TechPowerUP NEWS

[NextPowerUP]

Forza Horizon 5 is getting one of its biggest updates! This April, the Horizon Festival evolves with Horizon Realms. This brand-new feature will let players dig into Forza Horizon 5's history of Evolving World updates. Explore 12 fantastic Evolving World locations: 11 of the best previously limited-time locations and the premiering Stadium Track. Collect new Horizon Realms-exclusive accolades to unlock four new-to-Horizon reward cars. Revisit your favorite environments, or discover them for the first time, in Horizon Realms available for every platform on April 25!

Pre-order Forza Horizon 5 on PlayStation 5 Today!
Forza Horizon 5 is now available for pre-order ahead of its PS5 release on April 29! Visit the PlayStation Store to pre-purchase one of Forza Horizon 5's different editions. Standard Edition comes with the complete base game and its free content and features like Horizon Realms. Get access to an extra 42 cars added with Car Pass by purchasing the Deluxe Edition of Forza Horizon 5. Upgrade your adventure to the fullest with the Premium Edition. This edition comes with both Forza Horizon 5 expansions (Rally Adventure and Hot Wheels), 42 additional cars from Car Pass, VIP Membership, and extra perks that are included in the Welcome Pack.
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[NextPowerUP]

Yesterday, OpenAI introduced its "strongest" GPT-4.5 model. A research preview build is only available to paying customers—Pro-tier subscribers fork out $200 a month for early access privileges. The non-profit organization's CEO shared an update via social media post; complete with a "necessary" hyping up of version 4.5: "it is the first model that feels like talking to a thoughtful person to me. I have had several moments where I've sat back in my chair and been astonished at getting actual good advice from an AI." There are apparent performance caveats—Sam Altman proceeded to add a short addendum: "this isn't a reasoning model and won't crush benchmarks. It's a different kind of intelligence, and there's a magic to it (that) I haven't felt before. Really excited for people to try it!" OpenAI had plans to make GPT-4.5 available to its audience of "Plus" subscribers, but major hardware shortages have delayed a roll-out to the $20 per month tier.

Altman disclosed his personal disappointment: "bad news: it is a giant, expensive model. We really wanted to launch it to Plus and Pro (customers) at the same time, but we've been growing a lot and are out of GPUs. We will add tens of thousands of GPUs next week, and roll it out to the plus tier then...Hundreds of thousands coming soon, and I'm pretty sure y'all will use every one we can rack up." Insiders believe that OpenAI is finalizing a proprietary AI-crunching solution, but a rumored mass production phase is not expected to kick-off until 2026. In the meantime, Altman & Co. are still reliant on NVIDIA for new shipments of AI GPUs. Despite being a very important customer, OpenAI is reportedly not satisfied about the "slow" flow of Team Green's latest DGX B200 and DGX H200 platforms into server facilities. Several big players are developing in-house designs, in an attempt to ween themselves off prevalent NVIDIA technologies.

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[NextPowerUP]

ASRock, the leading global motherboard, graphics card and mini PC manufacturer, today launched the new Taichi, Steel Legend and Challenger series graphics cards based on AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT and Radeon RX 9070 GPUs. The new graphics cards are built-in the ultra-fast AMD RDNA 4 architecture graphics which features 3rd Gen ray tracing and 2nd Gen AI accelerators to deliver the performance you need to max out your gaming. Powered by AMD RDNA 4 architecture, the AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT GPU features 64 compute units (3rd Gen ray tracing and 2nd Gen AI accelerators), AMD HYPR-RX, AMD FidelityFX Super Resolution, DisplayPort 2.1, and PCI Express 5.0 ready. And the AMD Radeon RX 9070 features 56 compute units (3rd Gen ray tracing and 2nd Gen AI accelerators), AMD HYPR-RX, AMD FidelityFX Super Resolution, DisplayPort 2.1, and PCI Express 5.0 ready.

