As the CPU Cooler and RAM Expert, I test the latest hardware to provide tips for smart purchases. I cover everything from busting myths about CPU coolers to looking into the newest RAM designs, examining various parts of PC hardware.
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Microsoft’s compact mode in the game bar is a great way of simplifying navigation for handhelds or smaller screens.
The compact mode in-game bar allows you to access recently played games along with other settings directly with your controller.
There are some clear needs for improvement in the layout; however, I believe that it is a step in the right direction.
It’s fair to say that I have run into a reasonable number of issues when using Windows on my Legion Go. In fact, even simple navigation through my game library has gotten fairly challenging when using Windows by itself. That is also the reason why people prefer the Steam Deck over Windows-based handhelds despite its inferior on-paper specifications.
To my surprise, Microsoft’s recently introduced compact mode intends to solve those problems. And while it is still very much in development, I tried it out for a few days to see how well it stacks up to a proper something like Steam OS.
A Console-Like Interface
Xbox Game Bar Compact Mode
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Home (Image By Tech4Gamers)
Audio (Image By Tech4Gamers)
Capture (Image By Tech4Gamers)
Performance (Image By Tech4Gamers)
Achievements (Image By Tech4Gamers)
Other Settings (Image By Tech4Gamers)
Now, compact mode has been a part of the Xbox App for a while now; however, it has mostly remained unpolished when it comes to accessibility from smaller screens. That is exactly where the newer update to the Game bar comes into play.
I’d say the compact mode on the game bar does a fairly good job of replicating a “console-like” experience. It can also be easily accessed through the Xbox button on a controller, but you will have to dedicate a separate key to it if you are utilizing a different controller. In my case, I found the back button to be a suitable pick for the Game Bar.
Mapping the Windows +G Key (Image By Tech4Gamers)
The home tab allows you to jump into all of your recently played games and even access all of the launchers you have installed. You can also use RB and LB to move through the different menus, which is fairly similar to how things work in a console.
Speaking of other menu options, I found the ability to go over to the audio and performance sections with just my controller very convenient, especially when you are in-game.
The mode is still in development and is only available to those who have signed up for the Xbox Insider Program. This means you can expect a few changes in the complete version.
Some Room For Improvement
Of course, the first iteration of compact mode still can’t quite compare to the likes of ASUS’ armory crate or SteamOS, and there is some clear room for improvement here. For instance, there is no option to favourite a game in the options, with game bar only displaying your recently plated titles.
Additionally, I wasn’t able to view all of the games that I owned either since there’s no way of expanding the recently played section present on the home screen. It’s only when I launched a separate game that it showed up in my recently played tab, which is a bit disappointing.
Compact Mode For The Xbox App (Image By Tech4Gamers)
Even outside of the game bar, the compact mode that the actual Xbox app has seems very lackluster. It doesn’t necessarily improve controller navigation; however, it is possible. There’s also no feature that allows you to add “non-Xbox” games, which is something I would like to see in the future.
A Lot Of Potential
To me, the current implementation of Compact Mode has a lot to offer but is also a bit unpolished at the moment. As I mentioned previously, I would like to see a bit more customizability options and a way to expand your game library while remaining within the game bar.
Having said that, it’s clear that Microsoft has taken note of the number of Windows Handhelds that have come out over the course of the last couple of years. And with Steam Deck also receiving official support for Windows, a native option to navigate through your game library was much needed.
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.
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Enabling virus protection is the least you can do to prevent your PC from getting hacked or bloated with malware and other harmful stuff.
Securing your account with additional sign-in security features can make sneaking into your PC more difficult.
The firewall helps ensure that your PC stays protected from unwanted potential viruses from the internet.
Windows never had a good reputation in the security department and was the easiest target for hackers to access, simply because of the huge number of PCs with Windows as their operating system. However, now with Windows 11, security is tighter than ever.
Microsoft has introduced a number of great security features that one can enable to reduce the chances of getting hacked or data stolen to a new low. Meaning, there’s no need for paid or free 3rd party antivirus software.
Features Worth Enabling
Let’s see each security feature, which I also personally keep activated to protect my data from falling into the wrong hands.
Virus & Threat Protection
Starting with the obvious, Windows Defender is now a well-regarded built-in antivirus software and can be easily toggled on and off in your Windows 11 OS. If, for some reason, it’s off in your case, then head over to the “Windows Security” page inside the “Privacy & Security” tab in Windows Settings.
Now, after opening “Windows Security”, choose “Virus & threat protection” which can be accessed from the sidebar. After doing so, toggle everything on, including “Real-time protection”. It keeps a check on all the files that are being locally stored in the PC storage as well as files stored in removable storage devices.
Enabling Firewall Protection
Locally shared files aren’t the only source of getting your PC bloated with various types of viruses. Surfing through unsafe websites or apps over the internet is one of the most prominent ways to end up with malware. Which calls for a check over the internet sites and apps your PC interacts with. Windows firewall protection ensures that no virus enters your PC via the internet by blocking harmful sites and apps upfront. Otherwise, you have to opt for other methods to remove malware and viruses from your PC.
On the same sidebar, there’s a tab called “Firewall & network protection”, go into it and enable all three network firewall settings. Furthermore, open “Allow an app through firewall” below the network settings. Ensure that all the apps are allowed through the firewall. So, every app and site gets checked through the firewall.
Securing Account
Sometimes, a password is just not enough, you have to be extra cautious if you use your Windows device in a public environment quite frequently. You can further secure it by enabling more sign-in options such as “Windows Hello’s Fingerprint recognition” as well as “Facial recognition”. You can enable these settings by going to Windows Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options, and setting up each of the said features.
Securing Account (Image credit: Tech4Gamers)
Similarly, if you have a habit of forgetting to lock your Windows device manually, you can enable the “Dynamic lock” setting available on the same page. With this, your PC automatically locks itself when you go out of a certain range with your phone.
Checking Granted Permissions
While installing various software, you end up clicking yes on everything which in most instances also allows them to access your location, microphone, pictures, documents, accounts, camera, and numerous other settings. You can manually toggle the permission on and off for each app inside Privacy & security > App permissions.
