Revolutionize PC Builds with ASUS’s Advanced BTF Design for Enhanced Aesthetics and Performance

In the quest to streamline computer aesthetics and efficiency, a transformative design strategy repositions the motherboard’s power supply and peripheral ports to the back, facilitating a sleeker and more organized setup. This innovative approach is further enhanced by powering the graphics card through a rear motherboard connection, ideally complemented by a compatible PC case designed for this “back-insertion” configuration. Asus has officially broadened its horizons with the “BTF” back-insertion universe, featuring an exceptional blend of hardware: the TUF GAMING Z790-BTF WIFI motherboard, the RTX 4070 Ti SUPER BTF graphics card, and a case specifically tested for this setup. Let’s delve into the allure of the BTF premium computer build and explore the unique advantages and limitations brought about by the BTF configuration.

Unlock the Future of PC Building: ASUS Launches Revolutionary BTF Product Line

Asus adopts “Back To (the) Future” (BTF) as the central theme for this innovative series, alluding to a not-yet-realized vision of the future. This might also suggest that while the concept of rear insertion may not become mainstream, there will undoubtedly be an expansion in the range of BTF-compatible motherboards, graphics cards, and PC cases available for DIY enthusiasts. The constraints associated with the BTF configuration are straightforward: a BTF motherboard must be paired with a compatible BTF case for installation, and BTF graphics cards can only be installed on supported BTF motherboards.

In essence, when investing in BTF products, it’s advisable to ensure compatibility across all components from the get-go. Presently, there’s a wider selection of BTF motherboards and cases, but only one graphics card option—the “RTX 4070 Ti SUPER BTF.” This particular BTF graphics card requires a BTF motherboard with support for the PCIe High-Power power supply interface, emphasizing the need for a cohesive BTF ecosystem to harness the full potential of this futuristic vision.

The Asus TUF GAMING Z790-BTF WIFI motherboard and TUF GAMING RTX 4070 Ti SUPER BTF graphics card packaging. The design emphasizes the products’ robustness and gaming-centric features, with branding that resonates with enthusiasts looking for durable and high-performance components. The ‘TUF’ branding suggests a focus on toughness and reliability, while the ‘WIFI’ denotes wireless connectivity features on the motherboard. The graphics card box highlights its compatibility with the back-insertion design of the motherboard, indicating a streamlined and innovative approach to PC assembly. Both products are part of Asus’s ambitious BTF (Back To the Future) initiative, promising a unique and cutting-edge experience for PC builders.

Asus has developed a range of products that support the innovative Back To (the) Future (BTF) design, which centralizes around a sophisticated PC build with backside components and connections for a more streamlined appearance and enhanced functionality.

Motherboards:

• ROG MAXIMUS Z790 HERO BTF: A high-end motherboard that is equipped to handle the increased power demands with PCIe High-Power support.
• TUF GAMING Z790-BTF WIFI: This motherboard also supports PCIe High-Power, indicating its readiness for high-performance gaming and demanding tasks.
• TUF GAMING B760M-BTF WIFI: A slightly more accessible option within the BTF lineup, catering to different user needs while maintaining the BTF philosophy.
• TUF GAMING B760M-BTF WIFI D4: This variant likely indicates support for DDR4 memory, offering compatibility with a wider range of existing PC builds and components.

Graphics Cards:

• ROG Strix RTX 4090 BTF: An elite graphics card requiring a motherboard with PCIe High-Power support, this card is designed for top-tier gaming experiences.
• TUF GAMING RTX 4070 Ti SUPER BTF: Also requiring a PCIe High-Power motherboard, this graphics card is part of the TUF Gaming line, known for its durability and performance.

PC Cases:

• ROG Hyperion GR701: A premium case likely designed to accommodate and showcase the BTF design, emphasizing space optimization and thermal efficiency.
• TUF Gaming GT302 ARGB: This case is also designed with the BTF aesthetic and functionality in mind, with ARGB (Addressable RGB) indicating customizable lighting features for gamers and PC enthusiasts who value both performance and style.

These BTF products represent Asus’s commitment to pushing the boundaries of PC design, offering enthusiasts the ability to create cutting-edge systems that stand out both in terms of aesthetics and performance.

Asus’s strategic product lineup for the Back To (the) Future (BTF) series presents a tiered approach to cater to various market segments:

• A high-end option for those who seek the pinnacle of performance and features.
• Mid-range choices, offering one or two models that balance cost and advanced features for mainstream users.

Asus has initiated a collaborative effort by inviting numerous case manufacturers to join the BTF Alliance. Esteemed brands such as CORSAIR, NZXT (presumably referred to as “裝機猿”), Cooler Master, InWin, SilverStone, and Thermaltake are contributing to the expansion of the BTF ecosystem. This partnership aims to introduce a wider selection of products under the BTF design philosophy, thereby providing consumers with greater flexibility and choice when building their PCs.

Moreover, Asus is facilitating this innovation by providing the ASUS Hidden Connectors Design Guide, a resource aimed at guiding case manufacturers on how to incorporate back-insertion ports. This guide offers reference designs for cutting out back-insertion openings on ATX and M-ATX motherboards, ensuring a standardized approach that can be widely adopted. This shared design framework supports the BTF initiative’s growth and adoption, potentially setting new trends in PC design and customization.

ASUS Advances PC DIY with Advanced BTF TUF GAMING Z790-BTF WIFI Motherboard: A Fusion of Style and High-Power Efficiency

Asus redefines sleek PC design with the TUF GAMING Z790-BTF WIFI motherboard, a beacon of their Advanced BTF initiative. Encased in eye-catching silver and white thermal armor, this ATX motherboard (measuring 30.5cm x 24.4cm) provides a backdrop of black circuitry that hides solder points for a seamless look.

• Processor Compatibility: Ready for 12th, 13th, and 14th Gen Intel Core processors with an Intel LGA 1700 socket.
• Power Phases: A robust 16+1+1 phase power design with 60A DrMOS for unwavering stability and performance.
• Chipset: Harness the potential of Intel’s Z790 chipset.
• BIOS: A dual BIOS setup with 192 (128+64) Mb Flash ROM, featuring UEFI AMI BIOS.
• Memory: Four DIMM slots, supporting up to 192GB of DDR5 memory, with overclocking capabilities reaching 7200+ MHz.
• Display Outputs: Flexible connectivity with HDMI 2.1 and DisplayPort 1.4.
• Expansion Slots: Includes 1 PCIe 5.0 x16 slot, 1 PCIe 4.0 x16 (running at x4), and 1 PCIe 4.0 x4 slot.
• Storage Options: Ample storage interfaces with 4 x SATA 6Gb/s ports, and multiple M.2 slots supporting both PCIe and SATA interfaces.
• Networking: Equipped with a 2.5GbE LAN complemented by TUF LANGuard and next-gen Intel Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be) with dual-band support and Bluetooth v5.4.
• Audio: High-definition audio delivered by the Realtek ALC1220P codec.
• USB Ports: Extensive USB connectivity, including USB-C with 10Gbps and 20Gbps transfer speeds, along with several USB-A ports for all your peripherals.
• RGB Control: Personalize your setup with 3 ARGB and 1 RGB headers.
• Cooling: Comprehensive fan headers including for CPU, AIO pumps, and chassis fans, ensuring optimal thermal performance.

The Advanced BTF TUF GAMING Z790-BTF WIFI motherboard combines aesthetic refinement with technical prowess, creating the ultimate canvas for enthusiasts seeking a minimalist yet powerful PC build.

This image presents the TUF GAMING Z790-BTF WIFI motherboard, a prime example of Asus’s Advanced BTF (Back To the Future) design. The board exudes a robust and stylish appearance with almost full coverage by its striking thermal armor. The sleek silver and white color scheme is consistent with the TUF Gaming aesthetic, which is known for blending durability with performance.

The motherboard is structured to accommodate the BTF setup, with power connectors and other ports presumably located on the rear for a cleaner build. You can see the substantial heat sinks designed to handle the thermal demands of high-performance components, ensuring the system remains cool under load. This motherboard is not just about performance; it’s designed to make a visual statement, emphasizing a clean, organized, and futuristic approach to PC assembly.

The image displays the back of the TUF GAMING Z790-BTF WIFI motherboard, highlighting its distinctive back-insertion design where the connectors and pins are positioned on the reverse side. This is a crucial element of the Advanced BTF configuration that Asus promotes for a tidier and more efficient PC build.

When unboxing this motherboard for the first time, special care must be taken due to its unique design. The connectors and pins being on the back means that it’s essential to remove the motherboard along with the protective foam padding it rests on. This precaution is necessary to avoid damaging the protruding components when laying the motherboard flat or during the installation of the CPU, RAM, and M.2 drives. It’s a reminder that while the BTF design streamlines aesthetics and function, it also requires a slight adaptation in handling during the build process.

