With this week's major launch of the rest of the 8th Generation Core lineup, virtually every last major OEM is issuing significant updates to large parts of their product lines to incorporate the new CPUs and chipsets. To that end we're on day 3 of our recap of OEM spring product refreshes, this time taking a look at all of the updated gaming desktops and laptops due this quarter from ASUS under their Republic of Gamers Brand.

On the desktop side of the ASUS announcement are the ROG Strix GL12 and the ROG Huracan PCs that traditionally wed performance and unconventional style. The former comes in mid-tower chassis and can offer factory overclocking of its CPU, whereas the latter is a small form-factor machine featuring an asymmetric avant-garde enclosure outfitted with Aura RGB lighting effects for customization by the end user.

On the notebook side of things there are several very interesting products too. ASUS updated its flagship ROG G703 “Chimera” laptop with an IPS-type display panel featuring a 3 ms response time and Intel’s six-core Core i9-8950HK CPU. In addition, the company launched its all-new ultra-thin ROG Zephyrus M laptop powered by Intel’s six-core Core i7-8750H as well as NVIDIA’s GeForce GTX 1070 GPU running at full speed, a rare feature for a sub-2 cm design. Besides, the company also introduced its ROG Strix Hero and ROG Strix SCAR Edition laptops with quad- and six-core processors and discrete graphics that start at $1099.

We are going to start with the revamped ROG Chimera as no matter how hard it was to take a unique system and make it better (an even more exclusive), ASUS has managed to do it.

ASUS ROG G703 Chimera Gets Core i9

ASUS made quite a ruckus when it launched its flagship ROG G703 “Chimera” laptop last November. The gaming notebook not only featured a 17.3-inch display panel featuring a 144 Hz refresh rate, but also came with both the CPU and GPU factory overclocked. This week, less than half of a year after the launch of the original ROG Chimera, ASUS in introducing an improved ROG G703 featuring a higher-performance CPU, a new display panel, and a faster storage sub-system.

The new ASUS ROG G703GI “Chimera” is equipped with a new AHVA/IPS display panel featuring a 1920×1080 resolution, a 144 Hz refresh rate, and a 3 ms response time. By contrast, the first-gen ROG Chimera (G703VI) was outfitted with an FHD panel featuring a 144 Hz refresh rate, and a 7 ms response time. The reduction of the panel’s response time will likely make gameplay feel smoother because the LCD will react to actions faster. Besides, it will likely make fast-paced actions look sharper (everything will look and feel better provided that performance of the system is sufficient for a particular game/scene and there is enough bandwidth between the GPU and the LCD). At present, the ROG G703 GI only comes with the new 1080p144/3ms panel, but in the future ASUS may offer versions of the new ROG Chimera with different displays offering a higher resolution, for example.

The latest ASUS ROG G703GI is based on Intel’s new six-core Core i9-8950HK or Core i7-8750H CPUs as well as 300-series PCH. The fully-unlocked Core i9 processor is factory overclocked and can run at up to 4.8 GHz in single-core burst mode (typically, it can run at 4.8 MHz only with Thermal Velocity Boost, which usually lasts for instants before the case temperature reaches 50ºC). Meanwhile, the Core i7 chip can TurboBoost itself to higher frequencies automatically when there is a TDP headroom.

To accommodate the new CPU and PCH, ASUS needed to develop a new motherboard for the ROG Chimera laptop. The new platform changes processor’s PCIe interconnect scheme to boost performance of solid-state storage sub-system. The ROG G703GI features three M.2 PCIe 3.0 x4 slots with two of them connected directly to the CPU. The architecture eliminates any potential bottlenecks that may occur when SSDs in RAID 0 mode are connected to the PCH and all the data flows to the CPU through the DMI bus (which essentially is a PCIe 3.0 x4 with a peak bandwidth of up to 3.93 GB/s). When two high-end SSDs connected to the CPU operate in RAID 0 mode (which ASUS calls HyperDrive Extreme), they can offer read speed of up to 8.7 GB/s, the manufacturer says. Obviously, the architecture leaves only eight PCIe 3.0 lanes for the graphics processor, but ASUS believes that the GPU will still get plenty of bandwidth and faster storage will ultimately bring more benefits to the end user.