The AMD RDNA 4 architecture also delivers various features such as Radiance Display Engine, Fluid Motion Frames 2 technology, Radeon Anti-Lag 2 technology, AV1 Encode/Decode, AMD FidelityFX technologies and AMD Noise Suppression etc. These rich features enhance the gaming comprehensive performance of RDNA 4 and bring much powerful gaming platform to gaming users.
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[NextPowerUP]

On Feb. 28, 2025, Naga Chandrasekaran, executive vice president, chief global operations officer and general manager of Intel Foundry Manufacturing, sent a message to Intel employees in Ohio updating them on the latest planned construction completion dates for Ohio One Mod 1 and Mod 2 that are under construction in New Albany, Licking County, Ohio. I continue to be impressed by the progress you are driving on our Ohio One campus. We have come a long way since construction began, and I am grateful for all that you've accomplished to lay the groundwork for our future as we make Ohio one of the world's leading hubs of advanced semiconductor manufacturing.

Last quarter, we achieved our "go vertical" milestone when the "basement" level of the fab was completed - and work on the above-ground structure is now underway. The campus has been transformed in ways that bring Ohio's natural beauty to the site. You are also doing so much beyond our campus to support Ohioans in our neighborhood and across the state by creating education and workforce development initiatives, building local business partnerships, and volunteering and investing in the community. I am proud of the impact you are making.
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[NextPowerUP]

Traditional cybersecurity measures are proving insufficient for addressing emerging cyber threats such as malware, ransomware, phishing and data access attacks. Moreover, future quantum computers pose a security risk to today's data through "harvest now, decrypt later" attack strategies. Cybersecurity technology powered by NVIDIA accelerated computing and high-speed networking is transforming the way organizations protect their data, systems and operations. These advanced technologies not only enhance security but also drive operational efficiency, scalability and business growth.

Accelerated AI-Powered Cybersecurity
Modern cybersecurity relies heavily on AI for predictive analytics and automated threat mitigation. NVIDIA GPUs are essential for training and deploying AI models due to their exceptional computational power.
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[NextPowerUP]

AMD's proper introduction of first wave RDNA 4 graphics cards has focused on Radeon RX 9070 XT and RX 9070 models; officially due for retail release next week (March 6). Lower-end options popped up—via naming scheme material—during CES 2025, albeit with little fanfare. According to the latest reports emerging from China's tech press, AMD teased an upcoming Radeon RX 9060 Series launch. TechPowerUp's well-maintained GPU database has listed a speculative Radeon RX 9060 XT 12 GB model since early January; a fresh update has revealed the "theorized" existence of a Team Red "Navi 48 LE" GPU.

As reported earlier today, AMD rolled out a "surprise" in-person Chinese RDNA 4 event—in contrast, Western audiences have just watched an official virtual presentation. According to ITHome and VideoCardz, a Team Red representative slipped in a brief mention of the forthcoming Radeon RX 9060 Series. This announcement was made right at the tail end of the company's presentation (in China); teasing a second quarter 2025 launch window. AMD did not go into great detail—ITHome divulged the company's key goals for forthcoming Radeon RX 9060 cards: "mid-range market, focusing on cost-effectiveness, and aiming to provide high-performance/low-power solutions for 1080p and 1440p gamers." Local insiders reckon that the lower-end of AMD's RDNA 4 lineup will be downgraded with fewer computing units and a pool of 8 GB GDDR6 VRAM. ITHome's sources believe that Radeon RX 9060 TBPs are expected to be somewhere "between 150 W and 200 W." Speculated MSRP info indicates a range of $349 to $449 (USD) pricing.
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[NextPowerUP]

Take center stage and own the spotlight with the CRKD Gibson Les Paul Guitar Controller! Two exclusive editions are now available for pre-order—the LP Black Tribal Encore Edition and the LP Blueberry Burst Pro Edition. Both guitars feature the legendary Gibson Les Paul shape, reimagined as a game controller. Whether you're rocking out in Fortnite Festival, reliving classic Guitar Hero and Rock Band games, or shredding in community favorites like YARG or Clone Hero, we've redefined a legend with modern innovations built for today's rhythm gamers. From the team that developed the iconic hardware for Guitar Hero and DJ Hero, this release continues the revival of rhythm gaming like never before—bringing the band back together for a whole new era!

