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B.L.U.E. NOVA vs Gears of War: E-Day
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| shopping_cart Where to Buy | |
| info General Information | |
| Release Date | |
| Sep 14, 2027 | Oct 6, 2026 |
| Developer | |
| GungHo Online Entertainment, Inc. | The Coalition (Co-development with People Can Fly) |
| Publisher | |
| GungHo Online Entertainment / Sony Music Entertainment Japan | Microsoft / Xbox Game Studios |
| Genre(s) | |
| Cooperative PvE Third-Person Shooter / Bullet Hell | Third-Person Shooter / Horror-Survival |
| Engine | |
| Unreal Engine (DirectX 12) | Unreal Engine 5.8 |
| stars Ratings & Price | |
| Content Rating | |
| Mature 17+ | Mature 17+ |
| Avg. User Rating | |
| 4.8 / 5.0 | 4.5 / 5.0 |
| Current Price (USD) | |
| Free | $69.99 |
| tune Key Specs | |
| Quick Highlights | |
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Progression in B.L.U.E. NOVA is governed by an incredibly deep and systemic 'Hero x Armor' matrix, which completely redefines traditional character loadouts. Players do not just select a static hero; they modify their base stats, mobility, and skill trees by equipping specialized sets of mechanical Armor. This allows for immense tactical flexibility—a fragile sniper can be heavily plated to become a frontline bruiser, or a slow tank can be modified for rapid repositioning. Furthermore, gameplay progression dynamically scales mid-match via the proprietary R.I.N.G. system. When players physically group together, this system links them, granting a state of 'Infinite Barrage'. This provides unlimited ammunition without the need to reload and exponentially accelerates the cooldown rates of character-specific Ultimate abilities, heavily rewarding cooperative synchronization and completely eliminating resource scarcity. |
Progression and upgrades in Gears of War: E-Day have been meticulously overhauled across both the campaign and the newly introduced 12-player Horde Siege mode. In Horde Siege, players select from four deeply integrated classes: Assault, Breacher, Marksman, and Medic. Each class progresses independently up to level 10, unlocking specialized armor modifications and powerful 'Tactical Gear' operating on cooldowns, such as the Medic's Stim Vaporizer or the Marksman's Pulse Drone. In the core campaign and PvE modes, a new RPG-lite weapon modification system is introduced. Players actively scavenge for Weapon Part Stockpiles scattered throughout the environments, allowing them to equip up to four distinct modifications per firearm. These mods can drastically alter weapon behavior, such as adding Incendiary Ammo to the Prototype Lancer, attaching Forged Barrels to the Breechshot for boss damage, or employing Auto Pouch upgrades to the Gnasher for passive background reloading. |
| public World & Exploration | |
| World & Level Design | |
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Planet DIVAL features a massive, dynamically generated open-world map designed specifically to accommodate the complex logistics of 30 simultaneous players. The environment is heavily segmented into distinct, vast biomes that showcase the violent intersection of nature and machine. Players will traverse through ruined human colony settlements, heavily overgrown alien forests, and hyper-advanced AI manufacturing facilities. The spatial geometry of these regions is dictated by 'Barrier Towers', localized AI fortifications that act as massive physical choke points. These areas require 30 players to coordinate and push the frontline forward aggressively. The map culminates at the center with the 'Master Tower', a colossal, heavily defended spire serving as EVE's localized processing core. The sheer scale ensures that engagements seamlessly transition from isolated skirmishes to grand, cinematic, army-versus-army conflicts. |
Rather than utilizing the expansive, sprawling open-world segments seen in Gears 5, Gears of War: E-Day completely re-engineers its map design to focus on densely detailed, intimately linear environments that heighten the claustrophobic horror of the Locust invasion. The entire campaign unfolds across Kalona, an industrial epicenter severely scarred by decades of Imulsion processing. Specific regions include Kalona's City Hall—hastily converted into a desperate triage and command center—and deeply atmospheric downtown districts featuring dynamic 'multi-path' routing for optional side objectives. In the multiplayer space, the game features six bespoke 4v4 competitive maps, including the vertically demanding 'Outpost', the claustrophobic 'Precinct' set in a ruined police station, the 'Battleship' across a derelict war vessel, and the 'Market' seaside bazaar. Horde Siege introduces three massive, interconnected maps, such as the vintage-inspired 'Golden Quarter', explicitly designed to support 12-player extraction-style objectives and dynamic enemy pathing. |
