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Preview: Asus ROG Zenith II Extreme TRX40

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Asus is known for top-notch gaming products – be it their awesome gaming laptops, desktops to their gaming PC components. We got our hands on the new Asus ROG Zenith II Extreme TRX40 a couple of days ago for a preview. Remember, this is a preview and not a review of the gaming motherboard.

Introduction
The Asus ROG Zenith II Extreme is the successor to the company’s previous-generation X399 board, the original Zenith Extreme. This one comes packed with all the benefits of AMD’s TRX40 chipset, which means it is an AMD TRX40 E-ATX motherboard sTRX4 for 3rd Gen Ryzen Threadripper. 

The motherboard comes with a whole lot of goodness, including 16 power stages, PCIe 4.0, Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax), 10 Gbps Ethernet, USB3.2 Gen2x2, dual USB 3.2 front panel connector, five M.2, SATA and Aura Sync RGB. One look at the packaging and you will appreciate Asus’ efforts put into this motherboard.

What’s Inside the Box?
The packaging is quite premium. Inside the box, you get the motherboard itself, the user manual, the USB software, and drivers installation drive, the ROG DIMM.2 module with heatsinks, 6 x SATA cables, Asus Fan Extension Card II, 5 x M.2 installation screws, 3-in-1 Thermistor cable, front panel Q-Connector, dual-function screwdriver, Intel AX200 Wi-Fi 6 moving antenna, ROG Coaster, 2 x 80 cm RGB Extension cables, ROG logo plate sticker, and ROG large sticker sheet.

Design
The Asus ROG Zenith II Extreme is an E-ATX motherboard that costs about $850. The motherboard is made up of stacked PCB, which is hidden by an aluminium PCB cover. This doubles up as a heatsink for two of the five available PCIe 4.0 x4 M.2 slots. The rear panel cover is also made of aluminium and includes a LiveDash 1.77″ OLED colour screen. 

The colour screen allows you to customise the look via GIFs, temperature and system usage data, or as a POST debugger. Around the board are integrated RGB LEDs with three customisable zones. Asus was possibly one of the first companies to really adopt RGB lighting in a big way and their AURA Sync lighting setup is one of the easiest and most flexible solutions around, supporting a massive range of LED types and features to ensure your system always reflects your personality and aesthetic tastes. 

You also get the rear panel cover, the ROG logo within the chipset heatsink, and on the right-hand side of the board. The company has also included two AURA RGB strip headers, and two addressable RGB headers for users to expand on what’s included out of the box. 

Connectivity
One of the major benefits of the TRX40 chipset is the introduction of PCIe 4.0 to the high-end desktop. The ROG Zenith II Extreme has plenty of connectivity with four full-length PCIe 4.0 slots which operate at x16/x8/x16/x8. Touching on the storage capabilities onboard, there is scope to install up to five PCIe 4.0 x4 M.2 drives onto the board. 

Two of the PCIe 4.0 x4 M.2 slots are hidden underneath the aluminium armor, while a single slot is located on the rear of the PCB, albeit without a heatsink. As mentioned earlier, inside the box, you will find a ROG DIMM.2 module which allows you to install a further two PCIe 4.0 x4 M.2 drives onto the board.

On the bottom edge, you get the front-panel audio, ATA-style auxiliary slot power, TPM, one (of two) ARGB and one (of two) RGB, one (of seven) open four-pin fan, two dual-port USB 2.0, one (of two) USB 3.0, Asus Node, two water flow tachometer, an Intel-style front-panel button/LED group, and PC (beep code) Speaker. The included Fan Extension card is but one of several available Asus Node-compatible devices.

The ROG Zenith II Extreme also has eight memory slots which have support for DDR4-4733 and up to 256 GB of system memory. Users can equip ECC memory, but only un-buffered ECC. Non-ECC UDIMMs work as well. Inside, you also get tons of IO including seven 4-pin headers split into two for CPU fans, two for water pumps, two for chassis fans, and one for a high amp fan.

The ROG Zenith II Extreme is designed to hold two triple-slot graphics cards by excluding its other two slots, but it can also do an x16/x8/x16/x8 configuration for users whose graphics cards fit within a double-slot envelope. Cooling the large 16-phase power delivery is a large aluminium finned heatsink which is aided with two small Delta Superflo fans.

