ASUS ROG Astral GeForce RTX 5090 BTF Edition GPU: hidden GC-HPWR connector handles 1000W power

ASUS has introduced a couple of new BTF GPUs into its growing BTF ecosystem, with the new ROG Astral GeForce RTX 5090 BTF OC Edition, which is the first ROG Astral to use the detachable Graphics Card High-Power (GC-HPWR) power connector.

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The new GC-HPWR is built on the improvements in version 2.5 of the connector, which has been engineered to supply over 1000W of power into the high-power slot, alongside the 12V-2x6 power connector that's found behind the PCIe connector. The new ASUS ROG Astral RTX 5090 BTF Edition has everything that is built into the non-BTF series card, but the new BTF series version features enhanced power delivery and compatibility.

ASUS's new ROG Astral RTX 5090 BTF Edition has the same (and kick-ass) four-fan configuration, vapor chamber, optimized fin spacing, while the phase-change GPU thermal pad makes sure there's maximum contact with the GB202 GPU die. ASUS says that its quad-fan thermal layout improves airflow and pressure by up to 20%, while additional features include real-time monitoring of temperatures and power draw through the 12V-2x6 power connector which can be tweaked through its in-house GPU Tweak III software.

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ASUS explains on its website: "The ROG Astral GeForce RTX 5090 BTF Edition is engineered for unparalleled performance and flexibility. Featuring the latest BTF technology, it incorporates an innovative detachable graphics card high-power (GC-HPWR) adapter withstand up to 1000 watts, whose detachable design ensures compatibility with both standard and BTF motherboards".

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"To keep this powerhouse cool, the ROG Astral RTX 5090 BTF boasts a quad-fan design, complemented by a patented vapor chamber, increased heatsink fin density, and a phase-change GPU thermal pad. These advanced cooling solutions, combined with towering default clock speeds and boosted power delivery, ensure it's ready to conquer even the most demanding gaming scenarios".