Speaking of the graphics sub-system, it is still based on the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 GPU that can operate at up to 1974 MHz in boost mode (up from 1733 MHz recommended by NVIDIA) and push its memory to 10.3 GT/s data transfer rate (up from 10 GT/s). Since NVIDIA has not released any new high-end GPUs since the launch of the original ROG Chimera, ASUS could not upgrade graphics of the new flagship laptop. The GPU naturally supports NVIDIA’s G-Sync dynamic refresh rate technology, which will enable a very smooth gameplay on the 144 Hz/3 ms display panel.

The new ASUS ROG G703GI comes in the same chassis as the ROG G703VI, so it has the same cooling system comprised of two 12 V blowers, multiple heat pipes and radiators with ultra-thin fins for maximum efficiency. The new system can support up to 64 GB of DDR4-2666 DRAM, three M.2 SSDs, and one 2.5” hybrid drive. As for connectivity, the latest ROG Chimera got Intel’s Wireless-AC 9560 CNVi 802.11ac Wave 2 Wi-Fi solution supporting up to 1.73 Gbps bandwidth, but all the other I/O capabilities remained the same as before: a GbE header, one Thunderbolt 3 port, four USB 3.0 Type-A connectors, an SD card reader, an mDP 1.4 connector, and an HDMI output. The new gaming PC is also outfitted with the same RGB-backlit keyboard as well as a powerful audio sub-system featuring four speakers, the ESS Sabre DAC and an amplifier.

ASUS ROG G703GI "Chimera"
		ROG G703GI (i9)	ROG G703GI (i7)
Display	Diagonal	17.3"
	Resolution	1920×1080
	Type	IPS
	Refresh	144 Hz, NVIDIA G-Sync Range: ? to 144 Hz
	Response Time	3 ms
	Color Gamut	72% NTSC
CPU		Intel Core i9-8950HK 6C/12T	Intel Core i7-8750H 6C/12T
PCH		?
Graphics		NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 with 8 GB GDDR5X
RAM		32 GB DDR4-2666 (expandable to 64 GB)
Storage	SSD	3 × 256/512 GB NVMe SSDs Two SSDs are connected to the CPU and offer up to 8.7 GB/s throughput in HyperDrive Extreme mode.	3 × 256 GB NVMe SSDs Two SSDs are connected to the CPU and offer up to 8.7 GB/s throughput in HyperDrive Extreme mode.
	HDD	1 TB SSHD (2.5", 5400 RPM, 8 GB NAND cache)
Wi-Fi		2×2 802.11ac Wave 2 Wi-Fi
Bluetooth		Bluetooth 4.1
Ethernet		1 GbE controller
USB		3 × USB 3.1 Gen 2 Type-A 3 × USB 2.0 Type-A 1 × USB 3.1 Type-C (via TB3 connector)
Thunderbolt		1 × USB Type-C Thunderbolt 3 connector
Display Outputs		1 × Mini DisplayPort 1.4 1 × HDMI 2.0
Audio		2 × 2 W speakers 2 × 3 W speakers ESS Sabre DAC Microphones Smart Amp 3.5-mm audio jack for headset 3.5-mm audio jack for microphone
Keyboard		Chicklet RGB-backlit keyboard, 2.5-mm travel, N-key rollover Specially-marked WASD keys ROG Aura hotkey Xbox Live hotkey XSplit Gamecaster hotkey ROG Gaming center hotkey ASUS Aura RGB lighting technology
Other I/O		HD webcam, card reader
Battery		71 Wh
Dimensions	Width	42.5 cm | 16.73"
	Depth	31.9 cm | 12.56"
	Thickness	5.1 cm | 2.01"
Weight		4.7 kg | 10.3 lbs
Price		Very high

The new ASUS ROG G703GI “Chimera” gaming laptops with six-core CPUs and an ultra-fast storage sub-system will be available starting from late April. ASUS did not elaborate on the pricing, but expect it to be comparable to the first-gen product, which started at around $3500.

