Millions of players have jumped into Marvel Rivals since its launch a few weeks ago. The new free-to-play hero shooter has captured a good chunk of the playerbase that Overwatch left behind during the transition from Overwatch 1 to Overwatch 2. Now through datamining efforts, we know what characters to expect in Marvel Rivals over the coming months. 

Like Overwatch, Marvel Rivals will periodically add new playable characters to the game. Rivals already has a hefty roster of characters, including many fan favourites, but there is still room for improvement. One of the big characters on the way soon appears to be Deadpool.

According to XOX_Leak, which has been tracking Marvel Rivals leaks since the game entered alpha and beta testing, the developers are currently finalising new content for the game's first season. Some of the characters set to appear in the game in early 2025 include Deadpool, Jean Grey, Modok, Hit Monkey, Angela, Captain Marvel and Emma Frost. There has also been mention of Human Torch and The Thing, so it seems like we are going to get a good dose of X-Men and Fantastic 4-affiliated characters.

A few new maps are also expected to drop with the next seasonal update, including maps set in New York, Krakoa and Arakko. Recent leaks have also indicated that loot boxes might be planned for the game, but as of right now, nothing has been confirmed yet. In its current state, Marvel Rivals is completely free, with all players getting access to the same characters, maps and game modes. However, there is also a good selection of cosmetic skins for different heroes, some of which are available through the premium battle pass, while others are only purchasable through the in-game store using premium in-game currency.

KitGuru Says: Have you been playing much Marvel Rivals this month? What characters would you like to see added to the game next year? Personally, I think we need to see a good overhaul of the support class in the game, 

The post Marvel Rivals leak points to Deadpool and Jean Grey with Season 1 update first appeared on KitGuru.

Over the past six months there has been mounting evidence that Valve is working on a new single-player Half-Life game. Valve officially revived the Half-Life IP a few years back with Half-Life: Alyx, but unlike all other games in the series, Alyx was a VR-exclusive. With this new game, Valve will forgo the VR aspect, allowing more people to access the game. 

According to Gabe Follower, who has previously leaked details about Valve's new Half-Life game, codenamed HLX, Valve has recently opened up play testing for HLX, which is believed to be the codename for Half-Life 3, based on clues found in strings of code. HLX is now beleived to be in the ‘friends and family' testing phase, which is typically where more leaks begin to occur.

Gabe Follower had previously leaked a ton of Counter-Strike 2 and Deadlock details after those games entered wider playtesting. With that in mind, if this rumour is true, we may begin to get more concrete details on the new Half-Life game very soon.

If this portion of testing goes smoothly, we should see Valve officially announce HLX in 2025. Whether or not the project ultimately ends up being called Half-Life 3 still remains to be seen. It is worth remembering that Valve took an extra year to completely overhaul the story in Half-Life Alyx after it entered this same phase of testing, so if something isn't up to par, Valve will take as long as necessary and make as many changes as needed before releasing or even announcing the game publicly.

Even if details do leak, Valve typically remains stoic and silent in the face of leaks. When Deadlock leaks began popping up all over the internet earlier this year, it still took Valve a couple of months to publicly acknowledge the game.

KitGuru Says: Valve hinted at future Half-Life projects itself as part of the Half-Life 2 20th Anniversary documentary that released earlier this year. Fingers crossed testing goes well and we can get some official details on this new Half-Life game in 2025. 

The post Half-Life 3 testing has begun according to Valve leaker first appeared on KitGuru.

Intel will finally bring its Core Ultra 200 series to the masses with the launch of its non-K CPUs and more affordable B860 and H810 motherboards. Budget-conscious gamers and system builders can rejoice as these new offerings promise a compelling combination of performance and value.

According to 孤城Hardware (via VideoCardz), Intel China has announced that pre-orders for the Core Ultra 200 non-K series processors would open on December 30th at 22:00 (GMT+8) and can only be made via the Intel store on the JD platform. The official launch will be on January 13th.

The Core Ultra 200 non-K series launch will probably coincide with the release of Intel's new B860 and H810 motherboards, but Intel didn't mention these in its post. This means that users planning to build with the new non-K CPUs will either have to choose a more expensive Z890 motherboard or wait for the B860 launch, which makes more sense for those seeking a value-oriented build.

Over in the West, pre-orders for the Core Ultra 200 non-K CPUs will most likely start in January 2025, but the actual release could well be at the same time as in China. We expect to learn more about these and other details surrounding these processors at CES 2025, which will run from January 7th to the 10th. However, the first keynotes, including one from Intel, are scheduled for January 6th.

