Today, AMD and Microsoft announced the first-ever 15-inch Microsoft Surface Laptop powered by new AMD Ryzen Microsoft Surface Edition processors. A significant, multi-year co-engineering program between AMD and Microsoft at the silicon, platform, and software levels created this 15" Microsoft Surface Laptop 3 with a perfect balance of performance, battery life, and sleek and lightweight design. Combining world-class compute and graphics performance with a fully optimized, rearchitected system software stack including AMD Radeon FreeSync display technology, Microsoft Surface Laptop 3 is designed for creative professionals, students, gamers on the go, and business users who value the large screen experience alongside portability. The custom AMD Ryzen Microsoft Surface Edition processors and optimized software highlight the latest example in the multi-year collaboration between AMD and Microsoft, first established more than a decade ago for the Microsoft Xbox and now spanning from Azure to Surface to xCloud and Project Scarlett.

BenQ today announced the release of the EX2780Q monitor, a 27" affair sporting a WQHD (2560 x 1440) resolution across its 10-bit IPS matrix (95% DCI-P3 color space coverage). The monitor offers an 144 Hz refresh rate which, when paired with the usage of AMD's FreeSync, should enable smooth gaming scenarios - though the 5 ms GtG response time gives us a whole lot of pause. The resolution is a good compromise one between 1080p and 4K when it comes to graphics muscle requirements, and should thus make the 144 Hz refresh rates actually attainable in most scenarios (something that just wouldn't happen in a 4K screen).

One of the things about this monitor, however, is the inclusion of an "HDRi" badge, which simply denotes the usage of some of BenQ's proprietary technologies - Visual Edge, Black eQualizer and Color Vibrance - essentially auto-adjustable screen brightness, some sort of proprietary implementation of dynamic contrast, and automatic color balance adjustments. The EX2780Q includes a remote control that allows on-the-fly changes on some of the settings; and I/O is taken care of by 2x HDMI 2.0, 1x DisplayPort, 1x USB-C, and a headphone port. The sound system in this monitor has been upgraded compared to others - it offers a built-in 2.1 setup of treVolo speakers (2x2 watts + 5 watts subwoofer). Pricing stands at $599.

ViewSonic announced new additions to the ELITE gaming portfolio. The company is expanding its gaming line-up with the ELITE XG27 gaming monitor series, XG05 gaming monitor series, ELITE Ally monitor control peripheral, and two new software applications. The new gaming products and software provide the ultimate experience for multifaceted gamers while fulfilling a variety of setups and lifestyles.

AOC has added to their CQ lineup of gaming monitors with a 27" option. The CQ27G1 features a 27", curved diagonal (1800R). The VA panel has a 2560 x 1440 pixel density, a 144 Hz refresh rate with 1 ms response time, and FreeSync support (of which the ranges haven't been disclosed). The 250 nits peak brightness won't win any awards, and might be an issue in direct sunlight scenarios, but will be adequate in most situations. The 3000:1 contrast ratio isn't anything to write home about, but it isn't terrible, either.

To keep pricing as low as it is, AOC wisely decided to cut the speakers and USB hub from this monitor, and reduced connectivity options. Available are 1x DisplayPort, 2x HDMI 2.0, and a 3.5 mm headphone jack. The stand features height (±130 mm), tilt (-4° ~ +21.5°), and swivel (±34°) adjustments, and 100 x 100 VESA mounting holes. The AOC CQ27G1 will be available from the usual parties for $279, which seems a legitimate ask for such a monitor.

Remember that awe-inducing Alienware OLED monitor that we introduced you to back in CES 2019? Well, new information has been made known in regards to that particular 55", 4K, 120 Hz OLED panel. In essence, it will be releasing for avid, deep-pocket gamers' hands everywhere on September 30th, for the low, low price of $3,999. Add to that an impressive 0.5 ms response time and FreeSync support, and this will be a giddying piece of hardware.

The Alienware AW5520QF sports a 130,000:1 contrast ratio (due to OLED's pure blacks that are the hallmark of the technology), achieved with a mere 400 nits of brightness (which denies HDR support), as well as coverage of 98.5% of the DCI-P3 color gamut. 1x DisplayPort 1.2, 3x HDMI 2.0 ports, 4x USB ports, 1xS/PDIF audio line-out and 1x headphone jack round out the monitor's connectivity. There's also RGB lighting on the back of the monitor. If only it was something akin to Philips' Ambilight tech...

