.

However, after comparing them both (as well as the similar Indian model and the global STRIX model), we can definitely tell you that the ROG Phone II Tencent Edition is A MUCH BETTER DEAL than the ROG Phone II Elite Edition for gamers!

 

ROG Phone II For India

In India, ASUS prepared a special low-cost ROG Phone II, which is almost exactly like the Tencent Edition.

For all intents and purposes, we consider it to be the ROG Phone II Tencent Edition for India.

You can read all about it in our article – ROG Phone 2 India Models vs. Tencent Edition Comparison!

 

ROG Phone II STRIX

The new ROG Phone II STRIX Edition is basically the Tencent Edition, without the Tencent logo.

This release is a slap in the face of those who bought the expensive Elite Edition earlier, and those who claimed that the Tencent Edition was only possible because of Tencent’s sponsorship in China.

ASUS have basically admitted that they can release a much cheaper ROG Phone 2, without sponsorship of any kind… and yes, that the Elite Edition was really just a way for them to make extra money off the foolish and the gullible.

Recommended : Why ROG Phone 2 STRIX Is BETTER Than Elite / Ultimate!

 

ROG Phone II Specifications : Tencent Edition vs. Elite Edition

First, let’s take a quick look at what’s different between the ROG Phone II Tencent Edition, and the ROG Phone II Elite Edition. For your convenience, we compare their specifications in this table :

Specifications ROG Phone 2
(Elite)
ROG Phone 2
(Tencent / STRIX)
Display 6.59-inch AMOLED display (1080 x 2340 pixels)
– 108% DCI-P3 colour gamut, 10,000:1 contrast ratio
– up to 120 Hz refresh rate, 1 ms response time
Chassis Glass Back Cover Glass + Metal Back Cover
System Platform Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 Plus
Processor 1 x Qualcomm Kryo 485 Gold core (2.96 GHz)
3 x Qualcomm Kryo 485 Gold cores (2.42 GHz)
4 x Qualcomm Kryo 485 Silver cores (1.8 GHz)
GPU Qualcomm Adreno 640 (672 MHz)
RAM 12 GB LPDDR4X 8 GB LPDDR4X
Storage 512 GB UFS 3.0 128 GB UFS 3.0
Front Camera 24 MP front camera
Rear Cameras 48 MP main camera, with Sony IMX586 sensor, and f/1.79 lens
13 MP ultra-wide camera, with 125-degree field of view
4G LTE Cat18
– 211 Mbps UL
– 1.2 Gbps DL
LTE Cat16
– 150 Mbps UL
– 1.0 Gbps DL
Connectivity WiFi : 802.11ad, 4×4 MIMO
Bluetooth : BT 5.0
WiFi : 802.11ac, 2×2 MIMO
Bluetooth : BT 5.0
Sensors Accelerometer, E-Compass, proximity sensor, Hall sensor, ambient light sensor, in-display fingerprint sensor, gyro, ultrasonic AirTrigger shoulder buttons
Audio Dual front-facing speakers with DTS:X Ultra
Battery 6,000 mAh battery
Charger 30 watt 18 watt
AeroActive Cooler Yes No
Bundled Case Aero Case Bumper Case
Box Type Six Prism Box Square Box
Dimensions 77.6 mm wide x 170.99 mm tall x 9.78 mm thick
Weight 240 g
Price RMB 5,999
£899 / $899
RMB 3,499
£599 / $599

 

ROG Phone II Compared : Tencent Edition vs. Elite Edition

Let’s compare both versions in the eyes of ASUS’ target market – mobile gamers.

Performance : They Are Both EQUALLY FAST

Both the Tencent Edition and the Elite Edition of the ROG Phone II are powered by the SAME Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 Plus mobile platform, as well as the same LPDDR4x RAM.

The Elite Edition comes with 12 GB of RAM, while the Tencent Edition only comes with 8 GB of RAM. However, which game do you know needs more than 2 GB of RAM?

In fact, high-end mobile games like PUBG Mobile and Asphalt 9 use less than 1.2 GB of RAM!

So all you are getting when you purchase the Elite Edition is the right to brag how your ROG Phone II has 4 GB of additional RAM just sitting there doing nothing.

Recommended : The Snapdragon 855 Plus vs Snapdragon 855 Comparison!

Storage : They Are Both EQUALLY FAST

Both the Tencent Edition and the Elite Edition of the ROG Phone II use fast UFS 3.0 storage.

However, the Elite Edition comes with 512 GB of storage, while the Tencent Edition only comes with 128 GB.

Storage may be important for some users, but frankly speaking, 128 GB is plenty of storage for most users.

For gamers, it’s actually A LOT more than they will ever use. Even PUBG Mobile only takes up 1.54 GB of space.

128 GB of storage in the Tencent Edition should be more than enough to let you install 50-80 large games. Oh, you don’t have that many games? See what we mean?

Paying extra for 512 GB of storage in the Elite Edition is just pointless… at least for mobile gamers.

Connectivity : Practically The Same

To differentiate the two versions, ASUS slightly crippled the connectivity capabilities of the ROG Phone II Tencent Edition, limiting it to LTE Cat16 (1 Gbps DL, 150 Mbps UL) and WiFi-AC.

The ROG Phone II Elite Edition, on the other hand, boasts LTE Cat18 (1.2 Gbps DL, 211 Mbps UL) and WiFi-AD capabilities.

But for all practical purposes, you won’t be able to tell the difference because mobile games are designed to use very little data!

PUBG Mobile, for example, only uses between 15 MB and 50 MB of data for an entire 20-30 minute game. That works out to a MAXIMUM of 1.7 MB per minute, or 28 KB per second.

And how many of you actually have a WiFi-AD router? Most gamers still rely on a WiFi-AC router, which is plenty fast enough.

Charging : ROG Phone II Elite Edition

The only clear-cut performance advantage the ROG Phone II Elite Edition offers is the 30-watt fast charger. The Tencent Edition only comes with a 18-watt fast charger.

Bundled “Freebies” : ROG Phone II Elite Edition

The Elite Edition comes bundled with the AeroActive Cooler II and the Aero Case, while the Tencent Edition comes with just a bumper case.

But guess what – you can purchase the AeroActive Cooler II and Aero Case for the Tencent Edition as separate upgrades! And you can get them both for less than $100.

ASUS also took pains to share with us that the Elite Edition comes with a premium six prism box, while the Tencent Edition comes with only a square box.

Uh, okay… how is that important? Does ASUS expect us to play with the box, or with the ROG Phone II?

Price : ROG Phone II Tencent Edition

Now, this is the real kicker. The Elite Edition costs 38~41% more than the Tencent Edition for no difference in gaming performance!

  • ROG Phone II Tencent Edition : US$599 / £599 / ~A$724 / ~RM 2,479
  • ROG Phone II Elite Edition : US$829 / £829 / ~A$1,344 / RM 3,499

Recommended : ASUS ROG Phone 2 vs Black Shark 2 PRO : Who Wins?

 

Why We Recommend ROG Phone II Tencent Edition

Frankly speaking, the ROG Phone II Tencent Edition is the true gamer-centric model.

It focuses on delivering top-notch gaming capabilities with the same 120 Hz display, at a much lower price point than the Global Edition!

All you are getting with the Elite Edition is a 38% to 41% higher price tag for a larger storage capacity, a more powerful charger, and the AeroActive Cooler II and Aero Case bundled… and yes, it comes in a fancy six prism box.

If you want to buy one for mobile gaming, get the Tencent Edition. Your wallet will thank you.

Since it is available outside of China as the STRIX Edition, here are the purchase options for the ROG Phone II STRIX Edition :

[adrotate group=”2″]

If you want to buy one for bragging rights, get the Elite Edition. ASUS will thank you.

 

Recommended Reading

Go Back To > Mobile Devices | GamingHome

 

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ROG Phone 2 : How To Turn On 90Hz / 120Hz Refresh Rate!

The ASUS ROG Phone 2 boasts an excellent 120Hz display, but did you know that ASUS secretly set it to just 60Hz?

In this guide, we will show you how to switch the ROG Phone 2 from 60Hz to 90Hz or 120Hz!

 

ROG Phone 2 : 120Hz Display Stuck At 60Hz

The ASUS ROG Phone 2 (MY | SG | US | UK | AU) comes with a really nice and large 6.59-inch AMOLED display.

Its 1080 x 2340 resolution is much lower than the likes of Samsung Galaxy Note10+ or Galaxy S10+, but it boasts a 108% DCI-P3 colour gamut and a 120Hz refresh rate.

Now, that 120Hz refresh rate is the ROG Phone 2’s key selling point. ASUS claims it gives gamers a real advantage against their opponents, as well as a nicer, silkier gaming experience.

However, unbeknownst to many – ASUS actually sets the ROG Phone 2 (MY | SG | US | UK | AU) to use a 60 Hz refresh rate, making it no different from its chief rival – the Black Shark 2 PRO (MY | SG | AU | UK).

Amazingly, many gamers and some reviewers were not aware of this. If you see people commenting on how smooth the ROG Phone 2 display looks, without mentioning they manually turned on the 120Hz refresh rate – that’s just the placebo effect! 😀

Recommended : ASUS ROG Phone 2 vs Black Shark 2 PRO : Who Wins?

 

Why Does The ROG Phone 2 Use 60Hz And Not 120Hz?

Simple – as we pointed out from the very beginning – the 120Hz refresh rate will use up a lot more power than 60Hz.

Both the Qualcomm Adreno 640 GPU and the ROG Phone 2’s AMOLED display, has to work twice as hard with a 120Hz refresh rate, compared to 60Hz.

That’s why ASUS gave the ROG Phone 2 (MY | SG | US | UK | AU) a large and heavy 6,000 mAh battery. The 120Hz refresh rate would have been murder on battery life.

But ASUS also knew that reviewers and early users would comment about the poorer battery life, even with such a large battery. So the solution was apparently to quietly set the AMOLED display to use a 60Hz refresh rate.

Recommended : Why ROG Phone 2 STRIX Is BETTER Than Elite / Ultimate!

 

ROG Phone 2 : How To Turn On 90Hz / 120Hz Refresh Rate!

Now, poorer ROG Phone 2 battery life aside, it would be really foolish to pay so much more for a 120Hz display only to have it run at 60Hz. That would be like buying a Porsche with a 80 km/h speed limiter installed.

So we created this video guide to help you switch your ROG Phone 2 (MY | SG | US | UK | AU) from its default 60Hz refresh rate to 90Hz or 120Hz.

ASUS offers a total of three ROG Phone 2 refresh rate options – 60Hz (default), 90Hz and 120Hz.