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B.L.U.E. NOVA completely abandons competitive Player-vs-Player (PvP) in favor of three distinct, highly scaled cooperative PvE modes. The flagship mode is 'Tower Raid', an unparalleled 30-player operation where fragmented squads drop onto the map, organically link together using the R.I.N.G. system, and launch a massive siege against heavily fortified AI structures culminating in the Master Tower. For players seeking tighter tactical coordination, the 'Boss Raid' mode limits squad size to 6 players, plunging them into highly structured, high-difficulty encounters against singular, colossal mechanized bosses requiring perfect loadout synergy. Finally, 'Challenge Mode' provides rotating, time-sensitive, objective-based missions with restrictive parameters—such as locked biomes or speedrun leaderboards—designed specifically to sustain Daily Active User metrics and reward players with premium gacha currency. |
The multiplayer suite in Gears of War: E-Day offers a massive dichotomy between cooperative scale and intimate competitive arenas. PvE is revolutionized through 'Horde Siege', a groundbreaking 12-player mode that divides the lobby into three independent four-player squads. Blending classic wave defense with modern extraction shooter mechanics, these squads operate across massive maps to complete dynamic 'Secure' and 'Calibrate' missions while competing for high-tier loot drops and uniting to defeat colossal world bosses. Conversely, the competitive Versus PvP suite abandons large-scale warfare, returning strictly to a hyper-competitive, tactical 4v4 format. Utilizing symmetrical loadouts and map-control-driven power weapon spawns, the game features distinct social and ranked playlists. Core modes include traditional Team Deathmatch, Conquest, Demolition, and the newly introduced Crucible, spread across six intricately designed launch maps built to test the new omnidirectional sprinting and vaulting traversal mechanics. |
| extension Editions & DLC | |
| Available Editions | |
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B.L.U.E. NOVA is fundamentally structured around a Free-to-Play operational model, heavily subsidized by microtransactions and chance-based in-game purchases (gacha mechanics). While a core 'Starter Edition' is universally free, the publisher will likely introduce premium 'Founder's Packs' or 'Operative Bundles' that provide immediate access to exclusive cosmetic skins, accelerated battle pass progression, and premium gacha currency. These premium bundles are directly tied to the game's transmedia marketing, offering exclusive virtual idol skins associated with the SNIVPA VTuber group. Because the game is strictly cooperative PvE, the integration of these chance-based economies avoids toxic 'pay-to-win' scenarios; instead, a heavily geared or uniquely customized player directly benefits the entire 30-player lobby, creating a positive community reception to premium investments. |
Microsoft has established a multi-tiered retail strategy for Gears of War: E-Day, designed to capture varying levels of consumer engagement. The Standard Edition retails for $69.99 in the US, with regional pricing adjustments lowering the cost by up to 36% in emerging markets like China and India, while applying a premium in the UK, Israel, and EU. Pre-ordering unlocks exclusive 'Exfil' cosmetics. For franchise veterans, a $99.99 Premium Edition is available, which provides a highly coveted five-day advanced access period, allowing players to experience the campaign and multiplayer early. This premium tier also includes the Emergence Customization Pack, Bravo Squad Signature Weapon Pack, and 1,000 'Iron' (the premium in-game currency), alongside a guarantee of four subsequent Seasonal Customization Packs. A limited physical Collector's Edition caters to media preservationists. Notably, the game abandons the time-gated Battle Pass system in favor of organic unlock progression. |
