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On International Women`s Day, a women in tech shares her passion for STEM, encouraging others to embrace their curiosity and creativity in a dynamic industry. Read...

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It’s funny how things in reality can be so far removed from what we imagined. A classic example of this is how I imagined there to be a horde of scientists at Nvidia HQ hunched over their PCs and all working to train the next generation of Nvidia DLSS algorithms — between enjoying bouts of Call of Duty with colleagues, of course. But as it turns out that’s only part of the story… Yes, there are scientists at Nvidia working on these projects, but doing a large portion of the work in training and developing new DLSS technology for us PC gamers to enjoy is also an AI supercomputer, and it’s been doing that non-stop 24/7 for going on six years now. That nugget of information was delivered by Brian Catanzaro, Nvidia’s VP of applied deep learning research at CES 2025 in Las Vegas. Catanzaro dropped that gem on stage casually as a throwaway comment while discussing details about DLSS 4. But as it turns out, that reference has been the catalyst for a ton of talk about the topic. Further reading: Nvidia’s DLSS 4 is so much more than just ‘fake frames’ Just about every journalist in the room was left pondering it, judging by the number who’ve written about it since then (me now included). So why is it such a fascinating point? Personally, I think it’s because we don’t know much about how supercomputers are being utilized in PC gaming. This information is understandably obscured by the games, hardware, and technologies that succeed their input — not by design, but simply because these are the things we directly interface with in our gaming experience. Despite that fact, supercomputers are propping up the PC gaming ecosystem; they’re helping produce technologies like DLSS — heck, even providing code for the games themselves, but we know little or nothing about the specifics of where or how they’re being used. The obscurity of that information could be because gaming devs don’t want to give all the credit away to the mere tools they’re using. After all, supercomputers are essentially just the reference textbooks they need to consult for physics simulations and coding. But that just means their impact to the industry is being diminished. Nvidia DLSS 3 technology with RTX 40-series GPUs improves rendering by up to 4x over traditional rendering. Pexels: Alena Darmel That Nvidia should use a supercomputer to create technology as technical as DLSS 3 or DLSS 4 really shouldn’t shock anyone, though — it’s a fine piece of technology only the likes of Nvidia could create. Most gamers know that DLSS harnesses AI super resolution and tensor cores in their GPU, but digging down to the nitty-gritty of what makes it all tick and I can’t help but feel awe. Underlying the technology that multiplies rendering performance by up to 4x are a whole lot of complex mathematical computations. The DLSS 3 frame generation convolutional autoencoder is taking input from four inputs at once, for example, so it’s a masterful piece of software. Further reading: Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 Ti review: DLSS turns a beastly GPU into a gaming monster With his comment about the supercomputer at Nvidia, Catanzaro brings all that home. He’s inadvertently given us a little glimpse of how important these devices are to PC gaming in 2025, and in the process, whet my interest and a whole lot of other people’s interests to know more. So, as a callout to any devs reading this, I want to know more about how supercomputers are being used to simulate complex physics, weather patterns, and AI behavior to create realistic and immersive game worlds and the characters that are more believable. A major selling point of GeForce 50-series GPUs is game-changing DLSS 4 tech.Adam Patrick Murray / Foundry Additionally, I want to know more about how supercomputers power cloud gaming services and the data centers that gamers connect to remotely — services like GeForce Now and Xbox Cloud Gaming. I’d also be very keen to hear how supercomputers are involved in research and development of new gaming technologies, being used to train AI models and algorithms, and to do things like run more realistic simulations of VR and AR — making modern games a far cry from the indie games built by MS-DOS programmers in their basements in the 1990s. Nvidia’s supercomputer fits somewhere into that last category of training, research, and development, according to Catanzaro. It’s a critical part of the teaching process for new generations of Nvidia DLSS, harnessing the power of thousands of graphics cards to forward the development, but it’s also constantly looking for failures and analyzing images for things like ghosting, flickering, and blurring too, Catanzaro said. These failures are then fed back into the computer to develop better, more efficient models. You could say it’s on a mission to constantly improve image rendering, the kind that’s only going to reap big benefits for gamers in years to come. Games physics is a category we can expect to see the biggest future gains from supercomputers, in my view. Thanks to the efforts of supercomputers, we can likely look forward to things like: The creation of smarter physics algorithms that will speed up game development; more efficient offloading of complex physics computations to the cloud; and the development of next-gen particle simulations that will give us more realistic fire, air, and water in game environments. It’s for those reasons — and many others I could mention — that we need more vigorous discussion about the role of supercomputers in PC gaming. The more talk and collaboration we have about these devices, the closer we’ll get to the zenith of PC gaming experience. Read...

