Phanteks has officially launched the Evolv X2, a stunning ATX chassis that reimagines PC case design with a focus on airflow and aesthetics.

First unveiled at Computex 2024, the Evolv X2 features a striking tri-panel tempered glass design that showcases your system's components from multiple angles. Its aluminum interior and vertical cooling system enhance the visual appeal and optimise airflow, drawing cool air from the bottom and exhausting heat through the top.

Phanteks has paid close attention to detail, ensuring a clean and modern aesthetic. Integrated D-RGB lighting strips seamlessly blend into the design, while a large cover door conceals cables and drive bays, maintaining a clutter-free interior. The Evolv X2 also supports ATX rear-connect motherboards, further simplifying cable management and offering a cleaner-looking interior.

The Evolv X2 can accommodate up to seven 120 mm fans, including three at the top, one at the rear, and three at the bottom. The top also supports a 360 mm radiator for those who prefer liquid cooling. In addition, it supports up to 380-mm long GPUs, E-ATX motherboards (up to 280-mm wide), 170-mm tall CPU tower coolers, and 250-mm long PSUs. The Evolv X2 is now available in black for £129.90/$149.99/€149.90 and white for £139.90/$159.99/€159.90. A black/gold model is available exclusively at Overclockers UK and Caseking for £139.90/€159.90.

KitGuru says: What colour variant of the Evolv X2 do you prefer?

The post Phanteks launches the Evolv X2 tri-panel glass case first appeared on KitGuru.

Tomorrow, Microsoft will be going live with its Xbox Developer Direct, in which the console maker is said to be showing off 4 titles in total – including DOOM: The Dark Ages and South of Midnight. According to one insider, Microsoft is keeping its cards close to its chest, with “a few other surprises” said to be announced during the event.

Ahead of the premiere of the Xbox Developer Direct on Thursday the 23rd (6PM UK Time), industry leakers ‘Insider-Gaming’ have revealed some of the announcements set to be made during the showcase.

Alongside the release date for DOOM: The Dark Ages – which is supposedly planned to arrive on the 15th of May – Insider-Gaming has reported that:

“As well as the four game announcements, a few other surprises will be announced during the event or in the coming days.”

Microsoft has been known to offer a surprise announcement or two during its previous Xbox Developer Directs. That said, given the fact that the 4th game has remained shrouded in mystery so far, it is interesting to see that they also have ANOTHER surprise in store.

We won’t have to wait long to find out what exactly this is.

KitGuru says: Are you excited for the Developer Direct? Which of the 3 announced titles are you most interested in? What do you think this ‘surprise’ could be? Let us know down below.

The post “A few other surprises” to be announced during Xbox Direct, according to insider first appeared on KitGuru.

Contrary to its prior release schedule, NetherRealm went straight from MK11 to Mortal Kombat 1 – skipping their previous cadence of breaking up Mortal Kombat releases with a new Injustice game. This seems to have worked against the series, as following the record-breaking release of MK11, Mortal Kombat 1 has so far ‘only’ managed to sell 5 million copies.

Making the announcement on Twitter, the head of NetherRealm Studios – Ed Boon – shared some details on future updates for Mortal Kombat 1. Alongside this, Boon also offered some details on the sales performance for MK1, stating:

“With over 5 million games sold, seeing Mortal Kombat 1 still in the top 15 most played Playstation 5 games makes us very grateful to Mortal Kombat fans. Thanks for continuing to support NetherRealm Studios games!”

While pitched as a positive, 5 million copies sold is a major drop-off when compared to the previous entry – Mortal Kombat 11 – which managed to break 15 million sales in its first 3 years on the market.

Of course, 2023’s MK1 hasn’t been out long enough for a direct 1:1 comparison, but with future DLC for the game having been cancelled already,  the game is unlikely to have majorly long legs.

The general sentiment around Mortal Kombat 1 seems to be that NetherRealm was a bit premature with its release – and it seems the game’s sales are reflecting this fact.

It will be interesting to see what NetherRealm plans to work on next. Hopefully not another Mortal Kombat (at least for now).

KitGuru says: What do you think of Mortal Kombat 1? Is it a worthy sequel to MK11? What do you think NetherRealm’s next game will be? Let us know down below.

The post Mortal Kombat 1 tracks behind MK11 with ‘just’ 5 million copies sold so far first appeared on KitGuru.

While the initial trailer for the first Sonic the Hedgehog film introduced a hideous character redesign sparking a ton of backlash, the final product proved to be a major success for SEGA and Paramount Pictures. Since then, we’ve gotten two sequels and a spin-off TV show – all of which have been received well both critically and commercially. It therefore comes as little surprise that a 4th Sonic film is now on its way – set to premiere in March of 2027.

Ahead of the release of Sonic the Hedgehog 3, SEGA and Paramount announced that a 4th entry had been greenlit, with a tentative release year set for some time in 2027.

Work on Sonic 4 seems to be progressing pretty rapidly, with the distributors having now announced that the 4th entry in this film franchise will arrive on the 19th of March 2027 – a little over two years on from Sonic 3’s December 2024 release date.

For context, while none of the Sonic movies have been major box office blowouts, each film has been able to maintain a strong and consistent financial return.

