The highly anticipated game Black Myth: Wukong is set to redefine gaming visuals with its integration of full ray tracing and NVIDIA DLSS 3. Developed by Game Science, this action-adventure RPG draws inspiration from the classic Chinese novel Journey to the West and promises a breathtaking blend of stunning graphics and immersive gameplay.

Leveraging the cutting-edge technology of NVIDIA RTX, Black Myth: Wukong will deliver hyper-realistic lighting, shadows, and reflections that elevate the game’s visual storytelling to new heights. The inclusion of full ray tracing ensures that every scene is rendered with unparalleled detail, creating an experience that is as visually compelling as it is engaging.

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Complementing this graphical fidelity is NVIDIA DLSS 3, an AI-powered performance multiplier. DLSS 3 uses advanced AI algorithms to boost frame rates without compromising image quality, allowing players to enjoy the game at higher resolutions and with greater smoothness. This technology not only enhances gameplay but also future-proofs the experience, ensuring that Black Myth: Wukong remains visually stunning on next-generation hardware.

With these innovations, Black Myth: Wukong stands poised to set a new standard in gaming. Players can look forward to a game that not only challenges their skills but also captivates their senses with its remarkable visual achievements.

Prepare to embark on an epic journey through a world where myth meets cutting-edge technology. Black Myth: Wukong is more than just a game; it’s a showcase of what’s possible when artistry meets the power of NVIDIA RTX.

For even faster frame rates, owners of GeForce RTX 40 Series graphics cards and laptops can accelerate performance using NVIDIA DLSS 3 with Frame Generation. 

In Black Myth: Wukong, DLSS 3 multiplies performance with full ray tracing enabled and every setting maxed out. That allows owners of the GeForce RTX 4090, the world’s fastest gaming GPU, to hit nearly 100 frames per second in Black Myth: Wukong’s benchmark. Additionally, owners of the GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER and GeForce RTX 4070 Ti SUPER can join in on the 4K fun, running at 74 and 66 frames per second, respectively. If you own one of these GPUs, prepare your eyes for a dazzling display of the very best graphics and gameplay.

At 2560×1440, acceleration of frame rates enables even more configurations to experience Black Myth: Wukong with full ray tracing and maxed out visuals. The GeForce 4090 surpasses 120 FPS, the GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER runs at over 90 FPS, the GeForce RTX 4070 Ti SUPER exceeds 80 FPS, and the GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER passes 70 FPS. And the popular GeForce RTX 4070 pops past 60 FPS, giving its many owners a fast, smooth experience in Black Myth: Wukong.

At 1920×1080, which steadfastly remains the most popular gaming resolution, virtually all GeForce RTX 40 Series GPUs can surpass 60 FPS with full ray tracing enabled and all other options cranked up, thanks to a DLSS 3 boost. As for the massively popular GeForce RTX 4060, it can get 60 FPS with a few settings tweaks, or with the use of NVIDIA app’s one-click Optimal Settings.

See the full article from Nvidia here: https://www.nvidia.com/en-us/geforce/news/black-myth-wukong-full-ray-tracing-dlss-3/

The majority of GeForce gamers (over 90%) are using NVIDIA Reflex, especially in competitive shooters where 9 out of the top 10 games support it. In 2023, gamers logged over 10 billion hours in games enhanced by Reflex. The list of supported games includes major titles like Apex Legends, Call of Duty series, Counter-Strike 2, Fortnite, Overwatch 2, and more. We use it in Destiny 2 as well and its been great to see the improvement.

Additionally, NVIDIA’s ecosystem includes G-SYNC Monitors with Reflex for high refresh rates and clear images, and Gaming Mice with Reflex for improved performance. The Reflex Analyzer is a tool used in conjunction with these monitors and mice to measure system latency. A new NVIDIA Reflex mouse, the HyperX Pulsefire Haste 2 Mini, has also been introduced.

Layers of Fear, SCUM, and Squad all support Reflex now. In addition, Horizon Forbidden West Complete Edition and NAKWON: LAST PARADISE will offer support at launch.

Today marks the release of the The GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER GPU which we reviewed here. Following its introduction at CES along with the GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER and 4070 Ti SUPER that are set to arrive shortly. The 4070 SUPER, priced at $599, offers significant performance improvements over its predecessor and is ideal for 1440p gaming. It’s more efficient than the RTX 3090 while providing faster performance, especially with DLSS 3 and is a no-brainer if you are still on 20-series cards and a good upgrade choice for those with a 3070 looking to utilize the latest features.

Since its debut in September 2020, over 100 games have launched with or added support for NVIDIA Reflex. It is a stellar list that includes Apex Legends, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III, Call of Duty: Warzone, Counter-Strike 2, Fortnite and Overwatch 2, along with critically acclaimed smash hit games such as Cyberpunk 2077, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, Diablo IV, Remnant 2, God of War, Microsoft Flight Simulator, Red Dead Redemption 2, Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart, Marvel’s Spider-Man Remastered and more. 

More DLSS Games

DLSS continues its momentum, too. New DLSS titles this week include:

• Dead Signal is available now with DLSS 2
• Palworld – entering early access on January 19th with DLSS 2
• United 1944 – in early access now with DLSS 2 and DLAA
• Who is Abby available now with DLSS 3 & Ray Tracing
  
  Happy Gaming!

Key product launches include:

1. Qi2 Chargers:
   • HyperJuice 4-in-1 Qi2 Charging Stand: A foldable, 15W wireless charger optimized for Apple devices, priced at $149.99, available in Q2 2024.
   • HyperJuice Qi2 Puck Stand + Apple Watch Charger: A portable solution for charging devices and an Apple Watch, priced at $119.99, available in Q3 2024.
2. Power Banks:
   • HyperJuice 10,000mAh Qi2 Power Bank: MagSafe-compatible, also an Apple Watch charger with a 20W USB-C port, priced at $129.99, available in Q2 2024.
   • HyperJuice 5,000mAh Capsule Power Bank with Cables: Compact design with integrated USB-C cables, priced at $49.99, available in Q3 2024.
   • HyperJuice Compact 20,000mAh USB-C PD Power Bank: High-capacity, portable, with 18W charging support, priced at $79.99, launching in Q3 2024.