This image zooms in on the advanced BTF (Back To the Future) design of the TUF GAMING Z790-BTF WIFI motherboard, showcasing its PCIe High-Power interface (GC_HPWR). The highlighted area is pivotal in the BTF setup, as it demonstrates Asus’s commitment to supporting high-power demands of modern graphics cards.

The GC_HPWR connector is engineered to deliver up to 600 watts of power to the graphics card, ensuring ample power for even the most energy-intensive GPUs. This is a significant enhancement over traditional power delivery methods, allowing for a single point of power distribution that can simplify cable management and improve overall airflow within the case.

On the rear side of the motherboard, there is provision for one 12V-2×6 and three 8-pin PCIe power connectors, offering versatility to gamers and builders. Users can choose between using the 12V-2×6 or the PCIe 8-pin connectors depending on their power supply unit and the requirements of their graphics card.

In addition, the inclusion of additional PCIe High-Power pins for the graphics card not only meets power requirements but also serves as an extra anchor point, counteracting the gravitational pull that can stress the motherboard when a graphics card is mounted horizontally. This added stability makes the graphics card installation and removal more secure.

Furthermore, Asus has innovatively redesigned the PCIe slot’s release mechanism to include a spring-loaded horizontal bar, simplifying the graphics card removal process. This feature allows users to release the card effortlessly, enhancing the user experience during upgrades or maintenance.

This image showcases the upper right corner of the TUF GAMING Z790-BTF WIFI motherboard, highlighting its four DDR5 DIMM memory slots which support dual-channel configuration and can handle up to a maximum capacity of 192GB. The memory slots are arranged neatly in a row, indicating the board’s readiness to handle high-speed DDR5 memory modules, crucial for next-generation gaming and multitasking performance.

In line with the Advanced BTF (Back To the Future) design, the traditional power interfaces, USB headers, and other front panel connectors that are typically found in this area have been moved to the back of the motherboard. This relocation aims to minimize cable clutter, allowing for a more streamlined and aesthetically pleasing build by hiding cables behind the motherboard tray.

The motherboard also features a sleek white shroud that covers the back-insert components, concealing the solder points to maintain a clean and refined look. This not only contributes to the overall minimalist aesthetic but also protects the components and helps in maintaining the structural integrity of the board. The “GET TUF – GAME TOUGH” slogan is prominently embossed on the shroud, reinforcing the board’s branding as a durable and performance-oriented platform designed for serious gamers and enthusiasts.

The image provides a clear view of the CPU socket area of the TUF GAMING Z790-BTF WIFI motherboard, featuring the Intel LGA 1700 socket that supports 12th, 13th, and 14th generation Intel Core processors. This socket is designed to accommodate the latest high-performance CPUs from Intel, allowing users to build a gaming system with the most current technology.

Surrounding the CPU socket, we can observe an array of heat dissipation fins that are part of the VRM (Voltage Regulator Module) cooling system. The VRM is crucial for maintaining stable power delivery to the CPU, especially when it is under heavy loads or when overclocking. The fins increase the surface area for heat exchange, improving cooling efficiency.

On the left side, the heat sink extends over the I/O area, providing additional cooling capacity. The image demonstrates Asus’s dedication to stability and thermal management with a robust 16+1+1 phase power delivery system utilizing 60A DrMOS components. These high-amperage power stages ensure that the motherboard can handle the high currents required by top-tier processors, contributing to consistent performance and longevity.

The design reflects a balance of aesthetics and functionality, with the heat sinks sporting a sleek design that complements the overall look of the motherboard, while also serving a practical purpose in keeping temperatures in check. The TUF GAMING branding and the motto “WE GOT YOUR BACK” reinforce the message of reliability and durability that is central to the TUF series ethos.

This image focuses on the PCIe slots section of the TUF GAMING Z790-BTF WIFI motherboard. From top to bottom, the board is equipped with a range of PCIe slots including a PCIe 5.0 x16 slot at the top, followed by a PCIe 4.0 x4 slot and a PCIe 4.0 x16 slot configured to run at x4 bandwidth. The provision of a PCIe 5.0 slot is indicative of the motherboard’s support for the latest high-speed interface, which offers enhanced bandwidth and is especially beneficial for next-gen graphics cards and high-performance storage devices.

The TUF GAMING Z790-BTF WIFI being a mainstream motherboard, it is understandable that it does not support bifurcation of the PCIe 5.0 lanes, which is a feature typically reserved for more high-end motherboards. Bifurcation refers to splitting a single PCIe x16 slot into two x8 slots, which can be useful for users looking to run multiple GPUs or other high-bandwidth PCIe devices simultaneously.

In keeping with the BTF (Back To the Future) design ethos, we also notice the sleek white protective shroud that extends from the I/O area down to the bottom edge of the motherboard and around the right side. This shroud serves the dual purpose of enhancing the board’s aesthetics with a clean and modern look while also covering the solder points of the back-inserted components, contributing to the motherboard’s streamlined design. The visible portion of the TUF logo is consistent with Asus’s branding, reinforcing the motherboard’s identity as part of the TUF GAMING lineup, which is known for its balance of style, durability, and performance.

A detailed view of the TUF GAMING Z790-BTF WIFI motherboard, focusing on the M.2 slots used for solid-state drive (SSD) expansions. Under the heat sink, which is not shown in this image but referenced, there are four M.2 slots available:

• M2_1 Slot: This is directly linked to the CPU, offering PCIe 4.0 x4 bandwidth for high-speed storage, which can provide faster data transfer rates beneficial for gaming and professional applications that demand rapid storage access.
• M2_2, M2_3, and M2_4 Slots: These are connected to the chipset and also support PCIe 4.0 x4 bandwidth. It is worth noting that M2_4 additionally offers compatibility with SATA SSDs, providing flexibility for users to install a variety of SSDs based on their performance needs or existing hardware.

The image indicates that the conventional SATA ports have been relocated to the back of the motherboard, aligning with the BTF design philosophy for a neater setup and improved cable management.

This design underscores Asus’s commitment to offering gamers and builders the versatility to expand their storage capabilities while maintaining a clean and organized PC build. The M.2 slots are neatly positioned to maximize space and airflow, and the potential removal of the heat sink for access hints at a user-friendly approach to upgrades and system maintenance.

The back of the TUF GAMING Z790-BTF WIFI motherboard, providing a clear view of the innovative layout that is central to the Advanced BTF design. This design moves traditional front-facing pins and sockets to the back for a cleaner and more streamlined build.

The connectors and pins are strategically located in areas that would typically be accessible from the rear of a standard PC case, primarily concentrated at the top, right side (when viewed from the front), and bottom of the motherboard. The distribution is as follows:

• Power Connectors: There are 2 CPU 8-pin power connectors, designed to supply the necessary power to high-performance CPUs.
• Cooling Fan Headers: 3 fan headers are present, which are essential for connecting various cooling fans within the system.
• ATX Power: The ATX 24-pin connector, which is the main power supply connection for the motherboard.
• Lighting: ARGB (Addressable RGB) pin headers are included for customizable lighting setups.
• USB Expansion: There are front panel expansion headers for USB-C 10Gbps and USB 5Gbps connections.
• Graphics Card Power: The motherboard features 1 12V-2×6 and 3 PCIe 8-pin power connectors to provide flexible power options for high-end graphics cards.
• Front Panel Connectors: Pins for the front panel are included, typically used for connecting power, reset buttons, and LED indicators.
• Storage: SATA connectors for connecting SATA drives like SSDs and HDDs.
• Additional Connectors: There are additional fan headers, USB 2.0 connectors, COM port, and front panel audio connectors for comprehensive connectivity options.

This arrangement on the motherboard’s back emphasizes the BTF philosophy, prioritizing not only performance and functionality but also aesthetics and ease of build, allowing for a neater cable management and more efficient airflow inside the case.

The zooms in on the two 8-pin CPU power connectors located on the back of the TUF GAMING Z790-BTF WIFI motherboard. These connectors are part of the motherboard’s power delivery system designed to provide additional power to the CPU, especially important for high-performance processors and when overclocking.

Having two 8-pin connectors allows the motherboard to supply more power to the CPU, ensuring stability and reliability under load. This is an essential feature for users who demand peak performance for gaming, content creation, or other intensive tasks.

This placement is in line with the BTF design concept, which moves traditionally forward-facing connectors to the back of the motherboard to streamline cable management and improve the internal aesthetics of the build.

