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AMD’s historic AM4 legacy may continue on

Various reports suggest that AMD has a new 3D V-Cache equipped desktop CPU for budget conscious gamers.

A recent listing on the European Economic Community (EEC) website suggests that AMD is planning to release the Ryzen 5 5500X3D, a new CPU in the Zen 3 lineup that incorporates 3D V-Cache technology.

This processor is expected to be a more affordable option compared to the previously released Ryzen 7 5800X3D, which was well-received for its impressive gaming performance. The 5500X3D is rumored to target the midrange market, potentially offering gamers an accessible entry point into AMD’s 3D V-Cache technology without the need to upgrade to the newer AM5 platform.

The Ryzen 5 5500X3D is believed to be a 6-core, 12-thread processor, following the existing Ryzen 5 5600X pattern. The key difference lies in the inclusion of 3D V-Cache, which can significantly boost gaming performance by adding an extra layer of cache directly on top of the processor cores. This allows for faster access to data and improves the overall efficiency of the CPU in gaming and other cache-intensive applications.

As per a separate report, the upcoming Ryzen 5 5500X3D will be similar to the Ryzen 5 5600X3D with a slightly reduced base clock speed (3GHz versus 3.3GHz) and a 400MHz lower boost clock (4GHz versus 4.4GHz). It is also said to come with a 105W TDP and 64MB of L3 cache, and an expected price of $149.

If the rumors hold true, this processor could provide a much-needed boost to AMD’s aging AM4 platform, giving it a fresh lease on life as the company continues to push its newer AM5 socket and Zen 4 CPUs. The Ryzen 5 5500X3D would cater to budget-conscious gamers who are looking to upgrade their systems without switching to a new motherboard. This strategy could help AMD maintain its competitiveness in the midrange market, where price-to-performance is a critical factor.

Overall, the potential launch of the Ryzen 5 5500X3D could be a game-changer for AMD, offering a compelling combination of performance and affordability. By leveraging its 3D V-Cache technology, AMD could provide gamers with an enhanced experience without requiring them to invest in the latest hardware.

As of now, there has been no official confirmation from AMD, but if the leaks are accurate, the Ryzen 5 5500X3D could soon become a popular choice for those looking to upgrade their gaming rigs on a budget.

The absolutely absurd idea of putting a touchscreen display on a mouse isn't exactly new. Turtle Beach already did it with its Command Series MC7, which features a 2.25-inch control screen. But apparently, even that wasn't ridiculous enough for Arctic Fox Technologies. Its new Super Mouse looks like someone took the chunky old Atari ST mouse, slapped a touchscreen and scroll wheel on it, and called it an upgrade.

The result is a rather unusual-looking mouse that is now on Kickstarter, starting at $199. And as ridiculous as it looks, some of its features are genuinely intriguing.

Apple is less than a day away from launching its highly anticipated OLED MacBook Pro with a touch-sensitive screen. But it appears that the upgrade is going to cost a pretty penny. According to a report by Bloomberg, Apple is reportedly eyeing a starting price of $2,899 for the 14-inch MacBook Pro, while the 16-inch version could start at $3,399 in the US.

"At $2,899, the 14-inch model would mark the highest starting price for a new MacBook Pro model, surpassing the $2,799 Apple charged for a 17-inch version introduced in 2006," says the report. The report claims that Apple is targeting a minimum price hike of $400 for its upcoming redesigned 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models.

I've spent a good amount of time digging into the spec sheet of the new M6 MacBook Pro (14-inch), and for all intents and purposes, this is a classic Apple "chip and connectivity" refresh. It's not a full redesign. The chassis, Liquid Retina XDR panel, speakers, ports, and battery, all of them carry over unchanged.

However, the M6 brings more cores, stronger on-device AI, higher memory bandwidth on the larger configs, and modern wireless. Here’s the practical rundown of what actually improved, and whether those gains are worth your money.