1. Multi-Port Wall Chargers:
   • HyperJuice 100W USB-C GaN Global Charger: A travel-friendly charger for up to four devices, priced at $99.99, available in Q1 2024.
   • HyperJuice 70W Travel Charger with Adapters: Offers 70W power with dual USB-C and USB-A ports, priced at $79.99, available in Q2 2024.
2. Connectivity Solutions:
   • HyperDrive Next USB4 NVMe SSD DUO Enclosure: Supports two NVMe SSDs with 40Gbps transfer speeds, priced at $179.99, available in Q2 2024
   • HyperDrive Next Snap-On USB-C SSD Enclosure: Portable, supports 2-in-1 M.2 SSDs, priced at $39.99, available in Q2 2024.
   • HyperDrive Next Thunderbolt 5 Dock: Offers triple 4K144Hz display support and 80Gbps speeds, priced at $399.99, available in Q3 2024.

It’s an exciting day in the world of gaming, NVIDIA has just announced their GeForce RTX 40 SUPER Series GPUs, including the RTX 4080 SUPER, RTX 4070 Ti SUPER, and RTX 4070 SUPER, starting at a friendly price of $599.

This latest iteration of NVIDIA Ada Lovelace architecture-based GPUs delivers up to
52 shader TFLOPS, 121 RT TFLOPS and 836 AI TOPS to supercharge gaming and
creating — and provide the power to develop new entertainment worlds and
experiences. The GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER starts from $599.

An AI-Powered Leap in PC Computing

Gamers, get ready for enhanced visual quality with NVIDIA’s AI-powered Deep Learning Super Sampling (DLSS), which accelerates ray tracing and improves image quality. Titles like Diablo IV and Horizon Forbidden West are about to get even more stunning. The RTX 40 SUPER Series supports over 500 RTX games and applications, preparing users for the upcoming wave of generative AI apps.

As gamers we demand the very best in visual quality, and with DLSS, seven out of eight pixels can be AI-generated, accelerating full ray tracing by up to 4x with better image quality. For everyone from gaming enthusiasts to creative professionals, GeForce RTX
SUPER GPUs are simply awesome upgrades,” said Matt Wuebbling, vice president of
global GeForce marketing at NVIDIA. “GeForce RTX SUPER cards support over 500
RTX games and applications and will have users prepared for the wave of
generative AI apps coming to PC.”

For creators, these GPUs are a leap forward in AI capabilities. The specialized AI Tensor Cores provide up to 836 AI TOPS, transforming the way AI is used in gaming, creative workflows, and everyday productivity. NVIDIA TensorRT software optimizes deep learning inference, making AI tasks faster and more efficient.

A 4K Monster: The GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER

The star of the series, the GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER, is a 4K gaming monster and the card we are most excited to test. It’s significantly faster than its predecessor, the RTX 3080 Ti, especially when combined with DLSS Frame Generation, and it’ll be available from $999 starting January 31.

Perfectly Balanced: The GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER and the RTX 4070 Ti Super

For those focusing on 1440p gaming, the RTX 4070 Ti SUPER is your go-to, offering high frame rates and enhanced performance, available from January 24 for $799. And the RTX 4070 SUPER, perfect for those seeking a balance of performance and power efficiency, will hit the shelves on January 17 at $599.

Where to Buy
For the GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER and 4070 SUPER, an NVIDIA Founders Edition
Design will be available direct from NVIDIA.com and select retailers. Custom boards,
including stock-clocked and factory-overclocked models for all GeForce RTX 40
SUPER Series GPUs, will be available from top add-in card providers such as ASUS,
Colorful, Gainward, GALAX, GIGABYTE, INNO3D, KFA2, MSI, Palit, PNY and ZOTAC.

We look forward to testing these cards for you in the near future!

– Happy Gaming!

 – Tatu Aalto, Lead Graphics Programmer Remedy Entertainment

The highly-anticipated Alan Wake 2 launches this week, and looks stunning with breathtaking, fully ray-traced graphics which are accelerated and enhanced by NVIDIA DLSS 3.5’s complete suite of AI-powered technologies.

GeForce RTX 40 Series gamers will receive the definitive day-one experience: frame rates are multiplied by an average of 4.5X at 4K, ray tracing is even more immersive thanks to NVIDIA DLSS Ray Reconstruction, and NVIDIA Reflex makes gameplay even more responsive.

Additionally, Ikonei Island: An Earthlock Adventure, and Shadows of Doubt, two highly rated indie games, also receive DLSS performance upgrades today.

The Return of Alan Wake!

Remedy Entertainment’s eagerly awaited Alan Wake 2, published by Epic Games, arrives October 27th with jaw-dropping fully ray-traced graphics, enhanced and accelerated by DLSS 3.5 with Ray Reconstruction. Players will explore two beautiful yet terrifying worlds, boasting the most advanced visuals seen to date in gaming, searching for the source of a supernatural darkness that has trapped Alan in an endless nightmare.

Alan Wake 2’s fully ray-traced, path-traced visuals take the game’s ray-traced lighting, reflections and shadows to the next level, unifying them in a single solution that produces incredible results, as seen in this new, exclusive Alan Wake 2 RTX launch video.

Alan Wake 2 Gets Up to 4.5X Faster with a DLSS Performance Upgrade 

Activating ray tracing and DLSS in Alan Wake 2 on a GeForce RTX GPU automatically enables Ray Reconstruction, replacing two denoisers with a unified AI model that enhances the quality of ray tracing, making gameplay more immersive, and graphics more realistic. In addition, Ray Reconstruction runs up to 14% faster in our benchmarks, further accelerating performance for GeForce RTX gamers.

