Asus Introduces RTX 50 ProArt GPUs with Distinctive Wood Grain Design
Asus is bringing a surprise twist to the high-end performance graphics card segment. They recently announced their first RTX 50 series cards to join the ProArt roster, and they're sporting a very distinctive "classy brown wood grain design." It's certainly a departure from the usual tech aesthetic.
Other than the unique look, this initial shipment of four RTX 50 ProArt cards is new for the company: they're introducing USB Type-C support. This is an excellent feature for pros who rely on convenient connectivity. And for those needing extra high-speed storage, two of these new ones even have an M.2 slot, though we'll need to wait and see how Asus prices such spec-heavy cards.
Which Wooden Wunder is Yours.
Of the new Asus ProArt GeForce RTX 5080 releases available, the OC Edition with M.2 SSD slot will likely be the most desirable. Then comes the regular clock model with the M.2 slot, followed by the ProArt GeForce RTX 5080 OC, and finally the base model which retains that wood grain appearance and the handy USB Type-C port.
While Nvidia GeForce RTX 5080's underlying performance is already well established (and if not, then well worth seeking out its place in mid-2025 GPU market). Asus is releasing two ProArt cards at reference speed and two factory-overclocked. We haven't been given detailed clock speeds yet by Asus, so we're looking at their product pages for them.
More Than A Pretty (Wooden) Face
The biggest differences here, aside from the behemoth RTX 5080 chip, are the cooler looks, that cool M.2 slot, and USB Type-C support. The ProArt looks draw from Asus's Prime series graphics cards but with a bit of ProArt style and of course that top-of-the-page headline-grabbing wood grain finish. It's undoubtedly a top-end GPU with an odd yet eye-catching look.
As for cooling, Asus refers to it as a "2.5 slot small form factor size," though the card is not low-profile. The three-fan configuration sits above the PCI bracket and is extremely long, likely nearly 300mm. Asus mentions a MaxContact cooler design that includes a vapor chamber and a phase-change GPU pad to cool the card and run smoothly.
Let's not overlook those other special touches. All four of these new ProArt RTX 5080 models feature USB Type-C, a welcome addition to attaching to an increasing number of monitors and other peripherals.
And if you opt for one that features an M.2 slot, then you can take advantage of up to PCIe Gen5 speeds. And the big cooling system on the graphics card should be more than enough to keep even a high-speed SSD in its comfort zone.
It's a fascinating move by Asus, melding high performance with a extremely distinctive, nature-based aesthetic. These ProArt RTX 50 cards will undoubtedly appeal to those who are looking for something distinctive for their gaming or creative setups.