2020’s Sonic 1 managed to bring in $320 million, followed up by 2022’s Sonic 2 ($405 million) – and last but not least Sonic 3 has so far earned $422 million (though the film is still currently showing in cinemas).

Given just how much backlash there was upon the initial announcement of the original Sonic the Hedgehog film, it is both surprising and welcome to see the series become a major and successful film franchise. Hopefully the quality of releases remain solid and consistent for all future titles.

KitGuru says: Have you watched Sonic the Hedgehog 3? What did you think of the film? What Sonic game do you hope to see the 4th film be inspired by? Let us know down below.

The post Sonic the Hedgehog 4 film arrives in March 2027 first appeared on KitGuru.

Raijintek is hoping to make a statement in the keyboard market with its new MGA-68, a premium 65% aluminium keyboard with magnetic switches at a relatively affordable price.

This sleek keyboard, available in black or silver, has a CNC-machined aluminium body that provides a distinct sound profile. Raijintek has equipped the MGA-68 with south-facing LEDs and Heijin magnetic hall-effect switches, rated for 50 million keystrokes.

As with most 65% keyboards, this one lacks a dedicated function key row. To get around that, it uses the Fn (function) key and the number keys to access the various “F” keys. Raijintek has also implemented hotkeys to control RGB lighting, actuate switches, and reset default settings. To complement the customisation capabilities, the Raijintek Axion software allows users to adjust actuation distances, enable the Rapid Trigger mode, and customise dead zones and sensitivity.

The MGA-68 is available in three layouts (UK, DE, and Italy) and features PBT or PBT+SUB keycaps in an ISO format with an L-shaped Enter key. The hot-swappable PCB allows users to easily replace the existing switches with new ones, while a switch plate ensures proper alignment and stability. A spill-resistant PCBA and a robust bottom case further enhance the keyboard's durability.

The MGA-68 is a wired-only keyboard that connects via a 2-meter USB Type-C to Type-A + Type-C cable. The package also includes two extra switches and a 2-in-1 keycap/switch puller. Although Raijintek hasn't officially announced pricing, online listings suggest a price tag of around €135, which seems reasonable for an aluminium keyboard with hall-effect switches.

KitGuru says: If you're looking for a keyboard with hall-effect switches that doesn't break the bank, the Raijintek MGA-68 might be worth looking at.

The post Raijintek ventures into the magnetic keyboard market with the MGA-68 first appeared on KitGuru.

Gamdias is kicking off 2025 with a bang, introducing the Atlas P2 CG, a great-looking new PC case that blends panoramic views with impressive functionality.

The Atlas P2 CG offers a unique fish-tank-inspired design with a seamless one-piece curved glass panel that provides a 270º view of your internal components, while an integrated system display adds a touch of modern flair. Support for connector-hidden (BTF) motherboards further enhances the clean aesthetic, allowing cables to be routed to the rear for a clutter-free presentation.

Keeping your components cool is a priority, so four 120mm PWM ARGB fans (three intake, one exhaust) are pre-installed, along with an 8-port PWM ARGB fan hub for easy control and synchronisation. This ensures efficient airflow and quiet operation, even during demanding gaming sessions. The Atlas P2 CG features a built-in display for real-time system monitoring of the CPU, GPU, and ambient temperatures. Gamdias' Zeus Cast software provides further customisation options for the display.

The Atlas P2 CG offers an I/O panel with a USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 port, a USB-A 3.0 port, fan LED controls, and audio connectivity. It supports high-end cooling solutions with space for a 360mm radiator and various fan configurations (including 120 and 140 fan support). With compatibility for ATX motherboards (BTF included), GPUs up to 430mm long, and PSUs up to 220mm long, the Atlas P2 CG accommodates a wide range of components. The Atlas P2 CG has an MSRP of $139.90.

KitGuru says: Looking for a new PC case? What do you think of the Atlas P2 CG?

The post Gamdias launches Atlas P2 CG mid-tower with curved tempered glass first appeared on KitGuru.

Twice a month, Microsoft updates its Xbox Game Pass library with a line-up of new/returning titles. Following the addition of Diablo, UFC 5 and My Time at Sandrock, the second set of Game Pass titles dropping throughout the rest of January has now been announced.

While the first half of January saw a relatively modest line-up of titles added to Xbox Game Pass, Microsoft seems to be upping the ante for the second half of the month, with a total of 14 games dropping over the next week and a bit – the full list of which can be viewed below:

Available now:

• Lonely Mountain: Snow Riders (Cloud, PC, and Xbox Series X|S) – Day-one Ultimate addition
• Flock (Console) – Game Pass Standard
• Gigantic: Rampage Edition (Cloud, Console, and PC) – Game Pass Standard
• Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess (Console) – Game Pass Standard
• Magical Delicacy (Console) – Game Pass Standard
• Tchia (Xbox Series X|S) – Game Pass Standard
• The Case of the Golden Idol (Console) – Game Pass Standard
• Starbound (Cloud and Console) – Game Pass Standard

Coming soon:

• Eternal Strands (Cloud, Console, and PC) [January 28] – Day-one Ultimate addition
• Orcs Must Die! Deathtrap (Cloud, PC, and Xbox Series X|S) [January 28] – Day-one Ultimate addition
• Shady Part of Me (Cloud, Console, and PC) [January 29] – Game Pass Standard
• Sniper Elite: Resistance (Cloud, Console, and PC) [January 30] – Day-one Ultimate addition
• Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector (Cloud, PC, and Xbox Series X|S) [January 31] – Day-one Ultimate addition
• Far Cry New Dawn (Cloud, Console, and PC) [February 4] – Game Pass Standard

As always, a small selection of titles will also be leaving the service at the end of the month, namely:

• Anuchard
• Broforce Forever
• Darkest Dungeon
• Death’s Door
• Maquette
• Serious Sam: Siberian Mayhem

While the first half of the month was somewhat disappointing for Game Pass subscribers, Microsoft seems to be making up for it now, with a major drop of games coming across both Game Pass Standard and Ultimate. Hopefully they keep this up for the rest of the year.

KitGuru says: What do you think of the line-up? Which of the day-one additions will you be hopping into first? Let us know down below.

The post Sniper Elite: Resistance, Citizen Sleeper 2 and more to join Xbox Game Pass line-up first appeared on KitGuru.

Developed by a single person, Balatro is a unique poker-themed rogue-like deckbuilder which hooked many players upon its initial release back in February of this year. Since then, the game has only grown in popularity – with its Game of the Year nomination seemingly helping to push Balatro past 5 million total copies sold.

Following the announcement of its Game of the Year nomination during the 2024 Game Awards, Balatro saw a major spike in players – reaching new heights on mobile app stores while also continuing to sell more units across the board.

Just one month on from the announcement that the game had sold 3.5 million copies, the Balatro team have revealed that the title has already hit another major milestone of 5 million units, saying:

“The last few weeks have been pretty wild. To everyone who picked up Balatro after seeing it at @thegameawards, we hope you're having an amazing time with it! If this is your first time picking up an indie title, try to make it a habit! There's some amazing stuff out there!”

As noted by the developers themselves, much of the recent uptick in sales seems to be as a result of its aforementioned GOTY nomination – and so it will be interesting to see how the game continues to perform from this point onwards.

Regardless, Balatro is an excellent game and so it will likely have reached this milestone figure with or without the added attention from The Game Awards – but the accolades certainly do help.

KitGuru says: What do you think of Balatro? When did you pick up the game? Has the game peaked, or is 5 million copies sold just the beginning? Let us know your thoughts down below.

The post Balatro hits new sales milestone of over 5 million copies first appeared on KitGuru.

Corsair recently sent us some new power supplies to review and today we take a look at the Corsair RM1000e, a new gold rated ATX v3.1 PSU. This is a fully modular unit with native 12v-2×6 connectors to power the latest graphics cards. This is a supply slotting in below their higher end Corsair models and they come with a 7 year warranty. Let's take a closer look.

Corsair are releasing three power supplies in this range, a 750w, 850w and 1000W unit. They sent us several PSUs for review, but today we look at the RM1000e flagship model.

UK prices from Corsair directly indicate that only £10 price difference exists between the 750 watt and 850 watt models, while the 1000W model is £35 more expensive. As we previously mentioned, all models have a 7 year warranty in place which falls some way from the leading 12 years on some of the platinum models we have reviewed lately. This is one of the tradeoffs when you move down a companies product stack.

The post Corsair RM1000e ATX v3.1 (2025) PSU Review first appeared on KitGuru.

Throughout the current console generation, Microsoft has released a ton of different custom and unique Xbox Series X|S controllers. Joining the line-up next is the Pulse Cipher Special Edition controller – featuring a throwback translucent design.

Making the announcement on the Xbox Wire Blog, Brianna Lowder – the Marketing Manager for Xbox Accessories – said “Introducing the newest iteration of the Cipher series, Xbox Wireless Controller – Pulse Cipher Special Edition! Like its predecessors, Sky Cipher and Ghost Cipher, Pulse Cipher provides players with a nostalgic transparent look infused with a futuristic twist. Despite being third in the series, this controller is special in its own right.”

Set to arrive in early February, those interested can go ahead and preorder the controller right now for £69.99 – slightly more costly than a standard controller (£59.99 RRP). That said, there’s no denying that by now Xbox has a strong line-up of special edition controllers.

Of course for a relatively basic video game controller, £70 is a pretty penny to spend – especially as the accessory does not include gyro aiming, advanced haptics or anything of the sorts.

Still, for those who miss the classic days of transparent controllers during the PS2/Xbox era, the red Cipher special edition should more than scratch that itch when it arrives next month.

KitGuru says: What do you think of this latest controller? Do you like translucent tech? Are Xbox controllers worth their asking price? Let us know down below.

The post Microsoft announces translucent red ‘Pulse Cipher’ Special Edition Xbox controller first appeared on KitGuru.

With the Nintendo Switch 2 hardware now having been officially announced, attention has shifted to the software side of things, with many fans wondering what kind of support the console could see from studios across the industry. According to one insider, many last and current gen titles are slated for the Switch 2, including Starfield, Elden Ring, Tekken 8 and more.

As reported by known insider eXtas1s (and translated by IcePopsicleDragon), Microsoft is set to bring a ton of its current and prior games to the Switch 2 following the system’s arrival later this year.