A close-up of the CPU, AIO (All-In-One liquid cooler), and chassis fan connectors on the back of the TUF GAMING Z790-BTF WIFI motherboard. These connectors are strategically located to deliver power to various cooling solutions that are critical for maintaining optimal temperatures within the system:

• CHA_FAN1: This is a chassis fan connector for connecting a case fan, which helps in creating airflow within the computer case to cool the components.
• AIO_PUMP: Specifically designed for an All-In-One liquid cooling system, this connector provides the necessary power to the pump unit, which is responsible for circulating the coolant in the loop.
• CPU_OPT: Often used for an optional or secondary CPU fan or a pump for custom liquid cooling solutions, providing additional cooling to the CPU.

This configuration aligns with the motherboard’s BTF design, moving what would traditionally be front-facing fan headers to the back of the board for a cleaner and more streamlined look within the PC case. The presence of multiple fan headers allows users to build a cooling system that can be as simple or as complex as needed, depending on the performance requirements and thermal management needs of their build.

The back of the TUF GAMING Z790-BTF WIFI motherboard featuring several key connectors that are vital for its operation and functionality:

• ATX 24pin: This is the main power connector for the motherboard, which provides it with the necessary electrical power from the power supply unit (PSU). It is the largest connector and is essential for the system to operate.
• RGB Headers: These headers are designed to connect RGB lighting strips or devices that are compatible with the motherboard’s lighting control schemes. Users can connect their RGB accessories to these headers for customizable lighting effects within their PC build.
• USB-C 10Gbps / USB 5Gbps Front Panel Expansion: These are the headers for connecting the case’s front panel USB ports to the motherboard, allowing users to utilize USB Type-C and standard USB ports located on their computer case. The 10Gbps USB-C port offers high-speed data transfer rates, which is beneficial for connecting modern external drives and devices that require fast data transfer speeds.

The integration of these connectors on the back side of the motherboard is consistent with the BTF design concept, promoting a clean and organized build by relocating typically front-facing connectors to the rear. This approach not only improves the aesthetics but also enhances the ease of cable management within the PC case.

A detailed view of the power connectors located on the back of the TUF GAMING Z790-BTF WIFI motherboard, specifically designed for supplying power to the graphics card:

• 12V-2×6 Connector: This is a 12-pin power connector, which is likely used for providing additional power to the motherboard or possibly for future or specialized hardware that requires a 12-pin connection.
• 3 PCIe 8-pin Power Connectors (PCIE_8PIN_PWR_1, PCIE_8PIN_PWR_2, and PCIE_8PIN_PWR_3): These are standard connectors for delivering supplementary power to PCIe devices, primarily high-end graphics cards. Having multiple connectors allows the board to support the power requirements of cards that demand more power for their operation, such as those used in high-performance gaming or compute-intensive tasks like 3D rendering and deep learning.

The layout of these connectors adheres to the BTF (Back To the Future) design, aimed at tidying up the internal space by managing the power cables behind the motherboard tray, enhancing airflow and the overall visual appeal of the build.

A section of the back of the TUF GAMING Z790-BTF WIFI motherboard, featuring several connectors:

• Front Panel Connectors (PANEL): These are the headers where the case’s front panel cables are connected. They include pins for the power switch (PWR_SW), hard drive activity LED (HDD_LED), reset switch (RESET), and power LED (PWR_LED). These connectors allow the motherboard to interface with the case, enabling the power button, reset button, and LED indicators on the front of the case to function properly.
• SATA 6Gb/s Connectors: Labeled as SATA6G_1, SATA6G_2, SATA6G_3, and SATA6G_4, these are the Serial ATA ports for connecting storage devices like SSDs and HDDs. They support the SATA 3.0 interface standard, providing up to 6 Gb/s transfer rates.
• Fan Headers (CHA_FAN2): Additional chassis fan connectors are provided for attaching case fans, which are crucial for maintaining good airflow and cooling within the PC case.

The placement of these connectors on the back of the motherboard adheres to the BTF design principle, which emphasizes a clean and organized internal layout for easier cable management and a more visually appealing system. Moving traditional connectors to the backside of the motherboard also potentially simplifies the routing of cables in the chassis, potentially improving airflow and cooling efficiency.

A closer look at the back of the TUF GAMING Z790-BTF WIFI motherboard, highlighting several connectors:

• Fan Headers (CHA_FAN2, CHA_FAN3, CHA_FAN4): These are chassis fan connectors, which allow for multiple case fans to be connected to the motherboard. Case fans are essential for maintaining adequate airflow, helping to cool down the system’s internal components.
• USB 2.0 Headers (USB_1213, USB_1011): These are for connecting additional USB 2.0 ports that might be available on the PC case or for internal USB 2.0 devices. These headers are particularly useful for devices that don’t require the high bandwidth of USB 3.0 or higher, such as keyboards, mice, and other peripherals.
• RGB Headers (ADD_GEN2_3, ADD_GEN2_2): These are addressable RGB headers that support customizable RGB lighting accessories. Users can connect compatible RGB devices, like LED strips or fans, to these headers and control the lighting effects through software provided by the motherboard manufacturer.
• Thunderbolt Header (TB_USB4_HEADER): This header is likely for connecting a Thunderbolt add-in card, which would provide Thunderbolt connectivity for high-speed data transfer and daisy-chaining of compatible devices.

The relocation of these headers to the back of the motherboard is part of the BTF design concept, aiming to keep the internal layout of the PC case neat by moving cable connections away from the front, where they would typically be more visible and potentially disrupt airflow.

A section of the TUF GAMING Z790-BTF WIFI motherboard’s back, with specific focus on:

• COM Header: This is a serial port connector, also known as a COM port or RS232 header, which can be used to connect older devices that require serial communication. It’s less common in modern consumer PCs but can still be found for industrial or legacy uses.
• Front Panel Audio Connector (F_AUDIO): This connector is used for linking the motherboard to the case’s front panel audio ports. It typically supports both headphone and microphone connections, allowing easy access for audio peripherals at the front of the PC case.

These connectors are part of the BTF (Back To the Future) design concept by ASUS, which aims to optimize the layout for better cable management and cleaner builds. By placing these connectors at the back of the motherboard, it enables a more streamlined setup with fewer visible wires and potentially enhances the internal aesthetics and airflow of the case.

The integrated I/O shield of the TUF GAMING Z790-BTF WIFI motherboard, which comes with a variety of connectivity options:

• Video Outputs: It provides HDMI 2.1 and DisplayPort 1.4 ports for integrated graphics display output, allowing for high-resolution video connections.
• USB Ports: There is a range of USB ports including a USB-C 20Gbps port, a USB-C 10Gbps port, two USB-A 10Gbps ports, and four USB-A 5Gbps ports. This selection offers versatile high-speed data transfer options for various peripherals and devices.
• Network Connectivity: For wired internet connections, there’s a 2.5GbE LAN port which supports faster than standard gigabit speeds. Additionally, the board features Wi-Fi 7 for wireless networking, which is the latest standard for Wi-Fi as of my last update, promising improved speed, latency, and connectivity.
• Antenna Connector: The Q-Antenna is a quick-release antenna design that supports the Wi-Fi 7 functionality of the motherboard, making it easy to attach or detach the antenna as needed.

This I/O panel indicates a focus on high-speed connectivity and versatile display options, catering to the needs of users who require fast and reliable connections for gaming, streaming, content creation, and other bandwidth-intensive activities. The built-in I/O shield simplifies the motherboard installation process into the case by eliminating the need for a separate I/O shield, often resulting in a more seamless and user-friendly build experience.

The accessory package included with the TUF GAMING Z790-BTF WIFI motherboard, which contains various items designed to enhance the user experience and aid in setting up the motherboard:

• TUF Stickers: These are brand-themed stickers that users can place on their case or elsewhere for personalization.
• Certificate of Reliability: This certificate highlights the rigorous testing and quality standards that the motherboard has been subjected to, emphasizing durability and stable performance.
• Quick Start Guide: This guide offers basic instructions and information to help users with the initial setup process of their motherboard.
• Wi-Fi Antenna: The antenna enhances wireless network reception and is designed to work with the motherboard’s integrated Wi-Fi 7 capabilities.
• Driver CD: Contains all the necessary drivers and utilities needed to get the motherboard’s features and components functioning correctly. However, users are often advised to download the latest versions of drivers from the manufacturer’s website for optimal performance and security.
• SATA Cables: These are used for connecting SATA storage devices such as HDDs, SSDs, or optical drives to the motherboard.

These components are part of the standard package that comes with this motherboard, ensuring users have everything they need to get started with their PC build or upgrade. The inclusion of a driver CD, while somewhat traditional given the prevalence of online driver downloads, serves users who may not have immediate internet access during the initial system setup.

