Today we look at a new flagship power supply from Antec –  a unit so important Antec call it their ‘Signature'. This 2,200 watt behemoth is going to hit the UK market in a few weeks priced at £449.99, offering Cybenetics Titanium certification and support for the ATX 3.1/PCIe5.1 spec. It also ships with a full 12-year warranty.

Antec literature on the product is keen to highlight the adoption of 105C-rated Japanese capacitors inside. While 2200 watts is a little much for gamers today, Antec say it is designed for workstations, ‘professional workloads' and ‘AI and EDGE computing'. Everyone seems to focus on AI today of course, so that's always going to be a key selling point. Perhaps if you are running multiple RTX 5090 graphics cards, it is also a solid option for consideration.

The OEM for this power supply is Seasonic, based on their Prime PX-2200 ATX 3 unit released earlier this year.

Antec Signature 2200W Features:

• 80 Plus Platinum.
• Cybenetics Titanium (230v).
• ATX 3.1 and PCIe 5.1 Ready.
• 135mm Fluid Dynamic Bearing Fan.
• 12 Year Warranty Support.
• High End Components and Design.
• Highly Reliable aluminium electrolytic solid capacitors.
• Protection features: OPP, OVP, UVP, OCP, OTP, SCP.
• Fully Modular.

The post Antec Signature 2200W PSU Review (2025) first appeared on KitGuru.

Obsidian has been patching up Avowed with major updates every few months. Unfortunately, the Winter update, which contains new features like NewGame+ has been delayed at the last minute.

The Avowed Winter update was supposed to drop before the end of 2025, but the release date has now shifted to February 18th 2026 to coincide with the game's 1-year anniversary. It's not all bad news though, with the Winter update now transforming into an Anniversary update, Obsidian has also expanded the scope.

“If you've been following our Update Roadmap, you'll know we planned to release an update this fall. To break the bad news first: Avowed will not be receiving a fall update. The good news is that we're shifting our efforts toward a larger update coming next February, timed with the anniversary of the game's release.”

The new update will still include all of the features originally planned, like NG+ and Photo Mode, but with some added bonuses including more character customisation options, the ability to change appearance in the game world, a new weapon type and more.

We will learn more about the new additions to Avowed closer to the February 18th anniversary.

KitGuru Says: Out of the two games Obsidian released this year, Avowed edges out The Outer Worlds 2 for me, in large part thanks to the excellent combat. When it comes to dual-wielding and first-person spell casting, Avowed is in a class of its own.

The post Obsidian delays Avowed New Game+ update to early 2026 first appeared on KitGuru.

Today we’re taking a look at a prebuilt from Wired2Fire: the R7X3D 5080 Beast – MSI Edition. With a name like that it has to be good, right?! The components certainly back that name up on paper, with a Ryzen 7 9800X3D, MSI GeForce RTX 5080 Gaming Trio OC, 64GB of Klevv Cras V DDR5 RAM and a 4TB Lexar NM790 SSD. Today we’re aiming to find out if the ‘Beast’ has any bite to go with its bark!

Timestamps:

00:00 Intro
00:55 Pricing / Warranty
01:56 Hardware Specifications / Setup
07:27 Front I/O
08:00 Mat's thoughts so far
08:43 Fan configuration – some issues
09:15 Test setup
10:05 Cyberpunk 2077 (1440p and 4k)
11:19 Battlefield 6 (1440p and 4k)
12:17 F1 2025 (1440p and 4k)
13:07 Hogwarts Legacy (1440p and 4k)
14:07 Marvel Rivals (1440p and 4k)
15:06 Overall Gaming Experience
15:52 CPU and GPU Technical performance
16:55 Noise testing and Thermal Camera
17:25 Closing Thoughts

Specifications:

• CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D
• SSD: Lexar 4TB NM790 M.2 PCIe Gen4x4 NVMe SSD
• GPU: MSI RTX 5080 16G GAMING TRIO OC
• RAM: KLEVV CRAS V RGB 64GB DDR5 6000MHz
• Case: MSI MAG PANO 110R PZ White
• Motherboard: MSI AM5 X870E GAMING PLUS WIFI
• Cooling: MAG CORELIQUID I360 White
• PSU: MPG A1000GS 1000W

The core specs are confirmed in the following CPU-Z and GPU-Z screenshots:

 

I tested the R7X3D across 5 titles at both 1440p and 4K. Starting with rasterised performance before looking at the benefits to be gained when using DLSS on its performance preset and then also adding in frame generation. The below screenshots show some results, for a more in-depth look and more detailed breakdown, watch our video review on YouTube.

At 1440p, every title we tested ran exceptionally well with headroom to spare for high-refresh displays. 4K performance is strong too, though the most demanding games will dip under 60fps at native max settings. Enabling DLSS or Frame Generation quickly pushes those numbers back into very smooth territory, making this a system that can comfortably handle both competitive 1440p and visually rich 4K gaming without major compromises.

Hogwarts Legacy (3840×2160 – Max Settings)

Hogwarts Legacy (3840×2160 – Max Settings, DLSS Performance, 4X Multi Frame Generation)

Battlefield 6 (2560×1600 – Max Settings)

Battlefield 6 (2560×1600 – Max Settings, DLSS Performance, 4X Multi Frame Generation)

Closing Thoughts

There’s a lot to like about the R7X3D 5080 Beast. The pairing of Ryzen 7 9800X3D and RTX 5080 makes for a seriously capable gaming machine, delivering excellent high-refresh performance at 1440p and strong results at 4K when DLSS or Frame Generation are brought into the mix. Build quality is solid, cable management is tidy, and the all-MSI hardware gives it a cohesive look. The white theme with that frosted pump design makes for a smart-looking system. A sizeable 4TB SSD and a generous 5-year labour and 2-year parts warranty also help make this feel like a well-rounded package.

It’s not perfect, though. The case is clearly one of the areas where costs have been kept in check, and native 4K in the most demanding games still dips under 60fps with everything maxed. If you’re a purist who refuses to enable DLSS, you’ll end up tweaking some settings.

Pricing is very competitive when compared to building a system yourself to the same specification, but there's no getting away from the fact that this is still an expensive system whichever angle you look at it from.

Pros:

• The pairing of Ryzen 7 9800X3D CPU and RTX 5080 GPU offers great gaming performance at both 1440p and 4K.
• Very competitive pricing compared to building the same system yourself.
• 4TB Lexar NM790 SSD is fast and spacious.
• 64GB of RAM will handle more than just gaming.
• Great setup and cable management.

Cons:

• The case is not as premium as I’d hoped from a build of this specification.
• The AIO fans were not connected to the internal fan hub for easy control with the case's physical ‘LED’ button.

KitGuru says: A powerful and well-balanced high-end gaming PC with great 1440p performance and strong 4K results, though the case choice reminds you it’s not without compromise.

The post Wired2Fire R7X3D 5080 Beast MSI Edition Desktop Review first appeared on KitGuru.

