Sorry, I misread. I thought it was 20% faster than current gen AMD chips and beating the 12900K in the process instead of 20% faster than the 12900K outright.

My bad!

The multicore benchmark still seems pretty believable to me, though. Even if this was fake, I doubt this one will be far off.

orbweavers aren't new are they?

They're like cockroaches, you can't never get rid of all of them.

Yeah. It's not going to happen. Don't get me wrong, I would upgrade in a heartbeat if it was the case... But it's the hype game all over again.

Every time a new CPU/GPU/Component/Console releases that has an avid fan base, there is a degree over sensationalist, over-hyping to make it out to be the next coming of Jesus.

It's just not the case.

Although with DDR5 thrown into the mix, bandwidth limited scenarios could see some significant uplifts if the memory controller is effective... And I assume it will be as AMD isn't keeping silicon around for DDR4, so more goes to DDR5.

Faster Ram is expected. They always push that boundary for every single GPU release. Heck even most CPU releases.

It's frustrating to see these Youtube channels that "talk" about every single possible rumor.
Majority of them end up being wrong, but the few they do get right, they will advertise and try to boost their channels credability to garner more subscribers to make money.
Just remember, even a broken clock is right twice a day.

Or they "talk" about the blatant obvious. I.E. Faster Ram.

And people seem to lap it up. Baffles the mind.

Some schools will actually hand them out to students for free on a per-needs basis here... It's still cheaper than running giant computer rooms in the short and long terms too.

Yeah it is a stupid excuse. The types of devices students are using have changed, the number of CPU's needed haven't... If anything it has increased as the worlds population has increased... The silicon shortage has exposed that limitation... And Intel floundered on that opportunity and it's competitors have profited big time. (ARM, AMD, APPLE.)

Exploring the Windows 7 Anime CD!

If I ever run across a computer having that theme with those sounds...

MSI & ASUS Amongst 1st-Wave Global OEMs To Offer Intel Arc A380 & A310-Powered Gaming PCs

https://wccftech.com/msi-asus-amongst-1st-wave-oems-to-offer-intel-arc-a380-a310-powered-gaming-pcs/

Those are very impressive prices. A380 costing only $129-$139 is very cheap. The only question is how long till they get their drivers together. On one hand, I want to recommend it because a GPU having 6GB of Vram, 8 PCI-E lanes, AV1 and various encoder/decoder support, etc for only $129-$139 is pretty crazy. On the other hand... Drive problems and lots of them.

So on the hardware front, Intel would be the easy choice against 6400 or even 6500XT but it's hard to recommend them with all the driver problems the user is going to have. Reminds me of the good old Ryzen 1000 where there were a lot of issues at launch but boy the prices were insane. But a GPU relies a lot more on drivers than CPU so its a very much, "Support the underdog" sort of an audience.

If any of you have Stray and also happens to like Spyro the dragon, there's a mod for you:

https://www.nexusmods.com/stray/mods/110

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eFjis6CP4n0

It's a bit weird hearing Spyro meow.

Stray is a nice little game, with interesting world building and art, but gameplay is so-so, quite basic and fairly limited. IMO, it is way overhyped and it would actually work better as a classic Point & Click adventure game - it actually reminded me for a moment or two of Primordia, though that one is a (IMO) vastly superior experience.

Full NVIDIA RTX 40 “AD104” GPU with 7680 cores and 400W TDP to match RTX 3090 Ti in performance

https://videocardz.com/newz/full-nvidia-rtx-40-ad104-gpu-with-7680-cores-and-400w-tdp-to-match-rtx-3090-ti-in-performance

As usual, I'd take the power figures with a grain of salt more so than the rest as they could be testing out a custom AIB board. I do think the 70 series will be heavily held back due to the memory bus as as far as resolution is concerned. While it does have a lot more L2 cache compared to Ampere, it's still low so it will be targeting that 1440p where as a 3080Ti/3090 class GPUs will do better at 4k.