Introducing the Advanced BTF TUF GAMING RTX 4070 Ti SUPER BTF: Revolutionizing Power and Aesthetics in Gaming Graphics

Maximize your gaming rig’s potential with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Ti SUPER powered TUF GAMING RTX 4070 Ti SUPER BTF. This cutting-edge card, designed for PCIe 4.0 x16 slots, boasts a default GPU clock of 2640 MHz, boosted to an impressive 2670 MHz in OC mode. It’s packed with 8448 CUDA cores, along with 264 Tensor cores and 66 RT cores for AI acceleration and real-time ray tracing.

Equipped with a hefty 16GB GDDR6X memory and a 256-bit interface, this card is built to handle intense gaming sessions. Offering multiple display outputs, including 3 DisplayPort 1.4a ports and 1 HDMI 2.1 port, it’s ready for multi-monitor setups and high-resolution displays.

The TUF GAMING RTX 4070 Ti SUPER BTF is not just about raw power; it also features a stunning white metal brushed casing. Its efficient cooling is delivered by three axial-tech fans, which rotate in alternate directions to reduce turbulence, and a large 30.5cm-long heatsink that occupies 3.25 slots for superior heat dissipation.

This graphics card is an ideal choice for gamers looking to dive into 4K gaming or dominate in 2K, with the support of AI-driven DLSS 3 technology for smooth, ultra-high-definition gaming even with maximum effects and ray tracing turned on. With a recommended power supply of 750W, ensure your system is ready to support the might of this impressive TUF component.

The card’s dimensions of 305 x 138 x 65 mm signify a commanding presence in your build, indicative of its capability to deliver top-tier cooling and performance. Whether it’s your first foray into 4K or you’re looking to rule over 2K gaming, the TUF GAMING RTX 4070 Ti SUPER BTF is engineered to meet the demands of power users and gaming enthusiasts alike.

The TUF GAMING RTX 4070 Ti SUPER BTF graphics card, which exudes a striking white aesthetic, matched with a metal brushed finish for a premium texture. The card features three axial-tech fans designed to deliver efficient cooling performance. These fans use a counter-rotating setup to reduce air turbulence within the cooling shroud, improving the airflow and heat dissipation from the GPU heatsink.

The design of the card with its sleek white shroud not only aims to provide top-tier thermal management but also to complement the visual coherence of gaming rigs with a white color scheme. The attention to detail in the design of the TUF GAMING graphics card signifies ASUS’s commitment to balancing style, performance, and build quality.

The edge of the TUF GAMING RTX 4070 Ti SUPER BTF graphics card, showing the PCIe connector and the additional PCIe High-Power interface (GC_HPWR). This High-Power interface is a distinctive feature, allowing the card to receive up to 600W of power directly through a compatible motherboard with an advanced BTF (Back To the Future) design.

This High-Power connection is intended for use with ASUS motherboards that support the BTF architecture, like the TUF GAMING Z790-BTF WIFI, which can provide the necessary power via the motherboard’s back-insert PCIe power connectors. This design significantly streamlines cable management by eliminating the need for separate power cables from the power supply unit to the graphics card, leading to a neater internal appearance and potentially better airflow within the PC case.

The integration of such high-power delivery directly through the motherboard is a forward-thinking approach, catering to the increasing power demands of modern high-end graphics cards while also anticipating future advancements in GPU power requirements.

A close-up view of the gold-colored PCIe connector pins on a graphics card. These pins insert into the corresponding PCIe slot on a motherboard, establishing the physical interface for electrical and data transfer between the two components. The photograph clearly shows the intricate array of pins that must align correctly for the graphics card to function properly within a computer system. These connectors are precision-engineered to ensure a secure and stable connection for high-speed data transmission required for the intense data workloads managed by modern GPUs.

A view of the top side edge of the TUF GAMING RTX 4070 Ti SUPER BTF graphics card. Notably, due to the implementation of the PCIe High-Power interface for power delivery, there are no additional power connector openings that are typically found on the top edge of many graphics cards. This design aligns with the Advanced BTF (Back To the Future) concept, which integrates the power supply directly through the motherboard, thus eliminating the need for separate power cables from the PSU to the graphics card, contributing to a cleaner look and less cluttered cable management.

Despite the unique power configuration, the card still features a metal backplate, which adds rigidity and protection to the PCB. However, the backplate has a notch to accommodate the new power delivery system. The inclusion of a metal backplate also helps to dissipate heat away from the PCB, aiding in the overall cooling performance.

The graphics card includes a dual BIOS switch on its back. This feature allows users to switch between two firmware settings or profiles. Typically, one setting provides a factory default or optimized performance, while the other may offer a quieter fan curve or be used for BIOS recovery purposes. The dual BIOS feature is particularly appreciated by enthusiasts and overclockers who seek to customize their card’s performance and acoustics.

The back of the TUF GAMING RTX 4070 Ti SUPER BTF graphics card, highlighting its metal backplate, which contributes to the overall rigidity and durability of the card. The backplate features a stylish hexagonal pattern design with the TUF logo, enhancing the card’s visual appeal.

Notably, there is an array of ventilation holes in the front portion of the backplate. These openings allow for heat dissipation, helping to release the heat generated by the card’s operation more efficiently. This is particularly important for maintaining lower temperatures and potentially increasing the longevity of the graphics card.

The backplate also has a cutout around the GPU die, providing a view of the circuitry beneath, including the backside of the GPU and surrounding components. This cutout is strategic, as it can help with heat dissipation from the GPU directly, especially when paired with thermal pads that transfer heat from the PCB to the backplate.

We can see a switch with markings for “Performance Mode” and “Quiet Mode.” This likely refers to the dual BIOS functionality, allowing users to switch between a BIOS that favors higher performance with more aggressive fan speeds and another that prioritizes quieter operation at the potential expense of higher temperatures. This feature provides users with the flexibility to tailor their card’s performance to their specific needs and preferences.

The display output section of the TUF GAMING RTX 4070 Ti SUPER BTF graphics card. It features a comprehensive array of ports to support multi-display setups:

• 3 DisplayPort 1.4a Outputs: These ports are designed to drive high-resolution displays with support for features such as high refresh rates, HDR, and daisy-chaining of monitors where supported. DisplayPort 1.4a can handle resolutions up to 8K at 60Hz or 4K at 120Hz with HDR, making it suitable for high-end gaming setups, professional workstations, and immersive entertainment systems.
• 1 HDMI 2.1 Port: This port provides compatibility with the latest TVs, monitors, and AV receivers, offering support for features like higher bandwidth enabling 4K at 120Hz or 8K at 60Hz, dynamic HDR formats, and Enhanced Audio Return Channel (eARC).

The ports are framed within a section of the graphics card’s bracket, which also contains ventilation slits that contribute to the card’s overall cooling by allowing hot air to be expelled out the back of the case. The bracket’s metal construction adds to the card’s durability, and the gold-plated connectors offer a corrosion-resistant contact surface for improved signal quality. This design ensures the graphics card is well-equipped for a range of uses, from gaming to content creation, allowing users to make the most of its powerful GPU.

A disassembled view of the TUF GAMING RTX 4070 Ti SUPER BTF graphics card, revealing its main components:

• Main PCB (Printed Circuit Board): The PCB is where all the critical components like the GPU, memory modules, and power delivery circuits are mounted. It also hosts various connectors and is the backbone of the graphics card.
• Heatsink: The large heatsink is designed to absorb and dissipate heat efficiently. Its construction with multiple heat pipes suggests it is engineered to manage the significant heat output of the high-performance GPU.
• Backplate: The metal backplate adds structural rigidity to the graphics card, helping to prevent it from warping or bending under its own weight. The backplate also aids in passive cooling by spreading heat across its surface area.
• Cooling Fans: The three white axial-tech fans are designed to deliver high airflow to the heatsink while maintaining low noise levels. They are crucial for active cooling, especially when the GPU is under load during intense gaming or computational tasks.
• Fan Shroud: The fan shroud houses the cooling fans and directs airflow through the heatsink. In this case, it also contributes to the card’s aesthetic with its white color matching the TUF theme.

The graphics card’s design shows a meticulous approach to ensuring the cooling system’s efficiency and the card’s durability. It’s clear from the arrangement that the heatsink is mounted securely to both the PCB and the PCIe bracket, providing additional stability and support. The synergy between the PCB, heatsink, backplate, and fan shroud ensures that the card operates within thermal limits while also being physically robust to withstand the rigors of long-term use.

