ASUS ROG Rapture GT-BE98

The ASUS ROG Rapture GT-BE98 is the flagship WiFi 7 router of 2024, built to meet the needs of the most demanding power users and tech enthusiasts seeking top-tier performance and advanced features. In this review, we will explore its capabilities.

The router comes in a large, bold black box emblazoned with the slogan “FOR THOSE WHO DARE,” highlighting its appeal to adventurous and performance-driven users.

The router is securely protected by the packaging cover and is neatly packed, ensuring it arrives in excellent condition.

Technical Specification

Model	Asus ROG Rapture GT-BE98 Wi-Fi 7 Gaming Router
Wi-Fi Bandwidth	Quad-band BE25000
Modulation Scheme	4096-QAM (all bands)
(QAM)
1st Band	4×4 2.4GHz BE: up to 1376Mbps
(Qchannel width)
2nd Band	4×4 5GHz BE: up to 5764Mbps
(channel width)	(20/40/80/160MHz)
3rd Band	4×4 5GHz-1 BE: up to 5764Mbps
(channel width)	(20/40/80/160/320MHz)
4th Band	4×4 6GHz-2 BE: up to 11,529Mbps
(channel width)	(20/40/80/160/320MHz)
Premium Add-on	(all features are free for life)
Mesh-Ready	YES (AiMesh)
Operating Mode	Router
	Access Point
	Repeater
	Media Bridge
Multi-Gig Port	1x 10GBASE-T WAN/LAN,
	1x 10GBASE-T LAN,
	4x 2.5GBASE-T WAN/LAN,
Gigabit Port	1x LAN
Link Aggregation	Yes
Dual-WAN	Yes
USB Port	1 x USB 3.0
	1 x USB 2.0
Dimensions	14.12 x 14.12 x 8.77 in
	(358.6 x 358.6 x 222.8 mm)
Weight	4.41 lbs (2 kg)
Processing Power	Quad-core 2.6GHz CPU, 256MB Flash, 2GB DDR4 RAM
Firmware	9.0.0.6.102_36424 Beta
SGD Price	$1,099.00

Hardware: Processor information

The GT-BE98 is powered by the Broadcom BCM4916, a high-performance quad-core ARM v8 compliant 64-bit processor designed specifically for the next generation of 10Gb wireless applications. The quad-core B53 @2.6Ghz CPUs deliver ample processing power to handle the throughput demands of Broadcom’s ultra high-performance Wi-Fi 7 access point chips while still leaving plenty of headroom for running additional customer value-added applications. The BCM4916 also features a dual-issue runner network processor and a high-performance Security Processing Unit (SPU). With its integrated 10G/5G/2.5G multi-Gig PHY, this platform is perfectly suited for supporting the next generation of multi-gigabit broadband networks.

Features

• Quad-core ARMv8-compatible CPUs

• Dual Issue Runner – Packet processor

• DDR3 and DDR4 memory interface

• Fully Integrated 10/5.0/2.5 Gb Ethernet PHY for WAN or LAN

• 3 USXGMII Ethernet ports • Quad integrated 1Gb Ethernet PHYs

• Dual USB ports • High-performance Security Processing Unit

• Secure Boot and Arm TrustZone, with advanced TEE (trusted execution environment) offering high levels of security

The antennas are wrapped in two layers of plastic, which can be somewhat cumbersome to remove. However, it’s clear that ASUS has put in extra effort to protect the product during shipping.

The build quality of the router is exceptionally solid, and every component feels meticulously assembled. ASUS has also revamped the ROG eye logo, replacing the previous infinity mirror design with an RGB matrix LED, which adds a more premium touch.

While the GT-BE98 has an intimidating look typical of a gaming router, its design serves a functional purpose. The exposed red heatsinks with nanocarbon coating are not just for aesthetics—they effectively dissipate heat from the router. This efficient cooling system works so well that ASUS has opted not to include active cooling, reducing noise and preventing dust accumulation issues.

On the front of the router, there are two buttons: WPS and LED. The WPS button is used to initiate Wi-Fi Protected Setup, while the LED button is programmable. It allows you to toggle the LEDs on or off, cycle through different Aura RGB patterns, or activate the Game Boost feature.