ASUS Launches ROG Zephyrus M and Updates ROG Zephyrus

ASUS this week introduced its a second laptop under its flagship ROG Zephyrus gaming notebook brand. Dubbed the Zephyrus M (GM501) the new laptop is a slightly more straight-laced counterpart to the original Zephyrus, eschewing the latter's gaming-optimized keyboard and trackpad layout in favor of a traditional keyboard-over-trackpad design. Otherwise the new notebook is very similar to the original in most respects, aiming for the high-performance market by packing in Intel’s newly announced six-core Core i7-8750H along with NVIDIA’s GeForce GTX 1070 graphics chip into a 0.78-inch (19.9 mm) thick chassis. The new notebook is only slightly thicker than the original ROG Zephyrus, but unlike its predecessor, it has a GPU that runs at its original frequency and claims to deliver performance similar to its desktop counterparts.

The ASUS ROG Zephyrus M GM501 is based on Intel’s six-core Core i7-8750H CPU (2.2 GHz base, up to 4.2 GHz turbo) and is accompanied by 16 GB of DDR4-2666 RAM (upgradeable to 32 GB). Meanwhile along with the keyboard change, the other big difference between the two Zephyrus laptops is on the dGPU front: the Zephyrus M starts with an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 and a fittingly lower base price, whereas the original Zephyrus only ships in a flagship GTX 1080 configuration. Or for a more powerful graphics system the GTX 1070 is offered as an upgrade option. And unlike the original laptop, which took some liberties with GPU clockspeeds to keep the powerful GTX 1080 Max-Q in check (e.g. tuning that involves frequency drops and some other ways to trim TDP), the Zephyrus M runs its dGPU at NVIDIA"s standard clockspeeds.

In order to integrate full-fat GPUs, ASUS had to use a new chassis that is a couple of millimeters thicker when compared to the original ROG Zephyrus — the new laptop is 19.9 mm thick, which is still thinner than the vast majority of gaming notebooks. Besides getting slightly thicker, the system is also 250 grams heavier and now weighs 2.45 kilograms (5.5 lbs).

To ensure sufficient cooling of rather hot components (the aggregated TDP of the CPU and the GPU is rated at 160 W) and maintain consistent performance under high loads, the new ROG Zephyrus M uses a cooling system that resembles that of the original ROG Zephyrus: it has two blowers and five thick heat pipes. When the laptop is opened, additional venting opens up to improve air flow. 

The thicker and heavier enclosure enabled the manufacturer to equip its ROG Zephyrus M with a rather sophisticated storage sub-system: the new GM501 comes with a 256 GB PCIe 3.0 x4 SSD as well as Seagate’s 1 TB FireCuda SSHD. Another important improvement of the ROG Zephyrus M compared to the original one is its display panel with a 144 Hz refresh rate and a 3 ms response time. The display supports NVIDIA’s G-Sync dynamic refresh rate technology.

Meanwhile, as previously mentioned, the new model incorporates a more traditional keyboard setup. This means forgoing the original model's gaming optimized trackpad-next-to-keyboard setup in favor of the more traditional keyboard-over-trackpad setup. While Asus continues to offer the less traditional layout on the standard Zephyrus, the Zephyrus M is meant to be a bit more approachable and a bit more versitile for tasks that aren't gaming. As a result, the Zephyrus M gets a proper physical number pad in place of where the original put its trackpad. Plus the slightly larger chassis has allowed Asus to extend the key travel distance of the keyboard by a bit, again to be a little more traditional, bringing the travel distance up from 1.4mm to 1.7mm.

