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ASRock Announces New Lineup of Intel B860/ H810 Motherboards

[Press Release] ASRock is announcing a slew of new Intel motherboards. Spanning the Phantom Gaming, the Steel Legend, and the Pro RS/ Pro-A lineups, the new Intel B860/H810 motherboards promise exciting performance and elegant designs.

Moreover, ASRock is introducing its first back mount design motherboard with the B860 Pro BMD.

The company boasts an impressive feature set for the B860 motherboards. They sport a 14-power phase for the VCore, PCIe Gen 5 support for new graphics cards and M.2 SSDs, and Thunderbolt 4 ports.

The B860/B860M Lightning WiFi also includes a patented Memory OC Shield, making it exceptional for overclocking. To make these motherboards more DIY-friendly, an easy-to-release graphics card latch is included out of the box.

Moreover, the M.2 heatsink is easily installed and promises significantly lower temperatures.

ASRock B860/H810 Motherboards
The LiveMixer Products Support Ultra USB Power

The company has also debuted the LiveMixer motherboards. Available in both ATX and mATX form factors, this series offers 22 USB ports and additional PICe x4 slots. Elsewhere, the back mount design motherboards keep your setup clutter-free with clean cable management.

For more details on all these B860 motherboards, follow this link to the official product page on ASRock’s website.

Stellar Blade Dev Gifted Its Every Employee A PS5 Pro & $3.4K

Story Highlight
  • The developer behind Stellar Blade, Shift Up, gifted PS5 Pro and 5 million won to every one of its employees.
  • Shift Up has over 300 employees and it gave them such a hefty bonus for encouragement.
  • Its recent release on PS5 was a huge success, and the action-adventure title will also be released on PC this year. 

Stellar Blade is one of the most prominent and memorable releases of 2024. For obvious reasons, the game has received a lot of love from the fandom, especially from its main character. 

It attracted some hate, too, before its release, as some believed the main character’s proportions to be exaggerated even though her whole design is based on a real-life model. 

Despite such criticism, the Korean action-adventure title did wonders for Shift Up, leading to a $33.1 million profit. For creating such a great game and working hard on other projects, Shift Up has now rewarded its employees. 

The developer has gifted each employee a PS5 Pro along with $3.4k.

Why it matters: It is extremely important to create a non-toxic work environment and keep the team’s morale high. Incentives like these help achieve certain goals pretty quickly. 

stellar blade naughty dog
Stellar Blade Has Performed Quite Well on PlayStation 5, But The Developer Believes It Will Perform Even Better on PC

Speaking to Naver, a South Korean media outlet, one of Shift Up’s representatives revealed that bonuses were given to every employee in order to encourage them. The developer gave the employees a PlayStation 5 Pro and a bonus of 5 million won, which equals $3.4k.

Shift Up, which recorded a box office hit last year with the console game Stellar Blade, announced on the 6th that it paid out a ‘PS (PlayStation) 5 Pro’ and a bonus of 5 million won to all employees.

There are currently over 300 employees working at the company, so the developer has spent a lot of money to boost morale. Such practises should be made common as hard-working employees who dedicate themselves to their work should be treated with utmost respect.

Unfortunately, the trend of layoffs is more popular nowadays, as between 2023 and 2024, around 25k employees have been laid off from the gaming industry. Only gaming giants like Nintendo haven’t followed this trend; otherwise, layoffs have become pretty common. 

Due to that, Shift Up treating its employees this way seems special. Fans should also notice that Stellar Blade has been announced for PC as well. While there isn’t a release date given, it is expected to hit the platform mid-way through 2025

What do you think about the developer gifting PS5 Pro and $3.4k to every single one of its employees? Share your thoughts with us in the comments section below or join the discussion at the official Tech4Gamers forums

AMD Announces FSR4, Exclusive to RX 9070 Series GPUs

Story Highlight
  • AMD’s FidelityFX Super Resolution 4 (FSR 4) has been leaked ahead of CES 2025.
  • FSR 4 will be exclusive to RDNA 4 GPUs and will only be available for games that support FSR 3.1
  • RDNA 4 will use machine learning, similar to Nvidia’s DLSS.

According to a leaked image, AMD FidelityFX Super Resolution 4 or FSR 4 will be officially available with the launch of RDNA 4. FSR 4 will be a new upscaling solution based on machine learning, similar to Deep Learning Super Sampling (DLSS) from Nvidia.

Why it matters: FSR 4 will bring advanced upscaling technology to AMD’s latest RDNA 4 GPUs. Potential buyers will be hoping for improved performance and better image quality compared to previous iterations of FSR.

Source: Videocardz

While it’s not clear yet, RDNA 4 might be limited to RDNA 4 because of its third-generation AI acceleration cores. Furthermore, AMD has stated that the FSR 4 upgrade will only be accessible in games that support FSR 3.1.

That said the reason behind the specific reference to the 9070 series is unclear and might be suggesting that the upscaling technology will not work on lower-end models. For now, these questions have no answers.

AMD FSR 4 Exclusive to 9070 Series GPUs
This leaked image suggests FSR 4 will only be available on RX 9070 series graphic cards.

AMD did, however, confirm that FSR 4 will be compatible with Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, the only game as of yet to be formally revealed to use the technology.

It’s exciting to hear that AMD plans to use machine learning for better upscaling. However, limiting this technology to RDNA 4 goes against what AMD aimed for with the launch of FSR.

AMD However, might come up with a sub-par solution for the RDNA 2 and RDNA 3 lineup, featuring AI acceleration cores, that do have the potential to use AI-based upscaling. 

