Well, we'll have to wait and see what happens next but...

Chinese Cryptocurrency Miners Allegedly Bypass NVIDIA’s GeForce RTX 3060 Hash Rate Limiter, Delivers Up To 50 MH/s
https://wccftech.com/chinese-cryptocurrency-miners-allegedly-bypass-nvidias-geforce-rtx-3060-hash-rate-limiter-delivers-up-to-50-mh-s-in-ethereum/
NVIDIA's hash rate limiter for its upcoming GeForce RTX 30 series graphics cards, such as the RTX 3060, may have been short-lived as cryptocurrency miners based in China have found a way to by-pass it using a custom mod.

(...)

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 delivered around 40-45 MH/s but as soon as mining was initiated on the card, it dropped down to 20-25 MH/s. However, a Chinese mod is now floating around that will help miners unlock the full hash potential of the GeForce RTX 3060 graphics card. A picture spotted by I_Leak_VN shows the Geforce RTX 3060 crunching 45 MH/s in Ethereum using the Dagger Hashi-Motto algorithm. A total of 8 graphics cards were running in the system delivering a combined hash rate of 362.75 MH/s.

A Vietnamese Facebook group has also verified that this mod actually works and can deliver up to 50 MH/s on the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 graphics card. Such hash rate would mean that Crypto miners will now rush after the GeForce RTX 3060 graphics cards considering they deliver the same hash output as the RTX 3060 Ti and close to the RTX 3070 with a much lower power draw.

***UPDATE***

If this article from PCGamer is correct, the cards shown in the image aren't mining Ethereum, but rather something else called Conflux.

Oh, and like Zotac, MSI has lined with the miners too: MSI promotes cryptocurrency mining on GE76 Raider laptop with GeForce RTX 3080

Seriously, just fuck this past year or so when it comes to hardware. Nothing exists, is delivered, in stock, or costs anywhere near reasonable levels. I'm waiting until next year to build my rig, what components do exist are getting out of hand cost-wise, and the important bits are nowhere to be found.
2022, here I come!

Twats.

That is some hilarious wccftech reporting. Didn't even check their own sources loll

The Wednesday news:

SALES /PLAYER COUNT & DEALS

GOG's new Midweek Sale is full of scary/horror games up to 90% off until Saturday: https://www.gog.com/promo/20210310_midweek_sale

Steam comes with five new deals:

• The new daily deal is Hatsune Miku VR, 50% off: https://store.steampowered.com/app/707300/Hatsune_Miku_VR/
• The game Tell Me Why is 50% off until March 12: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1180660/Tell_Me_Why/
• Hearts of Iron IV is free to try during the next 2 days and also has a 75% discount until the 12th: https://store.steampowered.com/app/394360/Hearts_of_Iron_IV/
• Warner Bros has its Middle Earth games up to 80% off until Friday: https://store.steampowered.com/sale/middle-earth
• And the game Pacer is 20% off until March 15: https://store.steampowered.com/app/389670/Pacer/

The Humble Store has a new 2K Week Sale with up to 80% discounts during the next 4 days: https://www.humblebundle.com/store/promo/2k-week-sale/

SOFTWARE & DRIVERS

An odd bug in this month’s Windows 10 update is crashing some PCs
https://www.pcgamer.com/an-odd-bug-in-this-months-windows-10-update-is-crashing-some-pcs/
Yesterday was the second Tuesday of this month, otherwise known as Patch Tuesday, which is when Microsoft pushes out cumulative updates to Windows users. And as it always does, this month's Patch Tuesday update arrived right on schedule. Unfortunately, some users report running into blue screen of death (BSOD) errors after applying the update and trying to print.
Reports of the oddball bug so far have been tied to KB5000802 for Windows 10 version 1909, and KB5000808 for versions 2004 and 20H2. In other words, it affects the latest builds of Windows 10.
>> The article also comes with workarounds .

