HW News - New GPU Competitor, ASUS RX 7900 XTX, 2-Slot RTX 4090 Blower In this week's Hardware News recap, the spotlight is on the latest announcements in the GPU market, starting with the ASUS RX 7900 XTX, followed by the intriguing new entrant from Moore Threads and some noteworthy gaming industry updates.
ASUS RX 7900 Series Unveiled
ASUS recently showcased their 7900 XTX series card, which features a hefty triple fan design and measures at a staggering 3.63 slots wide. This dimension poses a compatibility challenge for many users, requiring very specific case sizes to accommodate it effectively. ASUS claims the card is optimized for thermal performance with its die-cast metal frame and supported by three PCIe 8-pin power connectors, allowing a total board power of 350 Watts. The card's length extends to 352.9 mm, meaning it may not fit into cases that are only slightly shorter. The upcoming OC edition promises further overclocking capabilities, although details about the potential custom BIOS remain scarce.
Moore Threads’ New GPU
Adding competition to the GPU space, the Chinese company Moore Threads introduced its MTT S80 gaming GPU, which utilizes a novel architecture distinct from NVIDIA, Intel, or AMD. With claims of performance around the level of the Radeon 3060 Ti, it will be interesting to see how this newcomer fares in practical applications, especially considering its driver support and compatibility challenges that similar companies have faced in the past.
Gaming Industry Insights
Shifting focus to the gaming world, an eyebrow-raising development has emerged with the re-release of "Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2," which ships with less than 1GB of data on the disk, rendering it essentially a pointless physical copy unless followed up with an extensive download. This practice raises concerns about ownership and the nature of physical media in modern gaming.
Notable Hardware Highlights
- EK Water Blocks introduced a new water cooling solution for the RX 7900 XTX, featuring their Quantum Vector technology to enhance cooling efficiency.
- Galaxy's Hall of Fame RTX 4090 card is anticipated to showcase extreme overclocking capabilities, with reports indicating potential power draws exceeding 600 watts.
- A new 2-slot blower-style RTX 4090 from Manli raises concerns about thermal management at such a compact size, highlighting the ongoing struggle of fitting high-performance components in smaller cases.
Some Surprises
G.Skill has announced promising developments in DDR5 RAM, reaching impressive speeds that emphasize the push for high-performance hardware. Also, ASRock’s engineers have designed a side panel monitor that offers a unique, albeit peculiar approach, which might not sit well with every enthusiast looking to showcase their internals.
Final Thoughts
The GPU market is seeing dynamic shifts with new competitors like Moore Threads entering the fray alongside existing giants like ASUS. At the same time, traditional gaming models are evolving—or devolving—into less consumer-friendly products. What are your thoughts on the evolving landscape of graphics cards, and how do you feel about the new trends in gaming media packaging? Let’s discuss below!
Feel free to share your thoughts or experiences with the latest GPU announcements or any unique cooling solutions you’re considering!