KitGuru says: Planning on building a PC with one of these new Intel Core Ultra 200 series CPUs? If so, it seems you won't have to wait much longer to grab one of these.

The post New Intel Core Ultra 200 CPUs up for preorder in China ahead of global launch first appeared on KitGuru.

While Sony has slowed down on some of its active live service game projects, cancelling a good number of them after acquiring Bungie, the company isn't bowing out of this market entirely yet. Concord's failure was not the final nail in the coffin, as confirmed by PlayStation's co-CEO, Herman Hulst.

In a recent interview with Famitsu, Hulst confirmed that despite the disappointing launch of Concord in late August, Sony was still thoroughly impressed by Helldivers 2 this year, despite the PC-PSN controversy that kicked off shortly after the game came out. While Concord was a huge waste of money, Helldivers 2 was worth every dollar spent. Due to the upside, Sony still has plans to continue developing live-service games.

“The gaming industry is ever-evolving. While adapting to changes, we remain committed to delivering exceptional entertainment. HELLDIVERS 2 proved the potential of live-service games. We’re also enhancing mobile experiences, collaborating with studios like NetEase Games to develop titles like Destiny: Rising.”

With future live service games, Hulst also confirmed that Sony will continue to focus on cross-platform games, particularly between PC and PS5: “Live-service games thrive on cross-platform availability, broadening player bases and sustaining momentum. While single-player titles bolster the PlayStation ecosystem, expanding to PC and beyond allows us to reach more players.”

KitGuru Says: So far Sony has missed on a few of these projects and upset fans with a few cancellations, with The Last of Us Factions being the biggest example. Hopefully moving forward, Sony will be a bit more selective with these projects, rather than casting such a wide net. Under Jim Ryan, Sony had over a dozen live-service games in development at first-party studios, which is far too many. 

The post PlayStation still focused on live-service despite Concord flop first appeared on KitGuru.

VESA, the Video Electronics Standards Association, is introducing new quality standards to represent display motion clarity and HDR experiences better. The organisation has announced revisions to its ClearMR and DisplayHDR True Black standards, introducing new performance tiers to cater to the latest advancements in display technology. These updates will be showcased at CES 2025 in Las Vegas next week.

VESA's ClearMR standard, launched in 2022, provides a metric for evaluating motion blur in displays. The Clear Motion Ratio (CMR) offers a numerical value based on the clear-to-blurry pixels ratio to compare displays easily. The latest update introduces three new performance tiers: ClearMR 15000, ClearMR 18000, and ClearMR 21000. These tiers are designed to validate and ensure exceptional motion clarity in the most advanced displays, including those with 480 Hz and higher refresh rates.

VESA's DisplayHDR True Black standard is the industry's first fully open standard for HDR quality on emissive displays like OLEDs. The standard ensures HDR content is displayed with vibrant colours, accurate contrast, and deep black levels. The latest update introduces a new luminance performance tier named DisplayHDR True Black 1000. This tier validates new OLED displays with the same deep blacks as other True Black tiers but at higher brightness levels.

At CES 2025, VESA will showcase practical demos of products meeting the new standards. Those interested in knowing more details about new performance criteria can check the updated ClearCMR and DisplayHDR True Black certification tables.

KitGuru says: When choosing a new monitor or TV, do you consider its VESA certifications? What certifications do you pay more attention to?

The post VESA introduces DisplayHDR True Black 1000 and ClearMR 21000 first appeared on KitGuru.

LG is set to announce a monitor unlike any you've seen before at CES 2025. Named UltraGear 45GX990A, this is the world's first gaming monitor using a bendable OLED display at a 5K2K resolution.

This 45-inch monitor, part of LG's new UltraGear GX9 series, has already snagged three CES Innovation Awards due to its features. The 45GX990A is the world's first bendable OLED monitor with a 5K2K (5120×2160) resolution, offering an immersive 21:9 aspect ratio and a pixel density equivalent to a larger 4K display. LG states the monitor uses WOLED technology and incorporates features commonly found in high-end gaming monitors, such as an anti-glare and low-reflection (AGLR) coating and built-in smart functionalities.

 

The 45GX990A's standout feature is its flexible display, which can be adjusted from a flat configuration to a curved 900R radius. LG will also offer a non-flexible version, the 45GX950A, with a fixed 800R curvature. Both models will feature Dual-Mode functionality, allowing users to switch between different aspect ratios and picture sizes easily. This enables users to change their viewing experiences for various types of content and gaming scenarios. However, LG has not revealed the specific resolutions and refresh rates supported in each mode.