Epic Games has purchased Photogrammetry Software Developer “Capturing Reality”
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/epic-games-has-purchased-photogrammetry-software-developer-capturing-reality/
Epic Games today announced the purchase of photogrammetry software developer Capturing Reality for an undisclosed fee, to help the company improve how it handles 3D scans of environments and objects. This acquisition will make it easier to bring real-life objects into Unreal Engine.

MODS, EMULATORS & FAN PROJECTS

Valheim modders make the game harder by adding starvation, repair costs, other things I hate
https://www.pcgamer.com/valheim-modders-make-the-game-harder-by-adding-starvation-repair-costs-other-things-i-hate/
If you skim the list of Valheim mods you'll notice many, if not most, are bent on making certain aspects of the game easier. There are mods that allow you to take metal and ore through portals, that remove construction height restrictions, that always keep wind in your ships' sails, and tons more that let players skirt around the edges of Valheim's systems. Cheats, in other words.
But there are a few people out there interested in making Valheim tougher, rather than easier. Like the modder who decided you should be able to starve to death.
(...)
Another of my favorite elements in Valheim is that repairing weapons, tools, armor, and buildings don't require any resources. A quick whang from your hammer and you can restore your favorite axe or helmet or castle wall to a pristine state. But the Repair Requires Materials mod does away with that lovely convenience. Now if you want to fix something, it's going to cost you resources.
(...)
The Combat Evolved mod makes a number of tweaks to combat, including removing the ability to parry-stagger foes who shoot projectiles at you. Booo! (But, yes, I get that this is more realistic, ignoring the fact that you're fighting giant trolls.) The mod does make some other tweaks too, like reducing the arc of protection smaller shields give you when compared to tower shields.

GAMING NEWS

New in-engine trailer released for ODIN: Valhalla Rising
https://www.dsogaming.com/videotrailer-news/new-in-engine-trailer-released-for-odin-valhalla-rising/
Lionheart Studio has released a brand new in-engine trailer for ODIN: Valhalla Rising. ODIN: Valhalla Rising is using Unreal Engine 4, and looks really good visually.
The game is based on Norse mythology depicting the long war between humans, demons, and gods.

EA releases a new gameplay trailer for It Takes Two
https://www.dsogaming.com/videotrailer-news/ea-releases-a-new-gameplay-trailer-for-it-takes-two/
Electronic Arts has released a new gameplay trailer for It Takes Two. It Takes Two is the new co-op adventure from the award-winning creators of A Way Out and Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons.

Ancestors Legacy – Free Peasant Edition released on Steam
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/ancestors-legacy-free-peasant-edition-released-on-steam/
1C Entertainment has released a free version of Ancestors Legacy, called Free Peasant Edition. Ancestors Legacy: Free Peasant Edition includes all 17 multiplayer maps, as well as four single-player missions from the Vikings campaign.

We Were Here Forever is a new co-op puzzle adventure game
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/we-were-here-forever-is-a-new-co-op-puzzle-adventure-game/
Total Mayhem Games has announced a new co-op puzzle adventure game, We Were Here Forever. In this game, players will work together to explore and solve puzzles in this mysterious Antarctic adventure.

Capcom warns about Resident Evil Village phishing “Early Access invitations” emails
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/capcom-warns-about-resident-evil-village-phishing-early-access-invitations-emails/
Capcom has informed us about some phishing emails that some users are currently receiving regarding Resident Evil Village. According to the company, there are currently “fake” emails circulating that pretend to contain “Early Access invitations” to Resident Evil Village.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge announced for PC
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/teenage-mutant-ninja-turtles-shredders-revenge-announced-for-pc/
Dotemu and Tribute Games have announced a new Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2D platformer, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge. In order to celebrate this announcement, DotEmu has also released a gameplay trailer that you can find below.
>> If you watched the cartoon show on TV, you have to watch the trailer. As someone that did, and that played the TMNT game on my Megadrive, this game goes straight to my wishlist.

