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Several Asus GeForce RTX 5080 and AMD Radeon RX 9070-series product identifiers appeared online on December 28, 2024, shortly before CES 2025. The listings included an apparent premium ROG Astral RTX 5080, but they were retailer and distributor catalog entries—not an official Asus announcement or confirmation of final prices, specifications, or launch availability.
What leaked?
Hardware-data aggregator momomo_us posted Asus-related product strings, while retailers including Intcomex and El Changarro briefly exposed listings for an Asus ROG Astral RTX 5080. Tom’s Hardware reported that the entries pointed to Asus cards based on Nvidia’s upcoming RTX 5080 and AMD’s then-unreleased RX 9070-series GPUs.
The apparent identifiers were:
ROG-ASTRAL-RTX5080-O16G-GAMING
PRIME-RTX5080-O16G
TUF-RX9070XT-O16G-GAMING
TUF-RX9070-O16G
PRIME-RX9070XT-O16G
PRIME-RX9070-O16GThese strings were useful evidence of planned products or inventory preparation, but a catalog entry is not the same as a manufacturer announcement. It could be removed, renamed, corrected, or used as a placeholder.
The Asus models suggested by the listings
| GPU | Asus family | Apparent listing suffix | Evidence level |
|---|---|---|---|
| RTX 5080 | ROG Astral | 16G Gaming | Retailer/data-aggregator listing |
| RTX 5080 | Prime | 16G | Data-aggregator string |
| RX 9070 XT | TUF Gaming | 16G Gaming | Data-aggregator string |
| RX 9070 | TUF | 16G | Data-aggregator string |
| RX 9070 XT | Prime | 16G | Data-aggregator string |
| RX 9070 | Prime | 16G | Data-aggregator string |
The apparent structure placed ROG Astral at the premium end, with TUF Gaming and Prime representing other Asus product tiers. That is a broad lineup description, not a guarantee that every model would launch in every region or follow a fixed price hierarchy.
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#1 Best Overall
- Powered by the NVIDIA Blackwell architecture and DLSS 4. System Requirements: Minimum 850W PSU with 16-pin 12V-2x6 (12VHPWR) connector required. Verify before purchasing.
- Military-grade components deliver rock-solid power and longer lifespan for ultimate durability. Compatibility: 348mm (13.7") length, 3.6 slots, 4.3 lbs. Confirm case clearance and slot spacing. GPU bracket included.
- Protective PCB coating helps protect against short circuits caused by moisture, dust, or debris
- 3.6-slot design with massive fin array optimized for airflow from three Axial-tech fans
- Phase-change GPU thermal pad helps ensure optimal thermal performance and longevity, outlasting traditional thermal paste for graphics cards under heavy loads
What was “Astral”?
At the time, “Astral” was best described as an alleged new ROG sub-series. The SKU appeared to introduce the name, and later Asus product activity did use ROG Astral branding on RTX 50-series cards. However, the December 2024 listing did not establish the range’s final scope, cooler design, pricing, or availability.
Speculation that “Astral” implied a silver or white card was not supported by the listing itself. The leak provided no verified information about the card’s appearance.
What specifications did the leak suggest?
The “O16G” portions of the names appeared to indicate 16GB models. That was a useful clue, but it did not independently prove the memory type, bus width, bandwidth, clock speeds, or power limits.
Rank #2
- Powered by the NVIDIA Blackwell architecture and DLSS 4. System Requirements: Minimum 850W PSU with 16-pin 12V-2x6 (12VHPWR) connector required. Verify before purchasing. OC mode: 2685 MHz/ Default mode: 2655 MHz (Boost Clock)
- SFF-Ready enthusiast GeForce card compatible with small-form-factor builds
- Axial-tech fans feature a smaller fan hub that facilitates longer blades and a barrier ring that increases downward air pressure
- Vapor chamber ensures efficient heat transfer for lower GPU temps
- Phase-change GPU thermal pad helps ensure optimal heat transfer, lowering GPU temperatures for enhanced performance and reliability
- RTX 5080: The leak pointed to a 16GB card. Nvidia later confirmed 16GB of GDDR7 on a 256-bit interface.
- RX 9070 XT and RX 9070: The entries suggested 16GB cards, reportedly using GDDR6 and possibly a 256-bit bus. AMD later confirmed those key memory details for the RX 9070.
- GPU and power speculation: Predictions about Navi 48, cut-down dies, compute-unit counts, and power limits were not proven by the retailer identifiers.
Earlier rumors had associated AMD’s next-generation cards with RX 8000-series names, including the possibility of an RX 8800 XT. That was naming-history speculation, not evidence that a finished product was formally renamed. AMD ultimately used the Radeon RX 9000 branding.