According to the insider, the list of Microsoft titles confirmed to be coming at some point include:

• Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024
• Halo The Master Chief Collection
• Diablo IV
• Call of Duty (unspecified)
• Fallout 4
• Starfield

Beyond this, eXtas1s name-dropped a couple more games also planned for the Switch 2, this time coming from Bandai Namco:

• Tekken 8 (DLC included)
• Elden Ring

We recently reported on another insider who claimed that “basically every third party is considering supporting [Switch 2] with its most ambitious AAA titles.”

While perhaps not the most ambitious, many of the games listed above would certainly have struggled on the OG Switch, and so it will be interesting to see just how widespread 3rd-party support actually winds up being – especially in the long term.

Discuss on our Facebook page HERE.

KitGuru says: Are you excited for the new Switch? Would you play any of the above games on the system? What current-gen exclusive would you hope to see brought to Switch 2 at some point? Let us know down below.

The post Halo, Starfield, Elden Ring and more reportedly coming to Switch 2 first appeared on KitGuru.

Could Nvidia's frame generation technology be coming to older GeForce RTX 30 series graphics cards? A recent interview with Nvidia's Bryan Catanzaro has sparked hope for gamers with older GPUs.

While the RTX 40 and 50 series enjoy the benefits of Frame Generation, a technology that inserts AI-generated frames to boost frame rates, RTX 30 series owners have been left out. However, in an interview with Digital Foundry, Bryan Catanzaro, Nvidia's VP of Applied Deep Learning Research, hinted at the possibility of expanding frame generation support to older architectures.

This glimmer of hope comes as Nvidia unveils DLSS 4, a significant overhaul of its upscaling technology that uses a new transformer model instead of the previous convolutional neural networks (CNNs). While Nvidia has confirmed that DLSS 4 will be available for the RTX 20, 30, and 40 series, a key distinction remains: only the RTX 50 series supports Multi Frame Generation (MFG), the latest iteration of Frame Generation technology.

Currently, frame generation and multi frame generation are tied to specific game implementations and cannot be enabled on unsupported hardware. However, third-party solutions like Lossless Scaling FG exist, albeit with compromises in quality and latency. Nvidia might explore offering a simplified frame generation model for older GPUs, acknowledging the limitations while still providing a noticeable improvement over current options.

KitGuru says: While Nvidia hasn't confirmed a timeline or guaranteed compatibility, the possibility is certainly exciting. The green team seems open to the idea but is cautious about making promises it might not be able to keep.

The post Nvidia Multi Frame Generation could come to RTX 30 series GPUs first appeared on KitGuru.

Dragon Age: The Veilguard had a tumultuous development, with the RPG seeing a bunch of delays, unexpected issues and external factors leading to the title finally launching almost a decade after development began. That said, Bioware managed to get the game past the finish line thanks in part to director Corinne Busche – who has now announced her departure from the studio.

As reported by Eurogamer, Corinne Busche – who took over as director for Dragon Age: The Veilguard in 2022 following a string of departures – is leaving Bioware after spending more than 18 years working with and under EA.

In a statement sent to Eurogamer, Busche confirmed the departure and offered some reasons for doing so, claiming “at the heart of it, this was about my own fulfillment. I did what I set out to do at BioWare. That is to come in and help right the ship. I love Dragon Age, and BioWare, so the chance to return the game to a proper quality single player RPG was the privilege of a lifetime.”

She continued, “It was hard fought, as games with such tumultuous dev cycles rarely end up shipping, and even more rarely turn out great. We, as a team, did it. And it was hard. It took a toll on me. BioWare still has a lot of work to do culturally, but I do believe they are on the right footing now.”

In terms of where she’s going next, Busche concluded by saying “As for me, my departure was voluntary, as I have been presented with an opportunity I couldn't turn down. I don’t want to say much more right now, but you can count on it being in the CRPG space and upholding the traditions of great characters.”

Considering the MANY issues Dragon Age: The Veilguard encountered over its decade-long development cycle, the final product wound up better than perhaps would have been expected. It will be interesting to see where Busche is headed next.

Discuss on our Facebook page HERE.

KitGuru says: What did you think of The Veilguard? Was it better or worse than you were expecting? Let us know down below.

The post Dragon Age: The Veilguard director leaves Bioware after 18 years at EA first appeared on KitGuru.

If there’s anything that Capcom likes doing, it's re-releasing older Resident Evil games to modern consoles. Be it through remasters, remakes or simple ports, you’d be hard pressed to find a console which doesn’t include Capcom’s best-selling franchise. It seems this trend will continue, with new ESRB ratings having popped up for multiple older RE titles.

As reported by VGC, the ESRB (Entertainment Software Ratings Board) recently published a new listing for Resident Evil 6 coming to the Xbox Series consoles.

Since then, more listings have been uncovered, including for the likes of the Resident Evil Origins Collections (RE1+0); RE4 and most curiously Resident Evil 7.

All of these games are of course playable on both the Xbox Series X|S and PS5, however – aside from RE7 – the games are all backwards compatible versions of their 8th-gen releases; and so it would perhaps be nice to have full 4K60fps upgrades for these titles.

We will have to wait and see what Capcom’s plans wind up being.

Discuss on our Facebook page HERE.

