Mark Campbell
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Hi I'm Mark, Mechanical Engineer & Hardware Editor for @OC3D. My opinions are my own.
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Articles by Mark Campbell
Cooler Master 12V-2×6 “GPU Shield” now available in the US
Published: September 12, 2026 | Source: Cooler Master | Author: Mark Campbell Cooler Master’s “GPU Guard” add-on for 12V-2×6-powered graphics cards is now available in the US, giving users monitoring and protection features for their GPU power cables. We saw this GPU Shield in action at Computex 2026 at the Cooler Master booth. The tool can detect current imbalances on 12V-2×6 power connectors.
Modder TecLab ditches RTX 5090 16-pin connector for three 8-pins, and it works!
Published: September 11, 2026 | Source: TecLab | Author: Mark Campbell Brazilian Modder TecLab has customised their RTX 5090 to use three 8-pin PCIe power connectors, replacing the GPU’s default 12V-2×6 connectors. Despite being rated at 150W each, TecLab was able to run their RTX 5090 at up to 900W, running each connector at twice its rated power.
PS3 Emulator RPCS3 sees “Playable” game support skyrocket with recent updates
Published: September 11, 2026 | Source: RPCS3 | Author: Mark Campbell 2026 has been a great year for RPCS3 and PlayStation 3 (PS3) emulation. As of today, 77.79% of all PlayStation 3 games are now classed as “Playable” on RPCS3. To be classed as “Playable”, a game needs to be playable from start to finish with playable performance and no game-breaking bugs or glitches. At the start of this year, less than 70% of PlayStation 3 games were playable on RPCS3.
Exceleram warns of escalating memory shortages
Published: September 11, 2026 | Source: Mad Shrimps | Author: Mark Campbell Steffen Eisenstein, Exceleram’s VP of Product, has given the world his insights on the global memory/RAM crisis, the shortage that is gutting the consumer tech industry. What he says is eye-opening, and his conclusions are clear. “We are not even close to the peak of the memory shortage”, he says; further price increases and challenges are coming.
Modern upscaling arrives in PUBG Battlegrounds with DLSS and FSR
Published: September 11, 2026 | Source: PUBG Patch Notes | Author: Mark Campbell With update 43.1, the PUBG X Jujutsu Kaisen update, PUBG Battlegrounds now supports modern PC upscaling solutions. With DLSS 4.5 and FSR 4.1 upscaling, PUBG Battlegrounds can now offer PC gamers stronger visuals and improved graphics performance, which is a win-win for gamers. DLSS and FSR have replaced the older, lower-quality upscaling options available within PUBG.
Company of Heroes’ Definitive Edition gets a 2027 release date and a hefty discount for series veterans
Published: September 10, 2026 | Source: Company of Heroes: Definitive Edition | Author: Mark Campbell Relic Entertainment has confirmed that Company of Heroes: Definitive Edition will come to PC through Steam in early 2027. This new version of the iconic 2006 WWII RTS will celebrate the game’s 20-year legacy, upgrading the game while maintaining 20 years of mod support. In other words, they plan on delivering the same upgrades as Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War’s Definitive Edition.
Kepler aims to end the AI memory crisis with custom memory tech
Published: September 10, 2026 | Source: Kepler Computing | Author: Mark Campbell Kepler Computing has emerged from hiding to unveil a new memory technology that could transform the ease the global memory shortage and transform the memory market. The California-based startup has spent seven years developing a new memory technology that offers an alternative to HBM (High Bandwidth Memory) without requiring cutting-edge EUV tools to manufacture.
AMD targets value 1080p gaming with its Ryzen 5 5500F and 7500 CPUs
Published: September 10, 2026 | Source: Scan Computers | Author: Mark Campbell AMD has officially released two new Ryzen CPUs focused on “practical value” for its AM4 and AM5 motherboard platforms. These CPUs are AMD’s new Ryzen 5 5500F and Ryzen 5 7500, both of which feature six CPU cores. Scan Computers is marketing these CPUs as “1080p gaming” CPUs, with the Ryzen 5 5500F costing £87.98 while the Ryzen 5 7500 costs £167.99. Both CPUs are available to pre-order today.
