Just when you thought that ASUS has played all their cards, they come up with a surprise. Instead of just relying on Intel or AMD to improve the performance and efficiency, ASUS took matters into their own hands with the new ASUS Supernova SoM design, debuting in the new ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X OLED.
ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X OLED: same design, different internals
Not to be confused with the ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X OLED (UX7602ZM) which we reviewed previously, the ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X OLED (UX7602BZ) will feature the latest 13th Gen Intel Core i9-13905H processor and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 graphics. Design wise, this generation looks exactly the same as last year’s model.
We get the same RGBW keyboard, with the same AAS Ultra mechanism that increases airflow by 30%. The low profile ASUS Dial is here too, and we have the same non-upgradeable RAM and single M.2 PCIe 4.0 slot. We also get the same 16-inch display size, although ASUS decided to drop the resolution a tad to 3.2K and make up for it with a 120Hz refresh rate. This year, it’s what under the hood that matters, and that’s where the ASUS Supernova SoM design comes into play.
ASUS Supernova SoM saves space, boosts performance and improves cooling
The ASUS Supernova SoM packages the 13th Gen Intel Core processor and LPDDR5X memory onto a single PCB, which helps to save 38% of precious motherboard space and improve cooling efficiency. The shorter distance between the RAM and CPU also allows for better efficiency and stability, with up to 32GB RAM running at LPDDR5X-7500.
The space saved with the Supernova SoM design also leaves for more room for the GPU power delivery components. This is important to ensure that the GeForce RTX 4080 Laptop GPU is well-fed with clean power to hit higher performance levels. Thanks to the Supernova SoM, vapor chamber cooling and liquid metal application on the CPU, the Zenbook Pro 16X OLED can achieve a total combined TDP of 155W, 15W more than last year.
Interestingly enough, the ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X OLED with Supernova SoM is significantly faster than it’s non-SoM sibling in video editing and 3D rendering, a feat which ASUS attributes to the LPDDR5X running at 7500MT/s, instead of the 6000MT/s of the non-SoM variant. So yes, there’s going to be a version of the Zenbook Pro 16X OLED without the Supernova SoM, featuring a Core i9-13900H and GeForce RTX 4070 instead, with up to 64GB LPDDR5X-6000 RAM.
So how much would they cost? I have no idea. Stay tuned for more info on these machines!