AMD Ryzen Z2 Series Lineup Leaked Ahead of CES 2025

Story Highlight
  • AMD has introduced three new APUs Ryzen Z2 Extreme, Ryzen Z2, and Ryzen Z2 Go designed specifically for gaming handhelds.
  • The Ryzen Z2 Extreme offers the best gaming performance with Zen 5 cores and 16 RDNA 2 compute units.

Update: A Valve employee working on the Steam Deck has confirmed that there is no Steam Deck with an AMD Z2 APU. The article was updated.

No AMD Z2 APU for Steam Deck
Pierre-Loup Griffais (Valve) confirms Steam Deck with Ryzen Z2 APU doesn’t exist.

Original Story: AMD has introduced three new Ryzen Z-Series APUs, made for gaming handhelds, targeting top OEMs. These include the Ryzen Z2 Extreme, Ryzen Z2, and Ryzen Z2 Go.

Why it matters: AMD’s launch of the Ryzen Z2 series APUs marks a big move in the handheld gaming market, providing a variety of options.

AMD Z2 Series Specs Sheet
Source: Videocardz

AMD revealed three Ryzen Z2-series APUs today, each with a unique silicon and architecture. The flagship SKU, the Ryzen Z2 Extreme, features an 8-core CPU with Five Zen 5c and three Zen 5 cores based on the Strix Point architecture.

As for the flagship APU, the Ryzen Z2 Extreme features 16 RDNA 2 compute units (Radeon 890M) and offers the best handheld gaming experience.

The Ryzen Z2 and Z2 Go are also part of the new lineup. However, the Ryzen Z2 Go was designed exclusively for Lenovo’s Legion Go S. With just four Zen 3+ cores and twelve RDNA 2 compute units (Radeon 680M), this APU is obviously made for gamers on a tight budget.

The Ryzen Z2, on the other hand, features 12 RDNA 3 Compute Units (Radeon 780M) and 8 Zen 4 based on Hawk Point APU. This is basically the same as the Ryzen 7 8840U, except that none of the Ryzen Z-Series APUs have NPU capabilities and lack XDNA support.

A Ryzen Z2-powered Steam Deck was also confirmed for the first time with this leaked announcement. AMD, however, has not revealed any information regarding the new APUs. We will probably learn more shortly.

Resident Evil 4 Remake Surpasses 9 Million Copies Sold Worldwide

Story Highlight
  • The Resident Evil 4 remake has sold over 9 million copies worldwide across all platforms.
  • The entry had already rolled up to 8 million sales by October last year, as it continues to sell swiftly. 
  • The current trajectory suggests the game will reach over 10 million sales in a few more months.

The Resident Evil franchise is usually credited for contributing to one of the most influential genres in gaming. However, its first few games were the ones that captured the most spotlight—not that the recent releases have been poor by any means. So, the studio has completely capitalized on it by releasing a bunch of remakes over the years.

Now, Capcom’s recent magnum opus, the Resident Evil 4 remake, has sold over 9 million copies worldwide across all platforms. 

Why it matters: The RE4 remake continuing to sell in the millions two years after release suggests the remake venture was highly successful for Capcom in terms of player and sales reception.

Resident Evil 4 remake has already sold 9 million copies worldwide across all platforms.
The Resident Evil 4 remake has already sold 9 million copies worldwide across all platforms.

One of the official Capcom Twitter accounts, Capcom Dev 1, took to Twitter to thank the loyal fans who helped the Resident Evil 4 remake to break through the 9 million mark. The post also features stunning fan art showcasing some of the characters in the RE4 remake.

To put things into perspective, RE4 Remake had already sold up to 8 million copies around the globe by October 19 last year. So, the numbers have continued to add up through the winter and holiday period.

Resident Evil
The Resident Evil remake projects for Capcom have been highly successful so far.

All in all, the Resident Evil 4 remake sales will soon hit the 10 million mark if the current pace is anything to go by. Regardless, Capcom is currently busy brewing Resident Evil 9, which is said to be targeting the FY26 release window.

Do you think Resident Evil 9 will live up to the mark like the RE4 remake, or will it drown in this year’s massive portfolio of upcoming titles? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below, or join the discussion on the official Tech4Gamers forum.

Japanese Game Companies Outperformed Western Counterparts on Stock Market in 2024

Story Highlight
  • Japanese game companies greatly outpaced their Western counterparts in the stock market growth in 2024.
  • While some Western companies saw modest stock growth, others faced sharp declines, with a few reaching one-year lows.
  • Despite challenges like layoffs and lower sales, the overall gaming industry’s outlook for 2025 remains positive with growth potential.

In 2024, Japanese video game companies outperformed their Western rivals on the stock market by a significant margin. Konami led the way with a 95.97% increase in stock value mostly thanks to the Silent Hill 2 remake, followed by Sega with a 49.32% rise.

Why it matters: Although it was a tough year for Western gaming companies, Japanese companies continued to thrive.

Japanese Gaming Companies Dominated Stock Market 2024
Japanese video game companies performed strongly in 2024, surpassing many Western firms.

Thanks to their portfolio of outstanding games, 2024 was a stellar year for Japanese gaming firms on the stock market. Capcom saw a 46.03% boost, Bandai Namco grew by 31.63%,

Nintendo increased by 29.10%, Sony went up by 28.64%, Square Enix rose by 15.63%, and Koei Tecmo gained 12.41%. Kadokawa, the parent company of FromSoftware, also experienced an 8.98% increase.