The combination of NVIDIA technology gives NVIDIA GeForce RTX Gamers the ultimate Alan Wake 2 experience, with beautiful graphics and a remarkable performance uplift. Here are a few examples:

• At 4K, with every setting maxed and full ray tracing enabled, activating Frame Generation, Ray Reconstruction and Super Resolution sees frame rates multiply astronomically. On the GeForce RTX 4090, performance multiplies by 4.1X, enabling owners to play Alan Wake 2 at its very best at over 120 FPS at 4K! The GeForce RTX 4080 sees its performance multiplied by 4.7X, and the GeForce RTX 4070 Ti multiplies performance by 4.7X, for max setting 4K gameplay at nearly 80 FPS
• At 1440p, GeForce RTX 40 Series frame rates multiply by an average of 3X with full ray tracing and every other setting maxed out, enabling 80 FPS+ gameplay on the GeForce RTX 4070 and above
• At 1080p, the most popular gaming resolution, performance multiplies by 2.7X on average, enabling owners of faster cards to play at up to 190 FPS

The Fully Ray Traced World of Alan Wake 2

Full ray tracing, also known as path tracing, accurately simulates light throughout an entire scene. It is used by visual effects artists to create film and TV graphics that are indistinguishable from reality, but until the arrival of GeForce RTX GPUs with RT Cores, and the AI-powered acceleration of NVIDIA DLSS 3.5, real-time video game full ray tracing was impossible.

In Alan Wake 2, RT High and RT Medium settings use path tracing. For full details, the following table shows which settings utilize path tracing, and what ray-traced features are available when enabling each preset.

If DLSS Ray Reconstruction is disabled or not available, the following fallbacks will apply:

Alan Wake 2 Game Ready Drivers, Bundle and Cloud Gameplay

Look for the NVIDIA Game Ready Driver for Alan Wake 2 on October 26th.

Buyers of eligible GeForce RTX 4070, 4070 Ti, 4080 and 4090 graphics cards and desktop PCs, or a laptop with a GeForce RTX 4090 Laptop GPU, RTX 4080 Laptop GPU, or RTX 4070 Laptop GPU from select retailers and etailers will receive a digital copy of the game, to play when released on October 27th. To see the complete list of participating partners in your country, head to the Alan Wake 2 bundle homepage.

Play Alan Wake 2 in the Cloud on GeForce NOW.

More DLSS games!

Other new DLSS games this week include:

• Ikonei Island: An Earthlock Adventure – Updates today with a DLSS 2 Performance Upgrade
• Shadows of Doubt – Updates today with a DLSS 2 Performance Upgrade

October 3rd, 2023, Taipei, Taiwan – AZZA, a leading manufacturer and provider of computer cases, power supplies, and PC components, is proud to unveil its latest Unlimited Series cases: the SANCTUM 810 and MESA 811. These uniquely designed products push the envelope in design aesthetics. The SANCTUM 810’s metal frame and spacious glass enclosure, along with its angled front fans, deliver striking aesthetics and efficient cooling. The MESA 811’s unique asymmetrical design accommodates various motherboard sizes, features brushed aluminum walls with grooves for airflow optimization, and offers multiple fan ports for enhanced ventilation. These innovative enclosures cater to gamers and PC enthusiasts, redefining the possibilities for high-performance computing.

SANCTUM 810
​The SANCTUM 810 is highly compatible with hardware components and offers almost limitless freedom for water-cooling setups. Its metal frame complements the transparent glass enclosure and brushed aluminum base, for a nice balance of contemporary and industrial aesthetics. Within the aluminum base, a dual-chamber compartment is thoughtfully integrated to ensure extensive cable management capabilities. Strategically angled front 120mm ARGB fans are positioned to optimize airflow dynamics, efficiently cooling the graphics card by drawing air through the front mesh cover. The SANCTUM 810 can accommodate up to E-ATX motherboards, large GPUs up to 400mm, tall CPU cooling towers up to 190mm, and supports up to 7 x 120 mm fans, ensuring robust thermal management and dispelling any cooling concerns.

MESA 811
​The MESA 811 features a unique, asymmetrical chassis that draws its inspiration from the striking form of icebergs. Notably, the distinctive brushed aluminum walls feature precisely crafted groove cut-outs, strategically engineered to facilitate air intake and exhaust, catering to both air and water cooling configurations. The MESA 811 offers the flexibility to house motherboards ranging from ATX to MINI-ITX form factors. It boasts the capacity to host graphics cards with dimensions extending up to 380 mm and offers support for CPU coolers with heights of up to 140 mm. Augmenting its thermal performance is a removable bracket beside the motherboard capable of supporting up to 3 x 120mm fans and a 360 radiator. Additionally, a 120mm fan port is located at the rear above the motherboard I/O cutout, pre-installed with an ARGB fan.

For more information about the SANCTUM 810: https://www.azza.gg/products/sanctum​

For more information about the MESA 811: https://www.azza.gg/products/mesa

Pricing and Availability
​The AZZA MESA 811 MSRP is $369.99 and is available on Newegg.​

​

As you lay eyes on the Cube 360 and Cube 240, you’ll be immediately captivated by their striking cube-shaped water blocks. Crafted with brushed aluminum and embellished with three-dimensional pyramid-shaped ARGB LEDs, these water blocks exude style and compatibility. They’re designed to fit most AMD and Intel socket designs, including the upcoming Intel LGA 1851 socket (HEDT sockets are the exception), making them incredibly versatile for a wide range of setups.

But the real power lies within the compact 4000 RPM pump concealed within the radiator. It can move a remarkable 96L/h of liquid with a water pressure of 1.5mH2O. Thanks to its single-piece impeller design, it’s not just powerful but also impressively quiet and durable.

Let’s talk about those radiator fins – they’re rectangular, making them more robust and minimizing vibrations. What’s more, they greatly increase the surface area for outstanding heat dissipation. To top it off, rectangular enhancement folds on both ends of the fins bolster the water block’s resistance against pressure and bending, ensuring you won’t accidentally damage them during installation.

Now, the water channels have undergone a significant transformation. With the addition of 12 water channels, each 2mm wide, the liquid’s cross-sectional area and radiator efficiency have surged by 46.7%. Water flow has also seen a substantial 33% boost compared to earlier models.