The 45GX990A and 45GX950A will support both HDMI 2.1 and DisplayPort 2.1, although it's unclear whether they will use the full bandwidth capabilities of the latest DisplayPort 2.1 standard (UHBR20). The monitors will also feature Nvidia G-Sync and AMD FreeSync Premium Pro for tear-free and smooth gaming. Expect to learn all the details of LG's upcoming monitor at CES 2025.

KitGuru says: Would you fancy yourself with one of these 5K2K OLED gaming monitors?

The post LG unveils world’s first bendable 5K2K OLED gaming monitor first appeared on KitGuru.

Here's what the future of laptop cooling might look like. At CES 2025, Frore Systems will demonstrate its revolutionary AirJet solid-state cooling technology in a customised Samsung Galaxy Book4 Edge 14.

This proof-of-concept device showcases a groundbreaking approach to thermal management in thin and light laptops, addressing the challenges of heat dissipation and noise without sacrificing portability. AirJet technology replaces traditional fans with a solid-state airflow mechanism, offering efficient and silent cooling. According to Frore Systems, this technology can boost laptop performance by up to 50% without increasing the device's thickness or generating noise.

In this custom Galaxy Book4 Edge 14, AirJet technology replaces the standard fans with four AirJet chips, resulting in a “performance boost” from 12W to 18W. AirJet pads also reduce the cooling system's footprint by 45%, freeing internal space and potentially allowing for a larger battery. The result is a slimmer, quieter, and more powerful laptop. The AirJet-equipped Galaxy Book4 Edge 14 boasts a 16% longer video runtime (from 20 to 23.2 hours) and eliminates the need for fan intake vents, creating a more clean and durable design.

While this is just a proof-of-concept device, it offers a glimpse of what the future of laptop cooling might be. By enabling higher performance within ultra-thin form factors, AirJet could pave the way for a new generation of powerful and compact laptops.

KitGuru says: Do you think laptop manufacturers will mass-use something like AirJet chips in the future?

The post Frore Systems introduce solid-state cooling mod to increase performance and battery life first appeared on KitGuru.

Seasonic have recently released a new range of power supplies targeting the mainstream audience. There are four supplies in this new range of gold certified units (650w, 750W, 850W and 1000W), and today we look at the 850W model. These Core GX 80 Plus Gold power supplies are fully modular and are ATX 3/PCIe5 compliant.

In the words of Seasonic these units are ‘catering to a broad spectrum of PC enthusiasts and system builders'. Following the newest trends in graphics card design, the units in this family comply with the latest ATX 3.1 and PCIe GEN 5.1 standards'.

Seasonic are also planning on releasing white versions of these units and according to literature we received from the company the white versions will be released in Europe late February. North America release dates are January 2025 for black colour and ‘Build to order only' for white colour. They also say stock availability may vary depending on each country.

These power supplies are positioned as a mid tier unit in the Seasonic range with a 7 year warranty, below the Prime (12 year warranty) and Focus (10 year warranty) power supplies and above the G12 and B12 (both 5 year warranty).

Product overview:

• New Seasonic OptiSink design
• 80 PLUS® Gold Certified
• ATX 3 and PCIe 5 Standard
• 140 mm Compact Size
• Hydro-Dynamic Bearing (HDB) Silent Fan
• Fully Modular Braided Pattern Cables
• Passed 4+1 Dynamic Overload Tests
• Native 12V-2×6 16-Pin Connector and Modular Cable
• 7 Years Warranty

The post Seasonic Core GX 850 ATX 3 Review first appeared on KitGuru.

As fans eagerly await the release of ConcernedApe’s new game – Haunted Chocolatier – many are continuing to purchase and play the indie studio’s previous title ‘Stardew Valley’ at an ever-increasing rate. Just 10 months after it was announced that the game had sold 30 million copies, the farming/village sim has now shot past 40 million units.

Making the announcement on its website, Stardew Valley’s developer – ConcernedApe – revealed that “As of December 2024, Stardew Valley has sold over 41 million copies across all platforms, with over 26 million copies sold on PC, and 7.9 million copies on the Nintendo Switch.”

This makes Stardew Valley easily one of the best selling games of all time, currently sitting at number 15 – between Mario Kart Wii and Wii Fit/Plus.

Given how it took Stardew 2 years to go from 20 to 30 million, it appears as though on the eve of the game’s 10th anniversary, sales have only continued to rise at an ever-increasing rate.