 
Zeph M vs. Zeph

Furthermore, the Zephyrus M comes with Intel’s latest Wireless-AC 9560 CRF that uses the onboard chipset Wi-Fi, supporting 802.11ac Wave 2 at up to 1.73 Gbps throughput. Bluetooth also included. As for physical connectivity, the new Zephyrus M resembles its ancestor: it has one Thunderbolt 3 port, four USB 3.1 Gen 2 connectors, one HDMI 2.0 output, an HD webcam, a microphone array, speakers, and a TRRS mini-jack.

ASUS ROG Zephyrus M GM501
		Zephyrus M GM501GS-XS74	Zephyrus M GM501GM-WS74
Display	Diagonal	15.6"
	Resolution	1920×1080
	Refresh	144 Hz, NVIDIA G-Sync
CPU		Core i7-8750H 6C/12T 2.2 - 4.2 GHz 45 W TDP
Graphics		NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 8 GB	NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 6 GB
RAM		16 GB DDR4-2666 (upgradeable to 32 GB)
Storage	SSD	256 GB SSD with PCIe 3.0 x4 interface, up to 3.1 GB/s
	HDD	Seagate FireCuda 1 TB SSHD
Wi-Fi		Intel Wireless-AC 9560 CRF 802.11ac Wi-Fi Wave 2
Bluetooth		Bluetooth 4.2
Ethernet		1 GbE controller
USB		4 × USB 3.0 Type-A 1 × USB 3.1 Type-C (via TB3 connector)
Thunderbolt		1 × USB Type-C Thunderbolt 3 connector
Display Outputs		1 × DisplayPort 1.2 (via TB3 port) 1 × HDMI 2.0
Keyboard		Chicklet RGB-backlit keyboard
Other I/O		Microphone, stereo speakers, audio jacks, webcam
Battery		50 Wh
Dimensions	Width	384 mm | 15.1 inches
	Depth	262 mm | 10.3 inches
	Thickness	19.9 mm | 0.78 inches
Weight		2.45 kilograms
Price		$2199	$1899

The ASUS ROG Zephyrus M gaming notebooks will be available from leading retailers in the coming weeks. The model with the GeForce GTX 1060 will be priced at $1,899, whereas the SKU with the GeForce GTX 1070 will cost $2,199.

ROG Zephyrus (GX501GI) Refreshed As Well

Meanwhile not to be left out, the original ROG Zephyrus has also received a minor update to keep it in line with its straight-laced sibling and to incorporate Intel's newest processors. The new ROG Zephyrus (GX501GI) uses Intel's Core i7-8750H – bumping that laptop up from a quad-core to a hex-core – while continuing to pair it with NVIDIA's GeForce GTX 1080 Max-Q on the GPU side of matters. The laptop has also received a minor display upgrade, incorporating the same 144Hz panel as the Zephyrus M and replacing the original 120Hz panel.

Otherwise, the new laptop is a straightforward specificaition bump. Asus has retained the same chassis design and build parameters, including the advanced cooling system and the laptop's unorthodox gaming-focused keyboard. Asus will begin taking pre-orders for it today, with prices starting at $2899.

ASUS ROG Zephyrus (GX501GI)
		Zephyrus GX501GI (2018)	Zephyrus GX501VI (2017)
Display	Diagonal	15.6"
	Resolution	1920×1080
	Refresh	144 Hz, NVIDIA G-Sync	120 Hz, NVIDIA G-Sync
CPU		Core i7-8750H 6C/12T 2.2 - 4.2 GHz 45 W TDP	Core i7-7700HQ 4C/8T 2.8 - 3.8 GHz 45 W TDP
Graphics		NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 Max-Q 8 GB
RAM		16 GB DDR4-2666 (upgradeable to 24 GB)
Storage		512 GB SSD, NVMe PCIe x4
Wi-Fi		802.11ac Wi-Fi
Bluetooth		Bluetooth 4.2
Ethernet		1 GbE controller
USB		4 × USB 3.0 Type-A 1 × USB 3.1 Type-C (via TB3 connector)
Thunderbolt		1 × USB Type-C Thunderbolt 3 connector
Display Outputs		1 × DisplayPort 1.2 (via TB3 port) 1 × HDMI 2.0
Keyboard		Chicklet RGB-backlit keyboard
Other I/O		Microphone, stereo speakers, audio jacks, webcam
Battery		50 Wh
Dimensions	Width	379 mm
	Depth	262 mm
	Thickness	16.9-17.9 mm
Weight		2.2 kilograms
Price		$2899	$2699

