The ongoing Chia coin craze has already increased prices of high-capacity HDDs and SSDs in retail quite significantly. Since demand for storage devices is not going to get any lower, Taiwan-based makers of SSDs are developing special-purpose SSDs for Chia mining that they plan to sell directly to miners. Furthermore, drive makers expect Chia to consume considerable 3D NAND production capacities in the coming months.
Adata, Apacer, Phison Electronics, and TeamGroup all reported significant increases of SSD orders in April when compared to March, according to DigiTimes. Adata said that demand for its SSDs increased by 400% – 500% sequentially last month, TeamGroup also saw an impressive increase and expressed optimism about the short-term Chia farming demand for SSDs. Other makers tend to agree that demand for SSDs will remain strong in the coming months.
In a bid to meet demand and offer farmers the components they need to make the best Chia plotting PC builds, Adata, Phison, and TeamGroup have started developing appropriate SSDs (or at least have created task forces).
Since the majority of SSD makers have enterprise-grade drives designed for write-intensive workloads in their lineups, developing high-endurance Chia-optimized storage solutions should not pose a significant challenge for their engineering teams. Essentially, they will have to develop high-endurance SSDs based on consumer-grade 3D NAND (with loads of over-provisioning space) that do not have enterprise features. TeamGroup has already announced its first SSDs for Chia mining and expects to ship them in high volumes in Q3 2021.
What is interesting is that Adata, Phison, and TeamGroup are looking at ways to ship their Chia farming SSDs directly to mining farms, so these drives may not end up in retail (just like we do not see many high-end HDDs and SSDs in retail). To some degree, this will ensure that large Chia farming operations will not get their drives from retail and inflate prices, which is good news. There is bad news too.
High-capacity high-endurance SSDs for Chia mining will naturally increase demand for 3D NAND memory in general. Phison already told DigiTimes that Chia SSDs would “consume considerably all the available capacity” at 3D NAND makers. To that end, demand for both 3D NAND and SSD controller are set to increase, which will cause price hikes.
Founded in 1999, Thermaltake is a PC case, power supply, and peripherals company based in Taiwan. The ARGENT M5 RGB is part of an entire line of products consisting of a mouse bungee, mouse pad, headphones, headphone stand, and a wireless variant of the M5 RGB. The ARGENT M5 RGB is symmetrical, which means it has side buttons on both sides, and its button layout can be reversed in the software, enabling left-handers to use it normally. Through the software, several RGB lighting effects can be set up and synchronized with other ARGENT devices, including Razer Chroma enabled ones. The sensor is PixArt’s PMW3389 capable of 16,000 CPI, and the scroll wheel is made out of aluminium for better durability and grip. Though listed in the specifications, 2000 Hz polling rate is not supported by the ARGENT M5 RGB.
Microsoft’s big E3 event to showcase upcoming Xbox and Bethesda games will kick off on Sunday, June 13th at 1PM ET. It will be a 90-minute show.
“The show will be focused on games from Xbox Game Studios, Bethesda, and many game creators from our partners around the world,” Aaron Greenberg, general manager of Xbox games marketing, said in a blog post.
Microsoft completed its huge acquisition of ZeniMax Media, the parent company of Bethesda Softworks, in March, so this event will be the first opportunity to see what the two companies have been cooking up together. The acquisition doesn’t mean that all Bethesda games are now Xbox exclusives — the upcoming Deathloop, from Bethesda-owned Arkane Studios, is debuting on PS5 and PC — but Microsoft’s Phil Spencer has already said that “some new titles in the future” will only be coming to Xbox and the company’s Xbox Game Pass subscription service.
There are a lot of potential titles that could be on display during the June showcase. We could get our next look at Halo Infinite following its rough showing last July and subsequent delay to this year. (It’s set to launch in the fall.) Psychonauts 2 seems tantalizingly close to release, especially after a recent update video posted by developer Double Fine, so we might get some news about the long-in-the-works sequel. Microsoft announced upcoming new titles in the Fable and Forza Motorsport series last year, so we may hear more about those games and other titles revealed at last summer’s Xbox showcase. And from Bethesda, fingers crossed we’ll finally learn more about Starfield and the new Indiana Jones game.