The PCB (Printed Circuit Board) of the TUF GAMING RTX 4070 Ti SUPER BTF graphics card. At the center is the GPU core labeled AD103-275-A1, which is surrounded by eight GDDR6X memory modules that collectively provide a total of 16GB of video memory.

This arrangement indicates a powerful setup for high-end gaming and demanding applications. The GDDR6X memory is known for its high bandwidth, which is essential for supporting the large amounts of data processed by the GPU, especially at high resolutions or when using advanced graphics settings.

The visible capacitors, resistors, and other components on the PCB are part of the card’s power delivery network and signal processing hardware. They are meticulously organized to optimize the card’s electrical pathways for stable power supply and signal integrity, which are crucial for maintaining performance and reliability during intense operations.

This detailed view of the graphics card’s internals illustrates the complexity and precision engineering that goes into a high-performance gaming component. The careful layout is designed to maximize cooling efficiency and electrical performance, ensuring that gamers and professionals can rely on this card for their computing needs.

The disassembled cooling solution of the TUF GAMING RTX 4070 Ti SUPER BTF graphics card, specifically its heatsink and heat pipe arrangement.

• Copper Base Heatsink: A large area copper base directly contacts the GPU, drawing heat away from it efficiently. This direct contact method is optimal for transferring heat from the GPU to the heatsink quickly.
• Heat Pipes and Fin Array: The heat is transferred to the heatsink fins by five heat pipes that distribute the thermal energy across the entire cooling apparatus. Of these, three heat pipes are prominently bent in a U-shape towards the back of the heatsink. This design allows for an extended path for heat distribution, ensuring that the waste heat from the GPU is evenly spread across a larger area of the heatsink fins.
• U-Shaped Heat Pipe Design: The U-shaped design of the heat pipes at the back allows the heat pipes to double back over the heatsink, effectively doubling the heat transfer surface area within the same footprint as the card, improving the cooling capacity.

This sophisticated cooling mechanism is crucial for maintaining thermal performance, especially under the load of intense gaming sessions or heavy graphical computations. The U-shaped back routing of the heat pipes is an intelligent design choice that enhances the heat dissipation without increasing the size of the card, thus maximizing the efficiency of the cooling solution. The white fans visible on the left are part of the axial-tech fan system, designed to push air through the fins and away from the GPU, further aiding in heat dissipation.

A detailed view of the heatsink on the TUF GAMING RTX 4070 Ti SUPER BTF graphics card, with particular attention to the heat pipe configuration:

• Five Heat Pipes: These heat pipes play a crucial role in transferring heat from the copper base, where they absorb the thermal energy from the GPU, to the fin stack of the heatsink. They traverse the length of the heatsink, passing through both the front and rear fin arrays.
• Fin Stack: The fins are tightly packed to increase the surface area for heat dissipation. The heat pipes distribute the heat along these fins, which then disperse the heat into the surrounding air.

The positioning and integration of the heat pipes into the fin stack are critical for ensuring that the thermal load is evenly distributed throughout the heatsink. The fins are designed to work in conjunction with the axial-tech fans, allowing for optimized airflow that carries away the heat, thereby maintaining the GPU’s operational temperatures within optimal limits.

The construction quality and layout of these components are indicative of the engineering effort to balance performance cooling with acoustic control, ensuring that the graphics card can deliver high performance without excessive noise, even under heavy loads.

An assortment of accessories included with an ASUS TUF GAMING graphics card:

• Graphics Card Holder: Made from rigid cardstock, this is a support bracket designed to provide extra stability to the graphics card once installed in the case. This helps prevent GPU sag, which can occur with heavier graphics cards.
• Thank You Card: A gesture of appreciation from ASUS, thanking the customer for purchasing their product.
• Certificate of Reliability: A document certifying that the graphics card has passed various reliability tests, reinforcing ASUS’s commitment to quality.
• Quick Start Guide: This manual contains essential information to assist with the installation and basic setup of the graphics card.
• Stickers and Documentation: Additional brand-themed stickers and documents are provided, which may include warranty information and other product details.

These accessories serve to enhance the user experience, providing not only the necessary support for the physical installation but also the aesthetic and personal touch that complements the TUF Gaming ethos. The inclusion of a support bracket is particularly useful, as it ensures the longevity of the motherboard and graphics card by reducing mechanical stress.

ASUS Elevates PC Gaming Experience with Armoury Crate, AI Suite 3, and GPU Tweak III: Ultimate Control and Customization

Embrace seamless integration and control with ASUS’s Armoury Crate, your ultimate software hub for managing your gaming rig’s performance and aesthetics. Armoury Crate’s intuitive interface offers real-time monitoring of system clock speeds, temperatures, and usage statistics, ensuring your setup runs like a well-oiled machine.

For gamers looking to personalize their gear, Armoury Crate’s AURA Sync feature lets you customize and synchronize the RGB lighting across your TUF Gaming devices, creating an immersive and harmonious lighting ensemble that responds to in-game action and music.

Don’t miss a beat with convenient driver updates, keeping your system in peak condition with the latest software enhancements directly through the application. Armoury Crate’s update tool makes it effortless to maintain your system’s optimal performance and compatibility.

Whether you’re gaming, creating, or striving for the perfect setup, Armoury Crate puts comprehensive control at your fingertips, harmonizing your ASUS components and peripherals with precision and ease.

A screenshot of ASUS’s Armoury Crate software interface, showcasing various features and tools that allow users to monitor and manage their computer system. Here’s an explanation of the visible sections:

1. Dashboard: This central panel displays real-time information about the system’s performance, including CPU frequency, voltage, and temperature, along with fan speed and power consumption. It’s a quick way to monitor the vital stats of the system, ensuring everything is running smoothly.
2. CPU Core Details: Individual core frequencies are shown, indicating the operational speed of each core, which can be useful for diagnosing performance issues or for overclocking purposes.
3. Game Launcher: This feature allows users to add and launch games directly from the Armoury Crate, providing a centralized hub for gaming.
4. Aura Sync: Here, users can customize and synchronize the RGB lighting effects across all compatible devices, creating a cohesive and dynamic lighting environment.
5. Fan Speed Control: Users can adjust the fan profiles, possibly switching between different modes like ‘Silent’, ‘Standard’, ‘Turbo’, or ‘Full speed’ to balance cooling performance with noise levels.
6. Power Saving: This toggle likely enables power-saving features that can reduce the system’s energy consumption, which is helpful for managing power bills or extending the lifespan of components.
7. Scenario Profiles: These are customizable profiles that can be configured for different use cases, such as gaming, content creation, or everyday tasks, allowing the system to automatically adjust settings for optimal performance.

The Armoury Crate software provides a holistic approach to system management, marrying functionality with a user-friendly design, and ensuring that users have comprehensive control over their ASUS hardware.

The Aura Sync tab within ASUS Armoury Crate software, which is a utility for customizing and synchronizing RGB lighting on ASUS devices.

Here are the features and options visible in the interface:

1. Sync Devices: This area allows users to manage which connected ASUS devices will synchronize their RGB lighting effects.
2. Aura Effects: Here, users can select and customize various RGB lighting effects for their devices.

• Basic Effects: This section includes a variety of preset lighting effects like ‘Static’, ‘Breathing’, ‘Strobing’, ‘Color Cycle’, ‘Rainbow’, ‘Starry night’, and ‘Music’. Each effect can have its properties like color and speed adjusted.
• Smart: An intelligent lighting effect that may adjust according to system parameters like temperature or usage.
• Adaptive Color: This effect might change the lighting color based on the content displayed on the screen.
• Dark (Off): An option to turn off all RGB lighting.

1. Advanced Effects: Offers more intricate lighting customization options, potentially through the Aura Creator, which is a tool for creating complex RGB lighting scenarios and effects.
2. In-Game Lighting: This toggle allows users to enable or disable in-game RGB lighting effects that respond to game actions for supported titles.
3. Aura Creator: A link or button to open the Aura Creator software, which provides a more granular and detailed environment for creating custom lighting effects.

The Aura Sync functionality enhances the gaming experience by adding visual customization that can match the user’s style, create ambiance, and even react dynamically to in-game actions, thus contributing to an immersive gaming environment.

The driver update section of the ASUS Armoury Crate software. This utility helps users keep their system drivers up to date, which is crucial for ensuring that hardware components function correctly and benefit from the latest performance improvements and bug fixes.

Features displayed include:

• Driver: This tab lists all the drivers related to the system’s hardware, such as the Intel Bluetooth Driver, Intel Chipset Driver, LAN Driver, and more.
• Utility: This tab would typically contain various ASUS utilities that can enhance or add functionality to the system.
• Manual & Document: Users can find manuals and documents for their hardware here, providing an easy reference for support and troubleshooting.

