Major motherboard brands are gearing up for the release of AMD’s upcoming Ryzen 9000X3D processors with BIOS updates that add support for the new CPUs. Alongside support, some brands, such as Gigabyte and Asus, have added an “X3D Turbo Mode,” which is said to boost performance by up to 35%.
The update is targeting some of the best processors packing AMD’s 3D V-Cache tech, but it might give other AMD processors a boost, too. One user on X (formerly Twitter) took the update out for a spin in Forza Horizon 5 and found a 5% uplift on the Ryzen 7 9700X. That’s a far cry from the 35% we’ve seen quoted by Gigabyte, but it’s a promising performance improvement nonetheless considering that this CPU doesn’t come with 3D V-Cache.
GIGABYTE X3D Turbo Mode
めっちゃ軽～く触ってみた
SandraとForzaで検証(9700X, D5-6000 16Gx2)
・SMTが切られた
・メモリ帯域も若干太くなった(約55GB/s→約61GB/s)
・PPTは変更なし (CB R23で88W)
・CPUシミュレーション、レンダリングのFPSがかなり上昇している… pic.twitter.com/kpal0wU2A6
— York (@Yorkfield_XE) October 20, 2024
X3D Turbo Mode reportedly does a few things to improve performance on 3D V-Cache CPUs. First and most obviously, it limits operations to a single core complex die (CCD). CPUs like the Ryzen 9 7950X3D feature two CCDs, but only one of them has access to the additional cache. By limiting tasks to a single CCD, the idea would be to reduce latency in games, thereby improving performance.
In addition, the X3D Turbo Mode is said to disable simultaneous multi-threading, or SMT. In short, 3D V-Cache CPUs can run into issues with core parking on Windows, so disabling SMT could improve performance by limiting the threads to those that have close access to the additional cache. AMD hasn’t confirmed that these are the changes that the X3D Turbo Mode brings, nor that it’s even an official AMD spec. It’s possible Asus and Gigabyte are using the same name for different features.
We’ve seen updates for X670 and X870 motherboards, suggesting a range of performance improvements across Zen 4 and Zen 5 CPUs. Motherboard brands are clearly laying the foundation for next-gen 3D V-Cache CPUs, which AMD itself has said will be revealed on November 7. However, the updates also bring some performance improvements for other CPUs, as showcased by the Forza Horizon 5 test above.
The largest improvements should still come with X3D processors, however. If AMD is indeed disabling SMT and limiting games to a single CCD, that could have major performance implications for any dual-CCD processors packing 3D V-Cache.
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.