Ubisoft is removing Connect as a requirement for its Steam games
Published: September 10, 2026 | Source: Reddit | Author: Mark Campbell Ubisoft Connect is far from the worst game launcher on PC, but that doesn’t mean it should be required to run Ubisoft’s games on Steam. Yes, Ubisoft’s games have some neat cross-platform features, but if you’re buying a game on Steam, it shouldn’t need a 3rd party launcher to function.
IKEA made me reinstall Skyrim – Kallax Storageborn has arrived
Published: September 10, 2026 | Source: IKEA | Author: Mark Campbell IKEA and Xbox have teamed up to bring more content to The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim. A free DLC is now available for the much-beloved RPG that adds new quests, items, dungeons and more. Headlining the DLC is its “KALLAX STORAGEBORN” companion, which is voiced by Matt Berry. Kallax Storageborn is a companion based on IKEA’s iconic Kallax shelves and is summonable using a new Dragon Shout, “AYE-KEY-YAH” (IKEA).
Nintendo enables VRR support for Switch 2’s TV mode
Published: September 10, 2026 | Source: Switch 2 Update Release Notes | Author: Mark Campbell With update 23.0.0 for its Switch 2 console, Nintendo has officially added VRR support to the console’s TV mode, requiring both system and dock updates to enable it. Previously, VRR support was only available in the Switch 2’s handheld mode. This means that Variable Refresh Rate (VRR) support was only available in handheld mode, preventing TV mode users from accessing this benefit.
Xbox steps in to save PHYSINT after PlayStation steps away
Published: September 10, 2026 | Source: Hideo Kojima | Author: Mark Campbell In June 2026, PlayStation Studios informed Kojima Productions that it was cancelling its PHYSINT project, a new action-espionage game with the potential to become the next Metal Gear. After months of searching, Kojima Productions has partnered with Xbox to complete the project. PlayStation’s loss has become Xbox’s gain.
Is your PC ready for Control Resonant?
Published: September 9, 2026 | Source: Control Resonant | Author: Mark Campbell Remedy Entertainment has just released its PC system requirements for Control Resonant, which is coming to PC and consoles on September 24th. These system requirements confirm that Control Resonant will be a challenging game to max out on PC. However, the game will be much easier to run if gamers dial down settings like ray tracing. Remedy’s newest games have all been graphical showcases.
It’s official! Windows 11 now has a movable taskbar
Published: September 9, 2026 | Author: Mark Campbell It’s been almost five years since Windows 11’s release, and Microsoft has finally acted on a feature request users have made since day 1. Windows 11 now has a movable taskbar. September 8th’s Patch Tuesday added a movable taskbar to the OS, giving users top, bottom, left, and right position options. With a movable taskbar being available in Windows 10, the feature’s absence in Windows 11 has always seemed strange.
G.Skill unveils “luxury-class” EXPO ULL DDR5 memory for AMD Ryzen CPUs
Published: September 9, 2026 | Source: G.Skill | Author: Mark Campbell G.Skill has released its first “luxury-class” EXPO ULL DDR5 memory modules for AMD Ryzen CPUs, pairing Trident Z5 Royal NeoX aesthetics with ultra-tight memory timings. With AMD EXPO ULL support, these DDR5 memory modules feature fine-tuned memory subtimings that help PC builders get the most out of their systems.
The Witcher 3 Remastered will look “much better” on Steam Deck thanks to new tech enhancements
Published: September 9, 2026 | Source: PC Gamer | Author: Mark Campbell The Witcher 3 Remastered doesn’t just crank its visual effects to 11 and call it a day. This Remaster has overhauled the game’s rendering engine to deliver more with less. When asked about Steam Deck performance, CD Projekt Red’s Jakub Kutrzuba said that the game would look “much better” on the system and provide “a more beautiful image with the same cost”.
Ubisoft backs Xbox’s Disc-To-Digital program
Published: September 9, 2026 | Source: Jez Corden | Author: Mark Campbell Earlier this month, Microsoft started rolling out its Xbox Disc-to-Digital program to Xbox Insiders. This program gives owners of supported physical Xbox games access to digital game licenses, which remain unlocked as long as users keep ownership of their game discs. This week, Ubisoft has joined Xbox’s Disc-to-Digital program, bolstering the program’s supported game library. Now, almost 1,500 games support Disc-to-Digital.