ASUS ROG Announces Updated Strix Hero and SCAR Edition Laptops

ASUS has also announced updates for two of its more entry-level gaming laptops in the ROG Strix SCAR (GL703) and ROG Strix Hero (GL503). The laptops are similar in both styling and what comes under the hood with the main differences between the two is the type of monitor and size, graphics card options, and storage. Both will receive the latest Intel 8^th Generation Coffee Lake CPUs, 120+ Hz FHD panels, support up to 32 GB of RAM, and are designed for gaming. ASUS marketing has both devices pointed at eSports with the SCAR pegged for First Person Shooters while the Hero is said to be for Multiplayer Online Battle Arena (MOBA) games.

Starting off with the differences between the two, the Hero has one monitor option – a 15.6-inch TN based FHD (1920x1080) panel with a 120 Hz refresh rate, 3ms GTG response time, 94% NTSC color gamut coverage and is paired with a NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050Ti. According to their specifications, this is the only GPU option for the Hero - a step back from the GTX 1060 available on the previous model. Some frame rate or image quality sacrifices may have to be endured to reach the higher frame rates in some titles. We have reached out to ASUS for clarity on that point.

The SCAR, on the other hand, comes with a choice of three 17.3-inch and a 15.6-inch monitor - three TN panels and an “IPS-level” panel, all with FHD resolution. The TN panels sport a 120 Hz refresh rate, 3ms GTG response time, and 94% NTSC color gamut. The fourth option is an “IPS-level” panel with 144 Hz refresh rate, 3ms GTG response time, 72% NTSC color gamut coverage and is G-Sync enabled. The SCAR supports up to a NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070, a more capable graphics solution able to utilize the high refresh rate monitors. 

Externally, both laptops look the same and include ASUS’ trapezoid-cut lid, upgraded 12-volt fans, and Anti-Dust Cooling system said to expel dust particles and dirt. The Hero’s lid has a design on it while the SCAR uses a more simple brushed aluminum look.  Integrated into both chassis are vents above the keyboard and on the bottom of the laptop for intake with large exhaust vents on the back. Any RGB lighting is reserved for the keyboard making for a fairly subdued design aesthetic for a gaming laptop. On the connectivity side, both will offer users an assortment of ports from USB 3.1 Type-C, USB 3.0, video outputs in mini DisplayPort and HDMI, LAN port, 3.5mm headphone/mic combo jacks, and an SD card reader.

 

Inside the chassis, the hardware will also be similar. Both will give users the option to choose between a 4C/8T i5-8300H (Max. Turbo to 4 GHz) or a 6C/12T i7-8750H (Max/ Turbo to 4.1 GHz), up from the 2C/4T and 4C/8T Kaby Lake CPUs they are replacing. Memory support is up to 32GB using DDR4-2666 in dual channel configurations which is plenty for today’s and tomorrow’s games when maxed out. These days, 16GB many feel is the sweet spot for having enough for now and headroom for later when gaming. Wi-Fi duties are managed by an 802.11ac, 2x2 Wave device with Bluetooth 4.1. While most people game with headphones, both include two stereo speakers able to output 3.5W. Mass storage on the SCAR includes two HDD options and a Hybrid along with M.2 SATA and PCIe SSDs. The Hero forgoes any spinners and has the same M.2 SATA and PCIe SSD options. 

