According to the FCC, the following Asus networking products have been granted conditional approval:

• RT Series
• ROG GT Series
• OG Strix GS Series
• TUF Gaming Series
• ExpertWiFi Series
• ZenWiFi Mesh Series
• 5G MiFi Series
• Wireless repeaters
• Wireless access points

In other words, Asus' entire wireless networking portfolio is cleared for sale in the U.S., with the conditional approval granted until March 6, 2028 (18 months from the date of issuance). The FCC explains, "We find that each of the Conditional Approvals constitutes 'a specific determination' by [Department of War] that such devices do not pose risks to U.S. national security."

This latest move by the FCC is a welcome sigh of relief for Asus, a Taiwanese company with an extensive networking portfolio and some of the best Wi-Fi routers. More importantly, Asus is ready to unleash a whole new generation of Wi-Fi 8 products over the next year. Wi-Fi 8 promises significant reliability and quality-of-life improvements across a wide range of wireless devices, so having a front-row seat to the transition from Wi-Fi 7 to Wi-Fi 8 is pivotal for Asus.

We've already seen a concept ROG NeoCore Wi-Fi 8 router from Asus at CES this year, and the company announced its first consumer Wi-Fi 8 router, the ROG Rapture GT-BN98 Pro, in June. The ROG Rapture GT-BN98 Pro is promising a 2x uplift in real-world throughput compared to its current-generation Wi-Fi 7 products.

Asus joins Netgear and Amazon Eero/Leo on the conditional approval list. The largest player in the U.S. wireless router market is TP-Link, and it still hasn't gained FCC approval. The U.S. government has been reluctant to give its blessing, and a war of words has been brewing over alleged Chinese ties despite TP-Link Systems Inc. being headquartered in California. As a result, the company has not confirmed a release date for its newly announced Wi-Fi 8 "Ultra" routers in the U.S.

The OP brought receipts (literally) to prove his unwavering commitment to the brand, with screenshots showcasing at least 18 different items bought just this year alone. In the second picture, we can see the ROG Delta headset was purchased in April, and it's still under warranty till 31 January 2027. This is a premium headset; it costs $270 normally, though it's on sale for just $199 on Best Buy right now.

Asus' official support policies say that free accessories, such as a mouse with a laptop, are not covered under warranty. But accessories bundled with peripherals are indeed covered under the same terms as the peripheral itself. Since a wireless receiver is a key component of the headset, it should be replaced in case of a defect or hardware failure. However, if you lose it or break it yourself, that's a different story.

Since the customer was asking for a replacement outright instead of opening a ticket for a defect, it's possible that customer service simply wasn't equipped to help him out. Small parts like these often don't carry their own SKU number, so it's hard to bill them separately, or it could be just that the reps are misinformed on the exact nuances of free, optional accessories versus core accessories required for proper functioning.

Anyhow, Lucas was told to buy the receiver himself through a third-party reseller. Asus lists three suppliers in North America for replacement parts, but we weren't able to find the specific receiver for the ROG Delta II KJP on any of these websites. It's actually unclear if the OP has found a supplier that even has this receiver in stock, because the post concludes with him asking others how they managed to get a replacement.

Fortunately, an Asus rep in the comments apologized and said they've escalated the matter. They also remarked how this shouldn't have happened regardless of one being a new or a loyal customer. Lucas' allegiance to Asus had perhaps created a bubble where he thought the brand would reciprocate the loyalty. We're not inferring this either; his caption clearly implies he felt betrayed after investing so much.

Ultimately, it took one simple receiver to completely shatter that illusion. Businesses operate on the basis of fatter margins. Laws bind them to offer customer support. It wouldn't be unreasonable to say that they'd do much worse if they could get away with it. So, let this serve as a cautionary tale for the next time you're being brand-conscious or trying to be an evangelist; remember that they are profit-making organizations first and foremost.

See the Asus ROG Xbox Ally X20 at Asus

See the Asus ROG Xbox Ally X20 at Best Buy

Initially, Asus had only announced the bundle, but later turned around and said a standalone version of its new take on the best handheld gaming PC. Given that this version of the Ally has an OLED screen (one of the biggest drawbacks of the original), it didn't make much sense to force a pair of AR glasses when so many people would want to look at the built-in display.

The original ROG Xbox Ally X, which, released in the fall of 2025, still costs $999.99. This new version, with a translucent shell, the OLED screen, transforming d-pad (from 4-way to 8-way), TMR joysticks, and rubberized grips, will come with a $300 premium before you add the bundle. What isn't changing is the internals: the X20 will still come with an AMD Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme processor.

The dbrand Killswitch in the bundle blocks much of the clear plastic, but has black and gold accents, as well as a built-in kickstand. The Killswitch also includes a skin that shows what's inside the Ally, but given that the black plastic is see-through, it seems somewhat redundant.

The Pelican case is exactly what you would expect: a black box with red latches. There is a black-and-gold ROG 20th Anniversary logo, but all things considered, this is the most restrained item in the entire anniversary lineup. While I appreciate a case for the device, this is pretty heavy-duty.

The ROG Xreal R1 glasses appear to be functionally identical to the version we reviewed earlier this year, but with black and gold accents.

The ROG Xbox All X20 was originally announced at Computex, along with a suite of twentieth anniversary ROG computer components that cost as much as $15,000 in one PC build. Beyond components and the handheld, there is also a twentieth anniversary monitor, keyboard, mouse, router, and NUC mini PC.

On the performance front, the board did well and was average to above average for most tests. There were a couple of outliers that fell below average, but nothing to worry about. It performed well across a wide variety of tests from office productivity to rendering and gaming; the B850-F Gaming Wifi Neo showed its mettle through our testing suite.

Below, we’ll examine the B850-F Gaming Wifi Neo’s performance and other features and find out if it has a chance to make our list of the best motherboards. But before we share test results and discuss details, here are the specifications from the ASRock website:

Specifications of the B850-f Gaming Wifi Neo

Inside the Box

Inside the box along with the motherboard are a few accessories to get you started. You get the usual fare from a budget board, including SATA cables, a Wi-Fi antenna, guides, and more. Nothing stands out in this accessory stack, but it should help get you started.

• (2) SATA cables
• ASUS WiFi Q-Antenna
• Cable ties package
• M.2 Q-Latch package
• M.2 Q-Slide package
• ROG key chain
• ROG Strix stickers
• (3) M.2 rubbers
• M.2 backplate rubber package(s)
• Quick start guide

Design and Features of the Gaming Wifi Neo

Compared to the existing B850-F Gaming Wifi, the biggest differences aesthetically on the updated Neo are the plate-style heatsinks on the bottom half of the board. The new one goes monochrome (black and grey) with a brushed aluminum feature on the left and a matte finish on the rest, still retaining its 8-layer PCB (1 Oz copper) design. A ROG symbol made by horizontal lines yields a more premium appearance than the previous B850-F non-Neo version. The left VRM heatsink cleans up the RGB feature (ROG symbol) a bit and is the only integrated lighting, giving off a subtle glow. The primary M.2 heatsink also receives a minor facelift, adding a small triangle sticker with an “S” on it and replacing the “ROG Strix” branding with “Game on”.

Starting at the top-left corner, you can see the dual ProCool 8-pin EPS connectors to power the CPU, surrounded by two large heatsinks. The heatsink on the left has plenty of mass and surface area to be effective, and the other individual heatsink on top had no problems keeping the VRMs running in spec. This area also houses the only RGB feature on the board; in this case, a pixelated ROG symbol is your bling.

To the right of the socket area are the four DRAM slots with locking mechanisms on the top. Asus lists support for desktop processors up to DDR5-8400 and APUs up to DDR5-9000. We didn’t have any issues with our two slower kits, but our Klevv DDR5-8000 kit wasn’t stable for 30 minutes (it lasted 18). That said, our Klevv kit wasn’t on the support list, so the result makes sense. As always, for your best chance at compatibility, stick to the memory QVL.

Above the DRAM slots are the first two (of eight) 4-pin fan/pump headers (CPU_FAN and AIO_PUMP). Each header supports up to 1A/12W. And while that’s not a lot considering some motherboards support up to 3A/36W, it should still be plenty for most configurations. Just be sure not to overload the headers. The BIOS or Asus Motherboard Manager (Fan Xpert) controls these devices, offering custom control, including hysteresis functionality that not all have.

Just to the right of that is the first (of three) 3-pin ARGB headers, also controlled through Asus Motherboard Manager. Below that is the Q-LED feature that lights up during the POST process. If there’s a problem during this critical startup time, the offending LED (red CPU, yellow DRAM, white VGA, green Boot) remains lit. This isn’t as detailed as the 2-character POST code display, but is still helpful.

Making our way down the right edge, we run into another 4-pin fan header (CPU_OPT) and below that a simple start button to turn the PC on without connecting to, or needing to jump, the front panel header. Continuing down the edge, we find the 24-pin EPS connector, your front panel USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 (20 Gbps) Type-C connector (the fastest on the board), and two 19-pin USB 3.2 Gen 1 (5 Gbps) headers - one more than the original B850-F Gaming Wifi.

Power delivery on the B850-F Gaming is the same robust configuration we saw on the original. There are a total of 20 phases, with 16 dedicated to Vcore. Power heads from the 8-pin EPS connectors and on to the Digi+ (read: ASP2308CGQW PWM controller). From there, power moves to the Vishay Sic829 80A DrMOS MOSFETs. The 1,280A available is enough for any processor, whether it’s stock or overclocked. In short, the VRMs and heatsinks won’t have any issues, even with a Ryzen 9 9950X or the Ryzen 9 9950X3D2 crunching away.

On the bottom of the board, we’ll start on the left with the audio section. Hidden under the shiny SupremeFX shroud is the Realtek ALC4080 audio codec along with dedicated capacitors and a Savitech SV3H712 amplifier. While not the flagship codec (the ALC4082 is), it’s a solid audio solution, especially for a B850-class board.

In the middle are two full-length PCIe slots. The top slot, the primary slot for graphics, connects through the CPU and runs up to PCIe 5.0 x16 (no bifurcation). This slot uses Asus’ PCIe Slot Q-Release, where you press a button to release the locking mechanism. The second full-length slot connects through the chipset and runs up to PCIe 4.0 x4, offering plenty of bandwidth for expansion.

Mixed in among the PCI slots are four M.2 sockets. The top-most, above the primary PCIe slot and using the large, tool-free M.2 Q-Latch and Q-Release heatsink, supports up to PCIe 5.0 x4 speeds, while M.2_2 under the larger quick-release plate heatsink is the second 5.0-capable socket. Also hiding below their own quick-release plate heatsink (note: the Q-Release heatsinks on the Neo are an upgrade from the original B850-F Gaming Wifi) are two more M.2s, and these are PCIe 4.0 x4-capable. The primary M.2 heatsink made light contact with the controller on top and no contact on the bottom. If you plan to beat on these hot-running, fast PCIe 5.0 drives with sustained transfers, it’s best to use your own heatsink or get slightly thicker thermal pads to ensure it doesn’t throttle.

Moving right and past the chipset to the edge are your two SATA ports. Last, we've also included a few images of the active ICs for the board. Asus uses a combination of Realtek (audio, networking), ASMedia (USB), and Vishay (MOSFETs) bits for various functions.

At the bottom are several headers, including front-panel audio and USB ports. A complete list of connectivity is listed below (from L to R):

• Front panel audio
• (3) 2-pin thermistor headers
• (2) 4-pin RGB headers
• Thunderbolt/USB4 header
• (3) 4-pin fan headers
• (3) USB 2.0 headers
• 4-pin fan header
• Front panel

Looking at the rear IO, we can plainly see it’s packed with ports. There’s a total of 12 USB ports: 2x USB 3.2 Gen 2 (red), 5x USB 3.2 Gen 2 (blue, and two more than the previous B850-F Gaming), 2x USB 2.0 (black), and three Type-C ports (2x USB 3.2 Gen 2, 1x USB 3.2 Gen 1). An HDMI port on the left handles integrated video, while in the middle, among all the USB ports, are tiny Clear CMOS and BIOS Flashback buttons. The Realtek 5 GbE, up from 2.5 GbE, is on the right along with the 160 MHz (slower) Wi-Fi 7 Q-Antenna. Last, on the right is the audio stack consisting of two 3.5mm jacks and SPDIF output.

Nothing special here, and about the only thing missing is a 40 Gbps port or two (that are rare on this platform anyway).

MORE: Best Motherboards

MORE: How To Choose A Motherboard

MORE: Best Motherboard Deals

MORE: Best Motherboard Combo Deals

MORE: All Motherboard Content

Firmware

Asus updated the BIOS layout on this board, using the familiar ROG black/red/white theme. EZ Mode is mostly informative, with system information and temperatures on the left, and Quick Settings at the top/middle for EZ Flash, Aura RGB, the Driver Hub for easy driver installation, and more. Fan control and access to full Q-Fan functionality are below. The right block displays DRAM and storage status, and Boot Priority is self-explanatory.

Advanced mode still has the headers across the top, but the shortcuts to Q-Fan and AI OC have been moved to quick settings and other locations. The right panel holds system information, including CPU frequency and temperature, in a colorful display. The main body has all the editable functionality. And we can’t forget the unique Q-Dashboard that shows what is currently connected to the board.

I like the aesthetic update for the BIOS. It’s easy to read, and, as usual with Asus' BIOS, frequently used items are easy to find and not buried too deep in their menus. Anything that’s a pain to access can be added to the customizable favorites screen.

Software

Asus' software was updated earlier in 2026. And while Armoury Crate still exists for some older offerings, it was replaced with Asus Motherboard Manager. AMM, as I’ll call it, offers much of the same functionality but does so in what feels like a lighter package compared to Armoury Crate. It offers an informational dashboard displaying system information and access to canned fan control. It also has functionality for fan control (Fan Xpert), RGB lighting (Lighting), Wi-Fi control (Asus WiFi Q-Antenna), disk information, and even has options for a shutdown RGB effect.

I have to say, I like this software over the comprehensive, but often criticized, Armoury Crate. It feels lighter and has the necessary functionality I look for in a Windows app.

Test System / Comparison Products

We’ve updated our test system to Windows 11 (23H2) 64-bit OS with all updates applied as of late September 2024 (this includes the Branch Prediction Optimizations for AMD). Hardware-wise, we’ve updated the RAM kits (matching our Intel test system), cooling, storage, and video card. Unless otherwise noted, we use the latest publicly available non-beta motherboard BIOS. The hardware we used is as follows:

TEST SYSTEM COMPONENTS:

• CPU - AMD Ryzen 9 9900X
• Cooling - Arctic Liquid Freezer II 420
• Storage - Crucial 2TB T705 M.2 PCIe 5.0 NVMe SSD
• RAM - Kingston Fury Beast DDR5-6000 CL36 (KF560C36BBEAK2-32)
  Teamgroup T-Force Delta DDR5-7200 CL34 (FF3D518G7200HC34ABK)
  Klevv Cras XR5 RGB DDR5-8000 (KD5AGUA80-80R380S)
• GPU - Asus TUF RTX 4080 16G
• PSU - EVGA Supernova 850W P6
• Windows 11 64-bit (23H2 - 22631.4169)NVIDIA Driver 561.09

Benchmark Settings

MORE: Best Motherboards

MORE: How To Choose A Motherboard

MORE: Best Motherboard Deals

MORE: Best Motherboard Combo Deals

MORE: All Motherboard Content

Benchmark Results

Our standard benchmarks and power tests are performed using the CPU’s stock frequencies (including any default boost/turbo) with all power-saving features enabled. We set optimized defaults in the BIOS and the memory by enabling the XMP profile. The Windows power scheme is set to Balanced (default) for this baseline testing, so the PC idles appropriately.

Synthetic Benchmarks

Synthetics offer a valuable method for evaluating a board's performance, as identical settings are expected to yield similar results. Turbo boost wattage and advanced memory timings are areas where motherboard manufacturers can still optimize for stability or performance, though, and these settings can impact specific testing scenarios.

Starting with our synthetic benchmarks, the B850-F Gaming Wifi Neo was average to above average in most tests. Whether it was rendering, encoding, or any other workload, it performed as expected.

Timed Applications

Results from the timed applications were similar and average to above average - nothing out of the ordinary here either.

3D Games and 3DMark

Starting with the launch of Zen 5, we’ve updated our game tests. We’re keeping the F1 racing game but have upgraded to F1 24. We also dropped Far Cry 6 in favor of an even more popular and good-looking game in Cyberpunk 2077. We run both games at 1920 x 1080 resolution using the Ultra preset (details listed above). Cyberpunk 2077 uses DLSS, while we left F1 24 to native resolution scaling.

The goal with these settings is to determine if there are differences in performance at the most commonly used (and CPU/system-bound) resolution with settings most people use or strive for (Ultra). We expect the difference between boards in these tests to be minor, with most falling within the margin of error. We’ve also added a minimum FPS setting, which can affect your gameplay and immersion.

Performance in our gaming tests was just as good as we saw in the Timed and Synthetic benchmarks. The B850-F Gaming Wifi Neo was above average in the 3DMark tests and was dead on average in the actual gaming tests.

Overall, this board performed well across a wide variety of functions. From office work, rendering and encoding, to gaming, there’s nothing to be concerned about.

Overclocking

Over the past few CPU generations, overclocking headroom has been shrinking on both sides of the fence, while the out-of-the-box potential has increased. For overclockers, this means there’s less fun to have. For the average consumer, you’re getting the most out of the processor without manual tweaking. Today’s motherboards are more robust than ever, and they easily support power-hungry flagship-class processors, so we know the hardware can handle them. There are multiple ways to extract even more performance from these processors: enabling a canned PBO setting, manually tweaking the PBO settings, or just going for an all-core overclock. Results will vary and depend on the cooling as well. In other words, your mileage may vary. Considering all the above, we will not be overclocking the CPU. However, we will try out our different memory kits to ensure they meet the specifications.

For memory testing, this time we’ll start with our fastest non-clock driver kit: Klevv 32GB (2x16) DDR5-8000. As it tends to do on this platform, it booted to Windows but wouldn’t pass a stress test with our 9900X, and it also didn’t pass with the APU, where it typically would. Again, it wasn’t on the memory QVL, so we’re not really worried. The Team Group DDR5-7200 kit worked without issue. Those speeds are well past AMD’s ‘sweet spot’ for the platform, so we don’t have any concerns.

Power Consumption / VRM Temperatures

We used AIDA64’s System Stability Test with Stress CPU, FPU, cache, and Memory enabled for power testing, using the processor's peak power consumption value. The wattage reading is obtained from the wall using a Kill-A-Watt meter, which captures the entire PC (excluding the monitor). The only variable that changes is the motherboard; all other parts remain the same. Please note that we have moved to using only the stock power-use/VRM temperature charts, as this section aims to ensure that the power delivery can handle flagship-class processors.

Stress testing this board with our DDR5-7200 kit showed it was one of the most efficient boards we’ve tested so far. At idle, it sipped the power at 73W, the lowest we recorded for B850/X870, and peak load reached 253W, also on the more efficient side. Combined, that’s 163W and again, one of the most efficient results so far.

VRM temperatures were also good during our testing, peaking at just over 53 degrees Celsius on the internal sensor we read from HWInfo 64 and almost 49 degrees on our hottest sensor from our external Exetech thermometer, whose sensors are on the back of the board directly behind the MOSFETs. There’s still plenty of headroom left for more powerful processors and overclocking: no worries here.

Bottom Line

The Asus ROG Strix B850-F Gaming Wifi Neo is a premium B850 motherboard in just about every sense. Priced at $319.99, it pushes closer to X870 pricing, blurring the lines between the two platforms. The board itself gives you robust power delivery, a clock generator, dual PCIe 5.0 (four total) M.2 sockets, quality integrated audio with an amplifier, faster 5 GbE, and plenty of ‘quality-of-life’ (EZ PC DIY) features. Performance was consistently average to above average, and power consumption was among the best we’ve seen on the platform. In all, it crams a lot of features into the mainstream chipset, but you’ll pay a premium over less-equipped alternatives. X870 boards like the Gigabyte X870E Aorus Elite X3D ($309.99) are also part of the conversation around that $300 price point, and many include the faster USB4 port(s). Still, you also don’t see a lot of the AI features or a free month of Adobe Creative Cloud if that tickles your fancy, or a BCLK generator, so there are things you should consider for both platforms.

