Scuf Gaming has launched the Valor Pro wired performance controller for Xbox and PC. This controller represents the culmination of nearly a decade of collaboration with esports professionals and content creators, packing a suite of features designed to increase the user's gaming performance.

The Valor Pro wired is engineered to deliver a high level of speed and control, giving Xbox and PC gamers a competitive edge. Every aspect of the controller reflects Scuf's dedication to excellence, from its remappable paddles and high-speed wired connection (boasting a 1000Hz polling rate on PC) to its compact, ergonomic design and signature features like anti-drift Hall Effect thumbsticks.

Available in a range of stylish colors, including grey, black, and white, to name a few, the Valor Pro wired is packed with features to enhance performance and comfort. Four seamlessly integrated back paddles are positioned for effortless access, eliminating the need to adjust your grip. These paddles offer hardware remapping across three profiles, and the inner paddles can be removed or left blank. For those who prefer a traditional controller layout, all paddles can be disabled.

The inclusion of anti-drift Hall Effect thumbsticks ensures responsiveness. These advanced thumbsticks utilize magnets to detect movement, significantly reducing the risk of drift. Scuf has carefully tuned them to provide a feel that closely mimics traditional analogue sticks. Scuf has leveraged its extensive ergonomic expertise to refine the classic Xbox form factor with a more compact and comfortable design. The shape has been optimised to accommodate the paddles naturally, and contoured bumpers allow for faster and more efficient switching between triggers and bumpers.

The wired connection guarantees a consistently fast and reliable connection, eliminating concerns about wireless interference or latency. An upcoming PC update will further enhance responsiveness with a 1000Hz polling rate. Individual audio scroll wheels provide quick access to headset volume, game/chat balance, and microphone muting. The Valor Pro wired is now available starting at £99.99/$99.99/€109.99.

KitGuru says: Although it may look expensive for a wired controller, it packs all the high-end features you expect from a flagship controller, except it's not wireless. 

The post Scuf Gaming introduces new Valor Pro controller for PC and Xbox first appeared on KitGuru.

Back in 2022, Funcom officially announced Dune: Awakening – an ambitious survival MMO set in the world created by Frank Herbert. Said to be coming some time in 2025, the team have now officially announced that Dune: Awakening is launching on PC on the 20th of May.

Making the announcement, the team at Funcom officially unveiled the release date for Dune: Awakening, saying “Your journey begins on May 20, 2025 on PC.”

Alongside this, players can also download a joint character creator / benchmarking tool right now to get their PCs ready for this Unreal Engine 5 developed open world – receiving a free Frameblade knife skin as a bonus.

While the game’s console release has yet to be determined, PC players will soon be able to pre-order Dune: Awakening for $49.99 (and will receive a pre-order bonus in the form of a free terrarium for your base).

Dune: Awakening looks like it has a great deal of potential, and so hopefully the game manages to be all that it is promised and more when it officially arrives on the 20th of March. We’ll have to wait and see whether the console release isn’t too far behind.

KitGuru says: Are you excited for the game? What are your grand plans for Arrakis? Let us know down below.

The post Dune: Awakening release date officially announced first appeared on KitGuru.

After months of continued success, NetEase made the odd decision to fire many of the developers working on Marvel Rivals, including the director for one of the game’s primary support studios. Following this, the publisher has now bragged that Marvel Rivals has reached a new milestone of over 40 million players.

As reported by industry analyst Daniel Ahmad, during the company’s most recent fiscal earnings report NetEase revealed that “Marvel Rivals has achieved 40 million players to date” – double that of the previously-announced user base.

While 40 million players would be something worth celebrating, this announcement comes at an unfortunate time with Marvel Rivals Director Thaddeus Sasser, level designer Jack Burrows and more confirming that they have been laid off.

Unwarranted firings aside, while 40 million players is a massive achievement for such a short amount of time (2 and a half months), it is far from the fastest-growing free-to-play title, with EA’s Apex Legends amassing over 50 million players in its first month.

It’s a shame to see what was a promising new free-to-play live-service title have its reputation stained by actions from those at the top of the corporate podium.

That said, it isn’t too surprising. Hopefully NetEase won’t reward its developers with another round of layoffs.

KitGuru says: Are you one of the 40 million players? Has the recent firings impacted your opinion on the game? Will NetEase address the layoffs? Let us know your thoughts down below.