Samsung has officially announced its first foray into the tri-fold smartphone market with the Galaxy Z TriFold, a device that expands the company’s foldable portfolio to a new form factor. The handset features a dual-hinge design that allows it to unfurl into a massive 10-inch tablet-style display, positioning it as the largest screen available on a Galaxy phone to date.

The Z Trifold's design revolves around dual titanium hinges, which allow the main screen to fold inwards, protecting the panel when closed. Moreover, Samsung has placed the 6.5-inch cover screen on the back of the folded stack. This cover panel uses a 21:9 aspect ratio with a resolution of 2520 x 1080 and offers a 120 Hz variable refresh rate, protected by Corning Gorilla Glass Ceramic 2.

When fully opened, the main 10-inch display offers a resolution of 2160 x 1584 and a peak brightness of 1,600 nits. Like the cover screen, it supports a variable 1-120 Hz refresh rate. Samsung has kept the chassis relatively slender, measuring 12.9 mm when folded and slimming down to just 3.9 mm at its thinnest point when open. The device weighs in at 309 g and retains an IP48 rating for dust and water resistance.

The Z TriFold is powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy, paired with 16 GB of RAM. Storage options include 512 GB and 1 TB. Power is provided by a 5,600 mAh battery split across three cells, supporting 45W wired charging and 15W wireless charging. Camera duties are handled by a 200 MP main sensor (ISOCELL HP2), joined by a 12 MP ultrawide and a 10 MP 3x telephoto lens. Both the cover and main displays feature 10 MP punch-hole selfie cameras.

On the software front, the device runs OneUI 8 based on Android 16. The larger canvas supports running three full-sized apps side-by-side in portrait mode. Most notably, this is the first Samsung phone to feature a standalone Samsung DeX mode that operates directly on the device without an external monitor, allowing for a desktop-like experience when paired with peripherals.

Samsung will release the Galaxy Z TriFold on December 12th in Korea and expand availability gradually. Official pricing is still unknown, but Korean listings suggest a price of 3,594,000 KRW (about £1,800).

KitGuru says: Do you think foldable phones are the future?

The post Samsung unveils Galaxy Z TriFold, the company’s first triple-screen device first appeared on KitGuru.

For Day 3 of the KitGuru Advent Calendar, we have teamed up with Sudokoo to give FIVE lucky winners a cooling upgrade. The winners for this one will each get a Proteus 360 AIO liquid cooler and some extra Mach120 fans to go with it.

We reviewed the Sudokoo Proteus 360 AIO liquid cooler earlier this year and came away impressed by the cooler's thermal performance and the digital LCD display on the CPU block. With an extra Mach120 triple pack, you'll be able to pack your case with extra fans for more airflow.

How to Enter:

To enter this giveaway, all you have to do is head over to our competition announcement post on Facebook, HERE. In the comments, leave an answer to the following question – What CPU cooler are you currently running?

This competition is open Worldwide.

The winners will be picked randomly shortly after 11AM GMT December 4th, and a new competition will be announced for Day 4. The chosen winners have 48 hours to respond, if we do not hear from them, a new winner will be picked.

Terms and Conditions: This competition is open worldwide, starting at 11AM GMT on December 3rd and ending at 10:59AM GMT on December 4th. Due to the busy Christmas season, prize deliveries could take longer than usual, and some prizes may not ship until January. In compliance with GDPR, we will not collect or store any personal information as part of this competition. Once the winner has been contacted and their prize received, personal details will be deleted from our email servers. Your details will not be shared, we respect your privacy.

KitGuru Says: Good luck to all who enter, we'll be back tomorrow morning to announce a winner and turn the calendar over to Day 4!

The post KitGuru Advent Calendar Day 3 – Win one of FIVE 360mm AIO liquid coolers! first appeared on KitGuru.

The Game Awards 2025 has officially opened the polls for its Players' Voice category, the only accolade in the upcoming ceremony determined entirely by the gaming community. Unlike the primary categories, where a global jury of media outlets heavily weights the outcome, the Players' Voice award hinges 100% on fan engagement. This year's contest is particularly interesting as it sees the return of the roguelike survival hit Megabonk, which had previously been withdrawn from the Best Debut Indie category by its developer but is now eligible for this community-driven prize.

The voting process for the Players' Voice award is structured as a three-round tournament designed to whittle down the initial pool of 30 nominees. The first round is currently underway and will conclude on December 3rd at 2:00 AM BST. In this initial phase, users can log into the official Game Awards website via their social accounts or email to select their top ten favourites from the longlist. The nominees include heavy hitters such as Battlefield 6, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, and Death Stranding 2, alongside older live-service titles like Genshin Impact and Warframe.

Once the first deadline passes, the field will be narrowed down to the top ten titles for Round 2, which is scheduled to kick off on December 4th at 5:00 PM BST. At that stage, voters will be limited to selecting just five titles. The competition intensifies for the third and final round, starting December 8th, where the remaining five nominees will face off for the single winning spot. The full list of nominees for the first round of The Game Awards 2025 Players’ Voice Award voting can be found below:

• Arc Raiders

• Battlefield 6

• Clair Obscur: Expedition 33

• Death Stranding 2: On The Beach

• Delta Force

• Dispatch

• Donkey Kong Bananza

• Doom: The Dark Ages

• Elden Ring Nightreign

• Final Fantasy XIV

• Fortnite

• Genshin Impact

• Ghost of Yōtei

• Hades II

• Helldivers 2

• Hollow Knight: Silksong

• Indiana Jones and the Great Circle

• Kingdom Come: Deliverance II

• Mario Kart World

• Marvel Rivals

• Megabonk

• Ninja Gaiden 4

• No Man's Sky

• Peak

• R.E.P.O.

• Silent Hill f

• Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds

• Split Fiction

• Warframe

• Wuthering Waves

Historical precedence suggests this award often favours titles with passionate, active communities. Black Myth: Wukong took home the accolade in 2024, following in the footsteps of Baldur's Gate 3 in 2023, Halo Infinite in 2021, and Ghost of Tsushima in 2020. The winner of this year's contest will be revealed live during the main ceremony at the Peacock Theatre in Los Angeles on December 11th.

KitGuru says: What games are you voting for in TGA's Players' Voice category? Who do you think will win the award?

The post Voting opens for The Game Awards’ Player Voice category first appeared on KitGuru.

DICE is reactivating its Battlefield Labs initiative, a community testing program designed to gather feedback. Initially, the tool was created before Battlefield VI and Redsec was released, but now it will be adapted to test updates before they go live. While participation is strictly by invitation, players can register their interest directly through the Electronic Arts website.

Following a brief hiatus, Dice confirmed that Labs sessions will resume starting today. The testing window is notably short, running from 10 PM to 12 PM BST for PC players on Steam and the EA App. As with previous tests, participants will be bound by an NDA to prevent the sharing of footage or details.

The focus of this specific session is to trial changes arriving in the December 9th patch. DICE is targeting core gameplay pillars that the community has been asking to be improved, including visual clarity, audio, and networking. In this session, these tweaks will be tested across the Eastwood and Operation Firestorm maps in the All-Out Warfare playlist.