That said, there are a few compromises. I would like to see at least one USB4 port at this price point; the 160 MHz Wi-Fi 7 is the slower option, and two SATA ports can be limiting if you lean on legacy storage. The primary M.2 heatsink didn’t make great contact either. Still, these complaints aren’t enough to overshadow one of the more complete B850 motherboards we’ve tested.

You can also save a few dollars and go with the original, non-Neo version ($282.99) if you can work with 2.5 GbE and don’t mind the lack of M.2 Q-Release ability on the plate heatsinks. If you want high-end features without stepping up to X870, the ROG Strix B850-F Gaming Wifi Neo should be on your shortlist for a high-end B850 board, though it won’t find its way to our best motherboard list.

MORE: Best Motherboards

MORE: How To Choose A Motherboard

MORE: Best Motherboard Deals

MORE: Best Motherboard Combo Deals

MORE: All Motherboard Content

Design

The ROG Gjallar is a compact under-monitor soundbar with a fairly boxy design. It comes in all black, with a black metal grille on the top and front and a slim lightbar featuring Asus' ROG logo running diagonally through the center. Like most of Asus' ROG products, it's still pretty ostensibly branded, though the branding is somewhat subtle compared to other ROG products. There's a small, iridescent ROG logo plate on the front in the bottom left corner, and of course the lightbar says "Republic of Gamers" right on the front.

This isn't the most attractive under-monitor gaming soundbar on the market. In fact, it's pretty boring, design-wise — it's just a block, basically. Sure, it's got the slightly artistic lightbar running through the center, but even that is only attractive if you happen to love the words "Republic of Gamers" (I'm sure some people do; not me, particularly).

The soundbar is relatively compact compared to non-gaming soundbars, measuring 23.9 inches (607mm) wide by 3.62 inches (92mm) deep. It's approximately 3.23 inches (82mm) tall, though the front will sit just under 4 inches (99mm) high if you opt to use the included stands, which angle the soundbar up slightly. This is a bit taller than some of the other gaming soundbars we've tested. While it should still be easy enough to fit underneath your monitor, it definitely gives less clearance than the OXS Thunder Pro+ (23.9 x 4.8 x 3 inches / 608 x 122 x 78mm).

The soundbar comes with a slim, wireless 65W 6.5-inch side-firing subwoofer that features ROG's infamous angry eye logo debossed into its metal grille. The subwoofer measures 14.02 inches (356mm) tall and 12.04 inches (315mm) wide, but it's only 4.92 inches (125mm) deep. It has no ports aside from its A/C port and has just one control — a button for pairing it with the soundbar, should it somehow become unpaired.

The Gjallar is well-connected, offering USB-C, HDMI 2.1 with eARC, optical-in, 3.5mm AUX-in, and Bluetooth 5.3 connectivity — you should be able to easily connect it to your PC, phone, and console(s) without having to swap cables around. It comes with an "all-in-one" audio control hub that connects to the soundbar via a dedicated USB-C port. The control hub features a large volume knob with an LCD display in the center, as well as a power button, media controls, and buttons for RGB effects, EQ, and connection switching. It also features built-in beamforming mics with "advanced acoustic echo cancellation" to filter out sounds coming from the speaker and focus on your voice.

In addition to the control hub, the sound bar also has five physical buttons along its right side — power, volume up / down, EQ, and input. There are also two USB-A pass-through ports on the left side, which you can use to plug in other peripherals.

In the box, the ROG Gjallar comes with several accessories: the wireless subwoofer and the wired audio control hub (with a 3-foot/1m non-detachable USB-C cable), as well as a 6-foot (1.8m) USB-C to USB-A cable, two sets of two 5-foot (1.5m) A/C power cables (U.S./Type B and European/Type C), and a power adapter for the soundbar. It also comes with two removable "feet" that screw on (via four included screws) and angle the soundbar up slightly, since it will be sitting on your desktop.

SPECS

Performance

The ROG Gjallar is a 2.1.2 system — the two primary speakers (each consists of a full-range driver and a tweeter) and two up-firing speakers in the soundbar, plus a 6.5-inch subwoofer. The two main speakers face forward, while the up-firing speakers are angled upward to create the illusion of more multi-dimensional sound.

Audio on the ROG Gjallar sounds pretty good for a soundbar — though it's not significantly better (or different) than the audio performance we've heard on other premium-priced gaming sound bars. While the opening bass in Lorde's Royals had at least some detail and depth (thanks, in part, to the subwoofer), and the breathiness in Britney's voice in Toxic was fairly clear, the overall soundstage in songs like Beyonce's Single Ladies and K-391's Lonely World was still pretty limited.

Games sounded pretty good on the Gjallar, especially with some EQ tweaking. While the soundstage still didn't sound huge in games like Baldur's Gate 3 and God of War: Ragnarok, most of the layered details in the audio still managed to come through. Directional sound on the Gjallar was also about as good as you can expect from a soundbar, thanks to Dolby Atmos.

The Gjallar's built-in Acoustic Echo Cancellation microphones have a dedicated DSP and are designed to intelligently filter out sound coming from the speakers to pick up your voice better. Unfortunately, this works better on paper than it does in practice. While the mics did a decent job of filtering out noise from the soundbar — including music, games, other people's voices, and my 110th rewatch of Pirates of the Caribbean at 80% volume — that was about all they were good at.

The people I spoke to over voice chats couldn't hear what I was listening to in the background, and they could hear me — but they couldn't really understand me very well. My voice not only sounded fuzzy, but my words were frequently cut off, likely from an overly aggressive noise-reduction algorithm. Turning the echo cancellation and noise reduction to its lowest setting didn't seem to make much of a difference, and turning it off completely resulted in nobody being able to hear me at all (and I'm pretty loud). The quick-start guide that came with the Gjallar does point out that for the best results you should have the control hub located directly in front of you, but that didn't do much for me (and also wasn't exactly convenient). I guess the mics on the Gjallar are okay if you have absolutely nothing else with a built-in mic, but I think I'd rather have the option to simply plug in a microphone or a headset via the control hub.

Features and Software

The ROG Gjallar comes with its dedicated audio control hub, so you can do some customization through that — such as switching between EQ and RGB lighting presets. For real customization, such as setting up your own EQ and lighting presets, you'll need to connect to Asus' web-based Gear Link software.

On one hand, Gear Link is relatively easy to navigate and works fairly well. Just connect via the pop-up in your browser, switch up your settings, and hit "apply," and they save directly to the device. On the other hand, it does seem a little unnecessary to require an internet connection just to do something like turn down the subwoofer level (there are no physical controls on the subwoofer — you must use Gear Link to adjust the level). You also can't really customize the audio control hub aside from switching out the graphic displayed on the LCD screen. You can't remap the volume wheel or any of the buttons, which is a little disappointing.

What you can do with Asus Gear Link: adjust the EQ and set up your own presets, change the subwoofer level, turn off the soundbar's height channel upmix, adjust the mic's noise reduction level, and adjust power settings (i.e., idle time before the soundbar goes into sleep mode). You can also customize the lightbar, but you will need to use Asus' Armoury Crate software to use Aura Sync (for the lighting to sync with your games and other Asus peripherals).

Bottom Line

The Asus ROG Gjallar sounds good for music, movies, and games — and sounding good is, of course, the most important part of a soundbar. But it doesn't sound that good. It has a limited soundstage and the mid-range often sounds a little strained — and it just feels like Asus could have made its first premium gaming soundbar a little more... premium. The audio control hub is a nice idea, but I'd like it to be more customizable. The most you can really do with it is have it display the time, or a picture of your cat. And I don't know why Asus even bothered to include the mics.

While $600 certainly isn't unheard of for a premium gaming soundbar (the OXS Thunder Pro+ costs $700 and doesn't come with a subwoofer, though it does come with a wireless neck pillow/speaker), it's still more than twice the price of most 2.1 gaming PC speaker systems. Even Razer's Nommo V2 Pro costs about $150 less, and it also features a wireless subwoofer and a wireless control hub.

The MQ16FC uses a 16.1-inch OLED display with a 1920 x 1200 resolution, features an integrated kickstand, and has excellent color performance for well under $300. The MQ16FC is even good enough to be considered a shoo-in among the best portable monitors.

Design of the Asus ZenScreen OLED (MQ16FC)

I’ll start off by saying that I really like the design of the MQ16FC. It has a 16.1-inch OLED panel with a glossy finish. That display is trimmed with extremely thin bezels all around. The top and side bezels are roughly the same size, while the bottom is about twice as thick (although still slim for a portable monitor).

The entire enclosure for the MQ16FC is made of aluminum, which contributes to the minimal weight (1.5 pounds) and sturdy build. But my favorite exterior feature of the monitor is its kickstand, which pivots about halfway up the back. The hinge is stiff enough to keep the monitor at your preferred viewing angle, and tiny rubber feet on the bottom of the monitor keep it in place regardless of the kickstand's position. There are also rubber feet on the left side of the display for using the MQ16FC in portrait mode.

The “business end” of the MQ16FC is on the right side of the display, where you’ll find all of the ports and controls. From top to bottom, you’ll find a 3.5 mm headphone jack, two USB-C ports, a micro-HDMI port, a power button, a jog wheel for the OSD, and an action button.

One final feature of the MQ16FC is a quarter-inch tripod socket on the back of the display, just above the kickstand. The MQ16FC measures 14.13 x 9.17 x 0.35 inches and weighs 1.5 pounds. It comes with a padded cloth case, a wall adapter, a USB-C-to-USB-C cable, and an HDMI-to-micro-HDMI cable.

Asus ZenScreen OLED (MQ16FC) Specifications

Asus ZenScreen OLED (MQ16FC) OSD

The MQ16FC features an on-screen display (OSD), which pops out from the right side of the screen when you press in on the jog wheel or the action button below it. One press opens the OSD Quick Menu, which lets you access the Blue Light Filter and Splendid display modes. However, if you press the jog wheel in twice, it brings up the full OSD.

The full OSD provides overall display information at the top, including the current Splendid display mode, display resolution, the currently selected input method (USB-C-1, USB-C-2, or HDMI), brightness level (in percent), and refresh rate. From there, you can scroll down through the various menu options, including the aforementioned Splendid (Standard Mode, sRGB Mode, Game Mode, etc.), Eye Care (Blue Light Filter, Color Augmentation), Image (Brightness, Contrast, etc.), Color (Gamma, Color Space, Color Temperature), input select, and Settings (auto rotation, power settings, OSD layout, etc.).

If you prefer, you can install the Asus DisplayWidget Center app for Windows, which provides even easier access to Spendid picture modes, color, and image settings.

Display Performance on the Asus ZenScreen OLED (MQ16FC)

The MQ16FC features a 16.1-inch OLED panel with a 1920 x 1200 resolution and 60 Hz refresh rate. Asus uses a glossy finish over the OLED panel to provide an extra "punch" of color. The glossy film does a good job of slightly enhancing colors while not completely succumbing to environmental reflections. However, the reflections that did make their way onto the screen were quickly vanquished by adjusting the display angle with the kickstand.

Color performance from the OLED display was generally excellent, with deep blacks and vibrant colors. My new go-to for testing out color performance on monitors is to watch Project Hail Mary on Amazon Prime Video. Not only is it an excellent movie, but it's an absolute feast for the eyes in so many respects. The scene featuring planet "Adrian" looked wonderful, from the flashes of red and green to the fiery orange plasma as the Haily Mary started descending into Adrian's atmosphere. Absolutely nothing can do the movie justice like seeing it in theaters, but I was still enthralled watching it on this 16.1-inch OLED.

Our instrumented tests showed the MQ16FC covering 153.2 percent of DCI-P3 and 216.2 percent of sRGB, putting it ahead of rivals like the ViewSonic ColorPro VP16-OLED and Innocn 15A1F. However, it did fall short in brightness. The MQ16FC is rated for 300 nits typical brightness, and we measured just 140 nits in Standard mode (the default). However, we were able to punch that figure up to 271 nits in User Mode, with no discernible change in DCI-P3 or sRGB coverage. Still, the MQ16FC isn't nearly as bright as the other two monitors, which each hit around 370 nits.

With that said, I used the MQ16FC with several different systems, from a Mac mini, to a MacBook Air to an MSI Claw 8 EX AI+. In fact, I was able to turn the Claw 8 EX AI+ into a miniature desktop system with the help of the Thunderbolt 5 dock, the MQ16FC, and a wireless keyboard and mouse. This setup allowed me to install games more easily and perform certain tasks that I find tedious on the gaming handheld's 8-inch touchscreen.

In each instance, the MQ16FC connected to the systems using a single USB-C-to-USB-C cable, delivering power and video. I greatly appreciate the flexibility of using a single cable instead of needing USB-C for power and an HDMI cable for video.

Bottom Line

The Asus ZenScreen OLED (MQ16FC) is a solidly built portable monitor with excellent color performance and a sturdy kickstand. It is also quite versatile, with a built-in tripod mount, and can be propped up in portrait mode (with support for auto-rotation). Maximum brightness isn’t as high as its peers, but I found it perfectly fine for my daily usage patterns. The only miss is the lack of speakers, but given that most portable monitor speakers are borderline trash, it shouldn’t be a huge deterrent for most people.

With a street price of $274, the MQ16FC is actually priced fairly for a 16-inch OLED monitor. Given its features along with a standard three-year warranty, it’s truly a notch above the rest.

If you want a premium 32-inch 4K OLED, expect to spend around $900 for something with maximum performance and perhaps not every single bell and whistle. The XG32UQWMS has all the speed and smoothness of the flagship Swift displays but gives up minor bits like LED lighting and internal speakers. You still get 240 Hz, frame rate boost to 480 Hz in FHD resolution, Adaptive-Sync, DisplayHDR 500 True Black and Tandem OLED tech for a super wide color gamut. Let’s take a look.

Asus ROG Strix XG32UWQMS Specs

Asus expands the XG32UQWMS’s color gamut with Tandem OLED tech rather than Quantum Dots. The twofold advantage is that you get more light output with lower power consumption, and you get the same color coverage. The XG32UQWMS easily tops 600 nits in HDR mode when measuring a 25% window pattern. A 3% window gets up to 1,500 nits. Color coverage is over 108% of DCI-P3, which puts it just ahead of most of the Quantum Dot OLEDs I’ve tested.

This version of Asus’ Tandem OLED has four layers, which not only make the panel brighter, but it also runs cooler, consumes less energy, and lasts longer. Asus estimates 60% longer panel life, equating to over 30,000 hours. That’s a really long time, as in over a decade with the panel going six hours a day.

The XG32UQWMS adds flexibility with a 240 Hz 4K panel and a frame rate boost feature that doubles the speed to 480 Hz and reduces resolution to 1920x1080. You can also reduce blur at low frame rates by opting for ELMB (black frame insertion) instead of Adaptive-Sync. As you’ll see in my response and lag tests, the XG32UQWMS is one of the quickest and smoothest 4K OLEDs you can buy.

To ensure no ambient light can spoil the image, Asus employs a screen coating called TrueBlack Glossy. Though the panel is shiny, it doesn’t pick up light from top or side angles easily. This does indeed keep blacks true.

To protect the panel, there are multiple OLED care options like pixel orbiting and refresh. You also get logo and perimeter dimming. A proximity sensor blanks the screen when you leave your desk. And the XG32UQWMS is backed by a three-year warranty that includes burn-in. All these features can be controlled from a comprehensive OSD or with Asus’ Display Widget Center app.

The port complement is stacked with two HDMI 2.1 and a DisplayPort 1.4 with Display Stream Compression. Peripherals can be connected to the two downstream USB ports while a single upstream port makes the XG32UQWMS a hub. There are no internal speakers, but headphones can be plugged into the provided 3.5mm jack.

I didn’t have firm pricing information at this writing, but indications are that the XG32UQWMS will cost $899 to start. That puts it firmly in the thick of the high bang-for-the-buck genre against competitors like Acer, Dough, HP and MSI. The great part is that all the latest OLEDs are stellar displays. How does this new ROG Strix stack up? Let’s see what the tests say.

Assembly and Accessories

Like all ROG Strix products, the wrapper is plain brown and devoid of the colorful graphics found on Swift cartons. However, the contents are no less capable. The XG32UQWMS is packed in crumbly foam and ships in three parts. Assembly does not require tools. You get a solid stand and a thick steel mounting bracket with 100mm VESA lugs for use with aftermarket solutions. A zippered pouch contains an IEC power cord and a DisplayPort cable. A sheet of ROG stickers is there for those who like to decorate.

Product 360

Asus styles the Swift and Strix lines similarly with a thin metal-backed OLED panel attached to a component bulge which creates a two-box design. The profile of the thin part is just five millimeters. This isn’t just for show; it improves cooling with the metal backing acting as a heat sink. More heat sinks inside take care of the control boards and processors. This means no fans are required; temperature control is fully passive.

In the back are the familiar ROG graphics but without LED backlighting. They reflect enough light to glow white without any emitters required. In the top view, you can see a quarter-inch threaded fitting at the top of the stand, which is useful for headphone hooks, webcams, and the like.

The base is small but sturdy and made from a thick metal plate. The stand has a 4.5-inch height range plus 5/20 degrees tilt and 25 degrees swivel. There is no portrait mode. Movements are smooth and firm with quality on par with any premium display I’ve reviewed.

The I/O panel is on the bottom center and faces downward. You get two HDMI 2.1 and one DisplayPort 1.4 with Display Stream Compression (DSC). There are three USB 3.2 ports, one upstream and two downstream. And a 3.5mm headphone jack provides external audio. There are no built-in speakers.

OSD Features

The XG32UQWMS OSD is nearly identical to what I’ve seen from Asus ROG previously, except that a convenient quick menu has been added. It has four programmable functions with signal and picture mode info at the top.

The XG32UQWMS’s quick menu is large enough to see from across the room, which might suggest that a remote control would be useful, but there isn’t one. No matter because the joystick and two control buttons take care of business just fine. The OSD can be viewed in two different sizes though…

A second press of the joystick brings up the familiar Asus menu with its eight sections. Gaming is up first with Frame Rate Boost (refresh rate switch), VRR toggle, ELMB, GamePlus enhancements, GameVisual picture modes and Shadow Boost. Frame Rate Boost is most easily done by pressing the leftmost button for a one-click mode change. I would usually tell you that a visit to Nvidia or AMD Control Panel is required for a one-time setup, but that was not an issue this time. The XG32UQWMS communicated with my Windows 11 PC and configured itself automatically for the fastest refresh rate settings.

ELMB (Extreme Low Motion Blur) is a black frame insertion feature, similar to backlight strobing in an LCD. It’s useful at low frame rates, and indeed, it only works at 120 Hz or less, and cancels Adaptive-Sync in the process. It’s another option to keep resolution at 4K and still have decent motion resolution. If you can keep the frame rate above 200fps in 4K, the XG32UQWMS won’t need any help to look amazing.

GamePlus includes a full set of extras with a frame rate counter, aiming points, sniper modes, timer, stopwatch and display alignment marks. GameVisual offers nine picture modes, of which Racing is the default and best choice. It can be calibrated for color temp and gamma, and there are gamut selections too.

In the Image menu, you’ll find standard luminance controls along with Uniform Brightness. Turning this off means smaller peak areas of the screen will be brighter, which adds some punch to highlights. You can expect around 550 nits in SDR mode and as much as 1,500 nits for HDR content. For workday tasks, leaving it on maintains steady output regardless of picture content. It peaks at around 327 nits.

HDR signals get four additional presets which can be adjusted for brightness and contrast. In testing, the XG32UQWMS shone brightest in True Black 500 or Gaming HDR mode with Adjustable HDR turned on and brightness set to 100%.

For color adjustments, you get three color space options plus color temperature presets and a user mode with RGB sliders. You can also adjust saturation globally or for each color. And five gamma curves range from 1.8 (lighter) to 2.6 (darker).

The XG32UQWMS has flexible PIP and PBP settings when you want to view two sources at once. The PIP window can live in any corner of the screen and have independent color settings.

