At Tech4Gamers, I contribute as a Senior News Reporter, combining my skills and gaming enthusiasm to keep our audience updated on the latest developments.
[Press Release] TeamGroup’s latest announcements bring more options to the CAMM2 DDR5 market. Offering DDR5 6400MHz and 7200MHz kits, the company brings products that are both fast and flexible.
The New Memory Falls Under The T-Create Branding
As opposed to traditional JEDEC specifications, TeamGroup’s 7200MHz CAMM2 memory offers write, copy, and read speeds of over 105,000MB/s. The memory also brings additional overclocking capabilities, making it suitable for a large range of applications.
Elsewhere, the company is making DDR5 6400MHz CAMM2 memory for industrial-grade applications. TeamGroup expects these kits to become popular for use cases like autonomous driving, smart manufacturing, and more.
CAMM2 memory also excels beyond SO-DIMM and U-DIMM in various other ways. It offers lower power consumption, supports dual-channel mode with a single stick, and comes with an improved thermal design.
Overall, the standard surpasses its competition, and TeamGroup’s intense testing has led to a major breakthrough that will culminate in the official launch coming later in Q1 of 2025. Follow the company’s official website for more information till then.
At T4G, my task is to cover the latest news around the gaming globe ASAP and with the utmost precision. I adore all the games and respect all the devs behind the amazing games that we get all year. So, whether it’s a PC or a Console game, I got it all covered.
Story Highlight
Monster Hunter Wilds Open beta launched today to a massive 500K concurrent players.
The overall reviews of the beta are mostly positive, but it has performance issues on consoles.
It’s a sequel to Capcom’s best-selling game ever, so expectations are high.
Monster Hunter Wilds is the upcoming installment in Capcom’s critically acclaimed franchise. Fans have eagerly waited for the game since its first trailer dropped. Today, its open beta launched to an incredible 500K concurrent players on Steam.
Why it matters: Besides being critically acclaimed, the game’s predecessor, Monster Hunter: World, is Capcom’s best-selling game of all time. So, naturally, expectations from Monster Hunter Wilds are really up there.
Monster Hunter Wilds Open beta records around 500K concurrent Steam players
Today, Capcom launched the open beta for Monster Hunter Wilds and it garnered an astounding 463K concurrent players. The overall reviews are also mostly positive with many praising the game for feeling fresh and action-packed.
However, the bad news for console players is that the title will be locked at 30 FPS for the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. Capcom hasn’t yet revealed if Monster Hunter Wilds will receive a PS5 Pro Enhanced version in the future.
Monster Hunter Wilds has high expectations riding on its back
The beta is currently live on Steam, PS5, and Xbox Series consoles. It runs from now till November 4th and includes character creation, a story trial, a Doshaguma Hunt, and even crossplay availability.
Capcom will be delighted with the numbers and hope they translate well into the full launch. The game comes out on February 28, 2025, for all announced platforms. Unfortunately, it won’t be released on the Switch, as the handheld is too weak. But maybe a port is planned for later down the line with the launch of Switch 2.
Have you experienced the Monster Hunter Wilds open beta? How’s the game’s performance been for you? Let us know in the comments or join the discussion at the official Tech4Gamers Forum.
At Tech4Gamers, I mainly cover new gaming news, leaks, and rumours. Aside from that, I love to write features about my favourite games while inserting my opinion about their different aspects.
Story Highlight
Alan Wake 2 was released on October 27 2023, and it still hasn’t been profitable.
However, the game has managed to recoup most of its development and marketing expenses.
The Lake House expansion and Physical Deluxe Edition were released after the end of the quarter, so the title is likely to be profitable in the next earnings report.
Alan Wake 2 is arguably one of the best games of 2023. It was a GOTY contender, and, of course, many fans were rooting for it to win the award, but Baldur’s Gate 3 dominated the competition. However, it took home the best narrative award at TGA 2023.
Despite being one of the most notable games of 2023, it still hasn’t been profitable even after over 1 year of launch.
Why it matters: Alan Wake 2 became the fastest-selling Remedy game, but it still hasn’t recouped all of its development and marketing budget.
Alan Wake 2, One of The Best Releases Last Year, Is Still Not Profitable
Remedy has revealed its earnings report for Q3 2024, and revenue seems to have seen a solid increase. However, according to the report, Alan Wake 2 has recouped most of the development and marketing expenses.
At the end of the quarter, Alan Wake 2 had recouped most of its development and marketing expenses but had yet to generate any royalties.
-Remedy Entertainment
So, the game has managed to recoup most of its development and marketing expenses, but not all of them, so it is not profitable yet. Despite setting a new high for horror games, Alan Wake 2 unfortunately didn’t sell well, and the main reason for that was the lack of a physical copy and a release on Steam.
Steam is the fan’s favourite platform on PC, so not releasing a game on it can hurt a lot of sales. Also, fans should note that The Lake House expansion and the game’s physical deluxe edition were released after the end of the quarter.
So, by the time Remedy releases its Q4 earnings report, the game is highly likely to be profitable. The earnings report also revealed that there had been good progress in the game line-up, and Control 2 is on track to reach full production in 2025.
What do you think of the survival horror title still not being profitable even after over 1 year of release? Do you think it will be profitable by the time Remedy releases its next earnings report? Share your thoughts with us in the comments section below or join the official Tech4Gamers forums.
At Tech4Gamers, I take on the role of Hardware Reviewer with pride. My responsibilities involve a thorough examination of essential hardware components like motherboards, graphics cards, processors, PC cases, and CPU coolers, among others, focusing on their complexities and functionalities.
Dr. Usman Saleem
At Tech4Gamers, I’m the PC Hardware Specialist, primarily contributing to the “Best-Ofs” section. I provide thoughtful buying advice based on thorough testing and personal expertise. I also review hardware products and games to keep things fresh.
After our MSI Pro Z890-A review, we’re moving on to the MSP MPG Z890 Edge WiFi Ti. This motherboard is part of MSI’s gaming and design-focused MPG series and is priced at $369. This is a slightly lower tag than last generation’s Edge Ti-Max WiFi ($389) and carries an all-white theme instead of the black-and-white mix. What does the motherboard have to offer, though? Let’s dive in and see.
Why Trust Tech4Gamers
Usman Saleem is our hardware tester who loves to put all the latest GPUs, CPUs, RAM, and motherboards for a spin.