In comparison, Western game companies had mostly disappointing results. CD Projekt Red’s stock grew by 71.09% after The Witcher 4 announcement, and Roblox’s by 34.54%. Take-Two Interactive saw a 15.58% increase, Embracer Group grew by 10.96%, and EA rose by 7.75%.

On the other hand, Unity Software’s stock dropped by 42.07%, Ubisoft’s fell by over 45%, and Remedy Entertainment decreased by 44.25%.

It was a tough year for Ubisoft, as its stock fell to a historic one-year low. Meanwhile, Remedy confirmed Alan Wake 2 is still not profitable, hence a drop in the company’s stocks.

Western gaming firms struggled in 2024.

The Japanese gaming industry has shown resilience, boosted by strong domestic policies and a stabilizing yen in Japan. Experts believe these factors, along with smart investment moves, helped drive the sector’s strong performance at the end of the year.

Although 2024 was a profitable year for many gaming companies, it also came with major challenges. Industry-wide layoffs pointed to efforts to streamline operations and protect shareholder value.

The post-pandemic period led to lower sales forecasts and some big game release disappointments, making recovery difficult.

However, despite over 25,000 layoffs between 2023 and 2024, the gaming industry is set to keep growing in 2025. Experts are optimistic about the industry’s future and suggest investors consider buying more video game stocks.

Take-Two Interactive is a standout, especially with the expected release of GTA 6 in the fourth quarter of 2025. In the past, Take-Two’s stock has performed well before major game releases, with an average return of 30%.

What do you think about the performance of Japanese versus Western gaming companies in 2024? Drop your thoughts in the comments, or join the discussion on the Tech4Gamers forum.

Star Citizen Loses Director Who Promised Games’ Release Before 2026

Story Highlight
  • Star Citizen director, Carl Jones has left Cloud Imperium Games.
  • There has been no official announcement, but he has been removed from the team as per the official website.
  • He previously stated that Star Citizen and Squadron 42 could be released by 2026.

Cloud Imperium Games, the studio behind highly ambitious games, Star Citizen and Squadron 42 is going through a massive change. While things have happened silently, the game’s director seems to have been removed from the studio. 

According to the official website management section, the director of Star Citizen and company CFO Carl Jones, who had promised that the game would be released by 2026, has been removed from the company. 

Why it matters: With the leadership change, the plans for Star Citizen and its single-player campaign, Squadron 42 could be revised, and the 2026 release may be delayed further.

New CIG COO
Carl Jones has been removed from the management team from CGI’s website without an announcement.

As can be seen in the above screenshot, the official website has removed Carl Jones from the leadership team altogether. Notably, last October marked Jones’ 10th anniversary at the studio

This news comes right after Star Citizen recorded its second-best year in terms of crowdfunding with over $116 Million, just $1 million short of its best year in 2023. Additionally, the game has already raised over $700 Million throughout its development. 

About Us Section Screenshot From 4th Oct, 2024

This news will be particularly worrying for the fans who have been following the development ever since the game was announced. Considering, that it’s majorly a crowdfunded project and Carl Jones was at the centre of it, things could get problematic.

Cloud Imperium Games and Jones, both have been very quiet on the matter so far. So, we don’t know for sure what went wrong; whether he was removed from the office, or left on his own accord. 

What are your thoughts on the Star Citizen director leaving the studio mid-development? Let us know your thoughts in the comments or join the discussion at the official Tech4Gamers Forum

Monster Hunter Wilds Becomes 3rd Best-Seller on Steam Almost 2 Months Before Launch

Story Highlight
  • Monster Hunter Wilds has already become the third best seller on Steam. 
  • The game’s pre-orders were opened back in September 2024, so it is interesting to see it becoming one of the top sellers almost 2 months before release. 
  • Despite the hype, there are still concerns regarding its performance.

Monster Hunter Wilds is among the most anticipated titles of 2025. It is the most wishlisted game on Steam, so a massive fandom is awaiting its release. The game’s demo release was quite surprising, as it attracted nearly half a million players.

While there were performance concerns from the fans, the overall reception was quite positive. Given its hype and anticipation, the title has already become 3rd best-seller on Steam even though there are almost 2 months left till its release.

Why it matters: No matter the hype, it is pretty crazy for a game to reach the top 3 best sellers on Steam 2 months before its release. 

Monster Hunter Wilds 3rd Best Seller
The Upcoming Monster Hunter Title Is Already Among The Top Sellers On Steam

As you can see in the image above, Monster Hunter Wilds is at the 3rd best-selling spot on Steam. Steam Deck is not a video game, so we are excluding it from the list to validate MHW’s rank.

This shows that on release, Monster Hunter Wilds has the potential to break a lot of records on Steam, and we might get to see something phenomenal too early this year. It should be noted that the game’s pre-orders were opened alongside its launch date announcement back in September 2024.

This fact makes it even more surprising for the upcoming Monster Hunter title to reach the number 3rd sport when there are still almost two months till it is released. 

Despite its hype, fans have plenty of concerns, with the main one being relating to its performance. Even the RTX 4090 couldn’t run the demo at native 4K 60 FPS, which is totally absurd

This issue seems to have mainly occurred because of Capcom’s in-house engine. The developer’s proprietary RE Engine doesn’t seem to handle the open world really well. 

We already have Dragon’s Dogma 2 as the best example, as despite a lot of hype, it didn’t perform as well as one would have hoped for, mainly due to technical issues. Monster Hunter Wilds is expected to go through the same issues as Capcom decided to take this game open world. 