The post Following layoffs, Marvel Rivals announces new record player count first appeared on KitGuru.

CyberPower has packed the latest and greatest gaming hardware in their Ultra 5090 Custom Gaming PC. At the centre we have a mighty MSI GeForce RTX 5090 32G Suprim SOC which is supported by an AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D on an MSI MPG X870E Carbon WiFi motherboard. Add in 64GB of fast DDR5 Kingston memory with 4TB of Gen 5 Corsair SSD and the result is bonkers gaming performance along with the expected hefty price tag that creeps past £5k.

Time stamps
00:00 Intro
00:55 RTX 5090 – power / thermals analysis
04:13 Specs / pricing
06:31 BIOS settings / power
08:41 Cinebench 2024 Single
09:00 Cinebench 2024 Multi Core
09:07 Geekbench 6 Multi Core
09:16 AIDA 64 Memory bandwidth
09:28 3DMark Time Spy
09:42 Far Cry 6
10:46 Avatar Frontiers of Pandora
11:00 Assassins Creed Mirage
11:13 Total War Pharaoh
11:34 Leo’s thoughts
12:45 CyberPower USA GN concerns
13:59 Closing Thoughts

Specification:

• Graphics card: MSI GeForce RTX 5090 32G Suprim SOC – 32GB GDDR7 – HDMI, DP – Nvidia DLSS 4 and Reflex 2
• CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D – 8-Core 4.70GHz, 5.20GHz Turbo – 96MB L3 Cache Processor, Pro OC Compatible w/ Radeon Graphics
• CPU Cooler: Be Quiet Dark Rock Pro 5 Air Cooler
• Cooling Upgrade: Thermal Grizzly Premium Thermal Paste and Thermal Grizzly AM5 contact frame fitted as default.
• Memory: 64GB (2x32GB) DDR5/6400MT/sec Kingston Fury Renegade RGB Black/Silver Memory
• Motherboard: MSI MPG X870E Carbon WiFi: ATX w/ PCIe 5.0, WiFi 6E, USB 3.2, 4x M.2
• M.2 SSD: 4TB Corsair MP700 Pro M.2 PCIe 5.0 NVMe SSD – 12,400MB/s Read & 11,800MB/s Write [+344]
• Case: Be Quiet! Shadow Base 800FX Gaming Case – Black – (features 4x ARGB 140mm fans)
• Power Supply: MSI MAG A1250GL PCIe5 1250W 80+ Gold ATX 3.0 Fully Modular Gaming Power Supply (OEM is CWT)
• Sound: On-board HD Audio
• Software: Norton 360 VPN & Security for Gamers (Full 1 Year License)
• OS: Windows 11 Home
• Warranty: 5 Years Labour, 2 Years Parts, 12 Months Collect and Return plus Life-Time Technical Support

The post CyberPowerPC Ultra 5090 Custom Gaming PC Review first appeared on KitGuru.

The first Geekbench listing for what appears to be the iPhone 16e details the difference between it and the iPhone 16, plus confirms the expected amount of RAM.


Apple would rather talk about what you can do with a device than mention specifications such as the amount of RAM in it. Consequently RAM wasn't mentioned in the launch of the iPhone 16e, but it was presumed that the new iPhone comes with 8GB RAM.

That's because at least 8GB RAM is required for Apple Intelligence. There was never any question that the iPhone 16e would include Apple Intelligence, but now the first benchmarks confirm it has 8GB RAM.


Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

There's been a lot of fear in the last few days that Apple left off MagSafe off the iPhone 16e because it somehow interfered with Apple's C1 cellular modem, but physics precluded that from the start. Here's how.


Obviously, the iPhone 16e lacks MagSafe. There's been a lot said about it, and it's a problem for the device.

Almost immediately, we heard whispers from case manufacturers that it may not have been cost-cutting, but instead was interfering with the C1 cellular radio.


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A few days after launch, Apple has made the iPhone 16e available to purchase online, ahead of its February 28 release.


Following a brief period of downtime, the Apple Store is back online, and that means it's now possible to preorder the iPhone 16e. Customers can also preorder from physical Apple Store locations as well.

Consumers have two color options to choose from, in either Black or White. Capacities start from $599 for 128GB, with 256GB for $699 and 512GB for $899.


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As usual for an Apple release, the online version of the Apple Store has temporarily gone offline, in preparation for preorders of the iPhone 16e.


