Indeed.

I feel like that's been the irksome part about upgrading desktops, especially for me, because I still need to work on my cable management. There's nothing more annoying than having to take out the mobo, all the other parts and then cables, then having to connect everything back together with a new mobo correctly, then finding out I didn't connect everything proper (this is why I don't bother with cable management until everything works as intended). 

Putting in a new CPU is the part I get shaky about though, the pins bending is nightmare fuel to me, but it is pretty much like swapping in a new GPU. The easiest parts for me to replace have to be the GPU, RAM, drives and fans (fans are probably my fave part, because their cable management is easy.

Yea even after all these years of not bending pins, it still makes me essh. Like we all know there are ways to make putting the CPU into the socket easily, idk why we still have to deal with the usual nonsense.

Like look at how easy it is to install Epyc/Threadripper CPUs:

Granted that's LGA and AMD currently has Pins but Intel should have at least been able to come up with something. But alas, us consumers get the consumer treatment I suppose...

Also you say fan cable management is easy but my RGB fan cable management has been hellish. Those come with the fan cable, the rgb cable which then connects to a fan/rgb controller that needs its own sata cable, mobo usb cable, argb cable and pwn cable which connects to the motherboard. There really should be an easy way for that as well but alas...

40 Game CPU Benchmark: Ryzen 7 5800X3D vs. Core i9-12900K

Intel was ahead for less than 6 months... Then AMD comes out with a CPU that basically ties with their latest and greatest unless you spend double the price and get the KS version, spend $400+ on a DDR5 6400 kit and get 420mm AIO to cool the overclock... I may have been shitting on AMD for how they treated their budget CPUs but this thing is insane!

Also from what I can tell in Canada, 3070 Ti and above are all back to MSRP. 3070 and lower are still a tad overpriced but we are getting there!

It's a great CPU for gaming, no doubt about it.

But it's also true that its main audience are those on older AM4 systems that either can't or don't want to upgrade to AM5. The rest will probably wait until the new CPUs launch.

I'm currently replaying Doom 1 (1993) with raytracing.

This game is still sooooo much fun!

Raytracing mods for Doom 2, Duke Nukem 3D and Dark Forces next, please!

Oh, and Happy Easter!

Look at him, enjoying those games again like it's the first time. Have fun, Conina!

Here come the Monday news!

SALES /PLAYER COUNT & DEALS

Steam's Top 10

Cyberpunk 2077 has sold over 18 million copies worldwide
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/cyberpunk-2077-has-sold-over-18-million-copies-worldwide/
CD Projekt RED has just announced that Cyberpunk 2077 has sold over 18 million copies worldwide on all platforms. The game came out on December 10th, 2020. This basically means that it took CDPR one and a half years in order to hit this goal.
>> And...

The Witcher franchise & The Witcher 3 have sold over 65 and 40 million copies, respectively
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/the-witcher-franchise-the-witcher-3-have-sold-over-65-and-40-million-copies-respectively/
CD Projekt RED has announced that The Witcher 3 has sold over 40 million copies worldwide on all platforms. Additionally, the team revealed that The Witcher franchise has sold over 65 million copies.
>> Ryuu96 made a thread about these two news some days ago. You've probaly already seen it and left (or not) a comment there.

GOG's Indie Spring Sale will end in 7 hours, but there are still new flash deals and a new Weekly Sale:

• The first flash deal is Pathologic 2, 65% off during the next 46 hours: https://www.gog.com/en/game/pathologic_2
• The second one is Freedom Fighters, 70% off until Wednesday: https://www.gog.com/en/game/freedom_fighters
• And the third, and last, flash deal is SNK 40th Anniversary Collection, 75% off until the 20th: https://www.gog.com/en/game/snk_40th_anniversary_collection_copy3
• The Weekly Sale features up to 85% discounts: https://www.gog.com/promo/20220418_weekly_sale

Steam has a new daily deal: Offworld Trading Company is 60% off: https://store.steampowered.com/app/271240/Offworld_Trading_Company/.