However, despite such concerns, the fandom seems to be pretty excited about the game. What do you think about the upcoming Capcom title becoming the 3rd best-selling title on Steam two months before its release? Share your thoughts with us in the comments section below or join the discussion at the official Tech4Gamers forums

RTX 4080 Super Vs RX 6900 XT [Gaming Benchmarks 2025]

AMD Radeon RX 6900 XT

Rated: 8/10

Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080 Super

Rated: 8.5/10


Pros And Cons

Graphics CardProsCons
RTX 4080 Super✅ Better Performance
✅ Better thermals
❌Expensive
RX 6900 XT✅ Solid performance for a four year old GPU.
✅Cost Effective
❌Runs hotter

Key Takeaways
  • As per our testing, the RTX 4080 Super performed 40% better than the RX 6900 XT in games. 
  • In terms of thermal efficiency, the RX 6900 XT ran 10% hotter than the RTX 4080 Super.
  • At launch price, both GPUs cost the same. However, the RX 6900 XT has seen massive drops in price over the years. 
  • Our recommendation lies with the RTX 4080 Super, as it is the faster and newer GPU out of the two.

Why Trust Tech4Gamers
  • Uzair is our comparison expert who has been benchmarking graphics cards, and processors.
  • 100+ components tested and reviewed by our team of hardware experts (Tech4Gamers Team).
  • 100+ hours spent testing different components for our comparisons.
  • Objective testing criteria (See how we compare PC hardware).

At Tech4Gamers, ensuring you get reliable information is our priority. That’s why every hardware round-up undergoes a meticulous review process by our team of experts and editors. Each review is carefully examined against our strict editorial guidelines, guaranteeing you trustworthy insights you can depend on.

Comparison Table

FeatureGeForce RTX 4080 SuperRadeon RX 6900 XT
ArchitectureAda LovelaceRDNA 2.0
Design ChipAD103-400-A1Navi 21 XTX
Product FamilyNvidia GeForce RTX 40 seriesNavi II
Steam Processors/Cuda Cores102405120
Compute Units/Tensor Cores320-
Ray Accelerators8080
ROPs112128
Memory Bandwidth736.3 GB/s512.0 GB/s
Best VariantsBest RTX 4080 Super Graphics CardsThe BEST RX 6900 XT Graphics Cards [Performance & Budget]

Architectural Differences

  1. Clock Speed: Significantly faster clock speeds were observed on the RTX 4080 Super. The RTX 4080 Super has a base clock of 2295MHz and goes up to 2550MHz. Whereas the RX 6900 XT starts at 1825 MHZ and goes up to 2015 MHz.
  2. VRAMDespite releasing 3.5 years before the RTX 4080 Super, the RX 6900 XT matches the 16 GB VRAM offered by the RTX 4080 Super. This is embarrassing from a $999 graphics card in today’s age, but at least it’s faster GDDR6X RAM.
  3. TDPThe RTX 4080 Super will require a bigger PSU to run, as it has a slightly bigger TDP of 320 watts. Compared to that, the RX 6900 XT comes with a TDP of 300 watts.
  4. Process NodeThe RTX 4080 Super comes with the latest 5 nm process node launched by TSMC. Compared to that, the RX 6900 XT features a slightly older 7 nm process node by the same manufacturer. 
  5. Other Technologies: This is the aspect where Nvidia GPUs excel. The RTX 4080 Super comes with DLSS 3 and Frame generation which nearly double its performance. Compared to that, AMD’s GPU offers FSR as a replacement to that.

Nvidia has dropped a new thousand-dollar GPU in the market, the RTX 4080 Super. But how does that compete against a similarly priced GPU from the previous generation launched by their competitor AMD? Keep reading as we compare the RTX 4080 Super Vs RX 6900 XT and analyse their performance differences. 


Gaming Tests – 2160p

In order to fully utilise the potential of these flagship GPUs, we have assembled this testing rig with a top-of-the-line CPU, ensuring zero bottlenecks. The only performance difference we will observe would be among the GPUs ensuring a thorough and fair trial among both of our competitors for today. 

Test Bench

Cyberpunk 2077

Cyberpunk 2077 4k benchmark - Image Credits (Tech4Gamers)
Cyberpunk 2077 4k benchmark – Image Credits (Tech4Gamers)
  • Cyberpunk appeared to run much more smoothly on the RTX 4080 Super compared to the RX 6900 XT. This is because the RTX 4080 Super was roughly 42% ahead, providing 69 fps on average, compared to the 45 fps of the RX 6900 XT. 
  • The RTX 4080 Super maintains a constant 60 fps even in the 1% lows, staying 55% ahead of its competitor, the RX 6900 XT, which maxed out at 34 fps. 

Doom Eternal

Doom Eternal 4k benchmark - Image Credits (Tech4Gamers)
Doom Eternal 4k benchmark – Image Credits (Tech4Gamers)
  • Doom Eternal was a walk in the park for our competing GPUs, compared to the previous title. Both GPUs are easily hitting triple figures. The RTX 4080 Super at 254 fps, whereas the RX 6900 XT was at 191 fps. 
  • The 1% lows provided by both graphics cards were also in a very acceptable range. This time, the RTX 4080 Super was providing 212 1% low fps, whereas the RX 6900 XT was able to provide 180 fps.