It will be interesting to see just how quickly the game manages to reach the exclusive 50 million club.

KitGuru says: What do you think of the game almost 10 years later? Are you one of the 40+ million? How much longer will it take to reach 50 million copies sold? Let us know down below.

The post Stardew Valley becomes one of the best-selling games of all time first appeared on KitGuru.

For the final weeks of 2024, Epic is giving away a different game for free every 24 hours. Right now, all those with an Epic account can get their hands on the recently-released isometric roguelike from the studio behind The Callisto Protocol – [REDACTED].

Available to add to your library for free from now until 4PM UK Time (on the 31st of December), [REDACTED] is “A fast-action isometric roguelike [in which] a shadowy agent watches Black Iron Prison spiral into chaos. As one of the last guards, fight through monsters, rivals, and reanimated corpses of your fellow guards to escape the penitentiary alive.”

Released just a couple months ago on the 31st of October, the game was received well by critics and even more so by players, with particular praise being given to the game’s combat and art style.

As mentioned, you have until 4PM UK time to claim the game, at which point it will be replaced by an as-of-yet-unknown title – though given the fact that it will be the final free game of the year, expect it to be rather substantial.

KitGuru says: What do you think of the past two weeks of free games? Which has been your favourite? How many free games did you claim in 2024? Let us know down below.

The post Callisto Protocol devs’ roguelike [REDACTED] is free on the Epic Games Store first appeared on KitGuru.

AMD's upcoming Radeon RX 9070 XT is back in the rumour mill, with fresh leaks suggesting a power-hungry design and a potential return to a triple 8-pin power connector configuration.

Benchlife (via VideoCardz) recently reported on rumours surrounding the power consumption of AMD's next-generation RDNA 4 graphics cards, specifically the RX 9070 series. The leaks suggest that the RX 9070 XT and RX 9070 will have a Total Board Power (TBP) of around 260W for reference designs, with custom models potentially reaching up to 330W.

The report also claims that AMD will not be mandating using the new 12VHPWR (12V-2×6) power connector for its RX 9000 series. This differs from Nvidia's approach with its RTX 40 series (and probably the RTX 50 series, too), which adopted the 12VHPWR connector and continues to do so, even after the melting connector issues that plagued the RTX 4090's launch. Instead of the 12VHPWR connector, Benchlife suggests that the Radeon RX 9070 XT might feature three 8-pin power connectors as most RX 7900 series cards do.

However, this doesn't necessarily mean we won't see any RX 9000 series cards with the new connector. For example, ASRock demonstrated that it's possible to implement it on AMD's GPUs by launching some RX 7000 series cards with the 12VHPWR connector.

AMD is expected to announce the new GPUs at CES 2025 and launch them in late January. As such, we won't have to wait much longer to confirm what power connectors the new cards will use.

KitGuru says: If you had to choose a Radeon RX 9070 series graphics card, would it matter to you what type of power connector it uses? If so, which would you prefer?

The post AMD Radeon RX 9070 graphics cards to stick with 8-pin power connectors first appeared on KitGuru.

Intel's new Graphics Software has arrived with a surprising omission: the “Studio” tab, which housed streaming and recording features in the previous Arc Control software. According to Intel, this feature has been removed due to low user usage.

This decision has left many users scratching their heads, especially considering the growing popularity of game streaming and content creation. The Studio tab in Arc Control provided a convenient hub for broadcasting gameplay to various platforms, utilising AI-powered camera features, and creating shareable highlight reels.

In response to a user query (via Reddit), Intel confirmed the removal, stating that the Studio features saw “very low user usage” and that many of these functionalities are already available in third-party applications like OBS, Steam, and Windows GameBar.

While these alternative solutions offer similar features, removing integrated streaming and recording tools from Intel's software seems a step backwards. Many users appreciate the convenience and streamlined workflow of having these features readily available within a unified platform, similar to how Nvidia has it on the App. Intel's suggestion to rely on third-party apps might create unnecessary hurdles for less tech-savvy users or those new to streaming and content creation. While a powerful tool, OBS can be daunting for beginners, and Steam and GameBar offer basic recording capabilities but lack the Arc Control Studio feature set.

It's worth noting that Intel hasn't completely ruled out the possibility of resurrecting these features in the future, stating that they might reconsider if there's enough user demand.

KitGuru says: Do you take advantage of built-in streaming features like those offered by the Studio tab of Arc Control? Do you think Intel's new Graphics Software should have them?