While in-person Computex has been canceled, companies still have new product to roll out, and today Western Digital adds a trio of new drives to its gaming-focused WD_Black line. There are a pair of D30 Game Drives targeting next-gen consoles, with one model aiming for the PlayStation 5 market, and a WD_Black D30 Game Drive SSD for Xbox targeting Sony’s console competition. But for PC builders and gamers, the internal WD_Black SN750 SE will be of most interest, as it brings PCIe Gen4 support at a starting price of just $49.99. But without DRAM, it will probably have a hard time making it to our best SSD list.
But first, let’s tackle the console-focused externals. Both models will come in 500GB, 1TB and 2TB capacities, with the Xbox model starting at $99.99 and the more generic WD_Black D30 Game Drive SSD starting at $10 less ($89.99). Both come in typical bulky-looking rugged housings with detachable stands, with the non-Xbox model delivering claimed speeds of up to 900 MBps. This drive will allow you to play and store PS4 games, but only allow for archiving of PS5 games. (The PS5 only plays the latest-gen games from the internal SSD).
The D30 Game Drive SSD for Xbox, meanwhile, will ship with a one-month membership of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate to help make up for the slight price difference. Similar to the other drive, you’ll be able to play and store Xbox One games on the drive, but only archive Xbox Series X/S titles. WD says the white-accented Xbox-branded drive should arrive in June, while the more generic black model should be available today at “select retailers” and the WD Store.
(Image credit: WD)
Shifting to the new internal M.2 drive, the WD_Black SN750 SE is an NVMe drive that supports PCIe 4.0 (and is also backwards compatible with Gen3). WD says it will deliver read speeds of up to 3,600 MBps. So it’s no barn-burner, but WD says it will consume up to 30% less power than the previous SN750, which may help its appeal for laptop gamers. Note, though, that this model will be a DRAM-less drive, which no-doubt helps keep costs (and power consumption) down.
The WD_Black SN750 SE will start at $49.99 for the 250GB model. Pricing on the 500GB and 1TB capacities has not been revealed, nor is there a mention of a 2TB model. But we’re sure to learn more (and hopefully have a full review for you) as we get closer to availability. WD says the WD_Black SN750 SE is available for preorder from WD now, and will land on store shelves this summer.
The Vengeance RGB Pro SL DDR4-3600 C18 is a great memory kit for AMD owners that don’t have the luxury of a lot of clearance space under their CPU air coolers.
For
+ Great performance on AMD platforms
+ Competitive pricing
+ Only 44.8mm tall
Against
– Disappointing overclocking headroom
– Poor performance on Intel platforms
Products don’t always go through modifications because there’s a defect; sometimes manufacturers revamp successful products because they see an opportunity for improvement. That was probably the idea behind Corsair’s reworking of its thriving Vengeance RGB Pro memory, which already holds a spot on our Best RAM list. For those that aren’t fans of the brand, the Vengeance RGB Pro SL will look like a brand piece of memory, but Corsair aficionados, on the other hand, will likely spot the differences right off the bat.
The Vengeance RGB Pro SL retains a similar design as the normal Vengeance RGB Pro. The memory modules still feature a black PCB with a matching black, anodized aluminum heat spreader. The small aesthetic changes include the small triangle cutouts and a different selection of logos.
The biggest difference between the SL and non-SL versions is the height. The original Vengeance RGB Pro memory modules are 51mm (2 inches) tall, while the SL variant checks in at 44.8mm (1.76 inches) tall. Corsair basically reduced the height by 12.2%, which should be sufficient to make the Vengeance RGB Pro SL fit under the most CPU air coolers and compact cases.
Despite the height reduction, the RGB diffuser remains intact on the Vengeance RGB Pro SL. There are 10 individually addressable onboard RGB LEDs inside the diffuser to provide bright and vibrant lighting. You’ll have to use Corsair’s iCUE software to take full advantage of the Vengeance RGB Pro SL’s illumination, which means installing another piece of software on your system.
The Vengeance RGB Pro SL consists of an eight-layer custom PCB with Samsung K4A8G085WB-BCPB (B-die) integrated circuits (ICs). The memory kit is comprised of a pair of 8GB memory modules with a single-rank design.
