Tag: RTX 4090

  • Nvidia’s Media Tactics: Fallout from Gamers Nexus Exposé

    Nvidia’s Media Tactics: Fallout from Gamers Nexus Exposé

    Key Takeaways

    1. Nvidia’s Pressure Tactics: Gamers Nexus (GN) alleges that Nvidia has pressured them to include specific performance metrics (MFG4X) in GPU reviews, even for unsupported models, claiming this is misleading and unethical.

    2. Control Over Media Access: Nvidia reportedly threatened to restrict access to key engineers if GN did not comply with their editorial demands, indicating a desire to control media coverage rather than simply influence it.

    3. Erosion of Trust: GN argues that Nvidia’s tactics have eroded trust in media coverage of their products, making it difficult for audiences to discern whether metrics were included voluntarily or under pressure.

    4. Manipulative Corporate Culture: The article highlights concerns over Nvidia’s corporate culture, where executives may shift blame and use access to engineers as leverage against media outlets, impacting editorial independence.

    5. Commitment to Integrity: Gamers Nexus emphasizes their commitment to maintaining editorial independence, even at the risk of losing future access to Nvidia products, urging other media outlets to resist similar pressures.

    As Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang shares news about artificial intelligence, Gamers Nexus has taken this opportunity to reveal what it calls Nvidia’s growing manipulative behavior towards the media. In an editorial characterized by Steve Burke’s distinctive tone, the piece highlights a troubling trend of editorial pressure, coercive tactics based on access, and retaliatory measures that the outlet claims exceed standard industry practices.

    Nvidia’s Demands

    Gamers Nexus alleges that for the past six months, Nvidia has pressured its team to include Multi-Frame Generation 4X (MFG4X) performance metrics in GPU reviews, even in cases where the graphics cards tested do not support this feature. GN refused, asserting that such inclusion would be misleading, unethical, and fundamentally dishonest.

    Threats and Access Control

    Instead of relenting, Nvidia reportedly intensified its approach by threatening to deny access to key internal engineers — notably thermal engineer Malcolm and latency expert Gamm0 — both of whom resonate well with GN’s audience. Even though these engineers have no direct link to MFG technology, their availability was allegedly made contingent on GN agreeing to Nvidia’s editorial stipulations.

    The main allegation from GN is that Nvidia is not just trying to influence coverage but is actively seeking to control it. This includes urging reviewers to depict the RTX 5070 as comparable to the significantly more powerful RTX 4090 by highlighting synthetic MFG-enhanced figures. Such comparisons risk misleading consumers by stripping away essential context.

    The Nature of Communication

    Burke argues that this behavior shifts Nvidia’s once-open communication with the media towards manipulation. While Nvidia has historically provided technical insights and briefings, GN contends that this access is now being leveraged to enforce compliance with corporate messaging. Once viewed as a hallmark of transparency, access to Nvidia’s engineers is increasingly seen as conditional and transactional.

    Gamers Nexus is not isolated in voicing concerns. Burke mentions that the outlet contacted other reviewers and media representatives globally, revealing a pattern of behind-the-scenes pressure to influence editorial content. This includes explicit or implied expectations regarding how products should be framed and which benchmarks should be highlighted. According to GN, these strategies indicate a broader company-wide approach that goes beyond regional public relations teams.

    Nvidia’s History of Controversy

    Nvidia has faced its share of media influence controversies. In 2020, it temporarily cut off Hardware Unboxed’s GPU sampling access due to the outlet’s unwillingness to emphasize ray tracing metrics. A similar situation reportedly surfaced again, with Nvidia pressuring GN to modify its editorial stance on MFG and DLSS coverage.

    Burke claims that Nvidia informed Gamers Nexus that integrating MFG into reviews was necessary to “secure budget” for interviews with engineers, even though GN incurs costs for traveling, filming, and editing those interviews without any financial compensation from Nvidia. This framing implies that Nvidia perceives all media interactions as fundamentally transactional, regardless of financial exchanges.

