Yeah, but DDR3 is dead by now, meaning any change in Memory would cost you an arm and a leg now, and it has no M.2. Which is what I meant with hopelessly outdated performance, upgrading that PC is, apart from the GPU or some extension card, pretty much impossible by now. And PCI-E 3.0 could soon become another limiting factor for GPUs.

Also, little error from myself: The 3820 is still a 4c/8t, only the 3930K and up are 6c/12t.

It also shows how stagnant the PC CPU market was when AMD was a non-factor. On the GPU side, we're far away from Kepler or GCN 1 GPUs that were probably originally in your build, but on the CPU side, the evolution was so much slower that your chip is still a viable option for both gaming and content creation to this day.

Cod Modern Warfare now exceeds 200GB install size... What's going to be next gen? 300GB? 400GB? 500GB? Jeez

Also some initial leaks for Zen 3. Take it with a grain of salt.

"According to the sources, exactly 4.6 GHz boost clock and 4.0 GHz base clock are hidden behind the number sequence 46/40 on the eight-core, while the 16-core is also listed with 4.6 Ghz boost and only 3.7 base clock. These values are of course anything but final and one could expect the predicted clock increases for the A1 revision at the latest. How high these will be, is not yet known.

— Source: Igor’sLAB"

https://wccftech.com/amds-next-generation-zen-3-vermeer-desktop-cpus-leaked-expected-to-launch-in-september/

And one of the most important news of the day. AMD Backtracks on their Zen 3 compatibility! B450 and X470 boards will support Zen 3. Rip X370 people like me though T_T (Not that I was planning to upgrade until DDR5)

https://www.anandtech.com/show/15807/amd-to-support-zen-3-and-ryzen-4000-cpus-on-b450-and-x470-motherboards

1. We will develop and enable our motherboard partners with the code to support “Zen 3”-based processors in select beta BIOSes for AMD B450 and X470 motherboards.
2. These optional BIOS updates will disable support for many existing AMD Ryzen™ Desktop Processor models to make the necessary ROM space available.
3. The select beta BIOSes will enable a one-way upgrade path for AMD Ryzen Processors with “Zen 3,” coming later this year. Flashing back to an older BIOS version will not be supported.
4. To reduce the potential for confusion, our intent is to offer BIOS download only to verified customers of 400 Series motherboards who have purchased a new desktop processor with “Zen 3” inside. This will help us ensure that customers have a bootable processor on-hand after the BIOS flash, minimizing the risk a user could get caught in a no-boot situation.
5. Timing and availability of the BIOS updates will vary and may not immediately coincide with the availability of the first “Zen 3”-based processors.
6. This is the final pathway AMD can enable for 400 Series motherboards to add new CPU support. CPU releases beyond “Zen 3” will require a newer motherboard.
7. AMD continues to recommend that customers choose an AMD 500 Series motherboard for the best performance and features with our new CPUs.

Time for the Tuesday news:

SALES & DEALS

Dark Souls series has sold 27 million units, with Dark Souls 3 surpassing 10 million sales
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/dark-souls-series-has-sold-27-million-units-with-dark-souls-3-surpassing-10-million-sales/
FromSoftware has announced that the Dark Souls series has sold more than 27 million copies worldwide, on all platforms. Furthermore, the team has revealed that Dark Souls 3 has also sold more than 10 million units on all platforms.
While the team did not reveal any platform-specific sales number, we can at SteamSpy and get an idea of the PC sales.
According to SteamSpy, Dark Souls 3 has sold between 2 and 5 million units on the PC. On the other hand, Dark Souls 2 has sold between 3 and 7 million copies. Lastly, the first Dark Souls has sold between 2.5 and 6 million copies. Again, these aren’t 100% accurate figures, however, they should at least give us rough idea of how Dark Souls performed on the PC.

Steam features a new deal as well as the new weeklong deals:

• The Early Access title Legend of Keepers: Career of a Dungeon Master is 20% off until May 25: https://store.steampowered.com/app/978520/Legend_of_Keepers_Career_of_a_Dungeon_Master/
• And these are some of the weeklong deals:
  • GLADIUM, still in Early Access, is 25% off: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1118410/GLADIUM/
  • Fight Angel Special Edition is 35% off: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1041840/Fight_Angel_Special_Edition/
  • The Early Access ΔV: Rings of Saturn, that has a demo, gets a 50% discount: https://store.steampowered.com/app/846030/V_Rings_of_Saturn/
  • King's Bounty: Ultimate Edition, that features 7 items, is 75% off: https://store.steampowered.com/sub/84127/
  • And The Guest, that has a demo, is 85% off: https://store.steampowered.com/app/402040/The_Guest/

