TechPowerUP NEWS

[NextPowerUP]

Days Gone Remastered rides onto PlayStation 5 and PC April 25, 2025! A game nearest and dearest to our hearts, with our good partners at Climax Studios, we strived to make this the definitive way to play Days Gone for new and returning players. Step into the dirt flecked shoes of former outlaw biker Deacon St. John and feel his desperate struggle for survival in a brutal open world ravaged by feral creatures known as Freakers. We at Bend Studio are very excited to share our first look at Days Gone Remastered with our announcement trailer, giving you a sneak peek of brand-new content to play!

Built for the PS5
Days Gone Remastered is brought to new life by the PlayStation 5 console featuring improved graphical fidelity, increased foliage draw distance, improved shadow and lighting quality, Tempest 3D Audio, VRR support and more. Select your preferred playing experience between Quality mode for increased resolution or Performance mode for improved framerates. And with the added power of the PS5 Pro, Days Gone has truly never looked better on PlayStation!
Read full story

More...

[NextPowerUP]

Synopsys, Inc. today announced the expansion of its industry-leading hardware-assisted verification (HAV) portfolio with new HAPS prototyping and ZeBu emulation systems using the latest AMD Versal Premium VP1902 adaptive SoC. The next generation HAPS-200 prototyping and ZeBu-200 emulation systems deliver improved runtime performance, better compile time and improved debug productivity. They are built on new Synopsys Emulation and Prototyping (EP-Ready) Hardware that optimizes customer return on investment by enabling emulation and prototyping use cases via reconfiguration and optimized software. ZeBu Server 5 is enhanced to deliver industry-leading scalability beyond 60 billion gates (BG) to address the escalating hardware and software complexity in SoC and multi-die designs. It continues to offer industry-best density to optimize data center space utilization.

"With the industry approaching 100s of billions of gates per chip and 100s of millions of lines of software code in SoC and multi-die solutions, verification of advanced designs poses never-before seen challenges," said Ravi Subramanian, chief product management officer, Synopsys. "Continuing our strong partnership with AMD, our new systems deliver the highest HAV performance while offering the ultimate flexibility between prototyping and emulation use. Industry leaders are adopting Synopsys EP-Ready Hardware platforms for silicon to system verification and validation."
Read full story

More...

[NextPowerUP]

Late last month, an AMD "How to Sell" Ryzen AI MAX series guide appeared online—contents provided an early preview of the Radeon 8060S iGPU's prowess in 1080p gaming environments. Team Red seemed to have some swagger in their step; they claimed that their forthcoming "RDNA 3.5" integrated graphics solution was up to 68% faster than NVIDIA's discrete GeForce RTX 4070 Mobile GPU (subjected to thermal limits). Naturally, first-party/internal documentation should be treated with a degree of skepticism—the PC hardware community often relies on (truly) independent sources to form opinions. A Chinese leaker has procured a pre-release laptop that features a "Zen 5" AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 395 processor. By Wednesday evening, the tester presented benchmark results on the Tieba Baidu forums.

The leaker uploaded a screenshot from a 3DMark Time Spy session. No further insights were shared via written text. On-screen diagnostics pointed to a "Radeon 8050S" GPU, and the CPU being an "AMD Eng Sample: 100-000001243-50_Y." Wccftech double-checked this information; they believe that the OPN ID corresponds to a: "Ryzen AI MAX+ 395 with the Radeon 8060S, instead of the AMD Radeon 8050S iGPU...The difference between the two is that the Radeon 8060S packs the full 40 Compute Units while the Radeon 8050S is configured with 32 Compute Units. The CPU for each iGPU is also different and the one tested here packs 16 Zen 5 cores instead of the 12 Zen 5 cores featured on the Ryzen AI MAX 390." According to the NDA-busting screenshot, Team Red's Ryzen AI MAX+ 395 engineering sample racked up an overall score of 9006 in 3DMark Time Spy. Its graphics score tally came in at 10,106, while its CPU scored 5571 points. The alleged Radeon 8060S iGPU managed to pull in just under NVIDIA's GeForce RTX 4060 Mobile dGPU (average) score of 10,614. The plucky RDNA 3.5 40 CU iGPU seems to outperform a somewhat related sibling; the Radeon RX 7600M XT dGPU (with 32 RDNA 3 CUs) scored 8742 points. Radeon 8060S trails the desktop Radeon RX 7600 GPU by 884 points.

Read full story

More...