You can switch the refresh rate on-the-fly, but unfortunately, it’s not part of Quick Settings. ASUS buried it in the Display settings.

Here is the quickest way to switch the ROG Phone 2’s refresh rate :

  1. Swipe down from the top of the ROG Phone 2 display to access Quick Settings.
  2. Tap on the Settings icon at the lower right corner, to bring up the Settings screen.
  3. Tap on the Display option.

  1. Under Display settings, tap on the Refresh rate option.
  2. You will see that your ROG Phone 2 is set to use 60 Hz by default.
  3. You can now select either 90 Hz or 120 Hz.

Just select the refresh rate you prefer, and the display will flicker a little as it changes the refresh rate.

That’s it – you are ready to go! Enjoy the higher refresh rate!

Recommended : Why ROG Phone II Tencent Is Better Than The Global Edition!

 

ASUS ROG Phone 2 : Where To Buy

Here are online purchase options for the ASUS ROG Phone 2 :

You can also purchase the much cheaper ROG Phone 2 Tencent Edition in the grey market. *

* Please note that if you purchase a grey market Tencent unit, you will not be entitled to warranty outside of China.

 

Recommended Reading

Go Back To > Mobile Devices | GamingHome

 

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ASUS ROG Phone 2 vs Black Shark 2 PRO : Who Wins?

Now that both the ASUS ROG Phone 2 and Black Shark 2 PRO are out and competing with each other, the question mobile gamers are asking – which is the better gaming smartphone?

In this article, we will compare both the ROG Phone 2 and the Black Shark 2 PRO, and see which is the better gaming device!

 

Gaming Smartphones?

Both the Black Shark 2 PRO and ASUS ROG Phone 2 claim to be gaming smartphones. What’s the difference between these two “gaming” smartphones and “regular” smartphones?

While ALL smartphones can handle games pretty well, especially if they are flagship devices, gaming smartphones claim to offer an edge to serious mobile gamers, like :

  • really fast CPU and GPU, with high-speed memory and storage
  • better cooling system to sustain gaming performance
  • large display with a high refresh rate, or low latency, or both
  • better wireless connectivity to ensure no lag during gameplay
  • large battery for longer gameplay
  • better audio for more enjoyable gameplay
  • special controls or buttons, or gamepad add-ons

Of course, many flagship-class smartphones already offer many of those features, which is why some argue that gaming-specific smartphones are merely a way for some brands to carve a niche to survive in the ultra-competitive smartphone market.

But we digress… let’s compare the two top gaming smartphones that are coming, or will soon come to a store near you – the Black Shark 2 PRO (MY | SG | AU | UK) and the ASUS ROG Phone 2 (MY | SG | US | UK | AU).

 

ASUS ROG Phone 2 vs Black Shark 2 PRO Specifications

Let’s start with a quick comparison of their key specifications.

Specifications Black Shark 2 PRO ROG Phone 2
Display 6.39-inch AMOLED display
– 1080 x 2340 pixels
108.9% DCI-P3 colour gamut
60 Hz refresh rate
6.59-inch AMOLED display
– 1080 x 2340 pixels
108% DCI-P3 colour gamut
– up to 120 Hz refresh rate
System Platform Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 Plus
Processor 1 x Qualcomm Kryo 485 Gold core (2.96 GHz)
3 x Qualcomm Kryo 485 Gold cores (2.42 GHz)
4 x Qualcomm Kryo 485 Silver cores (1.8 GHz)
GPU Qualcomm Adreno 640 (672 MHz)
RAM 8 GB / 12 GB LPDDR4X
Storage 128 GB / 256 GB UFS 3.0 512 GB / 1 TB UFS 3.0
Front Camera 20 MP with f/2.0 aperture 24 MP front camera
Rear Cameras 48 MP Sony IMX586 sensor, with f/1.75 aperture
12 MP telephoto camera, with f/2.2 aperture
48 MP Sony IMX586 sensor, with f/1.79 aperture
13 MP ultra-wide camera, with 125-degree field of view
Connectivity 4G : LTE Cat18 – 211 Mbps UL, 1.2 Gbps DL
WiFi : 802.11ac, 4×4 MIMO
Bluetooth : BT 5.0
4G : LTE Cat18 – 211 Mbps UL, 1.2 Gbps DL
WiFi : 802.11ad, 4×4 MIMO
Bluetooth : BT 5.0
Special Sensors ForceTouch Sensors Ultrasonic AirTrigger
Fingerprint Sensor Yes, In-Display Optical Sensor
Audio Dual front-facing speakers Dual front-facing speakers + DTS:X Ultra
Battery 4,000 mAh battery 6,000 mAh battery
Charger 27 watt fast charger 30 watt fast charger
Dimensions 75.0 mm wide
163.6 mm tall
8.77 mm thick
77.6 mm wide
170.99 mm tall
9.78 mm thick
Weight 205 g 240 g

 

ASUS ROG Phone 2 vs Black Shark 2 PRO

Although there are quite a few more differences between the two models, we are going to focus mainly on the gaming and mobility aspects in this comparison.

Performance : Tie

Both Black Shark 2 PRO (MY | SG | AU | UK)) and ROG Phone 2 (MY | SG | US | UK | AU) have the same performance.

They both use the same Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 Plus mobile platform, and come with 8 GB or 12 GB of LPDDR4x memory.

Recommended : The Snapdragon 855 Plus vs Snapdragon 855 Comparison!

Storage : ROG Phone 2

Both Black Shark 2 PRO and ASUS ROG Phone 2 use UFS 3.0 storage, which is about 2X faster than UFS 2.1. This is the key point.

The ROG Phone 2 comes with twice as much storage as the Black Shark 2 PRO. However, 256 GB is more than what most gamers will ever use – even PUBG Mobile takes up only 1.54 GB of space!

Honestly, paying extra for 512 GB of storage or even 1 TB is just pointless for gamers. But we will give the advantage to the ROG Phone 2 (MY | SG | US | UK | AU), if only for the bragging rights.

Cooling : Black Shark 2 PRO

The Black Shark 2 PRO (MY | SG | AU | UK) features a Mille-Feuille full area liquid cooling system that, according to them, is far superior to that of the ROG Phone 2 (MY | SG | US | UK | AU).

Device CPU Temp. GPU Temp. RAM Temp. Chassis Temp.
Black Shark 2 PRO 65.7 °C 51.2 °C 52.0 °C 35.7 °C
ASUS ROG Phone 2 77.5 °C 54.6 °C 55.0 °C 47.1 °C
Difference + 11.8 °C + 3.4 °C + 3.0 °C + 11.4 °C

Display : Tie

The ASUS ROG Phone 2 boasts a 120 Hz display, while the Black Shark 2 PRO (MY | SG | AU | UK) only has a 60 Hz display.

However, Black Shark has publicly pooh-poohed the usefulness of a 120 Hz display in this recent Q&A session :

Instead of a higher refresh rate, they opted to use DC dimming to reduce eyestrain, and an integrated DSP with MEMC (Motion Estimation, Motion Compensation) capabilities to eliminate unwanted judder and blur. So we think this counts as a tie.

Do note too that a 120 Hz refresh rate uses up significantly more power, which is why ASUS actually set it to 60 Hz by default!

Recommended : ROG Phone 2 : How To Turn On 90Hz / 120Hz Refresh Rate!

Touch Screen : Black Shark 2 PRO

Black Shark also focused on reducing the latency of the touch screen display, with 240 Hz report rate even with three fingers. This is, arguably, far more important for competitive gaming than a 120 Hz display.

Touch Report Rate Black Shark 2 PRO ASUS ROG Phone 2 Difference
1 Finger 240 Hz 195 Hz – 45 Hz / 18.75 %
2 Fingers 240 Hz 145 Hz – 95 Hz / 39.58 %
3 Fingers 240 Hz 135 Hz – 105 Hz / 43.75%

They also claim that the Black Shark 2 PRO (MY | SG | AU | UK) has a significantly lower touch latency than the ROG Phone 2.

Touch Latency Black Shark 2 PRO ASUS ROG Phone 2 Difference
Not Shooting 30.7 ms 41.6 ms + 10.9 ms / 35.5 %
Shooting 48.6 ms 70.0 ms + 21.4 ms / 44.0 %

Battery : ROG Phone 2

The ROG Phone 2, on the other hand, boasts a 6,000 mAh battery that is 50% larger than the Black Shark 2 PRO‘s battery. This means you will get to play longer on the ROG Phone 2 (MY | SG | US | UK | AU).

Portability : Black Shark 2 PRO

This may not be important to everyone, but if you want to be able to carry your gaming smartphone in your pocket, the Black Shark 2 PRO (MY | SG | AU | UK) is both smaller and lighter than the ROG Phone 2.

Availability : Black Shark 2 PRO

This may not seem important, until you decide you want to buy one.

The Black Shark 2 PRO (MY | SG | AU | UK) was available to purchase for weeks before the first batch of ROG Phone 2 (MY | SG | US | UK | AU) was released.

ASUS has always had a reputation for a slow roll-out, and that hasn’t changed with the ROG Phone 2 – even after it was launched, quantities were limited.

Price : Black Shark 2 PRO

Here is a quick comparison table to show the price difference between the two models :

Countries Black Shark 2 PRO
(12 GB + 256 GB)
ASUS ROG Phone 2
(12 GB + 512 GB)
Difference
Malaysia RM 2,999 RM 3,499 + RM 500 (16.7%)
Singapore S$869 S$1,299 + S$430 (49.5%)
United States ~$729 $889 + $160 (21.9%)
United Kingdom £560 £1,149 £589 (105.2%)
Australia ~A$1,059 A$1,964 + A$905 (85.5%)

Recommended : Why ROG Phone II Tencent Is Better Than The Global Edition!

 

So Which Is Better?

Frankly speaking, you can game without any issue on any decent smartphone these days. But if you are a serious or professional gamer, a gaming smartphone could give you the competitive edge you need.

But between the two models, we personally prefer the Black Shark 2 PRO (MY | SG | AU | UK) for these reasons :

  • its better cooling system will maintain gaming performance, while keeping the chassis cooler to touch
  • a low latency touch display is arguably more important for gaming, than a high refresh rate display
  • even though the ROG Phone 2 has a larger battery, the 120 Hz display significantly limits its battery life
  • the Black Shark 2 PRO is MUCH CHEAPER than the ROG Phone 2 Global Edition

Recommended : Black Shark 2 PRO In-Depth Review : A Real Gaming Beast!