With the SCAR and Hero designed for eSports and gaming, ASUS uses a desktop-style gaming keyboard with four gaming hotkeys, keys with 0.25mm-curvature caps, and customizable RGB-backlighting across four zones. It also features a highlighted WASD key grouping and has N-key rollover abilities. ASUS’ Aura Sync technology allows for customization and synchronization light effects with Aura Sync-supported peripherals.

Both the SCAR and the Hero are available now from the ASUS store, Amazon, and Newegg with additional retailers starting on 4/16. Pricing for both units start at $1099 MSRP.

ASUS ROG Strix Hero and SCAR Gaming Laptops
		SCAR (GL703GE/GM/GS)	SCAR (GL503GE)	Hero (GL503GE)
Product Page		LINK		LINK
Processors		Intel Core i5-8300H 4C/8T (2.3 GHz base - 4 GHz Turbo) Intel Core i7-8750H 6C/12T(2.2 GHz base - 4.1 GHz Turbo)
Memory		Up to 32GB DDR4-2666
Network Connectivity		LAN: Gigabit Ethernet Wi-Fi: 802.11ac + BT 4.1
Storage	SSD	256 GB M.2 NVMe PCIe 3.0 x4 128 GB M.2 NVMe PCIe 3.0 x2 256 GB M.2 SATA
	HDD	1 TB 5400RPM SSHD 1 TB 5400RPM / 7200RPM		N/A
Graphics		Up to NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 8 GB	Up to NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti  Up to 4 GB GDDR5	NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti Up to 4 GB GDDR5
Expansion Slots		1 x SD card reader
Display		17.3" FHD TN, 120 Hz (94% NTSC) 17.3" FHD TN, 120 Hz (94% NTSC) 17.3" FHD IPS-level, 144 Hz (72% NTSC) + G-Sync	15.6" FHD TN, 120 Hz (94% NTSC)	15.6" FHD TN, 120 Hz (94% NTSC)
Ports and Connectors		1 x USB 3.1 Type-C 4 x USB 3.0 (up to) 1 x Mini-DisplayPort (1.2) 1 x HDMI (2.0/1.4) 1 x RJ-45 1 x SD card reader 1 x 3.5mm headphone/mic combo jack 1 x Kensington lock	1 x USB 3.1 Type-C 3 x USB 3.0 1 x USB 2.0 1 x Mini-DisplayPort (1.2) 1 x HDMI (1.4) 1 x RJ-45 1 x SD card reader 1 x 3.5mm headphone/mic combo jack 1 x Kensington lock	1 x USB 3.1 Type-C 3 x USB 3.0 1 x USB 2.0 1 x Mini-DisplayPort (1.2) 1 x HDMI (1.4) 1 x RJ-45 1 x SD card reader 1 x 3.5mm headphone/mic combo jack 1 x Kensington lock
Input Device		RGB backlit keyboard 1.8mm travel, N-key rollover
Power		64Wh (1050Ti models) 76Wh (1060/1070 models)		64Wh
Audio		2 x 3.5W Speakers w/smart amplifier technology array microphone
Dimensions		16.3" x 11.0" x 0.9"	15.1" x 10.3" x 0.9"	15.1" x 10.3" x 0.9"
Weight		6.4 lbs+	5.73 lbs
Price ($US)		$1099

ASUS Launches ROG Strix GL12 Gaming Desktop

ASUS has launched another gaming desktop which aims to offer a more unconventional chassis design with angled ‘slashes’ running across the front of the case, a transparent side panel, as well as integrated RGB, LED Aura Sync Lighting. While there is plenty to like for the amateur here, the Strix GL12 was built with eSports in mind where professional gamers need powerful PCs which have the ability to maintain high FPS in battle as well as reliable systems that can let players load their own customized settings quickly. The ROG Strix GL12 includes an Intel Core i5 or i7 8^th Generation processor, DDR4 RAM supports up to 64GB, with up to a NVIDIA GTX 1080 video card driving graphics. With the factory overclocking of the 8700K to 4.8 GHz, the GL12 looks to be a formidable desktop built for gaming with styling and an integrated lighting system to go along with it.

