MCV takes a look at the best accessories heading to UK retail. This week, AMD shows off its latest fast and furious graphics card and Microsoft up its performance with the Xbox One Elite controller
AMD R9 Fury X
As PC players prepare to enter virtual reality with the upcoming launches of the Oculus Rift and Valve HTC Vive, AMD has released a new graphics card it hopes will be the pick of the bunch for VR.
The R9 Fury X is the flagship entry in the brand new R9 300 line of graphics cards.
It’s a dual-GPU card with a unique design called HBM, or ‘high-bandwidth stacked memory’.
What this means is that unlike traditional graphics cards, where memory chips are placed next to one another, the Fury X sees its memory components stacked atop one another.
AMD claims that this new placement bumps up the GPU’s speed by up to three times versus standard GDDR5 memory, making the Fury X suitable for the power-hungry requirements of virtual reality headsets like the Rift and Vive.
It’s backed by AMD’s LiquidVR technology, which specifically aims to boost framerates and decrease latency while head-tracking for smooth, plug-and-play virtual reality experiences.
The Fury X is also well placed for players looking to run 4K displays, with a 4096-bit interface providing better performance and more efficient power consumption. 1440p 6K ‘surround view’ can also be displayed.
Other features include DirectX 12, Vulkan, OpenGL 4.5 and Mantle support, as well as Eyefinity 3x1, which stops frame-tearing and stuttering on compatible FreeSync monitors.
RRP: From £509
Release Date: Out Now
Distributor: VIP Computers
Contact: 01925 286 900
Xbox One Elite Wireless Controller
Having already redesigned its original Xbox One controller, Microsoft is preparing a premium version of the pad aimed at high-level gamers on both console and PC.
The Xbox One Elite Wireless Controller allows players to customise their control scheme by swapping out a variety of metal thumbsticks and D-pads. This allows gamers to build their controller to optimise speed, accuracy or reach as they see fit, plus adapt the pad for their hand size. The new dish-like faceted D-pad (pictured) allows fighting game players to pull off combos easier, while the traditional four-way selector is best for switching weapons or enabling support in shooter titles.
On the back of the controller sit four ports into which interchangeable paddles can be connected. These allow players to pull off moves without adjusting their fingers, meaning actions like jumping, shooting and aiming can be executed much faster. The function of each paddle is assigned via an accompanying app on Xbox One or Windows 10.
Hair Trigger Locks integrated into the pad’s triggers can be enabled to let players fire much faster in-game, restricting each trigger’s movement only to the point where it is registered as an in-game action, in order to save time.
The Elite controller can save up to two profiles on-board, and comes with a selection of accessories, including a carrying case, four paddles, six thumbsticks and two D-pads.
RRP: £129.99
Release Date: October 2015
Distributor: Exertis
Contact: 01279 822 822
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