I think AMD copied Intel's pricing strategy, not the other way around, and if Intel is now cheaper is only because their products looked so much worse than its counterparts that they had to lower their price to be able to compete again.

And now, Intel thinks that they can go head to head again, and thus are rising the prices to match that thinking.

In any case, yes, overall price of the upgrade will be an important factor, althought you can go with DDR4 memory at first and upgrade later to DDR5 when it becomes more available (I fear there will be shortages of it the first months).

Oh! And let's not forget that AMD has to launch its V-Cache chips that could rise the performance in games up to 15%. That could be enough to surpass the Alder Lake offerings.

By the way, if someone is interested, PCGamer has published its ranking, the Top 100 PC Games:

The top 100 PC games

https://www.pcgamer.com/uk/top-100-pc-games-2021/
Every year, the global PC Gamer team gets together to decide the top 100 PC games. The process is simple: we take last year's list, propose a bunch of additions, tweaks and removals, and then hold a series of hours-long discussions going step-by-step through every suggestion. Sometimes there is shouting.

There are a few guiding principles that we stick to when we put this list together. For example, we're always clear that this isn't a ranking of the greatest—or most important—PC games of all time, but rather the best ones to play right now. It's a reflection of all the brilliant experiences the industry has to offer in 2021. Yes, that includes some retro classics that hold up nicely, but it also means celebrating the impact of bold new releases. We also prefer to highlight the breadth and variety of the platform, and so we've limited ourselves to one game per series.

So my car came with navigation when I bought it back in 2017 and I never really bothered to update the built in Navigation since I just use Android Auto on it instead. Since the map updates are free for 5 years, I am like... Well I may as well update it before it runs out.

Now the update process is kinda dumb. If you really want to go through it, you can find it here:

https://support.garmin.com/en-US/?faq=8vzoH5r1tRANWNbfmAyxvA

So one of the initial steps is:

"16 GB USB Drive Only

The Honda Navigation System update requires a 16GB USB flash drive. Using a USB flash drive smaller or larger than 16GB can cause the map update process to be unsuccessful. The following error message may display: "There is not enough space on the device to install the map update from USB storage device."

Now my daily USB flash drive is 64GB and first I was thinking that I might have to buy a 16GB USB flash drive specifically but then I thought of an idea... I went into disk management, deleted the "Volume" for my flash drive and created a new volume with only 16,384 MB and left the rest unallocated. And... Boom! The rest worked without any issues!

Yeah reading up on DH2 problems.. sounds like their engine is to blame on a lot of this (called Void I think). Lots of framepacing issues as well.

Just thought it was strange considering its not exactly a visual showpiece. I guess a lot of review copies were sent on consoles, though on PC's it should be more of highlight as performance is a huge factor in a lot on how a game play and feels.

@JEMC

It just goes to show why a monopoly is bad in the PC space. If one totally leapfrogs another, the consumer suffers. Really looking forward to seeing benchmarks though, seeing as GPU's are still a myth lol. I do think the 3D stacked ones are going to be pricey and used for the higher tier but its the mid tier stuff is what I'm mostly interested in.

Oh, those chips will definitely go for the high end but, just like Alder Lake will do with Intel's, their launch will help drop the prices of the current processors a bit more.

The news:

SALES /PLAYER COUNT & DEALS

GOG gets a new Special Sale with Sci-Fi RPGs up to 90% off during the next 7 days: https://www.gog.com/promo/20210915_rpg_month_scifi

Steam has a new daily deal, AER Memories of Old, 90% off: https://store.steampowered.com/app/331870/AER_Memories_of_Old/

Fanatical has four deals:

• The new Star Deal is Farm Together, 50% off during the next 48 hours: https://www.fanatical.com/en/game/farm-together
• Publisher Warner Bros puts its games up to 81% off during the next 7 days: https://www.fanatical.com/en/publishers/warner-bros.-games-inc.
• Everspace Ultimate Edition is 85% off during the next 7 days: https://www.fanatical.com/en/bundle/everspace-ultimate-edition
• And Konami puts its games up to 91% off during the next 8 days: https://www.fanatical.com/en/publishers/konami-digital-entertainment

SOFTWARE & DRIVERS

Linux 5.15 update brings plenty of improvements for AMD hardware and the Steam Deck
https://www.pcgamer.com/uk/linux-515-update-brings-plenty-of-improvements-for-amd-hardware-and-the-steam-deck/
Linux 5.15 is out, and the new kernel is bringing a host of brand new updates for existing AMD CPUs and GPUs, even some that aren't out yet. While not the largest update, Ryzen and Radeon users will appreciate what it has to offer, and it could be especially interesting for AMD Van Gogh-powered devices like the future Valve Steam Deck.