    The Ripple Effect on Media

    This framing also casts a shadow over other media organizations. Once Nvidia establishes precedent for linking access to editorial direction, every interview, performance graph, or editorial decision becomes questionable. GN argues that this not only undermines their credibility but also that of any reviewer discussing MFG or DLSS without full transparency regarding the nature of those discussions.

    Gamers Nexus emphasizes that their frustration is not aimed at Nvidia’s engineers. On the contrary, they regard professionals like Malcolm and Gamm0 as knowledgeable and trustworthy, conveying insights born from experience rather than marketing agendas. These individuals have cultivated genuine connections with GN and its audience. However, GN now believes that Nvidia is intentionally using that rapport to enforce compliance.

    Emotional Pressure Tactics

    Burke notes that Nvidia often references these engineers when discussing coverage requirements. This tactic seems designed to apply emotional pressure, knowing that GN values these relationships. GN describes this as a form of manipulation, suggesting that if restricting access to GPUs fails, perhaps restricting access to respected engineers will succeed.

    Despite producing over an hour of independent content on MFG and DLSS, including detailed analyses, GN states that Nvidia was still dissatisfied because the coverage was not integrated into review articles. The demand was explicit: include MFG4X in the charts or lose access.

    Erosion of Trust

    GN contends that this insistence has tainted any MFG or DLSS coverage presented by any outlet. Even if another reviewer includes those metrics out of genuine curiosity, audiences may question whether they did so voluntarily or under undue pressure. This erosion of trust harms both independent media and Nvidia’s own credibility.

    Gamers Nexus has a history of engaging with major companies. They have previously confronted Intel and AMD over similar matters, emphasizing that this isn’t personal. However, the outlet feels that Nvidia’s tactics have crossed a new line that now encompasses not just hardware access, but access to personnel and potential internal reprisal.

    Concerns Over Corporate Culture

    Burke cites prior reports from former Nvidia employees who described a corporate culture where executives frequently shift blame downwards. GN worries that by going public with these claims, they might inadvertently harm the engineers and PR contacts who have no influence over high-level policies. Nonetheless, the outlet believes that transparency is essential for progress.

    The article also recalls Nvidia’s contentious GeForce Partner Program (GPP) from 2018, which effectively required board partners to align their gaming brands exclusively with GeForce to retain Nvidia support. This program, widely criticized for being anti-competitive, was eventually withdrawn under public pressure and investigative scrutiny.

    A Call for Integrity

    In GN’s perspective, the current situation mirrors GPP in both approach and execution. The company is allegedly attempting to shape perception and limit coverage by using access and relationships as pressure points rather than relying on product quality and transparency. The message seems to be: adhere to the script, or risk exclusion.

    GN concludes with a firm statement: they will not yield. Even if it means sacrificing future review samples, interviews, or relationships, they are committed to maintaining editorial independence. They also urge other outlets to take a stand. “If you give Nvidia an inch, they’ll take a mile,” warns Burke.

    The piece finishes not by calling for a boycott, but by acknowledging that Nvidia produces remarkable products and its engineers offer valuable insights. However, both consumers and reviewers must be able to trust that coverage is accurate, independent, and not subject to corporate pressure.

    At the heart of this conflict lies more than just performance metrics or technologies; it concerns the role of the press in an industry where access has become a bargaining tool and transparency comes with strings attached.

    We will keep tracking this situation and provide updates as new information comes to light.

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  • RTX 5090 Laptop GPU vs RTX 4090: 25-Game Benchmark Results

    RTX 5090 Laptop GPU vs RTX 4090: 25-Game Benchmark Results

    Key Takeaways

    1. The RTX 5090 laptop GPU shows a 20% performance advantage over the RTX 4090 in synthetic tests but doesn’t translate to significant gaming performance gains.

    2. In a broader gaming context, both the RTX 5090 and RTX 4090 perform similarly, with only slight advantages in some cases.

    3. At lower resolutions like 1080p, CPU performance impacts GPU performance analysis, complicating comparisons between models.

    4. The performance gap at 1440p and 4K is minimal, with the RTX 5090 only showing a 0.6% and 3% increase over the RTX 4090, respectively.