 

Black Shark 2 PRO : Where To Buy

Here are online purchase options for the Black Shark 2 PRO :

[adrotate group=”2″]

Malaysia

Singapore

United Kingdom

Australia

 

ASUS ROG Phone 2 : Where To Buy

Here are online purchase options for the ASUS ROG Phone 2 :

You can also purchase the much cheaper ROG Phone 2 Tencent Edition in the grey market. *

* Please note that if you purchase a grey market Tencent unit, you will not be entitled to warranty outside of China.

 

Recommended Reading

Go Back To > Mobile Devices | GamingHome

 

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ASUS ROG Phone 2 Malaysia – What You Need To Know!

Almost 3 months after ASUS launched the ROG Phone 2 Tencent Edition in China, it finally reaches Malaysia.

Here is EVERYTHING you need to know about the ROG Phone 2 for Malaysia – its specifications, price, availability and more!

We will also share with you cheaper alternatives, for those who cannot afford the ROG Phone 2!

 

When Will The ASUS ROG Phone 2 Come To Malaysia?

ASUS officially launched the ROG Phone 2 on 16 October 2019, with limited quantities as expected. ASUS has a long history of slow rollouts, to be honest.

 

The ASUS ROG Phone 2 Price For Malaysia

ASUS Malaysia is introducing the ROG Phone 2 Elite Edition with 12 GB of RAM and 512 GB of storage, and a recommended retail price of RM 3,499 / ~US$834 / ~£655 / ~A$1,241.

The ROG Phone 2 Malaysia model will therefore be 16.7% more expensive than the Black Shark 2 PRO – an extra RM 500 / ~US$119 / ~£94 / ~A$177!

To sweeten the deal, ASUS Malaysia is throwing in the AeroActive Cooler II and the AeroCase, which they say are worth RM 398 / ~US$95 / ~£75 / ~A$141.

Here are the direct online purchase options :

  • ROG Phone II (12 GB + 512 GB) : Lazada | Shopee
  • ROG Phone II (12 GB + 512 GB) SuperPack : Lazada

If you are looking for the Ultimate Edition, which basically just comes with 1 TB of storage, that will probably retail for an insane RM 5,499 sometime in December 2019!

 

ASUS ROG Phone 2 SuperPack for Malaysia!

ASUS Malaysia is also bringing in the ROG Phone 2 SuperPack on 11 November 2019. It’s the same model, but it comes with all their accessories at the nose-bleeding price of RM 6,999 / ~US$1,669 / ~£1,317 / ~A$2,476.

Here is the list of accessories the ROG Phone 2 SuperPack for Malaysia comes with :

[adrotate group=”2″]
  • ROG AeroActive Cooler II
  • ROG Lighting Armour Case
  • ROG TwinView Dock II
  • Kunai Gamepad
  • ROG Mobile Desktop Dock
  • 30W ROG Charger
  • ROG Type C USB cable
  • ROG Aero Case
  • ROG Limited Edition Luggage

Are all those accessories worth RM 3,500? Or should you just buy TWO ROG Phone 2 instead? Whatever you decide, here are the direct online purchase options :

  • ROG Phone II (12 GB + 512 GB) : Lazada | Shopee
  • ROG Phone II (12 GB + 512 GB) SuperPack : Lazada

 

Is There A Cheaper Alternative???

The ROG Phone 2 Tencent Edition is much cheaper, of course. Its RMB 3,499 retail price in China works out to approximately RM 2,059 / ~US$499 / ~£399 / ~A$724!

That is almost half the price of the ROG Phone 2 Elite Edition for Malaysia, and 31% cheaper than the Black Shark 2 PRO!

Unfortunately, it is only available officially in China and India… although you can get them on the grey market * :

* Please note that if you purchase a grey market unit, you will not be entitled to warranty outside of China or India.

Another affordable alternative is to pick up the original ROG Phone, which is almost as fast but now costs less than RM 2.5K! Don’t believe us? Here are some direct purchase options :

Another good and much cheaper alternative is the Black Shark 2 PRO or the Black Shark 2.

 

ASUS ROG Phone 2 Malaysia vs Tencent Edition

On 23 July, ASUS and Tencent revealed the ROG Phone 2 Tencent Edition in China, powered by the Snapdragon 855+ platform.

However, ASUS Malaysia has been trying their best to bury the story, even urging their media friends to talk up the ROG Phone 2 Global Edition.

We don’t blame them because the Tencent Edition is MUCH CHEAPER, and really is a darn better deal than the Elite Edition that they are introducing to Malaysia.

What we don’t understand is why they are not introducing a similar version, like they did for India.

Recommended : Why ROG Phone II Tencent Is Better Than The Global Edition!

For your convenience, we compare the specifications of both models in this table :

Specifications ASUS ROG Phone 2
Edition Edition for Malaysia
ASUS ROG Phone 2
Tencent Edition
Display 6.59-inch AMOLED display (1080 x 2340 pixels)
– 108% DCI-P3 colour gamut, 10,000:1 contrast ratio
– up to 120 Hz refresh rate, 1 ms response time
Chassis Glass Back Cover Glass + Metal Back Cover
System Platform Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 Plus
Processor 1 x Qualcomm Kryo 485 Gold core (2.96 GHz)
3 x Qualcomm Kryo 485 Gold cores (2.42 GHz)
4 x Qualcomm Kryo 485 Silver cores (1.8 GHz)
GPU Qualcomm Adreno 640 (672 MHz)
RAM 12 GB LPDDR4X 8 GB LPDDR4X
Storage 512 GB / 1 TB UFS 3.0 128 GB UFS 3.0
Front Camera 24 MP front camera
Rear Cameras 48 MP main camera, with Sony IMX586 sensor, and f/1.79 lens
13 MP ultra-wide camera, with 125-degree field of view
Connectivity 4G : LTE Cat18 – 211 Mbps UL, 1.2 Gbps DL
WiFi : 802.11ad, 4×4 MIMO
Bluetooth : BT 5.0
4G : LTE Cat16 – 150 Mbps UL, 1.0 Gbps DL
WiFi : 802.11ac, 2×2 MIMO
Bluetooth : BT 5.0
Sensors Accelerometer, E-Compass, proximity sensor, Hall sensor, ambient light sensor, in-display fingerprint sensor, gyro, ultrasonic AirTrigger shoulder buttons
Audio Dual front-facing speakers with DTS:X Ultra
Battery 6,000 mAh battery
Charger 30 watt, with USB-C to USB-C cable 18 watt, with USB-A to USB-C cable
AeroActive Cooler Yes No
Bundled Case Aero Case Bumper Case
Box Type Six Prism Box Square Box
Dimensions 77.6 mm wide x 170.99 mm tall x 9.78 mm thick
Weight 240 g

 

Qualcomm Snapdragon 855+

In case you are wondering, the Snapdragon 855+ is just a speed-binned version of the regular Snapdragon 855. They are otherwise identical.

The only differences are the clock speeds of two parts in the Snapdragon 855 Plus :

  • its single high-performance Kryo 485 Gold core is clocked at 2.96 GHz, instead of 2.84 GHz.
  • its Adreno 640 GPU is clocked at 672 MHz, instead of 585 MHz.

In other words, its advantage in mobile gaming is a 4% increase in the short boost performance of the CPU, and a 14.9% increase in peak GPU performance.

Recommended : The Snapdragon 855+ vs Snapdragon 855 Comparison!

 

Recommended Reading

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ROG Phone 2 India Models vs. Tencent Edition Comparison!

India is getting both the Tencent Edition, and the Global Edition, of the ROG Phone 2… with prices to match!

Let’s compare their specifications against the ROG Phone 2 Tencent Edition, as well as their prices!

 

India Gets Two DIFFERENT ROG Phone 2 Models

ROG Phone 2 (8 GB + 128 GB) For India

Basically, the ROG Phone 2 (8 GB + 128 GB) is the Tencent Edition for India. Here are the differences :

  • It has a slightly slower LTE download speed, compensated by slightly faster LTE upload speed
  • It comes with an Aero case
  • It is slightly – about 10% – more expensive than the Tencent Edition

The ROG Phone 2 (8 GB + 128 GB) is priced at ₹37,999 / ~US$529 / ~£429 / ~A$799 / ~RM 2,249

Recommended : The ASUS ROG Phone 2 vs Black Shark 2 PRO Comparison!

ROG Phone 2 (12 GB + 512 GB) For India

In addition, ASUS will also introduce the far more expensive Global Edition to cater to the richer segment of the Indian population.

  • It comes with 12 GB of memory (which is pointless), instead of “just” 8 GB
  • It comes with 512 GB of storage, instead of 128 GB
  • It comes with faster LTE and Wi-Fi speeds (also pretty pointless)
  • It comes with a 30 W fast charger, instead of an 18 W fast charger
  • It comes with an AeroActive Cooler II, which is basically a bolt-on fan

Now, here’s the kicker – this model costs 58% more than the 8 GB + 128 GB model.

The ROG Phone 2 (12 GB + 512 GB) is priced at ₹59,999 / ~US$849 / ~£689 / ~A$1,259 / ~RM 3,559

Again, we would like to point out that, for gamers, the Tencent Edition and similar variants are definitely A MUCH BETTER DEAL than the high-end / Global Edition ROG Phone 2.

Recommended : Why ROG Phone II Tencent Is Better Than The Global Edition!

 

ROG Phone 2 India Models vs. Tencent Edition

To make it easy for you to determine which is a better model for you, we compare the two ROG Phone 2 India models against the Tencent Edition.

Specifications ROG Phone 2
(12 GB + 512 GB)
ROG Phone 2
(8 GB + 128 GB)
ROG Phone 2
Tencent Edition
Display 6.59-inch AMOLED display (1080 x 2340 pixels)
– 108% DCI-P3 colour gamut, 10,000:1 contrast ratio
– up to 120 Hz refresh rate, 1 ms response time
System Platform Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 Plus
CPU 1 x Qualcomm Kryo 485 Gold core (2.96 GHz)
3 x Qualcomm Kryo 485 Gold cores (2.42 GHz)
4 x Qualcomm Kryo 485 Silver cores (1.8 GHz)
System Platform Qualcomm Adreno 640 (672 MHz)
RAM 12 GB LPDDR4X 8 GB LPDDR4X
Storage 512 GB UFS 3.0 128 GB UFS 3.0
Front Camera 24 MP camera with f/2.0 aperture
Rear Cameras 48 MP main camera, with Sony IMX586 sensor, and f/1.79 lens
13 MP ultra-wide camera, with 125-degree field of view
LTE Speeds 1.2 Gbps DL, 211 Mbps UL 800 Mbps DL, 211 Mbps UL 1 Gbps DL, 150 Mbps UL
Connectivity Wi-Fi : 802.11ad, 4×4 MIMO
Bluetooth : BT 5.0
Wi-Fi : 802.11ac, 2×2 MIMO
Bluetooth : BT 5.0
Sensors Accelerometer, E-Compass, proximity sensor, Hall sensor, ambient light sensor, in-display fingerprint sensor, gyro, ultrasonic AirTrigger shoulder buttons
Audio Dual front-facing speakers with DTS:X Ultra
Battery 6,000 mAh battery
Charger 30 W, USB-A to USB-C 18 W, USB-A to USB-C
AeroActive Cooler Yes No No
Aero Case Yes Yes No
Dimensions 77.6 mm wide x 170.99 mm tall x 9.78 mm thick
Weight 240 g
Price ₹59,999 ₹37,999 Approx. ₹34,599

 

ROG Phone 2 Availability In India

The ROG Phone 2 (8GB + 128GB) model will start selling at 12 AM, on 30 September 2019.