Out of the box, the memory operates at DDR4-2666 with dull primary timings fixed at 18-18-18-43. The Vengeance RGB Pro SL has a single XMP profile for DDR4-3600, so you can’t really go wrong. It configures the timings to 18-22-22-42 and the DRAM voltage up to 1.35V. For more on timings and frequency considerations, see our PC Memory 101 feature, as well as our How to Shop for RAM story.
Comparison Hardware
Memory Kit
Part Number
Capacity
Data Rate
Primary Timings
Voltage
Warranty
G.Skill Trident Z Neo
F4-3600C14D-16GTZNB
2 x 8GB
DDR4-3600 (XMP)
14-15-15-35 (2T)
1.45 Volts
Lifetime
Adata XPG Spectrix D60G
AX4U360038G14C-DT60
2 x 8GB
DDR4-3600 (XMP)
14-15-15-35 (2T)
1.45 Volts
Lifetime
TeamGroup T-Force Xtreem ARGB
TF10D416G3600HC14CDC01
2 x 8GB
DDR4-3600 (XMP)
14-15-15-35 (2T)
1.45 Volts
Lifetime
Gigabyte Aorus RGB Memory
GP-AR36C18S8K2HU416R
2 x 8GB
DDR4-3600 (XMP)
18-19-19-39 (2T)
1.35 Volts
Lifetime
HP V8
7EH92AA#ABM x 2
2 x 8GB
DDR4-3600 (XMP)
18-20-20-40 (2T)
1.35 Volts
5 Years
Adata XPG Spectrix D50
AX4U360038G18A-DT50
2 x 8GB
DDR4-3600 (XMP)
18-20-20-42 (2T)
1.35 Volts
Lifetime
Predator Talos
BL.9BWWR.215
2 x 8GB
DDR4-3600 (XMP)
18-20-20-42 (2T)
1.35 Volts
Lifetime
Corsair Vengeance RGB Pro SL
CMH16GX4M2Z3600C18
2 x 8GB
DDR4-3600 (XMP)
18-22-22-42 (2T)
1.35 Volts
Lifetime
GeIL Orion AMD Edition
GAOR416GB3600C18BDC
2 x 8GB
DDR4-3600 (XMP)
18-22-22-42 (2T)
1.35 Volts
Lifetime
Our Intel test system consists of an Intel Core i9-10900K and Asus ROG Maximus XII Apex on the 0901 firmware. On the opposite end, the AMD testbed for RAM benchmarks leverages an AMD Ryzen 9 5900X and Gigabyte B550 Aorus Master with the F13e firmware. The MSI GeForce RTX 2080 Ti Gaming Trio handles the gaming workloads on both platforms.
Intel Performance
Image 1 of 19
Memory Review (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
Image 2 of 19
Memory Review (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
Image 3 of 19
Memory Review (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
Image 4 of 19
Memory Review (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
Image 5 of 19
Memory Review (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
Image 6 of 19
Memory Review (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
Image 7 of 19
Memory Review (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
Image 8 of 19
Memory Review (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
Image 9 of 19
Memory Review (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
Image 10 of 19
Memory Review (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
Image 11 of 19
Memory Review (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
Image 12 of 19
Memory Review (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
Image 13 of 19
Memory Review (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
Image 14 of 19
Memory Review (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
Image 15 of 19
Memory Review (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
Image 16 of 19
Memory Review (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
Image 17 of 19
Memory Review (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
Image 18 of 19
Memory Review (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
Image 19 of 19
Memory Review (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
The Vengeance RGB Pro SL placed at the bottom of the charts on our Intel platform. The memory’s strongest showing came in the 7-Zip compression workload, where it ranked second and outperformed the slowest memory kit by up to 7.3%. As for gaming performance, the Vengeance RGB Pro SL’s standing didn’t change.