    5. Key advantages of the RTX 5090 include 24 GB VRAM, improved efficiency, and DLSS Multi-Frame Generation, but the RTX 4090 may be a better investment for most users.

    We did an analysis of the RTX 5090 and RTX 5080 laptop GPUs, and it shows these boards offer a solid performance advantage over their previous generation models in synthetic tests. For example, the RTX 5090 laptop outperformed the RTX 4090 laptop by as much as 20% in the 3DMark test suite. Nevertheless, this synthetic performance does not effectively translate into gaming performance, especially for the RTX 5090.

    Performance in Gaming

    Although the RTX 5090 laptop was 20% quicker than the RTX 4090 laptop for some individual games like Cyberpunk 2077 2.2 Phantom Liberty during our tests, it appears that the new GPU does not hold any edge over the RTX 4090 when evaluated in a broader context. The 25-game benchmark from Jarrod’sTech indicates that the RTX 5090 laptop and the RTX 4090 laptop perform largely on par.

    Importance of Resolution

    Before diving into the actual performance details, it’s worth noting that we have not considered the 1080p results. At lower resolutions, such as 1080p, CPU performance plays a bigger role, which complicates the process of determining the precise GPU performance.

    When tested at 1440p, the RTX 5090 laptop GPU only manages to be a slight 0.6% faster than the RTX 4090 laptop GPU. This includes the notably poor performance of the RTX 5090 laptop in Red Dead Redemption 2. Even if we ignore the Red Dead Redemption 2 score, the RTX 5090 laptop shows a meager 1.6% lead over the RTX 4090 laptop GPU.

    4K Performance Insights

    The gap in gaming performance between the RTX 5090 laptop and the RTX 4090 laptop isn’t significantly better at 4K. Both GPUs perform quite similarly, with JT’s testing revealing only a 3% increase in performance for the RTX 5090 laptop GPU. This is with the Red Dead Redemption 2 results included. However, removing Red Dead Redemption 2 from the equation doesn’t improve things for the RTX 5090 laptop.

    When looking at frame rates, the RTX 5090 laptop GPU averages 66 FPS across the 25 games tested at 4K, while the RTX 4090 laptop is nearly the same at 64.5 FPS. The results at 1440p also reflect this trend, with the RTX 5090 laptop GPU and the RTX 4090 laptop GPU averaging 107 and 106 FPS, respectively.

    Final Thoughts

    Ultimately, the RTX 5090 laptop GPU’s advantages are limited to its 24 GB VRAM, improved efficiency, and DLSS Multi-Frame Generation (MFG). However, it’s doubtful that anyone spending over $3,000 or $4,000 on a premium gaming laptop will prioritize efficiency. Buyers of high-end gaming laptops expect top-tier performance.

    Thus, if you don’t plan to use MFG and have no need for 24 GB of VRAM, the previous generation RTX 4090 gaming laptops are evidently a better investment.

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    RTX 5090 Laptop GPU vs RTX 4090: 25-Game Benchmark ResultsRTX 5090 Laptop GPU vs RTX 4090: 25-Game Benchmark ResultsRTX 5090 Laptop GPU vs RTX 4090: 25-Game Benchmark Results
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  • Unreleased Nvidia Titan Ada GPU: The RTX 4090 That Wasn’t

    Unreleased Nvidia Titan Ada GPU: The RTX 4090 That Wasn’t

    Key Takeaways

    1. The Titan Ada was a fully developed Nvidia graphics card that was ultimately discarded before launch, intended to be the flagship of the Ada Lovelace generation.
    2. It features a fully unlocked AD102 chip with 18,432 CUDA cores and 48 GB of GDDR6X memory, surpassing the RTX 4090 in both performance and design.
    3. Benchmark tests showed the Titan Ada outperforming the RTX 4090 by 10-15% while offering better performance-per-watt, but it was less compatible with newer games due to driver limitations.
    4. Reasons for its cancellation include potential market positioning issues with the RTX 5090, its large size and complex design, and a lack of strong performance-per-dollar ratio for consumer applications.
    5. The Titan Ada represents a significant yet unrealized engineering achievement in GPU history, highlighting Nvidia’s capabilities beyond what was released to consumers.