AMD Radeon & NVIDIA GeForce Graphics Card Prices Fall To A New Low, RX 6000 14% Below MSRP & RTX 30 9% Below MSRP

https://wccftech.com/amd-radeon-rx-6000-nvidia-geforce-rtx-30-graphics-card-prices-continue-to-fall-below-msrp/

"Buy now! Prices won't fall any further! I have sources!!!" -Jayztwocents

Ryujinx (Switch emulator) adds Vulkan graphics backend to main build

https://blog.ryujinx.org/vulkan/

Another Monday, another round of news:

SALES /PLAYER COUNT & DEALS

Steam's Top 10

Diablo Immortal hits 30 million players, estimated to have raked-in over $100 million
https://www.pcgamer.com/diablo-immortal-hits-30-million-players-estimated-to-have-raked-in-over-dollar100-million/
Diablo Immortal has sparked controversy among elements of Blizzard's audience ever since it was first announced. The monetisation model sparked a brutal backlash, stopped it being released in Belgium and the Netherlands, and Blizzard had to rush out a promise that Diablo 4 won't be monetized the same way.
But the thing is, Diablo Immortal sure seems to have made some people happy. The last stats Blizzard provided on the game was that it had been downloaded by over 15 million players in two weeks, earning around $24 million.
Two months since launch, the game now boasts over 30 million players.
The player numbers are coming from an official channel, but mobile market analyst SensorTower has also just published a report about the game's success, in which it estimates the title has now raked-in over $100 million globally. (...)

GOG starts the week with three Deals of the Day and a new Weekly Sale:

• The first DotD is Intravenous, 50% off during 46 hours: https://www.gog.com/en/game/intravenous
• The second DotD is FATE: The Complete Adventure, 60% off until Wednesday: https://www.gog.com/en/game/fate_the_complete_adventure
• The last DotD is House Flipper, 60% off until August 3rd: https://www.gog.com/en/game/house_flipper
• And the Weekly Sale is full of board games and co-op games with up to 90% discounts: https://www.gog.com/promo/20220801_weekly_sale

Steam has two new deals:

• Sunset Overdrive will be 75% off until August 7: https://store.steampowered.com/app/847370/Sunset_Overdrive/
• The second deal is A Way Out, with a 75% discount until the 11th of August: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1222700/A_Way_Out/

There are three deals at Humble:

• At Humble Bundle there's a new Amazing Adventures Bundle, featuring 8 games to get during 11 days: https://www.humblebundle.com/games/amazing-adventures-bundle
• And at the Humble Store, there are two new sales:
  • The 2K Publisher Sale features up to 90% discounts during the next 11 days. There are keys for Steam and EGS: https://www.humblebundle.com/store/promo/2k-publisher-sale/
  • And the 2K BYOB offers 42 games to build an up to 5 games bundle, with a max discount of 85%: https://www.humblebundle.com/store/promo/2k-build-your-own-bundle/

And Fanatical has four new deals:

• The new Star Deal is Road 96, 55% off during 48 hours: https://www.fanatical.com/en/game/road-96
• The Civilization games and DLCs will be up to 85% of during the next 6 days: https://www.fanatical.com/en/franchises/civilization
• Techland Publishing puts its games on sale with up to 80% discounts during 7 days: https://www.fanatical.com/en/publishers/techland-publishing
• And the BYO Summer Bundle 2022 comes with 16 games to choose for your 1, 5 or 10 items bundle: https://www.fanatical.com/en/pick-and-mix/build-your-own-summer-bundle-2022

SOFTWARE & DRIVERS

-Empty-

MODS, EMULATORS & FAN PROJECTS

Xenoblade Chronicles 3 can already run on PC with 60fps via Nintendo Switch emulators
https://www.dsogaming.com/videotrailer-news/xenoblade-chronicles-3-can-already-run-on-pc-with-60fps-via-nintendo-switch-emulators/
Xenoblade Chronicles 3 has just been released on Nintendo Switch and it appears that it can already run on PC via both the yuzu and Ryujinx Nintendo Switch emulators. Not only that, but PC gamers can enjoy the game at both higher resolutions and framerates.
As with most games, the Nintendo Switch version of Xenoblade Chronicles 3 is locked at 30fps. And, ironically, there is already a 60fps Mod for the PC. By using this mod/patch, you can unlock the game’s framerate (when running it with both yuzu and Ryujinx). What this ultimately means is that PC gamers can have a much better experience.
Unfortunately, there are some slowdowns on both yuzu and Ryujinx. These slowdowns are most likely due to emulation issues (and not to the actual GPU requirements). Still, and even with these drops, the framerate on PC never drops below 45fps. That is of course if you own a high-end PC system.