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App Permission Toggle (Image credit: Tech4Gamers)
App Permission (Image credit: Tech4Gamers)
By doing this, you can stop sharing important data and information with apps you do not use and don’t want to share with.
Reducing Chances of Losing Device
There are times when you end up losing your Windows device in public or at a friend’s place and can’t seem to find it. Then to tackle such a situation easily in the future, it’s better to enable the “Find my device” by navigating to Windows settings > Privacy & security > Find my device. Do not forget to turn on your location as well, otherwise, this feature won’t be able to help you find your device.
Find My Device (Image credit: Tech4Gamers)
You can find and lock or unlock your device by visiting Microsoft’s device location site and logging in with your Microsoft account credentials. From there you can reset your password, get your device’s location on the map, or lock your device remotely.
Keep PC Up-To-Date
Lastly, it’s crucial to keep the PC updated, this way your PC gets the latest security patches which tightens the overall security of your PC even more. As with time, older patches are more prone to getting breached because the virus also gets much stronger with time, which can easily bypass the dated security of the Windows device.
Windows Update (Image credit: Tech4Gamers)
Go to Windows settings > Windows Update > Check for updates to download and install the latest Windows feature drops and security patches.
Each Setting Is Worth Eabling
Considering how advanced hackers have become and the kind of malware and viruses available across the internet. It’s better to enable all the security features that are baked into Windows. Otherwise, you can end up losing your important data or account information.
At Tech4Gamers, I proudly hold the role of a Hardware Reviewer. Here, I leverage my expertise to provide readers with in-depth insights into PC hardware, ensuring they have the information needed to make informed decisions.
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AMD has managed to offer a much lower price on the Ryzen 7 9700X if we take inflation into account.
Ryzen 7 9700X delivers a substantial leap in performance over the Zen2 Ryzen 7 processor.
The newer processor’s efficient nature makes it run much cooler than its predecessors.
AMD has officially started to release its 9000 series of Ryzen processors for consumers. Like the previous generations, this one has the potential for an instant hit as well. Considering how well-regarded and supported, the AM5 platform is.
But how far has AMD actually come if, let’s say, we look back to 5 years ago? They released the Ryzen 7 3700X in 2019. So in comparison, how much improved the all-new Ryzen 7 9700X is over its 5-year-old iteration.
Upgrades The Ryzen 7 9700X Has Received
From the Ryzen 7 3700X, the Ryzen 7 9700X has improved quite significantly in almost every department, the 5 years difference between the two does start to show the improvements AMD managed to gain.
Launch Prices
Starting with launch prices, we can surely say that AMD has managed to provide more value with a lower MSRP for the Ryzen 7 9700X. On paper, the Ryzen 7 3700X does look cheaper with its $330 MSRP as compared to the $360 MSRP of the Ryzen 7 9700X. However, when we adjust the price of the Zen2 processor, the MSRP jumps to $404 due to inflation.
Core Specifications
As far as the core specifications go, they’re largely the same, as both processors have a TDP rating of 65W and come in 8 cores & 16 threads configurations. Besides that, the 9700X works only with DDR5 memory, while the predecessor is limited to DDR4. Moreover, the 3700X boosts up to 4.4 GHz from a 3.6 GHz base clock.
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Ryzen 7 9700x Box (Image credit: Tech4Gamers)
Ryzen 7 9700x (Image credit: Tech4Gamers)
Whereas, the 9700X can go up to 5.5 GHz thanks to the new Zen5 architecture and a much tighter fabrication process of 4 nm as compared to the 7 nm of the Zen2. The latest Zen5 processor also features an iGPU which was ultimately absent in pretty much all AM4 CPUs.
Gaming Performance
Made on the newest Zen5 architecture, the Ryzen 7 9700X offers excellent gains in efficiency but not so much in performance over the Ryzen 7 7700X, proving that AMD has made decent advancements, especially in the efficiency department. This can further be proved with the help of gaming tests that we conducted to compare the differences at both 1080p and 1440p resolutions.
For testing purposes, we tested both CPUs across 5 different demanding titles like Alan Wake 2, Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora, Baldur’s Gate 3, Cyberpunk 2077, and Forza Horizon 5. At 1080p, the Ryzen 7 9700X outputs great fps numbers on screen and averages at around 153 fps, opposite to the 118 fps of 3700X.
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9700X vs 3700X Average Gaming Performance (Image credit: Tech4Gamers)
9700X vs 3700X Average Gaming Performance (Image credit: Tech4Gamers)
Similarly, at 1440p, the Ryzen 7 9700X again takes the lead with 127 fps on average whereas the Ryzen 7 3700X could only generate 106 frames. All this makes the 9700X to be roughly 29.66% faster at 1080p and 19.81% faster at 1440p resolution than the 3700X.
Synthetic Benchmark Performance
AMD isn’t behind in synthetic workloads either and has made tremendous progress here as well if we look 5 years at the Ryzen 7 3700X’s results. During testing of Cinebench R23, it is evident that the Ryzen 7 9700X refuses to take defeat, even with the majority of this generation’s focus being on the efficiency side.
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Cinebench R23 Scores (Image credit: Tech4Gamers)
Cinebench R23 Scores (Image credit: Tech4Gamers)
The new Zen5 processor features nearly double the single-core performance compared to the Ryzen 7 3700X. Likewise, the Ryzen 7 9700X also generates almost double the scores than the 3700X. This tells a lot about the advancements AMD has made over the span of 5 years.
Thermals & Power Consumption
Other than the performance, let’s see how the CPU fares in thermals and power draw, the Zen5 processor is sure equipped with extra horsepower so that’s going to play a noticeable role in all this. Nevertheless, the 9700X offers decent thermals even paired with a budget air cooler such as the Thermalright Peerless Assassin.
Ryzen 7 9700X On Board (Image credit: Tech4Gamers)
The Ryzen 7 9700X peaked at around 67C temperature during the gaming tests, while the Ryzen 7 3700X remained much cooler and peaked at 56C. Additionally, in terms of average power consumption during the gaming test, the 9700X peaked at 88W. While it is significantly less than the Ryzen 7 7700X, it’s still higher than the 3700X.
