Corsair - Asus Partnership

[Linition]

https://www.asus.com/us/site/rog-build/rog-corsair.html

How do people feel about this?

I got curious about Asus' RGB integration into iCUE and became curious about how far the cooperation goes.
I personally really like the idea of Corsair partnering up with a leading computer company that makes complementary products, because when you become a fan of a brand, you like more than just their quality.
It's also about their design language, kind of like with Apple and much like with car brands.

And just like with being a fan of BMW, Jaguar, or Ferrari, you wouldn't want the different interior and exterior parts of your car to be designed differently.
I guess eclecticism is the polar opposite of bran identity that way.
I used to mix and match companies based on whatever fit my requirements best, often I built the setups myself too, but I think if you can have both top performance for your specific budget as well as an enveloping brand design language, it can add another layer of satisfaction.

The ease of use is another aspect, though with only RGB integration, although nice to have everything synced in case you go for that much RGB, you still end up needing to install all the different software, which is Armory Crate for your Asus motherboard, GPU Tweak for your Asus GPU and possibly even the drivers for Asus peripherals, all that on top of iCUE.
So obviously, even if we narrow it down to the lowest amount of brands possible, ending up with 2 still barely cuts down on background programs to install.

Unfortunately I don't think this will ever change in a cooperation. It sounds like a nightmare in terms of responsibility, compatibility and QA to me to rely on another multi-product company to make the drivers/software for your multi-product company.
I guess we would need to see a merger before something like that happens.

 

I do have some questions though, why not EVGA? They seemed like the perfect fit to me as a customer.

[Conver]

I like Asus, their MBs are very good, but I would wish that Corsair went all the way and make their totally own MBs, I myself already have a full Corsair setup (unless it's hardware they don't make, like MBs), but I also have Asus motherboard right now and it's a pain as you mention that I have to install all the Asus crap just to make iCUE able to control it's RGB..

But on the other hand, the list could become pretty long of wanted Corsair branded hardware, but top of the list is a Corsair motherboard and a Corsair RAM water RGB block.. Even a Corsair branded (with RGB) GPU would be neat.

 

But it seems (in my opinion) that Corsair's focus is on way other (mostly useless) stuff, it's time to step up Corsair. You've been doing so good for many many years, but lately you are really halting in your priorities. 

[LeDoyen]

Corsair has mostly focused on style and bling leaving user experience and hardware quality down the drain for a few years now.

iCUE is almost as big a catastrophy as Armoury crate, every firmware update is a gamble as to will your device be bricked or not, bad products are (apparently) dealt with masses of RMA instead of redesigning.. and until the 4000D came out, even the cases were very cheaply made.. every owner of a wobbly and creaky 680x know what i mean.

Unless the company starts caring about the quality of the hardware and actually tests the software they put out (anything code related coming from corsair is just plain unreliable), i don't see why any big company would partner with them just to have THEIR products made worse.

 

RGB has always been a sh*t show in terms of software, so it's no big deal partnering with inferior products like armoury crate and iCUE. Anything more involved, i doubt it will ever happen.

 

I just hope for them that the trend in cases started with the 4000 series will continue, and that maybe they'll start spinning their own AIOs, rework iCUE from the ground up and not do a more buggy reskin of iCUE3 to slap a "4" in front of it.. and stop caring more about shiny LEDs and more on the primary function of what they sell.

After they start making quality products, yeah, cooperation with other brands may look like a good idea 🙂

[solarity]

As a Gigabyte MB owner, I really wish Gigabyte would partner up with Corsair as well. It would be nice to see other companies products supported by iCUE. UIntil then I pretty much keep my MB RGB off. I am not a fan of having a lot of different software installed on my machine, so I do prefer one to rule them all.

[Linition]

On 12/28/2021 at 3:23 PM, solarity said:

As a Gigabyte MB owner, I really wish Gigabyte would partner up with Corsair as well. It would be nice to see other companies products supported by iCUE. UIntil then I pretty much keep my MB RGB off. I am not a fan of having a lot of different software installed on my machine, so I do prefer one to rule them all.

I don't know, the way they handled their fire hazard issue I wouldn't be buying any Gigabyte stuff anymore, at least for a few years.

If I company has a serious hazard problem with one of their products, I want them to admit it, fix it and service the customers, not go "don't worry, it's fiiiiiinnneee!".

Will have to see how Asus handle their "baptism by fire" though.

[Linition]

On 12/28/2021 at 1:55 AM, Conver said:

I like Asus, their MBs are very good, but I would wish that Corsair went all the way and make their totally own MBs, I myself already have a full Corsair setup (unless it's hardware they don't make, like MBs), but I also have Asus motherboard right now and it's a pain as you mention that I have to install all the Asus crap just to make iCUE able to control it's RGB..

But on the other hand, the list could become pretty long of wanted Corsair branded hardware, but top of the list is a Corsair motherboard and a Corsair RAM water RGB block.. Even a Corsair branded (with RGB) GPU would be neat.

 

But it seems (in my opinion) that Corsair's focus is on way other (mostly useless) stuff, it's time to step up Corsair. You've been doing so good for many many years, but lately you are really halting in your priorities. 

Thing is they would need to acquire the expertise for it somehow, like by buying up a company with experience with quality motherboards.

[solarity]

3 hours ago, Linition said:

I don't know, the way they handled their fire hazard issue I wouldn't be buying any Gigabyte stuff anymore, at least for a few years.

If I company has a serious hazard problem with one of their products, I want them to admit it, fix it and service the customers, not go "don't worry, it's fiiiiiinnneee!".

Will have to see how Asus handle their "baptism by fire" though.

Gigabyte just like Corsair doesn't manufacture PSUs. They have various companies like Flower, Seasonic, Greatwall, and MEIC. I never knew about MEIC, until their Gigabyte Branded PSUs started exploding. Some manufactures are more involved than others in the design, while others are hands off and just brand it with their name. I won't argue with you about not buying a Gigabyte PSU. I wouldn't buy one, though I wouldn't order chicken at a seafood resturant either. I will try to objectively buy what ever product suits me best.

 

 

[Conver]

5 hours ago, Linition said:

Thing is they would need to acquire the expertise for it somehow, like by buying up a company with experience with quality motherboards.

Some of it, yes. But with many of it, they just need to expand, they already have the knowledge about must of it.

[LeDoyen]

spinning a motherboard is a whole other beast than making AIO and RGB controllers on the cheap. And as a general rule i don't trust anything Corsair that has some kind of code attached.. firmware or software.. just too unreliable and unstable ^^"

Corsair would have to change completely before even thinking about making something as central and critical as a motherboard. It feels to me like it's a company with a lot of talented personnel, but ran by the bean counters.

Best bet would be to do like NZXT, and work with a motherboard OEM to start