The case itself has the unique slashes across the front which contains an RGB element through a frosted plastic piece that diffuses the light. The bottom part has other lines going through it in weaving pattern for the intake while the top above the RGB elements is a removable panel that hides space for a 5.25-inch drive and the hot-swap 2.5” SSD drive. The left side of the case has a choice of panel options of either a tinted acrylic panel to show off the internals, or a solid metal panel. Both panels are included and mount to the chassis with thumb screws.

The IO panel is on top of the case facing the front and has two USB 2.0 ports, 2 USB 3.0 ports, a 2-in-1 card reader, as well as a microphone/headphone combo jack. Internally it will support up to two HDD trays, one SSD tray (+ the hot swap tray), and two exhaust fans (+ one intake) for airflow. There doesn’t appear to be much room for additional radiators/cooling flexibility outside of the included CLC cooler from Asetek (120mm radiator in the top fan slot). There is even an internal crossbar that secures the graphics card to avoid damage from movement and shipping as well as to prevent sagging under its own weight while at rest.

When talking hardware specifications, the GL12 gives users a choice of three hex-core processors, an i5-8400, i7-8700, and the flagship CPU the i7-8700K. ASUS can overclock the processor up to 4.8 GHz from the factory. The system has four DRAM slots total and supports DDR4-2666 RAM from 8 GB  - 64 GB, plenty for a gaming machine. ASUS gives four video card options to choose from - a NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 2 GB GDDR5, GTX 1060 3 GB/6 GB GDDR5, GTX 1070 8 GB GDDR5, and finally the GTX 1080 8 GB GDDR5X. For audio, the GL12 uses the Realtek ALC1150 codecs with Sonic Studio software support. I expected to see the latest ALC1220 codec on the new system. On the mass storage side, the unit has five SATA ports and gives options for up to 2 TB 7200 RPM HDD, 512GB SATA or PCIe SSDs.

The GL12 connects to the internet through an Intel I219-V 10/100/1000 Mbps LAN, or through an optional 802.11ac, Bluetooth 5.0 device. Guessing from the Bluetooth 5.0 specification, I'd imagine it to be the Intel 9560 CNVi device integrated into the chipset as I have not run across a board with the BT5.0 spec that wasn't using the CNVi based device. 

Overall, it appears ASUS will bring to the market a uniquely designed with powerful configurations eSports focused gaming desktop. Pricing was not listed, but it will be available in late Q2. 

ASUS ROG Strix GL12 Gaming Desktop
Type		Gaming Desktop
Processors		i5-8400 (6C / 6T - 4 GHz Turbo) i7-8700 (6C / 12T - 4.6 GHz Turbo) i7-8700K (6C / 12T - 4.3 GHZ Turbo)* * Factory overclock option to 4.8 GHz)
Maximum Memory		64 GB DDR4-2666 (4x DRAM slots)
Network Connectivity		Intel I219-V Gigabit LAN 802.11ac, Bluetooth 5.0 (Optional)
Internal Storage	SSD	256 GB - 512GB SATA M.2 128 GB - 512 GB PCIe M.2
	HDD	3.5" 1 TB - 2 TB 7200 RPM
Graphics		NVIDIA GeFroce GTX 1050 2 GB GDDR5 NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 6 GB GDDR5 NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 8 GB GDDR5 NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 8 GB GDDR5X
Ports and Connectors		1 x 2-in-1 Card reader 2 x USB 2.0 2 x USB 3.0 1 x mic in/headphone out
Audio		Realtek ALC1150 codecs
Power		300W Power Supply 500W Power Supply
Dimensions (W x D x H)		7.07" x 15.75" x 17.98"
Weight		24.25 lbs
Price (Starting)		N/A

ASUS ROG Huracan (G21) Compact Gaming Desktop

The final item on the ROG spring refresh is a new compact gaming desktop named the Huracan (G21). The Huracan brings a uniquely styled case featuring a magnetically-secured side cover that can be opened to improve airflow in the system and also activates Aura lighting effects. The Huracan will come equipped with an 8^th Generation Intel Core i5 or i7 processor and up to a NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 video card inside positioning it in the mid-range+ performance gaming segment.

