While the graphics performance of Intel's upcoming “Panther Lake” mobile CPUs has been the subject of much speculation, we now have our first look at the platform's CPU capabilities.

Laptopreview (via VideoCardz) has shared a set of Cinebench R23 multi-core benchmarks for two of the new Core Ultra 300 series chips. According to the new data, the top-tier Core Ultra X7 358H scored approximately 20,000 points in the Cinebench R23 multi-core test, about 10% less than the Core Ultra 7 255H. A second chip, the Core Ultra 5 338H, reportedly scored around 16,000 points in the same benchmark. Both of these tests were allegedly conducted at a TDP of 60/65W.

The specs for these chips were also detailed, aligning with previous rumours. The Core Ultra X7 358H is reportedly a 16-core processor, comprising four P-cores, eight E-cores, and four LP-cores, and will feature a 12-core Xe3 integrated GPU. The Core Ultra 5 338H is a step-down 12-core model, which achieves its lower core count by reducing the number of E-cores to four.

While the CPU performance numbers are new, the leak also provided an updated graphics score. The Time Spy score for the Core Ultra X7 358H is now listed at 6,830 points, compared to the initial reports of around 6,200 points. If these latest numbers are accurate, that's over 70% faster than the Core Ultra 7 255H's integrated GPU.

KitGuru says: It's a bit disappointing to see a lower CPU performance in the multi-core test, but the massive uplift in the graphics capabilities of this chip makes up for it.

The World of Warcraft: Midnight closed alpha test kicked off just four weeks ago. At that same time, rumours of a February launch date emerged and now, that release date looks even more likely, as Blizzard is quickly moving on to beta testing.

World of Warcraft: Midnight has wrapped up alpha testing. Next, Blizzard will be testing the beta build of the game throughout November and December, after that, Blizzard will close the testing servers and put the finishing touches on the expansion ahead of its planned release.

While the release date for World of Warcraft: Midnight has not yet been announced, the expansion is expected to release by February 26th next year.

World of Warcraft: Midnight is the second expansion in the Worldsoul Saga, a planned trilogy of expansions that began with The War Within back in 2024. Midnight is the second chapter in this on-going story arc and will introduce a host of fundamental changes to the game in an effort to simplify the need for third-party mods and to reduce the complexity of playing certain classes.

The final expansion in this trilogy is set to be called The Last Titan, and if Blizzard keeps up with its current cadence, it should drop sometime in 2028.

KitGuru Says: Are you looking forward to the next WoW expansion?

Roughly one year ago, we learned that Nintendo had filed a lawsuit against a creator known online as Every Game Guru. The lawsuit accused the creator of promoting piracy and streaming pirated copies of games, sometimes before those games were even available to buy. Now, Nintendo has won the lawsuit.

This week, TorrentFreak learned that Nintendo won the lawsuit. The Colorado Federal Court ruled in Nintendo's favour, finding the creator, whose real name is Jesse Keighin, guilty of copyright infringement. Keighin will now need to pay $17,500 to Nintendo.

During this process, Keighin chose not to defend himself in court, so Nintendo had an easy win coming its way regardless. However, two of Nintendo's requests were denied – Keighin will not have to “destroy all circumvention devices”, and Nintendo's request for an injunction against “third parties” working with Keighin was also denied, in part due to the fact that Nintendo didn't name any specific third-parties.

Ultimately, the maximum fine that Keighin could have received was $1 million, so they escaped this somewhat lightly. Nintendo has previously successfully sued a Switch piracy services provider for more than $1 million.

KitGuru Says: If a big Switch game like The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom leaks again, do yourself a favour and don't plaster evidence of you playing it all over the internet weeks before release. Nintendo has won one of these cases now, which would make it easier for them to go after others in the future.

AMD's latest WHQL driver, Adrenalin Edition 25.10.2, is a major one, though not only for the reasons you might think. While the new driver delivers Game Ready optimisations for Battlefield 6 and Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2, its release notes contain a hard-hitting announcement: AMD is officially moving its RDNA 1 and RDNA 2 graphics cards into “maintenance mode”.

AMD confirmed the decision with PCGH in a statement, where the company stated that to focus on optimising and delivering new and improved technologies for the latest GPUs, all future driver releases with focused game optimisations will be targeted exclusively at RDNA 3 (RX 7000) and RDNA 4 (RX 9000) GPUs.

This means that owners of the still-very-popular RX 6000 and RX 5000 series cards will no longer receive new Game Ready performance updates, feature additions, or optimisations for upcoming titles. AMD has clarified that these cards will continue to receive driver updates addressing essential security and bug issues for the foreseeable future, but their performance-enhancing development cycle is now complete.