| Post-Launch Content / DLC | |
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The long-term viability of B.L.U.E. NOVA relies on an aggressive, continuous live-service pipeline. Post-launch content will heavily feature the introduction of brand-new playable Heroes and their corresponding specialized weapon systems. The chance-based gacha ecosystem will be refreshed consistently with seasonal cosmetic skins, unique holographic UI displays, and rare Armor permutations that alter skill trees. Furthermore, narrative expansions will advance the frontline war against the rogue AI EVE, unlocking entirely new biomes on Planet DIVAL. The game will also receive frequent updates to its highly structured 6-player 'Boss Raid' modes, introducing mechanically complex colossal Singula threats that require perfectly optimized team compositions. Cross-promotional events featuring Sony Music's vast catalog of talent and virtual influencers are expected to headline major quarterly updates. |
In a bold departure from contemporary live-service industry standards, The Coalition has completely omitted a traditional, time-gated Battle Pass system from Gears of War: E-Day. Instead, the developers have pivoted back to a classic progression economy where player levels, medals, character skins, and weapon cosmetics are unlocked organically purely through gameplay achievements and milestones. However, Microsoft's monetization strategy continues through the inclusion of 'Iron', a premium in-game currency utilized in a dedicated microtransaction storefront for highly specific, direct-purchase cosmetics. Crucially, the post-launch roadmap guarantees that all core gameplay additions—including new competitive Versus maps, expansive Horde Siege maps, and new modes—will be delivered entirely for free to prevent fracturing the multiplayer community. Premium Edition owners are also guaranteed access to four massive Seasonal Customization Packs over the game's initial post-launch lifecycle. |
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| build Technical Details | |
| Graphics & Visual Fidelity | |
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Powered by Unreal Engine utilizing the DirectX 12 API, B.L.U.E. NOVA delivers an astonishing graphical experience that demands high-end hardware. The art direction masterfully balances high-fidelity, photorealistic environmental rendering with highly stylized, anime-inspired character models. The most impressive visual achievement is the game's handling of intense particle physics. During 30-player Tower Raids, the screen is flooded with glowing enemy projectiles, massive explosions, volumetric smoke, and dazzling Ultimate ability animations, creating a literal 'bullet hell' in a fully 3D third-person space. This immense visual density requires robust Temporal Anti-Aliasing and advanced upscaling technologies to maintain clarity. The stark contrast between the beautifully overgrown, vibrant terraformed biomes of DIVAL and the harsh, metallic, geometric nightmares of EVE’s Barrier Towers creates a constantly engaging visual spectacle. |
Gears of War: E-Day establishes an absolute benchmark for real-time rendering by fully unleashing Unreal Engine 5.8. Discarding all legacy assets, The Coalition utilized Nanite virtualized geometry to render Kalona with unprecedented polygon density, showcasing advanced skin shaders, subsurface scattering, and intricate physical modeling. The title is the premier showcase for NVIDIA's RTX Mega Geometry, utilizing nested Cluster-Level Acceleration Structures (CLAS) to allow hyper-accurate ray-traced reflections and shadows directly against full-fidelity Nanite meshes. Furthermore, the integration of UE5.7's MegaLights allows for hundreds of dynamic, shadow-casting light sources in a single scene without performance collapse, illuminating the game's robust procedural destruction physics where bullets tear through cover and flesh in real-time. Despite these marvels, console players have heavily criticized the forced implementation of post-processing effects like chromatic aberration and film grain, demanding a toggle to preserve the pristine UE5 aesthetic. |
| Audio & Soundtrack | |