This new mod will bring the capital of Poland to Grand Theft Auto IV
https://www.dsogaming.com/videotrailer-news/this-new-mod-will-bring-the-capital-of-poland-to-grand-theft-auto-iv/
Modder ‘BartoszBuster’ has announced that Grand Theft Auto IV Poland: Warsaw will release on August 1st. In order to celebrate this announcement, the modder has also released a trailer for this mod that you can find below.
As the title suggests, this mod will bring the capital of Poland, Warsaw, to Rockstar’s open-world game. As Niko Bellic, players will be able to explore the environment.
BartoszBuster has been working on this map since 2014. Now I don’t know whether or not he will include any custom missions. From the looks of it, this will be simply a big area that players will explore.

New Red Dead Redemption 2 Mods overhaul interior lighting & add personal boat
https://www.dsogaming.com/mods/new-red-dead-redemption-2-mods-overhaul-interior-lighting-add-personal-boat/
Two new cool mods for Red Dead Redemption 2 surfaced this week. The first mod aims to completely overhaul the lighting of most interior places. The second mod adds an option to own a personal boat in-game.
Going into more details, the LIT Mod allows all light sources to cast shadows. Moreover, it attempts to restore/add some of the interior lighting and add missing prop shadows. (...)
The second mod adds an option to own a personal boat in-game, with customization options and more. It’s also worth noting that the mod “remembers” where you left your boat (so you can find it at the exact place you left it). Boats can also be stolen and sold at the docks. (...)

Fallout 4 Mod improves graphics by reworking the LOD of distant models
https://www.dsogaming.com/mods/fallout-4-mod-improves-graphics-by-reworking-the-lod-of-distant-models/
Modder ‘Rikintosh’ has released a new mod for Fallout 4 that attempts to improve its graphics by reworking the LOD of distant models. As such, players can now see more houses, trees, advertisements, and vegetation in the distance. At the same time, this mod decreases the pop-in of distant objects.
Do note that this mod is for high-end PC systems, and comes in two versions. The first one, Ultimate GFX, features high-quality models, and 512 or 1024 textures with optimizations. The second version, INCEL Edition, comes with the highest quality models, and large textures with high-quality BC7 compression. This second version is for those that have enough amount of VRAM, so avoid it if you own a GPU with 4GB or 8GB of VRAM.
Unfortunately, the modder has not shared any before/after comparison video. However, you can find a screenshot comparison below. As you can clearly see, the modded version (left) looks noticeably better than the vanilla version (right).

San Andreas HD mod subtly sharpens Rockstar's classic crime sim
https://www.pcgamer.com/san-andreas-hd-mod-subtly-sharpens-rockstars-classic-crime-sim/
GTA San Andreas HD: The Definitive Edition Classic, a mouthful of a mod designed to sharpen up the textures of the original GTA San Andreas, has released "the last and the best" version of its graphical improvement package.
Unlike Rockstar's own Definitive Edition of the game, which radically changed the original art-style, horribly mutilated many characters, and was generally a big letdown, this mod gently sharpens up the game's base textures to look a little smarter on modern screens.

Become the gnarliest farmer in town with this Stardew Valley skateboard mod
https://www.pcgamer.com/become-the-gnarliest-farmer-in-town-with-this-stardew-valley-skateboard-mod/
Stardew Valley, we can all agree, is a great game. But is it a rad game? An ill game? A game that shreds the gnar?
Well, it is now. A new mod from creator 'aedenthorn' lets you craft and ride a skateboard as you tend to your crop. Finally, you can live out all your fantasies of becoming the dopest farmer in a 100-mile radius.