Assassin’s Creed Valhalla

Assassin's Creed Valhalla 4k benchmark - Image Credits (Tech4Gamers)
Assassin’s Creed Valhalla 4k benchmark – Image Credits (Tech4Gamers)
  • Assassin’s Creed Valhalla runs better on AMD GPUs compared to Nvidia but even that could not save the RX 6900 XT. The RTX 4080 SUper is still ahead by a drastic margin of 37% yielding 113 fps compared to 77 fps of the RX 6900 XT. 
  • 1% lows had a wider degree of separation at around 42%, as the RTX 4080 Super extends its lead by providing 98 fps. The RX 6900 XT, in comparison, maxed out at 64 fps. 

Watch Dogs Legion

Watch Dogs Legion 4k benchmark - Image Credits (Tech4Gamers)
Watch Dogs Legion 4k benchmark – Image Credits (Tech4Gamers)
  • The RTX 4080 Super not only maintains its lead in the Watch Dogs Legion but also by a staggering margin of around 48%. This time it was able to yield a stunning average of 119 fps, in a title that only ran at 73 fps on the RX 6900 XT. 
  • Even the 1% lows could not save the AMD GPU here, as it is still lagging behind with a margin of 44%, by providing an average of 62 fps. The RTX 4080 Super, on the other hand, is leagues ahead at 97 fps. 

A Plague Tale Requiem

A Plague Tale Requiem 4k benchmark - Image Credits (Tech4Gamers)
A Plague Tale Requiem 4k benchmark – Image Credits (Tech4Gamers)
  • A Plague Tale Requiem is a very hard title to run at 2160p. Luckily both our graphics cards were able to provide a playable experience. The RTX 4080 Super ran the game at 86 fps average, while the RX 6900 XT ran it at 53 fps. 
  • Minor stutters were observed on the RX 6900 XT, as it was only providing 39 1% low fps. Compared to that, the RTX 4080 Super ensured a significantly smoother gameplay at 64 1% low fps. 

Red Dead Redemption 2

Red dead redemption 2 4k benchmark - Image Credits (Tech4Gamers)
Red dead redemption 2 4k benchmark – Image Credits (Tech4Gamers)
  • Red Dead Redemption 2 saw one of the bigger differences observed throughout this benchmark. The RTX 4080 Super was now 50% ahead, providing a 119 fps average. The RX 6900 XT provided 73 fps on average in the same conditions. 
  • The difference in 1% lows turned out to be around 45% in favour of the RTX 4080 Super, which was now flying high at 97 fps. Its competitor, at the same time, could not go beyond 62 fps. 

Horizon Zero Dawn

Horizon Zero Dawn 4k benchmark - Image Credits (Tech4Gamers)
Horizon Zero Dawn 4k benchmark – Image Credits (Tech4Gamers)
  • The RTX 4080 Super ends the benchmark by retaining its lead by a 40% margin in Horizon Zero Dawn. The game appeared smooth as it was being run at 134 fps. The RX 6900 XT also managed to run well, at an average of 89 fps. 
  • To RX 6900 XT’s credit, it manages to close the gap to 19% in terms of 1% lows by providing a solid 76 fps average. The RTX 4080 Super is still ahead though, yielding an average of 92 1% low fps. 

Overall Gaming Performance

FeaturedRTX 4080 SuperRX 6900 XT
Average FPS127 📈85 📈
%1 lows102 📉73 📉
Winner: Nvidia's RTX 4080 Super

Based on the gaming benchmarks we observed, our testing indicates that the RTX 4080 Super is roughly 40% ahead of the RX 6900 XT in average fps. This is the average data of the results measured across seven games at 2160p resolution at maxed-out settings. A smaller 33% difference was observed between the 1% lows of both GPUs.


Editor`s Note
Image

In terms of gaming benchmarks, the RTX 4080 Super seems to crush it against the older RX 6900 XT. However, one thing we need to keep in mind is that the RX 6900 XT does not cost $999 anymore, and is now available for a fraction of its price. So does, the RTX 4080 Super justify its hefty price tag?

– Uzair Qureshi


Thermal Efficiency

GameRTX 4080 Super (°C)RX 6900 XT (°C)
Cyberpunk 207764🌡️72🌡️
Red Dead Redemption 260🌡️66🌡️
Assassin's Creed Valhalla62🌡️72🌡️
Watch Dogs Legion61🌡️65🌡️
Doom Eternal72🌡️75🌡️
Horizon Zero Dawn60🌡️64🌡️
A Plague Tale Requiem63🌡️75🌡️
Average Temperature63.14🌡️69.8🌡️
Winner: Nvidia's RTX 4080 Super

In terms of thermal efficiency, our observation states that the RTX 4080 Super runs 10% cooler as compared to the RX 6900 XT. The new 5 nm process node is easier to cool. Regardless of that, the difference is not small enough to fall within the margin of error, hence the RTX 4080 Super is the more thermal efficient GPU out of the two. 


Price And Value

Graphics CardLaunch MSRPCurrent Price
RTX 4080 Super💲999💲999
RX 6900 XT💲999💲499
Difference0%66.7%

Both of these flagship GPUs were launched for $999 with a 0% difference in MSRP. However, since the RX 6900 XT has been out for a while, you can find it for much less than what it launched for. Our research indicates that you can find it for around $499 now. That puts RTX 4080 Super in a tricky position as it is 66% more expensive now.


What We Recommend

RX 6900 XT: If you are on a tight budget, and you want to squeeze the absolute most amount of gaming performance within the budget and want top performance for your dollar, we recommend you to check out RX 6900 XT. Its massive VRAM enables us to be able to play games at 2160p even after four years of its launch date. 