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Audio design is central to both the gameplay and the marketing identity of B.L.U.E. NOVA, heavily propelled by the Sony Music Entertainment Japan alliance. The game’s official theme song, 'Too Rich, Too Bold', is performed by the canonical virtual idol group SNIVPA, instantly establishing a high-energy, cyberpunk-pop aesthetic that permeates the menu systems and cinematic trailers. In-game, the soundscape transitions into a tense, militaristic orchestration mixed with aggressive electronic synth-wave. Directional audio is a strictly enforced mechanic; players must rely on sharp acoustic cues to identify the spawn locations of colossal Singula bosses and trace the trajectory of incoming bullet-hell barrages. Furthermore, the activation of the R.I.N.G. system triggers an immensely satisfying, escalating audio crescendo, psychologically rewarding players for grouping up and maintaining the cooperative link. |
Auditory authenticity is paramount to the harrowing prequel experience of Gears of War: E-Day. The soundscape heavily emphasizes the terrifying unknown of the initial Locust invasion, replacing the familiar orchestral swells of previous games with oppressive, tension-building survival-horror sound design. The roars of subterranean monsters echoing through the ruined streets of Kalona are mixed with advanced spatial audio, heightening player paranoia. Crucially, iconic voice actors John DiMaggio and Carlos Ferro return to reprise their roles as Marcus Fenix and Dominic Santiago, anchoring the narrative with raw, emotionally resonant performances that capture the characters' youthful vulnerability and Pendulum Wars trauma. The acoustic environment is further enhanced by volumetric smoke and destruction physics, ensuring that crumbling architecture, searing Imulsion fires, and the heavy, metallic clatter of the new simulated projectile ballistics sound visceral and dynamically responsive to the surrounding geometry. |
| User Interface (UI/UX) | |
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The User Interface of B.L.U.E. NOVA is an engineering marvel, specifically designed to convey critical information without obscuring the chaotic, bullet-hell visual density of 30-player combat. Traditional massive multiplayer HUDs often suffer from extreme clutter, but this game streamlines data through spatial proximity. The most critical UI element is the dynamic 'R.I.N.G.' overlay—a distinct visual perimeter indicating the link radius of nearby allies. When players enter this ring, the UI aggressively flashes to confirm the activation of the 'Infinite Barrage' buff. Health and shield metrics for up to 29 other players are simplified into a subtle, color-coded peripheral roster, dynamically highlighting only teammates who are critically injured or currently activating their Ultimate abilities. This ensures players maintain constant spatial awareness of enemy projectiles while easily identifying where the core of their cooperative squad is massing. |
The User Interface of Gears of War: E-Day blends classic franchise aesthetics with modernized, customizable quality-of-life enhancements. A standout feature is the highly modular Active Reload HUD element. Recognizing player preferences, the developers allow users to reposition the classic reload timing bar to various screen locations, such as the traditional top-right corner or closer to the screen center for immediate peripheral visibility. The UI also reflects the deeply controversial shift in weapon ballistics; hip-firing utilizes a standard dynamic crosshair based on barrel trajectory, while aiming down sights (ADS) shifts the point of origin directly to the center of the camera screen. In Horde Siege, the UI expands to accommodate complex class systems, providing clear telemetry for 12 players across three squads, ping systems for supply drops, and cooldown trackers for unique Tactical Gear like the Pulse Drone or Adrenaline Injector. |
| Accessibility Options | |