Acer America announced the new Nitro XF2 Series monitors offering gamers superbly smooth gameplay thanks to amazingly high speed. To decrease blur in fast moving images, these new monitors include blisteringly fast 3 ms native response times as well as speeds of up to 0.2 ms G2G for the Nitro XF272 X and 0.3 ms G2G for the Nitro XF252Q in overdrive mode.

Boasting a rapid 240Hz refresh rate that shortens frame rendering time and AMD Radeon FreeSync that syncs the monitor's and graphics card's frames, the Nitro XF2 Series are extremely responsive and support stunningly clear and fluid visuals even when the gaming gets frenetic. With a high 400 nit cd/m^2 brightness and 100 million: 1 maximum contrast ratio, they deliver brilliant imagery as well as support HDR 10 content.

ASUS Republic of Gamers (ROG) today announced Strix XG438Q, the world's biggest and fastest 4K UHD FreeSync 2 HDR gaming monitor, offering the perfect balance of smooth visuals and high contrast HDR performance for incredibly immersive gameplay. The new display features a 43-inch 4K UHD panel with an astonishing 120Hz refresh rate, high-dynamic-range (HDR) technology with 90% DCI-P3 professional color gamut coverage and exceptional contrast for DisplayHDR certification, plus support for AMD Radeon FreeSync HDR technology.

Strix XG438Q also includes GameFast Input technology for responsive, lag-free control that heightens gameplay experiences and gives games a vital edge over their opponents.

BIOSTAR, a leading manufacturer of motherboards, graphics cards, and storage devices, welcomes the arrival of PCI Express 4.0 with the AMD Radeon RX5700-series of graphics cards, the world's first graphics cards to support the 4th generation PCI Express interface. BIOSTAR is proudly launching its first Radeon RX5700-series cards, namely the Radeon RX5700XT and Radeon RX5700. Beyond gaining twice the PCI-E bandwidth compared to previous generations of graphics cards, the Radeon RX5700-series also features the first mass market 7nm GPU. It's also AMD's first GPU based on their brand new RDNA architecture. Another first is support for GDDR6 memory, which offers twice the peak bandwidth compared to GDDR5.

AMD's RDNA architecture is a completely new GPU design that brings a wide range of new features to the Radeon RX5700-series, such as a streamlined graphics pipeline, a brand new compute unit design and a multilevel cache hierarchy. Together, things bring a 50% performance per Watt advantage over AMD's previous GCN architecture.

TUL Corporation, a leading and innovative manufacturer of AMD graphic cards since 1997, has introduced its newest series, the PowerColor RX 5700 and PowerColor RX 5700 XT, the world's first PCIe 4.0 GPU for the most demanding 1440p gaming with the most advanced gaming technology. Using the newest AMD RDNA architecture, the PowerColor RX 5700 and RX 5700 XT shows impressive performance improvements as well vastly improved performance per watt over the previous generations with the GPU being manufactured with the leading edge 7nm process.

With the new RDNA architecture, PowerColor RX 5700 and RX 5700 XT was engineered to greatly enhance gaming using features like Radeon Image Sharpening, FidelityFX for maximum performance and insane immersive gaming experiences as well the new Radeon Anti-Lag, stutter-free, tear-free gaming with AMD Radeon FreeSync technology, for incredibly responsive gameplay.

The leading global motherboard, graphics card and mini PC manufacturer, ASRock, launches the flagship level product - Radeon RX 5700 series graphics cards featuring AMD's latest Radeon RX 5700 gaming GPU and 8GB 256-bit GDDR6 memory with great gaming experiences are created by bending the rules. Take control and forge your own path with Radeon RX 5700 series and experience powerful accelerated gaming customized for you.

The Radeon RX 5700 series GPUs are powered by new RDNA architecture -- the heart of AMD's advanced 7nm technology process. RDNA features up to 40 completely redesigned "Compute Units" delivering incredible performance and up to 4x IPC improvements, new instructions better suited for visual effects such as volumetric lighting, blur effects, and depth of field, and multi-level cache hierarchy for greatly reduced latency and highly responsive gaming. The RDNA architecture enables DisplayPort 1.4 with Display Stream Compression for extreme refresh rates and resolutions on cutting edge displays for insanely immersive gameplay.

Today AOC, a worldwide leader in monitor display technology, announced two new exciting gaming monitors that it has added to its AGON line of professional gaming monitors. The new 27-inch AG271FZ2 and the 24.5-inch AG251FZ2 are both LCD monitors with AMD FreeSync technology featuring 240Hz refresh rate and a 0.5 ms response time. The new AGON AG251FZ2 and AG271FZ2 gaming monitors are available for pre-order on Amazon now.