The main panel lists several drivers with their statuses, latest versions, and the currently installed versions. For instance:

• Intel Rapid Storage Technology Driver software is marked as “New,” indicating that an update is available since the current version column shows “N/A,” meaning that this driver is not currently installed.

The “Download & Install” button at the bottom suggests that users can select multiple drivers to update and then perform the updates simultaneously, simplifying the maintenance process.

Keeping drivers updated is essential for system stability, security, and performance. Armoury Crate’s driver update tool streamlines this process, reducing the need for users to manually check and update each driver individually.

The overclocking capabilities within the ASUS AI Suite 3 software. AI Suite 3 is designed to facilitate CPU overclocking through a software interface, allowing users to adjust settings like clock frequencies, power phases, and voltages without needing to enter the BIOS.

Key features and information presented in the UI:

1. CPU Frequency and Core Control: Shows real-time CPU frequency adjustments and allows users to modify the multiplier and base clock for overclocking. The example shows a CPU core frequency of 1000.0 MHz, with a detailed breakdown of the multiplier (x10) and the corresponding power wattage.
2. Voltage Regulation: Provides current CPU Core Voltage and other voltage readings such as +12V, +5V, +3.3V, and Memory Controller Voltage. The CPU Core Voltage is currently at 0.773V, indicating a lower power state, likely due to idle conditions.
3. CPU Power Phase Control: Allows toggling between ‘Standard’ and ‘Extreme’ for power delivery, with ‘Extreme’ likely offering more robust power for stable overclocking at higher frequencies.
4. CPU Load-line Calibration and Current Capability: These settings are crucial for maintaining voltage stability under load, which is especially important during overclocking to prevent voltage drop (vdroop).
5. CPU VRM Switching Frequency: Adjusts the frequency at which the CPU’s voltage regulator module (VRM) switches, which can affect the efficiency and thermal performance of power delivery.
6. CPU Power Duty Control: Provides options like ‘T.Probe’ for thermal balance and ‘Extreme’ for current balance, catering to different overclocking scenarios.
7. Temperature Monitoring: Displays temperatures for the CPU, CPU package, motherboard, and VRM, which is essential for monitoring the thermal impact of overclocking.
8. Fan Speed: Reports RPM (revolutions per minute) for various fans, including CPU, CPU OPT (optional), and chassis fans, to help manage cooling in response to temperature changes during overclocking.
9. DRAM Frequency: Shows the operating frequency of the memory, which can also be adjusted for overclocking compatibility with the CPU.

The AI Suite 3 software provides users with extensive control over their system’s performance, enabling both novice and experienced overclockers to optimize their system’s capabilities directly from the desktop, complete with comprehensive monitoring to ensure system stability and performance.

This screenshot provides another view of the ASUS AI Suite 3 software, focusing on the voltage regulation aspects for overclocking:

1. OC (Overclocking) Voltage Adjustment: This is where the user can tweak the voltage applied to the CPU, which is crucial when looking to achieve higher clock speeds beyond the default settings.
2. CPU System Agent Voltage: Adjusting this setting can improve the stability of the CPU during overclocking, particularly impacting memory and integrated graphics performance.
3. Memory Controller Voltage: This voltage is critical for memory overclocking stability and performance.
4. CPU Input Voltage: It’s the voltage supplied to the CPU’s voltage regulator which then feeds the cores and other parts of the CPU at their respective voltages.
5. PLL (Phase-Locked Loop) Termination Voltage: This voltage can impact the stability of the overclock, particularly in achieving higher and stable clock frequencies.
6. PCH (Platform Controller Hub) Voltage: This controls the voltage to the chipset on the motherboard.
7. Adaptive Voltage and Offset Mode: These settings allow for dynamic voltage adjustments based on the CPU load, which can be useful for maintaining lower temperatures when the system is not under heavy stress.
8. Actual VRM (Voltage Regulator Module) Core Voltage: Displays the current voltage being provided by the VRM to the CPU. This can give users insight into how well the VRM is performing under overclocking conditions.

In the bottom section of the interface, users can see real-time monitoring of the CPU frequency, core voltage, temperature, and fan speeds. There are also buttons to save or load overclocking profiles, which allow users to easily switch between different overclock settings for different scenarios or restore default settings after trying out overclocks.

Proper voltage regulation is essential for successful and safe overclocking, as it can prevent damage to the CPU and ensure system stability. AI Suite 3 provides users with a comprehensive set of tools to adjust these parameters within a user-friendly interface.

The GPU Tweak III interface, ASUS’s proprietary software designed for tuning and monitoring their graphics cards. This application allows the user to modify various parameters to overclock the graphics card for better performance. Here’s a breakdown of the visible features and settings:

1. Modes: The top panel shows different operational modes for the graphics card—Default Mode, OC Mode, and Silent Mode. These modes are preset profiles that adjust the GPU’s performance and noise levels.
2. Real-time Monitoring Gauges: The left side has gauges displaying the GPU Temperature, GPU Clock, and GPU Power usage in real-time.
3. Fan Speed Controls: There are controls for adjusting the fan speed, potentially for each fan on the card (“Sides” and “Center” fans), with an option to run the fans at a fixed percentage of their maximum speed or to set them to ‘Auto’ mode where the speed adjusts dynamically based on temperature.
4. Power and Clock Sliders:

• Power Target: Allows the user to set a power limit as a percentage of the GPU’s maximum power. This can affect the card’s performance and thermal output.
• GPU Voltage: Can be adjusted to increase or decrease the voltage supplied to the GPU, affecting stability and performance.
• GPU Boost Clock: Adjusts the maximum clock speed target for the GPU when under load.
• Memory Clock: Manages the clock speed of the GPU’s memory (VRAM), which can significantly affect gaming and rendering performance.

1. OC Scanner: A feature that can automatically test and apply an optimal overclocking configuration, reducing the guesswork and risk associated with manual overclocking.
2. 0dB Fan: This toggle likely activates a feature where the fans can stop completely under low-load conditions, making the card silent when not under heavy use.
3. OSD (On-Screen Display): This feature overlays performance statistics on the screen during gameplay or other full-screen applications, allowing users to monitor their card’s performance without switching out of their application.

The version number (V1.7.2.3) of the software is displayed at the bottom, indicating the specific build of GPU Tweak III the user is running.

This tool is essential for enthusiasts looking to get the most out of their ASUS graphics cards, providing extensive control over performance parameters and real-time data for informed decision-making.

The GPU Tweak III software shows the monitoring tab, which provides detailed real-time data on the graphics card’s performance and status. It allows users to track the following metrics:

1. GPU Clock (MHz): Displays the current, maximum, and minimum GPU core clock speeds. This reflects the speed at which the GPU is operating.
2. GPU Voltage (mV): Indicates the current, maximum, and minimum voltages being supplied to the GPU, which is vital information when overclocking or underclocking.
3. Fan Speed (RPM): Shows the current, maximum, and minimum rotations per minute of the graphics card’s fans.
4. Memory Clock (MHz): Reports the current, maximum, and minimum clock speeds of the graphics card’s memory (VRAM).
5. GPU Temperature (°C): Displays the current, maximum, and minimum temperatures of the GPU. This is crucial for maintaining the health and longevity of the graphics card.
6. Power Target Status (%): Reflects the current, maximum, and minimum percentages of the power target, which is the allowed power consumption relative to the card’s default setting.
7. GPU Usage (%): Indicates how much of the GPU’s processing capacity is currently being used.

At the bottom of the interface are buttons to “Export Logs” and “Import Logs,” giving users the option to save and analyze performance data externally. This feature can be particularly useful for troubleshooting, long-term performance tracking, or sharing data with others for advice.

The tab selection at the top suggests that users can switch between different views (Line View, Column View, Mobile View) to customize how this information is displayed according to their preferences or device constraints.

Maximizing Gaming Performance: A Deep Dive into the Intel Core i9-14900K & RTX 4070 Ti Super Setup

The test setup provided is quite robust and tailored for high-performance computing, suitable for intensive tasks like gaming, rendering, and video editing. Let’s break down the components and their implications on performance:

1. Processor (CPU): The Intel Core i9-14900K is part of Intel’s Raptor Lake series and utilizes the Intel 7 10nm process technology. With 8 Performance-cores (P-cores) and 16 Efficiency-cores (E-cores), resulting in 32 threads, it’s designed to handle demanding workloads efficiently. The CPU-Z utility is used to confirm the processor’s details, ensuring no overclocking or changes were made to the base configuration.
2. Memory (RAM): The system employs high-speed DDR5-5600 16GBx2 memory, which is running in dual-channel mode. The memory is set to utilize Intel’s Extreme Memory Profile (XMP) for optimized performance.
3. Cooling: For temperature management, an ROG RYUO III 360 ARGB cooler is used, with the settings adjusted for maximum cooling efficiency. The fans are in performance mode, and the water pump is at full speed to handle the heat output from the unlocked power limit configuration.
4. Graphics Card (GPU): The OC Mode on the GPU ensures that the graphics card is running at higher clock speeds for better performance. The 0dB function, which would normally stop the fans when the GPU is under a light load to reduce noise, has been turned off to prioritize cooling.
5. Motherboard: The TUF GAMING Z790-BTF WIFI motherboard provides the platform for this setup, with the BIOS version at 0405. This board supports the latest PCIe standards and high-power delivery for GPUs.