Launched on February 19, the iPhone 16e is the latest iPhone in Apple's range. The spiritual successor to the iPhone SE, the new entry-level model will soon be available to preorder.

During the announcement, Apple said preorders for the iPhone 16e start on February 21, with availability of the model from February 28.


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A new leak about the possible iPhone Fold includes yet another release schedule, and screen sizes that disagree with previous rumors.


It has recently been reported that Apple was on the verge of choosing a manufacturer for a foldable display screen, although there are now always rumors about an iPhone fold. The latest one does back up previous claims that there won't be a folding iPhone until at least 2026, but otherwise it disagrees with the most recent rumors.

"Exclusive information, Apple's large folding, 5.49-inch outer screen is a bit like [the Otto] Find N, but it is shorter and fatter," writes "Digital Chat Station" on Weibo (in translation). "The 7.74-inch inner screen unfolds like an iPad."


Rumor Score: 🤔 Possible


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The Rogue Prince of Persia is a slick action-platformer rogue-like from one of the teams behind the equally as fun Dead Cells. Following its early access launch in May last year, the game received a bunch of updates with much more promised for 2025. Sure enough, the team have now released the latest major patch for The Rogue Prince of Persia, adding dozens of new skins, a full rework of progression and much more.

Making the announcement, the team at Evil Empire officially released the ‘Forgotten Skins’ update for The Rogue Prince of Persia, writing: “The team’s been cooking as always and is still on it. So let’s take a look!”

The full list of changes and additions can be found HERE, but some of the more notable patches include:

• 35 new skins (12 recolor, 14 new models, 1 old model and 8 from the Community Skin Contest)
• Overhauled XP system
• Reworked all skill trees
• New quests
• 2 new weapons and 1 new tool
• Refined level design
• Dozens of various fixes

Even at its initial Early Access launch, The Rogue Prince of Persia was a highly fun and replayable game, and so it is exciting to see the team continue to improve and refine the overall experience.

KitGuru says: What do you think of this update? Have you checked out The Rogue Prince of Persia? Will you be rocking the classic purple Prince skin? Let us know down below.

The post The Rogue Prince of Persia update brings new skins, progression overhaul and more first appeared on KitGuru.

Over the past few days, we have heard an increasing number of reports claiming that the iconic Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater series is set to return with the revival of the previously-cancelled THPS 3+4. In the wake of these leaks, Activision seems to have confirmed as much, teasing an upcoming Tony Hawk announcement as part of the latest update for Call of Duty: Black Ops 6.

Season 2 Reloaded for Black Ops 6 is now live, bringing a bunch of new content including weapons; game modes; multiplayer maps and more. One of the biggest additions is the return of the fan-favourite map Grind from Black Ops 2.

Set in a skate park, eagle-eyed fans have discovered a cool easter egg in the map which seems to hint at an upcoming showcase – with a sign reading “03.04.25” underneath the recognisable THPS logo.

For the uninitiated, we first heard word of a new Pro Skater game a couple days ago, when skater Tyshawn Jones claimed via a podcast that he’s going to be in the next Tony Hawk game which is set to release soon.

Following this, well known leaker eXtas1s corroborated these comments, revealing that the game in question is a remake of Pro Skater 3+4 and is planned to arrive this June.

Based on all this, it now seems clear that Activision/Microsoft is gearing up for an official announcement in March, followed by its launch just a couple months later in June.

While the surprise was somewhat spoiled, it is always cool to see such announcements being teased in other games ahead of time – adding to the overall hype and excitement. Hopefully Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3+4 winds up being as good as the first remake.

KitGuru says: Are you looking forward to this new entry in the series? What’s your favourite THPS game? Was this teaser always planned, or was it added as a result of the leaks? Let us know your thoughts down below.

The post Black Ops 6 update teases Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater first appeared on KitGuru.

Yoto Mini is a tiny, pocketable music player for kids and toddlers that shuns screens. While staying kid-friendly, it adds a surprising amount of tech for endless entertainment.


As music lovers, we want our children to experience it as we did. But options are a bit limited.

You can go with a smart speaker, but that isn't easily controllable for little ones. You can go vintage with a cassette or CD player to stay more low-tech, but they're breakable and also not kid-friendly.


Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

Mark S may have no idea who Jake from State Farm is, but a new ad featuring the insurance company and Apple TV+ hit "Severance" brings them together.