KitGuru says: What do you think of these new listings? Do any of these games need a current-gen re-release? Let us know your thoughts down below.

The post New ESRB rating hints at multiple Resident Evil remasters first appeared on KitGuru.

The Geometric Future cases we have previously reviewed on the channel featured unique design elements, including rotated motherboard orientation, leather highlights, and intentionally huge panel gaps. However, the Geometric Future case in for review today looks quite normal in comparison with mesh panels, lots of 120mm fan mounts and, according to the specs, great hardware support. So has Geometric Future decided to go all boring on us now? Well, let's find out.

Timestamps:

00:00 Intro
00:41 Pricing
01:19 A closer look
02:03 Removing panels
03:37 Front I/O
03:50 The design / fans
04:59 CPU / GPU / MB support
05:26 Anti Sag bracket
06:07 The inside design
07:37 Rear / Right side
09:13 Cabling / routing
10:08 Drive support
10:29 Case Floor
11:17 Accessories / Test System
12:12 Testing Methodology
12:32 Thermal and Acoustic Results
14:07 Installation and closing thoughts

Geometric Future Model 5 Vent Features:

• Geometric Future Model 5 Vent features an optimised mesh front panel for maximum airflow and enhanced system cooling with five 140mm included.
• It supports up to 420mm long radiators, EATX motherboards, huge graphics cards, up to thirteen 120mm fans, and a unique front power supply location.
• The chassis is built using 0.8 – 1.2mm thick steel plate for durability and is equipped with a 4mm tempered glass side panel and display platform to showcase your hardware in style.

Specifications:

• Case Type: Medium Tower Steel Mesh Case
• Dimensions (DxWxH): 505 x 242 x 440mm
• Material:8-1.2mm Steel, 4mm Tempered Glass
• Motherboard Support: E-ATX, ATX, mATX, ITX
• Expansion Slots: 7 + 4
• Storage bays: 2 x 3.5” or 2 x 2.5”
• Max GPU Length: 430mm
• MAX GPU Width: 180mm (160mm Vertical)
• MAX GPU Thickness: 110mm
• Max CPU Cooler Height: 180mm
• Max PSU Size: ATX up to 160mm
• Pre-installed fans: 5 x 140mm (4 x Reverse)
• Fan Support: 3 x 120/140mm (Top) 3 x 120/140mm (Front) 1 x 120/140/160mm (Right Front) 1 x 120/140mm (Rear) 3 x 120/140mm (Bottom) 2 x 120mm (Motherboard Back)
• Radiator Support: 240/280/360/420mm (Top) 240/280/360mm (Front) 240/280/360mm (Bottom) 120/140mm (Rear)
• Dust Filters: Floor
• Font I/O: 2 x USB 3.0 Type-A, 1 x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C, 1 x 3.5mm combined Audio jack, power and reset buttons
• LCD Screen: N/A

Thermal Performance Testing

To simulate thermal demand we run the Cinebench R23 multi-thread benchmark and 3DMark Speed Way stress test simultaneously in a loop for 30 minutes to load the system fully. This gives the CPU and GPU enough time to reach constant steady-state temperature. With this data, we can compare how the system handles the thermal demand and measure peak noise levels.

Thermal performance is measured with the case in various configurations, such as the default, with the tempered glass left-hand side panel removed and with the front panel removed to see how these configurations affect the CPU and GPU temperature. During testing, only stock case fans are used unless otherwise specified. All water pumps are set to maximum RPM and fans are set to a custom RPM curve by the Motherboard software/BIOS.

All temperature measurements are presented as Deltas – meaning the ambient temperature has been deducted from the CPU temperature giving us a Delta. Data shown in the charts represent the average component temperature over the length of the test as measured by HWiNFO and then the last 15 minutes of the data are calculated to get the average. The ambient temperature during thermal tests is between 19-20⁰C.

Test System Specification:

• CPU – AMD Ryzen 7800X3D
• Motherboard – ASROCK X870 Steel Legend Wifi
• Graphics Card – INNO3D RTX 4080 Super X3 OC White
• Memory – 64GB (2 x 32GB modules) G.SKILL RIPJAWS M5 RGB DDR5-6400
• Storage – 1TB Corsair MP700 PCIe Gen5 M.2 NVME SSD
• CPU Cooler – Arctic Liquid Freezer III 360
• Power Supply – Seasonic Core GX-850 80+ Gold 850W ATX 3
• Case fans – Stock
• Chassis – Geometric Future Model 5 Vent
• Operating System – Windows 11

Thermal Performance Overview

We tested the case thermals with a 360mm AIO CPU cooler installed in the roof and with the case in several different configurations. The default configuration shown in the charts is with a 360mm roof-mounted AIO, the stock case fans installed and all case panels fitted.

In its default configuration with the five 140mm fans installed and a top-mounted 360mm AIO CPU cooler, the case does a great job of keeping the system temperature under control. Temperatures of 64°C for the CPU and 44°C above ambient for the GPU are what we would expect from a case with good airflow and thermal design.

Adding fans to the front and right-hand side did little to improve CPU or GPU temperature, a 1-2°C drop in component temperature is within margin of error compared to the stock configuration, so adding fans may not be worth the additional cost this would incur.

