Johannesburg, 13 Jan 2021
Key points:
- Ultraportable 2-in-1: Slim 13-inch ultraportable is only 15.8mm thin and 1.3kg, and converts from laptop to stand, tent or tablet modes with a 360° hinge.
- ROG XG Mobile: Compact external GPU features up to a GeForce RTX 3080 GPU, custom PCIe interface, I/O hub, and built-in 280W AC adapter.
- Powerful processor: Up to an 8-core AMD Ryzen 9 5980HS CPU provides high performance for gaming and creativity.
- Gaming to go: Up to GeForce GTX 1650 GPU speeds up on-the-go gaming with choice of 4K Ultra HD or 120Hz full HD displays, both with Adaptive-Sync.
ASUS Republic of Gamers (ROG) today announced the ROG Flow X13, the first 2-in-1 convertible ROG gaming laptop, and the ROG XG Mobile, an innovative ultraportable external GPU that augments the Flow X13’s gaming performance and connectivity.
“ASUS has always been known for passion to innovations and we are happy to introduce a new breakthrough product – ROG Flow X13 – which is not just a new single product.
"It is the start of a whole new category.
"We saw a demand in extra powerful 13-inch laptops a while ago and decided to combine ultimate gaming performance with the best ultra-portability you could ever imagine,” said Benjamin Yeh, ASUS East EMEA General Manager PC and Gaming.
The Flow X13 delivers powerful hardware in an ultraslim 13-inch body with up to an 8-core AMD Ryzen 9 5980HS CPU and dedicated GeForce GTX 1650 GPU. A 360° hinge maximises touchscreen viewing and interaction, quickly flipping from laptop mode into positions for gaming, drawing and presenting. A choice of two 16:10 display options provides either a 120Hz refresh rate or an Ultra HD 4k resolution with richer detail.
Slim and lightweight, the Flow X13 is only 15.8mm thin and 1.3kg (2.9lb). It runs at full power with a lightweight 100W USB Type-C adapter, and its battery provides up to 10 hours of video playback. The Flow X13 further stands out by seamlessly integrating with a new class of external GPU (eGPU) that adds power and flexibility in an ultraportable form factor.
The innovative ROG XG Mobile is a fraction of the size of external graphics alternatives. Yet it incorporates up to a powerful GeForce RTX 3080 GPU connected directly to the CPU via a custom PCIe 3.0 x8 interface that’s faster than Thunderbolt 4. A dedicated USB 3.2 Gen 2 link feeds an I/O hub with extra connectivity, while an integrated 280W AC adapter powers both the XG Mobile and Flow X13, removing the need for users to carry an additional power brick.
Together, the Flow X13 and XG Mobile redefine what’s possible with a 13-inch device, empowering users with versatile portability while providing desktop-class gaming performance and connectivity on demand.
Ultraportable 2-in-1
The Flow X13 has a slick convertible design with a 360° hinge that allows users to use different modes for different tasks.
Standard laptop mode is optimal for serious gaming and multitasking. Tablet mode makes it possible to swipe through content or draw and take handwritten notes with a compatible active stylus like the ASUS Pen. The touchscreen is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass, which resists scratches from everyday use.
The 360° hinge also enables stand mode, which brings the display closer to the user, and tent mode, which minimises the device’s footprint. These positions give the cooling fans more unobstructed access to airflow, lowering temperatures by up to eight degrees.
The 13-inch chassis is slim and lightweight at only 15.8mm thin and 1.3kg. A textured exterior with a wave-like design adds style while providing a secure, fingerprint-resistant grip for easy carrying. Integrated one-touch login also allows the Flow X13 to wake up like a smartphone.
ROG XG Mobile
ROG is a pioneer in the field of external graphics, having introduced the very first eGPU dock, the XG Station, in 2007. The new ROG XG Mobile introduces a streamlined design that offers an innovative new way to bring desktop-class gaming performance to an ultraportable form factor.
Weighing only 1kg (2.2lb) and measuring just 155mm (D) x 208mm (W) x 29mm (H), the XG Mobile is 6% the size of typical eGPUs despite featuring up to a GeForce RTX 3080 GPU clocked to 1 810MHz at 150W with ROG Boost. The top-of-the-line GPU is based on the new NVIDIA Ampere architecture, which combines CUDA cores for programmable shading with second generation RT cores for advanced ray tracing and third generation Tensor cores that offer greater throughput for AI-accelerated DLSS graphics.
Efficient vapour chamber cooling keeps the XG Mobile operating at ideal temperatures despite its small enclosure. The compact vapour chamber design increases contact surface area by 54% compared to heat pipes, maximising thermal transfer to the heatsink fins for rapid dissipation.
The XG Mobile connects directly to the CPU with a custom PCIe 3.0 x8 interface that’s faster than Thunderbolt 4. The interface dedicates 63Gbps of bandwidth exclusively to graphics, resulting in significantly higher performance than eGPU alternatives. A separate USB 3.2 Gen 2 connection adds 10Gbps just for I/O, and both share a 41cm cable.
The USB link drives the XG Mobile’s multi-port hub, which has four USB Type A 3.2 Gen 1 ports, a full-sized SD card slot, and a Gigabit Ethernet port. DisplayPort 1.4 and HDMI 2.0a display outputs connect directly to the external GPU.
An integrated 280W power adapter supplies the XG Mobile and laptop simultaneously, so users don’t need to carry a separate power brick.
Powerful processor
Up to an AMD Ryzen 9 5980HS CPU with eight cores and 16 threads provides the performance needed for demanding workloads. The Ryzen 5000 Series mobile processors feature a new Zen 3 architecture backed by a large on-chip cache up to 20MB. The HS designation indicates chips that have a 35W power envelope tuned for ultraslim chassis but are capable of scaling up to 54W when thermal and power headroom allow.