There are several new deals at Humble:

• There's a new Humble Bundle: the Dungeon Defenders Legendary Collection, with up to 7 games to get during the next 18 days: https://www.humblebundle.com/games/dungeon-defenders-collection
• And the Humble Store has two new sales:
  • The Hitman franchise Sale brings up to 75% discounts during 4 days. There are keys for Steam and GOG: https://www.humblebundle.com/store/promo/hitman-franchise-sale/
  • And the Hack & Slash Sale features up to 90% discounts for four days. There are keys for Steam, GOG and UPlay: https://www.humblebundle.com/store/promo/hack-slash-sale/

And Fanatical has three deals:

• The new Star Deal is Neverwinter Nights: Complete Adventures, 85% off during the next 24 hours: https://www.fanatical.com/en/bundle/neverwinter-nights-complete-adventures
• 2K Games is doing its Spring Sale and offers its games up to 91% of during 7 days: https://www.fanatical.com/en/publishers/2k-games
• The BYO Easter Bundle comes with 20 games to choose for your 1, 5 or 10 games bundle: https://www.fanatical.com/en/pick-and-mix/build-your-own-easter-bundle

SOFTWARE & DRIVERS

-Nothing-

MODS, EMULATORS & FAN PROJECTS

This incredible mod for Teardown introduces combat & a wave-based survival mode
https://www.dsogaming.com/mods/this-incredible-mod-for-teardown-introduces-combat-a-wave-based-survival-mode/
Remember Teardown? You know, that amazing voxel game that had a mind-blowing destruction system? Well, its full version will release later this month, and an amazing mod for it has already been released.
Created by modder DimaK007, this mod introduces combat to the game. Moreover, it adds a wave-based survival mode and a robot damage model.
Players can shoot at the robot parts until they break. By destroying the head, players can kill the robot instantly. Moreover, and by destroying their legs, you will make the robot unable to walk.
>> There's a video but, sadly, they forgot to include the link to the mod.

Modder has increased the performance of Super Mario 64 up to six times
https://www.dsogaming.com/videotrailer-news/modder-has-increased-the-performance-of-super-mario-64-up-to-six-times/
Now here is something truly stunning. Kaze Emanuar has managed to increase the performance of Super Mario 64 up to six times. What’s really impressive here is that the modder has made the game run better, even on the original Nintendo 64 hardware.
The modder has looked at every single variable, understood every fuction, and then optimized everything listed in this 13,000 line map file. That was a huge undertaking, and we have to congratulate him for achieving something like that.
(...)
Now the good news for PC gamers is that this optimized version of Super Mario 64 will lower the PC requirements needed for running a Nintendo 64 emulator. As such, even more PC gamers will be able to enjoy the game.

Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition gets a new HD Texture Pack
https://www.dsogaming.com/mods/grand-theft-auto-the-trilogy-the-definitive-edition-gets-a-new-hd-texture-pack/
Modder ‘Zeneric’ has released a brand new HD Texture Pack for Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition. This pack is 1.3GB in size and overhauls over 40 props including street/traffic lamps.
Going into more details, the modder reduced the props memory total from 3GB to 1.5GB. This was achieved by downscaling normal/rough/metal/packed, except basecolor, maps 2 times (4k to 2k). Furthermore, the modder fixed some bugs such as neon green text not displaying correctly on the phone booths, etc.

Star Fox actor comes out of retirement for a Half-Life 2 mod that replaces Alyx with a sexy blue fox
https://www.pcgamer.com/uk/star-fox-actor-comes-out-of-retirement-for-a-half-life-2-mod-that-replaces-alyx-with-a-sexy-blue-fox/
If you've ever thought to yourself that the one thing that could make Half-Life 2 better is a sexy blue fox in place of Alyx Vance, you've probably played Gagnetar's Alyx Replacement mod for Half-Life 2 that swaps out Eli Vance's daughter for Krystal, the primary heroine of the Star Fox series.
The mod was originally released in 2017 and got a significant upgrade in early 2018, but now it's taken an even bigger step into the big-time with the addition of original Krystal voice actor Estelle Ellis, who is doing "a complete rework of Alyx's lines" for the mod. It's an especially remarkable get because Ellis hasn't done any videogame voice acting for close to 20 years: Mobygames lists her most recent credit as Perfect Dark Zero in 2005.

12 minutes of gameplay from the upcoming Half-Life 2 VR Mod
https://www.dsogaming.com/videotrailer-news/12-minutes-of-gameplay-from-the-upcoming-half-life-2-vr-mod/
YouTube’s ‘Brian Tate’ has shared a video, showcasing 12 minutes of gameplay footage from an upcoming VR Mod for Half-Life 2. As the title suggests, this mod will allow you to play this classic game in VR, and does not need any other mods in order to work properly.
Led by Cabalistic and a team of modders, Half-Life 2 VR Mod features full MSAA support and the Vulkan API. As such, performance should be better than what Half-Life 2 offers by default.
This VR Mod will allow you to do things that were almost impossible in the non-VR version. For instance, you can spin the blocks in the playground just by hitting them or play tetherball with a corpse in Ravenholm. You will also be able to physically dodge for cover, and manually reload your guns.