    In a surprising turn of events, the much-discussed Nvidia graphics card—the Titan Ada—has been uncovered and evaluated, revealing a GPU that was entirely developed but ultimately discarded prior to its launch. This card was intended to be the pinnacle of Nvidia’s Ada Lovelace generation, set to surpass the RTX 4090 in performance and aesthetics, giving us a peek at what could have truly represented the flagship of the RTX 40-series.

    Specifications and Features

    The Titan Ada operates on a fully unlocked AD102 chip, which is the same die found in the RTX 4090 but with additional hardware enabled. It boasts 18,432 CUDA cores—12.5% more than the 4090—and includes a whopping 48 GB of GDDR6X memory, twice as much as Nvidia’s most advanced consumer GPU to date. Despite its enormous capabilities, the design of the Titan Ada is sleek, featuring a large quad-slot cooler, two 12VHPWR connectors, and an attractive Titan-logo light. When compared to the already sizable RTX 4090, the Titan Ada is not only wider and heavier but also more imposing in every aspect.

    Benchmark Performance

    In various benchmark evaluations, such as 3DMark Time Spy Extreme and 3DMark Speedway, the Titan Ada consistently achieved remarkable scores. It outperformed the RTX 4090 by 10–15% while only consuming about 14% more power, showcasing a significant enhancement in performance-per-watt. For instance, in Remnant 2, it secured an average of 82 FPS, which is 10% above the RTX 4090’s performance, and in Cyberpunk 2077, it provided a 22% increase. Efficiency tests revealed that the Titan Ada slightly surpassed both the 4090 and even the newer RTX 5090 in terms of FPS-per-watt, a unique occurrence in high-end GPU assessments.

    Reasons for Its Cancellation

    Nonetheless, there are some concerns. The GPU was assessed with a 2023 driver, which restricts compatibility with newer games—numerous titles either failed to start or showed performance issues. Furthermore, while the RTX 5090 still outperformed the Titan Ada in absolute terms (by 11–26% based on the test), the Titan Ada’s impressive performance highlighted a surprisingly small difference between the two generations.

    So, what caused this monster to never hit the shelves?

    There are several plausible explanations. Firstly, from a product positioning perspective, launching a Titan Ada too close to the 5090—especially with only minor improvements—could have undermined Nvidia’s next-gen flagship. The success of the RTX 5090 might have been harder to defend had the Titan Ada been released first. Secondly, the card’s large size and complex design, particularly its substantial quad-slot cooler, would have presented challenges for both system builders and end users. The Titan Ada is physically daunting and not practical for many setups.

    Lastly, and possibly most importantly, Nvidia might have concluded that the performance-per-dollar ratio wasn’t strong enough to warrant a commercial release. The card seemed better suited for high-end professional or workstation applications, but would have likely needed specialized drivers and support infrastructure that Nvidia wasn’t prepared to provide for a single product launch.

    While the Titan Ada may never grace retail shelves, its existence illustrates that Nvidia had taken Ada Lovelace further than consumers ever expected. It remains an intriguing “what-if” scenario in GPU history—an engineering feat crafted to conquer, yet ultimately left unexploited.

    Expect more teardown videos and in-depth analysis of the Titan Ada’s internals and cooling systems in the future. For now, this insight into the card-that-never-came gives fans a rare glimpse at a phantom within Nvidia’s realm.

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  • RTX 4090 Connector Melting Issues: Ongoing Problems Explained

    RTX 4090 Connector Melting Issues: Ongoing Problems Explained

    Key Takeaways

    1. Connector Melting Issue: RTX 4090 users are experiencing melting 12VHPWR connectors, leading to burnt plastic odors and fusing to graphics cards and power supply units (PSUs).

    2. Thermal Imbalance: The lack of current monitoring across the 12V lines results in uneven current distribution, causing thermal hotspots and connector degradation.

