News Archive
Wednesday, April 23rd 2025
Today's Reviews
CPU Coolers
Graphics Cards
Headphones
Monitors
Motherboards
Notebooks
Processors
Colorful iGame B860M Ultra V20 Review
At $165, this is one of the cheapest LGA1851 motherboards and it includes a surprisingly decent specification with USB4, PCIe Gen 5, and Wi-Fi 7. The Ultra V20 handled a Core Ultra 9 285K just fine too. But has Colorful done enough to compete with better-known manufacturers overall?
Ghost of Yotei Gets October 2 PS5 Exclusive Release Date with $249.99 Collector's Edition
Ghost of Yōtei's release date has finally been confirmed as October 2 of this year. Sony Entertainment today announced the October 2 release date, which is slated to be exclusive to the PlayStation 5 console for the time being, alongside new special editions of the upcoming action-adventure game. All pre-orders for Ghost of Yōtei, which start on May 2 at 10:00 AM, will include seven PSN avatars—representing Atsu and the Yōtei Six—and an in-game mask cosmetic. The base game will cost $69.99, while the $79.99 Digital Deluxe Edition will include the full digital base game, four cosmetic unlocks, and an early unlock for the Travelers Map. The Collector's Edition bundle will include an array of physical collectibles—a replica of Atsu's mask from the game, a sash, tsuba, art cards, zeni hajiki coin game and pouch, and a papercraft ginko tree—along with the same in-game items as included in the Digital Deluxe Edition. All of that comes at a whopping $249.99.
Sucker Punch also released a new trailer for Ghost of Yōtei, which reveals the villainous Yōtei Six and their brutal slaughter of Atsu's people, which serve as the motivation for her revenge story. It's unclear when Ghost of Yōtei will expand to PC and other console gaming platforms, but speculation suggests that 2027 is the earliest we will see a cross-platform launch for the Ghost of Tsushima sequel. Previous reports also indicated that there will be a Ghost of Tsushima expanded universe, with possible TV and movie spin-offs on the cards.
Sucker Punch also released a new trailer for Ghost of Yōtei, which reveals the villainous Yōtei Six and their brutal slaughter of Atsu's people, which serve as the motivation for her revenge story. It's unclear when Ghost of Yōtei will expand to PC and other console gaming platforms, but speculation suggests that 2027 is the earliest we will see a cross-platform launch for the Ghost of Tsushima sequel. Previous reports also indicated that there will be a Ghost of Tsushima expanded universe, with possible TV and movie spin-offs on the cards.
Old Skies Out Now on PC, Linux & Nintendo Switch
As the subject title says, Old Skies has officially launched on Steam and GOG! Join ChronoZen agent Fia Quinn on a time-travel adventure spanning 200 years. Old Skies is a story of love, loss and legacy. Plus it's 10% off during the first week! Dive into the past with time agent Fia Quinn as she embarks on seven trips through time. History is up for grabs—from the speakeasies of Prohibition, to the vicious gangs of the Gilded Age, to the World Trade Center on September 10, 2001.
Your job is to keep close watch on seven travelers who have the desire (and the bank accounts) to sightsee in the past. Some are simply curious. Others have unfinished business to resolve. And they've all put down a lot of money for the trip, so it's vital that you keep them happy while ensuring they follow the rules. But what could go wrong? It's only time travel, after all.
Your job is to keep close watch on seven travelers who have the desire (and the bank accounts) to sightsee in the past. Some are simply curious. Others have unfinished business to resolve. And they've all put down a lot of money for the trip, so it's vital that you keep them happy while ensuring they follow the rules. But what could go wrong? It's only time travel, after all.
How Do HKMLC Smart Boards Help in Teaching?
Chalkboards are an old-school thing now. About 67% of global classrooms now have adopted interactive technology, such as smart boards, to keep up with the times (UNESCO 2023 report). But how exactly do smart boards improve teaching? Let's dive into it, using HKMLC smart boards as a real-world example—and answer some of the most common questions teachers ask.
How HKMLC Smart Boards Solve Real Classroom Challenges
1. Boosting Student Engagement
Static whiteboards hardly keep students focused, especially those K-12 education learners. HKMLC interactive whiteboards change the game with dynamic and interactive lessons. Teachers can easily explain abstract concepts with videos, images, and 3D models. With the Essential 55 smart board, educators can launch quizzes and include Kahoot! Learning games to increase participation. Multiple students can draw on the screen as if using a tablet—all thanks to its 20-point multitouch display and ultra-precise 2 mm positioning.
For more information and to purchase, visit this page.
1. Boosting Student Engagement
Static whiteboards hardly keep students focused, especially those K-12 education learners. HKMLC interactive whiteboards change the game with dynamic and interactive lessons. Teachers can easily explain abstract concepts with videos, images, and 3D models. With the Essential 55 smart board, educators can launch quizzes and include Kahoot! Learning games to increase participation. Multiple students can draw on the screen as if using a tablet—all thanks to its 20-point multitouch display and ultra-precise 2 mm positioning.
For more information and to purchase, visit this page.
PC Enthusiasts Discover Samsung GDDR6 Modules in Radeon RX 9070 XT Cards
Just before the official launch of Radeon RX 9070 XT graphics cards, members of the Chiphell forum expressed concerns about unnamed evaluation samples exhibiting worrying memory module temperatures. Days later, Western review outlets published similar findings across several board partner specimens. Typically, pre-launch and retail units have utilized SK hynix GDDR6 VRAM modules—TechPowerUp's W1zzard uncovered numerous examples of the manufacturer's "H56G42AS8DX-014" model during teardown sessions. Curiously, Chinese PC hardware enthusiasts have happened upon Radeon RX 9070 XT cards that utilize Samsung GDDR6 memory modules. It is not clear whether Yeston has outfitted its flagship Sakura Atlantis OC SKU with Samsung components from the very beginning, but one owner documented a GPU-Z diagnostics session—late last month—showing "GDDR6 (Samsung)" onboard. Earlier this month, insiders posited that NVIDIA was in the process of changing its main GDDR7 memory vendor—from Samsung to SK hynix—for the GeForce RTX 50-series.
According to a recent Guru3D news piece, additional cases were reported. Online conjecture points to "higher end" custom models being updated with "cooler" modules. Hilbert Hagedoorn—Guru3D's head honcho—has gathered compelling information via community feedback channels: "the transition to Samsung memory has yielded noticeable thermal advantages. Early reviews and comparisons indicate that the new memory modules help lower temperatures significantly. Custom RX 9070 XT models running demanding benchmarks like Furmark have demonstrated memory temperatures of 75°C or lower without necessitating an increase in voltage or a reduction in clock speeds. Notable manufacturers, including Sapphire, XFX, and GIGABYTE, have already integrated Samsung's GDDR6 into their custom variants. However, as of now, AMD has not authorized its partners to explicitly differentiate between models with SK hynix and Samsung memory, likely to avoid confusion among consumers and maintain a consistent product lineup." Additionally, TechPowerUp forum members have found Samsung GDDR6 memory on Radeon RX 9070 XT and RX 9070 custom models. Thanks for the tip, Fluffmeister.
According to a recent Guru3D news piece, additional cases were reported. Online conjecture points to "higher end" custom models being updated with "cooler" modules. Hilbert Hagedoorn—Guru3D's head honcho—has gathered compelling information via community feedback channels: "the transition to Samsung memory has yielded noticeable thermal advantages. Early reviews and comparisons indicate that the new memory modules help lower temperatures significantly. Custom RX 9070 XT models running demanding benchmarks like Furmark have demonstrated memory temperatures of 75°C or lower without necessitating an increase in voltage or a reduction in clock speeds. Notable manufacturers, including Sapphire, XFX, and GIGABYTE, have already integrated Samsung's GDDR6 into their custom variants. However, as of now, AMD has not authorized its partners to explicitly differentiate between models with SK hynix and Samsung memory, likely to avoid confusion among consumers and maintain a consistent product lineup." Additionally, TechPowerUp forum members have found Samsung GDDR6 memory on Radeon RX 9070 XT and RX 9070 custom models. Thanks for the tip, Fluffmeister.
TSMC Unveils Next-Generation A14 Process at North America Technology Symposium
TSMC today unveiled its next cutting-edge logic process technology, A14, at the Company's North America Technology Symposium. Representing a significant advancement from TSMC's industry-leading N2 process, A14 is designed to drive AI transformation forward by delivering faster computing and greater power efficiency. It is also expected to enhance smartphones by improving their on-board AI capabilities, making them even smarter. Planned to enter production in 2028, the current A14 development is progressing smoothly with yield performance ahead of schedule.
Compared with the N2 process, which is about to enter volume production later this year, A14 will offer up to 15% speed improvement at the same power, or up to 30% power reduction at the same speed, along with more than 20% increase in logic density. Leveraging the Company's experience in design-technology co-optimization for nanosheet transistor, TSMC is also evolving its TSMC NanoFlex standard cell architecture to NanoFlex Pro, enabling greater performance, power efficiency and design flexibility.
Compared with the N2 process, which is about to enter volume production later this year, A14 will offer up to 15% speed improvement at the same power, or up to 30% power reduction at the same speed, along with more than 20% increase in logic density. Leveraging the Company's experience in design-technology co-optimization for nanosheet transistor, TSMC is also evolving its TSMC NanoFlex standard cell architecture to NanoFlex Pro, enabling greater performance, power efficiency and design flexibility.
Bandai Namco Announces August 28 Launch Date of SUPER ROBOT WARS Y
Players will get to fight epic battles in SUPER ROBOT WARS Y, slated to release on 28 of August 2025. Part of the SUPER ROBOT WARS series, the title will bring this grid-based tactical JRPG to PC via Steam. Also, digital pre-orders are now opened for PC via Steam. In SUPER ROBOT WARS Y, players will compete in turn-based tactical combat on grid-based maps while controlling a team of pilots with various abilities. They will get to enjoy fan-favorite units from past games, as well brand-new ones to the franchise, including some appearing on console for the very first time.
Conquer fate and embark on a journey into the new saga in SUPER ROBOT WARS Y. Published by Bandai Namco Entertainment America Inc. and developed by Bandai Namco Forge Digitals Inc. SUPER ROBOT WARS Y is a grid-based tactical combat RPG that brings mechs and pilots from beloved series like Mobile Suit Gundam the Witch from Mercury Season 1, Code Geass Lelouch of the Re;surrection, Mobile Suit Gundam Wing: Endless Waltz, SSSS.DYNAZENON, Getter Robo Arc, Macross Delta: Passionate Walküre and more to battle mutual foes. The game will be available on consoles and PC beginning August 28.
Conquer fate and embark on a journey into the new saga in SUPER ROBOT WARS Y. Published by Bandai Namco Entertainment America Inc. and developed by Bandai Namco Forge Digitals Inc. SUPER ROBOT WARS Y is a grid-based tactical combat RPG that brings mechs and pilots from beloved series like Mobile Suit Gundam the Witch from Mercury Season 1, Code Geass Lelouch of the Re;surrection, Mobile Suit Gundam Wing: Endless Waltz, SSSS.DYNAZENON, Getter Robo Arc, Macross Delta: Passionate Walküre and more to battle mutual foes. The game will be available on consoles and PC beginning August 28.
Upgrading to Windows 11 Pro is Only $15 Right Now
In October of 2025, Microsoft will phase out support for Windows 10. For many users, it's free to upgrade, but the baseline version of Windows 11 is limited in what it can do. If you want a more advanced OS with improved security, a refined user interface, and even improvements for gaming, try Windows 11 Pro. Windows 11 Pro extends beyond the standard Windows 11 feature set, giving you advanced capabilities tailored to professional workloads. BitLocker device encryption, Hyper-V virtualization, and Windows Sandbox now come pre-loaded for secure data management and isolated testing environments.
Snap layouts and virtual desktops streamline multitasking. TPM 2.0 and Smart App Control bolster security with hardware and software-level protection. DirectX 12 Ultimate also improves GPU performance for graphics-intensive tasks like art or even gaming.
It would normally cost $199 to upgrade to Windows 11 Pro, but during this limited-time sale, it's only $14.97. No coupon needed.
Snap layouts and virtual desktops streamline multitasking. TPM 2.0 and Smart App Control bolster security with hardware and software-level protection. DirectX 12 Ultimate also improves GPU performance for graphics-intensive tasks like art or even gaming.
It would normally cost $199 to upgrade to Windows 11 Pro, but during this limited-time sale, it's only $14.97. No coupon needed.
Avicena Works with TSMC to Enable PD Arrays for LightBundle MicroLED-Based Interconnects
Avicena, headquartered in Sunnyvale, CA, announced today that the company will work with TSMC to optimize photodetector (PD) arrays for Avicena's revolutionary LightBundle microLED-based interconnects. LightBundle supports > 1Tbps/mm shoreline density and extends ultra-high density die-to-die (D2D) connections to > 10 meters at class-leading sub-pJ/bit energy efficiency. This will enable AI scale-up networks to support large clusters of GPUs across multiple racks, eliminating reach limitations of current copper interconnects while drastically reducing power consumption.
Increasingly sophisticated AI models are driving an unprecedented surge in demand for compute and memory performance, requiring interconnects with higher density, lower power, and longer reach for both processor-to-processor (P2P) and processor-to-memory (P2M) connectivity.
Increasingly sophisticated AI models are driving an unprecedented surge in demand for compute and memory performance, requiring interconnects with higher density, lower power, and longer reach for both processor-to-processor (P2P) and processor-to-memory (P2M) connectivity.
Nintendo Switch 2's Chipset Reportedly Confirmed as Tegra "T239" Unit
An alleged partial close-up capture of the Nintendo Switch 2's chipset has leaked out; courtesy of Kurnal (@Kurnalsalts). This fresh leak is being hyped up as putting an end to all online debate regarding the upcoming hybrid console's technological underpinnings. Despite late 2024/early 2025 reports pointing to a custom NVIDIA "T239" SoC design, certain voices continued to produce conjecture about a more "cutting edge" solution. Surprisingly, Team Green's PR department did issue a statement about the Switch 2 being powered by: "a custom processor featuring an NVIDIA GPU with dedicated RT Cores and Tensor Cores for stunning visuals and AI-driven enhancements."
As expected, Nintendo staffers remained guarded during recent press junkets—in-depth tech talk was deferred in NVIDIA's general direction. Kurnal's sharing of a speculative "T239" partial die shot does not provide any major new revelations or insights—as discussed on the Nintendo Switch 2 Subreddit, tech enthusiasts continue to rely on specification details from the big hack of NVIDIA repositories (three years ago). Newer speculation has focused on Nintendo's choice of foundry—Digital Foundry's Richard Leadbetter continues to express his personal belief that Nintendo has selected a Samsung 8 nm DUV foundry node. In opposition, certain critics have persisted with a 5 nm EUV node process theory.
As expected, Nintendo staffers remained guarded during recent press junkets—in-depth tech talk was deferred in NVIDIA's general direction. Kurnal's sharing of a speculative "T239" partial die shot does not provide any major new revelations or insights—as discussed on the Nintendo Switch 2 Subreddit, tech enthusiasts continue to rely on specification details from the big hack of NVIDIA repositories (three years ago). Newer speculation has focused on Nintendo's choice of foundry—Digital Foundry's Richard Leadbetter continues to express his personal belief that Nintendo has selected a Samsung 8 nm DUV foundry node. In opposition, certain critics have persisted with a 5 nm EUV node process theory.
LG Brings Xbox Cloud Gaming (Beta) Experience Directly to LG Smart TV Screens
LG Electronics (LG) has announced the arrival of the highly anticipated Xbox app on LG Smart TVs this week, allowing users to stream Xbox games on the big screen at home. LG Smart TV owners in over 25 countries are now able to play the latest indie hit to the biggest AAA titles directly through the Xbox app on their LG Smart TVs.
Conveniently accessible from the Gaming Portal and the LG Apps, the Xbox app enables LG TV owners to jump straight into gameplay from day one with Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, launching hundreds of titles from Activision, Bethesda, Blizzard, Mojang, Xbox Game Studios and more - with just a compatible controller. The Xbox app is available on LG TVs and select smart monitors running the latest webOS 24 and newer versions, and it will soon be available on StanbyME screens.
Conveniently accessible from the Gaming Portal and the LG Apps, the Xbox app enables LG TV owners to jump straight into gameplay from day one with Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, launching hundreds of titles from Activision, Bethesda, Blizzard, Mojang, Xbox Game Studios and more - with just a compatible controller. The Xbox app is available on LG TVs and select smart monitors running the latest webOS 24 and newer versions, and it will soon be available on StanbyME screens.
NVIDIA's Project G-Assist Plug-In Builder Explained: Anyone Can Customize AI on GeForce RTX AI PCs
AI is rapidly reshaping what's possible on a PC—whether for real-time image generation or voice-controlled workflows. As AI capabilities grow, so does their complexity. Tapping into the power of AI can entail navigating a maze of system settings, software and hardware configurations. Enabling users to explore how on-device AI can simplify and enhance the PC experience, Project G-Assist—an AI assistant that helps tune, control and optimize GeForce RTX systems—is now available as an experimental feature in the NVIDIA app. Developers can try out AI-powered voice and text commands for tasks like monitoring performance, adjusting settings and interacting with supporting peripherals. Users can even summon other AIs powered by GeForce RTX AI PCs.
And it doesn't stop there. For those looking to expand Project G-Assist capabilities in creative ways, the AI supports custom plug-ins. With the new ChatGPT-based G-Assist Plug-In Builder, developers and enthusiasts can create and customize G-Assist's functionality, adding new commands, connecting external tools and building AI workflows tailored to specific needs. With the plug-in builder, users can generate properly formatted code with AI, then integrate the code into G-Assist—enabling quick, AI-assisted functionality that responds to text and voice commands.
And it doesn't stop there. For those looking to expand Project G-Assist capabilities in creative ways, the AI supports custom plug-ins. With the new ChatGPT-based G-Assist Plug-In Builder, developers and enthusiasts can create and customize G-Assist's functionality, adding new commands, connecting external tools and building AI workflows tailored to specific needs. With the plug-in builder, users can generate properly formatted code with AI, then integrate the code into G-Assist—enabling quick, AI-assisted functionality that responds to text and voice commands.
COLORFUL Expands GeForce RTX 5060 Ti Graphics Card Range with MEOW Editions
Last week, COLORFUL introduced an impressive selection of GeForce RTX 5060 Ti and RTX 5060 models—across Advanced, iGame, Ultra W and NB product lines. Barring their "youthful" graffiti-decorated iGame options, the Chinese manufacturer's brand-new lineup largely consisted of very sober looking affairs. Earlier in the week, VideoCardz noticed that COLORFUL had updated its native website with two new entries; under the company's COLORFIRE sub-brand. Previous generation MEOW Series graphics cards debuted almost two years ago; starting with custom GeForce RTX 4060 Ti 8 GB and RTX 4060 8 GB models.
Beyond making brightly-colored graphics card designs, COLORFIRE's MEOW product line consists of equally "loud" motherboards, cases, laptops and peripherals. COLORFIRE's new generation MEOW desktop graphics cards—available in GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 16 GB or 8 GB configurations—have appeared with a new triple-fan shroud and backplate design. The 2.5-slot thick enclosure seems to house reference spec-conforming hardware. VideoCardz expects these fairly basic white/orange offerings to launch "at or near" baseline MSRP. It is refreshing to see the emergence of another feline pet/mascot-themed product; as opposed to the recent dearth of cute "idol" or "waifu"-decorated options. Nearby rival manufacturers—including ASUS, Yeston, and ZOTAC—have resorted to utilizing such clichéd marketing tactics.
Beyond making brightly-colored graphics card designs, COLORFIRE's MEOW product line consists of equally "loud" motherboards, cases, laptops and peripherals. COLORFIRE's new generation MEOW desktop graphics cards—available in GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 16 GB or 8 GB configurations—have appeared with a new triple-fan shroud and backplate design. The 2.5-slot thick enclosure seems to house reference spec-conforming hardware. VideoCardz expects these fairly basic white/orange offerings to launch "at or near" baseline MSRP. It is refreshing to see the emergence of another feline pet/mascot-themed product; as opposed to the recent dearth of cute "idol" or "waifu"-decorated options. Nearby rival manufacturers—including ASUS, Yeston, and ZOTAC—have resorted to utilizing such clichéd marketing tactics.
Sony PlayStation 5 Pro Lead Designers Perform Official Teardown of Flagship Console
PlayStation 5 Pro console—the most innovative PlayStation console to date—elevates gaming experiences to the next level with features like upgraded GPU, advanced ray tracing, and PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution (PSSR) - an AI-driven upscaling that delivers super sharp image clarity with high framerate gameplay. Today we're providing a closer look at the console's internal architecture, as Sony Interactive Entertainment engineers Shinya Tsuchida, PS5 Pro Mechanical Design Lead and Shinya Hiromitsu, PS5 Pro Electrical Design Lead, provide a deep-dive into the console's innovative technology and design philosophy.
Note: in this article, we refer to the PlayStation 5 model released in 2020 as the "original PS5," the PS5 released in 2023 as the "current PS5," and the PS5 Pro released in 2024 as the "PS5 Pro." Do not try this at home. Risk of fires, and exposure to electric shock or other injuries. Disassembling your console will invalidate your manufacturer's guarantee.
Note: in this article, we refer to the PlayStation 5 model released in 2020 as the "original PS5," the PS5 released in 2023 as the "current PS5," and the PS5 Pro released in 2024 as the "PS5 Pro." Do not try this at home. Risk of fires, and exposure to electric shock or other injuries. Disassembling your console will invalidate your manufacturer's guarantee.
ASUS Debuts TX Gaming GeForce RTX 5070 12 GB Card Design in China
ASUS China showcased a compelling new custom graphics card design during their presentation of a Hatsune Miku-themed product collection. Global audiences were treated to TUF Gaming x Hatsune Miku crossover peripherals/accessories, but Chinese gamers will get access to a wider gamut of options—under the TX Gaming banner; a regional spin-off of TUF Gaming—including a cutely decorated GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 8 GB model. ASUS seems to be reusing this card's basic shroud/backplate design—minus elaborate character illustrations and graphics—on a brand-new TX Gaming GeForce RTX 5070 12 GB SKU. A "Born to be Different" message adorns a largely plain white front section, and familiar "GeForce RTX" texts are placed on a side panel and on the 2.5-slot thick card's metallic silver backplate. A large X-formation cut-out grants a glimpse at an enclosed fin stack.
In the past, ASUS TX Gaming products have been accompanied by sci-fi "idol" characters—on related retail box art and in promotional material. Evidently, ASUS has extended this "marketing technique" into the NVIDIA "Blackwell" GPU generation. As expected, the TX Gaming GeForce RTX 5070 models—in standard and factory overclocked forms—will launch as Chinese market exclusives. VideoCardz did not find any global listings of these offerings, nor launch details—e.g. a release date and MSRPs. They noted that a TUF Gaming equivalent model features five display connectors; as opposed to the TX Gaming's deployment of four (1x HDMI 2.1b, 3x DisplayPort 2.1b).
In the past, ASUS TX Gaming products have been accompanied by sci-fi "idol" characters—on related retail box art and in promotional material. Evidently, ASUS has extended this "marketing technique" into the NVIDIA "Blackwell" GPU generation. As expected, the TX Gaming GeForce RTX 5070 models—in standard and factory overclocked forms—will launch as Chinese market exclusives. VideoCardz did not find any global listings of these offerings, nor launch details—e.g. a release date and MSRPs. They noted that a TUF Gaming equivalent model features five display connectors; as opposed to the TX Gaming's deployment of four (1x HDMI 2.1b, 3x DisplayPort 2.1b).
Bethesda Celebrates Surprise Launch of The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered
It's been thrilling for all of us here at Bethesda to revisit a game so close to our hearts with Oblivion Remastered. When we started this project in 2021, we aimed to breathe new life into a chapter of The Elder Scrolls that set the path for so many of our games after it. We never wanted to remake it—but remaster it—where the original game was there as you remember playing it, but seen through today's technology.
We were so fortunate to work with an unbelievable team and partners at Virtuos. Even though we had worked together before, we had never attempted something on this scale. Every piece of art, animation, special effects, and part of the world would be remastered. Some new voices would be recorded, while keeping the originals there as well. Game systems were updated to feel better in your hands. Leveling systems modified for smoother progression and balance. We looked at every part and carefully upgraded it. But most of all, we never wanted to change the core. It's still a game from a previous era and should feel like one.
We were so fortunate to work with an unbelievable team and partners at Virtuos. Even though we had worked together before, we had never attempted something on this scale. Every piece of art, animation, special effects, and part of the world would be remastered. Some new voices would be recorded, while keeping the originals there as well. Game systems were updated to feel better in your hands. Leveling systems modified for smoother progression and balance. We looked at every part and carefully upgraded it. But most of all, we never wanted to change the core. It's still a game from a previous era and should feel like one.
NVIDIA Reportedly Warns Chinese AICs About Potential GeForce RTX 5090D GPU Supply Cut-off
Mid-way through April, we heard about sanctions affecting shipments of NVIDIA's H20 AI chips into China. Despite (rumored) best efforts made by Jensen Huang and colleagues, the US government has banned the export of Team Green's formerly sanction-conformant design. Similarly, NVIDIA prepared a slightly less potent GPU for gaming applications—exclusively for the Chinese market. Despite sporting a restricted GB202 "Blackwell" GPU die, the GeForce RTX 5090D 32 GB is still a monstrous prospect. According to Chinese PC hardware news sources, Team Green representatives have sent alerts to "all" of its Chinese add-in-card partners (AICs)—early warning signs have indicated a possible cut-off of GB202 GPUs in the near future. A member of the Chiphell forum disclosed some insider knowledge and dismissed unfounded speculation about RTX 5090D cards being replaced by "full fat" RTX 5090 options.
sthuasheng commented on Team Green's alleged bulletin—distributed at some point last week: "the notice only said that the supply of RTX 5090D was suspended, ...this did not mean any sales or transportation ban; it urged everyone not to make any speculations or judgments unless there was an official notice issued at a later date. After this notice was issued, each AIC began to notify agents to suspend sales, because the inventory of 5090D has always been very small, so it is necessary to keep these stocks to observe the subsequent situation and deal with the subsequent after-sales. At the same time, we might as well speculate that each AIC and dealer may also have the intention to stockpile 5090D units and then sell them at an elevated price." BenchLife.info decided to reach out to industry moles, following an absorption of various Chiphell whispers.
sthuasheng commented on Team Green's alleged bulletin—distributed at some point last week: "the notice only said that the supply of RTX 5090D was suspended, ...this did not mean any sales or transportation ban; it urged everyone not to make any speculations or judgments unless there was an official notice issued at a later date. After this notice was issued, each AIC began to notify agents to suspend sales, because the inventory of 5090D has always been very small, so it is necessary to keep these stocks to observe the subsequent situation and deal with the subsequent after-sales. At the same time, we might as well speculate that each AIC and dealer may also have the intention to stockpile 5090D units and then sell them at an elevated price." BenchLife.info decided to reach out to industry moles, following an absorption of various Chiphell whispers.
AMD Announces Press Conference & Livestream at Computex 2025
AMD today announced that it will be hosting a press conference during Computex 2025. The in-person and livestreamed press conference will take place on Wednesday, May 21, 2025, at 11 a.m. UTC+8, Taipei, at the Grand Hyatt, Taipei. The event will showcase the advancements AMD has driven with AI in gaming, PCs and professional workloads.
AMD senior vice president and general manager of the Computing and Graphics Group Jack Huynh, along with industry partners, will discuss how AMD is expanding its leadership across gaming, workstations, and AI PCs, and highlight the breadth of the company's high-performance computing and AI product portfolio. The livestream will start at 8 p.m. PT/11 p.m. ET on Tuesday, May 20 on AMD.com, with replay available after the conclusion of the livestream event.
AMD senior vice president and general manager of the Computing and Graphics Group Jack Huynh, along with industry partners, will discuss how AMD is expanding its leadership across gaming, workstations, and AI PCs, and highlight the breadth of the company's high-performance computing and AI product portfolio. The livestream will start at 8 p.m. PT/11 p.m. ET on Tuesday, May 20 on AMD.com, with replay available after the conclusion of the livestream event.
Sapphire Launches NITRO+ Radeon RX 9070 Model, a Month+ After Flagship XT Variant
Sapphire introduced two brand-new NITRO+ models prior to the official launch of AMD's RDNA 4 graphics card generation. The manufacturer rolled out its flagship Radeon RX 9070 XT card on day one—March 6—but the "lesser" NITRO+ sibling was absent at retail. Late last week, ITHome revealed that Sapphire had finally got round to globally releasing their NITRO+ Radeon RX 9070 16 GB SKU. At the time of writing, Overclockers UK seems to have cards in stock—priced at £629.99 (including VAT). Unsurprisingly, the freshly launched NITRO+ Radeon RX 9070 model utilizes the exact same shroud and backplate design that is present on Sapphire's range-topper.
The latest entry retains all of the more expensive unit's mod cons—including a Quick Connect MagniPlate feature, STEALTH hidden power cable, 12V-2x6 (H++) external power connector, Tri-X cooling technology, optimized composite heatpipes, and Honeywell PTM7950 TIM. Major differences are disclosed in Sapphire's "engine clock" specs: "boost clock up to 2700 MHz" and "game clock up to 2210 MHz." The Hong Kong-based company has not officially commented on circumstances that led to the delay of its NITRO+ Radeon RX 9070 graphics card. VideoCardz has dismissed claims about this particular model being postponed due to rumors of a displacement by forthcoming Radeon RX 9070 GRE 12 GB options.
The latest entry retains all of the more expensive unit's mod cons—including a Quick Connect MagniPlate feature, STEALTH hidden power cable, 12V-2x6 (H++) external power connector, Tri-X cooling technology, optimized composite heatpipes, and Honeywell PTM7950 TIM. Major differences are disclosed in Sapphire's "engine clock" specs: "boost clock up to 2700 MHz" and "game clock up to 2210 MHz." The Hong Kong-based company has not officially commented on circumstances that led to the delay of its NITRO+ Radeon RX 9070 graphics card. VideoCardz has dismissed claims about this particular model being postponed due to rumors of a displacement by forthcoming Radeon RX 9070 GRE 12 GB options.
Athena Worlds Announces Xenomorph, a Spiritual Sequel to Alien Vs Predator
Athena Worlds, a video games studio founded by video games veterans of titles such as Alien Vs Predator, Forza Horizon, Goldeneye N64, The Sims, Microsoft Flight Simulator and a slew of chart-topping games are proud to announce "Xenomorph."
Alien Vs Predator for Atari, defined Jane Whittaker's career. It also defined a genre, often regarded as the first true survival game, with over 100 awards and recently honored with number 3 in the top 10 scariest games of all-time awards. It spawned an enduring franchise. AvP for the Atari Jaguar was programmed by Mike Beaton (3D engine / gameplay designer) and Jane (AI and gameplay programmer/designer) and produced by James Purple Hampton. It is no exaggeration to say this cult classic changed the face of gaming.
Alien Vs Predator for Atari, defined Jane Whittaker's career. It also defined a genre, often regarded as the first true survival game, with over 100 awards and recently honored with number 3 in the top 10 scariest games of all-time awards. It spawned an enduring franchise. AvP for the Atari Jaguar was programmed by Mike Beaton (3D engine / gameplay designer) and Jane (AI and gameplay programmer/designer) and produced by James Purple Hampton. It is no exaggeration to say this cult classic changed the face of gaming.
Marvell Announces Successful Interoperability of Structera CXL Portfolio with AMD EPYC CPU and 5th Gen Intel Xeon Scalable Platforms
Marvell Technology, Inc., a leader in data infrastructure semiconductor solutions, today announced the successful interoperability of the Marvell Structera portfolio of Compute Express Link (CXL) with AMD EPYC CPUs and 5th Gen Intel Xeon platforms. This achievement underscores the commitment of Marvell to advancing an open and interoperable CXL ecosystem, addressing the growing demands for memory bandwidth and capacity in next-generation cloud data centers.
Marvell collaborated with AMD and Intel to extensively test Structera CXL products with AMD EPYC and 5th Gen Intel Xeon Scalable platforms across various configurations, workloads, and operating conditions. The results demonstrated seamless interoperability, delivering stability, scalability, and high-performance memory expansion that cloud data center providers need for mass deployment.
Marvell collaborated with AMD and Intel to extensively test Structera CXL products with AMD EPYC and 5th Gen Intel Xeon Scalable platforms across various configurations, workloads, and operating conditions. The results demonstrated seamless interoperability, delivering stability, scalability, and high-performance memory expansion that cloud data center providers need for mass deployment.
Drop Introduces The Lord of Rings The Argonath Desk Mat
BEHOLD THE ARGONATH, THE PILLARS OF THE KINGS! Standing guard over the northern borders of Gondor, the Argonath is a pair of statues without compare—even in a place like Middle- earth. Now, it's found a place on your desk. Follow the Fellowship South through storied statues. Depicted in stunning impressionist style by the talented artists at Dwarf Factory, the scene on this mat is pulled straight from The Fellowship of the Ring, following our nine heroes as they go south along the river Anduin.
GLIDE ACROSS A WATER-REPELLANT SURFACE WITH SPACE TO SPARE
Towering statues aren't the only breathtaking structures here. Nearly as impressive is our mat itself, measuring 36 inches wide, 16 inches tall, and 4 millimeters thick. It's also water-repellant-perfect for any accidental rivers across your desk. Work and play on mythical materials: made from high-density, low-friction Mercerized fabric and eco-friendly anti-slip rubber, this mat stays put and feels exceptional. It may just last as long as the Argonath itself.
GLIDE ACROSS A WATER-REPELLANT SURFACE WITH SPACE TO SPARE
Towering statues aren't the only breathtaking structures here. Nearly as impressive is our mat itself, measuring 36 inches wide, 16 inches tall, and 4 millimeters thick. It's also water-repellant-perfect for any accidental rivers across your desk. Work and play on mythical materials: made from high-density, low-friction Mercerized fabric and eco-friendly anti-slip rubber, this mat stays put and feels exceptional. It may just last as long as the Argonath itself.
Lenovo Introduces New ThinkPad Mobile Workstations and Business Laptops Designed for the AI-Ready Workforce
Lenovo today unveiled a refreshed portfolio of ThinkPad devices engineered to meet the evolving needs of modern professionals—from content creators and engineers to knowledge workers and hybrid teams. The lineup includes powerful Copilot+ PCs, such as the ThinkPad P14s Gen 6 AMD and ThinkPad P16s Gen 4 AMD mobile workstations, alongside new ThinkPad L Series business laptops and expands its ThinkPad X1 Aura Editions, delivering the performance, manageability, and intelligence today's AI-powered workflows demand.
Together, these latest ThinkPad systems reflect Lenovo's commitment to delivering smarter, more adaptive solutions that support advanced workloads, sustainability goals, and flexible work models—whether users are building complex simulations or collaborating across teams.
Together, these latest ThinkPad systems reflect Lenovo's commitment to delivering smarter, more adaptive solutions that support advanced workloads, sustainability goals, and flexible work models—whether users are building complex simulations or collaborating across teams.
TechPowerUp Releases NVCleanstall v1.19.0
TechPowerUp today released the latest version of NVCleanstall, our lightweight utility that lets you download and install NVIDIA GeForce drivers with a much higher level of customization than NVIDIA's installer permits. This utility lets you disable (or enable) several components in the GeForce driver package that you can't find in the NVIDIA installer's "Custom install" page, including important settings such as telemetry. Version 1.19.0 comes with a few important fixes. To begin with, a bug that causes installation to not start correctly with GeForce 576.02 drivers has been fixed. A checkbox has been added on the first screen to bypass the Cloudflare CDN. This option comes in handy in countries with Cloudflare censorship, such as Russia and Spain.
Next up, we've tweaked the internal process that compresses files into the driver package so it uses a maximum of 8 CPU threads, down from 20, which should correct certain "out of memory" errors. The description of NV Platform Controllers component has been updated to make it clear that it is applicable only to laptop platforms. On laptops, the "recommended" preset selects NV Platform Controllers. Grab NVCleanstall from the link below.
DOWNLOAD: TechPowerUp NVCleanstall 1.19.0
Next up, we've tweaked the internal process that compresses files into the driver package so it uses a maximum of 8 CPU threads, down from 20, which should correct certain "out of memory" errors. The description of NV Platform Controllers component has been updated to make it clear that it is applicable only to laptop platforms. On laptops, the "recommended" preset selects NV Platform Controllers. Grab NVCleanstall from the link below.
DOWNLOAD: TechPowerUp NVCleanstall 1.19.0
Rebuilding Intel: Q1 Results to Reveal Tan's Blueprint for Reversing Decline
Intel is at a crossroads as the company prepares to report earnings on April 24, 2025. Investors are hoping that Lip-Bu Tan, Intel's new CEO, can turn the company's fortunes around and stem its revenue losses. Currently, Intel is projected to report its fourth straight quarter of revenue decline with a 3.4% revenue loss, according to Reuters, and expects a significant widening of its losses to approximately $945 million compared with a loss of $381 million a year ago. Intel continues to lose market share to AMD in both personal computing and data center markets, while NVIDIA dominates the highly lucrative AI chip market. In addition, Intel's PC division is likely to report an 11% revenue decrease to $6.73 billion, and its data center business is probably facing its twelfth consecutive quarter of declines. "The most important thing for Intel now is Lip-Bu Tan's playbook... How he can give investors confidence that he is the person who can turn Intel around and whether a turnaround is possible in the first place," said Hendi Susanto, portfolio manager at Gabelli Funds, which holds Intel shares.
Tan has been implementing sweeping changes as part of his turnaround plan, cutting more than 20% of the employees at Intel and a change in the leadership model to provide quicker decisions. The company is seeing significant geopolitical threats as U.S.-China trade tensions are rolling back. China is threatening to impose retaliatory tariffs of up to 85% on all chips produced in the U.S. and along these lines has also imposed a requirement for licenses to sell some high-end AI products to the Chinese customers. Likely, as part of this, the company is presumed to be moving the production of its 3 nm chips from Arizona to Ireland in late 2025. Under all of these factors, Intel could eventually receive a temporary boost if PC shipments are pulled forward ahead of these tariffs that may ultimately positively impact a significant portion of Intel's sales (nearly one-third of total revenues).
Tan has been implementing sweeping changes as part of his turnaround plan, cutting more than 20% of the employees at Intel and a change in the leadership model to provide quicker decisions. The company is seeing significant geopolitical threats as U.S.-China trade tensions are rolling back. China is threatening to impose retaliatory tariffs of up to 85% on all chips produced in the U.S. and along these lines has also imposed a requirement for licenses to sell some high-end AI products to the Chinese customers. Likely, as part of this, the company is presumed to be moving the production of its 3 nm chips from Arizona to Ireland in late 2025. Under all of these factors, Intel could eventually receive a temporary boost if PC shipments are pulled forward ahead of these tariffs that may ultimately positively impact a significant portion of Intel's sales (nearly one-third of total revenues).
Silicon Power Launches "Inspire" microSDXC Card for Action Cameras and Content Creation
Silicon Power (SP) is proud to announce the launch of the Inspire microSDXC card, a powerful new memory solution tailored for content creation, 4K video production, and handheld gaming. With blazing fast read speeds up to 170 MB/s and write speeds up to 160 MB/s, the Inspire card offers the speed, reliability, and versatility that today's creators and gamers demand.
Built for Speed, Ready for Action
Designed with UHS-I U3 and V30 video speed ratings, the Inspire card is ideal for applications that demand high-speed data processing—from capturing ultra-high-definition 4K video on drones and action cameras to supporting mobile gaming and professional content creation on portable game consoles and Android devices. With capacity options of 128 GB, 256 GB, and 512 GB, users can choose the perfect fit for their storage needs. For power users who require even more storage, a 1 TB option is slated for release in Q2 of this year.
Built for Speed, Ready for Action
Designed with UHS-I U3 and V30 video speed ratings, the Inspire card is ideal for applications that demand high-speed data processing—from capturing ultra-high-definition 4K video on drones and action cameras to supporting mobile gaming and professional content creation on portable game consoles and Android devices. With capacity options of 128 GB, 256 GB, and 512 GB, users can choose the perfect fit for their storage needs. For power users who require even more storage, a 1 TB option is slated for release in Q2 of this year.
Samsung Display Achieves Industry-First True Bright Marketing Claim Verification from UL Solutions
Samsung Display today announced that the company has earned Marketing Claim Verification from global safety science company UL Solutions for claims related to perceived brightness. This marks the first time UL Solutions has issued a Marketing Claim Verification for a technology that leverages PCL calculations.