40+ motherboards tested and reviewed by our team of hardware experts (Tech4Gamers Team).
800+ hours spent testing different motherboards for our reviews.
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.
Key Takeaways
The MSI MPG Z890 Edge Ti WiFi is a $369 board focused on high performance. It has an all-white design with RGB, capable VRMs, the latest I/O, and a handful of EZ-DIY features to make life easier.
Buy the board if you want an eye-catching all-white board, need the latest I/O, prioritize convenience, or need ample storage space.
Don’t get the board if you plan on heavily overclocking your CPU.
Here’s a quick table sum-up of the specifications:
New RL-ILM socket design (Image Credits: MSI on YouTube)
With LGA1851, the key parameters are the same as LGA1700; only the number of pins has increased. The main change is the new reduced-load ILM (integrated lever mechanism), which reduces load on the CPU (hence the name). While a fairly minor change, it was also very necessary, as the LGA1700 retention mechanism was known to apply uneven pressure across the CPU. This led to a tiny bend in the CPU IHS, affecting cooling performance.
The new mechanism distributes the pressure more evenly across the CPU, preventing it from deformation and improving the CPU cooler’s contact with it. This is more important than ever as Intel has switched to a multi-chipset design for these CPUs, and the heat output won’t be concentrated in a single area. According to MSI, this can reduce temperatures by 1-2 degrees.
Early reports showed that this mechanism only increases manufacturing cost by $1, requiring only two extra parts: an additional hinge frame insulator and a lever frame insulator. Manufacturers can reserve this mechanism for mid-range/higher-end boards, so we won’t see this in every new Arrow Lake-supporting motherboard.
Packaging and Unboxing
The motherboard box is predominantly grey-themed cardboard.
Box front
Box rear
Key features are highlighted on the front, and cautions against mishandling of the CMOS battery are present on the bottom left. On the back, we get more details on its features, the specifications list, and a labeled rear I/O diagram. There’s a QR code on the bottom right to open the motherboard manual on your phone if the quick installation guide doesn’t cover everything for you.
Let’s look at the accessories that come with the motherboard:
Box contents (Image by Tech4Gamers)
Quick installation guide
EZ-WiFi Antenna
1-to-3 EZ Conn-Cable (V2)
EZ front panel cable
3x EZ M.2 Clip II
EZ M.2 Clip II remover
M.2 screw/standoff set
2x SATA cable
USB drive
Cable sticker pack
Shout-out flyer
EU Regulatory Notice
Accessories include 3x EZ M.2 clips (II) to simplify SSD installation/removal. The 1-to-3 EZ Conn-Cable V2 helps with cable management, combining an ARGB connector, system fan connector, and USB device into one. This is especially helpful for MSI’s liquid coolers utilizing the 11-pin designs.
The EZ front panel cable combines all those tiny front panel connectors so you can route everything neatly toward the back of your board. You also get utilities and drivers inside the included USB stick.
It’s thoughtful of MSI to include a white-coated WiFi antenna to match the motherboard’s theme.
Design
The board, all-new and shiny (Image by Tech4Gamers)
The design of this board is a carbon copy (pun intended!) of the MSI MPG X870E Carbon WiFi we tested earlier this month, only with the relevant branding and a white theme. We won’t complain; this is a nice design, and the white theme gives it a new life. There are also glossy silver accents on three of the heatsinks to finish off this stunning look.
The heatsinks complement each other nicely and are characterized by diagonal lines and grooves running through them. The MSI dragon on the I/O panel cover is RGB-illuminated and controllable through Mystic Light or aftermarket software.
The motherboard is built on an 8-layered NPG-170D server-grade PCB with 2oz thickened copper for integrity. It features transient voltage suppressors to protect itself against voltage spikes and over-current protection. There is also a grounding structure around the power phases, which uses copper rings to suppress the electromagnetic interference they generate.
Motherboard block diagram (Image by Tech4Gamers)
Most of the latest I/O comes from the CPU, including PCIe 5.0 x16, the Gen 5 M.2 slot, Thunderbolt 4, and DDR5 support. The CPU (with integrated graphics) also powers the HDMI 2.1 port. The CPU forms a DMI x8 4.0 link that Intel has been using since the 600-series chipset.
The chipset provides all the USB ports, the SATA ports, and the remaining M.2 ports, 5G LAN, WiFi 7, and audio. It also provides the remaining PCIe slots.
CPU Socket And Power Delivery
Upper area
A look at the socket
The CPU socket uses the RL-ILM mechanism we mentioned earlier, though it is not mentioned on the socket plate or cover. We know that all of MSI’s Z890 boards will feature this mechanism. The socket will support two more generations of Intel CPUs up to 2026.
VRMs
Closer look
The motherboard features 19 phases, with 16 of those reserved for VCore. These 16 phases are 90A SPS, while 1 phase each is dedicated to SA, GT, and AUX power. In total, 1440A is available for the CPU, more than enough juice for the beefiest Arrow Lake CPUs. The VRMs utilize capacitors storing up to 560µF and withstanding up to 6.3V.
We get a BCLK generator on the board which enables BCLK overclocking.
VRM MOSFETs (Image by Tech4Gamers)
These are MPSS21 MOSFETs, labelled “M87692-23A399,” and the driver for these MOSFETs is the MPS 2425 “MP29005-A” PWM controller.
EPS connectors (Image by Tech4Gamers)
The dual 8-pin EPS connectors provide the CPU with power up to 300W. These connectors use solid pins, and MSI claims that this allows for a more stable transmission of 12V power. This is thanks to lower impedance and stronger durability. As a reminder, the Core Ultra 9 285K (the most powerful CPU of the generation) is rated at 250W max.
The motherboard cools the VRMs using heatsinks with stacked fin designs. The smaller one has four thick fin layers, and the larger one has three. The heatsinks are connected by a heat pipe and feature MOSFET plus choke thermal pads underneath.