At a glanceExpert`s Rating Pros Six customizable haptic zones for individual feedback Good “audio-to-haptics” mode for music and films Easy installation and compatible with most chairs High level of comfort for longer sessions Software allows fine adjustment of intensity Cons Expensive Sensa HD Games mode only supports selected games Requires an AC adapter Our Verdict The Razer Freyja cushion delivers intense haptic feedback, enhancing immersion for gamers, music lovers, and film fans with its customizable zones and impressive “audio-to-haptics” function. Although it’s expensive, we feel it’s a worthwhile investment for those looking for deeper immersion. Price When Reviewed This value will show the geolocated pricing text for product undefined Best Pricing Today The Razer Freyja is no ordinary gaming accessory, it’s a haptic gaming cushion specifically designed to intensify the gaming experience to a whole new level. Instead of just using the screen or speakers to experience the gameplay, the Freyja provides physical feedback through vibrations that spread across almost the entire upper and lower body. But what exactly does a gaming cushion like the Razer Freyja do and how does it feel in practice? We tried it out to find out whether the promised effects are really that convincing. Razer Freyja: How does it work? A gaming cushion is an accessory that is mounted on your chair and generates vibrations that are synchronized with the events in the game. The Razer Freyja utilizes six haptic actuators that generate vibrations across the body. The aim is to transfer the feeling of explosions, shots, or movements directly to the body. Razer The cushion can be easily attached to the seat and backrest of the chair and is compatible with most gaming or office chairs. Thanks to the wireless connection via Bluetooth (more flexible) or a 2.4 GHz wireless dongle (faster), the cushion can be quickly and easily connected to a PC or smartphone. There’s a small disadvantage, though. Razer Freyja requires a power connection via the supplied power adapter. This can limit the mobility of the gaming chair somewhat. The chair itself is controlled via the fourth version of the Razer Synapse software, which can be used to adjust the intensity of the vibrations and the individual vibration zones. Friedrich Stiemer Razer Freyja: Comfort and handling The Razer Freyja is surprisingly comfortable. With a product that generates vibrations, you’d expect it to press uncomfortably against the body, but it’s actually pretty comfortable. The upholstery is well made and molds well to the back. The cushion also remains comfortable even after long sessions. When installed on the Razer Fujin Pro gaming chair, the Freyja sat firmly and securely. It even stays firmly in place on other chairs. Friedrich Stiemer The cushion is visually appealing, too. With the striking Razer logo and green stitching, it blends seamlessly into the gaming equipment and fits in with Razer’s design philosophy without being too obtrusive. Razer Freyja: Haptics in practice The feel of the Razer Freyja is what really sets this cushion apart. When playing an action-packed game like Call of Duty or Cyberpunk 2077, we can feel almost every movement directly on our body. When a shot is fired, it vibrates intensely at the chest region. During explosions, we feel the vibrations spread across the entire body, from the upper body down to the waist. This feedback makes the action tangible and reinforces the feeling of being right in the middle of the action. Friedrich Stiemer The intensity of the vibrations can be adjusted for each area of the body as well. During quiet game scenes, you can reduce the vibration in the upper body area, while you can increase the intensity during fights or explosions. The Audio-to-Haptics technology is another remarkable feature. Here, music or sound is converted into vibrations. When listening to music or watching action films, we can physically feel the bass, an experience that makes the soundtrack even more vivid. With music that relies heavily on bass, the sound feels almost physical. The vibrations bring the music from the speakers directly into the body. Razer Freyja: Sensa HD Games vs. Audio-to-Haptics The Sensa HD Games mode, on the other hand, makes it possible to tune the vibrations to specific game situations such as spells in Hogwarts Legacy or gunshots in Call of Duty. Here we can feel the different effects in the game, but the haptics are not always consistent. In quieter sections or during cutscenes, there’s no feedback, which can dampen the immersion somewhat. Nevertheless, it remains exciting to distinguish spells or shots just by the vibrations on your body. Friedrich Stiemer In comparison, the Audio-to-Haptics mode offers more continuous and consistent feedback, especially with music. However, the Sensa HD Games mode is relatively new and is still under development, which is reflected in the limited number of supported games. Razer Freyja: Handling of the product The handling of the Razer Freyja is simple overall. All settings for intensity and vibration zones can be made via the Razer Synapse 4 software, which offers a high degree of customizability. The controls on the cushion itself are also simple, even if the buttons for intensity and source sometimes seem a little stiff. However, it’s sufficient to use the software to adjust the settings, so you rarely need the physical buttons. Razer Read...