Removing the glass side panel and mesh panels also had a minor effect on the CPU and GPU temperature, proving that the mesh panels aren’t restrictive. So in its default configuration with the stock fans, the Model 5 Vent is a good choice of case for cooling high-end components.

Due to the great airflow and cooling, the Model 5 Vent can be run with system fans running at low RPM so noise output under load is minimal. Changing case configuration has little effect on cooling and so too noise output. At around 40-41dBA under full CPU and GPU load we would consider this a very quiet system, so if you are using this for gaming while someone else is in the same room it should be too distracting.

At idle the system can run extremely quiet, barely any louder than the noise floor in our test system which is ideal.

Closing Thoughts

Geometric Future cases are well known for their unique design elements that make them stand out from the crowd. At first glance, the Model 5 Vent looks like a regular dual chamber case… but when you start to dig a little deeper you see the Geometric Future DNA starting to come out with things like the front-mounted power supply, the display platform and the right-hand side fan bracket arrangement. The front right side power supply position is good for routing cables and allows the user to hide most of the cable clutter in the shroud which is great.

However, the right-hand side fan mount seems quite pointless to me as it doesn’t help airflow or cooling no matter if you have the fans as intake or exhaust and it also hinders cable management, particularly routing the EPS power and AIO/fan/RGB cables at the top of the motherboard. So if I’m building a system with his case I would just forget the right-hand side fans completely. The display shelf is all about personal taste, great if you want it and it can be removed if not which is fine.

As a whole the build quality of the case is good, but there are a couple of things I noticed such as the fiddly PCIe slots that could be awkward to slot into position and some screw holes that don’t align perfectly which could cause problems with cross threading screws and damaging them but the case feels sturdy, and the shade white across different types for materials is well matched so that’s great. It also supports high-end hardware and lots of cooling.

In terms of thermal performance, the default configuration with fans in the default locations works very well. During our very demanding thermal tests, the case produced results as we would expect from a high airflow case with good thermal design, so hats off to Geometric Future for that. If you are in the U.S market the case is priced OK and with the included fans, good hardware support and thermal performance it's one worth buying but UK/EU price and availability are very sketchy so we European folk might be missing out on a good case here which is a shame.

The Geometric Future Model 5 Vent is available in the U.S from Newegg priced at $119 HERE. However, it is currently unavailable in the UK.

Pros: 

• Great thermal performance and low noise.
• Lots of space to work with.
• Included fans seem to cool well and are quiet.
• Easy access via tool-free panels.
• Front/side PSU position makes cables tidy.

Cons:

• Right-hand side fan mount seems pointless.
• EATX motherboards can be tight to install.
• Some build quality isn’t great.
• Most fan brackets are not removable.

KitGuru Says: Geometric Future stuck with its tradition of unique design elements with the Model 5 Vent but it is much closer to what we think of as a regular/dual tower ATX case, and a good one at that!

The post Geometric Future Model 5 Vent Case Review first appeared on KitGuru.

Indonesian overclocker “speed.fastest” has achieved a remarkable new overclocking milestone, pushing a G.Skill Trident Z5 DDR5 memory module to a staggering 12,054 MT/s using just air cooling.

While this doesn't quite top the current world record of 12,697 MT/s, it still is worth mentioning because it was accomplished without exotic cooling methods like LN2 or helium. Instead, overclocker “speed.fastest” used a single fan to cool the memory module and push it to its limits under these conditions.

Image credit: HWBOT

The record-breaking run was achieved on an Asus ROG Maximus Z890 Apex motherboard with an Intel Core Ultra 9 285K CPU. The G.Skill Trident Z5 memory kit used is officially rated for DDR5-8000 CL38 speeds, but with some extreme tweaking and careful tuning, it was pushed to a mind-bending 12,054 MT/s with 68-127-127-127 timings. G.Skill also revealed that “saltycroissant” achieved a 12,050 MT/s frequency (same timings) with the same memory kit on an ASRock Z890 OCF Taichi motherboard and an Intel Core Ultra 7 265K CPU.

It's important to note that these record-breaking overclocks were achieved using specific configurations, including disabling all but one CPU core and significantly downclocking the processor (around 400 MHz).

KitGuru says: Even if these two milestones were achieved using air cooling, they don't represent typical user scenarios. Still, they highlight the potential of DDR5 memory.

The post Overclocker pushes air-cooled G.Skill DDR5 memory to 12054 MT/s first appeared on KitGuru.

With the Switch 2 finally almost here, owners of the current system have begun to wonder what titles Nintendo has left in store for their current aging console. According to an insider, the company has one final “big game” planned for the OG system before it’ll be laid to rest.

As reported by known industry insider PHBrazil, with the Switch 2 now having been officially unveiled, Nintendo is looking to sunset their current console with one final “big game.”

No specifics were given on what title exactly this will be, but PHBrazil did tease the fact that it is a somewhat big game from a more niche franchise and will be presented as “a new version of a beloved series” – so seemingly a remaster/remake of sorts.

Of course, the OG Switch still has plenty of games planned for release, including Nintendo’s own Metroid Prime 4, but in terms of new game announcements, it seems the company has just one final card up its sleeve. In other news, a bunch of 3rd-party games have been leaked for Switch 2, the list of which can be found HERE.