The post Intel’s new graphics software removes ‘Studio’ recording and streaming features first appeared on KitGuru.

Get ready for a wave of new motherboard options early next year, with Intel gearing up to launch its B860 and H810 chipsets while AMD is getting ready to launch the B840 and B850 chipsets. With these chipsets, both brands will offer a more affordable entry point for users building with their latest platforms.

These mid-range motherboards will bridge the gap between the existing flagship chipsets (Intel Z890 and AMD X870(E)) and the previous generation, providing a compelling option for budget-conscious gamers and system builders. While AMD already offers a wide range of X670 and B650 motherboards for its AM5 platform, the new B850 and B840 chipsets will provide a refreshed option for those seeking the latest features and potentially more refined designs.

On the other hand, Intel currently lacks a mid-range option for its LGA-1851 platform and its new Core Ultra 200 non-K series processors. The B860 and H810 chipsets will address this gap, providing a more affordable option for budget-minded gamers and users who don't require the high-end features of the Z890 chipset.

According to the Board Channels forum (via VideoCardz), Intel's B860 and H810 motherboards will be announced on January 7th and launched on January 13th. AMD's B850 and B840 boards are also expected to be announced on January 7th, but a launch on January 15th.

KitGuru says: Interested in any of Intel or AMD's new chipsets? If so, it looks like you won't have to wait much longer to get your hands on one of these.

The post Intel B860 and H810 and AMD B850 and B840 motherboards planned for January launch first appeared on KitGuru.

Intel's upcoming Arrow Lake-H mobile processors are showing their strength in leaked Geekbench benchmark results. New Geekbench entries of Core Ultra 5 225H, 255H, and 285H have surfaced online, offering a more optimistic glimpse of the performance gains expected from Intel's next-generation laptop CPUs.

The first Geekbench entries of the Arrow Lake-H processors were found around November. These results were underwhelming, showing minor gains over the current solutions. However, the new Geekbench scores shared by VideoCardz are more promising, showing significant improvements over what Intel has available today.

These new processors continue Intel's hybrid architecture approach, combining “Lion Cove” P-cores with “Skymont” E-cores. The Core Ultra 5 225H features 14 cores (4 P-cores + 10 E-cores) with a boost clock of up to 5.0 GHz. The Core Ultra 7 255H steps up to 16 cores (6 P-cores + 10 E-cores) with a 5.1 GHz boost clock. The flagship Core Ultra 9 285H has the same core configuration as the 255H but pushes the boost clock to an impressive 5.4 GHz.

The Core Ultra 9 285H, the only 45W TDP SKU in the lineup, demonstrates a massive performance advantage over the Core Ultra 7 185H, scoring 3,104 points in the single-core test (24% faster) and 18,006 points in the multi-core test (29% faster). Similarly, the Core Ultra 7 255H outperforms the Core Ultra 7 155H by a decent margin, achieving 2880 points in single-core (20% faster) and 15,815 in multi-core (28% faster). Lastly, the Core Ultra 5 225H was also considerably faster than its predecessor, the Core Ultra 5 125H. In this case, the upcoming Core Ultra 5 processor was 16% faster in single-core (2665 points) and 27% faster in multi-core (14526 points).

Intel's Arrow Lake.-H processors are expected to be announced on January 6th during Intel's CES 2025 keynote, where we hope to learn more about the upcoming CPUs.

KitGuru says: Will Intel's Arrow Lake-H laptop platform be more successful than the Arrow Lake-S desktop CPUs?

The post Intel Core Ultra 225H, 255H and 285H benchmarks shows promising performance uplift first appeared on KitGuru.

Asus's next-generation ROG NUC, packed with Intel's latest Core Ultra 200H series processors and Nvidia's upcoming RTX 50 series GPUs, has been prematurely revealed in a leaked teaser video.

According to Tom's Hardware, the video was posted on Asus's social media channels before being removed. Fortunately, Weibo user 孤城Hardware was able to take some screenshots of the video before it was taken down. The teaser showcased the redesigned ROG NUC 2025, sporting a more angular and boxier aesthetic than its predecessor and a larger cooling fan.

Image credit: 孤城Hardware

The ROG NUC 2025 will reportedly be powered by a high-end Intel Core Ultra 200H series CPU, the successor to the Core Ultra 100H (155H and 185H) found in the ROG NUC 2024. The leak also claims that the new system will feature an Nvidia RTX 50 series Laptop GPU, likely the RTX 5060 or the RTX 5070.

