Is the ASUS Core i9 laptop range discontinued?

The badge is, the machines are not. Intel's last mobile Core i9 parts were the 14th-generation HX chips, and from 2025 the flagship mobile tier carries the Core Ultra 9 name. ASUS models that once shipped a Core i9 now ship an Ultra 9, so shop by that badge and the suffix printed after it.

What replaced the Core i9-13980HX in ASUS ROG laptops?

The Core Ultra 9 275HX took its place in the 2025 ROG Strix and Strix SCAR range, followed by the Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus in the 2026 refresh. Both are Arrow Lake HX parts built on a newer process with a redesigned tile layout, and both keep 24 cores.

Do I lose performance because Ultra 9 dropped Hyper-Threading?

In lightly threaded work, no, since per-core performance went up. In fully threaded renders the missing logical threads narrow the generational gain, which is why an Ultra 9 HX often lands close to a 14900HX in multi-core results while pulling clearly ahead in games and single-threaded tasks.

Which ASUS ranges carry the Ultra 9 tier?

ROG Strix and ROG Strix SCAR use the HX parts in 16- and 18-inch chassis, while ROG Zephyrus and the ProArt creator line use the lower-power H-class version. TUF Gaming mostly sits on the tier below, so an Ultra 9 in that range is the exception rather than the rule.

Can I add RAM to an ASUS Ultra 9 laptop later?

That depends on the chassis rather than the processor. Strix and SCAR models expose SO-DIMM slots behind the base panel, whereas several Zephyrus and ProArt configurations solder LPDDR5X to the board. The listing states which memory type is fitted, so buy the capacity you need up front on a soldered model.

What power adapter comes with an HX-class ASUS laptop?

A large barrel-plug brick rather than a USB-C charger, because an HX processor and a high-wattage GPU together draw more than USB-C Power Delivery supplies. Many models also charge slowly over USB-C for light use, but full performance needs the supplied adapter plugged in.

What warranty applies to ASUS laptops bought from Evetech?

Each notebook carries the manufacturer's South African warranty, with the term shown on its product listing. Faults are handled locally through Evetech's RMA process instead of being sent abroad, and every unit sold is new stock.

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ASUS Core i9 Laptop Deals

ASUS ROG laptop fitted with an Intel Core Ultra 9 HX processor

ASUS Core i9 Laptops Are Now Core Ultra 9

Intel retired the mobile Core i9 badge after the 14th-generation HX chips. The flagship mobile tier is now branded Core Ultra 9, and ASUS ships it across the ROG, Zephyrus and ProArt ranges. If you came here looking for a Core i9 ASUS machine, this is the line that replaced it.

Two classes sit under the same badge. HX parts are cut from desktop silicon, run up to 24 cores and belong in 16- and 18-inch bodies built for sustained multi-threaded work. H-class Ultra 9 parts trade peak core count for lower package power and longer battery life in slimmer chassis. Settle that question before you shortlist a screen size.

Every ASUS notebook listed here is new stock with local warranty support. Orders leave our Centurion warehouse and reach Johannesburg, Pretoria, Cape Town and Durban in one to three business days, with regional addresses taking three to five.

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Choosing an ASUS Core Ultra 9 Laptop

Core count is the reason to pay for this tier, and it only pays back in software that can use it. Video exports, code compiles, 3D renders and heavy virtual machines scale with threads. Most games do not, so if the workload is gaming first, a mid-tier processor beside a stronger GPU beats an Ultra 9 beside a weaker one.

The Core Ultra 9 275HX carries 24 cores in an eight performance plus 16 efficient layout. Intel dropped Hyper-Threading on Arrow Lake, so it runs 24 threads rather than 48, while the refreshed Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus keeps the same structure at higher clocks. The older Core i9-13980HX and i9-14900HX were also 24-core parts but presented 32 threads, so thread counts fell as per-core throughput rose.

HX chips take more power and need a larger cooler, which is why they appear in ROG Strix and Strix SCAR machines at 16 and 18 inches. H-class parts such as the Core Ultra 9 386H used in the 2026 Zephyrus G16 run at lower package power beside a smaller adapter. Carry weight and battery runtime follow the suffix far more closely than the model number does.

Arrow Lake HX supports DDR5-6400 across two SO-DIMM slots, so a pair of matched modules beats one larger stick for bandwidth-hungry work. 32GB is the sensible baseline for editing timelines and container workloads, while 16GB covers gaming and browsing only. Confirm whether the model uses socketed DDR5 or soldered LPDDR5X, because soldered configurations cannot be expanded afterwards.

Rarely at 1440p or above, where the graphics card sets the ceiling. A fast processor shows up in 1080p esports, in simulation titles tracking large numbers of units, and when streaming while playing, since encoding and game logic compete for threads. Put the budget into the strongest GPU you can reach and let the processor follow.

A sustained multi-threaded load pushes an HX processor to its power limit within about a minute, and the fans answer accordingly. ASUS exposes Silent, Performance and Turbo profiles in Armoury Crate; Silent caps package power and suits office work, while Turbo earns its noise only when a render is against a deadline. No undervolting is required to get civil acoustics out of these parts.

The chassis matters as much as the chip. An HX processor only holds its boost clocks if the cooling and power budget allow it, so identical silicon behaves differently in an 18-inch ROG Strix and a 14-inch ultraportable. Read the stated screen size and thermal design together rather than reading the processor name alone.

Choosing an ASUS Core Ultra 9 Laptop