The ROG Phone 6 was announced earlier this year with impressive specifications and a sharp focus on gamers. It seems like that’s not enough for ASUS as they’ve just announced another version of the ROG Phone 6 – the ROG Phone 6D. It’s not just the Mediatek Dimensity 9000+ that’s changed on the phone either, ASUS is taking major design risks with the 6D.
Built for Power on the MediaTek Dimensity 9000+ Chipset
The biggest change coming to the ROG Phone 6D series is the processor. The D in the name comes from MediaTek’s Dimensity 9000+ processor which brings a boost in performance. The new flagship chipset from MediaTek brings high clock speeds of up to 3.2GHz complete with 5G connectivity. The processor is complemented with up to 16GB of RAM and up to 512GB of internal storage for the ultimate gaming experience.
The Mediatek-powered ROG Phone 6D series comes with a 6.78-inch AMOLED display with a 165Hz refresh rate. The display has an FHD+ resolution of 1080×2448 pixels and also comes with Corning Gorilla Glass Victus protection. Of course, the ROG Phone 6D series continues to come with the AirTriggers for quick, customisable gaming buttons. In addition, it also comes with high colour accuracy with a ΔE value that’s below 1. It also supports HDR playback.
On the camera front, the ROG Phone6D comes with a triple camera setup with a 50-megapixel Sony IMX766 sensor which is complemented by a 13-megapixel ultrawide sensor and a 5-megapixel macro sensor. On the front is a 12-megapixel selfie camera.
The biggest change comes in the form of a brand new approach to cooling on the ROG Phone 6D Ultimate. The new 6D ultimate comes with a unique vent that allows the AeroActive cooler access to a heat sync. The direct access allows the cooler to directly cool the processor and circulate air within the phone resulting in 30% better cooling and more power from the processor.
Holy Special Editions… It’s Batman!
In addition to the regular ROG Phone 6D series which consists of the regular 6D and the 6D Ultimate, the lineup is also getting a special DC collaboration. The collaboration sees the Caped Crusader take over the regular ROG Phone 6D with a special wallpaper and the Bat Symbol replacing the ROG emblem on the dot-matrix display on the back.
The special Batman edition also comes in a special box which is emblazoned with the Bat symbol and also a special Bat symbol SIM ejector tool. The box has design accents that bring the City of Gotham to life complete with a fully functional Bat Signal to call Batman when you need him.
Pricing & Availability
The ROG Phone 6D series will be available starting on 9 November 2022. The ROG Phone 6D (12GB +256GB) will be priced at MYR3,499 while the ROG Phone 6D Ultimate (16GB + 512GB) will be priced at MYR4,999. Both will be available in Space Gray.
The Batman edition of the ROG Phone 6 with 12GB RAM and 256GB of onboard storage will be on sale for MYR4,799.
AMD recently launched their new Zen 4 architecture platform in their Ryzen 7000 series CPUs. Yes, in case you have not known yet, the AMD Ryzen 5000 series is now outdated and is replaced with AMD’s brand-new Ryzen 7000 processors. Yes, benchmark numbers produced by AMD also shows rather promising figures too, they suggest performance numbers well beyond what their Ryzen 5000 Zen 3 processors can manage. They are promising larger performances even compared to their competitors too.
While the past few years of AMD’s Ryzen goodness have been backward compatible with their AM4 socket, the new Ryzen 7000 with Zen 4 kicks things off for a new generation of socket made for the future, the AM5 socket platform. Gone are the flimsy pins on the chip itself and in comes push pins on the board instead, for a less nerve-wrecking installation process.
While AMD can go on and on with how powerful and different their new processors are, their Ryzen 7000 chips are glorified paperweights if they cannot get on a proper motherboard. This is where ASUS comes sweeping in with brand new motherboards to support the new AM5 platform and take advantage of Zen 4 with the B650 chipset motherboards.
You want to keep in mind that the AMD B650 boards are not the top-of-the-line computing platforms you can get for AMD’s latest and greatest. For the most current ultimate AMD experience, you want to go for the X670 boards. The B650 then is a sort of budgeted performance boards for those looking to build a powerful system that does not break the bank.
For the Hardcore Gamers – The ROG Strix Series
Source: ASUS
Source: ASUS
Source: ASUS
Source: ASUS
Everybody wants an ROG. That is also because they are known to make some of the best gaming gears and hardware in the market. For the AMD Ryzen 7000 they have the ROG Strix B650-E, B650-F, B650-I, and B650-A Gaming WiFi motherboards.
All of them comes with PCIe 5.0 drives of course. Only the ROG Strix B650-A does not carry any PCIe 5.0 x16 slots for peripherals. It is also the only one in the ROG Strix line-up that does not pack an I/O Shield. Then again, only the latest GPUs from NVIDIA are PCIe 5.0 peripherals. All of them support DDR5 memory though. True to their names too, they are all WiFi equipped boards.
The top-of-the-line ROG Strix B650-A comes with 16+2 teamed power stages with 8+8 ProCool power connectors for even more flexible overclocking on AMD’s Ryzen 7000 processors. It also features a tonne of heatsinks to cool two M.2 slots and its VRM. There are two additional M.2 slots too, on top of the two that are wrapped under heatsinks. To make installation much more convenient, the M.2 drives do not have to be screwed in; they are latched by ASUS’ clever Q-Latch system. There is also a USB FlashBack feature that allows the BIOS to be flashed even without a processor or GPU installed on the system. All you need is a USB drive and power supply. Its audio is also greatly improved with USB-based ALC4080 audio codec alongside a new Savitech SV3H712 amp for better experience when you work with audiophile gears.