The Wednesday news, part two:

Hunt ghosts with sound in Chasing Static, a creepy new horror game with a neat lo-fi aesthetic
https://www.pcgamer.com/hunt-ghosts-with-sound-in-chasing-static-a-creepy-new-horror-game-with-a-neat-lo-fi-aesthetic/
Whether it's games like The Black Iris, Bleakshore, or the upcoming Compound Fracture, I can't get enough of horror games with crunchy PlayStation-inspired visuals. There's just something about that lo-fi aesthetic that makes it perfect for the genre, and Chasing Static makes excellent use of it.

Fortnite Season 6 will conclude Agent Jones' mission with a solo event
https://www.pcgamer.com/fortnite-season-6-event/
In a first for Fortnite, the next big season event is going to be a singleplayer experience, rather than one of the multiplayer parties that have come to define the start of a new season, Epic has announced.
>> And here is how to get the Marigold skin and finish the Golden Touch challenges.

The Pachimari event skin for Overwatch's Roadhog is profoundly silly
https://www.pcgamer.com/the-new-pachimari-skin-for-overwatchs-roadhog-is-profoundly-silly/
Overwatch's celebration of that weird onion-octopus toy that it invented as an in-world prop but now unironically embraces, Pachimari, has reached new heights with the PachiMarchi challenge. For the duration of the event you can earn onion-octopus themed rewards like a player icon, a Pachimari emote for Junkrat, and if you win nine games you can get a Pachimari Roadhog skin. And I am here to talk about the Roadhog skin because it is hysterical.

Stadia exclusive Super Bomberman R Online is coming to PC
https://www.pcgamer.com/stadia-exclusive-super-bomberman-r-online-is-coming-to-pc/
According to a listing on the ESRB website, Super Bomberman R Online will break its lonely Google Stadia exclusivity and launch for PC. The game was basically a re-release of the original Super Bomberman R, which is already available on Steam, though it added a 64 player Bomberman-style battle royale mode.

PAX Australia will return as a live show in October
https://www.pcgamer.com/pax-australia-will-return-as-a-live-show-in-october/
While the live component of E3 2021 already seems to have been cancelled due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, other conventions are still taking a punt. PAX Australia has confirmed it will hold a live event this October at its usual venue, the Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre, though ticket sales will "initially be limited" due to capacity restrictions.

German parliament wants games with loot boxes rated 18+
https://www.pcgamer.com/german-parliament-wants-games-with-loot-boxes-rated-18/
On March 5, Germany's federal parliament, the Bundestag, passed a reform bill that could see games containing loot boxes given an 18+ age rating. German authorities have been looking into regulations regarding "kaufenreizen", a broad term for purchasing incentives that includes loot boxes and similar ways of encouraging players to spend additional money on games, since a 2018 study by the University of Hamburg stated that elements of gambling had become common in modern videogames.

Race The Sun dev's next game is a procedurally-generated Star Fox
https://www.pcgamer.com/race-the-sun-devs-next-game-is-a-procedurally-generated-star-fox/
Race The Sun was quite good, wasn't it? Turns out, Flippfly's procedural sun-chaser was already halfway towards being a compelling Star Fox successor. Preparing for a crowdfunding campaign next month, the developer's next game is Whisker Squadron—a lo-fi dogfighter that brings blasters and bosses to Race The Sun's endless fields.
>> It may actually be the best Star Fox game in quite some years.

Even the best developers struggle to implement doors
https://www.pcgamer.com/even-naughty-dog-struggles-to-implement-doors/
Doors are probably one of the last objects we pay attention to when playing games, but apparently, they're a gigantic nightmare to implement, even for studios like Ubisoft and Naughty Dog.
Death Trash developer Stephan Hövelbrinks tweeted a Discord response to somebody asking what the problem was with doors, and it turns out a ton of thought has to go into the way they work.

