AMD Ryzen 7 7700X 8-Core Zen 4 CPU Benchmark Leaked, 25% Faster Single & 26% Faster Multi-Threaded Performance Versus 5800X

https://wccftech.com/amd-ryzen-7-7700x-8-core-zen-4-cpu-benchmark-leaked-25-percent-faster-single-core-vs-5800x

Now this is much more so what I was hoping would be at a minimum. If it's true and it ends up between Alder Lake and Raptor Lake, then we can actually start recommending upgrades. But as always, take it with a grain of salt and it will also be interesting to see how it does against 5800X3D in gaming.

Intel 13th Gen Raptor Lake CPUs Listed Online – Core i9-13900K For $700 US, Core i7-13700K For $480 US, Core i5-13600K For $325 US

https://wccftech.com/intel-13th-gen-raptor-lake-cpus-listed-online-core-i9-13900k-for-700-us-core-i7-13700k-for-480-us-core-i5-13600k-for-325-us/

Similar to other price listings, most likely, place holders.

Well, at least that Cinebech score gives us something to compare it against the other CPUs. If that 25-26% increase also applies in games, which probably won't because it will be higher due to the higher clocks of the new chip (the old, games still prefer fast CPUs, not more cores), then it should be faster than the 5800X3D as well.

And it's being compared to the 5800X, not the 5700X which is its predecessor, technically speaking.


As for the Intel Raptor Lake prices, I could actually see them being the real ones. Keep in mind that Intel said that they would be rising prices compared to Alder Lake..

By the way, this may interest some VR fans here:

Finally, the Quest 2 no longer requires a Facebook login
https://www.pcgamer.com/finally-the-quest-2-no-longer-requires-a-facebook-login/
It's been a moment but Meta has finally removed the mandatory Facebook login for the Quest 2 VR headset.

To login to your Meta Quest 2, you now need to set up a Meta account. And yes, that does sound like they've replaced one mandatory login with another, but this Meta account doesn't require you to connect any social media account in order to use it. In fact, you don't need to own any social media accounts whatsoever, as you can set up a Meta account with only an email address.

NVIDIA Announces Financial Results for Second Quarter Fiscal 2023

https://nvidianews.nvidia.com/news/nvidia-announces-financial-results-for-second-quarter-fiscal-2023

“I look forward to next month’s GTC conference, where we will share new advances in RTX, as well as breakthroughs in AI and the metaverse, the next evolution of the internet. Join us,” he said."

While their financial are shit, this pretty much confirms 4000 series will be announced at GTC which should be on September 19-22.

I always wonder how big of a market share AMD has in professional GPUs like the Instinct/Quadro GPUs. I thought they would only be interesting for clients who can't use CUDA for whatever reason, but apparently, that's not quite the case.

They do seem to be pretty efficient, as the 4 first entries in the Green500 (the energy-efficient version of the TOP500) are all equipped with those, and the second one leads the TOP500 outright.

Most interesting are the operating margins, a drop of over 20 percentage point both Y/Y and Q/Q is absolutely atrocious.

doesn't pakistan have a VAT like normal countries? or is this on top of that

Will be interesting to see the difference between running that with my 3080 vs my 4090 in a few months.

The Thursday news, with not only more news from Gamescon, but also from the Future Games Show:

SALES /PLAYER COUNT & DEALS

The Epic Store gives away two items:

• Ring of Pain: https://store.epicgames.com/en-US/p/ring-of-pain
• Until August 30, the Destiny 2: Bungie 30th Anniversary Pack is also free to get: https://store.epicgames.com/en-US/p/destiny-2--bungie-30th-anniversary-pack

Next week, they'll give away two games: Shadow of the Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition and Submerged: Hidden Depths.