New Resident Evil First-Person Fan Remake Beta available for download
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/new-resident-evil-first-person-fan-remake-beta-available-for-download/
Back in September 2021, we informed you about a fan remake of the first Resident Evil game in the Unity Engine. Created by PerroAutonomo, this fan remake targets 32-bit visuals and looks retro-cool. And last month, PerroAutonomo released a brand new beta version of it.
Although it’s far from being complete, this latest beta version features a lot of locations. Additionally, it packs numerous zombies to fight, though the fighting system needs a lot of work and polish. This fan remake also retains the original inventory system, as well as the game’s puzzles.

GAMING NEWS

Overwatch 2 gets a new gameplay trailer, focusing on Sojourn
https://www.dsogaming.com/videotrailer-news/overwatch-2-gets-a-new-gameplay-trailer-focusing-on-sojourn/
Blizzard has released a new gameplay trailer for Overwatch 2 that focuses on Sojourn. In addition, the team released a cinematic trailer with the origin of this character.

Diablo 2: Resurrected Patch 2.4 released, adds Legacy Graphics Emulation
https://www.dsogaming.com/patches/diablo-2-resurrected-patch-2-4-released-adds-legacy-graphics-emulation/
Blizzard has released a brand new update for Diablo 2: Resurrected. According to the team, this latest update brings major balance tweaks and changes to almost every class. Moreover, it packs a number of AI tweaks, and adds a new Legacy Graphics Emulation option.

New Sniper Elite 5 trailer focuses on weapons & customization
https://www.dsogaming.com/videotrailer-news/new-sniper-elite-5-trailer-focuses-on-weapons-customization/
Rebellion has released a new video for Sniper Elite 5 which gives in-depth insight from the development team about the variety of weapons in the game as well as the incredible customization options available to the player. The new Weapons & Customization Spotlight also reveals the steps the team at Rebellion takes to recreate the authentic weapons in minute detail.

Galactic Civilizations IV will release on April 26th
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/galactic-civilizations-iv-will-release-on-april-26th/
Stardock announced that the newest installment of the award-winning space 4X strategy sandbox game series, Galactic Civilizations IV, will release on April 26th. In order to celebrate this announcement, the team has also released a new trailer that you can find below.

New leaked environmental screenshots surface for Saints Row
https://www.dsogaming.com/screenshot-news/new-leaked-environmental-screenshots-surface-for-saints-row/
It appears that some brand new screenshots for the Saints Row reboot have been leaked. These leaked screenshots showcase some of the game’s environments. Or to be more precise, the desert location.

Monday news, the other half or so:

Apex Legends goes directly to jail for a 2-week Unshackled event
https://www.pcgamer.com/uk/apex-legends-goes-directly-to-jail-for-a-2-week-unshackled-event/
The Apex Legends gang has been a naughty bunch. But being a bunch of professional murderers, they've broken free for the game's carceral-themed Unshackled event, kicking off next Tuesday with new looks and a returning LTM.

French Revolution soulslike Steelrising shows off 5 minutes of new gameplay
https://www.pcgamer.com/uk/french-revolution-soulslike-steelrising-shows-off-5-minutes-of-new-gameplay/
Steelrising, the French Revolution soulslike in development by Greedfall outfit Spiders, has summoned a new trailer showing off five minutes of robot-stomping gameplay.

Destiny 2 is adding a weekly rotator for old raids and dungeons
https://www.pcgamer.com/uk/destiny-2-is-adding-a-weekly-rotator-for-old-raids-and-dungeons/
Bungie has announced a new rotator system designed to bring old raids and dungeons back into Destiny 2. Revealed in the studio's weekly update post, the system is split into seasonal and weekly challenges that will enable players to revisit some of the game's older content.

An Elden Ring scientist did the math: The Erdtree is taller than the Alps
https://www.pcgamer.com/uk/how-tall-is-elden-ring-erdtree/
Elden Ring's Erdtree is its most notable landmark. Visible from almost any point in the Lands Between (at least, in the overworld), it towers over every area in the game, even the lofty Mountaintops of the Giants to the map's far north. It is, to put it mildly, very big. But how big is 'big', exactly?
>> Useless info, I know, but some of you seem to like Elden Ring a lot and I thought this could interest you.

Dataminer reveals cut Elden Ring questline
https://www.pcgamer.com/uk/dataminer-reveals-cut-elden-ring-questline/
Longtime Souls series dataminer Lance McDonald has uncovered the initial phases of a cut NPC questline in the Elden Ring build from the game's console network test in November 2021.
>> More job for the modders.

