Nvidia has kicked off Computex today with its latest keynote. This year, the company is tripling down on AI. For starters, Nvidia has revealed Project G-Assist, a new feature that will bring AI game guide assistants to supported games. Beyond that, RTX Remix is going open source, enabling developers to take the technology and work on it however they see fit. 

Project G-Assist is a GeForce powered AI assistant that can analyse voice/text, screen and app/system inputs, funnel the data through an AI model, and then bring you helpful advice during your gameplay. The project is capable of suggesting system settings changes to improve performance, and it can also give you tips on how to best tackle gameplay, either by walking you through how mechanics work, or by giving you advice on gear.

It seems to be a supercharged version of the in-game guide feature that Sony debuted with the PlayStation 5, before swiftly abandoning it a year later. However, Nvidia's G-Assist can process locally using an RTX graphics card, or via the cloud and thanks to AI functionality, it should also evolve over time to give better tips and tricks. No supported games have been officially announced just yet, but we'll hopefully learn more about that in the months ahead.

Nvidia is also making RTX Remix, its modding tool for bringing ray-tracing to any game, open source, allowing developers to use it more widely and broadly. The company is also debuting its new Small Form Factor PC initiative, which will see board partners releasing SFF-friendly GeForce graphics cards for those looking to build a Mini-ITX powerhouse.

KitGuru Says: What do you think of G-Assist? Is this a feature you would use in supported games?

The post Computex 2024: Nvidia is making an AI-powered digital assistant for gamers first appeared on KitGuru.

A recent leak has shed some light on upcoming AMD motherboards and CPUs. Besides confirming the rumours that AMD would skip the 700-series naming for its next-generation motherboards, it also showed the initial line-up of Ryzen 9000 series processors.

The Gigabyte presentation shared by @wxnod shows that the Gigabyte X870 Aorus Master AM5 motherboards will support the current Ryzen 7000 (Raphael) and 8000 (Hawk Point) CPUs. However, the presentation focuses more on the upcoming Ryzen 9000 (Granite Ridge) series, which is shown to include four SKUs: the Ryzen 5 9600X, the Ryzen 7 9700X, the Ryzen 9 9900X, and the Ryzen 9 9950X.

According to Gigabyte's presentations, the Granite Ridge CPUs will default to DDR5-5600 memory support, supporting up to 8000 MT/s memory through EXPO overclocking profiles. Additionally, the Infinity Fabric clock speed has been doubled from 2000 to 2400 MHz.

As for motherboards, Gigabyte is gearing up to launch a range of motherboards for the Granite Ridge series, including an AI TOP series for the AM5 socket and at least four new chipsets. The X670E and X670 chipsets will be replaced by the X870E and X870, respectively. Both X870 chipsets support PCIe Gen5 x16 and at least one PCIe Gen5 SSD. Other features expected include an optimised WiFi antenna, USB4 capability, and DisplayPort 2.1, which is reported to be UHBR20 compliant. The only noticeable difference between the two X870 chipsets seems to be that they use two Promontory 21 chips on the X870E, while the X870 only uses one.

Moving on to the mid-range chipsets, the B650E and B650 chipsets are set to be replaced by the B850 and B840, respectively. This marks the introduction of the X40 class to AMD's portfolio, utilising a different chipset (Prom19) than the higher-tier boards. One big difference between the B850 and B840 is that the B840 does not support CPU overclocking, although both will support memory overclocking. The B840 will also lack PCIe Gen5 compatibility. Lastly, the A620 and A620A chipsets are expected to remain unchanged and will continue to be offered as an entry-level option.

The list of motherboards mentioned in the presentation can be found below:

• X870E Aorus Xtreme AI Top
• X870E Aorus Pro Ice
• X870 Aorus Elite WIFI
• X870I Aorus Pro
• B850 AI Top
• B850M DS3H
• B850M Aorus Elite AX
• B840 D2H

AMD is expected to unveil the Ryzen 9000 series at Computex next week. Gigabyte and other motherboard manufacturers will likely showcase their new motherboards at the event.

KitGuru says: If you were to build a new system with a Ryzen 9000 processor, which of the 800-series motherboards would you choose?

The post Gigabyte confirms new 800-series chipsets and Ryzen 9000 line-up first appeared on KitGuru.

Nvidia NVLink technology has been a game-changer in enabling high-speed communication between GPUs and CPUs since its debut in 2014. Surpassing traditional connection standards that have become inadequate for today's high-performance accelerators, it started off being used in gaming GPUs. That's not the case anymore, as Nvidia has removed the technology from mainstream and workstation products, limiting its usage to data centres and HPC.