DIMM Slots
DIMM slots (Image by Tech4Gamers)
The motherboard features 4x DIMM slots with 2x channels. These slots are surface-mounted and have single-sided latches only. The maximum capacity supported is up to 256GB of RAM at 64GB per channel across two channels. It supports DDR5 speeds of up to 9200 MT/s with XMP/overclocking. Here are the memory speeds supported in different configurations:
1DPC 1R = 9200+ MT/s
1DPC 2R = 7200+ MT/s
2DPC 1R = 4800+ MT/s
2DPC 2R = 4800+ MT/s
The mother supports CUDIMMs, the latest DIMM standard. CUDIMMs feature a built-in clock driver to regenerate the clock cycle, which is otherwise done by the CPU, enabling better signal integrity. These memory modules should be able to achieve faster speeds than UDIMMs, so we can expect some records to be broken soon.
MSI Memory Boost Technology is highlighted beside the DIMM slots. Our understanding is that the technology ensures the best signal is established between the RAM and the CPU. This is done by ensuring there are no components between the CPU and the slots. It also uses an isolated memory circuit, so there’s no interference from nearby components. Also, the routing path is “optimized” to ensure the fastest signal.
In addition, MSI also provides Memory Extension Mode for “Optimized memory parameters” to enhance lower latency at the same frequency. This mode can combine XMP profiles to create the best configuration.
Storage Options
SATA ports
M.2 heatsinks
The board offers 4x SATA 6G ports and 5x M.2 slots (1x Gen 5, 4x Gen 4). Slots 1, 2, and 3 support 2280/2260 drives, #4 supports 22110/2280 devices, and M2_5 can support either 22110, 2280, or 2260 drives. All storage options support RAID 0, 1, 5, and 10 configurations. M.2 signal sources are printed on the board to allow for easy identification.
Two incredibly stylish heatsinks cool the drives. Let’s remove them and take a look. Both feature MPG branding; the primary heatsink has a glossy silver section, and the second heatsink has a large MPG branding, divided into black and grey by a groove in the middle.
M.2 heatsinks removed (Image by Tech4Gamers)
We were happy to see that both of them feature EZ PCIe release mechanisms. Underneath, we get 3x EZ M.2 Clips II for toolless SSD installation/removal, covering slots M2_1, M2_4, and M2_5. The extra clips included in the package will cover the rest of the mounting holes. On slots M2_2 and M2_3, you’ll be limited to the latch mechanism for installing 2280 drives.
All the heatsinks have thermal pads installed for efficient heat transfer. M2_1 also features a thermal pad at the base. An aluminum heatsink cools the PCH.
PCIe Slots
M.2 heatsink and primary PCIe slot
EZ PCIe release button
The board has 3x PCIe slots, including a primary PCIe 5.0 x16 slot. On the lower side, we get a Gen 4 x4 slot and Gen 4 x1 for expansion cards. The Gen 5 slot (pictured) is enforced with MSI Steel Armor II, with MSI claiming an improved weight endurance of 21%. This slot is also surface-mounted to minimize interference and noise.
The EZ PCIe release button allows the GPU to be removed with one hand through only a gentle press. This is our favorite implementation of the mechanism, as you simply need to press and release the button to switch the lock between open and closed configurations. It features a little padlock icon to add even more convenience; always know whether it’s in the open or closed state.
USB Connectivity
The board features 19 USB ports:
1x USB 2.0 (Rear)
4x USB 2.0 (Front)
4x USB 5Gbps Type A (Rear)
2x USB 5Gbps Type A (Front)
4x USB 10Gbps Type A (Rear)
1x USB 10Gbps Type C (Rear)
1x USB 20Gbps Type C (Front)
2x Thunderbolt4 (Rear)
We get dual Thunderbolt 4 ports and a USB 20 Gbps connection. The 20 Gbps port supports 27W charging. Remember, USB4 and Thunderbolt 4 are essentially similar: only Thunderbolt 4 has higher minimum requirements, including that of power.
WARNING: USB 4 devices will function at 20Gbps speeds with the Thunderbolt 4 ports.
In addition to speeds of up to 40Gbps, Thunderbolt 4 can connect up to 3x Thunderbolt 4 or 5x Thunderbolt 3 devices. It supports up to an 8K 60 Hz display and charging speeds of up to 15W.
Controllers for USB ports include Genesys GL850G for USB 2.0 and GL3523 for USB 5Gbps ports.
Network and Connectivity
The board has an Intel Killer E5000B 5G LAN port, and the Intel Killer BE1750x adds WiFi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4 support. The EZ Antenna features a magnetic stand that attaches to your chassis. The Intel Killer Performance suite comes with the LAN/WiFi. It offers features like Smart Access Point selection, which ensures you get the most stable wireless connection. Auto application priority detection, bandwidth analysis, and management are some other features it offers.
WiFi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4 require Windows 11 24H2.
Audio Solution
Audio Boost 4 cover (Image by Tech4Gamers)
The board uses Realtek’s ALC1220P solution for audio and the ESS 9118 DAC for the rear audio. This solution lies under the Audio Boost 4 cover. The technology involves the use of high-quality audio capacitors, a dedicated headphone amplifier, and de-pop protection. Also, the left and right audio channel layers are separated in an isolated audio design.
Internal Connectors And Components
Here’s the list of the internal connectors:
1x Thunderbolt5 card connector
1x 24-pin Power Connector
2x EPS Power Connectors
1x Power Supplemental PCIe Power Connector
1x CPU Fan
1x Combo Fan
6x System Fan
1x EZ Conn-header
2x Front Panel
1x Chassis Intrusion
1x Front Audio
1x Thermal Sensor connectors
3x Addressable V2 RGB LED connector
1x RGB LED connector
1x TPM pin header (Supports TPM 2.0)
4x USB 2.0 ports
2x USB 5Gbps Type A ports
1x USB 20Gbps Type C ports
8-pin supplemental power connector (Image by Tech4Gamers)
The first highlight is the supplemental 8-pin PCIe connector. It aims to provide extra power to your motherboard when it is overloaded with peripherals using the 24-pin ATX connector. This connector adds another 252W of 12V power, combining with the 24-pin ATX to supply 420W in total.
An example of how the extra connector could benefit a power-hungry system (Image Credits: MSI)
This includes up to 132W for the fans and 36W for RGB. Occupying all of the motherboard’s fan and RGB connectors should be no problem.
It also supports the 2.5x power excursion for the PCIe slots. Power excursion refers to a short burst of power supply, so you can’t rely on it to power graphics cards that aren’t fueled enough by the PCIe connectors/slots. In any case, the peak power from PCIe is increased to 165W.
