ASUS Goes ROG: BTF 2.0 Revamp Unveiled at CES 2024
This year, a major topic in the DIY market has been the emergence of back-insertion design hardware. Renowned manufacturers like ASUS, Gigabyte, Maxsun, Colorful, MSI, Xianma, and Prolink have successively launched back-insertion products, leading to explosive growth in consumer-level back-insertion motherboards in a short span. At the end of last year, during BW 2023, ASUS had already unveiled its latest BTF2.0 wireless solution, elevating the back-insertion design to new heights.
At the ongoing CES 2024, ASUS ROG introduced an innovative BTF back-insertion kit, comprising the ROG MAXIMUS Z790 HERO BTF motherboard, the ROG STRIX GeForce RTX 4090 BTF EDITION graphics card, and the ROG HYPERION GR701 BTF EDITION case. These products essentially mirror the design of the ASUS TUF BTF 2.0 board-card-case trio we previously reviewed, belonging to the BTF 2.0 “wireless” solution.
The ROG MAXIMUS Z790 HERO BTF motherboard’s main distinction from its non-BTF counterpart lies in its back-insertion design. The front has been enhanced with a covering plate for a sleek, integrated look, and the second ×16 slot has been removed. All interfaces and pins are relocated to the back of the motherboard. Additionally, the motherboard equips the graphics card with a unique BTF 2.0 HPCE power supply slot, capable of delivering over 600W of power. It connects through the PCB to the 12V-2X6/12V 8PIN power interface on the back of the motherboard, acting as a bridge for powering the graphics card. Moreover, the graphics card slot incorporates ASUS’s Q-Release technology, featuring a no-latch design that facilitates easier insertion and removal of the graphics card.
The ROG STRIX GeForce RTX 4090 BTF EDITION graphics card also includes a GC-HPWR power supply interface adapted for BTF 2.0 motherboards. When the graphics card is inserted into the PCIe slot, the power supply interface connects simultaneously, simplifying the installation process while enhancing both the sturdiness and aesthetic appeal.
The ROG HYPERION GR701, one of ASUS ROG’s most popular high-end cases, not only inherits the strengths of its predecessor, the Sun God case, but also introduces numerous upgrades. Its striking design and pure ROG pedigree make it an excellent match with the aforementioned high-end board and card. The substantial size of the ROG HYPERION GR701 case provides the ideal prerequisite for back-insertion design, combining a cool exterior with an almost wireless interior look, offering users a visually impactful experience.