AMD Performance
Image 1 of 19
Memory Review (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
Image 2 of 19
Memory Review (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
Image 3 of 19
Memory Review (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
Image 4 of 19
Memory Review (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
Image 5 of 19
Memory Review (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
Image 6 of 19
Memory Review (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
Image 7 of 19
Memory Review (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
Image 8 of 19
Memory Review (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
Image 9 of 19
Memory Review (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
Image 10 of 19
Memory Review (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
Image 11 of 19
Memory Review (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
Image 12 of 19
Memory Review (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
Image 13 of 19
Memory Review (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
Image 14 of 19
Memory Review (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
Image 15 of 19
Memory Review (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
Image 16 of 19
Memory Review (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
Image 17 of 19
Memory Review (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
Image 18 of 19
Memory Review (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
Image 19 of 19
Memory Review (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
The competition was tight on the AMD platform. Nevertheless, the Vengeance RGB Pro SL outperformed some of the faster rivals and came in at the second position on the performance charts. Once again, the memory performed the best in 7-Zip compression, beating the slowest memory kit by up to 6.8%.
Despite employing Samsung B-die ICs, the Vengeance RGB Pro SL doesn’t have any fuel left in the tank. Increasing the DRAM voltage to 1.45V only got us to DDR4-3866, and we also had to sacrifice timings to get there. The memory wasn’t stable with any value below 19-22-22-40.
Lowest Stable Timings
Memory Kit
DDR4-3600 (1.45V)
DDR4-3733 (1.45V)
DDR4-3866 (1.45v)
DDR4-3900 (1.45V)
DDR4-4000 (1.45V)
DDR4-4133 (1.45V)
DDR4-4200 (1.45V)
G.Skill Trident Z Neo
13-16-16-36 (2T)
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
19-19-19-39 (2T)
Adata XPG Spectrix D60G
13-15-15-35 (2T)
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
20-19-19-39 (2T)
Team Group T-Force Xtreem ARGB
13-14-14-35 (2T)
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
19-19-19-39 (2T)
HP V8
14-19-19-39 (2T)
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
18-22-22-42 (2T)
N/A
Adata XPG Spectrix D50
14-19-19-39 (2T)
N/A
N/A
N/A
18-22-22-42 (2T)
N/A
N/A
Gigabyte Aorus RGB Memory
16-19-19-39 (2T)
N/A
N/A
20-20-20-40 (2T)
N/A
N/A
N/A
Corsair Vengeance RGB Pro SL
16-20-20-40 (2t)
N/A
19-22-22-40
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
GeIL Orion AMD Edition
16-20-20-40 (2T)
19-22-22-42 (2T)
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
The Vengeance RGB Pro SL’s default XMP timings are 18-22-22-42 at 1.35V. A small voltage bump up to 1.45V allowed the memory to run at 16-20-20-40, making it a lot more attractive.
Bottom Line
Corsair markets the RAM as having a compact form factor. It’s shorter than the previous revision, but it’s not exactly considered low-profile, either. Even at 44.8mm, the memory shouldn’t cause any conflicts with CPU air coolers, but it wouldn’t hurt to measure the clearance space before picking up the Vengeance RGB Pro SL if you have an overly large cooler.
You shouldn’t have any qualms with the Vengeance RGB Pro SL’s design as the memory looks good, just like its predecessors. Performance, however, is another case. Evidently, the Vengeance RGB Pro SL performs better on AMD systems than Intel systems, so that’s one point to take into account. The Vengeance RGB Pro SL DDR4-3600 C18 retails for $109.99, and it’s not a bad price considering there are equal or slower competitors out there that cost more than Corsair’s kit.
Dell’s Summer Sale Event is officially underway, and if you’re looking for a 1440p panel to support your newfound gaming habits, the Dell 27 S2721DGF Gaming Monitor is an excellent bet. The 27-inch peripheral is currently on sale at Dell for $380 — more than $200 off the initial list price — and it touts a 165Hz refresh rate, HDR, and support for both FreeSync and G-Sync, helping to smooth gameplay and reduce unwanted tearing. A 1ms response time and decent port selection round out the monitor’s feature set alongside the sleek accent lighting on the back, which, like it or not, will douse your wall in a subtle shade of blue.
Dell 27 S2721DGF Gaming Monitor
$380
$610
38% off
Prices taken at time of publishing.
A 27-inch 1440p gaming monitor with a design that looks like a blend of Dell’s Alienware and XPS styles on the rear. This monitor is also compatible with Nvidia’s G-Sync software.