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Average Thermal & Power Consumption (Image credit: Tech4Gamers)
Average Thermal & Power Consumption (Image credit: Tech4Gamers)
Now, if we throw the performance results into the equation, the slightly higher temperature and power draw is quite justifiable, especially in comparison with the Ryzen 7 7700X.
Great Improvements Overall
Whether it’s about value or downright stellar performance, the Ryzen 7 9700X makes sure to check all those boxes. Moreover, when comparing it with the old 3700X, it’s abundantly clear that AMD has achieved great progress in providing more value and performance to its consumers.
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.
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Assassin’s Creed Shadows was recently delayed so Ubisoft could polish to perfection.
A new report reveals that originally, a Japanese male lead was featured instead of Yasuke.
The report also reveals that the game could be delayed beyond 14 February so Yasuke could be replaced as the main lead.
The controversy surrounding Assassin’s Creed Shadows was getting out of hand as the fandom wasn’t happy with how Ubisoft was dealing with history. The company has faced major backlash, and its recent games have also been failing.
The Yasuke controversy was hurting the game’s sales, as reports highlighted that there haven’t been many pre-orders. Now, a new rumor has surfaced online, revealing that Ubisoft originally featured a male Japanese lead instead of Yasuke.
Why it matters: The Yasuke controversy became a national issue in Japan and caused a lot of backlash from the fandom. So, just featuring a Japanese male samurai backed by history would have been better.
This rumor comes directly from Endymion, who seems to have spoken with various employees at Ubisoft regarding Assassin’s Creed Shadows. He revealed in a YouTube video that originally, a Japanese male protagonist was featured in the game, and it could be delayed even beyond 14th February.
My source told me, however; that they heard February 2025 is simply a placeholder release date as of now.
originally there was indeed a male Japanese protagonist with their own finalized art and even animations.
-Endymion
If this rumor is true and Ubisoft really featured a Japanese male lead in the game and even finalized the arts and animations, then the company could be in real trouble. That is because the CEO recently claimed that the company doesn’t aim to force any specific agenda, and this alleged sudden shift says otherwise.
As of now, it isn’t confirmed whether Ubisoft will replace Yasuke with the supposed original male lead. The YouTuber also reveals that Sweet Baby Inc. could have a hand in Assassin’s Creed Shadows, which recently revealed that its aim is to burn the gaming industry to the ground.
Endymion also talked about the potential delay this game could face. Assassin’s Creed Shadows seems to be not given the extra treatment it needs, which is why Ubisoft could be planning to delay it until Q2 2025.
This would give the company even more time to polish the game and potentially replace Yasuke, the main root of all the controversy.
While the YouTuber seems reliable, we would recommend taking this information with a grain of salt. Hopefully, we will get to hear some positive things about this game soon.
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.
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Rockstar Games is heavily focused on its two most successful franchises, GTA and RDR, abandoning other beloved titles like Midnight Club, Bully, and L.A Noire.
RDR 2 took 8 years to develop, and GTA 6 has exceeded that, requiring Rockstar’s immense budget and manpower.
Rockstar will continue to focus on GTA Online and, possibly, RDR 3 in the future, leaving no room for other franchises.
Rockstar Games is in a league of its own. After all, the publisher is responsible for creating GTA, one of the most iconic franchises ever. GTA 5 and RDR 2 have two spots in the top 10 selling games of all time, and they are regarded as among the best games of all time.
While the publisher used to release multiple titles from different franchises until a couple of decades ago, it stopped doing so. Rockstar has abandoned some of its greatest franchises, such as Midnight Club, Bully, L.A Noire, and more.
This is to fix its focus entirely on the RDR and GTA games. Rockstar is on a scale never seen before; hence, it makes sense for longer development times. These franchises are so successful that I don’t see Rockstar working on other franchises apart from them.
Why It Matters: Fans continue to demand Rockstar revive some of its iconic franchises, but considering Rockstar’s track record, they should keep expectations in check. It won’t be working on any new series anytime soon.
GTA Is Everything To Rockstar
GTA 5 Continues To Be Profitable A Decade Later
Fans have been waiting for GTA 6 for more than a decade. Next year, when GTA 6 hits the market, they’ll finally get to experience Vice City in a reimagined way.
One would think that after GTA 6 releases, Rockstar will have more time on their watch to focus on other franchises, but that’s incorrect. Rockstar’s main priority lies with the GTA franchises, and why wouldn’t it? After all, it is one of the highest-selling game franchises.
Even now, most of Rockstar’s manpower is focused on GTA 5 Online, a game released over a decade ago. GTA Online still brings in tons of revenue, making the game profitable even a decade after its release.
Despite RDR 2’s success and the game selling a whopping 65 million units, Rockstar’s priorities didn’t change at all. It abandoned RDR Online, an ambitious online mode, for the sake of focusing on GTA Online.
It even went as far as sabotaging its own game for profits. Reports suggest that multiple GTA 5 story DLCs were in development but scrapped in favor of GTA Online, which makes more profit.
Long Development Times And Major Man Power
GTA 6 Has Been In Development For Over A Decade
As I’ve explained before, GTA and RDR are projects that are way above any other game in the industry. RDR 2 took almost eight years of development and cost almost half a billion dollars.
It takes a year more from the initial release for modern Rockstar games to hit the PC platform. GTA 6 will follow the same suit, considering it’s the biggest game in scale.
To realize GTA 6’s scale of development, the entire Rockstar India team is just working on the Vice Beach. The game reportedly has a development budget of $2 Billion. Rockstar will probably raise game prices to recoup those costs, too.
Moreover, after GTA 6 releases, Rockstar will be too busy working on GTA 6 Online to make up for all the development time and cost. Beyond GTA 6, we are bound to get Red Dead Redemption 3, backed by the fact that the take-two CEO has already called it inevitable.
With modern games costing too much and demanding immense manpower, I don’t see Rockstar working on its other IPs. Perhaps we can get remasters of old games, but expect them to be half-baked, like the GTA Trilogy Definitive Edition. Rockstar hasn’t even rolled out a 60 FPS update for RDR 2.
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.
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While many are familiar with Arthur Morgan’s story, due to Red Dead Redemption 2 being played more, John Marston’s story is far more tragic.
Despite Arthur sacrificing himself for John and his family, John still ends up being dragged into the criminal life and faces his demise.
