Hey, Lian-Li is finally launching its PC case/table, and it doesn't cost those ridiculous $1,500 they talked about when they revealed it...

https://www.techspot.com/news/70395-lian-li-new-dk-05-standing-desk-pc.html

The DK-05 is a standing desk that’s height-adjustable from 27 inches (sitting position) to 46.5 inches (standing position) via built-in electric motor. It features an all-aluminum construction with a tempered glass top and solid iron legs that should be plenty sturdy to support two full computers.

That’s right, the DK-05 can be outfitted with up to two Extended ATX motherboards with eight expansion card slots and a power supply per tray. In total, there are eight shared 2.5-inch / 3.5-inch and five 2.5-inch drive mounting locations with enough room for graphics cards measuring up to 360mm in length.

Lian Li added multiple mounting locations for watercooling gear including pumps, reservoirs and of course, radiators / fans. Speaking of, the desk includes a dozen 120mm fans – more than enough for the average user.

The negative side of this beauty is that those $1,500 have turned out to be $2,100. Ouch!

On another note, it seems that Bitcoin has split into two separate currencies: Bitcoin and Bitcoin Cash

https://www.techspot.com/news/70388-bitcoin-has-taken-hard-fork-split-two-currencies.html

Due to discrepancies in opinion between Bitcoin miners and developers on how to handle increasing transaction times, the digital currency has split into two separate projects. The original coin will keep its name of "Bitcoin" and the new branch is to be known as "Bitcoin Cash". Update: the split has now happened.

This is a rather peculiar event for a digital currency to go through, although it is not unexpected. A hard fork, the process of duplicating a blockchain and continuing on a separate path, has been expected for several weeks since miners have signaled support for a fork. The miners responsible for processing transactions and generating new Bitcoins ultimately decide which of the two coins to support.

Investors (or gamblers, depending upon your viewpoint) holding Bitcoins will end up with two sets of coins in their wallets. Each will operate completely independently of one another once the split is finalized. Market value of each coin will likely take some time to stabilize as creating a new currency literally overnight can have interesting effects.

The good part of this, is that miners could halt their projects until they see which of the two currencies is better for them, making GPU prices to stabilize or even go down a little bit.

Ah, cryptocurrencies - all I see are digital tulips - some will indeed get very rich, most will loose money.

I would love a desk similar in idea to that. Just not for several grand.


********************

Socket TR4, Thread Ripper is available here now.
AMD is selling it's 16 core processor for the same price as Intels 10 core.

Which although it's almost $1,500 AUD, is pretty damn good value.

Nothing around the 7820X price range yet though.

TR4 motherboards are a little more expensive than Intel starting at $600 AUD, with LGA 2066 starting at $400 AUD, which is an important aspect to take into account in overall platform costs. Still early days yet though.

I'd also like a PC desk/case, but that price is insane.

I remember the first desk mod I saw, by a dutch called l3p, and how awesome it was. Then, he decided to make and sell a desk case called Cross Desk... that also costed a fortune (and now seem to be out of stock everywhere).

It's a good concept, but unless you're willing to do it by yourself, it's very expensive.

As for the cost of Threadripper, you also need to add the extra cost from faster memory. Ryzen really needs at least 3,200MHz RAM to shine.

The monthly Steam GPU Stats... no big changes, but finally some numbers for the new GPUs (1080 Ti, RX 580, 570...)

Wait, there are more 1080Tis out there than RX 470s? Even worse, there are more 1080Tis on Steam than 470 plus all the 5xx series?

I find it surprising... and kind of sad.

Thanks for the numbers, Conina.

Wednesday news:

SALES & "SALES"/DEALS

Yesterday I posted the link to the Humble Store's Worms Sale, but I missed to post that they have another sale: the Dovetail Sale, featuring games like Train Simulator for up to 70% off.

Also, there's a new Humble Bundle starring GameMaker: https://www.humblebundle.com/gamemaker-rebundle

But that's not all, because there's Steam's Midweek Madness deals that this time focuses on a franchise: Tales of. Go to Steam to be able to grab Tales of Zestiria (75% off), Tales of Symphonia (75% off) or Tales of Berseria(40% off).