And don’t get us started on the ARGB vortex fans paired with the CUBE 240 and CUBE 360. These 120mm wonders reach speeds of up to 2000 RPM while maintaining whisper-quiet operation at less than 34 dB(A). Whether you’re pushing your CPU to the limit with demanding AAA games or customizing your desktop with unique geometry and ARGB lighting, the Cube 360 and Cube 240 are guaranteed to be game-changing additions to your setup.

Pricing and Availability
​AZZA Cube 360 is currently priced at $99.99 while Cube 240 is listed as $79.99.
Both are available on Amazon, respectively Cube 360 here and Cube 240 here, or you can find them on Newegg, Cube 360 here and Cube 240 here.

The driver is also optimized for Forza Motorsport and Lords of the Fallen, both releasing in October. NVIDIA is offering a bundle for buyers of select GeForce RTX 40 Series graphics cards and laptops, including a digital copy of Alan Wake 2. There’s also an October Studio Driver available for creators, with updates and features showcased at Adobe MAX.

New DLSS games this week include:

• Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III PC Multiplayer open beta kicks off October 12th with DLSS 2 and NVIDIA Reflex. The game will support DLSS 3 at launch, November 10th. DLSS and Reflex will deliver the definitive experience in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III.
• Lords of the Fallen launches October 13th with DLSS 3, multiplying performance by an average of 2.9X at 4K max settings.
• RoboCop: Rogue City demo is available now with DLSS 3 and DLAA.
• Highrise City recently exited Early Access and is available now with DLSS 2.
  
  Great games ahead!

1. Mortal Kombat 1:
   • New in the Mortal Kombat franchise, it introduces a fresh fighting system, game modes, and fatalities.
   • DLSS 2 support will be available from its launch on September 19th.
2. Lies of P:
   • An action Souls-like game based on the Pinocchio tale, set in the city of Krat.
   • Launching on September 19th, it will provide GeForce RTX gamers with DLSS 2, boosting frame rates by an average of 1.9X at 4K with max settings.
3. Starfield:
   • NVIDIA is releasing a Resizable BAR profile to boost performance, specifically offering a 5% increase on GeForce RTX 40 Series desktop GPUs.
   • The update will be available Over-The-Air (OTA) for those with the latest Game Ready Driver (537.34) or the one prior (537.17).
4. Game Ready Driver Upgrades:
   • Support added for six new G-SYNC Compatible displays, naming AOC, I-O DATA, and LG models.
   • GeForce Experience now optimally sets settings for five new games, increasing its repertoire to over 1000 titles.
5. DLSS Support:
   • ICARUS, Ad Infinitum, Warstride Challenges, Arcadegeddon, and Starsiege: Deadzone are among the games getting DLSS support this week.
6. About Game Ready Drivers:
   • NVIDIA’s Game Ready Drivers are co-developed with game makers, undergoing extensive tests for optimized performance and reliability. The program was conceived to guarantee the finest gaming experience by working closely with game developers.

Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart Is #RTXON

The much-loved Ratchet & Clank franchise debuts tomorrow on PC with the critically acclaimed Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart and takes full advantage of what the GeForce RTX platform has to offer, including:

NVIDIA DLSS 3 – AI-powered performance multiplier. At 4K, with all ray tracing effects disabled, and settings enhanced, GeForce RTX 4080 and 4090 desktop GPU gamers can achieve 140+ FPS gaming.
NVIDIA Reflex – Reduces system latency by up to 48% in Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart.
NVIDIA RTX IO – GPU-accelerated storage technology enables faster asset loading.
NVIDIA DLAA – AI-based anti-aliasing mode for users with extra GPU headroom and want higher image quality.
Ray Tracing – Ray traced shadows, ambient blocking and reflections will run at the highest possible speed on dedicated ray tracing cores on any GeForce RTX GPU

With Day 1 support for NVIDIA DLSS 3, NVIDIA DLAA, NVIDIA Reflex, NVIDIA RTX IO, and ray tracing, GeForce RTX gamers will enjoy the definitive Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart PC experience and we are very excited to finally try this with our PC build.

More DLSS 3 games

• Remnant II – launching today with DLSS 2.
• NARAKA: BLADEPOINT  – celebrates the game’s second anniversary by going Free-To-Play. Includes NVIDIA DLSS 2 and NVIDIA Reflex.
• SYNCED – launching this summer with DLSS 3, Reflex and real-time ray tracing.
• Wuthering Waves – launching with DLSS 3.

We recently received an RTX 4070 Founders Edition from Nvidia and we have been testing it for the past week by using 11 PC games plus hybrid benchmarks. The Founders Edition will be available at $599 starting tomorrow. Nvidia is touting this GPU as a great upgrade to the seven-year-old 10 series cards – and while it is true that its value proposition is undeniable – you will have to decide if it is worth the price of admission.

Thankfully, Nvidia has kept pricing sane as the RTX 4070 arrives with multiple new features, including DLSS 3, which brings an incredible performance uplift. For this reason alone, this new entry in the 40 series is extremely exciting. The higher-priced RTX 3080 is hard to find new in stock so we will compare them to find the best value.

The RTX 4070 further cements its new value role as it supports impressive new features including Displaced Micro-Meshes and Nvidia DLSS 3 technology, all while using less power than the RTX 3070 Ti. Additionally, for broadcasters, the RTX 4070 supports AV1 encoding which in and of itself is a good enough reason to upgrade from older generations of cards. 

The RTX 4070 Feature set

Right out of the gate, many will be concerned about being bound by the RTX 4070’s 12GB VRAM capacity as modern games skyrocket in their usage. While it may not age the best in 5-6 years, its VRAM is more than enough for current needs. Compared with buying a used RTX 3080, the RTX 4070 is a new card with a warranty, and it includes the latest leaps in DLSS/AI technology.

Comparing generation-to-generation there is a giant leap thanks to TGP/power improvements. There is also no price category competition from AMD, and FSR 2.0 is well behind DLSS 3 in performance. Again, the value proposition in comparison to the rest of the rather expensive 40 series is obvious, but the RTX 4070 may not offer the raw GPU power upgrade that those with RTX 3080s are looking for at this price range.

