Intel’s 14th Gen Raptor Lake-S Refresh is all set for the third quarter of 2023. Leveraging the unlocked processors, these chips will go up against AMD’s 3D V-Cache and, later on, the Zen 5 offerings. Although the specifications are largely unchanged, we’re looking at higher core clocks and higher overclocking potential. The memory clocks also take a hike with superior VRMs and shinier sockets overall.
The base chipsets, however, remain unchanged. Vendors have beefed up the I/Os with Thunderbolt 4 Type C, USB 20Gbps, and several onboard PCIe Gen 5 slots. This also means more high-performance USB 3/4 ports and better audio chipsets.
We’ve got three flagships, the ASUS ROG Strix, TUF Gaming, and the Dark Hero. The core features of the latter are as follows:
- Intel LGA 1700 socket: Ready for Intel Core Next-Gen & 13th Gen processors, Intel Core 12th Gen, Pentium Gold, and Celeron Processors
- Robust Power Solution: 20+1 teamed power solution rated for 90A per stage with dual ProCool II power connectors, high-quality alloy chokes, and durable capacitors to support multi-core processors
- Optimized VRM Thermals: Massive heatsinks integrated with the I/O cover, joined by an L-shaped heatpipe, and connected to the power stages with high-conductivity thermal pads
- Latest M.2 Support: Onboard PCIe 5.0 M.2 slot, and four PCIe 4.0 M.2 slots all with substantial cooling solutions
- Abundant Connectivity: Dual Thunderbolt 4 USB Type-C ports, USB 20Gbps Type-C front-panel connector with Quick Charge 4+ up to 60W and USB Wattage Watcher, six additional USB 10Gbps ports, two PCIe 5.0 x16 SafeSlots, HDMI 2.1
- High-Performance Networking: On-board Intel Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be) and Intel 2.5 Gb Ethernet with ASUS LANGuard
- Intelligent Control: ASUS-exclusive AI Overclocking, AI Cooling II, AI Networking, and Two-Way AI Noise Cancelation to simplify setup and improve performance
- Immersive Audio: ROG SupremeFX ALC4082 codec with ESS ES9218 Quad DAC for up to 32-Bit/384 kHz playback
- Unmatched Personalization: I/O cover with Polymo Lighting, three addressable Gen 2 headers, and one RGB header, all configurable with ASUS-exclusive Aura Sync RGB lighting
- DIY Friendly Design: PCIe Slot Q-Release, M.2 Q-Latch, Q-Antenna, pre-mounted I/O shield, Q-Code, Q-LED, FlexKey button, Start button, BIOS FlashBack⢠button, and Clear CMOS button