Steam has two new deals:

• The daily deal is Dead Island Definitive Edition, 80% off (the other Dead Island games are also on sale: https://store.steampowered.com/app/383150/Dead_Island_Definitive_Edition/
• And the Ashgames Publisher Sale features up to 75% discounts until August 31: https://store.steampowered.com/sale/ashpublishersale22

There's a new Humble Bundle: the Career Break Bundle, with up to 7 games to get during the next 13 days: https://www.humblebundle.com/games/career-break-bundle.

Fanatical's Summer Sale is over. Back to the usual:

• The new Star Deal is Monkey Island: Special Edition Bundle, with 2 games 80% off during 48 hours: https://www.fanatical.com/en/game/monkey-island-special-edition-bundle
• And the Diamond Collection BYOB features 18 titles to choose for your 3, 4 or 5 games bundle: https://www.fanatical.com/en/pick-and-mix/diamond-collection-build-your-own

SOFTWARE & DRIVERS

-Empty-

MODS, EMULATORS & FAN PROJECTS

Here's why Wii U emulator Cemu going open source is a big deal for emulation—and for the Steam Deck
https://www.pcgamer.com/heres-why-wii-u-emulator-cemu-going-open-source-is-a-big-deal-for-emulationand-for-the-steam-deck/
On Tuesday, the creator of Wii U emulator Cemu announced a major 2.0 version release, introducing Linux builds for the first time and open sourcing eight years of work.
In 2017, Wii U emulator Cemu made history by pulling in thousands of dollars per month on Patreon to help fund development. Cemu's high profile Patreon, which was briefly earning $25,000 at its peak, raised questions about the ethics of emulation, particularly when money is involved, and when a project is "closed source" instead of open source, meaning their source code isn't publicly available. Closed source emulator development isn't inherently wrong, but it can be controversial—one of the key ways the emulation community protects itself from lawsuits is by keeping its source code public, so litigious companies like Nintendo can study it and confirm that none of its proprietary code is used in the reverse-engineering process.
(...)
Despite some worries in the community that Cemu would attract legal scrutiny thanks to its closed source code, lucrative Patreon and 4K Breath of the Wild videos, Nintendo never came knocking. And now worries that Cemu's source code could be lost if developer exzap ever disappeared are moot, too. The project in its entirety is available on Github, including Linux builds for the new 2.0 release.

Super Mario 64 Mod for Tomb Raider is now available for download
https://www.dsogaming.com/mods/super-mario-64-mod-for-tomb-raider-is-now-available-for-download/
Now here is something special for all our Super Mario 64 and Tomb Raider fans. Headshotnoby and muddymind have just released a Super Mario 64 Mod for the original Tomb Raider game, allowing you to play as Mario himself.
From what we can see, this mod uses OpenLara. In case you weren’t aware, OpenLara is a classic Tomb Raider open-source engine. OpenLara features some must-have QoL improvements over the original game. For instance, it unlocks the framerate, improves lighting effects, enables self-shadowing on all the player models, and more.
According to the modders, you can complete every level of Tomb Raider (and find all secrets) with Mario. From what we can see, Mario also has his iconic moves from Super Mario 64. As such, you can jump, dash and punch your enemies.

The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past is now playable on PC, thanks to a fan project
https://www.pcgamer.com/the-legend-of-zelda-a-link-to-the-past-is-now-playable-on-pc-thanks-to-a-fan-project/
Friends, 2022 is the year of Zelda on the PC. Not because Nintendo has had a Scrooge-like change of heart, but because dedicated teams of engineers have seen fit to give us both a fan-made PC port of Ocarina of Time and, now, a "reverse-engineered clone" of The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past.
The clone comes courtesy of Github user snesrev, and comprises a cool 70-80,000 lines of code covering every inch of the original game. If you have a (legal!) copy of the original's ROM lying around, you can play the whole thing on your PC from start to finish right now. You'll have to extract the levels and images and compile them with the clone's code yourself, though. The authors can't include them by default because that would be tremendously illegal.