To achieve UL Solutions' Marketing Claim Verification, Samsung's True Bright, which is a distinction Samsung gives to displays that provides greater perceived brightness when compared to LCDs of the same PCL score, was evaluated for Perceptual Contrast Length (PCL) to quantify the brightness of the black of a display. PCL, which has been adopted as an industry standard by SEMI, refers to the brightness of a display specifically as perceived by the human eye. This metric acknowledges that perceived brightness is influenced not only by the physical light emitted by the panel but also by its contrast ratio. OLED displays typically have a contrast ratio of 1,000,000:1—over a thousand times that of standard LCDs. The enhanced contrast of OLEDs ensures that the same image is perceived as brighter when compared to LCD displays.
To achieve UL Solutions' Marketing Claim Verification, Samsung's True Bright, which is a distinction Samsung gives to displays that provides greater perceived brightness when compared to LCDs of the same PCL score, was evaluated for Perceptual Contrast Length (PCL) to quantify the brightness of the black of a display. PCL, which has been adopted as an industry standard by SEMI, refers to the brightness of a display specifically as perceived by the human eye. This metric acknowledges that perceived brightness is influenced not only by the physical light emitted by the panel but also by its contrast ratio. OLED displays typically have a contrast ratio of 1,000,000:1—over a thousand times that of standard LCDs. The enhanced contrast of OLEDs ensures that the same image is perceived as brighter when compared to LCD displays.
addlink Launches P30 USB 4.0 Super-Speed Magnetic SSD
addlink Technology Co., Ltd., a trailblazer in cutting-edge storage solutions, is excited to unveil the P30 USB4.0 Super-Speed Magnetic SSD, a next-generation external drive engineered for speed, portability, and innovation. Designed to meet the demands of modern mobile users, the P30 combines record-breaking performance with a stylish, compact form factor.SD, a cutting-edge portable storage device that combines exceptional speed, robust durability, and sleek design.
P30 USB4.0 SSD: Blazing Speed and Smart Design
Harnessing the power of USB4.0 technology, the P30 achieves transfer speeds of up to 4000 MB/s, allowing users to transfer a 10 GB file in a mere 2.5 seconds. Whether you're working with 4K ProRes videos, high-resolution photos, or massive game libraries, this SSD delivers unparalleled efficiency for professionals and enthusiasts alike.
P30 USB4.0 SSD: Blazing Speed and Smart Design
Harnessing the power of USB4.0 technology, the P30 achieves transfer speeds of up to 4000 MB/s, allowing users to transfer a 10 GB file in a mere 2.5 seconds. Whether you're working with 4K ProRes videos, high-resolution photos, or massive game libraries, this SSD delivers unparalleled efficiency for professionals and enthusiasts alike.
SK hynix Completes Customer Validation of CXL 2.0-based DDR5
SK hynix Inc. announced today that it has completed customer validation of 96 GB CMM (CXL Memory Module) - DDR5, a DRAM solution product based on CXL 2.0. The company said that it can process 36 GB/s due to a 50% increase in capacity when the product is applied to the server systems and a 30% improvement in the bandwidth compared to previous DDR5 modules. This can contribute to drastically reducing the total cost of ownership by customers in building and operating data centers.
Following the 96 GB product validation, the company is proceeding with the validation process for 128 GB product with another customer. This product, equipped with 32 Gb DDR5 DRAM using the 1bnm process, or the fifth-generation of the 10-nanometer technology, has high performance per watt. The company plans to complete the ongoing 128 GB validation as soon as possible to establish a CXL product portfolio to support customers in a timely manner. SK hynix is making efforts to expand the CXL ecosystem along with the development of CXL DRAM. The company developed HMSDK, software optimized for CMM-DDR5 and integrated it on Linux, the world's largest open-source operating system, in September, improving the performance of CXL applied systems.
Following the 96 GB product validation, the company is proceeding with the validation process for 128 GB product with another customer. This product, equipped with 32 Gb DDR5 DRAM using the 1bnm process, or the fifth-generation of the 10-nanometer technology, has high performance per watt. The company plans to complete the ongoing 128 GB validation as soon as possible to establish a CXL product portfolio to support customers in a timely manner. SK hynix is making efforts to expand the CXL ecosystem along with the development of CXL DRAM. The company developed HMSDK, software optimized for CMM-DDR5 and integrated it on Linux, the world's largest open-source operating system, in September, improving the performance of CXL applied systems.
G.Skill Releases DDR5 Memory Support List for Intel 200S Boost
G.SKILL International Enterprise Co., Ltd., the world's leading brand of performance overclock memory and PC components, is excited to unveil a list of compatible G.SKILL DDR5 memory kits that support the newly announced Intel 200S Boost program, introduced by Intel to improve system and gaming performance for platforms with unlocked Intel Core Ultra 200S series desktop processors and a compliant Intel Z890 chipset motherboard.
Intel 200S Boost - What is it?
The Intel 200S Boost is a new overclocking feature designed by Intel to work in conjunction with their latest unlocked Intel Core Ultra 200S series desktop processor, a compliant Intel Z890 chipset motherboard and validated DDR5 memory kits with an Intel XMP 3.0 memory overclock profile of up to DDR5-8000 and a maximum rated voltage of 1.4 V. Enabling this feature in the motherboard BIOS will automatically set your XMP values whilst boosting various CPU parameters to gain extra system performance.
Intel 200S Boost - What is it?
The Intel 200S Boost is a new overclocking feature designed by Intel to work in conjunction with their latest unlocked Intel Core Ultra 200S series desktop processor, a compliant Intel Z890 chipset motherboard and validated DDR5 memory kits with an Intel XMP 3.0 memory overclock profile of up to DDR5-8000 and a maximum rated voltage of 1.4 V. Enabling this feature in the motherboard BIOS will automatically set your XMP values whilst boosting various CPU parameters to gain extra system performance.
AMD Readies Radeon RX 9060 XT for May 18 Launch
AMD is preparing to launch its mid-thru-performance segment graphics card, the Radeon RX 9060 XT, on May 18, 2025. The mid-May launch could likely clash with that of the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 (non-Ti). With the RX 9060 XT, AMD is introducing its second silicon based on the RDNA 4 architecture, the 4 nm "Navi 44." The full chip is rumored to be exactly half that of the "Navi 48" powering the RX 9070 series, with 32 compute units. This works out to 2,048 stream processors, 64 AI accelerators, 32 RT accelerators, 128 TMUs, and possibly 64 ROPs. The memory bus is expected to be 128-bit wide, with 8 GB and 16 GB memory variants expected. The company might stick with 20 Gbps GDDR6 for 320 GB/s of memory bandwidth. The host interface is expected to be PCI-Express 5.0 x8. Although it comes with a rather low shader count of 2,048, the RX 9060 XT is expected to come with higher engine clocks, boosting well over 3.20 GHz.
Given how the RX 9070 series ended up being competitive with the RTX 5070 and in some cases even the RTX 5070 Ti; it becomes plausible that the RX 9060 XT ends up competitive with the RTX 5060 series. Then there's the matter of the RX 9070 GRE. While the RX 9060 XT is 50% of the RX 9070 XT specs-sheet on paper the RX 9070 GRE is expected to be 75% of it—think 48 CU, 192-bit memory bus. This SKU is based on the "Navi 48" with its ASIC designation "Navi 48 XL." It's now being rumored that launch of this SKU has been significantly delayed to Q4 2025. May 18 happens to be the Sunday before Computex 2025 in Taipei, and so it's possible that AMD is holding some kind of client computing or gaming-specific event there, where it will show off the RX 9060 XT. The company might even announce mobile variants of its RX 9070 series.
Given how the RX 9070 series ended up being competitive with the RTX 5070 and in some cases even the RTX 5070 Ti; it becomes plausible that the RX 9060 XT ends up competitive with the RTX 5060 series. Then there's the matter of the RX 9070 GRE. While the RX 9060 XT is 50% of the RX 9070 XT specs-sheet on paper the RX 9070 GRE is expected to be 75% of it—think 48 CU, 192-bit memory bus. This SKU is based on the "Navi 48" with its ASIC designation "Navi 48 XL." It's now being rumored that launch of this SKU has been significantly delayed to Q4 2025. May 18 happens to be the Sunday before Computex 2025 in Taipei, and so it's possible that AMD is holding some kind of client computing or gaming-specific event there, where it will show off the RX 9060 XT. The company might even announce mobile variants of its RX 9070 series.
Parts of NVIDIA GeForce RTX 50 Series GPU PCB Reach Over 100°C: Report
Igor's Lab has run independent testing and thermal analysis of NVIDIA's latest GeForce RTX 50-series graphics cards, including the add-in card partner design RTX 5080, 5070 Ti, and 5060 Ti, which are now attracting attention for surprising thermal "hotspots" on the back of their PCBs. These hotspots are just the areas on PCB that get hot under load, and not the "Hot Spot" sensor NVIDIA removed with RTX 50 series. Infrared tests have shown temperatures climbing above 100°C in the power delivery region, even though the GPU die stays below 80°C. This isn't a problem with the silicon but with concentrated heating in clusters of thin copper planes and via arrays. Card makers like Palit, PNY, and MSI have all seen the same issue since they closely follow NVIDIA's reference PCB layout and use similar cooler mounting. A big part of the trouble comes down to how PCB designers and cooler engineers work separately.
NVIDIA's Thermal Design Guide gives AIC partners detailed power-loss budgets, listing worst-case dissipation for the GPU, memory, NVVDD and FBVDDQ rails, inductors, MOSFETs, and other components, and it recommends ideal thermal interface materials and mounting pressures. The guide assumes that even heat is spreading and that there is perfect airflow in a wind tunnel, but actual consumer PCs don't match those conditions. Multi-layer PCBs force high currents through 35 to 70 µm copper layers, which join at tight via clusters under the VRMs. Without dedicated thermal bridges or reinforced vias, these areas become bottlenecks where heat builds up, and the standard backplate plus heat-pipe layout can't pull it away fast enough.
NVIDIA's Thermal Design Guide gives AIC partners detailed power-loss budgets, listing worst-case dissipation for the GPU, memory, NVVDD and FBVDDQ rails, inductors, MOSFETs, and other components, and it recommends ideal thermal interface materials and mounting pressures. The guide assumes that even heat is spreading and that there is perfect airflow in a wind tunnel, but actual consumer PCs don't match those conditions. Multi-layer PCBs force high currents through 35 to 70 µm copper layers, which join at tight via clusters under the VRMs. Without dedicated thermal bridges or reinforced vias, these areas become bottlenecks where heat builds up, and the standard backplate plus heat-pipe layout can't pull it away fast enough.
AMD Software Adrenalin 25.4.1 Beta Drivers Released
Yesterday, AMD released Radeon Software Adrenalin Edition 25.4.1 Optional Beta drivers that add FidelityFX Super Resolution 4 to The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered, Assassin's Creed Shadows, Kingdom Come Deliverance 2, Dynasty Warriors Origin, Civilization 7, and Naraka Bladepoint. It also brings Amuse 3 support and AMD-optimized models to Radeon RX 9000 and RX 7000 series graphics cards alongside Ryzen AI 300 series processors. Among the many fixes you'll find corrected lighting artifacts in Topaz Photo AI's Adjust Lighting features on RX 9000 series cards, removed flicker when using AMD FreeSync, improved DirectML and GenAI performance in Amuse 3.0 on RX 7000 GPUs and Ryzen AI 300 series chips, and patched image corruption in certain diffuser models on RX 9000 hardware.
The update also smooths out stutter and performance drops in World of Warcraft's Western Plaguelands, restores integrated camera detection after factory resets on Ryzen AI Max devices, and addresses AMD Chat installation hangs. Since this is still an optional beta with some known issues, like FSR 4 not activating in Naraka Bladepoint on Windows 10, crashes in The Last of Us Part 2, memory leaks in SteamVR on RX 9000 cards, or intermittent launch and stability hiccups in games like Cyberpunk 2077, Fantasy VII Rebirth, Battlefield 1, Monster Hunter Wilds and Marvel's Spider-Man 2, AMD recommends using the suggested workarounds such as disabling motion smoothing or integrated graphics in your BIOS and holding out for your system vendor's certified driver to ensure full compatibility.
DOWNLOAD: AMD Software Adrenalin 25.4.1 Beta
The update also smooths out stutter and performance drops in World of Warcraft's Western Plaguelands, restores integrated camera detection after factory resets on Ryzen AI Max devices, and addresses AMD Chat installation hangs. Since this is still an optional beta with some known issues, like FSR 4 not activating in Naraka Bladepoint on Windows 10, crashes in The Last of Us Part 2, memory leaks in SteamVR on RX 9000 cards, or intermittent launch and stability hiccups in games like Cyberpunk 2077, Fantasy VII Rebirth, Battlefield 1, Monster Hunter Wilds and Marvel's Spider-Man 2, AMD recommends using the suggested workarounds such as disabling motion smoothing or integrated graphics in your BIOS and holding out for your system vendor's certified driver to ensure full compatibility.
DOWNLOAD: AMD Software Adrenalin 25.4.1 Beta
Tuesday, April 22nd 2025
Today's Files
Today's Reviews
Cases
Headphones
Keyboards
PSUs
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 8 GB Review - So Many Compromises
We review NVIDIA's GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 8 GB, the card that NVIDIA doesn't want tested. Especially in VRAM-heavy titles the performance drops, but many games are running fine, especially if you focus on 1080p, and disable ray tracing. But is that the way it's meant to be played in 2025?
Corsair Void Wireless v2 Review - Reborn and Better Than Ever
The $120 Corsair's Void Wireless v2 nails it: engaging sound, excellent wearing comfort, dual wireless connectivity, and Dolby Atmos - all at half the price of premium rivals. Find out why this might be the new best headset in its price bracket.
Steel Seed Launches Today on PC, PlayStation 5 & Xbox Series X|S
Today ESDigital Games and developer Storm in a Teacup are excited to release Steel Seed, the new stealth-action game set in a dark sci-fi world where humanity stands on the brink of extinction. Available today on PC via Steam and the Epic Games Store, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S for $39.99 (with an additional 15% launch discount available on PC, Xbox, and PlayStation for PlayStation Plus subscribers), Steel Seed is a gripping action-adventure experience from the visionary team behind the critically acclaimed Close to the Sun.
Steam and Epic Games Store players can also grab the Deluxe Edition of Steel Seed today for $44.99 (with an additional 15% launch discount available), which includes the game's 15-track digital OST composed by Andrea Remini, a digital artbook, two unique in-game costumes, and 23 HD wallpapers. The Deluxe Edition will be available digitally on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S, alongside a physical edition of Steel Seed on PlayStation 5, starting May 23.
Steam and Epic Games Store players can also grab the Deluxe Edition of Steel Seed today for $44.99 (with an additional 15% launch discount available), which includes the game's 15-track digital OST composed by Andrea Remini, a digital artbook, two unique in-game costumes, and 23 HD wallpapers. The Deluxe Edition will be available digitally on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S, alongside a physical edition of Steel Seed on PlayStation 5, starting May 23.
Synology Forcing Owners of its Plus Series NAS Appliances to Use Own Brand Hard Drives
Last week Synology put out a press release on its European website, informing its customers that the Plus Series—which starts with simple two bay devices—will only support its own brand of hard drives, if you want to be able to take advantage of basic NAS features like creating a storage pool or do a lifespan analysis. More advanced features like volume-wide deduplication will also not be available. Synology has already done this on its XS Plus and rack mounted NAS appliances—which in itself wouldn't be acceptable to many considering getting a NAS—but at least these are pricier, high-end devices. Now the company has moved down to the $300 price bracket, which just doesn't sit right.
Admittedly this will only affect new customers, as the company will start to roll out the limitation with its 2025 SKUs and all other models will continue to work as is. The problem here is that Synology isn't a hard drive manufacturer and according to Arstechnica, the company is simply re-branding Toshiba hard drives and charges an extra $50 or so for their basic tier of drives, with higher-end tiers having a much higher premium. Synology obviously claims that this is for the benefit of their customers and you can find the full statement below. However, we doubt many customers will be happy to pay extra for something that was working just fine, until Synology figured out it could charge its customers extra for it. For now, there has been no indication that this will happen outside of the European market, but it's likely to be rolled out globally, as something like this is rarely limited to one market.
Admittedly this will only affect new customers, as the company will start to roll out the limitation with its 2025 SKUs and all other models will continue to work as is. The problem here is that Synology isn't a hard drive manufacturer and according to Arstechnica, the company is simply re-branding Toshiba hard drives and charges an extra $50 or so for their basic tier of drives, with higher-end tiers having a much higher premium. Synology obviously claims that this is for the benefit of their customers and you can find the full statement below. However, we doubt many customers will be happy to pay extra for something that was working just fine, until Synology figured out it could charge its customers extra for it. For now, there has been no indication that this will happen outside of the European market, but it's likely to be rolled out globally, as something like this is rarely limited to one market.
Post Trauma Out Now on PC & Current-gen Consoles
Hello everyone, after three years of development, I'm thrilled, excited (and a little bit scared) to announce that Post Trauma is now available on Steam (PC), PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. And if you're on Steam, you can also pick up an exclusive Supporter Edition which includes the game's full official soundtrack from Myuu alongside the base game. On behalf of myself and Red Soul Games, I want to thank you for your passion, your patience and support of Post Trauma. Whether you've been with me since the beginning or you're just joining us here in The Gloom, I'm incredibly grateful and can't wait to hear what you think of the game.
This development journey has been an incredible ride, from the initial demo on Itch.io, to announcing a partnership with Raw Fury and re-announcing the game at The Game Awards, demoing at Gamescom twice and seeing the game be exhibited all around the world, from Tokyo Game Show, to being hosted by PlayStation at BitSummit and taking part in Fantastic Fest in Texas. Our small team has accomplished so much and despite a few bumps in the road, we're incredibly proud of what we've been able to achieve. We hope you feel the same.
This development journey has been an incredible ride, from the initial demo on Itch.io, to announcing a partnership with Raw Fury and re-announcing the game at The Game Awards, demoing at Gamescom twice and seeing the game be exhibited all around the world, from Tokyo Game Show, to being hosted by PlayStation at BitSummit and taking part in Fantastic Fest in Texas. Our small team has accomplished so much and despite a few bumps in the road, we're incredibly proud of what we've been able to achieve. We hope you feel the same.
Sparkle Rep Mentions Arc Xe2 "Battlemage" Graphics Card Configured with 24 GB VRAM
Not long after Intel's launch of the Arc Xe2 "Battlemage" B580 12 GB graphics card design, insiders started generating noise about potential spin-offs bound for release in 2025. In theory, the speculated "B580 24 GB" variant could arrive as a workstation-oriented discrete graphics solution—possibly lined up as a next-gen entry within Team Blue's Arc Pro family. Three mysterious BMG (aka "Battlemage") PCI identifiers turned up at the end of January; sending online PC hardware debates into overdrive; one faction believed that Team Blue was readying fabled productivity-focused B-series cards—complete with enlarged pools of GDDR6 VRAM. Apparently, Sparkle's Chinese branch has provided comment on newer rumors—from March, according to VideoCardz. The Taiwanese manufacturer is a key Intel board partner in the field of Arc GPU-based graphics card products—across gaming and professional desktop lines. Unfortunately, the company's head office (in Taiwan) has dismissed "official" claims about a May/June launch of an unnamed 24 GB model. Sparkle's Chinese social media account engaged with members of the PC hardware community, and outlined an "original plan" to release something new within the second quarter of 2025—apparently the incoming card is "still being arranged."
ViewSonic 27" ColorPro 5K Mac-Compatible Monitor Now Available Globally
ViewSonic Corp, a leading global provider of visual solutions, announces the worldwide availability of 27-inch flagship ColorPro VP2788-5K, an iF Design Award-winning monitor designed for seamless integration with both Mac and PC ecosystems. Featuring 5K UHD+ resolution, industry-leading color accuracy, and Thunderbolt 4 connectivity for daisy chaining of dual 5K monitors, it is an ideal solution for designers, photographers, and videographers to boost productivity and streamline workflows.
"The VP2788-5K combines ViewSonic's ColorPro color accuracy with advanced functionalities to optimize productivity in creative sectors," said Oscar Lin, General Manager of the Monitor Business Unit at ViewSonic. "This monitor offers top-tier color fidelity and clarity, along with easy multi-display setups, establishing a new benchmark for professional displays both within the ViewSonic community and beyond."
"The VP2788-5K combines ViewSonic's ColorPro color accuracy with advanced functionalities to optimize productivity in creative sectors," said Oscar Lin, General Manager of the Monitor Business Unit at ViewSonic. "This monitor offers top-tier color fidelity and clarity, along with easy multi-display setups, establishing a new benchmark for professional displays both within the ViewSonic community and beyond."
MSI Z890 Motherboards Fully Support Intel 200S Boost Technology
MSI proudly announces full support for Intel 200S Boost technology for the latest Z890 motherboard lineup, empowering gamers, creators, and enthusiasts to unlock next-level performance with a single click. Intel 200S Boost is a cutting edge memory enhancement technology that allows users to safely elevate DDR5 memory performance when paired with Intel Core Ultra 200S Series Desktop "K-SKU" processors and "Z890 series motherboards". To fully optimize this feature, MSI has forged strong partnerships with leading memory brands. Together, we've rigorously tested and validated a wide range of DDR5 modules to meet Intel 200S Boost standards, delivering exceptional performance, stability, and compatibility. Learn more about Intel 200S Boost.
Once a compatible processor and supported memory kit are installed, users can instantly activate 200S Boost via MSI Click BIOS X, no manual tuning or technical expertise required. This one click feature enables real performance improvements in gaming, content creation, and everyday multitasking. To support this breakthrough, MSI has released the latest BIOS for all Z890 series motherboards, ensuring full compatibility with Intel 200S Boost. Users are encouraged to visit MSI's official website and product pages for the latest BIOS updates.
Once a compatible processor and supported memory kit are installed, users can instantly activate 200S Boost via MSI Click BIOS X, no manual tuning or technical expertise required. This one click feature enables real performance improvements in gaming, content creation, and everyday multitasking. To support this breakthrough, MSI has released the latest BIOS for all Z890 series motherboards, ensuring full compatibility with Intel 200S Boost. Users are encouraged to visit MSI's official website and product pages for the latest BIOS updates.
Ubisoft Previews Star Wars Outlaws: A Pirate's Fortune Expansion, Launches May 15
A first-look trailer for Star Wars Outlaws: A Pirate's Fortune, the game's second story pack releasing on May 15, debuted at Star Wars Celebration. A free demo that features select parts of Star Wars Outlaws is now available on Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, and PC via Ubisoft Connect, the Epic Games Store, and Steam. Plus, Star Wars Outlaws is coming to Nintendo Switch 2 on September 4. The new trailer shows Kay Vess embarking on a mysterious adventure where she encounters pirates and lost treasures. Kay and her companion Nix team up with infamous pirate Hondo Ohnaka to face off against Stinger Tash and her Rokana Raiders to uncover the hidden riches within the dangerous Khepi Tomb. Along the way, they'll discover the Miyuki Trade League who offer new rewards for the Trailblazer in exchange for smuggling dangerous goods across the galaxy.
To access Star Wars Outlaws: A Pirate's Fortune, players must complete the main storyline in the base game. This second story pack will be automatically accessible and free for Star Wars Outlaws Season Pass owners, or available as a separate purchase. With the release of Star Wars Outlaws: A Pirate's Fortune, Ultimate and Deluxe Edition owners also receive the Naboo Nobility and Desert Nomad cosmetic packs. All players will be gifted cosmetic items inspired by Star Wars: Skeleton Crew as part of the Title Update launching alongside A Pirate's Fortune. After downloading and installing the update, the gift will appear in the player's delivery crate on the Trailblazer.
To access Star Wars Outlaws: A Pirate's Fortune, players must complete the main storyline in the base game. This second story pack will be automatically accessible and free for Star Wars Outlaws Season Pass owners, or available as a separate purchase. With the release of Star Wars Outlaws: A Pirate's Fortune, Ultimate and Deluxe Edition owners also receive the Naboo Nobility and Desert Nomad cosmetic packs. All players will be gifted cosmetic items inspired by Star Wars: Skeleton Crew as part of the Title Update launching alongside A Pirate's Fortune. After downloading and installing the update, the gift will appear in the player's delivery crate on the Trailblazer.
SAPPHIRE PULSE Radeon RX 9070 Series Expanded with "METAL ALLOY" Options
Sapphire has quietly expanded its existing Radeon RX 9070 Series lineup with two new additions: PULSE METAL ALLOY Radeon RX 9070 XT and RX 9070. According to VideoCardz, the manufacturer's Chinese website was updated with new product listings at some point last week. Sapphire's regional branch has not issued any fresh press material, regarding an official launch of these gray-shaded options. Sapphire's graphics card team has seemingly refreshed their standard black PULSE (RDNA 4 generation) triple and dual-fan shroud and backplate designs with new metallic tones and finishes. Fancier enclosures will not arrive alongside bump-up in specs—as mentioned in freshly-published official product pages, company engineers have stuck with AMD's reference figures for the Radeon RX 9070 XT and RX 9070. VideoCardz reckons that the PURE METAL ALLOY cards will debut in China; possibly as starting off as exclusives. Currently, the manufacturer's various global online presences only list the readily available black PULSE cards. Interestingly, the white PURE series shares the same overall (triple-fan) shroud and backplate setup—Sapphire's pale-shaded offerings feature very mild overclocks over "baseline MSRP" configurations. Chinese market pricing—for the two PULSE METAL ALLOY SKUs—was not available at the time of publication.
Intel Prepares "200S Boost" Overclocking Profile for "Arrow Lake-S" Processors
Today, Intel introduced a new "200S Boost" factory-approved overclocking profile for the unlocked Intel Core Ultra 200S "Arrow Lake" processors. Namely, the Core Ultra 9 285K, 7 265K/265KF, and 5 245K/245KF SKUs are supported when installed on a compatible Intel Z890 motherboard with one‑DIMM‑per‑channel Intel XMP DDR5 memory. Activating the 200S Boost profile in the BIOS raises the System-on-Chip (fabric) clock from 2.6 GHz to up to 3.2 GHz and the die‑to‑die interconnect from 2.1 GHz to up to 3.2 GHz (within VccSA ≤ 1.20 V) while pushing DDR5 speeds from stock 6,400 MT/s to as much as 8,000 MT/s (VDD2/VDDQ ≤ 1.40 V). Intel has validated the profile on a selection of Z890 boards, including ASRock Z890 Taichi OCF, ASUS ROG Maximus Z890 Hero, Gigabyte Z890 Aorus Master, MSI MEG Z890 Ace, and others. For memory kits, Intel validated DDR5 memory kits from ADATA, Corsair, G.SKILL, Team Groupp, and V‑COLOR.
Enabling 200S Boost requires a BIOS update, selecting the "Intel 200S Boost" preset under the overclocking menu, and rebooting; stability should then be verified with benchmarks like Cinebench, and thermals/voltages monitored via Intel XTU or similar tools. Perhaps the most important fact is that using the 200S Boost profile does not void Intel's three‑year limited warranty on boxed Core Ultra 200S CPUs, provided they weren't manually overclocked before profile activation. Intel cautions that actual gains depend on motherboard design, cooling, and memory quality, that two‑DIMM‑per‑channel setups aren't officially supported, and that damage to non‑Intel components remains outside warranty coverage. This is more of a safe heaven for anyone wanting to do manual tuning, but not wanting to break any warranty and thus risk damaging their CPU without a backup plan.
Enabling 200S Boost requires a BIOS update, selecting the "Intel 200S Boost" preset under the overclocking menu, and rebooting; stability should then be verified with benchmarks like Cinebench, and thermals/voltages monitored via Intel XTU or similar tools. Perhaps the most important fact is that using the 200S Boost profile does not void Intel's three‑year limited warranty on boxed Core Ultra 200S CPUs, provided they weren't manually overclocked before profile activation. Intel cautions that actual gains depend on motherboard design, cooling, and memory quality, that two‑DIMM‑per‑channel setups aren't officially supported, and that damage to non‑Intel components remains outside warranty coverage. This is more of a safe heaven for anyone wanting to do manual tuning, but not wanting to break any warranty and thus risk damaging their CPU without a backup plan.
The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered Launches Today - Available on PC, Xbox X|S & PS5
The "walkout" moment is a staple of Bethesda Game Studios' titles, and there are few that have stuck with me as much as emerging from the sewer-set tutorial of The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion. That makes it all the more incredible, 19 years later, to see it in thoroughly modern form in The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered—which arrives today. I watch as a newly-built character loads into the wide open world of Cyrodiil (R.I.P. Emperor Septim)—they turn to see the landscape I know so well in new and improved form. Mist wreathes around the top of nearby mountains, seen again in distorted reflections on the wholly reworked water below. A sunrise cuts across the world, casting long shadows across gorgeous new foliage. Behind me, an even more imposing Imperial City stands proudly, blotting out the horizon behind it. And then, we're interrupted by an unscripted attack from a Mud Crab. It might look all-new, but this is Oblivion alright.
Oblivion Remastered—All the Updates
Oblivion Remastered comes to Xbox Series X|S, PC (via Steam and the Xbox App for Windows PC) and PlayStation 5. It's also available day one with Game Pass and, with Xbox Play Anywhere, one purchase on an Xbox platform means you can play on Xbox consoles, Windows PC, and cloud with full cross-entitlements and cross-saves. Designed in co-operation with the remaster specialists at Virtuos, Oblivion Remastered keeps the core of the original game intact (and includes the Knights of the Nine and Shivering Isles expansions), but drapes it in an incredible new visual style, powered by Unreal Engine 5. Alongside 4K resolution, 60 frames per second performance, all-new textures, lighting effects, and landscape improvements, the game also updates everything from character, spell, and weapon animations, to dynamic time of day and weather effects.
Oblivion Remastered—All the Updates
Oblivion Remastered comes to Xbox Series X|S, PC (via Steam and the Xbox App for Windows PC) and PlayStation 5. It's also available day one with Game Pass and, with Xbox Play Anywhere, one purchase on an Xbox platform means you can play on Xbox consoles, Windows PC, and cloud with full cross-entitlements and cross-saves. Designed in co-operation with the remaster specialists at Virtuos, Oblivion Remastered keeps the core of the original game intact (and includes the Knights of the Nine and Shivering Isles expansions), but drapes it in an incredible new visual style, powered by Unreal Engine 5. Alongside 4K resolution, 60 frames per second performance, all-new textures, lighting effects, and landscape improvements, the game also updates everything from character, spell, and weapon animations, to dynamic time of day and weather effects.
Acer Sweden Briefly Promotes "Nitro Radeon RX 9070 GRE XT" Model
Acer seems to be readying premium tier Radeon RX 9070 XT OC graphics card models for an imminent launch. The brand's Swedish office has sent out mixed messages—as noted by VideoCardz's past weekend coverage—regarding their incoming non-overclocked Nitro SKU. Gaming GPU enthusiasts have often complained about AMD's overcomplicated model nomenclature—in particular, the company's XT, XTX and GRE attachments have caused uncountable headaches. Quite amusingly, Acer Sweden's marketing team got bamboozled by Team Red's model labelling scheme—as evidenced by their recent advertising of a "Nitro Radeon RX 9070 GRE XT 16 Gbit/s graphics card."
VideoCardz reckons that no such SKU exists; employees have rectified this mistake—at the time of writing, Acer Sweden's product page showcases a corrected designation: "Nitro Radeon RX 9070 XT 16 GB graphics card." According to industry moles, AMD and its board partners are working on RDNA 4 generation "Great Radeon Edition" (GRE) cards. Late last week, VideoCardz acquired an alleged Radeon RX 9070 GRE 12 GB specification sheet. Team Red and AIBs seem to be devising a forthcoming retail release in China; possibly by next month. Acer Sweden's inadvertent/bungled leak suggests that GRE-related info is present within internal promo material.
VideoCardz reckons that no such SKU exists; employees have rectified this mistake—at the time of writing, Acer Sweden's product page showcases a corrected designation: "Nitro Radeon RX 9070 XT 16 GB graphics card." According to industry moles, AMD and its board partners are working on RDNA 4 generation "Great Radeon Edition" (GRE) cards. Late last week, VideoCardz acquired an alleged Radeon RX 9070 GRE 12 GB specification sheet. Team Red and AIBs seem to be devising a forthcoming retail release in China; possibly by next month. Acer Sweden's inadvertent/bungled leak suggests that GRE-related info is present within internal promo material.
NVIDIA DLSS Technology is Now Present in Almost 770 Games and Applications
Today, NVIDIA confirmed that its Deep Learning Super Sampling technology (DLSS) boasts native support in 769 games and applications, reinforcing its lead over competing upscaling suites from AMD and Intel. With the addition of six newly announced titles, including the open‑world survival MMO RuneScape: Dragonwilds, DLSS's ecosystem continues to expand rapidly. Since its debut alongside the RTX 20 series in 2018, DLSS has evolved from a single AI‑powered upscaling method into a comprehensive toolkit. The current DLSS 4 iteration introduces Multi‑Frame Generation (MFG) and DLSS Transformers, delivering sharper images and smoother frame rates than earlier convolutional neural network modes. On supported RTX 40‑ and 50‑series GPUs, gamers can now take advantage of frame generation, denoising enhancements via ray reconstruction, and AI‑driven anti‑aliasing.
Of the six titles highlighted in NVIDIA's latest blog post, Steel Seed from Storm in a Teacup is the first to ship with DLSS 4's MFG. RuneScape: Dragonwilds, The Talos Principle: Reawakened, and Tempest Rising have added DLSS 3's frame‑generation and Super Resolution features, while indie releases Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 and Commandos: Origins deploy DLSS 2's Super Resolution alone. These incremental rollouts demonstrate how studios of all sizes are integrating NVIDIA's upscaling techniques at varying depths. By contrast, AMD's FidelityFX Super Resolution (FSR) and Intel's Xe Super Sampling (XeSS) toolkits support 356 and 161 titles, respectively. While AMD's FSR 4.0 can override older versions, its adoption remains focused on basic upscaling without frame generation, and XeSS continues to trail in overall scope. NVIDIA's manual override in its GeForce Experience app further widens the gap, allowing engineers to retrofit MFG into titles whose developers have yet to implement it natively.
Of the six titles highlighted in NVIDIA's latest blog post, Steel Seed from Storm in a Teacup is the first to ship with DLSS 4's MFG. RuneScape: Dragonwilds, The Talos Principle: Reawakened, and Tempest Rising have added DLSS 3's frame‑generation and Super Resolution features, while indie releases Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 and Commandos: Origins deploy DLSS 2's Super Resolution alone. These incremental rollouts demonstrate how studios of all sizes are integrating NVIDIA's upscaling techniques at varying depths. By contrast, AMD's FidelityFX Super Resolution (FSR) and Intel's Xe Super Sampling (XeSS) toolkits support 356 and 161 titles, respectively. While AMD's FSR 4.0 can override older versions, its adoption remains focused on basic upscaling without frame generation, and XeSS continues to trail in overall scope. NVIDIA's manual override in its GeForce Experience app further widens the gap, allowing engineers to retrofit MFG into titles whose developers have yet to implement it natively.
GungHo Designer Discusses Modernization of Classic "Lunar" JRPG Series
To celebrate the release of Lunar Remastered Collection—out now for PC (Steam), Xbox One (compatible with Xbox Series X|S), PlayStation 4 (compatible with PS5), and Nintendo Switch—I sat down with our Senior Graphic Designer, Amy Nguyen, and talked to her about how this remaster's logo came to be. I asked her about her inspirations, her design process, and more!
Dive into the enchanting worlds of LUNAR: Silver Star Story Complete and LUNAR 2: Eternal Blue Complete! Tag along on Alex and Hiro's quests and challenge enemies like the Magic Emperor and God of Destruction to save the world from dire peril in two adventures set 1000 years apart from each other! LUNAR Remastered Collection brings together LUNAR: Silver Star Story Complete and LUNAR 2: Eternal Blue Complete with enhanced graphics, audio, and quality-of-life improvements. Available for the first time on modern consoles, this remastered edition honors the beloved series that has remained in the heart of gamers since its initial release in 1992.
Dive into the enchanting worlds of LUNAR: Silver Star Story Complete and LUNAR 2: Eternal Blue Complete! Tag along on Alex and Hiro's quests and challenge enemies like the Magic Emperor and God of Destruction to save the world from dire peril in two adventures set 1000 years apart from each other! LUNAR Remastered Collection brings together LUNAR: Silver Star Story Complete and LUNAR 2: Eternal Blue Complete with enhanced graphics, audio, and quality-of-life improvements. Available for the first time on modern consoles, this remastered edition honors the beloved series that has remained in the heart of gamers since its initial release in 1992.
Intel to Explore Optimization of Arc GPUs When Paired with Older Generation CPUs
VideoCardz has put a spotlight on a compelling Intel Community announcement—ten days ago, a site moderator (RonaldM_Intel) disclosed that company engineers are currently engaged in the investigation of a major Arc graphics card-related issue. At the beginning of 2025, Hardware Unboxed uploaded a video article (see below) that delved into the Arc Xe2 B580 graphics card design's "big problem." Going back several months, review outlets observed B580 sample cards leveraging lower than expected performance when paired with older generation processors. As summarized by VideoCardz's recent report; significant performance drops were tracked when test units were linked up with AMD Ryzen 5 2600 or 5600 CPUs—relative to a more modern rig; powered by Team Red's Ryzen 7 9800X3D. Additionally, evaluators observed worrying signs when B580 cards were tested on platforms based on Intel's 9th Gen Core i5-9600K processor.
Budget-conscious buyers have embraced Team Blue's new generation cards, with many participants upgrading older builds with Intel Arc B580 12 GB and B570 10 GB graphics cards (original launch MSRPs: $250 and $220, respectively). Given that many owners will be sticking with prior-gen processors, industry watchdogs have leveled criticism at Team Blue—the company has disappointed many, with an apparent lack of action. Months after the fact—likely after a healthy intake of community feedback—Intel has officially acknowledged these issues. As disclosed by RonaldM_Intel's announcement: "thank you for your patience. We are aware of reports of performance sensitivity in some games when paired with older generation processors. We have increased our platform coverage to include more configurations in our validation process, and we are continuing to investigate optimizations."
Budget-conscious buyers have embraced Team Blue's new generation cards, with many participants upgrading older builds with Intel Arc B580 12 GB and B570 10 GB graphics cards (original launch MSRPs: $250 and $220, respectively). Given that many owners will be sticking with prior-gen processors, industry watchdogs have leveled criticism at Team Blue—the company has disappointed many, with an apparent lack of action. Months after the fact—likely after a healthy intake of community feedback—Intel has officially acknowledged these issues. As disclosed by RonaldM_Intel's announcement: "thank you for your patience. We are aware of reports of performance sensitivity in some games when paired with older generation processors. We have increased our platform coverage to include more configurations in our validation process, and we are continuing to investigate optimizations."
Rumors Suggest AMD Plans to Sell the U.S. AI Server Assembly Fab
AMD is said to be gearing up to sell its AI server assembly facility in the U.S., and it's drawing a lot of interest from Taiwanese OEM manufacturers and others. Bloomberg reports that Compal and Wiwynn are leading the charge in the bidding, with U.S. electronics company Jabil also in the mix. Interestingly, Inventec and Pegatron, who were once contenders, have pulled out. AMD is looking to speed up the sale process, asking for bids on a short timeline and aiming to finalize the deal by the end of the quarter, with a price range of $3-4 billion. This potential sale comes just months after AMD acquired the facility as part of its $4.9 billion purchase of ZT in March, which included the assembly plant and about 1,500 employees.
Industry experts suggest that AMD's decision to sell is a strategic move to avoid competing with its own clients in manufacturing. Meanwhile, the top bidders seem ready to expand their U.S. manufacturing capabilities. Compal is exploring North American expansion for server production, with Texas emerging as the prime location candidate due to its robust power infrastructure. Meanwhile, Wiwynn has already secured a foothold in the region, having announced the acquisition of a Texas factory in February specifically to establish server manufacturing operations.
Industry experts suggest that AMD's decision to sell is a strategic move to avoid competing with its own clients in manufacturing. Meanwhile, the top bidders seem ready to expand their U.S. manufacturing capabilities. Compal is exploring North American expansion for server production, with Texas emerging as the prime location candidate due to its robust power infrastructure. Meanwhile, Wiwynn has already secured a foothold in the region, having announced the acquisition of a Texas factory in February specifically to establish server manufacturing operations.
Bend Studio Lead Outlines Days Gone Remastered Accessibility Features
With the launch of Days Gone Remastered—for PlayStation 5 and PC—just around the corner, we're excited to spotlight our expanded suite of accessibility features. Taking the foundation of our baseline list from Days Gone in 2019, we made it a priority to evolve and improve accessibility to make the player's experience more accessible and customizable when hitting the Broken Road on April 25. Let's dive right in!