Fanatical's new Star Deal is Tracks - The Family Friendly Open World Train Set Game, 33% off for the next 24 hours: https://www.fanatical.com/en/game/tracks-the-train-set-game

SOFTWARE & DRIVERS

Epic Games Store has updated its policy, now allowing self-service “refunds” and other features to gamers
https://www.dsogaming.com/users-articles/epic-games-store-has-updated-its-policy-now-allowing-self-service-refunds-and-other-features-to-gamers/
Epic Games Store recently updated its policy on their storefront and now features a self-service ‘refund” policy for gamers. Epic has also changed how the “ownership authorization” works for games bought on EGS.
(...)
You will not be eligible for games from which you have been banned or for which you have otherwise violated the terms of service. In addition, you may not be eligible for refunds if Epic determines that you are abusing the refund policy “.
There are two conditions to met though. First, you need to ask for a refund within 14 days of purchasing any game, and , you also need to have played less than two hours to receive a refund. This refund policy seems identical to Steam, though Epic Games can revoke a gamer’s eligibility for refunds if they are found to be abusing their refund policy.

MODS/EMULATORS

New trailer released for the Fallout 3 Remake in Fallout 4 Engine, Fallout 4: The Capital Wasteland
https://www.dsogaming.com/videotrailer-news/new-trailer-released-for-the-fallout-3-remake-in-fallout-4-engine-fallout-4-the-capital-wasteland/
Earlier today, we shared a new gameplay trailer for the upcoming Fallout New Vegas Remake in Fallout 4. However, we have another trailer for another Fallout fan remake in the Fallout 4 Engine. This other Fallout remake is Fallout 4: Capital Wasteland.
This latest trailer for Fallout 4: Capital Wasteland showcases the Point Look DLC from Fallout 3. Thus, we can assume that alongside Fallout 3, the team will also remake its DLC.

Bloodstained receives a Castlevania Music Pack Mod, available now for download
https://www.dsogaming.com/videotrailer-news/bloodstained-receives-a-castlevania-music-pack-mod-available-now-for-download/
Ygnaris has released a must-have mod for all Castlevania fans out there. This music pack brings the songs from various Castelvania games to Bloodstained. Thus, this spiritual successor to Castlevania can now feel more authentic now.
Now I’m not sure whether this mod will stay live for a long time. After all, it borrows music tracks from another commercial games. My guess is that Konami will send a C&D letter to NexusMods sooner or later. Thus, we suggest downloading it while you still can.
Going into slightly more details, this music pack features music from dracula X, Symphony Of The Night, Harmony Of Despair and Dawn Of Sorrow. It also has music tracks from Order Of Ecclesia, Aria Of Sorrow and Portrait Of Ruin.
>> If you're interested, you better hurry up and get it now.

Medal of Honor: Airborne Redux Mod released, features FOV options, better leaning, tweaked AI & more
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/medal-of-honor-airborne-redux-mod-released-features-fov-options-better-leaning-tweaked-ai-more/
Medal of Honor: Airborne was one of the best MOH games, at least in my opinion. However, there is a whole generation of gamers that have not experienced it as the original game came out in 2007. Thankfully, though, there is now a gameplay overhaul mod for the PC version that you can download in order to play it.
Medal of Honor: Airborne Redux is an overhaul mod that aims to remaster this flawed, ambitious FPS game up to modern standards. Do note, however, that this is not a graphics overhaul. So yeah, don’t expect high-resolution textures and modern-day effects. Instead, this mod overhauls Airborne’s gameplay, and provides some addition Quality of Life improvements.
>> You can find it at ModDB.

Terraria's mod loader is now on Steam as the devs 'hand the keys over to the fans'
https://www.pcgamer.com/terraria-mod-loader-steam-tmodloader/
Terraria may have gotten its final update, but it still has years of life ahead of it. The Journey's End update, released on Saturday, added a monster list of new items and a super customizable new "Journey mode", propelling the game to an all-time high number of players on Steam. After this update the Terraria developers plan to finally move on to a new project, nine years after its release. But they're setting the game up to continue getting new features by adding the community-made mod loader to Steam.
You can download tModLoader for free on Steam, and Steam Workshop support will be added in the future to bring Terraria mods to Steam for the first time. Previously, mods have only been available from external modding sites, with tModLoader being a universally used tool. "Though fully-integrated official mod support is not something that is feasible within the Terraria codebase, tModLoader has served faithfully as that 'bridge' between the main game and the amazing library of player-created mods that exists for Terraria," the Terraria devs wrote on Steam. "With this launch, modding has never been more visible or accessible for Terrarians."