SOFTWARE

The LawBreakers 'Bleed Purple' pack offers free loot to Twitch Prime members
http://www.pcgamer.com/the-lawbreakers-bleed-purple-pack-offers-free-loot-to-twitch-prime-members/
The online arena shooter LawBreakers comes out on August 8, and when it does Twitch Prime members will be able to score a bundle of exclusive free loot, including a unique skin, stickers, and a Kappa account portrait.

MODS/EMULATORS

Cemu 1.9.0c improves co-op compatibility in games, introduces new controller configuration UI
http://www.dsogaming.com/news/cemu-1-9-0c-co-op-compatibility-new-controller-configuration-ui/
The team behind the best WiiU emulator, CEMU, has released a brand new version of it. CEMU 1.9.0c is now available to the public and comes with some interesting improvements. Among them are the improved co-op compatibility in a variety of games, as well as the improved support for the Xbox controller and the improved gyro controls via mouse.

GTA 5 NaturalVision Remastered overhaul mod is stunning
http://www.pcgamer.com/gta-5-naturalvision-remastered-overhaul-mod-is-stunning/
A complete overhaul of its namesake original, NaturalVision Remastered tweaks the game's environmental weathers, its lighting system, ambient colours, and tone mapping "in order to blur the line between fantasy and reality." And it looks pretty stunning in doing so.

>>You can download it from here.

GAMING NEWS

Valnir Rok – Official Announcement Trailer
http://www.dsogaming.com/videotrailer-news/valnir-rok-official-announcement-trailer/
Valnir Rok is an epic survival, role-playing adventure set in the time of the Vikings and ancient Norse mythology.

>>Here's a link to register for the closed beta.

Stardew Valley Multiplayer Through Steam
http://www.dsogaming.com/news/stardew-valley-multiplayer-through-steam/
Stardew Valley has said that they now know enough about what to expect in the multiplayer aspect of the game and have released what players will be experiencing once they first enter.

Path of Exile 3.0.0: The Fall of Oriath releases on August 4th, full release notes unveiled
http://www.dsogaming.com/news/path-of-exile-3-0-0-the-fall-of-oriath-releases-on-august-4th-full-release-notes-unveiled/
Grinding Gear Games has revealed the changelog for Path of Exile 3.0.0: The Fall of Oriath and my God this is a huge changelog. This new version of Path of Exile adds Acts Five through Ten, adds a new Character Selection Screen, adds a Passive Skill Tree planning system, and adds two new features.

Runis Games’ Hob to be released on September 26th
http://www.dsogaming.com/news/runis-games-hob-to-be-released-on-september-26th/
Runic Games, the team behind Torchlight I and II, has announced that its latest title, Hob, will be released on September 26th. In order to celebrate this announcement, Runic Games has released a new trailer for Hob that can be viewed below.

Turn 10 and Microsoft reveal the third list of cars for Forza Motorsport 7
http://www.dsogaming.com/news/turn-10-and-microsoft-reveal-the-third-list-of-cars-for-forza-motorsport-7/
Turn 10 Studios and Microsoft revealed the third list of cars that will be featured in Forza Motosport 7. PC and Xbox One racers will be able to drive some truly amazing cars such as the Acura NSX, Honda Civic Type-R, Mazda RX-7, Mazda RX-8 R3, Nissan Skyline GT-R V-Spec, and Subaru Impreza WRX STi.

Wednesday news, part two:

BioWare Montreal is being merged into EA Motive
http://www.pcgamer.com/bioware-montreal-is-being-merged-into-ea-motive/
BioWare Montreal was relegated to a "support studio" role back in May, following the tepid reaction to Mass Effect: Andromeda, a reduction in status that saw a number of its employees moved to the also-Montreal-based EA Motive. During a conference call earlier this month, however, EA CFO Blake Jorgensen revealed something deeper was going on when he said that the entire studio had actually been moved into Motive's offices.

