TechPowerUP NEWS

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NVIDIA's upcoming GeForce RTX 50 series mainstream lineup has been leaked, thanks to the well-known leaker kopite7kimi, revealing the complete specification profile of the RTX 5050, RTX 5060, and RTX 5060 Ti graphics cards. The entry-level RTX 5050 features GB207-300-A1 silicon on a PG152-SKU50 board with 2,560 CUDA cores and 8 GB of the older GDDR6 memory across a 128-bit interface at 130 W, while the mid-tier RTX 5060 utilizes GB206-250-A1 silicon on a PG152-SKU25 board housing 3,840 CUDA cores with 8 GB of the latest GDDR7 memory at 150 W. The more powerful RTX 5060 Ti implements GB206-300-A1 silicon with two board versions, PG152-SKU10/15, presumably for two memory configurations. It features 4,608 CUDA cores paired with either 8 GB or 16 GB of GDDR7 memory and a 180 W power envelope.

Most notable is the adoption of next-generation GDDR7 memory technology in both RTX 5060 variants while maintaining the 128-bit memory bus across all three models. While the entry-level RTX 5050 model utilizes GDDR6 memory, the RTX 5060 and RTX 5060 Ti are awarded with the faster GDDR7. The consistent 128-bit interface suggests NVIDIA is leveraging memory compression technologies and GDDR7's increased bandwidth to deliver performance improvements without widening the memory bus. Each tier features a slight increase in CUDA core count, a modest boost over the previous generation RTX 40 series. With the RTX 5050 targeting 1080p gaming, the RTX 5060 is positioned for high-refresh 1080p and entry-level 1440p, and the RTX 5060 Ti is likely aimed at solid 1440p performance across most titles. While we don't know the exact release date, we can expect to hear more about the availability in the coming weeks.

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[NextPowerUP]

NVIDIA has finally responded to widespread stability problems affecting its RTX 50 series "Blackwell" GPU lineup with the release of GeForce Hotfix Display Driver 572.75. The emergency update specifically targets two critical issues: black screen crashes plaguing the entire RTX 50 series and performance degradation after system reboots when overclocking RTX 5080/5090 models. This hotfix arrives after weeks of user complaints about system instability, particularly when utilizing DLSS 4 frame generation and other advanced features. The release comes directly through NVIDIA's Customer Care support site rather than standard distribution channels, packed in the hotfix release.

According to NVIDIA's release notes, the driver underwent an "abbreviated QA process" to spread its availability to affected users. While the company acknowledges the complexity of its driver software and has "an army of software engineers" addressing bugs, many early Blackwell buyers have expressed frustration over paying premium prices for hardware hindered by fundamental stability issues. NVIDIA has indicated that these fixes and additional improvements will be incorporated into the next official WHQL-certified driver release, though no specific timeline has been provided. At TechPowerUp, we don't host hotfix drivers, only WHQL versions, so you must go to NVIDIA's website here to download the latest driver.

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[NextPowerUP]

Dynabook recently made headlines with its X30W laptop, which was claimed to be one of the lightest laptops available on the market. Now, the company has introduced the Z40L-N laptop, also with Intel's Lunar Lake-equipped internals and an impressively lightweight chassis. However, the Z40L-N packs yet another trick up its sleeve - the laptop boasts a battery that is relatively easy to replace, at least by modern standards. At its core, the Z40L-N laptop is powered by Intel's Core Ultra 200V Lunar Lake CPUs, up to the Core Ultra 7 258V with 32 GB of onboard memory. Clearly, the laptop packs plenty of computing horsepower, and the integrated Arc 140 V GPU should be enough for non-intensive workloads and casual gaming.

At the front, a 14-inch display with a resolution of 1920 x 1200 is on offer. With a sub-1-kg (~2.2 lbs) weight, the 14-inch laptop is effortless to carry around in a backpack, and the 56 Whr battery should provide for decently long runtimes away from the wall. As stated previously, the battery is not glued to the chassis, and is therefore relatively easy to replace simply by removing the back panel and then the battery itself. The base configuration starts at $1,699, and ships with the Core Ultra 5 226V CPU with 16 GB of memory and a 512 GB NVMe SSD. There are a plenty of ports on offer, including a selection of USB-A and USB-C (including Thunderbolt 4) ports, microSD slot, audio jack, as well as a RJ45 gigabit LAN port. For wireless communication, Wi-Fi 7 as well as Bluetooth is present. The higher-end variant with the Intel Core Ultra 7 258V CPU with 32 GB of memory commands a $500 premium over the standard variant, which is to be expected.