Today, there are over 400 games and applications that have RTX support which includes over 50 announced titles with DLSS 3. According to Nvidia, DLSS 3 has the fastest adoption of any of their technologies to date, with DLSS 3 being adopted 7x faster than DLSS 2. DLSS 3 is featured in some of the hottest current and upcoming titles including Forza Horizon 5, Diablo IV, Redfall, and The Finals. This value alone may be enough to move the needle for potential buyers.

GeForce RTX 4070 Founders Edition Board

The GeForce RTX 4070 Founders Edition graphics card incorporates many of the new design elements that are also found on NVIDIA’s GeForce RTX 4070 Ti, RTX 4080, and RTX 4090 Founders Edition boards. The RTX 4070 Founders Edition board is crafted with premium materials and components including a die-cast aluminum body and dual axial fans. It looks fantastic in our PC and especially for ITX enthusiasts, this may be a go-to card with its perfect compact size.

The RTX 4070’s new design also provides about a 20% increase improvement in airflow compared to the RTX 3070 Ti Founders Edition.

Our Plan

Nvidia is in an interesting spot with the RTX 4070 delivering outstandingly efficient performance. For this review, we are planning to benchmark the RTX 4080, RTX 4070 Ti, RTX 4070, RTX 3070, and RTX 3080 within an average build that most gamers today would be able to complete on a reasonable budget.

We think comparing the RTX 4070 performance against current family and iconic cards from Nvidia’s previous RTX generation of GPUs may be worth it for Turing or Ampere users considering an upgrade to Ada Lovelace.

The GeForce RTX 4070 is based on the AD104 GPU and equipped with 5,888 CUDA Cores providing 29 FP32 Shader-TFLOPS of power for rendering traditional rasterized graphics. It also boasts 184 Fourth Generation Tensor Cores offering 466 Tensor-TFLOPS (with Sparsity) for AI processing and DLSS, 46 Third Generation Ada RT Cores capable of 67 RT-TFLOPS for powering next-generation ray-traced graphics, and 12GB of GDDR6X memory.

We want to test if it really can hold up with 12GB of VRAM to deliver a potential amazing value proposition compared to the RTX 3080 launched at $699 two years ago and the RTX 2080 Ti which launched at $99 MSRP four years ago. We want to especially compare the $599 RTX 4070 with the $849 ASUS Tuff Gaming 4070 Ti OC to determine its place in the current lineup.

Features & Specifications

The RTX 4070 technological innovations include:

• New Streaming Multiprocessors (SM) – The new SM delivers up to 2x performance and power efficiency
• 4th Generation Tensor Cores and Optical Flow – Enable and accelerate transformative AI
  technologies, including the new frame rate multiplying Nvidia DLSS 3
• 3rd Generation RT Cores – Up to 2x ray tracing performance, delivering incredibly detailed
  virtual worlds like never before
• Shader Execution Reordering (SER) – SER improves ray tracing operations by 2x, boosting FPS up to 44% in Cyberpunk with RT: Overdrive Mode
• DLSS 3 – A revolutionary breakthrough in AI-powered graphics that massively boosts
  performance using AI to generate additional high-quality frames
• Nvidia Studio – Unmatched performance in 3D rendering, video editing, and live streaming
• AV1 Encoders – The 8th generation Nvidia Encoder (NVENC) with AV1 is 40% more efficient than H.264, enabling new possibilities for streamers, broadcasters, and video callers

Key Features from ASUS

• Dedicated 3rd generation ray tracing cores (46)
• Dedicated 4th generation Tensor cores (184)
• Nvidia DLSS 3 support
• Game Ready and Nvidia Studio drivers
• Nvidia GeForce Experience
• Nvidia Broadcast
• Nvidia G-Sync
• Nvidia GPU Boost
• PCI Express Gen 4
• Microsoft DirectX 12 Ultimate support
• Support for Vulkan RT APIs, Vulkan 1.3, and OpenGL 4.6
• HDCP 2.3 support
• DisplayPort 1.4 support: up to 4K at 240Hz or 8K at 60Hz with DSC, HDR
• HDMI 2.1 support: up to 4K 240Hz, Gaming VRR, HDR

Specifications

Nvidia’s MSRP price for RTX 4070 Ti GPUs is $799, and ASUS’s price for the RTX 4070 Ti TUF GAMING OC Edition is $849.99. So it’s exciting to get back down to Nvidia’s MSRP for the RTX 4070 FE at just $599.

Here is the RTX 4070 in GPU-Z:

According to GPU-Z, the RTX 4070 has the default GPU clock of 1920Mhz compared to the RTX 4070 Ti TUF GAMING OC’s 2310MHz, about an 18.4% difference, and a boost GPU clock of 2475Mhz compared to the RTX 4070 Ti TUF GAMING OC’s 2730MHz which is around a 10% difference. So for $350 less, you will have a very competitive performance with the latest 40 series feature set.

Below is the advanced general information on the RTX 4070 FE as reported by the GPU-Z tool.

As you can see from the GPU-Z screenshots, you can even increase both power and temperature limits to some degree, and while there is little room for overclocking, there is some additional potential performance for gamers looking to get more from their builds. RTX 4070 partner boards should be interesting to see based on their cooling methods and pricing.

Our Benchmarking PC

We benchmark using FrameView on a recent install of Windows 11 Pro Edition 22H2, at 3440×1440 using an Intel Core i7-12700K with stock clocks and 32GB of DDR4 Corsair Vengeance RGB PRO 3600MHz memory on an ASUS PRIME Z690-P D4 motherboard. All games and benchmarks are the latest versions, and we use the latest GeForce 531.42 press drivers for our testing. The games tested, display driver, settings, and hardware are identical except for the GPUs we compare.

Fair warning – We lost our RTX 4080 during benchmarking due to a faulty power cable and PSU when swapping out video cards, so this is why the card is missing from some tests. We are in the process of getting them replaced.

Let’s unbox and take a closer look at this graphics card.

