5 big upgrades coming to next-gen PC components very soon

• Next-gen GPUs may feature faster-than-ever GDDR7 VRAM, delivering around 40% more speed.
• Arrow Lake CPUs and Nvidia RTX 5000 GPUs might bring multi-chip designs to desktop hardware.
• The new CAMM2 memory standard could revolutionize RAM for desktops and laptops.

PC hardware is a space that is continuously evolving. From CPU and GPU horsepower, to storage speeds, memory, and power supply standards, we've all seen our PC components transform into the high-performance devices they are today. Whether it's the DDR4 vs. DDR5 RAM toss-up, or mulling a PCIe 5.0 SSD upgrade, it's fair to say that PC users are always excited about trying out the next big thing in PC hardware.

You may be pleased to know that nearly every single one of your favorite PC components is about to receive some big changes very soon. For CPUs, GPUs, RAM, SSDs, motherboards, cases, you name it, there are compelling developments brewing behind the scenes. Let's dive a bit deeper into some of them and see how they'll impact your next build.

Nvidia Titan RTX graphics card.

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GDDR7 in next-gen GPUs

More speed and possibly more VRAM

GPU die and memory vram

You might be familiar with GDDR6 or GDDR6X, the current standards of graphics memory or VRAM used in graphics cards. Well, the next step in high-performance graphics memory is already here, according to companies like Samsung and Micron. While Samsung announced that it had completed development on GDDR7 memory last year, the official reveal came early this year.

We might see high-end SKUs like RTX 5090 and RTX 5080 with 32Gbps memory speed and up to 1.5Tbps of bandwidth (compared to 1.1Tbps in GDDR6).

Compared to GDDR6X, the newest VRAM standard will reportedly deliver up to a 42% boost in memory speed — outfitting the next-gen GPUs with 32Gbps and 28Gbps memory. Nvidia's RTX 5000 series cards are rumored to use GDDR7 memory, so we might see high-end SKUs like RTX 5090 and RTX 5080 with 32Gbps memory speed and up to 1.5Tbps of bandwidth (compared to 1.1Tbps in GDDR6).

Samsung and Micron will most likely refine and improve GDDR7 memory speeds over time. That's what happened with GDDR6, which launched with 14Gbps speeds and stepped up to 24Gbps later. So, we might even see 36Gbps or 37Gbps VRAM in the next-gen graphics cards. Another positive development of this new memory standard might be a minimum of 16GB VRAM on each of the next-gen GPUs — but I'm not holding my breath.

Surface Pro 11 devices on display at a Microsoft event.

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New CPUs & GPUs with multi-chip design

More performance and efficiency

Visualization of an Intel Meteor Lake processor with a chiplet design

Multi-chip design using "chiplets" isn't anything new in PC hardware. AMD has been using a chiplet-based design in its CPUs since the Zen 2 lineup, featuring a compute die and I/O die on every processor. Moving away from a monolithic die configuration to this chiplet design enables manufacturers to greatly improve performance, reduce cache latency, and simplify the memory sub-system.

For the first time, Intel might be bringing this innovative design to end consumers on the desktop side.

A similar approach might be coming to Intel's next-gen Arrow Lake CPUs as well as Nvidia's RTX 5000 series GPUs. Intel has already transformed its Meteor Lake mobile chips using discrete compute, graphics, I/O, and SoC dies. But for the first time, Intel might be bringing this innovative design to end consumers on the desktop side, enabling the company to customize individual components of its processors separately instead of re-engineering a monolithic die every generation.

Even Nvidia is rumored to be using a Multi-Chip Module (MCM) approach in its RTX 5000 series GPUs, which would allow it to squeeze in better specs without increasing the die size. Although this MCM-based design might be limited to only the high-end SKUs in the next generation, it'll nevertheless trickle down to mid-range or even budget SKUs in later iterations.

An image showing a bunch of PC parts installed in an Asus Prime AP201 PC case.

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3D-stacked cache in Intel CPUs

Intel's answer to 3D V-Cache

AMD Ryzen 7950X3D with circuitry background

AMD's 3D V-Cache technology has catapulted its Ryzen X3D series of processors to the very top of gaming charts, eclipsing both its own and rival Intel's best gaming CPUs. But, this technology isn't proprietary to AMD — it's actually enabled by TSMC's manufacturing process. As it turns out, Intel has long been planning to introduce a similar 3D-stacked cache in its own CPUs, offering gamers an alternative when it comes to peak gaming performance.

