ASUS intros powerful Nvidia GeForce RTX 50 GPUs and more

ASUS had a standout CES, with Nvidia’s latest GeForce RTX 50s introduced across multiple GPU ranges and machines such as the featherweight Zenbook A14 gunning for the MacBook Air market.

The announcement of the Nvidia GeForce RTX 50 series GPUs was inevitably one of the cornerstone unveilings at CES, and manufacturers have been quick to get them into their own new cards. ASUS has been one of the ones at the front of the queue, introducing them swiftly into a range of new variously branded graphics cards that target gaming and content creation.

Top-end performance demands top-end cooling, and the first quad-fan graphics cards from ROG, the ROG Astral GeForce RTX 5090 and 5080, provide up to 20% more airflow and pressure than previous three-fan designs. ASUS says that the inclusion of a fourth fan allows for more densely-packed heatsink fins, increasing overall cooling potential. In addition, the ROG Astral GeForce RTX 5090 and 5080 see the return of the ASUS-patented vapor-chamber design with milled pathways, allowing heat pipes to sink into the surface without flat edges for improved heat dissipation. And between that heatsink and the GPU, traditional thermal paste has been swapped for a premium phase-change thermal pad, which not only optimizes heat transfer but also increases the longevity of the thermal interface material. 

The ROG Astral series is built for enthusiasts and overclockers, which means premium power delivery is a must. Powerful 80-amp MOSFETs allow for more than 35% extra headroom than standard designs, for enhanced stability and higher overclocking potential. At the same time, a protective PCB coating helps protect against short-circuits caused by moisture or dust, which means these cards are built to last.

All of this is encased in an ultra-rigid metal frame, fan shroud and backplate with a slick new design. And as a top-of-the-line series, ROG Astral also supports the latest advanced features in GPU Tweak III, including a Thermal Map of the PCB, Power Detector+ to check the 12VHPWR connection, and a Mileage tracker that logs power usage over the lifespan of the card. Add to these features two FanConnect II headers for controlling case fans and a Dual BIOS switch that lets users choose between maximum performance and quiet operation and you have a graphics card that can handle nearly anything thrown at it.   

For liquid cooling enthusiasts, ASUS also offers the ROG Astral LC GeForce RTX 5090 (above). Featuring many of the same features as its air-cooled cousin, the LC version opts for a low-profile heatsink under the shroud, with a full-coverage cold plate that allows the extra-thick 360mm radiator to cool the GPU and other heat-producing components on the PCB. This allows it to offer up to 30% better thermal performance than air cooling.

Away from the rarefied engineered heights of that, gamers looking for a powerful GeForce RTX 5070 Ti or RTX 5070 graphics card should look at the ROG Strix variants, which include a vented exoskeleton, Dual BIOS switch, high-end power delivery, phase-change GPU thermal pad and Aura Sync.

For ultra-reliable performance that can suit any PC build, the TUF Gaming GeForce RTX 5090, RTX 5080, RTX 5070 Ti and RTX 5070 are all excellent choices. Like the ROG Astral series, TUF Gaming models feature the phase-change thermal compound, a protective PCB coating and military-grade components for durability, plus a vapor chamber on the TUF Gaming GeForce RTX 5090 and 5080. Certified military-grade TUF chokes and MOSFETs deliver rock-solid power to the GPU, which can help improve system stability. Meanwhile, TUF 5K black metallic capacitors provide 52% wider temperature tolerance and a lifespan up to 2.5 times longer than standard capacitors.

ASUS Prime graphics cards also join the launch, featuring the phase-change thermal compound and tri-fan cooling. And for the GeForce RTX 5080, 5070 Ti and 5070 models, a 2.5-slot design that meets the SFF-Ready Enthusiast GeForce Card guideline provides broad compatibility at an attractive price. At the same time, the ASUS Prime GeForce RTX 5080 still features a vapor chamber for thermal performance users can count on.

We were also very taken with the semi-transparent ROG XG Mobile (above). This is the world’s first Thunderbolt 5 eGPU, and while it is likely to set you back over $2000 when it releases, plug it in and it will give you access to a GeForce RTX 5090 mobile chip via 120Gbps of throughput, wired ethernet and high-speed USB ports in one slim package. It weighs less than a kilo (about 2 lb) and can be specced with up to 24GB GDDR7 VRAM.

ASUS Zenbook A14

Away from the GPUs, the new ASUS Zenbook A14 also turned heads due to its fairly impressive featherweight nature. Instead of only using the proprietary ASUS high-tech ceramic material Ceraluminum on the lid like the previous version, the ASUS Zenbook A14 uses Ceraluminum on all sides except for the screen. That brings it in at less than 1 kg (2.2 lb) making it the lightest Copilot+ PC you can buy and lighter than a M3 MacBook Air.

It comes in two color options — Zabriskie Beige and Iceland Gray — and ASUS says that  Ceraluminum is more scratch resistant, shock resistant, easy to clean, and smudge resistant than traditional casings. 

Inside all that, it is powered by Snapdragon X Series Processors, to offer up to 45W TDP performance along with 45 TOPS of NPU power. A built-in Copilot key gives users fast access to smart Copilot features including Live Captions, Clipchamp, Cocreator and more. It also offers up to 32 hours battery life. Connectivity is provided by 2 USB 4.0 ports, an audio jack, a type-A port, and an HDMI port.

It will start at $1099 when it ships in a few weeks with 32GB of RAM, a 1TB SSD, and a 14-inch HD OLED display. A cheaper and slightly heavier (though still very light) and lesser specced model is scheduled to follow later in the year.

tl;dr

• ASUS showcased a range of new graphics cards powered by Nvidia's GeForce RTX 50 series, targeting both gaming and content creation markets with advanced cooling solutions.
• The ROG Astral series features quad-fan designs for improved airflow, a patented vapor-chamber for efficient heat dissipation, and robust power delivery systems tailored for enthusiasts and overclockers.
• TUF Gaming and ASUS Prime models provide reliable performance with military-grade components, phase-change thermal compounds, and vapor chambers for enhanced durability and cooling efficiency.
• The ROG XG Mobile is introduced as the first Thunderbolt 5 eGPU, offering high-speed connectivity and access to a powerful mobile graphics chip in a compact, lightweight design.