GAMING NEWS

Forspoken gets a 10-minute official gameplay overview trailer
https://www.dsogaming.com/videotrailer-news/forspoken-gets-a-10-minute-official-gameplay-overview-trailer/
Square Enix has released a 10-minute official gameplay overview trailer for Forspoken. This trailer will give you an extended look at the game’s story, gameplay, and overview including combat, exploration, and Frey’s magical abilities.

Fear Effect Reinvented re-emerges with a brand new gameplay trailer
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/fear-effect-reinvented-re-emerges-with-a-brand-new-gameplay-trailer/
Back in 2017, we informed you about Fear Effect Reinvented. Fear Effect Reinvented was meant to be a remake of the first Fear Effect game. And now, after five whole years, ForeverEntertainment released a brand new gameplay trailer for it.

Here are 12 minutes of gameplay footage from the Souls-like “Pinocchio” game, Lies of P
https://www.dsogaming.com/videotrailer-news/here-are-12-minutes-of-gameplay-footage-from-the-souls-like-pinocchio-game-lies-of-p/
IGN has shared a new video, showcasing 12 minutes of brand new gameplay footage from Lies of P. Lies of P is a Souls-like game that is set in a cruel, dark Belle Époque world, and is inspired by the familiar story of Pinocchio.

Here is the gamescom 2022 trailer for the Unreal Engine 5-powered Layers of Fears
https://www.dsogaming.com/videotrailer-news/here-is-the-gamescom-2022-trailer-for-the-unreal-engine-5-powered-layers-of-fears/
Bloober Team has released the gamescom 2022 trailer for Layers of Fears. This new trailer features in-engine footage, and will give you an idea of what the team aims to create.

PC demo released for the upcoming fast-paced action game, Soulstice
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/pc-demo-released-for-the-upcoming-fast-paced-action-game-soulstice/
Modus Games has released a PC demo for its upcoming fast-paced action game, Soulstice. In order to celebrate this release, the publisher has also shared a new cinematic trailer that you can find below.
>> The demo is on Steam, link in the article.

System Shock Remake gets a new gamescom 2022 in-engine trailer
https://www.dsogaming.com/videotrailer-news/system-shock-remake-gets-a-new-gamescom-2022-in-engine-trailer/
Prime Matter has released the gamescom 2022 in-engine trailer for System Shock Remake. Developed by Nightdive Studios, this remake promises to be true to the original game that came out in 1994.

After six whole months, Bandai Namco restores Dark Souls 3’s PC online functionalities
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/after-six-whole-months-bandai-namco-restores-dark-souls-3s-pc-online-functionalities/
In February 2022, Bandai Namco took down the online servers for all of its Dark Souls games. And today, after six whole months, FromSoftware has finally restored the PC online functionalities of Dark Souls 3.

New Marvel’s Spider-Man Remastered PC Update brings Sharpness slider,stability & Ray Tracing fixes, full patch notes
https://www.dsogaming.com/patches/new-marvels-spider-man-remastered-pc-update-brings-sharpness-sliderstability-ray-tracing-fixes-full-patch-notes/
Nixxes has released the second update for the PC version of Marvel’s Spider-Man Remastered, and revealed its full patch notes. According to the team, this new patch adds a Sharpness slider, brings stability and Ray Tracing fixes, and resolves some bugs.

Atomic Heart gets a gamescom 2022 combat-oriented gameplay trailer
https://www.dsogaming.com/videotrailer-news/atomic-heart-gets-a-gamescom-2022-combat-oriented-gameplay-trailer/
Mundfish has released the gamescom 2022 gameplay trailer for Atomic Heart that focuses on its combat mechanics. This trailer showcases some of the powers that the players will be able to use in this new first-person shooter.

Thursday news, part two and last:

Bungie will no longer sunset whole expansions from Destiny 2
https://www.pcgamer.com/bungie-will-no-longer-sunset-whole-expansions-from-destiny-2/
Slipped in quietly amidst today's big news about the next major Destiny 2 expansion, Lightfall, and the new Season of the Plunder that started today, Bungie has announced that it will no longer remove expansions from the game in the future.

