Guerrilla Games' "Horizon: Forbidden West" has made its debut on Steam with an impressive 93% approval rating. Set in a post-apocalyptic San Francisco, ravaged by disease and overrun by mechanical creatures, human survival hangs by a thread. Players step into the shoes of Aloy, a skilled hunter, to explore this world of mechanical beasts, gather resources, and unravel the mysteries of the story.
The game boasts expansive maps, stunning landscapes, and rich details, with exceptional rendering of vegetation, lighting, and water bodies. To fully immerse oneself in the gaming experience, a powerful gaming rig is essential. Here, we present two recommended setups:
1. Intel-Powered Gaming Rig:
2. AMD Ryzen Gaming Rig:
With these setups, gamers can dive headfirst into the thrilling world of "Horizon: Forbidden West" and experience the adrenaline-pumping action it offers.
Hunting down robotic beasts undoubtedly constitutes the most thrilling part of the gameplay in the "Horizon" series. In "Horizon: The Frontier West," there are a total of 43 types of mechanical beasts, many of which have never been showcased in previous teasers. Furthermore, each mechanical beast has multiple variants. The fiercely aggressive Steel Behemoths can launch attacks in the blink of an eye. It's wise to lurk in dense foliage, waiting for the opportune moment to strike as the battle commences. Then, discern their weaknesses, dismantle their armor, and expose them to attacks. Each type of mechanical monster boasts its own unique movement patterns and attack modes, necessitating careful planning from players rather than relying solely on brute force.
Moreover, the various human factions are deeply entwined, continually erupting into conflict due to their respective beliefs. As the game progresses, there are even scenes of humans and robotic beasts launching joint attacks, putting players' combat skills to the ultimate test.
The combat gameplay in "Horizon: Forbidden West" shines as a highlight of the game, inheriting the seamless blend of ranged and melee combat and equipment leveling system from its predecessor while deepening its mechanics. Character skills in this installment are refined and divided into six growth paths: Warrior, Catcher, Hunter, Survivor, Infiltrator, and Machine Master. These paths are not mutually exclusive, but offer vastly different attribute growth and skill styles for the characters. At the core of Aloy's arsenal are various versions of bows and arrows, with the key lying in mixing and matching to ensure a variety of elemental damages on rotation, while the next step involves mastering the skill to hit swiftly moving targets. The game also introduces "Grapnel" and "Shieldwing" to Aloy's repertoire; the Grapnel allows her to ascend to heights during climbing, while the Shieldwing enables gliding in the air. When utilized in conjunction, players gain the ability to maneuver flexibly in complex terrains. With gripping combat, top-notch character design, and an enchanting open world, the combination of these three elements solidifies "Horizon: Forbidden West" as an undeniably exceptional masterpiece.
Introducing the ASUS B760 Snowflake S Motherboard with 14th Gen Core Processor
For gamers who fancy a light-colored theme for their rigs, we've got a sleek recommendation: the 14th Gen Intel Core-based platform in pristine white. At its core lies the ASUS B760 Snowflake S motherboard, paired with an Intel Core i5-14490F processor, and complemented by hardware like the ASUS TX GAMING GeForce RTX4070-O12G graphics card. This setup delivers both aesthetics and power, effortlessly running AAA titles at high resolutions with buttery-smooth performance.
For CPU recommendations, the Intel Core i5-14490F processor stands out. It features a hybrid architecture with performance and efficiency cores, boasting a 10-core, 16-thread design. Running at a base frequency of 3.7GHz and reaching up to 4.9GHz with Turbo Boost, it comes equipped with 24MB of L3 cache. Notably, this processor operates at a mere 65W of power consumption.
The ASUS TX GAMING GeForce RTX4070-O12G is our top pick for graphics cards. With its sleek, minimalist design and distinctive two-dimensional aesthetic, it takes gaming visuals to new heights. The card's clean lines and refreshing elegance set it apart from the competition, making it instantly recognizable among gamers. Featuring three axial-flow fans for superior cooling and a metallic backplate accented with magical cyan lines, it's the epitome of style and functionality.
