ASUS Supernova SoM: The Laptop-Performance Game-Changer

Aug 17, 2023

If you’re looking for a competitive edge that will maximize efficiency when creating content or handling heavy workloads on the go, we have good news for you.

Supernova SoM (System-on-Module) design is a groundbreaking advancement in laptop technology that pushes performance to the next level by delivering unprecedented data processing speeds. Unveiled earlier this year (2023), this high-end laptop technology redefines what's possible in terms of power, efficiency, and performance — and it’s now available in top-notch creator laptops from ASUS.

Curious? Read on to learn more about the innovative ASUS Supernova SoM design.

The ASUS team collaborated with Intel to deliver the ground-breaking Supernova System-on-Module (SoM) design featured in the uncompromising latest Zenbook Pro 16X OLED.

The SoM is a component that packs multiple units onto a single board. In the case of Supernova SoM, the powerful latest 13th generation Intel® Core™ i9-13905H processor lives on the same circuit board as its fast LPDDR5X memory chip.

This design decreases the distance between the CPU and RAM to the absolute minimum, which, aside from significantly boosting the memory frequency by up to 20% to a mind-blowing 7467 MHz, shrinks the area of the core motherboard by 38%, from 50 x 60 mm to 44.7 x 42 mm.

The smaller motherboard leaves more space for other components, including the robust graphics card — an ultrafast, studio-grade GeForce RTX™ 4080 laptop GPU.

In producing the Supernova SoM, ASUS uses low-loss substrate-like materials, boosting the memory bandwidth and minimizing latency.

The added space also leaves room for a more robust ASUS IceCool Plus cooling system, pushing the total TDP to a staggering 185 W. In addition, a precision-printed liquid metal thermal solution is added to the CPU, cooling the CPU temperature by up to 7° C in high-performance mode.

The Supernova SoM design packs multiple practical benefits, especially for content creators like video professionals and 3D designers.

Artists working with three-dimensional content would perhaps most notice the difference between the latest generation of Zenbook Pro 16X OLED with the Supernova SoM and the previous model with a 12th Gen Intel processor. In our tests, the 3D rendering speed in Blender was 6.4X faster when using the Supernova-equipped laptop, versus the previous-gen model without the SoM.

Video editors would also notice a significant difference when working with software like the Premiere Pro, where in the PugetBench test, the Supernova SoM-equipped Zenbook Pro 16X OLED outperformed the previous-gen, non-SoM model by 1.34X.

Zenbook Pro 16X OLED also features high-bandwidth memory with a 1.2 boost in memory write- and read-speed, reaching up to 7467 MHz frequency. The RAM technology here, the LPDDR5X, delivers 20% less signal attenuation on the SoM design as compared to the standard, keeping the memory signal consistent and robust for longer with no loss to signal strength over time. Thanks to this, you can count on a stable and efficient RAM performance.

The studio-grade GeForce RTX™ 4080 laptop GPU with 12 GB of GDDR6 VRAM allows users to take advantage of great graphics performance with minimum latency when editing videos or designing in 3D. This graphics card supports real-time ray tracing while also featuring NVIDIA Studio Driver as well as NVIDIA DLSS 3.0 for a massive performance boost. It's also optimized for AI-augmented computing and is compatible with NVIDIA Omniverse.

Other Reasons Why Zenbook Pro 16X OLED with Supernova SoM Design Is the Ultimate High-Performance Laptop

Strong performance is not the only reason why the Zenbook Pro 16X OLED is a great choice for pro content creators. The laptop also features a vibrant ASUS Lumina OLED display. This 16-inch 16:10 3.2K 120 Hz OLED touchscreen with an extremely thin NanoEdge bezel pops with color. It’s been Dolby Vision certified and Pantone Validated to ensure accurate colors, and its 550-nits peak brightness stands in vivid contrast with the deep, VESA DisplayHDR™ True Black 500-certified inky blacks. A high, 120 Hz refresh rate and 0.2 ms response time ensure silky-smooth motion on the screen. And if you find yourself frequently in long sessions in front of the screen, you’ll appreciate the TÜV Rheinland certification for low blue-light emissions.

Another standout feature of the Zenbook Pro 16X OLED is its AAS Ultra mechanism that raises the ErgoSense keyboard by 7° degrees, which has the double benefit of making typing a very comfortable, ergonomic affair while boosting airflow by 30% for powerful cooling.

Finally, like many other ASUS creator laptops, the Zenbook Pro 16X OLED features the ASUS Dial — a physical glass rotary input device on the left side of the touchpad. This customizable tool makes creative work a breeze, wherever you are. Manipulate hundreds of functions in creative software such as Blender or Adobe Photoshop®, Illustrator®, Premiere Pro®, and many others in an intuitive, accurate way. In addition, the OLED display is compatible with ASUS Pen 2.0, so it’s perfect for those who prefer to use a stylus while creating.

The ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X OLED is an uncompromising creator machine that combines ultimate performance, amazing visuals, and comfort of use with sleek elegance and portability that allows you to create on the go as well as in the studio. If you’re looking for a competitive creative edge, this laptop may prove to be just that!