During Gamescom 2023, ASUS has introduced the pinnacle of its offerings, the cutting-edge ASUS ROG Rapture GT-BE98 Pro. Boasting the accolade of the fastest Wi-Fi router globally, this flagship addition to the brand’s lineup features the latest Wi-Fi 7 standard and incorporates four concurrent frequency bands, catering to the needs of the most discerning users seeking optimal wireless performance. Emerging from the esteemed ROG family, this gaming-oriented router showcases robust hardware, capable of delivering an impressive 30Gbps WiFi speed (across all bands combined), while also integrating multiple 10G and 2.5G Multigigabit ports. Are you eager to delve into the comprehensive features of this new model?
Throughout its lineage, the ROG Rapture series by ASUS has consistently stood out for its inclusion of potent hardware and captivating gamer-centric design. With the launch of this model, ASUS takes a stride into the future by incorporating the forthcoming Wi-Fi 7 technology into a router, combined with an advanced firmware tailored for gamers and an extensive array of configuration possibilities.
Key features of the router
The enhanced version of the GT-BE98, initially unveiled earlier this year, emerges as the new ASUS ROG Rapture GT-BE98 Pro, offering a significant global wireless speed boost and enhanced wired Ethernet connectivity. The standout attributes of this device include the incorporation of a remarkable four simultaneous frequency bands coupled with the Wi-Fi 7 standard. This encompasses a 2.4GHz band, a low-channel 5GHz band, a high-channel 5GHz band, and an expansive 6GHz frequency band, providing an array of available channels.
It’s important to note that the new Wi-Fi 7 standard embraces 4096QAM quadrature amplitude modulation, a leap from the 1024QAM featured in both Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 6E. This heightened modulation translates to an effective speed increase of 25% compared to the previous standard. Another noteworthy aspect of this router, leveraging the new wireless standard, is the availability of a 320MHz channel width in the 6GHz band. This substantial width equates to up to four times the speed achievable using the conventional 80MHz channel width in the Wi-Fi 6 standard.
Moreover, the new wireless standard introduces two crucial elements absent in previous iterations:
- Multi-Link Operation: This feature facilitates simultaneous data transmission across various bands, elevating both actual speed and reliability when using multiple bands concurrently. Analogous to current 4G and 5G networks, it optimizes network performance.
- Multi-RU Puncturing: This functionality segments channel width into smaller units, mitigating interference. This adaptive channel width minimizes environmental interference, enhancing network stability.
The theoretical combined speed attainable across all frequency bands is up to an impressive 30Gbps or 30,000Mbps. Real-world WiFi speeds of up to 5Gbps can be comfortably achieved. ASUS demonstrated an actual speed of 4.7Gbps over WiFi at Gamescom 2023. Notably, this extensible router can integrate seamlessly into a complete WiFi Mesh network via ASUS AiMesh technology, harnessing other compatible routers to provide comprehensive coverage throughout your home.
On the wired front, the router features a dual 10GBASE-T Multigigabit port, ensuring optimal wired performance. Additionally, there are four 2.5G Multigigabit ports that facilitate optimal utilization of both wired and wireless networks. The router’s robust Quad-Core 2.6GHz processor ensures exceptional performance in all scenarios, including USB port speeds.
ASUS has enhanced the cooling system for this router, an essential adaptation given the increasing processing power, WiFi 7 chipset heat generation, and 10GBASE-T electronics.
Firmware-wise, the advanced Asuswrt ROG firmware with game acceleration takes center stage. This encompasses acceleration via Ethernet ports, adaptive QoS prioritization for online games, and per-device prioritization based on MAC addresses. Operating on the same platform as the 388 firmware, it provides access to features such as WireGuard VPN, the new Fusion VPN with expanded configuration options, and the latest ASUS innovations.
Security remains a vital component, with ASUS continuing to include the AiProtection Pro suite to safeguard against various online threats. This software encompasses bidirectional IPS to detect and halt internet-based attacks, as well as the ability to identify malware-infected devices and prevent network and internet access for mitigation.