MODS, EMULATORS & FAN PROJECTS

Hunt down a resurrected Maggie Thatcher in this frightfully British Doom campaign
https://www.pcgamer.com/uk/hunt-down-a-resurrected-maggie-thatcher-in-this-frightfully-british-doom-campaign/
Back in July, I fell in love with an ongoing project to recreate a grim English high street in Duke Nukem 3D's Build Engine. As it happens, another developer was already well underway on their own grim retro-coloured descent into Blighty—though there's more gore than Greggs to be found in the depths of Thatcher's Techbase.
Arriving on September 24, Thatcher's Techbase is a free level pack for the original Doom (compatible with emulators like Boom) that sees you descend into "the tenth circle of hell—the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland" in the hunt for a resurrected Margaret Thatcher.

GAMING NEWS

No Man’s Sky Frontiers Update 3.66 released, full patch notes revealed
https://www.dsogaming.com/patches/no-mans-sky-frontiers-update-3-66-released-full-patch-notes-revealed/
Hello Games has released the Frontiers Update 3.66 for No Man’s Sky. According to the release notes, this patch fixes various crashes and resolves numerous bugs.

Destroy All Humans! 2 Remake has been leaked via a trailer
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/destroy-all-humans-2-remake-has-been-leaked-via-a-trailer/
It appears that THQ Nordic and Black Forest Games are currently working on a remake of Destroy All! Humans 2. This remake will be called Destroy All Humans! 2 Reprobed and will follow the exact formula of the previous DAH remake.

Alfred Hitchcock – Vertigo releases on December 16th
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/alfred-hitchcock-vertigo-releases-on-december-16th/
Microids has announced that Alfred Hitchcock – Vertigo will release on December 16th. Alfred Hitchcock – Vertigo is a dark psychological thriller in which gamers can play with the limits between reality and fantasy.

Scarlet Nexus Patch 1.03 released, adds larger font size, camera distance, lock on & more
https://www.dsogaming.com/patches/scarlet-nexus-patch-1-03-released-adds-larger-font-size-camera-distance-lock-on-more/
Bandai Namco has released a brand new patch for Scarlet Nexus that will update its version to 1.03. According to the team, Patch 1.03 adds larger font size, as well as camera distance, aim assist and lock on options.

The news, part two:

Deep Rock Galactic digs up official mod support
https://www.pcgamer.com/uk/deep-rock-galactic-digs-up-official-mod-support/
Things can get a little unpredictable when you're a dwarf carving apart the inside of an asteroid. But nothing can prepare our pint-sized miners for the challenges they'll face now that full mod support has arrived in Deep Rock Galactic.

Nvidia deflates God of War PC and Half-Life 2 Remastered rumors, says leaked data was 'speculative'
https://www.pcgamer.com/uk/nvidia-geforce-now-leak-database/
Rumors of a Half-Life 2 remaster and a God of War PC port started spreading on Monday after the contents of an Nvidia database leaked. Don't get too excited, though: Nvidia says the titles were just speculative entries for "internal tracking and testing."

Dodge undersea prehensile penises with teeth in Swallow the Sea
https://www.pcgamer.com/uk/swallow-the-sea/
There's a strange subgenre of videogames that I call "fleshy bummer-horror." These games thrive on grotesque, meat-filled brutalism: The floors and walls writhe, blood flows freely, and the chance of catching necrotising fasciitis is admittedly high. Think Carrion's unrelenting blob, or Binding of Isaac's matricide.
Swallow the Sea is the latest in this growing line of visually-gross games that are as unsettling as they are amusing. It rose through the ranks on itch.io on a "pay what you want" basis before hitting Steam for free last month to creep out even more people.

Kerbal Space Program creator's new game launches onto Steam Early Access
https://www.pcgamer.com/uk/kerbal-space-program-creators-new-game-launches-onto-steam-early-access/
Just a few weeks after taking off into open beta, Balsa Model Flight Simulator, the new game from Kerbal Space Program creator Felipe "HarvesteR" Falanghe, is now available on Steam Early Access.

