Latest news with #Zotac
Tom's Guide
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Tom's Guide
I tried the updated Zotac Zone handheld and one big change makes it a true Steam Deck rival
One of my favorite handheld gaming PCs from last year's show is back at Computex 2025 in a big way with seriously more powerful internals and a sleek all-white colorway. While we did get to go hands-on with the new AMD-powered MSI Claw A8 BZ2EM, this particular handheld is from Zotac. Last year at Computex, the Zotac Zone really impressed me with its symmetrical thumbsticks, gorgeous 7-inch AMOLED display, Hall Effect thumbsticks and triggers and a few other nifty features I hadn't seen before. In fact, I liked it so much, I even considered picking one up for myself. However, it was hard to come by and all of that initial hype died down quickly since the original Zotac Zone arrived quite late in the AMD Ryzen 7 8840U's life cycle. Now though, Zotac is back with a brand new version of its Zone handheld that builds upon what worked with the original while making one major change that won't only potentially make it cheaper but will also help when it comes to game performance. Everything I liked about the original Zotac Zone is still here from its symmetrical thumbsticks to the trackpads below them like on the Steam Deck. Likewise, both thumbsticks also have a turnable dial at their base which you can use to quickly adjust things like the device's volume without having to reach around to the volume buttons up top. One thing that I thought was particularly cool about the original Zotac Zone is how I was able to use the dial underneath the right thumbstick to scroll through menus in Horizon Forbidden West. These dials can also be customized to your liking and I'm sure this new powerful Zone will retain this unique feature. Another thing that immediately set the Zotac Zone apart from other handhelds is that — just like on the PS Vita — it has a front-facing camera. From taking video calls to live streaming while you play, I always thought this was a neat addition that I'd like to see other handheld gaming PCs copy. One difference between the original and this new model though is that the camera has been moved from the handheld's left to right side which feels a bit more natural, at least to me. Processor AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 Graphics AMD Radeon 890M RAM 24-32GB LPDDR5X Storage 1TB NVMe M.2 2280 SSD Display 7-inch AMOLED Resolution 1920 x 1080 Battery 48.5 Wh Connectivity Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.2 Ports 2 x USB4, 1 x 3.5mm audio jack, microSD card reader Dimensions 12.2 x 5.3 x 1.6 inches OS Manjaro Linux, Steam Gaming Mode Besides its new all-white design, the biggest change hardware-wise when it comes to this updated Zone handheld is that Zotac is giving its internals a major refresh. It sports a much faster Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 chip with Radeon 890M graphics, a 48.5Wh battery, 1TB SSD, a microSD card reader and a pair of USB4 ports. While the new Zotac Zone's specs are pretty much finalized, a company rep on the show floor asked me what I thought would make more sense memory wise: 24GB or 32GB of RAM. There are now several handheld gaming PCs like the Asus ROG Ally X and the new MSI Claw A8 BZ2EM that ship with 24GB of RAM. However, at the moment, only the Lenovo Legion Go and the MSI Claw 8 AI+ Polar Tempest Edition can be outfitted with up to 32GB of RAM. There could very well likely end up being two models of the new Zone but with 32GB of RAM and a Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 Chip, this updated handheld is going to be able to run almost everything you throw at it, especially considering the other big change Zotac is making. Let's face it, putting Windows 11 on a handheld is expensive for manufacturers and it also makes using the device to play games a whole lot more tedious. Microsoft's latest operating system just wasn't designed with handheld gaming in mind whereas Valve built SteamOS for this very purpose from the ground up. Well, with the new Zone, Zotac is ditching Windows for Linux and this could be a game changer for the updated handheld. Not only is Linux a more lightweight operating system overall, tons of the best PC games have already been optimized for it thanks to the Steam Deck. Unlike the Steam Deck which is based on Arch Linux, the new Zotac Zone will run Manjaro Linux. While Arch is more bleeding edge and gets updates faster, Manjaro has a more user-friendly experience. Similar to the Steam Deck, you'll be able to access a full Linux desktop environment on the Zotac Zone. Then when you want to game, you can switch over to Steam Gaming Mode where you'll have