    3. Resistance Variability: Significant inconsistencies in resistance values among the power pins can lead to localized heating, generating enough heat to compromise connector integrity.

    4. Vendor Accountability: Inno3D has denied responsibility for connector issues under warranty, while other vendors like ModDIY have shown willingness to assist, highlighting inconsistent vendor responses.

    5. Design Criticism: Der8auer criticizes Nvidia’s power connector design and calls for better protection and support for consumers, emphasizing the need for a redesign to prevent future failures.

    The ongoing issue of melting 12VHPWR connectors has come back into the spotlight, this time impacting a user of the RTX 4090 who reached out to overclocker and YouTuber Der8auer. While enjoying some gaming, the user detected a familiar burnt plastic odor and found that the high-power connector had fused to both the graphics card and PSU ends. The graphics card in question was an Inno3D model that had since been modified with water cooling, operating with an undervolt and connected via a ModDIY cable that used 16 AWG ultra-soft wires. Even with careful assembly and a PSU (SilverStone Extreme 850R) considered suitable for a 4090, the plug became stuck, indicating a thermal issue within the connector. Inno3D’s customer service, however, declined to provide assistance, claiming that the damage was on the cable and PSU sides—an argument that Der8auer finds technically flawed.

    Current Monitoring Issues

    Der8auer elaborates that the main problem focuses on the absence of current monitoring across the individual 12V lines in the 12VHPWR interface. It seems that RTX 40 and 50 series graphics cards are unable to identify uneven current distribution among their six power pins. This imbalance, often caused by varying contact resistances in the wires or pins, can create thermal hotspots. In this particular instance, Der8auer managed to take apart and replace the damaged connector on the GPU side himself, using an H++ version of the 12VHPWR plug. His measurements showed significant inconsistencies in resistance values—one pin was as low as 12 milliohms, while another reached 43 milliohms, and one had no connection whatsoever. These differences directly lead to uneven current flow, which results in localized heating and ultimately causes connector melting and degradation. Even with a modest power draw, this can generate up to 4.6 watts of heat concentrated in a small area—sufficient to compromise the connector’s integrity over time.

    Vendor Responses

    Adding to the frustration is the inconsistent response from vendors. ModDIY displayed some readiness to assist, including an offer to pay for repair costs, but Inno3D consistently denied any responsibility, even though the card was still under warranty. Der8auer emphasizes that only the GPU-side design can effectively reduce these risks, as neither the cable nor the PSU can monitor load distribution. He notes that while high resistance can effectively “cut off” a wire, it causes more current to flow through the remaining wires, which leads to a cycle of overheating. Ultimately, Der8auer criticizes Nvidia’s poor power connector design and the lack of accountability from its partners. With high-end graphics cards priced over 2,000 euros, consumers deserve better protection—and quicker support—when failures happen. Until Nvidia revisits this design, users face ongoing risks, regardless of how meticulously they assemble or undervolt their systems.

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  • RTX 5090 vs RTX 4090: Efficiency Comparison at Same Power Level

    RTX 5090 vs RTX 4090: Efficiency Comparison at Same Power Level

    Reviews of the RTX 5090 have been released, and for those who seek top-tier performance without worrying about price or energy use, Nvidia has truly outdone itself with the RTX 5090. This graphics card excels in both rasterization and ray tracing, offering unmatched capabilities at 4K resolution. With the addition of DLSS 4, this GPU can achieve over 200 FPS in 4K gaming for titles that utilize Nvidia’s Multi-Frame Generation technology.

    Performance Comparison

    However, the RTX 5090 does not represent as significant an improvement over the RTX 4090 as the RTX 4090 did compared to the RTX 3090. In our evaluations, the new GPU shows an average performance increase of 27% over the RTX 4090. It’s important to note that this performance boost comes with a hefty rise in power usage; the RTX 5090 has a power rating of 575 W, compared to the RTX 4090’s 450 W.