For the Budget Gamers – The TUF Series
Source: ASUS
Source: ASUS
Source: ASUS
Source: ASUS
If you still want something tailored for gaming, but do not want to spend on an ROG, there is the TUF gaming series of motherboards. The B650 motherboards from TUF line-up offers all everything you need to fully take advantage of Ryzen’s 7000 series of processors Zen 4 architecture. You can choose between ATX or micro-ATX options for builds designed for smaller footprints.
Just because they are value offers for gamers, does not mean that they pack any less performance and features than their ROG cousins. You still get support for DDR5, PCIe 5.0 M.2 slot, and onboard USB 3.2 2×2 Type-C ports for all sorts of stuff. Of course, all TUF boards also come with 2.5GBps ethernet ports for high-bandwidth internet connections and WiFi 6 in case you prefer things to be wireless.
For the Creators – The ProArt Series
Source: ASUS
The gaming market is not the only hotbed for high-performing computing solutions. The content creator market is still heating up and their appetite for high-performance machines has increased in recent years. They also need high-performing machines that are quiet and svelte when they need to be.
While contents take time to produce, speed in workflow is key in their projects. That is why having a PCIe 5.0 support on their M.2 slot is important. Plenty of content creator programs are memory hungry too, which also means that high-speed memory is important, you get that from new DDR5 RAM support. While the ProArt series only has PCIe 4.0 x16 slots as standard, it also means that users can fit up to two GPUs to handle all their content creation workflow needs in an x8/x8 confguration.
Of course, connectivity could be key in a shared worlkflow. You get 10GBps ethernet port as standard on your boards. At the same time, you can work without a dedicated GPU if you choose with a built-in DisplayPort 1.4 output on the board itself. On top of that, you get the versatility of a USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 Type-C port support.
For the Value Hunters – The Prime Series
Source: ASUS
Source: ASUS
Source: ASUS
Source: ASUS
If you are just looking for something that does not break the bank but still take advantage of AMD’s latest and greatest, then look no further than the ASUS Prime series motherboards. It gives you the flexibility of using all sorts of budget cases and compat builds with ATX and micro-ATX solutions. It is the perfect daily driver, in ASUS’ books.
The ASUS prime B650 boards offer up to 2.5GBps networking port, PCIe 5.0 M.2 slot, and DDR5 support across their boards, The boards also packs BIOS FlashBack feature that allows you to reset your BIOS and even update it with nothing more than a USB stick and working power supply. You do not get PCIe 5.0 x16 slots just yet, but you really are not missing out on much at this point of time.
Pricing and Availability
There are no mentions yet on their official pricing currently. There is also no promised availability date for the boards at this time, but we are expecting them to be available pretty soon. For more information on the ASUS B650 motherboards made for AMD Ryzen 7000 Zen 4 processors, you can head over to their website.
Before we go ahead with the report, we must give you a little bit of a disclaimer. Not all the new headsets that ASUS ROG just introduced are built with dual-mode connectivity. Among the four options, you only have two headphones that gives you two connectivity options.
We are talking about wireless headphones here, the trend of the decade. Ever since audio solution providers started working with speakers that can be connected to devices via Bluetooth, the demand for wireless audio gear has skyrocketed. The number of products that cater to variety of wireless audio needs have also has exponentially multiplied over the years.
If you were to go out today and said you wanted a Bluetooth enabled headphone, you will be pressed for choices. There are too many out there to count from the budget options to the premium options. If you want the best of the best though, you had to have something like a Sony in mind. However, the current best-of-the-best from Sony is not really made for gaming.
In that case, you do want to turn to the gaming brands. You want to turn to the likes of ASUS’s ROG for example, the gaming skunkworks of the Taiwanese computing giant. They already make brilliant smartphones, the ROG Phone 6 is currently one of the most powerful, if not the most powerful smartphone in the world at launch. If they can do that, what about gaming headsets?
ROG Cetra True Wireless Pro & True Wireless
Source: ASUS
Source: ASUS
Source: ASUS
We start with the most unique one in their range of new audio solutions, the Cetra True Wireless Pro. Yes, this one is the one where you get dual-mode connectivity built into the device. It is also a True Wireless (TWS) earphone, the little in-ear ones, not over-ear headphones; that is why it is such a big deal.
At its most basic form, the Cetra True Wireless Pro works as a Bluetooth headset. To ensure that users get the best audio experience, there is a built in Qualcomm Snapdragon Sound chip that lowers latency. The chip also allows for a high-quality 24-bit, 96 kHz streams to get through via Bluetooth. If you put the earphones into gaming mode, the ultralow-latency hits 45ms to ensure that you get near instant feedback from your games. The chip also facilitates the multiple ANC (Active Noise Cancellation) modes that you can choose from with the headset.
Rather than being a pure True Wireless headset, you can use it via a USB Type-C connection as well. To eliminate latency, wired headsets are always preferred. With smartphones today though, 3.5mm AUX tips are no longer a good option. So, you go with USB Type-C, which also allows ROG to pack more features into the headphone via the cable.
Within the cable is a hi-f- grade ESS 9280 DAC. That also means that the bundled cable is good for lossless audio with rather rich detailing and even spatial sound. It can process up to 130dB signal-to-noise ratio to ensure that you are not only getting the most accurate sound representation of any media you are listening to, but it also allows you to really pinpoint where sounds are coming from in your games.
The Cetra True Wireless Pro’s mics can filter over 500 million types of background noise. Its integrated AI Noise-Cancelling Microphone reduces up to 95% of noise while still allowing you to have clear communication with your teammates. Additionally, there are microphones inside your ears on the headset too to make for better ANC experience.
