Leaked listings hint at ASUS launching new Astral GeForce RTX 50 series GPU line

ASUS could be gearing up for a major shake-up in its graphics card lineup if recent leaks are to be believed. The rumour mill is buzzing with whispers about ASUS introducing a new Astral series of GPUs, potentially joining its high-end ROG (Republic of Gamers) portfolio. Hardware data aggregator momomo_us on X spotted several upcoming NVIDIA and AMD graphics cards, which have been unofficially listed by retailers and distributors. These include the very open-secret NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 and AMD Radeon RX 9070 series, suggesting ASUS is preparing its inventory ahead of the annual CES event taking place next week.

The most intriguing part of this leak is the so-called Astral sub-series. If the reports hold true, this range will slot into ASUS' premium ROG category, standing alongside its well-established Strix and Matrix lines. The name “Astral” hints at something celestial – perhaps a design featuring sleek silver or white accents to stand out in the crowded high-end GPU market. While details remain thin, early listings for the ASUS ROG Astral RTX 5080 have already surfaced at retailers like Intcomex and El Changarro, seemingly by accident.

ASUS has long categorised its GPUs into three distinct tiers: Prime, TUF, and ROG, catering to a wide range of gamers and PC builders. These leaks highlight three new GPUs across the board: the GeForce RTX 5080 from NVIDIA, the Radeon RX 9070 XT, and the Radeon RX 9070 from AMD. Interestingly, the RX 9070 XT aligns with rumours that AMD’s RDNA 4 family will feature a refreshed naming scheme, rebranding what might have been the RX 8800 XT – since the previous two Radeon generations used the 6000 and 7000 numberings.

Specifications for the listed cards indicate that both NVIDIA and AMD are leaning into 16GB of memory for this generation. However, the RTX 5080 reportedly utilises faster memory technology than its AMD counterparts, which are said to rely on GDDR6. The RX 9070 XT and its non-XT sibling are expected to feature a 256-bit memory interface, maintaining a competitive edge against NVIDIA's mid-range Blackwell lineup. In theory, anyway.

For PC enthusiasts, the real excitement lies in what the Astral branding could signify beyond aesthetics. ASUS has a history of tying its premium products to performance-focused features, so it’s not far-fetched to expect factory overclocking, enhanced cooling systems, or exclusive design elements in the Astral series. With the GeForce RTX 5080 at the forefront, this line could serve as NVIDIA's flagship alternative to AMD’s Radeon RX 9070 XT and RX 9070, which are likely positioned to challenge NVIDIA’s RTX 5070 offerings.

In any case, CES 2025 is just around the corner, and it is expected that NVIDIA and AMD will be announcing new GPUs. Team HardwareZone will also be covering CES, so stay tuned to updates from us!

Source: Tom’s Hardware

Our articles may contain affiliate links. If you buy through these links, we may earn a small commission.