Specific technical improvements being trialled include a revision of the footstep audio engine. The goal is to provide more accurate distance cues and clearer surface identification to help players locate enemies more easily. Hit registration has also been tuned to offer a smoother experience during close-quarters combat.

Looking beyond this update, DICE plans to utilise Battlefield Labs more frequently. The studio intends to use the platform to try out map redesigns, new mechanics and modes, environmental changes, and experimental rulesets such as reduced squad sizes.

KitGuru says: Are you registered on Battlefield Labs? Will you jump into the next test session or wait for the patch release to try out the changes?

The post DICE revives Battlefield Labs for upcoming Battlefield 6 patches first appeared on KitGuru.

Epomaker has officially released the QK108, a new mechanical keyboard that ignores the trend of shrinking form factors by offering a complete 100% layout, designed for users who require a numpad.

The QK108 offers plenty of customisation through the open-source VIA firmware. Unlike many pre-built keyboards that rely on proprietary software, the QK108 allows users to remap keys and record macros directly to the board's onboard memory using the web-based VIA interface. This ensures cross-platform compatibility, meaning settings are saved to the device rather than the specific computer it is connected to.

The chassis features a gasket-mount structure and five distinct layers of sound-dampening materials, including latex foam, PET sheets, and a bottom silicone layer. These layers promise to reduce hollow case ping and improve typing acoustics. Out of the box, it comes equipped with factory-lubed Wisteria Linear V2 or Sea Salt Silent switches and OEM-profile PBT keycaps. The PCB is hot-swappable, allowing users to replace switches without soldering.

Above the number pad, Epomaker has integrated a smart screen and a programmable rotary knob. The screen can display system status, date/time, custom GIFs, or a new “Typing Mode” that visualises keystrokes in real time. The knob can be configured for various functions, including volume control, brightness adjustment, or playlist navigation. Connectivity is handled via a tri-mode system supporting wired USB-C, Bluetooth 5.0, and 2.4 GHz wireless. The unit is powered by an 8000 mAh battery, which Epomaker claims provides up to 229 hours of usage with the RGB lighting and screen disabled. The Epomaker QK108 is now available for $84.99/€76.95 at Epomaker's official website.

KitGuru says: With most keyboard brands releasing TKL, 75%, and 65% keyboards, it's nice to see something a bit more traditional but updated with modern features.

The post Epomaker launches QK108, a full-size gasket-mounted keyboard with VIA support first appeared on KitGuru.

This week Nvidia revealed DLSS upgrades for several titles, including a refresher on major updates coming to previously released DLSS-supported games. On top of that, Nvidia has announced that it is giving away a new RTX 5090 graphics card with a custom Arc Raiders decal across the GPU shroud.

The Arc Raiders RTX 5090 giveaway is running through Nvidia's own social channels, including Facebook, Instagram and X. You can quickly find all of those posts through this page if you would like to enter.

As for DLSS titles, Where winds Meet of the big headliner this week. The free-to-play action RPG has launched with full DLSS support, including the latest version, DLSS 4 with Multi-Frame Generation, a feature that is exclusive to RTX 50 series graphics cards. If you have an RTX 40 GPU, you will still be able to activate standard Frame Generation. Another new game launching this month is Forest Doesn't Care, which is launching with regular DLSS Super Resolution, which is usable on all RTX series graphics cards.

HITMAN World of Assassination is an older title but it is still getting updates. Since launch, the game has been updated with DLSS 3 with Frame Generation, accessible on RTX 40 series GPUs and up. It is unclear if the game will eventually support the full DLSS 4 feature set, but the game just got its latest DLC, inviting players to take down Slim Shady, so there is a good chance the game gets future tech updates too.

Battlefield 6 is also entering the final part of its first season with the Winter Offensive content update. Battlefield 6 continues to support a wide range of Nvidia features, including DLSS 4 with Multi-Frame Generation, DLAA, Reflex and more.

KitGuru Says: Have you tried Where Winds Meet since its launch late last month? 

 

The post Where Winds Meet and more get DLSS updates this week first appeared on KitGuru.

As part of CD Projekt Red's earnings report recently, we learned that the teams behind both The Witcher 4 and Cyberpunk 2 have continued to grow. Now, the company has revealed a few more interesting details about its upcoming plans as part of a call with shareholders.

During CD Projekt Red's recent financial call, co-CEO, Michał Nowakowski, reaffirmed the idea that The Witcher 4 will not be coming out in 2026. However, he also noted that the studio plans to release the entirety of its new Witcher trilogy within a pretty short time span.

Here is the full quote via Eurogamer: “As we had stated before, our plan still is to launch the whole trilogy within a six-year period, so yes, that would mean we would plan to have a shorter development time between TW5 and TW6 and so on.”

There is still no word on when the first game in this new trilogy, The Witcher 4, will release. CD Projekt Red has spent the last couple of years rebuilding itself into a true multi-game studio and re-training its developers to use Unreal Engine 5 rather than its own in-house tools, in part due to the delays managing the internal engine caused during Cyberpunk 2077's development.

If CDPR is intended to release The Witcher 5 just 2 years or so after The Witcher 4, then it is highly unlikely we see any grand expansions, which was previously a hallmark of The Witcher 3 and Cyberpunk 2077. However, the lack of DLC won't be too painful if the turnaround time is really that quick.

KitGuru Says: Few developers would be able to complete a whole trilogy in six years nowadays. The last successful series I can think of would be Mass Effect, where the first game released in late 2007, and wrapped up in March 2012 with the release of Mass Effect 3.

The post CDPR wants to complete its new Witcher trilogy within six years first appeared on KitGuru.

Microsoft has now revealed the next wave of titles coming to Game Pass over the next couple of weeks. This is likely to be the last major Game Pass update for the year, but the team has made the most of it with a large number of titles joining the library in quick succession.

Marvel Cosmic Invasion is one of the headlining additions for the December Game Pass update. This is a new beat em' up, with a select roster of Marvel heroes each with their own move sets and special abilities. The game is made by the same people who worked on TMNT Shredder's Revenge, so they are veterans of the classic side-scroller genre.

Other major titles listed this month include Mortal Kombat 1, which is replacing Mortal Kombat 11 in the line-up, as well as Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, which is now joining Game Pass Premium. Previously, the game had only been available to Ultimate tier and PC game pass subscribers.