The motherboard serves as the cornerstone of the entire system, and the chosen one here is the Asus B760 Snow Queen S motherboard. Adorned in a silver-white armor, it not only cleverly integrates IO armor into the image of a snow warrior, but also meticulously incorporates snow warrior mechanical wing elements into the M.2 and chipset heatsinks. Delicately embellished with snowflake elements on the PCB, it sets a new standard for dimensional aesthetics. With support for up to DDR5 8000+ (OC) and a 2-ounce copper server-grade PCB, its power is further enhanced for competitive gaming. In addition to the easily detachable graphics card slot, it now features a silver-white detachable antenna, aligning with flagship models in terms of usability and user-friendliness. The standalone price of this motherboard is 1549 CNY, but with special offers, it can be yours for 1499 CNY. Secure your purchase at the Asus Store: link or at JD.com: link.
Tmall Exclusive Deal: Asus B760 Snowflake S Motherboard with i5-14490F Processor Combo for Just $4483 with 3-Month Interest-Free Installments!
The ASUS B760 Blizzard S motherboard features a 12+1+1 power delivery solution with 60A power stages, accompanied by larger VRM heatsinks and a 2oz copper server-grade 6-layer PCB, fully unleashing the potential of Intel's 14th, 13th, and 12th generation processors. It also supports APE 3.0 technology, enabling a one-click unlock of power limits to control temperatures and unleash strong performance. DDR5 high-frequency memory and AEMP 2.0 are supported, with memory frequencies reaching up to DDR5 8000+ (OC). There are two PCIe 4.0 M.2 slots onboard, both covered with efficient heat spreaders, effectively reducing M.2 SSD temperatures and improving game loading speeds. Additionally, it features a PCIe 5.0 x16 high-strength graphics card slot, ready for future battles.
For networking, the motherboard is equipped with a 2.5G Ethernet card and WiFi 6E wireless card, supporting AI intelligent networking to provide gamers with a more stable online experience, ensuring they stay ahead in games. The addition of detachable antennas, featuring white coating, snow warrior and blizzard elements, ensures easy installation and enhances wireless signal strength. The graphics card can be easily removed with a dedicated key, making GPU removal a breeze.
The ASUS B760 Blizzard S motherboard comes equipped with an M.2 convenient locking mechanism, Q-LED fault diagnosis lights, BIOS one-click upgrade, and various other features to enhance the convenience of DIY assembly. The motherboard utilizes the SupremeFX S1220A high-quality audio chip, supporting bidirectional AI noise reduction function. Combined with Sonic Studio III intelligent audio management software and DTS audio surround, it delivers an immersive audio experience. It comes with a pre-installed silver-white integrated I/O backplate, boasting a plethora of USB ports. This includes a USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 Type-C port with a transmission speed of up to 20Gbps, and support for front USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C ports, meeting the demands of gamers who need to connect multiple devices simultaneously. With built-in Thunderbolt 4 headers, users can enjoy lightning-fast transfer speeds of up to 40Gb/s by pairing it with separately purchased Thunderbolt 4 expansion cards! It supports AURA SYNC for synchronized lighting effects, featuring three second-generation programmable ARGB lighting headers and one RGB lighting header onboard. These can be synchronized with a variety of ASUS AURA SYNC compatible hardware devices, allowing users to effortlessly create a vibrant gaming atmosphere!
Introducing the ASUS B650 Heavy Artillery WIFI motherboard powered by the dynamic AMD Ryzen platform. Designed for enthusiasts loyal to the AMD ecosystem, this gaming rig is set to impress. Featuring the ASUS B650 Heavy Artillery WIFI motherboard at its core, it boasts the Ryzen R7 7800X3D processor, ASUS DUAL RX 6750 GRE graphics card, and other cutting-edge hardware components. With robust gaming performance, it ensures gamers enjoy a seamless and stable gaming experience for extended periods.