The ROG Rapture GT-BE98 is packed with extensive connectivity options, including a 10Gbps WAN/LAN port, a 10Gbps LAN port, four 2.5Gbps LAN ports, and a dedicated 1Gbps LAN port. It also includes USB 3.2 and USB 2.0 ports for connecting external storage and peripherals. These features make the router future-proof, ready to support internet connections with speeds up to 10Gbps.

802.3ad Link aggregation – Hardware Limitation

We are quite disappointed with ASUS’s configuration of the 802.3ad “link aggregation” setup. The first option links LAN 5 (1Gbps) and LAN 6 (10Gbps), which does not provide the combined 20Gbps speed as expected. The four 2.5Gbps LAN ports on the ROG Rapture GT-BE98 do not support 802.3ad link aggregation due to hardware limitations, which restricts their ability to combine bandwidth for higher speeds.

The second option offers a workaround by linking LAN 1 (10Gbps) and LAN 6 (10Gbps) to achieve a total LAN speed of 20Gbps, but it requires changing your primary WAN connection to LAN 1 (2.5Gbps). This adjustment, however, limits your 10Gbps internet speed to just 2.5Gbps, which is a significant compromise.

 

ASUSWRT 5.0 Web Interface

The new ASUSWRT 5.0 introduces enhancements such as a streamlined interface for easier configuration and the inclusion of default custom network channels, further solidifying its role as a reliable companion innavigating networking tasks. The ASUSWRT 5.0 label firmware version starting with 3.0.0.6 onward.

Below is the main login web page: 192.168.50.1 < Default login

The ROG router’s web GUI differs from that of standard ASUS routers, as it features an additional ROG Dashboard. This dashboard provides a comprehensive display of all network information and gaming modes, offering a more tailored and immersive experience for gamers.

The usual main page of the router’s web GUI provides an overview of essential system metrics, including CPU and RAM usage. It also offers detailed information such as the number of devices connected to the wireless network or Ethernet ports, allowing users to monitor their network at a glance.

AiMesh can create a single, house-wide network name so there’s no need to constantly switch between networks as you roam around your home. AiMesh keeps an eye on the signal strength to your device, and switches it seamlessly to another source if necessary. If you prefer separate network names for each frequency band, you can do that as well — AiMesh is designed to work the way you want!

ASUS Ai Protection Pro

We tested ASUS Ai Protection from 8th August 2024 to 2nd September 2024, and it proved to be the best among all router protection features we’ve evaluated across different brands. Plus, Ai Protection is free forever, adding even more value to ASUS routers.

Parental Controls

We tested the Parental Controls feature, and while it generally works well, the Adult content filtering is not entirely effective, with some websites not being blocked as expected. However, the controls do allow you to adjust the time and date settings for individual devices, providing flexibility in managing internet access schedules.

Game Acceleration

To utilize the Game Port feature, ensure your computer is connected directly to LAN Port 6, designated as the Gaming Port. Game Acceleration optimizes your connection by routing you through the shortest path to the fastest server, helping you achieve the lowest possible ping for a smoother gaming experience. However, we never try this feature before.

Wireless

ASUS routers stand out by offering an extensive range of options and settings to customize your wireless configuration to suit your needs. In contrast, many other brands only provide basic settings, limiting customization and control over your network.

MLO

You have the option to create a new MLO (Multi-Link Operation) SSID and connect it to the same subnet for enhanced flexibility and improved network performance. Alternatively, you can choose not to create a new SSID for MLO; instead, enable MLO on your main SmartConnect SSID by navigating to the network > advanced menu and toggling on the MLO feature.

Benchmark Test LAN 10Gbps Ports

We’ve set up two DIY systems connected to a TP-Link TL-SX105 switch, with the ROG GT-BE98 Router serving as our main router. Our entire network is wired with high-quality CAT 7 cable, ensuring a 10GbE connection.

The system below is configured to share a folder using the latest SMB 3.1.1 and is running the most up-to-date drivers and firmware.