Here is the full list of games along with dates and supported platforms:

• Marvel Cosmic Invasion – Recent release (Cloud, Console, Handheld, PC)
• Total Chaos – Recent release (Cloud, PC, Xbox Series X|S)
• Young Suns (Game Preview) – Recent release (Cloud, Console, PC)
• Lost Records: Bloom & Rage – December 2 (Cloud, PC, Xbox Series X|S)
• Monster Train 2 – December 3 (Cloud, PC, Xbox Series X|S)
• Spray Paint Simulator – December 3 (Cloud, Console, PC)
• 33 Immortals (Game Preview) – December 4 (Cloud, Console, PC)
• Indiana Jones and the Great Circle – December 4 (Cloud, PC, Xbox Series X|S)
• Routine – December 4 (Cloud, Console, Handheld, PC)
• A Game About Digging A Hole – December 9 (Cloud, Handheld, PC, Xbox Series X|S)
• Death Howl – December 9 (Handheld, PC)
• Dome Keeper – December 9 (Cloud, Console, Handheld, PC)
• Mortal Kombat 1 – December 10 (Cloud, PC, Xbox Series X|S)
• Bratz: Rhythm & Style – December 11 (Cloud, Console, PC)

KitGuru Says: What do you think of this month's Game Pass line-up?

The post Xbox Game Pass line-up for December revealed first appeared on KitGuru.

The PlayStation 5 has been a massive success for Sony. Despite a somewhat slow start due to supply constraints related to a global pandemic, Sony’s latest and greatest console has gone on to sell over 80 million units so far – outpacing its predecessor. One region in which the system is doing particularly well is the UK, with the PS5 sitting as the best-selling console of the year so far, despite the Switch 2’s arrival.

In a report by industry analyst Christopher Dring via TheGameBusiness (paywalled), it was revealed that Sony’s PlayStation 5 is currently sitting as the best-selling console of the year in the UK – outselling the Switch 2 despite seeing a 15.6% decline compared to last year (via Nielsen IQ).

Of course, the Switch 2 did not arrive until part way through 2025, but considering the fact that Sony’s console is over 5 years old now, its current placement is notable.

Outside of hardware, Dring offered some updates on recently released games, confirming that (in the UK) The Outer Worlds 2 and Little Nightmares 3 are both tracking behind their predecessors sales-wise. Additionally, though not directly compared to previous titles, Ninja Gaiden 4 failed to enter the top 10 during its release month of October.

Of course, all of this data pertains to one region and such is not indicative of the wider industry trends. Still, it is interesting to see how both video game hardware and software has been performing in the UK over the past year.

KitGuru says: Are you surprised by the PS5’s continued dominance? Will the Switch 2 overtake it permanently by next year? Let us know your thoughts down below.

The post PlayStation 5 is the best-selling console of the year in the UK first appeared on KitGuru.

Over the past week we’ve heard an increasing amount regarding the long-awaited and ever-elusive Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time Remake. First announced all the way back in 2020 alongside a 2021 release date, negative reactions toward the trailer led to Ubisoft ultimately rebooting the project. While we have yet to see anything from this new version of the remake, recent leaks suggesting the game is arriving early next year have now been corroborated – with Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time Remake said to be launching on the 16th of January.

This past week, notable leakers insider-gaming published an article claiming that the long-awaited Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time Remake would be arriving some time in mid-January of 2026.

Now, not only has this been corroborated, but also elaborated upon, with trusted insider Tom Henderson giving us an exact date: The 16th of January 2026.

Officially, we’ve heard little from the project since the initial re-reveal teaser back in 2024 – though the team did release a statement earlier this Summer to say “we’re still deep in the game — exploring, building, and ensuring the sands move with purpose. This game is being crafted by a team that truly cares, and they're pouring their hearts (and a lot of coffee) into every step. Thank you for sticking with us.”

Given the fact that the Sands of Time Remake was delayed, retooled and rebooted as a result of reactions to the trailer, it will be highly interesting to see just how different this take on the remake winds up being when it is shown off; likely during The Game Awards.

KitGuru says: Have you been waiting for the Sands of Time remake? Did the original attempt look that bad to you? Can a remake live up to the original? Let us know your thoughts down below.

The post Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time Remake release date has leaked first appeared on KitGuru.

Each year we see a flood of new CPU coolers hitting the market and 360mm AIOs remain one of the most competitive categories. This roundup brings together some of the latest 360mm liquid coolers from ID-Cooling, Lian Li, Thermaltake, and Cooler Master, covering a mix of designs, features, and price points. We’re here to see how these coolers stack up not just in raw thermal performance, but also in noise levels, build quality, and overall value. Let’s get into it.

Cooler Master MasterLiquid Core NEX 360 Black ARGB: Price and availability TBA

• Dual‑Chamber Pump Design — Cooler Master's latest patented dual‑chamber pump improves water pressure and optimises flow directly to CPU hot spots for better thermal performance.
• Infinity Mirror Pump Cover — A stylish infinity‑mirror design on the pump head gives a modern aesthetic and rotates for always correct logo orientation.
• 360 mm Radiator with High‑Efficiency Fins — The large 360mm radiator maximises surface area for optimal heat dissipation, paired with pre-installed fans for consistent cooling performance.
• 400 mm Tubing & Easy Setup — Core Nex 360 comes with 400 mm tubing for flexible mounting, plus pre‑installed fans, pre-mounted brackets, and pre-applied CryoFuze thermal paste for fast, clean installation.

Specifications

• Compatibility: Intel LGA 1851 / 1700 / 1200 / 1150 / 1151 / 1155 / 1156, AMD AM5 / AM4
• Radiator Material: Aluminium
• Radiator Dimensions: 394 × 119.6 × 27.2 mm
• Pump Dimensions: 83.6 × 78.5 × 62.9mm
• Pump LED: Addressable RGB
• Pump Speed: 2800 ±10% RPM
• Pump MTTF: >35,000 hours
• Pump Noise Level: 25 dBA (Max)
• Connector: 3-Pin ARGB + 4-Pin PWM
• Tube Length: 400 mm
• Fan Dimensions: 120 x 120 x 25 mm
• Fan LED: Addressable RGB
• Fan Speed: 650–1750 RPM ±10%
• Fan Max Airflow: 122.4 m³/h (71.9 CFM)
• Fan Max Air Pressure: 1.86 mmH₂O
• Fan Noise Level: 27.2 dBA (Max)
• Fan Bearing Type: Rifle Bearing
• Fan Connector: 7-Pin PWM + ARGB
• Fan Rated Current: 0.26 A
• Warranty: 5 years

ID-Cooling FX 360 LCD: Available to purchase now from Amazon UK priced at £69.99 HERE.

• Customisable 1.48-inch LCD — The pump block sports an LCD screen with 240 × 240 resolution, 18-bit (262K colour) display with 300 cd/m² backlight. The screen can display real-time performance stats, custom images and GIFs, plus videos and system information.
• High-speed ceramic-pump design — The ID-Cooling Gen 7 pump spins at up to 2,900 RPM, uses a durable ceramic bearing rated for a lifespan of 50,000 hours.
• Robust 360 mm aluminium radiator — Measuring 396 × 120 × 27 mm, with 12 waterways, and a dense fin stack to support up to 350W TDP.
• Three AS-120 V2 ARGB fans — The equipped AS-120 V2 ARGB fans run from 300 to 2,000 RPM with a maximum airflow of 58 CFM and low maximum noise output of 27.2 dB(A).