The ROG NUC 2025 is expected to be officially announced at CES 2025. Like its predecessor, it is positioned as a premium mini-PC, meaning it probably won't come cheap. The 2024 ROG NUC launched at $2,000, and with an RTX 50 series GPU and a new Intel CPU, the 2025 model is likely to be similarly priced, if not more expensive.

KitGuru says: Would you prefer a ROG NUC or spend the same and build a compact PC yourself?

The post Asus is reportedly launching a ROG NUC powered by Core Ultra 200H and RTX 50 first appeared on KitGuru.

Intel is reportedly planning to launch Arc Pro Battlemage graphics cards with 24 GB of VRAM. These new cards will replace the current Arc Pro A-series cards, which come with up to 12 GB of VRAM.

According to Quantum Bits (via @harukaze5719), Intel is developing a 24 GB version of its Arc Battlemage GPU to be part of the Arc Pro series, Intel's GPU series aimed at AI and productivity workloads. The report suggests that the 24 GB Arc Pro model will be based on the same BGM-G21 GPU as the B580, potentially with higher-density memory modules or a modified PCB design to accommodate the increased memory capacity.

This substantial increase in VRAM, from 12 GB on the Arc Pro A60 to 24 GB on the upcoming Battlemage Pro GPU, could significantly benefit AI inference workloads, particularly for large language models and Gen-AI applications. Intel has been investing in AI tools and technologies, such as its new AI Playground, which allows users to generate images from text prompts. A 24 GB Arc PRO card could provide the necessary memory capacity to accelerate these AI workloads and enhance creative workflows.

The report indicates that the 24 GB Arc Pro model will be aimed at edge computing, the education sector, scientific research, developers, and data centres. However, Intel has other series targeting the latter, namely the Data Center GPU Flex series, which includes the Flex 140 and the Flex 170.

Unfortunately, there's no information on the release date or full specifications of this 24 GB Arc Pro Battlemage GPU, but that may change soon with CES 2025 right around the corner.

KitGuru says: Do you think Intel Battlemage GPUs will have what it takes to triumph in the professional market?

The post Intel expected to launch Arc Pro “Battlemage” GPUs with 24GB of VRAM first appeared on KitGuru.

The latest drive to join Samsung's family of SSDs is the SSD990 EVO Plus, a Gen 4 x4 drive with a DRAM-less design that can also run at Gen 5.0 x2 speeds.

At the time of writing this review, the SSD990 EVO Plus drive range consists of three capacities; 1TB, 2TB (the drive we are looking at here) and a flagship 4TB model. At the heart of the SSD990 EVO Plus is an in-house Samsung Piccolo controller which is a four-channel DRAM-less design using HMB (Host Memory Buffer) technology instead of a dedicated DRAM chip. For the EVO Plus the controller looks after Samsung's own eighth generation 236 Layer V-NAND TLC Flash.

Samsung rates the Sequential read performance of the range as up to 7,150MB/s for the 1TB drive while the 2TB and 4TB drives are up to 7,250MB/s. Sequential write performance is the same up to 6,300MB/s for all three models. Random performance is quoted as up to 850,000 IOPS and 1,350,000 IOPS for read and writes respectively for the 1TB drive, 1,000,000 IOPS and 1,350,000 IOPS  for the 2TB drive and up to 1,050,00 IOPS for reads and up to 1,400,000 IOPS for writes for the 4TB drive.

Power consumption for the 2TB model is quoted as 4.6W and 4.2W for average active reads and writes respectively. The TBW endurance figure for the 2TB drive is 1,200TB and Samsung backs the drive with a 5-year warranty.

Physical Specifications:
Usable Capacities: 2TB.
NAND Components: Samsung 236 Layer V-NAND.
NAND Controller: Samsung Piccolo.
Cache: N/A, HMB technology.
Interface: PCIe Gen 4 x4 / Gen 5 x2, NVMe 2.0.
Form Factor: M.2 2280.
Dimensions: 80.15 x 22.15 x 2.38mm.
Drive Weight: 9g.

Firmware Version: 1B2QKXG7.

The post Samsung SSD 990 EVO Plus 2TB SSD Review first appeared on KitGuru.

The Festive period getting a bit much for you? family doing your head in ?- then relax with us today as we build a PC for you – without any words.

