ASUS at Computex 2016: The 10 Years of the Republic Of Gamers (ROG) Booth Tour

Pimp My Rig

As with other big booth tour articles from previous shows, I want to end on a ‘we saw a lot of this’ series of images. Now two things were very clear at Computex regarding PC hardware: first was RGB LEDs, and the second was modified system designs. The march on RGB LEDs for almost everything in the consumer space makes a number of long-term PC enthusiasts put their head in their hands, but the case modification aspect is rather interesting. For each show, manufacturers will commission PC designs from external contractors to create something unique in terms of looks that can be shown on display. Whether or not you think the case modding scene is a reasonable market, for a number of enthusiasts this is now their full-time job – making custom designs. ASUS had several on display, from both professional modders and system integrators looking to do something new.

We mentioned the 8Pack system on the first page, and this system had a major stand all to itself at the show. Inside are custom water blocks featuring the 8Pack logo, and three graphics cards being liquid cooled. Ian Parry’s goal (aka 8Pack), and that of OverclockersUK, is to build and offer for sale the highest overclocked pre-built systems that money can buy, sometimes north of $15000 or even more when combined with premium accessories. Ian and I have known each other on the overclocking scene for a number of years, and I totally believe him when he says they are selling all over the world, and selling well. For some high earners where time is money, but money is no object, these get purchased for family members or high profile clients. It’s an interesting world out there.

On the TUF side of the booth were these two systems, part of the TUF Duplex design by Alexander Hede. Essentially two halves of the TUF logo and in a yin/yang style, one side uses the Z170 Sabertooth Mark 1 and the other has the Z170 Sabertooth.

Click the image for the full resolution

Or perhaps a liquid cooled Hello Kitty design, in a Cooler Master Mastercase Pro 5, is more your thing.

Click the image for the full resolution

This isn’t necessarily a crazy mod, but it is worth noting what can be done with a few simple LED fans and strip lighting. We showcased the white G.Skill Trident Z in our Broadwell-E review, and it comes up here as well. The motherboard uses semi-transparent PCIe latches in a new X99 motherboard, and the STRIX graphics card lights up as well.

Click the image for the full resolution

Bathed in the red light of ROG was this, the Ghost Rider (new version). So there are two types of mods: ones that directly affect performance, like liquid cooling designs, and others that are purely for aesthetics. This mostly falls into the latter, with a Maximus VIII Impact mini-ITX motherboard but a graphics card connected above it using a PCIe ribbon cable. As the plate on the side suggests, this design was done specifically for the ROG 10-Year Anniversary.

Aside from all the one-off custom designs, ASUS’ system integrator partners were also at the show with a few of their more popular models. This is the DigitalStorm Velox, playing off the black and red Strix/eagle design but using as much ASUS as possible. The system here is the premium design: an ROG Rampage V Edition 10, three ASUS Strix GTX 980s, a Core i7-6950X with custom liquid cooling, the ROG MG248Q Gaming monitor (24-inch, 1080p, 144 Hz), ROG Gladius mouse, Strix Tactic Pro keyboard, Strix 7.1 headset, and even an ROG Whetstone mouse pad. Obviously for the ultimate ROG fan.

Origin had a custom case for their recently launched Millennium product line, again going with a lot of ASUS and as much horsepower under the hood.

Scan from the UK and Lynx were also at the show using more modest designs in In Win cases.