Again in 1989, a couple of bold engineers met for a dialog in a espresso store in Taipei to share their dream of making a “small and exquisite firm.” A mere six years later, their firm — ASUS — had grow to be the world’s main motherboard maker. Leaping ahead to immediately, ASUS is understood for the world’s greatest motherboards and high-quality private computer systems, screens, graphics playing cards, routers, peripherals, and way more. Trying again over the historical past of PC DIY, it’s clear that ASUS has performed a pivotal function in pushing know-how ahead with revolutionary new merchandise that put unimaginable experiences into the arms of lovers and on a regular basis PC customers alike.
The early days: proof of idea
Our very first manufacturing motherboard was the ASUS ISA-386C. You’ll excuse us if we get a little bit nostalgic wanting again on rows of black ISA slots atop a inexperienced PCB. For many people, our love affair with constructing PCs began with an Intel i386 processor and motherboard like this one.
Whilst our firm was getting its sea legs, a sea change was underway within the early PC business. In 1989, the yr that ASUS was based, Intel introduced the i486 CPU. On the time, ASUS wasn’t but receiving engineering samples for upcoming Intel CPUs — a standard requirement for constructing a motherboard prototype. However that didn’t cease our engineers.
We manufactured a 486 motherboard primarily based solely on data supplied by Intel and our expertise designing 386 motherboards. We took our motherboard to an Intel facility in Taiwan for testing, the place Intel’s engineers have been amazed that we had managed to surmount design obstacles that they have been nonetheless addressing. Intel subsequently partnered with us to develop the ISA-486 motherboard. By 1992, we had established a proper partnership with Intel, and we have been producing among the most well-known and well-respected motherboards of the Nineties.
We kick off a brand new millennium with an period of speedy transformation
As our enterprise shortly developed, ASUS Chairman Jonney Shih actively educated and mentored the corporate’s new engineers, specializing in superior electronics concept and product improvement. He put in a company-wide passionate give attention to innovation. On the time, we devoted a minimum of 2 p.c of income and 10 p.c of headcount particularly to analysis and improvement — percentages that put us on par with the world’s main IT firms.
Our relentless pursuit of innovation led us into new product classes. In 1996, we debuted our first graphics card, the ASUS 375, an answer centered on business use. As PC video games more and more required graphics playing cards, we debuted the ASUS AGP-V3000 to compete with choices from Voodoo. This card was the product that allowed us to actually break into the graphics card business. Within the years that adopted, we established new business requirements by introducing the primary graphics card with a fan-enhanced heatsink in 1998, the primary graphics card with a 3D glasses equipment in 1998, and the primary graphics card with a premium black PCB in 2002.
Graphics playing cards weren’t the one new objects on our menu within the late ‘90s and early 2000s. We launched our first pocket book, the ASUS P6300, in 1997, and our first private digital assistant and 3G flip telephone in 2002 and 2003, respectively.
Even with this speedy growth of our product portfolio, we stored a give attention to our motherboard lineup. By the late Nineties, Intel’s Pentium CPUs have been synonymous with high-performance residence computing. With high-quality boards just like the ASUS P2B and AUS CUSL2-C Black Pearl, we gave PC DIY lovers rock-solid choices for constructing their Pentium-based PCs. (And in case you’re questioning, sure, we love Bizarre Al’s ode to Pentium CPUs as a lot as you do.)
Claiming management within the quickly rising world of PC gaming
The Nineties have been seminal years for the event of PC gaming, however the 2000s noticed one genre-defining hit after one other. Because the gaming business grew, so too did the demand for high-performance, high-quality {hardware} designed for overclockers and gaming lovers.
To satisfy that want, we launched the Republic of Players (ROG) in 2006. The primary ROG Motherboard — ROG Crosshair Excessive — was designed by a choose, specialised R&D group. It redefined expectations for what a motherboard may very well be, providing the ability and adaptability that allowed lovers to push the restrict of efficiency. The debut of the Crosshair Excessive catapulted the ROG model ahead, and ROG has remained a gaming {hardware} chief ever since.
Then as immediately, players sought out specialised shows to present them the perfect expertise in video games. In 2006, we launched our first LCD show designed primarily for gaming: the PG191. It featured a most decision of 1280×1024, a 2ms response time, SRS TruSurroundXT audio, and 5 touch-sensitive preset buttons on the aspect panel for varied results.
Our relentless pursuit of unimaginable gaming experiences led to the launch of one in all our most adorned motherboards: the ROG Striker Excessive. This board enabled overclockers to interrupt all method of information. A community of copper heatpipes and heatsinks dominate the floor of the board, and non-compulsory energetic cooling for the chipset helped excessive OC’ers squeeze further efficiency from their {hardware}.
Increasing our product households to achieve each builder
As the brand new millennium progressed, we expanded our product households to fulfill the wants of a rising neighborhood of PC builders. In 2009, we launched the primary TUF motherboard: the Sabertooth 55i.
Developed with a laser-focus on military-grade reliability, the 55i set a typical that has remained the hallmark of all TUF {hardware} since. Every TUF motherboard undergoes excessive temperature exams, intensive Imply Time Between Failure (MBTF) exams, and a number of whole-build server-grade stability exams. Stringent testing ensures that each TUF motherboard might be trusted in any surroundings.
