ASUS G-Series GL12CM-DS762 Desktop Computer, Intel Core i7-8700 3.20GHz, 8GB RAM, 16GB Octane + 1TB HDD, NVIDIA GTX 1060 6GB, Windows 10 Home

Building a competitive esports rig requires a keen understanding of gamers' needs. Specific performance parameters must be carefully considered without compromising stability or reliability and portability is a factor for anyone planning to take their rig to a LAN party. Working closely with pro gamers, our engineers created a rig that ticks all the boxes for esports players of all skill levels, from professionals who compete at the highest level to casual gamers playing for fun with friends.

Meet the ROG Strix GL12CM. It's an alluring, ebony-clad beast with an insatiable appetite for esports, but it burns through any kind of game at blazing speeds thanks to its powerful internals. An exceptional GPU is a must for players who crave the flawless experience necessary to dominate the rankings. With up to a factory-overclocked, Intel Core i7-8700 Processor chilled by liquid cooling, it also makes short work of multi-threaded workloads and other processing duties.

Swap it like it's hot
Working closely with top teams and tournaments has taught us that a great esports rig needs more than just raw performance. In pro competitions, games and player settings are typically stored on a 2.5" SSD to save time. The ability to quickly swap drives is required for tournament machines, so the GL12 has a hot-swap SSD tray conveniently located at the front of the chassis. The design is completely tool-less, allowing drives to be swapped in seconds and it's elegantly hidden behind a removable magnetic cover that easily lifts away from the front panel.

There are additional drive bays on the inside, with one M.2 slot on the motherboard, one dedicated 2.5" mount on the chassis and dual 3.5" bays that can accept 2.5" drives. Power and SATA connectors for the 3.5" bays are set in place for hassle-free installation; just carefully slide your drive in until you feel it dock securely into place. Most configurations available in North America ship with a 1TB HDD for hefty game libraries. That still leaves two internal bays open for future upgrades, plus the hot-swap caddy, allowing the GL12's storage to grow with your needs.

Aura Sync is the new black
Though powerful and practical, the Strix GL12 is also something of a fashionista. Draped in ninja black and emblazoned with just the right amount of bling, it saunters onto the battlefield with a radiant RGB banner. Illuminated slashes on the front grab your attention and can be customized with a variety of colors and effects. They're part of the same zone as the internal lighting on the GPU bracket, while a second zone is dedicated to the ROG logo on the front face. The RGB lighting can turn up any LAN party on its own and the impact is even greater with Aura Sync extending harmonized effects to compatible peripherals. The Gladius II Origin mouse and Strix Flare keyboard we used to test the GL12 look like part of a complete system when they're all synchronized. You can really crank up the fireworks with Aura Sync coordinating RGB lighting across an entire battlestation.

We chose acrylic because it's lightweight, providing the look of tempered glass without the associated heft. This choice, along with the case's relatively compact dimensions, makes the GL12 easy to bring to esports tournaments, LAN parties and other events. The graphics card is secured with a metal brace that guards against damage from bumps and knocks during transport, so you can hit the road without worrying. This reinforcing piece holds the card level, which also eliminates GPU sag.

Seeing triple
On paper, the GL12 is a savage gaming machine, but how does it perform in real life? To test its mettle, we loaded up nearly a dozen titles, many of which are esports mainstays. We used an ultra-fast ROG Swift PG258Q monitor to simulate the setup used by pro gamers, who are increasingly demanding 240Hz displays for tournaments. We used the monitor's 1080p native resolution and we measured performance with OCAT or Fraps, depending on the game.

Go beyond esports
The Strix GL12 has all the connectivity needed to satisfy both esports pros and average Joes. Reliable Intel Gigabit Ethernet serves up a low-latency connection fit for tournament play, while 802.11ac Wi-Fi makes it easy to hop on wireless networks. There are enough USB ports for loads of gear, including multiple VR motion trackers. Higher-end configurations also have dual HDMI outputs, allowing you to connect a virtual reality headset alongside a monitor or big-screen TV. Entry-level Strix GL12CP variants use a different motherboard that cuts back on USB ports and chipset features.