Tech News
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Lexar Ships the World’s First 1TB microSD Express Card for use with Nintendo Switch 2
Published: Thursday, April 3, 2025 | By: DennisThe Lexar PLAY PRO microSDXC Express Card delivers 4x the performance to significantly level-up handheld gaming
San Jose, CA, USA, April 2, 2025—Lexar, a leading global brand of flash memory solutions, is excited to ship of the world’s first 1TB microSD Express card. Built on the new SD card standard that combines PCI Express 3.0 and NVMe 1.3 interfaces, the PLAY PRO microSDXC™ Express Card delivers substantially improved performance, perfect for handheld gaming devices.
Key Features
- PCIe technology delivers read speeds up to 900MB/s* so the game loads 4x faster
- Write speed up to 600MB/s* delivers accelerated download speeds**
- 1TB microSD Express card offers more space for games
- Backwards-compatible with UHS-I and UHS-II host devices (at UHS-I speeds)
- Includes a limited lifetime warranty** and lifetime access to the Lexar Recovery Tool
With up to 900MB/s read and 600MB/s write1, the PLAY PRO microSDXC™ Express Card offers the fastest speeds in the microSD Express card format and gives gamers an epic performance power-up that delivers faster game loads and accelerated downloads. With capacity up to 1TB,*** it also offers space for many large AAA games. It is backwards-compatible with UHS-I and UHS-II host devices (at UHS-I speeds), but future-proofed for tomorrow’s cutting-edge handheld gaming systems and other upcoming devices that will leverage this next-gen technology.
The PLAY PRO microSDXC™ Express Card also comes with a limited lifetime warranty** and lifetime access to the Lexar Recovery Tool,**** which customers can use to restore accidentally deleted or formatted files.
“The new microSD Express standard offers us a way to deliver a memory card with incomparable performance in that form factor,” said Joey Lopez, Director of Brand Marketing. “We’re excited to create a card for our customers that leverages the benefits of this new standard and prepares gamers for the next generation of handheld gaming.”
The Lexar® PLAY PRO microSDXC™ Express Card is available in 1TB for an MSRP of $199.99, 512GB for an MSRP of $99.99, and 256GB for an MSRP of $49.99.
Availability: Amazon
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KLEVV Expands DDR5 Gaming/OC Memory Lineup with New Colors, Lower Latency, and AMD-Optimized Variants
Published: Thursday, April 3, 2025 | By: GuestBLAZING FAST PERFORMANCE MEETS MINIMALIST DESIGN FOR GAMERS AND CREATORS
KLEVV, the leading consumer memory and storage brand introduced by Essencore, today announces exciting updates to its DDR5 Gaming/OC memory lineup. The new releases include stylish color options for the FIT V and BOLT V series, enhanced performance with lower latency SKUs, and “Optimized for AMD” variants across its DDR5 OC models. This update boosts overall system efficiency and expands platform compatibility, offering gamers, creators, and professionals even more choices to elevate their systems.
Sleek New Color Options for Every Build
KLEVV introduces two fresh color variations to its FIT V and BOLT V memory series, complementing a broader range of system designs. The FIT V series now features an elegant Jet Black edition, delivering a minimalist and understated aesthetic tailored for creators and professionals. Meanwhile, the BOLT V series now features an all new pure White edition, combining a bold, modern aesthetic alongside high-speed performance tailored for gamers.
KLEVV is updating its FIT V and BOLT V memory series with two fresh new color variations to complement a broader range of system designs. The FIT V series now introduces a sophisticated Jet Black version, delivering a minimalist and understated aesthetic tailored for creators and professionals. Meanwhile, the BOLT V series debuts a Pure White edition, combining a bold, modern look with the high-speed performance that gamers demand.
Enhanced Performance with Lower Latency
Beyond aesthetics, KLEVV improves its CRAS V RGB, URBANE V RGB, BOLT V, and FIT V series with reduced latency, enhancing responsiveness and efficiency. The 6000MT/s variants now offer latency as low as CL26 or CL28, while the 6400MT/s models achieve CL30, , depending on the model, ensuring smoother and more efficient operation for demanding applications and gaming scenarios.
Broader Platform Compatibility with "Optimized for AMD" Versions
To provide a seamless user experience, KLEVV is updating its DDR5 Gaming/OC memory lineup with additional "Optimized for AMD" versions. Users can easily identify compatible SKUs by checking the designated sticker on the packaging. This update expands broader compatibility, allowing users to maximize system efficiency across both Intel and AMD platforms effortlessly.