The design aesthetic is what really sets this desktop apart from the rest. ASUS mentions the Huracan uses elements “…inspired by cyber-warrior and cyberpunk themes, resulting in an aggressive, angular design with sharp creases to symbolize a warrior’s battle scars.”. The design is said to make it easier to maintain and upgrade components. In addition, there is a hot-swap 2.5-inch SSD bay for quick drive swaps.  With its panel closed, it looks like many other compact desktops on the sides. On the left, we see a simple ASUS ROG symbol while on the right is the magnetically attached foldable panel. There are lines starting from the back corner on the bottom running through the panel – these are the points at which the panel folds up to expose the internals, activate the Aura lighting inside, and allow for more airflow. When opened, the magnetic panel has several words printed on it that have to do with ROG and gaming in general in different languages on the underside.

 

 The front of the case has an angular, sort of geometric look to it with a frosted RGB LED element on top and on the bottom by the intake vent. The front panel connectivity includes a microphone and headphone ports, the latter using the integrated ESS DAC and amplifier, two USB 3.1 (10 Gbps) Type-A ports and a single USB 3.0 Type-C port. The back of the chassis adds two more USB 3.1 (10 Gbps) Type-A ports and four USB 3.0 ports along with an RJ-45 LAN jack as well as the audio stack and S/PDIF. The Huracan is able to support dual power adapters through the two DC input plugs on the back.

Hardware wise, the Huracan has two processor choices - a 6C / 6T 8^th Gen Intel Core i5-8400 (4 GHz Turbo) or an i7-8700 (4.6 GHz Turbo) 6C / 12T. The processor options are locked so overclocking won’t be possible without a CPU swap at minimum (not sure what motherboard/chipset it is using). Memory capacity is up to 32GB of DDR4-2666. There are three video card choices from NVIDIA; GeForce GTX 1060 6GB GDDR5, GTX 1070 8GB GDDR5, and the most powerful option available, the GTX 1080 8GB GDDR5X. All video cards are equipped with dual HDMI ports (good for VR), DVI, and two DisplayPort ports. Storage options range from 128GB – 512GB M.2 SATA PCIe SSDs and 1 TB – 2 TB HDD (supports Intel Optane Memory). Hidden in the front chassis is an optical drive, a bit of a rarity to see these days.

Powering the system will be handled by a choice of adapters as it does not have a power supply inside. Think of it more like a laptop in this respect. There is a 180W adapter and a 230W adapter for only the GTX 1080 equipped models. If upgrades down the road take things close to or the 230W threshold the Huracan can support dual 180W adapters giving a total of 360W power which should handle most mainstream setups.

The ROG Huracan (G21) will be available late Q2. Pricing information was not available.

ASUS ROG Huracan (G21)
Type		Compact Desktop
Processors		i5-8400 (6C / 6T - 4 GHz Turbo) i7-8700 (6C / 12T - 4.6 GHz Turbo)
Maximum Memory		32 GB DDR4-2666
Network Connectivity		1 x Gigabit Ethernet
Internal Storage	SSD	128-512 GB M.2 SATA PCIe SSD
	HDD	1TB - 2TB 3.5" HDD (System supports Intel Optane)
Graphics		NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 6 GB GDDR5 NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 8 GB GDDR5 NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 8 GB GDDR5X
Ports and Connectors		2 x USB 3.0 1 x HDMI (2.0) 1 x Headphone/Mic combo 2 x USB Type-C Thunderbolt 3
Audio		Integrated - includes ESS DAC and amplifier (front port)
Power		1 x 180W 1 x 230W (GTX 1080 equipped models only) 2 x 180W
Dimensions		5.11" x 14.66" x 14.41"
Weight		18.3 lbs
Price (Starting)		N/A