ASUS has officially opened pre-orders in Malaysia for the ROG Rapture GT-BN98 (BN25000), one of the company's first WiFi 8 gaming routers. The router was first unveiled earlier this month as part of the new GT-BN98 series, with ASUS confirming that Malaysia would receive the standard BN25000 model. Its higher-tier sibling, the GT-BN98 Pro (BN30000), is currently planned only for the US market.
The launch gives early adopters in Malaysia a chance to move into next-generation wireless networking before WiFi 8 hardware becomes more common. As expected from the ROG Rapture lineup, the GT-BN98 is aimed at demanding users who want high wireless throughput, multi-gigabit wired networking and a router designed to handle heavy gaming and connected-device workloads.
WiFi 8 With Up to 30Gbps Total Wireless Throughput
The GT-BN98 uses a dual-band WiFi 8 architecture and is rated for total wireless throughput of up to 30,000Mbps. ASUS has not provided a detailed comparison between the standard GT-BN98 and the US-only GT-BN98 Pro, although both models sit at the high end of the company's latest networking portfolio.
Of course, headline wireless throughput figures represent the combined theoretical capacity of the router rather than the speed a single device will necessarily achieve. Real-world performance will depend on client hardware, wireless conditions, channel availability and the capabilities of the devices connected to the network.
Even so, the GT-BN98 is clearly designed for environments where several high-bandwidth devices may be active at the same time, particularly gaming PCs, consoles, workstations, NAS systems and newer mobile devices.
A 2.6GHz Quad-Core Processor Handles the Workload
Inside the router is a 2.6GHz quad-core processor paired with 2GB of RAM. That gives the GT-BN98 additional processing headroom for routing traffic, managing multiple connected devices and supporting the advanced networking features expected from a flagship ROG router.
The extra processing capability becomes increasingly important as modern routers take on more responsibilities than simply distributing an internet connection. Traffic prioritisation, security functions, VPN services, network monitoring and multi-gigabit connections all place additional demand on the router's CPU and memory.
For households with many connected devices, stronger internal hardware can also help maintain more consistent performance during periods of heavy network activity.
Multi-Gigabit Wired Networking Is Well Covered
ASUS has equipped the GT-BN98 with two 10Gbps Ethernet ports and four 2.5Gbps LAN ports, giving users plenty of flexibility for high-speed wired connections.
The 10Gbps ports could be particularly useful for users with very fast fibre connections, high-performance NAS systems or workstations that regularly transfer large amounts of data over the local network. Meanwhile, the 2.5Gbps ports provide faster-than-Gigabit connectivity for gaming PCs, access points and other modern networking equipment.
This mix of wired ports also means the router is not relying entirely on WiFi 8 to deliver higher speeds. Users building a multi-gigabit home network can connect their most demanding systems directly while reserving wireless capacity for phones, laptops and other mobile devices.
Sixteen Internal Antennas Feed Eight External Antennas
The GT-BN98 also introduces a distinctive antenna design. ASUS describes it as a 3D structural architecture combining 16 antennas into eight high-performance external antennas, giving the router a fairly aggressive appearance that fits naturally into the ROG family.
The design is intended to improve wireless coverage and capacity while reducing interference between antenna elements. In a high-end router, antenna placement becomes increasingly important because the system may need to maintain strong connections across several spatial streams and a large number of active clients simultaneously.
ASUS has also built an upgraded thermal system around the router to support sustained operation. Networking hardware can generate considerable heat when moving multi-gigabit traffic continuously, so improved cooling helps the system maintain performance without excessive thermal throttling.
Designed for Heavy Gaming and Network Traffic
As a ROG Rapture product, the GT-BN98 is naturally aimed at gamers, although its hardware makes it equally relevant to power users running demanding home networks.
A household might simultaneously have game downloads, cloud backups, 4K streaming, smart-home devices and large file transfers taking place across the same network. A router in this category is designed to handle those workloads without letting one activity overwhelm everything else.
The combination of WiFi 8, 10Gbps Ethernet and a relatively powerful internal processor means the GT-BN98 is clearly targeting users who already have, or plan to build, a high-performance network rather than buyers simply looking for basic internet coverage.
Pre-Orders Are Open at RM3,988
The ASUS ROG Rapture GT-BN98 (BN25000) carries a suggested retail price of RM3,988 in Malaysia and is already available for pre-order.
Interested buyers can place their orders through ASUS' official sales channels, including Shopee and Lazada, with additional purchasing options listed through the company's website.
At nearly RM4,000, this is firmly a premium networking product. For most households, a much cheaper WiFi 6 or WiFi 7 router will still be more than sufficient, but users who want to move into WiFi 8 early or require multi-gigabit wired infrastructure may find the GT-BN98 more relevant.
Steam Wallet Promotion Runs Until 18 October
ASUS is also offering a launch promotion for early buyers. Customers who pre-order or purchase the router during the promotional period can receive RM200 worth of Steam Wallet Codes.
The promotion runs until 18 October 2026. To claim the reward, buyers need to submit proof of purchase in the form of an invoice or receipt together with the router's product serial number.
As usual, the promotion is subject to ASUS' specific terms and conditions, so buyers planning to redeem the Steam Wallet Codes should check the campaign requirements before completing their claim.
Final Thoughts
The ROG Rapture GT-BN98 is very clearly aimed at enthusiasts who want networking hardware with plenty of headroom. Its WiFi 8 support, two 10Gbps ports, four 2.5Gbps connections and powerful internal hardware make it significantly more capable than what the average home network currently requires.
That also explains the RM3,988 asking price. This is less about replacing an ordinary household router and more about building a future-facing network around multi-gigabit internet, high-speed local storage and a large number of connected devices.
For users already investing in faster fibre connections, NAS systems and premium gaming hardware, the GT-BN98 could make sense as the networking foundation tying everything together.
For everyone else, WiFi 8 may still be something to watch rather than something they need immediately.
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