Visual features
Subtitle customization is now vaster than ever before in Days Gone. We added a total of 11 subtitle colors for you to choose based on your preference, which can also be used for the speaker's name. Want to mix and match? No problem! Choose the subtitle text to be one color and the speaker's name to be another color. On top of color customization, we also expanded the options for subtitle background. Originally, this could only be toggled on or off. Now, you can select between default (transparent), darkened, light, and black.
Visual features
Subtitle customization is now vaster than ever before in Days Gone. We added a total of 11 subtitle colors for you to choose based on your preference, which can also be used for the speaker's name. Want to mix and match? No problem! Choose the subtitle text to be one color and the speaker's name to be another color. On top of color customization, we also expanded the options for subtitle background. Originally, this could only be toggled on or off. Now, you can select between default (transparent), darkened, light, and black.
AMD Ryzen Threadripper "Shimada Peak" 9985WX 64-core CPU Discovered in Shipping Document
Going back to May 2023, an industry inside report suggested that AMD was planning a new generation Ryzen Threadripper High-End Desktop (HEDT) processor series. At the time, "Shimada Peak" was linked to a possible 2025 launch. Over the ensuing years, shipping manifests have revealed the transfer of various 9000 SKUs between Team Red facilities—starting with a mysterious 96-core prototype. Industry observers have been seeking out newer evidence of AMD's next-gen flagship "Zen 5" Threadripper chip; likely going under a "9995WX" moniker.
Late last week, a fresh leak unearthed a likely sub-flagship SKU: the 9985WX. This alleged 64-core SKU was spotted—by Everest (aka Olrak29)—alongside 9955WX (16-core) and 9945WX (12-core) siblings, in a shipping manifest. As reported on TechPowerUp on March 21, the same source uncovered two other entry-level models: the 9975WX (32-core) and 9965WX (24-core) parts. Unfortunately, Team Red's rumored monstrous 96-core 9995WX processor was not listed within fresh batches of shipping documents. Industry watchdogs expect AMD to repeat its product layout from past generations; spanning from entry-tier 12-core offerings up to the aforementioned 96-core range-topper. The latest leak suggests utilization of the SP6 socket type, and 350 W TDPs (across all product identifiers).
Late last week, a fresh leak unearthed a likely sub-flagship SKU: the 9985WX. This alleged 64-core SKU was spotted—by Everest (aka Olrak29)—alongside 9955WX (16-core) and 9945WX (12-core) siblings, in a shipping manifest. As reported on TechPowerUp on March 21, the same source uncovered two other entry-level models: the 9975WX (32-core) and 9965WX (24-core) parts. Unfortunately, Team Red's rumored monstrous 96-core 9995WX processor was not listed within fresh batches of shipping documents. Industry watchdogs expect AMD to repeat its product layout from past generations; spanning from entry-tier 12-core offerings up to the aforementioned 96-core range-topper. The latest leak suggests utilization of the SP6 socket type, and 350 W TDPs (across all product identifiers).
NVIDIA Blackwell Platform Boosts Water Efficiency by Over 300x - "Chill Factor" for AI Infrastructure
Traditionally, data centers have relied on air cooling—where mechanical chillers circulate chilled air to absorb heat from servers, helping them maintain optimal conditions. But as AI models increase in size, and the use of AI reasoning models rises, maintaining those optimal conditions is not only getting harder and more expensive—but more energy-intensive. While data centers once operated at 20 kW per rack, today's hyperscale facilities can support over 135 kW per rack, making it an order of magnitude harder to dissipate the heat generated by high-density racks. To keep AI servers running at peak performance, a new approach is needed for efficiency and scalability.
One key solution is liquid cooling—by reducing dependence on chillers and enabling more efficient heat rejection, liquid cooling is driving the next generation of high-performance, energy-efficient AI infrastructure. The NVIDIA GB200 NVL72 and the NVIDIA GB300 NVL72 are rack-scale, liquid-cooled systems designed to handle the demanding tasks of trillion-parameter large language model inference. Their architecture is also specifically optimized for test-time scaling accuracy and performance, making it an ideal choice for running AI reasoning models while efficiently managing energy costs and heat.
One key solution is liquid cooling—by reducing dependence on chillers and enabling more efficient heat rejection, liquid cooling is driving the next generation of high-performance, energy-efficient AI infrastructure. The NVIDIA GB200 NVL72 and the NVIDIA GB300 NVL72 are rack-scale, liquid-cooled systems designed to handle the demanding tasks of trillion-parameter large language model inference. Their architecture is also specifically optimized for test-time scaling accuracy and performance, making it an ideal choice for running AI reasoning models while efficiently managing energy costs and heat.
Intel Arc Xe2 "BMG-G31" GPU Spotted in Shipping Manifest; "Battlemage" B770 Model's Fortunes Revived?
At the tail end of March, an interaction between Tomasz Gawroński (aka GawroskiT) and Jaykihn (jaykihn0) indicated that Intel had abandoned the development of higher-end Arc Xe2 "Battlemage" graphics cards—possibly back in late 2024. Months of silence—since the launch of pleasingly wallet-friendly B580 and B570 models—instilled a sense of unease within segments of the PC gaming hardware community. Many watchdogs assumed that company engineers had simply moved onto devising futuristic Arc Xe3 "Celestial" equivalents. As discovered last week, hopes have been elevated for a potential expansion of Team Blue's "Battlemage" dGPU lineup. Haze2K1 highlighted an intriguing entry within an NBD shipping manifest; a "BMG-G31"-type GPU was transferred "for R&D purposes." Currently, the lower end of Intel's B-card series is populated by discrete solutions based on their smaller "BMG-G21" GPU design.
Tomasz Gawroński spent part of his Easter weekend poring over shipping documents; soon stumbling on an entry that mentioned a mysterious "IBC C32 SKT"—again, listed under "research and development" purposes. In a reply to Gawroński's social media bulletin, miktdt weighed in with a logical theory: "because of the BMG in the text the best I could believe is a reworked/restarted BMG G31. C32 could simply mean cores 32 which is a fully-enabled G31. This makes more sense to me." VideoCardz posits that these leaks do not necessarily signal the revival of fortunes for more potent Arc Xe2 "Battlemage" SKUs; Intel could be shipping "canceled project" prototypes to different locations. Going back to late summer 2023, a "BMG G10" GPU die was spotted by members of the press during a tour of Team Blue's Malaysian test lab. Back then, certain industry insiders believed that the whole "Battlemage" endeavor was going through "development hell." Fast-forward to the present day; OneRaichu reckons that there is still a likelihood of Team Blue's "B770" model turning up at some point in the future.
Tomasz Gawroński spent part of his Easter weekend poring over shipping documents; soon stumbling on an entry that mentioned a mysterious "IBC C32 SKT"—again, listed under "research and development" purposes. In a reply to Gawroński's social media bulletin, miktdt weighed in with a logical theory: "because of the BMG in the text the best I could believe is a reworked/restarted BMG G31. C32 could simply mean cores 32 which is a fully-enabled G31. This makes more sense to me." VideoCardz posits that these leaks do not necessarily signal the revival of fortunes for more potent Arc Xe2 "Battlemage" SKUs; Intel could be shipping "canceled project" prototypes to different locations. Going back to late summer 2023, a "BMG G10" GPU die was spotted by members of the press during a tour of Team Blue's Malaysian test lab. Back then, certain industry insiders believed that the whole "Battlemage" endeavor was going through "development hell." Fast-forward to the present day; OneRaichu reckons that there is still a likelihood of Team Blue's "B770" model turning up at some point in the future.
ASRock Latest Z890 BIOS Update Enables Intel 200S Boost Feature
ASRock Inc., a leading global motherboard manufacturer, officially announces today the release of a comprehensive BIOS update for its Intel Z890 series motherboards, enabling the brand-new Intel 200S Boost feature. With this update, users can effectively "upgrade" their existing Intel Core Ultra processors and enjoy a significant performance boost.
Intel 200S Boost is achieved through fine-tuning of BIOS settings and voltage adjustments, leveraging a subset of overclocking features found on K-series CPUs to enhance system performance, offering a truly noticeable upgrade. What's even more exciting is that this overclocking method does not void Intel's limited processor warranty.
Intel 200S Boost is achieved through fine-tuning of BIOS settings and voltage adjustments, leveraging a subset of overclocking features found on K-series CPUs to enhance system performance, offering a truly noticeable upgrade. What's even more exciting is that this overclocking method does not void Intel's limited processor warranty.
EK to Showcase Latest Liquid Cooling Innovations at Computex 2025
EK, renowned for its premium liquid cooling solutions and now managed by LM TEK, is set to present its latest innovations at COMPUTEX Taipei 2025. From May 20 to 23, attendees can visit LM TEK at Booth M1419, Hall 1 (4F), TaiNEX 1, to explore cutting-edge cooling technologies designed to meet the demands of next-generation AI computing. As artificial intelligence and high-performance computing continue to evolve, the need for efficient thermal management becomes increasingly critical. EK's newest solutions address these challenges head-on, offering advanced liquid cooling systems that elevate performance, ensure system stability, and meet the rigorous demands of modern AI workloads. This year's COMPUTEX will serve as a platform for EK to showcase how its innovative hardware—engineered for data centers, AI development platforms, and high-performance workstations—can help reshape the future of computing.
Want to know what's coming?
Visit our EK COMPUTEX 2025 page, where we will be revealing newly released products, exclusive launches, and spotlighting key partner projects on display at the show. Under the management of LM TEK, EK continues to push the boundaries of thermal management technology. This transition brings enhanced operational agility and a sharper focus on customer needs, while maintaining the trusted EK quality and design excellence. Visitors to the EK booth will have the opportunity to explore the latest liquid cooling solutions, meet the team, and discuss how EK technology can power next-gen AI innovation. Whether you're an industry professional, system integrator, or tech enthusiast, this is your chance to experience the future of liquid cooling—up close.
Want to know what's coming?
Visit our EK COMPUTEX 2025 page, where we will be revealing newly released products, exclusive launches, and spotlighting key partner projects on display at the show. Under the management of LM TEK, EK continues to push the boundaries of thermal management technology. This transition brings enhanced operational agility and a sharper focus on customer needs, while maintaining the trusted EK quality and design excellence. Visitors to the EK booth will have the opportunity to explore the latest liquid cooling solutions, meet the team, and discuss how EK technology can power next-gen AI innovation. Whether you're an industry professional, system integrator, or tech enthusiast, this is your chance to experience the future of liquid cooling—up close.
TSMC Can't Track Where Its Chips End Up, Annual Report Admits
TSMC has acknowledged fundamental visibility limitations in its semiconductor supply chain, stating in its latest annual report that it "inherently lacks visibility regarding the downstream use or user of final products." This disclosure relates to an incident where 7 nm chips manufactured for Sophgo were later identified in Huawei's Ascend 910B/C AI accelerators, whose hardware is subject to US export restrictions. The contract foundry outlined its standard process: receiving GDS files through intermediaries, validating technical specifications, creating photomasks, and fabricating wafers without insight into end applications. Subsequent analysis revealed that those very chips matched Huawei's specifications, providing components for approximately one million dual‑chiplet AI accelerator units, with two million dies shipped to Huawei.
The report warns that compliance violations by supply‑chain partners, such as failing to secure proper import, export or re‑export permits, could trigger regulatory investigations and penalties, even when TSMC adheres to its established protocols. US already proposed a $1 billion fine for TSMC. This visibility gap just shows that challenges in semiconductor manufacturing, where complex distribution networks obscure the path between fabrication and deployment, are not easily overcome. Foundries are facing increasing pressure to enhance tracking capabilities despite the inherent limitations of the contract manufacturing model. US sanctions on Chinese companies are growing their walls even higher, and this could mean that sanction-abiding companies might avoid doing business with Chinese entities altogether to avoid getting fined.
The report warns that compliance violations by supply‑chain partners, such as failing to secure proper import, export or re‑export permits, could trigger regulatory investigations and penalties, even when TSMC adheres to its established protocols. US already proposed a $1 billion fine for TSMC. This visibility gap just shows that challenges in semiconductor manufacturing, where complex distribution networks obscure the path between fabrication and deployment, are not easily overcome. Foundries are facing increasing pressure to enhance tracking capabilities despite the inherent limitations of the contract manufacturing model. US sanctions on Chinese companies are growing their walls even higher, and this could mean that sanction-abiding companies might avoid doing business with Chinese entities altogether to avoid getting fined.
CHUWI CoreBook X 2K Laptop Launched with Intel Core i9-13900HK, 32GB RAM, and 1TB Storage
CHUWI, a global leader in innovative laptops, takes the CoreBook X lineup to the next level. CHUWI introduces a high-performance Intel Core i9 processor, expanded RAM, and enhanced storage, making it a powerhouse for productivity. This marks CHUWI's first-ever i9 laptop, 32 GB memory laptop, and 1 TB storage laptop—all combined into one ultimate powerhouse. While boosting its capabilities, the CoreBook X i9-13900HK laptop retains its sleek design and stunning 2K IPS display. The CHUWI CoreBook X with Intel Core i9-13900HK is now available on CHUWI's official website.
Power-Packed Performance:
Powering the new and updated CHUWI CoreBook X 2K laptop is the powerful Intel Core i9-13900HK processor with 14 cores, 20 threads, and clock speeds of up to 5.4 GHz, stepping up performance to a whole new level. Paired with the integrated Intel Iris Xe Graphics eligible laptop GPU, it offers sharp visuals for gaming, streaming, and content creation.
Power-Packed Performance:
Powering the new and updated CHUWI CoreBook X 2K laptop is the powerful Intel Core i9-13900HK processor with 14 cores, 20 threads, and clock speeds of up to 5.4 GHz, stepping up performance to a whole new level. Paired with the integrated Intel Iris Xe Graphics eligible laptop GPU, it offers sharp visuals for gaming, streaming, and content creation.
CoolIT Welcomes Jason Waxman as CEO
CoolIT Systems ("CoolIT" or the "Company"), the world leader in AI and high-performance computing liquid cooling systems, today announced the appointment of Jason Waxman as CEO, effective immediately. CoolIT COO Patrick McGinn will also expand his role and become President and COO of the Company.
Waxman brings over two decades of experience driving innovation, growth, and operational excellence in the data center industry following his 20+ year tenure at Intel Corporation. He joins CoolIT from Fluke Corporation, the world leader in compact professional test and measurement tools, which he led for three years as President. Waxman was also a founding board member of the Open Compute Project, a collaborative community focused on redesigning hardware technology to efficiently support the growing demands on compute infrastructure.
Waxman brings over two decades of experience driving innovation, growth, and operational excellence in the data center industry following his 20+ year tenure at Intel Corporation. He joins CoolIT from Fluke Corporation, the world leader in compact professional test and measurement tools, which he led for three years as President. Waxman was also a founding board member of the Open Compute Project, a collaborative community focused on redesigning hardware technology to efficiently support the growing demands on compute infrastructure.
be quiet! Announces System Power 11 U Series Power Supplies
be quiet!, the German manufacturer of premium PC components, introduces its new System Power 11 U series of power supplies, delivering between 550 W and 750 W to address the needs of efficiency-oriented PC builders. With compatibility for ATX 3.1 and PCIe 5.1, these PSUs offer future-proof technical design features and proven reliability, making them a standout choice in the entry-level segment. All models are available in 80 Plus Bronze efficiency and continue the tradition of quiet operation and dependable performance that the System Power series is known for.
"System Power 11 U brings the latest power standard to an extremely competitive segment," says Aaron Licht, CEO of be quiet!. "By combining ATX 3.1 readiness, solid efficiency, and the whisper-quiet operation our brand is known for, we're giving builders everything they need for modern systems."
"System Power 11 U brings the latest power standard to an extremely competitive segment," says Aaron Licht, CEO of be quiet!. "By combining ATX 3.1 readiness, solid efficiency, and the whisper-quiet operation our brand is known for, we're giving builders everything they need for modern systems."
Intel's "Nova Lake" Processors Reportedly Slated for TSMC's 2nm Node
TSMC is pushing forward its plans to make 2 nm process chips in large quantities in the second half of the year, with major customer developments coming to light. After AMD placed its order, reports suggest Intel has also become one of TSMC's first 2 nm customers aiming to use this cutting-edge technology for its next-gen desktop processors. Intel, already a big TSMC customer for advanced processes sent out key compute tiles for its Core Ultra processors to TSMC using different processes like N3B, N5P, and N6. To be exact, these were Intel Core Ultra 200V "Lunar Lake" series laptop processors and Core Ultra 200S "Arrow Lake" series. While both companies didn't comment on the latest news, industry talk hints that they're cooperating on Intel's upcoming Nova Lake desktop processor set to launch next year (rumors suggest that it could be the Compute Tile). With the codename "NVL-S" Nova Lake combines two groups of eight high-performance "Coyote Cove" P-cores with 16 "Arctic Wolf" E-cores. It also includes four ultra-low-power LPE cores in a separate SoC tile. It is expected that Nova Lake-S will use LGA 1954, which has 1,954 active lands and might have more than 2,000 total pads when you count debug pins.
TSMC's work on 2 nm technology is moving forward as expected. The company uses first-generation nanochip transistor technology to boost performance and reduce power consumption across process nodes with big clients finishing designing silicon IPs and starting validation steps. AMD shared that its next EPYC "Venice" chip will be the first high-performance computing processor to use TSMC's 2 nm process. AMD validated it at TSMC's Arizona plant and is on track to launch it in 2026. Also, word has it that Apple's future iPhone 18 lineup will have its A20 chip made with the same TSMC 2 nm process.
TSMC's work on 2 nm technology is moving forward as expected. The company uses first-generation nanochip transistor technology to boost performance and reduce power consumption across process nodes with big clients finishing designing silicon IPs and starting validation steps. AMD shared that its next EPYC "Venice" chip will be the first high-performance computing processor to use TSMC's 2 nm process. AMD validated it at TSMC's Arizona plant and is on track to launch it in 2026. Also, word has it that Apple's future iPhone 18 lineup will have its A20 chip made with the same TSMC 2 nm process.
Cadence Advances Memory IP with 12.8 Gbps Gen2 DDR5 MRDIMM Validation on TSMC N3 Process
Cadence today announced the industry's first DDR5 12.8 Gbps MRDIMM Gen 2 memory IP system solution on the TSMC N3 process. The new solution addresses the need for greater memory bandwidth to accommodate unprecedented AI processing demands in enterprise and data center applications, including AI in the cloud. The Cadence DDR5 MRDIMM IP boasts a new high-performance, scalable and adaptable architecture based on Cadence's proven and highly successful DDR5 and GDDR6 product lines. With multiple engagements underway with leading AI, HPC and data center customers, this IP solution is already demonstrating its early leadership.
The new Cadence DDR5 IP offers a PHY and a high-performance controller as a complete memory subsystem. The design is validated in hardware using the most recently available MRDIMMs (Gen 2), achieving a best-in-class 12.8 Gbps data rate that doubles the bandwidth using current DDR5 6400 Mbps DRAM parts. The DDR5 IP memory subsystem is based on Cadence's silicon-proven, high-performance architecture, ultra-low latency encryption and industry-leading RAS features. The DDR5 MRDIMM Gen 2 IP is designed to enable advanced SoCs and chiplets with flexible floor plan design options, while the new architecture allows fine-tuning of power and performance based on individual application requirements.
The new Cadence DDR5 IP offers a PHY and a high-performance controller as a complete memory subsystem. The design is validated in hardware using the most recently available MRDIMMs (Gen 2), achieving a best-in-class 12.8 Gbps data rate that doubles the bandwidth using current DDR5 6400 Mbps DRAM parts. The DDR5 IP memory subsystem is based on Cadence's silicon-proven, high-performance architecture, ultra-low latency encryption and industry-leading RAS features. The DDR5 MRDIMM Gen 2 IP is designed to enable advanced SoCs and chiplets with flexible floor plan design options, while the new architecture allows fine-tuning of power and performance based on individual application requirements.
At-Scale, HDD Rare Earth Material Capture Program Successfully Launched in the U.S.
Essential to cloud data center infrastructure, hard disk drives (HDDs) are complex devices that blend material science, mechanical engineering and physics. As part of its innovation, HDDs use a range of rare earth elements (REEs) like Neodymium (Nd), Praseodymium (Pr) and Dysprosium (Dy), prized for their magnetic properties to help HDDs precisely read and write data. Yet, traditional recycling methods recover only a fraction of these valuable materials, often missing rare earths entirely, leading to unnecessary waste.
In a multi-party pilot program, Western Digital, in collaboration with Microsoft, Critical Materials Recycling (CMR) and PedalPoint Recycling has taken a major step toward closing that loop. Together, the companies transformed ~50,000 pounds of shredded end-of-life HDDs, mounting caddies and other materials into critical high-value materials, all while significantly reducing environmental impact. This pioneering process of creating a new advanced sorting ecosystem with an eco-friendly non-acid process not only recaptures essential rare earth elements but also extracts metals like gold (Au), copper (Cu), aluminium (Al) and steel, feeding them back into the U.S. supply chain, supporting industries that rely on these resources—such as electric vehicles, wind turbines, and advanced electronics. When scaled worldwide, this new recycling process could return a lot of recovered rare earths to the U.S. supply pool, drastically reducing the need for virgin material mining detrimental to people and planet. Today, most primary production (>85%) of REEs occurs outside the U.S. and the current domestic recycling rate for REEs is very low (<10%).
In a multi-party pilot program, Western Digital, in collaboration with Microsoft, Critical Materials Recycling (CMR) and PedalPoint Recycling has taken a major step toward closing that loop. Together, the companies transformed ~50,000 pounds of shredded end-of-life HDDs, mounting caddies and other materials into critical high-value materials, all while significantly reducing environmental impact. This pioneering process of creating a new advanced sorting ecosystem with an eco-friendly non-acid process not only recaptures essential rare earth elements but also extracts metals like gold (Au), copper (Cu), aluminium (Al) and steel, feeding them back into the U.S. supply chain, supporting industries that rely on these resources—such as electric vehicles, wind turbines, and advanced electronics. When scaled worldwide, this new recycling process could return a lot of recovered rare earths to the U.S. supply pool, drastically reducing the need for virgin material mining detrimental to people and planet. Today, most primary production (>85%) of REEs occurs outside the U.S. and the current domestic recycling rate for REEs is very low (<10%).
QNAP Strengthens Data Protection in Healthcare for HIPAA-Compliance
QNAP Systems, Inc., a leading provider of secure data storage solutions, helps healthcare organizations strengthen the access, transmission, and storage of electronic protected health information (ePHI) through multi-layered cybersecurity measures and immutable storage—facilitating HIPAA compliance while safeguarding the privacy and integrity of sensitive medical data.
The protection and long-term storage of healthcare data is crucial to both patient privacy and the operational continuity of medical institutions. According to industry standards, medical records must be retained for extended periods and protected by comprehensive backup systems that comply with regulatory frameworks such as HIPAA. "QNAP continues to help healthcare organizations build robust data protection infrastructures with cutting-edge storage and security technologies," said Andy Yu, Product Manager of QNAP, adding "Our high-security NAS solutions help achieve HIPAA compliance, ensuring data integrity and regulatory alignment while reducing the management burden on IT teams."
The protection and long-term storage of healthcare data is crucial to both patient privacy and the operational continuity of medical institutions. According to industry standards, medical records must be retained for extended periods and protected by comprehensive backup systems that comply with regulatory frameworks such as HIPAA. "QNAP continues to help healthcare organizations build robust data protection infrastructures with cutting-edge storage and security technologies," said Andy Yu, Product Manager of QNAP, adding "Our high-security NAS solutions help achieve HIPAA compliance, ensuring data integrity and regulatory alignment while reducing the management burden on IT teams."
Toshiba Adds 24TB Capacity to N300 and N300 Pro Internal Hard Disk Drive Series
Toshiba Electronic Devices & Storage Corporation ("Toshiba") has announced the addition of new 24 TB models to both its N300 and N300 Pro Series of internal hard disk drives (HDD). The new models offer 2 TB more capacity than current 22 TB versions, making them ideal for increasing the capacity of network attached storage (NAS) and private cloud storage. They are designed for 24/7 operation, feature industry-standard 3.5-inch 7200rpm, 1 GiB buffer, and include integrated sensors to compensate for rotational vibrations.
The N300 Series has a workload rating of up to 180 TB/year with support for up to 12 drive bays, while the N300 Pro Series boasts a workload rating of up to 550 TB/year with support for up to 24 drive bays.
The N300 Series has a workload rating of up to 180 TB/year with support for up to 12 drive bays, while the N300 Pro Series boasts a workload rating of up to 550 TB/year with support for up to 24 drive bays.
Fujitsu and RIKEN Develop World-Leading 256-Qubit Superconducting Quantum Computer
Fujitsu Limited and RIKEN today announced the development of a world-leading 256-qubit superconducting quantum computer, established at the RIKEN RQC-FUJITSU Collaboration Center. This new quantum computer builds upon the advanced technology of the 64-qubit iteration, launched with the support of the Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) in October 2023, and incorporates newly-developed high-density implementation techniques. This announcement marks another crucial step toward the practical application of superconducting quantum computers and unlocking their potential to grapple with some of the world's most complex issues.
Both organizations will integrate the 256-qubit superconducting quantum computer into its platform for hybrid quantum computing lineup and offer it to companies and research institutions globally starting in the first quarter of fiscal 2025. The platform's expansion from 64 to 256 qubits empowers users to tackle more complex challenges, including the analysis of larger molecules and the implementation and demonstration of sophisticated error correction algorithms.
Both organizations will integrate the 256-qubit superconducting quantum computer into its platform for hybrid quantum computing lineup and offer it to companies and research institutions globally starting in the first quarter of fiscal 2025. The platform's expansion from 64 to 256 qubits empowers users to tackle more complex challenges, including the analysis of larger molecules and the implementation and demonstration of sophisticated error correction algorithms.
Huion Launches Kamvas Slate 11 & 13: Android Tablets for On-the-Go Creativity
As a global leader in digital drawing devices and solutions, Huion today announces the Kamvas Slate 11 and Kamvas Slate 13, siblings of the Kamvas Slate 10 Android tablet. This announcement demonstrates Huion's commitment to exploring new fields and expanding its product lineup.
Highlights preview
Kamvas Slate 11 & 13 are aimed at artists and note-takers who demand standalone creative equipment with high clarity, entertainment, and portability. For larger canvas lovers, Kamvas Slate 13 features a 12.7-inch 4:3 QHD (2176 x 1600) screen, offering more room for drawing. For users who prefer great portability, Kamvas Slate 11 has a 10.95-inch FHD+ (1920 x 1200) screen, making it easy to carry around for on-the-go use.
Highlights preview
Kamvas Slate 11 & 13 are aimed at artists and note-takers who demand standalone creative equipment with high clarity, entertainment, and portability. For larger canvas lovers, Kamvas Slate 13 features a 12.7-inch 4:3 QHD (2176 x 1600) screen, offering more room for drawing. For users who prefer great portability, Kamvas Slate 11 has a 10.95-inch FHD+ (1920 x 1200) screen, making it easy to carry around for on-the-go use.
MSI Releases MS-CF20 Industrial PC Motherboard Powered by Intel W880 for LGA1851
Introducing the MS-CF20, a high-performance ATX motherboard with the Intel W880 chipset, supporting the 15th Gen Intel Arrow Lake-S Series processors. Designed to meet the needs of advanced computing applications, the MS-CF20 combines next-generation CPU support with robust legacy features, offering unparalleled versatility for both modern and existing systems.
The MS-CF20 supports Intel Core U9/U7/U5, Pentium, and Celeron processors, leveraging the latest advancements in Intel 15th Gen Arrow Lake-S technology. With higher core counts, improved instructions per clock, and greater energy efficiency, the new processors deliver exceptional performance for demanding and AI-driven workloads. The board is equipped with 4 DDR5 UDIMM slots, supporting both ECC and non-ECC memory at speeds up to 5600 MT/s and a maximum capacity of 192 GB, enabling unmatched performance for data-intensive applications.
The MS-CF20 supports Intel Core U9/U7/U5, Pentium, and Celeron processors, leveraging the latest advancements in Intel 15th Gen Arrow Lake-S technology. With higher core counts, improved instructions per clock, and greater energy efficiency, the new processors deliver exceptional performance for demanding and AI-driven workloads. The board is equipped with 4 DDR5 UDIMM slots, supporting both ECC and non-ECC memory at speeds up to 5600 MT/s and a maximum capacity of 192 GB, enabling unmatched performance for data-intensive applications.
Notebook Industry Remains Cautious Amid Tariff Negotiations; 2025 Brand Shipments Growth Revised Down to 1.4%
TrendForce's latest research reveals that although the U.S. has granted a 90-day grace period before implementing reciprocal tariffs—offering temporary relief for notebook brands—the broader market remains clouded by policy and economic uncertainty. Brands began frontloading inventory in late 2024, pushing Q4 shipment growth to 5.1%, with 1Q25 seeing a 7.2% YoY increase.
However, given persistent economic weakness and rising tariff risks, TrendForce has revised the full-year 2025 notebook brand shipment growth forecast downward from 3.6% to just 1.4%.
However, given persistent economic weakness and rising tariff risks, TrendForce has revised the full-year 2025 notebook brand shipment growth forecast downward from 3.6% to just 1.4%.
Oddball Radeon RX 6500 (non-XT) Surfaces in the Chinese Market
AMD's entry-level graphics lineup sees the Radeon RX 6400 at the very bottom, followed by the RX 6500 XT, which is for all intents and purposes, an entry-level discrete GPU, given that its performance is in league of processor integrated graphics (iGPUs). It turns out that AMD had planned a SKU between the two, the RX 6500 (non-XT), and this chip is beginning to surface on entry-level graphics cards in China. A less-known AIB named Zephyr is selling an interesting single-slot low-profile card with dimensions resembling some RX 6400 cards. There's also a more fleshed out full-height, dual-slot card.
The RX 6500 appears to have the same core-configuration as the RX 6500 XT, both SKUs max out the "Navi 24" silicon they're based on. These chips are powered by the two generations older RDNA 2 graphics architecture, AMD's first to meet DirectX 12 Ultimate logo requirements. The RX 6500 is configured with all 16 CU present on the silicon, giving it 1,024 stream processors, and 16 RT accelerators, besides 64 TMUs and 32 ROPs and 16 MB of Infinity Cache. The chip gets 4 GB of GDDR6 memory across the 64-bit wide memory bus of the silicon.
The RX 6500 appears to have the same core-configuration as the RX 6500 XT, both SKUs max out the "Navi 24" silicon they're based on. These chips are powered by the two generations older RDNA 2 graphics architecture, AMD's first to meet DirectX 12 Ultimate logo requirements. The RX 6500 is configured with all 16 CU present on the silicon, giving it 1,024 stream processors, and 16 RT accelerators, besides 64 TMUs and 32 ROPs and 16 MB of Infinity Cache. The chip gets 4 GB of GDDR6 memory across the 64-bit wide memory bus of the silicon.
Supercharge Your Gaming Performance with Intel 200S Boost on GIGABYTE's Z890 Motherboards
GIGABYTE Technology, one of the top global manufacturers of motherboards, graphics cards, and hardware solutions, is pleased to announce that our entire line of Intel Z890 motherboards now fully supports Intel 200S Boost technology, offering gamers a simple way to enhance performance while maintaining warranty protection.
Intel 200S Boost delivers pre-configured overclocking profiles for Intel Core Ultra 200S Series processors that enhance gaming performance by raising frequencies across processor components for improved framerates and system responsiveness. GIGABYTE Z890 motherboard owners can activate this feature with a simple one-touch profile in the BIOS, eliminating traditional overclocking guesswork while supporting blazing-fast Intel XMP profiles up to DDR5-8000. Best of all, Intel 200S Boost is fully covered under Intel's 3-year processor warranty, allowing gamers to enjoy performance benefits without traditional warranty concerns.
Intel 200S Boost delivers pre-configured overclocking profiles for Intel Core Ultra 200S Series processors that enhance gaming performance by raising frequencies across processor components for improved framerates and system responsiveness. GIGABYTE Z890 motherboard owners can activate this feature with a simple one-touch profile in the BIOS, eliminating traditional overclocking guesswork while supporting blazing-fast Intel XMP profiles up to DDR5-8000. Best of all, Intel 200S Boost is fully covered under Intel's 3-year processor warranty, allowing gamers to enjoy performance benefits without traditional warranty concerns.
NVIDIA Releases GeForce Hotfix Driver 576.15
NVIDIA over the weekend pushed a Hotfix update to its GeForce drivers. Hotfixes are updates pushed out to meet glaring bugs or security vulnerabilities immediately, without leaving for the next planned Game Ready driver release. The GeForce Hotfix Driver 576.15 addresses an issue where some displays show flickering or corruption with RTX 50-series GPUs after updating to the GeForce Game Ready 576.02 drivers. A Lumion 2024 crash noticed on RTX 50-series GPUs when entering render mode has been fixed. A bug that causes GPU monitoring utilities to stop reporting data when the machine wakes up from sleep has been fixed. Some games crash when compiling shaders on RTX 50-series GPUs after updating to 576.02 drivers, which has been fixed.
A bug that causes GeForce RTX 50-series Laptop GPUs to put out black screens when waking up from modern standby has been fixed. Another bug that causes SteamVR to display V-Sync micro-stutters when using multi display, has been fixed. A glaring bug that causes lower than expected idle GPU clock speeds after updated to GRD 576.02 has been fixed.
DOWNLOAD: NVIDIA GeForce Hotfix Driver 576.15
A bug that causes GeForce RTX 50-series Laptop GPUs to put out black screens when waking up from modern standby has been fixed. Another bug that causes SteamVR to display V-Sync micro-stutters when using multi display, has been fixed. A glaring bug that causes lower than expected idle GPU clock speeds after updated to GRD 576.02 has been fixed.
DOWNLOAD: NVIDIA GeForce Hotfix Driver 576.15
Team Group Secures Four Wins at the 2025 Red Dot Design Awards
Team Group Inc., a global leader in memory and storage solutions, proudly announces that four of its innovative products across its three sub-brands have won the 2025 Red Dot Award for Product Design. The award-winning entries include the T-FORCE XTREEM ARGB DDR5 Desktop Memory, T-CREATE EXPERT P32 Desk External SSD, Team Group PD20 Mini External SSD, and the PD20M Mag Portable SSD. These accolades reaffirm Team Group's unwavering commitment to innovation, technical excellence, and thoughtful design, further strengthening its influential position in the global high-performance storage and design aesthetics landscape.
The Red Dot Design Award, one of the most prestigious design competitions globally, spans nearly 70 years and attracts over 10,000 entries from more than 60 countries annually. Judged by a panel of international design experts, the award honors outstanding designs based on multiple criteria, including functionality, aesthetic appeal, usability, and sustainability. Team Group has emerged from the large pool of submissions, earning top-tier international recognition and demonstrating its significant achievements and brand value.
The Red Dot Design Award, one of the most prestigious design competitions globally, spans nearly 70 years and attracts over 10,000 entries from more than 60 countries annually. Judged by a panel of international design experts, the award honors outstanding designs based on multiple criteria, including functionality, aesthetic appeal, usability, and sustainability. Team Group has emerged from the large pool of submissions, earning top-tier international recognition and demonstrating its significant achievements and brand value.
GAMEMAX Introduces BLADE CONCEPT ATX Gaming Chassis
GAMEMAX, an emerging brand of PC gaming components including gaming cases and power supply units, is thrilled to announce the BLADE CONCEPT ATX gaming chassis—our flagship gaming chassis featuring a visually striking lion-inspired design and an open-frame layout with a massive interior to support high-end configurations.
The eye-catching front panel features high-strength nylon weave meets metal for a perfect fusion of technology and aesthetics. It allows air to passthrough while trapping dirt and debris—an advanced dust filtering mechanism.
The eye-catching front panel features high-strength nylon weave meets metal for a perfect fusion of technology and aesthetics. It allows air to passthrough while trapping dirt and debris—an advanced dust filtering mechanism.
Monday, April 21st 2025
Today's Reviews
Cases
CPU Coolers
Graphics Cards
Headphones
Motherboards
Networking
Bethesda Teases "The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remaster" for Tomorrow
Bethesda Studios has confirmed that it will officially reveal its long‑rumored remaster of The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion in a live stream set for April 22. The event begins at 8:00 a.m. PT (11:00 a.m. ET, 4:00 p.m. BST) and will be available to watch on both YouTube and Twitch. The teaser image shows a close‑up of a battle‑worn eye alongside the Roman numeral IV, with the simple tagline "All will be revealed." Fans have already started marking their calendars in anticipation of what promises to be a significant announcement. This confirmation arrives after a plethora of leaks over the past week. Community members uncovered a hidden backend link to an official Oblivion remaster website, and images allegedly supplied by Virtuos Studio compared the original 2006 game to an impressive modernized version. And now these rumors are true, with Bethesda posting a teaser on X.
Bethesda has rebuilt Oblivion using Unreal Engine 5, bringing enhanced textures, fully redone lighting, and potentially new environmental effects. Rumors also suggest that the combat system may see updates inspired by Souls‑style blocking, while stealth, archery, and stamina management could receive fresh tuning to meet today's standards. Speculation continues that Bethesda might "shadow drop" the remaster on the same day it is revealed, allowing players to purchase or download it immediately. Reports indicate the game will launch on PC, Xbox Series X|S, and PlayStation 5, mirroring the modern platforms of the original's 2006 debut on Xbox 360 and Windows, with a PlayStation 3 port arriving in 2007. There is no word yet on a Nintendo Switch 2 edition, but as an Xbox first‑party title, the remaster will almost certainly be available on Xbox Game Pass from day one, granting subscribers instant access.
Bethesda has rebuilt Oblivion using Unreal Engine 5, bringing enhanced textures, fully redone lighting, and potentially new environmental effects. Rumors also suggest that the combat system may see updates inspired by Souls‑style blocking, while stealth, archery, and stamina management could receive fresh tuning to meet today's standards. Speculation continues that Bethesda might "shadow drop" the remaster on the same day it is revealed, allowing players to purchase or download it immediately. Reports indicate the game will launch on PC, Xbox Series X|S, and PlayStation 5, mirroring the modern platforms of the original's 2006 debut on Xbox 360 and Windows, with a PlayStation 3 port arriving in 2007. There is no word yet on a Nintendo Switch 2 edition, but as an Xbox first‑party title, the remaster will almost certainly be available on Xbox Game Pass from day one, granting subscribers instant access.
"FA-EX9" AMD Ryzen AI 2L Mini PC from FEVM Rivals NVIDIA DGX Spark
Today, Chinese PC maker FEVM introduced the FA‑EX9 mini PC, powered by AMD's new Ryzen AI MAX+ 395 "Strix Halo" processor. This compact system measures just 192 × 190 × 55 mm (2 L volume) and packs 16 Zen 5 CPU cores alongside 40 RDNA 3.5 compute units (Radeon 8060S) and a dedicated XDNA 2 neural engine capable of 50 TOPS. FEVM configures the MAX+ 395 to run at up to 120 W sustained power, putting it in the same performance class as a Ryzen 9 9955HX paired with an RTX 4070 Laptop GPU. Memory comes as 128 GB of LPDDR5X on a 256‑bit bus, with up to 96 GB usable as video memory for large‑model inference. Storage is handled by dual M.2 PCIe 4.0 SSD slots, supporting up to 2 TB onboard and up to 16 TB total. The FA‑EX9 offers one HDMI 2.1 port, one DisplayPort 1.4, two USB4 Type‑C connectors for up to four 8K displays, and an OCuLink port for external GPU expansion. Inspiration for this mini PC seems to be NVIDIA's DGX Spark, which is Team Green's custom solution for local AI processing in an incredibly compact housing.
In comparison, NVIDIA's DGX Spark brings the GB10 Grace Blackwell superchip to a palm‑sized AI appliance. It combines a 20‑core Arm CPU cluster with a Blackwell GPU featuring next‑gen Tensor and RT cores, delivering up to 1,000 FP4 AI TOPS. The DGX Spark is built around 128 GB of unified LPDDR5X memory at 273 GB/s, up to 4 TB of self‑encrypting NVMe storage, four USB4 ports, one HDMI output, and a ConnectX‑7 SmartNIC providing 200 GbE networking for multi‑node clusters. Its chassis measures 150 × 150 × 50.5 mm (1.24 L volume) and draws approximately 170 W under load, with pricing starting at $2,999 for a 1 TB model or $3,999 for the 4 TB Founder's Edition, now available for preorder. While the FA‑EX9 balances general‑purpose computing, flexible GPU expansion, and high‑speed I/O for edge AI and creative professionals, the DGX Spark focuses on out‑of‑the‑box AI throughput and scale‑out clustering. The FA-EX9 is more of a general-purpose Swiss army knife, which can be used for anything from AI to gaming. Release date and pricing are still unknown.
