MrEUser

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.ninja/post/138875

AMD's Ryzen 8000-series CPUs, based on the new Zen 5 microarchitecture, have reached a crucial point on their way to market, with major industry benchmarking utility AIDA64 now recognizing the architecture. The update came from FireWire's latest release notes for the AIDA64 tool, a popular system health and performance evaluation software among professionals and PC enthusiasts. FireWire would have needed detailed information from AMD to implement this preliminary support for Zen 5.

However, this does not necessarily give an exact timeline for when the Zen 5 architecture will hit the market in the form of AMD Ryzen 8000-series desktop processors. AIDA64's preliminary support for Intel's Meteor Lake processors was introduced back in 2021, and these chips are not expected to launch until later this year. According to AMD's roadmap, the release of the Ryzen 8000-series is set for 2024, indicating that the company is on track with its launch plan.

FireWire's release notes also show enhanced support for Intel's upcoming processor generations: Meteor Lake, Arrow Lake, and Lunar Lake. Lunar Lake, with its new microarchitecture, is expected to be released late in 2024 or early in 2025. The upcoming 14th-gen Raptor Lake refresh and Meteor Lake chips, both under the 14th-gen label and expected to launch later this year, will stick with Intel's current hybrid performance-efficiency core design.

Arrow Lake, expected in 2024 and set to be built on TSMC's 3nm process node, has reportedly been dealing with delays. This is not unusual for TSMC, which manufactures the processor wafers for numerous tech giants including AMD, Nvidia, and Apple. With the 3nm node predicted to be highly popular, production schedules are likely to be tight.

AMD's Zen 5 will also be utilizing TSMC's 3nm node, which could be a double-edged sword for the company. Intel secured a significant portion of 3nm production capacity in 2021, ostensibly for an Arc GPU and several server chips. If Intel substitutes Arrow Lake chips into this capacity, it is likely to have a larger stock of its chips at the launch of Arrow Lake compared to AMD's stock of 3nm Zen 5 chips. However, it appears that AMD placed orders for Zen 5 chips before Intel, which means Zen 5 chips may roll off the production line before Intel's Arrow Lake chips. Whether AMD's first-to-market advantage will result in a more successful launch, as seen with the previous Zen 4, remains to be seen.

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.ninja/post/72948

A smorgasbord of FPS’s from the 90’s

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.ninja/post/22013

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.ninja/post/22012

BattleBit Remastered, a 254-player FPS game, is currently stealing the limelight on Steam despite being launched in the already crowded market of first-person shooters. Developed by a team of only four people, the $15 indie game quickly became a top seller on the platform. Its success is especially notable since it competes against numerous free, well-supported shooters, yet still manages to outperform even popular titles like Call of Duty.

What's particularly appealing about BattleBit, however, isn't just its gameplay, but its pricing model. Instead of following a free-to-play model, BattleBit costs $15 upfront. But this purchase comes with the assurance that players will receive a fully-featured game with no extra hidden costs. The game currently includes six classes, 39 unlockable guns, dozens of class-specific gadgets, 17 destructible maps, and community server support, among other things, making it a great value for its price.

This model stands in stark contrast to the typical free-to-play games that tend to start with a modest offering and then add more content over time. These games often feel like they are always looking at the player as a potential target for further monetization, with constant reminders about battle pass buy-ins and overpriced skin bundles. This approach can lead to players feeling like they're being asked to invest financially and emotionally in the game's future potential, rather than simply enjoying what the game offers in the present.

BattleBit, with its upfront price and a promise of no further monetary strings, is refreshingly different. It's fun, well-balanced, and surprisingly intense for a game with blocky characters and low-detail environments. The robust proximity chat feature also adds an additional layer of immersion and social interaction, with players often role-playing and communicating with genuine conviction during the game.

Despite its minor shortcomings, like the lackluster sound effects for its guns, BattleBit's previous anonymity has worked in its favor, much like Eric Barone's Stardew Valley. Gamers come in with zero expectations and are often pleasantly surprised by the depth and quality of the game. Even if future updates don't materialize, many players feel they have already received their money's worth from the initial purchase. The game's focus on present value, rather than speculative future updates, appears to be a winning strategy in the eyes of its growing fanbase.