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[NextPowerUP]

It would be incredibly hard to argue that Apple's recently unveiled M4-equipped MacBook Air is the company's best value laptop in quite a while. With a lower starting price and twice the memory, the refreshed MacBook Air sure does a great job enticing students and casual users. The system has recently made its debut on the popular benchmarking platform Geekbench, boasting CPU and GPU performance that is right around what one might expect from the M4 SoC, which we have seen previously in the iPad Pro as well as multiple Macs. In single-core, the M4 MacBook Air managed a score of 3,680 points, and in multicore, the M4 raked in 14,924 points. Of course, the fanless MacBook Air will almost certainly struggle to keep up with its actively cooled siblings in sustained workloads.

In GPU performance, the MacBook Air raked in 54,864 points in Geekbench's Metal GPU benchmark, which is marginally lower than the M4 SoC's average of 57,000 points in the Mac mini and MacBook Pro, both of which are actively cooled. Considering the starting price of $999, the M4 MacBook Air with 16 GB of unified memory is plenty performant for the vast majority of laptop users. Of course, the entry-level storage of a paltry 256 GB is a borderline deal-breaker in 2025, compounded by the fact that Apple refuses to grace its products with user upgradeable storage. For those who can look past it, the M4 MacBook Air sure has a lot going for it.

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[NextPowerUP]

There is no shortage of folks who have modest performance expectations from their systems, but require a large display for entertainment and creativity purposes. ASUS has introduced a massive new laptop seemingly intended for such people, dubbed the Vivobook 18. As the name suggests, the laptop sports a large 18.3-inch display with an aspect ratio of 16:10. As we shall find out later, the product is affordably priced, which justifies the 1080p IPS display. At its size, a higher-resolution panel would've certainly been a welcome addition. Thankfully, however, the display boasts a refresh rate of 144 Hz, which should allow for an excellent motion experience. The display is also claimed to cover 100% of the sRGB color gamut, which is pretty neat.

At its heart, the Vivobook 18 is powered by the Ryzen 7 260 APU with 8 Zen 4 cores and 16 threads paired with up to 32 GB of DDR5 memory. The APU is no slouch, and packs enough grunt to trade blows with the Intel Core Ultra 9 185H CPU. There is no option for discrete graphics, which means that any graphically demanding task will have to solely rely on the integrated Radeon 780M iGPU. For non-intensive workloads and casual lightweight gaming, the RDNA 3-based Radeon 780M should easily suffice. An M.2 2280 PCIe 4.0 x 4 slot takes care of storage requirements, with 512 GB as standard. The memory is also upgradeable, courtesy of the single unpopulated SODIMM slot.
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[NextPowerUP]

Just recently, Apple somewhat stunned the industry with the introduction of its refreshed Mac Studio with the M4 Max and M3 Ultra SoCs. For whatever reason, the Cupertino giant decided to spec its most expensive Mac desktop with an Ultra SoC that is based on an older generation, M3, instead of the newer M4 family. However, the M3 Max, which the M3 Ultra is based on, was no slouch, indicating that the M3 Ultra will likely boast impressive performance. However, if a collection of recent benchmark runs are anything to go by, it appears that the M3 Ultra is a tad too closely matched with the M4 Max in CPU performance, which makes the $2000 premium between the two SoCs rather difficult to digest. Needless to say, a single benchmark is hardly representative of real-world performance, so accept this information with a grain of salt.

According to the recently spotted Geekbench result, the M3 Ultra managed a single-core score of 3,221, which is roughly 18% slower than the M4 Max. In multicore performance, one might expect the 32-core M3 Ultra to sweep the floor with the 16-core M4 Max, but that is not quite the case. With a score of 27,749, the M3 Ultra leads the M4 Max by an abysmal 8%. Of course, these are early runs, which may suggest that future scores will likely be higher. However, it is clear as day that the M3 Ultra and the M4 Max, at least in terms of CPU performance, will be close together in multithreaded performance, with the M4 Max continuing to be substantially faster than the far more expensive M3 Ultra variant in single-threaded performance. It does appear that the primary selling point for the M3 Ultra-equipped Mac Studio will be the massive 80-core GPU and up to 512 GB of unified memory shared by the CPU and the GPU, which should come in handy for running massive LLMs locally and other niche workloads.