Specifications

• CPU Socket Compatibility: Intel LGA1851/1700/1200/115X, AMD AM4/AM5
• TDP: 350W
• Radiator Dimensions: 396 × 120 × 27 mm
• Radiator Material: Aluminium
• Tube Material: Premium sleeved tubing
• Tube Length: 420 mm
• Waterblock Dimensions: 73 × 69 × 57 mm
• Cold Plate Material: Copper
• Pump Speed: 2900 RPM ±10% (PWM)
• Pump Bearing: Ceramic
• Pump Life Expectancy: 50,000 hours
• Pump Noise Level: 25 dB(A)
• Fans: AS-120-ARGB V2
• Fan Dimensions: 120 x 120 x 25 mm
• Fan Speed: 300–2000 RPM ±10%
• Fan Max Airflow: 58 CFM
• Fan Max Static Pressure: 1.94 mmH₂O
• Fan Max Noise: 27.2 dB(A)
• Fan Rated Current: 0.15A
• Fan Bearing Type: Hydraulic
• Connector: 7-pin (4-pin PWM + 5V 3-pin ARGB)
• LCD: 1.48 inch, 240 x 240 px, 300cd/m2, 18-bit 262K

ID-Cooling FX 360 LCD PE: Available to purchase now from Amazon UK priced at £79.99 HERE.

• 1.48-inch Customisable LCD Display – Pump head mounted LCD with 240 x 240 resolution, offering an 18‑bit colour depth (262K colours) and a 300 cd/m² backlight. This allows users to display real-time system information — like CPU temperature or frequency or even set custom graphics and short animations.
• 350W Rated Thermal Dissipation (TDP) – Built to handle high-performance CPUs with a 350W TDP rating, making it a solid choice for enthusiasts or gamers running demanding workloads.
• 360 mm Radiator & Premium Tubing — Featuring a 396 × 120 × 27 mm aluminium radiator with 420 mm long premium sleeved tubing for efficient heat dissipation.
• Powerful, Quiet Fans — Equipped with three 120 mm AP-120-K fans with a speed range of zero to 2450 RPM, delivering up to 88.75 CFM max airflow and maximum noise output of 34.3 dB(A).

Specifications

• CPU Socket Compatibility: Intel LGA1851/1700/1200/115X, AMD AM4/AM5
• TDP: 350W
• Radiator Dimensions: 396 × 120 × 27 mm
• Radiator Material: Aluminium
• Tube Material: Premium Sleeved Tubing
• Tube Length: 420 mm
• Waterblock Dimensions: 73 × 69 × 57 mm
• Cold Plate Material: Copper
• Pump Speed: 2900 RPM ±10% (PWM)
• Pump Bearing: Ceramic
• Pump Life Expectancy: 50,000 hours
• Pump Noise Level: 25 dB(A)
• Fans: AP-120-K
• Fan Dimensions: 120 x 120 x 28 mm
• Fan Speed: 0–2450 RPM ±10%
• Fan Max Airflow: 88.75 CFM
• Fan Max Static Pressure: 4.35 mmH₂O
• Fan Max Noise: 34.3 dB(A)
• Fan Rated Current: 0.22A
• Fan Bearing Type: Hydraulic Bearing
• Connector: 4-pin PWM
• LCD: 1.48 inch, 240 x 240 px, 300cd/m2, 18-bit 262K

Lian Li HydroShift II LCD-S 360TL: Available to purchase now from OverclockersUK priced at £199.99 HERE.

• Large 3.4″ IPS LCD Display — The HydroShift II LCD-S 360TL is equipped with a 480×480 resolution IPS screen featuring 500 nits peak brightness and 60 Hz refresh rate, offering sharp visuals, smooth animations, and real‑time system monitoring.
• Magnetic Hot‑Swap Mount — The display uses magnetically attached pogo‑pin connectors, allowing it to be installed or removed from the CPU block without powering down the system.
• Upgraded High‑Performance Pump — The latest Lian Li enhanced pump reaches an operating speed of up to 3,200 RPM, delivering stronger cooling while keeping noise lower.
• Clean, Minimalist Design — HydroShift II is equipped with side-mounted tubing with USB power/data lines fully concealed inside the tubes for a sleek, cable-free look.

Specifications

• CPU Socket Compatibility: Intel LGA1700 LGA1851, AMD AM4 AM5
• Colour: Black / White
• Radiator Dimensions: 400 x 122 x 24mm
• Radiator Material: Aluminium
• Tube Length: 450/470mm
• Waterblock Dimensions: 91 x 99 x 62mm
• Cold Plate Material: Copper
• Pump Speed: 1600-3200 RPM ±10%
• Pump Noise Level: ≤28dBA
• Fans: UNI FAN TL Wireless
• Fan Dimensions: 124 x 120 x 28mm
• Fan Speed: Zero, 200-2600RPM
• Fan Max Airflow: 90.1CFM
• Fan Max Static Pressure: 3.97 mmH2O
• Fan Max Noise: 33dBA
• Fan Bearing Type: Fluid Dynamic Bearing (FDB)
• LCD: 3.4″ IPS, 480 x 480, 500nit, 60Hz
• Warranty: 6 Years

Thermaltake Minecube 360 Ultra ARGB Sync: Expected availability from Scan priced at £325.

• Patented Quad‑LCD Cube Display — The Thermaltake Minecube Ultra 360 ARGB Sync is equipped with four 3.95″ TFT LCD panels (720 × 720 resolution) that can display system info independently or fuse into a single panoramic display.
• Advanced Customisation with TT LCD Software — Using TT LCD Screen Software, users can upload GIFs, MP4s or custom data layouts to each screen or combine them into a unified style.
• MagForce 2.0 Fan Connection + Swappable Blade Design — The included SWAFAN EX12 fans use MagForce 2.0 magnetic quick connections to reduce cable clutter. Plus, users can quickly swap fan blades (standard vs reverse) to switch the airflow direction without losing RGB effects.
• Integrated VRM Cooling Fan — The pump block also includes a built‑in cooling fan (up to 3,500 RPM) to cool surrounding VRM components and help keep the LCD displays running reliably.

Specifications

• CPU Socket Compatibility: Intel LGA 2066/2011-3/2011/1851/1700/1200/1156/1155/1151/1150 AMD AM5/AM4/AM3+/AM3/AM2+/AM2/FM2/FM1
• TDP: 360W
• Radiator Dimensions: 396 x 120 x 27 mm
• Radiator Material: Aluminium
• Tube Material: Rubber
• Tube Length: 460mm
• Waterblock Dimensions:
• Cold Plate Material: Copper
• Pump Speed: PWM 1500~3300 RPM
• Pump Fan Speed: 3500 RPM
• Pump Fan Noise Level: 20 dB-A
• Fans: SWAFAN EX12
• Fan Dimensions: 120 x 120 x 25 mm
• Fan Speed: PWM 500~2000 RPM
• Fan Max Airflow: Standard Fan Blade 57.11 CFM, Reverse Fan Blade 56.26 CFM
• Fan Max Static Pressure: Standard Fan Blade 2.39 mm-H2O, Reverse Fan Blade 2.02 mm-H2O
• Fan Max Noise: Standard Fan Blade 30.6 dB-A, Reverse Fan Blade 32.5 dB-A
• Fan Rated Current: 0.27 A & 0.72 A
• LCD: 3.95” TFT-LCD x 4, 720×720 (RGB) px
• Warranty: 3 Years

The post CPU AIO Cooler Round Up – November 2025 first appeared on KitGuru.