Build Specification

• CPU – Intel Core Ultra 7 265K
• Motherboard – MSI MPG Z890 Edge Ti WIFI
• Graphics Card – INNO3D RTX 4080 Super X3 OC White
• Memory – 48GB (2 x 24GB modules) G.SKILL Trident Z5 CK RGB DDR5-8200
• Storage – 1 TB Corsair MP700 PCIe Gen4 NVMe M.2 SSD
• CPU Cooler – Lian Li GA II LCD 360mm White
• Power Supply – Seasonic FOCUS GX White ATX 3 (2024) 100W
• Case fans – Lian Li UNIFAN TL Wireless (LED/LCD)
• Chassis – Lian Li O11 Vision Compact
• Operating System – Windows 11
• Case – Lian Li O11 Vision Compact

Kitguru says: We hope you managed to get 30 minutes to yourself to sit and enjoy the PC build with James Dawson. Thanks for all your support in 2024, and we look forward to seeing you soon in 2025.

The post SILENT PC BUILD – Lian Li O11 Vision UNIFAN TL Wireless Fans Build first appeared on KitGuru.

For the last day of the KitGuru Advent Calendar we have teamed up with Overclockers UK to offer up a huge selection of prizes. Over new years, you can enter to win one of two bundles, one including a gaming chair and high-end PC case, and another including a case and a full bundle of Streamplify gear. 

There are TWO bundles up for grabs in our competition today. Here is everything included:

Bundle 1:

• HAVN HS420 VGPU Premium Mid Tower Case
• noblechairs HERO Black Edition 

Bundle 2:

• APNX Creator C1 Chassis
• Streamplify Streaming Deck One + USB Hub
• Streamplify Mic PRO RGB
• Streamplify 4K Webcam

Overall, this is a great set of prizes for someone wanting to make the jump into content creation, or those who just want to rebuild their setup with a high-end case and one of the nicest gaming chairs on the market.

 

HOW TO ENTER:

Entering this giveaway is simple, all you need to do is head over to THIS POST on our Facebook page and leave a comment. We plan to have a new discussion topic each day, today we are asking you guys to tell us – What was your favourite game of 2024?

This competition is open in the UK and EU.

The winner will be picked randomly shortly after 11AM GMT January 1st. The chosen winner has 48 hours to respond, if we do not hear from them, a new winner will be picked.

Terms and Conditions: This competition is open in the UK and EU, starting at 11AM GMT on December 30th and ending at 10:59AM GMT on January 1st. Due to the busy Christmas season, prize deliveries could take longer than usual, and some prizes may not ship until January. In compliance with GDPR, we will not collect or store any personal information as part of this competition. Once the winner has been contacted and their prize received, personal details will be deleted from our email servers. Your details will not be shared, we respect your privacy.

KitGuru Says: Good luck to all entering – we'll be back tomorrow to announce the winners. 

The post LAST DAY: Win one of TWO PC gaming bundles! first appeared on KitGuru.

Update: This competition is CLOSED. Our winners are Samuel Hyron, Simon Deobald, Malcom Newman. Our final competition of the month can be found HERE. 

For Day 29 of the KitGuru Advent Calendar we have teamed up with FSP to give THREE lucky readers a new CPU cooler and power supply bundle. Three winners today will get an FSP Vita GM 850W PSU and an FSP MP7 CPU Cooler. 

We reviewed the VITA GM 850W PSU back in August, praising this unit for its efficiency, quality modular cables and high-quality components. The MP7 CPU cooler is a new product in FSP's arsenal, featuring a dual-tower heatsink and dual fans to keep your CPU temperatures low.

HOW TO ENTER:

Entering this giveaway is simple, all you need to do is head over to THIS POST on our Facebook page and leave a comment. We plan to have a new discussion topic each day, today we are asking you guys to tell us – How many Watts is your current power supply?

This competition is open in the UK and EU, North America, Asia and ANZ.

The winner will be picked randomly shortly after 11AM GMT December 30th, and a new competition will also be announced for Day 30. The chosen winner has 48 hours to respond, if we do not hear from them, a new winner will be picked.

Terms and Conditions: This competition is open in the UK and EU, North America, Asia and ANZ., starting at 11AM GMT on December 29th and ending at 10:59AM GMT on December 30th. Due to the busy Christmas season, prize deliveries could take longer than usual, and some prizes may not ship until January. In compliance with GDPR, we will not collect or store any personal information as part of this competition. Once the winner has been contacted and their prize received, personal details will be deleted from our email servers. Your details will not be shared, we respect your privacy.

KitGuru Says: Good luck to all entering – we'll be back tomorrow to announce the winners. 

 

The post KitGuru Advent Calendar Day 29: Win one of THREE FSP Power Supply and CPU cooler bundles! (CLOSED) first appeared on KitGuru.