Designed for Gamers, Creators and Professionals
The new black and white heatsink color options align with minimalist design philosophy, catering to users who prefer a sleek and refined aesthetic. Whether for gaming, content creation, or professional workloads, KLEVV’s updated memory lineup delivers unrivaled style and performance.
Availability & Warranty
KLEVV's new DDR5 Gaming/OC memory module variants come with a limited lifetime peace of mind warranty and will be available starting Q2. Consumers may visit KLEVV official site for detailed purchase information, or visit Amazon sites and other online retailers for direct purchases.
Further Information
- CRAS V RGB: https://www.klevv.com/ken/products_details/memory/Klevv_CrasVRGB
- URBANE V RGB: https://www.klevv.com/ken/products_details/memory/Klevv_UrbaneVRGB
- BOLT V DDR5: https://www.klevv.com/ken/products_details/memory/Klevv_BoltV
- FIT V DDR5: https://www.klevv.com/ken/products_details/memory/Klevv_FITV
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Assassin's Creed Shadows Performance Benchmark @ TechPowerUp
Published: Thursday, April 3, 2025 | By: GuestAssassin’s Creed: Shadows has been generating buzz in the gaming community, and TechPowerUp recently published an in-depth performance benchmark of the title. Set in feudal Japan, the game offers a dual-protagonist system featuring Naoe, a stealthy shinobi, and Yasuke, a formidable samurai. The review highlights the game's visually rich environments, cinematic presentation, and immersive world-building, which together mark a new technical direction for the franchise.
TechPowerUp’s analysis focuses on the game's performance across a wide range of modern GPUs. Built on the Anvil Engine with significant enhancements, Assassin’s Creed: Shadows includes ray-traced shadows, ambient occlusion, and reflections. The benchmark results show that while the game is demanding, especially at ultra settings with ray tracing enabled, it scales well across different hardware tiers. However, to achieve smooth 4K gameplay with maximum settings, high-end GPUs like the RTX 4080 or RX 7900 XTX are recommended.
"Assassin’s Creed Shadows is finally here, transporting players to feudal Japan in an open-world adventure filled with stealth, combat, and exploration. Shadows finally brings RT support to the Series and delivers stunning visuals but also demands powerful hardware. In our performance review, we examine its graphical fidelity, VRAM usage, and how well it runs on a variety of modern GPUs."
The review also dives into VRAM usage and CPU performance, noting that the game can exceed 10 GB of VRAM at higher resolutions and quality presets. TechPowerUp praised Ubisoft's efforts in offering flexible graphics options, DLSS and FSR support, and reasonably optimized performance for such a visually ambitious title. Overall, the review concludes that Assassin’s Creed: Shadows delivers a strong technical showcase—one that benefits from modern hardware and rewards players with both visual fidelity and a compelling gameplay experience.
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ASUS GeForce RTX 5090 TUF @ TechPowerUp
Published: Thursday, April 3, 2025 | By: GuestTechPowerUp recently published a detailed review of the ASUS GeForce RTX 5090 TUF, underscoring its outstanding performance capabilities and durable construction. Engineered for high-end gaming and intensive professional applications, this flagship GPU delivers cutting-edge graphics performance and exceptional thermal efficiency.
According to the review, the RTX 5090 TUF excels in both synthetic benchmarks and real-world usage, delivering fluid gameplay at ultra-high resolutions with ray tracing fully enabled. Its robust cooling solution—featuring an oversized heatsink and dual axial-tech fans—maintains optimal temperatures during extended workloads, effectively minimizing the risk of thermal throttling.
The card also offers a range of customization options through ASUS Aura Sync RGB lighting, allowing seamless integration into personalized system builds. In addition, the included GPU Tweak III software provides users with intuitive tools for performance tuning and real-time monitoring.
"The ASUS GeForce RTX 5090 TUF comes at a $450 price increase over the NVIDIA MSRP, and that's not even the OC model. You get excellent build quality, great looks, and some unexpected extra performance. Thanks to the dual BIOS you have a choice between great temperatures and a quiet gaming experience..."
Supporting advanced technologies such as DLSS 3 and real-time ray tracing, the RTX 5090 TUF is well-suited for gamers and professionals demanding premium performance, stability, and visual fidelity. TechPowerUp concludes that it is a compelling choice for those building high-performance systems with reliability and customization in mind.
