We survived April 1st. The jokes are behind us: AI-assisted brake pedals that stop for you (*for your “safety”*), vibrating pedals to warn you when you’re “being naughty,” or simulators that smell like burnt rubber. Now it’s April 2nd, and we’re back on the serious tarmac of real hardware. And truth be told, March ended with tech news every simracer should have on their radar.
As always, let’s start with the GPUs – the heart of any well-built virtual cockpit.
There are rumors that Intel may manufacture graphics chips for Nvidia. Yes, you read that right: Team Blue producing for Team Green. Intel’s 18A node could be key to easing the pressure on GPU stock – something we all feel when trying to run triple-screen setups at max graphics and our FPS decides to take a nap.
On top of that, Nvidia has reinforced its agreement with TSMC, this time at their Arizona plant. Over the next four years, they plan to purchase half a billion dollars worth of chips from there. The kicker? The manufacturing cost increase in the U.S. would be just around 10% – even less than import tariffs.
What does this mean for us? A better shot at finding a decent GPU without having to mortgage your cockpit.
Over on the red team, AMD announced that the RX 7900 XT became its best-selling GPU ever, with sales 10x higher than previous generations. That said, it’s still hard to find it near its MSRP. For those of us chasing the best bang-for-buck to run rFactor 2, ACC, or iRacing at decent frame rates, we’re still waiting for that “increased production” to actually kick in.
But perhaps the most interesting piece isn’t a GPU at all, but an APU: the new Strix Halo, part of the Ryzen AI Max 300 series. Already integrated in some laptops, this chip with built-in graphics performs close to an *RTX 4070*. If it makes it to desktop in a user-upgradable format, it could be perfect for simracers building a basic setup without breaking the bank right away.
Leaks, Launches, and Price Promises
We also saw leaks of the Radeon RX 9060 and 9060 XT, and the RTX 5060 Ti is expected to be announced on April 15. This time, manufacturers are being asked to offer models at MSRP. Let’s see if they follow through, but that would be a breath of fresh air for those looking to upgrade without wading through resale hell.
Watch out for drivers, though: the black screen bug affecting RTX 40 and 50 series is still out there. And when a new driver breaks compatibility with Assetto or messes up wheel FFB, we all feel it. Stability remains key, especially for dedicated setups.
March ended with mixed signals, but one thing’s clear: simracing hardware might become more powerful and accessible this year. So go ahead and step on it – just be cautious. April’s curve has already begun.
See you on the track!
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