Components
Review: ASUS ProArt B550-Creator Motherboard

ASUS’ ProArt series has been known for years for quality products aimed at content creators. The company recently announced the new ProArt B550-Creator motherboard, which supports the latest AMD Ryzen series of processors. The motherboard speeds up jobs such as 3D rendering and video post-production, in addition to working with and sharing large files.
In terms of design, the B550-Creator borrows design cues from its earlier iterations such as the ASUS ProArt Z490-Creator 10G, keeping the overall design simplistic with straight lines provided by a pair of rectangular M.2 and an L-shaped power delivery heatsink. The B550-Creator is also the first AMD AM4 motherboard and it benefits from Intel’s updated Thunderbolt 4 controller. You also get 12+2 phase power delivery and dual 2.5 GbE networking.
Keeping in line with its minimalist design, the motherboard also does not come with any integrated RGB LED lighting. In terms of connectivity options, the B550-Creator comes with two Thunderbolt 4 ports, two Intel 2.5G Ethernet, and four USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports. Each of these Thunderbolt 4 ports delivers up to 40 Gbps of bidirectional bandwidth for the latest high-speed devices and drives. Thunderbolt 4 also supports up to two external 4K UHD displays or one 8K display.
Other ports on the motherboard include a PS/2 combo port, a DisplayPort In connector, an HDMI port, a collection of USB ports, and audio I/O. There is also an 8-pin EPS and 4-pin ATX CPU ProCool II power input combo that provides all the power your processor would ever need.
The motherboard also comes with four DDR4 memory slots for up to 128GB of memory, a pair of M.2 slots using the Asus Q-latch install system (PCIe 4.0 x4), three PCIe x16 and two PCIe x1 expansion slots, four SATA ports, and Realtek’s ALC1220A premium audio solution. You also get a BIOS Flashback Button which can help with troubleshooting along with the Asus QLED POST system.
The AM4 socket on the motherboard can take in AMD Ryzen 5000 Series, 4000 G-Series, and 3000 Series desktop processors. In terms of performance, the B550-Creator delivers, irrespective of whether the job at hand is video editing, rendering, compiling, or even batch conversions. Since the B550-Creator comes packed with teamed power stages through the use of a 12+2 VRM design and ProCool II power connectors, you get all the power required for the B550-Creator. Meanwhile, two large VRM multi finned/ridged heatsinks, keep the VRM cool.
The B550-Creator also comes with an isolated audio codec, the ALC 1220A featuring shielding, audio-grade capacitors, and an integrated amplifier. Hence, you get a high-quality audio experience, when listening to music, watching movies, and so on. Furthermore, ASUS’ AiNoise Canceling feature helps in improving audio quality by filtering out noises and distractions whether it be on your mic or incoming audio.
The ProArt Creator Hub on the other hand offers a clean and modern UI for monitoring and management while also offering integration for calibration with ASUS ProArt monitors. In addition, it also simplifies workflows with convenient features such as Task Grouping.
You can also assign multiple apps to a group and launch them simultaneously. You also get some hardware features such as a pre-mounted IO shield, ASUS M.2 Q-Latch for simple and tool-free M.2 installation, QLED for quick visual POST troubleshooting, and more.
If you are a content creator who needs ultra-fast USB and Thunderbolt connectivity alongside stable and reliable operation, good overall performance under trying conditions, and a boatload of connectivity options, the B550-Creator is the one for you. The ASUS ProArt B550-Creator Motherboard is thus, highly recommended.
Price: $299
ASUS ProArt B550-Creator Motherboard $299
Summary
The AM4 socket on the motherboard can take in AMD Ryzen 5000 Series, 4000 G-Series, and 3000 Series desktop processors. In terms of performance, the B550-Creator delivers, irrespective of whether the job at hand is video editing, rendering, compiling, or even batch conversions.
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Components
AMD Launches Radeon PRO W7700 Workstation Graphics Card

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

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.
Components
Review: ASUS ROG Maximus Z790 Formula Gaming Motherboard

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
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.