The cycle continues with John’s son taking his father’s revenge as he did for Arthur, making John’s story tragic.
Rockstar never fails to amaze me with its brilliant storylines, and it took that to the next level with Red Dead Redemption 2. Red Dead Redemption 2 features one of the best stories in video games, if not in fiction throughout.
Serving as a prequel to the first game’s story, Red Dead Redemption 2 explored the story of the Van Der Linde gang. While many were introduced to the franchise with the second game, they had no idea about John Marston’s story that was to follow after the second game.
Arthur Morgan’s story is extremely tragic. He sacrifices himself for the sake of John and his family. Still, John didn’t get the happy ending that Arthur wanted for him, with Jack repeating the revenge cycle that John inherited from Arthur to John. This is why I believe that John’s story is far more tragic than Arthur’s.
Why It Matters: Many people have been introduced to the franchise through Red Dead Redemption 2. They think Arthur’s story was the most tragic. However, fans of the first entry will know that Red Dead Redemption 2 makes the original story even more tragic.
Arthur Was Satisfied With His Life
Arthur Always Put Others Over Himself
The angry cowboy had quite a tough upbringing, being a delinquent since he was a child after his parents got murdered and riding with a murderous gang; it wasn’t until Dutch and Hosea found him and welcomed him to the Van der Linde gang.
Arthur shared Dutch’s dream of living free without the law, who also became somewhat of a father figure and a close associate to him.
Frankly, Arthur enjoyed the time with the Van der Linde gang and didn’t regret that. Sure, his life in the second half of the game was extremely depressive after he caught Tuberculosis.
Arthur dies trying to undo all his mistakes, and with the high honor ending, he fixes most of them, aside from saving Dutch from Micah. Still, his life ends with him knowing that he saved Abigal, John, and his family.
I still consider Red Dead Redemption 2’s ending comparatively bittersweet, considering players don’t know what follows with the first game.
John Marston Struggling In Red Dead Redemption 1 Makes Arthur’s Death Pointless
More People Need To Play Red Dead Redemption 1
Beyond Red Dead Redemption 2’s main storyline, the epilogue follows John and his family retreating to a ranch and working there. John eventually reconnects with Sadie and Charles to finally finish off Micah and avenge Arthur’s death.
The sad part is that if John had avoided chasing after Micah and given up on avenging Arthur’s death, maybe he would have had the happy ending he deserved. Dutch would’ve killed Micah eventually, or if not, the Pinkertons would’ve chased after them, leaving John and his family alone since they left the criminal life past them.
However, that’s a what-if scenario, and John’s past would catch up with him somehow. While momentarily, he did get the happy ending with Abigail and Jack at their ranch, for which Arthur sacrificed himself, John was eventually dragged into hunting the Van der Linde gang once again, forced by the Pinkertons.
In the end, Arthur’s efforts to save John’s family were in vain. John died not knowing what happened to his family, and all his attempts to escape the criminal life were down the drain.
Red Dead Redemption 1’s epilogue follows Jack as he hunts down his father’s murderers, implying that the same tragic cycle has repeated itself.
GTA 5 features a book called Red Dead, written by J. Marston. The book clearly references Jack’s story after his revenge against Edgar Ross for his father’s death. The book implies that Jack got away from the outlaw life, and it has somewhat of a happy ending since both these games’ main stories were about giving Jack a happy life away from all this violence.
Still, that’s not an explicit reference since GTA and Red Dead Redemption are set in different universes. We probably wouldn’t know about Jack’s real canon story since the age of outlaw ended in 1899, far before Jack even grew into an adult.
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.
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Borderlands series is going through troubled times following the movie’s massive flop.
Since Borderlands 3, the developer Gearbox has undergone management changes twice, creating uncertainty.
Borderlands 4 is now announced, and this is the perfect opportunity to set things straight for the series.
About a decade or so ago, looter shooters were one of the big things around. Teaming up with your buddies and taking out foes to gather sweet loot, it started as a subgenre of games like Diablo but quickly became its own thing. And a lot of it was thanks to Borderlands.
It can be argued that Destiny stood the test of time, but Borderlands’ perky characters, hilarious plot subtones, unique cel-shaded visuals, and creative shooting mechanics revolutionized the genre. Unfortunately, the series suffered a heavy blow recently.
Why it matters: After the Borderlands movie flopped hard and the changes around Gearbox, it’s up to Borderlands 4 now to redeem the series’ good name.
The Borderlands Movie Was A Disaster
Live-action adaptations of video games are on the rise these days. I honestly still don’t know how to feel about this. The constant fear of “just because this one succeeded, doesn’t mean the next will” always looms over me. One successful project comes along, and then suddenly, every game is getting a movie or TV series, and this fear climbs.
We have had some pretty well-done works recently, so just as I was starting to ease up to the notion, Borderlands came along and instantly shattered the positivity in me.
A fumble of massive proportions (Image by IMDB)
The Borderlands movie didn’t make a good enough first impression, and things just became worse as time passed. Ultimately, the movie was released, and needless to say, it was an abomination. It did everything not to do, resulting in a soul-less, uninspiring, and overall dull presentation.
The movie gets everything wrong about what it means to be a Borderlands project. With no peculiar character interactions, misplaced and cringe-inducing humor, and a barebones plot with nothing innovative, the movie is a waste of time. And time isn’t all it wasted; a $90 million loss followed suit.
A Lot’s Riding On Borderlands 4 Now
Borderlands movie cost close to 120 million dollars to make, while it only made a measly $32 million, leading to a massive loss. A fumble so hard doesn’t bode well for the series as a whole, especially after the skepticism resulting from Gearbox changing hands two times in a short time span.
First, it was bought by Embracer, whose foolish ambitions finally caught up to it, and then, Take-Two Interactive, which was necessarily a return to its prior state. The situation at Gearbox has changed twice now. We were yet to see if the developer was affected in any way, and the Borderlands movie came in to ruin the series’ good name.
I don’t think this one’s on Gearbox, but the brand name suffered regardless. Shortly after the movie, Borderlands 4 was officially revealed with a 2025 release. With all that has happened recently, there’s a lot at stake. The upcoming game practically carries the series’ future on its shoulders.