RTX 4080 Super: If you can afford to increase your budget, the RTX 4080 Super is recommended for you. It literally crushed the RX 6900 XT in almost every game we tested while also running cooler. That is before we even factor in DLSS 3, Frame generation and Ray Tracing performance, which make this GPU very hard to ignore.

After spending our time testing with these graphics cards, we can confirm that both of these GPUs are very capable in their respective price range. Which one is better suited for you would depend greatly on your budget, however, you can not go wrong with either of these GPUs.  


More From RX 6900 XT

More From RTX 4080 Super

Assassin’s Creed Shadows To Mark New Era For The Franchise, Says Ubisoft Dev

Story Highlight
  • A Ubisoft developer has dubbed Assassin’s Creed Shadows the game that will kick off a new era for this fan-favorite IP.
  • Ubisoft is set to introduce the Animus Hub as part of this new era.
  • A similar statement was previously used for Assassin’s Creed Origins, which marked the beginning of the RPG trilogy.

Following a major delay, Assassin’s Creed Shadows is almost here. This game, despite its many challenges and controversies, is set to be Ubisoft’s most important release over the past few years, potentially determining its fate for good.

Ahead of this release, developers from the studio seem quite excited and optimistic, showing faith in the latest Assassin’s Creed offering. One developer even referred to Assassin’s Creed Shadows as the game that would kick off a new era.

Why it matters: Ubisoft is going through a rough patch after major failures. The team is hoping for a major win next month to pull itself together and make it through this difficult period.

Assassin's Creed Shadows
Dan G Expressed His Excitement For Assassin’s Creed’s New Era | Image via Twitter

As per Ubisoft lead animator Dan G, Assassin’s Creed Shadows will be a huge deal for everyone at the studio.

The developer shared a tweet showcasing the meditation mini-game and noted that he intends to play the title despite being unable to go through Ubisoft’s catalogue very often. He later made a bold claim about the series.

The new era of Assassin’s Creed is arriving.

-Dan G

The most interesting part about this statement is that it implies future entries will build on the foundations of the first Japanese-set Assassin’s Creed. In the past, similar statements were made about Assassin’s Creed Origins, and rightfully so.

This title was the first of the series’ ventures into the RPG genre, changing the direction of Assassin’s Creed for good until 2023’s Assassin’s Creed Mirage marked a return to classic gameplay.

Assassins-Creed-Shadows
Ubisoft Is Introducing Two New Protagonists Next Month

Assassin’s Creed Shadows is set to debut the Animus Hub, an interconnected platform that will become the hub for future entries in the IP. Because this platform will play a major role in Ubisoft’s plans, this is one way the series will enter a new era next month.

Moreover, the IP is finally making the jump to the current-gen console this year, introducing technologies like ray tracing.

What are your thoughts on the developer’s statement? Do you think Assassin’s Creed Shadows will live up to Ubisoft’s expectations? Let us know in the comments, and share more of your opinions on the Tech4Gamers Forums.

Corsair Virtuoso Max Wireless Review: Stunning Sound, Needs More Comfort

The Corsair Virtuoso Max Wireless features excellent sound hardware, a few distinctive features, and a rather rigid but fashionable style design. Instead of using any gimmicks in the design, Corsair made sure that all of the features and sound quality of the headset were on par with or better than those of most competitors available in the market. It conveys an impression that fits with its high price tag, which raises many expectations about features and performance.

In theory, this could be among the greatest PC headsets available out there and can easily compete with any of its closest competitors. However, in reality, does it live up to its premium price tag? In this review, I’ll dive deep into its features, performance, and whether it’s truly worth the investment. Let’s find out whether this headset is a game-changer or just another high-priced device in a crowded market. Keep reading to find out!

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Key Takeaways

  • The Corsair Virtuoso Max Wireless offers premium sound quality with its 50mm graphene drivers and versatile connectivity options, including Bluetooth and low-latency wireless. The sleek design, enhanced by RGB lighting, adds a touch of elegance, while the ANC feature ensures an immersive audio experience.
  • Buy the Corsair Virtuoso Max Wireless if you want premium audio performance, a sleek design, and solid build quality all backed up by Corsair’s reliable wireless connectivity and customization options through iCUE.
  • Avoid the Corsair Virtuoso Max Wireless if you’re looking for a budget-friendly option, as it’s priced higher than many competitors. Additionally, if you prefer ultra-lightweight and comfortable headsets for long hours of use, this might feel a bit bulky.

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How Is The Corsair Virtuoso Max Wireless Different?

The Corsair Virtuoso Max Wireless differentiates itself from its predecessors and competitors through several key enhancements. Compared to earlier models in the Virtuoso series, the Max Wireless introduces active noise cancellation (ANC) and dual wireless connectivity, including both 2.4GHz and Bluetooth options. When compared to competitors the Virtuoso Max Wireless offers a premium design, robust build quality, and high-quality audio performance. However, some competitors have better comfort and user-friendly features.

Packaging & Unboxing

The packaging of the Corsair Virtuoso Max Wireless headset offers a premium unboxing experience with the headset safely placed in a secured package for protection during transportation. The box itself is fascinating in a dual color palette, with the Corsair branding at the top right, giving it a high-end feel. Inside, you’ll find the headset along with all essential accessories neatly organized. The overall presentation is clean and well-organized, giving a sense of quality from the moment you open the box.

Design

The Corsair Virtuoso Max Wireless’s sleek, metallic appearance is eye-catching without being explicit right out of the box. At first sight, the Corsair Virtuoso Max’s elegant, luxurious appearance is appealing, and the RGB lighting surrounding each earcup adds a charming touch to its sophisticated, flexible design in a variety of patterns and colors. Apart from that, the headset somewhat resembles the previous Virtuoso line headsets.

