Zotac unveils cooling-enhanced RTX 5090 with a 360mm radiator and a compact RTX 5060 model
In the world of high-performance graphics cards, two new offerings from Zotac and ASUS are causing a stir: the Zotac RTX 5090 Arcticstorm AIO and the ASUS ROG Astral LC RTX 5090. While both cards target the same Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 GPU, their approach to cooling, design, and performance optimizations sets them apart.
Cooling
The ASUS ROG Astral LC boasts a premium 360mm AIO (All-In-One) liquid cooler, featuring a full-coverage copper plate and an integrated fan designed to provide pinnacle cooling performance for the RTX 5090 GPU. This setup focuses on maximum heat dissipation via liquid cooling.
On the other hand, the Zotac RTX 5090 Arcticstorm AIO, while specific details are limited, is known from previous generations and typical Zotac Arcticstorm products to employ an AIO liquid cooling system, usually with a dedicated pump and radiator. Zotac’s emphasis tends to be on highly efficient cooling with customizable RGB lighting.
Design
The ASUS ROG Astral LC features a sleek liquid-cooled design centered on silent operation and high thermal efficiency, optimized for overclocking and thermal management with the integrated fan on the radiator.
The Zotac Arcticstorm AIO, meanwhile, is designed with a focus on a combined water block and pump unit with aesthetic RGB lighting on the block and sometimes the radiator fans, designed to blend gaming styling with solid cooling performance.
Performance
Both cards target the same Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 GPU with 32GB GDDR7 memory and PCIe 5.0 support, so raw GPU performance without overclocking is similar. However, the ASUS ROG Astral LC tends to come factory-overclocked with optimizations for gaming and creator workloads, leveraging its robust cooling to sustain higher boost clocks. Zotac cards typically offer strong cooling to maintain stable high clocks but might have slightly different factory OC settings and power delivery designs influencing peak sustained performance and thermals.
Comparison Table
| Aspect | Zotac RTX 5090 Arcticstorm AIO | ASUS ROG Astral LC RTX 5090 | |-----------------|--------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------| | Cooling | AIO liquid cooling with pump + radiator, RGB designed for efficient GPU cooling, likely smaller radiator | Premium 360mm AIO liquid cooling with full-coverage copper plate and integrated fan for exceptional thermal performance | | Design | Focus on aesthetics with RGB, compact water block and radiator system | Sleek liquid-cooled design optimized for silent, high-efficiency cooling and overclocking stability | | Performance | Highly capable cooling sustaining good overclocks, factory settings may vary | Factory overclocked with thermal optimizations for sustained peak performance and gaming workloads | | Memory/Arch | Nvidia RTX 5090 32GB GDDR7, PCIe 5.0 (same GPU) | Nvidia RTX 5090 32GB GDDR7, PCIe 5.0 (same GPU) |
Conclusion
The ASUS ROG Astral LC is positioned as a top-tier, premium liquid cooling solution with an emphasis on peak gaming performance through a large 360mm radiator and integrated cooling features. Zotac’s Arcticstorm AIO variant prioritizes efficient liquid cooling with stylish aesthetics and solid performance, but the exact radiator size and factory overclock may differ slightly.
If you want the absolute pinnacle liquid cooling option with a large 360mm radiator and integrated fan optimizations, the ASUS ROG Astral LC stands out. If you prefer a slightly more compact AIO cooler from Zotac with strong thermal and RGB features, the Arcticstorm is a competitive alternative. Both deliver the RTX 5090 GPU’s top performance supported by liquid cooling.
Additional Information
- The Zotac Gaming RTX 5060 Low Profile and the RTX 5090 Arcticstorm AIO are currently available, but availability may vary by region due to supply and delivery issues.
- The RTX 5090 Arcticstorm AIO's RGB lighting is controlled through Zotac's Spectra 2.0 ARGB software.
- The RTX 5090 Arcticstorm AIO's components are connected to the graphics card's 360mm liquid cooler via a full-coverage copper coldplate.
- The RTX 5090 Arcticstorm AIO features a triple-fan 360mm AIO liquid cooler.
- The RTX 5090 Arcticstorm AIO has a glass appearance with an infinity mirror and RGB lighting on the side.
- The Zotac Gaming RTX 5060 Low Profile does not have RGB lighting or the ability to control it through software like the RTX 5090 Arcticstorm AIO.
- The RTX 5090 Arcticstorm AIO's components are liquid cooled, including the GPU, GDDR7, and power delivery system.
- The Zotac Gaming RTX 5060 Low Profile is designed to fit in slim chassis that cannot accommodate full-height PCIe cards.
- The Zotac Gaming RTX 5060 Low Profile does not feature liquid cooling on all major components like the RTX 5090 Arcticstorm AIO.
- The shroud of the card is covered in a matte black finish with Zotac-themed gold stickers on each fan hub.
- The card measures 69mm in height and 182.5mm in length.
- The Zotac Gaming RTX 5060 Low Profile is slightly larger than Asus' low-profile RTX 5060 version in height.
Technology and gadgets are at the forefront of these new offerings from Zotac and ASUS, with the Zotac RTX 5090 Arcticstorm AIO and the ASUS ROG Astral LC RTX 5090 showcasing innovative cooling systems and design iterations. The Zotac RTX 5090 Arcticstorm AIO, with its AIO liquid cooling system and RGB lighting, offers efficient cooling with stylish aesthetics, while the ASUS ROG Astral LC boasts a premium 360mm AIO liquid cooler for exceptional thermal performance. Both devices rely on technology to deliver superior cooling and gaming experiences.
