Image used with permission by copyright holderNvidia has puzzled and angered its gaming notebook community once again, by re-initiating a block that prevents owners of laptops featuring the GTX 980M GPU from overclocking it. Added through the recent 350.12 driver update, the move is being dubbed the “clockblock” by gamers, with many wondering why Nvidia feels the need to hand-hold users with such powerful machines.
This particular block isn’t hitting everyone who has a 980M GPU, as some have stuck with an older driver that disabled the block (after it was brought in on NVidia’s 347.09 update, as per NotebookReview) and not everyone’s gaming laptops shipped with the locked GPU BIOS that makes overclocking of the chip impossible. However for a large number of gamers, particularly those that are keen to keep their drivers as updated as possible, GPU overclocking has now been disabled once again.
Recommended Videos
This seems rather bizarre in the contemporary climate of high-end systems and tweaking, as many of them are sold on the basis that they can be overclocked by end users. Buyers of high-end gaming laptops featuring the powerful 980M chip want maximum performance. While Nvidia might not want anyone doing damage to their presumably already heavily tweaked system by going overboard, most users appreciate that once you overclock something you’ve waved goodbye to your warranty, anyway.
Get your weekly teardown of the tech behind PC gaming
This cyberattack took out 600,000 routers across the country
We've been hit with a number of high-profile cyberattacks lately, most notably with a group of hackers allegedly carrying out a Christie’s cyberattack. But now, a recently published research by Lumen Technologies mentioned a cyberattack that happened last year (but was not disclosed until now), which left over 600,000 personal routers inoperable.
The attack was reportedly made possible through a malicious firmware update that erased the router’s operational code, which bricked them. This is an attack that independent experts call one of the most severe cyberattacks ever against America’s telecommunication sector.
Best Buy dropped the price of this HP Envy laptop from $920 to $552
For those who are planning to buy a laptop for work or school, you may want to check out 2-in-1 laptop deals so that you can get more versatility from your new device. We highly recommend the HP Envy x360, which is on sale from Best Buy with a $368 discount that pulls its price down to $552 from $920 originally. If you're interested in taking advantage of this offer, you're going to have be quick in completing your purchase because we're not sure if it will still be available tomorrow.
Why you should buy the HP Envy x360 2-in-1 laptop
A 2-in-1 laptop combines the convenience of a tablet's touchscreen and the utility of a laptop's keyboard, according to our laptop buying guide. These are the benefits of the HP Envy x360, which can easily transform between tablet mode and laptop mode through the 360-degree hinges that attach its body to its 15.6-inch display with Full HD resolution. You also have the option of going into tent mode when you're giving presentations or when you want to watch streaming shows without getting distracted by the keyboard.
The new GPD dual-screen laptop looks flippin’ cool
Famous for its quirky portable PCs and gaming handhelds, GPD usually makes products with words like "mini," "pocket," or "micro" in the title. But its latest announcement is a bit of a surprise -- a full-sized laptop. Described as an "engineer's productivity laptop," the appropriately named Duo is no ordinary PC. It flips, it folds, and it has two 13.3-inch Samsung AMOLED displays.
Its dual-screen setup can be folded up with one of the displays facing outward for tablet-style use or completely opened up to reveal its keyboard and combine both screens into a giant 18-inch-long display.
