Author: Jan Olšan

48 cores? Intel Nova Lake can have two CPU tiles, Ryzen-style

News, Processors | | Jan Olšan

When Intel released the long-awaited Arrow Lake processors last fall, the core count remained at 24 (8 large P-Cores and 16 smaller, efficient E-Cores), the same configuration as used by the Raptor Lake processors from 2022. There were rumors about a future upgrade to 8+32 cores, but that was axed. However, the next-generation Nova Lake in 2026 could make up for this and deliver a significant leap in PC processor performance. Read more “48 cores? Intel Nova Lake can have two CPU tiles, Ryzen-style” »

Some GeForce RTX 5090 fight melty connectors with thermal pads

Graphics, News | | Jan Olšan

Since GeForce RTX 4000, Nvidia graphics cards (fortunately just the highest models) have been facing issues with overheating and melting 12+4-pin power connectors. Newer models use the 12V-2×6 connector, which is designed to avoid improper attaching, and we recently discussed additional measures from Zotac. It seems that some of the freshly released graphics cards use another protective measure, addressing the root thermal issue. Read more “Some GeForce RTX 5090 fight melty connectors with thermal pads” »

Blackwell: GeForce RTX 5000 architecture and innovations [Analysis]

Analysis, Graphics | | Jan Olšan

Nvidia’s new graphics cards – the GeForce RTX 5090 and RTX 5080 – won’t be out until the 30th, but NDA is over and the first reviews of the top-of-the-line RTX 5090, which we also tested, are out. In this article, we take a look at the Blackwell architecture that powers these new GPUs, its new features and functions. DLSS 4, compute unit architecture and features of the GPUs as well as the software side of this new generation. Read more “Blackwell: GeForce RTX 5000 architecture and innovations [Analysis]” »

PCI Express 7.0 to be ready this year: 4× faster than “Gen 5”

Motherboards, News, Technology | | Jan Olšan

Nvidia’s new graphics cards are the first standard GPUs for gaming PCs to support PCI Express 5.0 instead of PCIe 4.0, but they are a bit late to the party as PCIe 5.0 support has been expected from the 2022’s generation of GPUs already. Development of these interfaces is well ahead of adoption, and it looks like the specification for the n+2 generation that awaits us sometime in the future will be ready this year. Read more “PCI Express 7.0 to be ready this year: 4× faster than “Gen 5”” »

AMD releases Ryzen 5 7400F, cheapest AM5 CPU for gaming PCs

News, Processors | | Jan Olšan

AMD announced several CPUs at CES 2025 during the keynote now notorious for the absence of Radeon graphics cards  – Ryzens 9 9900X3D and 9950X3D with V-Cache, Strix Halo extreme laptop CPUs, Krackan APUs and Ryzen Z2 for handhelds. Later we found out AMD stealthily launched even more CPUs, among them Ryzen 5 9600. It turns out there is yet another potentially attractive AM5 CPU that has been launched to market in this manner. Read more “AMD releases Ryzen 5 7400F, cheapest AM5 CPU for gaming PCs” »

DisplayPort 2.1b introduced. New GeForce GPUs already have it

Graphics, Monitors, News | | Jan Olšan

A new version of the HDMI interface, HDMI 2.2 with new Ultra96-class cables was announced at CES. VESA’s competing DisplayPort standard is also getting an update, perhaps as a reaction to the new HDMI. It’s a minor upgrade though, with its label DisplayPort 2.1b indicating smaller changes compared to the previous new version 2.1a. This standard will be the first 2.x version available on Nvidia graphics cards. Read more “DisplayPort 2.1b introduced. New GeForce GPUs already have it” »

Intel Laminar RM2 & Laminar RH2: New stock coolers for Arrow Lake

CPU coolers, News | | Jan Olšan

Yesterday, Intel released 65W “non-K” Arrow Lake processors, which represent a cheaper mainstream option for desktops on its new LGA 1851 platform compared to the 125W “K” models that are overclockable and geared more towards enthusiasts. The non-K versions will have one small advantage, a bundled cooler, which can save you some money on the build. For the new generation, these coolers have been given a better and quieter design. Read more “Intel Laminar RM2 & Laminar RH2: New stock coolers for Arrow Lake” »