For owners of the latest hardware, the 25.10.2 driver brings a host of new features. It includes initial support for the new DirectX Work Graphs feature on the Radeon RX 9000 series, expanded Vulkan compatibility, and support for the new Ryzen AI 5 330 APU. Moreover, the notes also state that the driver disables USB-C power charging on Radeon RX 7900 series graphics cards. However, AMD has since confirmed to TechPowerUP that this isn't the case and the notes have been corrected.

KitGuru says: Are you still running an RX 6000 and RX 5000 series GPU? Considering AMD's decision, are you now considering upgrading to a more recent model?

If you've ever stared at a wall of TVs trying to justify the massive price jump to 8K, a new study from the University of Cambridge and Meta Reality Labs suggests you can probably save your money. The research, just published in the journal Nature, digs into the practical limits of human vision, and the results are a splash of cold water on high-resolution marketing.

The study (via The Guardian) moves away from simple resolution numbers (like 4K or 8K) and instead focuses on “Pixels Per Degree” (PPD), a metric that measures how much detail you can actually perceive at a given distance. Using a 4K monitor viewed at various distances, researchers tested how well participants could distinguish fine patterns in both black and white colours.

Image credit: University of Cambridge

The study concludes that our eyes are at their best when perceiving brightness and contrast (in greyscale), where we can distinguish details up to approximately 94 PPD. However, our ability to see fine colour detail is significantly worse. The test showed our limit for red and green patterns drops to around 89 PPD, and for yellow and purple, it plummets to just 63 PPD. In short, our eyes are built to be much more sensitive to contrast than to high-resolution colour information.

So, what does this mean for your living room? The researchers translated these findings into a real-world scenario. For a person sitting on a sofa roughly 2.5 metres away from a 44-inch television, a QHD (1440p) resolution is already “crisp”. This implies that upgrading to 4K, let alone 8K, on a screen that size would provide no perceivable visual improvement unless you either move your sofa significantly closer or buy a much larger display. The study suggests that an 80-inch 8K TV only reveals its extra detail when you are sitting just 2 metres away from it.

It's important to note that the study has some limitations. The trial involved only 18 participants, with an average age of 26. Therefore, these figures may not apply to everyone, especially older individuals or those with different visual acuity.

KitGuru says: How is your TV positioned within the table?

Shining Mask is an app that controls just about all LED Halloween masks on the market and unfortunately, or perhaps amusingly, they couldn't be bothered to properly implement a secure connection between…

Earlier this week, Amazon underwent a new round of layoffs, removing much of the Amazon Games division and cancelling multiple projects. As it turns out, Amazon's major game, an online Lord of the Rings title, has also been cancelled amid this shake-up. 

New World isn't the only major MMO from Amazon impacted by the layoffs this week. As reported by VGC, one Amazon Games worker shared on LinkedIn that they had been let go, alongside their entire team. These people were all working on The Lord of the Rings MMO project.

It was reported that Amazon Games will no longer focus on Massively Multiplayer Online Games due to how expensive they are to make and maintain. Moving forward, a smaller Amazon Games team will focus smaller, cheaper projects instead, assuming Amazon Games isn't shut down altogether.

Amazon has announced its plans to create a Lord of the Rings MMO back in 2023. Amazon also had an agreement in place with LOTR rights holder, Embracer Group, to publish the next Tomb Raider game. It is unclear if plans for the next Tomb Raider were affected by the layoffs this week.

KitGuru Says: We aren't getting a new LOTR MMO, but The Lord of the Rings Online does still exist for anyone who doesn't mind playing something a bit older. 

A few weeks back, we learned that Silent Hill 2 Remake, Blooper Team's excellent re-telling of one horror's all-time greats, might be coming to Xbox. Now, it appears that ratings boards have confirmed exactly that, with an Xbox version of the game now rated. 

The Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) has listed Silent Hill 2 Remake for Xbox Series X/S consoles. The game achieves the same rating classification as the previous PC and PS5 versions of the game, which released in October 2024. The ESRB listing was later pulled, but not before VGC captured the evidence.

With the game being just over a year old, whatever exclusivity period Konami had in place with Sony should now be expired, meaning the Xbox version of the game could release any day now.

Typically, with ratings board listings, a release happens within a few months. Occasionally, that timeline can be sped up to just a matter of weeks. Microsoft reportedly has an Xbox Partner Showcase planned for November, so the game is likely to be announced there.

KitGuru Says: Have you played the Silent Hill 2 remake? 

Earlier this month, Microsoft officially announced its next Halo game – Halo: Campaign Evolved, a complete remake of the original Halo campaign in Unreal Engine 5. It sounds like Microsoft won't be stopping there though. 