The quick menu shown in the first photo above has four user slots that can be set to a variety of functions like GameVisual, ELMB, and others. You can also customize the behavior of the four joystick directions and the left control key. That one is set by default to frame rate boost, and it is the easiest way to switch refresh rates with a single button press. Finally, there are two memories where settings can be saved for later recall.

Asus ROG Strix XG32UQWMS Calibration Settings

Initial testing of my XG32UQWMS sample showed that it did not require calibration. I tried the user color temp and found a small gain that was barely visible in actual content. This is a very accurate monitor, albeit one with a huge color gamut that covers over 108% of DCI-P3. If you’re OK with that for SDR content, it is very colorful if not strictly accurate. If you’d rather use sRGB for SDR, you can either choose the sRGB Cal mode or select sRGB from the color space options in Racing mode. I did the latter to retain access to the calibration controls. My recommended settings are below. I noted that I could use the same brightness values whether Uniform Brightness was on or off.

For HDR content, there are four additional modes, all of which can be adjusted for brightness and contrast. Gaming HDR or True Black 500 are the best choices there.

Gaming and Hands-on

If you’re looking for the speediest possible gaming monitor, meaning smoothest and most responsive, nothing can hang with an OLED. I’ve experienced many 360 and 500 Hz LCDs, and while they are fast, they aren’t as smooth as an OLED running above 200fps. 4K resolution makes it even better by rendering an image that is super realistic and tactile.

The first time I powered on the XG32UQWMS, it prompted me to run the pixel refresh routine, which took about five minutes. I have encountered other OLED panels that benefited from an initial refresh to make the screen more uniform in tone.

Since I can keep the frame rate above 200fps with a GeForce RTX 4090, I did not need the XG32UQWMS’s frame rate boost feature, but I gave it due diligence. In my case, it only served to soften the image. It wasn’t any faster or more responsive. Indeed, in testing, the screen response and lag times are barely different. So, you won’t gain much from 480 Hz if you can already run at 240. Where it helps is with slower PCs where 4K would drag the rate down below 160fps. That’s where blur starts to show. Switching rates keeps motion smooth, but there’s no hiding the reduced pixel density, especially with a 32-inch monitor in front of you. 70ppi is visibly softer than 140. But at those lower frame rates, motion blur is enough that aiming accurately becomes more difficult.

Unlike many OLEDs, the XG32UQWMS includes ELMB in the form of black frame insertion. It’s another way to combat motion blur at low frame rates, and indeed, it is capped at 120 Hz. It also takes Adaptive-Sync out of the equation. But at those speeds, frame tears are the least of your problems. It’s nice to have options and the XG32UQWMS gives you more than anyone else. If you plan to pair it with a less stout video card, it can adapt and still deliver a good gaming experience.

Playing at the XG32UQWMS’s full capability is an impressive thing, even if you are spoiled by fast gaming screens like me. Moving and aiming is so much easier when motion is this smooth. Precision is automatic and requires no effort other than to pay attention to one’s surroundings. And that’s easy to do with such a large monitor. Though ultra-wide displays encompass more of the user’s peripheral vision, a 32-inch 16:9 panel has more height. That means you can fill your view and sit as close as you like thanks to the 4K resolution.

The picture in both SDR and HDR modes is stunning. There’s so much color available and it’s bright. You can crank the XG32UQWMS well past the point of visual fatigue, but setting it to 200 nits and turning off Uniform Brightness delivers highlights that make the image truly three-dimensional. You can see the glistening of blood and sweat on your enemies as you apply the chainsaw. It looks so good that I found myself using it more than other weapons just to get close-up views of the alien monsters in Doom Eternal. This monitor has an addictive quality.

Being a 32-inch 16:9 flat panel, the XG32UQWMS is ideal for any task, work or play. My everyday screen is the same size, so I’m used to its ability to display multiple documents and windows. This monitor size was made for multitasking and side-by-side comparisons. If you work with a lot of graphics and photos, it’s an ideal format for keeping lots of toolbars open in Photoshop.

To keep the price down, the XG32UQWMS doesn’t have quite all the bells and whistles of a Swift display. But it gives up nothing in performance. You don’t get the LED lighting or internal speakers. But you get everything else and a nice savings in cost.

Takeaway: The XG32UQWMS delivers addictive gameplay along with versatility and capability for every task or form of entertainment. It has a stunning picture that is unmatched by other panel technologies and stands out among OLEDs with high brightness and rich color. The True Black Glossy screen coating keeps ambient light from spoiling the party, and its styling and build quality will remind you why you never regret buying the best.

MORE: Best Gaming Monitors

MORE: How We Test PC Monitors

MORE: How to Buy a PC Monitor

I’m stacking the XG32UQWMS up against a group of 32-inch 4K OLEDs to compare input lag scores. They are Asus’ PG32UCDM3, Acer’s X32 X3, Dough’s Spectrum Black 32, MSI’s MPG 322UR X24, and HP’s Omen 32.

Pixel Response and Input Lag

Click here to read up on our pixel response and input lag testing procedures.

For the response test, I didn’t have enough 32-inch 4K OLEDs from my Nvidia LDAT tests, so I mined the latest OLED monitors from the database. I’ve observed super close times from monitors running between 240 and 360 Hz. They’re so close that the human eye cannot tell a difference in smoothness. That said, the XG32UQWMS is a tad quicker than some at 0.20ms gray-to-gray. I noted that increasing the frame rate to 480 did not change the response time. This suggests that panel draw times may have reached their limit at 240 Hz, meaning faster OLEDs won’t render smoother motion resolution.

In the input lag test, the XG32UQWMS is quickest for both refresh rates, with 12.1ms at 240 Hz and 13.7ms at 480 Hz. This tells me that switching to 480 does not provide a significant advantage in speed or response. The dual mode switch is useful when 4K frame rates are lower, say below 160fps. But you can also smooth things out with ELMB at rates below 120 Hz.

Test Takeaway: The XG32UQWMS is one of the quickest and most responsive 4K OLED displays I’ve tested. While you can get a tad less input lag from LG’s and Philips’ 360 Hz models, it isn’t enough to make a perceivable difference. Among the 240 Hz screens I’ve tested, the XG32UQWMS is the king of speed.

Viewing Angles

The XG32UQWMS has excellent off-axis image quality that is on par with other OLED displays. There is a slight color shift at 45 degrees to the side, but the difference is more visible in a test pattern than in content. There is no change to gamma or brightness. The top view is also bright but with reduced gamma that washes out the image.

Screen Uniformity

To learn how we measure screen uniformity, click here.

OLED screens generally have excellent screen uniformity, but it seems that 32-inch flat panel models have slightly higher numbers than most of their 27-inch counterparts. This is nitpicking for sure because anything under 10% means you can’t see an issue. The XG32UQWMS is right in the middle at 7.36% deviation from the center zone. I noted that this was an improvement from the 11.56% I measured before running the panel refresh routing for the first time. This is recommended when you power it up for the first time.

MORE: Best Gaming Monitors

MORE: How We Test PC Monitors

MORE: How to Buy a PC Monitor

To read about our monitor tests in-depth, please check out Display Testing Explained: How We Test PC Monitors. We cover brightness and contrast testing on page two.

Uncalibrated – Maximum Backlight Level

The XG32UQWMS is one of the brightest OLEDs I’ve tested, with a 25% window pattern measuring 533 nits peak. A full field comes in at 327 nits. To get the 533-nit result, I turned Uniform Brightness off. You’ll want to do this for HDR content, but SDR images are less fatiguing to view when Uniform Brightness is engaged. As always, OLEDs have unmeasurable black levels so no contrast ratio can be calculated.

After Calibration to 200 nits

Calibration doesn’t change the result. The XG32UQWMS still has undetermined contrast. I noted that I could use the same brightness values whether Uniform Brightness was on or off. This makes it easier to equalize peak luminance when switching modes. The ANSI test is also incalculable.

Test Takeaway: The XG32UQWMS has the same infinite contrast as any OLED but is brighter than most for both full field and window patterns. When toggling between Uniform Brightness on or off, it lets you set the same brightness value, which automatically equalizes light output between modes. Though I could not measure an effect from the screen’s TrueBlack Glossy coating, I did note that the panel was more tolerant of ambient room light.

MORE: Best Gaming Monitors

MORE: How We Test PC Monitors

MORE: How to Buy a PC Monitor

The XG32UQWMS ships in its Racing picture mode, which allows access to all calibration controls, gamma, color temp, and color space.

Grayscale and Gamma Tracking

Our grayscale and gamma tests use Calman calibration software from Portrait Displays. We describe our grayscale and gamma tests in detail here.

As you can see in the first chart above, the XG32UQWMS does not require calibration out of the box. Gamma is a tad light but runs close to the reference line. The grayscale values just crack 3dE at 90 and 100% brightness, but I could not see any problems in either test patterns or actual content.

Calibration reduced the grayscale number slightly, but there was no visible difference. Gamma also got a tad darker, and that was a difference I could see, so the adjustments were worth making. This is excellent performance.

If you want sRGB for SDR content, there are two options. Either select the sRGB Cal mode or keep access to calibration by choosing sRGB from the Color Space options. In either case, gamma is a tad wonky with a slightly dark value at 10% and light values from 60% to 100%. This is a minor error that will not significantly affect content. But if you’re using the XG32UQWMS for color-critical tasks, an external lookup table might be a good idea.

Comparisons

OLEDs as a category are very color accurate, so the XG32UQWMS’s middle tier results aren’t a problem. With 1.65dE out of the box and 1.25dE after adjustment, there is nothing to complain about. In the gamma test, the range of values is very small at just 0.12 from lowest to highest. The deviation is 3.18%, equating to an actual score of 2.13. Gamma is a shade light, but values are in a tight range which mitigates the error.

Color Gamut Accuracy

Our color gamut and volume testing use Portrait Displays’ Calman software. For details on our color gamut testing and volume calculations, click here.

The XG32UQWMS is a very colorful monitor with DCI-P3 coverage that’s a tad greater than the competition. You can see slight oversaturation in red and green and more in blue where the color is extremely vivid. The points are in line, though, which means the image is very colorful but not unnatural. Calibration barely made a difference in the chart and no difference to the eye. This is excellent performance.

The sRGB gamut result is almost perfect with just some slight hue errors in magenta. The numbers are well below the visible threshold of 3dE, so there’s nothing to see here but excellent color.

Comparisons

Ordinarily, the XG32UQWMS’s last place finish in the comparison would be a bummer, but since the number is 2.11dE, well below the visible threshold, there’s nothing to be sad about. OLEDs are a competitive category for color accuracy, which is great because you will be hard-pressed to find a bad one. The big win comes in the volume calculation where the XG32UQWMS renders more color than all the other screens. Though the margin of victory is small, it’s significant because it is achieved without Quantum Dot technology. Asus’ use of Tandem OLED is very effective and is brighter too. With ideal 100.26% coverage of sRGB, the XG32UQWMS can be used for color-critical tasks, though it would be best to use a software lookup table to compensate for the light gamma.

Test Takeaway: Aside from slightly light gamma, the XG32UQWMS displays excellent color accuracy both before and after calibration. It has the largest color gamut in the 32-inch 4K OLED category by a small margin, and it covers an ideal 100% of sRGB. Calibration is possible but only produces tiny gains.

MORE: Best Gaming Monitors

MORE: How We Test PC Monitors

MORE: How to Buy a PC Monitor

Our HDR benchmarking uses Portrait Displays’ Calman software. To learn about our HDR testing, see our breakdown of how we test PC monitors.

The XG32UQWMS supports HDR10 signals with an automatic switch and four specific picture modes. By turning on a switch in the OSD, you can adjust brightness and contrast and toggle the Uniform Brightness option.

HDR Brightness and Contrast

In the 32-inch 4K category, only the Dough Spectrum Black 32 is brighter than the XG32UQWMS. At 622 nits, it is brighter than other Asus monitors and easily outshines the MSI, Acer, and HP. I measured a 25% window pattern to get this result. Asus’ claims of 1,500 nits for a 3% window are not in doubt. You can see the difference between screens in a side-by-side comparison where the XG32UQWMS’s highlights have more pop and texture. Ultimately, this broadens dynamic range and gives HDR content more impact.

Grayscale, EOTF and Color

The XG32UQWMS shows excellent grayscale tracking in both Gaming and True Black 500 HDR modes. There are slightly visible errors at 60% brightness and higher, but they are very hard to spot in actual content. The EOTF tracks the reference closely with slight darkness from zero to 25%. The tone-map transition point is at 65%, which is correct for the measured black and white levels.

In the color tests, the XG32UQWMS is a tad oversaturated in both the DCI-P3 and BT.2020 color spaces. This adds to HDR’s impact without going too far. Color is bright and vivid but also natural and smooth. Hue points are on target except for yellow and magenta, which are a tad off-line. Again, this isn’t a significant error. In the 2020 test, the XG32UQWMS runs out of color at 90% red, 80% green, and 98% blue. It has more green and blue than nearly every HDR monitor I’ve tested. This is excellent performance.

Test Takeaway: The XG32UQWMS is a benchmark HDR monitor with high brightness, adjustability, and more color than its direct competitors. The image is punchy and vivid without becoming overblown or cartoonish. If you play HDR games or want to watch HDR content, you won’t find a better OLED gaming monitor.

MORE: Best Gaming Monitors

MORE: How We Test PC Monitors

MORE: How to Buy a PC Monitor

OLEDs remain premium-priced, but their capabilities are such that, in my mind, they’re more than worth the money. $899 is a lot for a 32-inch monitor, but when it has unmatched sharpness, contrast, brightness, and gaming performance, spending that money brings no regret.

Asus isn’t the most or the least expensive, but it always offers value when you shop the ROG Strix line. These displays offer the same performance as their flagship Swift cousins and only leave out a couple of minor features. And nothing that affects gameplay is missing. When you’re mowing through enemies or exploring virtual worlds, you won’t know the difference between Swift and Strix.

The XG32UQWMS is the latest in a long line of excellent OLED displays. It has a stunning picture that’s brighter and more colorful than its competitors. It isn’t unique in offering 240 Hz at 4K resolution, but the inclusion of frame rate boost to 480 Hz in FHD and ELMB blur reduction makes it more flexible. You can pair it with a wide variety of systems and enjoy smooth, responsive play.

With over 108% coverage of DCI-P3 and HDR peaks between 600 and 1,500 nits, the picture is dazzling and textural with natural color that has an addictive quality. And there’s added sharpness from the True Black Glossy coating.

If you have $900 to spend on a 32-inch 4K OLED, the Asus ROG Strix XG32UQWMS is one of the best you can buy at this writing. Definitely check it out.

MORE: Best Gaming Monitors

MORE: How We Test PC Monitors

MORE: How to Buy a PC Monitor

Asus ROG Swift displays represent an entire series of flagships, with every model featuring plenty of bells and whistles along with benchmark performance. I’ve looked at many of these in the past, and here, I have the latest one, the PG32UCWM. It’s a 32-inch Tandem RGB Stripe OLED with 4K resolution at 240 Hz, FHD at 480 Hz, Adaptive-Sync, HDR10, DisplayHDR 400, Dolby Vision, and wide-gamut color. Let’s take a look.

Asus ROG Swift PG32UCWM Specs

First, we’ll tackle the alphabet soup in the room: Tandem RGB Stripe OLED. Let’s call it TRS-OLED, consisting of two light-emitting layers with red, green, and blue diodes. This approach addresses several issues. With two layers comes lower power consumption at a given light level. Tandem white OLEDs do the same thing. RGB Stripe takes care of the fringing issue where white diodes behind color filters can spread their light and cause a loss of sharpness. In practice, you will be hard-pressed to see any softness from any OLED, but an RGB Stripe panel like the PG32UCWM is a tad sharper, and you’ll see it in a side-by-side comparison. To this, Asus adds its True Black Glossy screen coating, which earns its name by reducing the effect of ambient light on the screen. Visually, it deepens black areas and improves perceived contrast.

Another advantage of RGB Stripe is increased color volume. Most wide gamut screens employ Quantum Dots to increase volume up to 110% of DCI-P3 or more. RGB Stripe achieves most of that without the light-reducing effect of a QD layer. The PG32UCWM delivers an honest 100% of P3, which is a little less than the competition, but it’s more than the 93-95% coverage of non-QD monitors. Asus promises and delivers accuracy out of the box as well with a calibration report stored in the panel’s firmware.

It wouldn’t be ROG without serious gaming performance, and on that, the PG32UCWM delivers in spades. 240 Hz at 4K is available for those with enough video card power to achieve it. If you want maximum fps, there’s a 480 Hz mode with FHD 1920x1080 resolution. You can also employ ELMB at lower frame rates to reduce motion blur. Asus includes its exclusive OLED Anti-Flicker feature, which mitigates stutter during rapid frame rate transitions. Does this translate into a fast and smooth experience? Check out my test results on page two to find out.

The PG32UCWM supports HDR10 with multiple picture modes and an adjustable option. And it accepts Dolby Vision content, which is still a rarity among computer monitors. Its dynamic tone mapping creates a major improvement in picture depth, regardless of the level to which content is mastered. It will show you every nuance and render every detail present in the original material.

Like all ROG Swift screens, the PG32UCWM includes multiple LED arrays on the back and in the stand where a logo can be projected onto the desktop. There is a full list of GamePlus enhancements like aim points and sniper modes. And some of these can be automated with AI to better adapt to the gaming environment. You also get USBs and a full set of the latest video I/O ports: HDMI 2.1, DisplayPort 2.1 and USB-C.

Swift displays usually come with a price premium over their competition, but the PG32UCWM comes out of the gate at $1,299, which isn’t a huge number when you consider its build quality and performance. It is a true flagship.

Assembly and Accessories

A colorfully adorned box houses the PG32UCWM in molded pulp, which is completely recyclable. The stand, base, and panel assemble without tools. The ROG logo projector lens fits under the base with magnets and includes extra lenses. A zippered pouch disgorges a cable bundle consisting of IEC cords, two USBs, HDMI, and DisplayPort. You also get sheets of ROG decals and a microfiber cleaning cloth for that beautiful shiny screen. Speaking of shiny, there is a lot of bling on this monitor, all protected by bits of clear film. It almost becomes a game to find it all, but at least you can be sure your PG32UCWM won’t arrive with scratches.

Product 360

The latest crop of Swift displays, like the PG32UCWM, set themselves apart with LEDs in the stand, a logo projector and clear plastic on the back that reveals the internal componentry. It’s a great complement to a transparent PC case, which Asus can also sell you. The right half includes the Lite-Brite LED feature, which can play a vast array of colors and effects. You also get lighting in the stand where it says “Swift”, in the base, in the ROG logo up front, and in the projector under the stand.

The stand is super solid and includes a 3.1-inch height adjustment plus 5/20 degrees tilt and 15 degrees swivel. There is no portrait mode. If you want one, you’ll need an aftermarket arm that interfaces with the included adapter bracket, which provides a 100mm VESA mount. It comes with beefy fasteners.

The styling is a two-piece configuration with the screen and its metal backing attached to a component bulge. This improves cooling along with a graphene layer and internal heat sinks. Several OLED care features enhance panel life, and Asus backs the PG32UCWM with a three-year warranty that includes burn-in. No internal fans are needed to keep running temps low.

The I/O panel includes one DisplayPort 2.1 (configurable to 1.4), two HDMI 2.1, and a USB-C (DP Alt). USB 3.2 is supported by one upstream and three downstream ports. Audio comes only through a 3.5mm headphone jack; there are no internal speakers.

OSD Features

The PG32UCWM’s OSD has every feature one could want in a flagship gaming monitor, including video processing and extensive image controls. It’s operated by a joystick behind the small protrusion in the front center. Two buttons flank it; one toggles power, and the user can program the other.

At the top of the Gaming menu is the Frame Rate Boost toggle. You can also switch modes with the left control button. Either way, it takes a few seconds for the picture to return. In GamePlus, you get frame counters, aiming points, sniper modes, timers, a stopwatch, and display alignment marks. Some of these have AI-controlled settings which change things like the reticle color or the gamma of the image’s dark areas to increase visibility.