[NextPowerUP]

ASUS's Republic of Gamers China account on Weibo has teased the ROG Magic X mobile device that combines laptop/tablet form with a detachable keyboard. Inside, the device is powered by AMD Ryzen AI MAX+ SoC, which ASUS called a "three-in-one" chip, mainly due to its CPU, NPU, and iGPU combination. One possible SKU for ROG Magic X is AMD's top-end Ryzen AI MAX+ 395 processor. Carrying 16 "Zen 5" cores and 32 threads, the chip is designed for AI-enhanced laptops with 126 combined TOPS of AI processing power. The Ryzen AI MAX+ 395 features 64 MB of L3 cache and operates at a base clock of 3 GHz, with boost capabilities up to 5.1 GHz, depending on workload conditions. Manufactured on TSMC's 4 nm process node, the processor maintains a modest 55 W TDP, suitable for high-performance mobile systems. The chip includes support for ECC memory and PCIe Gen 5. It integrates the Radeon 8060S solution based on RDNA 3.5 architecture for graphics.

We are yet to see more details about the ROG Magic X, but with the arrival of AMD Ryzen AI MAX+, we assume this machine will result in a powerful gaming device for users on the go. More details are expected on February 25, when ASUS plans to showcase it. Pricing and availability are also expected to follow soon after.

More...

[NextPowerUP]

Thanks to some early 3D Mark benchmarks obtained by VideoCardz, NVIDIA's upcoming GeForce RTX 5070 Ti GPU paints an interesting picture of performance gains over the predecessor. Testing conducted with AMD's Ryzen 7 9800X3D processor and 48 GB of DDR5-6000 memory has provided the first glimpse into the card's capabilities. The new GPU demonstrates a 16.6% performance improvement over its predecessor, the RTX 4070 Ti SUPER. However, benchmark data shows it is falling short of the more expensive RTX 5080 by 13.2%, raising questions about the price-to-performance ratio given the $250 price difference between the two cards. Priced at $749 MSRP, the RTX 5070 Ti could be even pricier in retail channels at launch, especially with limited availability. The card's positioning becomes particularly interesting compared to the RTX 5080's $999 price point, which commands a 33% premium for its additional performance capabilities.

As a reminder, the RTX 5070 Ti boasts 8,960 CUDA cores, 280 texture units, 70 RT cores for ray tracing, and 280 tensor cores for AI computations, all supported by 16 GB of GDDR7 memory running at 28 Gbps effective speed across a 256-bit bus interface, resulting in an 896 GB/s bandwidth. We have to wait for proper reviews for the final performance conclusion, as synthetic benchmarks tell only part of the story. Modern gaming demands consideration of advanced features such as ray tracing and upscaling technologies, which can significantly impact real-world performance. The true test will come from comprehensive gaming benchmarks tested over various cases. The gaming community won't have to wait long for detailed analysis, as official reviews will be reportedly released in just a few days. Additional evaluations of non-MSRP versions should follow on February 20, the card's launch date.

More...

[NextPowerUP]

According to sources close to the Wall Street Journal, Intel is weighing preliminary acquisition offers that could split the company into two parts: product and foundry. TSMC and Broadcom are independently exploring deals that would divide Intel's chip design and manufacturing operations. Broadcom has initiated informal discussions regarding Intel's chip design and marketing divisions, while TSMC is considering assembling an investor consortium to acquire Intel's facilities. This solution is improbable, as Intel's fabs are strategically one of the most critical aspects of the US semiconductor supply chain. Intel manufactures custom chips for the US Department of Defense; hence, having a foreign owner of fabs is not acceptable. The news about the acquisition comes as Intel grapples with manufacturing setbacks, including a total $13.4 billion loss in its foundry segment during 2024 and a significant erosion of market share in the AI processor market.

The acquisition talks face substantial regulatory hurdles, particularly regarding national security concerns. The US government has signaled resistance to foreign ownership of Intel's domestic manufacturing capabilities, which are deemed strategically vital to American technological sovereignty. This could particularly impact TSMC's bid for Intel's plants despite the Taiwanese company's position as the world's leading contract chipmaker. Intel's vulnerability to acquisition follows a series of strategic missteps under former leadership, including delayed manufacturing innovations and an increasing reliance on government subsidies for facility expansion. The company's share price has declined 60% from its 2021 highs amid these challenges, attracting potential buyers despite the complexity of any potential deal structure. Successful execution would require navigating both regulatory approval and the practical difficulties of disaggregating Intel's deeply integrated design and manufacturing operations.

More...

[NextPowerUP]

Welcome to another week of new game releases and this week's AAA title takes place in the same world as Pillars of Eternity, for those that were a fan of that game from a decade ago. If RPG games aren't your cup of tea, how about a face full of Norwegian snow, or maybe the summer of 1995? How about some equestrian challenges, some pirate ninjas or maybe something a bit more dystopian? If so, we got the games for you this week.