Source: ASUS
With the ROG Cetra True Wireless, you get everything that the Cetra Wireless Pro gets, except for the USB Type-C cable and the dual-mode connectivity function. It is still a rather compelling option for mobile gamers though. You get to push it to low-latency mode too with Gaming mode. It still features Hybrid ANC technology to ensure that you are not distracted by what is happening outside your game time.
ROG Delta S Wireless
Source: ASUS
Source: ASUS
Source: ASUS
If you prefer something that is more wholesome, something you want to use at home, something that covers your entire ears for a more comfortable fit and better seal, you go for an over-ear headset. What if you hate cable managing? What if your PC is placed in an odd location and plugging your cables in and out of the thing is a hassle? What is your console is far away from you? You get an ROG Delta S Wireless gaming headset.
The ROG Delta S Wireless is also a dual-mode headset. Instead of giving you the option to either having a wireless or wired connection though, it is dual-mode wireless connection. It offers the low latency, near instant, highly stable 2.4GHz wireless connection. At the same time, it offers the convenience of Bluetooth connection for you to work with for smartphones, if you wish to.
The idea of using 2.4GHz connection for your audio gear with a dongle is not only for the PC gamers, but also for the console gamers. Since it is made to handle up to 25m in distance, there should be little worry about where you place the connected PC or console within your house.
Source: ASUS
It is a gaming headset, so there is naturally a built-in mic for team communications. It is not like any other mic that might feel like an afterthought in gaming headphones though. There are AI Beamforming mics that is hidden on the headphone that targets a good portion of area in front of the user’s mouth to pick up the user’s voice. The AI Noise Cancellation algorithm also ensures that the mics only pick up your voice and nothing of much else for clear team communications.
The Delta S Wireless packs a rather large driver too. At 50mm, it is larger than most regular over-ear headphones you can find in the market. There are 60mm drivers too, in the market to be fair. The ASUS Essence drivers, at 50mm, should be enough to deliver highly detailed and punchy low-frequency sounds though. They say also that the drivers should be able to facilitate highly detailed audios for all sorts of use case too with a 12o tit on the drivers in an airtight chamber. At the same time, there is ROG’s Hyper-Grounding technology to ensure that there is as little electromagnetic interference as possible on the audio signals to ensure that noise is minimized.
ROG Delta S Core
Source: ASUS
Source: ASUS
Source: ASUS
Again, if you prefer something more regular, more grounded, more basic solution with the least latency, wired connections are the way to go. In that case, the ROG Delta S Core is the one for you. The Delta S Core offers a universal 3.5mm AUX tip that is compatible with PCs, major gaming consoles like the PlayStation, the Nintendo Switch, and even the Xbox.
It still features the same 50mm drivers you find in its wireless sibling. Because there is no battery to weigh it down, it weighs only 270g. The ergonomic D-shaped earcups that is designed to closely match the shape of regular ears also ensures that you can game for extended hours without feeling fatigued.
The wired connection also allows for the headphone to pack virtual 7.1 channel surround sound with Windows Sonic. With virtual surround sound too, you can accurately place your enemies or teammates within your game just via audio signals. At the same time, the built-in microphone that are Discord and TeamSpeak certified ensures that you always have a clear line of communications with your teammates.
Price and Availability
The ROG Cetra True Wireless Pro is not available now. Currently, there are no confirmations on when it will be available in Malaysia. There is no information on its official pricing for the region yet too. Its regular counterpart, the Cetra True Wireless headset will be available in Malaysia soon for MYR 515. The two Delta S series headphones that are just announced will also be making it to Malaysia soon. The ROG Delta S Wireless headphone with dual-mode wireless connectivity will be available for MYR 899. The ROG Delta S Core will be available for MYR 388. More information on ROG’s latest gaming headsets can be found on their website.
ASUS’s Republic of Gamers (ROG) brand is one which every gamer will be familiar with. The laptops which make up some of the most wanted in their classes are coming with fresh new updates. The new lineup also brings totally new experiences in both mobile and form factors. Of course, it goes without saying that the lineup features liquid metal cooling thanks to ASUS’s collaboration with Thermal Grizzly.
ROG Flow X13
Spearheading the new lineup is ROG’s most innovative lineup in a while – the ROG Flow. The lineup takes convention and turns it on its head with a laptop that is compact, thin and light but is able to rise to the task when needed. The Flow X13 comes with support for ROG’s XG mobile eGPU which allows you to power up the graphics capabilities of the ROG Flow 13 with up to an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080. It also extends connectivity with additional USBs and Thunderbolt ports.
This year, the ROG XG platform is also introducing an option with the AMD Radeon RX6850M XT. Paired with the Ryzen 7 6800HS in the Flow X13, you’ll be able to get the full AMD Advantage experience. That said, the Flow X13 itself comes with configurations with the RTX 3050Ti already onboard. The setup is complemented by up to 32GB of LPDDR5 RAM and up to 1TB of M.2 NVMe PCIe 4.0 SSD storage.
ROG Zephyrus Duo 16
The new ROG Zephyrus Duo 16 marks the return of ASUS’s signature dual-screen experience. The Zephyrus Duo gets slimmer and more portable than ever before. Powered by the AMD Ryzen 9 processor and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080Ti graphics card, the laptop is built for creators, gamers and streamers.
The ROG ScreenPad Plus brings a whole new level of productivity and also changes the game when it comes to cooling. The new design allows for better airflow and with AAS Plus 2.0 there is 30% more airflow above the fans. Thermal Grizzly’s Metal Conductonaut Extreme cools the processor even better than normal cooling compounds.
