As the convention gets set to begin in Las Vegas tomorrow, a lot of gamers will let it slide by. After all, console gamers will have no interest in what the new hardware is because theirs is already set and console gaming isn’t exactly the biggest part of this convention. A lot of PC gamers (myself included) also tend to look the other way since new hardware is not so much new and exciting as just something we know is coming due to the gradual nature of our choice device. But this year, I think there are a few participants who will make it worth our while to pay attention.
First and foremost, as expected, is Valve with the unveiling of the first line of Steam Machines. Currently, it is believed they have 12 companies lined up to release such a machine this year, and we will be seeing what to expect. So far we have already heard from a few companies, but according to Engadget.com, the following are going to be presented:
- iBuyPower
- Digital Storm
- Alienware
- Falcon Northwest
- CyberPowerPC
- Origin PC
- Gigabyte
- Materiel.net
- Wabhallen
- Alternate
- Next
- Zotac
- Scan Computers
We should have a better picture as early as tomorrow, but seeing as the convention is a week long and not everyone may want to talk by Valve’s side, choosing to do so on their own, time will tell when this week we get more details.
Also, towards the end of last year, Nvidia dropped a potential bombshell on the future of PC gaming with the creation of G-Sync. This new technology is designed to eliminate even the possibility of screen tearing and even improve the time it takes for your game to react to you. The reason for this is that right now, any game, platform regardless, has absolutely zero control over the refresh rate of your screen. The tearing that happens is because your screen is changing according to your game IN THE MIDDLE of your monitor/TV refreshing.
Most people associate this issue with low frame rates, but this CAN happen if you go above and beyond too as many PC monitors do today. To put it simply, more frames does NOT necessarily equal smoother display.
That’s where g-sync comes in. Nvidia has developed a technology that, when included in the monitor itself, gives the graphic card of your PC direct control of the refresh rate of the monitor. In essence, you monitor is refreshing at the command of your graphic card and so it is always in sync with your graphic card, prevent this problem from EVER occurring.
This week, we will finally see monitor producers reveal the first line of g-sync compatible monitors, so it will be time to see in public just what this can do!
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