AMD's X3D chips have long gone unrivaled in terms of gaming performance, so it'll be interesting to see what Intel's first-gen 3D cache is able to achieve.

According to CEO Pat Gelsinger, Intel might take a slightly different approach, using 3D stacking across its chip architecture for both end consumers and data center clients. This technology isn't part of Meteor Lake and might not even arrive with the Arrow Lake desktop processors, but Intel might debut it in its CPUs in the generation after that.

3D stacking, in general, has been in the cards for chip manufacturers for a long time, so it makes sense that Intel is making its plans public to finally adopt it in a bid to both achieve greater overall performance and match AMD in gaming performance. AMD's X3D chips have long gone unrivaled in terms of gaming performance, so it'll be interesting to see what Intel's first-gen 3D cache is able to achieve. Would it be able to beat AMD at its own game? Who knows, but it's certainly possible.

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CAMM2 memory in desktops and laptops

Moving to thinner and upgradable RAM

We're used to our RAM being in the form of sticks or DIMMs/SODIMMs. But, a new innovation thanks to Dell and JEDEC might change how RAM looks and works quite soon. A new memory standard called CAMM2 (improved from CAMM) has already appeared in laptops like the Lenovo ThinkPad P1 (Gen 7) in the form of LPCAMM2 memory. Crucial is even selling LPCAMM2 modules to end users.

They can instead use CAMM2 memory, saving space, enabling upgradability, increasing transfer speeds, and improving esthetics.

CAMM or "Compression Attached Memory Module" is meant to replace bulkier DIMMs and SODIMMs in desktops and laptops respectively. It would also allow RAM in more devices to be upgradable, since manufacturers won't have to solder RAM directly to the motherboard to save space. They can instead use CAMM2 memory, saving space, enabling upgradability, increasing transfer speeds, and improving esthetics.

Companies like MSI and ASRock have already shown off motherboards supporting the CAMM2 memory standard, containing a single CAMM2 slot. So you'll probably have to replace your RAM altogether when upgrading. But, the good news is that CAMM2 will support dual-channel configuration with just a single module. While desktop products with CAMM2 support are still a while away, it looks like a newer and better memory standard is finally here.

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Zero-cable PC builds

Thanks to new motherboards, GPUs, and cases

Front view of the MSI Project Zero motherboard

In the last few months, several PC hardware manufacturers have partnered together to launch cable-less variants of motherboards, graphics cards, and cases, in a bid to transform how the insides of your PC look. These zero-cable PC components have been launched under various names by different players — Project Zero by MSI, Back to the Future by Asus, and Project Stealth by Gigabyte.

These cable-less variants might cost a bit more than your regular variants but the cost isn't prohibitive by any means, allowing PC builders to really consider an ultra-clean look for their next build.

Although these concepts have been around for a few years, only recently have they started to catch some real attention from PC users. These cable-less variants might cost a bit more than your regular variants, but the cost isn't prohibitive by any means, allowing PC builders to really consider an ultra-clean look for their next build.

As more component manufacturers join the zero-cable revolution, most PC builds might start to look very different from what we've been used to. You'll still need cable management, mind you, but at least the front of your PC (you know, the one you like to look at) will look even cleaner and worthy of admiration.

Maingear Zero PC

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Exciting developments on the horizon for PC builders

Despite PC building receiving flak for becoming too expensive or being riddled with unimpressive product launches, there are still some things to be excited about. Newer and faster memory, innovative chiplet designs in CPUs and GPUs, and ultra-clean PC builds might soon become commonplace if everything goes well.

The PC industry is already buzzing with news about the new Arrow Lake, Zen 5, and Snapdragon Elite processors, plus new desktop GPUs from Nvidia, AMD, and Intel. Combined with the next-gen technologies we discussed above, the PC hardware space is finally looking promising after a long time, replete with product launches that we're genuinely waiting for.

Angled front view of a PC built inside the Lian Li O11D Evo RGB case

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