Secondly, the board adds a Thunderbolt 5 connector (JTBT5_1) to support those devices when the time comes. Thunderbolt 5’s advancements include double the bandwidth over Thunderbolt 4 (at 160 Gbps) and the ability to power dual 8K 60Hz displays.
Internal connectors
1 of 2
Bottom-right connectors
J_USB3 and EZ-Conn connectors
You get a thermal sensor connector to connect a thermistor cable at the bottom right, but no cable is included with the board. The EZ front panel cable is also located here, while the proprietary EZ Conn-Cable connector is located beside the DIMM slots.
EZ Digi-debug LED (Image by Tech4Gamers)
You get EZ debug LED as well as the EZ Digi-Debug LED panel for troubleshooting booting issues, top-right of the board. The latter can also function as a temperature monitor.
SIO controller
Serial memory chip
The motherboard uses Nuvoton’s NCT6687D chip to control and monitor the fans, voltages, and temperatures across the board. For serial flash memory, the board uses Winbond’s W25Q256JW chip (256Mb).
Rear I/O Panel
Here’s what you get on the rear I/O panel:
Rear I/O connections (Image by Tech4Gamers)
USB 5Gbps Type-A
5G LAN
USB 10Gbps Type-A
Wi-Fi / Bluetooth
Audio Connectors
Clear CMOS Button
Flash BIOS Button
HDM 2.1 port
Thunderbolt 4
USB 10Gbps Type-C
USB 2.0
Optical S/PDIF Out
The rear panel is white and features a small “MPG” logo. We get both a clear CMOS and a BIOS flash button. MSI’s labeling of the USB port speeds rather than the name of the standards is good to see. The I/O shield is made of stainless steel and comes pre-installed.
Since we have already looked at the top I/O cover, let’s take it off and see.
The motherboard in the flesh (Image by Tech4Gamers)
We’ve removed all the heatsinks except the aluminum PCH heatsink.
The MPG Z890 Edge Ti WiFi managed 23452 points in this test.
CPU-Z, MT and ST (Image by Tech4Gamers)
The board stood 6th in this list, but all the boards are within inches of each other.
Blender 4.0.2 (Image by Tech4Gamers)
The MPG Z890 Edge Ti WiFi completed the Blender render in exactly 55 seconds, matching the Tomahawk WiFi.
V-Ray (Image by Tech4Gamers)
With this board, the system managed 11204 points in the V-Ray benchmark.
The performance of the board in synthetic benchmarks is just as expected.
Gaming Benchmarks
Cyberpunk 2077 (Image by Tech4Gamers)
The board managed an average of 158 FPS and dropped to 118 the lowest in Cyberpunk 2077.
Far Cry 6 (Image by Tech4Gamers)
In Far Cry 6, the MPG Z890 Edge Ti WiFi’s average FPS output was 171, and a minimum of 130 FPS.
Starfield (Image by Tech4Gamers)
Finally, in Starfield, we saw the board trailing the more premium boards by 3 FPS at worst.
The board’s gaming performance is also quite satisfactory. At most, there’s a 2-3% difference between this board and the more high-performance, costly boards in our list.
Power Consumption and VRM Temperatures
Motherboard/CPU power consumption (Image by Tech4Gamers)
The board’s power consumption numbers turned out fairly low, with 403W under 100% load, 113W while gaming, and 112W at idle.
VRM temperatures (Image by Tech4Gamers)
VRM temperatures on the board topped at 70°C during the 30-minute Cinebench 2024 multi-threaded run.
Should You Buy It?
Let’s make a decision.
Buy It If:
✅You’re building a white-themed build: For white-theme enthusiasts, this board offers a fantastic all-white design and includes RGB, too.
✅You want to maximize convenience: The board offers plenty of EZ-DIY features, including EZ PCIe release and the EZ M.2 clips for SSD installation/removal. On the software side, you get EZ overclocking and MSI Center’s EZ optimization.
✅You want the latest I/O: PCIe Gen 5 for GPU and NVMe SSD, Thunderbolt 4, WiFi 7, and Bluetooth 5.4; this board has it all!
✅You need ample storage space: With room for up to 5x NVMe drives and 4x SATA devices, you’ll probably never run out of storage space.
Don’t Buy It If:
❌You’re an enthusiast overclocker: If you need a motherboard with reliable high-end overclocking capabilities, the board’s VRMs may not serve the purpose (though mild overclocking is okay!).
My Thoughts
The MSI MPG Z890 Edge Ti WiFi puts up an interesting proposition with its $369 price tag. For that price tag, you get a stunning all-white design, a ton of incredible features, decent performance, and all the latest I/O you could ask for. While it reuses its design from an earlier X870 motherboard, the white theme and the glossy silver accents add a touch of freshness that we can’t deny!
For VRMs, the board has a 16+1+1+1 setup with 16x 90A SPS for VCore. The setup is more than enough for the comfortable operation of any Arrow Lake CPUs, but heavy overclocking isn’t a fair expectation. For $369, I feel like MSI could have offered a bit more in this department, which is why I called this an interesting proposition. Everything else is solid.
Moving on to memory, the board supports up to 256 GB of memory. The maximum supported speed is 9200 MT/s with single-rank RAM at 1 DIMM per channel. CUDIMMs are supported. Storage space on the board is more than plenty, with 5x M.2 slots (including a Gen 5) and 4x SATA 6G ports. EZ Toolless M.2 heatsink removal and EZ M.2 Clips II make SSD installation an absolute breeze.
For your GPU, the board has a Gen 5 x16, surface-mounted, and steel-reinforced slot. Additionally, there are two Gen 4 slots at x4 and x1 configurations. The Gen 5 slot has an EZ PCIe release mechanism, which we love to use every time we look at an MSI board. There are 19 USB ports on offer for USB connectivity, including 2x Thunderbolt 4.
The board has WiFi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4 for wireless connectivity. There’s a 5G LAN port if you prefer a wired connection. The dedicated Intel Killer utility for WiFi/LAN offers some handy features, including auto application prioritization and smart access point selection.
The board uses Realtek’s ALC1220 solution and the ESS 9118 DAC for audio. MSI’s Audio Boost 4 adds features, including high-quality capacitors and a dedicated headphones amplifier, to improve the audio quality.
As with all other MSI motherboards we’ve reviewed recently, the main highlight remains the EZ-DIY features offered. In addition to those features we just mentioned, the EZ Digi-debug LED, EZ-Conn Cable, and pre-installed I/O shields add further convenience.
