ASUS started the ROG Matrix series with the launch of ASUS ROG EN9600GT MATRIX/HTDI/512M, which sported a whole bunch of interesting features. ASUS called the card the smartest card on the planet and the reason was the new Hybrid Engine that enabled users to measure and control voltages, clock frequencies, and fan frequencies for optimal performance and power efficiency, not to mention noise. Alas, the beefy cooler needs two slots but at the same time it does turn off the fans completely when possible. We’re not sure how often that is, but ASUS is confident in its new ROG Matrix concept and has launched another model sporting a much more powerful graphics circuit, GeForce 9800GT.
ASUS ROG EN9800GT MATRIX/HTDI/512M sports the same features as the elderly sibling, such as automatic over and underclocking depending on load. The card has HDMI and DVI outputs, but also a digital audio input that loops into the HDMI connector. There is still no information regarding the price and availability of the card, but we would estimate a ten or two above the regular GeForce 9800GT store prices.
ASUS ROG Matrix series are some interesting cards but not just for gamers, but also systems looking to combine multimedia functionality with gaming. Although, the most anticipated model hasn’t been launched yet, namely a model with the RV770 GPU under the cooler. We spotted the card during the ASUS Berlin event and below we’ve posted a picture of the card in question.
ASUS is still refining the Hybrid Engine support since this is a whole new graphics circuit that is supposed to work in the exact same way as the two GeForce-based cards. We hope that ASUS reconsiders the outputs though, and replace one of the DVI outputs with an HDMI connector, we’d rather work without adapters and since this was not the final version of the card there may very well be an HDMI port there when the card launches.
