ASUS ROG Strix GeForce RTX 4090 OC review: Fast and furious

Note: This review was first published on 31 October 2022.

The ASUS ROG Strix GeForce RTX 4090 OC makes a beastly card even beefier. With the GeForce RTX 4090 already topping performance benchmarks and setting a new standard for what 4K gaming numbers should really look like, the question of which custom card to buy will largely come down to looks and each card's unique cooling solution.

The ASUS card is massive, making the already gargantuan Founders Edition model look svelte in comparison. It measures a good 357mm long, which means that clearance could possibly become an issue in some cases. Even the popular NZXT H510 Elite will find the card a tight fit — plus, there will be zero room for any front-mounted radiator.

But if you have a smaller chassis like the H1 or H210, the card will most definitely not fit.

This is also a 3.5-slot card, or basically four slots in practice. However, the IO bracket only takes up two slots.

If you're worried about the card sagging and damaging your PCIe slot in the long run, an included graphics card holder should help provide some additional support. 

It owes its expansive girth to the ridiculously chunky heatsink. The heatsink fins sit 90 degrees relative to the length of the card, which means that hot air is exhausted out the top of the card instead of being vented toward the back. This may be something to take note of if you're planning the orientation of your case fans.

A GPU bracket provides extra stability to the critical connection between the die and heat spreader. This is paired with the diecast shroud, frame, and backplate for improved rigidity.

In terms of aesthetics, the latest generation of ROG Strix cards looks considerably changed from the GeForce RTX 3000 series. It features rounded corners, red and purple detailing, and a striking cap at the end of the card that is illuminated by RGB lighting. However, save for a backlit Republic of Gamers text line on the side, the rest of the card is notably devoid of any other ostentatious lighting.

Three 104mm axial-tech fans help pull cool air over the heatsink. These are slightly larger than the previous generation design and are rated for 23% more airflow, according to ASUS. The middle fan also rotates clockwise, while the outer ones rotate anti-clockwise, which is supposed to help reduce air turbulence and fan noise.

A dual BIOS switch on the card's edge allows you to quickly switch between performance and quiet speed profiles without having to enter the software. A new power sensing indicator also lets you know if something is up with your PSU. Featuring a high-speed circuit that monitors input power from your PSU, it will let you know if there are voltage regulation issues or cable connection problems.

The GeForce RTX 4090 uses NVIDIA's new 16-pin power connector. ASUS is recommending a whopping 1000W PSU to go with it, so you might have to swap out more than one component in your system if you're planning for this card.

Display outputs include two HDMI 2.1 and three DisplayPort 1.4 connectors, but you can only output to four displays at any one time. It is almost mind-boggling that NVIDIA hasn't included support for DisplayPort 2.0, considering that the standard was finalised way back in 2019.

Test setup

Here are the specifications of our test rig:

• Intel 12th Gen Core i9-12900K CPU
• ROG Maximus Z690 Hero
• Samsung 980 Pro 1TB SSD
• Kingston Fury 32GB DDR5
• Windows 11 Home 64-bit
• ASUS ROG Swift PG43UQ 4K Gaming Monitor

We'll be comparing the ASUS ROG Strix GeForce RTX 4090 OC against the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 Founders Edition.

The following synthetic benchmarks and games were run, with the games chosen from a wide range of genres to give a better indication of performance across different segments:

• 3DMark
• Shadow of the Tomb Raider
• Metro: Exodus
• Wolfenstein: Youngblood
• Horizon Zero Dawn
• Guardians of the Galaxy

3DMark

3DMark is a synthetic benchmark that tests graphics and computational performance at different resolutions, starting at 1080p and going all the way up to 4K. A series of two graphics test, one physics test, and then a combined test stresses your hardware in turn to assess its performance.

While the ASUS card has a more aggressive boost clock speed of 2,640MHz in OC mode, compared to the Founders Edition card's 2,610MHz, the slight bump doesn't really net that big of a performance jump. There were negligible differences between both cards in 3DMark.

1080p Benchmarks (Max Settings)

In real-world games, the ASUS card inched ahead by a few frames in most titles, but it's not something you'd want to waste time splitting hairs over.

1440p Benchmarks (Max Settings)

The same was true at 1440p. Both cards traded blows, depending on the title, and it was difficult to tease out a clear winner.

4K Benchmarks (Max Settings)

Both cards maintained their neck-and-neck performance at 4K. If you're deciding between the two, gaming performance is not likely to be differentiating factor.

4K @ Max Settings (Ray Tracing)

With ray tracing turned on, performance unsurprisingly takes a hit. However, the ASUS card still maintains a slight lead of a couple of frames.

Temperature and Power

Cooling performance is what really matters when it comes to a comparison between these two cards. With its upgraded cooler that simply dwarfs everything else, the ASUS card was able to shave nearly 8°C off the Founders Edition card's peak operating temperature.

Of course, this comes at the price of a higher power draw. Either way, you'll want to make sure your PSU has sufficient wattage, especially if you're also running a high-end CPU.

Conclusion

At S$3,429, the ASUS ROG Strix GeForce RTX 4090 OC demands that you dig deep into your bank to afford one. Nevertheless, it has everything you could possibly want from a custom card, such as a factory overclock, a very capable and quiet cooler, and an attractive design.

Its new look is a refreshing departure from previous ROG Strix cards, and the modest RGB lighting makes for a more tasteful and subdued aesthetic.

The one downside is its size and power draw. You'll need to check if your case and PSU can support it. If not, that means extra items added to your bill.

The ASUS ROG Strix GeForce RTX 4090 OC is now available to buy on Lazada.

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