Apple is known for its well-shot advertisements, especially the ones that air during the holidays, but those aren't the only ads featuring Apple products. The company works with carriers and resellers to promote iPhones, its other products, and sometimes, its services.

An ad shared by State Farm on Thursday places a newly severed Jamie S with Mark S, played by Adam Scott, on the Severed Floor featured in Apple TV+ drama "Severance." She's shown a video of her "outie" reading a note saying she's been severed... from her parents' car insurance.


Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

Apple only just revealed the C1 modem with iPhone 16e on Wednesday, but there's already a rumor about the C2 being tested internally.


Apple has spent years trying to distance itself from Qualcomm and use its own in-house modem. The company has finally landed on the C1 modem used in iPhone 16e, calling it a "platform for generations."

According to a report from MacRumors sourced from an accurate leaker that uses a private account on X, Apple is already working on the future of the C-series platform. The leaker called it the C2 and shared it has the identifier C4020.


Rumor Score: 🤯 Likely


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The custom modem in the iPhone 16e lays the groundwork for future Apple projects, as the company intends to use its proprietary modems across future products.


On Wednesday, Apple announced the entry-level iPhone 16e, with a relatively modest design echoing the iPhone 14. One of the device's stand-out features is an all-new in-house modem. Created and designed exclusively by Apple, it replaces previously used Qualcomm technology.

Apple's long-rumored custom modem, developed under the project codename "Sinope," allows for tight integration between the iPhone software and hardware. This is why the iPhone 16e reportedly has the best battery life of any 6.1-inch iPhone, according to Apple.


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The long-rumored iPhone 17 Air may be equipped with a slightly larger display than originally anticipated, according to a source with a mixed track record.


As part of its 2025 iPhone lineup, Apple is expected to replace its existing Plus model with an ultra-thin model known as the iPhone 17 Air or Slim. Though multiple analysts and leakers have all claimed the device is in the works, there seems to be a lack of consensus in terms of hardware specifications.

In 2024, display analyst Ross Young said that the iPhone 17 Air would feature a 6.55-inch display, which Apple would likely round up to 6.6 inches. Another analyst, Jeff Pu, made the same claim in October 2024.


Rumor Score: 🤔 Possible


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It's been two years since NVIDIA introduced its Ada Lovelace GPUs, kicking things off with the RTX 4090 and finishing up the initial lineup with the SUPER family At CES, the company unveiled its new RTX 50 "Blackwell" family which features a brand new architecture and several changes such as new cores, AI accelerators, new memory standards, and the latest video/display capabilities. Today, NVIDIA is releasing the second fastest card within its "RTX 50" portfolio, the GeForce RTX 5080. The GeForce RTX 5080 is a top-of-the-line graphics card, designed for enthusiast gamers, and features a price point of $999 US […]

Read full article at https://wccftech.com/review/palit-geforce-rtx-5080-gamerock-oc-16-gb-gpu-review-rocking-looks/

Apple says that you can use wireless Qi chargers with the iPhone 16e and it's true, but isn't MagSafe and that causes problems.


One of the compromises Apple made with making a lower-cost entry to the iPhone 16 range was to remove MagSafe. Apple is correct when it says you can still use wireless charging, but that's not the half of it.

If you have to use a Qi charger instead of MagSafe, it will take much longer and it will be so inefficient that it uses more power. And that's if you can be certain you have placed the iPhone 16e on exactly the right spot of the Qi charger.


Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

If you're confused about who the iPhone 16e is for, you're not alone — I know I won't be upgrading.


I'm going to cut right to it. I should have been an easy sell for the iPhone SE 4, but I'm vehemently against the iPhone 16e.

If you've read any of my opinion pieces here in my nearly six-year tenure at AppleInsider, you'd know that I'm not an iPhone fanatic. Unlike most of my coworkers, I've never owned a Pro-level iPhone model.


Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

Cybercriminals are ramping up their use of fake software updates to distribute malware, and Mac users are in the crosshairs with a new strain.


Researchers have identified two new threat actors, TA2726 and TA2727, who are using web inject campaigns to deliver malware. These actors use fake update lures — often presented as browser updates — to trick users into downloading harmful software, including a newly discovered macOS malware called FrigidStealer.

Historically, the threat actor TA569 and its SocGholish web injects dominated the fake update space, often leading to ransomware attacks. However, beginning in 2023, copycat actors began emerging, complicating efforts to track these threats.


Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

A benchmark has allegedly surfaced that could be by the upcoming M4 MacBook Air refresh, a possible sign of an impending launch for the budget portable Mac.


The MacBook Air is anticipated to get an update in early 2025, bringing the model line up to using M4 like the MacBook Pro. While there's no sign of an impending launch from Apple itself, another source may have hinted that it's on the way.

A Geekbench result listing for a "Mac16,12" was posted on February 19. The listing is described as running on macOS 15.2, with a ten-core M4 chip and 24GB of Unified Memory.


Rumor Score: 🤯 Likely


Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

Game Freak wrapped up the Pokémon Scarlet and Violet generation back in 2023 with the release of two expansions. Since then, we've been waiting on the next major Pokémon title to hit Nintendo consoles, and it looks like we'll get some much-needed details later this week. 

As is the case every February, The Pokémon Company will be hosting its own showcase stream. On the 27th of February at 2PM UK time, Pokemon Presents will go live once again, giving us a new look at the upcoming Pokemon Legends ZA, the next big open-world game that takes us back to an ancient version of the Pokemon region from the X & Y titles.

It is also worth noting that this year also marks the anniversary of Pokémon Red and Green in Japan. It is unclear if The Pokémon Company plans to do anything special to celebrate this, but given how beloved those original games are, I expect we'll get something. Perhaps some of those classic Pokémon games will finally become available on Nintendo Switch, something that fans have been asking for since the system first launched in 2017.

KitGuru Says: We'll no doubt be back next week reporting on the news as its announced, so stay tuned for that. 

The post Pokémon Presents stream returns just in time for Pokémon Red anniversary first appeared on KitGuru.

Apple CEO Tim Cook met with President Donald Trump on Thursday morning, likely to discuss the import tariff situation and US manufacturing.


There's little detail about the visit, as first reported by Edward Lawrence at Fox Business. However, there are obvious topics of discussion between the two men, with billions of dollars on the line.

Cook was spotted on his way into the White House at about 10:10 AM Eastern Time on Thursday. He departed about 45 minutes later, telling the gathered cameras nothing more than he had a "great meeting" with the President.


Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

Most of Apple's iPhone 17 lineup won't be using its new C1 modem, Ming-Chi Kuo claims, but they will still benefit from a new in-house Wi-Fi chip design.


Apple's introduction of the iPhone 16e also brought with it the C1, an internally-designed modem to wean Apple off from Qualcomm's version. However, it seems that most models in the next iPhone generation won't be using it.

According to a Thursday X post from TF Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, a hardware survey reveals that only the iPhone 17 Air will get the C1 modem in the future. Kuo doesn't specify, but this probably means Apple will be retaining the Qualcomm modems for the iPhone 17, Pro, and Pro Max models for at least one more year.


Rumor Score: 🤔 Possible


Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

Apple iPhone 16e preorders begin on Feb. 21, with the new devices arriving on Feb. 28. Here's where to get the best iPhone 16e preorder deals with wireless carrier incentives and more.


Apple's 2025 iPhone 16e goes up for preorder on Friday, Feb. 21, and if you want the new device right away we've rounded up the best preorder deals. Be sure to check back here and bookmark our iPhone deals roundup as new offers continue to launch once preorders goes live.


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NVIDIA has lifted the embargo on non-MSRP cards, and today's ZOTAC is the company's highest-end RTX 5070 Ti offering. Presented for your inspection in this review is the ZOTAC GAMING GeForce RTX…

NVIDIA's latest GPU is about to hit shelves, however briefly, and we were able to test out an ASUS PRIME ahead of the launch. And, as I sifted through the benchmark results,…

Back in 2022, Rockstar released Grand Theft Auto V: Expanded and Enhanced for Xbox Series X/S and PS5 consoles. The main addition? New graphical features like Ray Tracing. Now years later, and just ahead of the release of Grand Theft Auto 6, those graphical enhancements are finally coming to the PC version of GTA 5. 

Rockstar confirmed plans to release a GTA 5 PC graphics update in late 2024. Now, the update is ready and is freely available to all PC players. The update brings the game up to the same level as the newer Xbox Series X/S and PS5 versions of the game.