The 12GB + 512GB is not available yet, but will be “coming soon” like someone who has jerked off way too often.

This is not surprising, because ASUS has a history of super-slow rollouts.

They may boast of being the first to launch a Snapdragon 855 Plus smartphone, but what’s the point if they cannot deliver the actual devices?

More nimble, new competitors like Black Shark keep passing them by. The Black Shark 2, for example, launched way back in April 2019 with the Snapdragon 855, and they started selling the Black Shark 2 PRO with the Snapdragon 855 Plus last month!

 

Recommended Reading

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The 2017 ASUS ROG GT51 Gaming Desktop Revealed!

The Iron Man-inspired ASUS ROG GT51 gaming desktop was first revealed last year, winning the 2016 CES Innovation Award, as well as the iF Design Award. Now ASUS reveals the newly-updated 2017 ROG GT51 gaming desktop! Check out what’s new!

 

The 2017 ASUS ROG GT51 Gaming Desktop Revealed!

Let’s start with a presentation on the 2017 ROG GT51 by Louis Lu (ASUS Product Manager).

And here is a quick look at the 2017 ASUS ROG GT51 gaming desktop up close. The exterior looks exactly the same as the 2016 model – it’s the internals that have been changed.

Full Core CPU Overclocking

The 2017 ROG GT51 is powered by a 7th Generation Intel Core i7 processor that ASUS has aged for 40 hours, and overclocked by 14%. With their Turbo Gear feature, you can enable full-core overclocking without having to reboot the system. The ASUS Hydro Overclocking System ensures rock-solid stability during overclocking.

Awesome Graphics

The 2017 ROG GT51 supports up to two NVIDIA GeForce GTX TITAN X graphics cards in SLI to deliver smooth, stutter-free 4K UHD gaming at over 60 fps!

Fast Memory & Storage

The 2017 ROG GT51 comes with the fast DDR4 memory, the latest NVMe PCI Express SSD, and the new USB 3.1 ports.

Advanced Cooling System

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The 2017 ROG GT51 boasts a multi-zone thermal solution that decreases system temperature by up to 31%, even under the heaviest of loads. The CPU is liquid-cooled, while the GPU has a dedicated air channel. The power supply unit, found in the bottom corner of the chassis, features its own isolated airflow design.

Customisable 8-Million Colour LED Lighting

Dynamic light effects illuminate the case, including the iconic ROG logo and twin side-light strips. You can even customize the RGB LEDs on the air intake with any of the 8 million colors! And when you overclock ROG GT51, the dramatic OC lighting mode is activated.

ROG Band

The wearable ROG BAND lets you access Shadow Drive — a hidden storage space for keeping your personal and confidential data safe. You can also use ROG BAND to activate the overclocking mode.

 

Price & Availability

The 2017 ASUS ROG GT51 (GT51CH) gaming desktop is now available with the following specifications for a launch price of RM 11,999 / ~US$ 2,859, inclusive of the 6% GST.

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The New ASUS X299 Motherboards Announced!

May 30, 2017 — Intel just took the wraps off its long-awaited Core X-Series processors and accompanying X299 chipset, which bring enough horsepower and bandwidth for everything from professional content creation to hardcore gaming. The new LGA2066 processors require new motherboards, and ASUS has a diverse lineup split between the Prime, TUF, and ROG families.

 

The New ASUS X299 Motherboards

ROG has three models expertly tailored for different priorities: the Rampage VI Extreme lives up to its name for drool-worthy dream machines with custom liquid cooling and ultra-fast networking, the Rampage VI Apex unabashedly targets peak game performance and record-breaking overclocking, and the Strix X299-E provides gamers the powerful tuning, cooling, and personalization options they need to get the most from their rigs.

The Prime and TUF models are designed for differing audiences. The new Prime X299-Deluxe is for high-end builders who want it all. The Prime X299-A eschews certain extras in favor of a straightforward approach that gets back to basics.

Meanwhile, the TUF X299 Mark 1 stands out from its competitors with protective armor and advanced cooling options, while the TUF X299 Mark 2 strips down to the essentials for X299 builders who want to deviate from the conventional formula.

 

Shared innovations define the ROG X299 family

All three boards share the same DNA—essential features that enthusiasts in the Republic of Gamers demand. That starts with critically acclaimed overclocking and cooling controls for liquid and air. There are dedicated pump headers for powering custom loops and all-in-one coolers, plus intelligent fan controls for optimal efficiency and quiet acoustics.

Sensor grouping lets your cooling react to a mix of workloads, including GPU-heavy gaming via direct temperature monitoring for select graphics cards. Tuning your gaming PC is easy whether you want to perfect your setup with manual tweaking or automatically configure and overclock the whole thing with a single click using the ASUS 5-Way Optimization utility.

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Gaming PCs provide unprecedented options to express your style, including through personalized lighting. The RGB LEDs embedded on the ASUS boards are augmented by headers for multiple RGB LED strips to illuminate your entire chassis. All of the lighting is part of the Aura Sync ecosystem, which synchronizes harmoniously across compatible ROG graphics cards, peripherals, and monitors, along with other components from ASUS partners.

Equipped with the latest generation of SupremeFX integrated audio, ROG’s new X299 motherboards boast enhanced recording quality for streamers who want their voice to come through clearly. Graphics cards plug into reinforced SafeSlots that protect against damage from heavy GPU coolers and rough handling.

Intel’s VROC technology combines with the optional add-in card to enable M.2 RAID arrays made up of a stack of parallel drives with a direct line to the CPU. You can hit ludicrous speeds with enough capacity for overflowing game libraries. You get all the latest I/O, including USB 3.1 Gen2 with Type-C ports and internal headers pushing speeds up to 10Gbps. Onboard Wi-Fi and Intel Gigabit networking are standard equipment, and you can add Intel’s new Optane Memory as a high-speed cache.

Next Page > Prime Time For X299, TUF Enough To Endure, Availability

 

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Prime time for X299

Built for power users and prosumers, the Prime series represents the culmination of decades of experience refining all aspects of motherboard technology. These boards mate state-of-the-art connectivity with accessible tuning options to provide a premium experience everyone can enjoy.

All of the ASUS X299 motherboards have extensive overclocking and cooling options available in both the UEFI and software. The Primes go one step further with 5-Way Optimization, which intelligently overclocks your system and tunes the cooling based on the individual characteristics of your components. Beginners can effortlessly optimize their entire PC with a single click, while experienced users can adjust tuning parameters to meet their needs.

Refinement extends to the styling, whose predominantly black-and-white theme lays the perfect foundation for understated builds—or much flashier ones with RGB lighting. The ASUS Prime X299 boards feature multiple headers for LED strips that can light up your entire chassis. They’re part of a rich ecosystem of Aura Sync products that can synchronize colors and effects across a complete system, from the motherboard and graphics card to peripherals and other components.

Intel’s new Core X-Series processors demand serious cooling, which is why all of the new ASUS X299 motherboards have dedicated headers for all-in-one liquid coolers and stand-alone pumps.  The ASUS Prime X299 series also support up to three-way graphics configurations, and their x16 slots incorporate structural reinforcements with the SafeSlot technology to prevent damage and protect your investment.

PCIe lanes left unused by graphics can be devoted to storage with VROC, which combines multiple M.2 SSDs in a bootable RAID array connected directly to the CPU. An insane number of drives can run in parallel across multiple VROC cards to deliver staggering throughput and warp fast access for system drives. Intel’s Optane™ Memory technology is supported, which provides a solid-state cache to accelerate other storage devices.

This new Prime series receives the latest on-board audio enhancements, including a Realtek S1220A codec paired with an amplifier and premium components that produce immersive and crystal clear sound which rivals some dedicated sound cards.

 

TUF enough to endure

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The ASUS Prime X299 motherboards are balanced by entries from the TUF family. These models march to a different beat that prioritizes reliability and durability for PCs built to go the distance. They use tougher components than conventional counterparts, and they’re subjected to more stringent testing.

Shifting focus requires a new outlook, and TUF answers with distinctive designs that meld industrial sensibilities with a touch of space marine. Stealthy by nature, the new boards minimize RGB lighting to concentrate on different priorities.

 

ASUS X299 Motherboard Availability

The Strix X229-E will be available first, followed by the Rampage VI Apex and Extreme.

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ASUS Announces Strix X370-F & Strix B350-F Motherboards

May 25, 2017 — Since its release back in April, AMD’s Ryzen platform has quickly established itself as a viable option, delivering exemplary performance for daily computing and gaming.

ASUS was ready for the early unveil, releasing an array of motherboards for value-packed PCs to models geared for high-end rigs. However, pressing demand for Ryzen-based systems shows a need for more options in the middle of the ASUS product stack.

So today, ASUS is bolstering their portfolio with two new AM4 motherboards aimed squarely at gamers who wish to utilize Ryzen performance in their next PC build.

 

The Strix X370-F Gaming & Strix B350-F Gaming

The ROG Strix X370-F Gaming and Strix B350-F Gaming are new ATX gaming motherboards with AMD AM4 socket for Ryzen processors, engineered with core ROG features.

Features include 5-Way Optimization with one-click overclocking, third-gen T-Topology, SupremeFX S1220A audio, and Aura Sync illumination. Comprehensive software and firmware controls for fans, AIOs, and water pumps, for intelligently cooled gaming builds.