A special Flow X13 Supernova Edition will be available with the top-of-the-line Ryzen 9 5980HS, which scales up to 4.8GHz on a single core and achieves up to an 8-core.
Up to 32GB of memory provides smooth multitasking. The Flow X13 uses LPDDR4X-4266 RAM, which consumes 50% less power and generates less heat than typical DDR4 memory. LPDDR4X memory also takes up 46% less surface area on the motherboard thanks to smaller chips and simplified traces, leaving more room for a powerful CPU and GPU.
A PCIe SSD provides high performance and up to 1TB of capacity, giving users ample storage space for games and professional portfolios.
Gaming to go
The Flow X13 incorporates a GeForce GTX 1 650 GPU capable of hitting clock speeds up to 1 255MHz at 35W in Turbo mode with ROG Boost, with the ability to draw an additional 5W via Dynamic Boost, enabling strong performance in the latest games.
A choice of displays completes the visual experience. The 120Hz FHD panel enables smoother gameplay that’s especially noticeable in fast-paced games, while the optional 4K Ultra HD display provides a high pixel density well suited to artistic work. On both displays, Adaptive-Sync synchronises the panel’s refresh rate with the GPU’s frame rate to reduce lag, minimise stuttering and eliminate visual tearing.
Both display options are factory-calibrated to meet the PANTONE validation standard for colour accuracy. They also have a taller 16:10 aspect ratio that provides more vertical space for games and creative workflows.
Unhindered cooling
The Flow X13’s cooling system is fine-tuned to enable high performance within the small chassis.
Liquid metal thermal compound improves thermal transfer from the CPU to the heat pipes, reducing the processor temperature by up to 10°C compared to standard thermal paste. ROG was the first to automate the application of liquid metal for mass production. Now, that patented process has been adapted to AMD Ryzen processors, which present different challenges due to the presence of conductive components around the die. ROG is the first to mass-produce laptops with liquid metal on AMD CPUs.
Heat is transferred away from the CPU, GPU and VRM by two heat pipes, which have a slimmer shape to save space and increase the contact area for thermal transfer. A retooled thermal module fits three large heatsinks and fan outlets inside the system, far more than typically seen in a device this size. Together, these heatsinks offer 44 230mm² of surface area for fast and efficient heat dissipation.
Dual Arc Flow fans generate maximum airflow with minimal noise. These fans are based on a new design with 84 blades that vary in thickness to move more air. The blades are capped with special tips that follow an aerodynamic wave pattern to stabilise the airflow and reduce noisy turbulence. These advancements improve airflow by up to 13% without increasing noise. With 0dB Technology, the fans switch off completely when CPU and GPU temperatures are low in the silent operating mode. This makes cooling truly silent under light workloads.
The self-cleaning thermal module uses anti-dust tunnels to channel particles away from the fans and heatsinks. Minimising build-up helps the cooling system operate more reliably over time, giving the laptop a long life of fast and flexible gaming. ROG’s latest design shortens the tunnels to make space for both larger fans and higher airflow.
World-class mobility
The long-lasting battery powers the Flow X13 for up to 10 hours of video playback. Type-C charging support allows users to replenish the battery from portable power packs and third-party adapters, enabling more time away from wall sockets.
The Flow X13’s streamlined 100W Type-C adapter measures just 75mm x 75mm x 28.8mm and weighs only 300g (10.6oz), making it much smaller than the power bricks typically required by gaming laptops. Thanks to fast-charging technology, the battery can be replenished from 0% to 50% in only 30 minutes.
Crystal clear sound
Virtual 5.1.2-channel surround sound powered by Dolby Atmos provides rich, directional audio. Smart Amp technology keeps the onboard speakers within thermal and excursion limits, allowing users to enjoy a louder and more engrossing experience.
To improve voice chat, advanced two-way AI noise cancellation removes unwanted sounds from both input and output audio. It can be applied to any device and even customised on a per-app basis, so users can limit noise-cancelling to chat apps without affecting in-game sounds. Gamers can communicate better with teammates, creators can record cleaner audio in any environment, and everyone can enjoy clear conversation.
Because two-way AI noise cancellation runs on the CPU, the GPU is free to focus on maximising frame rates.
Full-sized convenience
For more comfortable typing and gaming, the Flow X13’s edge-to-edge keyboard design incorporates a full-sized, desktop-style layout into its compact chassis. The ErgoLift hinge raises the back of the keyboard as the system is opened for a better typing angle.
The keys feature curved caps and a 1.7mm travel distance, further improving comfort. N-key rollover ensures multi-key inputs are registered accurately at speed, and tasteful white backlighting makes every key easy to find in low-light environments.
The Flow X13 also provides ample connectivity, including a USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C port that supports both [1]Power Delivery and DisplayPort 1.4. An HDMI 2.0b port allows another display to be connected. A USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A port is ready for gaming mice or gamepads, and a 3.5mm jack accommodates headphones or headsets.
For extra connectivity, the XG Mobile’s I/O hub allows users to expand their set-up. Otherwise, the proprietary XG Mobile connector includes an additional USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C port that provides extra flexibility.
Availability and pricing
The ROG X13 + XG Mobile will be available from February in South Africa from Evetech and Incredible Connection starting at R34 999 for the X13 and R69 999 for the bundle. Please contact your local ASUS representative for further information.
[1] In Germany, the ROG Flow X13’s USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C port does not support Power Delivery.
[2] Specifications, content and product availability are all subject to change without notice and may differ from country to country. Actual performance may vary depending on applications, usage, environment and other factors. Full specifications are available at http://www.asus.com
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