This configuration is geared towards enthusiasts who aim to push their system’s performance. The disabling of the 0dB feature on the GPU ensures that the fans are always spinning, providing continuous cooling, which is essential during heavy loads, especially when the CPU and GPU are pushed to their overclocked states.

The performance test results for such a system would be expected to show high scores, reflecting the capabilities of the Intel Core i9-14900K in processing tasks, as well as the TUF GAMING RTX 4070 Ti SUPER BTF’s graphics rendering prowess. Users looking for a system build that offers top-tier performance with the latest technologies would find this setup quite appealing.

The CPU-Z screenshots provide a detailed look at the specifications and performance of your system. Here’s a summary of the key details:

1. CPU Tab:

• Processor: Intel Core i9-14900K, a high-end CPU with a hybrid architecture featuring Performance-cores (P-cores) and Efficiency-cores (E-cores), which totals to 24 cores and 32 threads.
• Core Voltage: 1.154V, indicating the voltage at which the CPU is operating. This is useful for checking if the CPU is running at stock voltages or if it’s been manually adjusted for overclocking.
• Clocks: The CPU’s core speed is displayed, with a base clock of 100 MHz and a multiplier, showing that the CPU can dynamically adjust its frequency based on the load.

1. Mainboard Tab:

• Motherboard: TUF GAMING Z790-BTF WIFI by ASUS, supporting the latest PCIe 5.0 standard, although the current link speed shows PCIe 4.0 due to the GPU’s compatibility.
• BIOS Version: 0405, which is the version of the firmware that the motherboard is currently using.

1. Memory Tab:

• Type: DDR5, the latest generation of RAM, known for higher bandwidth and power efficiency.
• Size: 32 GB, which is a substantial amount for gaming, multitasking, and content creation.
• DRAM Frequency: 2800 MHz, indicating the actual operating frequency of the RAM, which is effectively doubled to 5600 MHz due to DDR (Double Data Rate) technology.

1. SPD Tab (not fully visible):

• Provides details about the memory modules, such as manufacturer and timings.

1. Graphics Tab:

• This would typically show information about the graphics card, but it’s not visible in the screenshots provided.

1. Bench Tab:

• Shows benchmark results for the CPU with a single-thread score and a multi-thread score. These scores reflect the performance capability of the CPU under single-core and multi-core operations, which is particularly impressive for the i9-14900K.

1. About Tab:

• Offers information about the CPU-Z version and has options for validating the system’s results.

These details indicate a well-configured, high-performance system capable of handling demanding applications and tasks with ease. The synergy between the high-speed DDR5 memory and the cutting-edge CPU, alongside the robust TUF GAMING Z790-BTF WIFI motherboard, creates a solid foundation for any power user or enthusiast.

The GPU-Z screenshot provides a comprehensive overview of the ASUS TUF RTX 4070 Ti SUPER graphics card’s specifications. Here’s a breakdown of the details provided:

• Graphics Card Name: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Ti SUPER, indicating a high-end gaming graphics card.
• GPU Code Name: AD103, which is part of NVIDIA’s GPU architecture, fabricated on a 5nm process technology, ensuring high performance with efficient power consumption.
• Release Date: Indicates when the GPU was officially released to the market.
• BIOS Version: Specific software version for the GPU’s firmware.
• Device ID: Unique identifier for the hardware device, useful for driver installations and troubleshooting.
• Subvendor: ASUS, which is known for manufacturing high-quality PC components.
• Bus Interface: PCIe x16 4.0, which is the interface used by the GPU to communicate with the motherboard, with PCIe 4.0 offering high bandwidth.
• Memory: 16 GB GDDR6X from Micron, a substantial amount for demanding games and applications, supporting high resolutions and textures.
• GPU Clock: The base clock speed of the GPU.
• Boost Clock: The higher clock speed the GPU can automatically reach under load to enhance performance.
• Memory Clock: The speed at which the GPU’s memory operates.
• Driver Date: When the installed driver was released, ensuring the GPU is using recent drivers for optimal performance and compatibility.
• Driver Version: The version number of the installed drivers.
• ROPS/TMUs: Raster Operations Pipelines and Texture Mapping Units, crucial for rendering images.
• Pixel Fillrate: Rate at which the GPU can write pixels to the framebuffer, affecting the rendering performance of the GPU.
• Memory Type: Type of memory used by the GPU, which in this case is GDDR6X, known for high speed and bandwidth.
• Memory Size: Total available memory on the GPU.
• Memory Bus Width: Width of the memory interface, where a wider bus allows for more data to be transferred simultaneously.
• Bandwidth: The maximum amount of data that can be transferred over the memory bus in a second.
• Default Clock: The default frequency at which the GPU operates.
• Default Memory: The default frequency of the GPU memory.

This card’s hardware capabilities make it ideal for high-end gaming, 4K video rendering, and complex 3D applications. With real-time ray tracing and DLSS support, gamers can expect high-fidelity visuals and fluid performance across various titles. The ASUS TUF branding also suggests robust build quality and a focus on longevity and cooling efficiency.

This CINEBENCH showcases benchmark results for the Intel Core i9-14900K processor and the system’s performance in the 2024 version, which has implemented the Redshift rendering engine by Cinema 4D. The inclusion of GPU and CPU tests allows for a comprehensive analysis of the system’s rendering capabilities, and the cross-platform comparison feature provides a broader context for performance assessment.

The scores listed provide insights into both multi-core and single-core performance, which are crucial for tasks that benefit from parallel processing (like 3D rendering and video encoding) and tasks that rely on individual core speed (like gaming and some applications). Here are the details:

• GPU (System Requirements): 25102 points, which seems to be a score related to GPU capabilities in meeting system requirements for the test.
• CPU (Multi Core): 2205 points in CINEBENCH 2024, reflecting the combined performance of all CPU cores and threads.
• CPU (Single Core): 134 points in CINEBENCH 2024, showing the performance of a single CPU core, which is important for applications that don’t take advantage of multi-threading.
• MP Ratio: 16.51x, which is the ratio of multi-core performance to single-core performance, indicating how well the CPU scales with additional cores and threads.
• Processor: Intel Core i9-14900K, a high-end desktop CPU from Intel.
• Cores x GHz: 24 cores, 32 threads at 3.19 GHz, providing a balance of high core count and clock speed for demanding workloads.
• GPU: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Ti SUPER BTF, indicating the system has a robust GPU for graphical tasks.
• Operating System: Windows 11, 64 Bit, Professional Edition, showing that the benchmark is run on the latest version of Windows, optimized for professional use.

The benchmark results are beneficial for comparing performance across different systems and configurations. They also help users make informed decisions about hardware upgrades and configurations tailored to their specific use cases, whether it’s for gaming, content creation, or other demanding applications.

The AIDA64 Cache & Memory Benchmark results offer a detailed look into the performance of the system’s memory subsystem. Here’s a breakdown of the performance metrics shown in the screenshot:

• Memory Read: 87779 MB/s – This is the speed at which data can be read from the system memory, indicating high bandwidth and efficient data handling.
• Memory Write: 77483 MB/s – The speed of writing data to the memory, which is also quite fast and suitable for memory-intensive tasks.
• Memory Copy: 78626 MB/s – This reflects the rate at which data can be transferred within the memory, a vital operation for many system processes.
• Memory Latency: 81.1 ns – This is the delay time for the memory to respond to a request, which is relatively low, though not the lowest seen in high-speed memory configurations.

The L1, L2, and L3 cache speeds are also listed, with L1 cache providing the fastest read and copy speeds due to its proximity to the CPU cores, and the L3 cache being larger but slower.

The benchmark confirms the Intel Core i9-14900K’s capabilities with its 8 performance cores (P-cores) and 16 efficient cores (E-cores), a dynamic that suits a wide range of computational tasks from parallel processing to energy efficiency. The DDR5-5600 memory specification indicates a modern and fast system memory setup, which aligns well with the high performance expected from the rest of the system’s components.