Modders unlock DLSS Frame Generation on RTX 30 series GPUs
Published: September 9, 2026 | Source: GitHub - dlssg_fo_sm86 | Author: Mark Campbell A new project called DLSSG SM86 has successfully unlocked DLSS Multi Frame Generation support on GeForce RTX 30-series graphics cards. Officially, DLSS Multi Frame Generation is only available on GeForce RTX 50-series graphics cards.
AMD’s RX 9070 XT is now the top Radeon GPU on Steam
Published: September 8, 2026 | Source: Steam Hardware Survey | Author: Mark Campbell Recent months have finally seen AMD’s Radeon RX 9000 series graphics card appear on the Steam Hardware Survey. As of Steam’s August survey, the Radeon RX 9070 XT has become AMD’s top graphics card on the platform, accounting for 1.46 of surveyed users. This is significant growth from the GPU’s 1.33% share in May 2026, when it first appeared.
Microsoft teases faster Windows 11 boot times at IFA 2026
Published: September 8, 2026 | Source: Windows Latest | Author: Mark Campbell Microsoft is working on improvements that will deliver faster boot times and a more responsive login experience for Windows 11. That’s what Microsoft’s Mark Linton, the VP of Windows and Devices, said at IFA 2026. An internal build of Windows 11 (which isn’t available to Windows Insiders yet) reportedly offers users significantly faster boot times.
Starlink reportedly throttles “unlimited” broadband users with 10 Mbps speeds
Published: September 8, 2026 | Source: PCMAG | Author: Mark Campbell Some Starlink satellite broadband users have reportedly been hit with 10 Mbps speed limits due to high data use, even though the service offers “Unlimited Data” in all its UK product tiers. PC Mag has reported that various users have posted online about their sudden speed restrictions.
Mod unlocks DLSS Multi Frame Generation (MFG) on RTX 40 series GPUs
Published: September 8, 2026 | Source: DLSS MFG Unlock - GitHub | Author: Mark Campbell When Nvidia launched DLSS 4 Multi Frame Generation (MFG), it was only available on RTX 50 series (Blackwell) graphics cards. Now, modders have unlocked the feature (DLSS MFG) on RTX 40 series GPUs, giving RTX 40 series GPU owners capabilities Nvidia never intended. The mod, called “MFGAdaUnlock-RenoDx” on GitHub, adds Multi Frame Generation (3x, 4x and above) to RTX 40 series GPUs using a ReShade add-on.
Intel plans October CPU price hike and may axe low-margin products
Published: September 8, 2026 | Source: Digitimes Taiwan | Author: Mark Campbell According to a report from Digitimes, Intel is planning to implement another 10% price increase for its CPUs in early October. This follows a series of price increases that started in early 2025. Part of the reason is growing datacenter product demand and rising component and material costs.
Japanese retailer warns of further GPU price hikes
Published: September 8, 2026 | Source: Videocardz | Author: Mark Campbell Applied, a Japanese PC retailer, has warned its users about incoming GPU price hikes, telling PC builders to upgrade “sooner rather than later”. While the retailer did not detail the size of the upcoming price increases or the GPU models affected, the message is clear. If you want to upgrade, now is the time to buy. Applied’s message signals that GPU prices will remain unstable over the next few weeks or months.
DLSS 5 SLI? Modder runs DLSS 5 on 2nd GPU for a massive FPS boost
Published: September 7, 2026 | Source: Marcelo Guibout | Author: Mark Campbell A modder called “maohgad-web” created a ReShade add-on that lets gamers run Nvidia’s DLSS 5 technology on a secondary graphics card. This lets gamers get a massive performance boost by offloading DLSS 5 from their primary graphics card. With this ReShade add-on, Neural-coprocessor, multi-GPU gaming is relevant again. While Nvidia has killed SLI, DLSS 5 could start a new multi-GPU gaming era.
