Meet Asus BTF: Deliciously clean cable-free PC builds become reality

We stated the War on Cables the most popular PC pattern of 2023 after Computex last summertime and at CES 2024, the principle got genuine. Asus was hectic flaunting its vision for desktop PC without noticeable internal cabling– called “BTF” for “Back to the Future”– and hot damn is it slick. Even better, this wire-free effort is starting in simple months, with the majority of the significant PC case suppliers vowed to support it.

The Asus BTF idea moves all the significant cable television and power connections for your parts to the back of the motherboard (get the BTF name now?) for a beautiful style visual in the primary part of your case. MSI and Maingear are promoting a comparable idea called “Project Zero,” however a crucial distinction in between that and Asus BTF is the method they manage graphics card cabling.

Task Zero still has you routing those huge, husky GPU cable televisions straight to the basic position on your graphics card, rather blemishing the no-wires visual. Asus BTF, on the other hand, includes a proprietary, smaller sized 600 watt PCIe slot to both suitable graphics cards in addition to suitable motherboards, getting rid of even GPU wires. It’s delightfully smooth while likewise assisting fight GPU droop. (BTF motherboards will likewise work simply great with basic GPUs if you choose.)

BTF motherboards will be rate a little bit greater than their conventional equivalents– they require more, thicker shrouds on the front to represent additional soldering points demanded by moving the power ports to the back– however it should not be regrettable. Asus agents informed me the business is targeting approximately a $30 rate premium for a BTF mobo. The business is likewise launching brand-new cases that work with BTF constructs along with standard ATX motherboards.

Asus prepares to roll BTF out to the masses by means of sets initially, so unwary purchasers do not unintentionally acquire graphics cards and motherboards that can’t be utilized with conventional parts. Up is an all-white Asus TUF-branded package with the specialized TUF Gaming GeForce RTX 4070 Ti Super BTF White Edition, targeting an approximately $1,500-$2,000 overall system rate when it rolls out at some point around February.

For the ballers amongst us, Asus is likewise intending on launching a high-end, black-and-RGB had actually out ROG Strix package near completion of the quarter, powered by the ROG Strix GeForce RTX 4090 BTF Edition with that unique 600W adapter. Both sets will have motherboards and cases matching their particular GPU’s visual, which you can check out everything about on Asus’ Edge Up blog site

Wait! That’s not all.

While these preliminary sales will concentrate on pre-bundled packages, Asus hopes the BTF effort will stimulate a brand-new transformation in customized PC structure. To that result, it’s currently coordinated with the majority of the significant PC case suppliers to develop the BTF Alliance. “Through this collaboration, you’ll have your option from a vast array of PC cases that are totally suitable with our BTF motherboards,” Asus states.

Aerocool, be peaceful!, Cooler Master, Corsair, Inwin, Lian Li, Phanteks, Silverstone, and Thermaltake all have BTF cases in the works, with the very first designs anticipated to be revealed later on in the very first quarter.

That’s a remarkable indication of assistance for the amazing, yet fledgling BTF idea. Will Asus likewise have the ability to rally other motherboard and graphics card makers to their side or will competitors be more likely to toss their lot in with MSI’s Project Zero project? Or will other PC makers and customers even care at all?

Something’s for particular: It’s amazing to see development concerning the standard PC desktop experience and the War on Cables is simply getting going in earnest.

Remained tuned to PCWorld for all the most recent and biggest PC equipment from the CES 2024 flooring, all week long!

Author: Brad ChacosExecutive editor