GAMING NEWS

Ubisoft contradicts itself, claiming now that Assassin’s Creed: Valhalla is the largest AC game
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/ubisoft-contradicts-itself-claiming-now-that-assassins-creed-valhalla-is-the-largest-ac-game/
Earlier this month, Ubisoft’s Malek Teffaha claimed that Assassin’s Creed: Valhalla would not be the longest or largest game of the franchise. As Teffaha noted, this decision was made to address the bloat criticisms of Origins and Odyssey. However, Ubisoft producer Julien Laferrière now claims that Valhalla will be the largest AC game.

rFactor 2 Plays Host to Virtual 24 Hours of Le Mans
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/rfactor-2-plays-host-to-virtual-24-hours-of-le-mans/
Rather than canceling the event it appears that Le Mans will follow the likes of NASCAR by going virtual this year. At least in part, the in-person race will still occur in September. However on the originally scheduled date a new event has been announced, a virtual 24 Hours of Le Mans race and this time the pros will be racing in rFactor 2. Interestingly the teams are limited to two professional sim racers and two professional drivers, it should be interesting to see how the pro drivers fare against the sim drivers. Each driver is required to race for a minimum of four hours and a maximum of seven hours. Catch the trailer after the jump.

Call of Duty Modern Warfare May 18th Update released, adds new maps, fixes bugs & exploits
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/call-of-duty-modern-warfare-may-18th-update-released-adds-new-maps-fixes-bugs-exploits/
Activision and Infinity Ward have released a brand new update for Call of Duty Modern Warfare. The new update adds a new Gunfight Map and a new Multiplayer Map. Moreover, it addresses some out of map exploits, and brings numerous gameplay fixes and weapon balance tweaks.

Mafia 3 Definitive Edition trailer has been leaked online
https://www.dsogaming.com/videotrailer-news/mafia-3-definitive-edition-trailer-has-been-leaked-online/
2K Games will reveal more details about the Mafia Trilogy today. However, and prior to the official reveal, the trailer for Mafia 3 Definitive Edition has been leaked online.

Here are 12 minutes of gameplay footage from Mafia 2: Definitive Edition
https://www.dsogaming.com/videotrailer-news/here-are-12-minutes-of-gameplay-footage-from-mafia-2-definitive-edition/
It appears that the PS4 version of Mafia 2: Definitive Edition went up earlier on the Australian PS store. Thus, someone was able to purchase the game and share twelve minutes of gameplay footage from it.

Tuesday news, part two:

Destiny 2's 'The Lie' quest is bugged, preventing completion
https://www.pcgamer.com/destiny-2s-the-lie-quest-is-bugged-preventing-completion/
Perhaps the name should have been a clue, but it's been a rough road for players undertaking 'The Lie', the questline closing out Destiny 2's current season. For those who haven't been following, here's a recap: The Lie will ultimately lead to Felwinter's Lie, a reprise of a shotgun from the original game with a set of perks that make it eye-wateringly OP for PvP.

Rainbow Six Siege lead designer talks upcoming Nøkk, Oryx, and Kali buffs
https://www.pcgamer.com/rainbow-six-siege-lead-designer-talks-upcoming-nokk-oryx-and-kali-buffs/
As Rainbow Six Siege transitions to releasing fewer new operators every year, Ubisoft is placing a larger focus on maintaining and improving existing ones. That means total reworks, like the one for Tachanka still planned for 2020, but it also means frequent smaller tweaks to help struggling operators.

See Mortal Kombat 11's upcoming Friendship finishers in a cuddly new trailer
https://www.pcgamer.com/mortal-kombat-11-is-getting-free-friendship-finishers/
A free update later this month will add Friendships to Mortal Kombat 11. Friendships are finishers like Fatalities, except they're about being a courteous winner—instead of ripping out your opponent's guts, you can play them a saxophone solo (with a real sax, not a pretend one made out of their spine) or grill up some sausages (which are not made with their intestines).

The Chex Quest remake is finally out, still miraculously crunchy
https://www.pcgamer.com/the-chex-quest-remake-is-finally-out-still-miraculously-crunchy/
Chex Quest HD, the remake of the 1996 promotional Chex shooter built in the Doom engine, is out now and free on Steam. The remake adds new playable characters, cartoon cinematics, a multiplayer mode (I don't know why either), and some new gameplay features, like the ability to jump. But don't worry, the sounds of doors opening is still loud as hell. Sure preserved that, they did.

GTA Online cheating even more rampant during free giveaway
https://www.pcgamer.com/gta-online-cheating-even-more-rampant-during-free-giveaway/
As anyone could've predicted, the free copies of GTA 5 have resulted in a spike in cheating, given that permabans are no big deal when there's no money on the line. Over the weekend, one acquaintance called GTA Online "unplayable," partially because Rockstar's servers aren't handling the influx of players well, and partially because of the modding.
>> I'm shocked.