A Closer Look at the RTX 4070 Founder’s Edition

Packaging

The box cover highlights a sleek approach to the packaging. I am a huge fan of the presentation Nvidia has been providing for its FE line. It offers a very premium unboxing experience. The graphics card image for the recent RTX cards is iconic and that shape is also shown on the box.

Accessories

As we open the box, it folds out beautifully displaying the brand new RTX 4070 FE. Beneath the card are the new standard 16 PIN (12VHPWR) PCIe connector and an installation guide with a QR code to visit Nvidia’s website for more guides and information if needed.

The Card

The RTX 4070 FE is a small dual-fan graphics card with classic RTX aesthetics that are still refined and look great. The logo sadly does not light up on the RTX 4070 FE so that is one downside of its lower price range.

For comparison here are some photos of our 4070 Ti:

The IO panel connectors are 3 DisplayPorts and 1 HDMI connection.

Inside the case

The RTX 4070 FE looks subtle and classic inside a case. I would personally love to build an SFF PC using this card. It is the perfect size offering a powerful small gaming rig at a reasonable price compared to the sky-high prices we have seen these last few years. We like that it is small and discrete but some may not like the unlit logo

Next is our testing configuration, methodology, and more.

Test Configuration

Benching Methodology

Test Configuration – Hardware

• 12th Gen Intel Core i7-12700K (Hyper-Threading/Turbo boost on; stock settings)
• ASUS PRIME Z690-P D4 motherboard (Intel Z690 chipset, v.1008 BIOS)
• CORSAIR Vengeance RGB PRO 32GB DDR4 (2×16GB, dual-channel at 3600 MHz XMP)
• RTX 4070 FE 12GB, stock clocks; supplied by Nvidia
• ASUS TUF GAMING GeForce RTX 4070 Ti OC Edition 12GB, stock clocks; supplied by Nvidia
• RTX 3080 FE 10GB, stock clocks
• RTX 3070 FE, stock clocks
• 1 x TeamGroup 1 TB NVMe M.2 SSD
• 2 x WD Blue 1TB SATA SSD
• Corsair RM850x, 850W 80PLUS Gold power supply unit
• ALIENWARE 34″ CURVED QD-OLED GAMING MONITOR – AW3423DWF

Test Configuration – Software

• NVIDIA GeForce 531.42 game-ready press drivers; ‘Prefer maximum performance’ (on a per-game profile basis); Shader Cache Size ‘Unlimited’ (globally); fixed refresh rate (globally).
• We enable Resizable BAR
• ‘V-Sync application controlled’ in the control panel; V-Sync off in-game.
• We note and specify the main in-game display, graphics, AA, and scaling settings in the performance summary charts.
• Windows 11 64-bit Pro edition, latest updates v22H2, High-performance power plan, HAGS & Game Mode are enabled, Game DVR & Game Bar features off, Control Flow Guard (CFG) off on a per-game basis, Hypervisor and Virtualization-based security are disabled.
• We do not install ASUS tools.
• Latest DirectX
• All games are patched to their latest versions at the time of publication.
• 3DMark suite, the latest version
• RivaTuner Statistics Server (RTSS), the latest version
• FrameView, the latest version
• Display Driver Uninstaller (DDU), the latest version; always uninstall drivers using DDU in safe mode, clean, and restart.
• ISLC (Purge Standby List) before each benchmark.

GeForce Driver Suite-related

• We use DCH Game Ready drivers.
• The display driver is installed.
• We install the latest version of PhysX.

Hybrid & Non-Synthetic Tests-related

• Single run per test.

Game Benchmarks-related

• We use the corresponding built-in or custom benchmark sequence.

Frametimes Capture

• We use FrameView for capturing frame times and analyzing the relevant performance numbers obtained from each recorded built-in or custom benchmark sequence.

Benchmark Suite:

PC Games

DX11 Games

• Total War: Warhammer III (DX11)

DX12 Games

• Chernoblyte (DX12)
• Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 (DX12)
• Cyberpunk 2077 (DX12)
• F1 2022 (DX12)
• Far Cry 6 (DX12)
• Resident Evil 4 (DX12)
• Red Dead Redemption 2(DX12)
• Horizon Zero Dawn (DX12)
• Metro Exodus PC Enhanced Edition (DX12)
• Dirt 5 (DX 12)

Vulkan Games

• DOOM Eternal (VK)

Hybrid Tests (3DMark)

• DLSS Feature Test
• Fire Strike Extreme
• Fire Strike Ultra
• Time Spy
• Time Spy Extreme

Nvidia Control Panel settings

Here are the global Nvidia Control Panel settings:

Noise, Temperatures, and Power Consumption

Unfortunately, we did not have time to check out the overclocking potential, but temperatures were controlled and the RTX 4070 runs very cool.

The RTX 4070 FE is quiet, and its fans never spin up at idle, even under a heavy or full load to be irritating or noticeable. When gaming it spins up to full often under very heavy loads – like Metro Exodus with all features turned on. It is as silent as the RTX 4070 Ti we tested previously.

Below is our thermal and approximate power consumption analysis on idle (Windows desktop, no user interactions.

Idle conditions

We ran into issues testing under load (our PSU died during near the end of our testing) but throughout our testing overall, the GPU was very efficient and in-line with our expectations. There is no heater meme to be found here.

Nvidia Performance Graphs and information

The biggest selling point for the RTX 4070 FE at $599 has to be DLSS 3. This is a gigantic leap – while some purists may not like frame generation – the performance increase and quality retention is simply stunning. On our QD-OLED display, we could barely see any image quality differences but performance increased dramatically. BTR plans on doing a full DLSS 3 gaming suite test in the near future.

In our testing, the RTX 4070 FE with DLSS 3 is almost 3 times faster than the RTX 2070 Super and it nearly doubles the performance of the RTX 3070 Ti while using less power.

Let’s head to the performance charts to compare the graphics performance of the RTX 4070 FE.

Gaming Performance Charts

Main Performance Gaming Summary Charts

Here are BTR’s summary charts of 19 games, six hybrid, and three non-synthetic tests. We note and specify the main in-game display, graphics, AA, and scaling settings on the performance summary charts below. The benches were run at 3440×1440.