There are onboard Start buttons as well as the Flexkey which lets you assign lighting options to your case reset key, should you so wish. Hardcore overclockers will appreciate the Slow and LN2 options, whilst those with a lot of internal lighting will enjoy the number of USB headers giving you maximum control.

Cooling and Sound
Great power requires great cooling, so ROG Zenith II Extreme employs large VRM heatsinks that strike the right balance between surface area and mass. This includes the VRM heatsink, the aluminum heatsink cover, solid steel backplate, chipset heatsink, aluminium I/O cover, DIMM.2 heatsinks, and SoC VRM heatsink. 

Sound is an integral part of gaming immersion. ROG Zenith II Extreme’s onboard audio joins the latest SupremeFX S1220 codec with a high-end ESS Sabre DAC. Power users in particular pipe content through multiple devices, so our Sonic Studio III software has an intuitive management interface that lets you route sound from applications to specific outputs. The board even supports DTS Sound Unbound technology, to create three-dimensional audio soundscapes that draw you further into virtual worlds.

The front-panel headphone output features a SABRE9018Q2C integrated DAC/amp capable of reaching -108dB THD+N to provide playback that conveys all the subtlety and nuances of even the highest-quality audio track. The improved resolution derived from the ESS Hyperstream DAC architecture expands the soundstage to give a better sense of positioning. Beyond resolution, the 120dB DNR provides an extremely low noise-floor, further accentuating dynamics and punch. 

So Who is it For?
The ROG Zenith II Extreme is for those craving for extensive styling and customisation options that can be used to build a powerful gaming system that truly stands apart. The AMD TRX40 chipset delivers outstanding overclocking capabilities for the latest AMD Socket sTRX4 3rd Gen Ryzen Threadripper series processors. It provides PCIe 4.0 support, 10 Gbps USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports, and eight SATA 6 Gbps ports for faster data retrieval.

The ROG Zenith II Extreme motherboard supports the latest 3rd Gen AMD Ryzen Threadripper series processors that boast up to 64 cores. It features quad-channel DDR4 memory, 64 lanes of PCI Express 4.0, 16 GT/s transfer speed for Gen 4 M.2 SSDs, and built-in native USB 3.2 Gen 2 (10 Gbps) for superior performance.

Price: $850

Photography by: Ranbir Sen

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AMD Launches Radeon PRO W7700 Workstation Graphics Card

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AMD has announced the AMD Radeon PRO W7700, a professional workstation graphics card under $1,000. The new workstation graphics card is designed to meet the evolving demands of professional workflows, including increasingly complex computer-generated designs, the continual growth in the development of visual effects and animations, a global surge in construction, and the explosive growth in advanced AI applications. The AMD Radeon PRO W7700 graphics card unleashes professionals’ creativity through exceptional performance, stunning visuals and future-ready capabilities.

“We built and optimized the AMD Radeon PRO W7700 graphics cards to create premium workstation graphics experiences, enabling our customers to boost innovation and productivity,” said Dan Wood, corporate vice president, Radeon product management at AMD. The AMD Radeon PRO W7700 workstation graphics card is ideal for the growing demands of creative industries, including media and entertainment, design and manufacturing, and architecture, engineering and construction.

The 16GB of high-speed VRAM allows 3D artists and video editors to work with higher-resolution models and textures and process intricate effects. It also enables data exchange between applications, allowing users to multitask between editing, compositing, and retouching to meet project deadlines. In addition, with industry-leading support for DisplayPort™ 2.1, video editors will benefit from richer colour spaces and the ability to leverage the highest display resolutions available today. The new graphics card also supports the latest codecs with AV1 encode/decode and AI-enhanced video encode capabilities for lightning-fast video encoding times that streamline and accelerate video production.

Built on the high-performance, energy-efficient AMD RDNA 3 architecture, the Radeon PRO W7700 workstation graphics card offers up to 1.7X better price/performance than the competitive offering. The new graphics card also provides up to 52% higher performance in SOLIDWORKS, up to 24% higher performance in Creo and up to 37% higher performance in CATIA compared to competitor solutions, empowering architects to bring their visions of hotels, office buildings and other structures to life by enabling them to produce photorealistic renders and immersive walkthroughs. DisplayPort 2.1 and the AMD Radiance Display Engine technologies also offer stunning resolutions and vibrant colour depth for viewing projects on up to four displays.

