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AMD's new Zeppelin CPU spotted, features 32 CPU cores
AMD has been in the headlines quite a bit this year, and we're only a month into 2016. According to the latest information, AMD is working on a new EHP (or Exascale Heterogeneous Processor) that has been confirmed by an AMD engineer, who has also confirmed the name of the processor, too: Zeppelin.
Zeppelin is a new Multi Chip Module, that features 32 Zen cores tied into AMD's impressive Coherent Fabric - which offers 100GB/sec of bandwidth - compared to PCIe that offers around 15GB/sec. The latency has also been reduced from 500ns to something much smaller, but the bigger question is whether Zeppelin refers to the Zen processor cluster or the MCM as a whole.
Digging into Zeppelin, we find the Vega 10-based MCM. Vega 10 will sport up to 4 GMIs (Global Memory Interconnects), which allow the CPU to talk to the GPU at 100GB/sec, courtesy of the Coherent Fabric. The MCM is also capable of communicating with the RAM at 100GB/sec too, which allows for a super-fast system with magnitudes more bandwidth than we have right now.
Continue reading: AMD's new Zeppelin CPU spotted, features 32 CPU cores (full post)
Dragon's Dogma mod fixes aspect ratio for multiple monitor setups
If you're playing the PC version of Dragon's Dogma: Dark Arisen with anything but 16:9 aspect ratio (mainly 16:10 and multi-monitor users), you'll notice a wonky aspect ratio correction, leading to unpleasant gameplay and interface navigation. Fortunately, the mod community has come to the rescue with the Agnostic Dragon mod, which corrects this issue and related others. This one comes especially recommended because it's from Kaldaien, who worked on the Tales of Zestiria 30 FPS fix.
Agnostic Dragon is in the early stages (current version number is 0.2.0), but it should get the job done much better than the default method, and will likely be updated frequently in the months ahead. Hit the source to grab it. There you can and should also take a look at the current known issues.
Continue reading: Dragon's Dogma mod fixes aspect ratio for multiple monitor setups (full post)
Tales of Symphonia is locked at 30 FPS, 720p on PC
Tales of Zestiria was quite a solid PC port apart from the 30 FPS lock, but even that was rectified with a community-created fix eventually. Not so with follow-up Tales of Symphonia: user reports indicate the game is again locked at 30 FPS, but also the rendering resolution is fixed to 720p (it upscales if you select a higher resolution), there is missing text and typos, the interface often displays PS3 buttons even when using keyboard and mouse, the config and save menus can take 30 seconds to load on Windows 7 (this is being investigated), and it has DRM called VMProtect that creates a new .exe upon every boot. That last bit is concerning unto itself, but it also means you can't do things like force AA through your GPU settings.
To top it all off, the developer's username was "Lazy Mofo" on Steam, before he changed it following complaints. He also has a VAC ban from about 10 years ago. Perhaps this was a false positive, but it must be noted.
The creator of the 30 FPS fix for Zestiria says he'll get around to fixing Symphonia as well, but it won't be for awhile.
Continue reading: Tales of Symphonia is locked at 30 FPS, 720p on PC (full post)
AMD will talk about its new GPUOpen initiative at GDC 2016
AMD recently launched a new open-source initiative called GPUOpen, a new philosophy backed by optimized software that's specifically designed to let developers harness more graphical power regardless of platform--PC or console. Team Red will discuss GPUOpen at GDC 2016 in March, and open up about the new project and how it'll shake up the world of gaming.
GPUOpen is essentially AMD's answer to NVIDIA's GameWorks, and will give devs more power over GPU integration and provide them with a wealth of tools, effects, SDKs, and a huge collaborative network of open-source software and connections with other developers. AMD also wants to use GPUOpen to remove the hardware limitation disparity between PC and consoles by giving "open and unrestricted access" to graphics hardware.
"GPUOpen is a new philosophy spearheaded by AMD that aims to bridge the gap between console and PC game development by allowing optimal access to the GPU for developers," reads a statement provided by AMD. "GPUOpen is a portal to effects, SDKs, libraries and tools that provides various levels of GPU access and functionalities for real-time graphics and content creation. GPUOpen marks the beginning of a new era where developers are able to achieve their artistic and technical vision via open and unrestricted access to the GPU."
Continue reading: AMD will talk about its new GPUOpen initiative at GDC 2016 (full post)
BIOSTAR launches H170GT3 motherboard with legacy PS/2 ports
While your child or smaller sibling may have no idea what they're used for, BIOSTAR has announced the return of PS/2 ports in its H170GT3 RACING motherboard.
Paired with features such as eight USB 3.0 and four USB 2.0 ports, BIOSTAR further promises four DDR4 slots, two PCI-E x16 3.0 ports, a single M.2 32GB/s port and more on this new model. If you're after a little bling, this product also comes fully optioned with BIOSTAR's Vivid LED DJ feature, further providing LED strips on the motherboard and one-touch mode selection for eco and performance boost profiles.