Avowed / This week's AAA title / Tuesday 18 February
Avowed is a first-person fantasy RPG set in the world of Eora, where your choices carve a path through war, intrigue, and ancient mysteries. Navigate a land in turmoil, forge powerful alliances or deadly rivalries, and wield magic and steel to shape the fate of the Living Lands—and your own destiny. Steam link
Read full story

More...

[NextPowerUP]

We live in crazy times, that's for sure. We have already witnessed a plethora of listings for AMD's RX 9070 and RX 9070 XT GPUs - both set to hit shelves early next month - indicating a decent value proposition compared to NVIDIA's RTX 5070 family, if the leaks and rumors are anything to go by. More recently, as spotted by @momomo_us, Amazon briefly listed a bunch of RX 9070 and 9070 XT cards from XFX. The pricing details are as follows:

• XFX Swift AMD Radeon RX 9070 OC - $649.99
• XFX Swift AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT - $749.99
• XFX Quicksilver AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT - $769.99
• XFX Mercury AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT OC - $819.99
• XFX Mercury AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT OC Magnetic Air Edition - $849.99

Read full story

More...

[NextPowerUP]

The ASUS NUC 13 Pro lineup of mini PCs has been around for a while, and has now been updated with new Raptor Lake-H CPU options. There do not appear to be any other improvements or changes to the systems, with the product continuing to be available in "tall" and "slim" variants. As one might expect, the tall variant has room for a 2.5-inch drive, while the slim variant relies solely on M.2 storage. Both the systems can be equipped with up to 64 GB of DDR4-3200 memory courtesy of dual SO-DIMM slots, and storage requirements are taken care of by an M.2 2280 PCIe 4.0x4, as well as an M.2 2242 PCIe 3.0x1 slot.

In terms of CPU options, the NUC 13 Pro mini PC lineup will now be available with the Core i5-13420H, and the Core i7-13620H. Both are 45-watt units, although the i7 variant sports two additional 'Golden Cove' performance cores allowing for a ~35% increase in multicore performance. The i7 also sports a substantially faster iGPU with 64 EUs (vs 48), although the Intel UHD iGPUs found in the Raptor Lake-H chips were never that powerful to begin with. The port selection has remained the same, boasting dual Thunderbolt 4, dual HDMI 2.1, triple USB 3.2 Gen 2, single USB 2.0, audio jack, and a 2.5G Ethernet port. Prices start at $455 for the NUC 13 Pro slim barebones variant with the Core i7-13620H according to B&H Photo Video's listing, and increase based on the chosen configuration.

More...

[NextPowerUP]

It would be safe to state that the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 and RTX 5080 launch was anything but ideal. Gamers had to deal with whacky NVIDIA marketing material with absurd performance claims, followed by disappointing generational improvement for the RTX 5080, only to be left dealing with abysmal supply leading to obscene shortages and scalper-induced price inflation. However, it does seem like things are about to take a positive turn - NVIDIA is rumored to have ramped up production for its GB202 GPU, which the RTX 5090 is based on, according to a reliable source.

Spotted by VideoCardz, MEGAsizeGPU has claimed that the supply for the GeForce RTX 5090 GPU will soon be "stupidly high", which is absolute music to our ears. In a reply thread, the source further claimed that at least one AIB partner already has "tons of cards", which sure does paint a promising picture for the future. As such, the source expects that the supply will reach customers in about a month, which is to be expected since production has been cranked only recently. Apparently, demand for the GB200 GPU has been lower than usual, forcing NVIDIA to switch to producing GeForce GPUs instead. Of course, the margins for the gaming GPUs are lower, but the production capacity has to go somewhere.
Read full story

More...

[NextPowerUP]

Recent rumors hinted at a 32 GB variant of the Radeon RX 9070 XT being in the works, which were quickly dismissed as false information by AMD's Frank Azor. However, reliable sources seem to point to the contrary, stating that a 32 GB variant of the RX 9070 XT, likely dubbed the RX 9070 XTX, is under active development indeed. The source, as pointed out by Wccftech, has a decent track record with AMD-related claims, which sure does add weight to the assertion. Unlike previous XTX-class cards from AMD, which boasted higher clock speeds and core counts, the 9070 XTX is almost certain to feature the same core count as the XT, since the latter already utilizes the full Navi 48 chip - unless, of course, there is an even higher-end chip under wraps.

The VRAM amount seems to indicate that the card will likely be positioned to appease AI enthusiasts. There is also the possibility that the rumored card will be launched under a different branding entirely, although that is not what the post at Chiphell states. Interestingly, Frank Azor did specifically mention that a 32 GB "RX 9070 XT" card is not on the horizon - he did not state that a higher-end XTX card isn't either, which sure does leave room for us to speculate. Benchlife has also chimed in on the matter, claiming that they are aware of AIB partners working on a 32 GB RDNA 4 card with the Navi 48 GPU, which in some ways, confirms the information that came out of Chiphell. The RDNA 4 cards are set to see the light of day soon enough, it seems the wait won't be much longer. However, if the 32 GB card is indeed in the pipeline, it's likely still further down the road.