I have high hopes for this (Image by Steam)
A Return To The Series’ Peak Is Needed
Gearbox has the opportunity to set things straight with Borderlands 4. The series just received a fatal blow and lost millions of dollars, and people are still wondering if Gearbox was affected in any way by the purchases. If the developer wants to get a clean slate, it needs to go extra hard on this one.
And what better way is there than bringing back that iconic Borderlands magic we know and love? I think the game that Gearbox should take the most inspiration from is Borderlands 2. There’s no doubt 3 has better QoL upgrades and gameplay mechanics, but 2 is still the better game.
The deeply entertaining story and overall presentation of Borderlands 2 and its DLC still take the cake for me. You might consider the third your favorite, so here’s an idea. We agree that 2 has the better story and 3 has better gameplay. How about Gearbox put those two together in the next one?
Borderlands 2 is still my favorite (Image by Steam)
I’d Hate To See Another Fumble
I’ve always said if 2 had the gameplay and QoL of 3, it would’ve been the ultimate Borderlands game. We didn’t know this back during Borderlands 2’s time, but we know this now. Gearbox has the opportunity to make Borderlands 4 the ultimate game.
Well, ultimate or not, Borderlands 4 has to be a hit for both the fans and Gearbox’s sake. It’s been a long time since Borderlands 3, and with how badly the movie flopped, the series is in troubled waters. It has lost money, its followers are confused, and the sale has created uncertainty. Gearbox needs to make sure these fears are alleviated.
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.
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Ubisoft’s open worlds have all been a victim of constant criticism.
The developer’s formulaic approach to worlds and “checklist” design choices are to blame.
Since it’s consistently failing at open worlds, why not try something else? The Lost Crown and Rayman Legends show it can indeed do so.
Evolution is a constant in this world, and gaming is no exception. What essentially started as a pixelated approach to table tennis now has uncountable genres and complex mechanics under its belt, which are still evolving. It’s only natural that a medium this diverse gathers some conventions over time.
Sticking to a convention everyone likes is all good, but sometimes breaking it to try something new is important. Change is goodto keep things fresh. Even more so if you have to modify a bad convention, where it becomes necessary; this is what I’ve been telling Ubisoft for quite some time now regarding its open worlds.
Why it matters: Ubisoft has faced nothing but failure regarding open worlds. It’s time the developer tried something different, perhaps a past IP?
Ubisoft Isn’t Doing Too Good These Days
Even a good thing starts becoming boring when oversaturated, let alone a flawed concept like Ubisoft’s take on open worlds. And the masses agree with me. All of Ubisoft’s purely open-world games have been criticized one after the other. Watch Dogs Legion, Far Cry 6, Assassin’s Creed’s last few entries, the list goes on.
Things haven’t been going quite well for the tech giant lately. It was just recovering from the extreme backlash regarding Assassin’s Creed Shadows when Star Wars Outlaws happened.
Star Wars Outlaws was supposed to be the next big space exploration thing. It was expressed long ago that this game would not be your conventional Ubisoft open world and will try a new, interesting approach. Couple that with the intense marketing, and even I was fooled.
It turns out that marketing was the only thing Ubisoft went all out in. Star Wars Outlaws is nothing but the same Ubisoft world full of the same flaws and then some more. After the backlash, even the stakeholders aren’t happy with Ubisoft right now. Things are truly looking grim for the company; even a sell-out is being considered.
Star Wars Outlaws is a total mess (Image by Ubisoft)
The Formulaic Worlds Of Ubisoft
I can’t remember the last time I genuinely enjoyed a Ubisoft open world; that’s how troublesome this formula is. The developer has had nothing but consistent misses regarding this genre. Let’s look at some of the reasons.
First, it’s how Ubisoft’s design choices haven’t evolved in quite some time now. Ubisoft designs worlds with a formulaic checklist approach. You’re given a big list of objectives to create a false sense of “rich content” when it’s all just the same old base liberation or gathering XYZ items.
You go through objectives, checking the list, until you complete the world. Between these highlighted checkpoints, there’s little noteworthy to see. All this makes Ubisoft’s worlds seem extremely robotic and artificial, devoid of what you can call life.
It won’t be wrong to say, “Play one Ubisoft open world; you’ve played them all.” That’s how monotonous and exhausting this formula has become.
All of this makes me wonder, if Ubisoft knows its open worlds have consistently been criticized and ridiculed, why doesn’t it try something different? What good is the open-world obsession if the titles aren’t gaining popularity?
Let me ask you this: what’s the last Ubisoft game everyone enjoyed and praised unanimously? Yes, it’s Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown. Was it an open world? No, it was an extremely creative, side-scrolling, action-packed platformer full of engaging combat and impressive puzzles.
Rayman Legends, the developer’s masterpiece (Image by Ubisoft)
That’s not all. The greatest Ubisoft game of all time for me, and a title that embodies just how great Ubisoft can be at its best, is Rayman Legends. The Rayman series is Ubisoft’s imaginative goodness at its peak and a stark reminder of how impressive the developer was back in the olden days.
A Break From Open Worlds Is Needed
Take any past Ubisoft game, and you’ll see. Things weren’t always this monotonous. Assassin’s Creed, Prince of Persia, Rayman, there was so much variety and creativity, which is exactly what Ubisoft needs now.
If something’s not working, you need some time away to rethink your approach. History has proved that Ubisoft can do a lot of good in non-open-world games. So, while the company ponders over where it went wrong with its world design formula, focusing on varied titles like The Lost Crown or Rayman is the way to go.
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
Dark Souls 1 was released back in 2011, and it initiated the start of a new genre.
The genre has evolved a lot now, featuring amazing titles like Dark Souls 3, Sekiro, and Elden Ring.
While the first entry in the Dark Souls franchise is brutal, it provides one of the best experiences.
Having played every FromSoftware title and almost every single Soulslike game, I can’t help but appreciate Dark Souls 1. At the same time, there are some who don’t like this game because it is extremely punishing.
To be very honest, this game is brutal, and it is most likely to make you rage quit. So, overall, the game is pretty hard and might feel impossible to beat sometimes, but you can’t deny that 13 years ago, it basically created a whole new genre.