The PCMark 10 benchmark results presented provide a comprehensive overview of the system’s performance across various common use scenarios. Here’s a summary of the scores and what they indicate:

• Essentials (12,608 points): This category assesses everyday computing tasks such as app startup, video conferencing, and web browsing. A score of 12,608 points suggests that the system handles these basic tasks exceptionally well, offering a smooth and responsive user experience.
• Productivity (11,874 points): This part of the benchmark measures the system’s capability to handle office-oriented tasks like spreadsheet editing and word processing. The score reflects that the system is well-equipped to manage such productivity tasks efficiently.
• Digital Content Creation (19,084 points): This score is derived from tests that simulate photo editing, video editing, rendering, and visualization tasks. A high score in this category indicates that the system is particularly powerful for creative and media-related applications, capable of handling intensive graphic and computing demands.
• Overall Score (10,173 points): The total score is an aggregate that considers the performance across all tests. It provides a general idea of how well the computer can handle a wide range of activities. The given score signifies that the system is highly capable and versatile, suitable for a broad spectrum of demanding applications from basic computing to complex content creation tasks.

The monitoring graph below the scores shows the CPU and GPU clock frequencies, temperatures, power consumption, and load over time, providing valuable insights into the system’s behavior under test conditions. This data is useful for understanding how the hardware components respond to different workloads and can help identify potential bottlenecks or thermal issues. Overall, the presented PCMark 10 results point to a robust performance profile for the tested setup, making it well-suited for both general and specialized high-demand use cases.

The 3DMark Fire Strike benchmark scores are indicative of the impressive graphics performance of the system equipped with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Ti SUPER graphics card. Here’s a breakdown of the scores:

• Overall Fire Strike Score: 43,829 – This score falls within the ‘Excellent’ range, demonstrating that the system is capable of handling very demanding gaming and 3D rendering tasks with ease. It surpasses the average score of similar hardware configurations, indicating that this setup is tuned to deliver top-tier performance.
• Graphics Score: 56,599 – This score specifically measures the GPU’s capability in rendering complex scenes and effects, and a score this high suggests that the RTX 4070 Ti SUPER can deliver exceptional detail and smooth frame rates in advanced gaming scenarios.
• Physics Score: 56,157 – Reflects the CPU’s performance in handling complex physics simulations within a game or application. A high physics score is crucial for games that involve intricate particle and physics effects.
• Combined Score: 14,507 – This is a measure of both the GPU’s and CPU’s ability to work together efficiently. A high combined score shows that the system is well-balanced, with both components complementing each other to deliver excellent overall performance.

The estimated game performance metric predicting 200+ FPS for Battlefield V at 1440p Ultra settings shows that this setup can easily manage high-resolution gaming with the graphics settings maxed out, promising a smooth and immersive gaming experience.

Additional tests on DirectX 12 with Time Spy and full ray tracing with Speed Way benchmarks corroborate the high capability of the system, with scores significantly above average, ensuring that the setup is future-proof for upcoming game titles that will utilize these advanced features.

A detailed look at how a PC will perform when running games and applications that require DirectX 12, which is the latest graphics API and is known for its high demands on processing power and ability to handle complex visual effects.

Here’s what the scores mean:

• Overall Time Spy Score: 24,346 – This ‘Great’ score indicates that the PC will deliver high-quality performance in DirectX 12 titles, which include many modern and upcoming games.
• Graphics Score: 24,908 – This score is focused on the GPU’s performance and its ability to handle the rendering of advanced 3D graphics. A score nearing 25,000 is an indicator that the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Ti SUPER is capable of rendering graphics-intensive scenes with high detail and smooth frame rates.
• CPU Score: 21,587 – This score assesses the CPU’s ability to handle the complex calculations and tasks that DirectX 12 demands. A score over 21,000 signifies that the CPU can efficiently handle multiple threads and heavy workloads, which is crucial for gaming, as well as for other demanding applications like video editing and 3D rendering.
• Estimated Game Performance: The benchmark predicts over 200 FPS for Battlefield V at 1440p Ultra settings, suggesting that gaming experiences will be exceptionally smooth without any noticeable lag or stutter, even during intense action scenes.

The Time Spy benchmark score, especially the Graphics score, combined with the estimated gaming performance, underscores the strength of this PC setup for gaming enthusiasts who seek high-resolution, high-fidelity gaming experiences with the settings turned up to the max.

The 3DMark Speed Way score is a benchmark that evaluates the performance of your system, specifically the GPU, in a DirectX Raytracing (DXR) scenario. Here’s a breakdown of the scores displayed:

• Speed Way Score: 6,482 – This is an overall score that measures the system’s ability to handle real-time ray tracing, which is a graphics technology that simulates complex light interactions in a scene. A score of 6,482 is categorized as ‘Great’, indicating the system is well-equipped to manage games with real-time ray tracing enabled.
• Graphics Score: 6,482 – Since this test is focused on GPU capabilities, particularly in ray tracing, the score here reflects how well the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Ti SUPER handles these advanced calculations. Scoring 6,482 suggests that the GPU has strong ray-tracing performance, enabling high-quality visuals with realistic lighting and shadows.
• Estimated Game Performance: The benchmark anticipates more than 200 FPS for Battlefield V at 1440p Ultra settings, which suggests that the system can offer a very smooth gaming experience at a high resolution, even with the computationally intensive ray tracing enabled.

A score above the average (6,328) and close to the best (7,003) demonstrates that the graphics card is competitive within its hardware category for ray tracing performance. For gamers looking to experience the next level of realism in lighting and reflections, this system provides a promising solution.

Ultimate Gaming Performance Unleashed: RTX 4070 Ti Super’s Mastery over AAA Titles at 1440p

We have benchmark results for the ASUS TUF GAMING RTX 4070 Ti SUPER BTF graphics card running various AAA games at 1440p resolution with all settings maxed out. The benchmarks provide insights into the card’s performance without ray tracing or any performance acceleration features like DLSS (Deep Learning Super Sampling).

The test list includes a mix of new and established titles, giving a comprehensive picture of the card’s capabilities across different game engines and graphical demands. Here’s a breakdown of the performance in traditional rendering games and ray-tracing games:

Traditional Rendering Game Performance:

• The card achieves an average of 170.3 FPS across nine games, showcasing robust gaming performance.
• “Diablo IV” hits the highest average at 252 FPS.
• “Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora” performs well with an average of 96 FPS even without acceleration features.

Ray-Tracing Game Performance with DLSS Enabled:

• When averaging seven ray-tracing games, the card delivers an impressive 166.0 FPS.
• Notably, “Cyberpunk 2077” with DLSS 3 Performance mode reaches an average of 156.9 FPS.
• “The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt” with DLSS 3 Performance mode averages 146 FPS.
• “Spider-Man: Miles Morales” with DLSS 3 Quality mode achieves an average of 185 FPS.

These results suggest that the ASUS TUF GAMING RTX 4070 Ti SUPER BTF is more than capable of delivering a high-end gaming experience at 1440p, even in the most graphically demanding scenarios. For gamers looking for smooth frame rates at higher resolutions, this card seems to be a potent contender, especially when leveraging NVIDIA’s DLSS technology to enhance performance in ray-traced games.

Summarize

The TUF GAMING Z790-BTF WIFI and RTX 4070 Ti SUPER BTF backplate card combination offer PC enthusiasts a visually appealing left side, ideal for fans of minimalism and neat cable management. This pairing signifies a commitment to aesthetic cohesiveness, as the backplate motherboard and case are meant to go hand in hand. While the backplate graphics card can be selected based on personal preference, if an additional power line appears on the otherwise sleek setup, it might disappoint those with a keen eye for detail.

When assembling, the usual DIY PC installation sequence might involve securing the motherboard first, followed by the power supply, connecting case/power cables, setting up the cooling system, and finally installing the graphics card. However, with a backplate design, one can install the motherboard and graphics card first, followed by the case/power cables and cooling system. This design can simplify and speed up the assembly process, though it doesn’t completely eliminate the need for basic cable management.

For those who desire the ultimate in visual appeal and a clear view on the left side of the chassis without any cable interference, Asus’ “Advanced BTF” backplate design for boards and cases is worth considering. Asus plans to expand its range of BTF models, providing more options for DIY enthusiasts who prefer backplate designs.

In the future, even AIO coolers might adopt a backplate design to align with this trend, further streamlining the clean aesthetic of gaming rigs.

If this article is helpful for you, please share this article with your friends on social media. Thank you!

This article is based on the personality of the reviews. You are responsible for fact-checking if the contents are not facts or accurate.

Title: Revolutionize PC Builds with ASUS’s Advanced BTF Design for Enhanced Aesthetics and Performance