LAN is provided thanks to Intel's i219V technology and this motherboard operates around a H170 chipset, offering up compatibility with any LGA 1151 processor. If you're looking at graphics grunt, this new release will also support AMD Crossfire configurations, further allowing for extra spacing between the PCI-e X16 slots.
Continue reading: BIOSTAR launches H170GT3 motherboard with legacy PS/2 ports (full post)
New AMD Crimson drivers add CrossFire to Fallout 4, Tomb Raider
MD has just rolled its new Radeon Software Crimson Edition 16.1.1 drivers, bringing performance optimizations and long-overdue CrossFire support to a number of games.
The new Crimson drivers add CrossFire profiles for Fallout 4 and Rise of the Tomb Raider, allowing both games to leverage the power of multi-AMD video cards. Just four days ago AMD promised hotfix optimizations for Rise of the Tomb Raider, and it's great to see they've delivered.
Gamers instantly noticed the absence of CrossFire support in both games upon release, especially Crystal Dynamic's performance-demanding Rise of the Tomb Raider. Based on our Rise of the Tomb Raider PC analysis, AMD cards pushed their own muscle against NVIDIA's GPUs, despite the fact the game's engine was built with Team Green hardware.
Continue reading: New AMD Crimson drivers add CrossFire to Fallout 4, Tomb Raider (full post)
Another StarCraft II professional arrested, more match fixing claims
While members of Korean StarCraft II professional team PRIME were arrested along with some auxiliary personel due to match-fixing and betting scandals recently, news has come to light of another arrest - this time being yet another Korean professional gamer, called 'Life' aka Lee Seung Hyun.
As announced by the same people who arrested YoDa, BBoongBBoong and former PRIME head-coach Gerrard late last year, the Changwon Prosector's office recently confirmed the nature and happenings of this new case.
Life has been arrested "on charges of receiving money for match fixing", stated the translation on Team Liquid, with a spokesperson from the prosecutor's office saying that they "can not reveal the specific allegations being called the Lee investigation" at this time.
Continue reading: Another StarCraft II professional arrested, more match fixing claims (full post)
Rocket League coming to Xbox One later this month
We've known for a while that the physics-bending sensation Rocket League was coming to the Xbox One, but we didn't know exactly when. Until now, that is--the wacky, chaotically-fun sports zoomer will hit Microsoft's all-in-one system later this month.
In a recent Tweet, the developers at Psyonix revealed that Rocket League is currently in certification with the ID@Xbox program. The devs targeted a mid-February release, and since the game's such a popular spectacle, I don't see how Microsoft won't make it a priority and fast-track its approval.
The Xbox One port will release right in time for Rocket League's new loot update, which dramatically improves item drop rates and quality.
Continue reading: Rocket League coming to Xbox One later this month (full post)
LG's new Super Bowl ad for 4K OLED Signature TV features Liam Neeson
LG has been teasing its Super Bowl 2016 ad, but we now have the full thing to check out - starring none other than Taken star Liam Neeson. Check it out, below:
Neeson stars as a "man from the future", saying that he has knowledge of a world that is completely dominated by OLED screens. The ad was produced by Hollywood director Ridley Scott, and directed by his son Jake Scott. LG is expected to push their new Signature range of 4K OLED TVs during the Super Bowl, something we saw at CES 2016 and promptly had our jaws on the floor over. If you're in the market for a new TV and can afford it, LG has the best TVs money can buy.
Continue reading: LG's new Super Bowl ad for 4K OLED Signature TV features Liam Neeson (full post)
Virtual reality is definitely on Nintendo's radar
With the HTC Vive, Oculus Rift and Sony's PS4-powered PlayStation VR headsets on the way, all eyes are on virtual reality as the next big thing in gaming. Nintendo, however, has yet to embrace the new tech and remains skeptical of its lack of social interactions, but it looks like the Japanese console-maker is changing its mind about VR.
According to Kantan Games analyst Serkan Toto, Nintendo told its investors during a briefing that it's "looking into VR". The statement is quite vague, but could indicate a big shift in the company's future R&D plans. Or it could just be an affirmation meant to appease investors who see VR as a new lucrative platform.
Nintendo has traditionally been dubious about virtual reality over the past few years. Back at E3 2015, Mario creator Shigeru Miyamoto said that because VR is an isolated, closed-off and personal experience, it "isn't a good fit" for NIntendo's current plans. The company's main ethos is to create social games that are dynamic, fun, and can be played by multiple people in a living room space, and VR seems to be the antithesis of that.
Continue reading: Virtual reality is definitely on Nintendo's radar (full post)