That is exactly why we have so many great Souls titles nowadays, so I can’t help but appreciate this beauty.
Why it matters: Demon Souls is basically the game that started a new genre, but it didn’t really get that much attention, so with the release of Dark Souls 1, many heads were turned, and a new genre was born.
Dark Souls 1, A Brilliant Masterpiece
Dark Souls 1 Has Some of The Hardest Areas in Gaming History
I can still remember the first time playing this game, as it was a brutal experience for me. I think that, among all the games FromSoftware has ever released, this and its sequel are the most punishing ones. However, that is what makes them unique.
You can easily clear some levels and beat the bosses, but some of them will make your life literal hell, and yes, I am talking about Ornstein and Smough. This duo boss fight is arguably one of the toughest fights I have faced in my gaming journey.
I still can’t believe it has been 13 years since I played this game. While it might not be perfect in the eyes of many people, to me, it is a masterpiece, and that is the reason why I got to play such amazing games like Dark Souls 3 and Elden Ring.
It is fair to say that the first Dark Souls features some of the hardest areas in gaming history. Like, come on, who in their right mind would find Anor Londo an easy place to traverse? I literally have trauma due to that.
Its Legacy Still Lives On
The First Dark Souls In The Franchise Laid Down Basis For A Completely New Genre
The best thing about this title isn’t that it is such a great game but that its legacy still lives on. That is something very rare for a game to achieve. Now, how is it that its legacy still lives on when hardly anyone would play this game in this era?
Let me tell you why. Do you remember the time when Demon Souls was released? You might be doing this because not many people did, and I don’t blame them. This game wasn’t really that successful, which is why not much knows that it isn’t the one that initiated the start of the Soulsborne genre.
However, things weren’t like this when the first title in Dark Souls franchise was released. The game didn’t sell that well, but it surely was way more successful than Demon Souls. Also, if you account for the title starting a new genre, the success was pretty surprising and great.
I am not going to lie; when this game came out, I wasn’t clearly sure of what it was. That is because it was fundamentally different from all the other games I have played. It was brutal, mean, horrifying, and disturbing.
I did like the game, but it felt niche to me; little did I know that it would lay down the basis of a massive genre that everyone is chasing now. What surprises me the most is that the Soulsborne genre now has a subgenre known as Soulslike, and there are hundreds of titles available in this category alone.
Soulsborne Genre Has Evolved
Elden Ring is One of My Favorite Games
It goes without saying that over the years, the Soulsborne genre has evolved, and Dark Souls 1 is to be thanked for that. Now, see how many great games have been released in the genre. Dark Souls 3, Bloodborne, Sekiro, and Elden Ring are among the best games now.
In fact, two of them are even Game of the Year, which speaks volumes. I am really glad to have witnessed the initialization of the genre and to be able to see how far it has come. Elden Ring is among my favorite games now, and I have spent over 200 hours playing it.
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] After creating two ground-breaking fans dubbed the NF-A14 and NF-A12x25, Noctua has returned with yet another exciting square frame model. The latest NF-A14x25 G2 marks the company’s latest 140mm offering, and it packs just as much punch as expected.
Thanks to Flow Acceleration Channels, a tip clearance of just 0.7mm, and more, the fan is easily a worthy successor to the company’s past offerings.
The NF-A14x25 G2 is easily our most advanced fan today.
-Noctua CEO Roland Mossig
Noctua’s newest product is described as a true all-rounder. Whether it is cooling the average PC gaming case or heatsinks and water-cooling radiators, the NF-A14x25 G2 is equipped to deal with the heat.
It also sports an NA-AVG2-LR anti-vibration gasket already installed for a stronger grip on radiators. Other key features include the new ultra-low loss etaPERF motor that promises unparalleled efficiency and smoothness.
Moreover, the newly introduced SupraTorque feature guarantees better performance for radiators and heatsinks thanks to the fan’s ability to sustain desired speeds when dealing with back pressure.
Noctua offers two variants, allowing customers to pick between 800 and 1500rpm options. The Sx2-PP dual fan set also promises enhanced performance in push-pull operations since both NF-A14x25 G2 fans are offset in speed by up to 25rpm.
To make the deal even better, Noctua’s latest creation comes with a six-year manufacturer warranty. You can read more about it using this link.
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] G.Skill’s memory kits have always been known for their overclocking capabilities, and the company has yet again proven its excellence, achieving an astonishingoverclock of DDR5-9000 with 48GB(2x24GB) kits.
This Overclock Was Achieved On The Trident Z5 Royal NEO Kits
This overclock was made possible by the Asus ROG Crosshair X870E Hero motherboard and AMD EXPO technology. Thanks to this combination, the Asus NitroPath DRAM technology shined through, allowing G.Skill to push its memory beyond limits.
With G.Skill now boasting DDR5-9000 CL44-56-56 memory, the company has shown yet again why it remains one of the best in the business. For more information on specific memory kits and pricing, head over to the tech giant’s official website using this link.
As a Hardware Expert at Tech4Gamers, I blend my Computer Science expertise with a love for technology. Through comprehensive reviews and comparisons, I guide our audience in making informed tech decisions.
Arsalan Shakil
As a Hardware Expert at Tech4Gamers, I bring my decade-long expertise in electronics design, embedded solutions, and prototyping. My knack for exposing misconceptions in the tech world finds a perfect outlet here.
MSI, with their MEG Ai1300P Platinum PSU, has now beefed up its muscles even more, proving its commitment to extremely high-quality and high-end PSUs to tackle the need for insanely high power requirements of current and upcoming generation of GPUs.
With the addition of MEG Ai1300P Platinum in MSI’s arsenal, MSI is now able to compete with some of the well-reputed PSU brands that offer a wide range of options for mid to high-end Gaming PC enthusiasts.
At this point, I have reviewed MSI MPG A850G PCIE5 & MSI MAG A1000GL PCIE5, both are based on the latest ATX 3.0/3.1 specs and performed exceptionally well in our tests. I expect the same or even better performance results for MSI MEG Ai1300P PCIE Platinum PSU.