Below you can see some of the key highlights of the update:

• Ray tracing features only available on PC such as ambient occlusion and global illumination — plus ray traced shadows and reflections first debuted on consoles
• Support for AMD FSR1 and FSR3, and NVIDIA DLSS 3
• Faster loading times using SSD and DirectStorage on supported devices and configurations
• Enhanced support for higher resolutions, higher aspect ratios, and higher framerates
• DualSense® controller support, with adaptive triggers
• Enhanced audio with support for Dolby Atmos and improved fidelity of speech, cinematics, and music

Due to the new graphical enhancements, the recommended PC system requirements for GTA 5 have been updated – a rare sight for a decade-old game. To utilise the new features, you will want a system with at least an Intel Core i5-9600K or AMD Ryzen 5 3600, 16GB of RAM and an RTX 3060 or RX 6600 XT graphics card.

This change also brings a whole bunch of new vehicles to the game, as well as access to GTA+, Rockstar's subscription service that grants monthly bonuses for GTA Online, as well as free access to classic games, like the Grand Theft Auto Trilogy, Bully and more.

KitGuru Says: Do you still play GTA Online regularly? Has it improved since Rockstar added anti-cheat? 

The post Rockstar brings major graphics upgrade to GTA 5 on PC first appeared on KitGuru.

Valve has been putting a lot of its development resources into new projects in recent years. From Artifact and Dota Underworlds, to more successful releases like Half-Life Alyx and Counter-Strike 2. This has essentially meant that Team Fortress 2 has been left behind. Now, Valve has handed the keys to TF2 to the community.

Team Fortress 2 is now open source. The Team Fortress 2 Source SDK is now available. With this tool now available, people can essentially re-write Team Fortress 2, enabling game overhaul mods, new modes, new multiplayer experiences and more.

“Unlike the Steam Workshop or local content mods, this SDK gives mod makers the ability to change, extend or rewrite TF2, making anything from small tweaks to complete conversions possible”, Valve explains. “The SDK is licensed to users on a non-commercial basis, meaning that any mod created using the SDK must be free, and any content in those mods must be free. TF2 mods may be published on the Steam Store, and after publication will appear as new games in the Steam game list.”

Using TF2 as a base, developers could also create new game listings for the Steam Store. We've seen this happen with Half-Life projects in the past, like Black Mesa, a complete remake of the original Half-Life.

There is just one stipulation Valve has in place. As Workshop modders were responsible for a lot of in-game content for TF2 in the form of custom hats and other cosmetics, Valve does not want any developers to take those workshop items and then reutilise them for profit. It is unknown if Valve would make an exception for a developer willing to share a revenue split with the original workshop item creators.

KitGuru Says: With this move, I think we can safely say that there will be no more major content updates for Team Fortress 2. Now fans have to wonder – is Valve considering a Team Fortress 3?

The post Valve releases Team Fortress 2 source code, opening the door for game overhaul mods first appeared on KitGuru.

It seems the wait for AMD's Ryzen 9 9000 series with 3D V-Cache might be over soon. Both the 16-core Ryzen 9 9950X3D and the 12-core Ryzen 9 9900X3D have just surfaced on Geekbench with single-core and multi-core benchmark scores.

The leaked Geekbench results shared by @Olrak29_(1, 2) show both CPUs tested on Gigabyte X670 Aorus Elite AXE motherboards with 32 GB of DDR5-4800 memory. The 9900X3D achieved 3,274 and 19,227 points in the single-core and multi-core tests, respectively, while the 9950X3D scored 3,363 and 20,465.

Comparing these leaked results to the previous generation 7000X3D series reveals some interesting trends. The 9950X3D shows a roughly 15% improvement in single-core performance and a 4% gain in multi-core performance compared to the 7950X3D. The 9900X3D boasts a 14.5% increase in single-core and a 9.3% increase in multi-core performance relative to the 7900X3D.

While AMD officially announced these CPUs for release this quarter, they haven't provided specific launch dates. Rumours suggest that the 9950X3D and 9900X3D could launch alongside the RDNA4 GPUs, which makes sense strategically, especially if the RX 9070 XT proves to be AMD's flagship offering this generation. Pairing it with top-tier CPUs would create a compelling combination for customers.

KitGuru says: Were you expecting a bigger performance uplift on the new X3D processors, or do these values match your expectations?

The post AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D and 9900X3D leak shows decent single-thread performance improvement first appeared on KitGuru.

EK has unveiled its next-generation EK-Quantum Velocity³ CPU water blocks. Designed for compatibility with AMD AM5 and Intel LGA 1700/1851 sockets, the Velocity³ offers a high level of customisation, allowing users to fine-tune their cooling setup for optimal performance and aesthetics.