The AMD Ryzen R7 7800X3D features cutting-edge 5-nanometer manufacturing technology, boasting 8 cores and 16 threads, with a whopping 104MB of high-speed cache (L2+L3). Clocking in at a base frequency of 4.2GHz and reaching turbo speeds of up to 5.0GHz, it effortlessly handles a myriad of AAA titles, delivering an immersive gaming experience.
The ASUS DUAL RX 6750 GRE graphics card is a solid recommendation. Sporting the Navi 22 core based on the RDNA 2 architecture, it comes packed with 12GB of GDDR6 memory, aiming to deliver higher frame rates and a more responsive 2K gaming experience for enthusiasts! When it comes to cooling, this graphics card is equipped with two double ball bearing axial fans, delivering strong airflow, efficient heat dissipation, and quiet operation. Compared to fans with oil-bearing designs, these fans boast a longer lifespan, ensuring durability over time!
The ASUS B650 Heavy Artillery WIFI motherboard is a recommended companion for the AMD Ryzen 7000 series. It also supports DDR5 memory, with overclocking support up to DDR5 6400+. After a BIOS update, it can even accommodate the Ryzen 8000G series processors. With its brand-new rectangular cut design, the heat armor exudes toughness and stability. The chipset's heat sink, adorned with markings resembling those on a sniper scope, cleverly highlights the formidable gaming performance of the ASUS B650 Heavy Artillery WIFI motherboard, striking down opponents with precision. This motherboard is available for purchase at ASUS's official store for a special price of 1349 CNY. Grab it here: ASUS Official Store. Alternatively, you can find it on JD.com for 1399 CNY. Purchase it here: JD.com.
The ASUS B650 Heavy Artillery WIFI motherboard boasts a 12+2 power phase design (60A), coupled with 8+4Pin ProCool solid power connectors and larger, thicker VRM heatsinks, effortlessly handling the AMD Ryzen R7 7800X3D processor. Supporting DDR5 memory, it optimizes memory frequency, timing, and voltage parameters further through AMD EXPO and AEMP (ASUS Enhanced Memory Profiles), fully unleashing the potential of DDR5 memory with frequencies overclockable up to DDR5 6400+.
Notably, it features three-level performance tuning (PBO enhancement), unlocking the temperature barrier with a single click to deliver enhanced performance while maintaining temperature control. Both high-speed M.2 slots come with efficient heatsinks, effectively reducing temperatures, with one supporting PCIe 5.0, meeting gamers' high demands for storage device performance.
Additionally, it offers up to 20Gb/s USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 Type-C and USB 3.2 Type-C front panel interfaces for convenient usage. Supporting bidirectional AI noise reduction, it not only reduces noise from its microphone input but also from other audio sources in the speakers, ensuring clearer communication with teammates during gaming sessions. Moreover, equipped with DTS sound customization technology, it provides multi-channel surround virtualization for stereo headphones. Besides preset music, movie, and game sound modes, it allows personalized settings for an immersive audio experience.
In terms of networking, the ASUS B650 Heavy Gunner WIFI motherboard is equipped with a 2.5G Ethernet card and WiFi 6 wireless card, bringing gamers a low-latency gaming experience and smoother high-definition video playback. Even in complex network environments, it still delivers a satisfying and seamless online experience for everyone. With BIOS FlashBack one-click upgrade, BIOS can be easily upgraded in three steps without the need for a processor, graphics card, or memory. The motherboard also features convenient M.2 card locks and Q-LED fault diagnostic lights, further optimizing the assembly process. It also supports AURA SYNC lighting synchronization, with onboard 3 second-generation programmable ARGB lighting headers and 1 RGB lighting header, capable of automatically detecting the number of LEDs on the device. ASUS also provides users with rich lighting control functions, which, when paired with compatible devices, easily achieve synchronized lighting effects, creating an integrated system-wide lighting effect.
The two recommended ASUS gaming desktop configurations mentioned above are robust and high-performing, more than capable of effortlessly handling today's popular AAA titles, allowing gamers to fully immerse themselves in the gaming experience. Additionally, they boast numerous esports-optimized technologies, further enhancing the gaming experience. Players who are planning to build their own gaming rigs in the near future may want to keep a close eye on them.