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[NextPowerUP]

Welcome to the second week of March, which takes us to the end of feudal Japan for this week's major release. This is followed by what can only be called a Minecraft wannabe, but with slightly less blocky graphics, a cozy game about tea, a PvP action roguelike, some H. P. Lovecraft inspired horror and finally some big guys and gals in tights pretending to wrestle. The rest of this week was pretty slim pickings, so there are no additional new releases this week.

Rise of the Ronin / This week's major release / Tuesday 11 March
An open-world RPG set in the Bakumatsu period, where players take on the role of a ronin forging their own destiny. The game features multiple possible endings, allowing players to choose which faction to support—such as the anti-shogunate faction, pro-shogunate faction, or Western forces—which significantly alters the story's outcome. Steam link
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[NextPowerUP]

NVIDIA has prepared a "Blackwell" Titan equivalent—RTX PRO 6000 Blackwell GPU for professional visualization and local AI solutions. Based on the GB202 silicon, the RTX PRO 6000 is the closest solution to the full power of NVIDIA's prosumer-oriented Blackwell SKUs. With 24,064 CUDA cores on board, this configuration is just 512 CUDA cores shy from the complete GB202 24,576-core configuration. This is likely due to the yield defects, meaning that this is perhaps the highest CUDA core count model we will see based on GB202. Additionally, at 24,064 core RTX PRO 6000 Blackwell is carrying 2,340 more cores than the top-end consumer GeForce RTX 5090 with 21,760 CUDA cores. Based on the 600 W TGP, the new RTX PRO 6000 Blackwell should have lower clocks, given its bigger core count to maintain the TGP for its massive memory configuration. Remember, GDDR7 memory modules consume power, too.

With 96 GB of GDDR7 memory and ECC memory correction on board, it will primarily target professionals in 3D rendering, simulations, and local AI development. To cool the beastly configuration, NVIDIA opted for a double-flow-through cooler used on the RTX 5090, with an open-air design. Operating on a PCIe 5.0 x16 interface with four DisplayPort 2.1 connectors, the design remains double-slot in thickness. VideoCardz obtained pictures of it, which you can see below. Interestingly, the color accents of the new cooler are darker. We can expect to see more from NVIDIA and its new RTX PRO 6000 Blackwell GPU from the upcoming GTC 2025 on March 17.

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[NextPowerUP]

China's domestic extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography development is far from a distant dream. The newest system, now undergoing testing at Huawei's Dongguan facility, leverages laser-induced discharge plasma (LDP) technology, representing a potentially disruptive approach to EUV light generation. The system is scheduled for trial production in Q3 2025, with mass manufacturing targeted for 2026, potentially positioning China to break ASML's technical monopoly in advanced lithography. The LDP approach employed in the Chinese system generates 13.5 nm EUV radiation by vaporizing tin between electrodes and converting it to plasma via high-voltage discharge, where electron-ion collisions produce the required wavelength. This methodology offers several technical advantages over ASML's laser-produced plasma (LPP) technique, including simplified architecture, reduced footprint, improved energy efficiency, and potentially lower production costs.

The LPP method relies on high-energy lasers and complex FPGA-based real-time control electronics to achieve the same result. While ASML has refined its LPP-based systems over decades, the inherent efficiency advantages of the LDP approach could accelerate China's catch-up timeline in this critical semiconductor manufacturing technology. When the US imposed sanctions on EUV shipments to Chinese companies, the Chinese semiconductor development was basically limited as standard deep ultraviolet (DUV) wave lithography systems utilize 248 nm (KrF) and 193 nm (ArF) wavelengths for semiconductor patterning, with 193 nm immersion technology representing the most advanced pre-EUV production technique. These longer wavelengths contrast with EUV's 13.5 nm radiation, requiring multiple patterning techniques to achieve advanced nodes.
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[NextPowerUP]

The legendary KONAMI JRPGs Suikoden I and Suikoden II have now been remastered in HD! The Suikoden Series began its journey in 1995 and quickly gained popularity as KONAMI's original RPG series, releasing a total of 11 titles including spin-offs. Each installment of the game featured new locations and unique characters, thoughtfully woven together storylines, and more than 108 charming allies to tell a wartime story full of grandeur.

The Story of Suikoden I
A once renowned hero turns into a violent tyrant, and an empire falls into decline. A Liberation Army is rising up in an act of rebellion against an oppressive rule. One by one the 108 stars of Destiny gather to shape the course of history.