a more game-friendly UI which is almost identical to the one on the Steam Deck. With the two buttons under the touchpad on the right of the Zotac Zone, you'll be able to bring up a quick menu while playing games. The Home button brings up Zotac's own quick menu while the button with three dots brings up the same quick menu you'll find on the Steam Deck. It's always nice to have options right? The decision to make the switch from Windows to Linux is a welcome one and with all that extra power under the hood, this updated Zotac Zone handheld is already looking really promising. The original Zotac Zone was one of my favorite devices at Computex last year. In fact, we even gave it our award for best gaming handheld since the MSI Claw 8 AI Plus was locked away in a glass case and I didn't actually get a chance to go hands-on with it until CES 2025. Keep in mind that the upgraded Zotac Zone I got to try this year at Computex is still a prototype, so we might see some changes in the final model. I'm just hoping that this time around, it will be more readily available as it could easily end up being one of the best Steam Deck alternatives if it's priced competitively. Still, with no Steam Deck 2 currently in the works or on the way, the Zotac Zone running Linux will give you the Steam Deck-like experience with a lot more power for all the latest games.I'll be keeping a close eye on this one myself as I've always wanted to put the Zotac Zone through its paces in a home environment and not on the crowded C
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
A Japanese retailer is only selling RTX 5090 and RTX 5080 GPUs for domestic use, which feels like a policy that is impossible to enforce
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Thanks to bots, scalpers, and even more bots, companies have been implementing strange ways to get GPUs into the hands of enthusiasts over the last few months. We've seen lotteries to 'win' the chance at purchasing cards, we've seen customers buying returned GPUs to beat the scalping market, and we've seen potential customers purchasing RTX 50-series GPUs through Discord. However, it seems one store in Japan has implemented the most specific and most infeasible way of controlling how its GPUs are being used. As reported by VideoCardz (and attributed to a post on Weibo), a Japanese shop has taken to informing potential customers it will not sell RTX 5090 and RTX 5080 GPUs to those looking to take them outside of Japan. A memo was spotted underneath the sign for a Zotac RTX 5090 in an electronics store in Osaka, which, when roughly translated with Google, says "RTX 5090/RTX 5080 is only sold to customers for use in Japan. If the purchased product is to be taken out of Japan, it will not be sold." The Zotac RTX 5090 in said electronics store sells for ¥452,800, which equates to roughly $3,170. This price is inclusive of sales tax, though those with foreign passports can apply for tax-free shopping at many retailers when paying over ¥5,000 ($30). Some tourists may opt to buy their GPUs this way, both for the lack of sales tax and to take advantage of dips in the price of Yen. Presumably, this store has seen quite a few tourists picking up cards to bring home or to sell, as it's cheaper (or more readily available) to pick up than at home. However, no information is given on how exactly this policy could be enforced. It doesn't specify tourists, so a test wouldn't quite work, and the likelihood of a store asking for proof of residence before allowing someone to purchase an item is quite slim. This is before mentioning that a Japanese resident could feasibly purchase a card for a potential buyer and give it to them outside of a store—you know, like a teenager chancing their arm at getting alcohol to impress their friends. Back around the launch of the RTX 30-series cards, UK electronic seller, Overclockers UK, halted sales to the US due to high demand, and recent tariffs have also stopped RTX 50-series sales shipped to the US, but you can still buy any card in the UK and bring it across should you want to. This new policy in Japan is quite different as it is about stopping customers from buying in the physical shop, specifically. According to VideoCardz, some Japanese stores opted to deny customers looking to buy GPUs without sales tax, but tourists still bought the cards at full price. Some tourists reportedly found it was cheaper to fly to Japan and buy a card than buy it in their home country, even at an inflated price with included sales tax. Still, the store is likely putting a metaphorical line in the sand here, even if it feels very hard to enforce in any real way. Best gaming PC: The top pre-built gaming laptop: Great devices for mobile gaming.