    Power Normalization Insights

    This raises an intriguing question: How does the performance of the RTX 5090 stack up against the RTX 4090 when both cards are adjusted for power consumption? Luckily, ComputerBase has conducted tests, and the findings are quite enlightening.

    Their research indicates that the RTX 5090 achieves an average of 17% more FPS compared to the RTX 4090 in rasterization tasks when both GPUs are limited to 450 W. This means that when the RTX 5090 is restricted to using 125 W less power, it experiences an 8% decline in performance.

    CUDA Cores and Performance

    The 17% increase in performance at 450 W is particularly noteworthy, especially since the RTX 5090 contains 33% more CUDA cores than the RTX 4090. One might expect a more significant performance disparity than the observed 17% when the power advantage of the RTX 5090 is negated. That said, the slightly lower clock speeds of the RTX 5090 (113 MHz less) likely play a role in limiting its overall performance.

    In conclusion, it appears that Nvidia is relying on sheer power to maintain a competitive edge for the RTX 5090 over the RTX 4090. However, this approach may not bode well for the efficiency of the GPU, as the RTX 5090’s performance scales linearly with thermal design power (TDP)—showing a 27% performance increase for a 28% increase in energy consumption. For context, the RTX 4090 boasts over a 50% performance lead compared to the RTX 3090, with only a 29% higher TDP.

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    RTX 5090 vs RTX 4090: Efficiency Comparison at Same Power Level
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  • RTX 5090 vs RTX 4090: Rasterization vs Ray Tracing Performance

    RTX 5090 vs RTX 4090: Rasterization vs Ray Tracing Performance

    The RTX 4090 stands as the top consumer desktop GPU within the RTX 40 series. With AMD not offering a rival to the RTX 4090, as the RX 7900 XTX is more aligned with the RTX 4080, Nvidia has maintained its dominance in the high-end gaming segment. Looking ahead, Team Green is expected to keep this top spot with the upcoming RTX 5090, especially since AMD has opted out of competing in the premium market with its RDNA 4 architecture.

    Performance Comparison

    Now, the big question is how does the RTX 5090 stack up against the RTX 4090? Nvidia has shared some performance figures for the RTX 5090, but didn’t provide in-depth insights into its raw rasterization or ray tracing performance. Instead, the focus has been on DLSS 4 and its impressive 4x Frame Generation.

    Benchmark Insights

    Fortunately, the RTX 5090 might already be in the hands of some reviewers, leading to the emergence of synthetic benchmark scores. Two notable results indicate that the RTX 5090 outperforms the RTX 4090 in both rasterization and ray tracing tests.

    According to a thread on Chiphell, which is likely to be taken down soon, the RTX 5090 achieved scores exceeding 24,000 in the 3DMark Time Spy Extreme test and over 13,500 in the Speed Way benchmark.

    Detailed Score Analysis

    Focusing on the Time Spy Extreme score, the RTX 4090’s results from 3DMark show values ranging from about 22,800 to 23,300. If we take a score of 22,800 for the RTX 4090 and 24,000 for the RTX 5090, it suggests that the Blackwell GPU is around 5.3% faster than its earlier version. Of course, results may vary with different high scores, but for our discussion, we can assume lower figures for both GPUs.

    When considering the 3DMark Speed Way test, which evaluates ray tracing, the RTX 5090’s reported score of 13,500+ positions it 8% ahead of the best RTX 4090 recorded in the 3DMark database. Again, since the RTX 4090 has scores that fall between about 11,430 and 12,489, the performance difference in favor of the RTX 5090 could be significantly larger if we base it on the lower RTX 4090 scores. For example, using the 11,430 Speed Way score for the RTX 4090, the RTX 5090’s performance is 18% superior.

    Conclusion

    Thus, it seems reasonable to conclude that the RTX 5090 could deliver nearly a 20% improvement in ray tracing capabilities compared to the RTX 4090.

    In summary, if the rasterization performance of the RTX 5090 is indeed less than 10% faster than the RTX 4090 as noted earlier, this raises questions about the $400 price hike. Such a slight improvement in rasterization might also clarify Nvidia’s strong emphasis on DLSS 4 during the RTX 50 launch.