The Zephyrus Duo also brings top-of-the-line display choices featuring ROG’s new Nebula HDR. The new technology enhances ROG’s Nebula display technology with 512 Mini LED dimming zones and 1100 nits at peak brightness. The 16:10 display also supports Dolby Vision with certifications for VESA DisplayHDR 1000 and 165Hz refresh rate. The Duo, naturally, comes with options supporting the regular ROG Nebula display as well. The second screen features brand new, ROG-exclusive technology called the Dual Spec panel which allows the screen to switch between 4K 120Hz and Full HD 240 Hz. This allows it to adapt dynamically to the players choice.
ROG Zephyrus G15 & Zephyrus G14
The ROG Zephyrus G14 and G15 round up this round of additions to the ROG lineup. The new laptops bring back a winning combination of performance and personalisation. ROG has doubled down on its proven design. The new laptops feature a lid with 14,696 precision CNC milled holes. In models that support the AniMe Matrix, there are 1,449 mini LEDs under these holes. Like previous models, the AniMe Matrix allows users to express themselves with their own customised designs and logos.
When it comes to specifications, the Zephryus G14 and G15 both come with the AMD Ryzen 7 6800HS. The former comes with the full AMD Advantage experience with configurations featuring the Radeon RX 6700S and the Radeon RX 6800S graphics cards. The G15, on the other hand, complements the Ryzen 7 with either the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 or the GeForce RTX 3070 Ti. Both models come with up to 32GB RAM and 1TB of storage.
On the display front, the ROG Zephyrus G14 comes with a 14-inch QHD display with a 120Hz refresh rate and a 16:10 aspect ratio. The G15 comes with a larger, 15.6-inch QHD display with options for either 165Hz or 240Hz refresh rate and a 16:9 aspect ratio.
Pricing & Availability
The whole ROG line up is already available in Malaysia. The ROG Flow 13 is priced from MYR6,599 without the XG mobile system and MYR13,999 with the system. The ROG Zephyrus Duo 16 is priced from MYR15,999. The Zephyrus G14 and G15 are priced from MYR8,499 and MYR7,999 respectively.
It’s that time of year again when we see the latest and greatest from companies like ASUS being announced for the upcoming year. After the extensive display of their newly extended Vivobook and Zenbook lineup, ASUS is now extending their Republic of Gamers (ROG) portfolio with two new, power packed laptops.
ROG Strix SCAR 17 Special Edition
ASUS is reinvigorating their Strix SCAR lineup with a new, special edition of the ROG Strix 17. The new, cyberpunk inspired Strix SCAR 17 Special Edition has an elevated design language and higher graphics performance thanks to its 175W max TGP (Total Graphics Power) with Dynamic Boost.
Source: ASUS
The new SCAR 17 Special edition will be coming equipped with Intel’s 12th Generation Core i9-12950HX processor which is paired with up to 64GB of DDR5 4800MHz RAM. It also supports up to 4TB of internal storage in RAID 0 with PCIe 4.0 support. The top of the line processor, high-speed RAM and PCIe 4.0 support make it one of the fastest laptops revealed yet. It also means that your laptop will be loading quicker than ever before. It’s also got ROG’s exclusive Conductonaut Extreme liquid metal cooling which allows it to perform at higher speeds at lower temperatures.
Like its sibling models, the ROG Strix SCAR 17 SE will come in display configurations supporting either FHD resolution and 360Hz refresh rate or QHD resolution with 240Hz refresh rate. Both configurations have IPS level panels with Adaptive Sync and Dolby Vision support and 3ms GtG response times. This paired with up to an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 Ti Laptop GPU is bound to give you an unbeatable visual experience.
Source: ASUS
In addition to its cutting edge specifications, the ROG Strix SCAR 17 SE features a new, metal chassis which has all the signature ROG swagger. However, ASUS has etched the chassis with a unique, cyberpunk design that holds a secret for its SCAR Runner game. The etchings are applied with a first of its kind invisible ink. Under regular lighting, you’d be none the wiser as it appears as a matte metallic shade. However, shining a UV light on the design makes the etchings glow an iridescent green and blue hue.
Source: ASUS
The SCAR 17 SE comes with all the connectivity that you would expect from a ROG laptop including USB Type A, USB Type C with DisplayPort 1.4 and Power Delivery, Thunderbolt 4, ethernet, HDMI and a combo audio jack.
ROG Flow X16
ROG’s convertible laptop lineup is also being extended with a wholly new, large entry. The new ROG Flow X16 is upping the ante when it comes to gaming convertibles. ROG is supersizing their 13-inch laptop and giving it a larger, 16-inch display. Still remaining as thin and light as the larger form factor will allow it, the Flow X16 brings a whole new Frost Force Technology and Pulsar Heatsink for a whole new level of cooling. It features three fans and a high-density heatsink to help cool and dissipate heat more efficiently.
Source: ASUS
In addition to the new form factor and cooling technology, the ROG Flow X16 is also coming with ROG’s flagship Nebula HDR Display. The new display is a QHD, Mini LED panel with a 165Hz refresh rate with 1100 nits peak brightness. It also covers 100% of the DCI-P3 gamut.
Source: ASUS
The Flow X16 continues to be powered by AMD’s Ryzen processors like the X13 before it. The X16 comes with configurations supporting up to a Ryzen 9 6900HS processor and up to the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Ti Laptop GPU. If that isn’t powerful enough, the X16 also supports the XG mobile family of external GPUs. It supports up to 64GB of DDR5 RAM with 4800MHZ speeds and up to 2TB of PCIe Gen 4.0 SSD storage. It comes with a 4 speaker audio setup with support for Dolby Atmos.