In fact, players are removed from the one people who make use of high-performance PCs. Content material creators of all types — filmmakers, video editors, animators, photographers, graphic designers, architects, engineers, product designers, and extra — all depend on their PCs to assist them deliver their artistic visions to life. By our ProArt household of shows, motherboards, peripherals, and extra, we be certain that these creators have {hardware} constructed with their wants in thoughts.
In 2011, we debuted the ProArt PA246Q, a 24-inch monitor designed for media professionals. It featured a 10-bit P-IPS panel with 98% protection of the Adobe coloration area, an adjustable stand, and a complete coloration administration system. One paramount spec for a lot of creators is professional-grade accuracy. The PA246Q was factory-calibrated to realize a ΔE of lower than 5. Our present lineup pushes the bar for correct coloration manufacturing even additional, with almost all our present ProArt shows reaching a ΔE of lower than 2, and the beautiful ProArt Show OLED PA32DC reaching a ΔE of lower than 1.
Relentless innovation throughout our product households
With each era of merchandise that we deliver to the market, we pursue new alternatives to ship a greater expertise. The final ten years of ASUS {hardware} show again and again our dedication to innovation.
In 2013, we debuted the ROG Poseidon GTX 780, the primary graphics card to function a mixed water block and air cooler. The cardboard may very well be cooled by customary air cooling, or plumbed right into a customized water loop to ship decrease temps. Within the years since, we’ve continued to refine our strategy to utilizing liquid cooling for graphics playing cards. Right this moment, we provide the ROG Matrix GeForce RTX 4090, a record-breaking GPU that makes use of liquid steel thermal compound and an all-in-one cooling loop with a devoted 360mm radiator.
In 2014, we set a brand new customary for gaming shows with the first-ever ROG show: the ROG Swift PG278Q. It was the world’s first 144Hz WQHD panel with native NVIDIA G-SYNC assist. That mixture of a excessive refresh fee with variable refresh fee tech allowed it ship impeccable smoothness with no tearing and minimal lag. We’re nonetheless pushing the boundaries for gaming shows. Simply take a look at the ROG Swift Professional PG248QP. That includes the world’s quickest TN panel, it’s roughly 50% extra responsive than conventional TN panels, and it boasts a blinding 540Hz refresh fee (OC).
An awesome router is essential for rock-solid on-line gaming, particularly in immediately’s related properties. In 2018, we launched the world’s first tri-band WiFi 6 router: the ROG Rapture GT-AX11000. This wi-fi gaming router is designed for folk who wish to preserve a number of gadgets related and nonetheless get unimaginable gaming efficiency. Get pleasure from as much as eight simultaneous WiFi streams for extra video streaming, gaming and searching for everybody in your house. WiFi 6 helps guarantee an ultra-fast, steady connection for all sport gadgets. Right this moment, we’re working to gear you up for the following era of wi-fi tech — WiFi 7 — with the quad-band ROG Rapture GT-BE98.
PC players spend appreciable time with their arms on their mouse and keyboard, so that they’re understandably keen about their expertise with these essential items of equipment. In 2016, we gave players premium versatility with the primary high-end peripheral developed by ROG: the ROG Claymore. We infused this deck with RGB lighting and a removable numpad that may very well be positioned for proper or left-handed use. Quick ahead to 2023, and also you’ll see us persevering with to innovate on this planet of gaming keyboards. This yr, we launched the award-winning ROG Azoth, a compact keyboard within the 75% type issue. It presents distinctive customizability with its hot-swappable pre-lubed ROG NX mechanical switches, an embedded OLED show, tri-mode connectivity, and PBT doubleshot keycaps.
Through the years, one in all our highest priorities has been making the method of constructing a PC simpler with each era. In 2018, we launched AI Overclocking with our Z390 motherboard sequence. Powered by exhaustive analysis and characterization of the efficiency potential of 1000’s of precise CPUs in our testing labs, this device leads the business for overclocking efficiency and ease of use. It boosts CPU clocks with only one click on. AI Overclocking’s subtle intelligence additionally screens the effectivity of your CPU cooler and adjustments within the working surroundings of your system to tune its parameters over time for the perfect efficiency together with your system’s distinctive set of elements.
AI Overclocking stays one of many key options of our motherboard lineup, however nowadays it’s simply one of many many clever controls that we provide to customers of our newest Z790 motherboards. With options like AI Cooling II, AI Networking, Two-Means AI Noise Cancelation, DIMM Flex, and AEMP II, we make it simpler than ever to get your PC operating optimally with only a few clicks.
Study much more about PC DIY at ASUS
Since our humble beginnings again in 1989, we’ve remodeled the PC DIY business — however we’re not finished innovating. To study extra about our newest options for PC builders, please be a part of us on December third, 2023 for ASUS PC DIY Day. We’re internet hosting a particular occasion at our ASUS Expertise Middle in Fremont, California to rejoice all issues PC constructing. Deliver your family and friends to learn to construct with our specialists, get impressed, and win some superior prizes. Even for those who can’t make it in particular person, try our occasion web page to attach with us.
Moreover, we encourage you to remain tuned as we strategy the 2024 Client Electronics Present (CES). At this yearly occasion, we unveil a lot of our most enjoyable new merchandise. We’re not able to share the small print immediately, however we are going to say this: you gained’t wish to miss this yr’s bulletins. To just be sure you hear the most recent information on ASUS merchandise the second that it’s obtainable, use the “Subscribe to Our Publication” device within the upper-right-hand nook of your display to get fast electronic mail notifications once we submit a brand new article right here on Edge Up.