While the Nintendo Switch 2 has so far been somewhat light on content when it comes to exclusive first-party titles, The sequel system does have plenty of projects in the pipeline, with the recently-released Kirby Air Riders seemingly being a core Switch 2 release for 2025. Unfortunately, the Sakurai-developed racer is off to a slow start, launching at number 20 on the European sales charts.

Compiled by GSD and reported by TheGameBusiness, the latest weekly video game sales charts (as of the 23rd of November) for the European region have now been released, revealing some interesting omissions.

Despite being one of Nintendo’s most marketed games so far for the Switch 2 (with multiple in-depth Direct streams), the recently-released Kirby Air Riders failed to crack the top 10 during its week of release – landing at the number 20 spot for unit sales.

Of course, as with pretty much all 3rd-party charts, Nintendo games do not include digital sales. That said, Nintendo systems are by far the most physical-media aligned at this point, and so accounting for cartridge sales is unlikely to make too much of an impact on the rankings.

That said, thanks to its price tag Air Riders did manage to squeeze its way into the top 10 for revenue, landing right underneath Spider-Man 2 and Ghost of Yotei.

All in all, it appears as though Kibry Air Riders has had a rather soft launch, at least in Europe. That said, Kirby as a franchise in general has never been one of Nintendo’s best-selling, and so it will be interesting to see what the future of Air Riders and Kirby looks like on the Switch 2.

KitGuru says: Did you pick up Kirby Air Riders? If not, why not? Was it a mistake for Nintendo to release two racers in a single year? Let us know down below.

The post Kirby Air Riders launches at no. 20 on the European sales charts first appeared on KitGuru.

Each month, Sony typically offers a selection of three titles as part of the company’s core PlayStation Plus Essential subscription tier. In the spirit of the impending new year, December’s line-up includes 5 games in total – all of which are available to claim now.

From now until the 5th of January 2026, all those with a PlayStation Plus subscription of any kind will be able to get their hands on 5 quite different experiences:

• LEGO Horizon Adventures [PS5]
• Neon White [PS5 | PS4]
• The Outlast Trials [PS5 | PS4]
• Killing Floor III [PS5]
• Synduality Echo of Ada [PS5]

While PlayStation Plus’ offerings can vary quite drastically in quality from month-to-month, December’s line-up includes both quality and quantity.

LEGO Horizon Adventures offers a fun and visually pleasing co-op experience which arrives just in time for the holiday season. Though far from the most mind-blowing experience, the game can make for a good time, especially in multiplayer.

Neon White meanwhile is a fast-paced first-person puzzle shooter (similar to the likes of Ghostrunner) in which you must complete challenge levels as quickly and efficiently as possible, all the while picking up various ability cards to aid with the challenges.

Killing Floor III is the long-awaited sequel to the much-loved zombie slaying horde shooter. Though the 3rd entry has failed to meet fan expectations due to deviating from the formula, the team at Tripwire have been and continue to improve the overall experience through updates. Still, as a ‘free’ offering, Killing Floor III is worth giving a go.

In case you missed it, Sony announced back in January that 2025 would be the final year in which PS4 games are being given away through PS Plus. While we may still get cross-generations titles (such as Neon White or The Outlast Trials), expect the type of offerings being shared to change slightly from next month.

KitGuru says: What do you think of December’s offerings? How was PS Plus in 2025 overall? Let us know down below.

The post December’s PlayStation Plus Essential line-up available now first appeared on KitGuru.

Update: This competition is now CLOSED. Our winners today are Kristian Skoczek & Craig Malton! If you missed out this time then keep an eye out as we have a new giveaway each day through December. Today's new giveaway can be found HERE. 

For Day 2 of the KitGuru Advent Calendar, we have teamed up with Sharkoon to give TWO lucky winners a peripheral upgrade. The winners for this one will each get a high-end SGK50 S2 Wood mechanical keyboard, alongside an SGM50W RGB gaming mouse and an extra-large SGP35 desk mat to go with it. 

We reviewed the SGK50 Wood keyboard earlier this year and came away impressed by its design, build quality and typing experience, making it an excellent companion to any gaming set up. For our prizes today, we are also pairing the keyboard with Sharkoon's SGM50W wireless gaming mouse, which also has RGB accents for some extra visual flair, and each winner will also get an SGP35 D5 mouse mat, which should be big enough to cover your desk, giving you ample room for both your keyboard and mouse.

How to Enter:

To enter this giveaway, all you have to do is head over to our competition announcement post on Facebook, HERE. In the comments, leave an answer to the following question – What was your first ‘gaming' keyboard?

This competition is open in the UK and EU.

The winner will be picked randomly shortly after 11AM GMT December 3rd, and a new competition will be announced for Day 3. The chosen winner has 48 hours to respond, if we do not hear from them, a new winner will be picked.

Terms and Conditions: This competition is open in the UK and EU, starting at 11AM GMT on December 2nd and ending at 10:59AM GMT on December 3rd. Due to the busy Christmas season, prize deliveries could take longer than usual, and some prizes may not ship until January. In compliance with GDPR, we will not collect or store any personal information as part of this competition. Once the winner has been contacted and their prize received, personal details will be deleted from our email servers. Your details will not be shared, we respect your privacy.

KitGuru Says: Good luck to all who enter, we'll be back tomorrow morning to announce a winner and turn the calendar over to Day 3!

The post KitGuru Advent Calendar Day 2: Win a Sharkoon gaming peripheral bundle! (closed) first appeared on KitGuru.

The latest Gen 5 SSD from ADATA sits under the company's XPG gaming brand. The XPG Mars 980 Blade is ADATA's second generation of Gen 5 drives, offering speeds of up to 14,000MB/s for reads and 13,000MB/s for writes. We review the 2TB model priced at just under £200 here in the UK.

ADATA's latest family of Gen 5 drives, the XPG Mars 980, is available in two versions: the PRO with active cooling and the passively cooled Blade and in three capacities: 1TB, 2TB and a flagship 4TB drive. The drive ADATA supplied for review is a 2TB Blade model.

For the XPG Mars 980 Blade, ADATA are using a Silicon Motion SM2508 controller teamed up with 232-layer NAND, and the drive uses a 2GB LPDDR4 DRAM IC.

The 2TB drive is rated as up to 14,000MB/s for Sequential reads, and incidentally, all three drives in the range get this rating. The 2TB and 4TB drives get a Sequential write rating of 13,000MB/s, while the 1TB drive gets 10,000MB/s.

The 2TB drive gets the fastest 4K read rating of the range of up to 2,000,000 IOPS. The 1TB entry model gets up to 1,600,000 IOPS, and the 4TB, 1,950,000 IOPS. 4K writes are rated as up to 1,650,000 IOPS for all three drives.