Land of the Vikings is a new survival city builder that you can try now
https://www.pcgamer.com/land-of-the-vikings-is-a-new-survival-city-builder-that-you-can-try-now/
When I was smacking my head against the desk as another batch of citizens died in Banished, I could not have guessed that the survival city builder would prove to be such a resilient and fruitful subgenre, but now it's inescapable. What a wonderful time to love misery and slogging away in the cold. Vikings knew a thing or two about that, and you'll be able to put their survival skills (and yours) to the test in Land of the Vikings.
>> Follow that link to get to the demo.

Horse girls rejoice: an open world horse game that isn't RDR2
https://www.pcgamer.com/horse-girls-rejoice-the-horse-game-genre-returns/
If you were a child in the '90s, then you'll remember the horse games. Like other pet simulations, the gameplay was often minimal, but you could brush the horses and click-and-drag little bows into their manes. At least one I remember let you add sparkles, though that truly might just be the early '00s all blending together. (Remember butterfly clips?)
All this to say that that the horse game is back, with newly announced Horse Tales - Emerald Valley Ranch. Described as an "equestrian open-world adventure", it looks extremely reminiscent of those games of old - but with the a key addition. You can both choose your horse's hairstyle, and actually leave the stable.

The father of Yakuza left Sega because he really didn't want to be CEO
https://www.pcgamer.com/the-father-of-yakuza-left-sega-because-he-really-didnt-want-to-be-ceo/
We've all been there. You're just going about your day, trying to do your job as best you know how, and people keep trying to put you in charge of things. "Josh!" they might say, "You wrote that article about Mount and Blade 2 leaving Early Access so well we want to make you Eternal Supreme Leader of PC Gamer!" Abashed, cheeks reddening, you cast your gaze back down at your laptop and try to get on with your day. You're a humble man doing humble work, even if you do look incredible doing it.
Such was the experience, apparently, of Yakuza creator Toshihiro Nagoshi, who has revealed why he left Sega after 32 years at the company in an interview with Germany-based games site 4Players. It turns out he just really didn't want to be CEO.
>> Understandable.

Fall of Porcupine is a Night in the Woods style story about healthcare, with a demo out now
https://www.pcgamer.com/fall-of-porcupine-is-a-night-in-the-woods-style-story-about-healthcare-with-a-demo-out-now/
Fall of Porcupine's anthropomorphic critters, troubled small town setting and light platforming give way to the obvious inspiration of Night in the Woods. It's unsubtle, but maybe not a bad thing: Night in the Woods isn't a fluffy story, even with its fluffy protagonists.
With Fall of Porcupine looking to tell a story about healthcare as work, maybe showing its inspirations so clearly is a fair shorthand: this likely isn't going to be a story about sticking plasters on grazed knees, even before you unearth whatever mysteries the town is hiding.
>> The demo is also on Steam, with a link in the article.

In this societal city builder you'll restore civilization after global climate change
https://www.pcgamer.com/in-this-societal-city-builder-youll-restore-civilization-after-global-climate-change/
Frostpunk continues to be an influence on new city builders, as you can see above in the first trailer for Floodland shown at the Future Games Show today. Instead of the fictional cold-pocalypse of Frostpunk, however, Floodland is set after the world has been deluged with seawater due to global climate change, a threat that is all too real.

Build sweet island castles in Falconeer spinoff Bulwark
https://www.pcgamer.com/build-sweet-island-castles-in-falconeer-spinoff-bulwark/
Very pretty bird flying action game The Falconeer has a follow-up on the way, also by developer Tomas Sala, but in an entirely new genre: City-building strategy. Bulwark: Falconeer Chronicles will put players in the shoes of someone in charge of those incredible island fortresses that litter the Falconeer world.