Even though it’s eye-catching and has a nice headset design, I like how it still appears professional with an element of gamer style. With a weight of around 418g, the headset is a little bit heavier than average, but it’s not too heavy and has enough quality to seem well-made. Despite having rotating earcups that allow it to sit flat across your neck, the headband’s hinges stay strong, allowing it to bend and twist without ever thinking it would come loose.

Given that you hardly pay attention to how the headset looks while wearing it, I’m not that particularly fond of RGB lighting in them. Still, given that you’re wearing it, the Virtuoso offers a sleek appearance with a delicate ring encircling each earcup. You can adjust the six lighting zones in the accompanying software, which is a great little bonus for when it is just lying on your desk or need some ambient light in a dark area.

Comfort

Comfort (Image by T4G)
Comfort (Image by T4G)

One of the most essential elements of a headset is its comfort and that is where the Virtuoso Max falls a little bit short. The material selection for the headband and ear cup padding is the sole questionable aspect of the headset. Particularly on the ear cups, it’s much more firmer than what you might anticipate. The majority of the depth of the thick earpads is made up of a plastic housing containing dense, thin foam that is covered in a silky fabric upholstery.

The headset is more solid on your head, and people with bigger heads may experience some pressure from the clamping force, even though it provides a better seal over the ears. The main issue with this design is the earpads’ small profile, which puts some pressure points around my ears particularly at the upper part of my jaw considering the headset grips a little tighter than others. I was hoping that I would just become used to it with time, but in the few weeks that I have been testing the headset, this feeling has remained constant.

Surprisingly, the headset’s cushioned portions have a bit lower quantity of material, Although it’s not painful to reach the level of being completely intolerable, it is unpleasant and quite different from the many headsets I’ve reviewed in the past few years. Nonetheless, the headband was still comfortable to wear, and its generous cushioning on the headband ensured that my head wasn’t under too much pressure.

Control Scheme

ANC-Transparency Button and a Media Button (Image by T4G)
ANC-Transparency Button and a Media Button (Image by T4G)

Everything on the headset is thoughtfully designed, such as the volume controls on the dials that surround the ear cups. With so many functions, the Virtuoso Max has buttons on the earcups to control them all. When using the headset, it’s simple to distinguish between the buttons because of their apparent design and unique feel. The USB-C connection for mounting the detachable microphone and a power toggle that shifts between a 2.4GHz dongle and Bluetooth connection are located on the left earcup.

Moreover, the ANC-Transparency button, which switches between both modes, the USB-C charging connector, and a single media button that neatly handles play or pause and song skipping are all located on the right earcup. Finally, it’s useful that the earcups’ outside frame, which has a deliberate metal finish, serves as a huge volume control. All of the buttons are easily accessible, simple to press, and uncongested. Because of its ease, the headset’s design is feasible without being overtly noticeable.

Connectivity

Power Toggle that Shifts Between a 2.4GHz Dongle and Bluetooth Connection (Image by T4G)
Power Toggle that Shifts Between a 2.4GHz Dongle and Bluetooth Connection (Image by T4G)

A headset that has a multi-point connection immediately has an upper hand in my book. Along with a cable connection, the Corsair Virtuoso Max Wireless additionally supports simultaneous Bluetooth and a slipstream dongle providing wireless, latency-free connection. It’s really helpful to have the headset compatible with two devices.

Although I am aware that this is a rare case, I and a lot of others would still benefit from it. Because the right earcup can manage the Bluetooth device’s volume separately from the game volume, the implementation is also carefully planned.

Performance

Solid Build Quality (Image by T4G)
Solid Build Quality (Image by T4G)

I was instantly pleased by the sound quality, whether I was watching a movie, enjoying some music, or playing Black Ops 6. Simply said, the Corsair Virtuoso Max produces amazing sound. The audio experience is rich and well-balanced thanks to the 50mm graphene drivers. The graphene drivers’ ability to provide stunning clarity enhances every gaming experience in the best possible ways. Footsteps and gunshots sound clear and distinct.

Moreover, dialogues seem as if they are directly spoken in your ear, and music bursts as you recognize each instrument. Although this headset doesn’t have a lot of bass at its default settings, it manages all frequencies with remarkable clarity. I was able to get somewhat closer to the sound I was looking for without it seeming unnatural or overwhelming other frequencies by using the bass boost option within the EQ settings.

Furthermore, the Virtuoso Max offers excellent spatial sound for such a closed-back headset, and not merely in the sense of positional or directional audio to recognize the source of sound effects in competitive games. It seems less restricted, as though the music is being pumped straight into your ears, and the additional area within the earcup gives the sound more room for enjoyment. It’s difficult to put into words, but spending many hours in Valorant made me realize. Despite the game’s chaos, it hardly seemed excessively crowded for my ears.

I was able to make the right choices in such intense competitive situations because the positional audio is as excellent as you might expect from a high-end headset, precisely producing realistic sound effects such as footsteps, gunshots, and enemy reloading. One way the Virtuoso Max stands out from the competition is that it also produces the same type of sound quality that is typically received from open-back headphones.

Microphone

Microphone Connector (Image by T4G)
Microphone Connector (Image by T4G)

The Corsair Virtuoso Max provides a good omnidirectional microphone for those discord calls or gaming chats. The microphone often receives less attention in high-end headphones, but I felt that the Virtuoso Max’s microphone was excellent. During several conversations, my voice was audible to my gaming buddies, and I had no trouble responding to them.