The board has a Thunderbolt 5 connector. An extra PCIe connector on the board can provide up to 252W to alleviate the load on the 24-pin ATX connector and supports 2.5x power excursion for the GPU.
MSI is offering a 3-year warranty for the board. We thank them for sending it to us for review.
At Tech4Gamers, I’m a Tech Detective and Guides Writer, unravelling PC hardware complexities. With experience, I bridge the gap between novices and tech aficionados with informative content.
Story Highlights
The multiple protagonist thing made the main story more attractive, which would not have been this good with just a single protagonist in the game.
The additional protagonists opened doors to different perspectives in story missions, where you can switch between the characters in real time.
Each protagonist has a unique personality, skill set, and exceptional ability, providing players with a different gameplay experience.
Grand Theft Auto 5 was released 11 years ago. Ever since its announcement, there has been massive hype for this game. It made over 1 billion dollars in sales within three days of its release. To this day, the game stands tall.
Despite its huge success, many people still believe it’s far from the best GTA in the series. However, including three protagonists made the game much more enjoyable than it would have been without a single protagonist.
Multiple Protagonists Made The Story More Interesting
Many claim the game’s story is weird and makes little sense, while others claim it’s okay at best. However, including three protagonists significantly increased the engagement in the story.
Interesting Twists In The Story (Image By Tech4Gamers)
The game may not have a good story objectively, but this unique feature made up for it. You can play as Franklin Clinton, Michael De Santa, and Trevor Phillips. Each protagonist contributes differently to the story by having a role in the main story.
We Got More Engaging Missions
The main missions utilize two or more of these protagonists, or at least the story in that mission is connected to all three. There are also side missions for each character.
The main story missions are connected to all three protagonists, making the story more interesting than it would have been if there had been only one protagonist in the game.
The three protagonists have different perspectives but must work together to score the planned heist or escape tricky situations.
The Three Protagonists Working Together (Image By Tech4Gamers)
These different perspectives that the three protagonists share often lead to twists and turns in the story and sometimes provide the players with hilarious moments. The story would not have been as good if we had just one protagonist with the same story in the game.
The plot holes in the story are somewhat covered up by the interactions of the three protagonists with each other and their will to do things their way, which would not have been possible with the inclusion of only one main character.
The side missions provide insight into the protagonists’ issues. Although these missions may not play a massive role in the main story, they help develop the protagonists’ characters.
Besides, these missions are so much fun. Each protagonist’s set of missions differs and is based on their personalities. For instance, Franklin is into fitness and cars, so some of his missions will be based on cycling, skydiving, and street racing.
Franklin’s Cycling Side Mission (Image By Tech4Gamers)
Michael is into movies, so you can work with a movie producer on some missions. Trevor thrives on violence, so most of his missions involve gang hideout raids and mindless killing sprees. Based on each protagonist’s personality, these different-flavored missions add value to the game.
When you switch to a character, they will be doing their thing based on their personality, and you will find them in a random place every time you switch up and start playing as the other character in real-time.
Franklin Character Switch Cutscene (Image By Tech4Gamers)
You can also switch characters between specific missions, which lets you play with a different role assigned to the character you switched to, adding replay value to the missions.
Alongside different personalities, each character also has a set of attributes and skills, which vary gameplay. Certain activities can also upgrade these skills.
Additionally, all three characters possess unique abilities. Michael can slow down time, Franklin can drive with high accuracy, and Trevor can get an adrenaline boost that temporarily makes him invincible.
These abilities can be manually triggered and are more valuable than one would think. My favorite is Franklin’s ability, which allows you to take sharp turns to avoid high-speed car accidents.
I’ve previously worked for eXputer as a Senior News Writer for several years. Now with Tech4Gamers, I love to devoutly keep up with the latest gaming and entertainment industries. I have a Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science and years of experience reporting on games and breaking exclusive stories. Besides my passion for gaming journalism, I love spending my leisure time farming away in Stardew Valley. VGC, IGN, GameSpot, Game Rant, TheGamer, GamingBolt, The Verge, NME, Metro, Dot Esports, GameByte, Kotaku Australia, PC Gamer, and more have cited my articles.
Story Highlights
WWE 2K20’s horrible performance almost ruined the entire franchise.
To fix this, 2K skipped the next game and moved to WWE 2K22 to resolve the issues.
2K addressed the issues and provided a new style of gameplay, which brought the franchise back on track.
WWE games have experienced highs and lows like few other sports game series. We have seen the pinnacle of wrestling games in Smackdown: Here Comes The Pain!, which is still considered one of the greatest.
Then, there was WWE 2K20, which almost ruined the franchise. The damage done by WWE 2K20 was so severe that 2K had to revamp their next installment, WWE 2K22.
Skipping WWE 2K21 Was A Good Move
WWE 2K22 may not be an acclaimed game in the WWE games series, but it undoubtedly saved the whole franchise from collapsing. WWE 2K20 was unplayable when it was released due to many glitches and game crashes.
The fans felt robbed of their money, and many started demanding refunds. At the time, it felt like the 2K franchise was done, and WWE would hire some other game developer and publisher to make games for them. But 2K didn’t let that happen.
To deal with this issue, 2K skipped WWE 2K21 and directly jumped to 2K22, focusing on everything that went wrong with 2K20. They changed the game engine for 2K22, which brought tons of changes.
The game was so much different than the last few games of the franchise. It had different visuals, better-looking/more realistic graphics, new character models, and new animations. The gameplay also received tons of new changes.
Rock’s Entrance (Image By Tech4Gamers)
New Gameplay System
We saw changes to even the basic controls. The controls for move reversals were swapped with running. The finisher button was now the reversal button. Executing finishers now required two buttons to be pressed at a time and more.
When you first look at these controls, it seems like they have just made things more complex compared to the previous set of controls, but actually, the controls have become more accessible, and you can perform any move once you get used to them.
The gameplay style was also altered a little bit. We can block kicks and punches and also dodge moves. These features added much more to the gameplay, as you could have a traditional wrestling match and an MMA-type one.
Due to this, so many new move combinations and incredible in-action moments could be created in the game. On top of that, we also got a set of combo moves for each character. The combos were striking-based and a mixture of striking and grappling moves.