In comparison, NVIDIA's DGX Spark brings the GB10 Grace Blackwell superchip to a palm‑sized AI appliance. It combines a 20‑core Arm CPU cluster with a Blackwell GPU featuring next‑gen Tensor and RT cores, delivering up to 1,000 FP4 AI TOPS. The DGX Spark is built around 128 GB of unified LPDDR5X memory at 273 GB/s, up to 4 TB of self‑encrypting NVMe storage, four USB4 ports, one HDMI output, and a ConnectX‑7 SmartNIC providing 200 GbE networking for multi‑node clusters. Its chassis measures 150 × 150 × 50.5 mm (1.24 L volume) and draws approximately 170 W under load, with pricing starting at $2,999 for a 1 TB model or $3,999 for the 4 TB Founder's Edition, now available for preorder. While the FA‑EX9 balances general‑purpose computing, flexible GPU expansion, and high‑speed I/O for edge AI and creative professionals, the DGX Spark focuses on out‑of‑the‑box AI throughput and scale‑out clustering. The FA-EX9 is more of a general-purpose Swiss army knife, which can be used for anything from AI to gaming. Release date and pricing are still unknown.
Thermaltake Intros UX400 Entry-Level Series CPU Air Cooler
Thermaltake expands the entry-level range of CPU air coolers with the new UX400 series, which includes three models: ARGB Sync White, ARGB Sync Black, and matte black. Using a single-tower design, they measure 125 mm × 92 mm × 152 mm and are equipped with four Ø6 mm U-shaped copper direct-contact heat pipes. The Thermaltake UX400 series sports a 120 mm fan with PWM speeds of 700-1800 RPM, providing an airflow of 62.72 CFM, a static pressure of 1.47 mm-H2O, and a noise level of 25.0 dBA. The fan of the UX400 ARGB Sync features 9 addressable LEDs that can be customized via 5 V motherboard sync software from ASUS, MSI, GIGABYTE, BIOSTAR, and ASRock.
With a cooling capacity of 240 W TDP, the UX400 comes with universal brackets for Intel and AMD CPUs, including the latest LGA1851 and AM5 CPU sockets. It looks very similar to the UX200 SE series launched in 2023, with the main differences being in the heatpipes areas (for better clearance) and the updated 120 mm fan. Regarding price, the Thermaltake UX400 ARGB Sync (Black, CL-P142-AL12SW-A / White, CL-P143-AL12SW-A) are listed on the Thermaltake's Taiwan website for NT$790.00 (approximately $24), and the UX400 (Matte Black, CL-P149-AL12BL-A) for NT$690.00 (roughly $21).
With a cooling capacity of 240 W TDP, the UX400 comes with universal brackets for Intel and AMD CPUs, including the latest LGA1851 and AM5 CPU sockets. It looks very similar to the UX200 SE series launched in 2023, with the main differences being in the heatpipes areas (for better clearance) and the updated 120 mm fan. Regarding price, the Thermaltake UX400 ARGB Sync (Black, CL-P142-AL12SW-A / White, CL-P143-AL12SW-A) are listed on the Thermaltake's Taiwan website for NT$790.00 (approximately $24), and the UX400 (Matte Black, CL-P149-AL12BL-A) for NT$690.00 (roughly $21).
LincPlus Showcases Smart NAS and Tablet Solutions at 2025 Hong Kong Electronics Fair (Autumn Edition)
LincPlus, a technology-driven brand committed to innovation, quality, and intelligent design, is excited to announce its participation in the 2025 Hong Kong Electronics Fair (Autumn Edition). Taking place from October 13-16, 2025, at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC), the event is one of Asia's largest and most influential electronics trade fairs, bringing together global tech leaders and forward-thinking brands.
At this year's exhibition, LincPlus will be presenting its latest lineup of smart NAS (Network Attached Storage) and tablet products—the two core pillars of its consumer and prosumer technology offerings. Visitors will get an exclusive preview of new releases, engage with live demos, and explore the brand's vision of smarter, simpler, and more stylish technology.
At this year's exhibition, LincPlus will be presenting its latest lineup of smart NAS (Network Attached Storage) and tablet products—the two core pillars of its consumer and prosumer technology offerings. Visitors will get an exclusive preview of new releases, engage with live demos, and explore the brand's vision of smarter, simpler, and more stylish technology.
G.SKILL Reveals World's First Large Capacity 256 GB (64 GB x4) DDR5 U-DIMM Memory at DDR5-6000 CL32 Overclocked Speed
G.SKILL International Enterprise Co., Ltd., the world's leading brand of performance overclock memory and PC components, is thrilled to unveil DDR5 memory with an ultra-high kit capacity of 256 GB (64 GB x4), overclocked to DDR5-6000 CL32. Built with high-performance SK hynix DDR5 ICs, this overclock memory speed and timing pushes the boundaries of memory overclocking by fully loading 4 modules of high-capacity DDR5 64 GB U-DIMM modules on a single system; marking a new milestone for high-performance computing, content creation, AI applications, and advanced workstation workloads.
Overclocked, Ultra-Capacity 256 GB (64 GB x4) at DDR5-6000 CL32 In content creation and recent advancements in AI, the need for higher DRAM capacity is essential. Whether calculating large language models or working with complex or high-resolution video content, high-speed memory of high-density 64 GB modules would help to provide a smoother and more efficient workflow. Loaded with AMD EXPO memory overclock profiles, see the DDR5-6000 CL32 256 GB (64 GB x4) kit being stress-tested in the screenshots below on the ASUS ROG CROSSHAIR X870E HERO motherboard with the AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D desktop processor, as well as on the MSI MPG X870E CARBON WIFI motherboard with the AMD Ryzen 9 9900X desktop processor.
Overclocked, Ultra-Capacity 256 GB (64 GB x4) at DDR5-6000 CL32 In content creation and recent advancements in AI, the need for higher DRAM capacity is essential. Whether calculating large language models or working with complex or high-resolution video content, high-speed memory of high-density 64 GB modules would help to provide a smoother and more efficient workflow. Loaded with AMD EXPO memory overclock profiles, see the DDR5-6000 CL32 256 GB (64 GB x4) kit being stress-tested in the screenshots below on the ASUS ROG CROSSHAIR X870E HERO motherboard with the AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D desktop processor, as well as on the MSI MPG X870E CARBON WIFI motherboard with the AMD Ryzen 9 9900X desktop processor.
ASUS Republic of Gamers Unveils Crosshair X870E Extreme, Apex Motherboards
ASUS Republic of Gamers today announced the ROG Crosshair X870E Extreme and ROG Crosshair X870E Apex, which join the previously-released ROG Crosshair X870E Hero to triple the number of premium ASUS motherboard options for high-end AMD Ryzen systems. Equipped with premium components, heavy-duty power solutions, and offering next-level connectivity options, these motherboards cater to those who dare to build a PC that shatters boundaries. ASUS AI Advisor, available within the ASUS DriverHub app, can help users learn all about this new hardware and get performance tips.
ROG Crosshair X870E Extreme
The ROG Crosshair X870E Extreme carries forward the AMD Ryzen 9000 Series of ROG motherboards with a no-holds-barred feature set and an all-new design that exudes luxury. Its massive power solution unleashes the full potential of new CPUs. 20+2+2 power stages effortlessly slake the thirst of the top-end AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D, even when firing on all cylinders. Thick-and-tall VRM heatsinks keep the power circuitry operating comfortably, while 8+8 ProCool II power connectors with solid pins give the CPU a direct line to the power supply.
ROG Crosshair X870E Extreme
The ROG Crosshair X870E Extreme carries forward the AMD Ryzen 9000 Series of ROG motherboards with a no-holds-barred feature set and an all-new design that exudes luxury. Its massive power solution unleashes the full potential of new CPUs. 20+2+2 power stages effortlessly slake the thirst of the top-end AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D, even when firing on all cylinders. Thick-and-tall VRM heatsinks keep the power circuitry operating comfortably, while 8+8 ProCool II power connectors with solid pins give the CPU a direct line to the power supply.
Huawei Prepares 6 nm Ascend 920C Accelerator: 900 TeraFLOPS, 4000 GB/s HBM3
Huawei recently revealed that its CloudMatrix 384 AI super node cluster can outperform NVIDIA's GB200 NVL72 in standard benchmarks, even though it consumes more power per performance unit. That system relies on Huawei's current Ascend 910C accelerators, which deliver strong raw compute performance but lag behind in efficiency metrics. To address this gap, Huawei is preparing the Ascend 920 family, with the training‑focused Ascend 920C built on SMIC's 6 nm process. According to DigiTimes, each 920C card will deliver more than 900 TeraFLOPS of BF16 half-precision performance. It also upgrades memory to HBM3 modules, providing 4,000 GB/s of bandwidth, which is up from the Ascend 910C's eight HBM2E stacks and 3,200 GB/s.
The existing Ascend 910C peaks at 780 TeraFLOPS in BF16 operations and uses a chip‑to‑chip interconnect bandwidth of 400 GB/s. Its packaging limits that bandwidth, but it still supports high‑speed communication between nodes in ultra‑dense AI clusters. Huawei will retain the chiplet‑based design in the 920C and refine the tensor acceleration engines for Transformer and Mixture‑of‑Experts models. Internal projections estimate that overall training efficiency on the 920C will improve by 30-40 percent compared to the 910C. This should narrow the performance‑per‑watt difference against competitors' solutions. In terms of system integration, the Ascend 920C will support PCIe 5.0 and next‑generation high‑throughput interconnect protocols. These features aim to improve resource scheduling and reduce latency in super node deployments, where tight node‑to‑node synchronization is critical. Huawei has not announced a firm release date for the Ascend 920C, but DigiTimes sources claim that it will enter mass production in the second half of 2025, which could mean just a few months from now.
The existing Ascend 910C peaks at 780 TeraFLOPS in BF16 operations and uses a chip‑to‑chip interconnect bandwidth of 400 GB/s. Its packaging limits that bandwidth, but it still supports high‑speed communication between nodes in ultra‑dense AI clusters. Huawei will retain the chiplet‑based design in the 920C and refine the tensor acceleration engines for Transformer and Mixture‑of‑Experts models. Internal projections estimate that overall training efficiency on the 920C will improve by 30-40 percent compared to the 910C. This should narrow the performance‑per‑watt difference against competitors' solutions. In terms of system integration, the Ascend 920C will support PCIe 5.0 and next‑generation high‑throughput interconnect protocols. These features aim to improve resource scheduling and reduce latency in super node deployments, where tight node‑to‑node synchronization is critical. Huawei has not announced a firm release date for the Ascend 920C, but DigiTimes sources claim that it will enter mass production in the second half of 2025, which could mean just a few months from now.
Intel Job Listing Suggests Company Implementing GDDR7 with Future GPU
A recent job listing at Intel for a memory sub-system validation engineer—a person that tests and validates memory with new types with prototype silicon, suggests that Intel is implementing the contemporary GDDR7 memory standard with an upcoming GPU. The position calls for drive-and-deliver pre- and post-silicon validation and characterization of GDDR6 and GDDR7 memory types on Intel's Arc GPU products. Given that Intel is putting this listing out now, in Q2-2025, an actual product that implements GDDR7 could be rather far out, considering typical GPU silicon development timelines. We predict such a chip could be taped out only by 2026, if not later.
A possible-2026 tapeout of a GPU silicon implementing GDDR7 points to the likelihood of this being a 3rd Gen Arc GPU based on the Xe3 "Celestial" graphics architecture. Given Intel's initial success with the Arc B580 and B570, the company could look to ramp up production of the two through 2025, and continue to press home its advantage of selling well-priced 1080p-class GPUs. Intel could stay away from vanity projects such as trying to create enthusiast-class GPUs, sticking to what works, and what it could sell in good volumes to grab market share. This is a business decision even AMD seems to have taken with its Radeon RX RDNA 4 generation.
A possible-2026 tapeout of a GPU silicon implementing GDDR7 points to the likelihood of this being a 3rd Gen Arc GPU based on the Xe3 "Celestial" graphics architecture. Given Intel's initial success with the Arc B580 and B570, the company could look to ramp up production of the two through 2025, and continue to press home its advantage of selling well-priced 1080p-class GPUs. Intel could stay away from vanity projects such as trying to create enthusiast-class GPUs, sticking to what works, and what it could sell in good volumes to grab market share. This is a business decision even AMD seems to have taken with its Radeon RX RDNA 4 generation.
Intel "Nova Lake-S" CPUs to use LGA 1954 Socket, 24 x 25 mm Chipset
Based on recent shipping manifests that point to custom test hardware for its next "Nova Lake‑S" processors, Intel seems to be gearing up for a big desktop platform update. According to documents obtained by NBD.ltd, Intel isn't moving full motherboards yet. Instead, it's sending out mechanical interposers and re-balling jigs for an 888‑ball BGA chip. Those tools, likely meant for the upcoming 900‑series PCH, aren't finished products but specialized fixtures used to check voltage regulation during assembly. Right now, desktop builders are tied to the LGA‑1700 socket, but Nova Lake‑S is expected to adopt LGA 1954, which offers 1,954 active lands (and possibly more than 2,000 total pads when you count debug pins). That boost in pin count could allow Intel to expand power delivery and I/O without compromise. Still, anyone holding out for Nova Lake‑S will have to wait. Intel plans to roll out "Arrow Lake Refresh" later this year, with Nova Lake‑S not arriving until 2026.
Under the "NVL‑S" codename, Nova Lake is said to combine two clusters of eight high‑performance "Coyote Cove" P‑cores with 16 "Arctic Wolf" E-cores, plus four ultra‑low‑power LPE cores in a separate SoC tile. That layout would create a 52‑core hybrid chip, though Intel engineers are reportedly still fine‑tuning the exact mix before tape‑out. The new south‑bridge package measures about 25 × 24 mm (around 600 mm²), slightly smaller than the 650 mm² footprint used by today's 800‑series chipsets. Shipping lists reveal jig sizes from roughly 38 × 28 × 6.97 mm up to 50 × 50 × 6.32 mm, which tells us multiple fixture types are being used in test labs around the world. Additionally, moving from LGA‑1851 to LGA‑1954 could hint at a longer‑lived socket, but Intel's history suggests most desktop platforms span just two generations. Whether Nova Lake‑S or any future "Razer Lake" follow‑up will fully exploit this new interface remains to be seen. We are watching closely as more concrete specs emerge ahead of that 2026 launch.
Under the "NVL‑S" codename, Nova Lake is said to combine two clusters of eight high‑performance "Coyote Cove" P‑cores with 16 "Arctic Wolf" E-cores, plus four ultra‑low‑power LPE cores in a separate SoC tile. That layout would create a 52‑core hybrid chip, though Intel engineers are reportedly still fine‑tuning the exact mix before tape‑out. The new south‑bridge package measures about 25 × 24 mm (around 600 mm²), slightly smaller than the 650 mm² footprint used by today's 800‑series chipsets. Shipping lists reveal jig sizes from roughly 38 × 28 × 6.97 mm up to 50 × 50 × 6.32 mm, which tells us multiple fixture types are being used in test labs around the world. Additionally, moving from LGA‑1851 to LGA‑1954 could hint at a longer‑lived socket, but Intel's history suggests most desktop platforms span just two generations. Whether Nova Lake‑S or any future "Razer Lake" follow‑up will fully exploit this new interface remains to be seen. We are watching closely as more concrete specs emerge ahead of that 2026 launch.
Sunday, April 20th 2025
Canva Lovers Rejoice: Microsoft's $15 App Makes You a Design Genius Without Subscriptions
You might know Canva for its flashy templates and social-friendly visuals, but when it comes to creating professional diagrams or flowcharts that actually mean something to your boss, Microsoft Visio quietly reigns supreme. And now, it's cheaper than ever—just $14.97 for a lifetime license via StackSocial (reg. $249.99).
Visio is the diagramming tool professionals turn to when a wall of bullet points just won't cut it. Whip up flowcharts, org charts, floor plans, and network diagrams in a matter of minutes. It's like Canva, but for engineers, project managers, and data nerds who need to communicate clearly and get stuff done.
Get a Microsoft Visio lifetime license for $14.97 (reg. $249.99) while this deal is still live. No subscription, no fluff, just pro-grade visuals made easy.
Visio is the diagramming tool professionals turn to when a wall of bullet points just won't cut it. Whip up flowcharts, org charts, floor plans, and network diagrams in a matter of minutes. It's like Canva, but for engineers, project managers, and data nerds who need to communicate clearly and get stuff done.
Get a Microsoft Visio lifetime license for $14.97 (reg. $249.99) while this deal is still live. No subscription, no fluff, just pro-grade visuals made easy.
AMD Readies Radeon PRO W9000 Series Powered by RDNA 4
AMD is readying a new line of professional graphics cards based on its latest RDNA 4 graphics architecture. The company has assigned the silicon variant "Navi 48 XTW" to power its next flagship pro-vis product, which will likely be branded under the Radeon PRO W9000 series. According to the source of this leak, the card comes with 32 GB of memory, which is probably ECC GDDR6, across the chip's 256-bit wide memory bus. The product should offer the same core-configuration as the Radeon RX 9070 XT gaming GPU, with 64 compute units worth 4,096 stream processors, 128 AI accelerators, 64 RT accelerators, 256 TMUs, and 128 ROPs.
Besides professional visualization, AMD could target the AI acceleration crowd. The company is hosting the "Advancing AI" press event in June, where it is widely expected to announce its next-generation AI GPUs and updates to ROCm. It could also use the occasion to unveil the Radeon PRO W9000 series product, promoting them to the AI acceleration crowd.
Besides professional visualization, AMD could target the AI acceleration crowd. The company is hosting the "Advancing AI" press event in June, where it is widely expected to announce its next-generation AI GPUs and updates to ROCm. It could also use the occasion to unveil the Radeon PRO W9000 series product, promoting them to the AI acceleration crowd.
This Week in Gaming (Week 16)
Welcome to the last full week of April and this week we have a packed week of new games, especially if you're into various types of RPG games. This week's major release is a RPG that takes place in a Belle Époque inspired world. This is followed by a more traditional RPG game with swords and dragons, a horror survival game, a futuristic RPG with mechs, some classic RTS action with a familiar vibe and finally a Lovecraft inspired horror adventure. There are loads of other games launching this week as well, so check them out at the bottom of the list.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 / This week's major release / Thursday 24 April
Explore an enchanting realm populated by surreal adversaries. Wander through breathtaking landscapes, from the Island of Visages to the Forgotten Battlefield, discovering secrets and hidden quests along the way. Find allies of fortune in creatures of legend. Recruit special companions to access new travel methods and discover secret areas in the World Map. Steam link
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 / This week's major release / Thursday 24 April
Explore an enchanting realm populated by surreal adversaries. Wander through breathtaking landscapes, from the Island of Visages to the Forgotten Battlefield, discovering secrets and hidden quests along the way. Find allies of fortune in creatures of legend. Recruit special companions to access new travel methods and discover secret areas in the World Map. Steam link
Saturday, April 19th 2025
EA & Lucasfilm Games Announce Star Wars Zero Company, a Turn-Based Tactics Game Set in the Clone Wars
At Star Wars Celebration Japan, Electronic Arts Inc. revealed Star Wars Zero Company, a single-player turn-based tactics game developed by Bit Reactor in collaboration with Respawn Entertainment and Lucasfilm Games. In Star Wars Zero Company, players will step into the shoes of Hawks, a former Republic officer, to command an elite squad of cunning operatives through a gritty and authentic story set in the twilight of the Clone Wars. As an unconventional outfit of professionals for hire hailing from across the galaxy, Zero Company must set aside their differences to overcome nearly impossible odds and take on an emerging threat that will consume the galaxy if left unchecked.
"Our vision for Star Wars Zero Company is grounded in gameplay design pillars that weave in the immersive Star Wars galaxy with engaging turn-based tactics gameplay," said Greg Foertsch, CEO and Creative Director at Bit Reactor. "It's our aim to deliver a game with an original Star Wars story from the Clone Wars era that has meaningful outcomes from player choices, and deep turn-based tactical combat with an approachable and cinematic presentation."
"Our vision for Star Wars Zero Company is grounded in gameplay design pillars that weave in the immersive Star Wars galaxy with engaging turn-based tactics gameplay," said Greg Foertsch, CEO and Creative Director at Bit Reactor. "It's our aim to deliver a game with an original Star Wars story from the Clone Wars era that has meaningful outcomes from player choices, and deep turn-based tactical combat with an approachable and cinematic presentation."
Friday, April 18th 2025
Today's Reviews
Graphics Cards
Headphones
Memory
Motherboards
Notebooks
Storage
ASRock X870E Taichi Lite Review
With the Taichi Lite, ASRock aims to offer a cost-optimized, RGB-less, trimmed version of the popular X870E Taichi. The result is a price that's $50 lower than the big Taichi. Is it a no-brainer if you want the same basic package, or did ASRock cut away too much?
Chinese Firms Equip GeForce RTX 5090D with Blower-Type Coolers for AI Workstations
Chinese hardware enthusiasts and AI researchers are rolling out custom versions of NVIDIA's latest flagship GPU, the GeForce RTX 5090D "Blackwell" variant for China. Originally intended as a special model that complies with US export regulations, the RTX 5090D is proving to be an excellent choice for smaller AI labs. Building on the trend set by specialist firms modifying the RTX 3090 and RTX 4090, these teams have taken the GB202 chip and mounted it on new PCBs with blower‑style coolers better suited to AI server racks than gaming rigs. Instead of large fans and complex heatsinks, each card uses a dual‑slot blower design that pushes hot air straight out the back of the chassis.
The power connector has also been moved to the rear bracket, making it easier to stack cards in clusters without cables getting in the way. Each unit still packs 32 GB of GDDR7 memory and a PCIe 5.0 x16 interface, although the maximum power draw remains unconfirmed. While previous "D" series cards topped out around 450 W, with Blackwell, this figure might approach 575 W, similar to the regular RTX 5090. This blower cooler could be undersized for a near‑600 W TDP, but with undervolting and underclocking, it may operate with stability over long workloads. Given that Chinese AI labs are struggling to acquire enough GPU capacity, some smaller labs and university researchers are possibly far away from getting enough compute resources for their work. So, repackaging these GPUs into workstation bodies is the only choice to get some acceleration in the hands of the masses.
The power connector has also been moved to the rear bracket, making it easier to stack cards in clusters without cables getting in the way. Each unit still packs 32 GB of GDDR7 memory and a PCIe 5.0 x16 interface, although the maximum power draw remains unconfirmed. While previous "D" series cards topped out around 450 W, with Blackwell, this figure might approach 575 W, similar to the regular RTX 5090. This blower cooler could be undersized for a near‑600 W TDP, but with undervolting and underclocking, it may operate with stability over long workloads. Given that Chinese AI labs are struggling to acquire enough GPU capacity, some smaller labs and university researchers are possibly far away from getting enough compute resources for their work. So, repackaging these GPUs into workstation bodies is the only choice to get some acceleration in the hands of the masses.
Sapphire Prepares PULSE A620AM WIFI MicroATX Motherboards
Sapphire Technology has given a sneak peek of its new PULSE A620AM WIFI motherboard. This board uses the AMD A620A chipset, comes in an microATX size, and has two slots for DDR5 memory. The PULSE A620AM WIFI boasts a 6+2+1 phase power system, with an aluminium heatsink that covers the VRM left-side area. Sapphire's tests show that the board "keeps steady and runs at consistent speeds when using high-end processors like the Ryzen 7 9700X and Ryzen 7 9800X3D at full load."
For extras, this board lets you overclock DDR5 memory up to 7200 MT/s, has one PCIe 4.0 x16 slot and one PCIe 3.0 x4 slot, comes with two M.2 storage spots, and includes built-in Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5 support. On the back of the Sapphire PULSE A620AM WIFI board, you'll find one HDMI port, one DisplayPort, four USB 2.0 ports, one PS/2 port for keyboard and mouse, two USB-A ports, one RJ45 Ethernet port, two Wi-Fi antenna plugs, and three audio jacks. IT Home reports that the board "will hit online stores starting April 21" at what they call a "budget-friendly price". Judging from the aesthetics and features, Sapphire PULSE A620AM WIFI motherboards are oriented toward users on a tight budget. Until the official release, we just have to wait and see Sapphire's vision of a "budget-friendly price".
For extras, this board lets you overclock DDR5 memory up to 7200 MT/s, has one PCIe 4.0 x16 slot and one PCIe 3.0 x4 slot, comes with two M.2 storage spots, and includes built-in Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5 support. On the back of the Sapphire PULSE A620AM WIFI board, you'll find one HDMI port, one DisplayPort, four USB 2.0 ports, one PS/2 port for keyboard and mouse, two USB-A ports, one RJ45 Ethernet port, two Wi-Fi antenna plugs, and three audio jacks. IT Home reports that the board "will hit online stores starting April 21" at what they call a "budget-friendly price". Judging from the aesthetics and features, Sapphire PULSE A620AM WIFI motherboards are oriented toward users on a tight budget. Until the official release, we just have to wait and see Sapphire's vision of a "budget-friendly price".
Lian Li Refreshes LANCOOL 207 with 6-inch LCD Display
LIAN LI Industrial Co. Ltd., a leading manufacturer of chassis and PC accessories, unveils the LANCOOL 207 Digital, a clever approach to rethinking the layout of an ATX case. It is now equipped with a 6-inch customizable LCD to personalize and monitor CPU and GPU temperatures, etc. The chassis maintains an optimized front-mounted PSU design, pre-installed high-performance fans, and extensive cooling support, the LANCOOL 207 Digital offers a sleek and functional solution for PC builders at an affordable price of $109.99.
The LANCOOL 207 Digital features a 6-inch LCD seamlessly integrated into the front panel's base, providing both functionality and personalization. The screen boasts a 720x1600 resolution, a 60 Hz refresh rate, and a brightness of 500 nits, ensuring crisp and vivid visuals. Controlled through L-Connect 3 software, users can monitor their system's CPU, GPU, and fan performance metrics at a quick glance. They also can select from dynamic backgrounds and pre-made displays that are fully customizable with personal videos or background images to match their setup's aesthetic. In addition to customization, the display also serves as a secondary screen via a USB connection, offering added versatility for multitasking or system monitoring. In Offline mode, the LCD remains functional even when the system is powered off, displaying the time and date for continuous utility.
The LANCOOL 207 Digital features a 6-inch LCD seamlessly integrated into the front panel's base, providing both functionality and personalization. The screen boasts a 720x1600 resolution, a 60 Hz refresh rate, and a brightness of 500 nits, ensuring crisp and vivid visuals. Controlled through L-Connect 3 software, users can monitor their system's CPU, GPU, and fan performance metrics at a quick glance. They also can select from dynamic backgrounds and pre-made displays that are fully customizable with personal videos or background images to match their setup's aesthetic. In addition to customization, the display also serves as a secondary screen via a USB connection, offering added versatility for multitasking or system monitoring. In Offline mode, the LCD remains functional even when the system is powered off, displaying the time and date for continuous utility.
NVIDIA's Latest 576.02 WHQL Driver Add Up to 8% Performance Bump in Synthetic Benchmarks
NVIDIA's latest GeForce 576.02 WHQL driver, released on April 16, which brought support for the GeForce RTX 5060 Ti, appears to deliver unexpected performance gains for several "Blackwell" GeForce RTX 50 series GPUS in UL's 3DMark Steel Nomad benchmark. ComputerBase community users with RTX 5070, 5070 Ti, and 5080 GPUs reported three to eight percent score uplifts after upgrading, prompting ComputerBase to verify these claims under controlled conditions. Their independent testing confirms that the RTX 5080 jumps from 8,094 to 8,550 points (a 5.6 percent boost), the RTX 5070 Ti climbs from 6,463 to 6,932 points (7.3 percent), and the RTX 5070 improves from 4,838 to 5,242 points (8.4 percent).
By contrast, the flagship RTX 5090 sees only a marginal lift from 14,032 to 14,117 points, which is well within standard test variance, while the RTX 5060 Ti remains essentially unchanged at roughly 3,530 points, likely because it launched with an up-to-date driver. When evaluating other popular UL benchmarks, namely Speed Way and Time Spy, ComputerBase observed no measurable uplift from driver version 576.02. In fact, some Time Spy runs dipped slightly, underlining that the anomaly appears confined to Steel Nomad's specific workload. It's important to note that synthetic benchmarks do not always translate directly to in-game performance. Historical data from ComputerBase's GPU suite suggests Blackwell cards sometimes outperform their synthetic gains in actual titles, but results vary by engine and title. Besides RTX 5060 Ti support and a strange performance increase, the 576.02 WHQL fixes a host of game‑specific crashes, stutters, aliasing, and stability issues across titles like Fortnite, Overwatch 2, Hellblade II, Control, and more.
By contrast, the flagship RTX 5090 sees only a marginal lift from 14,032 to 14,117 points, which is well within standard test variance, while the RTX 5060 Ti remains essentially unchanged at roughly 3,530 points, likely because it launched with an up-to-date driver. When evaluating other popular UL benchmarks, namely Speed Way and Time Spy, ComputerBase observed no measurable uplift from driver version 576.02. In fact, some Time Spy runs dipped slightly, underlining that the anomaly appears confined to Steel Nomad's specific workload. It's important to note that synthetic benchmarks do not always translate directly to in-game performance. Historical data from ComputerBase's GPU suite suggests Blackwell cards sometimes outperform their synthetic gains in actual titles, but results vary by engine and title. Besides RTX 5060 Ti support and a strange performance increase, the 576.02 WHQL fixes a host of game‑specific crashes, stutters, aliasing, and stability issues across titles like Fortnite, Overwatch 2, Hellblade II, Control, and more.
ASUS Announces the New Chromebook CX14/CX15 Series
ASUS today announced the new ASUS Chromebook CX14/CX15 series of powerful yet budget-friendly 14-inch and 15-inch laptops. The series features a stylish and sustainable premium design, and the laptops are also available with Chromebook Plus options for enhanced performance and Google AI experiences.
The series features an exciting range of seven colors—with five choices for CX14 and five for CX15—and three different surface finishes. The eco-conscious construction uses 30% recycled plastics.
The series features an exciting range of seven colors—with five choices for CX14 and five for CX15—and three different surface finishes. The eco-conscious construction uses 30% recycled plastics.
Team Group Introduces the X2 MAX USB 3.2 Gen 2x1 Portable SSD And the S5 USB 3.2 Gen 1 Flash Drive
Team Group Inc., the leading global memory and storage provider, continues to refine its diverse storage portfolio with the launch of the Team Group X2 MAX USB 3.2 Gen 2x1 Portable SSD and S5 USB 3.2 Gen 1 Flash Drive. Designed to provide a complete personal storage solution, both products feature an ultra-compact design with versatile capacity options to meet a wide range of user needs.
The Team Group X2 MAX USB 3.2 Gen 2x1 Portable SSD supports USB 3.2 Gen 2x1 and delivers transfer speeds of up to 1,000 MB/s for a lightning-fast and seamless user experience when managing large files, transferring multimedia, and editing high-resolution photos and videos. Featuring both dual Type-A and Type-C connectors, the X2 MAX ensures broad compatibility across a wide range of devices, including the latest PlayStation and Xbox gaming consoles, enabling seamless access to AAA games. With up to 2 TB of storage and weighing only 12 g, the X2 MAX eliminates the need for additional adapters or cables. The high-capacity, high-performance portable device allows users to easily store and access 4K video, high-resolution photos, and multimedia files anytime, anywhere.
The Team Group X2 MAX USB 3.2 Gen 2x1 Portable SSD supports USB 3.2 Gen 2x1 and delivers transfer speeds of up to 1,000 MB/s for a lightning-fast and seamless user experience when managing large files, transferring multimedia, and editing high-resolution photos and videos. Featuring both dual Type-A and Type-C connectors, the X2 MAX ensures broad compatibility across a wide range of devices, including the latest PlayStation and Xbox gaming consoles, enabling seamless access to AAA games. With up to 2 TB of storage and weighing only 12 g, the X2 MAX eliminates the need for additional adapters or cables. The high-capacity, high-performance portable device allows users to easily store and access 4K video, high-resolution photos, and multimedia files anytime, anywhere.
Thursday, April 17th 2025
Today's Reviews
Cases
Graphics Cards
- MSI RTX 5060 Ti Gaming Trio OC 16 GB
- Palit RTX 5060 Ti Infinity 3 16 GB
- ASUS RTX 5060 Ti Prime OC 16 GB
- MSI RTX 5060 Ti Gaming OC 16 GB
- Zotac RTX 5060 Ti AMP 16 GB
- ASUS RTX 5060 Ti TUF OC 16 GB
- Gainward RTX 5060 Ti 16GB Python Clubic (fr)
- Zotac RTX 5060 Ti 16GB AMP ComputerBase (de)
- Palit RTX 5060 Ti 16GB Infinity ComputerBase (de)
- ASUS Prime RTX 5060 Ti 16GB OC Cowcotland (fr)
- Gigabyte RTX 5060 Ti 16GB AERO OC Cowcotland (fr)
- MSI RTX 5060 Ti Gaming Trio OC 16GB Cowcotland (fr)
- Gainward RTX 5060 Ti 16GB Python Cowcotland (fr)
- Palit RTX 5060 Ti Trinity 3 Guru3D
- ASUS TUF Gaming RTX 5060 Ti OC Guru3D
- MSI RTX 5060 Ti Gaming Trio OC Guru3D
- Gigabyte RTX 5060 Ti 16GB AORUS Elite KitGuru
- ASUS TUF Gaming RTX 5060 Ti 16GB OC Overclocking.com (fr)
- Palit RTX 5060 Ti 16GB Infinity 3 Overclocking.com (fr)
- MSI RTX 5060 Ti Gaming Trio OC 16GB Overclocking.com (fr)
- MSI RTX 5060 Ti 16GB Gaming OC PCMasters (de)
- ASUS Prime RTX 5060 Ti 16GB TechGaming (nl)
- ASUS Prime RTX 5060 Ti 16GB OC Think Computers
- ASUS Prime RTX 5060 Ti 16GB Tom's Hardware
- MSI RTX 5060 Ti 16GB Ventus 2X Tweaktown
- Colorful RTX 5060 Ti NB EX 16GB Vortez
Teevolution Terra Pro Review
Modeled after the Logitech G403/G703, the right-handed ergonomic Terra Pro comes with PixArt's PAW3950 sensor, optical main button switches, a 51 g weight, and 70 hours of battery life. In addition, the optional 8K dongle provides wireless 8000 Hz polling.
MSI Unveils New Lineup of Gaming Desktops Powered By NVIDIA GeForce RTX 50 Series Graphics Cards
MSI unveiled its new lineup of AI gaming desktops featuring NVIDIA GeForce RTX 50 Series graphics cards, from the powerful RTX 5090 to the recently released RTX 5060 Ti and RTX 5060. The GeForce RTX 50 Series significantly enhances both gaming and AI task performance in these new systems. Gamers can expect higher frame rates in demanding titles, while content creators will benefit from faster rendering times and improved AI-assisted workflows.
The integration of NVIDIA DLSS 4 technology is a standout feature across the lineup. DLSS 4 delivers significantly faster frame rates and superior image quality for all RTX 50 Series systems, ensuring MSI gaming desktops provide responsive gameplay and immersive visual experiences. These advancements allow the new gaming systems to deliver exceptional performance in the latest titles while handling demanding AI tasks with ease.
The integration of NVIDIA DLSS 4 technology is a standout feature across the lineup. DLSS 4 delivers significantly faster frame rates and superior image quality for all RTX 50 Series systems, ensuring MSI gaming desktops provide responsive gameplay and immersive visual experiences. These advancements allow the new gaming systems to deliver exceptional performance in the latest titles while handling demanding AI tasks with ease.
Bionic Bay Out Now on PC & PlayStation 5
Speed running scientists and challenge hunters, rejoice. After years of crafting, your invitation to Bionic Bay is now available on Steam and PlayStation 5. It began with a chance meeting on Reddit, and now the Bionic Bay story continues with you, our trusted Research Participants. In Bionic Bay you'll master the art of teleportation, control the very fabric of time itself, manipulate gravity and navigate a path filled with dangers. Our team will provide you with the tools you'll need to traverse this intricately crafted pixel art world. But don't let the stunning visuals fool you, this is no slow-moving narrative crawl. The best way to navigate Bionic Bay is with fast movements, precise controls, exceptional timing, puzzle solving intuition and just maybe a little bit of luck.
What you've seen in the Bionic Bay demo is just the beginning. Bionic Bay v1.0 includes 23 painstakingly created levels, with an increasing challenge to simply stay alive through your journey. Importantly, however, the path can be as helpful as it is dangerous, and Research Participants will need to judge the way ahead accordingly. In addition to the main game, we've also developed the Bionic Bay Online mode, with a dedicated build for speed runners and those hungry for a challenge. In this demanding arena, you'll have the opportunity to customize your own scientist, and claim your place on our transient and global leaderboards.
What you've seen in the Bionic Bay demo is just the beginning. Bionic Bay v1.0 includes 23 painstakingly created levels, with an increasing challenge to simply stay alive through your journey. Importantly, however, the path can be as helpful as it is dangerous, and Research Participants will need to judge the way ahead accordingly. In addition to the main game, we've also developed the Bionic Bay Online mode, with a dedicated build for speed runners and those hungry for a challenge. In this demanding arena, you'll have the opportunity to customize your own scientist, and claim your place on our transient and global leaderboards.
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 8 GB Variant Benched by Chinese Reviewer, Lags Behind 16 GB Sibling in DLSS 4 Test Scenario
NVIDIA's GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 8 GB graphics card design received little fanfare when review embargoes lifted mid-way through the working week. Reportedly by official instruction, involved board partners sent out 16 GB samples to evaluators. Multiple Western outlets are currently attempting to source GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 8 GB cards—on their own dime—including TechPowerUp. As mentioned in his conclusive rundown of PALIT's GeForce RTX 5060 Ti Infinity 3 16 GB model, W1zzard commented on this situation: "personally, I'm very interested in my results for the RTX 5060 Ti 8 GB, which I'm trying to buy now." The ever reliable harukaze5719 has already stumbled upon one such review. Yesterday, Carbon-based Technology Research Institute (CBTRI) uploaded their findings onto the Chinese bilibili video platform.
Two ASUS options were compared to each other: an 8 GB Hatsune Miku Special Edition card, and a better known property: PRIME RTX 5060 Ti 16 GB. In most situations the two variants perform similarly. A clear difference was demonstrated when CBTRI's lab test moved into a DLSS 4 with Multi-Frame Generation (MFG) phase. Both harukaze5719 and Tom's Hardware noted a significant gulf—the latter's report observed: "in Cyberpunk 2077, for example, the RTX 5060 Ti 8 GB inexplicably performed worse than the RTX 4060 Ti 8 GB at native 1440p resolution. While enabling MFG helped improve performance, pushing it to 4x delivered underwhelming results, with the 16 GB version providing 22% higher performance than the 8 GB card." Rumors have swirled about the late arrival of GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 8 GB cards at retail; potentially a week after the launch of 16 GB siblings. As evidenced by early results, potential buyers should consider paying a little extra ($50) for a larger pool of VRAM. Team Green's introductory material outlined starter price tags of $429 (16 GB) and $379 (8 GB).
Two ASUS options were compared to each other: an 8 GB Hatsune Miku Special Edition card, and a better known property: PRIME RTX 5060 Ti 16 GB. In most situations the two variants perform similarly. A clear difference was demonstrated when CBTRI's lab test moved into a DLSS 4 with Multi-Frame Generation (MFG) phase. Both harukaze5719 and Tom's Hardware noted a significant gulf—the latter's report observed: "in Cyberpunk 2077, for example, the RTX 5060 Ti 8 GB inexplicably performed worse than the RTX 4060 Ti 8 GB at native 1440p resolution. While enabling MFG helped improve performance, pushing it to 4x delivered underwhelming results, with the 16 GB version providing 22% higher performance than the 8 GB card." Rumors have swirled about the late arrival of GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 8 GB cards at retail; potentially a week after the launch of 16 GB siblings. As evidenced by early results, potential buyers should consider paying a little extra ($50) for a larger pool of VRAM. Team Green's introductory material outlined starter price tags of $429 (16 GB) and $379 (8 GB).
Canonical Releases Ubuntu 25.04 Plucky Puffin
Today Canonical announced the release of Ubuntu 25.04, codenamed "Plucky Puffin. Ubuntu 25.04 delivers the latest GNOME 48 with support for triple buffering and an improved install and boot experience. The introduction of a "devpack" for Spring expands toolchain availability in Ubuntu. Advancements in silicon enablement with Canonical's partners deliver performance improvements for AI workloads on Intel GPUs, and support for confidential computing on AMD SEV-SNP.