One of the key innovations of the Velocity³ is its flexible design, enabling easy switching between Intel and AMD platforms with minimal adjustments. Users can reposition the jet plate alignment, cold plate, and mounting bracket to accommodate their chosen socket type. This adaptability ensures that the Velocity³ remains a viable cooling solution even if you decide to switch platforms in the future.

The customisation goes beyond mere socket compatibility. The Velocity³ allows for the rotation of internal components, adjustment of the heat spreader, and repositioning the ports, giving enthusiasts control over their liquid cooling setup. This level of flexibility caters to those who demand both performance and aesthetics, ensuring the Velocity³ integrates into any build.

Available in Plexi, Acetal (black), and White finishes, the Velocity³ features a sleek, modern design crafted from high-quality materials. Its optimised cooling engine delivers exceptional performance, boasting up to a 2°C improvement over previous EK water blocks. The EK-Quantum Velocity³ 1700/1851/AM5 is available for purchase now for €109.90 (all variants).

KitGuru says: Are you planning on building a new custom loop? Would you take a thorough look at the new EK-Quantum Velocity³ water blocks, or do you already have something else in mind?

The post EK launches new EK-Quantum Velocity³ water block for LGA1700/1851 and AM5 sockets first appeared on KitGuru.

Apple has officially unveiled its much-anticipated “budget-friendly” iPhone, the iPhone 16e. While rumours previously suggested it might be named “iPhone SE 4,” Apple has opted for a new moniker for its entry-level offering.

The iPhone 16e features an A18 SoC with four GPU cores (instead of five), likely paired with 8 GB of RAM, ensuring compatibility with Apple Intelligence features. As predicted, the design takes cues from the iPhone 13 era, with a 6.1-inch OLED display boasting a 460 ppi pixel density and a 12 MP TrueDepth camera with Face ID support. The mute toggle switch has been replaced with the new action button, and the phone incorporates Apple's first in-house 5G modem, the C1, promising significant efficiency gains.

The iconic notch remains, and on the back, there's a single 48 MP camera. Other notable features include a USB-C port (albeit with USB 2.0 speeds), an impressive 26 hours of video playback (up from 22 hours on the iPhone 16), an IP68 rating for dust and water resistance, and emergency SOS via satellite.

The iPhone 16e starting price is $599 for the 128GB model and will be available on February 28th. While this represents a price increase compared to the now-discontinued iPhone SE 3, which started at $429 for the 64 GB model, the iPhone 16e's array of new features and increased base storage arguably justify the premium.

KitGuru says: Were you waiting for Apple to launch a new “entry-level” smartphone? Are you planning on upgrading your current smartphone, or do you think Apple is asking too much for an “entry-level” device?

The post Apple launches Iphone 16e powered by A18 SoC first appeared on KitGuru.

Following on from pre-release reviews yesterday, today the RTX 5070 Ti graphics card is launching to the masses globally. As we've seen with the RTX 5090 and RTX 5080, stock may be hard to come by. If you are looking to pick up an RTX 5070 Ti as soon as possible in the UK, we've compiled a range of listings for you to choose from, with a particular light shown on GPUs that actually get close to the MSRP price tag. 

As we've already seen in the US, many RTX 5070 Ti models are already being marked up above MSRP pricing. While Nvidia's MSRP for this GPU is $750, there is no Founders Edition card for board partners to compete with, leading to a slew of $900 to $1000 versions of the RTX 5070 Ti. If you are seriously considering spending that kind of money on a new graphics card, be sure to check out a range of reviews first – here's our RTX 5070 Ti launch day review. So far, the general consensus seems to be that the RTX 5070 Ti is not worth its marked up price, but that could change from individual to individual based on when you last upgraded your graphics card. The jump is likely far more worth it to someone coming from an RTX 20 or a lower-tier RTX 30 GPU, compared to an RTX 40 graphics card.

The Asus Prime RTX 5070 Ti was supplied to reviewers in the US as an example of an MSRP-level card. Here in the UK, this graphics card is launching at £739 for the OC Edition. Pricing varies between Scan, eBuyer, OCUK and CLL, with Scan being the cheapest at the time of publishing.