Nvidia App update adds DLSS 4.5 Ray Reconstruction and Resizable BAR controls
Published: September 4, 2026 | Source: Nvidia App release notes | Author: Mark Campbell Nvidia has officially released version 11.0.9 of their Nvidia App, adding support for new overrides for DLSS 4.5 Ray Reconstruction and Resizable BAR. These new options can deliver improved visuals and better game performance, respectively. Note that Nvidia overrides may not work as intended on all PC games. Rememeber, these are overrides, not defaults.
Nvidia DLSS 5 Neural Rendering (NR) now works on AMD Radeon GPUs
Published: September 4, 2026 | Source: DLSS-NR on AMD -Github | Author: Mark Campbell A modder named Daniel Blanco has successfully ported Nvidia’s DLSS 5 Neural Rendering (NR) technology to AMD graphics cards. Right now, the mod is available on GitHub and allows users of modern AMD GPUs to use Nvidia’s DLSS Neural Rendering tech in “any DirectX 12 game that uses FSR. Right now, the problem with this DLSS 5 implementation is that it’s slow.
AMD fixes Starfield and Apex Legends crashes with its newest GPU drivers
Published: September 4, 2026 | Source: AMD | Author: Mark Campbell AMD has released its AMD Software 26.9.1 GPU driver for Windows, delivering new game-specific optimisations for The Blood of the Dawnwalker and Onimusha: Way of the Sword. Additionally, this driver also fixes crashing issues in Apex Legends and Starfield. These crashes were exclusive to AMD RX 9000 series GPUs. With this driver release, AMD also has a warning for RX 9050 4GB users.
The Witcher 1’s Remake is currently on hold
Published: September 4, 2026 | Source: Gamespot | Author: Mark Campbell It looks like gamers will need to wait longer than expected for The Witcher 1’s planned remake. CD Projekt Red has confirmed that the project has been halted, but not cancelled. Right now, The Witcher 4 is taking priority, and The Witcher 1’s remake will be built using its foundations. CD Projekt Red is working with Fool’s Theory on several projects.
DLSS 5 is coming to RTX 40 series GPUs, but not yet
Published: September 4, 2026 | Source: Nvidia | Author: Mark Campbell Nvidia has officially confirmed that DLSS 5 will come to users of its last-generation RTX 40 series GPUs. Initially, Nvidia said DLSS 5 would only be supported on RTX 50 series GPUs, but in a new statement, it confirmed support for the RTX 40 series.
It’s official – Nvidia is buying Hugging Face for $12.9 billion
Published: September 3, 2026 | Source: Nvidia | Author: Mark Campbell Following last week’s rumours, Nvidia has confirmed that it plans to acquire Hugging Face, the Open Model AI collaboration platform, for $12,930,300,000. The platform is currently used by millions for AI projects globally, and Nvidia’s acquisition will secure the company a foothold within the grassroots of open model AI developments. Hugging Face is often called the “GitHub of AI” or GitHub for Machine Learning”.
Metro 2039 targets 60 FPS with ray tracing on most platforms
Published: September 3, 2026 | Source: Metro 2039 | Author: Mark Campbell 4A Games has just released a new console gameplay trailer for Metro 2039, showcasing the game on PlayStation 5 Pro. With this trailer, the studio confirmed that Metro 2039 will come to PC and consoles on February 4th 2027, and that the game will target 60 FPS in “Performance Mode” with ray tracing on most consoles.
Final Fantasy VII Revelation is coming to PC and consoles on April 8th
Published: September 3, 2026 | Source: Final Fantasy | Author: Mark Campbell Square Enix has announced that Final Fantasy VII Revelation will come to PC and consoles on April 8th 2027. Unlike prior games in the Final Fantasy VII Remake series, the game won’t launch on PlayStation first. This means all gamers can enjoy Revelations on day 1. Revelation is the third game in the Final Fantasy VII Remake series and is coming to PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch 2, and PC.
V-Color 1+1 DDR5 kits are now for sale in the UK
Published: September 3, 2026 | Source: Overclockers UK | Author: Mark Campbell V-Color’s 1+1 DDR5 value packs are now available in the UK, with pre-orders starting first at Overclockers UK. These two-stick memory kits come with one real DDR5 module and one fake DDR5 module, giving users the appearance of a dual-channel memory kit at a lower price.