SHARED FEATURES
Both the LP Black Tribal Encore Edition and LP Blueberry Burst Pro Edition share advanced features with key differences in fret button and strum bar design. The Pro Edition features mechanical fret buttons (instead of standard fret buttons) and a Hall Effect Strum Bar with Haptic Feedback (instead of a mechanical strum bar). The Encore Edition includes standard fret buttons and a mechanical strum bar.
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[NextPowerUP]

News outlets have provided detailed coverage of NVIDIA's rocky launch of GeForce RTX 50-series graphics card over the past month, but the latest major problem was documented late last week. In the interim, TechPowerUp's original article has been updated six times (at the time of writing)—demonstrating the fluid nature of this sorry situation. Team Green and involved board partners—are now—acutely aware of the "missing ROPs" controversy, following an absorption of strong backlashes from frustrated owners and the larger PC gaming hardware community. Thanks to a reader's tip-off, VideoCardz has highlighted a system integrator's compelling new initiative—very likely put in place in order to avoid customer dissatisfaction.

The aforementioned VideoCardz audience member spotted an interesting new tag on CyberPowerPC's system builder webpage. The PC pre-build specialist company stated that it: "will ensure all systems equipped with GeForce RTX 5090, 5080, and 5070 Ti video cards have the correct number of ROPs before shipping". CyberPowerPC QA staffers are likely utilizing version 2.64.0 of TechPowerUp's GPU-Z tool to check for unwanted anomalies—a simple and very quick process. Industry experts believe that system integrators are taking matters into their own hands, thus avoiding complicated and time-sapping processing of RMAs. The so-called "ROPGate" scandal is expected to last for a while.

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[NextPowerUP]

Today Capcom, a leading worldwide developer and publisher of video games, released the highly anticipated co-op action RPG Monster Hunter Wilds on PlayStation 5 with PS5 Pro Enhanced support, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam (starting at MSRP $69.99). Join the Expedition Team as they journey to the Forbidden Lands in search of the mysterious "White Wraith" and unravel the mystery of this unrelenting frontier. Wield 14 iconic weapon types ranging from Great Swords to Gunlances and battle larger than life monsters uniquely adapted to their ever-changing environments. Then gather resources to craft an expansive arsenal of more powerful gear to take on even bigger challenges in your search for answers.

Venture to the Forbidden Lands
After rescuing the young boy Nata on the border of the reportedly uninhabited Forbidden Lands, the Hunter's Guild gathers its resources and forms the Forbidden Lands Expedition Team to investigate Arkveld, the mysterious "White Wraith," that attacked Nata's village. Fully voiced for the first time in the series, the player's Hunter is joined in the Expedition Team's Avis unit by Alma the Guild-appointed Handler, Gemma the reliable Smithy, and the Hunter's trusty Palico.
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[NextPowerUP]

At the heart of the Aether is Kiwi Ears' largest planar driver yet, featuring a 15.3 mm diaphragm powered by multi-layered N52 neodymium magnets. This advanced driver technology provides a headphone-like listening experience, offering enhanced output and dramatically reduced distortion compared to typical 12 mm or 14 mm planar drivers. The result is superior audio quality with exceptional resolution, a wider soundstage, and precise imaging. With its newly designed chamber and improved ventilation, the Aether recreates the lifelike, open sound signature of open-back headphones, making it the perfect choice for both audiophiles and professionals seeking true-to-life audio reproduction.

Tonal Integrity
Tonal integrity is a key feature in engineering the Aether. Staying true to Kiwi Ears' signature tonal balance, t he Aether has been meticulously crafted to deliver natural and precise sound. The bass is focused, with sub-woofer-like slam and a smooth transition from mid-bass to mids, providing slight warmth to the body of the sound. The core midrange, from 300 to 800 Hz, remains flat, ensuring monitor-like accuracy for both instruments and vocals. The treble is painstakingly tuned to carefully match the tonal perception of the human ear and give a clear, yet natural upper frequency response.
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[NextPowerUP]

Welcome back to the Midnight Murder Club. Here at Velan Studios, we've been toiling away in the shadowy halls of Wormwood Manor, coming up with fresh, new ways for you to hunt your friends in the darkness. We've got a new game mode to announce and a new way to get your friends in on the fighting! Midnight Murder Club is a first-person shooter/party game where you and five friends hunt each other in the pitch-black rooms of the mysterious Wormwood Manor.