FireStrike Graphics Score:
3070: 16807
4070: 21121
Timespy Graphics Score:
3070: 6611
4070: 17881
4070Ti: 22467
Averaged Framerates & Relative GPU Performance

Averaged Game Framerates

We averaged the aggregated FPS of all games and testing scenarios, and we represented the total game average FPS for each tested graphics card by the following chart:

On average, the RTX 4070 is faster than the RTX 3080 at 3340×1440. However, owners of this card can likely hold off on an upgrade unless they want lower power consumption, DLSS 3, and better ray tracing performance at a reasonable price. DLSS 3 is a game-changer for the games that have it. For games that do not and that are on DLSS 2 the RTX 3080 loses narrowly or wins in some older games in rare cases.

The 4070 Ti is a clear improvement but at a significantly higher buy-in price. In comparison to the rest of the 40 series lineup, the RTX 4070’s performance is unmatched for budget/value gamers.

Final Thoughts & Verdict

This has been an enjoyable exploration evaluating the new RTX 4070 FE. Overall, it is the best 40 series value for your money if the current adoption rate of DLSS and DLSS 3 continues. The performance gain is stunning. Without this technology, we can compare the RTX 4070 to the RTX 3080 from the previous generation with very distinct differences. Nvidia has improved performance with supplemental tech like DLSS 3, the architecture, cooling, and most of all, the pricing.

The RTX 4070 is compact and amazingly efficient compared to the RTX 30 series and its 40 series brothers. The idle fan stop is huge for us, and support for AV1 encoding is stellar for a lot of streamers at this price.

The RTX 4070 performed above the RTX 3080 in most cases and well above the RTX RTX 3070. The gap widened significantly with frame generation/DLSS 3 – So much so that this is a no-brainer. However, this is not a “wow” with the raster performance jump over the previous generation. Instead, the RTX 4070 is more efficient, more compact, and has much better features especially if you are still on a 10-series card. This is a worthy point in time with a card that is finally available at a reasonable price as a poster child for the generational leaps Nvidia is making with its technology and DLSS 3.

There is no early adopter woe here as there are many AAA titles to enjoy – right now – with DLSS 3 enabled, unlike with ray tracing at its launch. However, If DLSS 3 means little to you, we would hesitate to recommend upgrading from an RTX 3080 to an RTX 4070. However, the RTX 3070 user base will see enough significant performance gains to be able to make this a worthwhile consideration.

For a couple hundred dollars more you could buy an RTX 4070 Ti or a current AMD offering – but there is no card currently in this class and price that comes close to competing. The value of your dollar here will make any gamer happy. Especially at 1080p and 1440p, this card is a beast ready to serve your needs.

We do implore you to look at our upcoming DLSS 3 comparison of the current generation. This technology is finally allowing Nvidia to realize the dream that has been ray tracing. We can now maintain great performance while having the full suite of RTX features on an mid-level card. Safe to say, we give the RTX 4070 Founders Edition our Editor’s Choice award.

–Happy gaming! Per Audacia Ad Astra. Rest in Peace to Lance Reddick – our Commander Zavala.

Today, Bungie has launched the latest expansion in the Destiny 2 franchise – Destiny 2: Lightfall – on all platforms. Lightfall is the penultimate chapter in Destiny 2’s ongoing “Light & Darkness Saga,” and will find Guardians encountering the malevolent forces of the Shadow Legion, exploring a secret city hidden on the surface of Neptune, and discovering a new Darkness-powered subclass: Strand.

In Lightfall, Guardians will be tasked with preventing the apocalypse by stopping the Witness and its newest disciple, Calus. Along the way, Guardians will cross paths with the Shadow Legion, including the terrifying and formidable new Tormentors, who are bent on causing devastation in the high-tech capital of Neomuna.Guardians will wield a new subclass power in Lightfall; Strand will give the ability to pluck the threads that bind the universe together, creating unprecedented combat and movement capabilities. Strand will grant powerful new attacks for each Guardian class to use in unique ways, in addition to a new grapple ability which will greatly increase their mobility and traversal options throughout the game.

Lightfall’s accompanying season, Season of Defiance, launches on the same day as the new expansion for Destiny 2 and will find Guardians called into action by Mara Sov and the Queensguard to investigate the Pyramid outputs appearing across the planet and stand in defiance of humanity’s greatest foes. Jump into Defiant Battlegrounds – a new three-person activity available in the Season – where Guardians will use their newly acquired Awoken powers to tear portals into the Ascendant Plane too challenge the Shadow Legion.

New Raid, World First Race Coming March 10
Shortly after the launch of Lightfall, Bungie will unlock its latest raid, Root of Nightmares. Destiny raids are pinnacle aspirational activities designed for six skilled Guardians who want to be challenged not just for their fighting skills, but their ability to work cooperatively, think on their feet, and solve seemingly impossible challenges.
The Root of Nightmares will launch for all Lightfall players on March 10 at 9 AM Pacific (17:00 UTC). With the launch of the raid, Bungie will also kick off its worldwide competition to crown the first fireteam in the world to complete the raid. The confirmed winning fireteam will win one-of-a-kind World First title belts for each fireteam member along with the glory of being awarded the World First title. Look for the official announcement of the winning World First team in the days following the launch of the raid.

Destiny 2: Lightfall

Calus has returned as a disciple of the Witness and threatens the neon city of Neomuna with destruction. Guardians will stand strong against the apocalypse knowing that, now, our end begins.

Strand – The newest elemental power in Destiny 2, Strand is powered by Darkness and allows Guardians to tap into the cosmic strings of the universe to unleash powerful attacks. Each Guardian class uses Strand in a unique way, and all Strand-enabled Guardians can take advantage of the new grapple ability to greatly increase mobility in and out of combat.

Neomuna – This neon-drenched city on Neptune is the newest destination in Destiny 2. Under siege by Calus’ Shadow Legion, Neomuna is also home to Guardians’ newest allies, the heroic Cloud Striders, who protect the city from invasion.