There are of course nude Sephiroth mods for Final Fantasy 7 Remake
https://www.pcgamer.com/there-are-of-course-nude-sephiroth-mods-for-final-fantasy-7-remake/
Final Fantasy 7 Remake is a great game given a mediocre PC port, but even though there aren't many graphics options and you'll need a controller to play the darts minigame if not the entire game, playing on PC has one undeniable advantage: mods. There are just under 1,000 mods for Final Fantasy 7 Remake on NexusMods and while the 4K hi-poly nude Tifa mod has been downloaded 78,400 times already because of course it has, let this serve as your PSA that Final Fantasy modders remain horny for Sephiroth as well.
FF7's beloved bishi and classic example of the "silver hair means you're evil" anime cliché, Sephiroth has been remade by Remake's modders several times. There's the tasteful Shirtless Sephiroth by gatto tom, and Sexy Sephiroth by luxos, who wears an armored jockstrap. If you want to see the full monty, luxos is also responsible for the Nude Sephiroth mod, which offers different files so you can choose combinations of its four penis sizes and two hairstyles. ("I'll have 1 Nude Sephiroth - Big Penis Rufus Hair, please."

GAMING NEWS

No Man’s Sky Endurance Update 3.98 fixes numerous bugs, full patch notes
https://www.dsogaming.com/patches/no-mans-sky-endurance-update-3-98-fixes-numerous-bugs-full-patch-notes/
Hello Games has released a brand new update for No Man’s Sky. According to the release notes, the Endurance Update 3.98 fixes numerous bugs that plagued the game.
Going into more details, this patch fixes a visual glitch that could occur when the player stood on very steep ledges or railings. It also resolves a collision issue that allowed players to become stuck when jetpacking into the freighter bridge teleporter.

Assassin’s Creed Valhalla Title Update 1.6.0 is 23GB in size, full patch notes
https://www.dsogaming.com/patches/assassins-creed-valhalla-title-update-1-6-0-is-23gb-in-size-full-patch-notes/
Ubisoft has announced that the Title Update 1.6.0 for Assassin’s Creed Valhalla will release tomorrow. This patch is 23GB in size on PC, and below you can find its complete changelog.

Monday news, the long part two:

Bungie admits over half of Destiny 2's Control PvP matches are decided 'before a single shot is fired'
https://www.pcgamer.com/bungie-admits-over-half-of-destiny-2s-control-pvp-matches-are-decided-before-a-single-shot-is-fired/
Yesterday, Bungie announced the return of skill-based matchmaking—or SBMM—to Destiny 2's main PvP mode. In a This Week at Bungie blog post, the studio detailed upcoming changes to matchmaking, with the addition of "loose SBMM" to the Control playlist that will arrive at the launch of Season 18 on August 23. This is described as "the first iteration" of a larger matchmaking overhaul, due to continue through Season 19.

Evolve Stage 2 servers are working again and nobody knows why
https://www.pcgamer.com/evolve-stage-2-servers-are-working-again-and-nobody-knows-why/
Something strange is going on with Evolve Stage 2, 2K Games' long-dead free-to-play 4v1 FPS. Four years after the servers were taken offline, which effectively killed the game, they appear to have returned—sort of, anyway.

Ass Creed meets Ass Pan in the year's weirdest videogame crossover event
https://www.pcgamer.com/ass-creed-meets-ass-pan-in-the-years-weirdest-videogame-crossover-event/
Imagine, if you will, Ezio Auditore da Firenze, dropping silently onto his prey from the rooftops of Renaissance Italy—but instead of plunging his infamous wrist dagger into their neck, he beans 'em a good one with a cast iron frying pan. Impossible? Well, yes, in the game at least, but not in the realm of fan fiction anymore thanks to a collaboration between Ubisoft and Krafton that will bring Assassin's Creed to PUBG in August.

Witcher 3 veterans announce a multiplayer stealth-action game set in feudal Japan
https://www.pcgamer.com/witcher-3-veterans-announce-a-multiplayer-stealth-action-game-set-in-feudal-japan/
In 2021, CD Projekt successfully crowdfunded a Witcher-based manga called The Witcher: Ronin that reimagines Geralt and the gang in feudal Japan. Now former members of CD Projekt are looking to take it one step further by launching a studio called Dark Passenger that's working on an all-new online action game set in—you guessed it—feudal Japan.

