ASUS ROG Matrix 5090 a Limited Edition Powerhouse Rated at 800W
As a 30th anniversary celebration of ASUS in the GPU market, this is a special graphics card that ASUS has introduced called ROG Matrix 5090. It is extremely limited; only 1,000 pieces will be produced around the world. This article covers its unboxing, design heritage, unique power system, and performance metrics.
Unboxing and Design
The card comes in a rather huge package, bigger than those of an average premium GPU. The outside presents the traditional ROG red and black color scheme. The card itself is heavy with a huge aluminum metal shell painted in red all around and three large fans installed on the body.
Included Accessories are the Following:
- A metal GPU support bracket to prevent sag. It also is smartly integrated with small, replaceable screwdriver heads.
- A set of ROG-branded decorative poker cards.
A Nod to the First Graphics Card by ROG
This design of Matrix 5090 is a direct homage to ROG's first graphics card that ever was, the Matrix 9800 GT, released back in 2008. This new card has that unmistakable elongated curved shroud shape borne of that original model, quite befitting the legacy.
To make it clear this is the anniversary in question:
- 30th Anniversary Literally, 30 years of ASUS producing graphics cards.
- ~20th Anniversary The ROG (Republic of Gamers) brand itself came into being in 2006.
The 800W Power System Explained
800W Total Design Power (TDP) tops the features list of the Matrix 5090. At first glance, the card has no visible top-mounted power connectors. A hidden 16-pin connector that can deliver up to 600W is under a removable cover. Additional power will be provided through a BTF (Back-To-the-Future) goldfinger connector on the bottom edge of the PCB. Hence, when used with a BTF adapter card, both top and bottom connectors would be able to supply power simultaneously to enable the full 800W draw.
Performance Testing and Thermal
The sample was connected to a BTF system and put under a load test on performance.
- FurMark Stress Test Immediately the power consumption leaped beyond 770W, to settle around and even spike above 800W (peaking at 807W). Under such load, the GPU clock speed reached 3,052 MHz.
- 3DMark Time Spy Extreme It turned out that this benchmark went even higher 880-900W. Surprisingly the cooling system remained strikingly silent.
Benchmark Results and Overclocking
After overclocking, the card achieved 28,638 in the 3DMark Time Spy Extreme benchmark. The GPU clock speed was maintained at such a high rate during the test, running somewhere between 3,240 - 3,250 MHz, while the GPU temperature held steady at about 60°C.
It is this innovative BTF 2.5 power interface featured inside the ROG Matrix 5090 that allows it to exceed the 600W limit of a single connector. At launch, this TDP of 800W is the highest ever in a graphics card. A very efficient cooling solution enabled this. ASUS also seeks to push forward design innovation in a market that has become quite standardized by paying tribute to its very first ROG card.