Yahoo
30-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Zotac raises RTX 5090 prices by 20% and seemingly eliminates MSRP models
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. The GeForce RTX 5090 is one of the best graphics cards — and the hardest to find in stock, especially if you want a card at something close to MSRP. To add some salt to the wound, Zotac (via Reddit) has evidently raised the price of the brand's custom GeForce RTX 5090 graphics cards by up to 20%. The new pricing is reflected on Zotac's U.S. online store, which is conveniently under construction at the time of Zotac Gaming GeForce RTX 5090 AMP Extreme Infinity is the company's flagship SKU, tailored for consumers seeking all the premium features of an RTX 5090. The graphics card initially entered the market at $2,499.99 but reached as high as $2,599.99 during its last stock availability. Zotac has now raised the price to $2,999.99, reflecting a substantial 20% increase from the original more affordable Zotac Gaming RTX 5090 Solid OC arrived with a $2,261.69 price tag, although it didn't take long for the graphics card to jump to $2,381.13. Zotac has set the new price at $2,699.99, a 19% standard Zotac Gaming RTX 5090 was one of the few MSRP models on the market. While the graphics card is still listed on Zotac's website, it has reportedly been absent from the e-store. The non-OC version is still visible at some U.S. retailers, such as Newegg, but it's obviously out of stock — just like any other 5090 priced below $4,000. We can't verify if Zotac still offers this SKU, and if so whether it has also seen a price hike. Zotac may not be a household name, but it's been around in the U.S. graphics card market for over a decade. The brand earned some respect from enthusiasts for attempting to sell GeForce RTX 50-series graphics cards directly to consumers through its Discord group. This effort seems to have failed, or rather, it appears to have been deceptive, as Redditors claim that Zotac only has a handful of units available each week. Moreover, the brand was reportedly spamming notifications to Discord users to boost engagement for a Twitch stream. To top it off, some later discovered a separate, private Discord group that provided more exclusive access for a select few.A few months ago, major graphics card manufacturers, including Asus and MSI, raised their prices on Nvidia's RTX 50-series graphics cards. It was only a matter of time before Zotac followed suit, and Zotac's price hike somewhat aligns with those of Asus and MSI. Many attribute the recent price increases to the latest U.S. tariffs; even Newegg pointed this out at one point, though it later retracted the statement. Rather than absorb the extra cost, vendors and retailers are passing it along to we don't have any indication of MSRP changes for other Zotac GPUs, given the current market conditions it's a safe bet that lesser GPUs like the RTX 5080, RTX 5070 Ti, and RTX 5070 will also see higher prices. MSRPs for Nvidia's latest generation GPUs seem to be disconnected from retail supply and demand, companies, including ASRock and Asus, are relocating their production from China to other countries due to the U.S. tariffs. However, this process takes time, and establishing operations in a new country is costly. It's reasonable to anticipate further price increases from brands that have chosen to make this transition. Asus has said this is a factor in its current don't expect Zotac to encounter the same challenges since its parent company is PC Partner, making it unlikely that they will move out of China. If there are additional price increases on Zotac graphics cards, it wouldn't be due to a production shift. Rather, it would be due to tariffs and high demand for the products — demand that doesn't appear to be going away any time soon, considering the lack of supply.