Efficient communication is crucial in data centres housing large clusters of accelerators. Servers require effective networking and intercommunication mechanisms, particularly when multiple GPUs are used on the same server. The most recent iteration, NVLink 5.0, comes out with Blackwell and Grace CPUs and represents a significant advancement, doubling the bandwidth over 4.0 from 100 Gbit/s to 200 Gbit/s.

With NVLink being used exclusively by Nvidia products, the rest of the industry had to develop an alternative. AMD, Intel, Google, Microsoft, Meta, and others have created a new open-source communication standard called UALink that could rival NVLink for scaling up AI applications in data centres.

According to the press release, the first standard (1.0) aims to facilitate communication between up to 1024 accelerators in a single computing pod and the connected memory, which includes GPUs. However, details regarding the maximum bandwidth are currently unavailable. The UALink Consortium is scheduled to be established in Q3 2024, and the 1.0 specifications will be available in the same quarter.

KitGuru says: Could UALink come to mainstream and workstation products?

The post AMD, Intel, Google, Microsoft and Meta collaborate to create alternative to Nvidia NVLink first appeared on KitGuru.

AMD's upcoming Ryzen 9000 series, featuring Zen 5 cores, is set to debut at Computex. Leaked information from a press event has unveiled four models belonging to the upcoming series, as well as two Ryzen 5000XT CPUs.

As per the image shared by CodeCommando, the top-tier offering, the Ryzen 9 9950X, is expected to pack 16 cores and 32 threads, with a maximum clock speed of 5.7GHz, this flagship SKU will have a TDP of 170W and a substantial 80MB of cache. Meanwhile, the Ryzen 9 9900X will sport 12 cores and 24 threads, with a boost clock of 5.6GHz, a TDP of 120W, and 76MB of cache.

Image credit: CodeCommando

Moving down the line-up, the Ryzen 7 9700X will offer 8 cores and 16 threads, capable of reaching clock speeds of up to 5.5GHz, all within a 65W TDP and 40MB of cache. Similarly, the Ryzen 5 9600X, a 6-core variant with 12 threads, is expected to hit clock speeds of 5.4GHz while having the same 65W TDP.

Moreover, the leaker also shared another image showing two Ryzen 5000XT CPUs: the 8C/16T Ryzen 7 5800XT (36MB cache) and the 16C/32T Ryzen 9 5900XT (72MB cache). The image also shows that both CPUs will clock up to 4.8GHz and feature a 105W TDP.

KitGuru says: Are the Ryzen 9000 series specs in line with what you expected?

The post AMD Ryzen 9000 series specs leak ahead of Computex first appeared on KitGuru.

Grand Theft Auto 6 has been announced already, but so far, Rockstar has only confirmed the game for current-gen consoles. While the game will be releasing on Xbox and PlayStation in 2025, those of us on PC will have to wait a bit longer, pushing the release back to 2026. 

Speaking at the TD Cowen conference this week (via VGC), Take-Two CEO, Strauss Zelnick, was asked about Grand Theft Auto 6 and why it hasn't yet been confirmed for the PC platform. Zelnick danced around the subject a little bit, but the statement is clear, Rockstar has no plans to release its blockbuster titles on PC at the same time as consoles.

“Rockstar has an approach to platforms which we’ve seen before, and they will make more announcements in due time. I do believe that the right strategy for our business is to be where the consumer is, and historically what this company has done is address consumers anywhere they are, on any platform that makes sense, over time.”

With Grand Theft Auto 5, PC gamers had to wait two years for the game to arrive on their platform of choice. The game originally launched for Xbox 360 and PS3 in 2013, before re-launching on Xbox One and PS4 in 2014. Then, in Fall 2015, the game finally arrived on PC. With Red Dead Redemption 2, the gap between console and PC was shortened a bit, with the game landing on Xbox One and PS4 in late 2018, before arriving on PC in late 2019.

Given that Grand Theft Auto 6 is a direct sequel to the fastest selling game of all time, we would hope that the gap between the console and PC release will be on the shorter side, which would mean we should expect GTA 6 on PC in the second half of 2026.

KitGuru Says: How do you feel about Rockstar's approach to PC releases? Will you be grabbing the game on console first, or will you be holding off for the PC version a year or so after launch? 

The post Take-Two CEO confirms Grand Theft Auto 6 will get a late PC release first appeared on KitGuru.

After acquiring Activision Blizzard in late 2023, Microsoft made the decision to allow Toys for Bob to go independent. At the time, we did not know what this meant for the studio’s future involvement with franchises like Spyro and Crash Bandicoot. However, things are looking positive at this stage, as the studio has now announced that it has reached a publishing agreement with Xbox for its next game. 