Source: ASUS
As with all ROG laptops, the Flow X16 comes with a complete array of ports including the XG mobile interface which includes a USB Type-C port with DisplayPort 1.4 support and power delivery. Aside from this, it comes with USB Type A, HDMI 2.0b, a 3.5mm combo audio jack and a microSD card reader.
Pricing & Availability
ASUS has yet to unveil pricing and availability at the time of the announcement.
Last year, if our friends asked us about building a PC or a gaming rig for themselves, we would have said that it is not a good time. We would have also told them to maybe get a gaming laptop instead, especially with prices of parts soaring out of control,
Fast forward to 2022 though and the PC component market has shown signs of recovery. Prices of GPUs and CPUs have dropped by 20-25%. While components are still sold above recommended retail prices, situations are not as bad as before and stocks are slowly becoming more available.
Source: ASUS
In terms of current component prices, it is a better time now to build your own PC. In the current market climate, there has never been a better time to build a PC because new components are launching left and right. It is an especially good time to build budget gaming rigs thanks to ASUS releasing the latest AMD Radeon GPU.
It is called the AMD Radeon RX 6400, and just as its numbers suggest, it is an entry-level GPU. It is still a modern AMD GPU though, and they say that it will do 1080p gaming rather well. We trust them on this and recommend that you stick to a 1080p gaming build on this.
It is meant for a budget rig, so you cannot expect miracles out of it. Still, you get 4GB of GDDR6 memory out of the card. You also get HDMI 2.1 and DisplayPort 1.4a outputs, which should allow you to have two monitors working simultaneously. It is also a PCIe 4.0 card, which also means that it should perform better than some of the AMD Radeon RX 5000 series GPUs.
Source: ASUSSource: ASUSSource: ASUSSource: ASUSSource: ASUS
Of course, the GPU comes with AMD’s latest RDNA 2 architecture on the 2039 MHz clocked chip. The GPU can be boosted up to 2321 MHz when you need maximum power for your games. When the GPU consumes little to no power, its fans turn off for silent operation. The Radeon RX 6400 also comes with support for DirectX 12 Ultimate, AMD Fidelity FX technology, AMD Radeon Super Resolution, and AMD’s Smart Access Memory technology for even better gaming experiences.
ASUS’ AMD Radeon RX 6400 comes in two flavours – ASUS Dual Radeon RX 6400 and ASUS Phoenix Radeon RX 6400. The Dual variant comes with two fans for maximum cooling performance while the Phoenix comes with a single fan design. Currently only the ASUS Dual Radeon RX 6400 will be available in Malaysia for MYR 960. There are no confirmations on when the more affordable single-fan Phoenix Radeon RX 6400 will be available in Malaysia. More information on the AMD Radeon RX 6400 can be found on AMD’s website.
First, yes, we realise that the newly announced NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3090 Ti is not in any way an affordable piece of kit. In fact, it is NVIDIA’s most expensive RTX 30 series GPU to date at US$ 1,999 which is nearly MYR 8,500 by today’s estimation. But this also is not a regular GPU made for the regular consumer.
To be fair, yes, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3090 Ti broke cover a few days ago. It is still a brand-new piece of kit that hardly comes by though. While conditions in the market is not getting worse, it is not getting that much better either. Prices of GPUs are still quite inflated and item availability is still not great. So, does this mean that NVIDIA’s move in launching a new card going to screw us, customers over even more with an even more pricey GPU?
As it turns out, not really. Let us go into that a little bit later. For now, the GPU; the star of the show.
The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3090 Ti is not really a new GPU. Like its siblings, the RTX 3090 Ti is more like a small improvement over the mighty RTX 3090. In some partner board cases, it is even bigger than the RTX 3090 which just makes them ridiculous to look at and to have.
As mentioned earlier, it is no ordinary consumer class GPU. The regular RTX 3090 was not a regular consumer class GPU either, so you should not expect this one to be at its asking price. NVIDIA targets not only the most demanding gamers with this card, they want the prosumers to also notice. It is made to chew applications like Maya, Blender, Cinema4D, and other 3D rendering software then spitting out masterpieces as quickly as you can conceptualize them. Of course, I am exaggerating a little bit here, but you get the idea.
It packs 10,752 CUDA cores with 24GB of onboard memory that is capable of 78 RT-TFLOPs, 40-Shader-TFLOPs, and 320 Tensor-TFLOPs. That basically means it can do a lot of calculations. The regular RTX 3090 only houses 10,496 CUDA cores in comparison. The result is a GPU that is overall 9% faster than the one that it evolves from. It is also about 50% faster than the most expensive GPU NVIDIA had before, the TITAN RTX.
All these not just enables gamers to game with up to 8K resolutions in smooth fashion. It also enables content creators to work even more seamlessly with 8K resolution contents. The demand for contents today has brought 8K resolution videos as standard. This would be the perfect GPU to work with for 8K contents.
Source: ASUS
The first of the board partners that have come out and announced their RTX 3090 (at least in Malaysia) is ASUS with their ROG Strix and TUF Gaming GeForce RTX 3090 Ti GPUs. The Strix is quite unique, a water-cooled GPU with its own AiO cooler that you need to find space for in your case, if you want one. The TUF Gaming GPU is a more regular GPU, but you still do need some clearance for it with a 3.2 slot heatsink. You can get the ROG GPU at MYR 11,000 and the TUF Gaming GPU from MYR 9,700, which is around the ballpark price of a high-end GPU these days.