$380
at Dell
Mass Effect’s legendary starship may be available to No Man’s Sky for a limited time, but if you truly want to experience the heydey of Mass Effect on your PC, there’s no better way than with Mass Effect Legendary Edition. On sale at Eneba for $40 with offer code MASSEFFECTLEG, the remastered collection contains all three titles in Shepard’s original trilogy, as well Mass Effect 3’s extended cut and the 40-odd DLC packs released throughout the series’s run. With BioWare’s beloved sci-fi series set to return in the (hopefully) not-so-distant future, now might be the perfect time to revisit the classic saga.
Mass Effect Legendary Edition
$40
$60
34% off
Prices taken at time of publishing.
A compilation of the first three Mass Effect games repackaged and optimized for 4K with reduced load times, improved performance, and various gameplay tweaks.
$40
at Eneba
Microsoft’s Surface Headphones are a generation old at this point, but they still provide a comfortable fit, pleasant sound, and active noise cancellation. They also have a very intuitive dial control system on each cup for adjusting volume or the strength of the noise cancellation. Originally $350, Woot is selling brand-new Surface Headphones for just $80 today, making them one of the best values in noise-canceling headphones right now.
The 2020 Roku Ultra may not be considered our favorite streaming device, however, it’s also not one to scoff at. It’s the most capable device in the Roku lineup, equipped with both a USB port for external media and an ethernet port for those times when your Wi-Fi is acting up or overloaded. It also supports a range of content, from 4K to HDR to Dolby Vision, and features quick performance, thanks to its quad-core processor. Better yet, it’s currently available at Amazon and Walmart for $69 or $70 at Best Buy, the lowest price we’ve seen on Roku’s premium device. If you’re looking for bells and whistles, the Roku Ultra has them in spades.
Roku Ultra (2020)
$69
$100
31% off
Prices taken at time of publishing.
The Roku Ultra is the most capable of Roku’s streaming devices. It features support for 4K, HDR, and Dolby Vision, while offering up a host of other unique incentives, including a programmable remote and both a USB and ethernet port.
It is competition time again – this time, we have teamed up with Punch Technology to give away a high-end gaming PC worth £2799! Featuring hardware from Patriot, Cougar, Palit, Intel and Gigabyte, with an RTX 3070 and i7-11700K, this PC will be ready for any game you can throw at it.
Watch via our Vimeo channel (below) or over on YouTube at 2160p HERE
The full specifications for this PC include:
CPU: Intel Core i7-11700K
Graphics card: Palit GeForce RTX 3070 GamingPro
Motherboard: Gigabyte Z590 VISION D Intel Motherboard
SSD: Patriot VPN100 1TB M.2
Memory: Patriot Viper Steel RGB 32GB DDR4
Case: Cougar Gaming Blazer case
Cooling: Cougar Gaming AQUA ARGB 360mm AIO-Cooler
Power supply: Cougar Gaming GEX 850W 80 PLUS Gold Fully Modular PSU
TO WIN:
This competition is being hosted via Gleam, so all you need to do to enter is follow the instructions below. Alternatively, you can head to the competition directly on Gleam.
KitGuru Giveaway
This competition is open to UK residents only. The competition runs from Monday the 24th of May until the 7th of June. Shortly after closing, a winner will be announced on KitGuru.net. In compliance with GDPR, your entry data will be deleted after the competition is closed and your details will not be shared, we respect your privacy.
KitGuru Says: Good luck to everyone entering! We’ll be back in a few weeks to announce a winner.
Earlier this year we saw AOC take its first steps beyond monitors and into the PC gaming peripherals market. AOC already has two headsets and now, there are two mechanical keyboards, two gaming mice and a new mousepad to add to that line-up.
In total, the new AOC Gaming series of peripherals spans the GK500 and AGK700 keyboards, the GM500 and AGM700 gaming mice and the AMM700 mousepad with RGB lighting. All AOC peripherals are backed by a 2-year warranty.
The AOC Gaming GK500 keyboard is an RGB mechanical keyboard featuring mechanical blue switches, n-key rollover, and 100% anti-ghosting. All 104 keys of the keyboard and RGB lighting zones are programmable using AOC G-Tools software, but there are five dedicated macro keys for custom bindings. The GK500 keyboard also comes with a magnetic and detachable wrist rest to increase comfort and an aluminium top body cover for enhanced durability. The package includes an additional set of W, A, S, D keys.
