| Feature | Specification |
|---|---|
| Feature | Specification |
| Model | Asus ROG Astral Dhahab Edition GeForce RTX 5090 |
| GPU | Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 |
| VRAM | TBA |
| Boost Clock | TBA |
| Gold Plating | 6.5g 999-fineness (24-carat) |
| Region | Middle East Exclusive |
| MSRP | 38,800 AED (approx. $10,600) |
Graphics cards have always had their share of special editions-think flashy RGB, custom cooling, and collaborations that toe the line between art and excess. But Asus has turned the dial to eleven with the ROG Astral Dhahab Edition GeForce RTX 5090, draping Nvidia’s most powerful consumer GPU in 6.5 grams of pure 24-carat gold. The price? A jaw-dropping 38,800 AED (about $10,600), making it a bona fide monument to GPU luxury in the Middle East.
Let’s get the obvious out of the way: while the Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 already reigns as the king of consumer graphics cards, tossing gold on the shroud won’t make your frame rates sparkle any brighter. Still, it’s a sight to behold-a collector’s piece that’s less about performance and more about prestige (and perhaps just a touch of flexing).
The defining feature here is right in the name: “Dhahab” is Arabic for gold. Asus claims the card is adorned with 6.5g of 999-fineness gold, meaning the highest purity—essentially 24-carat. This isn’t a gold-colored paint job; it’s actual precious metal, and Asus even supplies buyers with a certificate of authenticity. But beyond that glittery exterior, the ROG Astral Dhahab Edition is a standard RTX 5090 under the hood, with no factory overclocks or bespoke cooling upgrades reported.
Asus is only offering this blinged-out beast in select Middle East markets. There’s no word of a wider release, so unless you call Dubai home (or have a friend with a very generous frequent flyer plan), this card will remain as exclusive as it is expensive.
Short answer: not really. The actual gold content, totaling 6.5 grams, is worth about $676 at current market rates. So why the astronomical upcharge? Exclusivity, branding, and the allure of owning an ultra-rare piece of hardware are the true drivers here. The rest of the price is, for lack of a better word, pure markup—a gold-plated status symbol for those who find a stock RTX 5090 a little too pedestrian.
For perspective, the expected MSRP for a standard Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 is anticipated to be around $1,500-$2,000 (TBA at time of writing), meaning the Dhahab Edition commands a premium well over fifteen times that. That’s a lot of extra coin for a few grams of gold—enough to make even Scrooge McDuck think twice.
No matter how much gold you plate on a graphics card, its performance comes from what’s inside. The GeForce RTX 5090 sits at the top of Nvidia’s stack, delivering blisteringly fast frame rates, AI-accelerated features, and enough raw horsepower to handle 4K and beyond without breaking a sweat. It’s the dream card for high-end gamers, demanding creators, and anyone who thinks “overkill” is just another word for “future-proofing.”
Benchmarks for the standard RTX 5090 put it far ahead of previous-gen flagships, routinely outpacing the RTX 4090 by sizeable margins in both rasterization and ray tracing workloads. That said, the Dhahab Edition’s performance will mirror any other 5090—just with a flashier wrapper.
Let’s be frank: for the overwhelming majority of gamers and PC enthusiasts, the ROG Astral Dhahab Edition RTX 5090 is a non-starter. The eye-watering price is almost entirely for the gold and exclusivity, not tangible performance benefits. If you want the best gaming GPU available, a standard GeForce RTX 5090 (when you can find one at something resembling MSRP) delivers the same performance for a fraction of the cost.
However, if you’re a collector, an ultra-wealthy enthusiast, or simply want your PC to double as a gilded conversation piece, this rare Asus variant will certainly turn heads. Just don’t expect it to turn any extra frames per second.
Luxury hardware exists at the crossroads of technology and status—think Tesla Model S Plaid with custom finishes, or the iPhone 15 Pro Max in solid titanium. The ROG Astral Dhahab Edition fits right in, offering a GPU that’s as much about flex as it is about frames. But unlike those luxury cars or phones, this GPU’s gold is skin-deep. The core hardware remains unchanged, and the jump in cost is all about owning something no one else (or almost no one else) has.
The gold-plated Dhahab Edition lands at a time when GPUs, including the RTX 5090, are already tough to find. Stock challenges and inflated prices continue in some regions, though there are signs of stabilization in others. In the US, prices can still run well above MSRP, while UK gamers are seeing more cards return to recommended retail levels. Whether this trends holds as new flagship GPUs launch remains to be seen.
For those weighing high-end alternatives, both the RTX 5080 and AMD’s RX 9070 XT are worthy of consideration. Check our RTX 5080 review and RX 9070 XT review for deep-dives into their performance and value propositions.
Simply put, the ROG Astral Dhahab Edition RTX 5090 is for those who prize exclusivity and spectacle above all else. If you’re shopping for pure gaming value, steer clear. But if you want a GPU that’s as rare as a unicorn and twice as shiny, Asus has just the thing—for a kingly sum.
Q: Is the Asus ROG Astral Dhahab Edition GeForce RTX 5090 better than a standard RTX 5090?
A: No—aside from the gold plating and exclusivity, performance is identical to any other GeForce RTX 5090.
Q: Why is the gold-plated RTX 5090 so expensive?
A: The premium is largely due to the luxury branding and rarity; the gold content is worth about $676, but the card sells for $10,600.
Q: Will the ROG Astral Dhahab Edition be released outside the Middle East?
A: Asus has not announced any plans for a global release; it appears exclusive to select Middle East markets.
Asus ROG Official Site
PC Gamer: Asus unveils gold RTX 5090 Dhahab Edition
TechSpot: Asus reveals $10,600 gold-plated RTX 5090
What do you think of Asus’s golden GPU gamble—would you ever splash out for the ROG Astral Dhahab Edition? Let us know in the comments below!