So, What Does This Mean?
A quick Shopee search for the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3090 GPU will bring you some clue to the answers. You would see prices of the previous halo product going anywhere between MYR 10,000 to about MYR 12,000. This would be considered a reasonable price before the RTX 3090 Ti showed up. Considering stocks are low, with demands that stocks could not meet, it is understandable these prices.
A few months ago, a quick search of the NVIDIA GeForece RTX 3090 yields result that hover anywhere between MYR 12,000 to even MYR 20,000 for a single GPU. This also means that GPUs have gone down in prices for the past few months and that is a good thing. But it is not necessarily good enough because GPUs are still sold way above their retail prices, just because they can.
Here is the thing though, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3090 Ti marks an end of stock shortages in the GPU market, it is basically NVIDIA producing a new halo product because they can finally do it with ease. It is why the RTX 3080 Ti was released and the RTX 3090 Ti had to wait a few more months before it comes to light.
If you look closely, even with ASUS’ inflated pricing, the RTX 3090 Ti is priced lower than plenty of the current RTX 3090 GPUs you can find in the market. This should, in turn, drive down prices of GPUs that are currently out in the market even lower. At this point as well, retailers might not even be able to use the “stocks are still scarce” excuse to price their GPUs. There is enough GPUs to go around now, and prices should have come down to earth.
Sure, a halo product like this will still come in limited quantities. It is, after all, the most expensive GPU you can buy in 2022. But it does mean that you can go out and buy a GPU. It signals to us that you can start haggling down prices of the GPUs that you want from the retailers, at least a little bit. It also means that you have enough GPUs to go around now. It is now almost a reasonable time to go out and buy a GPU.
It’s a busy night for ASUS Malaysia as they take the stage to not only unveil the first-ever gaming tablet but also to introduce two new backpacks for gamers. While this may not be the company’s first rodeo when it comes to fashionable gamer gear, it’s the first time they have made it at an official event. The two new backpacks seem to be catering to two unique styles.
Source: ASUS
Built to Game: The ROG Ranger BP2701 Gaming Backpack
The first – the ROG Ranger BP2701 Gaming Backpack – is a large, loud gamer backpack with space for your whole rig. The 22L bag is made of durable, high strength 600D polyester that is lightweight, scratch-resistant and repels water. The bag itself weighs only 0.93kg. However, it’s built to accommodate up to 17-inch laptops with multiple pockets for accessories. The laptop is also accessible through a quick access zipper on the side.
The bag is emblazoned with a holographic ROG insignia and comes with mesh-covered back pads which allow cool air to circulate. These pads also mould themselves to fit the contours of your body with padded Lycra shoulder straps and a chest strap for support and comfort. The luggage strap on the back of the bag not only adds to the aesthetic but also allows you to quickly and seamlessly secure the ROG Ranger to larger luggage when travelling. It also has concealed pockets for ease of access and security.
Adaptable Versatility: The ROG Archer Backpack 15.6 BP1505
Together with the ROG Ranger, ASUS also announced the ROG Archer Backpack 15.6 BP 1505. The smaller, 16L backpack is built to be your daily driver. It’s made of durable Condura 610D fabric which also repels water. It’s built to be versatile seamlessly going between a briefcase, shoulder bag and backpack. The YKK zippers and Duraflex buckles bring added durability to the backpack’s versatility.
It comes with 3 compartments that allow you to carry more than just your 15.6-inch laptop. Thanks to the water-repelling material, you can even carry your water bottle in the ROG Archer with peace of mind. On the back, the ROG Archer comes with an ultra-breathable, high molecular weight polyethylene padding which will keep you cool even on hot days.
Pricing & Availability
Both the ROG Ranger BP 2701 Gaming Backpack and ROG Archer Backpack 15.6 are available starting in April 2022. They will be available from retail outlets and the ROG Stores on Shopee and LAZADA.
The Ranger will cost MYR469.00 while the Archer will retail at MYR399.00.
ASUS took the stage in Las Vegas during CES 2022 to unveil a brand new slate of devices. Among them was one of the more interesting devices we’ve seen from ASUS and specifically the Republic of Gamers in a while – the ROG FLOW Z13. The new tablet brings gaming prowess and specifications to a form factor that we’ve yet to see for any device carrying its specifications.
Source: ASUS
The ROG FLOW Z13 comes with a 13.6-inch IPS display with up to 4K resolution and a 120Hz refresh rate. The display comes with 100% coverage of the sRGB gamut with Pantone Validation and support for Dolby Vision HDR. Yes – like always, ASUS’s ROG goes over the top with all the bells and whistles for its first-ever gaming tablet. Together with the display, the FLOW Z13 comes with 16GB of onboard RAM with up to 1TB of M.2 NVMe PCIe 4.0 SSD memory.
Here’s the kicker when it comes to the Z13, its body is only 1.2cm thick but it has specifications supporting up to an Intel Core i9 processor and an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050Ti built-in. Yep – you read that right! BUILT-IN! You don’t have to hook up any additional accessories to get an RTX3050Ti GPU with the Z13. In fact, the ROG FLOW Z13 does support the ROG XG Mobile system we saw in the earlier ROG FLOW X13 with minor updates. However, adding on the XG Mobile system allows you to bump up to an RTX3080 with 16GB of GDDR6 RAM and 150W TGP. That’s a whole lot of power for a 13-inch tablet!