AOC also has a high-end keyboard – the AOC Agon AGK700, featuring Cherry MX Blue mechanical switches. This mechanical keyboard comes with 115 double injection moulded keycaps. Like the GK500 keyboard, it offers n-key rollover, 100% anti-ghosting, but it also has some other premium features such as USB pass-through (2.0) and a volume wheel on the top centre of the board. The aluminium body has been designed to endure the energy of high-level competitions. There’s also a magnetic and detachable wrist rest with a leather finish. Users may configure the macro keys, RGB lighting, and save key profiles using AOC G-Tools. The AGK700 also comes with an extra set of W, A, S, D keys.
As an ambidextrous mouse, the AOC Gaming GM500 is very versatile. It employs a Pixart 3325 sensor with a sensitivity of 5,000 DPI, a tracking speed of 100 inches/sec, and 20G acceleration. There’s also Omron switches below the buttons with 50M-click durability. All eight buttons and the mouse’s RGB lighting can be configured on AOC G-Tools software.
The AGM700 is the more premium option, featuring a Pixart 3389 sensor supporting 16,000 DPI, a 400 inches/sec tracking speed, and 50G acceleration, the AGM700 is suitable for the most demanding users. This mouse also offers OMRON switches with 50M-click durability and RGB lighting. The on-the-fly DPI switch allow users to change the mouse’s sensitivity as they see fit, while the DPI sniper button immediately lowers it to a preset value. Users may add weight to the mouse using any of the five 1g weights included.
Lastly, AOC also introduced an RGB gaming mouse pad with a micro-textured cloth surface so mice can easily glide over it. It features an anti-slip rubber base to ensure the mouse pad does not move during critical moments. The surrounding RGB light strip displays up to 16.8M colours and has four effects to choose from. Users may configure the mousepad’s RGB lighting through AOC G-Tools thanks to a built-in 32-bit controller.
All of AOC’s new gaming peripherals will be available here starting in July. Keyboards will start at £34 for the GK200, £64 for the GK500 and £155 for the AGK700. On the mouse front, the line-up starts at just £18 for the GM200, with the GM500 and AGM700 costing £25 and £47 respectively. There are also two AOC Gaming headsets available already – the GH200 and GH300, costing £39 and £49 respectively.
KitGuru Says: AOC has swiftly put together a decent portfolio of gaming accessories to accompany its monitors.
Samsung has been growing the number of displays it sells over the last few years, adding professional-grade and gaming monitors to its line-up. Now, Samsung is attempting to add another category to its list – Smart Monitors.
Samsung’s Smart Monitor range is expanding this week, with a new 43-inch 4K M7 model and a smaller, 24-inch M5 model with 1080p resolution. The key thing that sets these monitors apart is the introduction of Smart TV technology, powered by Samsung’s own Tizen processors.
Samsung wants these to be “do-it-all” displays, good for work, gaming and general entertainment, which will be accessible through a Smart TV style UI with support for apps like Netflix and Amazon Prime Video. These Smart Monitors also feature apps for remote desktop connections and productivity apps like Microsoft Office. This functionality essentially turns the monitor into its own all-in-one computer.
Samsung now has Smart Monitors in 43-inch and 32-inch 4K options, as well as 1080p versions from 24-inches up to 32-inches, with prices starting at $229.99.
KitGuru Says: The lines between PC monitors and TVs has been getting blurry over the years. What do you think of Samsung’s ‘Smart Monitors’?
Over the last year, Square Enix has announced a slew of new Final Fantasy projects, including expansions for Final Fantasy 7 Remake and Final Fantasy XIV, as well as the next major game in the series, Final Fantasy 16. It looks like the publisher isn’t stopping there either, as rumours are pointing to another new Final Fantasy spin-off game.
Speaking with Fanbyte, sources confirmed, that Square Enix is working with Team Ninja, the studio behind Ninja Gaiden and Nioh, to develop a new Final Fantasy spin-off inspired by games like Dark Souls and Nioh.
This will be a more accessible take on the genre, so don’t expect it to be as gruelling as a Souls game. Apparently, there is already a playable demo planned for this summer, similar to what Team Ninja did in the past with early demos for Nioh. This game is currently expected to be announced at E3.