Looking to buy an OLED monitor? You aren’t alone. Though still relatively expensive, interest in OLED monitors is soaring and monitor makers are set to debut dozens of new OLED models in 2025. It’s shaping up to be the best year ever to buy a new monitor. Some of these new models will push prices lower, with some OLED monitors falling below the $600 threshold. Others will chase higher resolutions (like 4K) and faster refresh rates (like 480Hz). Your options will only continue to grow from here on out. And that might leave you feeling overwhelmed, even intimidated. But I have a rare bit of good news for you: don’t fret because it doesn’t really matter which OLED monitor you buy. They’re all fantastic. The OLED panel duopoly is a big deal As of this writing, there are only two manufacturers — Samsung and LG — who are capable of producing panels for OLED monitors in high volume, and they don’t offer monitor makers much choice. This is actually a recent development. For as long as LCD monitors have existed, monitor makers have relied on LCD panels produced by third-party suppliers including companies like BOE Technology Group, AUO Optronics, Innolux, CSOT, JDI, and, of course, both LG and Samsung. The large number of competitors led to a huge variety of LCD panels. But OLED panel production is more centralized, with Samsung Display and LG Display dominating the market, offering just a handful of panels. These include 27-inch 1440p and 32-inch 4K QD-OLED and WOLED panels alongside 34-inch 1440p options. It’s the same story with refresh rates — most offer 4K up to 240Hz or 1440p up to 360Hz, with a few dipping into 1080p resolution at up to 480Hz. That might sound like variety at a glance, but consider what it doesn’t include. No budget 60Hz or 120Hz options. Nothing smaller than 27 inches. Nothing at 5K (5120×2880) resolution or beyond. Ultrawide fans have even fewer options, with nearly all OLED ultrawide monitors packing either 34-inch 1440p or 45-inch 1440p panels. (We might be seeing the first 5K2K OLED ultrawides in mid-2025, though!) Samsung’s QD-OLED vs. LG’s WOLED OLED panel choice is slim on paper, but it’s even more narrow when you consider the finer details. While Samsung QD-OLED and LG WOLED panels come in few different sizes, resolutions, and refresh rates, that’s where image quality differences end. All Samsung QD-OLED panels deliver similar metrics in SDR brightness, contrast ratio, color gamut, color accuracy, and gamma/color temperature performance. The same is true for LG WOLED panels. MSI MPG 272URX It’s even true among the different generations of OLED panels. For example: the Alienware AW3423DW QD-OLED from 2022 is almost identical to the new MSI MPG 272URX QD-OLED in terms of SDR brightness, contrast, color gamut, and color accuracy. It’s a similar story with LG WOLED panels, though the latest of those do offer a slightly better color gamut than their predecessors. And I’d take that a step further: QD-OLED and WOLED look nearly identical. Sure, technically and objectively, Samsung QD-OLED panels and LG WOLED panels are different. Samsung QD-OLED has a slight lead overall, mostly due to the QD-OLED’s color gamut, which is a bit wider than LG’s WOLED. But that aside, both the objective image quality (as tested using a colorimeter) and subjective viewing experience is similar between QD-OLED and WOLED. Of course, there are differences, too. QD-OLED can look a bit reddish or purplish when displaying certain hues at higher brightness levels, a problem WOLED solves with a dedicated white sub-pixel. Meanwhile, QD-OLED can look noticeably more saturated when viewing very vivid content. Even so, most won’t notice these differences outside of a side-by-side comparison (and even then, less discerning viewers might miss it). It’s the same with motion clarity. Both QD-OLED panels and WOLED panels offer extremely low pixel response times, with most quoting a gray-to-gray pixel response time of 0.03 milliseconds. That’s very much born out in my own experience reviewing dozens of OLED monitors. When it comes to OLED, 240Hz is 240Hz. If there’s one metric where OLED monitors can truly vary to a non-trivial degree, it’s HDR (high dynamic range). Newer OLED monitors perform better than older models, with newer panels able to reach higher levels of brightness. That’s only for HDR, though, which remains unpopular on the PC. (That’s a whole different can of worms.) Okay… so, what matters then? If Samsung’s QD-OLED and LG’s WOLED panels look the same, and if their panels are all available in only a handful of sizes, resolutions, and refresh rates, then what should a buyer pay attention to? Alienware AW3423DWF Read our review Best Prices Today: $879.99 at Amazon The price! Since all current OLED monitors are so similar, you should simply decide what you need in terms of size, resolution, and refresh rate, then find the cheapest OLED monitor that meets your desired specs. That’s why the Alienware AW3423DWF, a relatively ancient OLED monitor released in late-2022, is still a great option in 2025. It’s frequently on sale for $650, which is a couple hundred less than newer 34-inch OLED ultrawide monitors, yet its image quality is close to the same. There are exceptions, of course. I don’t recommend buying monitors by random off-brand companies who show up on Amazon overnight. Stick with reputable monitor brands like Asus, BenQ, Dell, LG, MSI, Samsung, Innocn, etc. As long as you keep to well-known companies, you should have no issues going for the most inexpensive models. But also pay attention to warranties. Most monitor makers offer a 3-year warranty, but a few have less generous terms. LG, for example, only offers a 2-year warranty despite the fact it makes the very panels in its OLED monitors. (Weird, but true.) These warranties are especially important for OLED monitors due to burn-in risks. Connectivity is the final piece of the puzzle. I generally prefer monitors that have USB-C over those that don’t, yet even this difference is beginning to fade as more OLED monitors add USB-C and other newer display standards like HDMI 2.1 and DisplayPort 2.1. Ultimately, all of this is great news for buyers. The huge variety in LCD panels offered lots of choice, but it was arguably too much of a good thing that made shopping hard. I review over 50 displays every year (across monitors, laptops, and TVs) and even this volume gave me little insight into the massive LCD market. But OLED is different. With only two major panel makers, the panels they make are more similar than they are different… and they’re all excellent. So, stop worrying and buy that OLED. You’re going to love it. Further reading: The best gaming monitors we’ve tested Read...

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