More...

[NextPowerUP]

AMD is readying two important client segment processors powered by the next-generation "Zen 6" microarchitecture, according to a sensational new report by Moore's Law is Dead. These are the "Medusa Point" mobile processor, and the "Olympic Ridge" desktop. The former is a BGA roughly the size and Z-Height of the current "Strix Point," but the latter is being designed for the existing Socket AM5, making it the third (and probably final) microarchitecture to do so. If you recall, Socket AM4 served three generations of Zen, not counting the refreshed "Zen+." At the heart of the effort is a new CPU complex die (CCD) that AMD plans to use across its client and server lineup.

The "Zen 6" performance CCD is being designed for a 3 nm-class node, likely the TSMC N3E. This node promises a significant increase in transistor density, power, and clock speed improvements over the current TSMC N4P node being used to build the "Zen 5" CCD. Here's where it gets interesting. The CCD contains twelve full-sized "Zen 6" cores, marking the first increase in core-counts of AMD's performance cores since its very first "Zen" CCD. All 12 of these cores are part of a single CPU core complex (CCX), and share a common L3 cache. There could be a proportionate increase in cache size to 48 MB. AMD is also expected to improve the way the CCDs communicate with the I/O die and among each other.
Read full story

More...

[NextPowerUP]

According to a recent report, Apple has apparently finalized on a partner to bring Apple Intelligence features to its second-largest market, China. Of course, China has strict regulations in place, which have clearly turned out to be rather difficult to navigate for Apple. Previous leaks have revealed that a Deepseek partnership was on the cards for the Cupertino giant, although that did not lead to fruition, with Apple settling for Alibaba as its primary partner. As MacRumors notes, Alibaba will function as a censorship layer of sorts, thereby complying with government-directed filtering and information control. Basically, if the Chinese government deems a certain kind of information inappropriate in any way, it can simply direct Alibaba to have it removed and not served again.

Baidu, Safari's default search engine in China, will function as a secondary partner, aiding Apple Intelligence's 'Visual Intelligence' features. If things go to plan, the AI features should roll out in China sometime towards the middle of this year. Apple Intelligence has faced quite a contentious launch, having struggled with multiple delays and widespread criticism regarding not only the real-world efficacy and usefulness of its features, but also the multiple times that its AI-generated notifications have wildly misrepresented real-life events. The report further states that iPhones sold outside of China will not have access to the China-specific AI system, which is to be expected. It is yet to be seen how the Apple Intelligence launch plays out in China, although we should be able to find out soon enough.

More...

[NextPowerUP]

Stalkers! Major Patch 1.2 is here! We are ready to present you Patch 1.2. A massive one, with over 1700 improvements and fixes to all aspects of the game: balance, locations, quests, blockers, crashes, performance, more A-Life 2.0 fixes, you name it. This work wouldn't have been possible without your feedback and comments on your personal experience with the Zone, thanks for sharing it here on Steam, Reddit, Discord, and other socials.

Thanks for staying with the Zone! As always, we will continue to listen to your feedback and comments, and share game updates as soon as possible. If you spot an "anomaly" that is not supposed to be in the game, please report it to our colleagues in Tech Support Hub. That will help us investigate potential issues faster.
Read full story

More...

[NextPowerUP]

In an exclusive report, Laptop Mag has extracted intriguing disclosures from Intel's Robert Hallock. The company's VP and General Manager of Client AI and Technical Marketing was happy to announce that new-generation processors are lined up for inclusion within next waves of handheld gaming PCs. Industry rumors posited that things would end with Team Blue's Core Ultra "Lunar Lake" generation of APUs; as featured on the recently deployed MSI Claw 8 AI+ and Claw 7 AI+ models. First-generation devices with "Meteor Lake" chips did not disrupt the market, and struggled to keep up with AMD Ryzen Z1 chipset-based rivals. Despite negative conjecture suggesting a withdrawal, Hallock revealed that a certain department is growing in size: "Intel is beefing up its staff to support gaming ISVs who want to do handhelds."

Team Blue's fortified support network is touted to expand the market reach of portable gaming PCs; the Intel executive elaborated on this topic: "we're starting a number of internal programs to give them more assistance in targeting this performance profile because—relative to what they're accustomed to—(handhelds) are still relatively rare in terms of availability." Hallock and colleagues are diving in with a new strategy; game development studios are on the receiving end of pre-release hardware: "a lot of game devs tend to just target what they have on their desks or in their QA labs...so (we're) arming them with more handhelds as prototype devices. Getting them dev kits leading into Panther Lake."

Read full story

More...