The Z7 Plus is the second mini PC from ECS that I’ve reviewed here at KitGuru, following the Z5 Plus we looked at back in April 2024. This newer model features an Intel Core Ultra 5 125H CPU, 16GB of DDR5 memory running at 5600MT/s and a 256GB M.2 SSD – all packaged in a chassis measuring just 115 x 115x  55mm. Today we take a look at how this tiny machine stacks up against the competition.

Timestamps

00:00 Start
00:37 Hardware Specification
03:11 SSD performance
03:28 Connectivity
05:01 Physical Size and Design
06:06 Windows 11 Pro
06:44 Testing Methodology
06:56 Cinebench R23 Multi core
07:10 A close up look at CPU performance
07:51 Cinebench R23 Single core
08:22 3DMark TimeSpy
08:55 AIDA64 Memory Bandwidth
09:29 Counter Strike 2
09:57 Fortnite
10:44 Premiere Pro
11:04 Power, Noise and Thermals
12:24 Closing thoughts

Specifications:

• CPU
  • Intel® Core Ultra 7 processor 155H
  • Intel® Core Ultra 5 processor 125H
• Memory – Support 2 x SO-DIMM DDR5 5600MHz up to 96GB
• Storage Devices
  • 1 x M.2 2280 Key M NVMe SSD PCIE x4 Gen4
  • 1 x M.2 2242 Key M NVMe SSD PCIE x4 Gen4
• Networking
  • 1 x Intel i226-V 2.5G LAN
  • 1 x Intel i219V 1.0G LAN
• USB
  • 3 x USB 3.2 Gen 2×1 (Front I/O)
  • 1 x USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 Type-C (Front I/O)
  • 1 x USB 2.0 (Front I/O)
  • 2 x USB 4.0 Gen 3×2 Type-C (to DP) (REAR I/O)
  • 2 x USB 2.0 (REAR I/O)
• Video Output / Input
  • 2 x HDMI ( HDMI port w/ CEC function)
  • 2 x USB Type-C DisplayPort
• Wireless
  • 1 x WLAN 802.11ax
• Power
  • 1 x AC 20V / 120W
• Dimensions (mm)
  • 115 x 115 x 50.6mm
• OS Support
  • Windows® 11
  • Linux

You can purchase the Liva Z7 Plus starting at £480 from iCubes in the UK HERE.

Pros:

• Good build quality.
• Room for additional storage.
• Nice and quiet.
• 9 total USB ports, 5 of which are located on the front of the case.

Cons:

• CPU gets very hot when under load.
• Not yet widely stocked.

KitGuru says: The Z7 Plus is an improvement over the Z5 Plus and delivers solid performance considering the price. Although CPU temperature when under load is a concern. 

The post ECS Liva Z7 Plus Mini PC Review (Core Ultra 5 125H) first appeared on KitGuru.

AMD's upcoming Ryzen Z2 Go APU might not be available on as many consoles as the other Ryzen Z2 chips. According to a recent report, AMD's Ryzen Z2 Go is exclusive to the upcoming Lenovo Legion Go S handheld.

Renowned leaker Golden Pig Upgrade (via @Olrak29_) has revealed that the Ryzen Z2 Go will be a budget-focused APU designed exclusively for Lenovo's upcoming handheld gaming device. That, however, doesn't mean AMD won't launch a new AMD APU with similar specs and name it differently so other manufacturers can use it.

The Z2 Go, based on AMD's “Rembrandt-R” silicon (found in the Ryzen 7035 series), will reportedly feature a quad-core Zen 3+ CPU and an RDNA 2-based 12-CU iGPU. While this configuration might seem modest compared to AMD's latest architectures, it's a strategic move to cater to the budget-conscious handheld market. Interestingly, the Z2 Go doesn't have a direct equivalent in AMD's existing Rembrandt or Rembrandt-R lineup. Based on its specifications, it's likely to offer 8 MB of L3 cache and 2 MB of L2 cache, along with support for LPDDR5X-6400 memory.

This focus on affordability aligns with Lenovo's strategy for the Legion Go S, which is expected to be a more budget-friendly alternative to the original Legion Go. By partnering with AMD to create a custom APU, Lenovo can offer a compelling price-to-performance ratio for its new handheld.

KitGuru says: Do you think the Lenovo Legion Go S handheld has a chance of succeeding in the market?

The post AMD Ryzen Z2 Go is a custom chip, seemingly exclusive to the Lenovo Legion Go S first appeared on KitGuru.