GameVisual has nine picture modes, of which Racing is the default and best choice. Like all Asus ROG monitors, there’s an sRGB Cal mode which is accurate but also grays out the calibration controls. If you want sRGB, it’s better to pick that option from Color Space in the Color menu. Then you can adjust grayscale and gamma if you wish.

HDR is available in HDR10 and Dolby Vision formats. When the appropriate signal is present, you can pick between four different picture modes and turn on an adjustment toggle that enables the brightness and contrast sliders. Also included is Uniform Brightness for both SDR and HDR. If you turn this off, the peak output of small highlights can top 1,000 nits. I measured 532 nits from a 25% window pattern. This feature improves HDR impact and is handy for SDR gaming and video. Turn it on for productivity and static graphics where it will reduce eye fatigue during long work sessions.

The Color menu includes the aforementioned gamut options plus color temp and gamma presets. A set of RGB sliders can dial in grayscale to a very precise level. If you want to tweak color further, there are global and individual saturation controls.

Asus takes OLED care very seriously with a host of options like pixel cleaning, screen saver, orbiter, and logo brightness. All of these can be toggled individually. When I first powered up my PG32UCWM sample, it recommended running the pixel clean straight away, so I did. This often improves screen uniformity for brand-new monitors, though I didn’t see a difference in this case. You also get a proximity sensor that turns off the screen when you leave your desk.

The PG32UCWM includes PIP and PBP options for viewing two video sources at once. You can have individual color settings for the two windows and position and size them how you like. The Lighting Effect menu controls the many effects possible with LEDs in the base and back of the monitor. With Aura Sync enabled through Asus’ Display Widget Center app, you can coordinate the show with what’s happening on screen.

The quick menu has four user-programmable slots for one-click access to different functions. You can also program the four joystick directions and the left control button. There are two settings memories as well.

Asus ROG Swift PG32UCWM Calibration Settings

The PG32UCWM doesn’t need calibration in the Racing mode but I tweaked the RGB sliders for a nice gain, which took it into pro-monitor territory. Color is spot-on whether you choose wide gamut or sRGB. I found similar results in HDR mode when using either Gaming HDR or True Black modes, more about that on page five. Below are my suggested SDR settings including brightness values for Uniform Brightness on or off. You only need to set this value once for each mode, which is nice when switching back and forth.

Gaming and Hands-on

I’ve often said that it’s nearly impossible to buy a bad OLED. All the displays I’ve reviewed over the past few years are super close in performance and image quality. That said, there have been several variations in technology that have subtle effects on the picture. Asus currently has the largest selection of different panel types covering Quantum Dot, Tandem, and RGB Stripe as the major categories. The PG32UCWM combines the latter two into a fourth variant, Tandem RGB Stripe. Looking at my sample, I could immediately see its sharper image. OLEDs are always razor-sharp, but this one is sharper, and I could see that in a side-by-side comparison with a typical Quantum Dot panel.

I could see it while gaming too. The detailed environments of Doom Eternal were even more textural and sharply resolved than usual. Little things like the reflections of light on a gun barrel, or the changing hues of the player’s hand as I moved around had me almost entranced. I’ll warn you now, if you audition a PG32UCWM, you will want to buy it. The sharpness and clarity of this monitor is addictive.

Video processing was exemplary, as it is with any Asus ROG Swift display. Movements and transitions happened with surgical precision as I ran through my usual sequence of run-and-gun maneuvers. Turn and shoot became second nature as I was able to stay apart from enemies and still put most of my ammo on target. Lobbing grenades became easier too. I love the sticky ones!

I always check out the HDR calibration screen in Doom’s menu to look for the correct rendering of both highlight and shadow detail. Game HDR showed a little clipping of highlights, but shadow areas were perfect. True Black was the better mode, which showed everything clearly.

I also tried the dual mode switch. You don’t want to do this in a game because it scrambles the image to where you can’t see the menu. Always make the switch on the Windows desktop. The PG32UCWM lets you do this with a single button press. My GeForce RTX 4090 maintained 220-230fps at 4K and around 430fps in FHD. Though the image was softer, this monitor has smoother scaling than other dual-refresh screens I’ve reviewed. It is a good solution for those who can’t run more than 200fps in 4K.

When the games were put away in favor of getting work done, the PG32UCWM continued to provide a picture that was hard to look away from. It is very colorful, though a few Quantum Dot displays will show you a tad more red and green. But the PG32UCWM covers 100% of DCI-P3 so it still overachieves for SDR in a good way. When editing graphics, I switched the Color Space option to sRGB and enjoyed similarly high accuracy.

The effect of Asus’ True Black Glossy coating was also evident. Blacks seemed deeper because there was no reflected ambient light. The screen is shiny, but it rejects room light as if it were matte. This also makes color more vibrant. It was like having a light-blocking hood in place.

My user experience was completely positive. The PG32UCWM has a familiar and intuitive control and menu system. It’s easy to create different settings memories and to set up the quick menus for easy access to things like picture modes and GamePlus options. I could plug input devices into the USB ports, which was handy. My only minor complaint was the lack of internal speakers. But playing with the extensive LED lighting was fun.

Takeaway: The PG32UCWM is a benchmark gaming display with a reference-quality image. It’s incredibly sharp, and it looks great in brightly lit rooms thanks to its advanced screen coating and Tandem RGB Stripe technology. The refresh rate boost will be useful for those with less stout video cards, and its scaling down to FHD resolution is excellent. Paired with a well-endowed gaming PC, the PG32UCWM is about as good as it gets.

MORE: Best Gaming Monitors

MORE: How We Test PC Monitors

MORE: How to Buy a PC Monitor

To compare the PG32UCWM’s performance, I’ve mined only 32-inch 240 Hz OLEDs from my test database. The more recent models are MSI’s MPG 322UR X24 along with Asus’ PG32UCDM3 and XG32UQWMS. Older screens include Dough’s Spectrum Black 32 and HP’s Omen 32 OLED.

Pixel Response and Input Lag

Click here to read up on our pixel response and input lag testing procedures.

Since acquiring the Nvidia LDAT sensor, I’ve noted that OLED panel response times, black-to-white transition run in a super tight range from 0.12 to 0.24. The PG32UCWM manages this feat in 0.16 in both 240 and 480 Hz modes. Motion blur is non-existent when any of these screens run past 200fps.

In the lag test, the PG32UCWM is the quickest of the 240 Hz screens at 11.2ms average lag over 25 mouse clicks. Only a couple of the 360 Hz panels I’ve tested are quicker, and only by 1.2ms, a microscopic amount. What’s interesting is that 480 Hz is a tick slower at 12.9ms. This is still much lower than any human reaction time, so the difference is imperceptible. I’m confident that this is due to the processing lag involved in scaling the image down to Full HD from 4K.

Test Takeaway: The PG32UCWM is the quickest 32-inch 4K OLED you can buy at this time. Only a couple of 360 Hz QHD screens are a tad quicker, so if you have the video card necessary to run 4K over 200fps, this Asus is your best choice. There’s no motion blur at that speed either. I noted that 480 Hz brought an increase in frame rate but not in motion resolution. And it did not reduce input lag.

Viewing Angles

I’ve noticed slight differences in off-axis images from the different OLED variants I’ve reviewed. The PG32UCWM has two emissive layers, meaning that at any angle other than head-on, they are slightly out of phase with each other. This is the reason for the slight tints seen in a grayscale step pattern. In color patterns, or in actual content, you can’t see this issue. In the side photo, there is no change to brightness or gamma, which is typical of OLED displays. The top view washes out a bit with reduced gamma.

Screen Uniformity

To learn how we measure screen uniformity, click here.

The PG32UCWM is the recipient of serious quality control as its low 2.69% uniformity score indicates. There is no hint of bleed or glow in any part of the image. It doesn’t get much better than this.

MORE: Best Gaming Monitors

MORE: How We Test PC Monitors

MORE: How to Buy a PC Monitor

To read about our monitor tests in-depth, please check out Display Testing Explained: How We Test PC Monitors. We cover brightness and contrast testing on page two.

Uncalibrated – Maximum Backlight Level

To find the PG32UCWM’s maximum brightness value, I turned Uniform Brightness off and measured a 25% window pattern. It peaked just below 500 nits, which is typical for the category. The Dough and HP screens have only fixed brightness for SDR, so they measure the same for window or full white field patterns. The PG32UCWM’s full-field value with Uniform Brightness on was 269 nits. Black levels and contrast could not be measured.

After Calibration to 200 nits

Calibration doesn’t change anything but the peak white value. I recommend setting uniform brightness to 200 nits using a full field pattern and variable brightness to 200 nits using a 25% window pattern. This creates a visual balance between the two modes. Black levels, static contrast and ANSI intra-image contrast could not be measured.

Test Takeaway: The PG32UCWM offers the option of fixed or variable brightness which is something not all OLEDs offer. It’s nice that the user can set individual brightness values for each mode just once. They are saved when switching back and forth which is another standout feature. The PG32UCWM can hit nearly 500 nits showing SDR content which makes it impactful for gaming and video content. Though contrast is theoretically infinite, the True Black Glossy screen coating makes this monitor’s blacks perceptually deeper.

MORE: Best Gaming Monitors

MORE: How We Test PC Monitors

MORE: How to Buy a PC Monitor

The PG32UCWM offers accurate color out of the box and does not need to be calibrated. You can choose between DCI-P3 and sRGB gamuts and adjust grayscale tracking to a high standard.

Grayscale and Gamma Tracking

Our grayscale and gamma tests use Calman calibration software from Portrait Displays. We describe our grayscale and gamma tests in detail here.

In the initial grayscale run, the PG32UCWM shows slight red errors in steps from 60 to 90% brightness. This error is barely visible, even in a test pattern. Gamma tracks very close to the 2.2 reference line. With calibration of the RGB sliders, all but one brightness step drops below 1dE. Gamma becomes a little tighter thanks to a change in the contrast slider.

For sRGB applications, I recommend using the sRGB gamut option rather than the sRGB Cal picture mode. Then, you can calibrate the grayscale if you wish. By default, it’s a little warm in tone. Gamma is excellent with no visible errors.

Comparisons

With a 2.27dE average value, the PG32UCWM has no visible grayscale issues. It can be used without calibration like all the screens here. One should expect this from a premium display. After changes to the RGB values (just blue actually), the error drops to 0.72dE, which is better than all but the MSI. Visually, there is no difference between any of the monitors.

The PG32UCWM’s gamma is very tight with a tiny 0.08 range of values and a 0.45% deviation from the 2.2. reference. The actual value is 2.19, which is nearly perfect and visually flawless.

Color Gamut Accuracy

Our color gamut and volume testing use Portrait Displays’ Calman software. For details on our color gamut testing and volume calculations, click here.

The PG32UCWM aces the default gamut test with a low value of 1.53dE, well below the visible threshold of 3dE. This is the average of 32 measurements. Though it covers right at 100% of DCI-P3, it is slightly oversaturated in the red, magenta, and blue areas of the triangle. Green is perfectly and fully rendered, putting the PG32UCWM ahead of any non-Quantum Dot screen. This is what Tandem OLED tech is supposed to do, and it is successful here. Calibration, shown in the second chart, tightens everything up even further, putting the monitor firmly in reference territory. This is excellent performance.

In the sRGB test, I’m showing a pre-calibration result so magenta is a tad off hue. The score is still quite low at 1.76dE so there’s no cause for complaint. The PG32UCWM is fully qualified for color-critical applications.

Comparisons

As impressive as the PG32UCWM’s color is, it isn’t any better than the others save the XG32UQWMS. I am picking nits here since the naked eye cannot see these differences. But every hundredth of a point counts, and the PG32UCWM has fewer than most with a 1.06dE score. That’s better than many pro monitors can boast, and it’s only a tick behind the Dough and MSI displays. It doesn’t really get better than this.

In the gamut volume test, the PG32UCWM is slightly behind the top four screens. But with almost exactly 100% coverage of DCI-P3, you’ll see every shade and hue from the original content, and more if you run wide gamut mode for SDR. sRGB coverage is also nearly ideal at 96.66%. There is no cause for complaint here.

Test Takeaway: The PG32UCWM is very colorful and accurate with visual perfection out of the box and calibration to a high standard. It is fully qualified for critical applications in either DCI-P3 or sRGB modes. It has a little less color volume than some of the competition but more than the average non-Quantum Dot display. Gamma is tight and ruler straight in every case, which makes fine detail and texture more visible and impactful.

MORE: Best Gaming Monitors

MORE: How We Test PC Monitors

MORE: How to Buy a PC Monitor

Our HDR benchmarking uses Portrait Displays’ Calman software. To learn about our HDR testing, see our breakdown of how we test PC monitors.

HDR is the PG32UCWM’s forte with its bright highlights, deep blacks and vivid color. It supports HDR10 with four specific modes and offers adjustable brightness and contrast. It also plays Dolby Vision content which is a rarity in the computer monitor genre.

HDR Brightness and Contrast

All the screens offer variable brightness for HDR content, so their peak levels vary somewhat. The PG32UCWM is in the middle at a healthy 532 nits which is plenty of light from the 25% window pattern I measured. Asus’ claim of 1,000 nits for a 3% window is completely valid. I measured this by engaging the Gaming HDR mode and turning on Adjustable HDR which upped the peak output a little. That changed the EOTF a little and I’ll show you how below.

Grayscale, EOTF and Color

In the first two charts, you can see the difference between the Gaming and True Black HDR modes. They offer the same accurate grayscale tracking but vary in the EOTF luminance curve. True Black is closer to the reference with only tiny variations from black to white. Gaming offers a little more peak output, but it rises from black too quickly. This will make mid-tone regions a little less textural. These are subtle differences that will be perceived differently by different viewers. I would go for the True Black version, but the Gaming HDR picture will be a little blingier. It’s like the “brighter TV sells better” principle seen at big-box electronics stores. At least the PG32UCWM gives you a choice.

I measured color in both modes and got similar results. There is a slight and general oversaturation in the manner of nearly all the HDR OLEDs I’ve tested. This is typical performance. The picture is very impactful and colorful. In the BT.2020 test, the PG32UCWM runs out of color at 90% red, 75% green, and 95% blue. This is also typical of wide gamut screens with either Tandem or Quantum Dot enhancement.

Test Takeaway: The PG32UCWM delivers a superb HDR image with options to dial it into the user’s liking. I recommend the True Black mode for its luminance accuracy, but some users may prefer the Gaming mode for its higher brightness. Either way, it’s gorgeous to look at. Also of note is that the PG32UCWM is one of the rare computer monitors that supports Dolby Vision.

MORE: Best Gaming Monitors

MORE: How We Test PC Monitors

MORE: How to Buy a PC Monitor

There’s always something special about flagship products. So, if a company makes a line of displays that are all flagship, are any of them special? In the case of Asus’ ROG Swift PG32UCWM, I’m going to say yes. Thanks to Asus’ willingness to seed its stable with multiple OLED panel technologies, we have a large array of choices, all of them good.

The PG32UCWM and its Tandem RGB Stripe panel stand out for being incredibly sharp. In other areas like color, video processing and build quality, it is the same as other Swift displays, but image clarity raises the bar. You can expect accurate color out of the box with reference-level performance after a few adjustments. Video processing is super smooth with perfect motion resolution and the lowest input lag in the category. There’s flexibility in the frame rate boost feature that lets the PG32UCWM work with less powerful video cards. And its extra features like GamePlus and Aura RGB elevate it beyond most premium monitors.

At $1,299, it is an investment, but consider that its performance and build quality mean you’ll be using it for many years through multiple system upgrades. If you desire a flagship monitor and have the budget, the Asus ROG Swift PG32UCWM is well worth checking out.

MORE: Best Gaming Monitors

MORE: How We Test PC Monitors

MORE: How to Buy a PC Monitor

What I didn’t expect was to receive five large packages, weighing over 150 pounds, and for the motherboard and cooler to come in their own ROG suitcase (yes, that’s a thing), or for the 3,000W PSU to sell for $899 all on its own. This was clearly going to be a unique PC building experience, but it’s certainly not for everyone. In fact, considering the high price of pretty much all of the parts here, this is a build for the select few. But that doesn’t mean the build process wasn’t interesting.

Let's just get this out of the way early on, though: Building any gaming PC right now is expensive. Building one with an RTX 5090 is prohibitively pricey. Building one with these specific parts will set you back roughly $15,000, including the matching peripherals and OLED monitor with a translucent back panel. Think of this as the PC build for Saudi princes, the Elon Musks of the world, or for those of you who, unlike me, were smart enough to use your GPU for Bitcoin mining starting sometime in 2010, and cashed out when the cryptocurrency was trading high.

So yes, this might just be about the most expensive PC you could build today – at least with consumer-focused parts and not maxing out the RAM and storage. But many of us are likely finding ways to deal with the PC hardware we have right now; let’s take a look at what piecing together a new build is like if money is no object and you want the cohesive design that comes from sourcing all (or at least most) of your components from one company.

We’ll go step-by-step through the rather unique build process of this Asus ROG Edition 20 build shortly. But first, here’s a look at the parts, their prices, and, in some cases, how much the components weigh. Because, gold accents or not, there’s a whole lot of heavy metal involved in this build.

PC Case

Asus ROG GR20 Edition 20 open-frame EATX PC case

Many of the components here are based on existing parts, with some new aesthetic accents and features, but the ROG G20 is a new open-frame chassis that supports large EATX motherboards and can be converted to stand vertically, horizontally as a testbed, and even diagonally for a striking leaning-back look.

It has a crossflow fan that mounts on the bottom to blow cool air onto the GPU, RGB light strips around the edges, and four fast USB ports (two 5Gbps Type-A and two 20 Gbps Type-C) that can be mounted near the bottom (default) or up top. It’s extremely solidly built, mostly from aluminum, and weighs 20.5 pounds. But some of the cosmetic covers, particularly around the edges, are plastic and magnetically attached. They have a tendency to move and become misaligned easily. In fact, one was stuck to a steel part, several inches from where it belonged when I first took the case out of the box.

It sells for between $650 and $730. If that sounds like a lot for a case, it is. But if you’re feeling sticker shock already, buckle up because we’re just getting started.

• Asus ROG GR20 Edition 20 open-frame EATX PC available at Best Buy

Motherboard

Asus ROG Crosshair X870E Edition 20 motherboard with integrated ROG Ryujin 360 liquid cooler

Asus offers a few iterations of its Crosshair X870E E-ATX flagship board. This Crosshair X870E Edition 20 variant, apart from the gold accents of the Edition 20 lineup, supports up to nine M.2 SSDs (five on the board and four via two included add-in cards), and has more USB-C ports than any board I’ve seen outside of a trade show (six, plus two 20 Gbps front-panel connectors).

It also has large copper VRM heatsinks designed to specifically thermally mesh with the bundled Ryugin 260 Edition 20 AIO cooler. The cooler has a massive curved 6.7-inch AMOLED screen (actually two of the curved screens we’ve seen on some other AIOs, stacked on top of one another). The cooler also features a massive copper heatsink bigger than my hand. It’s arguably overkill for anything AMD has put out on AM5 to date. But of course, high-end motherboards and coolers are all about overkill. And when you’re paying $3,299.99 for a motherboard and cooler combo, some level of overkill should probably be expected.

• Asus ROG Crosshair X870E Edition 20 available at Best Buy

GPU

Asus ROG Astral GeForce RTX 5090 Edition 20 graphics card

How do you top the record-setting ROG Astral 5090? If you’re Asus’ design team, you add a second back-connector power option so it can pull up to 800 watts, a glass backplate, and a curved OLED screen all its own. Unfortunately, since the Crosshair Edition 20 motherboard isn’t a BTF model, we can’t test the card’s performance with extra power here.

The GPU’s curved screen also requires you to run a USB cable from the back of the GPU to the motherboard for power and data, which feels a little lame given the sky-high $5,999 asking price.