Radeon RX 9000 MIA? What we learned (not) about RDNA 4 at CES

Graphics, News | | Jan Olšan

AMD revealed a lineup of new CPUs for 2025 during CES keynote, but not graphics cards. Although the new RDNA 4 graphics cards were believed to target CES reveal, the Radeon RX 9070 and RX 9070 XT were not discussed. It seems out that the new cards were supposed to have just a “preview” at CES 2025. They were almost glossed over in the keynote, but outside of the video presentation, some information on the new cards was shared. Read more “Radeon RX 9000 MIA? What we learned (not) about RDNA 4 at CES” »

Intel axes basic stock cooler bundled with cheapest processors

Cooling, CPU coolers, News | | Jan Olšan

Perhaps it says something about the state of the desktop PC market: a few years ago, AMD invested in improved stock coolers for the first Ryzen processors, and then Intel did something similar for Alder Lake processors on the LGA 1700 platform. It didn’t last long though, both have since abandoned further improvements and people buying an aftermarket cooler is pretty much assumed. Now, Intel is even killing off its cheapest box cooler. Read more “Intel axes basic stock cooler bundled with cheapest processors” »

Cheaper Radeon RX 9070 has 16GB memory too. And 8pin power

Graphics, News | | Jan Olšan

AMD’s new graphics card, the Radeon RX 9070 XT, is coming this month. Chinese sources say it will have a 260–270W TDP and clock speeds of around 2.8GHz base and up to 3.0–3.1GHz in boost. Recently, more details of it came together, as well as the first news on the cheaper Radeon RX 9070 “non-XT” version. The latter was expected to have its memory stripped down to 12 GB and accordingly lower emory bandwidth. But things may be better. Read more “Cheaper Radeon RX 9070 has 16GB memory too. And 8pin power” »

Free games daily on Epic Games Store during Christmas: Final game

News, Software | | Jan Olšan

If you’re into PC games, you’ll know that Epic Games Store, a sort of smaller competitor to Steam, gives away a free game every week. But it goes overdrive around Christmas, as these games are cycled daily during the holidays. And it’s the same this year, with Epic now giving away 16 different games until January, which you can get completely free of charge. The event has started, and each opportunity is only open for 24 hours. Read more “Free games daily on Epic Games Store during Christmas: Final game” »

Intel cancels x86S, effort to clean up x86 CPUs legacy cruft

News, Processors | | Jan Olšan

In fall, we reported here that Intel’s Panther Cove CPU architecture coming in two years (not in Panther Lake CPUs though) reportedly adopts an upgrade to the x86 instruction set labeled APX and also the AVX10 SIMD instructions, which are a compromise between AVX-512 and AVX2 designed for hybrid processors. However, the x86S architecture, the third of these awaited ISA innovations, will not be coming. It has in fact been cancelled. Read more “Intel cancels x86S, effort to clean up x86 CPUs legacy cruft” »

AMD’s new RDNA 4 graphics cards are Radeon RX 9070 & 9070 XT

Graphics, News | | Jan Olšan

New GPUs from Nvidia but also from AMD are due out next month. There are fewer rumors about the latter. We know what GPUs AMD is preparing, but not what cards they’ll base on them. Until now, we’ve referred to them as Radeon RX 8000 series, but the reality seems to be more complicated. AMD is in fact preparing Radeon RX 8000, but also Radeon RX 9000 cards at the same time. But it’s actually a similar scheme to what Ryzen CPUs use. Read more “AMD’s new RDNA 4 graphics cards are Radeon RX 9070 & 9070 XT” »

Windows 11 requirements dropped? Unfortunately, it’s not true

Motherboards, News, Processors, Software | | Jan Olšan

Unfortunately, in this case it comes down to the saying that if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Reports have appeared on the web reporting that Microsoft has changed its mind about Windows 11’s strict requirements and will allow installation on older computers without a TPM. This would save a lot of older PCs running Windows 10. No such luck though, these rumors are just a misunderstanding of old documents. Read more “Windows 11 requirements dropped? Unfortunately, it’s not true” »

The death of optical discs: LG quits making Blu-ray players

News, Television | | Jan Olšan

That optical discs and drives are in a decline is not news, they are long gone from laptops and PC case designs have squeezed them out from desktop PCs too. Hand in hand with this is the decline of optical discs as a way to distribute music and video. That’s where shiny discs have taken another blow, or nail in the coffin – one of the (remaining) major Blu-ray player manufacturers has definitively thrown in the towel. Read more “The death of optical discs: LG quits making Blu-ray players” »

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