    Nonetheless, we should hold off on forming any conclusions until we see third-party reviews for the RTX 5090. Until then, take any performance speculations regarding the RTX 5090 with a hefty dose of skepticism.

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  • 24-Core Core Ultra 9 285K CPU Leaks for Gaming PC

    24-Core Core Ultra 9 285K CPU Leaks for Gaming PC

    Intel is about to launch its new Arrow Lake-S series of desktop CPUs very soon. The top model in this series, the 24-core, 24-thread Core Ultra 9 285K, is expected to offer significant improvements in single-thread performance, according to some recently leaked PassMark scores.

    Product Details Leaked

    A leaked product page for HP’s Omen 35L pre-built gaming tower has disclosed that it will come equipped with the Core Ultra 9 285K Arrow Lake-S CPU, which boasts a boost clock speed of 5.7 GHz. It can also support up to 64 GB of DDR5 RAM. Interestingly, the memory speed is noted as 4000 MT/s, which seems quite low and likely a mistake. On the graphics front, HP is also going all out, featuring options with Nvidia’s powerful RTX 4090.

    Performance Expectations

    Intel’s Arrow Lake-S series will not include hyperthreading support, and early benchmarks seem to showcase this change. However, single-threaded performance is expected to see a notable rise, as shown by recent tests. It remains uncertain if these potential performance boosts will be sufficient for the struggling chip giant to reclaim its position as a key player in gaming performance.

    Competitive Landscape

    With fierce competition from AMD and Apple’s custom chips, Intel is under significant pressure. Their new Lunar Lake mobile platform has been well received, and the Arrow Lake-S desktop CPUs have a lot at stake as they aim to attract gamers and creators once more.

    momomo_us via Twitter

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  • RTX 4080 Super and 4090 GPUs Vanishing Ahead of RTX 50 Launch

    RTX 4080 Super and 4090 GPUs Vanishing Ahead of RTX 50 Launch

    More than two years since the release of the RTX 40 series in October 2022, Nvidia is likely to introduce the RTX 50 "Blackwell" GPU lineup early next year. Unlike the previous launch of the RTX 40, Nvidia might unveil both the RTX 5090 and RTX 5080 cards at the same time.

    Discontinuation of RTX 4090

    In preparation for the RTX 50 launch, Nvidia has reportedly phased out the RTX 4090 as of September, meaning there will be no more new supplies of these GPUs. As a result, the RTX 4090 cards that are currently available will not be restocked any time soon.

    Production Halt on RTX 4080 Super

    Additionally, according to a rumor from the Chinese Board Channels, Nvidia plans to stop making the RTX 4080 Super this month. Consequently, AIBs will not offer any new RTX 4080 Super boards once the existing stock in retailers is sold out.

    This recent news follows an earlier rumor from August stating that Nvidia had reduced the supply of RTX 40 GPUs, including the RTX 4070 to RTX 4090, by as much as 50%.

    Impact on Pricing

    Undoubtedly, the rumored end of production for the RTX 4090 and RTX 4080 Super will significantly impact their prices. We are already observing signs of this on retailer sites like Newegg, where the least expensive RTX 4090 board is priced at $1,929.99 as new. Notably, only four RTX 4090 models are available for under $2,000, with most variants exceeding that amount.

    On Amazon, the situation appears slightly improved; you can currently find the Gigabyte GeForce RTX 4090 Gaming OC listed at $1,800. However, the overall price range is quite similar to Newegg, as the majority of SKUs are priced at or above $2,000.

    In terms of the RTX 4080 Super, Newegg has one model available—the Gigabyte GeForce RTX 4080 Super Windforce—at an MSRP of $999.99. Nevertheless, most RTX 4080 Super models on Newegg are selling for over $1,100.

    Once again, Amazon offers a better deal for the RTX 4080 Super, with multiple cards in stock at the $999.99 MSRP. However, we should anticipate a rapid change in pricing as the launch of the RTX 50 cards approaches.