Titanfall 2 Ultimate Edition includes maps, modes, weapons, and more freebies
http://www.pcgamer.com/titanfall-2-ultimate-edition-includes-maps-modes-weapons-and-more-freebies/
Today is August 1 and, aside from coworkers pinching and/or punching you inappropriately, that means EA's humongous-robots-with-guns game Titanfall 2is now available on Origin Access, the subscription-based service that offers unlimited access to Origin games for $5 per month, or $30 per year.
Don't want to sign up for a monthly fee? There's also a Plan B on the table in the form of the new Titanfall 2 Ultimate Edition, which bundles all DLC maps, modes, and weapons that have been released so far, along with a few extra bonuses.

Kickstarter disaster Unsung Story has been sold to the developer of Barbie & Her Sisters Puppy Rescue
http://www.pcgamer.com/kickstarter-disaster-unsung-story-has-been-sold-to-the-developer-of-barbie-her-sisters-puppy-rescue/
Oh, Unsung Story. You poor, poor mess of a Kickstarter project. Backers pledged $660,000 back in 2014, eager to see a new tactics RPG from the mind of Final Fantasy Tactics creator Yasumi Matsuno. Since then, it's been nothing but trouble and long stretches of silence from developer Playdek. It was put on hold in 2016, and though development seemingly continued after that, nothing materialized. And now if anything ever does, it won't be coming from Playdek. Today's backer update, the first since December 2016, announces that Unsung Story has been sold to another developer.

House Party is back on Steam, developer providing ‘censor removal patch’
http://www.pcgamer.com/house-party-is-back-on-steam-developer-providing-censor-removal-patch/
Late last week House Party was removed from Steam amid complaints over ‘pornographic’ content. On sale for a month in Early Access, it depicted fully simulated sex scenes with uncanny physics-boobed women, enabling the player character to whip their dick out at will (and put it on a charcoal barbecue, for instance). But now House Party is back, albeit in an altered state. The changes are hinted at in a recent blog by the developers at Eek! Games.

The Overwatch Summer Games event returns next week
http://www.pcgamer.com/the-overwatch-summer-games-event-returns-next-week/
It's summertime, which means it's time for the apparently annual Overwatch Summer Games. For those who remember, last year's Summer Games was the first Overwatch seasonal event—but it was tied thematically to the 2016 Rio Olympic games, and until now it was unclear if the event would be returning to the Overwatch universe this year.

New Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire video shows off the sprawling Neketaka metropolis
http://www.pcgamer.com/new-pillars-of-eternity-ii-deadfire-video-shows-off-the-sprawling-neketaka-metropolis/
It looks like Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire will be a much bigger and more sprawling affair than the original game. And it makes sense, since its Fig campaign has quadrupled its $1m goal. This new video shows off the city of Neketaka, which is the biggest in Deadfire.

Sunless Skies early access release date set
http://www.pcgamer.com/sunless-skies-early-access-release-date-set/
Both Chris and Fraser enjoyed Failbetter Games' Sunless Sea, awarding its base game and Zubmariner DLC a hearty 80 and impressive 90 in their respective reviews. The studio's next slice of narrative adventure comes by way of Sunless Skies—a skybound tale that aims to reimagine the "Victorian Empire in space". That's now got an Steam Early Access and GOG Games in Development launch date: August 30.

Total War: Warhammer to get 30 free elite units next week
http://www.pcgamer.com/total-war-warhammer-to-get-30-free-elite-units-next-week/
In celebration of its 30th birthday, Total War developer Creative Assembly is treating Total Warhammer fans to a load of new and, most importantly, free elite units.
As of August 10, Total War: Warhammer-ers will be gifted 30 new Regiments of Renown—a list that compliments the already present Beastmen, Bretonnia, Chaos Warriors, Norsca and Wood Elves.

Divinity: Original Sin 2 showcases co-op split screen, skill crafting
http://www.pcgamer.com/divinity-original-sin-2-showcases-co-op-split-screen-skill-crafting/
Divinity: Original Sin 2 is staring down its September 14 departure from Early Access, and is therefore cramming its typically busy pre-launch developer diaries with even more features than usual.

Welp, it settled, time to reserve GTX 1080 Ti for a half price.

Usually, I'd say to wait until Vega launches and you get real, legitimate benchmarks, but AMD is targeting the GTX 1080 with Vega. Because of that, if you can really get a 1080Ti for half its price (that would mean cheaper than Vega, right?) don't waste your time and go for it!