Combos (Image By Tech4Gamers)
This combo feature made it possible to hit the real-life combos of different wrestlers in the game. You could also edit these combos from the creation suite. To counter these combos, there was another thing called the combo breaker.
It’s a feature that can help you break your opponent’s ongoing combo before they complete it. You can execute it by guessing the attack button your opponent will press next and pressing it on your controller or keyboard.
The grappling system was also changed a bit. You could counter grappling moves by guessing which attack button your opponent will press, just like in the combo breaker technique.
These combo breakers, blocks, and dodge features made the game much more engaging than it would have been without them. These additional move execution and move countering techniques also made the game fast-paced, which to this day has mixed reviews, but it provided a much-needed breath of fresh air then.
New And Returning Modes
The game also brought back one of the most demanded modes in WWE games, the GM mode. It lets players book wrestling shows of their own. You can choose which superstars you want on your brand at the start of the season, using which you have to book shows with a given amount of money to earn profits.
My GM Mode (Image By Tech4Gamers)
To win in GM mode, you must ensure that your brand makes the most money compared to the AI competing against you. A new game mode was also introduced, namely My Faction, which lets you compete in live events that are constantly updated over time.
Taking wins in these events will grant you points, which you can use to unlock additional superstar attires. This mode may not be appreciated much, but the extra superstar attire makes it worth trying. These extra game modes also added so much worth to the game, contributing to the revival of the WWE 2K franchise.
At Tech4Gamers, he is recognized for his insightful features and opinion pieces, where he blends his passion for gaming with a keen understanding of technological trends. His work, marked by depth and accessibility, makes him a respected voice in the tech and gaming community.
Story Highlights
A street-level Daredevil game can be great because of the exciting theme of the game and some unique villains revolving around it.
Daredevil’s character arc is also great. He serves justice as Daredevil and a lawyer while constantly fighting his inner demons.
The combat system in the game has high potential because of Daredevil’s wide range of martial arts styles.
Marvel games are starting to take over the modern-day superhero video game genre. Insomniac developed Marvel’s Spiderman(2018); since then, we have had two more great entries in this franchise.
The upcoming Captain America games, namely Marvel 1943: Rise of Hydra and Marvel’s Wolverine, also excite the fans. With the different Marvel superheroes rising to the top in video games, Matt Murdock, aka Daredevil, should also be given a chance.
A Street-Level Superhero Game
The concept of a Daredevil video game is suitable for several reasons. Daredevil is a street-level superhero who fights street-level gangs like drug dealers and human traffickers, which is an exciting setup for a superhero game.
This theme is promising, and the Netflix Daredevil series is proof. That web series showed how a street-level superhero could counter high-caliber threats, and the exact implementation of Daredevil would be great in a AAA game.
Interesting Villains
The stories revolving around Matt Murdock are also interesting. He has intelligent, mean, and manipulating adversaries like Wilson Fisk, aka Kingpin, Bullseye, a cult of assassins named The Hand, and more.
Out of all his nemesis, Kingpin stands out the most because of his intelligence and power. He isn’t a supervillain but a gang lord, politician, and criminal mastermind who can escape tricky situations.
We also saw this in the Netflix series where Kingpin stands tall most of the time when Matt Murdock tries to destroy his criminal kingdom and put him behind bars. Their rivalry gave us a great storyline throughout all three seasons of the series, and if they were to face each other in the video game world, the story for the game could be a masterpiece.
Matt’s Demons Can Provide Interesting Stories
Apart from Daredevil’s engaging adversaries, his character is also profound. He is a lawyer like Matt Murdock and a vigilante like Daredevil. But he is also a human being, an ordinary person with demons.
He tries to fight himself to stay a good vigilante, but the situations he is brought into repeatedly make him lose his battle with his demons.
He loses faith and trust in God and gives up being Daredevil, but his affection for saving innocent people and putting bad people where they belong keeps him returning to the right path.
He chooses violence but draws a line. That line becomes blurry sometimes, but he manages to stay on the right side of things and gain justice for everyone, as a good lawyer should.
His most outstanding adversary, the Kingpin, pushes him to the limit countless times, but he remains true to his code by not taking any lives and serving justice correctly. This fantastic character arc of his will be a treat to experience in a video game.
High Potential In The Combat System
The gameplay can also be enjoyable in this game. Daredevil is known for his martial arts abilities, which are always a treat to implement in games. The game can have Sleeping Dogs-like mechanics, where we can choose from different fighting styles.
As Daredevil is familiar with Boxing, Muay Thai, kung fu, Judo, Aikido, Capoeira, Taekwondo, escrima, Ninjutsu, and Pro-Wrestling, the combat system in the game can be breathtaking.
Daredevil also uses a Billy Club, which can be added to the combat system. This billy club can be used as a baton and a grappling hook.
The lower part of the billy club acts as a baton, and the upper part extends through a cable and acts as a grappling hook. This weapon has excellent potential to be used in a video game as it can be used in various areas due to its multifunctions.
Another ability that can be utilized in the game is Daredevil’s sharp senses and vision. He has fantastic senses of smell, touch, and hearing, which allow him to do extraordinary things like hearing someone scream from blocks away or listening to someone’s heartbeat to detect a lie. These abilities also have great potential in a game.
At Tech4Gamers, I contribute as a Senior News Reporter, combining my skills and gaming enthusiasm to keep our audience updated on the latest developments.
Story Highlight
Dragon Age: The Veilguard has shattered all expectations to reach 70K concurrent Steam players.
This makes it BioWare’s biggest release and EA’s biggest single-player title on Steam.
Over 70% of the reviews are also positive.
BioWare has found its footing with Dragon Age: The Veilguard again. Following positive reviews and praise for the PC port, it was clear that the team had created an exciting RPG for fans worldwide.
However, many were still doubtful about the commercial performance since Dragon Age: The Veilguard showed signs of potential disappointment a few weeks before launch. Fortunately, all doubts have been dispelled, and the RPG has already achieved over 70K players on day one.
Why it matters: Ahead of its release, the latest Dragon Age entry failed to make it to the top of Steam’s best-sellers. The game was also surrounded by plenty of controversy, leading to doubts about its success.
Dragon Age: The Veilguard is huge on Steam.
According to SteamDB, Dragon Age: The Veilguard has peaked at just over 70,400 players. This makes it the biggest BioWare release on PC by a mile, but the player counts also earn this title another major accolade.