Activision Blizzard accused of committing labor violations to stop employees from talking about labor violations
https://www.pcgamer.com/uk/activision-blizzard-cwa-labor-complaint/
With the help of a major union, Activision Blizzard employees have filed a complaint with the National Labor Relations Board alleging that the game development and publishing giant has intimidated, surveilled, and interrogated workers to discourage them from discussing labor conditions, such as those raised by the discrimination lawsuit filed against Activision Blizzard in July.

Activision Blizzard hires former Disney exec as new HR boss
https://www.pcgamer.com/uk/activision-blizzard-hires-former-disney-exec-as-new-hr-boss-promises-commitment-to-an-inclusive-workplace/
Activision has hired Julie Hodges, formerly the senior vice president of corporate HR and compensation, benefits, and talent acquisition at The Walt Disney Company, as its new chief people officer. Hodges, who will replace Activision's current CPO Claudine Naughton, "will lead all aspects of human resources," ranging from talent acquisition and compensation to "diversity, equity, and inclusion."

Ren & Stimpy will bring their gross fight to Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl
https://www.pcgamer.com/uk/ren-and-stimpy-will-bring-their-gross-fight-to-nickelodeon-all-star-brawl/
Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl is shaping up to be an interesting platform fighter, especially if you were a child of the '90s. Characters from Spongebob Squarepants, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and Rugrats will beat the living crap out of each other in Nick-themed arenas. Now another iconic duo has been confirmed: Ren and Stimpy.

Tactical roguelike Synthetik 2 will be out in November
https://www.pcgamer.com/uk/tactical-roguelike-synthetik-2-will-be-out-in-november/
The original Synthetik was a shooter that put a lot of thought into the act of shooting. (...)
Synthetik 2 was first announced with an Early Access release planned for August, but had to be delayed. Berlin studio Flow Fire Games has now announced Synthetik 2 will arrive in Early Access on November 11, with a new trailer that reiterates the story setup before getting into the good stuff. By the good stuff I mean dropping the beat while a whole lot of robots get shot up. There's a spinning sawblade enemy that looks like it came right out of Disc Room, and also jets that I'm sure will be fun to shoot out of the sky.

Age of Empires 4 invites you all to wage war in this weekend's open stress test
https://www.pcgamer.com/uk/age-of-empires-4-invites-you-all-to-wage-war-in-this-weekends-open-stress-test/
After hours of gathering resources and building fortifications, Microsoft is rallying as many troops as it can for Age of Empires 4's next stress test, inviting everyone to jump in and wage merry war until the game's online infrastructure comes crashing down (or ideally, doesn't).

Rocksmith+ won't teach you how to shred guitar until next year
https://www.pcgamer.com/uk/rocksmith-wont-teach-you-how-to-shred-guitar-until-next-year/
Rocksmith+, the next evolution of Ubisoft's series of gamified music lessons, has been delayed into 2022 as Ubisoft San Francisco uses feedback from this summer's beta to tighten up several core features.

Extremely devoted Genshin Impact players have somehow maxed out their adventure rank
https://www.pcgamer.com/uk/extremely-devoted-genshin-impact-players-have-somehow-maxed-out-their-adventure-rank/
Nearly a year after the game launched, some dedicated Genshin Impact players have managed to max out their adventure rank, something which is no mean feat.

You know... In my Dreams I thought it was 7AM... But it seems that in reality, it's 10AM...

Microsoft doubles down on confusing TPM 2.0 requirement for Windows 11

https://www.pcgamer.com/uk/microsoft-doubles-down-on-confusing-tpm-20-requirement-for-windows-11/

I did update my BIOS and it went through pretty smoothly but generally, that won't be the experience for everyone, especially DIY. Hopefully most people just go in their BIOS and change the setting instead of updating it.

Intel’s new LGA1700 socket for Alder Lake and Raptor Lake CPUs has been pictured

https://videocardz.com/newz/intels-new-lga1700-socket-for-alder-lake-and-raptor-lake-cpus-has-been-pictured

I know that feeling... also, the site having an expired certificate or something didn't help either.

Linus invests in Framework laptop company

Good luck to them. While I am some what interested in a laptop like this... Until you can upgrade the CPU/GPU down the line, I don't have much reason to abandon my usual Gaming laptop or my Dell XPS as those can already upgrade the RAM/SSD/Wifi Module. And they generally don't break for 3-4 years of use which by that time, I'll replace them anyway. If they can make a laptop where down the line, you can upgrade just the GPU like you can with a PC, then I'll be interested.