One Halo-focused leaker, Halo Leaks, claims that Halo 2 and Halo 3 will also be getting campaign remakes. No multiplayer is planned though, which is an odd move, as the early Halo games are often credited for birthing modern online multiplayer for consoles. Halo 3 in particular was massive thanks to its solid official multiplayer modes, alongside the custom maps and modes created using Halo Forge.

Multiplayer will return to Halo eventually with the next mainline installment in the franchise, currently referred to as Halo 7. Microsoft has not yet announced any official plans for the next mainline Halo game.

Like Halo: Campaign Evolved, we should expect to see the Halo 2 and Halo 3 remakes released on PlayStation, the same day they arrive on other platforms like Xbox and PC.

KitGuru Says: If you are an Xbox or PC player, I would strongly recommend just grabbing the Master Chief Collection. Even without a full remake, the older Halo games still hold up well and you'll have full access to all of the single-player and multiplayer modes. 

Thermal Grizzly has unveiled the WireView Pro II, a monitoring device designed for graphics cards using the 12V‑2×6 connector. The unit provides detailed oversight of power delivery, helping users detect potential issues early and safeguard both the connector and GPU.

Unlike other tools that measure total current, the WireView Pro II tracks values for each individual pin and wire in the 12V-2×6 connector. This allows immediate identification of uneven load distribution or faulty contacts. In addition to current, the device continuously monitors voltage, temperature, and overall power consumption. If preset thresholds are exceeded, users are alerted with on‑screen warnings and alarms.

To manage heat, the device integrates a semi‑passive fan that activates only under load, while its CNC‑machined aluminum housing doubles as a heatsink with optimized airflow around the connector.

The WireView Pro II is available in two connector orientations to ensure compatibility with a broad range of custom graphics card designs. A downward‑facing option also serves as a 90‑degree adapter for cleaner cable routing.

An internal memory module logs operating data every 60 seconds, storing up to 340 days of continuous usage. Thermal Grizzly also includes an extended two‑year warranty that covers connector damage even beyond the GPU manufacturer’s guarantee.

The Thermal Grizzly WireView Pro II is available to pre-order now, priced at €119.90.

KitGuru Says: The WireView Pro II looks to be a very useful tool. If you end up ordering one, the first units should start shipping out in mid-December.

Since the launch of the Switch 2 earlier this year, Nintendo has been rather selective with regards to which games get ‘next-gen’ upgrades and in what form. In an announcement which has been a long time coming, Nintendo has finally confirmed that Animal Crossing: New Horizons will receive a Switch 2 upgrade early next year – alongside a massive free update for all.

Releasing a lengthy 12-minute ‘Announcement Trailer’, Nintendo officially confirmed that Animal Crossing: New Horizons will be receiving a Switch 2 upgrade pack early next year.

Arriving on the 15th of January, the Switch 2 Edition will bring with it improved resolutions; online play for up to 12 players; voice communication and official Mouse Mode support (though there is no word on whether the game will run at 60fps instead of 30).

Unfortunately, the upgrade will not be free, costing those who already own the Switch 1 version $5 for the pleasure.

Luckily, the Switch 2 Edition’s launch will coincide with a free major 3.0 update, adding “a new resort hotel run by Kapp’n’s family, new themed items and characters, extra exclusives like Slumber Island for Nintendo Switch Online members and more.”

With the way Nintendo has been drip-feeding their Nintendo Switch 2 Editions, it will be interesting to see whether we wind up getting an original Animal Crossing for Switch 2 at all during its lifecycle.

KitGuru says: Are you glad to see Animal Crossing getting more love? Will the game still run at 30fps on Switch 2? What do you think of the announced enhancements? Let us know down below.

For better or for worse, Fortnite has been the king of cosmetics during this live-service era which we find ourselves in, with players being able to earn/purchase all sorts from character skins; to back bling; gliders and even shoes. You can now add pet followers to the list of cosmetics, with Epic Games officially unveiling ‘Fortnite Sidekicks’.

Making the announcement on their blog, the Fortnite team at Epic Games wrote: “Sidekicks are new pals in Fortnite that join your adventures in Battle Royale, LEGO Fortnite, developer-made experiences, and more. Enjoy their company as they react to the world around you!”

Serving essentially as NPC followers, these sidekicks will come in multiple forms – including Peels (a dog); Bonesy; Spike, and Lil’ Raptor (a dino) – and can be customised one time upon obtaining them. That said, additional cosmetic unlocks for your pets will be earnable through SP (sidekick points).

The first sidekick will be available starting from tomorrow upon the launch of Fortnite’s latest Season (with more promised to be added the following week).

While there is no denying that pretty much all cosmetics released nowadays are far too costly for what you’re getting, at the very least Fortnite’s offerings are always of a high quality.