On the MSI front, there are several listings for the RTX 5070 Ti Ventus 3X model, priced at £729.99. For Gigabyte, your best bet for a reasonable price is the Gigabyte RTX 5070 Ti Eagle model, which is coming in at £899.

Unfortunately, there are not many options available at launch for those wanting to only pay the MSRP price. PNY, Zotac and Gainward each have options available that come pretty close, with MSI being the cheapest with an MSRP-level £729.99 card.

Speaking of Scan, if you are looking to pick up an RTX 50 GPU, they have set up a very handy RTX 50 notification page with daily stock updates, as well as updates to currency conversion rates so customers know when to expect prices to rise or fall slightly.

Do note that all prices here are correct as of 2PM GMT on February 20th. Prices are subject to change due to a myriad of factors, chief of which is supply and demand, followed by currency conversion fluctuations.

KitGuru Says: What do you think of the RTX 5070 Ti launch? Will you be upgrading or avoiding this current generation until prices settle down? 

 

The post RTX 5070 Ti prices start at £729 in the UK first appeared on KitGuru.

Pegasus may have been more widely used than first believed, after an iPhone app used to detect infestations uncovered multiple undiscovered instances of the spyware.


Pegasus, created by NSO Group, is known to be spyware used by governments and security agencies around the world. While the spyware has previously been discovered on devices owned and used by prominent political figures, people of interest to governments, and journalists, it was probably more widely used than anyone expected.

In May 2024, iVerify released a $1 app for people to scan their iPhones for any signs of compromise. On Wednesday, iVerify said that, of the approximately 3,000 people who downloaded and used the app, there were seven verifiable detections of Pegasus.


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The A18 in the iPhone 16e is not the same as the A18 in the iPhone 16. Here's why the act of chip binning helps Apple while also creating variants of the same chip for different products.


The launch of the iPhone 16e was a thorough modernization of what is practically the spiritual successor to the iPhone SE 3. It's an upgrade that brought many areas of the budget iPhone option up to speed with the flagship range, the iPhone 16.

However, while it is stated as having an A18 chip powering things, it's not the same A18 chip as used by its stablemate, the iPhone 16. They are labeled the same, but they're certainly different.


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While initially launched exclusively for the iPhone 16 lineup, Apple plans to expand Visual Intelligence to the iPhone 15 Pro.


Visual Intelligence a handy feature that allows you to point your camera at an object in the real world to learn more about it. It's essentially Apple's answer to Google Lens.

Previously, if you wanted to use Visual Intelligence, you'd have to be someone who purchased a device in either the iPhone 16 or iPhone 16 Pro lineup. However, Apple has confirmed to Daring Fireball that the feature will roll out to the iPhone 15 Pro in a future update.


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The new iPhone 16e moves Visual Intelligence to the Action Button, making that immediately more useful and also giving faint hope that the button will be improved further.


Apple's Action Button was first introduced on the original Apple Watch Ultra, where users could decide what it would actually do when pressed. It's a function button, really, and it worked the same when it then came to the iPhone 15 Pro.

Now it's come to the iPhone 16e, and it's a little different. You still have to press and hold before it does anything, and the Action Button can still only do one of a series of actions that you choose.


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Apple-focused IT teams can now automate device management and data backup through a single platform with a new integration.


Backblaze and Kandji have integrated their services to provide unified Apple device management and cloud backup capabilities. The partnership enables automated deployment of Backblaze's backup service through Kandji's device management platform.

The integration brings together automated Backblaze deployment across company Apple devices, centralized management of devices and backups, combined security policy enforcement and data protection, and single dashboard control for IT teams.


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MSI GeForce RTX 5070 Ti Gaming Trio Review: MSRP $799 The MSI GeForce RTX 5070 Ti Gaming Trio takes NVIDIA's GB203 GPU and gooses up its clock speeds to improve performance over standard cards. Blackwell Architecture Hot-Clocked From The Factory Easy Overclocker Relatively Power Friendly Cool And Quiet DLSS 4 + RTX Neural Rendering Upgraded...

If you've never used an iPhone before, there steps you have to go to set it up, and then there are things you need to know about how to get the most from it. Here's what Apple doesn't tell you.


It is true that Apple devices tend to just work, and it's certainly true that the iPhone is ultimately incredibly easy to use. But when you first hold that piece of glass and metal in your hand, it's a mystery.

And it's a mystery that Apple assumes you will figure out. While there are support pages on Apple's website, those are useless until you're online.


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