The 2TB XPG Mars 980 Blade endurance is rated as up to 1,480TBW, and ADATA backs the drive with a five-year limited warranty.

Physical Specifications:

• Usable Capacities: 2TB.
• NAND Components: 232-layer 3D TLC NAND.
• NAND Controller: Silicon Motion SM2508.
• Cache: 2GB LPDDR4-2666MHz.
• Interface: PCIe Gen 5 x4, NVMe 2.0.
• Form Factor: M.2, 2280.
• Dimensions: 80 x 22 x 4.5mm (with heatsink), 80 x 22 x 3.2mm (without).
• Drive Weight: 12g (with heatsink), 8g without.

Firmware Version: Y0508B.

The post ADATA XPG Mars 980 Blade 2TB SSD Review first appeared on KitGuru.

AMD has inadvertently confirmed the existence of a new high-end gaming processor, the Ryzen 7 9850X3D, after the unannounced chip appeared on the company's own support website. The listing, which was spotted before being pulled, suggests that an official reveal could be imminent.

The mention on AMD's website spotted by @Olrak29_ (via VideoCardz) corroborates reports that AMD is preparing a higher-binned version of its popular 8-core, 16-thread X3D CPU. According to the latest rumours, the Ryzen 7 9850X3D will feature a 120W TDP and a maximum boost clock of 5.6GHz, a 400MHz increase over the existing Ryzen 7 9800X3D that tops out at 5.2GHz. If that's the case, AMD has probably managed to squeeze out higher frequencies through better silicon binning rather than simply increasing power limits.

Like its sibling, the 9850X3D is built on the Zen 5 architecture and uses AMD's 2nd Gen 3D V-Cache technology. This places the 64MB cache slice underneath the processor cores rather than on top. As such, the new chip is expected to retain the same 96MB of L3 cache as the 9800X3D.

For gamers, this processor would position itself as a premium alternative in the AM5 lineup, offering higher out-of-the-box frequencies for titles that benefit from raw clock speed alongside the massive cache buffer. With the 9800X3D already dominating gaming benchmarks, the 9850X3D aims to further cement AMD's lead over Intel's current offerings.

AMD hasn't formally announced this CPU yet, but with CES 2026 right around the corner, there's a good chance we'll see it being unveiled soon.

KitGuru says: How much would you be willing to pay for a higher-clocked Ryzen 7 9800X3D?

The post AMD confirms Ryzen 7 9850X3D via support page first appeared on KitGuru.

AMD has quietly expanded its professional graphics portfolio with the listing of a new workstation card and the appearance of two additional AI-focused SKUs in its driver stack. The company has officially listed the Radeon Pro W7900D on its website, while references to the AI Pro R9600D and AI Pro R9700S have surfaced in the latest Linux driver compatibility lists.

As spotted by VideoCardz, the Radeon Pro W7900D appears to be a region-specific variant of the existing flagship W7900, designed specifically to comply with US export restrictions on high-performance AI hardware to China. Like the original model, it is built on the RDNA 3 architecture using the Navi 31 GPU. It retains the same core configuration, featuring 6,144 stream processors across 96 compute units, and is paired with a massive 48GB of GDDR6 memory on a 384-bit bus, delivering 864GB/s of bandwidth.

The biggest difference between this and the W7900 lies in the operating frequencies and total compute performance. To meet the export compliance threshold, AMD has reduced the boost clock to 2,156MHz, down from the 2,500MHz seen on the standard W7900. This adjustment brings the peak FP32 compute performance down to 54 TFLOPS, compared to the original's 61.4 TFLOPS.

Moreover, AMD's Linux drivers have unveiled two new entries in the “AI Pro” series. The Radeon AI Pro R9700S is named as you would expect from a mobile GPU (“S” at the end), but it's unclear if that's the case. Still, given its naming, it's expected to share the same RDNA 4 mobile architecture as the AI Pro R9700, featuring a Navi 48 GPU and 32GB of VRAM.

The Radeon AI Pro R9600D is equally mysterious, as no standard “R9600” currently exists in the global lineup. The naming suggests something like a Navi 44 GPU. While official specifications remain under wraps, the “D” suffix again points toward a specific regional or efficiency-focused variant.

KitGuru says: AMD's expanding Radeon AI Pro lineup suggests the company is investing hard in the segment, which makes sense, as the company now has a big deal in place with OpenAI. 

The post AMD quietly lists new Radeon Pro W7900D ahead of CES 2026 first appeared on KitGuru.

Pulsar has announced a collaboration with Embark Studios to produce a new line of peripherals themed around the competitive shooter The Finals. The launch is timed to coincide with the game's Grand Major tournament at DreamHack Stockholm.

The collection is headlined by two variants of the company's flagship lightweight mouse. The Pulsar X2 CrazyLight – The Finals Edition features the game's distinct branding and comes bundled with a digital redemption code for the ‘Arena Crimson AKM' in-game skin. A second variant, the Pulsar X2 CrazyLight – Grand Major Edition, will also be available, granting owners the ‘Arena Royale AKM' skin. Note that both models are medium-sized.

Alongside the mice, Pulsar is releasing themed mousepads. The Pulsar Superglide3 Glass mousepad – The Finals Edition offers a fast, hard surface and includes a code for the ‘Arena Crimson Sword' skin. For those who prefer cloth pads, the Pulsar Gaming XL Mousepad – The Finals Edition is available and comes with the ‘Arena Crimson Frag Grenade' skin.

All of Pulsar's new gear is available on the company's official website and on the Embark official merchandise shop. The mice cost $139.95/€159.90, the glass mousepad costs $99.95/€109.90, and the standard gaming mousepad costs $24.95/€29.90.

KitGuru says: Are you a fan of The Finals? Interested in any of Pulsar's new themed gear?

The post Pulsar partners with Embark Studios for The Finals peripheral collection first appeared on KitGuru.

MindsEye is easily one of 2025’s biggest fumbles, with the ambitious title from ex-Rockstar president Leslie Benzies and studio Build A Rocket Boy receiving less-than-stellar reviews upon its initial launch earlier this year. Perhaps in an effort to have a bit of a fresh start, MindsEye and its ARCADIA platform have now received a free Starter Pack.

Available on both console and PC, the MindsEye Free Starter Pack allows you to “Unlock the ever-expanding gameplay experience of MindsEye with free content”. As mentioned, this includes both the story-focused MindsEye as well as a slice of their live-service platform ARCADIA.

More specifically, the starter pack gains you access to MindsEye’s campaign mission ‘Robin Hood’ alongside a dozen or so ARCADIA activities, namely:

• Garden Party – Drone Race
• Chase The Sun – Drone Race
• Honor Among Thieves
• Downtown – Goin' Haywire
• Crosstown Traffic – Checkpoint Race
• Rude Interruption
• Turbulence – Race
• Free Bird – Sky Race
• Winging It – Checkpoint Race
• Craz-Eye Taxi – Checkpoint Race
• Friendly Fire
• Cruise Control – Sky Race
• Fractured Echo – Survival Horde
• Road To Hell – Race

While the story-focused MindsEye took the brunt of the limelight, Build A Rocket Boy’s ARCADIA platform serves as their greater long-term project. As such, it will be interesting to see what the response to this free pack is and whether it will help shift opinions on the game somewhat.