Command and Conquer Remastered studio reveals a brand-new RTS
https://www.pcgamer.com/command-and-conquer-remastered-studio-reveals-a-brand-new-rts/
Command and Conquer Remastered developer Petroglyph Games is working on an all-new RTS called The Great War: Western Front that features both real-time action and turn-based decision-making across the most pivotal front of the First World War.

Teslagrad 2 reveals its debut trailer, will be out in 2023
https://www.pcgamer.com/teslagrad-2-reveals-its-debut-trailer-will-be-out-in-2023/
We haven't heard much about Teslagrad 2 since it was announced back in 2020, but we got a pretty big update at the Future Games Show today: An all-new trailer and a release target of spring 2023.

This new 'rhythm fighting' game looks like Guitar Hero mashed up with Street Fighter
https://www.pcgamer.com/this-new-rhythm-fighting-game-looks-like-guitar-hero-mashed-up-with-street-fighter/
I can't say that I've ever wondered what would happen if I mashed Guitar Hero up with Street Fighter, but I strongly suspect that if I did, I'd end up with something quite a bit like God of Rock, a new rhythm fighting game being developed by Modus Studios that was announced today at the Future Games Show.

Rift of the Necrodancer reveals a wild, rhythmic spinoff in its debut gameplay trailer
https://www.pcgamer.com/rift-of-the-necrodancer-reveals-a-wild-rhythmic-spinoff-in-its-debut-gameplay-trailer/
After a stealthy announcement earlier this month indie developer Brace Yourself Games has now revealed gameplay from its next game, Rift of the Necrodancer. Protagonist Cadence is back, clearly, but this time around the setting is the modern world and there are mysterious space-time rifts to contend with.

RIP! Destiny 2's heavy grenade launchers have been disabled due to a massive bug
https://www.pcgamer.com/rip-destiny-2s-best-heavy-grenade-launchers-have-been-disabled-due-to-a-massive-bug/
It's been a while since Anarchy was the most dangerous kid on the Destiny 2 block, but today the exotic heavy grenade launcher has been disabled, as has its cousins The Prospector and The Colony. In fact, all non-sunset heavy grenade launchers, with a couple of exceptions, have been temporarily taken out of commission, meaning players are now unable to equip them.

You can (sorta) play Destiny 2 Crucible inside Fortnite, and it's cool as heck
https://www.pcgamer.com/you-can-sorta-play-destiny-2-crucible-inside-fortnite-and-its-cool-as-heck/
In case you missed it amidst all the Dragon Ball Z business going down in Fortnite right now, Epic and Bungie just kicked off a smaller Destiny 2/Fortnite crossover event that actually extends to both games. In Destiny 2, new armors inspired by Fortnite characters are available now. Over in Fortnite, Destiny skins for Zavala, Ikora, and the Exo Stranger are in the store for 1,500 V-bucks each.
Fortnite also has a new custom game mode that recreates Destiny 2's Zone Control Crucible mode on one of its most iconic maps, Javelin-4, though you'd be forgiven for not realizing the mode exists. I had a tough time finding it on Fortnite's extensive grid of game modes, but keep scrolling and you'll eventually see it under the "Epic's Picks" section.

The three clever murder mysteries in this game demo made me hungry for more
https://www.pcgamer.com/the-three-clever-murder-mysteries-in-this-game-demo-made-me-hungry-for-more/
A man is being pushed off a cliff to his death. It's happening right now, while you stand there watching. A murder, taking place right in front of you.
But who is the man being pushed? Who is the man doing the pushing? And where, exactly, is this cliff? These are the questions The Case of the Golden Idol demo asks you as you investigate your very first murder.
>> Follow the link to its Steam page and the demo.

Thank you. It looks impressive.

For those having trouble finding the download links, or those that don't have the hardware but still want to check it out, check the DSOGaming article that has three videos: https://www.dsogaming.com/news/new-unreal-engine-5-broadleaf-forest-tech-demo-available-for-download/