 

The Strix X370-F Gaming Specifications

Processor/CPU socket AM4 socket for AMD Ryzen / 7th Gen A-series / Athlon processors
Chipset AMD X370
Memory AMD Ryzen processor
  • 4 x DIMM, max. 64GB, DDR4 3200+(OC)/2666/2400/2133 MHz, Ecc and non-ECC, unbuffered memory*

AMD 7th Gen A-series/Athlon™ processors

  • 4 x DIMM, max. 64GB, DDR4 2400/2133 MHz, non-ECC, unbuffered memory*

Dual-channel memory architecture

Expansion slots AMD Ryzen processor
  • 2 x PCIe 3.0 x16 (supports x16, x8/x8)

AMD 7th Gen A-series/Athlon™ processor

  • 1 x PCIe 3.0 x16 (supports x8)

AMD X370 chipset

  • 1 x PCIe® 2.0 x16 (max. at x4 mode)*
  • 3 x PCIe® 2.0 x1

*PCIex16_3 slot shares bandwidth with PCIex1_2 and PCIex1_3

Graphics (VGA) Integrated AMD Radeon R Series graphics in the 7th Gen A-series APU

Multi-VGA output support: HDMI and DisplayPort

Supports HDMI 1.4b with maximum resolution of 4096 x 2160 at 24Hz

Supports DisplayPort 1.2 with maximum resolution of 4096 x 2160 at 60Hz

Storage AMD Ryzen processor
  • 1 x M.2 Socket 3 with M Key, type 2242/2260/2280/22110 (PCIe® 3.0 x4 and SATA modes) storage devices support

AMD 7th Gen A-series/Athlon™ processor

  • 1 x M.2 Socket 3 with M Key, type 2242/2260/2280/22110 (SATA mode) storage devices support

AMD X370 chipset with RAID 0, 1, 10 support

  • 8 x SATA 6Gbps ports
Networking/LAN Intel I211-AT with ASUS LANGuard
USB AMD Ryzen/7th Gen A-series/Athlon™ processor
  • 4 x USB 3.1 Gen 1 ports (4 ports at back panel)

AMD X370 chipset

  • 1 x USB 3.1 Gen 2 front panel connector
  • 6 x USB 3.1  Gen 1 ports (2 ports at back panel[blue], 4 ports at mid-board)
  • 4 x USB 2.0 ports (2 ports at back panel, 2 ports at mid-board)

ASMedia USB 3.1 Gen 2 controller

  • 2 x USB 3.1 Gen 2 ports (2 ports at back panel, Type-A and Type-C)
Audio SupremeFX S1220A 8-channel HD audio codec
  • 120dB SNR output and 113dB SNR recording input
  • SupremeFX shielding technology
  • Dual headphone amplifiers
  • Jack-detection, multistreaming and front panel jack-retasking
Dimensions / form factor ATX, 12 x 9.6” (30.5 x 24.4 cm)

 

The Strix B350-F Gaming Specifications

Processor/CPU socket AM4 socket for AMD Ryzen / 7th Gen A-series / Athlon processors
Chipset AMD B350
Memory AMD Ryzen processor
  • 4 x DIMM, max. 64GB, DDR4 3200(O.C.)/2933(O.C.)/2666/2400/2133 MHz ECC and Non-ECC, unbuffered memory*

AMD 7th Gen A-series/Athlon processor

  • 4 x DIMM, max. 64GB, DDR4 2400/2133 MHz Non-ECC, unbuffered memory

Dual-channel memory architecture:

* Due to AMD Ryzen processor limitations, only one DIMM per channel is supported for memory faster than DDR4-2666

* Hyper DIMM support is subject to the physical characteristics of individual CPUs

Expansion slots AMD Ryzen processor
  • 2 x PCIe 3.0/2.0 x16 (x16 or x8/x4)

AMD 7th Gen A-series/Athlon™ processor

  • 1 x PCIe 3.0/2.0 x16 (x8 mode)

AMD B350 chipset

  • 1 x PCIe 2.0 x16 (max. at x4 mode)
  • 3 x PCIe 2.0 x1
Graphics (VGA) Integrated AMD Radeon R Series graphics in the 7th Gen A-series APU

Multi-VGA output support: HDMI and DisplayPort ports

Supports HDMI 1.4b with max. resolution of 4096 x 2160 at 24Hz

Supports DisplayPort 1.2 with max. resolution of 4096 x 2160 at 60Hz

Storage AMD Ryzen processor
  • 1 x M.2 Socket 3, with M key, type 2242/2260/2280/22110 storage devices supported (SATA & PCIe 3.0 x 4 mode)*

AMD Ryzen/7th Gen A-series/Athlon processor

  • 2 x SATA 6Gbps ports, gray

AMD 7th Gen A-series/Athlon processor

  • 1 x M.2 Socket 3, with M key, type 2242/2260/2280/22110 storage devices supported (SATA & PCIe 3.0 x 2 mode)*

AMD B350 chipset

  • 4 x SATA 6Gbps ports, gray (supports Raid 0, 1, 10)

* When a SATA mode M.2 device is installed, the M.2 Socket shares bandwidth with the SATA6G_5/6 ports.

Networking/LAN Intel I211-AT with ASUS LANGuard
USB AMD Ryzen/7th Gen A-series/Athlon processor
  • 4 x USB 3.1 Gen 1 ports (4 at back panel, blue)

AMD B350 chipset

  • 2 x USB 3.1 Gen 2 ports (2 at back panel, red)
  • 2 x USB 3.1 Gen 1 ports (2 at mid-board)
  • 6 x USB 2.0 ports (2 at back panel, black, 4 at mid-board)
Audio SupremeFX S1220A 8-channel HD audio codec
  • 120dB SNR output and 113dB SNR recording input
  • SupremeFX shielding technology
  • Dual headphone amplifiers
  • Jack-detection, multistreaming and front panel jack-retasking
Dimensions / form factor ATX, 12 x 9.6” (30.5 x 24.4cm)

 

Price & Availability

The ROG Strix X370-F Gaming is available now in Malaysia at SRP of RM 999 (inclusive 6% GST) / ~US$ 219.

The ROG Strix B350-F Gaming is available now in Malaysia at SRP of RM 697 (inclusive 6% GST) / ~US$ 149.

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The ASUS ROG Gladius II Gaming Mouse Announced

Taipei, Taiwan. 17th March 2017ASUS Republic of Gamers (ROG) today announced Gladius II, the successor to the popular ROG Gladius optical gaming mouse. Gladius II features an ergonomic right-handed design that is optimized for first-person shooter (FPS) games.

It has an exclusive push-fit switch socket design for varied click resistance, and durable switches rated to at least 50 million clicks. In addition, it features a dedicated DPI target button for more accurate sniping, an advanced 12000 DPI optical sensor and ASUS Aura RGB lighting technology with Aura Sync support.

 

The ROG Gladius II – Designed for first-person shooters

The ROG Gladius II was designed with input from professional gamers to ensure the right look and feel. The result is a comfortable gaming mouse that’s optimized for FPS shooters and designed for right-handed gamers and all grip types. It features the ASUS-exclusive push-fit switch socket design that allows gamers to vary click resistance, and extend the lifespan of the mouse by replacing worn switches.

The ROG Gladius II uses durable Omron mouse switches that are rated to at least 50 million clicks, and is bundled with an additional pair of high-quality Japanese-made Omron switches should gamers want a different click feel.

The ROG Gladius II has a DPI switch that allows for instant switching between two sensitivity levels. It also features a DPI target button: Holding the button down lowers the DPI for more accurate sniping or raises it for faster scrolling across the screen; default DPI settings return as soon as the button is released. Gladius II uses a high-end 12000 DPI optical sensor to ensure the speed, resolution and accuracy needed for an optimal FPS gaming experience.

Flexible customization

ASUS Aura RGB lighting lets users choose from a palette of over 16 million colors and several preset lighting effects to reflect their own style and personality. They can synchronize the RGB lighting on ROG Gladius II with other Aura Sync-enabled products to complete the look of their gaming setup.

Aura Sync lets users achieve perfect synchronized lighting harmony by pairing their Gladius II with ASUS motherboards and other compatible components; while quick and easy lighting synchronization between ROG Gladius II and ROG Claymore can be achieved with a press of the latter’s ROG Sync hotkey.

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ROG Armoury software lets gamers adjust settings to suit their style. Gamers can customize Aura RGB lighting effects, adjust performance and surface calibration settings, program and map buttons, and create profiles via an intuitive interface.

Built for home or LAN parties

The ROG Gladius II has a 2-meter braided cable for desktop use and a 1-meter rubber cable to take to LAN parties. A detachable cable design provides easy cable management and lets users pack Gladius II easily without having to worry about bending and damaging the cable. A special locking mechanism secures the cable in place, and a quick-release switch at the bottom of Gladius II releases the micro-USB cable with one swift movement.

Gladius II is bundled with an easy-to-carry ROG pouch for convenient protection and portability on the go.

 

The ROG Gladius II Availability & Pricing

To be announced.

 

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ASUS Reveals The Entire ASUS Z270 Motherboards Line-Up

Kuala Lumpur, 4 January 2017ASUS today announced its complete 2017 lineup of ASUS Z270 motherboards designed to maximize the potential of 7th Generation Intel Core processors. The new range includes the highly-anticipated next-generation Republic of Gamers (ROG) Maximus IX gaming motherboards — with Maximus IX Apex having already secured its place in history by claiming eight world records and 13 global first places in some of the world’s toughest benchmarks.

Also included in the lineup are the latest ROG Strix gaming motherboards for style-conscious enthusiast, the all-new ASUS Prime series for everyday customization and tuning, and the latest ASUS TUF boards with 24/7 stability and newly-added overclocking abilities. The ASUS workstation motherboard series has also been updated for the Z270 revolution — and all boards are loaded with exclusive technologies to enable users to extract every ounce of performance from Intel’s latest CPUs.

 

Built for performance: Multiple overclocking-friendly technologies

ASUS is the world’s foremost motherboard manufacturer. Our world-class research-and-development teams are devoted to providing the best performance to users, with exhaustive testing that exceeds industry standards, giving users the ability and confidence to overclock to 5.0GHz or even beyond — and all with a single click from the ready-made UEFI profile. ASUS Z270 motherboards have multiple features to aid overclockers in their endeavors.

ASUS-exclusive 5-Way Optimization dynamically optimizes essential aspects of the system based on real-time use, including the all-new Stress Test Distribution feature that allows users to adjust the proportion of CPU and DRAM stress for the best overclocking performance. As well, the latest-generation Fan Xpert 4 allows users to monitor the GPU temperature to ensure cooler usage scenarios when the graphics card is under heavy loads, such as during 3D content creation or when gaming.

ASUS Pro Clock technology has a dedicated base-clock (BCLK) generator designed for 7th Generation Intel processors, enabling overclocked base-clock frequencies of up to 425MHz and beyond. It works in tandem with the ASUS TurboV Processing Unit (TPU) to enhance voltage and base-clock overclocking control, and boosts performance up to 5.4GHz and beyond.