The final little piece of information we have on this is that it will apparently be a PS5 console exclusive, with a PC release coming a bit later down the line.
KitGuru Says: I loved the Nioh games, so I’m intrigued to see something similar in a Final Fantasy setting. It looks like we have our first surprise of E3 to look forward to.
Nvidia has yet to officially announce the RTX 3080 Ti and RTX 3070 Ti, but that hasn’t stopped listings popping up from some partners. Over the weekend, both unannounced GPUs appeared on Razer’s website as an option for pre-built PC orders.
The listings, spotted and shared by @harukaze5719, show that Razer began letting customers choose an Nvidia RTX 3080 Ti or RTX 3070 Ti as a configuration option when purchasing a pre-built gaming PC. At the time of writing, adding one of these options doesn’t always work, as it looks like the site has only been partially updated.
The listings don’t detail the full specifications of the graphics cards, but it does confirm that the RTX 3070 Ti will feature 8GB of memory, and the RTX 3080 Ti will come with 12GB.
Image credit: @harukaze5719
The pricing of each card alone can’t be determined, but calculating the price difference between each system can give us a vague idea of it. A Razer system configured with a Ryzen 9 5900X CPU, an X570 motherboard, and an RTX 3090 graphics card is priced at ¥39,999 (£4395), but reducing the GPU option to an RTX 3080 Ti and the motherboard to a cheaper model reduced the price to ¥24,999 (£2747). That’s a £1648 difference.
There are also two RTX 3070 Ti pre-built systems, one costing ¥13,499 (£1483) and the other ¥14,999 (£1648). Nvidia is expected to announce the RTX 3080 Ti and RTX 3070 Ti next week.
KitGuru says: Based on the prices of these systems, how much do you think each of these graphics cards will cost?
Elite Dangerous took a big step forward with its new Odyssey expansion, introducing new planets, boots-on-ground combat missions and more. Unfortunately, the launch did not get off to a good start, leading to a lot of disappointment amongst early PC players.
Over on Steam, Elite Dangerous Odyssey has quickly garnered a ‘Mostly Negative’ overall review score, with many of the top rated reviews bringing to light the expansion’s issues. Bugs are sending players on missions to planets that don’t exist, server instability is causing players to be booted from the game and some players are suddenly finding that the game runs much worse than it did prior to the expansion.
Frontier has already rolled out the first hotfix for Odyssey and has a second one on the way to address some of these issues. Frontier CEO, David Braben, has also posted a blog post to address player concerns, apologising for the launch-window issues:
“First and foremost, I would like to apologise wholeheartedly to those who have been suffering from these problems. I would like to reassure you that we take these issues very seriously and that they are our top priority and focus”. Braben goes on to promise continued communication as developers begin to crack down on bugs and performance issues.
KitGuru Says: The launch state of Elite Dangerous Odyssey has brought about some comparisons to the Cyberpunk 2077 launch. Have any of you picked up the expansion already? Have you had issues?
Each week, the best selling games on Steam globally are collected and ranked. For the week ending on the 23rd of May, the previously PlayStation-exclusive Days Gone has topped the charts, dethroning Mass Effect: Legendary Edition and boding well for the future of PlayStation games on PC.
The top 10 best selling Steam games (as ranked by revenue) for the week ending 23rd of May are:
Days Gone
Mass Effect: Legendary Edition
BIOMUTANT (preorder)
Resident Evil Village
Subnautica: Below Zero
Red Dead Redemption 2
Valve Index VR Kit
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt – Game of the Year Edition
It Takes Two
Cyberpunk 2077
The biggest addition to the charts is Days Gone, which has managed to take the top spot. This is likely aided by the game’s PC port offering many robust graphical options, giving the game an overall higher critic and user score than that of its original console counterpart.
The early success of Days Gone on PC, and the previous success of Horizon Zero Dawn (despite a rocky start) bodes well for the future of PlayStation on PC. Days Gone marks the second first-party PS4 game to make its way to the PC platform. Other previously PlayStation exclusive games, such as Death Stranding and Detroit: Become Human also found their way to PC – though both of these titles were developed externally.