Intel Next-Gen Nova Lake-S Roadmap Leaks
Published: September 3, 2026 | Source: @wxnod | Author: Mark Campbell A new slide has leaked detailing Intel’s plans for Nova Lake-S (NVL) and the company’s planned LGA1954 (900-series) platform. This slide confirms many prior Nova Lake leaks and gives a firm release timeframe for Intel’s next-generation Core Ultra 400 series CPUs. According to the slide, Intel plans to start mass-producing its Nova Lake-S CPUs in Q4 2026, with the first Nova Lake CPUs set for release in Q1 2027.
AMD RDNA 5 GPU clock speed targets leak
Published: September 3, 2026 | Source: Kepler_L2 - Anandtech Forums | Author: Mark Campbell A new leak about AMD’s next-generation RDNA 5 graphics cards has revealed the GPU’s clock speed targets. These GPUs are reportedly due to launch sometime in 2027 and use the same architecture that will become the backbone of PlayStation 6 and Xbox “Project Helix”. RDNA 5 will contain the graphical feature set that will define the next generation of consoles.
Stellar Blade will use Frame Generation to reach 60 FPS on Switch 2
Published: September 3, 2026 | Source: Nintendo Everything | Author: Mark Campbell Stellar Blade is coming to Switch 2, and ShiftUp are using unusual techniques to get the game running at 60 FPS on Nintendo’s handheld. The game will use Nvidia’s DLSS for upscaling, leveraging the power of the Switch 2’s Nvidia-powered SOC, and will use AMD’s FSR 3.1 technology for frame generation. That’s right, the game isn’t running at a “real” 60 FPS.
Ubisoft abandons Linux players with For Honor Competitive Update
Published: September 3, 2026 | Source: Ubisoft | Author: Mark Campbell On September 10th, Ubisoft’s For Honor is getting its new Ranked Dominion mode as well as a reworked Ranked Dual mode. But that’s not all that’s changing in Ubisoft’s multiplayer melee game. Ubisoft is abandoning Linux OS support in For Honor, something that the company once opted into using the game’s Easy Anti-Cheat (EAC) software. Ubisoft claims that it “cannot meaningfully deploy protection” on Linux.
175°C! Hardware Unboxed suffers from a melted 12V-2×6 cable
Published: September 2, 2026 | Source: Hardware Unboxed | Author: Mark Campbell Hardware Unboxed has released a new video detailing the immediate aftermath of their 12V-2×6 cable melting incident. After benchmarking an ASUS ROG RTX 5090 Astral GPU, Hardware Unboxed’s Steve Walton burned their thumb trying to remove the GPU’s 12V-2×6 power cable. The cable was later found to have melted at the PSU end.
SteamDB has been acquired by Nexus Mods
Published: September 2, 2026 | Source: SteamDB | Author: Mark Campbell SteamDB is one of the most useful Steam databases on the internet, providing gamers, developers, publishers, and analysts access to data that Steam doesn’t publish. Pavel “xPaw” Djundik co-founded SteamDB as a hobby project in 2013 and, after years of effort, has decided to move on. Simply put, SteamDB grew beyond what he could maintain.
Acer wows with its Project DualPlay Mini PC concept
Published: September 2, 2026 | Author: Mark Campbell For the past few years, PC gamers have had a few options if they wished to take their gaming hobby on the go. Gaming laptops have long been the primary choice in this category, but Valve’s Steam Deck and other handheld gaming PC have quickly gained traction as a mobile gaming competitor. With its Project DualPlay Mini, Acer decided to bring these two options together into one device, and it’s pretty awesome.
Windows 11 is auto-enabling Memory Integrity next month, and it could impact your gaming performance
Published: September 2, 2026 | Author: Mark Campbell Microsoft has announced that it plans to start auto-enabling “Memory Integrity” by default on compatible Windows 11 systems in October 2026. This change will arrive through next month’s Patch Tuesday update, auto-enabling a feature that has been optional in Windows since Windows 10. What is Memory Integrity Memory Integrity goes by several names: Virtualisation-based Security (VBS), Hypervisor-protected Code Integrity, and HVCI.
