Background information
These new AMD graphics cards have impressed reviewers
by Kevin Hofer
Modern graphics cards are way too hungry for performance – just look at inertia sensors
28.4.2025
Translation: Patrik Stainbrook
Using the Equipment Installation Check feature for ROG Astral graphics cards, you can check whether your GPU is installed correctly. This is made possible by a built-in inertia measurement unit. Sounds sensible, right? Well, it’s actually a symptom of a larger problem with graphics cards.
But even that is no longer enough in every case. It’s why Asus has built an inertia sensor into its Astral cards, something that’s also used in smartphones and sports watches. It uses the Equipment Installation Check software feature to tell you whether the card is still installed correctly. Asus added this option at the start of April, which is why hardly anyone mentioned it when the cards launched.
After all, the inertia sensor contributes to the increase in price and weight as well. True, you can buy the Bosch Sensortec BMI323 used in the card for just under three francs, and it only weighs a few grammes. In the end, however, the sum of all components makes up the price and the weight.
And the problem will only get worse in the future. Over the last ten years, a substantial increase in performance could only be achieved by increasing power consumption – in other words, by brute force. And in the end, leaps in performance between graphics card generations have only become smaller in recent years. Of course, Nvidia and AMD also realise that things can’t go on like this.
It’s a vicious cycle fuelled on all sides. We as consumers want more and more, game studios are trying to fulfil this desire, and GPU developers and manufacturers want to offer a suitable solution. It’s obvious – we need a solution. Otherwise, graphics cards won’t fit into cases in a few years.
Header image: Asus
Kevin Hofer
Senior Editor
kevin.hofer@digitecgalaxus.chFrom big data to big brother, Cyborgs to Sci-Fi. All aspects of technology and society fascinate me.
Gaming
Follow topics and stay updated on your areas of interest
Background information
Interesting facts about products, behind-the-scenes looks at manufacturers and deep-dives on interesting people.
Show all