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In a game defined by overwhelming visual chaos and massive multiplayer scaling, accessibility is handled through both software options and fundamental gameplay design. Mechanically, the R.I.N.G. system is the ultimate accessibility tool; players with lower mechanical aiming skill can still massively contribute to the team's success simply by staying within the proximity ring of veteran players, thereby granting the entire group infinite ammunition and accelerated cooldowns. On the software side, the game features extensive colorblind filters specifically designed to alter the neon hues of the bullet-hell projectiles, ensuring all players can distinctly identify lethal incoming fire against cluttered backgrounds. Additionally, comprehensive subtitle options with directional speaker indicators, fully remappable keybinds, and generous aim-assist parameters for controller users ensure a wide demographic can successfully participate in the war against the Singula. |
While Gears of War: E-Day is fundamentally a brutal, skill-intensive third-person shooter, it incorporates several crucial accessibility adjustments and control modifications. The complete overhaul of the franchise's movement system—shifting from the magnetic, screen-shaking 'roadie run' to an omnidirectional sprint tied to the left thumbstick (L3)—drastically improves spatial awareness and camera control for players who struggled with the claustrophobic angles of legacy titles. The introduction of the dedicated slide and mantle buttons separates actions that were previously clustered onto a single, often overwhelming multifunction button. However, the game's complex hybrid aiming system, which switches from barrel-shooting during hip-fire to center-screen aiming during ADS, has been a point of massive accessibility and consistency feedback, with the community advocating for streamlined aiming options. Console users are also aggressively campaigning for accessible toggles to disable intense chromatic aberration and film grain to prevent visual fatigue and motion sickness. |
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| launchWatch | launchWatch |
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| launchView | launchView |
| settings_applications System Requirements | |
| 1080p (Full HD) - Minimum (Low-Medium Settings, 30 FPS) CPU: Base requirement to handle the AI pathing and R.I.N.G. network synchronization. CPU (Laptop): Equivalent mobile processors capable of baseline physics calculations. GPU: Entry-level requirement to render the varied biomes and base-level enemy models. GPU (Laptop): Sufficient for 1080p low settings if paired with adequate RAM. RAM: The absolute minimum to prevent client crashes during 30-player convergence. Storage: HDD drives are entirely unsupported and will result in connection timeouts. | |
memoryCPU: Intel Core i5-8400 / AMD Ryzen 5 2600 developer_boardGPU: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 6GB / AMD Radeon RX 580 8GB laptop_macCPU (L): Intel Core i5-10300H / AMD Ryzen 5 4600H laptop_windowsGPU (L): NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 Mobile / RTX 3050 Mobile layersRAM: 16 GB saveStorage (Tier): 50 GB SSD | memoryCPU: AMD Ryzen 5 2600X / Intel Core i5-10400 developer_boardGPU: NVIDIA RTX 2060 / AMD RX 6600 / Intel A580 laptop_macCPU (L): Intel Core i7-10750H / AMD Ryzen 7 4800H laptop_windowsGPU (L): NVIDIA RTX 3060 (130W) / RTX 4050 (100W+) layersRAM: 12 GB saveStorage (Tier): 130 GB SSD |
| 1080p (Full HD) - Recommended (High Settings, 60 FPS) CPU: High core count is necessary to maintain a smooth 60 FPS when all 30 players trigger Infinite Barrage. CPU (Laptop): Provides necessary thermal headroom and multi-threading for AI processing. GPU: Required to maintain stable visuals during intense bullet-hell projectile waves. GPU (Laptop): High TGP variants are needed to match the required desktop performance. RAM: Crucial for streaming massive map data and handling memory spikes during Tower Raids. Storage: Ensures near-instantaneous texture loading across the expansive overworld. | |
memoryCPU: Intel Core i7-12700 / AMD Ryzen 7 7700X developer_boardGPU: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 / AMD Radeon RX 6800 laptop_macCPU (L): Intel Core i7-12700H / AMD Ryzen 7 6800H laptop_windowsGPU (L): NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Mobile / RTX 3080 Mobile layersRAM: 32 GB saveStorage (Tier): 50 GB NVMe SSD | — |
| 1440p (QHD/2K) - Recommended (High Settings, 60 FPS (DLSS/FSR Balanced)) CPU: Top-tier CPUs are required to feed higher resolution frame buffers in crowded areas. CPU (Laptop): Enthusiast mobile CPUs ensure no bottlenecking occurs at 1440p. GPU: Handles the increased pixel count while rendering high-density particle effects. GPU (Laptop): Requires maximum TGP (175W) to sustain 1440p performance. RAM: Mandatory standard for high-resolution live-service PC titles in 2026. Storage: Faster asset streaming prevents texture pop-in at higher resolutions. | |