Discuss on our Facebook page HERE.

KitGuru says: Are you on the Switch 2 hype train? What could this final game be? Will Nintendo have a cross-gen period for this upcoming console? Let us know your thoughts down below.

The post Nintendo Switch to get one final “big game” according to insider first appeared on KitGuru.

An AMD representative has confirmed that its next-generation Radeon RX 9000 series GPUs will launch in March, quashing rumours of a January release.

The information was confirmed by David McAfee (via VideoCardz), AMD's VP and GM of Ryzen CPU and Radeon graphics. This comes as a surprise to many, as retailers have been stocking RX 9070 XT and RX 9070 cards since early January, and some reviewers reportedly received samples in late December.

As expected, gamers and tech enthusiasts are now wondering why AMD is supposedly delaying the official launch when cards are ready to go on sale. While AMD hasn't explicitly stated the reason for the delay, it's speculated that the recent announcement of Nvidia's GeForce RTX 5070 series, slated for a February launch, might have influenced the decision. By delaying the RX 9000 series launch, AMD might be aiming to refine its pricing strategy and ensure its new GPUs remain competitive against Nvidia's upcoming offerings.

AMD has only confirmed two models in the RX 9000 series so far: the RX 9070 XT and the RX 9070. Both cards are expected to feature the Navi 48 GPU and 16 GB of GDDR6 memory. Other models, like the RX 9060, 9050, and 9040, are expected to come later based on the Navi 44 GPU.

KitGuru says: Despite the delay, the silver lining is that ample stock should be available at launch. Hopefully, the upcoming Radeon cards will be well-priced, and the new FSR 4 will launch alongside the GPUs.

The post AMD Radeon RX 9070 series launch confirmed for March first appeared on KitGuru.

Released back in November, Pokémon TCG Pocket is a free-to-play take on the popular card game, with an emphasis on opening packs and unlocking new and aesthetically-pleasing cards. The game had a great launch, surpassing 60 million downloads in just over a month. In the short time since then, Pokémon TCG Pocket has hit yet another major milestone.

Making the announcement, the team behind Pokémon TCG Pocket revealed that since its launch in November, more than 40 Billion total cards have been acquired, writing:

“To celebrate achieving 40,000,000,000 (40 billion) cards total acquired by Pokémon Trading Card Game Pocket players around the world, players have been gifted the Promo Pokédex (PROMO) card! At last, players can fill the missing Promo-A card number 8 from their collection. Claim the card from the ‘Gifts’ section from the menu tab.”

As mentioned, Pokémon TCG Pocket hit 60 million downloads in a little over a month, and while we don’t have any more recent figures to go off of, 40 Billion total cards acquired seems to indicate that said downloads have translated to returning players – each of which average around 666 cards.

Discuss on our Facebook page HERE.

KitGuru says: Have you been playing TCG Pocket? Are you in it for the card game itself, or the collecting aspect? Let us know down below.

The post Pokémon TCG Pocket reaches another major milestone first appeared on KitGuru.

Designed for gamers and creative professionals, Klevv's Urbane V RGB memory has a module height of 42.5mm and supports both Intel XMP 3.0 and AMD EXPO profiles. We review the 32GB DDR5-7600 kit, with a US MSRP of $135.99.

At the time of writing this review, the Urbane V RGB model line-up consists of eight speeds and three kit sizes:-

64GB – 6000MT/s (30-36-36-76) and 6400MT/s (32-38-38-78) both at 1.35V.
48GB – 6000MT/s (30-36-36-76), 6400MT/s (32-38-38-78) both at 1.35V, 6800MT/s (34-40-40-80), 7200MT/s (34-44-44-84), 7600MT/s (36-46-46-86) all at 1.40V and 8000MT/s (38-48-48-128), 8200MT/s (38-49-49-131 ) and 8400MT/s (40-52-52-134) all at 1.45V
32GB – 6000MT/s (30-36-36-76), 6400MT/s (32-38-38-78) both at 1.35V, 6800MT/s (34-40-40-80), 7200MT/s (34-44-44-84), 7600MT/s (36-46-46-86) all at 1.40V and 8000MT/s (38-48-48-128) at 1.45V,

Klevv sent us an Urbane V RGB 7600MT/s 32GB kit to review. It uses a pair of single-rank 16GB DIMMs (using SK hynix A-die ICs), XMP 3.0 / EXPO rated at 7600MHz at 36-46-46-86-132 at 1.40v.

Klevv backs the memory with a lifetime warranty.

Specification

• Model Number: KD5AGUA80-76B360M.
• Capacity: 32GB (2 x 16).
• Rated Frequency: 7600MT/s
• Rated Timings: 36-46-46.
• Voltage: 1.40V.
• Module Height: 42.5mm.
• XMP/EXPO: XMP 3.0 / EXPO

The post Klevv Urbane V RGB DDR5-7600MT/s 32GB Review first appeared on KitGuru.

The success of the Nintendo Switch took many game developers by surprise, leading to a delay in the rate of support witnessed by the system over its life cycle. It seems publishers aren’t taking any chances with the Switch 2, with one insider claiming that “basically every third party is considering supporting it with its most ambitious AAA titles.”