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Ryzen 9 9950X3D Review @ GURU3D
Published: Wednesday, April 2, 2025 | By: GuestGuru3D recently released a comprehensive review of the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D, emphasizing its remarkable performance in both gaming and multitasking scenarios. Designed for high-end users, this processor boasts 16 cores and 32 threads, paired with AMD’s innovative 3D V-Cache technology to boost memory throughput and minimize latency.
According to the review, the Ryzen 9 9950X3D delivers top-tier gaming performance across a wide range of titles, frequently surpassing rival CPUs in benchmark results. The enhanced cache structure contributes to higher frame rates and faster load times, offering a smoother and more responsive gameplay experience.
Beyond gaming, the CPU proves highly capable in demanding productivity workloads, including video editing, 3D rendering, and development environments. Its impressive power efficiency supports sustained performance under heavy use, with minimal risk of thermal throttling.
Guru3D also commends the chip’s seamless integration with tools like AMD Ryzen Master, allowing users to fine-tune performance and monitor system health. Altogether, the Ryzen 9 9950X3D stands out as a powerful and versatile solution for enthusiasts and professionals alike.
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Acer RX 9070 Nitro OC @ LanOC Reviews
Published: Tuesday, April 1, 2025 | By: GuestLANOC recently published a comprehensive review of the Acer RX 9070 Nitro OC graphics card, highlighting its impressive performance and thoughtful design. This high-end GPU delivers outstanding gaming capabilities, driven by a powerful architecture and an advanced cooling system engineered for efficiency and stability.
In both benchmark testing and real-world gaming scenarios, the RX 9070 Nitro OC demonstrated strong performance, with high-speed memory enabling smooth gameplay at elevated resolutions. Its custom heatsink and multi-fan configuration ensure effective thermal management, minimizing the risk of thermal throttling during extended use.
"For AMDs upcoming GPU launch there had been rumors for months but this past week AMD confirmed that they were launching both the Radeon RX 9070 and Radeon RX 9070 XT. Both cards being their first RDNA 4 architecture cards. Today the performance embargo for both cards lifts and we can check out how they perform ahead of them hitting stores tomorrow. So let's dive in and find out how they compare to yesterday's announced RTX 5070 and more!"
The card also supports popular software tools such as MSI Afterburner for performance tuning and features Mystic Light RGB for customizable lighting, enhancing the visual appeal of any build.
Overall, LANOC concludes that the Acer RX 9070 Nitro OC is a compelling option for gamers seeking top-tier performance, reliable cooling, and enhanced customization features.
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AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D Review @ Vortez
Published: Tuesday, April 1, 2025 | By: GuestVortez recently published an in-depth review of the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D processor, emphasizing its outstanding performance and advanced features. Engineered for high-performance computing, this flagship CPU offers 16 cores and 32 threads, enhanced by AMD’s 3D V-Cache technology to optimize both gaming and multitasking efficiency.
The review highlights the processor’s exceptional gaming performance, frequently matching or outperforming competitors in benchmark tests. The addition of 3D V-Cache significantly improves memory bandwidth and latency, resulting in faster load times and smoother gameplay.
"AMD's Ryzen 9 9950X3D is the latest addition to the company’s high-performance CPU lineup, designed to push the limits of gaming and productivity. Built on the Zen 5 architecture, this processor features 16 cores, 32 threads, and a high clock speed, making it a powerful option for demanding users."
Beyond gaming, the Ryzen 9 9950X3D proves highly capable in productivity applications, excelling in rendering, video editing, and software development. Its impressive power efficiency ensures consistent performance under sustained workloads, minimizing the risk of thermal throttling.
Vortez concludes that the Ryzen 9 9950X3D offers an excellent value proposition, making it a compelling choice for gamers and professionals seeking top-tier performance.
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ASUS ProArt X870E-Creator Wi-Fi @ TechPowerUp
Published: Monday, March 31, 2025 | By: GuestTechPowerUp published a review of the ASUS ProArt X870E Creator WiFi motherboard lately, highlighting its robust features and performance. This high-end board supports AMD Ryzen processors and includes advanced cooling solutions like ProCool II power connectors and VRM heatsinks for stable operation under heavy workloads.