When Toys for Bob announced its plans to go independent, the company did say it was already in discussions to partner with Xbox on its next project. Now, that partnership has been confirmed in a new statement, although the new game remains unannounced.

“We’re excited to announce that we’ll be partnering with Xbox to publish our next new game. We’re still very early in development, so you might not hear from us for a bit – but know that we’re working hard on an experience we’re so sooo inspired about! Can’t wait to share more”

The new Toys for Bob logo features a Tiki mask, very similar to the ones featured throughout the Crash Bandicoot series, and fans were also quick to notice that the logo is purple, which some have taken to be a hint at Spyro as well, although that feels like a stretch. Still, recent rumours have claimed that the studio is working on Spyro 4, and given that the company already had the opportunity to revive Crash Bandicoot with Crash 4: It's About Time, it would be nice to see Spyro get the same treatment.

KitGuru Says: Would you like to see a new Spyro game after all these years? The original trilogy remake was a fantastic start, so it would be nice to get a full-fledged sequel all these years later.

The post Toys for Bob announces partnership with Xbox for next game first appeared on KitGuru.

In recent weeks, Valve has been holding private playtests for its next game, Deadlock. This appears to be a mash-up between elements of Team Fortress 2 and Dota 2. Many gameplay videos have leaked so far, showcasing characters, mechanics and maps. Despite the game being an open secret at this point, Valve has not publicly acknowledged the leaks or announced anything about the game. That should change very soon though. 

Valve has now officially filed for the Deadlock trademark. Currently, it is pending approval, as it was just filed on the 30th of May. Assuming the trademark comes through, the game should be announced relatively quickly. The game is already in a near-finished state, Valve wouldn't hold a playtest and risk leaks otherwise.

As we saw with Counter-Strike 2 last year, Valve will likely release Deadlock in beta form at first, inviting those who have played previous games like Dota or Team Fortress, before fully launching the game on Steam for all to download. Like Valve's other multiplayer games, we expect Deadlock to be free-to-play, with Steam Marketplace and Workshop integrations for generating new cosmetic content.

Deadlock was previously in development under the name ‘Neon Prime', a name that Valve had trademarked last year.

KitGuru Says: It looks like Deadlock will be launching in a few months time. We know Valve has a good relationship with Geoff Keighley, so perhaps a reveal could even come as soon as next week, when Summer Game Fest kicks off. 

The post Valve files trademark for new game ‘Deadlock’ first appeared on KitGuru.

This week, Sony made the mistake of not checking its security properly, leading to a massive leak that allowed players early access to Destiny 2's upcoming expansion, The Final Shape. The entire story of the expansion, most cinematics, and even future seasonal content has all leaked. Now, Sony has officially commented on the leak.

Bungie has been building up to The Final Shape since Destiny first launched in 2014. The new expansion will wrap up the main story arc that kicked off the franchise. Fans will likely be saying goodbye to the traveller, and the Light/Dark classes. As this is the big finale and culmination of Destiny's current story, having the entire thing leak ahead of time must be a bit of a gut punch to a portion of the Bungie team, which has already been struggling with morale following a round of layoffs in 2023.

Now, Bungie has officially responded to the leak, confirming that early access to The Final Shape was granted due to a configuration error with the PS5's streaming service.

“Earlier today, a portion of Destiny 2: The Final Shape was accidentally pushed live on PS5's streaming service. There are currently spoilers being shared online. A small group of players were able to play some of the campaign, access Collections, and other reward info coming in The Final Shape, and Echoes.”

As a result of the leak, Bungie recommends fans exercise caution when browsing social media and Destiny content in general:

“We recommend being very careful on social media over the next few days to avoid spoilers. Remember to exercise caution and be critical of potential misinformation. Please be considerate of others and report leaks so players can experience the conclusion of the Light and Darkness saga themselves. Thanks to all our community members who have already helped us by reporting leaks and those actively working to prevent more of the experience from being shared before its intended date.”

“It's always extremely difficult when our team's hard work is leaked early, but we are still excited for everyone to experience the full release on June 4 together.”

Bungie has not said if it will be handing out bans to accounts that accessed The Final Shape content early. However, the company has begun monitoring the web to try and take down leaks when they appear on the most-used sites, like YouTube, Reddit, Twitter and others.

KitGuru Says: The Final Shape becoming playable two weeks ahead of time, on the same week that press previews began circulating to build up excitement for the launch, is quite astonishing. Sony will have no doubt learned another lesson here, but it wouldn't be the first time that PSN security hasn't been entirely up to par.