The new monitors feature the fastest refresh rate on the market at 240Hz, which brings unprecedented fluidity for every movement on the screen. Gamers can elevate their game with every detail brought sharply into focus with crystal clarity. The 0.5ms response time pairs fast-moving action and dramatic transitions with a super smooth experience without smearing or ghosting.

Cooler Master seems to be sticking its tendrils to into another slice of the PC market with the upcoming release of two new monitor products. The company, best known for their cooling solutions, has already branched out into multiple sectors of the PC component and DIY market, and now it seems to want to make a name for itself in the monitor arena as well. Their first entries, the 30" GM219-30 and 35" GM219-35, are 21:9 ratio affairs based on VA technology. Both offer Adaptive Sync, which means "limited" NVIDIA G-Sync support and full AMD FreeSync 2 support. The FreeSync 2 support, of course, also entails a measure of HDR capabilities, since that particular revision of the AMD standard was worked on mostly for that inclusion.

The 30" GM219-30 has a 2560 x 1080 resolution and offers a 200 Hz refresh rate, while the 35" GM219-35 carries a 3440 x 1440 resolution, but brings refresh rates down to a more common 120 Hz. Cooler Master are quoting a 1 ms refresh rate for these monitors. Release is expected for late 2019, with the 30" model being expected to retail for $399.99, while the 35" model will retail for $999.99 USD.

Microsoft extended variable refresh-rate (VRR) to games that don't natively support it, through a new global setting under Graphics Settings. To access this setting, you must have the latest Windows 10 May 2019 Update (version 1903), a display that supports NVIDIA G-Sync, AMD FreeSync, or VESA Adaptive-Sync, and a graphics processor with a WDDM 2.6-compliant driver that supports these VRR technologies. For now, this setting only works with DirectX 11 games in exclusive-fullscreen mode. Microsoft clarified that this setting is not designed to override the VRR options presented by the control panels of your display driver provider (eg: NVIDIA Control Panel or AMD Radeon Settings). The option is disabled by default, and isn't visible to users who don't meet both the hardware- and software-requirements of VRR.

ASUS at Computex 2019 showcased a myriad of products - as is usual, for one of the foremost PC hardware manufacturers. This news piece breaks down two of these products: the TUF Gaming VG27AQ monitor and the ROG STRIX 650 W Gold power supply. Starting with that which allows you to see, the TUF Gaming VG27AQ monitor features both ULMB and Adaptive Sync support (in the form of AMD's FreeSync and NVIDIA's G-Sync). Dubbed ELMB, the new feature allows the monitor to keep its Active Sync features active for super smooth gameplay, whilst enabling motion blur reduction - usually, a choice between the two technologies has to be made.

The 27" screen offers an IPS panel with a 2560 x 1440 pixel resolution, 1 ms response time and maximum 155 Hz refresh rate (Adaptive Sync works between the 40-155 Hz interval) over a DisplayPort connection (144 Hz max over HDMI). A maximum brightness of 350 cd/m² doesn't win any serious accolades, but is more than enough for gaming scenarios. Connectors stand at 2x HDMI 1.4 ports, 1x DisplayPort 1.2, and 2x USB 3.0 ports.

HP is on the verge of introducing their new gaming grade, Omen-branded gaming monitors. The main design option for these was pure refresh rate speed, with both monitors sacrificing on resolution - a 1080p density is all there is) for blazing fast, 240 Hz refresh rates. The panel type is, of course, the most capable of high refresh rates: TN. The Omen X 25 manages this feat with help of NVIDIA's G-Sync proprietary module, while the X 25f only features support for adaptive sync (this means it's likely G-Sync compatible, at the least, as well as being well paired with AMD's FreeSync).

HP have partnered with Blizzard, meaning these Omen monitors will be the official monitors of the Overwatch League. There's ambient lighting on the base of the panel, which features HP's "micro-edge display" with 1 mm bezels on three sides and a 100 mm, adjustable height stand. The HP Omen X 25 covers ports through 1x DisplayPort 1.2, 1x HDMI 1.4, and 2x USB 3.0 ports, while the X 25f offers 1x DisplayPort 1.2, 2x HDMI 2.0, and 2x USB 3.0 ports. The Omen X25 will be making an appearance in Europe in June for 630€ ($550), and will be released in the US by September of this year. The Omen X 25f will be available in early June in the US and late June in Europe, for $450 (€460).

Lenovo has released a trio of new Windows 10 laptops based on new, 2nd generation AMD Ryzen PRO processors, in their famous ThinkPad form factor. There are two models that are part of the T series of ThinkPads, while one is part of X series. For reminding, the T series is the flagship line that offers the best balance between ruggedness, features, processing power, and portability in a 14 or 15-inch unit, while the X series focuses on portability.