As reported by known insider/journalist PHBrazil, in discussing how powerful the Switch 2 will be when compared to its current contemporaries, they claimed:

“Powerful enough that basically every third party is considering supporting it with its most ambitious AAA titles. This is very different from what has happened in the past when some of these companies would support Nintendo platforms with conversions of older games or maybe recent but not so ambitious ones.”

While no specific games were listed, some of the publishers mentioned included Ubisoft; EA; Bandai Namco; Capcom; SEGA and Microsoft.

That said, PHBrazil made sure to note that they are unaware of Rockstar’s GTA VI plans for the Switch 2 – so perhaps it may not be “every” 3rd-party studio, but interest overall from devs appears to be significant.

Discuss on our Facebook page HERE.

KitGuru says: What did you think of the Switch 2 reveal? Do you expect a ton of 3rd-party support from the get-go? What upcoming games won’t come to Switch 2? Let us know your thoughts down below.

The post “Basically every” 3rd-party studio is considering supporting Switch 2 “with its most ambitious AAA titles” according to insider first appeared on KitGuru.

Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown is the latest entry in the long-running combat flight simulation series. First launched back in 2019, the game has seen consistent sales for the past half a decade or so – aided by new releases on additional systems. A little over a year since its last milestone, Ace Combat 7 has now sold over 6 million copies.

Making the announcement on Twitter, the official Ace Combat page celebrated the 6th anniversary of Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown by unveiling the game’s latest sales figures, with brand director Kazuaki Kono saying (in a translated post):

“It's been six years since the release of Skies Unknown, and the total number of copies sold worldwide has exceeded six million. My desire to connect with as many people as possible has become a reality. Thank you to everyone who has purchased a copy and everyone involved. I am very grateful.”

Since its release back in January 2019, Ace Combat 7 has been a consistent seller – hitting 2.5 million copies within its first two years and then going on to sell an additional million each successive year.

With over 6 million copies sold, Ace Combat 7 is by far the best-performing entry in the series, now nearly tripling previous record holder Ace Combat 04’s 2.64 million copies.

Given its continued success, it will be interesting to see how the next Ace Combat performs when it is eventually released.

Discuss on our Facebook page HERE.

KitGuru says: What do you think of Ace Combat 7? Is it your favourite entry in the series? When do you think we’ll get our first look at AC8? Let us know down below.

The post Ace Combat 7 hits new sales milestone on 6th anniversary first appeared on KitGuru.

Jonsbo has just launched two new Mini-ITX cases that pack a surprising amount of functionality into a tiny footprint. The N10 and NV10, measuring 205 x 205 x 108 mm (4.54 liters), are designed offer unique solutions for space-constrained builds depending on what you want from your system.

As noted by ITHome (via TechPowerUP), these compact aluminum cases prioritise different needs. The N10 is designed for storage-centric setups, accommodating up to four 2.5-inch drives, kept cool by two rear-mounted 40mm fans. On the other hand, the NV10 sacrifices drive bays and rear fan space to get the space for small graphics cards, supporting dual-slot GPUs up to 190mm long with PCIe 4.0 extension cables.

These cases combine 3.3mm aluminum alloy with 1.0mm steel plating for a sturdy and lightweight construction. The N10 weighs 1.6 kg, while the NV10 is even lighter at 1.5 kg. Both cases support SFX-L power supplies up to 150 mm long and CPU coolers with a maximum height of 38 mm.

The Jonsbo N10 and NV10 can be positioned vertically or horizontally, adapting to various workstation layouts and space constraints. The N10 and NV10 are available in silver and black, with a touch of elegance added by the North American walnut trim on the front I/O panel featuring a single USB-C port.

KitGuru says: For what kind of system would you use these new Jonsbo N-series cases?

The post Jonsbo unveils 4.5-litre SFF cases, the N10 and NV10 first appeared on KitGuru.

The monumental failure of PlayStation’s Hero Shooter Concord from last year seems to have put a massive stopper on a bunch of Sony’s previously-established live-service plans. Despite the console maker continuing to outwardly support the notion of more games-as-a-service releases, last week’s cancellation of both a live-service God of War from Bluepoint Games – and a similar title from Sony Bend – was reportedly indeed due to Concord flopping.

Last week, it was reported that both Bluepoint Games and Sony Bend were working on different live-service experiences for PlayStation, with the former being based on the God of War IP.

At the time, no specifics were given as to why these cancellations took place. Though it seemed somewhat obvious, known industry insider Jeff Grubb has now confirmed that Concord’s lack of success was indeed a major factor, saying during the ‘Game Mess’ podcast: “[The cancellations] happened because of Concord, like this should be clear, that's what I've been told.”

Grubb continued, “Sony has been shell shocked from Concord and now they're going around to every studio and they're reassessing every single project, and if it's a live service project, it has a lot of friction going against it preventing it from getting a chance to actually come out.”

Of course, for the sake of investors, it benefits Sony to continue pretending that all is well in its land of live-services. That said, this latest leak seems to paint a slightly different – albeit more realistic– picture.

Discuss on our Facebook page HERE.

KitGuru says: What do you think of the report? Are you glad to see Sony seemingly reassessing their live-service plans? Let us know down below.

The post Live-service God of War was reportedly cancelled due to Concord’s failure first appeared on KitGuru.