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Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Why retailer listings are not launch confirmation
A retailer SKU can show that a distributor or store is preparing its catalog, but it does not prove:
- the final price or launch MSRP;
- the final clock speeds or factory-overclock profile;
- the cooler, dimensions, thickness, or connector configuration;
- stock in the United States or any other particular market;
- a guaranteed launch date; or
- that every listed model will ship under that exact name.
The cited listings from Intcomex and El Changarro were regional references, not evidence of worldwide availability. The phrase “next month” in the original December 28, 2024 report meant January 2025 and should not be read as a current release prediction.
Rank #3
- Powered by the NVIDIA Blackwell architecture and DLSS 4. System Requirements: Minimum 850W PSU with 16-pin 12V-2x6 (12VHPWR) connector required. Verify before purchasing.
- Quad-fan design boosts air flow and pressure by up to 20%. Compatibility: 357mm (14.1") length, 3.8 slots, 6.3 lbs. Confirm case clearance and slot spacing. GPU bracket included.
- Patented vapor chamber with milled heatspreader for lower GPU temperatures OC mode: 2790 MHz/ Default mode: 2760 MHz (Boost Clock)
- Phase-change GPU thermal pad ensures optimal heat transfer, lowering GPU temperatures for enhanced performance and reliability
- 3.8-slot design: massive heatsink and fin array optimized for airflow from the four Axial-tech fans
Expected positioning at the time
The report placed the RTX 5080 within Nvidia’s Blackwell launch family and treated the RX 9070 XT and RX 9070 as likely competitors to Nvidia’s RTX 5070-class products. The RTX 5070 Ti was also relevant because it was expected to offer a 16GB configuration.
That was pre-launch positioning, not a performance conclusion. Without confirmed prices and independent benchmarks, the leak could not establish which cards would compete most directly in real-world gaming.
What happened after the leak?
The later official specifications confirmed several of the broad memory-related clues.
Rank #4
- AI Performance: 1899 AI TOPS.
- OC mode: 2790 MHz (OC mode)/ 2760 MHz (Default mode)
- Powered by the NVIDIA Blackwell architecture and DLSS 4. Protective PCB coating guards against moisture, dust, and extreme temperatures
- Quad-fan design boosts air flow and pressure by up to 20%
- Patented vapor chamber with milled heatspreader for lower GPU temperatures
Nvidia GeForce RTX 5080
Nvidia’s official RTX 5080 specifications list:
- Blackwell architecture;
- 10,752 CUDA cores;
- 16GB of GDDR7 memory;
- a 256-bit memory interface;
- 360W total graphics power;
- 850W recommended system power; and
- DLSS 4 support.
Nvidia’s reference specification also lists a 304mm length and 137mm width, while warning that add-in-card specifications vary by manufacturer. Those dimensions and power figures should not automatically be applied to an Asus ROG, TUF, or Prime card.
AMD Radeon RX 9070
AMD’s official Radeon RX 9070 page lists:
- 56 compute units;
- 16GB of GDDR6 memory;
- a 256-bit memory interface;
- up to 640GB/s of memory bandwidth;
- 220W typical board power;
- a 650W minimum PSU recommendation;
- Windows 10/11 and Linux x86-64 support; and
- DisplayPort 2.1a and HDMI 2.1b.
Those specifications confirm that the leak’s 16GB and 256-bit clues were directionally accurate for the RX 9070. They do not prove that every rumored specification for the RX 9070 XT or every Asus implementation was correct.
What buyers should check on an Asus card
Anyone evaluating an eventual ROG, TUF, or Prime model should check the final product page rather than relying on the leaked SKU:
- Exact model number: Confirm whether the card is a standard or factory-overclocked version.
- Dimensions: Check length, slot thickness, height, and radiator or front-fan clearance.
- Power requirements: Verify the connector type, recommended PSU, and card-specific power limit.
- Cooling and noise: A more expensive ROG or TUF cooler may offer additional thermal headroom, but the premium may not be worthwhile in every case.
- Use case: RTX 5080 buyers may value CUDA, DLSS, ray tracing, and Nvidia’s video-encoding tools. RX 9070 buyers may prioritize 16GB VRAM and conventional gaming value.
- Operating system: Confirm driver support for the intended Windows or Linux setup.
- Street price: Compare real availability against MSRP. A launch shortage can make a premium model poor value even when its specifications are attractive.
Factory overclocking alone should not justify a large premium unless the card also provides a cooler, quieter operation, stronger power delivery, or a design that fits the buyer’s system better.
The takeaway
The December 2024 listings were meaningful signs that Asus was preparing RTX 5080 and RX 9070-series products, and the appearance of “ROG Astral” was the most notable clue. They were not proof of final specifications, pricing, launch timing, or global availability. In hindsight, the 16GB memory clues and Radeon 9000-series direction aligned with later official products, but the reliable buying information remained the final Nvidia, AMD, and Asus specifications—not the leaked catalog entries.
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Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