Legendary Campaign – The Legendary Campaign mode returns for Lightfall. Designed for players who want to experience the gripping narrative of Destiny 2’s latest storyline while also challenging their skills and earning better rewards.

Loadouts & Mod Customization ­– New Loadouts and Mod Customization features make customizing a Guardian faster and easier than ever. Easily view and place new mods via a single Mod Customization screen; save gear and mods into loadout slots that can be accessed on the fly.

Commendations & Guardian Ranks – Lightfall comes with a pair of new social systems meant to encourage friendly play and teamwork, and to better help players understand the skill level and experience of others. With Commendations, players will be able to award a variety of commendation awards to fireteam members upon completing activities together. Guardian Ranks will offer a quick visual shorthand of each Guardian’s skill and experience level, and players can move up Guardian Ranks by earning Commendations and completing activities throughout the game.

Terminal Overload – In this new destination activity, Guardians will repel attacks from both the Vex and the Cabal as they try to flood the Neptunian city with their forces.

New Raid: Root of Nightmares – Ferried from an unknown time and place, a haunting presence has been detected. Guardians must confront the ancient threat growing at their doorstep. The raid opens on March 10.

The Lightfall + Annual Pass Edition is now available on all platforms. In addition to what comes with the Lightfall standard edition (Lightfall expansion, raid, and current Season access), the Lightfall + Annual Pass Edition includes:

• Access to Seasons 21 – 23
• Lightfall Dungeon Key – Access two dungeons releasing in Year 6 of Destiny 2
• Instant Unlock of Quicksilver Storm Exotic Auto Rifle, Catalyst, and ornament
• Lightfall Exotic Sparrow
• Rahool’s Secret Stash – Earn this bonus cache of premium goods at the start of Season of Defiance and Seasons 21-23. This cache includes an Ascendant Alloy, Ascendant Shards, an Exotic Cipher, upgrade modules, and an Exotic cosmetic item.

Season of Defiance

The latest Season in Destiny 2 – Season of Defiance – is here and players can immediately earn new Season ranks. In Season of Defiance, the Vanguard calls upon its closest allies to respond after the attack on the Traveler. Guardians must master the righteous powers of the Awoken to stand against the encroaching Shadow Legion and prove themselves as Queensguard.

Defiant Battlegrounds – In this new three-player activity, Guardians will bypass the Shadow Legion’s security by entering their outposts via the Ascendant Plane. Navigate the abyss and find missing captives by completing rituals that open the gateway to safety.

Vanguard Ops Playlist Update – Now featuring Heist Battlegrounds and PsiOps Battlegrounds, the updated Vanguard Ops playlist will also include refreshed versions of two strikes: The Arms Dealer and Lake of Shadows.

Guardian Games 2023 – The annual clash of Guardian classes arrives in May and is free for all Destiny 2 players. Hunters, Warlocks, and Titans will compete to complete events, bank medallions to receive great rewards, earn a commemorative statue in the Tower, and have bragging rights for a full year.

Destiny 2: Free to Play

Destiny 2 is free to play and includes many of the new features being launched with Season of Defiance, including the Guardian Games 2023 event, access to the intro mission of the Lightfall expansion and the first mission from Season of Defiance, and more. Season Pass holders have access to all activities with additional premium rewards and instant unlocks:

• New weekly missions.
• Instantly unlocked Exotic Bow: Verglas Curve.
• Unlock Seasonal universal ornament set per class.
• Bonus XP, Exotic engrams, and more.

Purchase the Season of Defiance Silver Bundle and receive a new Legendary emote along with 1,700 Silver (1,000 + 700 bonus Silver) which can be used to purchase Seasons, cosmetics, and more.

Destiny x Among Us Collaboration

Time to catch the Impostor! Bungie and Innersloth, the studio behind the hit social deduction game Among Us, debut the first collection of Destiny-themed cosmetics in the Among Us storefront starting today. In addition to items based on each of the three iconic Guardian classes – Titan, Warlock, and Hunter – the collection also includes cosmetics inspired by Destiny characters such as Osiris, Lord Shaxx, Saint-14, Eris Morn, and more.

The Destiny cosmetic items are available now in Among Us for a limited time!

SteelSeries Lightfall Accessories

SteelSeries, the original esports brand that fuses gaming and culture, KontrolFreek®, the creator of Performance Gaming Gear, and Bungie have collaborated on a new collection of limited-edition gear inspired by Destiny 2: Lightfall.

Featuring the brilliant color schemes and graphic designs of Neptune’s gleaming megacity of Neomuna, the limited-edition collection brings the sci-fi universe of Destiny to life through the award-winning Arctis 7+ Headset, Aerox 5 Wireless Gaming Mouse, QcK Prism XL Mousepad, and KontrolFreek Thumbsticks. As a bonus, customers who purchase the special-edition collection will receive exclusive in-game cosmetics in Destiny 2.

The Destiny 2 x SteelSeries collection is available at SteelSeries.com, KontrolFreek.com, and BungieStore.com for the following MSRPs:

• Arctis 7+ Wireless Headset | Destiny 2: Lightfall Edition – NA: $179.99 | EMEA: €199.99 | APAC: $199.99
• Aerox 5 Wireless Gaming Mouse | Destiny 2: Lightfall Edition – NA: $149.99 | EMEA: €159.99 | APAC: $159.99
• QcK Prism XL Mousepad | Destiny 2: Lightfall Edition – NA: $69.99 | EMEA: €69.99 | APAC: $69.99
• Nova Booster Pack | Destiny 2: Lightfall Edition – NA: $34.99 | EMEA: €34.99 | APAC: $34.99​
• KontrolFreek Performance Thumbsticks | Destiny 2: Lightfall Edition – NA: $19.99

For more information:

Destiny 2: Lightfall Official Page
Destiny 2: As Light Falls ViDoc
Destiny 2: Lightfall Launch Trailer
Destiny 2: Lightfall Neptune Trailer
Destiny 2: Lightfall Weapons & Gear Trailer
Destiny 2: Lightfall Strand Trailer
Destiny 2: Season of Defiance Official Page (will be live at 9 AM PT)
Destiny 2: Season of Defiance – Launch Trailer