The review notes the impressive connectivity options, including Wi-Fi 6E, USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 Type-C ports, and a Thunderbolt 4 port, making it ideal for seamless data transfers and connectivity. Additionally, the board features extensive RGB lighting control through the Aura Sync ecosystem, aligning with the growing trend of aesthetic customization in motherboard designs.
"Arguably one of the best-looking motherboards out there, but what does the latest ProArt motherboard for AMD Ryzen CPUs bring to the table, considering its high price tag? Is it worth it compared to the competition, even for creators?"TechPowerUp praises the user-friendly BIOS interface and comprehensive software suite, such as AI Suite III and ProArt Creator Hub, which enhance productivity and customization options. At our website, we appreciate the resurgence of decorative elements in motherboard design, as it allows users to create not only powerful but also visually stunning PC builds.
Overall, the ASUS ProArt X870E Creator WiFi is a top choice for content creators seeking superior performance and advanced features.
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ASUS ProArt Z890-Creator WiFi Z890 Motherboard Review @ APH Networks
Published: Monday, March 31, 2025 | By: GuestAPH Networks recently published a review article for the ASUS ProArt Z890-Creator WiFi motherboard, highlighting its premium design and creator-focused features. Built on the Intel Z890 chipset and LGA1851 socket, it supports Intel’s latest Core Ultra Series 2 processors and up to 256GB of DDR5 memory. The board includes five M.2 slots, dual PCIe 5.0 x16 lanes, and robust connectivity options such as Thunderbolt 5, 10Gb Ethernet, Wi-Fi 7, and Bluetooth 5.4. With a sleek black-and-gold finish, extensive BIOS tuning, and a price around $490, APH Networks praised it as a solid, high-end choice for creative professionals and enthusiasts.
"The ASUS ProArt Z890-Creator WiFi is a powerful and well-designed Z890 motherboard loaded to the brim with features all in a professional looking package..."
It would seem the ArtDeco scene is back. Sadly, on this motherboard it will be hidden behind your massive video card and blinding ARGB lights. But, at least you will know that you have a professional grade motherboard for making graphics even better. -
G.SKILL Unveils High-Capacity, Low-Latency DDR5-6000 CL26 48GBx2 Memory Kit for AMD AM5 Platform
Published: Sunday, March 30, 2025 | By: Guest(19 March 2025) – G.SKILL International Enterprise Co., Ltd., the world’s leading brand of performance overclock memory and PC components, is announcing a new high-capacity, low-latency DDR5 specification of DDR5-6000 CL26 with a total of 96GB (48GBx2) kit capacity, intended for the AMD AM5 platform. Designed for PC enthusiasts, gamers, professionals, and AI applications who are looking for high performance, this new memory kit enables low-latency performance at high kit capacities on the latest AMD computing platforms.
High-Capacity & Low-Latency Performance DDR5 Memory for AMD AM5
G.SKILL continues to push the limits of DDR5 memory with the new DDR5-6000 CL26 at a high kit capacity of 96GB (48GBx2). Featuring a very low latency timing of CL26-36-36-96, this memory kit is engineered to provide efficiency and responsiveness for high-performance computing tasks, such as content creation, 3D modeling, or AI applications, on the latest AMD AM5 platforms. See below for a Memtest validation screenshots on the ASUS ROG CROSSHAIR X870E HERO motherboard with the AMD Ryzen™ 9 9950X3D desktop processor, as well as on the MSI MPG X870E CARBON WIFI motherboard with the AMD Ryzen™ 9 9900X desktop processor.
Fine Tuning: DDR5-6000 CL26-36-36 2x24GB
Following the previous announcement of the DDR5-6000 CL26-39-39-96 at 48GB (24GBx2) kit capacity, G.SKILL is updating this specification with an even lower tRCD and tRP latency of DDR5-6000 CL26-36-36-96 at 48GB (24GBx2) – making it an ideal choice for the latest compatible AMD AM5 platforms. Refer to the Memtest validation screenshot below on the ASUS ROG CROSSHAIR X870E HERO motherboard with the AMD Ryzen™ 9 9900X desktop processor.Overclock Profile Support & Availability
These new DDR5 specifications comes with AMD EXPO (Extended Profile for Overclocking) technology for easy memory overclocking via the motherboard BIOS on supported platforms, and will be offered under the Trident Z5 Royal Neo, Trident Z5 Neo RGB, and Ripjaws M5 Neo RGB memory series. These memory kits will be rolling out to G.SKILL worldwide distribution partners starting in May 2025.