The post Bungie confirms Sony error responsible for massive Destiny expansion leak first appeared on KitGuru.

Lian Li is trying to invent a new PC case layout. This time, it's with the SUP01, which, similar to the Thermaltake CTE cases, moves the GPU to the front to act as an intake.

The SUP01 is a 45-litre case with a small footprint that doesn't sacrifice high-end hardware compatibility. Placing the GPU upright at the front of the case allows for better airflow and improved GPU performance. The adjustable bracket further enables precise vertical and horizontal positioning of the GPU. Additionally, the SUP01 comes with LED strips along the front and left sides of the casing, as well as an extra strip on the PCIe riser bracket, providing users with customisable lighting options.

Divided into three independent airflow chambers for effective heat dissipation, the SUP01 has a unique internal layout designed to offer improved cooling. The GPU serves as an intake, while three pre-installed 120mm PWM fans exhaust below the motherboard tray, forming the first airflow chamber. Furthermore, an AIO (supports up to a 280/360mm AIO) with a radiator and fans positioned beneath the motherboard tray creates a second airflow chamber for the CPU. The chassis also supports additional cooling with the option to install a 120mm fan at the back to cool motherboard components such as RAM, CPU power supply, and M.2 storage, creating the third airflow chamber.

Regarding compatibility, the SUP01's motherboard mounting tray can accommodate ATX back-connect motherboards and standard ATX, M-ATX, and Mini-ITX motherboards. The case comes with a PCIe 4.0 riser cable pre-installed on a bracket, allowing for GPUs up to four slots thick and up to 400 mm in length at the front. Storage options include space for up to two 3.5/2.5″drives in the PSU chamber and two 2.5″ SSDs installed above the PSU shroud in the main chamber, which features a mirror cover. The SUP-01 is now available for pre-order for $149.99 for both the black and white versions.

KitGuru says: What do you think of the Lian Li SUP01 case layout? Do you prefer this or Thermaltake's CTE design?

The post Lian Li SUP01 tries to reinvent case layout by front-mounting the GPU first appeared on KitGuru.

According to new rumours, the upcoming flagship Blackwell graphics card, the RTX 5090, is rumoured to sport a 448-bit memory bus, a deviation from the initial speculation that it would feature a 512-bit memory bus. This suggests a potential shift in the memory configuration initially anticipated for the GPU.

The Blackwell GPU, set to lead the Nvidia GeForce RTX 50 series, has been at the centre of much speculation regarding its memory bus. Initially, rumours pointed to a 512-bit memory bus, but subsequent rumours hinted at a 384-bit configuration. However, the latest leak from Panzerlied (via VideoCardz), the same source that revealed the Founder's Edition PCB design, suggests that the Blackwell GPU might feature a 448-bit bus, potentially utilising 14 out of the 16 available memory modules, in contrast to the previously anticipated 512-bit bus which was expected to use all 16.

If Nvidia indeed opts for the 448-bit memory interface, the Blackwell GPU could boast 28GB of GDDR7 memory, meaning it would offer a bandwidth of 1568GB/s (assuming a 28Gbps memory speed). Compared to its predecessor, that's a 50% increase.

While some may perceive the 28GB capacity as underwhelming compared to 32GB, it's worth noting that this configuration leaves room for potential future “Ti/SUPER” enhancements. Furthermore, the 512-bit memory bus might not be intended for gaming GPUs but could potentially find its application in the RTX Blackwell workstation series for high-memory usage workloads.

KitGuru says: With the RTX 4090 and the RTX 6000 Ada, Nvidia made a big mistake by creating two very similar-performing cards with a huge difference in price. With Blackwell, Nvidia looks to be trying to separate the two GPUs a little more, cutting down the memory bus on the GA202 for the RTX 5090 and saving the full die and bus for the RTX 6000 Blackwell.

The post Nvidia RTX 5090 will reportedly pack 28GB of VRAM and a 448-bit memory bus first appeared on KitGuru.

Earlier this year, Sony found itself in hot water after announcing plans to enforce PSN accounts to access PC games like Helldivers 2. This led to PlayStation PC titles being delisted from over 150 countries and the community at large voiced their issues with this. While PSN accounts will no longer be required to play Helldivers 2, Sony is still pushing ahead with this plan for future PlayStation PC releases, starting with God of War: Ragnarök and Until Dawn Remake. 