memoryCPU: Intel Core i7-13700K / AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D developer_boardGPU: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Ti / AMD Radeon RX 7900 XT laptop_macCPU (L): Intel Core i9-13900HX / AMD Ryzen 9 7945HX laptop_windowsGPU (L): NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 Mobile layersRAM: 32 GB saveStorage (Tier): 50 GB Gen 4 NVMe SSD | memoryCPU: AMD Ryzen 5 5600 / Intel Core i5-11600K developer_boardGPU: NVIDIA RTX 3060 Ti / RTX 5060 / AMD RX 6700 XT laptop_macCPU (L): Intel Core i7-12700H / AMD Ryzen 7 6800H laptop_windowsGPU (L): NVIDIA RTX 4070 Laptop GPU (140W) layersRAM: 16 GB saveStorage (Tier): 130 GB SSD |
| 2160p (UHD/4K) - Ultra (Ultra Settings, 60 FPS (DLSS/FSR Performance)) CPU: Absolute peak multi-threading required for 4K 30-player instances. CPU (Laptop): Only the highest tier of mobile processors can support 4K gaming in this engine. GPU: The only desktop GPUs capable of pushing 4K resolution alongside bullet-hell logic. GPU (Laptop): Requires a flagship, water-cooled or heavily vapor-chambered chassis. RAM: Future-proofs the system against extreme memory leaks during prolonged raids. Storage: Provides unparalleled bandwidth for seamless 4K asset loading. | |
memoryCPU: Intel Core i9-14900K / AMD Ryzen 9 7950X3D developer_boardGPU: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 / AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX laptop_macCPU (L): Intel Core i9-14900HX laptop_windowsGPU (L): NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 Mobile layersRAM: 64 GB saveStorage (Tier): 50 GB Gen 5 NVMe SSD | — |
| 2160p (UHD/4K) - Enthusiast (4K Ludicrous) (4K Ludicrous Preset with DLSS 4.5 Quality Mode) CPU: Maximizes Bounding Volume Hierarchy (BVH) reconstruction speeds required for RTX Mega Geometry. CPU (Laptop): Top-tier mobile processor to prevent CPU-bound bottlenecks under extreme geometry loads. GPU: The highest end GPU tested; pushes 45 FPS with DLSS at Ludicrous settings. GPU (Laptop): Absolute necessity for uncompromised 4K Ray Tracing gameplay in E-Day. RAM: Required to prevent memory capping caused by intense volumetric lighting and Nanite scaling. Storage: Crucial for instantaneous asset loading of billions of polygons. | |
| — | memoryCPU: Intel Core i9-14900K / AMD Ryzen 9 7950X3D developer_boardGPU: NVIDIA RTX 5090 laptop_macCPU (L): Intel Core i9-13980HX laptop_windowsGPU (L): NVIDIA RTX 4090 / 5090 Mobile (175W) layersRAM: 32 GB saveStorage (Tier): 130 GB NVMe Gen 4 SSD |
| save Overall Storage | |
| Spec: 50 GB available space (SSD Required) Note: A Solid State Drive is strictly required to dynamically stream high-resolution biome assets and prevent traversal hitching. Type: SSD | Spec: 130 GB SSD Note: Strict minimum requirement. Advanced Shader Delivery is used to eliminate compilation delays, and procedural destruction assets require massive read bandwidth. Type: SSD |
| desktop_windows Operating System | |
Spec: Windows 10 64-bit (Minimum) / Windows 11 64-bit (Recommended) Explanation: Requires a 64-bit environment to manage the massive memory footprint required by the 30-player seamless matchmaking architecture. | Spec: Windows 11 (64-bit) Explanation: Recommended for optimal DirectX 12 Ultimate scheduling and advanced real-time rendering techniques. |
| gamepad DirectX Version | |
| Spec: DirectX 12 Explanation: Mandatory for low-overhead draw calls necessary to render massive swarms of Singula AI units without tanking performance. | Spec: DirectX 12 Ultimate Explanation: Hardware-accelerated ray tracing is strictly enforced. Older GPU architectures without RT cores are entirely incompatible. |
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info_outline Feature details based on available data. System requirements and performance estimates may vary.
laptop_chromebook Laptop Recommendations
Common Recommendations (Handles All Compared Games)
For B.L.U.E. NOVA Specifically
For Gears of War: E-Day Specifically
info_outline Laptop recommendations are estimates based on available component benchmarks and game requirements. Actual performance may vary depending on settings, drivers, cooling, power limits, etc. Prices and availability subject to change. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.