KitGuru says: What did you think of MindsEye at launch? Will you give this demo a go? Does ARCADIA have potential as a platform? Let us know your thoughts down below.

The post Build A Rocket Boy announces free MindsEye ‘Starter Pack’ first appeared on KitGuru.

Where Winds Meet is an impressive free-to-play open-world action-adventure RPG from Everstone Studio and NetEase Games. Released just two weeks ago, the title has seen a great deal of praise – with its only sore spot being its use of AI chatbots for certain NPCs. Even so, the game has garnered a strong initial reception, with the PS5 / PC title having now surpassed 9 million players.

Making the announcement on Twitter, the game’s official page shared the following: “Winds rise through the bamboo forest, and with a sword in hand we step into the Jianghu. 9 Million wanderers have set out from our humble abode among the bamboo. Thank you.”

For context, Where Winds Meet managed to achieve a total playerbase of over 2 million within the first 24 hours of its launch on the 15th of November. Since then, the game has continued to see rising interest, peaking at a total of 251,008 concurrent Steam players within its first week.

Of course, 9 million in two weeks is far from the biggest launch ever, with the likes of other free-to-play games such as Genshin Impact managing to surpass 10 million players during its pre-registration period alone and Apex Legends exceeding 25 million players within a week of its surprise announcement / launch.

Still, being a new game from an unknown studio, Where Winds Meet has managed to achieve a solid foundational base with which to continue growing from.

KitGuru says: Have you checked out Where Winds Meet? How does it compare to other free-to-play offerings? Let us know down below.

The post Free-to-play open world action-RPG ‘Where Winds Meet’ surpasses 9 million players first appeared on KitGuru.

Today we are reviewing the Nitro+ B850A WiFi 7 motherboard that Sapphire first showed at Computex 2025. The timing seems curious as AMD launched Socket AM5 back in 2022, but you could also argue Sapphire is getting ready nice and early for Zen 6 which will likely launch in 2027. Whatever their thinking might be, this budget B850 motherboard is rather decent.

Time stamps

00:00 Start
01:05 Accessories
01:35 The Board
02:22 Rear I/O and connectors
03:16 VRM Configuration
04:16 M.2 and Expansion Slots
06:05 SATA
06:16 Board Layout
07:03 Test PC Config
07:33 BIOS and Software
08:23 Processor Analysis / Power
09:39 Cinebench 2024 Multi Core
10:03 Cinebench 2024 Single Core
10:17 Geekbench 6 Multi Core
10:29 Far Cry 6
11:15 Assassins Creed Mirage
11:40 Total War Pharaoh
12:20 Leo’s Thoughts
12:55 Worth buying?

 

Specification:

• Chipset: AMD B850
• CPU Support: AMD Ryzen 9000/8000/7000 desktop processors.
• VRMs:
  • 12+2+1 x55A Smart Power Stages
  • Richtek RT3678 controller
  • AOS (Alpha and Omega Semi) AOZ5510Q1 DrMOS
• Memory support:
  • 4 DIMMs, Dual Channel DDR5, Maximum Memory Capacity 256GB up to 8000MT/sec
• Expansion slots:
  • 1x PCIe Gen 5 x16 slot (from CPU)
  • 1x PCIe Gen 4 x4 slot (from chipset, shared with one M.2 slot))
  • 1x PCIe Gen 4 x2 slot (from chipset)
• Storage:
  • 1x M.2 Gen 5 x4
  • 1x M.2 Gen 4 x4
  • 1x M.2 Gen 4 x4 (shared with PCIe Gen 4 x4 slot)
  • 4x SATA 6Gbps
• USB support:
  • 1x USB 5Gbps Type-C (Front)
  • 1x USB 10Gbps Type-C (Rear)
  • 3x USB 10Gbps Type-A (Rear)
  • 2x USB 5Gbps Type-A (Front)
  • 4x USB 2.0 (Rear)
  • 2x USB 2.0 (Front)
• Ethernet: Realtek 8125BG 2.5Gbps LAN
• Wireless: Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.3
• Audio: Realtek ALC897 7.1-Channel Audio
• Form Factor: ATX 305mm x 244mm

Testing and Performance

Test system

• Processor: AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D
• Memory: 32GB ADATA XPG Lancer RGB DDR5-6000
• CPU Cooler: Phanteks Glacier One 360MPH
• Graphics card: MSI GeForce 4090 Ventux 3X 24GB
• Power supply: Seasonic Vertex GX-1200 ATX 3
• SSD: 1TB Crucial T700 M.2 NVMe
• OS: Windows 11

Cinebench 2024 Multicore

In Cinebench 2024 Multicore the Sapphire does reasonably well but falls behind the other AMD AM5 motherboards we have used in the past few months The margin is small but tells against the Nitro+ B850A WiFi 7.

Geekbench 6 Multicore

It is a similar story in Geekbench 6 Multicore where the Sapphire performs OK but lags behind the competition by a fraction of a percent.

Far Cry 6 at 1080p

We see the same small gap in performance in Far Cry 6 at 1080p. It is a minor consideration when you factor in the low price of the Sapphire but it shows you rarely get a free ride with PC technology.

Closing Thoughts

When we first saw the new range of Sapphire motherboards at Computex we were taken aback. After all, Asus, ASRock, Gigabyte and MSI appear to have the entire spectrum of motherboards covered with a vast array of products, however it seems that Sapphire has found a niche.

This Nitro+ B850A WiFi 7 is the top model they have released to date, yet it is priced under £160. We have to assume the Nitro+ X870E PhantomLink will cost rather more, however we have hopes it will sneak in around £300 and won't head beyond £400.

In this light it seems Sapphire is aiming for the ‘Perfectly Reasonable' sector of the market, and we applaud this move. The Nitro+ B850A WiFi 7 includes all the features you require, and while it omits a few things such as fast USB-C this seems like a perfectly reasonable move when you consider the price.

Overall we are very happy with the Nitro+ B850A WiFi 7 and feel a sense of relief that Sapphire has managed to deliver on what looked like a bold promise.

You can buy the Sapphire Nitro+ B850A WiFi 7 for £157.99 from Overclockers UK HERE.

Pros:

• Priced towards the budget end of the market
• Understated styling with zero RGB
• Sapphire TRIXX-M software does a decent job

Cons:

• A single USB-C on the rear panel and no USB4 ports
• Access to M.2 slots is laborious
• M.2 support is effectively limited to two SSDs

KitGuru says: Sapphire has delivered a range of budget AMD motherboards and the Nitro+ B850A WiFi 7 does a fine job at a low price.

The post Sapphire Nitro+ B850A WiFi 7 Motherboard Review first appeared on KitGuru.