The RPG has outpaced every other single-player release from EA on PC, beating out highly popular titles like last year’s Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, which peaked at under 70K players.
Moreover, this may not be all for Dragon Age: The Veilguard. With Saturday right around the corner, the game could see player counts soaring even higher as more people get the chance to finally jump in over the weekend.
It is also important to note that this player count represents the Steam population. Console figures will likely be similar, earning BioWare a much-needed win after the failures of Mass Effect Andromeda and Anthem.
Even Baldur’s Gate 3 developers are praising the new Dragon Age.
Those looking to pick up the studio’s latest RPG on PC can rest assured that the team has delivered an excellent PC port. The Steam version also works without any additional launchers and Denuvo DRM, making it miles better than most AAA PC offerings.
At the time of writing, Dragon Age: The Veilguard is Steam’s best-selling game. The reviews tell similar tales of success, with more than 70% of them being positive. All things considered, this is a huge comeback for BioWare and EA.
What are your thoughts on Dragon Age: The Veilguard’s success? Are you playing the RPG? Let us know in the comments, and head over to the Tech4Gamers Forums for additional discussions.
I’ve previously worked for eXputer as a Senior News Writer for several years. Now with Tech4Gamers, I love to devoutly keep up with the latest gaming and entertainment industries. I have a Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science and years of experience reporting on games and breaking exclusive stories. Besides my passion for gaming journalism, I love spending my leisure time farming away in Stardew Valley. VGC, IGN, GameSpot, Game Rant, TheGamer, GamingBolt, The Verge, NME, Metro, Dot Esports, GameByte, Kotaku Australia, PC Gamer, and more have cited my articles.
Story Highlight
Black Myth: Wukong is a brilliant Souls-like that won the hearts of many.
It proved to the entire world the prowess of Chinese developers, giving them much-needed exposure.
Future Chinese works like Wuchang: Fallen Feathers and Phantom Blade Zero will now be anticipated with great interest.
With the evergrowing evolution of video game development, certain new, impressive players have also entered the domain. The highly creative indie devs, of course, but AAA development has also seen some welcome changes, particularly the entry of Chinese and Korean studios.
In the past, the term “Eastern games” predominantly referred to Japanese works. Japanese devs are still carrying the industry for me, but I’m glad to see them getting some help. With titles like Stellar Blade, Black Myth: Wukong, and Genshin Impact, Korean and Chinese companies are finally coming into the spotlight, especially Chinese developers.
Why it matters: With Black Myth: Wukong, Chinese devs have triumphantly stepped into the mainstream AAA domain, and if it’s any indication, future titles will be just as great.
Black Myth: Wukong Is A Beauty
This newfound appreciation and love for Chinese works stems from none other than Black Myth: Wukong. This impressive Souls-like based on the iconic Journey to the West plotline has won the hearts of many gamers.
From fluid combat mechanics, punishing boss fights, awe-inspiring visuals, and strong-level design, the game features everything required for a true spectacle. However, this wasn’t the only reason it became so popular.
Black Myth: Wukong, A masterpiece from China (Image by IMDB)
This game was released at a time when live actions, microtransactions, monotonous cinematic AAAs, and specific ideologies in gaming were running amok; they still are. People were tired of the same-old mess when Black Myth: Wukong appeared, embodying the true essence of gaming.
With nothing but creative and engaging gameplay at its core, the game offered a respite, earned people’s praise, and made them aware of the kind of goodness Chinese companies can produce.
The world may not have known this, but China has been contributing to the gaming industry for a long time now. Most of its invisibility was due to the developers focusing on mobile games only, but now the tech monster is finally joining the AAA industry.
If you ask me, the exposure for Chinese companies started with Genshin Impact back in 2020 when Mihoyo created what was immediately termed a Breath of the Wild clone, but quickly established its identity. Afterwards, people started appreciating Chinese works more, all of which culminated in Black Myth: Wukong.
The beginning of worldwide renown (Image by PlayStation)
Open world it may be, gacha is not as popular a genre as Souls-like. The first trailer of Black Myth: Wukong sold so many people that it became a worldwide sensation even before release. And now that it’s here, the game is as amazing as people were hoping it be, thus reinforcing their faith in Chinese games.
Black Myth: Wukong is not only a fantastic game on its own, but it has done its Chinese brethren a great deal of service by putting them on every gamer’s map.
In a time of turmoil, Black Myth: Wukong came as a savior, refused to bow down to the pressure of certain “political correctness” and societal norms, and presented a mad fun adventure free of any poison and all about entertainment. I’ll forever respect Black Myth: Wukong, and by extension, look out for all Chinese AAA works.
I’m Extra-Hyped For Chinese Works Now
To be honest, China has been on my radar since 2020. Genshin Impact won me over so intently that I’ve sunk countless hours in both subsequent Hoyoverse games. I know full well the kind of greatness these underappreciated developers can craft, and I look forward to more of it. Black Myth: Wukong just multiplied it by 100.
Plus, the entire planet is now standing behind me. Black Myth: Wukong was the first AAA Chinese game for many; it was so much a hit that it made them lifelong fans. The upcoming Chinese Souls-likes, Wuchang: Fallen Feathers and Phantom Blade Zero, now have an unreal number of eyes on them. The world wants a Black Myth: Wukong 2 situation, and so do I.
My hype for this has skyrocketed (Image by Steam)
I believe this is an excellent opportunity for Chinese companies. Wuchang: Fallen Feathers is just the start, a lot more people will now be watching all their future creations with interest, and they ought to live up to the expectations.
These underrated game devs have always done quality work, it’s time to keep it up. In these troubled times, if Chinese companies continue to present quality work that prioritizes fans’ wishes and gameplay ingenuity, and steers clear of unwanted additions, I firmly believe they can potentially give their competitors a fierce challenge.
Currently serving as a News Reporter at Tech4Gamers, I have the privilege of combining my love for gaming with the art of storytelling. My role involves crafting engaging narratives that keep our audience abreast of the latest developments in the gaming world.
Story Highlight
2024 started as a tough year for gaming, with disappointing AAA releases and a shortage of standout PlayStation titles.
October, however, marked a turnaround with notable releases bringing new excitement and praise to the industry.
Despite a rough start, 2024 looks to end on a high note, with anticipated holiday releases like Stalker 2, Indiana Jones: The Great Circle, and other titles.