The new ThinkPads use the second generation of AMD Ryzen PRO processors, which are 12nm improvements of the previous 14nm Ryzen Family. They carry the 3000 name branding but are similar to the 2000 series of desktop CPUs.

NVIDIA has confirmed that seven new monitors will be receiving the "G-Sync Compatible" badge come April 23rd. These FreeSync monitors have thus been certified by NVIDIA to work flawlessly with their implementation of VRR outside of the need of a dedicated, expensive G-Sync module.

Three of these monitors are manufactured by Acer (KG271 Bbmiipx, XF240H Bmjdpr, and XF270H Bbmiiprx), one from LG (27GK750F (AUSUMPM / BKRUMPN)), one from ASUS (VG248QG), one from Gigabyte (Aorus AD27QD) and finally, one from AOPEN (27HC1R Pbidpx). If you are rocking any of these alongside an NVIDIA graphics card, you can enable VRR already, but for those who still haven't done so, know that your is one of the lucky few monitors to have NVIDIA's compatibility badge.

The title already says most of it, but here it is: the Acer EI491CR Amy be one of the most impressive monitors to grace this side of 2019, ticking most boxes considered relevant for a great gaming experience. The 49" monitor features a DFHD aspect ratio of 32:9. Those 40" of real-estate are populated by 38440 x 1080 pixels, in a VA panel with 8-bit color reproduction and 4ms gray-to-gray response time. A 1800R curvature keeps all parts of the screen within the same pupillary distance, enveloping your field of vision with what could otherwise be cropped screen edges.

The 144 Hz refresh rate (overclocked from a reference 120 Hz for the base panel this monitor employs) will enable ultra fluid gaming, especially when paired with FreeSync 2. FreeSync 2 that also makes an appearance in the monitor's display of HDR content, through its VESA HDR 400 certification. Typical contrast stands at 3000:1, and typical brightness at 400 cd/m² with color coverage hitting an impressive 90% DCI-P3 rating. 1x DisplayPort, 1x HDMI 2.0 and 2x HDMI 1.4 round out the inputs. The Acer EI491CR will be available, however, for a not-for-all-budgets $1199.

Display specialist AOC announces a brand-new gaming monitor, the 28" (71.1 cm) G2868PQU with Ultra HD / 4K (3840x2160 pixels) resolution.

To meet the demands of gamers looking for crisp and vivid imagery and sharp gameplay, the display boasts a next-gen HDR-ready TN panel with 1 ms response time. The G2868PQU also supports AMD FreeSync which eliminates stutter and screen-tear caused by mismatched image frames between the graphics card and the monitor. All these features ensure a fluid, smooth 4K gaming experience. The monitor becomes available in Europe in March 2019.

AMD is looking to further push the adoption of FreeSync with the release of FreeSync 2 HDR Technology. The primary goal of the new standard is to take what FreeSync already offered including wide variable refresh rates and low framerate compensation and to pair that with HDR for a truly immersive experience. To show off what FreeSync 2 can do while also pushing for broader adoption has resulted in AMD creating their new Oasis Demo. Following the familiar principle that seeing is believing, AMD will be looking to compare their FreeSync 2 monitors against their non-HDR counterparts with this new demo at retail locations. This will allow consumers to see the difference for themselves in a way static images and youtube videos cannot convey. The Demo itself has been built using Unreal Engine 4 and has full support for HDR10 and FreeSync 2 HDR transport protocols. When it comes to settings the demo packs numerous options including FPS limits with various presets or custom options, vertical sync on/off, FreeSync on/off, Content modes, etc. You can view AMD's overview of the Demo in the video below.

Today EPI, an affiliate of TPV Technology Limited (TPV), who holds all Philips-branded home and personal audio licensing worldwide, announces the addition of two new high-performance monitors to its E Series Collection. The Philips 32" QHD LCD Display (326E8FJSB) with Quad HD 2560 x 1440 pixels and the Philips 27" 4K UHD Display (276E8VJSB) with 3840 x 2160 resolution join the family of stunning professional monitors for an affordable price. Both displays are now available at Amazon and NewEgg for $279.99 MSRP each.

Ideal for home entertainment, the new Philips 32'' QHD LCD Display features AMD FreeSync technology with a smooth quick refresh at 60Hz and an ultra-fast response time of 5ms, which is perfect for Console or PC gaming. Plus, the new SmartImage Game mode offers multiple options for gamers, including FPS, Racing and RTS Modes. FPS Mode improves dark themes in games, allowing users to see hidden objects in dark areas. Racing Mode adapts the display with the fastest response time, high color and image adjustments. RTS Mode has a unique SmartFrame feature which enables specific areas to be highlighted and allows for size and image adjustments. Users can save their personal customized settings depending on the game, allowing for quick access and ensuring the best performance.