"Plucky Puffin combines the very latest in open source desktop technology with a focus on making high quality developer tooling readily available on Ubuntu. Ubuntu 25.04 delivers performance improvements across Intel GPUs, and a new purpose-built ISO for ARM64 hardware enthusiasts. Our increasing support for confidential computing with AMD SEV-SNP makes Ubuntu the target platform to deploy AI workloads securely and at scale on both public clouds and private data centers.", Jon Seager, VP of Ubuntu Engineering at Canonical
"Plucky Puffin combines the very latest in open source desktop technology with a focus on making high quality developer tooling readily available on Ubuntu. Ubuntu 25.04 delivers performance improvements across Intel GPUs, and a new purpose-built ISO for ARM64 hardware enthusiasts. Our increasing support for confidential computing with AMD SEV-SNP makes Ubuntu the target platform to deploy AI workloads securely and at scale on both public clouds and private data centers.", Jon Seager, VP of Ubuntu Engineering at Canonical
Tempest Rising's Early Unlock Tier Available Now - Exclusive to Deluxe Edition Players
Weapon systems live, awaiting orders...Your army is ready, Commander! Tempest Rising Early Unlock is now available for all players who pre-ordered the Deluxe Edition. We want to thank you all for supporting our game since we first announced it way back in 2022. We read every comment, and the excitement we've seen from RTS players around the world has kept us motivated throughout development. Also, a special thank you to all the players and other developers in the community who played Tempest Rising at live events, tried out our demos, and participated in our Closed Beta; your passion for RTS games was clear, and the feedback you gave us was invaluable during development! We hope you enjoy Tempest Rising as much as we enjoyed making it!
Double Time!
If you have not pre-ordered the Deluxe Edition, but are now considering playing early, don't worry, there's still time. Or maybe you're looking to get access to the Commander Pack items, like the Commander Main Menu backdrop. You can still purchase either edition before April 24 and still get the early bonuses for each! Below, you will find a brief breakdown of the Early Unlock information.
Double Time!
If you have not pre-ordered the Deluxe Edition, but are now considering playing early, don't worry, there's still time. Or maybe you're looking to get access to the Commander Pack items, like the Commander Main Menu backdrop. You can still purchase either edition before April 24 and still get the early bonuses for each! Below, you will find a brief breakdown of the Early Unlock information.
Nintendo Revises Switch 2 Product Info; VRR Support Scrubbed from Some Official Sites
Digital Foundry's Oliver Mackenzie and a member of the Resetera video game discussion forum have alerted the wider community to a small change within the text on several of Nintendo's Switch 2 product web presences. Mackenzie's social media post included a comparative screenshot; showing before and after conditions; Digital Foundry's Canadian correspondent provided comment: "some weird stuff going on at Nintendo. Looks like they've changed their US website to no longer mention VRR support for TV play? Only HDR and 120 Hz support get a call-out." Additional press coverage has put spotlights on Nintendo's Japan and Canada websites; both regional offices have scrubbed "VRR" (variable refresh rate) from Switch 2 promotional material. At the time of writing, Nintendo of Europe and UK's hardware feature sections still showcase an unadulterated description: "bring games to life with a larger 1080p screen—or connect to a TV and play in up to 4K resolution. Support for HDR, VRR, and frame rates up to 120 FPS let you enjoy brilliant colour, clarity, and smooth gameplay."
Video Games Chronicle and a few other news sites have reached out to Nintendo for comment regarding this confusing situation. The Switch 2 maker is notorious for its guarded stance when discussing technical details—as evidenced recently, by a top employee deflecting responsibility in NVIDIA's general direction. Mackenzie reckons that VRR support—when paired with compatible televisions and monitors—could be added post-launch (June 5). It is possible that Nintendo's engineering department has removed this feature from its day one bag of tricks. Meanwhile, the Switch 2's surprisingly capable integrated display is expected to arrive without any technological compromises.
Video Games Chronicle and a few other news sites have reached out to Nintendo for comment regarding this confusing situation. The Switch 2 maker is notorious for its guarded stance when discussing technical details—as evidenced recently, by a top employee deflecting responsibility in NVIDIA's general direction. Mackenzie reckons that VRR support—when paired with compatible televisions and monitors—could be added post-launch (June 5). It is possible that Nintendo's engineering department has removed this feature from its day one bag of tricks. Meanwhile, the Switch 2's surprisingly capable integrated display is expected to arrive without any technological compromises.
Xbox April Update: Buy Games with the Xbox Mobile App, Remote Play Enabled Across More Devices
This month brings a variety of exciting updates across our gaming platforms, including easy and convenient purchasing within the Xbox app on mobile, the ability to stream your own game on Xbox consoles, recommended ways to free up storage space, and more. Read on below for more information on these features and others coming soon to your favorite devices.
Xbox App on Mobile
Buy games, Join Game Pass, and Redeem Perks Directly from the Xbox app. We're excited to announce that one of the most requested features from the Xbox community is coming to the Xbox app. Players will soon be able to buy games and add-on content, join Game Pass, and redeem Perks directly from the Xbox app on mobile. Be ready to play on day one by pre-ordering games like Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 + 4 and then set it to pre-install on Xbox consoles from the app. Buy games like Assassin's Creed Shadows and MLB The Show 25. Players will also be able to join Game Pass directly from the Xbox app. Ultimate members can redeem Perks like the Sea of Thieves Seventh Serving Emote directly from the app. This experience will start to roll out to beta users on iOS and Android and will be available soon for everyone on the Google Play Store on Android devices and the Apple Store. If players already have a saved form of payment, the Xbox app will display a Buy button on game detail pages, allowing them to purchase games and add-on content with just two clicks.
Xbox App on Mobile
Buy games, Join Game Pass, and Redeem Perks Directly from the Xbox app. We're excited to announce that one of the most requested features from the Xbox community is coming to the Xbox app. Players will soon be able to buy games and add-on content, join Game Pass, and redeem Perks directly from the Xbox app on mobile. Be ready to play on day one by pre-ordering games like Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 + 4 and then set it to pre-install on Xbox consoles from the app. Buy games like Assassin's Creed Shadows and MLB The Show 25. Players will also be able to join Game Pass directly from the Xbox app. Ultimate members can redeem Perks like the Sea of Thieves Seventh Serving Emote directly from the app. This experience will start to roll out to beta users on iOS and Android and will be available soon for everyone on the Google Play Store on Android devices and the Apple Store. If players already have a saved form of payment, the Xbox app will display a Buy button on game detail pages, allowing them to purchase games and add-on content with just two clicks.
Teardown of GIGABYTE RTX 5060 Ti EAGLE Card Reveals Stubby PCB Design & Short PCIe Connector
GIGABYTE's GeForce RTX 5060 Ti EAGLE OC graphics card model was officially unveiled on Tuesday (April 15). Two days later, the manufacturer's PR team disclosed extra in-depth details—a hype-up section stated: "(our) EAGLE series features a design inspired by the fusion of aerospace battleships and sci-fi elements, making it a preferred choice for sci-fi enthusiasts and younger users...These graphics cards are more than just components—they become battleships within the system, enhancing the overall aesthetic and immersive experience." Yesterday's press release did not delve into under-the-hood information, but reviewers have discovered that GIGABYTE's engineering department has bunged an extra short PCB design into the new-gen EAGLE's dual-fan enclosure.
Germany's HardwareLuxx received samples for evaluation purposes—directly from three brands: the aforementioned GeForce RTX 5060 Ti EAGLE OC 16 GB SKU, as well as MSI's GAMING TRIO model, and PALIT's Infinity 3 card. The site's editor—Andreas Schilling—was enchanted by the EAGLE's diminutive setup; both externally and internally. As explained at the beginning of HardwareLuxx's review, a main highlight is the brand-new product's size: "at 215 mm, the card is particularly short. Also striking is the 8-pin connector located directly behind the slot cover—an unusual position for the additional power supply. Equally striking is the short PCI Express connector. Since the GeForce RTX 5060 Ti features a PCI Express interface with eight lanes, Gigabyte eliminates the need for a longer PCB and shortens the connector accordingly." GIGABYTE has likely deployed its dinky PCB layout in new WINDFORCE (standard and overclocked) options. VideoCardz believes that the shorter design is reserved for dual-fan cards. By rule of thumb, triple-fan cooled cards are available with the regular length board and connector. Even GIGABYTE's upcoming GeForce RTX 5060 OC Low Profile 8G (182 mm) model sticks with a "full-sized" PCIe interface.
Germany's HardwareLuxx received samples for evaluation purposes—directly from three brands: the aforementioned GeForce RTX 5060 Ti EAGLE OC 16 GB SKU, as well as MSI's GAMING TRIO model, and PALIT's Infinity 3 card. The site's editor—Andreas Schilling—was enchanted by the EAGLE's diminutive setup; both externally and internally. As explained at the beginning of HardwareLuxx's review, a main highlight is the brand-new product's size: "at 215 mm, the card is particularly short. Also striking is the 8-pin connector located directly behind the slot cover—an unusual position for the additional power supply. Equally striking is the short PCI Express connector. Since the GeForce RTX 5060 Ti features a PCI Express interface with eight lanes, Gigabyte eliminates the need for a longer PCB and shortens the connector accordingly." GIGABYTE has likely deployed its dinky PCB layout in new WINDFORCE (standard and overclocked) options. VideoCardz believes that the shorter design is reserved for dual-fan cards. By rule of thumb, triple-fan cooled cards are available with the regular length board and connector. Even GIGABYTE's upcoming GeForce RTX 5060 OC Low Profile 8G (182 mm) model sticks with a "full-sized" PCIe interface.
NVIDIA Releases 108 GB UE5 Path‑Tracing Demo "Zorah"
Today, NVIDIA made its tech demo Zorah, A New Era of Rendering, available as a free 108 GB download. Built for Unreal Engine 5, Zorah shows off the sheer power of the new Blackwell architecture, led by the GeForce RTX 5090 and its neural rendering capabilities. After debuting the first version at CES 2025 and refining it at GDC, the company has now opened the doors for anyone with a fast connection and enough storage to explore it firsthand. Downloading the project takes about 15 minutes on a Gigabit link, after which you can fire up Unreal Engine 5 (available from the Epic Games Store) and dive straight into the demo. Once it's running, you'll find yourself in a scene built from nearly 500 million triangles, more than 30,000 materials, over 2,000 particle lights, and 1,500 textures. All of that horsepower would grind any GPU to a halt without NVIDIA's suite of neural tricks.
At the core of Zorah's performance are features like DLSS 4 with frame generation, a Transformer‑based AI model, and the full set of RTX Neural Shaders. These small neural networks run right inside the shaders, creating textures, materials, lighting volumes, and even hair detail in real time. Supporting tools such as RTX Texture Filter, Neural Material networks, Neural Texture Compression, Character Rendering, Neural Faces, Neural Hair, and Mega Geometry help round out the package, delivering visuals that look every bit as rich as big‑budget CGI. That level of efficiency shows how neural rendering can boost image quality and interactivity without hogging resources. NVIDIA hopes developers will experiment with these new tools and push game graphics into what the company calls a new era. If you have a modern RTX 5090 rig and a bit of patience, you can see that future for yourself. Click here to start the 108 GB download.
At the core of Zorah's performance are features like DLSS 4 with frame generation, a Transformer‑based AI model, and the full set of RTX Neural Shaders. These small neural networks run right inside the shaders, creating textures, materials, lighting volumes, and even hair detail in real time. Supporting tools such as RTX Texture Filter, Neural Material networks, Neural Texture Compression, Character Rendering, Neural Faces, Neural Hair, and Mega Geometry help round out the package, delivering visuals that look every bit as rich as big‑budget CGI. That level of efficiency shows how neural rendering can boost image quality and interactivity without hogging resources. NVIDIA hopes developers will experiment with these new tools and push game graphics into what the company calls a new era. If you have a modern RTX 5090 rig and a bit of patience, you can see that future for yourself. Click here to start the 108 GB download.
Gedonia 2 Launched into Steam Early Access
The game is out now! Hello everyone! It's hard to believe, but the game is now available on Steam Early Access! After two years of hard work, me and my team are incredibly excited for all of you to finally give this game a try. We poured our hearts and souls into this project, and I can confidently say that this is the best and most ambitious game I've ever produced in 13 years of my game development journey!
But this is just the first step for the long road of Early Access for Gedonia 2. We will constantly improve our game based on your feedback and suggestions, and will try to fully realize our ambitious vision. Right now the game is in fairly solid state, based on our internal testing, but there still might be some bugs and issues in there, especially with multiplayer, which could produce some disconnects and other bugs. We will try to find and fix all of them in the next weeks post launch. Thank you all for your support over these years, and please, leave your feedback, we will read all of it!
But this is just the first step for the long road of Early Access for Gedonia 2. We will constantly improve our game based on your feedback and suggestions, and will try to fully realize our ambitious vision. Right now the game is in fairly solid state, based on our internal testing, but there still might be some bugs and issues in there, especially with multiplayer, which could produce some disconnects and other bugs. We will try to find and fix all of them in the next weeks post launch. Thank you all for your support over these years, and please, leave your feedback, we will read all of it!
Apple "Vision Air" Headset Leaks Suggest Lightweight Titanium Parts & "Dark Blue" Exterior
Apple is reportedly working on two different new-gen Vision mixed reality headset models. As covered on TechPowerUp's news section earlier on in the week, one rumored "more budget-friendly" option could be a lightweight product. Yesterday, Kosutami (@Kosutami_Ito) posited that Apple engineers have realized a thinner design. According to inside information, weight reduction has been achieved through the fitting of select titanium parts—Kosutami highlighted the lighter Vision package's connectors and battery as potential candidates. Industry watchdogs reckon that the rest of this rumored design will rely on (largely) aluminium and plastic pieces. The tipster also teased a "graphite dark blue" colorway; harkening back to iPhone 5's Slate Black aesthetic. A theorized "Vision Air" label has emerged from Kosutami's recent social media post.
Historically, Apple's Air notebook models have consistently launched as lighter/cheaper alternatives to MacBook Pro offerings. Mac specialist and general PC hardware news sites have picked up on additional Kosutami bulletins, going back to late last week. Photos of a speculated "Vision Air" power cable were shared online, last weekend. An initial upload showcased an anodized aluminium "Lightning-style" connector "finished in Apple's distinctive Midnight Blue/Black" colorway. MacRumors inspected a newer set of images, and explained: "the (original) Vision Pro uses a similar connector, except with twelve pins instead of eight, suggesting that the new cable is part of a more significant redesign, at least of the external battery. The audio strap connector appears to be the same design as that of the Vision Pro."
Historically, Apple's Air notebook models have consistently launched as lighter/cheaper alternatives to MacBook Pro offerings. Mac specialist and general PC hardware news sites have picked up on additional Kosutami bulletins, going back to late last week. Photos of a speculated "Vision Air" power cable were shared online, last weekend. An initial upload showcased an anodized aluminium "Lightning-style" connector "finished in Apple's distinctive Midnight Blue/Black" colorway. MacRumors inspected a newer set of images, and explained: "the (original) Vision Pro uses a similar connector, except with twelve pins instead of eight, suggesting that the new cable is part of a more significant redesign, at least of the external battery. The audio strap connector appears to be the same design as that of the Vision Pro."
Bend Studio Lead Discusses Days Gone Remastered's Speedrun & Permadeath Modes
Welcome—or welcome back—to Days Gone, Bend Studio's sprawling open-world adventure-survival epic. In this PlayStation 5/PC remaster launching April 25, you'll once again be able to enjoy Deacon St. John's journey across the gorgeous natural beauty of the Oregon wilderness-provided you can deal with the mind-boggling amount of mutant Freaker monstrosities that want to shred you into tiny little chunks. We reached out to Kevin McAllister, Creative and Product Lead at Bend Studio, for some additional details about the anticipated remaster, including its notable new additions. So grab your survival gear, gas up your bike, and read on to hear about how Days Gone is better than ever on the PlayStation 5 (and PC).
Back in the days
We first asked how Bend Studio feels about revisiting their flagship game: "Days Gone is a special game for us," says McAllister. "It's a special game to our players, too. We got the opportunity to remaster a game that we released originally on the PS4 in 2019 and ported to the PC in 2021. Six years after the original, technology has improved-we have the power of the PS5 now. There was a lot more we could do to showcase the game's potential." We then asked about how the PlayStation 5's capabilities are enhancing the Days Gone experience. "The graphical improvements we've made-you'll see the difference," McAllister explains. "There's increased lighting, increased shadow quality, increased fog depth. For example, nighttime is now darker; the moon is more natural-looking. The blue sky is more natural, too-Days Gone is a very realistic-looking game. And we've taken that to a new level with the PS5." Sounds like a great fit for the remaster's new-and-improved Photo Mode, with more lighting options and instant day-and-night switches for beautiful environmental photography.
Back in the days
We first asked how Bend Studio feels about revisiting their flagship game: "Days Gone is a special game for us," says McAllister. "It's a special game to our players, too. We got the opportunity to remaster a game that we released originally on the PS4 in 2019 and ported to the PC in 2021. Six years after the original, technology has improved-we have the power of the PS5 now. There was a lot more we could do to showcase the game's potential." We then asked about how the PlayStation 5's capabilities are enhancing the Days Gone experience. "The graphical improvements we've made-you'll see the difference," McAllister explains. "There's increased lighting, increased shadow quality, increased fog depth. For example, nighttime is now darker; the moon is more natural-looking. The blue sky is more natural, too-Days Gone is a very realistic-looking game. And we've taken that to a new level with the PS5." Sounds like a great fit for the remaster's new-and-improved Photo Mode, with more lighting options and instant day-and-night switches for beautiful environmental photography.
AMD Radeon RX 9070 GRE Spec Sheet Leaked; Report Suggests 3072 Stream Processor Count
The unannounced Radeon RX 9070 GRE 12 GB graphics card model seems to be next in line within AMD's RDNA 4 range. Despite official presentation material teasing a Q2'25 launch of Radeon RX 9060 Series cards, insiders believe that Team Red will debut an in-between option—possibly before the arrival of Radeon RX 9060 XT 16 GB and 8 GB SKUs. Rumored new-generation "Great Radeon Edition" (GRE) cards are expected to launch as Chinese market exclusives; potentially as a "strategic" gap fill. Local board partner moles have whispered about almost zero replenishments of Radeon RX 9070 (non-XT) 16 GB stock in the region. As reported earlier today, some of VideoCardz's inside sources insist that Radeon RX 9070 GRE cards will—eventually—replace Radeon RX 9070 options. Initial leaks suggested fundamental "step-down" specification pillars: 12 GB of VRAM, a 192-bit memory interface, and a "reduced" "Navi 48" GPU die.
According to fresh claims, the Radeon RX 9070 GRE model could utilize a "Navi 48 XL" GPU variant. VideoCardz reckons that a quarter of the original GPU core count has been shut off; resulting in a total of 3072 stream processors. Comparatively, the Radeon 9070 XT arrived with 4096 SPs. The Radeon 9070 launched with 3584 units. The report delved into alleged core frequency details: "the RX 9070 GRE's clocks will be higher than the RX 9070, reportedly at 2.79 GHz boost, resulting in around 17.1 TFLOPS compared to 18 TFLOPS on the RX 9070...Some custom variants we know of will approach a 3.0 GHz boost clock, so there is definitely room for overclocking." The latest spec sheet leak confirms a 12 GB pool of VRAM, in GDDR6 form—VideoCardz weighed in with some embellishments: "the memory will not be clocked at 20 Gbps, as on (already launched) RX 9070 (XT) and (incoming) RX 9060 XT, but at 18 Gbps. This means that the memory bandwidth will be about 1/3 lower than the RX 9070 (XT) at 432 GB/s." Certain industry observers reckon that AMD will continue to rely on AIBs to produce an all-custom lineup of forthcoming RDNA 4 products. So-called "reference designs" (MBA) have turned up in China, but only in very limited numbers—sold via hazy avenues.
According to fresh claims, the Radeon RX 9070 GRE model could utilize a "Navi 48 XL" GPU variant. VideoCardz reckons that a quarter of the original GPU core count has been shut off; resulting in a total of 3072 stream processors. Comparatively, the Radeon 9070 XT arrived with 4096 SPs. The Radeon 9070 launched with 3584 units. The report delved into alleged core frequency details: "the RX 9070 GRE's clocks will be higher than the RX 9070, reportedly at 2.79 GHz boost, resulting in around 17.1 TFLOPS compared to 18 TFLOPS on the RX 9070...Some custom variants we know of will approach a 3.0 GHz boost clock, so there is definitely room for overclocking." The latest spec sheet leak confirms a 12 GB pool of VRAM, in GDDR6 form—VideoCardz weighed in with some embellishments: "the memory will not be clocked at 20 Gbps, as on (already launched) RX 9070 (XT) and (incoming) RX 9060 XT, but at 18 Gbps. This means that the memory bandwidth will be about 1/3 lower than the RX 9070 (XT) at 432 GB/s." Certain industry observers reckon that AMD will continue to rely on AIBs to produce an all-custom lineup of forthcoming RDNA 4 products. So-called "reference designs" (MBA) have turned up in China, but only in very limited numbers—sold via hazy avenues.
Mandragora: Whispers of the Witch Tree Launches Today
The wait is over. Today marks the official release of Mandragora: Whispers of the Witch Tree, the dark fantasy action RPG developed by Primal Game Studio and published by Knights Peak. The game is available now on PC (without 3rd-Party-DRM), PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S.
Set in the bleak and enchanting world of Faelduum, Mandragora invites players to take on the role of an Inquisitor in a land where magic is forbidden and the tyrannical King Priest and his agents rule from the shadows. Will you follow the law—or break it? The fate of the realm lies in your hands.
Set in the bleak and enchanting world of Faelduum, Mandragora invites players to take on the role of an Inquisitor in a land where magic is forbidden and the tyrannical King Priest and his agents rule from the shadows. Will you follow the law—or break it? The fate of the realm lies in your hands.
Micron Announces Business Unit Reorganization to Capitalize on AI Growth Across All Market Segments
Micron Technology, Inc. (Nasdaq: MU), a leader in innovative memory and storage solutions, today announced a market segment-based reorganization of its business units to capitalize on the transformative growth driven by AI, from data centers to edge devices.
Micron has maintained multiple generations of industry leadership in DRAM and NAND technology and has the strongest competitive positioning in its history. Micron's industry-leading product portfolio, combined with world-class manufacturing execution enables the development of differentiated solutions for its customers across end markets. As high-performance memory and storage become increasingly vital to drive the growth of AI, this Business Unit reorganization will allow Micron to stay at the forefront of innovation in each market segment through deeper customer engagement to address the dynamic needs of the industry.
Micron has maintained multiple generations of industry leadership in DRAM and NAND technology and has the strongest competitive positioning in its history. Micron's industry-leading product portfolio, combined with world-class manufacturing execution enables the development of differentiated solutions for its customers across end markets. As high-performance memory and storage become increasingly vital to drive the growth of AI, this Business Unit reorganization will allow Micron to stay at the forefront of innovation in each market segment through deeper customer engagement to address the dynamic needs of the industry.
Fanatec Introduces CSL Elite Steering Wheel Porsche Vision GT
Fanatec, a brand of Corsair and the global leader in sim racing hardware, proudly announces the launch of the CSL Elite Steering Wheel Porsche Vision GT. This officially licensed steering wheel, inspired by the Porsche Vision Gran Turismo concept car in Gran Turismo 7, brings Porsche's visionary design to sim racers worldwide. The CSL Elite Steering Wheel Porsche Vision GT features a 310 mm diameter and a robust cast aluminium frame that balances strength and lightness, making it suitable for the full range of Fanatec bases—from the 5 Nm CSL DD to the 25 Nm Podium DD2. To retain the signature shape and spoke cutouts, our engineers developed an innovative shifter mechanism, delivering a uniquely tactile response.
This is the first wheel to use Fanatec's new Tactaris material. This premium microfiber fabric enhances durability, comfort, and handling during intense racing sessions. Ergonomically optimized for sim racing, the CSL Elite Steering Wheel Porsche Vision GT features a versatile input layout, including two buttons built into the rim—another first for a Fanatec wheel. It features seven rotary encoders, including two multi-position switches and a 7-way FunkySwitch. The four primary encoders are automatically assigned to Gran Turismo 7's MFD system, allowing quick access to traction control, brake balance, torque split, and fuel mapping. The Tuning Menu button is seamlessly integrated into the Porsche crest, allowing for real-time force feedback adjustments via the OLED display.
This is the first wheel to use Fanatec's new Tactaris material. This premium microfiber fabric enhances durability, comfort, and handling during intense racing sessions. Ergonomically optimized for sim racing, the CSL Elite Steering Wheel Porsche Vision GT features a versatile input layout, including two buttons built into the rim—another first for a Fanatec wheel. It features seven rotary encoders, including two multi-position switches and a 7-way FunkySwitch. The four primary encoders are automatically assigned to Gran Turismo 7's MFD system, allowing quick access to traction control, brake balance, torque split, and fuel mapping. The Tuning Menu button is seamlessly integrated into the Porsche crest, allowing for real-time force feedback adjustments via the OLED display.
AOC Announces the 27-inch Q27G40XMN Gaming Monitor with Mini-LED Backlight
AOC Gaming introduces a major leap forward in display technology with the launch of the Q27G40XMN, a stunning 27" QHD monitor powered by Mini-LED backlighting—engineered for gamers who crave uncompromising contrast, color, and clarity. With over 500 dimming zones, Mini-LED delivers far deeper blacks and brighter highlights than traditional LED panels, offering precision lighting control and cinematic HDR that brings every game world to life. Whether you're navigating a dark dungeon or watching the sun break over a battlefield, the Q27G40XMN ensures every detail pops with next-level realism.
But it's not just about looks—this monitor is built for speed. With a 180 Hz refresh rate and lightning-fast 0.5 ms response time, players can react instantly, track motion clearly, and compete at the highest level without compromise.
But it's not just about looks—this monitor is built for speed. With a 180 Hz refresh rate and lightning-fast 0.5 ms response time, players can react instantly, track motion clearly, and compete at the highest level without compromise.
AMD "Ryzen Z2 A" APU Could Utilize Older "Van Gogh" RDNA 2 iGPU
Two weeks ago, unannounced APU model names—"Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme" and "Ryzen Z2 A"—were leaked by Hoang Anh Phu. AMD introduced its Ryzen Z2 series at CES 2025; officially consisting of three options: Z2 Extreme, Z2 and Z2 Go. Technical make up of the two alleged new additions remained a mystery, but watchdog theorizations positioned the rumored "Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme" as the (expanded) lineup's flagship—likely due to the enablement of an integrated XDNA 2 NPU. The vanilla Z2 Extreme APU is a handheld gaming-oriented product; existing as a spin-off from Team Red's "Strix Point" mobile processor design—utilizing Zen 5 and RDNA 3.5 technologies. By similar deduction, the leaked "Ryzen Z2 A" SKU was viewed as a "Hawk Point" (Zen 4 + RDNA 3) processor, possibly with a "switched on" AI aspect. Earlier today Hoang Anh Phu provided a new follow-up claim—this morning's social media post proposes a return to "Van Gogh" pastures.
The not-yet-official "Ryzen Z2 A" APU design could be derived from the Steam Deck's Zen 2 + RDNA 2 package. Valve and AMD's collaboration resulted in the "Van Gogh" custom chip design—also known as "Aerith"—debuting back in 2022. A die shrink—from 7 nm to 6 nm—arrived in the form of Steam Deck OLED's "Sephiroth" chipset (2023). Phu's latest prediction places the "Ryzen Z2 A" closer to the already unveiled Ryzen Z2 Go, graphics technology-wise. As discussed in the past, this entry-level "Phoenix 2" solution sports an RDNA 2 iGPU, albeit paired with Zen 3 processor cores. The Ryzen Z2 Go chipset powers Lenovo's Legion Go S handheld gaming PC—in the near future, this offering will be made available with two different operating system options: Windows 11 or SteamOS. As extrapolated from Phu's fresh prediction, similar-ish lower end devices—prepped with Valve's proprietary OS—could arrive with "Ryzen Z2 A" APUs onboard.
The not-yet-official "Ryzen Z2 A" APU design could be derived from the Steam Deck's Zen 2 + RDNA 2 package. Valve and AMD's collaboration resulted in the "Van Gogh" custom chip design—also known as "Aerith"—debuting back in 2022. A die shrink—from 7 nm to 6 nm—arrived in the form of Steam Deck OLED's "Sephiroth" chipset (2023). Phu's latest prediction places the "Ryzen Z2 A" closer to the already unveiled Ryzen Z2 Go, graphics technology-wise. As discussed in the past, this entry-level "Phoenix 2" solution sports an RDNA 2 iGPU, albeit paired with Zen 3 processor cores. The Ryzen Z2 Go chipset powers Lenovo's Legion Go S handheld gaming PC—in the near future, this offering will be made available with two different operating system options: Windows 11 or SteamOS. As extrapolated from Phu's fresh prediction, similar-ish lower end devices—prepped with Valve's proprietary OS—could arrive with "Ryzen Z2 A" APUs onboard.
TSMC Expects to Produce 30 Percent of its Sub-2nm Chips in the US, Denies Intel Joint Venture
On the back of TSMC's first quarter report, news is coming out of Taiwan that the company is expecting to produce as much as a third of its sub 2 nm chips in its US fabs, at some point in the future. This is according to comments made by TSMC's chair and CEO C.C. Wei during its online investors conference. As we've already mentioned, TSMC is looking to expand in Arizona with a further two fabs later this year, both targeting sub 2 nm chip production, but the comments by the CEO suggests that these might be bigger fabs than initially expected, if they're going to be able to produce as much as a third of all of TSMC's sub 2 nm output by some time around the next decade.
Apparently the move to build the new fabs is due to increased demand from TSMC's US customers, which includes AMD, Apple, NVIDIA, Qualcomm and Broadcom, to mention its biggest US customers. It seems like those that are planning to produce chips at TSMC's new fabs in the US are accepting an increase in cost, although it has apparently been framed as a value proposition from TSMC's side towards its customers, which have accepted it as such. At the same time Wei once again refuted that TSMC is in any kind of talks with Intel or any other companies about joint ventures, technology licensing or technology transfer. This should put further rumours about any form of joint venture to rest for now.
Apparently the move to build the new fabs is due to increased demand from TSMC's US customers, which includes AMD, Apple, NVIDIA, Qualcomm and Broadcom, to mention its biggest US customers. It seems like those that are planning to produce chips at TSMC's new fabs in the US are accepting an increase in cost, although it has apparently been framed as a value proposition from TSMC's side towards its customers, which have accepted it as such. At the same time Wei once again refuted that TSMC is in any kind of talks with Intel or any other companies about joint ventures, technology licensing or technology transfer. This should put further rumours about any form of joint venture to rest for now.
NVIDIA GeForce NOW Gets Eleven New Titles, Including Hunt: Showdown 1896 and Forever Skies
As the days grow longer and the flowers bloom, GFN Thursday brings a fresh lineup of games to brighten the week. Dive into thrilling hunts and dark fantasy adventures with the arrivals of titles like Hunt: Showdown 1896 - now available on Xbox and PC Game Pass - and Mandragora: Whispers of the Witch Tree on GeForce NOW. Whether chasing bounties in the Colorado Rockies or battling chaos in a cursed land, players will gain unforgettable experiences with these games in the cloud. Plus, roll with the punches in Capcom's MARVEL vs. CAPCOM Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics, part of 11 games GeForce NOW is adding to its cloud gaming library - featuring over 2,000 titles playable with GeForce RTX 4080 performance.
Spring Into Gaming Anywhere
With the arrivals of Hunt: Showdown 1896 and Mandragora: Whispers of the Witch Tree in the cloud, GeForce NOW members can take their gaming journeys anywhere, from the wild frontiers of the American West to the shadowy forests of a dark fantasy realm.
Spring Into Gaming Anywhere
With the arrivals of Hunt: Showdown 1896 and Mandragora: Whispers of the Witch Tree in the cloud, GeForce NOW members can take their gaming journeys anywhere, from the wild frontiers of the American West to the shadowy forests of a dark fantasy realm.
Corsair Launches VOID WIRELESS v2 Gaming Headset with Dolby Atmos
Corsair, a leading global developer and manufacturer of high-performance gear and technology for gamers, content creators, and PC enthusiasts, is proud to launch the VOID WIRELESS v2 Gaming Headset, the latest high-performance headset in the award-winning VOID line. The Corsair VOID family of gaming headsets has become synonymous with quality gaming audio, lasting comfort, and superb build quality, and the new VOID Wireless v2 continues this with a range of features and updates.
The VOID WIRELESS v2 pulls gamers into a truly immersive experience thanks to custom-tuned 50 mm neodymium audio drivers that create high-fidelity, dynamic soundscapes with incredible clarity and depth. Combined with Dolby Atmos Spatial Audio, players can pinpoint every footstep, explosion, and movement with incredible directional accuracy, adding depth and realism to their game.
The VOID WIRELESS v2 pulls gamers into a truly immersive experience thanks to custom-tuned 50 mm neodymium audio drivers that create high-fidelity, dynamic soundscapes with incredible clarity and depth. Combined with Dolby Atmos Spatial Audio, players can pinpoint every footstep, explosion, and movement with incredible directional accuracy, adding depth and realism to their game.
Foxconn Allegedly Moving its iPhone Production to India
The Taiwan media is reporting that Foxconn has been busy moving more and more of its production from China to India, with the main focus being on Apple's iPhone and iPad products for now. Foxconn has been producing iPhones for the Indian market in India since 2019, but the story here is that China has banned Foxconn from sending Chinese staff to India to train the local staff and oversee the production. This has resulted in Foxconn having to send staff from Taiwan to India instead, but they might not be as familiar with the entire production process as the ones that are based in the factories in China.
This is only part of the issue though, as the news reports are also mentioning that China is preventing Foxconn from sending machines and equipment needed for the production to India. The same issue is said to be affecting other Taiwanese companies that are moving some of their production out of China to India, but they've had no issues when it comes to sending equipment to other nations in South East Asia. The equipment is apparently not possible to produce locally in India either, which means that these companies are more or less being forced to keep their production in China. To work around this issue, Foxconn is said to be sending half-finished phones and components to India, to do the final assembly there, to keep up production in India. So far, this is just rumours out of Taiwan, but it looks like China is intent on keeping the production on its shores for as long as it can.
This is only part of the issue though, as the news reports are also mentioning that China is preventing Foxconn from sending machines and equipment needed for the production to India. The same issue is said to be affecting other Taiwanese companies that are moving some of their production out of China to India, but they've had no issues when it comes to sending equipment to other nations in South East Asia. The equipment is apparently not possible to produce locally in India either, which means that these companies are more or less being forced to keep their production in China. To work around this issue, Foxconn is said to be sending half-finished phones and components to India, to do the final assembly there, to keep up production in India. So far, this is just rumours out of Taiwan, but it looks like China is intent on keeping the production on its shores for as long as it can.
GameSir Introduces X5 Lite - a Lightweight Entry-level Mobile Controller
Looking for the perfect entry-level mobile controller? Meet the GameSir X5 Lite—lightweight, widely compatible, and designed for all-day comfort. With Hall Effect sticks, cushioned triggers, and more, it delivers everything you need for a smoother, more comfortable mobile gaming experience. Now available for pre-order on the GameSir official website. Designed for flexibility, the X5 Lite supports both Android and iOS devices from 105 mm to 213 mm wide. Enjoy ultra-low latency gaming sessions with the GameSir movable Type-C port for a secure connection and lag-free play.
At just 135.4 grams, the X5 Lite is built for long sessions without fatigue. Its ergonomic design and laser-engraved textured grips ensure a comfortable, non-slip hold—whether you're gaming on the couch or on the go. Equipped with GameSir anti-drift Hall Effect sticks, the X5 Lite delivers pinpoint accuracy and 360° seamless control. Built for precision and longevity, these sticks are highly responsive and resistant to wear and drift—ensuring smooth, consistent input over time. It also features durable membrane triggers and buttons with cushioned feedback for a quieter, more comfortable gaming experience—perfect for long sessions without finger fatigue.
At just 135.4 grams, the X5 Lite is built for long sessions without fatigue. Its ergonomic design and laser-engraved textured grips ensure a comfortable, non-slip hold—whether you're gaming on the couch or on the go. Equipped with GameSir anti-drift Hall Effect sticks, the X5 Lite delivers pinpoint accuracy and 360° seamless control. Built for precision and longevity, these sticks are highly responsive and resistant to wear and drift—ensuring smooth, consistent input over time. It also features durable membrane triggers and buttons with cushioned feedback for a quieter, more comfortable gaming experience—perfect for long sessions without finger fatigue.
SolidRun Introduces HoneyComb Ryzen V3000 Mini-ITX Development Platform
SolidRun, a leading developer and manufacturer of high-performance System on Module (SOM) solutions, Single Board Computers (SBC) and network edge solutions, has announced the launch of the HoneyComb Ryzen V3000 development platform. This innovative Mini-ITX board, built around SolidRun's Ryzen Embedded V3000 COM Express 7 (CX7) module, provides outstanding performance, reliability, and flexibility for prototyping and expediting time to market for industrial, networking, and edge computing solutions.
Combining SolidRun's AMD Ryzen V3000 CX7 Module, equipped with the AMD Ryzen Embedded 8-core V3C18I processor running at 1.9 GHz (base) and up to 3.8 GHz (boost) and 64 GB DDR5 memory, the HoneyComb Ryzen V3000 Mini-ITX development platform, equipped with fast and reliable PCIe Gen 4 NVMe storage, delivers exceptional computing power and performance in an ultra-compact form factor. Designed to withstand extreme conditions this system includes a powered CPU cooler, to support operating in environments ranging from -40°C to 85°C and can be configured to run at 15 to 45 Watts.
Combining SolidRun's AMD Ryzen V3000 CX7 Module, equipped with the AMD Ryzen Embedded 8-core V3C18I processor running at 1.9 GHz (base) and up to 3.8 GHz (boost) and 64 GB DDR5 memory, the HoneyComb Ryzen V3000 Mini-ITX development platform, equipped with fast and reliable PCIe Gen 4 NVMe storage, delivers exceptional computing power and performance in an ultra-compact form factor. Designed to withstand extreme conditions this system includes a powered CPU cooler, to support operating in environments ranging from -40°C to 85°C and can be configured to run at 15 to 45 Watts.
MicroProse to Publish Airborne Ranger: Fightout Game
MicroProse, recognized for its contributions to military simulation and strategy games, is pleased to announce plans to publish Airborne Ranger: Fightout.
This new action-packed title builds on the foundation of the 1987 classic while embracing modern gameplay elements.
Airborne Ranger: Fightout single-player and co-operative game for up to four players, the game offers a blend of tactical action and survival mechanics. Players step into a near-future world of chaos and conflict, scavenging resources, upgrading skills, and working together to complete challenging missions.
Co-op play emphasizes teamwork and strategy, as squads coordinate to navigate varied maps, accomplish objectives, and make high-risk extractions for valuable rewards.
This new action-packed title builds on the foundation of the 1987 classic while embracing modern gameplay elements.
Airborne Ranger: Fightout single-player and co-operative game for up to four players, the game offers a blend of tactical action and survival mechanics. Players step into a near-future world of chaos and conflict, scavenging resources, upgrading skills, and working together to complete challenging missions.
Co-op play emphasizes teamwork and strategy, as squads coordinate to navigate varied maps, accomplish objectives, and make high-risk extractions for valuable rewards.
CRKD Drop New Fortnite Collection of Collectible Gaming Gear
CRKD, the premium collectible gaming brand behind the award-winning Nitro Deck, NEO S and ATOM collectible controllers, announced today a new range of Fortnite themed collectible gaming accessories.
The new Fortnite themed range of accessories, follows the successful launch of the CRKD Rocket League collection and the Festival Controller launch, a game pad designed for Fortnite Festival.
The new Fortnite themed range of accessories, follows the successful launch of the CRKD Rocket League collection and the Festival Controller launch, a game pad designed for Fortnite Festival.
Windows 11 April Update Triggers BSOD, Breaks Windows Hello
Ever since people installed Microsoft's April cumulative update for Windows 11 24H2 (KB5055523), many have been greeted by a blue screen showing error code 0x18B and the message SECURE_KERNEL_ERROR. What started as a few scattered reports after March's KB5053656 and KB5053598 patches quickly became a widespread frustration once the April release went live. Some PCs reboot every minute or two, while others refuse to start up at all. Microsoft has acknowledged the problem in an updated support notice and is rolling out a Known Issue Rollback (KIR) to strip out the offending code. Home users should see the fix applied automatically within 24 hours, though you can speed things along by signing back in after a crash, opening Settings > Update & Security, and checking for updates up to five times. The rollback won't appear in your update history, but it will install quietly in the background.