• Asus ROG Astral GeForce RTX 5090 Edition 20 available at Best Buy

PSU

Asus ROG Thor Titanium III 3000W Edition 20 power supply

Most RTX 5090 builds don’t need anywhere near this much juice, but the dual-voltage ROG Thor Titanium III 3000W Edition 20 is a PSU monster designed to deliver up to 3000W of power, specifically for the above Astral 5090 Edition 20 GPU (or, I guess, any other PC with extreme power needs). At 190 x 150 x 86 mm, it’s large, but not massive, given its power rating. It’s fully modular (naturally, for this class). And it sports its own magnetic OLED display, which can be mounted on either side, or extended via a cable to somewhere more visible in your case.

At $899, this PSU is an option you can easily skip if you aren’t looking to push the most power possible through Asus’ singular Edition 20 RTX 5090. Without a 230V power outlet, you’re going to be limited to 1600W from the Thor, anyway. You can get a good 1300W ATX 3.1 power supply for less than half this price, which would be more than enough to run an RTX 5090 system. But then, of course, you would have one less screen.

• Asus ROG Thor Titanium III 3000W Edition 20 is available at Best Buy

You can grab the above components separately or, if you want to save about $80, you could buy the board, cooler, case, GPU, and PSU together in a bundle from Best Buy for the small sum of $10,849.

• Asus ROG Edition 20 Package including GPU, PC Case, PSU and motherboard with liquid cooler is available at Best Buy

Peripherals

Asus’ ROG Azoth Extreme 75% Edition 20 mechanical keyboard

We covered the Azoth Extreme 75% Edition 20 pretty extensively ahead of Computex. It’s a reimagining of the carbon fiber-adorned ROG Azoth Extreme we looked at in 2024, with a mix of transparent and partially transparent keycaps. It’s $100 more expensive than the launch price of the previous Azoth, pegging this keyboard at $599. There’s also a gold metal jog wheel, gold accents along the back, magnetic gold feet (in two sizes), and even gold screws holding the whole thing together. And, naturally, the RGB backlighting under the switches defaults to a gold color out of the box.

• Asus ROG Azoth Extreme 75% Edition 20 is available at Best Buy

Asus ROG Harpe II Extreme Edition 20 gaming mouse

We also checked out the ROG Harpe II Extreme Edition 20 mouse ahead of Computex earlier this year. It packs a 65K sensor, a gold scroll wheel and side buttons, and a transparent chassis with RGB that illuminates the ROG 20th Anniversary logo. There isn’t much to complain about in terms of specs, although many will balk at the $259 price. Having used it extensively for a couple of weeks, it feels and performs well. My main concern is what the transparent plastic will look like after years of regular gaming.

• Asus ROG Harpe II Extreme Edition 20 gaming mouse is available at Best Buy

Asus ROG Swift OLED PG27AQWP-W Edition 20 gaming monitor

We tested the non-Edition 20 version of this OLED earlier this year and gave it a perfect score. It can do 540 Hz refresh at its native 2560 x 1440 resolution, or a wild 720 Hz at 720p. It was also bright and color accurate. The Edition 20 variant looks to have generally the same specs, and costs about $100 more for the addition of some gold plating, stealth-black futuristic looks, and an undoubtedly striking transparent rear chassis panel that matches the look of the above Harpe II Extreme Edition 20 mouse.

Its tandem OLED panel is rated to 1,500 nits of peak brightness, and a button below the screen lets you easily switch between the panel’s 540 Hz and 720 Hz modes. It’s a nice gaming screen, to be sure, and Asus hasn’t tacked on as much Edition 20 tax here as elsewhere, but high-refresh panels tend to kick out a lot of heat, and I have to wonder how soon the pretty back panel will start to change from clear to yellow, or just cloudy.

• Asus ROG Swift OLED PG27AQWP-W Edition 20 is available at Best Buy

SSD and RAM

Along with the above parts, we were also sent a speedy Fury Renegade PCIe 5 SSD from Kingston, as well as 32GB of DDR5 for testing the system. We added our own 9950X CPU.

I was hoping to get my hands on some of the Asus-branded RAM we also saw at Computex, but I was told by a rep that the Asus RAM is solely destined for the Chinese market. Perhaps it’s made by CXMT.

Kingston Fury Renegade G5 M.2 2TB PCIe 5.0 SSD

• Kingston Fury Renegade G5 M.2 2TB PCIe 5.0 SSD is available at Best Buy

Kingston Fury Beast 32GB (2x16GB) 6000MT/s DDR5 CL30 RAM

• Kingston Fury Beast 32GB (2x16GB) 6000MT/s DDR5 CL30 RAM is available at Amazon

Building an Asus ROG Edition 20 PC: The good, the bad, and the AMOLED

Asus offers up a 17-step system build guide for putting together a PC with its Edition 20 parts, complete with a nearly 19-minute YouTube video, which it points buyers to via a QR code stuck on the upper-right corner of the motherboard.

For the most part, the two key things I needed for installation were lots of space (the build process alternated between my workbench and my coffee table) and my trusty Hoto screwdriver. But as we’ll see later on, there was one instance where I needed a long screwdriver to get screws into some recessed holes inside the case.

I haven’t followed instructions much when building a PC for decades now, but I did here, in part because I was pretty pressed for time, but also because some of these components, like the case, motherboard, and cooler, have pretty specific features and assembly steps. And I also didn’t want to be sorting through five or more different manuals every time I ran into a roadblock.

To Asus’ credit, the video is pretty thorough and clear. Only a couple of times (as I’ll detail below) did I have to jump back several seconds to catch something I missed or, on one occasion, something Asus missed in its assembly guide.

Starting with the motherboard, you’ll first need to remove several covers, the two largest of which (on the right in the image above) are magnetically attached, and basically there in case you want to display the board as “art” on its own at some point. The large windowed frame over the socket and RAM area, and the layered section covering the PCIe slots can’t be in place if you’re actually using the board – at least presuming you are using this board with a GPU or anything else in the slots.

There are also two M.2 heatsinks covering the five drive slots native to the board. Both have latches and come away easily.

The primary heatsink is quite large, with a gold-metal base and heatpipe that is visible from the top, around the black aluminum of the rest of the sink. There are thermal pads on the top and bottom of all the drive areas, and Asus includes small rubber stoppers for single-sided drives, which go in between the bottom heatinks, to prevent PCB flexing. I naturally checked after installing the sink to make sure the thermal pad made contact with the Kingston drive. Like we saw in previous motherboard testing of a few other Asus boards, the pad definitely makes contact with the SSD, but the compression looks a little light. Still, as long as the drive is connected to the pad, the cooler should be able to do its job. I’m only installing one M.2 drive, so next were the fairly typical steps of installing the CPU and RAM.

Note that I initially installed a Ryzen 5 7600X here, because it’s the chip I had on hand while taking photos. But I eventually grabbed a Ryzen 9 9950X from the office to install in the system, as it’s a much more appropriate CPU for this otherwise top-end build.

Asus’ guide actually doesn’t tell you to install the RAM until much later, but I installed it after the CPU, because PC building muscle memory told me it was the right time to do it. I didn’t run into any issues, so you could install the RAM here or later on. Just, of course, make sure you put the RAM into the correct slots if, like me, you’re only installing two sticks.

Case, cooler, and power supply

With the SSD, RAM, and CPU in place, I snapped the plate cooler back on, and it was time to start dealing with the GR20 chassis. This is when I really started to realize just how heavy most of these parts are, although I did have to haul all the boxes up two flights of stairs a few days before this. The case weighs just over 20 pounds on its own, and when you start adding the board (10.8 pounds) and the GPU (7.4 pounds), the system gets very heavy, very fast.

You have to lay the case down in order to install the motherboard, which, since the case is an open frame, I needed to remove some parts from the rear first. A large cable cover pops off with a switch, then I needed to remove a few screws to take off the PSU and radiator brackets. With those parts off, I could put the case on its side (with the base hanging off the edge of my coffee table). I moved the case to the table because it’s lower and therefore a lot easier to install the motherboard.

Once aligned to the standoffs, the motherboard drops onto the case (rather dramatically, thanks to its weight) and it’s time to screw it down.

I often skip a few motherboard screws when building PCs. But with the weight of this board and the expensive, heavy GPU that was going to hang off of it, I made sure to install and carefully tighten all nine screws here. Asus’ guide also points out the importance of this, but I didn’t need the warning. In all, motherboard installation was pretty simple, in part because the case is open, so I wasn’t reaching inside a big box to install several screws.

Next, it’s time to stand the case back up and break out the AIO. The cooling block is so heavy with copper that the process feels substantial in a way that most AIO installations don’t. Of course, the sheer cost of the board and cooler probably has something to do with that feeling as well. At least Asus includes the nicest cooling accessory box I’ve ever seen. It has the ROG 20 logo on the top, so you can always remember this very expensive important moment.

First, you need to attach the radiator bracket to the radiator, and Asus’ guide nicely points out that you need to do so with the mounting tabs facing left. This saved me from doing it wrong and having to fix it later. Then, I mounted the bracket and the radiator to the back of the case via four slide-in tabs and two screws, put the case back down on its side, and took the protective plastic covering off the very large and heavy water block.

There are a few things to note there. First, there’s Asus’ ROG branding in its paste application. I am not sure this quite qualifies as one of our preferred methods of how to install thermal paste, but it is at least fairly evenly arranged. The blue strips are pre-installed thermal pads that help ensure good thermal transfer from the VRM sinks on the board.

Also note the pogo pins at the bottom of this photo. That is the power and data connection that, corresponding to pads on the board, means you don’t have to plug in any cables for the pump or the screen (the latter of which comes in a separate box and will go on later).

Next, you need to remove the motherboard’s mounting brackets, and the cooler’s pre-installed posts will drop right into the screw holes (carefully, mind you; this thing is hefty). You then need to install four regular screws to install the cooler, and three more proprietary screws around two of the sides to make sure the VRM cooling mates well with the large copper of the cooling plate.

This is, by far, the most secure connection I’ve seen on a consumer cooler. But with all the metal and money involved, that’s a good thing.

Next, surprisingly, the guide told me I needed to disassemble the upper-right corner of the case, so I stood the system back up. This step is a little involved, as you need to remove a couple of plastic covers that hide access to four screws that need to be removed. Then you need to unplug an RGB cable for the lights embedded in the frame. This lets you pass the AIO tubes through from the back, where the radiator is, to the front motherboard area. Later on, you can tuck the tubes nicely into the space above the motherboard, so they’re a little less visible, although the space does feel a bit cramped.

A note on these corners, as it’s one area where the design doesn’t feel or look as premium as I would like (especially given the price). There are pretty large plastic screw cap covers, which magnetically attach just by snapping onto the corner screws. They’re designed to blend into the design of the aluminum frame.

But since these covers are only held on by a small magnet, they have a tendency to move around, and often don’t line up correctly on their own. In fact, when I first took the GR20 case out of its box, one of these covers was stuck to another part of the case, several inches from where it belonged. It’s not entirely clear if this happened during shipping or just in the act of removing the case from its carton.

But I often found myself having to nudge them back in place, in part because their corner placement puts them exactly where you instinctively want to grab the case/system to slide it around. And speaking of sliding: the bottom of the chassis has small rubber feet that had a tendency to come off during the build process. They pop into holes in the metal, so reinstalling them wasn’t a problem. But they feel like a bit of an afterthought. Again, given the cost, I would like to see far more substantial rubber feet that don’t easily come off. Because the case and system weigh so much, if the feet come off it’s pretty easy to accidentally gouge your desk or table during the build process as you’re moving things around.

These are both fairly minor quality complaints, but given this is the most expensive system I’ve assembled or tested, at least since the days of quad-SLI, it doesn’t feel great to see parts that clearly cost pennies marring what is otherwise a premium system experience.

Swinging the system around on the bench – which I learned to do by walking it on its corners due to the rubber feet and the system’s heft – it’s time to install the power supply and radiator fans. First, the Thor PSU screws into the cage that was previously removed with four screws on the power plug end of the supply.

Then the cage and PSU slot back into tabs on the side of the case and attach via a screw. Don’t forget, as I did here, to move the PSU screen to the side of the PSU facing out. Otherwise, you’ll need to remove the PSU or radiator cage again later. Because the opposite side of the PSU and the radiator cage sit close enough together that you can’t remove the screen after installation.

With the PSU in place, it’s time to install the radiator fans. This is made quite easy by the fact that the three spinners come as a single fused unit and, if you follow along via the installation video, Asus points out that the Asus logos on the fan hubs should be facing out.

Screw them in via the long screws in the pretty cooling accessory box, and connect them via the single proprietary cable and right-angle connector that extends a few inches out from the top of the radiator.

If the plug doesn’t insert easily, turn it around so it angles out. I spent a half minute or so attempting to plug the cable in backward before I figured this out.

Now it’s time to install all the modular PSU cables, and the video guide here just kind of vaguely tells you to thread them all from the hole near the top of the PSU side to the bottom. I did this, somewhat against my better judgement, knowing full well that the supplemental PSU cables were going to need to plug in up top, and I had to fish them out and re-thread them to the top later.

I was a bit confused at first at these plastic, somewhat chintzy-looking gold ROG blocks stacked above most of the plugs. Turns out, they’re pre-installed cable combs, and spacing them out along the cables can make things look a lot better. Don’t waste them near the PSU side of your cable runs, though, because now it’s time to reinstall the cable shroud that covers up this mess.

With the PSU, radiator and fans, and cable cover installed, this is one of the cleanest-looking ‘backsides’ of a system I’ve seen in a while. Considering this is also an open-frame case, that’s pretty impressive. Again, as long as you don’t think about price.

Walking the system back around on my bench, it was time to remove the cable shroud here as well. There’s a single screw on the bottom, and then you need to push the shroud up to release its top tabs. This was surprisingly difficult, and I was worried about pushing too hard, because this is one of the other pieces of the case that’s plastic. But it eventually popped off.

At this point, it’s a good time to remove a couple of screws and move the front panel ports up to the top section if you want. Since I can’t imagine anyone putting this system on the floor, I left it in its default orientation, with the ports near the bottom.

Now it’s time to connect all (or nearly all) of the PSU and other cables. This is fairly straightforward if you’ve built a PC more than a couple times before. The one snag that I ran into was that the video didn’t make it very clear where to plug in the fused front-panel connector, and where I thought it should go, in the lower-right corner of the motherboard, looked to be in the way of putting the plastic cable shroud back on.

I eventually downloaded the manual, saw that I was right, and just had to be extra careful when reinstalling the shroud, running the bottom connection over it rather than down past where the connector lives. The black-and-gold cables look pretty nice, with their cable combs positioned. But most will be hidden when you reinstall the cable shroud on the right side.

Blower fan and GPU

It’s almost time to install the GPU, but first we need to feed it some active airflow. The GR20 ships with a blower fan, again in its own box, that slots into a large horizontal hole near the bottom. Installation is pretty straightforward. You stick the fan in the hole on the bottom of the case, and insert two screws on each side.

There are also thumb screws that you can loosen to move the fan forward and back a bit, but mostly the fan is just going to blow up across the bottom of the board and onto the ROG Astral 5090 – once it’s installed. First, though, you need to plug in the blower fan, which you can do on any number of fan headers around the board. But since the cable is long enough, I ran it behind the motherboard area and up to the CPU fan header.

Another wrinkle before we get to the GPU: You also have to install brackets for the motherboard’s port area and the GPU port area. The former feels like a decoration. Since the board is secured by several screws, it’s effectively a decorative frame for connectivity. But the GPU port bracket supports half of the very heavy GPU.

These aluminum brackets poke into small holes on the frame of the case, and this is the one area where I feel like the video installation guide seriously misses the mark. It tells you to attach these brackets from the back with a screwdriver, but it doesn’t say which screws to use, or even show screws being inserted. And because the screw holes are recessed, they are very hard to see, and were deep enough that I had to break out the long screwdriver that I usually use for installing large air coolers.

Once I did that and used the same screws from the bag in the previous step (installing the blower fan), getting both of the brackets installed was fairly easy again, easy after I wasted 5-10 minutes figuring out what I was supposed to do here. Again, since the GPU bracket is going to support the port side of your GPU, make sure that the bracket's two screws are tightly torqued.

On the opposite edge of the case (shown on the right side of the image above), you’ll also need to attach a GPU support bracket. This one you’ll want to leave somewhat loose at first, since you’ll have to adjust it once the GPU is installed.

And now, finally, it’s time to install the ROG Astral RTX 5090 Edition 20 GPU. You’ll probably want to (again, gently) lay the system down for this. It, as should be obvious, goes into the x16 slot just below the topmost M.2 heatsink. But because the sink is large and the GPU itself is very large, getting it slotted in requires some extra finesse.

But once the card is fully seated in its slot, you secure it first with the typical bracket screws on the port end, and then with three additional screws on the GPU support bracket side, with holes that you’ll need to adjust so they line up with the holes on the card. If you happen to be using a different card, hopefully this bracket adjusts enough so that it can be placed under the card to support it. Once it’s in place where you need it and the card is secured from both sides, you’ll want to tighten the screw that holds the bracket at the back, so it securely supports your graphics card.

Now, of course, you can attach the 12-pin power connector that was previously threaded out the bottom center of the case into the graphics card. As always, make damn sure it’s fully inserted. But hey, at least with this build, you can see the connector when the system is running, in case it starts smoking or melting.

At this point, you can also attach the glass backplate cover if you so choose. It effectively just sits on a hole in the backside of the GPU, held in place by some magnets. It looks nice, but I wish it would drop down slightly to be more flush with the top edge of the card.

Time to deploy the AMOLED

With the primary components in place, it’s time to install the curved screens, in the penultimate addition to this build. Both effectively just snap in place. The larger cooler screen requires that you line up a U-shaped groove under the liquid cooling tubes, insert the screen mechanism into a couple of tabs, and then press down gently until the pogo pins make contact with the pads on the cooler.

Note that Asus markets this screen as swiveling, but it really only moves two or three degrees forward or back. That might be enough to reduce some glare, but you’ll generally want to have the screen angled toward you if you want to easily see what’s on it. It’s also not really a single screen, but clearly a pair of curved screens stacked on top of each other.

The GPU screen is far easier to install, snapping right into the end of the card in the area where you can see the metal connection pads. But it has its own wrinkle. For this screen to work at all, you need to connect an included USB cable from the Type-C port on the card to a Type-A port on your motherboard. This is easy enough to do, and the motherboard has 8 Type-A ports, along with two more on the front of the case, so I doubt you’ll miss one port. But for a GPU with a screen that costs $6,000, it feels kinda lame to have to run a USB cable to get the screen to work.

Lastly, and I would argue most optionally, Asus also includes a large magnetic ROG logo that you can attach to the steel front of the otherwise plastic cable shroud on the front. It is pretty detailed and matches the gold accents of the rest of the system. But personally, I think it looks tacky here in a way that (somehow) the rest of the design doesn’t. If you really want to show off your devotion to the Republic of Gamers, this big magnet might look better on your refrigerator or somewhere else than on a $15,000 gaming PC that’s already adorned with screens that, by default, display the ROG logo on the regular.

Personally, I’m going to stick this large ROG magnet on the side of the beer fridge that lives under my test bench, next to my magnetic Corsair external SSD and my Orkney Skull Splitter ale sticker. If any of my non-gamer friends ask what it means, I’ll tell them it represents the Republic of Guzzlers. Really though, I just like a nice lunch beer – I swear.

Using the Asus ROG Edition 20 PC

I didn’t have as much time as I would have liked to benchmark this monster PC or get a long-term sense of what it’s like to use it as a gaming and productivity rig. I may add to this section in the coming days as I spend more time with the system, but after about a day of using it after it was built, installing an OS, drivers, and playing a few PC games, I did get some strong initial impressions.

First off, for a high-end rig in an open case, with the beefiest GPU I’ve ever personally used, this machine is surprisingly quiet. I didn’t do anything more strenuous than play Borderlands 4, and admittedly my air conditioner was droning away from a nearby window. But the cooler and blower fans remained quiet. And the four fans on the GPU were noticeable when I was standing in front of the PC, but remained at both a level and a pitch that I would expect from a mainstream gaming rig inside a traditional case, not a top-end monster rig with all its cooling inches from my ears. At some point, I’ll have to listen to the system again when it’s cool enough to live without my air conditioner.