The leading global motherboard, graphics card and mini PC manufacturer, ASRock, launches the flagship level product - Phantom Gaming X Radeon VII 16G graphics card, featuring AMD's world's first 7nm Radeon VII gaming GPU and 16GB 4096-bit HBM2 memory with powerful computing performance, plus full instruction set support such as DirectX 12, OpenGL 4.5 and Vulkan for the latest AAA-rated games, virtual reality (VR), 3D rendering and video editing applications, and next-generation computing workloads. It provides a great experience for enthusiast gamers and professional creators.

The Phantom Gaming X Radeon VII 16G graphics card is equipped with the Radeon VII gaming GPU built on the latest 7nm process technology based on the next-generation Vega architecture, achieving a base/boost frequency of 1400/1750 MHz and with 16GB 4096-bit HBM2 memory which is twice the capacity of the previous generation Radeon RX series, while the 1TB/s maximum memory bandwidth that is 2.1 times of the previous generation. The average game performance increased by 29%, and the average content creation efficiency increased by 36% compared with the previous generation Radeon RX series.

AOC today introduced what might be one of the most compelling arguments for a monitor upgrade I've ever seen in their CQ32G1 monitor. This seemingly checks all the boxes for either an AMD or NVIDIA (now that G-Sync has been opened up to FreeSync) users. The 31,5" VA, 1700R curved panel promises better image quality and color accuracy than a TN alternative, while the 2560 x 1440 resolution means there are a number of graphics cards that can run the latest games with above 60 FPS performance - and is a sweetspot resolution for those delicious, if rare, RTX effects. The 1 ms response time and 144 Hz refresh rate guarantee that users who want an even more fluid feel and pack serious graphics cards can do so on the cheap as well.

Sadly, the monitor doesn't support HDR content (maximum 300 cd/m² brightness), but for the price, I'd say users can't really complain about that. There's a 3000:1 static contrast ratio and 124% sRGB coverage; there are some AOC-exclusive technologies (such as Flicker-Free technology, LowBlue Mode, grey level control with AOC's Game Color, and AOC Dial). Image input is taken care of by 1x HDMI 2.0, 1x HDMI 1.4, and 1x DisplayPort 1.2. Cut corners include ergonomic capabilities (the stand only tilts (-4° ~ +21.5°).

GIGABYTE, the world's leading premium gaming hardware manufacturer, today announced the launch of Radeon VII HBM2 16G, the latest Radeon VII graphics cards built upon the world's first 7nm gaming GPU. Based on the enhanced second-generation AMD 'Vega' architecture, Radeon VII is equipped with 3840 stream processors and 16GB of ultra-fast HBM2 memory (second-generation High-Bandwidth Memory). It is designed to deliver exceptional performance and amazing experiences for the latest AAA, e-sports and Virtual Reality (VR) titles, demanding 3D rendering and video editing applications, and next-generation compute workloads.

According to the AMD official website, the Radeon VII graphics card enables high-performance gaming and ultra-high quality visuals. Ground-breaking 1 TB/s memory bandwidth and a 4,096-bit memory interface paves the way for ultra-high resolution textures, hyper-realistic settings and life-like characters. With the high speeds of today's graphics cards, framerates often exceed the monitor refresh rate, causing stuttering and tearing.

AMD today posted the latest version of Radeon Software Adrenalin 2019 Edition. Version 19.2.1 beta ships with optimization for "APEX Legends" and "The Division 2 private beta." It also improves performance of "Assassin's Creed: Odyssey" by up to 5 percent, when tested on a Radeon RX Vega 64 graphics card. The company also fixed a number of issues.

To begin with, a bug affecting "Battlefield V" in which character outlines remain on the screen after revive has been fixed. Radeon Settings not automatically installing when updating Radeon Software on machines with hybrid graphics has been fixed. Also fixed is a Radeon Settings application crash noticed when switching tabs too quickly with long game lists. Some displays experiencing a loss in video when maximizing to fullscreen any software with FreeSync enabled, also has been fixed. A white-screen bug affecting "Anthem" has been fixed. HDMI Underscan settings not restoring after reboot has been fixed. An inverted color bug with ReLive has been fixed.DOWNLOAD: AMD Radeon Software Adrenalin 19.2.1 beta

The change-log follows.