This horror fishing game is only 4 minutes long but still managed to scare me
https://www.pcgamer.com/uk/this-horror-fishing-game-is-only-4-minutes-long-but-still-managed-to-scare-me/
The premise of Lure is simple. It has to be. This free horror fishing game on Steam takes about four minutes to finish, so there's not a lot of room to cram in characters, plot, story, or anything else. There's barely even time for horror. Or fishing, for that matter.

Per Aspera expands ocean terraforming with Blue Mars expansion
https://www.pcgamer.com/uk/per-aspera-expands-ocean-terraforming-with-blue-mars-expansion/
Terraforming management simulator Per Aspera has a new expansion on the way, arriving May 2nd 2022, that will deepen the game around that all-important source of life: Water. New buildings will allow transport over your newly-made Martian oceans, as well as exploitation of underwater resources and—perhaps most importantly—fisheries to harvest the life you've seeded in those oceans.

Be a wizard, ponder your orb, create a world in this incremental clicker
https://www.pcgamer.com/uk/be-a-wizard-ponder-your-orb-create-a-world-in-this-incremental-clicker/
You're a wizard in a vast void with nothing but your orb, a glowing blue power, to ponder. To dwell upon. Your job: Recreate the entire world.
(...)
Incremental games are something like a clicker, but without the idle game component—you never have to walk away, just reoptimize your strategy to plow forward. Orb of Creation is precisely that. As far as I've seen, there's always a way to avoid farming or waiting by combining the right combo of spells and equipment. Unlocking the right upgrade will often push you forward.

D&D Direct to reveal future of series, including videogames
https://www.pcgamer.com/uk/dandd-direct-to-reveal-future-of-series-including-videogames/
Dungeons & Dragons is promising a "jam-packed" show this week, as D&D Direct returns on April 21, 2022 at 9 AM PT (5 PM BST). The show will go over everything happening in the world of D&D, both in 2022 and beyond, showcasing "books, video games, entertainment, and more."

Square Enix president continues hopeful tone on blockchain despite backlash
https://www.pcgamer.com/uk/square-enix-president-continues-hopeful-tone-on-blockchain-despite-backlash/
Square Enix president Yosuke Matsuda has reiterated his previous hopeful tone about blockchain and token, commonly called NFT, technology in a new interview. The interview was posted April 15th with Yahoo Japan, and spotted for translation by VGC.

The Elder Scrolls Online is free-to-play until April 26
https://www.pcgamer.com/uk/the-elder-scrolls-online-is-free-to-play-until-april-26/
The Elder Scrolls Online, ZeniMax Online Studios' massively multiplayer take on Bethesda's fantasy world, is free-to-play for the next week. Players can try out the base game plus its well-regarded Morrowind DLC anytime between now and April 26.

Portal writer urges Valve to 'start Portal 3'
https://www.pcgamer.com/uk/portal-writer-urges-valve-to-start-portal-3/
Portal co-writer and Valve alumnus Erik Wolpaw has expressed his interest in making a third Portal game. As reported by VGC, Wolpaw was interviewed on the https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9jtZN92eGHA9Hxh-jYGqBw" target="_blank">Kiwi Talkz podcast, where he discussed his work on various Valve games including Portals 1 and 2. Wolpaw ended the show with a heartfelt petition, stating, "We gotta start Portal 3. That's my message to... whoever."
>> Yeah, Valve, show us that you can do a third game on any series.

NVIDIA GeForce & AMD Radeon Graphics Cards Prices Now Less Than 20% Over MSRP, Good For Gamers But Uncertainty Looms The Crypto Segment

https://wccftech.com/nvidia-geforce-amd-radeon-graphics-cards-gpu-prices-now-lower-than-ever-april-2022/

Unbeatable Input Lag + FPS Settings (Frame-cap, Reflex, G-Sync)

Dell Precision 7670 laptop to feature Compression Attached (DDR5) Memory Module

https://videocardz.com/newz/dell-precision-7670-laptop-to-feature-compression-attached-ddr5-memory-module

"Furthermore, the specs mention CAMM, which is Dell’s memory module form factor for DDR5 4800 MHz kits. Judging from the photo posted above, a single CAMM module would replace two SODIMM modules. That would undoubtedly save space for other components, but would prevent customers from choosing an established DDR5 standard and probably lock customers to components exclusively from Dell."

It allows you to have upto 128GB of DDR5 ram in a laptop but it won't be user upgradable other than from Dell. Hopefully this stays on their workstation laptops and doesn't come down to their consumer ones.

Tesla No Longer Includes Charging Equipment With Vehicles; Cites Statistics

https://insideevs.com/news/580350/tesla-no-longer-includes-mobile-charger/

The Apple of Cars