Yahoo
08-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Lenovo joins growing China exodus as manufacturers flee US tariffs — OEM moving production lines to India
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. According to a DigiTimes Asia report, Lenovo announced at Tech World India 2025 that it's moving all PC manufacturing inside that country over the next three years and that it's also preparing to do the same for its AI GPU servers in Pondicherry, India. Lenovo has produced 12 million units in India, and it's planning to increase that to nearly 17 million units to meet incoming domestic and international demand. Although it didn't mention tariffs, Lenovo, a Chinese-owned company with five factories in China and one in Mexico, owns 12% of the U.S. laptop market. So, Trump's 20% tariff on China and 25% tariff on Mexico will impact its pricing strategy, making its laptops more expensive than the competition. Lenovo isn't the only company moving out of China to escape Trump's tariffs. ASRock announced in early February that it will move its manufacturing operations to Vietnam and Taiwan. HP made a similar announcement just a few days ago, saying that 90% of products bound for the U.S. will be made outside of the East Asian country by October this year. Even Dell said it's diversifying its supply chain, meaning it will reduce its reliance on Chinese factories to make its products. Aside from the tariffs, the White House's export controls on the latest AI chips also force some PC parts manufacturers to move their operations. PC Partner, the manufacturer behind Zotac, Inno3D, and Manli brands and one of the largest GPU manufacturers in the world, is moving its headquarters to Singapore, with a rumored production shift from China to Indonesia. Other chip companies like Amkor Technology, Hana Micron, and even Intel are pouring billions of dollars into Vietnam to shift their production away from China. The tariffs that the Trump administration is placing on Chinese goods are starting to take effect in the computer industry, with some larger companies announcing investments within the U.S. to move manufacturing within its shores. This includes TSMC, which announced an additional $100 billion in spending on three new fabs, two advanced packaging factories, and an R&D center in its Arizona campus. Trump also announced during his speech to the joint session of Congress that other companies, like Apple and Oracle, are investing hundreds of billions of dollars more because they want to avoid the tariffs that he's placed on Canada, Mexico, and China. However, moving manufacturing inside the U.S. might not be viable for smaller companies. So, they're moving to nations with friendlier ties to the U.S., like India, Taiwan, and Indonesia, that aren't affected by the tariffs. We should note, though, that these moves will likely take years, especially if a particular company does not yet have an existing facility within the region. So, as they wait for their production facilities and supply chains to come online, companies will have no choice but to raise their prices to cover the tariffs the White House has placed on their products.
Yahoo
17-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Nvidia to expand RTX 50-series with more GPUs for budget gamers
Recent filings with the Eurasian Economic Commission (EEC) by popular GPU manufacturer Zotac (spotted by @harukaze5719 on X), have unveiled potential new additions to Nvidia's RTX 50-series lineup – the RTX 5050, RTX 5060, and RTX 5060 Ti. These registrations suggest that Nvidia is preparing to introduce budget-friendly options within its latest GPU series. The RTX 5050 is particularly noteworthy, as it would mark Nvidia's potential return to the sub-$250 GPU market—a segment it hasn't actively targeted since the RTX 3050. The absence of a 50-class card in the RTX 40-series left a gap that was filled by older RTX 30-series GPUs and offerings from competitors. The introduction of the RTX 5050 could provide an affordable entry point for gamers seeking to leverage Nvidia's latest technologies without a significant financial outlay. While the EEC filings indicate Zotac's intent to produce these models, it's important to approach this information with caution. Registrations with regulatory bodies like the EEC often include placeholder names, and not all listed products make it to market. However, the inclusion of the RTX 5050, RTX 5060, and RTX 5060 Ti aligns with industry expectations for a more diverse RTX 50-series lineup catering to various budget levels. The RTX 5060 and RTX 5060 Ti are expected to offer mid-range performance, with rumors suggesting multiple VRAM configurations. Specifically, the RTX 5060 Ti may come in both 8GB and 16GB variants, providing consumers with options based on their performance needs and budget. The standard RTX 5060 is expected to launch with 8GB of memory, similar to its predecessor, the RTX 4060. As of now, Nvidia has not officially announced these models, and details regarding their specifications, pricing, and release dates remain speculative. Reports suggest that more concrete information may emerge around Computex in late May, a period often used by tech companies to unveil new products.