Third-generation ASUS T-Topology takes DDR4 memory overclocking to new heights — up to 4133MHz or even beyond. Refined manufacturing ensures ultra-consistent quality and minimal crosstalk between custom trace paths, so users can enjoy the thrill of overclocking DDR4 with time-aligned signaling for superior stability. And ASUS motherboards are tested for compatibility with industry-leading 790+ DDR4 memory modules — for great flexibility and reassurance.

 

Built for customization: Aura Sync and 3D-printable components

ASUS Aura Sync is the world’s first motherboard-RGB-synchronization technology, delivering distinctive light shows across Aura Sync-capable motherboards, graphics cards and peripherals for up to nine effects — all controlled via the simple and intuitive Aura app. The all-new Music mode is also able to pulse synchronized LEDs in time to the user’s favorite tunes. Users are able enhance their illumination still further, either via the integrated 4-pin/12V Aura RGB header or the included extension cable. Aura offers a brilliant spectrum of colors, and can even change shades to reflect the CPU temperature, providing valuable information at a glance.

ASUS has always strived to make it easier for users to customize the cosmetic appearance of their PC components, and now it has become the world’s first motherboard brand to support 3D-printed components — making it easy for users to print their own parts to customize the motherboard’s appearance, improve system performance or manage cables.

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Dedicated onboard 3D mounts that use the same screws as M.2 and standard motherboard mounting holes make fitting 3D-printed parts easy, so users can quickly add custom nameplates, cable covers, or even an M.2 fan holder to lower M.2 temperature by up to 30’C — preventing throttling. ASUS has also designed a series of 3D-printable accessories, including 2-way SLI bridge cover, fan grille, ROG-font letters and all sizes of cable combs, adding style to any build.

ASUS has also cooperated with Shapeways, the world’s largest 3D-printing service company, to launch the ASUS 3D Printing Store. This hosts the full selection of ASUS 3D-printable parts, enabling users to select the parts they want to print — replete with preferred materials and color — and order directly via Shapeways. For advanced customization, the original CAD files are available for download, allowing users to personalize them as much as they want before ordering parts via the Shapeways printing service or using their own 3D printers.

 

Record-breaking performance : Redefining limits for the 7th Gen era

The all-new ROG Maximus IX Apex motherboard is the latest ground breaking model in the ROG product family which brings players back to ROG’s roots, a one-of-kind community for world-class cutting-edge enthusiasts looking to reach the apex of gaming performance. With a performance-oriented layout, the Apex enables overclocking enthusiasts to go beyond the limits by using extreme cooling methods, including liquid nitrogen (LN2) or liquid helium (LHe)— and it’s already scored multiple world records (WRs) and global first places (GFPs), several being long-standing records.

These include the best Intel Core processors CPU frequency processors, with a record of 7.383GHz on a single core and one thread and 7.328GHz on four cores and eight threads using the Intel Core i7-7700K. It also set a reference clock (BCLK) at 584MHz and a memory frequency surpassing 5GHz, with 5041MHz. In total, the Maximus IX Apex has secured eight world records and 13 global first places, as detailed in the following table:

Next Page > The ASUS Motherboard Families – ROG, ROG Strix, Prime, TUF, Workstations

 

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ROG and ROG Strix : Defeat all challengers together with a new creed

The ROG motherboard lineup includes Maximus IX Extreme, Maximus IX Formula, Maximus IX Hero and two new models, the Maximus IX Code and Maximus IX Apex, plus a new series from ROG Strix — the latest recruit to the ROG fold. The new boards are all based on the latest Intel Z270 Chipset and engineered with leading innovations and ROG-exclusive technologies to deliver epic performance in every perspective.

The new ROG family provides the best gaming audio with the exclusive SupremeFX audio codec, best air- and water-cooling innovations, best auto-overclocking performance, plus many refined design choices and class-leading features. Also, Aura Sync and 3D-printing-friendly designs provide stylish customization for awesome gaming rigs.

Maximus IX Apex is engineered to provide the best overclocking experiences, and features a revolutionary DIMM.2 design that allows two M.2 drives to be vertically-mounted on a DDR4 interface. DIMM or case fans can then be mounted to prevent throttling, and to ensure the system never breaks a sweat. Built to surpass from the inside out, the Apex not only features a radical asymmetrical X-shaped circuit board, but more importantly, relies on the cutouts to allow the Aura Sync illumination to shine through, adding more appeal to style-conscious gaming enthusiasts. An aircraft-inspired heatsink design and illuminated custom nameplate completes Apex’s winning aesthetic.

ROG also offers two complete Z270-based water-cooling solutions — Maximus IX Extreme and Maximus IX Formula.

Maximus IX Extreme is the world’s first motherboard with integrated monoblock — expertly manufactured by Bitspower. Maximus IX Extreme is packed with ROG innovations that refine traditional solutions: The monoblock detects the flow rate of the water coolant, and has dedicated circuitry to detect both the inlet and outlet temperatures and leakage. The monoblock also integrates the neighboring M.2 heatsink for unmatched heat-dissipation to eliminate throttling — therefore improving reliability and enabling greater performance.

Maximus IX Formula’s renowned hybrid heatsink is redesigned by the cooling masters at EKWB. The new thinner fins offer a 4°C cooling improvement over the previous design ¦” delivering efficient, quiet cooling.

All ROG motherboards offer a better water-cooling experience, with onboard headers that allow water flow and water temperature sensors to be easily monitored.

ROG Strix is the all-new gaming creed, with models crafted to appeal to every type of gamer: ROG Strix Z270E Gaming, ROG Strix Z270F Gaming, ROG Strix Z270H Gaming ATX, mATX ROG Strix Z270G Gaming and mini-ITX ROG Strix Z270I Gaming. ROG Strix Z270 gaming motherboards combine bold aesthetics with premier performance and incredible SupremeFX audio to deliver unrivaled gaming experiences and style.

Unique, angular patterns inspired by the slashes of a sword lend to ROG Strix series’ striking visual accents, and a reflective polychrome ROG logo emblazoned on a diamond-cut metal nameplate shines as a mark of gaming pride. Additionally, Aura Sync technology adds a burst of vibrancy as it syncs with Aura-enabled components for a system that glows in a nearly infinite spectrum of colors.

 

ASUS Prime : Primed to outclass

ASUS Prime is the next evolution of the ASUS motherboard, born of a pedigree that stretches all the way back to 1989. Our team of world-class engineers are passionate about empowering everyone to enjoy the benefits of customization and tuning, and the driving force behind the development of Prime is to make advanced enthusiast controls easily accessible — maximizing performance, stability and compatibility for the very best DIY PC experiences.

Prime features ASUS-exclusive 5-Way Optimization for one-click full-system tuning, with upgraded auto-tuning easily overclock up to 4.8GHz or beyond and an upgraded Fan Xpert 4 with the ability to monitor GPU temperatures for cooler gaming. Third-gen T-Topology pushes DDR4 to 3866MHz and beyond, with ultra-consistent quality and minimal crosstalk, while 5X Protection III offers multiple hardware safeguards include all-new SafeSlot core, featuring a fortified design that is anchored to the motherboard by a special hook, which provides 1.6x stronger retention and 1.3x greater shearing resistance than standard expansion slots.

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Prime series motherboards also include ASUS-exclusive Aura Sync with an integrated 4-pin RGB header to offer synchronized illumination with Aura Sync-capable hardware, plus a dedicated 3D mount for 3D-printing-friendly design. Prime series also refines audio experiences with the S1220A codec. Designed in close collaboration with Realtek, the codec improves performance to provide 120dB signal-to-noise ratio for the stereo line-out and 113dB SNR for the line-in, to capture pristine audio; and has an impedance-sensing circuit that automatically adjusts the gain to ensure the optimal volume range for headphones. Integrated DTS Headphone:X technology delivers immersive 3D surround sound for rich audio experiences.

Ultra-fast connectivity is also a key theme of the all-new Prime Z270 series, with up to dual M.2 slots to tap into 32Gbps of PCI Express (PCIe) bandwidth, and USB 3.1 Type-A and reversible Type-C. Most Prime series motherboards also supports Intel Optane memory. Prime Z270-A and Z270-AR also includes ASUS SLI HB Bridge (2-Way-M), a quick-to-fit expansion card that doubles the available transfer bandwidth to provide silky-smooth surround gaming, which compatible with NVIDIA Titan X, GeForce GTX 1080 and GeForce GTX 1070 graphics cards

 

ASUS TUF : Unconditionally tough with 24/7 reliability

TUF is where ambition for reliably brilliant performance meets reality. Some of the world’s most respected independent testing laboratories have certified TUF components as fit for military use. We are so confident of the reliability and durability of our products that each and every TUF motherboard is backed by a five-year warranty.

For the first time, TUF motherboards are made for overclocking. Implementing a new engineering-intensive DRAM layout, the third-generation ASUS T-Topology delivers new DDR4-overclocking dynamics to let users push memory frequencies further than ever — all the way up to 3866MHz if all memory slots are being utilized.

Pro Clock is the ASUS-exclusive base-clock generator that pushes base-clock frequencies up to 425MHz with 7th Generation Intel CPUs, taking TUF system performance to extreme heights. The boards also include Thermal Radar 2+ with TurboV Processing Unit (TPU) for efficient operation from precise voltage control and monitoring — all managed with a single click.

ASUS TUF engineers have forged TUF ICe, a dedicated processor that monitors onboard temperature sensors and fan speeds for ultra-accurate cooling, whether adjusting settings manually or using the automatic one-click optimization via Thermal Radar 2+ and TUF Detective 2. Thermal Radar 2+ lets users control fans on ASUS graphics cards as well as case fans. Multiple onboard sensors enable the monitoring of onboard temperatures as well as GPU temperatures while gaming and content-creating, for instant real-time cooling – with users able to make adjustments manually or optimize automatically, with a single click.

TUF Thermal Armor is a strong, futuristic shield with built-in Aura RGB illumination that adds eye-catching aesthetics to every TUF Z270 system. It looks great and offers another way to keep things cool. Users just need to connect an additional fan to boost airflow to the heat-sensitive voltage-regulator module — this reduces area temperatures by up to 18.9’C.

Similar to the Prime Series, TUF Z270 provides immersive 3D surround sound with Realtek S1220A and Crystal Sound 3, and DTS Headphone:X Technology.

TUF Z270 series is carefully engineered to work seamlessly with a wide range of high-performance workstation graphics cards. The ASUS promise of great compatibility is backed by our comprehensive Qualified Vendor List (QVL) that includes leading brands and products — so users can be certain of compatibility before buying that perfect graphics card.