On the topic of heat, though: this 5090 sure kicks out a lot of it when gaming. And to some degree that’s no surprise. My personal system with a 4090 sits below my desk, and when I’m gaming at high settings on my 4K OLED TV, the PC feels like a small space heater blowing on my legs. However, things were on another level when using the Asus PC on my bench. The blower fan was pushing air up from the bottom, and the GPU fans were busy dispersing the heat from rendering the menu screen of Borderlands 4. The taller-than-desk-height of my bench was also probably a factor. But all that heat was literally blowing in my face, while my air conditioner worked to cool me from one side, a few feet away.

After about 10 minutes, I needed a break from the hot air blowing on me. And while my setup isn’t typical unless maybe you tend to game at a standing desk, I think even in a typical gaming setup, you may want to put this machine a little further away from you than a typical gaming PC. It’s not that it generates more heat than other high-end rigs, but its open-frame nature and the bottom blower fan distribute that heat much differently than a more traditional case, where most of the heat is exhausted out the back or the top, away from you.

Here, most of the heat seems to come forward, directly off the motherboard. And if your desk is cramped, I don’t think that would lend itself to a comfortable gaming experience – at least during the warmer months. I’d suggest planning to position the system 3-4 feet from your monitor and your face. If that means you have to upgrade your desk, you should. The system also weighs nearly 60 pounds, so you might want to anyway – and if you spent this many thousands of dollars on a gaming rig, you can almost certainly also afford a new slab of furniture for it to sit on.

Also, I find it curious that Asus’ ROG 20th anniversary GPU supports two power connectors (a typical 12VHPWR and a back-connector power option, and yet the motherboard the company expressly pairs it with isn’t a back-connector board that lets you take advantage of the extra wattage the GPU can take and that the 3000W PSU can dish out.

Perhaps a couple of factors were involved in the pairing. U.S. households aren’t typically wired for the voltage required to pull significantly more than 1600W. And maybe the average well-off PC builder willing to spend over $10,000 on a GPU, motherboard, cooler, and power supply might not always be astute enough to play around with a GPU capable of drawing up to 800W all on its own. I could see the whole ROG 20th Anniversary line becoming a financial burden pretty fast if the company had to deal with a significant number of RMAs and customer complaints on what must be low-volume hardware that costs several thousand dollars. Those who really want to experiment with shoving 800W into an RTX 5090 can buy the GPU separately, along with one of Asus’ compatible BTF motherboards.

A cost-no-object, screen-packed powerhouse

Circling back to cost, there’s just no getting around the fact that this system is ridiculously expensive. Putting aside the peripherals, the RAM, the SSD, and the CPU, the core ROG 20 components here costOver $10,000. Even at today’s inflated prices, you can get a more typical RTX 5090, a capable 1300W power supply, a premium X870E motherboard, a good 360mm AIO cooler, and one of the best PC cases for well less than $6,000. Cut a couple of corners and wait for a deal here and there and you could get nearly the same level of performance for not much more than $5,000 – half the price of Asus’ ROG Edition 20 parts.

Of course, those components won’t have multiple curved AMOLED screens, several pounds of copper to cool your CPU and VRMs, or a unique open-frame case like the GS20. And Asus’ ROG line has always put performance, materials, and premium design over affordability. It’s not like anyone who has been paying attention to the brand for two decades was expecting it to celebrate its anniversary by putting out cheap parts. High-end ROG components have always demanded a premium, and now that nearly everything in this space costs more, the premium has increased as well – at least for this iteration of its product line.

Also, as much as I’m not typically the type to build a PC with parts from mostly the same company, it was refreshing to actually be able to control every bit of RGB lighting with a single piece of software. I just wish Armory Crate didn’t need to download and update what seemed like 12 different modules and require multiple reboots before it could recognize and adjust the lighting on all the components in this build.

• MORE: Best PC Builds for Gaming
• MORE: How to Build a PC
• MORE: Best Gaming PC Deals

The purchaser, who made their order through Nvidia’s marketplace, was reportedly given the choice to pay the “new price” for the GPU or to lose out. Meanwhile, contact with Nvidia’s customer support team, shared in a later post, placed the blame at Asus’ door instead, suggesting that it’s actually Asus’ fault for failing to notify them of the GPU’s new pricing.

IndependentOk1031 shared their story on Reddit over the last two days. In their original post, the Redditor explains that the order was for Asus to fulfil, even at the “stupid high” price of $4,429 (or $4,607 after taxes), but it was later cancelled. An updated post shared since then goes on to explain that, after reaching out to customer support, an Nvidia customer care agent suggested that Asus wasn’t happy to fulfil the order at the price that it was listed for at the point of order, which the Redditor suggests was Friday, July 31.

According to Nvidia, that’s because the “price change update” was provided a “little late,” resulting in the cancellation. Nvidia suggests that it did try to get Asus to honor the order but, according to its agent, Asus was “unable to fulfil it at the previous price rate.” As a result, Nvidia wasn’t able to make any further steps forward. The same GPU is now listed on Nvidia’s website for $4,929.99 before tax, an increase of $500 (or 11.28%). The Redditor is still waiting on contact from an Asus supervisor to discuss the situation but notes that “the odds of anything happening are slim.”

This follows reports last week of Nvidia price rises at major tech retailers in the United States, including at Best Buy and Amazon. While the RTX 5090 Founders Edition continues to hold an MSRP of $1,999, a price still listed prominently on Nvidia’s website, pricing for this top-spec GPU means consumers have to pay thousands of dollars more. Third-party pricing data from CamelCamelCamel shows that the lowest ever pricing for this high-end Asus ROG card on Amazon to date has been $3,289.09, with current pricing set at $4,849.99 from a seller.

As our GPU price index shows, this phenomenon isn’t restricted to the RTX 5090. Current and last-gen Nvidia and AMD graphics cards across the board have all seen significant price rises in a market being badly affected by the AI boom. The cost of memory has pushed the manufacturing costs up, while the demand for the cards themselves caused by AI has caused the retail price to soar further.

With no location mentioned, it’s unclear if the Redditor has any other remedies to pursue his case further. Either way, a near-$600 price hike for a GPU already costing over two times its MSRP demonstrates the significant strain facing buyers globally in the current PC hardware market. With no sign that the market is likely to cool any time soon, buyers looking for the best GPU on sale right now could see further price hikes in the months ahead.

But that has changed of late in my experience. You’ll still pay a premium for a professional monitor, but you’ll get more than you used to. Many screens now have fast refresh, Adaptive-Sync, and features that make them suitable for gaming, entertainment, and daily productivity. One could say that they are a luxury category, and that’s where Asus’ new ProArt PA32UCDMR comes into focus. It’s a 32-inch Quantum Dot 4K OLED with 240 Hz, Adaptive-Sync, HDR10, HLG, and Dolby Vision. It also comes with a calibrator/controller combo and an all-metal chassis that features a slim and elegant design.

The PA32UCDMR’s price, as I write this, is around $1,900, so it still qualifies as expensive. But you can pay much more for a pro screen that doesn’t have fast refresh or Adaptive-Sync. Let’s take a look.

Asus ProArt PA32UCDMR Specs

The PA32UCDMR is an upgrade from last year’s PA32UCDM. It has the same specs but adds a calibrator. It isn’t the built-in kind where a little sensor flips up from the bezel. Rather, Asus created a small puck that integrates the colorimeter and an OSD controller. Control is via Asus’ DisplayWidget Center and ProArt Calibration apps, which are free downloads. You can also use Calman or ColourSpace software. The puck is called CaliContrO, which is clever, but hereafter, I’m calling it The Puck. The good part is that the monitor generates its own test patterns and stores the calibrations in the firmware. You’ll need a PC connection to make it all work.

Pro features continue with a complete list of color modes that correspond to every standard in current use. The gamut choices range from sRGB to BT.2020, with everything in between, including Adobe RGB. You can bank on the accuracy of these modes right out of the box, according to my test results, which you can see in detail on pages four and five. HDR support is nearly complete with HDR10, Hybrid Log Gamma, and Dolby Vision. Only HDR10+ is absent. HDR10 includes multiple PQ curves and the choice of P3 or 2020 gamuts.

The panel tech is Quantum Dot OLED, meaning a wide color gamut that covers over 104% of DCI-P3. The PA32UCDMR is rated for VESA DisplayHDR 400, which I verified in testing. You can expect HDR peaks of around 1,000 nits for a 3% window pattern. I measured over 420 nits from a 25% window. You also get variable brightness for both SDR and HDR.

For game content creators or well-heeled gamers, the PA32UCDMR offers 4K resolution and a 240 Hz max refresh rate. You also get Adaptive-Sync, which works on both AMD and Nvidia platforms. My response and lag tests showed this to be one of the quickest 4K OLEDs you can buy. Those results are on page two.

Physical features, beyond the gorgeous all-metal chassis and slim styling, include plenty of video inputs. You get two HDMI 2.1 ports, a DisplayPort 1.4 with Display Stream Compression (DSC), and a Thunderbolt 4 port. A second Thunderbolt serves as an output for daisy-chaining. The main USB-C port supports 96 watts for charging, while additional USB-C and USB-A ports deliver up to 15 watts. You also get internal speakers, three watts apiece.

The PA32UCDMR handily meets the requirements for professionals and users who just want a really nice monitor. At $1,900, it isn’t a bargain, but it is less expensive than many other pro monitors that aren’t as capable.

Assembly and Accessories

The PA32UCDMR ships in a large clamshell box with cardboard forms protecting the contents. The panel, base and upright are separate and go together without tools. Also included is a rigid light-blocking hood made from hard plastic and lined with light-absorbing material. It attaches magnetically to the panel and can easily be removed when you wish. The Puck comes in its own little box with a simple set of instructions. It connects to your PC or laptop. I noted that it would control the OSD when hooked up to one of the monitor’s USB-C ports. For calibration, though, it needs to have that PC in the chain. The cable bundle includes IEC power, two USB-C ports, DisplayPort, and HDMI. You also get a nice microfiber cleaning cloth.

Product 360

The PA32UCDMR’s styling is what I’d call “executive”. Though it would be massive overkill for someone just reading email and browsing the web, it’s one of those objects that makes your office or workspace look better. The silver parts you see in the photos are all aluminum with a smooth matte finish. That means the panel can be super slim, and it is indeed thinner than any other 32-inch OLED or LCD I’ve reviewed at just 1.7 inches. There is a flush bezel that disappears when the power’s off and only creates a thin frame of 7-16 millimeters. The screen is glossy, but a coating prevents reflections from washing out the image. If you want the best possible picture quality, a magnetic hood is available, made of rigid plastic and lined with light-absorbing material.

The stand is a twin-spire design with quality ergonomics. It has a small but stable base, which keeps the PA32UCDMR’s footprint efficient. Movements are firm and smooth and include a 5/20-degree tilt, a 90-degree portrait mode, and a 5.2-inch height range. There is no swivel. To control the OSD, reach behind the small protrusion at the center to find a tiny joystick and two buttons. One is a power toggle, while the other cancels whatever menu is currently active.

The input panel is up and under the right side of the component bulge in the back. It includes two HDMI 2.1 ports, a DisplayPort 1.4 with DSC, and a Thunderbolt 4 port. A second Thunderbolt port serves as an output for daisy-chaining a second monitor to the PC or Mac with a single cable. Two USB ports, one C and one A, provide support for peripherals. There is no headphone jack.

The calibrator, called CaliContrO, is a small puck with a cover for the lens. A weight slides along the cable so you can hang it from the top edge of the panel. At the top are a joystick and four touch-sensitive buttons. You can also slide your finger around the joystick, like the click wheel on an old iPod. These functions must be programmed in the DisplayWidget Center app. I’ll talk more about the calibration process in a moment.

OSD Features

The OSD is Asus ProArt standard, with a small, efficient menu that sits vertically in the lower-right corner of the screen, well away from test patterns. It appears when you press the joystick on the PA32UCDMR or on The Puck.

The PA32UCDMR is centered on its preset modes, which cover every standard currently in use. Native uses the monitor’s full color gamut, covering around 104% of DCI-P3. You also get sRGB, BT.709, Adobe RGB, P3 display and cinema, BT.2020, DICOM for medical equipment and multiple flavors of HDR10 and HLG. And there’s Dolby Vision, which is still a rarity on computer monitors. Three memory slots accommodate custom calibrations created by the ProArt Calibration app. Each preset can be tweaked in the OSD for gamma, color temp, and other parameters.

Signal range is an important setting when mastering different content types. Auto works in most cases, but you can specify the thresholds if you wish. Included here is SDI 4-1019, which is a 10-bit standard for commercial video applications. It maps image data from level 4 to 1019 while reserving 0-3 and 1020-1023 for audio and time codes.

The PA32UCDMR has Asus’ QuickFit feature, which puts markers and frames on the screen to aid in composition. You can specify different aspect ratios and display rulers for help with scaling.

Rapid Rendering is an important sub-menu because it’s where you control the PA32UCDMR’s Adaptive-Sync. It’s turned off by default, so to enable G-Sync or FreeSync, select one of the four options. FreeSync Premium Pro only works up to 120 Hz. For the full 240 Hz, choose either Native or Upto 240 Hz. Once enabled, it worked for me without issue.

Finally, two of the quick menu options can be programmed for quick access to different functions like brightness or specific preset modes.

Asus ProArt PA32UCDMR Setup And Hands-on

The PA32UCDMR’s calibration procedure is a little different than what I’ve encountered from ProArt monitors with a built-in sensor. There is no calibration menu in the OSD. Instead, you must install DisplayWidget Center and ProArt Calibration on your PC or Mac. The Puck is then plugged into the computer, where it is controlled from the desktop.

DisplayWidget Center fully mimics the OSD, so you can control everything from a Windows or Mac desktop. ProArt is a plugin that manages calibration and stores the results in the PA32UCDMR’s internal firmware. You can also use your own meters with Calman or ColourSpace if you wish. Calibrations can be scheduled to run while you’re away.

Any preset mode can be calibrated, or you can create up to three custom configurations with any combination of gamut, gamma, and color temp you wish. You can also calibrate the HDR modes with equal flexibility and precision. I noted that with the light hood in place, there was no place to run The Puck’s wire to hang it on the screen. Other Asus hoods I’ve seen include a little doggy door for the meter, but this one is completely solid. Fortunately, it’s easy to remove just the top piece when you need to.

For my purposes, I found the presets to be spot-on for color and grayscale and slightly off for gamma. You’ll see those results on pages four and five. In the HDR10 mode, there are three Perceptual Quantization (PQ) options, Clip, Basic and Optimized. Clip is the closest to standard.

The preset modes can be tweaked in the OSD, but their default settings are accurate to industry standards. Here is a quick reference that shows their default parameters.

With imaging squared away, I turned to game setup. There aren’t any options like strobing or overdrive, but I did have to turn on Adaptive-Sync as it was off by default. That’s done in the Rapid Rendering menu where you get four options. To get AS at 240 Hz, select either Native or Upto 240 Hz. The other two top out at 120 Hz. For my GeForce RTX 4090-based PC, G-Sync worked perfectly at all frame rates. When I set a game like Doom Eternal to max detail, I see around 220 FPS in 4K resolution.

Gameplay for me generated no notes. I couldn’t find anything negative about the PA32UCDMR’s abilities as a frag-worthy tool. It’s one of the fastest OLEDs I’ve experienced with perfectly smooth motion and instant control response. Run-and-gun maneuvers were easy and intuitive. Aiming was always precise with most shots landing on target and minimal wasted ammo. Color and contrast, especially for HDR titles, was exemplary. Though I don’t expect a lot of users to shop the PA32UCDMR as a gaming display, it competes with the best I’ve seen.

For everyday productivity, the PA32UCDMR is complete overkill but on the other hand, it’s a really nice monitor with a gorgeous image. Does it matter that I wouldn’t use all its features just to play games, edit Word documents or prepare graphics in Photoshop? Not a bit when it’s so enjoyable to use, and so beautiful to look at. I likened it to a piece of high-end furniture. Yes, you can make a nice desk from a door and two filing cabinets (ask me how I know), but a sexy piece of glass supported by slim metal legs is way cooler. If you have that desk, the PA32UCDMR is the perfect complement.

The image is as stunning as any premium OLED I’ve experienced. Color is vibrant and saturated. I used the PA32UCDMR in its Native mode for most SDR applications. sRGB was handy for photo work and just a couple of clicks away. HDR looked even more impressive. And it was nice to have Dolby Vision available. There’s plenty of content on Netflix and Disney+ that looks better on the PA32UCDMR than anything outside a premium television.

Takeaway: I found no negatives during daily use of the PA32UCDMR. Whether creating content, text or graphics, or watching a TV show or playing a game, it brought pleasure to all activities. It is completely qualified for professional applications like video post-production or photography. Though a $1,900 monitor might seem indulgent, it is true that you never regret buying the best. For every use I can think of, the PA32UCDMR has few, if any, equals.

MORE: Best Gaming Monitors

MORE: How We Test PC Monitors

MORE: How to Buy a PC Monitor

I don’t test many professional monitors, so you won’t see comparison charts in this review. Rather, I’ve simply laid out my test results with comments.

Pixel Response and Input Lag

Click here to read up on our pixel response and input lag testing procedures.

· Response Time Full black to white transition – 0.12ms

· Absolute Input Lag Full black to white transition – 14.9ms

That being said, the PA32UCDMR could easily compete with and beat many speedy gaming monitors. Most OLEDs I’ve tested since acquiring the Nvidia LDAT draw a one-inch square in 0.24ms. This one manages the feat in 0.12ms. Though the human eye won’t perceive this difference in gaming content, it can be seen in moving test patterns rendered at perfect resolution. That is, there is no loss of clarity when comparing moving objects to static ones. That makes things like camera pans look better, and you can more precisely aim and fire when you want to.

The PA32UCDMR is also a champ in the input lag test, where it averaged just 14.9ms over 25 mouse clicks. That is a real-world test similar to what you’ll see on a monitor equipped with Nvidia’s Latency Analyzer. This is also one of the fastest times I’ve recorded for any OLED at any refresh rate. The current record holders are LG’s 27GX790 and Philips’ 27M2N8500, which scored 10.0ms at 360 Hz. That the PA32UCDMR is only a tick behind at 240 Hz speaks to its quality and precision. Any competition gamer would consider this monitor an essential tool.

Test Takeaway: The PA32UCDMR is super quick and would serve any pro-gamer well. Its low response time means the fastest motion remains perfectly clear. That includes moving objects and panning backgrounds. If you’re a more casual player, it still provides a play advantage thanks to its precise movement and aiming capabilities.

Viewing Angles

The PA32UCDMR exhibits excellent off-axis image quality, but if you look closely, you can see a slight red tint, which indicates it is a Quantum Dot screen. This is nearly impossible to spot in actual content. The gray step pattern is a torture test here. There is no change in brightness or gamma. The top view is a bit washed out but still reasonably bright and free of heavy color shifts.

Screen Uniformity

To learn how we measure screen uniformity, click here.

· Screen Uniformity Deviation From Center 0% Black Field – 2.09%

Many pro monitors include uniformity compensation, but the PA32UCDMR doesn’t and doesn’t need to. 2.09% is about as good as it gets for any flat panel display. There are no visible anomalies in content or in any of the test patterns I observed. This is excellent performance.

MORE: Best Gaming Monitors

MORE: How We Test PC Monitors

MORE: How to Buy a PC Monitor

To read about our monitor tests in-depth, please check out Display Testing Explained: How We Test PC Monitors. We cover brightness and contrast testing on page two.

Maximum Backlight Level

· Maximum White Luminance Native Mode – 415.4752 nits

· Maximum Black Luminance Native Mode – 0 nit

· Maximum Contrast Ratio Native Mode – Unmeasurable

· ANSI Contrast Native Mode – Unmeasurable

The PA32UCDMR includes a Constant Brightness toggle in the Settings menu. When turned off, a 25% window pattern measures just over 415 nits. That is typical of the DisplayHDR 400-rated OLEDs I’ve tested. A 3% window is claimed to be around 1,000 nits. A full field measures 240 nits, so that’s the peak you can expect when Constant Brightness is on. For SDR, this is my preferred setting, as it keeps everything more consistent-looking, which is ultimately better for long work sessions. I generally save variable brightness for HDR video and game content.