Despite both being single-player games with no multiplayer functionality, the upcoming PC releases of Until Dawn and God of War: Ragnarok will require a PSN account to play. This also means that these games will not be listed for sale on Steam in all of the same countries that were recently blocked from buying Helldivers 2. Despite Arrowhead voicing its desire to have the game available everywhere, Sony seems to have a new policy in place to not sell its games in countries where PSN is unavailable, shrinking its market reach by quite a bit, despite seeing clear benefits from the fast global sales of Helldivers 2, which reached 12 million sales in just a handful of weeks.

 

Since God of War: Ragnarök and Until Dawn don't have multiplayer, what are the benefits of linking a PSN account? Well, doing so will grant access to the PlayStation Overlay, which debuted with the PC version of Ghost of Tsushima earlier this month. This overlay gives you access to PlayStation features, like your friends list and Trophies (Achievements).

This seems to be working hand in hand with Sony's odd strategy to try and ‘upsell' PC gamers on a console. The company hopes that by selling its biggest games on PC, customers will consider also buying a PlayStation to play sequels earlier than they otherwise would. If the PC games all require a PSN account, you'll already have a friends list and an account with playtime/trophies when you do switch.

The problem with this idea is that PC gamers are notoriously patient. One look at the sales boost Epic Games Store exclusives received after landing on Steam should be enough to prove that.

KitGuru Says: What do you think of Sony's recent changes to its PC strategy?

The post You’ll need a PSN account to play God of War: Ragnarök and Until Dawn on PC first appeared on KitGuru.

In recent weeks we've seen plenty of leaks for Marvel Rivals, including the full character roster and unique move sets for each hero. Last night during State of Play, we got some official news for a change. If you're interested in Marvel's new team-based shooter, there will be a beta test in July. 

The PvP-focused shooter, which takes some clear inspiration from games like Overwatch, is due to release later this year for both PC and consoles. The game has now been confirmed for both Xbox Series X/S and PS5, and a new trailer has revealed new characters like Venom and Adam Warlock:

While we don't have an exact release date for the game yet, a closed beta test is coming in July for PC and console platforms. However, those on PS5 will get an exclusive freebie for participating, a Scarlet Spider cosmetic skin.

This isn't the first time that Sony has extended its ownership of the Spider-Man IP beyond Insomniac's games. Previously Sony also struck an infamous deal with Square Enix to ensure that Spider-Man was only playable on the PlayStation version of Marvel's Avengers, which eventually flopped and has now stopped receiving updates. Fortunately this time around, Marvel Rivals is a free to play game. Without the Triple A price tag, little exclusive bonuses here and there are much easier to look past.

KitGuru Says: Are you planning on jumping in to Marvel Rivals when it launches? 

The post Marvel Rivals confirmed for consoles, beta tests kick off in July first appeared on KitGuru.

The Zotac Zone has been teased over the last few days, but the company hasn't revealed the full technical specs for the upcoming handheld yet. The official reveal will be happening at Computex next week. However, a recent leak has revealed what we can expect ahead of time. 

The leak from VideoCardz claims the Zone handheld will be powered by an 8-core Ryzen 7 8840U CPU, featuring Radeon 780M integrated graphics with 12 RDNA3 CUs. The device will feature a 7-inch 120Hz AMOLED display with a 1080p resolution and 800 nits of maximum brightness. It will also include 16GB of LPDDR5X memory and support M.2 2280 SSDs with a default storage capacity of 512GB.

According to the leak, the Zone handheld's battery life might not be as good as other devices. It is expected to have a 48.5Wh battery with a runtime of 1.25 hours. The weight of the sample unit to be showcased at Computex has not been confirmed, but it is speculated to be under 700g.

Zotac has announced that the Zone handheld will be released in Q3 2024, but specific details about the release date and pricing have yet to be disclosed. However, Zotac claims that it expects to price it above the competition due to its premium features, like the AMOLED display.

KitGuru says: The AMOLED display will no doubt look nice. We'll be at Computex next week, so stay tuned for our extensive coverage. 

The post Zotac Zone handheld PC specs leak first appeared on KitGuru.

While PlayStation have mostly moved away from mascots in recent generations, Team Asobi appear to be reviving the genre with its ASTRO BOT series. Following a PSVR1 game back in 2018 – and the excellent PS5 pack-in title Astro’s Playroom – Astro Bot looks ready to hit the mainstream with his first major console release; arriving this September.

Announced during last night’s State of Play, ASTRO BOT is getting a full blown release in the form of a PS5-exclusive 3D platformer.

Just as Astro Bot: Rescue Mission represented one of the best VR platformers, ASTRO BOT for PS5 looks set to take on Super Mario himself with an adorable-looking, polished and mechanically fun/creative 3D platformer.