 

ASUS Workstations : Engineered for professional performance

ASUS workstation motherboards have also been upgraded for the Z270 era. Z270-WS features ASUS 5-Way Optimization to dynamically optimize performance with a click — ensuring the whole system is tuned to its optimal potential based on real-time use.

Z270-WS has four PCI Express x16 slots, protected by reinforced ASUS SafeSlot technology, and able to carry up to four dual-slot graphic cards. Supporting NVIDIA GeForce SLI, NVIDIA Quadro SLI, and AMD CrossFireX, Z270-WS is an excellent choice for designers and other professionals that depend on powerful graphic — so it’s perfect for design and modeling, processing-intensive simulation, and 3D-rendering applications.

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Similar to the Prime Series, Z270-WS is fitted with Realtek S1220A and Crystal Sound 3. And with newly-added DTS Headphone:X Technology, the Z270-WS delivers flawless audio with immersive 3D surrounding sound.

Z270-WS also offers scalable high-speed storage and expandable connectivity, with dual M.2 and dual U.2 on demand — for up to 32Gbps of PCIe bandwidth. Z270-WS provides great backward compatibility with integrated USB 3.1 Type-A, plus future-proof connectivity in the shape of reversible USB 3.1 Type-C — all protected by the stainless-steel back I/O shield. In addition to up to 10Gbps transfer speeds, Z270-WS also supports ASUS Thunderbolt 3, a quick-to-fit expansion card for blistering transfer speeds of up to 40Gbps. It also has built-in dual Intel Gigabit LAN, making connections to multiple networks both easy and convenient.

 

ASUS Z270 motherboards models available in Malaysia

 

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The ROG Masters 2016 Tournament Rocks KL

ROG, the Republic of Gamers in full, is the gaming brand from ASUS. Their focus is on delivering the ultimate gaming systems and components for hardcore gamers. So it comes to no surprise to see them hosting their own eSports tournament – the ROG Masters 2016.

 

The ROG Masters 2016

ROG has sponsored many gaming events in the past, but this is the first time they organised and hosted their own gaming tournament. Their inaugural tournament, the ROG Masters 2016, rocked KL with new and top teams competing for the US$ 200,000 prize pool!

As an open tournament, the ROG Masters 2016 saw hundreds of teams from all over the world competing against each other. But only the 12 strongest teams in Dota 2 and CS:GO each qualified to fight it out in the finals in Kuala Lumpur.

In the end, Team Secret beat Team Execration to take the trophy in the Dota 2 tournament. In CS:GO, Team Mongolz beat Team Dreamscape for the first spot.

Congratulations to Team Secret and Team Mongolz, and the runners-up teams – Team Execration and Team Dreamscape. Win or lose the top spot, these are the best teams in the inaugural ROG Masters tournament!

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The ROG Masters 2016 Q&A Session

Interested to find out more about the ROG Masters 2016? Wanna know if the ROG Masters will be an annual event? Or why ASUS decided to open the tournament to new and amateur teams, as well as top professional gaming teams?

Join ASUS APAC Manager Rex Lee, ASUS APAC Product Manager Shawn Chang and ASUS Malaysia Country Manager Jimmy Lin in the inaugural ROG Masters 2016 Q&A session!

Yes, ASUS will now organise the ROG Masters on a yearly basis. We are looking forward to the ROG Masters 2017. Will it be in Kuala Lumpur? Taipei or Bangkok? We will find out soon enough!

 

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ROG Masters 2016 Grand Finals @ KL Convention Centre

ROG Masters 2016 Grand Finals

The ROG Masters 2016 Grand Finals event for Dota 2 and CS:GO is coming soon on 12-13 November 2016 at KL Convention Centre , G-floor (Hall 3 -4). Entry is FREE, and you will receive exclusive ROG goodies!

If you are attending, kindly arrive at the event venue on Saturday 12th November by 10am for the event opening.

Event Date & Time: Saturday 12th November by 10am
Event Address: KL Convention Centre , G Floor (Hall 3 -4)
Entrance for ROG Master 2016 Grand Final is FOC

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First ROG Concept Store Now Available In Malaysia

Kuala Lumpur, 26 September 2016 – ASUS Malaysia with its first ever (Republic of Gamers) ROG Concept Store – is now open for business at Plaza Low Yat!

 

First ROG Concept Store At Low Yat Plaza

Located at G023B, Ground Floor, Low Yat Plaza, the concept store offers the ultimate ROG products, ranging from gaming laptops, desktops, peripheral, gaming monitors, routers to latest graphic cards and motherboards.


At the store opening event, the ROG GX800 made an appearance for guests to witness the incredible liquid-cooling gaming weapon!

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The ASUS ROG Swift PG348Q Gaming Monitor Announced

2 September 2016 — ASUS Republic of Gamers (ROG) today announced the ROG Swift PG348Q, a 34-inch Ultra-Wide QHD (3440 x 1440) curved monitor with a 21:9 aspect ratio for panoramic gaming. The 2016 CES Innovation Award-winning Swift PG348Q has a frameless design, and features the new ROG Armor Titanium and Plasma Copper color scheme and built-in LED effects.

In addition, Swift PG348Q features a 100Hz fresh rate and NVIDIA G-SYNC technology to give users incredibly smooth and fast gameplay.

Swift PG348Q is now available, and joins the 27-inch ROG Swift displays (PG278Q and PG279Q) to diversify the ROG gaming monitor line-up as ASUS looks to strengthen its position as a worldwide leader in the high-end gaming monitor market.

The ASUS ROG Swift PG348Q

ROG Swift PG348Q is a 34-inch gaming monitor with an Ultra-Wide QHD (3440 x 1440) panel that gives users highly detailed visuals and more onscreen space than WQHD monitors. Its ultra-wide 21:9 aspect curved display provides an immersive panoramic gaming experience. The panel curvature of the display ensures every point is equidistant to the user’s eyes to ensure a comfortable viewing experience during marathon gaming sessions.

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Swift PG348Q takes gaming aesthetics to a new level, and recently won the 2016 CES Innovation Award. It has a frameless design, sports the new ROG Armor Titanium and Plasma Copper color scheme, and features ROG light effects built-into its stand add ambience to gaming set-ups.

Swift PG348Q features NVIDIA G-SYNC technology to eliminate screen tearing, minimize stuttering, and reduce input lag; it also has a Turbo key to overclock the refresh rate up to 100Hz for incredibly-smooth gaming gameplay. ASUS-exclusive GamePlus and GameVisual technologies to enhance the gaming experience.

Swift PG348Q has an ergonomically designed stand with full tilt, swivel, and height adjustment so gamers can find their preferred viewing position. ROG Swift PG348Q comes with the TÜV Rheinland-certified ASUS Ultra-low Blue Light filters and Flicker-Free technologies to minimize eyestrain and protect users from harmful blue light.

 

ROG Swift Series Displays

 

 

Availability & Pricing

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The First GeForce GTX 10-Series Gaming Laptops Revealed

After NVIDIA officially launched the GeForce GTX 10-Series GPUs for Notebooks, we were given the opportunity to check out the first GeForce GTX 10- Series gaming laptops for ourselves. They all boast a 40% improvement in performance, and why not? After all, the GeForce GTX 10-Series GPUs are using the desktop-grade NVIDIA GeForce GTX GPUs!

So, join us as we take you on a quick tour of the first GeForce GTX 10-Series gaming laptops from Acer, Aftershock, AORUS, ASUS, HP and MSI!

 

The Acer Predator 15 Gaming Laptop

The Acer Predator 15 and Predator 17 gaming laptops have just been refreshed with the GeForce GTX 1060 and 1070 GPUs respectively. They still maintain the unique Predator FrostCore swappable fan module, and unique AeroBlade metal fan.

 

The Aftershock S-15 Gaming Laptop

Aftershock is offering the new GeForce GTX 10-Series GPUs in the full line-up of their gaming laptops. Here is the 15″ Aftershock S-15 gaming laptop, which can be customised with a GeForce GTX 1070 or 1060 GPU. This example is powered by the GeForce GTX 1070.

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The AORUS X7YA Gaming Laptop

AORUS demonstrated the AORUS X7YA, which is also known as the AORUS X7 DT V6. It is powered by the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 GPU.

Next Page > More GeForce GTX 10-Series Gaming Laptops – ASUS, HP, MSI

 

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The ASUS ROG GL502 Gaming Laptop

ASUS showed off their Republic of Gamers GL502 gaming laptop at Comex 2016. Although it was listed as being powered by the GeForce GTX 1060, we were told that it will actually ship with the GeForce GTX 1070.

 

The HP Omen 17 Gaming Laptop

Although HP was not present, they dropped off the HP Omen 17 for us to check out. It is powered by the GeForce GTX 1070.

 

The MSI GS63 Gaming Laptop

The full name for this laptop is actually MSI GS63VR Stealth Pro. It is their thinnest and lightest gaming laptop, powered by the GeForce GTX 1070.

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The MSI GT73 Gaming Laptop

The full name for this laptop is MSI GT73VR Titan SLI. This unit is powered by the GeForce GTX 1080 GPU, but it can be configured to support two GeForce GTX 1070 GPUs in SLI! Thanks for the correction, Andrew Ganter!

 

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ROG G752 With NVIDIA Pascal GPU Now Available

In conjunction with the NVIDIA Pascal launch, ASUS is excited to announce that ROG notebooks with NVIDIA Pascal GPUs in the local Malaysian market. The below 2 updated models for ROG G752 are equipped with the latest NVIDIA Pascal GPUs and will be with our distributor from this week onwards.

ROG G752 With NVIDIA Pascal GPU Specifications & Pricing

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2016 ROG Champions Cup (League of Legends) Finals

On the 25th of June, 2016, we were invited to the 2016 ROG Champions Cup (League of Legends) Finals. Held at the Sunway Pyramid Ice Rink, this inaugural esport gaming event organised by ASUS Malaysia saw two teams battle for the top position in League of Legends.

League of Legends cosplayers also came to pep up the crowd, before the event began. They looked amazing!

Eventually, about 1,500 ROG and League of Legends fans gathered to cheer on the two final teams – “Missing in Action” and “Raiding Squad“, as they took on each other in a best-of-5 challenge.

 

Pre-Finals Briefing

The event kicked off with presentations by the ROG Malaysia team – Jimmy Lin (Country Manager) and Frank Wang (Country Product Manager). Then the two teams were introduced to the gathered ROG and League of Legends fans. Check it out!