You may see the above-mentioned PSUs with ATX3.0 compliant stickers on their boxes, but their recent stock comes with ATX3.1 stickers on the box. It is important to mention that the changes in the newer ATX3.1 specs are only for the newer PCIe 5.1 GPU connector for better safety, and the other difference is lower Hold-up time, which, in a way, is a downgrade from the previous ATX 3.0 specs. So, any PSU that meets the ATX 3.0 specs is already an ATX 3.1 compatible PSU, as long as the manufacturer upgrades to the newer PCIe 5.1 GPU connector.
Why Trust Tech4Gamers
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20+ PSUs tested and reviewed by our team of hardware experts (Tech4Gamers Team).
180+ hours spent testing different power supplies for our reviews.
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Key Takeaways
The MSI MEG Ai1300P Platinum is a powerful, fully modular PSU that combines premium build quality with impressive efficiency, designed for demanding gaming setups.
You should buy the MSI MEG Ai1300P Platinum if you want solid performance, absolutely silent noise profile, and customization options using a software.
You should skip the MSI MEG Ai1300P Platinum if the Platinum efficiency rating is an overkill for you and you’re good to go with an ATX 3.1 Gold PSU.
At the rate at which MSI has been getting many of its different variants’ PSUs manufactured, I think MSI itself seems to be having a hard time deciding how to come up with different naming schemes. Just to give you guys an example, MSI has its PSU lineups with the main name tags such as MEG, MPG, and MAG (Enthusiast/Flagship, Premium & Mainstream, respectively). If that’s not all, they also have similar letters at the end that confuse things, such as A850G & A850GL are two PSUs from completely different series where L in A850GL represents the Low-cost series.
MSI’s Ai1300P’s being from the MEG (Enthusiast/Flagship) series and having P (Platinium) in its name makes things slightly less confusing. That’s because I had to write all that so that you could finally understand these Massive Confusing Gibberish (MCG in short) naming schemes!
Packaging & Unboxing
Box Front
Box Back
The overall design of the box is very premium. A side profile of the PSU is printed and it matches the theme. However, there are way too many logos about the different features. Similarly, I think the “ATX 3.1 Ready” and “PCIe 5.1 Ready” text could have looked better.
At the back, you’ll find info about the cables, power specs, and other features like efficiency and Gaming Intelligence.
Box Open
Box Open
The power supply is packed in protective black foam, and MSI has opted for recyclable plastic inside, which is a nice bonus.
Design
PSU Top Design
Power Cord Side
I love how the PSU looks from the top. The contrast is very good and different from the other PSUs I have tested recently. The fan seems off centered, which is a bit weird, but overall the design is great.
Side Design
Back Info
The side design follows the same theme. It is simple, subtle, and gives off a premium feel.
Modular Connector Side (Image By Tech4Gamers)
The power supply’s fully modular design lets you plug in just the cables you actually need, helping keep everything tidy and making cable management a breeze.
Cable & Connectors
Cables & Connectors
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Cables & Accessories Pouch (Image By Tech4Gamers)
Cables & Accessories (Image By Tech4Gamers)
12VHPWR GPU Cable (Image By Tech4Gamers)
PC Link Cable (Image By Tech4Gamers)
Cable Combs (Image By Tech4Gamers)
The cables come in a soft fabric pouch that feels nice to handle. They’re also long enough, so you won’t have any trouble during installation in an ATX build.
The 12VHPWR connector has a dual-color design that makes installation easier. If it’s inserted correctly, the yellow part won’t be visible, giving you a quick way to confirm it’s fully connected.
Connector
Quantity
Motherboard 24 (20+4) Pin
1x
CPU 4+4 Pin
1x
PCI 5.0 16 Pin
1x
PCIe 6+2 Pin
8x
SATA 15 Pin
16x
Molex 4 Pin
4x
FDD 4 Pin
1x
PC Link Port
12VHPWR Connector
The recent outbreak of artificial intelligence has made the term AI mainstream, and now, many big brands’ marketing teams are working really hard to come up with unique and catchy terms. MSI didn’t seem to work that hard, I guess, as they have coined the term GI, Gaming Intelligence (I mean, it doesn’t sound that stupid if you consider the term Apple Intelligence).
I can’t seem to wrap my head around what part of Gaming Intelligence actually reflects the real intelligence in MEG Ai1300P, especially when I see the good old mini-USB connector still being used in 2024. I mean, you do get the feature of controlling and monitoring most of the PSU functionality on your PC and can adjust the fan curves and all, but that’s just it!
As I said in the introduction, MSI had first marketed this PSU for ATX 3.0. Later, when the new ATX 3.1 specs came in from Intel, the PSU brands only had to upgrade to a newer PCIe5.0 GPU connector, which is now referred to as a 12V-2×6 connector (previously known as 12VHPWR connector).
Quite weirdly, the sticker on the box has been upgraded to state newer ATX 3.1 specs but not the newer 12V-2×6 GPU connector! Though the new 12V-2×6 is a must at the GPU’s end and not the PSU because cables from the PSU’s modular end don’t get bent or twisted that much compared to the GPU’s end, but still when the Intel ATX 3.1 states that every brand must use 12V-2×6 from now on, MSI should also do the same.
Teardown & Component Analysis
MSI MEG Ai1300P Platinum is based on an upgraded platform from CWT, which is an already proven and extensively adopted platform by many well-known PSU brands for the latest ATX 3.0/3.1 specs, which I have also reviewed several times in the past.
PSU Teardown (Image By Tech4Gamers)
CWT has made slight changes in their platform mainly because MSI must have asked them to somewhat make use of “Ai” in Ai1300P. This slight change gives users a software-controlled feature for adjusting Fan Curves, Overcurrent Protection, Monitoring different power parameters, etc. MSI also decided this time to go with a Semi-digital platform, but I, being an absolute sucker for superior ingenuity and innovation, always desire to see a Fully digital PSU.
Internals
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2x Inductors of Interleaved PFC Section (Image By Tech4Gamers)
Full-Bridge MOSFETs (Image By Tech4Gamers)
Digital Controllers for Interleaved PFC (Image By Tech4Gamers)
MSI MEG Ai1300P Platinum uses Interleaved PFC, Full-Bridge & LLC resonant converter topology. Unlike other brands that directly opt for CWT’s traditional aluminum heatsinks, MSI is using its own uniquely designed aluminum heatsinks with a much larger surface area. There are individual uniquely shaped heatsinks attached to separate vital components for better heat dissipation.