Artist alleges Call of Duty plagiarized a military dog skin
https://www.pcgamer.com/artist-alleges-call-of-duty-plagiarized-a-military-dog-skin/
A fluffy kerfuffle is brewing around a new Call of Duty skin, with an artist accusing Activision Blizzard and, by extension, Call of Duty: Vanguard maker Raven Software, of plagiarizing their work. Raven Software has since removed the alleged plagiarism, the Floof Fury Tracer Pack, from both its social media and YouTube channels. Mention of the skin was also removed from Raven's blog post about the pack, as spotted by Polygon.

The creator of Disco Elysium is looking for artists with 'a love of sci-fi and space'
https://www.pcgamer.com/the-creator-of-disco-elysium-is-looking-for-artists-with-a-love-of-sci-fi-and-space/
Punk developer and former industry underdog Studio ZA/UM continues to expand and hire new talent for a follow up to PC Gamer's 2019 Game of the Year and winner of last year's Top 100, Disco Elysium. The details in these job posts might just shed some light on the studio's anticipated next project.

Sapiens wants to take you from Stone Age huts to Medieval castles
https://www.pcgamer.com/sapiens-wants-to-take-you-from-stone-age-huts-to-medieval-castles/
City builders and colony sims usually take a dedicated tack, focusing on one period, but recent indie release Sapiens is going all-in on scale. Starting with two people, you'll lead your tribe through "thousands of years of technological breakthroughs."

Dr. Disrespect's game is called Deadrop, watch some early gameplay footage
https://www.pcgamer.com/dr-disrespects-game-is-called-deadrop-watch-some-early-gameplay-footage/
Midnight Society, the development studio founded by Dr. Disrespect, has revealed the name and some background details about the multiplayer FPS formerly known as Project Moon. It's called Deadrop, and according to the Midnight Society website, it's set in the year "2020.b", when self-governed megastructures called Refiner States turn toxic atmospheric pollutants into a valuable addictive substance called "space dust".

Elden Ring's hardest boss used to be even harder
https://www.pcgamer.com/elden-rings-hardest-boss-used-to-be-even-harder/
Elden Ring dataminers have been increasingly turning to the pre-patch, 1.0 build of the game in search of FromSoftware's development secrets. Earlier this month, dataminer kotn3l uncovered a version of secret megaboss Malenia who's more aggressive, blocks your attacks better, and has a second variation of her signature move.

Destiny 2 disables text chat due to game-breaking exploit
https://www.pcgamer.com/destiny-2-disables-text-chat-due-to-game-breaking-exploit/
Some players of Destiny 2 were in the crosshairs of a rude exploit this weekend when other players discovered the ability to use text chat to crash their game. It was apparently most common in PvP, where some were using the exploit—some form of text copy and paste—to crash their opponents' game and secure a win-by-default

Fans are bringing back tactics card game Duelyst
https://www.pcgamer.com/fans-are-bringing-back-tactics-card-game-duelyst/
In 2014, Counterplay Games raised $137,707 on Kickstarter for a project called Duelyst, promising a card game that had "Squad-Based Tactical Combat with Ranked Competitive Play. Brought to you by veterans from Diablo III and Rogue Legacy." Its pixel art and complex blend of cards and turn-based strategy drew plenty of interest during beta, and after launch Counterplay signed a publishing deal with Bandai Namco. The good times didn't last, and three years later Duelyst's servers were shut down. Counterplay's next release would be looter-slasher Godfall.
That's not the end of the Duelyst story, however. Fans at indie studio Dream Sloth were given a licence by Counterplay (who still own the rights to Duelyst), as well as most of the original source code, and are currently working on a relaunch called Duelyst 2. It's based on the beta of Duelyst rather than the launch version, which means players draw two cards at the end of each turn rather than one, among other changes.

A Red Dead Online bug is turning the game into a ghost town
https://www.pcgamer.com/a-red-dead-online-bug-is-turning-the-game-into-a-ghost-town/
Red Dead Online doesn't seem long for this world. After Rockstar announced last month that RDO wouldn't receive any more 'major' content updates, players have alternated between explosive violence and quiet grief. A few have simply quit the game entirely.
Including, apparently, the NPCs.
A recent bug, first documented on Reddit, has turned Red Dead's bustling metropolises and rolling plains into deserted ghost towns. Horses pull empty carriages down desolate streets, wares sit untended on market stalls, and you can't even find wild animals if you head out into the countryside. It's like someone's told them the game is doomed and they've all run off to find new employment.