IT teams don't need to wait, either. Administrators can push the KIR patch via Group Policy, and full instructions are available on Microsoft's support site. While the company hasn't detailed exactly what triggers the SECURE_KERNEL_ERROR or how often it occurs, a permanent correction is set to arrive in a future monthly update. In addition to the blue screens and reboot loops, some users have reported that Windows Hello facial recognition and fingerprint login stopped working. The quick workaround is removing and reconfiguring your biometric credentials. However, a complete repair is expected in May. After installing April's update, you may also notice a new "Inetpub" folder on your C: drive. This directory is the default home for Internet Information Services web files, and Microsoft confirms it was created on purpose to support optional web‑hosting features. If you haven't enabled IIS, the folder will sit unused and doesn't pose any risk, so avoid deleting it to prevent potential errors if you choose to turn those services on later. In the meantime, keep Windows Updates checked for any new patches.
IT teams don't need to wait, either. Administrators can push the KIR patch via Group Policy, and full instructions are available on Microsoft's support site. While the company hasn't detailed exactly what triggers the SECURE_KERNEL_ERROR or how often it occurs, a permanent correction is set to arrive in a future monthly update. In addition to the blue screens and reboot loops, some users have reported that Windows Hello facial recognition and fingerprint login stopped working. The quick workaround is removing and reconfiguring your biometric credentials. However, a complete repair is expected in May. After installing April's update, you may also notice a new "Inetpub" folder on your C: drive. This directory is the default home for Internet Information Services web files, and Microsoft confirms it was created on purpose to support optional web‑hosting features. If you haven't enabled IIS, the folder will sit unused and doesn't pose any risk, so avoid deleting it to prevent potential errors if you choose to turn those services on later. In the meantime, keep Windows Updates checked for any new patches.
TSMC Expands U.S. Footprint with Two New Fabs in Arizona
TSMC is speeding up its plans to grow worldwide, the company's Chairman, C.C. Wei is announcing they'll start building their third and fourth fabs in Arizona later this year. This comes after TSMC finished constructing the second Arizona plant while the first fab started volume production in Q4 2024. TSMC wants to open its second factory about six months earlier than planned due to increasing customer demand. The first factory will make 4 nm chips, the second will target 3 nm chips, and the newer ones will work on even smaller N2 and A16 nodes. This rapid expansion is part of TSMC's additional $100 billion investment to build five more semiconductor plants and a research center in the U.S. In total, TSMC will invest $165 billion in the United States.
Besides its US operations, TSMC keeps pushing forward with its worldwide manufacturing plans. Wei dismissed rumors of setbacks at the company's upcoming Kumamoto plant in Japan. He confirmed that their first fab started mass production in late 2024, achieving excellent yields. They plan to begin building a second Japanese facility this year, once the infrastructure is ready. The company's European expansion in Dresden is also on track, with strong backing from both the European Commission and the German federal government. They broke ground at the Dresden site in August 2024 as Europe's first FinFET-capable dedicated foundry operation.
Besides its US operations, TSMC keeps pushing forward with its worldwide manufacturing plans. Wei dismissed rumors of setbacks at the company's upcoming Kumamoto plant in Japan. He confirmed that their first fab started mass production in late 2024, achieving excellent yields. They plan to begin building a second Japanese facility this year, once the infrastructure is ready. The company's European expansion in Dresden is also on track, with strong backing from both the European Commission and the German federal government. They broke ground at the Dresden site in August 2024 as Europe's first FinFET-capable dedicated foundry operation.
JEDEC and Industry Leaders Collaborate to Release JESD270-4 HBM4 Standard
JEDEC Solid State Technology Association, the global leader in the development of standards for the microelectronics industry, today announced the publication of its highly anticipated High Bandwidth Memory (HBM) DRAM standard: HBM4. Designed as an evolutionary step beyond the previous HBM3 standard, JESD270-4 HBM4 will further enhance data processing rates while maintaining essential features such as higher bandwidth, power efficiency, and increased capacity per die and/or stack, because the higher bandwidth enables the higher data processing rate.
The advancements introduced by HBM4 are vital for applications that require efficient handling of large datasets and complex calculations, including generative artificial intelligence (AI), high-performance computing, high-end graphics cards, and servers. HBM4 introduces numerous improvements to the prior version of the standard, including:
The advancements introduced by HBM4 are vital for applications that require efficient handling of large datasets and complex calculations, including generative artificial intelligence (AI), high-performance computing, high-end graphics cards, and servers. HBM4 introduces numerous improvements to the prior version of the standard, including:
Manli Releases the GeForce RTX 5060 Ti Graphics Cards
Manli Technology Group Limited is proud to announce the Manli GeForce RTX 5060 Ti graphics card. The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 Ti, powered by the NVIDIA Blackwell architecture, enables game-changing AI capabilities in the latest games and apps. Multiply performance with NVIDIA DLSS 4, enjoy realistic graphics with ray tracing, and take your creativity further with NVIDIA Studio.
Manli Design
There are 4,608 CUDA cores powering the RTX 5060 Ti. It will be launched in two versions: one with 16 GB and another with 8 GB of memory, both featuring GDDR7 with speeds of up to 28 Gbps. Equipped with 5th Gen Tensor Cores, it delivers up to 759 AI TOPS. No matter you're gaming enthusiast, applications creator, ACG followers or just getting started to try NVIDIA Blackwell, Manli offers diversified version to meet your demand. You can try our luxury - Stellar, snow-white - Polar Fox & classic - Nebula. Expect you to have a whole new adventure with Manli's graphic cards. Stay with Manli, you always have the choice!!!
Manli Design
There are 4,608 CUDA cores powering the RTX 5060 Ti. It will be launched in two versions: one with 16 GB and another with 8 GB of memory, both featuring GDDR7 with speeds of up to 28 Gbps. Equipped with 5th Gen Tensor Cores, it delivers up to 759 AI TOPS. No matter you're gaming enthusiast, applications creator, ACG followers or just getting started to try NVIDIA Blackwell, Manli offers diversified version to meet your demand. You can try our luxury - Stellar, snow-white - Polar Fox & classic - Nebula. Expect you to have a whole new adventure with Manli's graphic cards. Stay with Manli, you always have the choice!!!
TSMC Reports First Quarter EPS of NT$13.94
TSMC, today announced consolidated revenue of NT$839.25 billion, net income of NT$361.56 billion, and diluted earnings per share of NT$13.94 (US$2.12 per ADR unit) for the first quarter ended March 31, 2025.
Year-over-year, first quarter revenue increased 41.6%, while net income and diluted EPS increased 60.3% and 60.4% respectively. Compared to fourth quarter 2024, first quarter results represented a 3.4% decrease in revenue and a 3.5% decrease in net income. All figures were prepared in accordance with TIFRS on a consolidated basis.
Year-over-year, first quarter revenue increased 41.6%, while net income and diluted EPS increased 60.3% and 60.4% respectively. Compared to fourth quarter 2024, first quarter results represented a 3.4% decrease in revenue and a 3.5% decrease in net income. All figures were prepared in accordance with TIFRS on a consolidated basis.
CHERRY Announces MX Northern Light Switch with Exclusive K5V2 + GP6 Bundle
CHERRY, the global leader in mechanical keyboard switch innovation, is proud to introduce the MX Northern Light, a special-edition, community-crafted linear switch delivering the smoothest typing experience CHERRY has ever engineered.
Developed by CHERRY's in-house team of switch enthusiasts, MX Northern Light is a love letter to the keyboard community. It blends the latest MX2A innovations with never-before-seen enhancements, including an ultra-polished top housing and a custom-engineered blue bottom, resulting in a switch that's as smooth as it is striking.
Developed by CHERRY's in-house team of switch enthusiasts, MX Northern Light is a love letter to the keyboard community. It blends the latest MX2A innovations with never-before-seen enhancements, including an ultra-polished top housing and a custom-engineered blue bottom, resulting in a switch that's as smooth as it is striking.
ADATA Launches New SD 8.0 Express Memory Card, UFD, and M.2 Enclosure
As the demand for remote work, mobile creation, and high-resolution content processing increases, high-speed and reliable mobile storage solutions have become crucial for improving work efficiency and creative flexibility. Global memory and flash storage leading brand ADATA Technology Co., Ltd. today announces three new products: industry's first Premier Extreme SD 8.0 Express memory card, UE720 USB 3.2 Gen 2 Flash Drive, and EC680 M.2 SSD Enclosure, bringing a comprehensive upgrade to the efficient storage experience for professional creators and remote workers.
Industry's first Premier Extreme SD 8.0 Express memory card: Small card, big energy
ADATA Technology is currently the first company to launch SD 8.0 Express specification memory card in the market, leading the industry in technology. The new Premier Extreme SD 8.0 Express memory card is equipped with PCIe Gen 3 x2 interface and NVMe transfer protocol, with maximum read/write speeds up to 1,600 / 1,200 MB/s, performance. It is 2 times faster than SD EXPRESS 7.0, 12 times faster than UHS-I SD memory cards, 4 times faster than UHS-II, and even surpassing commercially available external SSDs, completely rewriting the speed bottleneck of traditional memory cards. The memory card also supports U3, V30 video speed class, and comes with 512 GB large capacity, easily handling 4K video recording, RAW image processing, or multitasking. SD Express 8.0 supports multi-device simultaneous access, further enhancing data integration efficiency. The product also has built-in LDPC ECC automatic error correction technology and has passed multiple rigorous tests such as waterproof, shockproof, anti-static, and high and low temperature resistance, providing comprehensive protection for data security.
Industry's first Premier Extreme SD 8.0 Express memory card: Small card, big energy
ADATA Technology is currently the first company to launch SD 8.0 Express specification memory card in the market, leading the industry in technology. The new Premier Extreme SD 8.0 Express memory card is equipped with PCIe Gen 3 x2 interface and NVMe transfer protocol, with maximum read/write speeds up to 1,600 / 1,200 MB/s, performance. It is 2 times faster than SD EXPRESS 7.0, 12 times faster than UHS-I SD memory cards, 4 times faster than UHS-II, and even surpassing commercially available external SSDs, completely rewriting the speed bottleneck of traditional memory cards. The memory card also supports U3, V30 video speed class, and comes with 512 GB large capacity, easily handling 4K video recording, RAW image processing, or multitasking. SD Express 8.0 supports multi-device simultaneous access, further enhancing data integration efficiency. The product also has built-in LDPC ECC automatic error correction technology and has passed multiple rigorous tests such as waterproof, shockproof, anti-static, and high and low temperature resistance, providing comprehensive protection for data security.
MAINGEAR Adds NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 and RTX 5060 Graphics Cards Across Full Range of Desktops
MAINGEAR, the leader in premium-quality, high-performance gaming PCs is expanding its lineup of custom gaming desktops and workstations with the addition of the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 and RTX 5060 Ti graphics cards. These new GPUs bring next-generation performance, AI-powered features, and incredible value to a wider range of gamers and creators.
The GeForce RTX 5060 and 5060 Ti graphics cards will also be specified into MAINGEAR's 2025 Silver and Gold preconfigured MG-1 systems respectively. MAINGEAR systems with the RTX 5060 Ti are available for order immediately at www.maingear.com. Systems with the RTX 5060 will be available for order when the GPU is released.
The GeForce RTX 5060 and 5060 Ti graphics cards will also be specified into MAINGEAR's 2025 Silver and Gold preconfigured MG-1 systems respectively. MAINGEAR systems with the RTX 5060 Ti are available for order immediately at www.maingear.com. Systems with the RTX 5060 will be available for order when the GPU is released.
EIZO Releases New 24.1-inch FlexScan EV2410R Monitor for Business and Other Applications
EIZO Corporation (TSE: 6737) today announced the release of the FlexScan EV2410R - a 24.1-inch WUXGA resolution (1920 x 1200) monitor for business and other applications. It is the successor model to the FlexScan EV2456, continuing to meet the versatile and long-term supply needs of various organizations. The EV2410R is designed with improved energy efficiency, making it ideal for organizations prioritizing sustainability and energy conservation.
With sustainability gaining more significance in the modern landscape, organizations are urged to make well-informed decisions when procuring new technology. The EV2410R consumes just 8 watts of power, representing a 27% reduction compared to its predecessor. This substantial decrease helps users to lower energy costs and contributes to a smaller carbon footprint, supporting sustainability efforts. The EV2410R is certified by comprehensive global sustainability standards, including TCO Certified, generation 10 and the ENERGY STAR label. It has also achieved the highest tier of EPEAT Gold and the EPEAT Climate+ designation, further highlighting EIZO's commitment to sustainability.
With sustainability gaining more significance in the modern landscape, organizations are urged to make well-informed decisions when procuring new technology. The EV2410R consumes just 8 watts of power, representing a 27% reduction compared to its predecessor. This substantial decrease helps users to lower energy costs and contributes to a smaller carbon footprint, supporting sustainability efforts. The EV2410R is certified by comprehensive global sustainability standards, including TCO Certified, generation 10 and the ENERGY STAR label. It has also achieved the highest tier of EPEAT Gold and the EPEAT Climate+ designation, further highlighting EIZO's commitment to sustainability.
Drop and BETHESDA Join Forces to Launch Starfield-inspired Keyboard Collection
Drop, the leading community-driven mechanical keyboard brand, is thrilled to announce its latest collaboration with Bethesda Softworks, bringing the immersive universe of Starfield to players' desktop setups. This exclusive Drop + Starfield collection features a custom keyboard, an artisan keycap, a coiled USB cable, and a desk mat—all meticulously designed to capture the essence of interstellar exploration.
At the heart of this collection is the Drop + Starfield Constellation Keyboard, a mechanical keyboard inspired by the cockpit controls of Starfield's futuristic Starships. The keycaps, designed with precise detailing, mirror the interfaces and control panels seen in-game, giving users the feel of a pilot experience with every keystroke. Combined with Drop's renowned mechanical keyboard craftsmanship, this keyboard delivers not only immersive aesthetics but also top-tier performance.
At the heart of this collection is the Drop + Starfield Constellation Keyboard, a mechanical keyboard inspired by the cockpit controls of Starfield's futuristic Starships. The keycaps, designed with precise detailing, mirror the interfaces and control panels seen in-game, giving users the feel of a pilot experience with every keystroke. Combined with Drop's renowned mechanical keyboard craftsmanship, this keyboard delivers not only immersive aesthetics but also top-tier performance.
Wednesday, April 16th 2025
Today's Reviews
CPU Coolers
Memory
Monitors
Mouse
Multimedia
ASUS GeForce RTX 5060 Ti TUF OC 16 GB Review
The TUF OC is the top model in the ASUS GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 16 GB lineup. You get a high-quality cooler construction that looks mighty impressive. Also included is a factory-overclock and a dual BIOS with quiet mode that runs at ultra-quiet noise levels.
MSI GeForce RTX 5060 Ti Gaming Trio OC 16 GB Review
The MSI GeForce RTX 5060 Ti Gaming Trio OC comes with a powerful triple-fan, dual-slot cooling solution that achieves fantastic noise levels, even without a dual BIOS. Temperatures are excellent, too, and you get a decent overclock out of the box.
Palit GeForce RTX 5060 Ti Infinity 3 16 GB Review
Priced at NVIDIA MSRP of $430, the Palit GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 16 GB Infinity 3 is a cost-effective choice if you're looking for a model that doesn't break the bank. Palit didn't compromise on the cooling solution, our review confirms: it runs cool and at quiet noise levels.
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 Ti PCI-Express x8 Scaling
The new NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 Ti uses the modern PCI-Express 5.0 bus interface, but supports only an 8-lane configuration. This is just half the bandwidth of the higher-end models, which run at x16. Are you in trouble with an older system, which only supports running at PCIe 4.0?
ASUS GeForce RTX 5060 Ti Prime OC 16 GB Review
The ASUS GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 16 GB Prime OC sits one level below the TUF, which makes it more affordable. Surprisingly, it comes with the best cooler of all RTX 5060 Ti cards tested, and it's also the quietest model when its "quiet" BIOS is activated.
MSI GeForce RTX 5060 Ti Gaming OC 16 GB Review
The MSI GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 16 GB Gaming OC comes with a factory overclock and powerful cooler that achieves whisper-quiet noise levels. The card is shorter than most competing models, which ensures it can fit into smaller cases without problems.
Zotac GeForce RTX 5060 Ti AMP 16 GB Review
The Zotac GeForce RTX 5060 Ti AMP is a factory-overclocked custom design variant that's highly compact. With just two slots and a 22x12 cm footprint, it will fit into any case. Thanks to its fantastic energy efficiency, PSU requirements won't be a problem either, making this a great choice for upgraders.
Bloober Team Presents First Gameplay Footage from Cronos: The New Dawn
Bloober Team has unleashed the first full gameplay trailer for Cronos: The New Dawn, the studio's all-new original survival horror IP. This eerie first look at full gameplay showcases THE MERGE, an innovative new mechanic that changes the way players confront enemies, turning every encounter into a mind-bending nightmare and struggle for survival.
Set across two time periods - the grim ruins of a post-apocalyptic future as well as in 1980s-era Poland—Cronos: The New Dawn thrusts players into the decaying district of New Dawn, inspired by real-life Nowa Huta. You play as a Traveller, an agent of the mysterious Collective, emerging from a dystopian future to dive back into time and extract key people before they perish in the apocalypse. As you explore a world on the brink of annihilation, you'll encounter grotesque enemies known as the Orphans—twisted, body-horror monstrosities born from humanity's darkest nightmares.
Set across two time periods - the grim ruins of a post-apocalyptic future as well as in 1980s-era Poland—Cronos: The New Dawn thrusts players into the decaying district of New Dawn, inspired by real-life Nowa Huta. You play as a Traveller, an agent of the mysterious Collective, emerging from a dystopian future to dive back into time and extract key people before they perish in the apocalypse. As you explore a world on the brink of annihilation, you'll encounter grotesque enemies known as the Orphans—twisted, body-horror monstrosities born from humanity's darkest nightmares.
Report Suggests Huawei Ascend 910C AI Accelerator's Utilization of Foreign Parts; Investigators Find 7 nm TSMC Dies
Earlier today, TechPowerUp covered the alleged performance prowess of Huawei's CloudMatrix 384 system super node. According to SemiAnalysis opinion, the system's Ascend 910C AI accelerators are a generation behind—in terms of chip performance—when compared to NVIDIA's GB200 "Blackwell" AI GPU design. SMIC seemed to be in the picture, as Huawei's main fabrication partner—possibly with an in-progress 5 nm node process. Instead, SemiAnalysis has surmised that the Ascend 910C is based on plenty of non-native technologies. Huawei's (current and prior) "aggressive skirting of export controls" has likely enabled the new-gen AI chip's better than expected performance stats. SemiAnalysis documented the early sample's origins: "while the Ascend chip can be fabricated at SMIC, we note that this is a global chip that has HBM from Korea (Samsung), primary wafer production from TSMC (Taiwan), and is fabricated by 10s of billions of wafer fabrication equipment from the US, Netherlands, and Japan...One common misconception is that Huawei's 910C is made in China. It is entirely designed there, but China still relies heavily on foreign production."
Despite China's premiere foundry business making pleasing in-roads with a theorized "7 nm N+2" manufacturing test line, Huawei has seemingly grown impatient with native immature production options. Today's SemiAnalysis article presents a decent dose of inside knowledge: "while SMIC does have 7 nm, the vast majority of Ascend 910B and 910C are made with TSMC's 7 nm. In fact, the US Government, TechInsights, and others have acquired Ascend 910B and 910C and every single one used TSMC dies. Huawei was able to circumvent the sanctions on them against TSMC by purchasing ~$500 million of 7 nm wafers through another company, Sophgo...It is rumored Huawei continues to receive wafers from TSMC via another 3rd party firm, but we cannot verify this rumor." Another (fabless) Chinese chip design firm—Xiaomi—appears to still have direct/unrestricted access to TSMC manufacturing lines, albeit not for enterprise-grade AI products.
Despite China's premiere foundry business making pleasing in-roads with a theorized "7 nm N+2" manufacturing test line, Huawei has seemingly grown impatient with native immature production options. Today's SemiAnalysis article presents a decent dose of inside knowledge: "while SMIC does have 7 nm, the vast majority of Ascend 910B and 910C are made with TSMC's 7 nm. In fact, the US Government, TechInsights, and others have acquired Ascend 910B and 910C and every single one used TSMC dies. Huawei was able to circumvent the sanctions on them against TSMC by purchasing ~$500 million of 7 nm wafers through another company, Sophgo...It is rumored Huawei continues to receive wafers from TSMC via another 3rd party firm, but we cannot verify this rumor." Another (fabless) Chinese chip design firm—Xiaomi—appears to still have direct/unrestricted access to TSMC manufacturing lines, albeit not for enterprise-grade AI products.
Lushfoil Photography Sim Out Now on PC, PlayStation 5 & Xbox Series X|S
It's the end of a long road, I'm exhausted. It's intimidating to finally put Lushfoil out there, but I'm also overwhelmingly excited to see what people can create with it. I hope the game falls into the right hands, and that those people with a sense of experimentation and creativity can surprise us all with what they've taken. I've put a lot of love and intention into the environments created in this game, and now it feels like time to pass it on. I can't wait to see the photos you take!
I'm thrilled to introduce Lushfoil Photography Sim, a tranquil, open-ended photography exploration experience available today on Xbox Series X|S. While real-life photography can be accessible, it can be harder to commit the time and money to travel. Inspired by some real-world locations that had a huge impact on me, I wanted to virtually recreate some of the highlights of my travels so others can experience them too. I committed to learning Unreal Engine over the last few years in order to do each location justice, and make the game I've always wanted to make.
I'm thrilled to introduce Lushfoil Photography Sim, a tranquil, open-ended photography exploration experience available today on Xbox Series X|S. While real-life photography can be accessible, it can be harder to commit the time and money to travel. Inspired by some real-world locations that had a huge impact on me, I wanted to virtually recreate some of the highlights of my travels so others can experience them too. I committed to learning Unreal Engine over the last few years in order to do each location justice, and make the game I've always wanted to make.
Xiaomi Reportedly Forms New In-house Chip Department; Headed by Former Qualcomm Marketing Director
Last year, leakers posited that Xiaomi engineers were working on proprietary new-generation mobile chipset. The giant Chinese technology company has produced proprietary SoC designs in the past—most notably 2017's Pengpai/Surge S1 (blink, and you missed it)—but has largely relied on a wide swatch of Qualcomm solutions for deployment in smartphones. According to a fairly fresh ITHome news report (via a source at Sina Technology), Xiaomi has established a "chip platform department" under the umbrella of its mobile phone product development division. The exact nature of this newly-formed team remains semi-mysterious, and how it intermeshes with current (rumored) proprietary chip design efforts. The megacorporation's speculated "dedicated chip platform department" is said to be working on a "Xuanjie" SoC series.
Qin Muyun—a former senior director of product marketing at Qualcomm—is purported to be the new department's leader. Insiders believe that Muyun will answer directly to Xiaomi's CEO: Lei Jun. Over the past half decade, company engineers have accumulated chip designing experience in multiple lesser technology fields—ITHome lists: "imaging, fast charging, power management, communication, and display" aspects. Xiaomi leadership could be "shaking up" its first-party SoC development projects. Two weeks ago, rumors turned up online regarding a node process downgrade—from 3 nm to 4 nm. Smartphone industry watchdogs reckon that Xiaomi's forthcoming flagship chipset design will perform on the level of Qualcomm's first generation Snapdragon 8 mobile processor (from 2021).
Qin Muyun—a former senior director of product marketing at Qualcomm—is purported to be the new department's leader. Insiders believe that Muyun will answer directly to Xiaomi's CEO: Lei Jun. Over the past half decade, company engineers have accumulated chip designing experience in multiple lesser technology fields—ITHome lists: "imaging, fast charging, power management, communication, and display" aspects. Xiaomi leadership could be "shaking up" its first-party SoC development projects. Two weeks ago, rumors turned up online regarding a node process downgrade—from 3 nm to 4 nm. Smartphone industry watchdogs reckon that Xiaomi's forthcoming flagship chipset design will perform on the level of Qualcomm's first generation Snapdragon 8 mobile processor (from 2021).
Ubisoft's Colorblind Simulation Tool, Chroma, Released to Public
Chroma, Ubisoft's colorblind simulation tool, is now available for public use after several years of internal use and development. With an estimated 300 million people around the world affected by colorblindness, Chroma allows developers to accurately replicate their experience and create accessible content to meet their needs. The open-source tool works by applying a filter over the game screen without hindering performance."Over the past few years, Chroma has proven to be a highly efficient tool for us at Ubisoft," says David Tisserand, Director of Accessibility. "It has allowed us to assess the accessibility of our games for colorblind players much faster and more comprehensively than ever before. Because we believe accessibility is a journey, not a race, we're thrilled to share Chroma with the entire industry. We invite everyone to benefit from it, provide feedback, and contribute to its future development."
Development on Chroma started in 2021 as Ubisoft's Quality Control team based in India worked to create a tool that would provide feedback in real time and allow developers to control the game while simulating color blindness. Today, Chroma uses the Color Oracle algorithm and can be used on dual or single screens; furthermore, it works with hotkeys and has a customizable overlay.
Development on Chroma started in 2021 as Ubisoft's Quality Control team based in India worked to create a tool that would provide feedback in real time and allow developers to control the game while simulating color blindness. Today, Chroma uses the Color Oracle algorithm and can be used on dual or single screens; furthermore, it works with hotkeys and has a customizable overlay.
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 8 GB Variants Not Made Available to Review Outlets
As expected, NVIDIA lifted its GeForce RTX 5060 Ti graphics card review embargo earlier today (April 16)—TechPowerUp's audience can check out W1zzard's opening day evaluations of six board partner models here. Just ahead of publishing its own verdict, Hardware Unboxed uploaded a video that leveled mild criticism in the direction of Team Green decision makers. VideoCardz swiftly picked up on the Australian PC hardware media outlet's accusations—in summary, only GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 16 GB models were made available to reviewers and influencers. Hardware Unboxed's Tim Schiesser elaborated on circumstances: "while the launch is claimed to be the same day for the two variants, NVIDIA is only sampling the 16 GB card for reviews, so that is what will be covered on launch day. But it goes beyond that because we've been told that AIBs will not be supplying the 8 GB card for reviews and, in fact, cannot supply the 8 GB card for reviews. Despite NVIDIA giving us permission to source 8 GB models for day one reviews, board partners told us they were unable to send us a graphics card in some cases because they weren't ready, but in other cases because NVIDIA had explicitly prevented them from doing so."
Day old press material adverted a simultaneous launch of both variants, but the ($379 MSRP) cheaper option seems to be delayed. An official source disclosed news about this release date anomaly to Schiesser and colleagues: "NVIDIA told us the 8 GB card is coming slightly later, perhaps a week or so after the 16 GB card ($429 MSRP), which would make it launch on a different day. But despite this, they both have the same launch day. Hard to know what's going on there." Additionally, Hardware Unboxed and other news outlets detected mixed messages during Team Green press liaisons—earlier messages focused on 16 GB and 8 GB getting equal billing around launch time. According to follow-up reports, a recent Q&A session indicated the sudden prioritization of GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 16 GB models. As of yesterday evening, VideoCardz detected media talk regarding a surprising lifting of NVIDIA's GeForce RTX 5060 (non-Ti) review embargo. They outlined curious conditions: "GeForce RTX 5060 is supposed to launch in May, (but) will have its review embargo lifted on April 16; the same day as the RTX 5060 Ti. Yes, that means the RTX 5060 won't have official review coverage, and basically, whoever can source the card before launch will not even break the embargo by sharing the results." As covered by TechPowerup's news team, yesterday's Team Green PR blurb was headlined by the "game changing" GeForce RTX 5060 8 GB card and its $299 starting price tag.
Day old press material adverted a simultaneous launch of both variants, but the ($379 MSRP) cheaper option seems to be delayed. An official source disclosed news about this release date anomaly to Schiesser and colleagues: "NVIDIA told us the 8 GB card is coming slightly later, perhaps a week or so after the 16 GB card ($429 MSRP), which would make it launch on a different day. But despite this, they both have the same launch day. Hard to know what's going on there." Additionally, Hardware Unboxed and other news outlets detected mixed messages during Team Green press liaisons—earlier messages focused on 16 GB and 8 GB getting equal billing around launch time. According to follow-up reports, a recent Q&A session indicated the sudden prioritization of GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 16 GB models. As of yesterday evening, VideoCardz detected media talk regarding a surprising lifting of NVIDIA's GeForce RTX 5060 (non-Ti) review embargo. They outlined curious conditions: "GeForce RTX 5060 is supposed to launch in May, (but) will have its review embargo lifted on April 16; the same day as the RTX 5060 Ti. Yes, that means the RTX 5060 won't have official review coverage, and basically, whoever can source the card before launch will not even break the embargo by sharing the results." As covered by TechPowerup's news team, yesterday's Team Green PR blurb was headlined by the "game changing" GeForce RTX 5060 8 GB card and its $299 starting price tag.
AMD Faces $800M Loss from U.S. Chip Export Curbs to China
AMD revealed today that it anticipates charges of up to $800 million following the Trump administration's latest crackdown on exports of advanced processors to China. The company confirmed that these new rules affect its MI308 product line. The U.S. Commerce Department declared on Tuesday that it was putting in place new licensing requirements impacting several high-performance chips, including NVIDIA's H20, AMD's MI308, and similar products. This regulatory move comes at a high price for AMD, as China stands as its second-biggest market in 2024 with about $6.23 billion in revenue, over 24% of the company's total sales.
AMD's regulatory filing reveals that the company faces $800 million in charges due to inventory issues, purchase commitments, and needed reserves. AMD "expects to apply for licenses but there is no assurance that licenses will be granted,". This uncertainty grows when we consider what Jefferies analysts pointed out on Tuesday: the U.S. has never agreed on licenses for graphics processor unit shipments to China. This news comes right after NVIDIA's announcement that it would take $5.5 billion in charges because of the same export rules. As a result, AMD and NVIDIA stocks were dropping by more than 5%.
AMD's regulatory filing reveals that the company faces $800 million in charges due to inventory issues, purchase commitments, and needed reserves. AMD "expects to apply for licenses but there is no assurance that licenses will be granted,". This uncertainty grows when we consider what Jefferies analysts pointed out on Tuesday: the U.S. has never agreed on licenses for graphics processor unit shipments to China. This news comes right after NVIDIA's announcement that it would take $5.5 billion in charges because of the same export rules. As a result, AMD and NVIDIA stocks were dropping by more than 5%.
ARC Raiders Tech Test 2 Coming to PC & Consoles on April 30
Raiders! On Wednesday, April 30th, we're kicking off the ARC Raiders Tech Test 2, where invited playtesters on Steam, Epic Games Store, and consoles will be able to experience the deadly exploits of the Rust Belt, for five full days. This will be our largest test of ARC Raiders to date, for the first time also including players on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and the Epic Games Store. The purpose of the test is to see how the game performs in a live environment across all launch platforms and gather key insights and feedback from players like you. This time around, you're free to share or stream gameplay capture and tell the world of your experience in ARC Raiders—in other words, the playtest is not confidential.
So, what can I expect?
For those who may need a refresher: ARC Raiders is a multiplayer extraction adventure, set in a lethal future earth, where little remains of the world we know today. On the surface, threats are everywhere: ARC machines loom high in the skies and lurk in the shadowy corners of abandoned spaceports and run-down warehouses. You'll encounter everything from roaming rollbots to multi-legged behemoths, and the choice will be yours—team up to defeat them, or risk combat with your fellow Raiders if you'd rather keep the spoils for yourself. While the line between friend and foe is razor thin on the surface, in Speranza, you'll find refuge. The Traders there are ready to supply you with quests and gear. You can also craft equipment in your Raider Den, such as advanced weapon mods or unique gadgets. With every level gained on the surface, you can invest your experience into a branching skill tree.
So, what can I expect?
For those who may need a refresher: ARC Raiders is a multiplayer extraction adventure, set in a lethal future earth, where little remains of the world we know today. On the surface, threats are everywhere: ARC machines loom high in the skies and lurk in the shadowy corners of abandoned spaceports and run-down warehouses. You'll encounter everything from roaming rollbots to multi-legged behemoths, and the choice will be yours—team up to defeat them, or risk combat with your fellow Raiders if you'd rather keep the spoils for yourself. While the line between friend and foe is razor thin on the surface, in Speranza, you'll find refuge. The Traders there are ready to supply you with quests and gear. You can also craft equipment in your Raider Den, such as advanced weapon mods or unique gadgets. With every level gained on the surface, you can invest your experience into a branching skill tree.
"Unpopular" microSD Express Cards Snapped Up in Japan; Switch 2 Showcase Inspired Sudden Buyer Interest
Up until very recently, the microSD Express format was viewed as a commercial disappointment for involved manufacturers and suppliers. Potential buyers were not attracted to premium price points; as demanded by designs that can leverage (up to) 900 MB/s read speeds. Hermitage Akihabara—a Japanese electronics and computer hardware chain—has tracked an alarmingly sharp climb in demand for microSD Express products. The popular retailer documented this recent trend across several articles, with last week's investigation diving deep into units selling: "at a rate of 337.62 cards per hour!" The upcoming launch of a highly-anticipated mainstream gaming device has seemingly sharply driven up sales of a largely forgotten storage format. Hermitage Akihabara explored this unprecedented turnaround in fortunes: "Nintendo's influence is amazing. The 'microSD Express card,' which had hardly any sales due to lack of use, sold out in an instant as soon as it was announced that it would be used in the Nintendo Switch 2. It was sold out not only in (our) Akihabara shops but also on EC sites nationwide, and it caused such a stir that it was even covered in the general news."
Hermitage Akihabara expects to replenish its stock within a non-specific timeframe—but prices could remain "quite high," due to manufacturers (reportedly) being fairly conservative with production output. The store's "behind the scenes of the microSD Express card sellout" news piece outlined some compelling data points: "our mail order service received a large number of orders. According to the calculations made by the mail order staff, they were selling at a rate of 5.63 units per minute, or 337.62 units per hour, which was also a surprise. Of course, we didn't have that much stock, but it seems that we were selling as much as we had. One interesting thing is that most of the buyers ordered only one copy. At most, three copies were purchased, and more than 80% of people ordered one copy. Most of the buyers were pure users who wanted to save one to use with the Switch 2." As reported earlier in the month, Lexar has readied the world's first 1 TB microSD Express card. Their $199.99 (MSRP) 1 TB PLAY PRO microSDXC Express model is already available to purchase, months in advance of Switch 2's global launch date (June 5). Industry insiders believe that Samsung is collaborating with Nintendo on an "official" range of microSD Express cards.
Hermitage Akihabara expects to replenish its stock within a non-specific timeframe—but prices could remain "quite high," due to manufacturers (reportedly) being fairly conservative with production output. The store's "behind the scenes of the microSD Express card sellout" news piece outlined some compelling data points: "our mail order service received a large number of orders. According to the calculations made by the mail order staff, they were selling at a rate of 5.63 units per minute, or 337.62 units per hour, which was also a surprise. Of course, we didn't have that much stock, but it seems that we were selling as much as we had. One interesting thing is that most of the buyers ordered only one copy. At most, three copies were purchased, and more than 80% of people ordered one copy. Most of the buyers were pure users who wanted to save one to use with the Switch 2." As reported earlier in the month, Lexar has readied the world's first 1 TB microSD Express card. Their $199.99 (MSRP) 1 TB PLAY PRO microSDXC Express model is already available to purchase, months in advance of Switch 2's global launch date (June 5). Industry insiders believe that Samsung is collaborating with Nintendo on an "official" range of microSD Express cards.
Cadence to Acquire Arm Artisan Foundation IP Business
Cadence today announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement with Arm to acquire Arm's Artisan foundation IP business, consisting of standard cell libraries, memory compilers, and general-purpose I/Os (GPIOs) optimized for advanced process nodes at the leading foundries. The transaction will augment Cadence's expanding design IP offerings, anchored by a leading portfolio of protocol and interface IP, memory interface IP, SerDes IP at the most advanced nodes, and embedded security IP from the pending Secure-IC acquisition.
By increasing its footprint in SoC designs, Cadence is reinforcing its commitment to continuously accelerate customers' time to market and to optimize their cost, power and performance on the world's leading foundry processes. Cadence will acquire the Arm Artisan foundation IP business through an asset purchase agreement with a concurrent technology license agreement, to be signed at closing and subject to any existing rights. As part of the transaction, Cadence will acquire a highly talented and experienced engineering team that is well respected in the industry and can help accelerate development of both related and new IP products.
By increasing its footprint in SoC designs, Cadence is reinforcing its commitment to continuously accelerate customers' time to market and to optimize their cost, power and performance on the world's leading foundry processes. Cadence will acquire the Arm Artisan foundation IP business through an asset purchase agreement with a concurrent technology license agreement, to be signed at closing and subject to any existing rights. As part of the transaction, Cadence will acquire a highly talented and experienced engineering team that is well respected in the industry and can help accelerate development of both related and new IP products.
Xbox Unveils DOOM: The Dark Ages Limited Edition Accessories Collection
The DOOM Slayer is back, and as we count down the days until you can explore the medieval world of DOOM: The Dark Ages, you'll need the right tools to get the job done. Introducing the Xbox Wireless Controller - DOOM: The Dark Ages Limited Edition, Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2 - DOOM: The Dark Ages Limited Edition, and the Xbox Series X Wrap - DOOM: The Dark Ages Limited Edition. This collection celebrates DOOM and the latest chapter in the franchise's storied history. From the runes adorning each piece, to specific homages like the matte green armor and the Mark of the Slayer, every detail in this collection has been thoughtfully selected to capture the essence of the DOOM universe.
If you're going to be the Slayer, you better look the part—gear up with the Limited Edition Xbox Wireless Controller in battle-worn green and silver. Crowned with 3D silver helmet spikes at the top and silver-plated sheathing on the two sides, this controller was forged for a demon-slaying super weapon. With additional touches like a rubberized, leather-like grip, a red thumbstick to match the chest port, and blood splatter resulting from your Shield Saw, every detail is crafted with the DOOM fan in mind.
If you're going to be the Slayer, you better look the part—gear up with the Limited Edition Xbox Wireless Controller in battle-worn green and silver. Crowned with 3D silver helmet spikes at the top and silver-plated sheathing on the two sides, this controller was forged for a demon-slaying super weapon. With additional touches like a rubberized, leather-like grip, a red thumbstick to match the chest port, and blood splatter resulting from your Shield Saw, every detail is crafted with the DOOM fan in mind.
Senior Intel Engineer Drops Hint About Start of "Griffin Cove" P-Core Development
In a video interview conducted by KitGuru's Leo Waldock, a key Intel chip architect has confirmed that his team is working on the "great-grandchild" of "Lion Cove." Ori Lempel—Team Blue's Senior Principal Engineer in Core Design—did not reveal the codename for this distant technology, but industry moles have heard rumblings about "Griffin Cove" being the internal reference/nickname for this futuristic processor core architecture. Intel's current-gen "Lion Cove" core design has turned up within Core Ultra Series 2 "Arrow Lake" and "Lunar Lake" chips. Lempel disclosed a compelling tidbit; his department has finalized its next-gen "Cougar Cove" IP—destined to debut by the "second half of 2025," in Panther Lake mobile processors.
The Team Blue Core Design division seems to be devising far out technologies—in the case of an alleged "Griffin Core" series, three generations ahead—with an eye on regaining ground from a main competitor: AMD. Industry watchdogs have gauged varying levels of Intel's struggles over the past couple of years; most notably in the field of mainstream desktop CPU solutions. As stated to KitGuru, Lempel revealed that his team's setup has evolved into a more advantageous position—namely in becoming "99% process node agnostic." Former company boss—Pat Gelsinger—was the main driver behind an "IDM 2.0 transformation." Lempel elaborated on this topic: "they can be hardened on any process node in terms, of you know, the libraries are there, the analogs are there. The design can synthesize to whichever process node. The optimization is process non-dependent. Because Intel/TSMC processes are all different..."
The Team Blue Core Design division seems to be devising far out technologies—in the case of an alleged "Griffin Core" series, three generations ahead—with an eye on regaining ground from a main competitor: AMD. Industry watchdogs have gauged varying levels of Intel's struggles over the past couple of years; most notably in the field of mainstream desktop CPU solutions. As stated to KitGuru, Lempel revealed that his team's setup has evolved into a more advantageous position—namely in becoming "99% process node agnostic." Former company boss—Pat Gelsinger—was the main driver behind an "IDM 2.0 transformation." Lempel elaborated on this topic: "they can be hardened on any process node in terms, of you know, the libraries are there, the analogs are there. The design can synthesize to whichever process node. The optimization is process non-dependent. Because Intel/TSMC processes are all different..."