UK RTX 5090 prices rise to over double Nvidia’s MSRP
Published: September 2, 2026 | Source: Scan Computers | Author: Mark Campbell Nvidia’s GeForce RTX 5090 pricing has now hit an unprecedented high, with the graphics card selling for more than double Nvidia’s official MSRP. Today, the cheapest RTX 5090 in the UK now costs £3,939.98, which is 119% higher than Nvidia’s official MSRP of £1799. While Nvidia lists its RTX 5090 at MSRP on its website, clicking “see all buying options” takes you to a page with only two options.
Game-changing update – Dragon’s Dogma’s 3.2 update has arrived
Published: September 2, 2026 | Author: Mark Campbell When Dragon’s Dogma 2 launched on PC, it was a mess (see our initial review). The game was incredibly CPU-limited on PC and consoles, and while updates eased these concerns, it never ran particularly well on any platform. Two years after the game’s launch, Capcom announced the game’s Dark Arisen DLC and plans for a Switch 2 version, promising major game engine upgrades and optimisations.
Nvidia predicts HUGE DLSS 5 performance boost
Published: September 1, 2026 | Source: Nvidia | Author: Mark Campbell Nvidia’s DLSS 5 tech may launch tomorrow, but that doesn’t mean its development is over. Nvidia has confirmed it plans to significantly improve DLSS 5 performance with a new wave of optimisations. Its optimisation curve hasn’t flattened yet, which means DLSS 5 can deliver much higher framerates. Compared to Nvidia’s March 2026 reveal of DLSS 5, Nvidia has increased its performance by 5x.
Nvidia DLSS 5 is launching tomorrow with NBA 2K27
Published: September 1, 2026 | Source: Nvidia | Author: Mark Campbell Nvidia announced that DLSS 5 launches tomorrow with NBA 2K27, giving RTX 50 series GPU owners access to 3D-Guided Neural Rendering. Using DLSS 5, Nvidia is taking a major step towards Hollywood-grade photorealism. DLSS 5 uses AI to generate rich lighting and material details in games. This can uplift gaming visuals beyond today’s hardware capabilities, allowing artists to achieve their real vision.
be quiet! Dark Power Pro 14 IO 1600W PSU Review
Published: September 1, 2026 | Price: £449.99 | Author: Mark Campbell Meet the be quiet! Dark Power Pro 14 IO 1600W be quiet has upgraded its Dark Rock Pro series of PSUs for 2026 with its new Dark Rock Pro 14 IO 1300W and 1600W models. Alongside high efficiency levels and lots of power, these PSUs promise strong data analytics and new software controls. These features are a first for be quiet’s product line.
AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D hits a new UK pricing low
Published: September 1, 2026 | Source: Amazon UK | Price: £265 | Author: Mark Campbell AMD’s Ryzen 7 7800X3D has received a limited-time price drop in the UK, bringing the CPU down to £265. At this price, it offers much better value for money than AMD’s newer Ryzen 7 9800X3D gaming CPU, which is 34% more expensive. That’s a big saving, especially for today’s PC market.
Xbox Disc-to-Digital has arrived, and hundreds of games are supported
Published: September 1, 2026 | Source: xct.live | Author: Mark Campbell Microsoft has started rolling out Xbox Disc-to-Digital support to Xbox Insiders, letting them redeem digital licenses with physical game discs for compatible titles. This applies to Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S game discs, though not all games are compatible. So far, almost 1,000 Xbox games have been confirmed to be compatible with Disc-To-Digital.
CXMT is now shipping LPDDR6 memory for Xiaomi’s 18 Fold Smartphone
Published: August 31, 2026 | Source: CXMT | Author: Mark Campbell ChangXin Memory Technologies (CXMT), China’s top DRAM producer, has become the first major DRAM producer to mass-produce LPDDR6 memory and ship it to a customer. Who’s the customer? Xiaomi plans to use LPDDR6 memory in its upcoming 18 Fold smartphone, which is due to launch next month. With this move, CXMT has pushed ahead of Samsung and SK Hynix in the world of cutting-edge LPDDR memory.
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