Source: ASUS
In addition to the insane CPU and GPU, the Z13 also supports stylus and touch inputs. It’s also not taking any hostages when it comes to connectivity. It comes with 1 USB 2.0 Type-A port, 1 Thunderbolt 4 port with DisplayPort support, 1 USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C port with DisplayPort, G-SYNC and USB-PD support, 1 microSD card slot, a 3.5mm combo jack and, of course, the ROG XG Mobile interface.
Source: ASUS
The keyboard bundled with the ROG FLOW Z13 is an RGB backlit Chiclet Keyboard. It also acts as a folio cover as well. It also comes with a triple microphone array for better video conferencing with the 8-megapixel, 720p webcam. On the speaker side of things, it has a 2-speaker system with Smart Amplifier technology. It also supports Windows Hello fingerprint recognition.
Pricing & Availability
The ROG FLOW Z13 will be available in three configurations in Malaysia. The lowest-end configuration will be sporting a 12th Generation Intel Core i7 with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX3050 and will retail for MYR7,999. A step up will get you the Core i9 with a higher RTX3050Ti. This will cost MYR8,799. The maxed-out version for Malaysia will come with the Core i9, RTX3050Ti and a 4K display with a 60Hz refresh rate. It’s going to set you back a whopping MYR15,999.
Source: ASUS
All variants of the Z13 will be bundled with a ROG Sleeve bad, the ASUS PEN and a ROG mouse. The higher-end variant will come with the XG mobile platform bundled together which comes equipped with an RTX3080 and expands the connectivity options available on the tablet.
The maxed-out ROG FLOW Z13 will be available starting in April 2022 while the other two are now available on ROG’s LAZADA storefront.
Official Specfications
Model
GZ301Z-CLD132W
GZ301Z-ELD236W
GZ301Z-ELC214W
Color
Black
Black
Black
Dimension (W x D x H)
30.2 x 20.4 x 1.20 ~ 1.20 cm
30.2 x 20.4 x 1.20 ~ 1.20 cm
30.2 x 20.4 x 1.20 ~ 1.20 cm
Weight
1.18 Kg
1.18 Kg
1.18 Kg
Processor
12th Gen Intel® Core™ i7-12700H Processor 2.3 GHz (24M Cache, up to 4.7 GHz, 14 cores: 6 P-cores and 8 E-cores)
12th Gen Intel® Core™ i9-12900H Processor 2.5 GHz (24M Cache, up to 5.0 GHz, 14 cores: 6 P-cores and 8 E-cores)
12th Gen Intel® Core™ i9-12900H Processor 2.5 GHz (24M Cache, up to 5.0 GHz, 14 cores: 6 P-cores and 8 E-cores)
Wi-Fi 6E(802.11ax)+Bluetooth 5.2 (Dual band) 2*2 (*BT version may change with OS upgrades.)
Wi-Fi 6E(802.11ax)+Bluetooth 5.2 (Dual band) 2*2 (*BT version may change with OS upgrades.)
Wi-Fi 6E(802.11ax)+Bluetooth 5.2 (Dual band) 2*2 (*BT version may change with OS upgrades.)
I/O Ports
1x ROG XG Mobile Interface 1x Thunderbolt™ 4 support DisplayPort™ / power delivery 1x USB 2.0 Type-A 1x card reader (microSD) (UHS-II) 1x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C support DisplayPort™ / power delivery / G-SYNC 1x 3.5mm Combo Audio Jack
1x ROG XG Mobile Interface 1x Thunderbolt™ 4 support DisplayPort™ / power delivery 1x USB 2.0 Type-A 1x card reader (microSD) (UHS-II) 1x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C support DisplayPort™ / power delivery / G-SYNC 1x 3.5mm Combo Audio Jack
1x ROG XG Mobile Interface 1x Thunderbolt™ 4 support DisplayPort™ / power delivery 1x USB 2.0 Type-A 1x card reader (microSD) (UHS-II) 1x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C support DisplayPort™ / power delivery / G-SYNC 1x 3.5mm Combo Audio Jack
Camera
8MP camera and 720P HD Webcam
8MP camera and 720P HD Webcam
8MP camera and 720P HD Webcam
Mic
Built-in 3-microphone array
Built-in 3-microphone array
Built-in 3-microphone array
Keyboard Type
Backlit Chiclet Keyboard RGB
Backlit Chiclet Keyboard RGB
Backlit Chiclet Keyboard RGB
Aura Sync
YES
YES
YES
Speakers
2-speaker system with Smart Amplifier Technology
2-speaker system with Smart Amplifier Technology
2-speaker system with Smart Amplifier Technology
Audio Tech
AI noise-canceling technology Dolby Atmos Hi-Res certification Smart Amp Technology
AI noise-canceling technology Dolby Atmos Hi-Res certification Smart Amp Technology
AI noise-canceling technology Dolby Atmos Hi-Res certification Smart Amp Technology
CES 2022 (Consumer Electronics Show) earlier in the year graced us with many very exciting, very interesting devices. It is also sort of a confirmation that Intel’s 12th Generation mobile CPUs are coming hot. The question we left CES with was “when are they coming?”. ASUS answered first with their ROG Zephyrus M16 and Strix G series gaming laptops.
ROG Zephyrus M16
ASUS ROG’s Zephyrus gaming laptop line-up has been the brand’s pride and joy in pushing what is possible with gaming laptops. They introduce some of the most compact large format gaming laptops available to the gaming notebook market. For 2022, they have a new one for Malaysia.
While the Zephyrus S series laptops have been an elusive one to Malaysia, the Zephyrus M series have been a popular choice for the market. The new one for 2022 is promised to be even better. The improvements go beyond just popping a 12th Generation Intel processor and updated NVIDIA GeForce RTX GPUs into the notebook.
