Gaming Hardware Updates – 4/8/2025

Gaming Hardware Updates – 4/8/2025

MSI Launches RTX 5080 Expert with Blower-Style Cooling

MSI Launches RTX 5080 Expert with Blower-Style Cooling

MSI has introduced the RTX 5080 Expert graphics card featuring a dual-fan blower-style cooler design inspired by Nvidia’s RTX 40-series Founders Edition. Priced at $1,399, this Blackwell architecture GPU is now available through MSI’s online store.

Key Specifications:

GPU: Nvidia RTX 5080 (Blackwell architecture) Cooling: Dual-fan blower-style design Price: $1,399

The blower-style cooler makes this card particularly suitable for compact cases with limited airflow. Industry reports suggest Nvidia may implement aggressive price cuts across the RTX 50 series due to oversupply, potentially making this model even more attractive to buyers.

Samsung Unveils Odyssey G7 G75F Curved Gaming Monitor

Samsung Unveils Odyssey G7 G75F Curved Gaming Monitor

Samsung has expanded its Odyssey lineup with the new G7 G75F, a 37-inch 4K curved gaming monitor featuring a 165Hz refresh rate and 1ms GTG response time.

Technical Highlights:

Size: 37-inch curved display Resolution: 4K (3840 × 2160) Refresh Rate: 165Hz Response Time: 1ms GTG Curvature: 1000R Price: RM4,399

The monitor’s aggressive 1000R curvature and high refresh rate position it as a strong competitor in the premium gaming monitor segment, going head-to-head with offerings like LG’s UltraGear series.

Ryzen 7 9800X3D Dominates in Battlefield 6 Benchmarks

New performance tests reveal AMD’s Ryzen 7 9800X3D delivering approximately 30% higher frame rates compared to Intel’s Core i9-14900K when paired with an RTX 5080 in Battlefield 6 at 4K Ultra settings.

Test Configuration:

GPU: RTX 5080 RAM: 32GB DDR5 Game: Battlefield 6 at 4K Ultra

This performance advantage continues AMD’s tradition of gaming dominance with its 3D V-Cache technology. However, the landscape may shift when Intel releases its Nova Lake processors (codenamed Family 18) later this year.

Intel Prepares Linux Support for Nova Lake CPUs

Intel has begun updating Linux support documentation, replacing the long-standing “Family 6” designation with “Family 18” in preparation for upcoming Nova Lake processors.

This change signals Intel’s commitment to improving Linux compatibility for its next-generation architecture, which is expected to deliver significant performance improvements over current offerings.

Nvidia Considering RTX 50 Series Price Cuts

Industry reports indicate Nvidia may implement aggressive price reductions for its RTX 50 series GPUs due to weaker-than-expected sales and inventory buildup. The RTX 5070 appears to be emerging as the most popular model in the Blackwell lineup.

These potential price adjustments could improve Nvidia’s competitiveness against AMD’s offerings, particularly if the RTX 5070 maintains its apparent price-to-performance advantage.

Nintendo Raises Switch 1 Prices as Switch 2 Availability Improves

In a surprising move, Nintendo has increased pricing for the original Switch console, making it a less attractive option as Switch 2 units become more readily available.

The gaming community has responded with mixed reactions, with some criticizing the timing of this decision. Many speculate this may be an intentional strategy to push more users toward the newer Switch 2 platform.