Artifact 2.0 enters beta this month
https://www.pcgamer.com/artifact-20-enters-beta-this-month/
Just two months after Valve announced a reboot of its card game Artifact comes news that a beta will kick off later this month. In an announcement today, the company outlined a strategy for the beta and the conditions for getting into it.

The Culling is keeping its pay-to-play system, but Xaviant regrets how it was announced
https://www.pcgamer.com/the-culling-is-keeping-its-pay-to-play-system-but-xaviant-regrets-how-it-was-announced/
The Culling has dusted itself off and is back for another go at grabbing a piece of that battle royale pie, but its resurrection got off on the wrong foot when it came burdened with a new monetisation model that hinged on people buying tokens and passes to play more matches.

Call of Duty: Warzone's bunkers can finally be unlocked
https://www.pcgamer.com/call-of-duty-warzones-bunkers-can-finally-be-unlocked/
The bunkers that pepper Call of Duty: Warzone's Verdansk have long teased players with their huge locked doors, but now they're finally giving up their secrets—lots of hidden loot.

Gwent launches on Steam with crossplay, achievements and trading cards
https://www.pcgamer.com/gwent-launches-on-steam-with-crossplay-achievements-and-trading-cards/
In a perfect world, CD Projekt Red would mark The Witcher 3's fifth anniversary with some surprise DLC or maybe a new quest so I could justify why I am, once again, replaying this game I've already devoured. Unfortunately, it's pretty busy with Cyberpunk 2077, so all we're getting is the news that Gwent is now on Steam.

The Witcher 3 nearly made Ciri a deadly ice skater
https://www.pcgamer.com/the-witcher-3-nearly-made-ciri-a-deadly-ice-skater/
Even though The Witcher 3 is a behemoth of a game, plenty of things inevitably get left on the cutting room floor. Among them was a particularly flashy scene involving Ciri, a frozen lake and some unlucky foes.

Game sizes are all over the place, with some really insane numbers.

Last week there was another Zen 3 rumor at Wccftech, claiming an up to 20% IPC increase.

https://wccftech.com/amd-ryzen-4000-zen-3-vermeer-7nm-desktop-cpus-20-percent-ipc-rumor/

Given that AMD said that Zen 3 would focus on power efficiency, I don't this rumor, but we'll see.

Yea that's true. Rumours do fee like speculation most of the time but here's hoping! I would love for AMD to catch up on clocks and go for the jugular against Intel.

Yeah man, we've been there for years.

"We have adaptive refresh"

Doesn't matter

"We have noise cancelling tech in our GPU's"

Doesn't matter

"we have built in reshade in our GPU's"

Doesn't matter

And the cycle just goes on. It's like, no matter what PC can bring to the table, it won't get it's praise, because it's not included in a plastic branded box. 

I don't even think anyone on this forum even knows, nor cares about Nvidia's tech with fire, water and Sand. I remember seeing Nvidia's sand tech being used in Conan exiles, and thinking it was amazing shit. 

But I'm ngl, I'm still not interested in 4k monitors yet, even though they exist for me to purchase. I just don't feel like I need to move on from 1440p 165hz just yet. OLED 1440p on t he other hand...

The funny thing is just how much "Next gen" tech is in Nvidia's 2000 series which came out 2 years ago. It might not age well in the long run but Turing really is a GPU that came out well ahead of it's time. Not just with Ray Tracing but VRS, Sampler Feedback, Direct X 12 Full Compatibility, DLSS and a bunch more other things. They even have an API called GPU direct that allows the GPU to bypass the system memory and directly access the SSD which will come in the form of DirectStorage when MS releases it as well.

We will see if the Tensor Accelerated memory compression rumour is true or not but if it is, it sounds like it's PC's "answer" to the hardware solution that the console twins have for compressing/decompressing streaming data from SSD to VRAM.

All we need now is for them to announce the 3000 series and the fapping can begin!

I've been mulling over this issue for a whiler now and it got me thinking of something:

We have GaaS right?. Publishers/devs competing with one another to keep gamers attention to their game, trying to make us play and engage with them more, so they gain more money/attention focus than their competition. 

So far we've had things like Battle passes, Streaming exclusivity deals, follwing streamer bonuses and mini content drops over the years. What else could they possibly do, that gives them a leg up over their competitors?.

simple, increase the filesize, forcing gamers to actually firmly choose which game to install and commit to playing. Yeah I don't think that's the sole and core reason why we're seeing these games inflate in size, but I think it is going to produce some lop-sided competition, when all those big games everyone's always hype for, comes out at a whopping 200-400gb filesize, and then you have to factor in the ppl who don't have tb upon tb of storage and have to actually choose (then you also gotta account for ppl with shitty and capped net, again forcing them to choose harshly).