In my opinion, 2024 has been the worst year for gaming in quite some while, and we saw a lack of first-party releases by PlayStation, shifting the saturation of the video market. The current state of AAA gaming is also pretty disappointing.
Titles like Skulls and Bones, and Concord, among others, were released earlier this year after almost a decade of development and were subpar releases, with the latter game being pulled offline.
My earlier opinion has, however, changed with the passage of October, which witnessed the release of many great titles. As a matter of fact, I even found myself gaming more than usual this month, and things are only getting better from here; 2024 will end on a high note for gaming.
Why It Matters: Due to these bad releases, there was so much negativity surrounding the gaming industry. However, for once, I saw a lot of praise for October releases which is a fresh pace of change and will hopefully sustain.
Notable October 2024 Releases
Silent Hill 2 Keeps The Same Essence Of The Original Game While Enhancing Rest Of The Aspects
Following the renaissance of the horror genre, the 2020s are the second peak for horror games. Capitalizing on the hype that the Resident Evil remakes had, Konami also capitalized off the push.
Silent Hill 2 Remake takes some creative liberty from the original title and was a necessary update to an outdated formula, and things are only accelerating from this point. I highly suggest to check out the game.
Chunk Soft’s return to form after Jump Force with the Tenkaichi series being revived is one of the best comebacks ever. Dragon Ball Sparking Zero has easily cemented itself as the best Dragon Ball and Arena Fighter games with its insane roster, combat, and what-if storyline, having a perfect balance between every aspect of the game.
While I do agree that most Call of Duty games look quite the same each year, Treyarch has spiced up the black ops formula this year. With a fresh change of gameplay features and one of the best franchise’s storylines, Call of Duty Black Ops 6 has easily secured itself a top 5 position of modern Call of Duty games.
Despite being a VR title, Batman Arkham Shadow is the next entry in the mainline Arkham series in almost a decade. Batman Arkham Shadow is almost a flawless VR title. While it may be missing out on a lot of Batman fans due to platform restrictions, the amazing storyline and combat balance out and make it understandable.
Diablo 4: Vessel of Hatred, Darksiders II: Deathinitive Edition, and other releases were also worth mentioning. The best part is that October is the start of these amazing holiday releases.
2024 Is Ending On A High Note
STALKER 2: Heart of Chornobyl Is Looking To Be A GOTY Contender
Thankfully, the holidays of 2024 will be a sight to see for video games. With future titles like Stalker 2, Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater, and Indian Jones: The Great Circle, we will have a nice winter of video games.
Stalker 2 is already shaping up to be a strong GOTY contender despite all the development issues it faced earlier; Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater is an exact remake of the original Metal Gear Solid 3 title, a title held as one of the best espionage games.
Indiana Jones: The Great Circle will be a valuable addition to the first-party Xbox catalog, although signs do point to a PlayStation release. Nonetheless, it still doesn’t change the fact that it would be one of a film’s most unique video game adaptations in years.
At Tech4Gamers, I mainly cover new gaming news, leaks, and rumours. Aside from that, I love to write features about my favourite games while inserting my opinion about their different aspects.
Story Highlight
A quite controversial 2-minute Dragon Age: The Veilguard video has surfaced online.
The game actually lectures you for two minutes on how to apologise after you misgender someone.
Fans have been heavily criticising this video ever since it has surfaced.
Dragon Age: The Veilguard is one of the most criticised titles of 2024. The Dragon Age franchise has a massive fandom that has been awaiting a new entry in the franchise. However, many of the fans aren’t that hyped about The Veilguard.
Given how big the fandom is and the review scores have been quite positive, it seems like this title will be a solid hit. However, a quite controversial 2-minute clip has surfaced online.
The game will lecture you for 2 minutes and tell you how to apologize if you misgender someone or use the wrong pronouns.
Why it matters:Forcing agendas like these is the exact reason why fans don’t like DEI in video games anymore.
As you can see in the video above, the game is getting a lot of heat due to this particular clip. Fans are actually flabbergasted by this as they think it isn’t even realistic. The fandom thinks they no longer try to hide their agenda.
The video starts with one of the characters misgendering the other character, and that’s where the lecture starts.
She’s still holding the ruby in her other hand. Ah, shit. They. They’re still holding it. Sorry.
The one who misgenders then goes on and pulls a barb instead of apologising, implying that action matters more than words. The main character is then given an option to ask, ‘Any reason you can’t just apologize?’
Sometimes people say, oops, sorry, and hope that fixes it. But they just want to get the whole thing over with.
The character further explains that by pulling a barf, you sweat a little, and it gives you some time to think about what you have done, as this shows the other person that you mean it.
Many fans have criticised this clip, with one even questioning how this could be added to a video game. This is now being called the worst scene in Dragon Age: The Veilguard.
What do you think of this 2-minute clip lecturing players on how to apologize for misgendering someone? Do you think such things are meant to be in video games? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section or join the official Tech4Gamers forums.
At Tech4Gamers, I contribute as a Senior News Reporter, combining my skills and gaming enthusiasm to keep our audience updated on the latest developments.
[Press Release] The Corsair K70 Pro TKL ushers in a new era of fast and responsive gaming with the MGX Hyperdrive magnetic switches. Technologies like Rapid Trigger and FlashTap also make an appearance, offering the perfect keyboard combination for those seeking a hyper-competitive experience.
According to Corsair, the former accelerates actions by making inputs seamless and delay-free. Meanwhile, FlashTap makes rapid strafing and move-mirroring faster than ever.
Actuation distances can also be customized between 0.1mm and 0.4mm. However, these features scratch the surface of everything that makes the K70 Pro TKL so special.
The K70 Pro TKL Is Designed For Competitive Gameplay
Continuing the theme of user choice and freedom, the K70 Pro TKL comes in both wired and wireless variants. The former boasts 8,000Hz hyper-polling, opening up opportunities for registering key presses in an eighth of a millisecond.
The keyboard is also well-built. Pre-lubricated MGX Hyperdrive switches are built on a double-rail structure, multiple layers of sound-dampening foam are included, and iCUE software is supported out of the box; Corsair has covered all the bases here.
Adding an extra flair to the package, the K70 Pro TKL supports AXON hyper-processing technology. The keyboard is also backed by a full 2-year warranty and is now available for purchase worldwide.