“The great collaboration between AMD and ACCA continues five years strong. Architectural customers have benefited from the combination of AMD Radeon ProRender in our ACCA Edificius BIM application, thanks to the integration of HIP,” said Guido Cianciulli, founder and CEO, ACCA Software. “We are excited that ACCA Edificius customers will benefit from the new AMD Radeon PRO W7000 series workstation graphics, which provide increased photorealism and improved image rendering power, as well as support for ultra-performance displays.”

The Radeon PRO W7700 workstation graphics card enables professionals to build and run AI applications right from their desktops. Featuring hardware-based AI accelerators, the graphics card is designed to accelerate AI workloads in the latest applications, including DaVinci Resolve, Adobe Premiere, Topaz Labs Video AI, and many others. “We are excited about the launch of the Radeon PRO W7700 and how it will help users leverage generative AI and the rest of their creative applications,” said Anush Elangovan, corporate vice president of software development at AMD (formerly Nod.ai). “Nod.ai has built APIs to help creators get the most out of their AI applications. Our SHARK Stable Diffusion REST API plugs into Blender, enabling creative professionals to leverage the power of generative AI in their familiar 3D tools.”

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CORSAIR Adds iCUE LINK-Enabled Components to its Hydro X Series Custom Cooling Lineup

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CORSAIR has unveiled the newest additions to the renowned Hydro X Series. In keeping with its commitment to revolutionizing DIY custom cooling, these products are seamlessly integrated with the innovative iCUE LINK Smart Component Ecosystem, further enhancing custom cooling performance and aesthetics. With the addition of the iCUE LINK XD5 RGB ELITE LCD Pump/Reservoir and iCUE LINK XG7 RGB 40-Series GPU Water Blocks, the Hydro X Series now offers even more iCUE LINK-enabled products, making the process of building a world-class custom cooling loop easier than ever.

Following the success of the acclaimed CORSAIR XD5 RGB and the recent introduction of the XD5 RGB ELITE, the iCUE LINK XD5 RGB ELITE LCD arrives as the new flagship of the Pump/Reservoir Combo lineup. This unit boasts a market-first 2.1″ IPS LCD pump screen with a 480×480 resolution, dynamically displaying real-time coolant temperatures, images, or animated GIFs. The XD5 RGB ELITE LCD’s integration of revolutionary iCUE LINK technology ensures a streamlined build process, eliminating the traditional MOLEX connectors, reducing cable clutter, and enhancing connectivity. With the reliability of a Xylem D5 PWM pump motor at its heart, the XD5 RGB ELITE LCD stands as a fusion of performance, convenience, and style. It is available in both Stealth Gray and White, accentuated with a gunmetal grey zinc-alloy finish.

CORSAIR iCUE LINK XG7 RGB 40-SERIES GPU Water Blocks are the latest components to join the new era of building simplicity. Stepping up from their predecessors, the upgraded XG7 RGBs now support iCUE LINK connectivity right out of the box. These full-cover water blocks ensure optimal performance coupled with cooler temperatures. Emphasizing versatility, the new XG7 RGB series still offers a variety of connection options, ensuring the needs of diverse DIY builders are met seamlessly. Multiple models designed to fit a growing number of graphics cards will be made available for purchase over the next few months.

Redefining loop design, the new Hydro X Series XT Softline Mesh Tubing is an innovative creation made from resilient EPDM rubber. Its unique mesh layer provides a robust and stylish look that’s unparalleled in the custom cooling domain. Available in both black and white, this tubing promises a blend of durability and distinct aesthetics. With these latest innovations, CORSAIR is advancing the Hydro X Series to meet the ever-changing demands of DIY enthusiasts. The Hydro X Series ensures that every component doesn’t just fit together—they harmonize to create a cohesive, high-performance, and visually captivating ensemble. Just as iCUE LINK unites a full range of components with a unified cable standard, the Hydro X Series embodies a symphony of excellence in performance and design.

