We’re hands-on with ASUS’ cable-free ROG Strix RTX 4090 BTF GPU at CES

ASUS’ BTF series hardware includes cable-free graphics cards

When we toured ASUS’ Booth at CES 2024, we got to see a cable-free RTX 4090 graphics card. This GPU is the ASUS ROG Strix GeForce RTX 4090 BTF, a GPU that draws its power from the user’s motherboard using a new power connector. This new power connector is ASUS’ PCIe High-Power connector. Like 12VHPWR it can handle up to 600 watts of power.

ASUS’ BTF (Back-To-Front) hardware ecosystem moves power connections behind the motherboard trays of PCs. This allows users of compatible motherboards, GPUs, and cases to create cable-free PCs. Well, at least you see no cables through your case’s side panel window.

The problem with ASUS’ BTF graphics cards is that they can only be powered using a PCIe High Power connector. This means that BTF GPUs only work with compatible BTF motherboards. Right now, only ASUS makes motherboards with their PCIe High-Power connector. Moreover, this connector won’t work with vertically mounted graphics cards, as these GPUs are not directly connected to a motherboard. That said, 12VHPWR to PCIe High-Power adaptors or PCIe High-Power riser cables are possible.

With their BTF products, ASUS has fully realised the concept of a “cable-free” PC. No cables are visible. It’s almost impossible to create a PC that’s tidier than this. What our full ASUS/ROG CES booth tour below.

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