AMD EPYC Turin Processors Join the Contabo Virtualization Hosts Inventory
Contabo is a German VPS and bare-metal server provider with data-centers across key service regions, including Europe (the UK, France, the Netherlands, Spain), North America (the US), and Asia (Singapore and India). A peculiar characteristic about this company is its specialization with VPS with servers being powered by AMD EPYC processors. The company has a broad range of VPS of nearly all T-Shirt sizes, spanning various use-cases. The company announced in 2020 the move to make itself an exclusive AMD EPYC-based VPS, and regularly announces updates to its infrastructure as AMD comes up with new server processor generations. Earlier this month, the company announced its first servers powered by EPYC "Turin" family of processors based on the "Zen 5" microarchitecture.
Contabo started evaluating the AMD EPYC "Turin" 9555P late last year, and zeroed in on the processor model for its Hub Europe and US Central regions. The company claims that "Turin" gives it the ability to host three times as many VPS instances for twice the power draw as the previous generation. The company also claims improved stability with fewer nodes per rack, better value for money, and improved energy efficiency. The AMD EPYC "Turin" powered servers are available from Contabo in the US Central and Hub Europe regions today.
Contabo started evaluating the AMD EPYC "Turin" 9555P late last year, and zeroed in on the processor model for its Hub Europe and US Central regions. The company claims that "Turin" gives it the ability to host three times as many VPS instances for twice the power draw as the previous generation. The company also claims improved stability with fewer nodes per rack, better value for money, and improved energy efficiency. The AMD EPYC "Turin" powered servers are available from Contabo in the US Central and Hub Europe regions today.
Chains of Freedom Out Now on PC & Consoles, Nordcurrent Sends Thanks to its Fanbase
Hey everyone, our game is finally out—and we just wanted to take a moment, a real one, to say thank you. From the bottom of our hearts. We're a small team within Nordcurrent with big dreams, and this game—Chains of Freedom—has been a labor of love every step of the way—we poured everything into this because we love making games. We love storytelling, world-building, creating moments for players to feel something real. And the fact that there's a community out there can now play what we made? That means more than we can ever put into words. You're not just playing a game—you're supporting a team, allowing us to grow and create new, better experiences. A team of people who believe that heart and soul still belong in game development.
Step into a thrilling turn-based tactics game set in a fictional, dystopian Eastern European state. Lead an elite military squad as you navigate perilous missions filled with danger, deceit, and moral dilemmas. As you delve deeper into a conspiracy threatening your nation, engage in high-stakes tactical combat that demands precision with every move. Arm your team with a variety of weapons and gear, adapt their skills to meet ever-changing challenges, and confront intense missions that push your resolve to its limits. Uncover the truth in a world where the nation's fate lies in your hands.
Step into a thrilling turn-based tactics game set in a fictional, dystopian Eastern European state. Lead an elite military squad as you navigate perilous missions filled with danger, deceit, and moral dilemmas. As you delve deeper into a conspiracy threatening your nation, engage in high-stakes tactical combat that demands precision with every move. Arm your team with a variety of weapons and gear, adapt their skills to meet ever-changing challenges, and confront intense missions that push your resolve to its limits. Uncover the truth in a world where the nation's fate lies in your hands.
AMD Radeon RX 9060 XT Graphics Cards Could Launch Shortly After Computex 2025
Earlier in the week, AMD's unannounced Radeon RX 9060 XT graphics card design was linked to a possible public announcement at this year's edition of Computex. Naturally, Team Red has missed an opportunity to take on Team Green with a parallel launch of rival products. Leaks have pointed to the existence of two Radeon RX 9060 XT variants; one with 16 GB of GDDR6 VRAM, and another with an 8 GB pool. The cheaper end of RDNA 4—including a mysterious Radeon RX 9050 model—seems to be geared up to take on NVIDIA's GeForce RTX 5060 Ti, RTX 5060 and RTX 5050 cards. Further rumors have emerged; following initial hints of a formal introduction at an important late Spring event.
Chiphell's chief reviewer and editor reckons that Radeon RX 9060 XT cards will arrive at retail in May. This Chinese PC hardware forum is a notorious source of leaks—around early January, participants were boasting about having extremely early access to Radeon RX 9070 XT samples. In response to this morning's relevant VideoCardz report, Hoang Anh Phu weighed in with a new prediction—AMD and board partners could launch Radeon RX 9060 XT products two weeks after an official reveal at Computex 2025. Team Red is likely mapping out a new pricing strategy, due to NVIDIA's launch of "cheaper than expected" new models. So far, brand-new GeForce RTX 5060 Ti options have received a largely lukewarm welcome. Another Chiphell member has picked up on regional whispers about "starter" price points (including VAT)—reports suggest that the: "(Radeon RX) 9060 XT 8 GB version is 3100 yuan (~$422 USD, and the 16 GB variant is 3500 yuan (~$476 USD)."
Chiphell's chief reviewer and editor reckons that Radeon RX 9060 XT cards will arrive at retail in May. This Chinese PC hardware forum is a notorious source of leaks—around early January, participants were boasting about having extremely early access to Radeon RX 9070 XT samples. In response to this morning's relevant VideoCardz report, Hoang Anh Phu weighed in with a new prediction—AMD and board partners could launch Radeon RX 9060 XT products two weeks after an official reveal at Computex 2025. Team Red is likely mapping out a new pricing strategy, due to NVIDIA's launch of "cheaper than expected" new models. So far, brand-new GeForce RTX 5060 Ti options have received a largely lukewarm welcome. Another Chiphell member has picked up on regional whispers about "starter" price points (including VAT)—reports suggest that the: "(Radeon RX) 9060 XT 8 GB version is 3100 yuan (~$422 USD, and the 16 GB variant is 3500 yuan (~$476 USD)."
Skullcandy Launches Method 360 ANC Earbuds Featuring Premium Sound by Bose
Skullcandy, in partnership with Bose, is breaking barriers in personal audio with the release of Method 360 ANC - a premium true wireless earbud engineered for high-quality audio, advanced noise-canceling, and everyday style.
Method 360 ANC launches at an MSRP of $129.99, but fans can get in early at a special $99.99 introductory price. Designed for those who want it all - sound quality, comfort, and design - without breaking the bank, this is Skullcandy's most advanced audio experience to date.
Method 360 ANC launches at an MSRP of $129.99, but fans can get in early at a special $99.99 introductory price. Designed for those who want it all - sound quality, comfort, and design - without breaking the bank, this is Skullcandy's most advanced audio experience to date.
Kiwi Ears Announces Spark, its Second-Generation OWS Headphones
The Kiwi Ears Spark is built for those constantly on the move, combining high-quality audio, stable Bluetooth connectivity, and a sport-oriented, open-wearable design. Whether you're working out, commuting, or simply enjoying everyday listening, Spark offers all-day comfort, situational awareness, and clear stereo sound with enhanced durability.
With A2DP support, these earphones deliver balanced audio with deep bass, making them ideal for music lovers. AAC and SBC decoding ensure compatibility with various devices while maintaining sound clarity. For calls, ENC noise cancellation reduces background noise, allowing for clear communication even in busy environments.
With A2DP support, these earphones deliver balanced audio with deep bass, making them ideal for music lovers. AAC and SBC decoding ensure compatibility with various devices while maintaining sound clarity. For calls, ENC noise cancellation reduces background noise, allowing for clear communication even in busy environments.
NVIDIA Releases the GeForce 576.02 WHQL Game Ready Drivers
NVIDIA today released the latest version of its GeForce Game Ready drivers. Version 576.02 WHQL comes with support for the new GeForce RTX 5060 Ti graphics card that's available from today. The drivers fix several game-specific issues. To begin with, random crashes with gameplay for "Fortnite" has been fixed. The "DXGI_ERROR_DEVICE_REMOVED" crash noticed in "The First Berserker: Khazan" has been fixed. A bug that causes "Star Wars Outlaws" to freeze when the game is left idle for over 5 minutes, has been fixed. Game stability issues with DLSS Frame Generation on G-SYNC displays have been fixed. A crash when accepting quests in "Monster Hunter Wilds" with DLSS Frame Generation enabled, has been fixed. A crash with the error "GPU crashed or D3D Device Removed" in the game "InZOI" has been fixed.
A stutter noticed in "Overwatch 2" when using V-Sync has been fixed. Increased aliasing noticed with "Overwatch 2" has been fixed. Increased aliasing in "Hellbrade 2 Senua's Saga" with TSR enabled; as well as game crashes noticed in the game with Smooth Motion enabled, have been fixed. Smooth motion-triggered errors with TLOU Part 1 have been fixed. Dithering/banding seen on some RTX 50-series GPUs has been fixed. Flickering noticed in multiple areas of "Control" have been fixed. A stuttering noticed with V-Sync has been fixed, as were errors caused when combining it with NVCP and frame generation in games with DLSS 4. Artifacts noticed when collecting treasures in "Uncharted: Legacy of Thieves Collection" have been fixed. Some stability issues specific to Windows 11 24H2 have been fixed.
DOWNLOAD: NVIDIA GeForce 576.02 WHQL
A stutter noticed in "Overwatch 2" when using V-Sync has been fixed. Increased aliasing noticed with "Overwatch 2" has been fixed. Increased aliasing in "Hellbrade 2 Senua's Saga" with TSR enabled; as well as game crashes noticed in the game with Smooth Motion enabled, have been fixed. Smooth motion-triggered errors with TLOU Part 1 have been fixed. Dithering/banding seen on some RTX 50-series GPUs has been fixed. Flickering noticed in multiple areas of "Control" have been fixed. A stuttering noticed with V-Sync has been fixed, as were errors caused when combining it with NVCP and frame generation in games with DLSS 4. Artifacts noticed when collecting treasures in "Uncharted: Legacy of Thieves Collection" have been fixed. Some stability issues specific to Windows 11 24H2 have been fixed.
DOWNLOAD: NVIDIA GeForce 576.02 WHQL
Larian Releases Final Baldur's Gate 3 Patch; Studio Moving onto "Something New"
Well folks, this is it. Our final major game patch for Baldur's Gate 3. You've helped us make BG3 a bigger success than any of us could've ever hoped for, and that passion could keep us tweaking things and making changes until the end of time. But then we'd never be able to create something new. Outside of minor bug fixing, Patch 8 will be the last game patch to introduce new content. That means we won't be adding any new narrative content or significant changes to storylines, Origin characters, or companions. We've told our stories the way we needed to tell them, and tried our best to make them impactful and engaging, and we're continuing to get better at handling our own chaos so that we can continue to create more chaos in the future.
From the start, your feedback has been incredibly important to us, and will continue to shape our future projects. As Swen said during the Baldur's Gate 3 retrospective panel at PAX West in August of last year, it's time for the team to go back to our cave and hang the armor on the wall while we focus on bringing you our next project. If you're already feeling nostalgic, you can click here to watch our last Baldur's Gate 3 panel, where we looked back on Baldur's Gate 3, from early access through to release, and answered some of your questions. From patching in a way to change your appearance with the Magic Mirror, introducing Honor Mode for those of you looking for a hard time, and giving you new ways to make out with your romanced companion, to new cinematics for your most evil runs, and handing you the tools to create your own supported mods, Patch 8 now rounds off with cross-play, Photo Mode, and 12 new subclasses for you to enjoy.
From the start, your feedback has been incredibly important to us, and will continue to shape our future projects. As Swen said during the Baldur's Gate 3 retrospective panel at PAX West in August of last year, it's time for the team to go back to our cave and hang the armor on the wall while we focus on bringing you our next project. If you're already feeling nostalgic, you can click here to watch our last Baldur's Gate 3 panel, where we looked back on Baldur's Gate 3, from early access through to release, and answered some of your questions. From patching in a way to change your appearance with the Magic Mirror, introducing Honor Mode for those of you looking for a hard time, and giving you new ways to make out with your romanced companion, to new cinematics for your most evil runs, and handing you the tools to create your own supported mods, Patch 8 now rounds off with cross-play, Photo Mode, and 12 new subclasses for you to enjoy.
Gigabyte Launches the GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 16GB, RTX 5060 Ti 8GB, and RTX 5060 Series Graphics Cards
GIGABYTE TECHNOLOGY Co. Ltd, a leading manufacturer of premium gaming hardware, today launched the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 Ti (16 GB and 8 GB variants) and RTX 5060 series graphics cards powered by NVIDIA Blackwell architecture. The RTX 5060 Ti and RTX 5060 are relatively mid-range products that focus on 2k and 1080p gameplay, and cater to the needs of gamers, creators, and light AI developers for daily use. GIGABYTE offers a variety of air-cooled graphics cards, allowing users to choose the best option. Depending on the model, AORUS ELITE, GAMING, AERO, EAGLE, EAGLE ICE, WINDFORCE, and low-profile graphics cards support either the GeForce RTX 5060 Ti series or RTX 5060 GPUs.
GIGABYTE has upgraded the WINDFORCE cooling system for the new generation, balancing performance and thermal efficiency. The new Hawk Fan design minimizes turbulence and noise, achieving up to a 53.6% increase in air pressure and a 12.5% boost in air volume while keeping the lower acoustics. To enhance cooling efficiency, server-grade thermal conductive gel is applied to critical components such as VRAM and MOSFETs. This highly deformable, non-fluid gel ensures optimal contact even on uneven surfaces and remains resistant to deformation caused by transport or prolonged use. Paired with advanced thermal solutions—including an optimal heatsink with a copper plate for direct GPU contact, and composite copper heat-pipes—these graphics cards deliver exceptional cooling performance and whisper-quiet operation, even under intensive workloads.
GIGABYTE has upgraded the WINDFORCE cooling system for the new generation, balancing performance and thermal efficiency. The new Hawk Fan design minimizes turbulence and noise, achieving up to a 53.6% increase in air pressure and a 12.5% boost in air volume while keeping the lower acoustics. To enhance cooling efficiency, server-grade thermal conductive gel is applied to critical components such as VRAM and MOSFETs. This highly deformable, non-fluid gel ensures optimal contact even on uneven surfaces and remains resistant to deformation caused by transport or prolonged use. Paired with advanced thermal solutions—including an optimal heatsink with a copper plate for direct GPU contact, and composite copper heat-pipes—these graphics cards deliver exceptional cooling performance and whisper-quiet operation, even under intensive workloads.
Sharkoon Launches Its First CPU Air Coolers Series
Sharkoon launched its first three air-cooled CPU coolers: the A40, A50, and A60. All three are tower-style (A40 and A50 are single tower, A60 uses a dual tower design) and are available in three versions: matte black, black RGB, and white RGB. The A40, A50, and A60 use four, five, and six 6 mm diameter heat pipes in direct contact with the CPU. The overall dimensions of the A40 and A50 are the same at 120×72×153 (mm), while the A60, being a dual-fan dual-tower, measures 120×125×156 (mm). The nominal TDPs (Thermal Design Power) are 220 W (A40), 230 W (A50), and 260 W (A60). Another aesthetic difference between the matte black version and the RGB ones is that the latter include "the infinity mirror effect" for the top cooler cover.
The first three air-cooled models of Sharkoon's A series CPU coolers use the same 120 mm fluid dynamic bearing fans with 9 blades working at 500-1,800 rpm, offering 121.55 m³/h maximum airflow, 2.90 mm H₂O max. air pressure, and 30 dB (A) maximum noise level. The RGB fan versions include 12 Addressable RGB LEDs; however, only one fan offers RGB lighting in dual fan configurations (Sharkoon A60 RGB Black/White).
The first three air-cooled models of Sharkoon's A series CPU coolers use the same 120 mm fluid dynamic bearing fans with 9 blades working at 500-1,800 rpm, offering 121.55 m³/h maximum airflow, 2.90 mm H₂O max. air pressure, and 30 dB (A) maximum noise level. The RGB fan versions include 12 Addressable RGB LEDs; however, only one fan offers RGB lighting in dual fan configurations (Sharkoon A60 RGB Black/White).
TDK Demonstrates the World's First "Spin Photo Detector" Capable of 10X Data Transmission Speeds
TDK Corporation announces that it has developed the world's first "Spin Photo Detector," a photo-spintronic conversion element combining optical, electronic, and magnetic elements that can respond at an ultra-high speed of 20 picoseconds (20 × 10⁻¹² s) using light with a wavelength of 800 nm - more than 10X faster than conventional semiconductor-based photo detectors. This new device is expected to be a key driver for implementing photoelectric conversion technology that boosts data transmission and data processing speed, particularly in AI applications, while simultaneously reducing power consumption.
Transferring mass amounts of data at higher speeds and with lower power consumption is an inevitable need as AI evolves. To process data and make calculations, data is currently transferred between CPU/GPU chips as well as from and to memory by electrical signals. Therefore, there is an increasing need for optical communication and optical interconnects, which offer high speeds that do not decrease with interconnect distance. Photoelectronic conversion technology is also gaining global interest as a very compact fusion of both optical and electronic elements.
Transferring mass amounts of data at higher speeds and with lower power consumption is an inevitable need as AI evolves. To process data and make calculations, data is currently transferred between CPU/GPU chips as well as from and to memory by electrical signals. Therefore, there is an increasing need for optical communication and optical interconnects, which offer high speeds that do not decrease with interconnect distance. Photoelectronic conversion technology is also gaining global interest as a very compact fusion of both optical and electronic elements.
MSI IPC Showcases AI & Edge Solutions with Intel Arrow Lake at Japan IT Week Spring 2025
MSI IPC, a leading provider of industrial computing solutions, is set to exhibit at Japan IT Week Spring 2025, held from April 23-25 at Tokyo Big Sight, Booth East Hall 3 #21-2. The company will showcase its latest innovations in AI computing, embedded systems, and edge intelligence, designed for smart manufacturing, medical, transportation, and industrial applications.
Explore the Future of Industrial Computing
MSI IPC will host a static demo featuring Intel Twin Lake, Raptor Lake, and Arrow Lake, allowing attendees to experience next-gen performance and AI acceleration. Key platforms include:
Explore the Future of Industrial Computing
MSI IPC will host a static demo featuring Intel Twin Lake, Raptor Lake, and Arrow Lake, allowing attendees to experience next-gen performance and AI acceleration. Key platforms include:
- MS-CF20 ATX (W880 chipset)- Built for high-performance workloads with expandability for industrial applications.
- MS-CF23 Mini-ITX (H810 chipset) - Compact yet powerful, ideal for space-sensitive deployments.
- MS-C927 Embedded Box PC (Arrow Lake-U & Meteor Lake-U) - Fanless, wide-temp system for industrial and embedded environments.
US Bans Export of NVIDIA H20 Accelerators to China, a Potential $5.5 Billion Loss for NVIDIA
President Trump's administration has announced that NVIDIA's H20 AI chip will require a special export license for any shipment to China, Hong Kong, or Macau for the indefinite future. The Commerce Department delivered the news to NVIDIA on April 14, 2025, citing worries that the H20 could be redirected into Chinese supercomputers with potential military applications. NVIDIA designed the H20 specifically to comply with earlier US curbs by scaling back performance from its flagship H100 model. The H20 features 96 GB of HBM3 memory running at up to 4.0 TB/s, delivers roughly 296 TeraFLOPS of mixed‑precision compute power, and offers a performance density of about 2.9 TeraFLOPS per die. Its single‑precision (FP32) throughput is around 74 TeraFLOPS, with FP16 performance reaching approximately 148 TeraFLOPS. In a regulatory filing on April 15, NVIDIA warned that it will record about $5.5 billion in writedowns this quarter related to H20 inventory and purchase commitments now blocked by the license requirement.
Shares of NVIDIA fell roughly 6 percent in after‑hours trading on April 15, triggering a wider sell‑off in semiconductor stocks from the US to Japan. South Korea's Samsung and SK Hynix each slid about 3 percent, while AMD also dropped on concerns about broader chip‑export curbs. Analysts at Bloomberg Intelligence project that, if the restrictions persist, NVIDIA's China‑related data center revenue could shrink to low‑ or mid‑single digits as a percentage of total sales, down from roughly 13 percent in fiscal 2024. Chinese AI players such as Huawei stand to gain as customers seek alternative inference accelerators. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick has pledged to maintain a tough stance on chip exports to China even as NVIDIA commits up to $500 billion in US AI infrastructure investments over the next four years. Everyone is now watching closely to see whether any H20 export licenses are approved and how long the ban might remain in place.
Shares of NVIDIA fell roughly 6 percent in after‑hours trading on April 15, triggering a wider sell‑off in semiconductor stocks from the US to Japan. South Korea's Samsung and SK Hynix each slid about 3 percent, while AMD also dropped on concerns about broader chip‑export curbs. Analysts at Bloomberg Intelligence project that, if the restrictions persist, NVIDIA's China‑related data center revenue could shrink to low‑ or mid‑single digits as a percentage of total sales, down from roughly 13 percent in fiscal 2024. Chinese AI players such as Huawei stand to gain as customers seek alternative inference accelerators. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick has pledged to maintain a tough stance on chip exports to China even as NVIDIA commits up to $500 billion in US AI infrastructure investments over the next four years. Everyone is now watching closely to see whether any H20 export licenses are approved and how long the ban might remain in place.
Huawei CloudMatrix 384 System Outperforms NVIDIA GB200 NVL72
Huawei announced its CloudMatrix 384 system super node, which the company touts as its own domestic alternative to NVIDIA's GB200 NVL72 system, with more overall system performance but worse per-chip performance and higher power consumption. While NVIDIA's GB200 NVL72 uses 36 Grace CPUs paired with 72 "Blackwell" GB200 GPUs, the Huawei CloudMatrix 384 system employs 384 Huawei Ascend 910C accelerators to beat NVIDIA's GB200 NVL72 system. It takes roughly five times more Ascend 910C accelerators to deliver nearly twice the GB200 NVL system performance, which is not good on per-accelerator bias, but excellent on per-system level of deployment. SemiAnalysis argues that Huawei is a generation behind in chip performance but ahead of NVIDIA in scale-up system design and deployment.
When you look at individual chips, NVIDIA's GB200 NVL72 clearly outshines Huawei's Ascend 910C, delivering over three times the BF16 performance (2,500 TeraFLOPS vs. 780 TeraFLOPS), more on‑chip memory (192 GB vs. 128 GB), and faster bandwidth (8 TB/s vs. 3.2 TB/s). In other words, NVIDIA has the raw power and efficiency advantage at the chip level. But flip the switch to the system level, and Huawei's CloudMatrix CM384 takes the lead. It cranks out 1.7× the overall PetaFLOPS, packs in 3.6× more total HBM capacity, and supports over five times the number of GPUs and the associated bandwidth of NVIDIA's NVL72 cluster. However, that scalability does come with a trade‑off, as Huawei's setup draws nearly four times more total power. A single GB200 NVL72 draws 145 kW of power, while a single Huawei CloudMatrix 384 draws ~560 kW. So, NVIDIA is your go-to if you need peak efficiency in a single GPU. If you're building a massive AI supercluster where total throughput and interconnect speed matter most, Huawei's solution actually makes a lot of sense. Thanks to its all-to-all topology, Huawei has delivered an AI training and inference system worth purchasing. When SMIC, the maker of Huawei's chips, gets to a more advanced manufacturing node, the efficiency of these systems will also increase.
When you look at individual chips, NVIDIA's GB200 NVL72 clearly outshines Huawei's Ascend 910C, delivering over three times the BF16 performance (2,500 TeraFLOPS vs. 780 TeraFLOPS), more on‑chip memory (192 GB vs. 128 GB), and faster bandwidth (8 TB/s vs. 3.2 TB/s). In other words, NVIDIA has the raw power and efficiency advantage at the chip level. But flip the switch to the system level, and Huawei's CloudMatrix CM384 takes the lead. It cranks out 1.7× the overall PetaFLOPS, packs in 3.6× more total HBM capacity, and supports over five times the number of GPUs and the associated bandwidth of NVIDIA's NVL72 cluster. However, that scalability does come with a trade‑off, as Huawei's setup draws nearly four times more total power. A single GB200 NVL72 draws 145 kW of power, while a single Huawei CloudMatrix 384 draws ~560 kW. So, NVIDIA is your go-to if you need peak efficiency in a single GPU. If you're building a massive AI supercluster where total throughput and interconnect speed matter most, Huawei's solution actually makes a lot of sense. Thanks to its all-to-all topology, Huawei has delivered an AI training and inference system worth purchasing. When SMIC, the maker of Huawei's chips, gets to a more advanced manufacturing node, the efficiency of these systems will also increase.
Fosi Audio Unveils Next-Gen HiFi Audio Ecosystem at AXPONA 2025, Making High-Fidelity Audio More Accessible Worldwide
International audio brand Fosi Audio made a high-profile appearance at AXPONA 2025 in Chicago from April 11 to 13, unveiling its upgraded brand strategy and a series of next-generation Hi-fi products under the theme "Building an Inclusive Hi-fi Ecosystem for Audiophiles Worldwide." This marks the brand's official debut of its all-new Hi-fi audio ecosystem, featuring multiple upcoming releases including the highly anticipated SP601 passive bookshelf speakers and i5 planar magnetic headphones.
At AXPONA 2025, Fosi Audio announced its new brand vision—"A New Audio Tech Brand Bringing Hi-fi Joy to Audiophiles Worldwide"—and reaffirmed its mission of "Redefining Hi-fi with Unmatched Value." With a strong focus on user-centric innovation, the company is committed to lowering the barrier to high-fidelity audio and making superior sound accessible to more people.
The i5 will officially launch on Kickstarter on April 22, with the prelaunch page now available for early preview. Visit Fosi Audio on Kickstarter.
At AXPONA 2025, Fosi Audio announced its new brand vision—"A New Audio Tech Brand Bringing Hi-fi Joy to Audiophiles Worldwide"—and reaffirmed its mission of "Redefining Hi-fi with Unmatched Value." With a strong focus on user-centric innovation, the company is committed to lowering the barrier to high-fidelity audio and making superior sound accessible to more people.
QD-OLED to Account for 73% of OLED Monitor Shipments in 2025, Driven by Advancing Technology and New Products
TrendForce's latest investigations reveal that ongoing advancements in OLED displays are propelling the growth of QD-OLED monitor shipments. QD-OLED's share of OLED monitor shipments is expected to rise from 68% in 2024 to 73% in 2025, highlighting its strong competitiveness in the high-end monitor market. Driven by growing market demand, more brands and product lines are expected to adopt QD-OLED to deliver superior image quality and refresh rates for gamers and professional users.
The introduction of new 27-inch UHD products and high-refresh-rate QHD 500 Hz monitors is drawing attention. These models offer strong appeal for gaming and professional use, becoming key drivers of QD-OLED monitor adoption. The penetration rate of QD-OLED in 27-inch models is projected to grow from 32% in 2024 to 47% in 2025, driven by an expanding product lineup and ongoing technical improvements.
The introduction of new 27-inch UHD products and high-refresh-rate QHD 500 Hz monitors is drawing attention. These models offer strong appeal for gaming and professional use, becoming key drivers of QD-OLED monitor adoption. The penetration rate of QD-OLED in 27-inch models is projected to grow from 32% in 2024 to 47% in 2025, driven by an expanding product lineup and ongoing technical improvements.
QNAP Releases Dual-Active Controller ES1686dc R2 NAS
QNAP Systems, Inc. today launched the ES1686dc R2, a high-performance 16-bay SAS 12 Gb/s enterprise NAS engineered for mission-critical applications. Featuring dual active-active controllers, it ensures High Availability (HA) and delivers uncompromising performance for demanding workloads. Designed for enterprise file and virtualization storage, the ES1686dc R2 minimizes downtime with redundant controllers and power supplies, enabling seamless component replacement. This ensures continuous operations, reliability, and stability for business-critical environments.
"The ES1686dc R2 delivers outstanding performance and a reliable high-availability storage solution," said Waterball Liu, Product Manager of QNAP, adding: "The QES operating system features an intuitive user-friendly interface with enhanced functionality, enabling customers to effortlessly adopt professional-grade dual-controller enterprise storage when high availability is required. Whether deployed as a mission-critical file server, virtualization server, VDI, or for efficient file backup and recovery, the ES1686dc R2 meets service-level agreements for both performance and uptime."
"The ES1686dc R2 delivers outstanding performance and a reliable high-availability storage solution," said Waterball Liu, Product Manager of QNAP, adding: "The QES operating system features an intuitive user-friendly interface with enhanced functionality, enabling customers to effortlessly adopt professional-grade dual-controller enterprise storage when high availability is required. Whether deployed as a mission-critical file server, virtualization server, VDI, or for efficient file backup and recovery, the ES1686dc R2 meets service-level agreements for both performance and uptime."
Thousands of NVIDIA Grace Blackwell GPUs Now Live at CoreWeave
CoreWeave today became one of the first cloud providers to bring NVIDIA GB200 NVL72 systems online for customers at scale, and AI frontier companies Cohere, IBM and Mistral AI are already using them to train and deploy next-generation AI models and applications. CoreWeave, the first cloud provider to make NVIDIA Grace Blackwell generally available, has already shown incredible results in MLPerf benchmarks with NVIDIA GB200 NVL72 - a powerful rack-scale accelerated computing platform designed for reasoning and AI agents. Now, CoreWeave customers are gaining access to thousands of NVIDIA Blackwell GPUs.
"We work closely with NVIDIA to quickly deliver to customers the latest and most powerful solutions for training AI models and serving inference," said Mike Intrator, CEO of CoreWeave. "With new Grace Blackwell rack-scale systems in hand, many of our customers will be the first to see the benefits and performance of AI innovators operating at scale."
"We work closely with NVIDIA to quickly deliver to customers the latest and most powerful solutions for training AI models and serving inference," said Mike Intrator, CEO of CoreWeave. "With new Grace Blackwell rack-scale systems in hand, many of our customers will be the first to see the benefits and performance of AI innovators operating at scale."
ASML Reports €7.7 Billion Total Net Sales and €2.4 Billion Net Income in Q1 2025
Today, ASML Holding NV (ASML) has published its 2025 first-quarter results.
"Our first-quarter total net sales came in at €7.7 billion, in line with our guidance. The gross margin was 54.0%, above guidance, driven by a favorable EUV product mix and the achievement of performance milestones. In the first quarter, we shipped our fifth High NA system, and we now have these systems at three customers. Our conversations so far with customers support our expectation that 2025 and 2026 will be growth years. However, the recent tariff announcements have increased uncertainty in the macro environment and the situation will remain dynamic for a while. As previously shared, artificial intelligence continues to be the primary growth driver in our industry. It has created a shift in the market dynamics that benefits some customers more than others, contributing to both upside potential and downside risks as reflected in our 2025 revenue range.
- Q1 total net sales of €7.7 billion, gross margin of 54.0%, net income of €2.4 billion
- Quarterly net bookings in Q1 of €3.9 billion f which €1.2 billion is EUV
- ASML expects Q2 2025 total net sales between €7.2 billion and €7.7 billion, and a gross margin between 50% and 53%
- ASML continues to expect 2025 total net sales to be between €30 billion and €35 billion, with a gross margin between 51% and 53%
"Our first-quarter total net sales came in at €7.7 billion, in line with our guidance. The gross margin was 54.0%, above guidance, driven by a favorable EUV product mix and the achievement of performance milestones. In the first quarter, we shipped our fifth High NA system, and we now have these systems at three customers. Our conversations so far with customers support our expectation that 2025 and 2026 will be growth years. However, the recent tariff announcements have increased uncertainty in the macro environment and the situation will remain dynamic for a while. As previously shared, artificial intelligence continues to be the primary growth driver in our industry. It has created a shift in the market dynamics that benefits some customers more than others, contributing to both upside potential and downside risks as reflected in our 2025 revenue range.
Tuesday, April 15th 2025
Today's Reviews
Cases
CPU Coolers
Graphics Cards
Monitors
CPS PCCOOLER DT360 ARGB Display Review
The CPS PCCOOLER DT360 ARGB Display delivers where it counts, offering solid thermal performance, a full suite of features, and clean aesthetics. The magnetic integrated display serves as the main focal point, making it a well-rounded option for users seeking a display-equipped all-in-one liquid cooler with no compromises.
Rebellion Developer Delves into Atomfall's Extensive Accessible Gameplay Feature Set
Last month, we released Atomfall, and it quickly became our most successful launch in the over 30-year history of Rebellion. We want to shine a light on something else we're proud of—how Atomfall is also Rebellion's most accessible title to date. Atomfall might offer challenges for those that want them, but it shouldn't be difficult to physically play. With that in mind, we want to showcase some of the standout accessibility features we've built to help everyone explore the mysteries of the Quarantine Zone. We've included features across motor, vision, audio and cognition, with many becoming accessibility firsts for the studio—including additional audio cues, directional indicators on subtitles, and more. We hope that the host of features, both in and outside of options, helps welcome more players to the Quarantine Zone.
Playstyle
We've built a world full of choice and we want players to be able to play their own way. So, instead of difficulty, Atomfall provides a choice of Playstyle. There are five preset Playstyles to choose from, including Investigator for those seeking more survival gameplay, Brawler for a combat-focused experience, and our default Atomfall experience in Survivor. Sightseer, on the other hand, is a preset which will allow more players to explore and enjoy the Quarantine Zone. It lessens combat and survival aspects and provides a boost to exploration to help you through the expansive Lake District and all its mysteries.
Playstyle
We've built a world full of choice and we want players to be able to play their own way. So, instead of difficulty, Atomfall provides a choice of Playstyle. There are five preset Playstyles to choose from, including Investigator for those seeking more survival gameplay, Brawler for a combat-focused experience, and our default Atomfall experience in Survivor. Sightseer, on the other hand, is a preset which will allow more players to explore and enjoy the Quarantine Zone. It lessens combat and survival aspects and provides a boost to exploration to help you through the expansive Lake District and all its mysteries.
"Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remake" Screenshots Leaked, "Shadow Drop" Reportedly Happening This Month
Rumors of a forthcoming "Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remake" launch popped up online last month; as predicted by NatetheHate. The veteran leaker—of video games industry inside info—proposed a public unveiling; scheduled in at some point within a March to April window. Since then, data miners have combed through various web presences—including Virtuos' online site. Going back to 2021, leaks suggested that this Chinese contract development house was deeply involved in the reimagining/modernizing of Bethesda's 2006 smash-hit.
Yesterday, Giant Bomb's Jeff Grubb posited that a formal introduction of the alleged "Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remake" will happen "next week." Insiders reckon that the Unreal Engine 5-powered game will launch on "Xbox, PS5, PC, and Game Pass." Virtuos seems to be preparing itself for an imminent announcement; as evidenced by Elder Scrolls fans compiling leaked screenshots and promotional imagery within an Imgur album. Familiar locations and character designs are visible in gameplay captures. One visual "portfolio" grab compares the speculated new version to Bethesda's original build (2006 vs. 2025).
Yesterday, Giant Bomb's Jeff Grubb posited that a formal introduction of the alleged "Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remake" will happen "next week." Insiders reckon that the Unreal Engine 5-powered game will launch on "Xbox, PS5, PC, and Game Pass." Virtuos seems to be preparing itself for an imminent announcement; as evidenced by Elder Scrolls fans compiling leaked screenshots and promotional imagery within an Imgur album. Familiar locations and character designs are visible in gameplay captures. One visual "portfolio" grab compares the speculated new version to Bethesda's original build (2006 vs. 2025).
Bloom & Rage: Lost Records Tape 2 Available Now on PC & Consoles
The first episode of Don't Nod's narrative adventure, Lost Records: Bloom & Rage, ended with a hell of a cliffhanger: a massive discovery of something unknown, possibly malevolent, and a devastating revelation about one of the story's central figures. As the second episode, or tape, of this player-choice-driven, nostalgia-powered story aims to draw things to their conclusion when Lost Records: Bloom & Rage Tape 2 launches today (April 15), players have been left wondering what to expect. To dig deeper into the game's ambitions and get some further insight on what to expect from Swann, Nora, Autumn, and Kat's next escapade, we (at PlayStation Blog) sat down for a chat with Michel Koch, Creative Director at Don't Nod's Montreal studio.
You Oughta Know
Koch was eager to tell us how this experience would differ from the first. "The first Tape, 'Bloom,' is the nice and sunny part of the beginning of the summer, of you meeting and bonding with those girls. The second half is called 'Rage,' which is mostly the aftermath of the cliffhanger at the end of Tape 1. We wanted Tape 1 to let the player find their own space within the group of friends, getting a feeling of a summer where you meet friends, but also giving hints of weird things. They're finding the clearing. They're finding the abyss. It's a very natural story of four girls having a fun summer together before Swann moves away. But Tape 2 will focus more on this weirder part of the story. We know what happened at the end of the summer. We still don't know why, but we know that they promise not to see each other again. We know about the weird box, we know about Kat, but we don't know the consequences of this revelation. How do you continue to have a normal summer with your friends? And, of course, the continuation of what's happening with those weird things they found in the forest."
You Oughta Know
Koch was eager to tell us how this experience would differ from the first. "The first Tape, 'Bloom,' is the nice and sunny part of the beginning of the summer, of you meeting and bonding with those girls. The second half is called 'Rage,' which is mostly the aftermath of the cliffhanger at the end of Tape 1. We wanted Tape 1 to let the player find their own space within the group of friends, getting a feeling of a summer where you meet friends, but also giving hints of weird things. They're finding the clearing. They're finding the abyss. It's a very natural story of four girls having a fun summer together before Swann moves away. But Tape 2 will focus more on this weirder part of the story. We know what happened at the end of the summer. We still don't know why, but we know that they promise not to see each other again. We know about the weird box, we know about Kat, but we don't know the consequences of this revelation. How do you continue to have a normal summer with your friends? And, of course, the continuation of what's happening with those weird things they found in the forest."
NVIDIA Confirms GeForce RTX 5060 Ti Starting MSRPs: $429 for 16 GB, & $379 for 8 GB
Earlier today, NVIDIA's public relations department published their "GeForce RTX 5060 Desktop Family" introductory article. Curiously, the company's brand-new GeForce RTX 5060 Ti graphics cards do not headline Team Green's "dedicated" PR release—instead, the general "game changing" GeForce RTX 5060 series is advertised with a starting price point of $299. Clarification arrives several paragraphs deep into the blurb—as explained with some "PR" magic: "starting April 16th, we're bringing DLSS 4 and Blackwell's suite of innovations to every gamer with the launch of the GeForce RTX 5060 desktop family, beginning with the release of the GeForce RTX 5060 Ti. And in May, the GeForce RTX 5060 arrives, with prices starting at $299." Very specific cost of ownership digits leaked last week; indicating a refreshing reduction over earlier (disappointing) predictions.
Team Green's publicity team has confirmed starting MSRPs of $429 for 16 GB models, and $379 for 8 GB variants. These official numbers are buried three-quarters of the way into NVIDIA's PR document. Older evidence pointed to a possible repeat of lower end GeForce RTX 40-series guide prices—as it turns out, the GeForce RTX 5060 card's $299 "cost of entry" aligns with its predecessor's launch figure. Based on leaked pre-built PC listings, industry watchdogs deduced the $299 MSRP earlier on in the month. Additionally, Team Green's PR material teased the upcoming launch of related mobile hardware: "the same features, innovations and advantages of the GeForce RTX 5060 desktop family are coming to laptops this May, when GeForce RTX 5060 laptops arrive on shop shelves, starting at $1099." Real life scenario prices are expected to remain "sky-high," even for rumored cheaper devices—equipped with GeForce RTX 5050 Mobile GPUs.
Team Green's publicity team has confirmed starting MSRPs of $429 for 16 GB models, and $379 for 8 GB variants. These official numbers are buried three-quarters of the way into NVIDIA's PR document. Older evidence pointed to a possible repeat of lower end GeForce RTX 40-series guide prices—as it turns out, the GeForce RTX 5060 card's $299 "cost of entry" aligns with its predecessor's launch figure. Based on leaked pre-built PC listings, industry watchdogs deduced the $299 MSRP earlier on in the month. Additionally, Team Green's PR material teased the upcoming launch of related mobile hardware: "the same features, innovations and advantages of the GeForce RTX 5060 desktop family are coming to laptops this May, when GeForce RTX 5060 laptops arrive on shop shelves, starting at $1099." Real life scenario prices are expected to remain "sky-high," even for rumored cheaper devices—equipped with GeForce RTX 5050 Mobile GPUs.
Bungie Devs Go In-depth into Marathon's Gameplay Systems - Closed Alpha Test Starts April 23
Over the past weekend we shared the first look at Marathon's gameplay in our livestream from Bungie headquarters, and now we're here to recap the highlights! In the Gameplay Reveal Showcase, we sat down with game director Joe Ziegler, franchise art director Joseph Cross, senior design lead Lars Bakken, gameplay director Andrew Witts, and senior social media manager Andy Salisbury to chat about everything from favorite Runners to gunplay to expanding the Marathon legacy. Want to see the full show? Check out the VOD below. It has all of the videos you'll see here, plus a bunch of extra details and fun moments with the team.