KitGuru says: What do you think of this new Sidekick addition? Has the cosmetics economy gone too far? Let us know down below.

Today we’re taking a look at the Sudokoo Mach 120, a new fan aiming to challenge the Phanteks D30 and Noctua A12x25 G2, two of the top 120mm models on the market. We’ll be testing airflow, noise, and thermal performance inside a controlled case setup to see how those claims hold up in real-world conditions. So, is the Mach 120 a genuine contender or just another marketing claim? Let’s find out.

Timestamps:

00:00 Start
00:44 Technical details / pricing / warranty
01:33 A close up look / Bearings
02:27 The appearance
03:17 Vibration Damping / Customisation
04:08 Wiring Connections
04:36 Accessories
05:10 What to compare against?
06:11 Test System
06:56 Smoke Visualisations
08:20 Testing Methodology
09:40 Noise Performance
11:11 Thermal Performance
14:21 Real World Thermal Performance
16:57 James' Closing Thoughts

Features:

• 30mm thick with blade and frame constructed using liquid crystal polymer (LCP) + 40 % glass fibre reinforcement to resist warping and improve rigidity under high speed.
• Mach 120 uses a high-performance 3-phase, 10-pole, 12-slot FOC closed-loop motor, allowing a PWM speed range of ~500–3000 RPM.
• A Custom 3D-printable side panel file is included for visual customisation of fan side frames. And Mach 120 comes with a 6-year warranty.

Specifications:

• Dimensions: 120 × 120 × 30 mm
• Weight: 230 g
• Speed (PWM): 500 – 3000 RPM ±10 %
• Idle / 0 RPM Threshold: ~ below 5 % PWM
• Airflow: 108 CFM
• Static Pressure: 7.31 mmAq (≈ mm H₂O)
• Noise: ≤ 39.9 dB(A)
• Bearing type: Hybrid Hydraulic Bearing, by Porite (Japan)
• Motor type: 3-phase, 10-pole, 12-slot FOC closed-loop motor

Test System Specifications:

• CPU: AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D
• Motherboard: ASRock X870E Taichi
• Graphics card: MSI RTX 5080 Gaming Trio White
• RAM: 64GB (2 x 32GB Modules) G.SKILL Trident Z5 RGB DDR5-6000
• Storage: 1TB Corsair MP600 Elite PCIE Gen4 M.2 SSD
• Power Supply: Seasonic Prime TX-1600 Noctua Edition
• CPU Cooler: Arctic Liquid Freezer III 360
• Chassis: Lian Li Lancool III
• Operating System: Windows 11 24H2

Testing Methodology

Our testing focuses on the thermal performance of each fan under three conditions: 100% PWM, 1400 RPM, and 40 dBA noise-normalised operation. All tests are conducted with a manual CPU overclock, locking the all-core frequency and VCORE to ensure consistent load across runs.

Baseline Measurement:

• Ambient temperature is recorded.
• The system is left idle for 10 minutes.
• CPU and GPU temperatures are logged using HWINFO, while case temperatures are monitored with thermocouples placed at three positions:

T1: Behind the front intake fan

T2: In front of the rear exhaust

T3: Above the AIO exhaust

Load Testing:

A combined CPU/GPU stress test is run for 30 minutes using 3DMark Speed Way stress test and Cinebench simultaneously.

Temperature charts show the average CPU/GPU delta over the final 10 minutes of the test, along with the thermocouple readings at the end of the session.

Noise Testing:

Noise levels are measured with a decibel meter placed 30 cm from the front of the system.

Airflow Visualisation:

Smoke tests are filmed with all fans running at 1400 RPM to illustrate airflow patterns across the case and cooling components.

This methodology ensures a consistent, real-world comparison of each fan’s thermal efficiency, noise performance, and airflow characteristics.

Test Results:

System Noise: 100% PWM

1400RPM Normalised

Case Temperatures: 100% PWM

1400RPM Normalised

40dBA Noise Normalised

CPU & GPU Temperature: 100% PWM

1400RPM Normalised

40dBA Noise Normalised

We found the Sudokoo Mach 120 listed on Amazon HERE. A single unit costs £25.99 while a triple-pack is £69.99.

Pros:

• High speed for maximum cooling potential if needed.
• Still gives great performance when the RPM is reduced to acceptable noise levels.
• Subtle but also can be customised for a personalised look.

Cons:

• Very loud at max speed.
• Lacking RGB lighting.
• Need to remove side panels to keep the standard 120mm fan spacing.

KitGuru says: Sudokoo made some pretty big claims with the Mach 120, but the company has surprised us all with the performance of this new 120mm fan. Even when noise and speed are normalised, they can keep up with established brands such as Phanteks and Noctua!