With Days Gone now on PC, it will be interesting to see what Sony’s long-term plan for the platform is, and if more PlayStation games will find their way onto PC.
KitGuru says: Have you purchased Days Gone on Steam? Do you think Sony will bring more games to the platform? What game would you like to be ported next? Let us know down below.
Despite the massive ongoing semiconductor, GPU and general technology shortage manufacturers are facing right now, the desktop PC market continues to grow, with new data revealing that nearly 1 million PCs are currently being sold every day. This has led the IDC to project an 18.1% growth rate for the market across all of 2021.
These numbers are astonishing to see, given how nasty component shortages have been for all computer-related devices over the past year. If demand is this high right now, we wouldn’t be surprised to see even more market growth once component shortages start expiring in the next year or two. While it’s true that a potential end to the pandemic might see demand drop a little, the IDC expects a 5-year annual growth rate of 3%.
Ironically, a large driving factor behind recent desktop PC sales has been the decline of laptop volume; the IDC notes that while the more technologically advanced components in laptops like CPUs, GPUs and memory are gaining in volume, laptop bottlenecks are arising elsewhere.
Instead, the shortage issues have been driven down to audio ICs, sensors, PMICs, and display drivers, which use much older (mature) nodes of 40 nm or larger. Over 50% of the entire semiconductor industry functions on these older nodes, and production for 40nm (or older) is only gradually increasing with no plans from fabs to aggressively accelerate production.
This has led the IDC to anticipate a change in the laptop and PC market, where laptop buyers will instead opt to buy desktop PCs, which will become the much more affordable option as laptop components become rarer and more expensive.
The IDC also notes that desktop PC sales, in general, are steadily increasing due to the continued popularity of PC gaming and content consumption (YouTube, Netflix etc). But, we’re still far away from a complete rebound from the shortages. Luckily, the consumer market is expected to rebound to pre-pandemic levels first, before any other market. We don’t know when that’s going to happen, but it’s still good news nonetheless.
Valve is allegedly jumping back into hardware, working on a handheld PC similar to the Nintendo Switch, according to a new report from Ars Technica.
The publication spoke to “multiple sources familiar with the matter,” who have confirmed that “the device has been in development for some time.” This news follows the discovery of new hardware-related code that the latest version of Steam earlier today and pointed to a device codenamed “SteamPal.”
Valve’s “Neptune” controller shows up in latest Steam client beta again.It’s named “SteamPal” (NeptuneName) and it has a “SteamPal Games” (GameList_View_NeptuneGames)May 25, 2021
See more
According to Pavel Djundik, the SteamDB operator who found the code, SteamPal is a derivative of the much less juicy term “Neptune,” which started showing up in Steam code in September and was assumed to be a type of controller.
But according to Ars Technica’s sources, the “SteamPal” is instead a Switch style all-in-one device with both a touchscreen and a built-in gamepad. Unfortunately, those controllers aren’t reported to detach like on the Switch.
The publication’s sources also say the “SteamPal” will run via Linux and could launch by year’s end, assuming the supply chain doesn’t face any unexpected interruptions.
This revelation follows a talk that Valve co-founder Gabe Newell gave in New Zealand earlier this month where a student asked if the company would be “porting any games to consoles.” Newell responded by saying that “You will get a better idea of that by the end of this year… and it won’t be the answer you expect.”
Newell also said that the eventual year-end reveal would be an aha moment, where we’d say to ourselves “Now I get what he was talking about.” The SteamPal seems like it could very easily fit that description.
While a Valve Switch clone would certainly be a tasty prospect, it wouldn’t be the first PC of its kind to hit the market. Recently, both the GPD Win 3 and the Aya Neo have been making the rounds as well-received iterations on the concept.
Ars Technica’s reporter on this subject, Sam Machkovech, has put his full weight behind his sources, saying he can “confirm the device’s existence and development.” That said, he also admits that “Valve is still in a position to change gears (pun intended) at a moment’s notice,” acknowledging that the SteamPal might not come to market, either this year or at all.
Valve has a rocky history with hardware, with the Steam controller having been discontinued in 2019, while living room “Steam Machines” didn’t see a ton of love from manufacturers. Still, we’ll have to wait to see if the company can beat smaller but more proven contenders like GPD this time around.
We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