Test Takeaway: The PA32UCDMR delivers typical OLED numbers in my brightness and contrast tests. It’s not super bright, but it is more than bright enough for any indoor environment. Black levels are immeasurable, which is why contrast is too. The image is gorgeous in every respect.

MORE: Best Gaming Monitors

MORE: How We Test PC Monitors

MORE: How to Buy a PC Monitor

Grayscale and Gamma Tracking

To test the PA32UCDMR’s preset modes, I measured each one at its default settings. You can tweak them in the OSD with color temp and gamma presets, or calibrate them using The Puck and the ProArt Calibration app.

Our grayscale and gamma tests use Calman calibration software from Portrait Displays. We describe our grayscale and gamma tests in detail here.

The only variations you’ll see in the grayscale tests is gamma tracking. It’s referenced at different points depending on mode, either 2.2, 2.4 or 2.6. What I observed consistently is that it runs a tad light. This isn’t a big deal for an OLED since contrast is so high. But as a professional screen, the PA32UCDMR should be right on the yellow line. This can easily be tightened up with a calibration using The Puck. I noted that the PA32UCDMR correctly rendered a D63 color temp for P3 Cinema and D65 for P3 Display.

Color Gamut Accuracy

Our color gamut and volume testing use Portrait Displays’ Calman software. For details on our color gamut testing and volume calculations, click here.

The PA32UCDMR’s color gamut results are exemplary. No mode is greater than 2dE for the 32-point average. The highest number is for BT.2020 and that’s simply because there isn’t quite enough color to cover its large space. Volumes run between 95 and 99% for the most part. 2020 covers just under 75% and Adobe RGB tops out at 91%. That’s because there isn’t enough green, a typical issue with today’s professional displays. If you want full Adobe coverage, you’ll need an LCD with a special CCFL backlight that delivers the extra green. OLED hasn’t quite gotten there yet.

Grayscale, Gamma and Color Gamut Test Summary

I pulled all the numbers into a table so you can see how each mode performed out of the box. There is no need to calibrate the PA32UCDMR unless you want to get below 1dE for color or tighten up the gamma tracking. This is what I’d expect from an Asus ProArt monitor or any professional screen for that matter.

Test Takeaway: I have yet to find an Asus ProArt monitor that didn’t perform at the highest level. The PA32UCDMR has visually perfect color out of the box and is ready for any task, be it productivity, entertainment, or color-critical work. Gamma, in general, runs a tad light, but that can be tightened up with The Puck and the ProArt Calibration app.

MORE: Best Gaming Monitors

MORE: How We Test PC Monitors

MORE: How to Buy a PC Monitor

Our HDR benchmarking uses Portrait Displays’ Calman software. To learn about our HDR testing, see our breakdown of how we test PC monitors.

The PA32UCDMR is one of the most capable HDR monitors you can buy. It supports multiple PQ curves for HDR10 plus Hybrid Log Gamma and Dolby Vision. The only thing it doesn’t have is HDR10+.

HDR Brightness and Contrast

· HDR White Luminance – 420.0729 nits

· HDR Black Level – 0 nit

· HDR Sequential Contrast – Unmeasurable

The PA32UCDMR is rated for VESA DisplayHDR 400 and exceeds that rating when measured with a 25% window pattern. Asus claims 1,000 nits for a 3% window, and this result casts no doubt on that. Black levels and contrast cannot be measured. I noted that peak brightness was about the same regardless of which PQ curve was selected. You can expect the same numbers for Dolby Vision content as well. It is possible to engage constant brightness for HDR content, but it looks much better when that’s left off.

Grayscale, EOTF and Color

The PA32UCDMR’s HDR color accuracy is equal to what I found in SDR mode. For this test, I used HDR10 with a BT.2020 gamut and PQ Clip. Grayscale tracking is perfect with all errors below 2dE. The EOTF runs a tad dark from 0 to 40% where it meets the reference line up to the tone-map transition point at 65% brightness. This is correct for the measured black and white thresholds.

In the color test, there is slight oversaturation throughout the gamut range for both DCI-P3 and BT.2020. This is typical of the HDR monitors I’ve measured, though the PA32UCDMR isn’t quite as over-the-top as some others. I would expect to see this behavior given its professional aspirations. This can be tightened up with a calibration if you wish.

Test Takeaway: The PA32UCDMR is a reference display for HDR content. It will look superior to just about any other OLED outside of a premium TV, or another pro monitor. LCD? Yeah, not even close. This is a great monitor, whether you buy it as a professional tool or simply to enjoy its gorgeous picture and elegant styling.

MORE: Best Gaming Monitors

MORE: How We Test PC Monitors

MORE: How to Buy a PC Monitor

Professional monitors were once very expensive tools that only made sense for working pros who needed a reference display that was also adjustable and built for long-term use. Style and entertainment were non-factors. And you were expected to provide your own color meter and software to keep them tuned. That’s all changed in recent times, to the point where you can now buy a premium display that’s ready to go out of the box, and can play games with the best, and function as a luxury screen for daily use.

The Asus ProArt PA32UCDMR embodies this trend with a $1,900 32-inch QD-OLED panel that not only delivers accuracy but also includes a colorimeter and the means to keep it in check, with easy-to-use software that’s a free download. It also has gaming cred with a 240 Hz refresh rate, 4K resolution, Adaptive-Sync, and some of the quickest response and lowest input lag of any gaming OLED.

Usually, I would say it’s a great pro monitor that performs well in games. But with such elegant styling included in the deal, I cannot dismiss its appeal as a luxury display that would look good in any modern office, media room, or workspace. Yes, it’s expensive. But it’s not as costly as many pro monitors. It has a gorgeous picture and every capability a user could want for any task or form of entertainment.

The PA32UCDMR isn’t just a pro monitor. It’s a fully capable display that games brilliantly, gets through workday tasks with ease, offers flexible calibration and looks great doing it. If you need a professional tool, a reference display, or just want a really nice monitor, the Asus ProArt PA32UCDMR is well worth checking out.

MORE: Best Gaming Monitors

MORE: How We Test PC Monitors

MORE: How to Buy a PC Monitor

The VESA DisplayHDR True Black 1400 specs are rather strenuous. Earning this certification means that your display must “reproduce black levels of 0.0005 nits or lower while achieving peak brightness of 1,400 nits at a 10% On Pixel Ratio (OPR),” notes Samsung. Peak brightness is also boosted by 40% compared to VESA’s previous highest certification level, True Black 1000. In terms of actual brightness readings, Samsung’s new tandem OLEDs offer up to 1,600 nits, which is 40% higher than the 1,100-nit peak brightness of conventional OLED panels with a single emissive layer.

In case you haven’t heard of tandem OLED display panels, a big clue to their boosted visual performance is in the name. This display architecture stacks two organic emissive layers to improve light-emitting efficiency and achieve higher brightness. Another benefit is that the dual operation of the panels means a “tandem OLED can produce greater brightness using the same current or reduce the load on each emissive layer at the same brightness level, extending the panel’s lifespan,” notes Samsung in today’s press release. Thus, this kind of panel isn’t necessarily going to crater your laptop battery life when you only require modest brightness levels, as in a typical home/office environment, for example.

Lenovo’s Yoga Pro 9i Aura Edition was the first device to feature Samsung’s new tandem OLED panel. Meanwhile, devices from Asus, Dell, and MSI are going to hit retail sometime in H2 this year.

We’ve already seen tandem OLED-enhanced desktop monitors launched from brands like Alienware, Gigabyte, and MSI. Samsung Display’s local rival, LG Display, is also gearing up to compete in this premium market segment.

Most of these glasses top out at a 120 Hz refresh rate and weren’t designed specifically for a gaming audience (though many can be used for gaming). That is changing with the Asus ROG Xreal R1, which is a collaborative effort from two big names in tech. Not only does the R1 boost the maximum refresh rate to 240 Hz to appease hardcore gamers, but it also serves as a breakout box for gaming on your PC, Xbox, PlayStation, or Switch.

The R1 promises and delivers a lot, but it comes at an even higher price than Asus’ AirVision M1, which debuted at $700 two years ago.

Design of the Asus ROG Xreal R1

Although it shares many of the same internals as the Xreal One Series AR glasses, the R1 has an unmistakable ROG flair. Whereas the “One” glasses have smooth surfaces and rounded edges, the R1 has a more angular design and chamfers along the temples. And in keeping with ROG design ethos, there is a line of 9 LEDs along both temples, along with Republic of Gamers etchings.

The glasses are constructed from high-quality plastic, which feels similar to that of the Xreal One and One Pro. But whereas the Xreal glasses have a soft, matte finish, the R1 has a shimmering grey finish. Unlike the One glasses, the R1 doesn’t have a detachable front frame, which probably isn’t too much of a hindrance, as the glasses already have a clean, modern aesthetic when viewed from the front.

The R1 features open-air speakers along the temples, with a USB-C port at the rear of the left temple. The top of the right temple features a programmable Quick button. On the underside of the right temples, you’ll find a menu button and a rocker switch that navigates through the menu system. When the menu is inactive, that same rocker switch adjusts the display brightness.

The R1 uses a flat-prism lens design, resulting in much less visual heft near your eyes than traditional bird bath lenses. This design also results in a 57-degree field of view, which is identical to the One Pro. Content is projected using dual 0.55-inch Sony Micro-OLED displays, featuring a 0.01 ms response time and a 240 Hz refresh rate (double that of competing AR glasses) with Frame Rate Boost enabled. The glasses can also project an image equivalent to up to 171 inches across at a distance of 4 meters.

Three levels of electrochromic dimming are offered on the R1. The darkest setting blocks most, but not all, environmental light to heighten the sense of immersion while gaming or viewing media content. Electrochromic dimming is a must at this price point, since less expensive glasses rely on cheap physical plastic light blockers to achieve the same effect. And the physical light blockers are an all-or-nothing affair, with no granularity in their light-blocking abilities.

One other item of note: The R1 features the same accessory port between the nose pads that accepts the Xreal 6 DoF camera module.

In addition to the R1, the retail box includes a hard carrying case, the USB-C-to-USB-C cable, a prescription lens frame, small and large nose pads, a polishing cloth, and the ROG Control Box.

Specifications for the Asus ROG Xreal R1

Asus Xreal ROG Control Dock and the Asus DisplayWidget Center

Our R1 review unit shipped with the ROG Control Dock. It’s a lightweight accessory designed to connect your R1 glasses to a PC or gaming console. The front of the unit has a single USB-C port for video out to your glasses. The back panel features two HDMI ports and a DisplayPort for video input. There are also two USB-C ports: one for power-in and one for power-in and data.

The dock ships with two USB-C-to-USB-A cables for connecting power and managing data throughput from your PC.

The top of the unit features a power button, an exit button, and a joystick to navigate the glasses' OSD. If you don’t want to install any additional software, you can control all R1 settings (including screen brightness, refresh rate, color modes, tint level, and more) using the joystick and the OSD.

However, I found that the easiest way to control (most of) the R1’s settings is to use the Asus DisplayWidget Center. After installing the app, the R1 appeared as a controllable “display” within it. From there, I could control R1 settings via three menu tabs: Gaming, Visual, and Spatial Screen. The only option under Gaming is to enable Frame Rate Boost, which allows you to set a maximum refresh rate of 240 Hz (up from the default 120 Hz). From the Visual tab, you can control the tint level for the electrochromic lenses, brightness, text sharpness, and color temperature. In the Spatial Screen tab, you can adjust the screen aspect ratio, screen size, screen distance, IPD (57 to 66 mm), and control spatial lock.

Using the Asus Xreal ROG R1

The R1 is designed with gaming in mind, so I dedicated most of my time to testing it in that environment. For my testing, I used two different gaming rigs: a desktop PC with a Core 7 Ultra 265k and an RTX 4060 Ti, and an MSI Claw 8 EX AI+ handheld gaming PC with an Arc G3 Extreme SoC.

Without question, working with the desktop system was the most involved, as it required using the ROG Control Dock with various wires going in and out for video and power. However, using the R1 with the Claw 8 EX AI+ proved to be the simplest, with me only needing to plug the glasses into a free Thunderbolt 4 port.

I’ll take the time here to talk about the much-ballyhooed 240 Hz refresh rate option. This mode is enabled by selecting Frame Rate Boost from the R1’s OSD. However, I found that switching to this mode resulted in worse image quality, with a blurrier image and some jitter (especially at the outer edges of the viewable area), which led to eye strain. The effect was noticeable when using the ROG Control Dock and when plugged directly into a Thunderbolt 4 port. This is the byproduct of Asus and Xreal using a software algorithm to “boost” the frame rate from its native 120 Hz.

I experienced none of the visual anomalies in the native 120 Hz mode, so the 240 Hz mode was more of a novelty to me than something I’d rely on extensively for gaming. However, your experience may vary in this respect. The R1 supports an IPD range of 57-66 mm, and I’m just outside that range at 71 mm. So it could have been that my eyes were more sensitive to the 240 Hz mode.

While gaming on the desktop, I was able to play Battlefield 6 at 1080p and achieve over 100 FPS with DLSS Balanced enabled at High quality settings. Likewise, I easily hit similar FPS with details maxed out playing Lego Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight.

The monitor I use for gaming is a 49-inch DQHD 240 Hz OLED, and I love the widescreen gaming aspect ratio. Being limited to 1080p resolution just didn’t seem to do the desktop gaming experience justice for me when using the R1. Yes, the image quality and response times are good, but if I’m sitting at my desk, I’d rather use my monitor.

That whole sentiment changes, however, when gaming on the Claw 8 EX AI+. Going from the 8-inch 1200p display to the simulated 171-inch 1080p display, with no limits on mobility, is an amazing experience. Since there’s only one cable to manage, going from the R1 to the handheld, you have great freedom in where you can game. From gaming on the couch, to the car, to your back porch, to sitting at the airport during a layover – the big-screen sensation that isthe R1 follows you anywhere.

Given the Xreal One Pro starting point, it’s no surprise that the R1 uses similar (or perhaps the same) Bose-tuned open-air speakers. As with the One Pro, the speakers are decent, with a respectable amount of bass and clarity at moderate to high volume levels. If you just want a low-impact, throw-on-and-go experience with the R1 and a gaming handheld, you’ll be more than pleased with the sound output. However, if you want the best mobile gaming experience, nothing is stopping you from also wearing a high-quality pair of wireless earbuds or headphones.

Bottom Line

The Asus ROG Xreal R1 glasses are a real testament to what’s possible when two companies at the top of their game work together on a singular product. Xreal is arguably the leader in modern AR glasses, while Asus is among the leading players in gaming peripherals, laptops, and handhelds. They’ve created an impressive product with a 240 Hz refresh mode, customizable RGB lighting effects, and support for the existing Xreal accessory ecosystem (namely the Xreal Eye camera).

The included ROG Control box lets you connect an HDMI or DisplayPort output from your graphics card to the glasses. It also provides quick access to the R1’s controls using the top-mounted joystick.

But the R1 really comes alive when used with a handheld gaming PC like Asus’ own ROG Ally, or a competing device like the MSI Claw 8 EX AI+. The R1 connects to these devices via a single cable and delivers a fully “mobile” gaming experience projected onto a virtual 171-inch display.

However, the primary sticking point with the R1, like many other high-end AR headsets, is the price tag. $849.99 is a tremendously high price, even with the ROG Control Box included. For example, the Xreal One Pro is $599, the Xreal One S is $449, while the RayNeo Air 4 Pro will set you back just $239. If you look past the 240 Hz mode (which can be hit-or-miss depending on the person), is the R1 really worth $250 more than the One Pro, or over $500 more than the Air 4 Pro? The objective answer is no on both counts.

Design of the Asus ROG Strix Scar 18 (2026)

At 15.71 x 11.73 x 1.38 inches, the Scar 18 has the footprint of a cafeteria tray – this isn’t a laptop you’ll be getting out on a plane. And at 8.16 pounds, this is also one of the heaviest laptops on the market. But performance is the goal here, not portability. Razer’s Blade 18 (15.74 x 10.84 x 1.1 inches) is thinner and significantly lighter, at 7.06 pounds.

The vibrant Aura Sync lightbar around the base of the laptop also demands attention, as does the RGB-lit Republic of Gamers logo on the lid. Both are configurable with customizable lighting and patterns in the Armoury Crate app.

The lid also has a special feature called AniMe vision, a diagonally scrolling marquee of text via LEDs shining through holes in the lid backing. (This is extremely similar to the AniMe Matrix that debuted on the Zephyrus line years ago.) There are several preconfigured versions of the Republic of Gamers logo, and you can add your own text effects. Layered effects are possible and don’t always produce the desired effect — I had a “raining” effect enabled at the same time as my text, and the text was almost impossible to make out.

The bottom line is that the Scar 18 couldn’t do anything more to look like a gaming laptop – it is designed to be seen. Build-wise, it’s a solid machine, showing minimal flex no matter how I handled it. Only the lid is metal, with the rest of the construction thick plastic.

Connectivity is thoroughly modern: two Thunderbolt 5 (USB-C) and three USB-A 3.2 Gen 2 ports, HDMI 2.1, an audio combo jack, and 2.5 Gbps Ethernet. Internally, it offers Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4 from an Intel BE200 networking card. The power connector is proprietary for the 450 W power brick.

Specifications

Gaming and Graphics on the Asus ROG Strix Scar 18 (2026)

We tested the ROG Strix Scar 18 in flagship form, featuring a Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus processor, RTX 5090 graphics card (175 W maximum graphics power), and 32GB of RAM. This is top-of-the-line gaming technology, though with one misstep: single-channel RAM. This might affect its performance as we’re about to see. The Task Manager confirms that only one SO-DIMM slot was used.

I put the Scar 18 through its paces playing 007: First Light at 3840 x 2400 with all detail settings maxed out. At first, this proved too demanding – I saw 26 to 32 frames per second (FPS) in most scenes. Enabling DLSS more than doubled the frame rate – I saw around 70 FPS or better, and the game was supremely playable.

Our comparison lineup includes Alienware’s 16 Area-51 (RTX 5080), MSI’s Raider 16 Max HX (RTX 5090), and Razer’s Blade 18 (RTX 5090). All laptops use a Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus and have GPUs rated for 175 W like our Asus. Their native screen resolutions, however, are different: Alienware and MSI are 2560 x 1600 while Razer has a unique dual-model display supporting both 1920 x 1200 and 3840 x 2400.

The Scar 18 was competitive across the board at 1200p, typically a few FPS ahead of the Alienware but a few FPS behind the MSI and particularly the Razer.

Bumping the resolution to 4K, the Scar 18 trailed the Razer in most games – the delta was at or almost 10% in Shadow of the Tomb Raider, Far Cry 6, Cyberpunk 2077, and F1 23. (Red Dead Redemption 2 was the exception.) While those numbers won't make the difference between playability and unplayability, the price of these laptops makes it difficult to overlook.

Differences versus the Razer aside, the Scar 18 still demonstrates ample performance for gaming at 4K in most of the games we tested, though not all – it averaged only 21 FPS in Cyberpunk 2077 on ray tracing ultra, indicating that it won't be possible to play every game at maximum detail settings.

We stress test gaming laptops running 15 loops of the Metro Exodus stress test at RTX settings. During the test, the Scar 18 averaged 141 FPS with minimal variance between runs, starting at 141.5 FPS and finishing at 141.1 FPS. The Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus CPU averaged 4.59 GHz on its P-cores and 2.58 GHz on its E-cores while the RTX 5090 had an average boost clock of 1.98 GHz.

Productivity Performance on the Asus ROG Strix Scar 18 (2026)

We tested the Scar 18 with a Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus CPU, 32GB of RAM, and a 1TB PCIe 4.0 SSD. Not including a PCIe 5.0 drive seems like a missed opportunity at this price, though Razer does the same thing.

In Geekbench 6, the single-core numbers between these laptops were almost indistinguishable as we might expect given they all use the Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus, though the Scar 18’s multi-core score of 17,629 points significantly trailed the others, which all scored over 20,000 points.

The Scar 18 landed middle of the road in our 25GB file transfer test, averaging 2,042.69 MBps, putting it ahead of the MSI (1,357.93 MBps) and Razer (1,670.53 MBps) but behind the Alienware (2,738.9 MBps).