Platinum-rated PSUs don’t usually have any trouble when it comes to high operating temperatures as they are extremely efficient in power conversion but the use of bigger heatsinks doesn’t stress the fan to spin up faster, and with this, the PSU brands can easily opt-in for Hybrid Fan Mode feature which MSI MEG Ai1300P PCIE5 also has.
Main Primary Transformer (Image By Tech4Gamers)
The platform design is well-populated; MSI most likely wanted to keep the dimensions of this PSU not that big as we have seen slightly bigger dimension PSUs in the past with similar wattage ratings. The main primary Transformer is adequately sized for a 1300W figure, and on its side resides a vertical daughter board for 12V rail MOSFETs.
Large-size Transformers in >1000W rated PSUs usually tend to have slightly increased voltage ripples. Only a transformer that’s driven with extremely fast switching frequency (usually with the use of GaN MODFETs, as in a few recent PSUs) can have its size cut down in half (but the final cost doubles).
Internals
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2x Bulk Electrolytic Capacitors from Rubycon (Image By Tech4Gamers)
Electrolytic Filtering Capacitors from Nippon Chemi-con (Image By Tech4Gamers)
Polymer Filtering Capacitors from Nippon Chemi-con (Image By Tech4Gamers)
Being a high-end offering from MSI, we don’t see any compromises in quality whatsoever. Extensive use of top-tier Japanese Electrolytic and Polymer capacitors can be seen throughout from Rubycon and Nippon Chemi-Con. Though the top-tier components couldn’t convince MSI to break the 10 year warranty barrier which a few brands have already started doing lately and providing 12 years of warranty.
120mm Hydro Dynamic Bearing (Image By Tech4Gamers)
MSI is using their in-house 120mm Hydro Dynamic Bearing fan. The fan only starts to spin when there’s high enough load on the PSU.
PSU Load Testing
PSU Testing (Image By Tech4Gamers)
Voltage Regulation
Percentage Difference In 12V Rail Regulation (Image By Tech4Gamers)
Load in %
12V
5V
3.3V
20%
11.96V
5.04V
3.30V
50%
11.86V
5.03V
3.29V
70%
11.82V
5.03V
3.29V
90%
11.78V
5.03V
3.29V
100%
11.77V
5.02V
3.28V
In our test of 20-100% load, 12V rail voltage drops from 11.96V to a much lower value of 11.77V. However, this is still well within specs, and considering the fact that in this test, we take voltage variations into account, which came out to be 0.19V, which is fine.
But still, I think MSI should tune this platform further to maintain better voltage regulation, especially on higher loads.
We can’t currently fully test power excursions in which massive amounts of power are drawn within the cycle of a few milliseconds; these lower voltage levels may have a serious issue on those high-power excursions.
PSU Efficiency
Average Efficiency (Image By Tech4Gamers)
Load in %
Efficiency
Power Factor
20%
92.65%
0.937
50%
93.97%
0.985
70%
93.75%
0.991
90%
92.49%
0.993
100%
91.93%
0.994
The efficiency numbers I saw during this test were good enough for MSI MEG Ai1300P to be crowned as a Platinum-rated PSU. But again, PSUs from other well-known brands having similar platforms from CWT performed really well in this test, even being only a Gold-rated PSUs.
Voltage Ripple Performance
Maximum Ripple (Image By Tech4Gamers)
Load in %
12V Ripple
20%
12.8mV
50%
14.4mV
70%
16.8mV
90%
17.6mV
100%
18.2mV
After reviewing many PSUs, the majority of which were from CWT, I found the voltage ripple performance of MEG Ai1300P to be only good and not exceptional, which I surely expected and wanted it to be.
Temperatures
Thermal Tests
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Max Hottest Temp at Back (Image By Tech4Gamers)
Max Hottest Temp at Exhaust (Image By Tech4Gamers)
Max Hottest Temp at Cable's Side (Image By Tech4Gamers)
With heatsinks of more than adequate size and being a Platinum-rated PSU, MSI MEG Ai1300P kept it cool even when running at a Max 1300W load. The fan only kicked in when the load exceeded 650W. The PSU will remain fully silent even during light gaming sessions. MSI’s 120mm Hydro Dynamic Bearing fan was decently quiet.
Should You Buy it?
Buy It If
✅ You want Gaming Intelligence: MSI’s marketing gimmick of GI aside, if your PI (Personal Intelligence) predicts that in the future you will need to upgrade to the latest and greatest specs, then MEG Ai1300P can be the best pick for you.
✅ You like a software-controlled PSU: The option to tune and adjust PSU features & parameters can be handy for some, especially for the OCing enthusiasts who can increase the limit of OCP on the specific 12V rail responsible for providing power to the GPU(s).
✅ You prefer silent operations: The PSU remains absolutely silent and only starts spinning its fan when the load exceeds 650W.
Don’t Buy It If
❌ You don’t need excessive features: If your use case doesn’t require all the special and extra bells and whistles the PSU comes with.
❌ You’re a Gold digger: Many Gaming enthusiasts will be better off with the recent Gold-rated PSUs having ATX 3.0/3.1 specs, as long as they aren’t getting themselves into extreme OCing.
My Final Thoughts
MSI is committed to providing the best products to their users and with the addition of MEG Ai1300P PCIE5 in their widespread range of PSUs, MSI has now entered in the high-end Gaming Enthusiasts PSU club but still remains a few inches away from stealing the show.
The MSI MEG Ai1300P Platinum is a powerful and efficient PSU that offers solid performance for high-end gaming rigs, with premium build quality and attention to detail. Its modular design, combined with a well-implemented cooling system, keeps it running quietly during lighter loads, while maintaining stable performance across a range of power demands.
Despite its strengths, the PSU shows some room for improvement in voltage regulation, particularly under heavy loads, which might be a concern for users pushing their systems to the limit. The slight drop in voltage regulation and ripple performance holds it back from standing out as the best in its class. However, for most gamers and enthusiasts, the overall efficiency, quality components, and Platinum certification make it a strong and dependable choice for demanding setups.
