Five upgrades for your gaming PC that aren’t affected by the memory shortage

Right now, PC builders everywhere are feeling the pinch of tight memory supplies. But if RAM is hard to come by, don’t worry. There are plenty of ways to upgrade your gaming experience that don’t rely on memory. These five upgrades will help your rig look, feel, and perform better than ever.

Elevate your view with next-gen monitors

A great gaming experience starts with what you see, and ROG’s latest OLED displays prove just how much a gaming monitor upgrade can change everything. The ROG Swift OLED PG27AQWP-W and ROG Swift OLED PG32UCDM Gen 3 bring cutting-edge panel technology, fast refresh rates, and refined design to the center of your setup. These displays show off deep blacks, vivid color, and fluid motion that’ll enhance the fidelity of all your games.

The ROG Swift OLED PG27AQWP-W is built for players who want speed and clarity in a compact format. Its 27-inch OLED panel delivers ultra-smooth gameplay with a high refresh rate and near-instant pixel response, making fast-paced shooters and competitive titles feel incredibly responsive. And with dual-mode technology, you can prioritize resolution or refresh rate according to your gaming needs. Go QHD 540 Hz or HD 720 Hz with the flip of a switch. The display’s incredible contrast gives you inky blacks and bright highlights, while the resolution keeps textures and UI elements sharp. The monitor’s silver body adds a clean, modern look that stands out in any battlestation.

If you want to go bigger, the ROG Swift OLED PG32UCDM Gen 3 takes things to another level. This 32-inch 4K OLED display combines extreme detail with 240 Hz refresh performance, letting you enjoy cinematic single-player games and high-FPS titles on the same screen without compromise. Its next-generation OLED panel is tuned for exceptional HDR performance, delivering intense highlights, accurate colors, and a sense of depth that pulls you into every scene.

Both monitors are packed with features designed to protect the panel and enhance your experience, from intelligent OLED Care functions to robust connectivity options. Upgrading to a display like the PG27AQWP-W or PG32UCDM Gen 3 instantly boosts visual fidelity and responsiveness, giving your gaming an upgrade you’ll immediately benefit from — even if you aren’t sporting a brand new graphics card.

Check out all the monitors we unveiled at CES 2026 to get an idea of what other cutting-edge panels are coming to PC gaming battlestations.

Refresh your rig's future with a new case

Swapping your PC case might sound cosmetic at first, but the right chassis can do more than give your PC a visual makeover. Upgrading your case can transform its cooling performance and features, too. Enter the ROG Cronox ARGB, a case designed to hold big components and show them off. This chassis supports dual 360 mm radiators and GPUs up to 400 mm long, giving you room to grow into future upgrades with ease. Bigger internal volume also simplifies cable management and improves airflow, which helps components run cooler and last longer.

The Cronox ARGB’s panoramic tempered glass side panel ensures your components are on full display, while the integrated LCD screen shows off real-time stats, custom visuals, animations, and more. Click here to learn more about the Cronox ARGB and its incredibly versatile screen module.

Building inside a spacious case like the Cronox gives you a chance to clean and organize your rig. That fresh start means dust gets cleared out, cables can be routed neatly, and airflow paths are optimized. The result is a tidy, efficient build that looks amazing and performs better over time. And when your motherboard has headers for faster or more versatile front I/O, you can take full advantage of your new chassis’ upgraded ports.

Smarter motherboards for a better foundation

If your goal is to future-proof your build, upgrading your motherboard is one of the most impactful changes you can make. The latest ROG boards announced at CES 2026 bring smarter features, expanded connectivity, and performance headroom to your desktop. Boards like the ROG Crosshair X870E Glacial lead this charge with support for up to seven M.2 SSDs (when using both included add-in cards), two PCIe x16 slots, and robust VRM designs built for high-end CPUs. It boasts a raft of new features designed to boost memory performance, giving you the tools to squeeze every last MT/s out of your current memory kit.

The Glacial’s 24(110A)+2(110A)+2 power solution ensures rock-solid stability under heavy loads such as gaming, content creation, or multi-threaded workloads. You’ll also get premium conveniences like magnetic memory Q-Fan cooling and simple PCIe slot release mechanisms that make upgrades and maintenance easier than ever.

If you prefer a more classic aesthetic with dark tones, the ROG Crosshair X870E Dark Hero delivers similar high-end capabilities with a sleek look. Its optimized PCIe lanes, premium capacitors, and compatibility with the newest CPU cooling solutions make it a great choice for players who want a build that performs fluidly today and scales tomorrow.

ROG’s Strix Neo series offers powerful, user-friendly boards for mainstream gamers, with intuitive BIOS layouts and plenty of USB and M.2 slots. So no matter what kind of PC gamer you are, there’s an ROG board built for you. Remember: upgrading your motherboard sets a stronger foundation for every other component in your PC, and you can do it now without worrying about the memory supply crunch.