The Story of Suikoden II
Our story's hero and his friend Jowy are members of the Unicorn Youth Brigade, which participated in a drawn-out border dispute between the Highland Kingdom and the City-States of Jowston. A few months earlier, a truce agreement was signed between the two forces, both of which were happy to see an end to the fighting.
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[NextPowerUP]

The PC hardware rumor mill theorized that NVIDIA would unveil its GeForce RTX 5060 Ti and RTX 5060 graphics cards today (March 13). An official announcement has not yet transpired—at the time of writing. Earlier in the week, specification sheets for Team Green's cheaper Blackwell GPU models were leaked online—courtesy of kopite7kimi, a noted inside tracker of NVIDIA activities. Not long after that disclosure, reportage focused on an Acer Nitro N50 pre-built gaming PC—featuring an unannounced GeForce RTX 5060 GPU with 8 GB of GDDR7 SDRAM. The relatively rapid delivery of GB206 related leaks suggests that something is on the imminent release horizon.

An anonymous tip-off from a Chinese audience member has resulted in the publication of another VideoCardz investigative article. Apparently an unnamed local e-tailer provided pre-release price points (presumably including VAT) for GeForce RTX 5060 Ti and RTX 5060 graphics card; 4299 RMB and 3799 RMB (respectively). For reference, the tipster's screenshot also included prices for various GeForce RTX 5070 models—the cheapest being 4799 RMB (~$663 USD). As noted by VideoCardz, Chinese baseline MSRP for the RTX 5070 is 4599 RMB (~$635 USD). Curiously, the webstore's entry for a non-specific GeForce RTX 5060 card designates it as a 12 GB VRAM variant. This could be a pre-launch error, based on placeholder material—recent leaks have indicated the existence of a lone GeForce RTX 5060 SKU, with 8 GB of VRAM. The GeForce RTX 5060 Ti is tipped to arrive in two forms: with 8 GB or 16 GB VRAM configurations onboard. VideoCardz has heard whispers from industry moles about a possible official lifting of new product embargoes, ahead of next week's GTC 2025 conference.

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[NextPowerUP]

The wait is over! Our second Wicked Inside is complete. Join us; for an exclusive deep dive into the new content, features and improvements in The Breach Update as well as everything coming next for "No Rest for the Wicked." There are a few surprises along the way! Let us know what you think!

The Breach—our biggest update
You wanted more of our campaign, you wanted more story, more zones to play in, more enemies, more bosses… in short: more of everything. And that is exactly what we have been focusing on. The Breach will be launching on the 30th of April 2025. Watch our latest showcase for the detailed updates and fixes.
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[NextPowerUP]

This keyboard combines a durable carbon fiber shell with a minimalist design, offering users an unparalleled typing experience and superior usability.

Carbon Fiber Shell and Comfortable Typing Experience
The Epomaker Carbon60 features a durable carbon fiber shell that resists corrosion, oxidation, and scratches, extending its lifespan. Unlike plastic shells, carbon fiber gives the keyboard a more refined and modern feel, enhancing its technological appeal. Paired with stylish spray paint, the Epomaker Carbon 60 exudes a fashionable and sophisticated visual aesthetic, perfectly catering to users who value both performance and appearance. Additionally, the light blue handle design adds a thoughtful touch, making it even more portable.
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[NextPowerUP]

MicroProse is thrilled to announce its publishing partnership with Adamant Studios for Knights of Frontier Valley, a challenging, old-school-inspired roguelike RPG that brings the depth, danger, and discovery of classic fantasy adventures to a living, breathing digital world.

In a major development for the RPG community, tabletop gaming legend Rob Kuntz—one of the founding pioneers of Dungeons & Dragons—joins the project to bring his unparalleled experience and creative vision to the game.
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[NextPowerUP]

ViewSonic Corp., a leading global provider of visual and edtech solutions, has begun shipping its next-generation desktop monitor, the ColorPro VP2788-5K. Designed for seamless integration into both Mac and PC ecosystems, the VP2788-5K delivers outstanding functionality and performance, making it ideal for professional content creators, businesses, and other commercial applications.

The ViewSonic ColorPro VP2788-5K is a sleek 27-inch desktop monitor designed with precise visual performance and sharpness. Featuring stunning 5K (5120x2880) resolution, an exceptionally high pixels-per-inch, and a 99% DCI-P3 color gamut, the VP2788-5K provides a vibrant and powerful complement to Apple's scaling functionality, allowing for razor-sharp details and Retina-like clarity. With Thunderbolt 4 connectivity, the monitor provides ultra-fast data transfer and up to 100 W charging through a single cable. It also supports the daisy chaining of up to two 5K monitors for a continuous multi-display setup.
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