Those who experienced Astro’s Playroom will know what to expect from the game – taking full advantage of all the PS5’s hardware features, from the DualSense’s haptics to the touchpad; gyroscope and triggers – to name a few.

Based on the trailer, ASTRO BOT will be taking all this and more to the next level, with seemingly boundless creativity having been put into the game.  Back in 2020 we got a mere taste of Astro Bot; this September we’ll be feasting.

KitGuru says: Did you play Astro’s Playroom? Are you excited for ASTRO BOT? Could the game be as good as Super Mario Odyssey? Let us know down below.

The post PS5-exclusive 3D platformer ASTRO BOT officially announced first appeared on KitGuru.

The Cooler Master NR200P V2 is a simple product with a complicated name. In essence Cooler Master has taken the case from the NR200P Max barebones and decided to sell it as a standalone product. This means you will need to source an SFX power supply and a suitable AIO cooler for your CPU and then you will be set for some Mini-ITX fun and games, along with a fair amount of cable management chores… however, the end result will be a tiny PC that can pack in high end gaming components.

Watch the video via our VIMEO Channel (Below) or over on YouTube at 2160p HERE

Timestamps

00:00 Start
01:54 In the box / accessories
02:58 Taking the case apart
06:19 Installing the hardware
12:20 PC running
12:41 Thermal and noise testing
14:23 Closing thoughts – should you buy one?

Main features

• Compact yet powerful – An ultra-sleek 18.25L design delivers unmatched performance and aesthetics with vented steel and tempered glass side panels.
• Stay cool under pressure – No performance compromises with support for 240mm/280mm liquid coolers, providing the ultimate in thermal efficiency.
• Optimized GPU performance – An efficient vertical airflow layout supported by a 120mm bottom-mounted fan keeps your GPU extra cool.
• Comprehensive GPU support – Includes vertical mounting options, a custom PCIe 4.0 riser cable, and a support bracket for GPUs up to 356mm in length and 160mm in height.
• Easy, tool-free access – All external panels are secured with pins for easy removal, facilitating quick access to the internals without the use of tools while a removable GPU panel simplified the installation process.
• USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 Type C support – A USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 Type C port is built into the I/O panel with up to 20Gbps transfer speeds.
• Refreshed NCORE style – An NCORE redesign provides a sleek take on maximizing cooling performance and style simultaneously.

Specification:

• Motherboard support: Mini-ITX.
• Expansion slots: 3.
• Included fans: 1x 120mm 650-1,800rpm SickleFlow PWM bottom intake.
• Fan mounts: 2x 120mm/140mm top, 2x 120mm floor.
• Radiator mounts: 240mm/280mm top.
• 5.25-inch optical drive bays: None.
• Internal drive bays: 1x 3.5-inch/2.5-inch, 1x 3.5-inch, 1x 2.5-inch.
• Front I/O ports: 1x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C 20Gbps, 2x USB 3.0 x2 Type-A, audio.
• Dimensions: 372mm L x 185mm W x 292mm H.

Testing

To put this case through its cooling paces we will be using a test system consisting of an AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D, Gigabyte RTX 4080 graphics and an SSD. This system allows us to produce a substantial amount of heat and effectively test the Cooler Master NR200P V2's cooling capabilities.

Test System:

• Processor: AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D
• CPU Cooler: Cooler Master MasterLiquid 240 Atmos Liquid
• Motherboard: Gigabyte B650I Aorus Ultra
• Memory: 32GB G.Skill Z5 Neo DDR5-6000
• Graphics card: Gigabyte GeForce RTX 4080 Gaming OC 16GB
• Power supply: Cooler Master V 1100SFX Platinum
• SSD: Sabrent Rocket 4.0 M.2 NVMe
• OS: Windows 11

Cooling Performance

Cooling Performance Overview

In our video we demonstrate the difference in noise levels when you run the fans fast and slow, and this naturally also has an impact on temperatures. The single biggest factor for the temperature of your graphics card is whether you use the glass or mesh side panel. The takeaway here is Mesh For The Win.

Closing Thoughts

KitGuru has a long and positive history with the Cooler Master NR200P in both the original and Max barebones forms, but this V2 is a bit of an oddball.

We like the idea of Cooler Master selling the Max as a bare case but the obvious point is that you need to select an appropriate AIO cooler and SFX power supply and that causes a few problems, both with installing the hardware and then tidying up the mess of cables.

Once you clear that obstacle you hit a second point which is the need to use the mesh side panel, rather than glass which chokes airflow to your graphics card. This is turn means you can suffer from excessive fan noise when your tiny gaming PC ramps up under load.

Provided you can balance all those factors the end result is a neat PC that is compact, effective and powerful.