It offers enough clarity for smooth conversation in Discord and during games. If you would rather want to concentrate only on the game sounds, the microphone can also be completely removed. Even though, I had a bit higher expectations for a headset with this quality. Still, the Virtuoso Max performs admirably in this regard.

Battery Life

As per the claims from Corsair, the Virtuoso Max can last up to 60 hours on a single charge. Thankfully, I ended up being fortunate enough to continuously use the headset for a week in a row which was approximately 8-10 hours each day before it died out. Since I normally turned off the RGB lights and used ANC rarely. In my experience, the claimed battery life is rather accurate, placing it on the same level as comparable expensive headsets.

Software

The headphone uses iCUE, which you can use to change the RGB lighting of each of the headset’s six zones. There are also additional options, such as the battery monitor appearing on the desktop, headset voice prompts along the sleep mode timing. To get the ideal sound profile, you can also customize the EQ settings. For me, it was nearly a guarantee that the Corsair Virtuoso Max would sound fantastic considering its $329 price tag. In my opinion, the headset’s features and additional customization beginning with Dolby Atmos Spatial audio support make this case more upright.

Should You Buy it?

Buy it if

You Want Premium Audio and Noise Cancellation: The Corsair Virtuoso Max Wireless delivers exceptional audio quality with high-fidelity drivers and active noise cancellation, creating an outstanding listening experience perfect for gaming and multimedia consumption.

You Appreciate High-End Design and Build Quality: Featuring premium materials like aluminum, the Virtuoso Max Wireless offers a luxurious feel and excellent durability.

You Want Customization Options: The headset integrates seamlessly with Corsair’s iCUE software, allowing extensive customization of sound profiles and RGB lighting for a personalized experience.

Don’t Buy it if

You Need a Lightweight Headset: While sturdy, the Virtuoso Max Wireless is on the heavier side, which might cause discomfort during lengthy usage, especially for users who prioritize ultra-lightweight designs.

You Are on a Budget: As a premium offering, the Virtuoso Max Wireless comes with a higher price tag, which may not suit budget-conscious buyers or those who don’t need its advanced features.

You Have a Larger Head Size: The clamping force and relatively firm earcups may cause discomfort for users with larger heads, especially during extended use.

Final Verdict

Undoubtedly, the Virtuoso Max Wireless is a high-end headset, but Corsair has made sure that it surpasses expectations in almost every aspect. Despite having all the ingredients of a fantastic high-end gaming headset, the Corsair Virtuoso Max lacks comfort excellence. Although I don’t have any significant comfort concerns, the headband and earcups’ use of a more rigid, less soft material is unexpected. While everyone’s experience will be different, I had pressure points around my ear in the form of earcups.

It was something that many other headsets don’t have. Unfortunately, the Virtuoso Max might probably be unpleasant if you have a larger head. A fresh approach to comfort and some adjustments to the earpad design can easily make this the best headset. Even though such an essential aspect should not have been a major concern. there is no doubt that it offers a tremendous sound experience, remarkable spatial audio, and several attractive features along with a strong build quality.

The Virtuoso Max shows that it can rival some of the top gaming headsets available, both in terms of overall sound quality and features like active noise cancellation. However, you might want to look at alternative options that put comfort first if you’re seeking a headset that you can wear for hours on end if you have a bigger head.

Coming Next: Corsair HS80 Max Review

 

Bloodborne Now Playable At Stable 30FPS On Steam Deck With ShadPS4

Story Highlight
  • Bloodborne has remained a beloved FromSoftware game since its release in 2015.
  • Despite being neglected by its developers, emulators have stepped up to meet the fans’ demands.
  • Thanks to the ShadPS4 emulator, it can now be played on the Steam Deck at a steady 30FPS.

Bloodborne stands out as one of FromSoftware’s most beloved titles, earning its place alongside major franchises like Dark Souls and Elden Ring.

The game remains exclusive to the PS4 and PS5, though the latter may lack certain features available on the PS4. Fans have long called for a port to other platforms, but no progress has been made.

While the developers show little interest in expanding the game’s availability, emulator developers have dedicated themselves to making it accessible elsewhere. With successful PC emulations already achieved, Bloodborne can now run at a stable 30FPS on the Steam Deck using the ShadPS4 emulator.

Why it matters: Released in 2015, Bloodborne is approaching its 10th anniversary, leaving fans to question why it hasn’t officially launched on platforms other than PlayStation.

Gameplay footage of Bloodborne on the Steam Deck, shared by YouTuber Deck Wizard, highlights the game running on ShadPS4 v0.5.1 at a mostly stable 30FPS, with occasional dips —expected for a relatively new emulator.

ShadPS4 continues to improve with ongoing updates, so better performance can be anticipated as the emulator’s developers refine it over time. Even in its current state, the gameplay on the Steam Deck is impressive.

Even in densely packed areas of the game, the emulator maintains a stable 30FPS, showcasing significant progress toward delivering smooth Bloodborne gameplay on the Steam Deck.

Bloodborne
Bloodborne Might Be Remastered For The PS5

While there is an abundance of unofficial content for the game, the lack of official updates has been disappointing. However, renewed interest from PlayStation has sparked hope for positive developments.

Rumors about a new Bloodborne project have been circulating, and although Naughty Dog recently remarked that games like Bloodborne have weak stories, fans strongly disagree and eagerly await a new installment.

On that note, what do you think about Bloodborne running consistently at 30FPS on the Steam Deck? Share your thoughts in the comments below or join the discussion on the official Tech4Gamers forum.