Tell Me Why's first chapter is now free
https://www.pcgamer.com/tell-me-whys-first-chapter-is-now-free/
Tell Me Why didn't quite set our hearts on fire as much as Dontnod's critically lauded Life Is Strange. But if you're still looking for a bit of small-town supernatural antics, the first part of the trilogy is now permanently free to download.

Rust hit by catastrophic data loss after fire destroys data center
https://www.pcgamer.com/rust-hit-by-catastrophic-data-loss-after-fire-destroys-data-center/
Rust developer Facepunch Studios has confirmed that a large chunk of players will have lost their save data after a blaze ripped through an OVH data center in Strasbourg, France (thanks, Eurogamer).
>> Well, that sucks.

Crusader Kings 3 nerfs the Pope, makes it easier to imprison your kids, and stops crotch exposure
https://www.pcgamer.com/crusader-kings-iii-nerfs-the-pope-makes-it-easier-to-imprison-your-kids-and-stops-crotch-exposure/
Even if you don't play Crusader Kings, the patch notes are always a treat. Paradox has been detailing what's coming in the 1.3 patch over the course of a few dev diaries, and the main focus of the latest one is the duelling option, soon to be transformed into a fully fledged system. Next time you decide to shiv your own son, you'll have many and varied ways of doing so.

Alright so this post might be a bit long but there are some interesting discussions about Rocket Lake from Reddit so I'll post it here. Also take it with a grain of salt.

TLDR: Intel could be gimping the Memory Frequency on every Rocket Lake CPU other than the i9.

Intel 11th Gen Core “Rocket Lake” full specifications allegedly leaked



https://videocardz.com/newz/intel-11th-gen-core-rocket-lake-full-specifications-allegedly-leaked

So z590 has a new BIOS setting that allows the user to change the IMC ratio to be in Gear 1 (1:1) or Gear 2 (1:2). It's very similar to AMD's infinity fabric where if you go above 1900/2000 infinity fabric clock, the infinity fabric will change from 1:1 ratio to 1:2 which causes significant latency issues. With 10th gen, this setting didn't make any sense as all of their CPUs can do Gear 1 so why would you want to do Gear 2? Well with rocket lake... There is an interesting footnote in that leaked slide!

"11900K(F) SKUs are DDR4-3200 Gear 1. All other SKUs are DDR-3200 Gear 2. DDR4-2933 is Gear 1."

What his means is that if you were to run the RAM at 3200mhz on the i7 11700k like Anandtech did, you would see significant latency issues like they did.



Now they didn't actually test at 2933 as they wouldn't have known without the press review notes. So what this means is that if it's true, Intel will be artificially gimping every CPUs other than the i9 with lower memory frequencies. While memory doesn't affect Intel as much as AMD does, it will still be a shitty move as there are still a good amount of performance gains to be had with higher frequency ram. And people could have easily bought 3200mhz or above DDR4 ram 4-5 years ago.

https://www.reddit.com/r/hardware/comments/m1sgb6/re_anandtechs_11700k_review_was_running_with/

I'd wait until we get more reviews to see if the memory thing is true or not. After all, like the videocardz article says, the slide uses the old styling and fonts, meaning that it could be either old or fake.

With that said, if it's actually true, someone at Intel needs to wake up and realize the situation they're in now, because it's utter bullshit. I could somehow understand it if they limited it to the K series, but only the top processor? C'mon!

There's another pre-review of the Intel i7-11700K by HardwareLuxx and the results are better than the ones from Anandtech:

https://www.hardwareluxx.de/index.php/artikel/hardware/prozessoren/55649-prozessor-non-grata-rocket-lake-s-als-core-i7-11700k-im-vorab-test.html

Videocardz has a summary focusing only on the gaming results and it shows that it's on par with Intel's 10th gen. They used an ASUS ROG Maximus XIII Hero motherboard wuth the 0402 BIOS and then they re-tested it with the newer 0603 BIOS, that shows improved performance compared to the older one.

So yeah, maybe the bad results from Anandtech are, in part, because of an unfinished BIOS.