You can buy the Cooler Master NR200P V2 for £99.99 HERE.

Pros:

• The NR200P V2 is simple to dismantle and gives plenty of access.
• Build quality is excellent.
• The price is very fair.

Cons:

• The CPU cooler is limited to a AIO.
• You are limited to an ITX motherboard and SFX PSU.
• Installing the cooler on AMD is fiddly.
• Cable management is awkward.

KitGuru says: The Cooler Master NR200P V2 is a nifty Mini-ITX case that can house high end PC gaming hardware.

The post Cooler Master NR200P V2 Review – Full Power and Tiny first appeared on KitGuru.

Announced around this time last year with an incredibly vague teaser trailer, Sony’s first-party multiplayer live-service first person shooter ‘Concord’ has finally had its proper official introduction. Shown off during last night’s State of Play, we’ve now been given our first look at gameplay – as well as a release date.

Serving as the big blowout event for Concord, Sony and Firewalk Studios offered a look at the game’s narrative as well as actual gameplay.

As expected, Concord looks to be taking inspiration from many popular PvP games, being a “5v5 character-driven, first-person multiplayer shooter” with a bunch of different and unique looking characters – seeming like a mix between Overwatch and Destiny.

Full details on the game’s worldbuilding and characters can be found HERE, but perhaps the most exciting announcement came in the form of a release date – with Concord set to launch on the 23rd of August for both PS5 and PC.

No pricing has been given for the game, but considering the fact that prospective buyers will be able to “pre-order” the title from the 6th of June, it’s safe to say it won’t be free-to-play.

KitGuru says: What do you think of the two trailers? Are you more excited for the story/characters or gameplay? Did you enjoy the State of Play? Let us know down below.

The post Live-Service FPS ‘Concord’ gets gameplay and release date reveal first appeared on KitGuru.

After going a decade without any new releases, Konami has finally returned to the Silent Hill franchise, with their first major title being the upcoming remake of the classic Silent Hill 2. Much of the pre-release marketing has been met with somewhat mixed results. Luckily, those looking forward to experiencing the remake of this classic first hand will be able to do so this October.

Announced during last night’s State of Play (and expanded upon in its own showcase after the fact), Konami officially revealed the release date for the Silent Hill 2 Remake.

 After much speculation on whether the game would launch in 2024 or not, the team have now officially confirmed that the game will arrive this October – on the 8th to be specific.

While the trailers showcase a game which appears just a step below Capcom’s Resident Evil Remakes – polish-wise – the devs at Bloober Team look to have created what will undoubtedly be a rather spooky experience. Hopefully it lives up to the original.

KitGuru says: What do you think of all the trailers? Can the remake capture the vibes of the original? Let us know your thoughts down below.

The post Silent Hill 2 Remake arrives in October first appeared on KitGuru.

Sony has slowly but surely been bringing its first-party line-up of PS5 exclusives to the PC platform. During last night’s State of Play, the console manufacturer officially revealed that the next PS5 title coming to PC is none other than God of War: Ragnarök – set to arrive this September.

Announced during the State of Play (and expanded upon via the PlayStation Blog), 2022’s God of War: Ragnarök is coming to PC on the 19th of September 2024 – just under two years on from its original console release.

Unlike many of PlayStation’s PC ports, Ragnarök's PC version isn’t being worked on by Nixxes, but instead Jetpack Interactive; the same team behind God of War (2018)’s PC port.

As expected, the PC version will include unlocked framerates; Nvidia’s DLSS; AMD’s FSR; Intel’s XeSS and support for ultrawide displays (21:9 and 32:9).

No specifics were given on the exact forms of DLSS and FSR being supported, but hopefully it’ll also include frame generation – though we will have to see.

God of War: Ragnarök is available to wishlist now on both Steam and the Epic Games Store.

KitGuru says: What did you think of the State of Play? Will you replay God of War before Ragnarök? Let us know down below.

The post God of War: Ragnarök comes to PC this September first appeared on KitGuru.

The DirectSR API has been integrated into the Agility Software Development Kit 1.714.0-preview, allowing developers to integrate various Super Resolution technologies into their games more easily. By consolidating technologies such as FSR, DLSS, and XeSS, DirectSR provides developers with a streamlined solution for implementation.

GPU hardware providers have been at the forefront of developing Super Resolution (SR) technology (XeSS, FSR, DLSS). As the number of SR variations continues to expand, it's becoming increasingly harder and more time-consuming for game developers to implement each SR technology. To solve this, Microsoft came up with a unified SR API that can seamlessly integrate SR technologies across different hardware platforms. This technology is called DirectSR.

