ASUS unveiled the ROG Matrix GeForce RTX 4090 at Computex on May 30, 2023, pairing factory-applied liquid metal on the GPU die with an all-in-one liquid cooler. The card was planned for Q3 2023 and later received a launch announcement on September 19; those historical dates do not establish its current stock or price.
What ASUS announced at Computex
ASUS described the ROG Matrix GeForce RTX 4090 as the first ROG graphics card to use liquid-metal thermal compound. Its cooling assembly was designed to draw heat from the GPU, voltage-regulator modules (VRMs), and memory through a full-coverage cold plate. ASUS also listed a pump, an extra-thick 360 mm radiator, three magnetic daisy-chainable fans, a single 12VHPWR cable, and Dual BIOS. ASUS’s Computex announcement contains the design details.
Liquid metal conducts electricity, so a spill onto exposed components could cause a short circuit. ASUS said it applied UV resin above capacitors around the GPU die and added two protective layers between the die and the main PCB. The company said this containment approach allowed the card to be mounted vertically. These are ASUS’s descriptions of its manufacturing and protection measures, not independently verified safety findings.
What the thermal and clock figures mean
In its May announcement, ASUS said the card could run at 60°C under a 450 W TGP while the radiator fans stayed below 1000 RPM. The announcement does not establish independent replication or provide enough comparable test detail to treat that figure as a guarantee for every system or workload.
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In its September 19, 2023 launch announcement, ASUS listed a 2700 MHz boost clock in OC mode and called it the highest RTX 4090 boost clock available at that time. ASUS also reported that the card had claimed three world records and five global first places across benchmark tools since its Computex unveiling. Those are the company’s dated claims, not independently verified results or current rankings. The launch announcement gives ASUS’s specifications and benchmark account.
Announcement, planned timing, and later launch
| Date | What ASUS said |
|---|---|
| May 30, 2023 | At Computex, ASUS introduced the limited-edition ROG Matrix RTX 4090 and said it was planned for market availability in Q3 2023. ASUS ROG |
| September 19, 2023 | ASUS published a launch announcement with the OC-mode clock specification and its reported benchmark results. This announcement does not establish present-day stock or price. ASUS ROG |
| November 21, 2023 | ASUS said it auctioned a signed, one-of-a-kind card for charity. Roman “der8auer” Hartung won with a $16,000 bid; that was a collectible charity-auction result, not the card’s retail price. ASUS Pressroom |
What the card’s software added
ASUS paired the card with GPU Tweak III features including Thermal Map, Power Detector+ for checking the six 12VHPWR power pins, and Mileage tracking for time spent at different power levels. These tools complement the hardware, but they do not by themselves establish cooling performance or compare the card with other RTX 4090 models.
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- Axial-tech fans feature a smaller fan hub that facilitates longer blades and a barrier ring that increases downward air pressure
What a prospective buyer should weigh
The Matrix’s distinguishing proposition was its elaborate liquid-cooling design, not a proven performance advantage over every other RTX 4090. ASUS’s announcements do not settle current pricing, retail availability, independent noise or temperature results, or real-world performance differences against competing RTX 4090 variants. A meaningful comparison would require tests under comparable workloads and conditions.
- Fit: Allow for a 360 mm radiator and its fan clearance, tubing route, and mounting position in the case.
- Power: Plan for the card’s single 12VHPWR connection and a compatible power setup; ASUS’s Power Detector+ feature monitors the six connector power pins.
- Cooling and noise: Treat ASUS’s 60°C and fan-speed figure as a manufacturer claim, not a guaranteed result in a different case or workload.
- Availability: The Q3 2023 date was a historical plan. Neither it nor the September launch announcement confirms current stock or price.
The $16,000 figure sometimes associated with the model came from the November 2023 auction of one signed, one-of-a-kind card. It should not be read as a normal retail price.
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How many were made?
ASUS called the card limited-edition or limited-run, but the official materials cited above do not give a confirmed total production quantity. The existence of the November charity auction likewise does not establish how many retail units were produced.
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- New patented vapor chamber with milled heatspreader for lower GPU temps
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