    Sources: Board Channels (Chinese) via Harukaze, Wccftech, Teaser image: Pawel Czerwinski on Unsplash, Zotac

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  • Thermal Grizzly $76 Device Protects Your GPU from Overheating

    Thermal Grizzly $76 Device Protects Your GPU from Overheating

    The RTX 4090 graphics cards encountered serious problems due to incidents involving melting 12VHPWR power connectors. These issues were largely caused by user errors and a flaw in the connector’s design, which made it hard to ensure a secure cable connection. In response, manufacturers of both GPUs and PSUs have created better connectors and cables that can deliver high power only when they are properly connected. Additionally, Thermal Grizzly has launched the WireView Pro, a device aimed at protecting your graphics card from these types of problems.

    Future-Proofing with WireView Pro

    With the anticipated RTX 5090 expected to consume even more power than the RTX 4090, using the WireView Pro can help avoid or lessen potential issues, safeguarding not just the graphics card but also the user. Unlike its predecessor, the WireView, the new WireView Pro has an alarm feature and a buzzer that notifies users if the connector is not securely plugged in.

    Important Features of the WireView Pro

    Thermal Grizzly notes that the WireView Pro can become hot during its operation, regardless of the cooling method for the GPU. For cards cooled by air, the device will cool down as the card itself cools, but it can still reach temperatures up to 60°C. In contrast, for water-cooled cards, the limited airflow near the connector might lead the device to heat up to 100°C. It is recommended to avoid touching the device unless absolutely necessary, such as when adjusting display settings. Thermal Grizzly has not specified whether these temperature readings were taken with cards that have a TDP of 450W or higher, meaning that temperatures could be even greater with the RTX 5090.

    Buying Considerations

    Potential buyers should also be mindful of the orientation of the power connector on their graphics cards. Some models feature reversed connectors, which would require the "Reverse (R)" version of the WireView Pro instead of the standard option.

    The WireView Pro is available for purchase through Thermal Grizzly’s official website, with a price tag of €70 or $76. It is designed to work well with standard horizontally mounted GPUs but may not perform optimally for vertical setups, as visibility could be an issue. There are hopes that Thermal Grizzly will introduce a version specifically for vertically mounted GPUs in the future.

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  • MSI TITAN 18 Pro Ryzen Edition: Ryzen 9 7945HX3D, RTX 4090

    MSI TITAN 18 Pro Ryzen Edition: Ryzen 9 7945HX3D, RTX 4090

    MSI introduced its top-tier Titan 18 Pro gaming laptop in April, featuring an Intel Core i9-14900HX processor, an RTX 4090 GPU, and an astounding 192GB of RAM. The company has now released an AMD Ryzen-powered version of this laptop, named the MSI TITAN 18 Pro Ryzen Edition.

    This new model swaps out the Intel Core i9-14900HX for an AMD Ryzen 9 7945HX3D processor. This high-end processor from AMD boasts 16 cores and includes a 3D V-Cache (75W TDP). The laptop is equipped with an RTX 4090 16GB VRAM GPU (175W TDP) and supports up to 96GB of DDR5 RAM (2 x 48GB) as well as 4TB of storage.

    Display and Audio

    The laptop offers up to 18-inch Mini-LED panels with a 4K resolution at 120Hz, providing complete coverage of the DCI-P3 color gamut. It is also DisplayHDR 1000 certified. For audio, it features a total of four 2W speakers and two 2W woofers.

    Connectivity and Dimensions

    While it lacks a Thunderbolt 4 port, it does have an SD card slot, Bluetooth 5.4, and Intel Killer Wi-Fi 7 BE1750 for connectivity. According to its JD.com listing, the dimensions are 404 x 307.5 x 24-32.05 mm. Although the weight hasn’t been disclosed yet, it is expected to be over 3KGs.

    Pricing and Availability

    The MSI TITAN 18 Pro Ryzen Edition is currently available for pre-order in China on JD.com for RMB 21,999, which is approximately $3,030.

    MSI TITAN 18 Pro Ryzen Edition: Ryzen 9 7945HX3D, RTX 4090
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