We are excited to announce DirectSR is available now via Agility SDK 1.714.0-preview! This API was designed in partnership with AMD, Intel, and NVIDIA to enable the seamless integration of Super Resolution into the next generation of games. Check it out: https://t.co/L2RXOKcmjx

— DirectX 12 (@DirectX12) May 29, 2024

DirectSR is an API within the Agility SDK that aims to standardise SR support in D3D12 titles. Developed in collaboration with AMD, Intel, and Nvidia, this API enables the effortless utilisation of in-market upscaling technologies, supporting multi-vendor SR through a standard set of inputs and outputs. Currently, DirectSR offers built-in support for AMD FSR 2.2 and driver-level support for Intel XeSS and Nvidia DLSS.

DirectSR is natively supported in GPU drivers, and manufacturers can customise their SR implementation for optimal hardware performance. The API also includes built-in support for GPU-agnostic variations at the application level, ensuring usability across diverse hardware platforms. Furthermore, the API empowers users to select from multiple upscalers at runtime based on their hardware.

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KitGuru says: The inclusion of DirectSR offers a more simplified approach to upscaling, as well as simpler creation and, most likely, maintenance across several games. We look forward to seeing which games will have DirectSR support and how well they work across various hardware platforms.

The post DirectSR API is now available to easily implement support for DLSS, FSR and XeSS first appeared on KitGuru.

While Dragon Ball Budokai Tenkaichi was supposed to return in 2023, the game was eventually delayed after the widely positive reception to the game's announcement. The developers have been putting that extra time to good use too, as Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero (Budokai Tenkaichi) is due to have an absolutely massive 150+ character roster. 

Anyone who grew up watching Dragon Ball in the 90s and 2000s has likely owned a Budokai or Budokai Tenkaichi game at some point in time. The Budokai Tenkaichi games in particular were widely loved for their massive fan-pleasing rosters, ranging from all the main characters and their many different transformations, to deep-cut side characters from the original series, Dragon Ball Z, Dragon Ball GT and even the non-canon films.

As teased by Bandai Namco today, the image above reveals the first 21 confirmed characters for Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero. The biggest confirmation here is that the game will indeed feature newer characters from Dragon Ball Super, like Zamasu, Kefla, Kale and Caulifla. As well as long-established characters like Goku, Vegeta, Gotenks, Trunks, Goten, Vegito, Picollo, Cell, Gohan, Majin Buu and more.

The roster grid above as 164 individual spaces (trust me, I counted them), so there is plenty of room for additional characters, as well as different transformation forms. Personally, I'm hoping we get Kid Goku, and the Super Saiyan 4 transformations from Dragon Ball GT, as well as some returning characters from the older films like Tapion, Cooler, Janemba, Android 13 and Bojack.

Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero is due out later this year for PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X/S.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: Will you be picking this game up when it drops later this year? What characters or transformations are you hoping to see included? 

The post Dragon Ball Budokai Tenkaichi successor ‘Sparking! Zero’ to have over 150 characters first appeared on KitGuru.

AOC has recently unveiled its latest gaming monitor, the AOC Gaming 27G2ZN3/BK, featuring a 27-inch Fast VA panel. For less than £200, you'll get a fast gaming display, offering 1080p resolution at up to 280Hz. 

Notably, the monitor's standout feature is its 280Hz refresh rate. It supports a native 1080p resolution with a 1ms GtG response time, 0.5ms MPRT and Adaptive-Sync technology to reduce visual tearing. AOC claims the Fast VA panel has a contrast ratio of 4000:1, 300 nits of brightness, and can cover 92.2% of the DCI-P3 colour gamut and 123.3% of the sRGB colour space.

Moreover, the 27G2ZN3/BK offers versatility with a 100x100mm VESA mount, allowing users to wall-mount the monitor or use a third-party stand. Still, the included stand is already quite decent, providing pivot (0° to 90°±2°), swivel (-30°±2° ~ 30°±2°), and tilt (-4°±1° to 21.5°±1.5°) adjustments, as well as a height adjustment of up to 130mm.

In addition to its flat display, the AOC Gaming 27G2ZN3/BK has a matte coating to minimise glare. It also has a 3.5mm audio connector, a DisplayPort 1.4, and two HDMI 2.0 connections. Priced at £189.99 in the UK and €239 in the Eurozone, the monitor comes with a three-year guarantee in both regions.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru says: For £189.99, this is most likely the cheapest 27-inch monitor with a 280Hz refresh rate you can get.

The post AOC’s new 280Hz monitor will go for under £200 first appeared on KitGuru.