If your fancy PC case is basically going to be just a giant collection of tempered glass panels, I suppose you might as well fill it up with something worth looking at — like screens on your motherboard, screens on your water block, screens on your RAM…
How about a screen on your power supply, too? Why the hell not, says Asus, with its latest ROG Thor PSU.
To be fair, the “magnetic OLED display” on the massive ROG Thor 1600W Titanium III does serve a purpose. It’ll show you exactly how much power your system is drawing at any given time, which isn’t necessarily an easy thing to spot in software. (I guess if you’re spending multiple thousands of dollars on the latest components, that’s something you want to know.)
Why is it “magnetic”? Because you can stick it on either side of the PSU, so it’s visible whether your fan faces up or down. That makes sense — and it’s something the previous model couldn’t do — though in order to actually make use of it, you’ll need to make sure you’re not using a case with a tidy shroud that covers up your power supply.
Other highlights according to Asus’ press release include Gallium Nitride (GaN) components for efficiency, voltage-sensing technology for stability, and a “Turbo Mode” fan curve, sadly lacking a dedicated button. The fans have dual ball bearings and the fully modular cables have etched markings. Woo doggy! That’s a lot of bullet points for a steel box that merely converts power from AC to DC.
How much do you have to pay for this fancy OLED-bedecked power box? That’s one thing Asus declined to share in its press release, along with a launch date. (If you’re budgeting out your next build, know that the last version of this 1600W model costs almost $700.)
Author: Michael Crider, Staff Writer, PCWorld
Michael is a 10-year veteran of technology journalism, covering everything from Apple to ZTE. On PCWorld he's the resident keyboard nut, always using a new one for a review and building a new mechanical board or expanding his desktop "battlestation" in his off hours. Michael's previous bylines include Android Police, Digital Trends, Wired, Lifehacker, and How-To Geek, and he's covered events like CES and Mobile World Congress live. Michael lives in Pennsylvania where he's always looking forward to his next kayaking trip.