Source: ASUS
Of course, we must start with those. The ROG Zephyrus M16 packs a respectable 12th Generation Intel Core i9-12900H with a monstrous 14-cores to work with. Six performance cores on the CPU ensures that any heavy workload you need to work on with the ROG Zephyrus M16 gets chewed quickly and efficiently. You can pair that powerful CPU with an equally impressive NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 Ti (up to) for maximum attack on all the current AAA game titles. For even more performance on your games, MUX switch ensures that your games and applications get the best performance directly from the GPU when they need to.
To do the powerful hardware justice, up to 32GB (16GB + 16GB) of DDR5 RAM configuration is available on offer. For storage, you get up to 2TB in NVMe PCIe 4.0 SSD storage. There will be an extra 4th generation PCIe slot for your perusal too, in case 2TB is not enough for all your games.
The most visible update form the older Zephyrus M16 is its new display with ultra-thin bezels all around. You still get a 720p resolution webcam with IR blaster for Windows Hello, which is rather remarkable considering the bezel size. The narrow bezels contain a high-resolution 16-inch display that projects WQXGA resolution (2,560 by 1,600) at 16:10 aspect ratio. It is also Pantone validate and covers up to 100% of the DCI-P3 colour gamut, which means you get highly accurate and vivid colours. With Dolby Vision HDR, movies and games will look extra crisp and details pop. It is a gaming display still, so it needs to be fast at 165Hz.
Like the Zephyrus that came before it, the ROG Zephyrus M16 can be charged via a USB Type-C PD charger that is also included in the box. That is not enough power to get your games up to speed though, you will need the proprietary charger for the laptop if you want to get the most out of the Zephyrus M16. There will be no HDMI 2.1 implemented here though, just a regular HDMI 2.0b port. You do get WiFi 6E capabilities on the laptop though. While WiFi 6E is not a standard offering in Malaysia just yet, it is good to know that your laptop will take it on as soon as the technology becomes available.
To top it all off, the Windows 11 laptop packs four speakers for maximum immersive experience without the need of additional external hardware. Two of the speakers are 2W dual-force woofers equipped with Smart Amp Technology to ensure deep, detailed low-end frequency delivery. The other two are 2W tweeters for crisp and clean mid and trebles.
Source: ASUSSource: ASUSSource: ASUSSource: ASUS
ROG Strix G Series (G15 & G17)
The ROG Zephyrus M16, as impressive as they are, could be a little rich. While you want a do-it-all laptop, the Zephyrus M16 might still be a little out of reach with prices starting from MYR 8,099. You can consider the ROG Strix G series that starts from MYR 5,399 in that case.
You can choose between a 15-inch display (G15) or a 17-inch display (G17) for the Strix. Underneath the iconic shell is a brand-new AMD Ryzen 6000 series mobile CPU with Zen 3+ architecture, a minor update from the highly acclaimed Zen 3 architecture that should mean more performance out of the processors. Specifically, you get an AMD Ryzen 7 6800H mobile CPU with eight high-performance cores with up to 4.7GHz of clock speed (boost). The mobile CPU comes with an integrated AMD Radeon graphics. But integrated GPU is never enough for gaming and high-performance computing. You get to pick up to an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 GPU for when you need the extra performance in gaming. Of course, MUX switch comes to the Strix G series of laptops.
Source: ASUS
Memory wise there are a few configurations you can choose from with the ROG Strix G series. You can spec your G15 with up to 16GB of DDR5 on-board RAM with an additional slot for upgrade, in combination with up to 1TB of 4th Generation PCIe NVMe SSD also with an additional slot for an extra SSD. The G17 gets a 16GB RAM configuration in combination with up to a 1TB SSD.
Just as we mentioned earlier, you get to choose between to work with a 15.6-inch display or a 17.3-inch display with the Strix G series. For the smaller G15 variant, you can opt for a very speedy 300Hz 3ms response time Full HD IPS display that also boasts up to 100% in sRGB colour gamut coverage. Or you can go for a faster display from the G17’s Full HD display at 360Hz. The 17.3-inch display from the G17 boasts only 62.5% coverage of the sRGB colour gamut though.
No matter the choice of display size though, the ROG Strix G series comes with WiFi 6E as standard. Like its predecessors as well, the new 2022 variants of the ROG Strix G series can be charged via its USB Type-C port using an included PD charger in the box. Again, you want to use the proprietary charger when you want to get the most out of the laptop.
Source: ASUSSource: ASUSSource: ASUSSource: ASUSSource: ASUSSource: ASUSSource: ASUS
Prices and Availability
The ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 will be available March 2022 onward in two configurations. One comes with an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Ti GPU at MYR 11,499. The other configuration is also the most powerful one with an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 Ti at MYR 16,499. There will be a more budget conscious option available with an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 GPU available in April onward for MYR 8,099.
The ROG Strix G series, as mentioned, will be available in two sizes – 15-inch and 17-inch. The Strix G15 will be available March 2022 onward. For now, only the G15 with NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 GPU, 8GB RAM + 512GB storage will be available for MYR 5,399. There is a special edition Electro Pink variant of the G15 available as well for MYR 5,599. The Strix G15 with NVIDIA’s GeForce RTX 3060, 16GB RAM + 1TB storage will be available on a later date alongside the Strix G17. There are no confirmed pricing for those yet too.
For more information on the ROG Zephyrus M16 and ROG Strix G series for 2022, you can visit ASUS’ ROG website.