The Scar 18 also proved competitive in our 4K-to-1080p Handbrake transcoding test, completing it in two minutes and 11 seconds to lead the Alienware (2:24) but trail the MSI (1:51) and Razer (2:01).

Display on the Asus ROG Strix Scar 18 (2026)

The Scar 18’s “Nebula” HDR display is its crowning feature. With a 3840 x 2400 (4K) resolution, mini-LED backlighting with 2,000 dimming zones, a 240 Hz refresh rate, and Nvidia G-Sync, this is quite advanced.

Tweaking is required to get this display to perform as intended, and it’s not simple. Out of the box, HDR is disabled, the refresh rate is capped at 120 Hz, and G-Sync is unavailable since Nvidia Optimus, which dynamically switches between the CPU’s integrated graphics and the RTX 5090, is enabled. To unlock maximum performance, the GPU must be put in “Ultimate” mode in Armoury Crate, which is effectively a MUX toggle that disables the integrated graphics. A restart is required for this to take effect. G-Sync, the 240 Hz refresh rate, and a special feature called “Extreme Low Motion Blur” (ELMB) then become available. The latter is aimed at esports players– it manipulates the pixels so that they turn off when switching colors, theoretically eliminating blur. (More on this in a moment.)

Those aren’t the only settings you’ll need to know about. You can toggle the mini-LED backlighting control between one zone, multi-zone balanced, or multi-zone strong. These settings produce very different images – one-zone provides the deepest contrast, multi-zone balanced is the dimmest but evens out the contrast to make dark scenes appear brighter, and multi-zone strong is the brightest and most vibrant. I stuck with the latter for nearly everything.

ELMB only works in one-zone mode without HDR. I tested it using the Blur Blusters UFO Test. It clearly made a difference – in the 240 fps scrollbar, the UFO looked crisp moving across the screen. Disabling ELMB caused it to become blurry, making it harder to see details. This feature can really matter for competitive esports.

But wait, there are even more settings! Armoury Crate includes many color modes through a feature called GameVisual — racing, scenery, RTS/RPG, fps, cinema, eyecare, vivid, and e-reading. On top of that, it also provides color temperature and gamut settings.

Then there’s the question of HDR. To get that working, it must first be enabled in the Windows Settings app. Back in Armoury Crate, you’ll find GameVisual, color temperature and gamut settings, Extreme Low Motion Blur, and mini-LED backlighting settings are no longer available. That’s the trade-off.

Complicating all this is that the settings I just mentioned are in different places in Armoury Crate. Some are in the display section, while others require going into the Devices section, selecting the Scar 18, and making changes there. It’s not straightforward, and those that simply use this laptop out of the box without tweaking won’t get the best visual experience.

After much experimentation, I played 007: First Light in GPU Ultimate mode, G-Sync enabled, a 240 Hz refresh rate, and True Color HDR enabled through Windows. The picture left little to the imagination – colors seemed to pop off the screen and the 4K resolution provided exquisite detail right down to the patches on Bond’s uniform. HDR effects from muzzle flashes and explosions were dazzling in dark environments.

When I watched Zootopia 2, I switched off HDR and used SDR multi-zone strong. Colors looked exquisite, and brightness was borderline excessive in a darker room. Bright objects like lamps almost seemed overexposed, but they weren’t – the display was simply that bright, and colors were so saturated that I found it hard to look away.

The Scar 18’s numbers are from its default out-of-the-box display settings. In color coverage, its 77.9% DCI-P3 coverage was last in the group – Alienware's OLED screen achieved 93.7% — but is still high enough to create vibrant-looking colors. Its 428.2-nit peak brightness was mid-pack, brighter than the Alienware's 368.6 nits but well back from Razer's 538 nits.

Also shown in our charts are the multi-zone strong settings, which produced 584.6 nits of brightness, with parts peaking at 625 nits. Enabling HDR, we measured an astounding 1,124 nits at 10%, 1,090 nits at 40%, and 943 nits at 100%. If you're looking for one of the brightest laptop displays around, the Scar 18 ranks high on the list.

Keyboard and Touchpad on the Asus ROG Strix Scar 18 (2026)

The Scar 18’s keyboard is great for gaming – the keys require enough actuation force that resting your fingers on WASD or the arrow keys won’t produce accidental presses. Key travel is communicative in the sense your fingers know exactly when a key is at the top or bottom of the stroke. The bright RGB backlight is sharp and easy to see.

The keyboard is less ideal for productivity. The tactile feel is rather lifeless, though I still managed 126 words per minute with 99% accuracy in my usual MonkeyType run. Layout-wise, a two-thirds-size number pad on an 18-inch laptop is a miss – there’s plenty of space to make it full-size. Additionally, the arrow key cluster isn’t separated out, resulting in no right Ctrl key, and there are no dedicated Home, End, Page Up, or Page Down keys. Asus does, however, provide five dedicated macro keys, a rarity on any laptop. These are configurable in the Armoury Crate app.

Asus’ mechanical touchpad is excellent, with an expansive surface and a smooth but fingerprint-resistant surface coating. Its clicking action is quiet.

Audio on the Asus ROG Strix Scar 18 (2026)

The Scar 18’s quad-speaker array delivers a decent, if not remarkable, audio experience. In 007: First Light, soft details like the footsteps of approaching enemies were easy to pinpoint, thanks to the expansive soundstage – there’s plenty of room to separate the speaker placement on a laptop this large. Bass is muted, though, resulting in explosions and gunfire that don’t stir up as much excitement as they could.

In Phil Collins’ “Don’t Lose My Number,” high hats on drum hits were sharp but missed low-end bump. Switching to the Chainsmokers’ “Summertime Friends,” I also noted the lack of bass, though the vocals were crisp. The overall sound signature is on the hollow side, but that can be sharpened up using the Atmos Detailed equalizer in the Dolby Access app. None of the equalizers made up for the lack of bass, though. Volume levels are also moderate – I found myself pushing at least 80% volume for most situations.

Upgradeability of the Asus ROG Strix Scar 18 (2026)

Getting inside the Scar 18 couldn’t be easier – simply slide the latch below the palm rest, slide the entire bottom panel forward, and lift it away. You don't even need tools.

Upgrade possibilities include two M.2 slots, two SODIMM slots, and the battery.

Battery Life on the Asus ROG Strix Scar 18 (2026)

Our battery test consists of web browsing, running OpenGL tests, and streaming videos with the screen at 150 nits while connected to Wi-Fi.

One minute shy of the five-hour mark, the Scar 18 demonstrates respectable battery life for an 18-inch gaming laptop. The Razer lasted half an hour longer (5:31) and the MSI Raider (8:34) clearly does a better job conserving power, but the Scar 18 did outperform the Alienware (3:33) by several hours.

Heat on the Asus ROG Strix Scar 18 (2026)

We measure the surface temperatures of gaming laptops while running the Metro Exodus stress test. Peak temperatures were 91 degrees Fahrenheit on the keyboard between the G and H keys, 90 F on the touchpad, and 108 F on the underside near the cooling vents. Internally, the Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus averaged 66 Celsius while the RTX 5090 ran at 64 C.

The laptop’s fans are well-behaved for daily use. Though fan noise increases while gaming, I had no trouble hearing footsteps and distant conversations in 007: First Light using the built-in speakers.

Webcam on the Asus ROG Strix Scar 18 (2026)

Asus’ FHD webcam has the minimum resolution expected on a modern laptop. The picture looks soft and washed out. Highlights aren’t handled that well – a window in the background appeared blown out – and I had trouble making out details on my face from just a few feet away. Gamers who value visual quality will want to invest in an external webcam.

Software and Warranty on the Asus ROG Strix Scar 18 (2026)

Asus includes a useful software bundle, starting with the familiar Armoury Crate. This app provides component monitoring, a macro editor, game library, an exhaustive amount of display settings, and lighting settings via Aura Sync and AniMe Vision. Accessing some settings is unintuitive since you need to go to the Device section and select the laptop. There you can access Windows key and Touchpad toggles and several display settings, including panel overdrive (240 Hz refresh rate). Most settings can be saved in profiles.

The MyAsus app is more generic. In addition to diagnostics and system updates, it provides a battery care mode, microphone noise cancelation, and networking preferences that allow prioritizing traffic to games or other apps.†

The Scar 18 also works with Asus’ GlideX app to share content across devices, including phones and tablets.

Asus includes a standard one-year warranty.

Configurations

Asus offers two Scar 18 configurations with only the GPU different between them – model G835LWG-DB96 uses an RTX 5080 for $4,299.99 while our review model, G835LXG-DB96, steps up to the RTX 5090 for $4,999.99. All other components are the same: a Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus processor, 32GB of RAM, a 1TB SSD, and the 18-inch mini-LED display.

Pricing is slightly higher than Razer’s Blade 18 with the RTX 5080 – it was $4,099 at this writing. Razer runs $5,399 with the RTX 5090, but that price also includes a 2TB SSD.

Bottom Line

The Scar 18 is an undeniably impressive machine that goes all-in on visuals. Its mini-LED “Nebula” display looks breathtaking when properly configured, producing exceptional brightness. The AniMe scrolling marquee, dedicated macro keys, and easy serviceability also elevate its appeal.

However, when it comes to performance, the Scar 18’s single-channel RAM and lack of a PCIe 4.0 SSD are significant shortcomings on a $4,999.99 machine. Several of our gaming benchmarks and multi-core CPU performance showed meaningful dips against Razer’s Blade 18. Additionally, while its display is brilliant, the maze of settings required to unlock its potential means it doesn’t provide the best experience out of the box.

Overall, the Scar 18 is a formidable and visually stunning laptop with plenty of power and one of the best displays you’ll find in a laptop. It simply doesn’t perform consistently enough to displace the Blade 18 as our top recommendation among elite 18-inch gaming laptops.

The B850-Creator Neo is a ProArt-class board for creators that tries to serve that niche, offering dual 5 GbE ports and two PCIe 5.0 x4 M.2 sockets, neither of which is often found on a $299.99 motherboard. However, it doesn’t have any USB4/40 Gbps ports for connecting external storage (unlike the more expensive X870E-Creator Wifi), so any work that requires speed from your storage will have to come from the internal connections.

Outside of that, the X850-Creator Wifi Neo has enough ports and sockets to keep most budget users happy. On top of the 160 MHz Wi-Fi 7 and dual 5 GbE ports, you get eight total USB ports, though only six Type-A ports will leave some wanting. You also get three M.2 sockets (two PCIe 5.0) and a solid last-gen flagship-class audio codec. If you need more USB ports, you can use one of the two extra PCIe expansion slots for more, and even faster ports. Aside from the hardware specifications, the ProArt uses a clean, professional design with a black PCB and black heatsinks, along with metallic gold accents that spell out the ProArt branding on the VRM heatsinks.

Performance testing went as expected and was quite similar to most other boards we tested. Overall, it performed well across most of our benchmark suite. It was competent at gaming and also above average at most tests, including rendering (as we’ll see in detail later), so there's nothing to worry about in terms of performance, no matter how you want to use this motherboard.

Below, we’ll examine the B850-Creator Neo’s performance and other features, although as you have probably guessed from the score above, it won't make it to our list of the best motherboards. But before we share test results and discuss details, here are the specifications from Asus’ website:

Specifications of the Creator Wifi Neo

Inside the Box

Asus includes a few accessories to get you started, including the typical collection of cables, antennas, and guides, but not much else, as is typical for this class of motherboard. We’ve listed the accessories inside the box below:

• (4) SATA 6Gb/s cables
• Thermal pad for M.2 22110
• ASUS WiFi Q-Antenna
• Q-connector
• (3) M.2 Q-Slide package
• (5) M.2 backplate rubber packages
• ROG stickers
• ROG screwdriver
• Quick start guide

Design of the Creator Neo

The B850-Creator Wifi Neo is decidedly a ProArt board. With its all-black, 8-layer server-grade PCB design, gold accents on the heatsinks spelling out Pro Art in some form (Pro on the chipset heatsinks and Art on the left VRM heatsink. The M.2 heatsinks cover the PCIe 5.0-capable sockets, but I wouldn't call them sufficient for extended use of hot-running 5.0 drives without throttling. Outside of that, there isn’t much bling, like RGB lighting. So if that’s a part of your vision, it would need to come from the case and fans through the onboard headers.

Overall, I like the professional appearance. And what you see, a lot of motherboard showing, is typical for the price point. I just wish at least one of the PCIe 5.0 x4 sockets included a heavier heatsink.

Starting with the top-left corner, we get a better look at the two 8-pin ProCool EPS connectors (one required) to feed the processor. Next, we get a better look at the gold-accented ProArt design on the matte-finish VRM heatsinks. Moving past the socket area, the next feature we encounter is the four DRAM slots, with the locking mechanism located only on the top. Asus lists support for DDR5-8400 with 9000-series processors and higher, and DDR5-8600 for 8000-series APUs. We didn’t have any issues running our DDR5-6000 and DDR5-7200 kits with the 9900X. But, as is typical with our test hardware, we needed to break out the APU for our DDR5-8000 kit to work. If you want to get the most out of your RAM, you can use Asus’ AEMP (Asus Enhanced Memory Profile) functionality, which detects the memory ICs in the kit and provides optimized frequency, timing, and voltage profiles that you can easily apply to increase performance.

Above the DRAM slots are the first three (of seven) 4-pin fan headers. Each header supports PWM and DC-controlled devices. Each header outputs up to 3A/36W, which is plenty of output for any pump-and-fan configuration. You can even run a custom loop off the headers without worrying about power. Control of any attached devices is handled via the BIOS or Fan Expert 4 in the Armory Crate software suite. Or you can use ProArt Creator Hub to monitor PC status, switch fan profiles, and adjust performance modes.

Continuing right and moving down the long edge, the first thing we run into is the 4-LED debug header, which lights up during the POST process. If something goes wrong during this critical time, one of the LEDs corresponding to the problem (CPU, DRAM, VGA, Boot) remains lit, indicating where the hiccup is. Moving down the same edge, we then see the first two (of three) 4-pin ARGB connectors. The ProArt Creator hub or Armory Crate controls each. Next, we see the 24-pin ATX connector for board power, a front-panel USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 (20 Gbps) connector that also supports 30W PD/QC4+ charging, and a 19-pin front-panel USB 3.2 Gen 1 (5 Gbps) header.

Power delivery on the B850-Creator Wifi Neo is plenty capable, sporting 17 phases, with 14 dedicated to Vcore. Power heads from the 8-pin EPS connectors and onto the Digi+ EPU (ASP2205) voltage regulator. From there, it moves to the 80A DrMOS MOSFETs. The 1,120 Amps available isn’t a ton, but it will handle any CPU you throw at it, including the Ryzen 9 9950X or the Ryzen 9 9950X3D2.

At the bottom of the board, on the left, are the last-gen flagship Realtek ALC1220P codec and a couple of dedicated audio capacitors. This audio solution is typical for the price point, and most users won’t have any issues with it.

Next are four PCIe slots in the middle of the board. The top full-length slot uses reinforcement, connects to the CPU, supports PCIe 5.0 x16 speeds, and uses the PCIe Slot Q-Release to simplify removing a PCIe card from the motherboard. The other reinforced full-length slot also connects via the CPU and supports PCIe 5.0 x8 speeds. If both slots are in use, they run at x8/x8. The bottom full-length slot (not reinforced) connects via the chipset and supports PCIe 4.0 x4 (but it shares lanes with M.2_3). The tiny x1 slot also connects through the chipset and runs up to PCIe 4.0 x1 speeds.

There are three M.2 sockets, with the top two (under heatsinks) connecting to the processor and supporting PCIe 5.0 x4 (128 Gbps) speeds. The last M.2 socket, M.2_3 on the right, connects through the chipset and runs up to PCIe 4.0 x4 (64 Gbps) speeds. This socket shares bandwidth with the PCIe_3 slot. If either one is populated, the other gets disabled. So keep that in mind if you need to use that slot, as it will take away an M.2 socket.

Along the right edge, we find another 4-pin fan header and two (of four) SATA ports. If you need to run RAID, the SATA ports and M.2 sockets support RAID0/1/5/10 modes.

We also included images of several chips used on the board. Asus uses mainly Realtek (audio, networking), and it's own PWM ICs.

At the bottom are several headers, including front-panel audio and USB ports. A complete list of connectivity is listed below (from L to R):

• Front panel audio
• 2-pin thermal sensor header
• COM port
• 2-pin Clear CMOS
• 3-pin ARGB header
• (3) 4-pin fan headers
• TB/USB4 header
• (2) USB 2.0 headers
• (2) SATA ports
• Front panel
• Battery

The rear I/O on the B850-Creator Neo has all the basics, but lacks native 40 Gbps USB ports, which could be a concern for creators whose files are on an external drive. Outside of that, it does come with two USB-C ports, both running at 10 Gbps (USB 3.2 Gen 1), and one supporting DP Alt Mode (for video). You get two 10 Gbps and four 480 Mbps Type-A ports for a total of six, which can be limiting for some users (including me). Additionally, there are DisplayPort and HDMI for video output, a BIOS Flashback button, dual 5 GbE ports, quick-connect Wi-Fi 7, and three 3.5mm audio jacks (no SPDIF).

Note: this board uses a ‘slower’ Wi-Fi 7 that’s limited to 2.9 Gbps. It’s still plenty fast, and faster than Wi-Fi 6, but it's worth mentioning in case you’re one of the few who actually need the fastest Wi-Fi around and have the hardware to use it.

MORE: Best Motherboards

MORE: Best Motherboard Deals

MORE: Best RAM Combo Deals

MORE: How To Choose A Motherboard

MORE: All Motherboard Content

Firmware

Asus updated the BIOS layout and for the Creator Neo, using the familiar white/tan/gold that matches the ProArt theme and the mostly black board. EZ Mode is mostly informative, with system information and temperatures on the left, and quick settings for EZ Flash, Aura RGB, the Driver Hub for easy driver installation, and more in the middle. Fan control and access to full Q-Fan functionality are below. The right block displays DRAM and storage status, and Boot Priority is self-explanatory.

Advanced mode still has the headers across the top, but the shortcuts to Q-Fan and AI OC have been moved to quick settings and other locations. The right panel holds system information, including CPU frequency and temperature, in a colorful display. The main body has all the editable functionality.

Overall, I like the aesthetic update for the BIOS. It’s easy to read, and, as usual with Asus' BIOS, frequently used items are easy to find and not buried too deeply in their menus. Anything that’s a pain to access can be added to the customizable favorites screen.

Software

Armoury Crate has Several applications exist for various functions, ranging from RGB lighting control and audio to system monitoring and overclocking. It's also worth mentioning the included software. When purchasing this Asus motherboard, you get a one-year AIDA64 license – a helpful application for stress and performance testing; Asus’ Driver Hub (get your updated drivers here); Dolby Atmos (for audio); and a custom version of Hwinfo for real-time monitoring — all are helpful applications. We’ve captured a few screenshots of the applications below.

Test System / Comparison Products

We’ve updated our test system to Windows 11 (23H2) 64-bit OS with all updates applied as of late September 2024 (this includes the Branch Prediction Optimizations for AMD). Hardware-wise, we’ve updated the RAM kits (matching our Intel test system), cooling, storage, and video card. Unless otherwise noted, we use the latest publicly available non-beta motherboard BIOS. The hardware we used is as follows:

TEST SYSTEM COMPONENTS

• CPU - AMD Ryzen 9 9900X
• Cooling - Arctic Liquid Freezer II 420
• Storage - Crucial 2TB T705 M.2 PCIe 5.0 NVMe SSD
• RAM - Kingston Fury Beast DDR5-6000 CL36 (KF560C36BBEAK2-32)
• RAM - Teamgroup T-Froce Delta DDR5-7200 CL34 (FF3D518G7200HC34ABK)
• RAM - Klevv Cras XR5 RGB DDR5-8000 (KD5AGUA80-80R380S)
• GPU - Asus TUF RTX 4080 16G
• PSU - EVGA Supernova 850W P6
• Windows 11 64-bit (24H2)
• NVIDIA Driver 561.09

Benchmark Settings