The CORSAIR iCUE LINK XD5 RGB ELITE LCD, iCUE LINK XG7 RGB 40-SERIES GPU Water Blocks, and Hydro X Series XT Softline Mesh Tubing are available now from the CORSAIR webstore and the CORSAIR worldwide network of authorized retailers and distributors. The iCUE LINK XD5 RGB ELITE LCD, iCUE LINK XG7 RGB 40-SERIES GPU Water Blocks, and Hydro X Series XT Softline Mesh Tubing are backed by a three-year warranty, alongside the CORSAIR worldwide customer service and technical support network.

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Review: ASUS ROG Maximus Z790 Formula Gaming Motherboard

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ASUS released a lineup of new and refreshed ROG Z790 motherboards to coincide with the launch of Intel 14th Gen Raptor Lake Refresh desktop CPUs. We reviewed the ASUS TUF Gaming Z790-Pro WiFi Motherboard a week ago, and today, we are taking a look at the ASUS ROG Maximus Z790 Formula.

The ROG Maximus Z790 Formula is the ultimate motherboard, boasting a stunning Moonlight White design. Beyond its eye-catching appearance, it offers a boatload of features such as the exclusive HybridChill VRM cooling system for 14th-gen Intel processors, and advanced DDR5 settings. You also get multiple PCIe 5.0 slots for graphics cards and storage, rapid Intel Wi-Fi 7 networking, and extensive customisable ARGB lighting, ensuring whatever you build with this thing, is premium.

In terms of specifications, the ASUS ROG Maximus Z790 Formula maintains its ATX form factor and incorporates a dual 8-pin CPU power connector setup. The VRM Configuration is 20+1+2(Core+GT+VCCIN) and backed up by a 10-phase supply count with 105A and 70A power stages.

The motherboard provides four DDR5 DIMM slots capable of supporting speeds exceeding 8000 MT/s and capacities of up to 192GB. The motherboard features a white shield covering its entire front, which also houses the M.2 heatsinks beneath it. Memory compatibility is a breeze with the Z790 Formula.

All XMP-certified kits can effortlessly reach their advertised speeds, as rigorous internal tests have verified these assertions. ASUS has also introduced a novel feature called DIMM Flex. DIMM Flex utilises an onboard thermal sensor located at the rear of the motherboard, beneath the memory slots, along with a microcontroller to continuously monitor temperature and dynamically optimise the memory refresh rate, providing an on-the-fly performance boost.

Regarding expansion options, the board includes two PCIe x16 slots and a diverse range of I/O ports, such as support for WIFI 7. You also get two Thunderbolt 4 Type-C ports, a USB 3.2 Gen 2 10 Gbps Type-C port, 5 GbE LAN, numerous USB 3.2 ports, and BIOS Flashback/Clear CMOS switches.

Other features of the motherboard include AI Overclocking, 2-inch Livedash OLED, AI Cooling II, and other bells and whistles. There are dual procool II power connectors, 20+1+2 power stages, and the motherboard comes with the Intel LGA 1700 socket that takes in 14th and 13th Gen Intel Core Processors, 12th Gen Intel Core processors, and Pentium Gold and Celeron processors.

In terms of I/O connectivity, you again get a boatload. The motherboard comes with one HDMI port, four USB 5Gbps Type-A ports, two Thunderbolt 4 USB Type-C ports, a Realtek 5Gb Ethernet port, six USB 10Gbps ports (five Type-A and one USB Type-C), Intel Wi-Fi 7, Optical S/PDIF Out, five gold-plated audio jacks, one USB 20Gbps USB Type-C front panel connector, and four SATA 6GB/S connectors.

Inside the package, in addition to the motherboard, cables, and other accessories, you’ll find an ASUS WiFi Q-Antenna. This antenna is equipped with dual transceivers, which provide support for the 2.4, 5, and 6 GHz bands, enhancing throughput speed. It also offers directional sensitivity to boost signal quality and expand coverage over longer distances.

Undoubtedly, the ASUS ROG Maximus Z790 Formula is an exceptional and distinct motherboard. With its remarkable features and capabilities, I believe it will become a top choice for both enthusiasts and gamers in their feature builds. The ASUS ROG Maximus Z790 Formula is currently available at a price of AED 3070.

Price: AED 3070

ASUS ROG Maximus Z790 Formula Gaming Motherboard
AED 3070










  • Final Rating

4









Summary

Beyond its eye-catching appearance, it offers a boatload of features such as the exclusive HybridChill VRM cooling system for 14th-gen Intel processors, and advanced DDR5 settings.

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