The 2016 ROG Champions Cup saw 149 teams from all over Malaysia go through a gruelling 2 months of qualifying rounds before the final top 2 teams emerged from the pack. They are Team “Missing in Action” from Kuala Lumpur (left) and Team “Raiding Squad” from Penang (right).

 

Missing In Action Wins The 2016 ROG Champions Cup!

In the end, Team “Missing in Action” won the grand final with a leading score of 3 – 1! Everyone on that team walked away with the tournament grand prize – RM 5,000 cash and a ROG G752VT gaming laptop each!

Raiding Squad” team members, on the other hand, won RM 3,000 cash, an ROG Nomad Gaming Backpack, an ROG GX1000 Eagle Eye Gaming Mouse and an ROG GM50 Gaming Mouse Pad.

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ROG Strix GeForce GTX 1080 Now Available In Malaysia

Kuala Lumpur, 23 June 2016 — ASUS Republic of Gamers (ROG) today announced the immediate availability of Strix GeForce GTX 1080 here in Malaysia.

The Strix GeForce GTX 1080 is an all-new VR-ready gaming graphics card with ultra-fast gaming performance, advanced cooling and reliability, and personalized styling. Powered by the latest NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 graphics processing unit (GPU), clocked at 1936MHz in OC mode, ROG Strix GeForce GTX 1080 delivers up to 6.5%-faster performance in 3DMark Fire Strike Extreme and 7.4%-faster gaming performance in Hitman.

 

ROG Strix GeForce GTX 1080

ROG Strix GeForce GTX 1080 is packed with exclusive ASUS technologies, including DirectCU III with a patented triple wing-blade 0dB fan designed to deliver maximum airflow for 30%-cooler and three-times (3X) quieter performance, and ASUS FanConnect, which features GPU-controlled fan headers for targeted supplemental cooling. Industry-exclusive Auto-Extreme technology with Super Alloy Power II components ensures premium quality and reliability.

ROG Strix GeForce GTX 1080 enables complete gaming system personalization with Aura RGB Lighting. A VR-friendly design with two HDMI ports lets gamers always keep a virtual reality (VR) device connected to their system for immersive gaming anytime. It also includes GPU Tweak II with XSplit Gamecaster for intuitive performance tweaking and instant gameplay streaming.

Ultimate cooling: DirectCU III technology with patented wing-blade fans and ASUS FanConnect

ROG Strix GeForce GTX 1080 is equipped with ASUS DirectCU III cooling technology, which features direct-GPU-contact heatpipes that transport more heat away from the GPU, outperforming reference designs and achieving up to 30% cooler gaming performance. DirectCU III technology includes triple 0dB fans, engineered with a patented wing-blade design that delivers maximum airflow and improves static pressure over the heatsink by 105%, while operating at three-times (3X) quieter volume than reference cards.

ROG Strix GeForce GTX 1080 also comes with ASUS FanConnect technology. When gaming, the GPU often runs hotter than the CPU, but chassis fans usually only reference CPU temperatures, resulting in inefficient system cooling. ASUS FanConnect solves this issue with two 4-pin GPU-controlled headers that can be connected to system fans to provide targeted supplemental cooling for optimal thermal performance.

 

Premium quality and reliability: Auto-Extreme technology with Super Alloy Power II components

All ASUS graphics cards are now produced using Auto-Extreme technology, an industry-exclusive, 100%-automated production process that incorporates premium materials to set a new standard of quality. Auto-Extreme technology ensures consistent graphics card quality as well as improved performance and longevity. This new manufacturing process is also environmentally friendly, eliminating harsh chemicals and reducing power consumption by 50%.

Super Alloy Power II components enhance efficiency, reduce power loss, reduce component buzzing by 50% while under full load, and achieve thermal levels that are approximately 50% cooler than previous designs for enhanced quality and reliability.

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Game your way: Aura RGB Lighting and VR-friendly HDMI ports

ROG Strix GeForce GTX 1080 includes ASUS Aura RGB Lighting on both the shroud and backplate. This stunning illumination technology is capable of displaying millions of colors and six different effects for a totally personalized gaming system. ROG Strix GeForce GTX 1080 also has a VR-friendly design with two HDMI ports that let gamers connect a VR device and display at the same time, so they can enjoy immersive virtual reality experiences anytime without having to swap cables.

 

Tweakable and intuitive: GPU Tweak II with XSplit Gamecaster

Redesigned with an intuitive user interface, GPU Tweak II makes gaming and overclocking easier than ever, while retaining advanced options for seasoned overclockers. With one click, the Gaming Booster function maximizes system performance by removing redundant processes and allocating all available resources automatically.

An included one-year XSplit Gamecaster premium license — a $99 value — lets gamers easily stream or record gameplay via a convenient, in-game overlay. The overlay also displays GPU clock speed, temperature, and VRM usage, and has GPU Tweak II controls, so gamers can choose a gaming profile and boost performance with just one click.

 

Availability & Pricing

ASUS ROG Strix GeForce GTX 1080 is now available in Malaysia with the following Suggested Retail Prices :

  • ROG STRIX-GTX1080-O8G-GAMING : RM 3,779 / ~US$ 945
  • ROG STRIX-GTX1080-8G-GAMING : RM 3,619 / ~US$ 905
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Iron Man-Inspired ROG GT51 Gaming Desktop Revealed!

During the launch of the ROG GX700 liquid-cooled gaming laptop, Republic of Gamers also unveiled the ROG GT51 gaming desktop. This Iron Man-inspired system is a winner of the 2016 CES Innovation Award, as well as the iF Design Award. But it’s not all beauty without brawn. Under the steely facade is an awesome gaming machine. Let’s take a look!

 

ROG GT51 – Inspired By Iron Man

Inspired by Iron Man, the ROG GT51 has an sharp-angled polygonal design with an Arc Reactor motive in the front. The “Arc Reactor” is actually a fully-functional turbine fan with pulse-width modulation (PWM) control that draws in fresh air. There is even a 4-zone LED lighting feature that supports up to 8 million colours, and a preset OC lighting mode that is activated when the system is overclocked.

 

Overclocked For Maximum Performance

The ROG GT51 gaming desktop is powered by a 6th Generation Intel Core i7 processor, that is cooled by the ROG-patented liquid-cooled Hydro Overclocking System. That allows you to overclock all cores to 4.6 GHz using the Turbo Gear one-click feature. Even its DDR4 memory is overclocked from 2133 MHz to 2800 MHz.

For UHD gaming at over 60 frames per second, the ROG GT51 supports up to two NVIDIA GeForce GTX Titan X graphics cards. And to ensure that everything loads at maximum speed, it features up to two 512 GB NVMe PCIe SSDs. When paired in a RAID 0 array, the SSDs deliver transfer rates of up to 400 MB/s – 6X faster than SATA SSDs.

To ensure that nothing overheats, even during marathon gaming sessions, the ROG GT51 boasts a multi-zone cooling design that lowers its internal temperature by up to 31%. In addition to the Hydro Overclocking System, there are dedicated air channels to draw cool air to cool the graphics cards. Even its power supply unit is isolated with its own dedicated airflow.

Raw performance isn’t its only goal. The ROG GT51 also boasts an ESS Sabre headphone DAC and amplifier that powers the front audio jacks. This gives the gamer audiophile-grade sound with high dynamic range, low noise and low distortion.

The ROG GT51 will come with the ROG Band. This is a NFC-enabled band that can be used to authenticate the user for quick access to Shadow Drive. Shadow Drive is a hidden and encrypted partition that provides safe storage of confidential data. The ROG Band can also be used to quickly activate the overclocking mode.

 

ROG GT51 Price & Availability

The ROG GT51 will be available in June 2016. As such, the local price has yet to be determined.

 

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ROG GX700 Liquid-Cooled Gaming Laptop Revealed!

Water and computers don’t mix well. That’s a fact that hardware enthusiasts have to deal with when they keep their overclocked computers cool using water cooling systems. The weight and bulk of these water cooling systems as well as the need to ensure water-tight connections have, so far, kept them from ever being used in a laptop. That changes with the ROG GX700 – the world’s first liquid-cooled gaming laptop.

 

ROG GX700 Liquid-Cooling Technology Revealed

On April 27, 2016, Republic of Gamers (ROG) unveiled the ROG GX700 with a detachable Hydro Overclocking System cooling module. During the event, they revealed how they accomplished this feat – creating a liquid-cooled gaming laptop. They also revealed the performance boost ROG GX700 users can expect from using the Hydro Overclocking System.

The ROG GX700 is powered by the 6th Generation Intel Core i7 (Skylake-K) mobile processor, and the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980 graphics processor to give users the best possible performance in a mobile form factor. Once docked to the ROG Hydro Overclocking System, the GX700 is automatically overclocked to perform like a high-performance gaming desktop. [adrotate banner=”5″]

 

ROG GX700 & Hydro Overclocking System Preview

This video starts with two ROG beauties showing off the ROG GX700 liquid-cooled gaming laptop. Also check out the awesome luggage case it comes with. When an ROG gamer goes to a LAN party, it’s in style. Then we take a close look at the Hydro Overclocking System.

Next Page > Hydro Overclocking System, Extreme Overclocking, Price & Availability

 

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The ROG Hydro Overclocking System

When the ROG GX700 is attached to the ROG Hydro Overclocking System, a pump in the center pumps a liquid coolant into GX700 where it absorbs heat from the CPU, graphics processor and the memory modules. The heated coolant is then channeled back into the cooling module where two radiators help to dissipate the heat. The coolant is then recirculated back into the GX700.

To ensure water-fastness, the Hydro Overclocking System uses a patented connector design between the cooling module and the ROG GX700 notebook that prevents leaking. They even made sure that the pipes are kink-proof so the liquid coolant flows smoothly. To reduce maintenance, ROG uses a liquid coolant with organic-acid inhibitor to protect the internal components from corrosion. They also designed the system for very low depletion rate of the additive.

 

Extreme Overclocking

Thanks to the Hydro Overclocking System, the ROG GX700 can deliver much better overclocking potential. According to Republic of Gamers, users can overclock the Intel Core i7 processor by up to 48% with a BClock boost of 31% – boosting the clock speed from 3.2 GHz to 4.0 GHz.

The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980 GPU can be overclocked by 43%, delivering 3DMark 11 score in excess of 17,000. Even the DDR4 memory modules can be overclocked by 31%, from 2133 MHz to 2800 MHz.

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Price & Availability

The ROG GX700 has an recommended retail price (RRP) of RM 18,999 here in Malaysia, inclusive of the 6% GST. That’s roughly US$ 4899 (with GST) or US$ 4599 (without GST). It is available for purchase right now, from ASUS authorised retailers.

 

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