DIY Computers	System 1	System 2
Processor	Intel Core i9 13900K	AMD Ryzen 5 3500X
RAM	32Gb DDR5 6000mhz	32Gb DDR4 3600Mhz
GPU	RTX 4080	RTX 2070
Network Card	ASUS XG-C100C 10Gbe Card	ASUS XG-C100C 10Gbe Card
Storage	Samsung 980Pro 2TB Nvme SSD PCIE 4.0	Lexar NM790 2TB Nvme SSD PCIE 4.0

Information of the connection

We transferred a Steam backup of the game “Forspoken,” which is 103GB in size, over the network.

During the initial burst mode, the transfer speed easily reaches over 1GB/s and remains in burst mode for a few seconds before slowing down. It’s very common for the speed to slow down after the burst rate is over, typically due to the storage cache reach limitation.

 

We ran iPerf 3 on both the client and server sides and managed to achieve nearly 10Gbps speed.

Benchmark Test: LAN Internet

We are using an M1 2.5Gbps internet connection, and this benchmark was conducted by testing the connection directly from the router to the internet.

Below benchmark will be base on computer 10gbps LAN connection.

 

Benchmark Mesh node: IPhone 15 Pro Max “Wifi 6E” – Layout & information

Below is the floor plan of the 5 rooms BTO layout.

The service provider will utilize M1 Fibre 2.5Gbps, and our primary router is the Orbi 970, but we will be testing the mesh connection. The ASUSTOR AS6604T is connected to the router through 2.5Gbe. For our WIFI 6E testing, we will be utilizing the latest device from Apple, the Iphone 15 Pro Max and all our devices installed with latest driver and firmware.

Device	Firmware/Software
ASUSTOR AS6604T	4.3.1.R752
ASUS ROG GT-BE98	9.0.0.6.102_36424
Iphone 15 Pro Max	iOS 18.1 Build 22B5034e

 

 

Living room – Benchmark

The benchmark test results below were obtained in the living room, positioned 5 meters away from the router.

Bedroom – Benchmark

The benchmark test results below were obtained in the Bedroom.

Master room – Benchmark

The benchmark test results below were obtained in the Master room.

Benchmark: DIY PC “Wifi 7” – Layout & information

For our WiFi 7 testing, we’ll be using the ROG GT-BE98 with an M1 Fibre 2.5Gbps connection. Testing will involve two DIY PCs, with MLO both enabled and disabled to evaluate performance.

To enable MLO, you need Windows 11 Build 24H2. We’re testing two DIY systems: one with the official Windows 11 build and the other with the Windows 11 beta. Only system 2 are enable WiFi 7 MLO technology.

DIY Computers	System 1 MLO Disable	System 2 MLO Enable
Processor	Intel Core i9 13900K	AMD Ryzen 5 3500X
RAM	32Gb DDR5 6000mhz	32Gb DDR4 3600Mhz
GPU	RTX 4080	RTX 2070
Windows Build	23H2 22631.4112	24H2 26120.1542
Wireless chip	Intel BE200 Driver 23.60.1.2	MediaTek MT7927 Driver 5.4.0.2418

 

SYSTEM 1 MLO Disable

 

SYSTEM 1 MLO Enable: Link speed 6.1Gbps

Why should you buy ASUS ROG GT-BE98?

The ASUS ROG Rapture GT-BE98 stands out as a flagship WiFi 7 router designed for power users and gamers who demand top-notch performance and advanced features. Its robust build quality, redesigned RGB matrix logo, and efficient passive cooling system showcase ASUS’s commitment to both aesthetics and functionality. Packed with extensive connectivity options, including 10Gbps and 2.5Gbps LAN ports, the GT-BE98 is future-proof and ready for high-speed internet connections.

While the configuration of 802.3ad link aggregation is a downside due to the hardware limitation, but the router excels in other areas, such as its advanced web GUI with a dedicated gaming dashboard, comprehensive wireless settings, and Game Port for optimized low-latency connections. ASUS Ai Protection offers excellent security features for free, although Parental Controls could be more effective in filtering adult content.

Overall, the GT-BE98 is a solid choice for those seeking a high-performance router that combines cutting-edge technology with extensive customization options, making it well-suited for both gaming and everyday use.