Armed with only a revolver and a flashlight, search the shadows for every flicker of light and every bump in the night as you stalk your prey. The tension turns to hilarity as you discover just how tricky it is to navigate and shoot in complete darkness! You sprint toward your friends' shouting voices echoing through the mansion, only to bump into someone else hiding in a dark corner! Shots ring out, luring the other hunters to your location. Every flash of light is the promise of a deadly firefight.
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[NextPowerUP]

Apple today introduced the faster, more powerful iPad Air with the M3 chip and built for Apple Intelligence. iPad Air with M3 brings Apple's advanced graphics architecture to iPad Air for the first time—taking its incredible combination of power-efficient performance and portability to a new level. iPad Air with M3 is nearly 2x faster compared to iPad Air with M1, and up to 3.5x faster than iPad Air with A14 Bionic. Users will feel the speed of M3 in everything they do, from creating engaging content faster than ever to playing demanding, graphics-intensive games. Available in two sizes and four gorgeous finishes that users love, the 11-inch iPad Air is super portable while on the go, and the 13-inch model provides an even larger display for more room to be creative and productive. Designed for iPad Air, the new Magic Keyboard enhances its versatility and delivers more capabilities at a lower price. With iPadOS 18, support for Apple Intelligence, advanced cameras, fast wireless 5G connectivity, and compatibility with Apple Pencil Pro and Apple Pencil (USB-C), the new iPad Air offers an unrivaled experience.

With the same starting price of just $599 for the 11-inch model and $799 for the 13-inch model, the new iPad Air is a fantastic value. And for education, the 11-inch iPad Air starts at just $549, and the 13-inch model starts at just $749. Customers can pre-order the new iPad Air with M3 and Magic Keyboard for iPad Air starting today, with availability beginning Wednesday, March 12.
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[NextPowerUP]

Optoma, the No. 1 DLP brand worldwide, today introduced the HCPro-4400 4K UHD projector powered by Dolby Vision technology. Bringing immersive images to the professional installation market and home cinema enthusiasts, the HCPro-4400 delivers cutting-edge 4K UHD visuals and is designed to be the first on the market with certifications for Dolby Vision, HDR10+, and FILMMAKER MODE.

The HCPro-4400 provides unparalleled, lifelike imagery for enjoying your favorite movies and TV shows to viewing live sports with a 3,200,000:1 contrast ratio and 5,000 lumens of brightness for the best cinematic experience. With Dolby Vision optimizing each frame of content, the projector brings the big-screen experience home with remarkable brightness, contrast, and color - replicating the same image quality of Dolby Cinema in theaters. For greater visual detail and depth, HDR10+ enhances content for improved dynamic range and color precision.
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[NextPowerUP]

Welcome to ISLANDERS: New Shores! Whether you're a longtime ISLANDERS fan or discovering the series for the first time, get ready to build, relax, and explore like never before! ISLANDERS is all about effortless creativity and smart, minimalist strategy. It's a city-building experience without the stress—no complex resource management, no overwhelming systems. Just beautifully generated islands, a carefully curated set of buildings, and the freedom to craft something amazing at your own pace.

Whether you're chasing high scores or simply creating a scenic paradise, ISLANDERS delivers that perfect mix of calm and challenge. With ISLANDERS: New Shores, we're taking that philosophy even further! Expect more variety, more creativity, and more ways to play, all while keeping the same simple, satisfying charm that made the original such a hit.
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[NextPowerUP]

NACON, a leader in premium gaming accessories and parent of the RIG audio brand, is excited to announce the arrival of the RIG 900 MAX HS, officially licensed for PlayStation 5 console. Featuring best-in-class low-latency 2.4 GHz wireless and Bluetooth 5.2 and paired with a seamless charging base, the 900 MAX HS allows you to game wirelessly across all your favorite devices.

The 900 MAX HS also excels in audio performance, producing accurate audio via 40 mm base-boosted, high-sensitivity drivers that provide more volume with less distortion. The advanced acoustic chamber design improves listening quality while reducing audio fatigue, making it a perfect choice for all-day gaming. In addition, it boasts a chat-optimized omnidirectional microphone paired with noise rejection technology. The integrated flip-to-mute function further enhances versatility, allowing gamers to take calls and communicate with their squad seamlessly.
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