Thermal optimization: stay cool under pressure

Heat is one of the biggest enemies of performance and longevity in a PC. Even if your components are powerful, poor cooling can throttle performance and raise noise levels. ROG’s thermal upgrades, from case fans to high-end AIO coolers, address that directly. The ROG Eurux GR120 ARGB fans, for instance, use liquid-crystal-polymer blades to push up to 91 CFM of airflow with strong static pressure, helping move heat out of your case quickly and quietly.

Airflow isn't the only thing that makes these fans stand out. Each fan has three individually addressable ARGB zones that let you synchronize lighting with your build’s theme using our Armoury Crate software.

For even greater thermal performance, ROG’s AIO coolers offer advanced pumps and optimized radiator designs for stronger heat dissipation. Consider the new ROG Strix LC IV series for your next upgrade. With 5.08-inch LCD displays and jaw-dropping Aura Fan Edge lighting, they’ll make your rig look as cool as it plays. Plus, with a compatible motherboard, no manual cable connection to the pump is required, making installation a breeze.

Whether you go for a classic cooler or pair fans with a spacious radiator setup, your CPU will stay cooler under heavy gaming sessions — which can translate to higher boost clocks and reduced thermal throttling.

Peripherals that pull their weight

Peripherals are largely safe from the global memory shortage, making them a go-to option for upgrading your setup. Here’s what ROG can do for your battlestation.

Our latest keyboards up your typing game, big time. Just look at the ROG Falchion Ace 75 HE wireless gaming keyboard. Its compact 75% layout keeps your desk uncluttered while still offering arrow and function keys optimized for play. Hot-swappable ROG HFX V2 and V2X magnetic switches and a ROG Hall Sensor give you pinpoint accuracy. You can fine-tune actuation points and Rapid Trigger sensitivity right on the keyboard itself. And with an 8000 Hz polling rate, every tap registers with blistering responsiveness that gives you an edge in fast-paced games. The board’s intuitive adjustment wheel and interactive touch panel allow quick media and function tweaks without breaking focus on the action. The list of features goes on and on — learn about them all here.

When it comes to precise tracking and effortless movement, the ROG Harpe II Ace wireless gaming mouse builds on a proven competitive design. The Harpe II Ace is an ultralight 48-gram mouse shaped with esports-level play in mind. Its high-resolution 42,000 dpi ROG AimPoint Pro optical sensor tracks with razor-sharp accuracy, and ROG Optical Micro Switches ensure consistent, tactile clicks. ROG SpeedNova wireless technology delivers up to 8,000 Hz polling performance for low-latency responsiveness that feels instantaneous in shooters and MOBAs alike. And the mouse now comes in a loud and proud red colorway, giving you a fresh hue to personalize your setup with.

For some gamers, a good controller might matter just as much as a mouse and keyboard, and the ROG Raikiri II Xbox Wireless controller knows this. With tri-mode connectivity — including 2.4 GHz via a dongle, Bluetooth, and wired USB-C — this pad connects to PC, Xbox, and ROG Xbox Ally handheld systems with ease. Anti-drift TMR joysticks provide accurate input that resists wear over time, while dual-mode triggers let you switch between short, clicky actuation and smooth full travel depending on what your game demands. The 1000 Hz polling rate on PC and extended battery life make it a strong choice for both casual sessions and competitive matches, and programmable rear buttons give you extra control right at your fingertips.

Score the sound of a better battlestation

Audio completes an immersive gaming experience, and ROG delivers options for every preference. The audiophile-attuned ROG Kithara gaming headset pairs ROG-tuned 100 mm planar magnetic drivers with an open-back design to create a spacious soundstage that enhances spatial awareness in games. Its detachable full-band MEMS boom microphone and broad compatibility with 4.4 mm, 3.5 mm, and 6.3 mm connections — plus a USB-C adapter — mean you get high-fidelity sound and clear communication across tons of devices.

If you prefer wireless cans, the ROG Delta II wireless gaming headset offers tri-mode connectivity, letting you pick between dongle-based 2.4 GHz, Bluetooth, or an old-school wired connection when it’s time to recharge. 50 mm titanium-plated diaphragm drivers and refined wireless sound give you immersive audio with up to 110 hours of battery life. Whether you’re chasing footsteps in a competitive shooter or soaking in the rich music and effects of an RPG, these headsets bring your games to life with clarity and depth.

For more information on our latest and greatest peripherals, check out everything ROG announced at CES 2026.

Redefine what your PC can be

Memory shortages won’t stop you from making your rig better. A new monitor, bold case, cutting-edge motherboard, improved cooling, and elite peripherals can all redefine your gaming experience. By improving any of these items, you’re giving yourself a more premium, personalized, and prepared battlestation. So level up your setup today to enjoy better gaming tomorrow. And be sure to check the ASUS Store periodically, where we offer tons of killer deals on the kinds of components and gear highlighted in this article.