UP FIRST... Important dates and our first playtest
The Marathon Closed Alpha Test runs from April 23 to May 4, and Marathon launches on September 23, 2025. Wishlist on Steam to keep up with the latest news. Want to sign up for your chance to join the first playtest? Join the official Discord and follow the steps in the server to sign up. We'll be inviting players at the start of the playtest and throughout the playtest, so keep an eye on your inbox. The Closed Alpha Test will be available to players who are 18+ and located in North America. It'll be a fairly small playtest as we test our technical capabilities and gather important feedback before bigger tests. We know there are lots of you who won't be able to get in (yet), and we see you. Please hold tight! We'll be there soon
UP FIRST... Important dates and our first playtest
The Marathon Closed Alpha Test runs from April 23 to May 4, and Marathon launches on September 23, 2025. Wishlist on Steam to keep up with the latest news. Want to sign up for your chance to join the first playtest? Join the official Discord and follow the steps in the server to sign up. We'll be inviting players at the start of the playtest and throughout the playtest, so keep an eye on your inbox. The Closed Alpha Test will be available to players who are 18+ and located in North America. It'll be a fairly small playtest as we test our technical capabilities and gather important feedback before bigger tests. We know there are lots of you who won't be able to get in (yet), and we see you. Please hold tight! We'll be there soon
Sony Reportedly Prepping "PlayStation 6 Portable" with "<40 CU" Chipset Design
Sony and Microsoft seem to be involved in the development of handheld gaming consoles, but insiders reckon that respective next-generation offerings will not directly compete with each other. Xbox and ASUS have signalled some sort of collaborative ROG Alloy-esque device; potentially releasing later on in 2025. Whispers of a futuristic PlayStation portable model's chipset design emerged mid-way through March; courtesy of Kepler_L2. The notorious leaker has recent history of reporting inside track knowledge of AMD CPU and GPU architectures/technologies. They alleged that Sony and Team Red's collaborative PS6 APU design project had reached a finalized stage of development, possibly around late 2024/early 2025. Returning to March/April events; Kepler_L2 theorized that a "PS6 Portable" would not be capable of surpassing PlayStation 5 (home console) level performance upon launch in 2028.
The mysterious handheld is said to be powered by a "15 W SoC" manufactured on a non-specific 3 nm node process. Elaborating further, they posit that PlayStation's rumored handheld is capable of running PS5 generation games—bandwidth and power restrictions could reduce resolution and frame rates below that of Sony's current-gen system. Kepler_L2 pictures "PS6 Portable" gaming performance being somewhere in-between Xbox Series S and PlayStation 5 (non-Pro). According to rumors, the handheld's chipset is not related or derived from the PS6 home console's internal setup. Kepler_L2 envisioned a mobile SoC with fewer than 40 compute units (CUs)—several media outlets have added their interpretation of this data point; with a sub-36 count. PlayStation 5's GPU aspect consists of 36 CUs, while the Xbox Series S graphics solution makes do with 20 units. Sony's speculated return to portable territories will be welcomed by owners of older handheld models—namely the Vita and PSP. Famously, these portable products struggled to keep up with competing Nintendo devices.
The mysterious handheld is said to be powered by a "15 W SoC" manufactured on a non-specific 3 nm node process. Elaborating further, they posit that PlayStation's rumored handheld is capable of running PS5 generation games—bandwidth and power restrictions could reduce resolution and frame rates below that of Sony's current-gen system. Kepler_L2 pictures "PS6 Portable" gaming performance being somewhere in-between Xbox Series S and PlayStation 5 (non-Pro). According to rumors, the handheld's chipset is not related or derived from the PS6 home console's internal setup. Kepler_L2 envisioned a mobile SoC with fewer than 40 compute units (CUs)—several media outlets have added their interpretation of this data point; with a sub-36 count. PlayStation 5's GPU aspect consists of 36 CUs, while the Xbox Series S graphics solution makes do with 20 units. Sony's speculated return to portable territories will be welcomed by owners of older handheld models—namely the Vita and PSP. Famously, these portable products struggled to keep up with competing Nintendo devices.
OpenAI Releases GPT-4.1 Model Family with Massive Context and Improved Performance
Yesterday, OpenAI unveiled its new GPT-4.1 model family, which includes GPT-4.1, GPT-4.1 mini, and GPT-4.1 nano. These models promise significantly improved coding, instruction following, and long-context understanding compared to earlier versions like GPT-4o. All three support up to one million tokens of context, so they can handle much larger documents, codebases, or even hour-long video transcripts. In coding tests, GPT-4.1 scored 54.6% on the SWE-bench Verified benchmark, a jump of 21.4 points over GPT-4o. That makes it one of the strongest models for real-world software engineering tasks. It's better at exploring code repositories, creating patches that actually compile and pass tests, and following diff formats without extra edits. Areas like instruction following got a boost, too. On Scale's MultiChallenge benchmark, GPT-4.1 scored 38.3%, up 10.5 points from GPT-4o. That means it can stick to multi-step prompts more reliably and format its responses the way you ask.
The models' long-context skills stand out on the Video-MME benchmark, where GPT-4.1 scored 72.0% in the "long, no subtitles" category, 6.7 points higher than GPT-4o. Thanks to its one-million-token window, GPT-4.1 can pull together information spread across huge inputs, whether it's scattered text in a document or key moments in a video. OpenAI says these gains come from close work with developers, tuning the models for tasks that matter while cutting costs and latency. GPT-4.1 mini cuts cost 83% and nearly half the response time compared to GPT-4o. GPT-4.1 nano is even faster and cheaper, making it ideal for classification or autocompletion. All three models are available now through OpenAI's API. They won't appear directly in ChatGPT initially, though many of their improvements have already made it into the latest GPT-4o chatbot. Developers using the GPT-4.5 Preview should plan to switch over by July 14, 2025, when that version will be retired. While o3-mini remains the most powerful thinking model, the non-thinking GPT-4.1 family is closing the gap to deliver faster response times.
The models' long-context skills stand out on the Video-MME benchmark, where GPT-4.1 scored 72.0% in the "long, no subtitles" category, 6.7 points higher than GPT-4o. Thanks to its one-million-token window, GPT-4.1 can pull together information spread across huge inputs, whether it's scattered text in a document or key moments in a video. OpenAI says these gains come from close work with developers, tuning the models for tasks that matter while cutting costs and latency. GPT-4.1 mini cuts cost 83% and nearly half the response time compared to GPT-4o. GPT-4.1 nano is even faster and cheaper, making it ideal for classification or autocompletion. All three models are available now through OpenAI's API. They won't appear directly in ChatGPT initially, though many of their improvements have already made it into the latest GPT-4o chatbot. Developers using the GPT-4.5 Preview should plan to switch over by July 14, 2025, when that version will be retired. While o3-mini remains the most powerful thinking model, the non-thinking GPT-4.1 family is closing the gap to deliver faster response times.
Qualcomm's Upcoming Snapdragon X2 Elite PC to Get a 22% Performance Boost
Qualcomm aims to boost the performance of its Windows‑on‑Arm PC chips by about 18-22% percent with the next‑generation Snapdragon X2 processors. That estimate comes from Focused Digital, a well‑known Chinese blogger often leaks supply‑chain details. He says these new Snapdragon X2 chips will hit boost clocks of around 4.40 GHz, which is up from the 4.0 to 4.30 GHz range we see on today's Snapdragon X Elite models. Currently, those Elite chips use Oryon cores built on the TSMC 4 nm‑class N4P process. They run between 3.0 and 3.80 GHz at base and can turbo up to 4.30 GHz. So, simply cranking the top speed up another 100 MHz could explain a chunk of that performance jump. Beyond clocks, Qualcomm is probably squeezing more efficiency out of its Oryon V3 microarchitecture too, though we don't have details yet.
We also don't know exactly which process node Qualcomm will pick. They could stick with a refined 4 nm variant or switch to 3 nm later on. Either way, a roughly 20 percent improvement aligns with what you'd expect from a new generation of chips due in 2025. Another rumor floating around is that the X2 Elite series will jump from 12 to 18 cores, giving the processors more parallel horsepower. Internal test rigs reportedly pair these chips with up to 48 GB of LPDDR5X RAM and 1 TB of NVMe storage. Qualcomm rolled out its first Snapdragon X Elite processors in mid‑2024 and began testing the SC8480XP prototype in September 2024. If these performance figures hold up, the new Snapdragon X2 lineup could close the gap on x86 competitors and set Qualcomm up nicely for competing in stronger with a push in the PC segment by 2026.
We also don't know exactly which process node Qualcomm will pick. They could stick with a refined 4 nm variant or switch to 3 nm later on. Either way, a roughly 20 percent improvement aligns with what you'd expect from a new generation of chips due in 2025. Another rumor floating around is that the X2 Elite series will jump from 12 to 18 cores, giving the processors more parallel horsepower. Internal test rigs reportedly pair these chips with up to 48 GB of LPDDR5X RAM and 1 TB of NVMe storage. Qualcomm rolled out its first Snapdragon X Elite processors in mid‑2024 and began testing the SC8480XP prototype in September 2024. If these performance figures hold up, the new Snapdragon X2 lineup could close the gap on x86 competitors and set Qualcomm up nicely for competing in stronger with a push in the PC segment by 2026.
PNY Unveils NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 Family of Graphics Cards
PNY announced today the arrival of the GeForce RTX 5060 Ti (16 GB and 8 GB), and RTX 5060 graphics cards to its lineup of NVIDIA GeForce RTX 50 Series GPUs. Powered by NVIDIA Blackwell, GeForce RTX 5060 family GPUs bring game-changing capabilities to gamers and creators. Equipped with a massive level of AI horsepower, the RTX 50 Series enables new experiences and next-level graphics fidelity. Multiply performance with NVIDIA DLSS 4, generate images at unprecedented speed, and unleash creativity with NVIDIA Studio.
Supercharged Performance and Speed
The PNY GeForce RTX 5060 Family of graphics cards will be available three different variants: GeForce RTX 5060 Ti (with 16 GB or 8 GB) and RTX 5060, all powered by the NVIDIA Blackwell architecture, providing enhanced gaming realism, powerful real time ray tracing, and cutting-edge features to accelerate gaming performance. Factory-overclocked SKUs are available to maximize out-of-box performance on Blackwell architecture.
Supercharged Performance and Speed
The PNY GeForce RTX 5060 Family of graphics cards will be available three different variants: GeForce RTX 5060 Ti (with 16 GB or 8 GB) and RTX 5060, all powered by the NVIDIA Blackwell architecture, providing enhanced gaming realism, powerful real time ray tracing, and cutting-edge features to accelerate gaming performance. Factory-overclocked SKUs are available to maximize out-of-box performance on Blackwell architecture.
Coming Soon to Game Pass: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Towerborne, CoD:MWII, and More...
If you've ever wondered what the Venn diagram of Bikini Bottom, Los Santos, mysterious archipelagos, and a few other locations looks like - the center is "Places You Can Visit Soon with Game Pass" (not many people have wondered that before now, but at least I could give you that answer!). We have updates on games, benefits, Perks, and some launches you might have caught in some previous Xbox Showcases. Let's get to it!
Available Today
Grand Theft Auto V (Cloud, Console, and PC)
Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass, Game Pass Standard
Grand Theft Auto V returns to Game Pass today. Experience entertainment blockbusters Grand Theft Auto V and Grand Theft Auto Online with Xbox Game Pass on console, Xbox Cloud Gaming (Beta), or the newly enhanced version on PC with Game Pass Ultimate or PC Game Pass.
Available Today
Grand Theft Auto V (Cloud, Console, and PC)
Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass, Game Pass Standard
Grand Theft Auto V returns to Game Pass today. Experience entertainment blockbusters Grand Theft Auto V and Grand Theft Auto Online with Xbox Game Pass on console, Xbox Cloud Gaming (Beta), or the newly enhanced version on PC with Game Pass Ultimate or PC Game Pass.
NVIDIA DLSS 4 With Multi Frame Generation Comes to Black Myth: Wukong, EXFIL, No More Room In Hell 2 & SQUAD
More than 700 games and applications feature RTX technologies, and each week new games integrating NVIDIA DLSS, NVIDIA Reflex, and advanced ray-traced effects are released or announced, delivering the definitive PC experience for GeForce RTX players. This week, DLSS 4 with Multi Frame Generation multiplies performance in Black Myth: Wukong, EXFIL, No More Room In Hell 2, and SQUAD, which has also added support for quality-enhancing Neural Radiance Cache technology.
Black Myth: Wukong DLSS Multi Frame Generation Upgrade Available Now
As one of 2024's best selling games, Game Science's Black Myth: Wukong needs little introduction. Millions of gamers have battled its fearsome bosses in highly detailed fully ray-traced worlds, and Black Myth: Wukong's performance is getting even faster with the release of a DLSS Multi Frame Generation upgrade. The new DLSS Multi Frame Generation update started rolling out to store fronts yesterday, with others gradually following. Specific availability details can be found on Game Science's homepage. Using the update, GeForce RTX 50 Series gamers can multiply performance by up to 10X thanks to DLSS 4 Multi Frame Generation and DLSS Super Resolution.
Black Myth: Wukong DLSS Multi Frame Generation Upgrade Available Now
As one of 2024's best selling games, Game Science's Black Myth: Wukong needs little introduction. Millions of gamers have battled its fearsome bosses in highly detailed fully ray-traced worlds, and Black Myth: Wukong's performance is getting even faster with the release of a DLSS Multi Frame Generation upgrade. The new DLSS Multi Frame Generation update started rolling out to store fronts yesterday, with others gradually following. Specific availability details can be found on Game Science's homepage. Using the update, GeForce RTX 50 Series gamers can multiply performance by up to 10X thanks to DLSS 4 Multi Frame Generation and DLSS Super Resolution.
Vastarmor Expands Radeon RX 9070 XT Range with New "Alloy" Model
Vastarmor—a Chinese manufacturer—was introduced as an important board partner during AMD's special Radeon 9070 Series event. Despite having limited reach outside of its home base, the fairly young brand's custom designs have gained press traction around the globe. TechPowerUp covered Vastarmor's introduction of new Super Alloy series Radeon RX 9070 XT and RX 9070 models back in late February. The triple-fan ARGB-lit flagship model was positioned in good (rival) company, thanks to a maximum 3.1 GHz boost capability. As reported by VideoCardz, Vastarmor has added another custom Radeon RX 9070 XT option to its RDNA 4 product portfolio. A freshly-published product page has outlined specifications for the brand's new (non-Super) Alloy SKU.
Outside of Vastarmor's dedicated listing, a quick web search of the model's identifier code—AH-9070XT16TC1BR7N—reveals BIOS information, and little else. The Radeon RX 9070 XT Alloy seems to be a straightforward spin-off of its fancier sibling, albeit sans ARGB lighting zones. This barebone design sports non-transparent black fans, but preserves the flagship card's triple 8-pin power connector configuration. Vastarmor has downgraded its non-Super model's boost clock to a mere 3010 MHz (instead of 3100 MHz)—as configured on rival cards: ASUS PRIME RX 9070 XT OC, PowerColor Hellhound RX 9070 XT, and Sapphire PURE RX 9070 XT. Curiously, a white Alloy option is not present on Vastarmor's website—their current-gen Super Alloy range launched with pale alternatives.
Outside of Vastarmor's dedicated listing, a quick web search of the model's identifier code—AH-9070XT16TC1BR7N—reveals BIOS information, and little else. The Radeon RX 9070 XT Alloy seems to be a straightforward spin-off of its fancier sibling, albeit sans ARGB lighting zones. This barebone design sports non-transparent black fans, but preserves the flagship card's triple 8-pin power connector configuration. Vastarmor has downgraded its non-Super model's boost clock to a mere 3010 MHz (instead of 3100 MHz)—as configured on rival cards: ASUS PRIME RX 9070 XT OC, PowerColor Hellhound RX 9070 XT, and Sapphire PURE RX 9070 XT. Curiously, a white Alloy option is not present on Vastarmor's website—their current-gen Super Alloy range launched with pale alternatives.
ASUS Introduces Upgraded TUF Gaming A14 Gaming Laptop
ASUS today announced an all-new TUF Gaming A14 gaming laptop equipped with an AMD Ryzen AI 7 350 CPU and an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 Laptop GPU. Housed in an incredibly portable and lightweight 14-inch form factor chassis, the TUF Gaming A14 is the perfect companion for any gamer on the go.
Next-gen RTX 50 Series graphics
Backed by the incredible performance of the new NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 Laptop GPU, the TUF Gaming A14 is truly primed and ready for the latest AAA and esports games. This card features the latest DLSS suite of technologies, which uses AI and neural rendering to boost FPS, reduce latency, and improve image quality. The latest breakthrough, DLSS 4, brings new Multi Frame Generation and enhanced Ray Reconstruction and Super Resolution, powered by GeForce RTX 50 Series GPUs and fifth-generation Tensor Cores. From old classics to the latest AAA titles, the A14 has the power to make games look and perform better than ever before.
Next-gen RTX 50 Series graphics
Backed by the incredible performance of the new NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 Laptop GPU, the TUF Gaming A14 is truly primed and ready for the latest AAA and esports games. This card features the latest DLSS suite of technologies, which uses AI and neural rendering to boost FPS, reduce latency, and improve image quality. The latest breakthrough, DLSS 4, brings new Multi Frame Generation and enhanced Ray Reconstruction and Super Resolution, powered by GeForce RTX 50 Series GPUs and fifth-generation Tensor Cores. From old classics to the latest AAA titles, the A14 has the power to make games look and perform better than ever before.
ASUS Introduces GeForce RTX 5060 Ti and RTX 5060 Card Lineup: TUF Gaming, Prime & Dual
We've snuggled NVIDIA's brand-new GeForce RTX 5060 and 5060 Ti GPUs inside a variety of ASUS graphics cards to bring game-ready NVIDIA 50 Series graphics power to more PC players. Between NVIDIA's Blackwell architecture and our cutting-edge hardware, these graphics cards offer users an accessible and exciting path to modern PC gaming. We have something for everybody, including rock-solid TUF Gaming GeForce RTX 5060 and 5060 Ti options, versatile Prime GeForce RTX 5060 and 5060 Ti offerings, and ultra-compact Dual GeForce RTX 5060 and 5060 Ti graphics cards. Whether you want something rugged, small form factor (SFF)-ready, or amped with enough VRAM to dig into more serious gaming, we have a graphics card that'll fit your needs.
Next-gen technology, hardware, and features for all
There are many constants across our RTX 5060 and 5060 Ti graphics card spread, ensuring you'll get lots of great features no matter what card you're keen on. All nine of our TUF Gaming, Prime, and ASUS Dual RTX 5060 and RTX 5060 Ti cards benefit from NVIDIA's Blackwell architecture, granting you 4th generation RT cores for improved ray tracing performance. RTX 5060 and RTX 5060 Ti GPUs also pack neural shaders, which game developers can use to compress textures and reduce memory usage. NVIDIA DLSS 4 will supercharge your gaming experience with its own feature suite. Super Resolution, Ray Reconstruction, and Frame Generation all get improvements with the latest version of DLSS, helping your games run well and look their best. And 5th Gen Tensor Cores give these GPUs the power of Multi Frame Gen, smoothing out your AAA gaming like never before. Together, these features help RTX 5060 and RTX 5060 Ti graphics cards punch above their weight class, giving you outsized performance.
Next-gen technology, hardware, and features for all
There are many constants across our RTX 5060 and 5060 Ti graphics card spread, ensuring you'll get lots of great features no matter what card you're keen on. All nine of our TUF Gaming, Prime, and ASUS Dual RTX 5060 and RTX 5060 Ti cards benefit from NVIDIA's Blackwell architecture, granting you 4th generation RT cores for improved ray tracing performance. RTX 5060 and RTX 5060 Ti GPUs also pack neural shaders, which game developers can use to compress textures and reduce memory usage. NVIDIA DLSS 4 will supercharge your gaming experience with its own feature suite. Super Resolution, Ray Reconstruction, and Frame Generation all get improvements with the latest version of DLSS, helping your games run well and look their best. And 5th Gen Tensor Cores give these GPUs the power of Multi Frame Gen, smoothing out your AAA gaming like never before. Together, these features help RTX 5060 and RTX 5060 Ti graphics cards punch above their weight class, giving you outsized performance.
Acer Debuts Nitro Gaming PCs Featuring Latest NVIDIA GeForce RTX 50 Series GPUs
Acer today announced the expansion of its mainstream Nitro gaming line with the launch of the new Acer Nitro AI laptops and the Nitro 20 desktop. The Nitro range brings a full-package gaming experience and great value for gamers and content creators, combining robust processing power, essential computing features, and more without breaking the bank. The addition of slim laptops and a compact Windows PC option also support users with limited space for their gaming set-ups.
The Nitro AI laptops are Copilot+ PCs, powered by AMD Ryzen AI 300 Series processors and equipped with the game-changing NVIDIA GeForce RTX 50 Series Laptop GPUs to make more powerful AI rendering capabilities more accessible. The Nitro 20 desktop also utilizes AI processors and up to an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 GPU, focusing on better energy efficiency with a smaller footprint.
The Nitro AI laptops are Copilot+ PCs, powered by AMD Ryzen AI 300 Series processors and equipped with the game-changing NVIDIA GeForce RTX 50 Series Laptop GPUs to make more powerful AI rendering capabilities more accessible. The Nitro 20 desktop also utilizes AI processors and up to an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 GPU, focusing on better energy efficiency with a smaller footprint.
GALAX Teases Imminent Launch of GeForce RTX 5090D HOF XOC Limited Edition in China
GALAX did not expedite the development of a flagship GeForce RTX 5090D custom design; as evidenced by the absence of a top-flight Hall of Fame (HOF) option during launch week. "Cheaper" options—in the form of General and 1-Click models—were made available to the Chinese public on January 30. GALAX's fanciest new-gen "Blackwell" HOF model debuted with less potent hardware onboard: GeForce RTX 5080 OC LAB Plus-X Edition. Throughout early 2025, GALAX seeded early samples—of HOF GeForce RTX 5090D hardware—with tenured extreme overclocking organizations. Last month, almost finalized board designs became record breakers—achieved via liquid nitrogen cooled methodologies. Earlier prototypes sported a single 16-pin power connector, but newer Extreme Overclock (XOC) iterations were distributed with a second power delivery channel.
Yesterday, GALAX's social media channel teased the imminent launch of their air-cooled retail variant: "5090D HOF XOC Edition (Limited). Seems like it will be on China market soon…" Up until very recently, overclocking champions have shared photos of bare GALAX GeForce 5090D HOF cards—industry watchdogs reckoned that company engineers were still realizing a next-gen cooling solution. The Chinese manufacturer's promo material advertises the (presumably) very expensive forthcoming SKU as an option "only for better performance." Product renders showcase a familiar (optional) crown-adorned shroud, but it is not clear whether GALAX has revised its backplate design for this generation's XOC flagship.
Yesterday, GALAX's social media channel teased the imminent launch of their air-cooled retail variant: "5090D HOF XOC Edition (Limited). Seems like it will be on China market soon…" Up until very recently, overclocking champions have shared photos of bare GALAX GeForce 5090D HOF cards—industry watchdogs reckoned that company engineers were still realizing a next-gen cooling solution. The Chinese manufacturer's promo material advertises the (presumably) very expensive forthcoming SKU as an option "only for better performance." Product renders showcase a familiar (optional) crown-adorned shroud, but it is not clear whether GALAX has revised its backplate design for this generation's XOC flagship.
COLORFUL Launches iGame GeForce RTX 5060 Series Graphics Cards
Colorful Technology Company Limited, a leading brand in gaming PC components, gaming laptops, and Hi-fi audio products, announces the launch of the iGame GeForce RTX 5060 Series graphics cards which consists of three variants: the RTX 5060 Ti (16 GB and 8 GB variants) and RTX 5060 graphics cards. The COLORFUL iGame GeForce RTX 5060 Series features the Advanced, Ultra W, and Battle Ax models and also compact dual-fan models with the Ultra W DUO and NB DUO models.
Powered by NVIDIA Blackwell, GeForce RTX 50 Series GPUs bring game-changing capabilities to gamers and creators. Equipped with a massive level of AI horsepower, the RTX 50 Series enables new experiences and next-level graphics fidelity. Multiply performance with NVIDIA DLSS 4, generate images at unprecedented speed, and unleash creativity with NVIDIA Studio.
Powered by NVIDIA Blackwell, GeForce RTX 50 Series GPUs bring game-changing capabilities to gamers and creators. Equipped with a massive level of AI horsepower, the RTX 50 Series enables new experiences and next-level graphics fidelity. Multiply performance with NVIDIA DLSS 4, generate images at unprecedented speed, and unleash creativity with NVIDIA Studio.
Dune: Awakening Delayed Until June 10th
Dear Sleepers, These are exciting times, we're closing in on launch, and we've just initiated a major preview beta where hundreds of journalists and content creators are playing the early parts of the game and will be releasing their coverage on April 25th. These past few weeks we've been steadily gearing up, releasing the Character Creator & Benchmark Mode back in February, starting pre-orders in March, and continuing to release new livestreams, videos, and details to keep you informed.
We want to thank everyone who has shared in our excitement. It's been a joy reading all your comments across the various community channels. Our ongoing Persistent Closed Beta is also continuing in full force, with regular updates, and the feedback we've been collecting from beta testers has been invaluable in making sure we can launch a quality game. We have a very active Discord going with our beta testers where our developers can interact directly with them to ensure we collaboratively make Dune: Awakening a better game.
We want to thank everyone who has shared in our excitement. It's been a joy reading all your comments across the various community channels. Our ongoing Persistent Closed Beta is also continuing in full force, with regular updates, and the feedback we've been collecting from beta testers has been invaluable in making sure we can launch a quality game. We have a very active Discord going with our beta testers where our developers can interact directly with them to ensure we collaboratively make Dune: Awakening a better game.
Heroes of Might and Magic: Olden Era Launching into Early Access This Summer
Heroes of Might and Magic: Olden Era is coming to Steam in Early Access this summer, and aspiring adventurers can wishlist it now to be alerted when it releases. The new installment in the turn-based strategy series takes place in the vibrant fantasy world of Enroth, where players will recruit heroes to explore the continent of Jadame and raise armies to battle in the struggle to determine its future. Olden Era features six unique factions, a single-player campaign, and several multiplayer modes allowing you to venture alongside or clash with other players, including Hotseat mode for local multiplayer fun. Furthermore, players can set out into the unknown on randomly generated maps, and take advantage of the map editor to create worlds of their own—or experience those created by other players.
Olden Era returns to the world of Enroth and the origins of the legendary saga, inviting both veterans and new players to go on a new strategic quest on Jadame, a mysterious continent in turmoil, mentioned but never explored in the previous games, with its unique factions, biomes and creatures. Traverse a vibrant and living fantasy world full of wonders and dangers, build magnificent castles, raise massive armies and clash in epic and highly tactical battles of heroes and mythical creatures. Play solo with a new campaign, explore single and limitless randomly generated maps, or engage in battle of wits and magic with other players in multiplayer mode. Or even build your own Heroes of Might & Magic stories with the in-game map and campaign editor.
Olden Era returns to the world of Enroth and the origins of the legendary saga, inviting both veterans and new players to go on a new strategic quest on Jadame, a mysterious continent in turmoil, mentioned but never explored in the previous games, with its unique factions, biomes and creatures. Traverse a vibrant and living fantasy world full of wonders and dangers, build magnificent castles, raise massive armies and clash in epic and highly tactical battles of heroes and mythical creatures. Play solo with a new campaign, explore single and limitless randomly generated maps, or engage in battle of wits and magic with other players in multiplayer mode. Or even build your own Heroes of Might & Magic stories with the in-game map and campaign editor.
AMD Announces Amuse 3.0 Generative AI Solution for Print-Quality Images and Draft-Quality Short Videos
AMD partnered with TensorStack AI to launch the Amuse 3.0 local generative AI platform, letting users of AMD Ryzen AI processors and Radeon RX GPUs generate images and short-videos locally. The platform can generate print quality images and draft-quality (read: low res) videos up to 6 seconds in length. The platform comes with support for over 100 new AI models, including Stable Diffusion 3.5 and FLUX.
Each of these models has been heavily optimized for AMD hardware resulting in up to 4.3 times faster inferencing speed compared to generic models. The platform can diffuse 4-6 seconds of draft-quality short videos. It also includes AI-based video filters. AMD arrived at the 4.3x performance number comparing generic Olive Optimize base models with AMD optimized models, accelerating both an AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT GPU. The company also put out performance numbers for Ryzen AI processors with their 50 TOPS-class NPU, where the AMD Optimized models were shown being up to 3.3x faster with image generation.
Each of these models has been heavily optimized for AMD hardware resulting in up to 4.3 times faster inferencing speed compared to generic models. The platform can diffuse 4-6 seconds of draft-quality short videos. It also includes AI-based video filters. AMD arrived at the 4.3x performance number comparing generic Olive Optimize base models with AMD optimized models, accelerating both an AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT GPU. The company also put out performance numbers for Ryzen AI processors with their 50 TOPS-class NPU, where the AMD Optimized models were shown being up to 3.3x faster with image generation.
ASUS ROG Crosshair X870E Extreme Motherboard Launching in China, Price Tag: ~$1360
Since teasing its next-gen flagship motherboard design—at CES 2025—the ASUS Republic of Gamers (ROG) team has spent time finalizing an option that is even more extravagant than their hardcore overclocking-oriented Crosshair X870E Apex model. Naturally, the premium sub-brand did not reveal pricing during preview events—instead, premature European e-tail listings suggested a €1200 (~$1350 USD) tag. Tony Wu and colleagues at ASUS China introduced an impressive swath of brand-new products at an official in-person showcase last week, in Changsha.
During proceedings, company representatives introduced their top-flight E-ATX format board with a hefty day one price: 9999 RMB ($1360 USD). The ASUS ROG Crosshair X870E Extreme is expected to launch later this month; likely starting off with the Chinese domestic market. At the time of writing, the manufacturer's various global branches have not disclosed localized details—be it pricing or availability. Last week's presser did not produce any surprises, since plenty of specification details (and promo shots) leaked out late last month. One interesting and very over the top feature is the model's integration of an adjustable full-color 5-inch LCD screen. The primary M.2 storage solution will be cooled by an "innovative" 3D vapor chamber heatsink. Well-heeled customers will be relieved to know that ASUS has outfitted the AAA board design with their revamped Q-Release Slim mechanism.
During proceedings, company representatives introduced their top-flight E-ATX format board with a hefty day one price: 9999 RMB ($1360 USD). The ASUS ROG Crosshair X870E Extreme is expected to launch later this month; likely starting off with the Chinese domestic market. At the time of writing, the manufacturer's various global branches have not disclosed localized details—be it pricing or availability. Last week's presser did not produce any surprises, since plenty of specification details (and promo shots) leaked out late last month. One interesting and very over the top feature is the model's integration of an adjustable full-color 5-inch LCD screen. The primary M.2 storage solution will be cooled by an "innovative" 3D vapor chamber heatsink. Well-heeled customers will be relieved to know that ASUS has outfitted the AAA board design with their revamped Q-Release Slim mechanism.
Gainward Announces GeForce RTX 5060 Ti and RTX 5060 Python III and Ghost Graphics Cards
Gainward, a trusted leader in high-performance graphics cards, proudly announces the launch of its NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 Ti (16 GB and 8 GB variants), and RTX 5060 Series lineup. This release features the Python III and Ghost series, each designed to deliver powerful performance for gaming, AI, and creative workloads, with advanced cooling and exceptional durability.
Powered by NVIDIA Blackwell, GeForce RTX 50 Series GPUs bring game-changing capabilities to gamers and creators. Equipped with a massive level of AI horsepower, the RTX 50 Series enables new experiences and next-level graphics fidelity. Multiply performance with NVIDIA DLSS 4, generate images at unprecedented speed, and unleash creativity with NVIDIA Studio.
Powered by NVIDIA Blackwell, GeForce RTX 50 Series GPUs bring game-changing capabilities to gamers and creators. Equipped with a massive level of AI horsepower, the RTX 50 Series enables new experiences and next-level graphics fidelity. Multiply performance with NVIDIA DLSS 4, generate images at unprecedented speed, and unleash creativity with NVIDIA Studio.
ZOTAC Gaming Announces the GeForce RTX 5060 Series
ZOTAC Technology PTE. Limited, a global leader in technology, announces today the addition of the ZOTAC GAMING GeForce RTX 5060 Series to its 50 Series graphics card line-up. The ZOTAC GAMING GeForce RTX 5060 Series includes the RTX 5060 Ti (16 GB and 8 GB variants), and the RTX 5060, each featuring ultra-fast GDDR7 memory, powerful cooling, elegant designs, and widely compatible compact footprints.
Powered by NVIDIA Blackwell, GeForce RTX 50 Series GPUs bring game-changing capabilities to gamers and creators. Equipped with a massive level of AI horsepower, the RTX 50 Series enables new experiences and next-level graphics fidelity. Multiply performance with NVIDIA DLSS 4, generate images at unprecedented speed, and unleash creativity with NVIDIA Studio.
Powered by NVIDIA Blackwell, GeForce RTX 50 Series GPUs bring game-changing capabilities to gamers and creators. Equipped with a massive level of AI horsepower, the RTX 50 Series enables new experiences and next-level graphics fidelity. Multiply performance with NVIDIA DLSS 4, generate images at unprecedented speed, and unleash creativity with NVIDIA Studio.
EA Introduces Star Wars Zero Company, More Details Coming This Weekend
Recruit an unconventional team of operatives and deploy them on missions unlike any other in the galaxy far, far away in Star Wars Zero Company! The newly announced single-player turn-based tactics game, developed by Bit Reactor in collaboration with Respawn Entertainment and Lucasfilm Games, will share the first details about the game currently in development with attendees at Star Wars Celebration Japan. Here's your exclusive first look at Star Wars Zero Company and just a few members of the elite squad under your command. The upcoming turn-based tactics game puts you in command during the Clone Wars.
Bit Reactor Developer Panel featuring Respawn Entertainment and Lucasfilm Games
Join Bit Reactor, along with Respawn Entertainment and Lucasfilm Games, for a first look at a new Star Wars turn-based tactics game. Tune into the Star Wars Celebration on April 19, Live on the Galaxy Stage—4:30PM - 5:30PM—for a first look at STAR WARS Zero Company, a single-player turn-based tactics game coming to PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S.
Bit Reactor Developer Panel featuring Respawn Entertainment and Lucasfilm Games
Join Bit Reactor, along with Respawn Entertainment and Lucasfilm Games, for a first look at a new Star Wars turn-based tactics game. Tune into the Star Wars Celebration on April 19, Live on the Galaxy Stage—4:30PM - 5:30PM—for a first look at STAR WARS Zero Company, a single-player turn-based tactics game coming to PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S.
Corsair Launches Upgraded HXi Series Power Supplies
Corsair is excited to announce upgraded HX1200i and HX1500i Series fully modular, low-noise power supplies for 2025. These powerful PSUs are Cybenetics Platinum-certified for up to 91% efficiency, delivering clean, reliable power. They now feature updated cables with a debossed design and low-profile cable combs for easy cable management and a sleek appearance. In addition, HXi Series power supplies now include two 12V-2x6 GPU power cables with a new dual-color connector that provides visual confirmation of a secure connection, offering additional peace of mind for PC builders. The HXi Series is built for high-end PCs using the latest, most powerful GPUs, including NVIDIA RTX 50 series and AMD 9070 series graphics cards.
Corsair HXi power supplies are ATX 3.1 certified and PCIe 5.1 compliant, supporting the latest power standards with high reliability and efficiency. They are Modern Standby compatible for extremely fast wake-from-sleep times and excellent low-load efficiency. A resonant LLC topology with DC-to-DC conversion provides clean, consistent power. A 10-year warranty ensures these PSUs will last through several upgrade cycles, delivering reliable power to even the most ambitious builds for years to come.
Corsair HXi power supplies are ATX 3.1 certified and PCIe 5.1 compliant, supporting the latest power standards with high reliability and efficiency. They are Modern Standby compatible for extremely fast wake-from-sleep times and excellent low-load efficiency. A resonant LLC topology with DC-to-DC conversion provides clean, consistent power. A 10-year warranty ensures these PSUs will last through several upgrade cycles, delivering reliable power to even the most ambitious builds for years to come.
Inno3D Unveils its GeForce RTX 5060 and RTX 5060 Ti Graphics Cards
INNO3D, a leading manufacturer of high-end multimedia components and innovations proudly announces the new additions to the GeForce RTX 50 Series, featuring INNO3D GeForce RTX 5060 Ti GPUs (16 GB and 8 GB variants), and GeForce RTX 5060 GPUs. These cutting-edge graphics cards harness the power of NVIDIA's ultra-efficient Blackwell architecture, delivering unparalleled performance, advanced neural rendering capabilities, and industry-leading platform features.
INNO3D has elevated both aesthetics and functionality across its impressive cooler lineup, including the INNO3D X3 OC and TWIN X2/OC models, also in WHITE. With these significant enhancements, INNO3D reaffirms its commitment to providing gamers and creators with an unmatched visual experience, pushing the boundaries of what's possible in graphics technology.
INNO3D has elevated both aesthetics and functionality across its impressive cooler lineup, including the INNO3D X3 OC and TWIN X2/OC models, also in WHITE. With these significant enhancements, INNO3D reaffirms its commitment to providing gamers and creators with an unmatched visual experience, pushing the boundaries of what's possible in graphics technology.
PALIT Introduces the GeForce RTX 5060 Ti & RTX 5060 Series Graphics Cards: Infinity 3 and Dual
As a leading innovator in graphics card technology, Palit Microsystems Ltd. is excited to unveil its latest GeForce RTX 5060 Ti and RTX 5060 series. Powered by NVIDIA Blackwell, GeForce RTX 50 Series GPUs bring game-changing capabilities to gamers and creators. Equipped with a massive level of AI horsepower, the RTX 50 Series enables new experiences and next-level graphics fidelity. Multiply performance with NVIDIA DLSS 4, generate images at unprecedented speed, and unleash creativity with NVIDIA Studio. Plus, access NVIDIA NIM microservices - state-of-the-art AI models that let enthusiasts and developers build AI assistants, agents, and workflows with peak performance on NIM-ready systems. A New Era of SFF Power: The Infinity 3 Series
Available on NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 Ti GPUs with 16 GB or 8 GB, and RTX 5060 GPUs, the Palit Infinity 3 series is engineered for SFF-Ready (Small Form Factor) builds, redefining compact performance. Measuring just 292 x 117 x 42 mm, the Infinity 3 is 45% smaller than standard RTX 50 triple-fan models. With a slim 2-slot design, it is even more compact than most SFF specifications, making it a top choice for high-performance, space-conscious PC setups.
Available on NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 Ti GPUs with 16 GB or 8 GB, and RTX 5060 GPUs, the Palit Infinity 3 series is engineered for SFF-Ready (Small Form Factor) builds, redefining compact performance. Measuring just 292 x 117 x 42 mm, the Infinity 3 is 45% smaller than standard RTX 50 triple-fan models. With a slim 2-slot design, it is even more compact than most SFF specifications, making it a top choice for high-performance, space-conscious PC setups.
GIGABYTE Debuts GeForce RTX 5060 Ti & 5060 with Advanced Cooling System for Ultimate Gaming and AI
GIGABYTE, the world's leading computer brand, launches the GeForce RTX 5060 Ti, and GeForce RTX 5060 series graphics cards, powered by NVIDIA Blackwell architecture, which will be available starting April 16. Designed for mainstream gamers, creators, and entry-level AI users, these new models offer an optimal balance between performance and cooling efficiency with an upgraded WINDFORCE cooling system for smooth gameplay and multitasking.
The upgraded WINDFORCE cooling system aims to enhance cooling efficiency by maximizing air volume and minimizing turbulence and noise. These graphics cards feature the Hawk Fan design that delivers up to a 53.6% increase in air pressure and a 12.5% boost in air volume. GIGABYTE also applied server-grade conductive gel to ensure optimal contact with uneven surfaces, reducing thermal resistance and maintaining stability over prolonged usage. Equipped with direct GPU contact copper plate and composite heat pipes, GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 5060 Ti and GeForce RTX 5060 series graphics cards are accomplished to maximize heat transfer for superior cooling performance.
The upgraded WINDFORCE cooling system aims to enhance cooling efficiency by maximizing air volume and minimizing turbulence and noise. These graphics cards feature the Hawk Fan design that delivers up to a 53.6% increase in air pressure and a 12.5% boost in air volume. GIGABYTE also applied server-grade conductive gel to ensure optimal contact with uneven surfaces, reducing thermal resistance and maintaining stability over prolonged usage. Equipped with direct GPU contact copper plate and composite heat pipes, GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 5060 Ti and GeForce RTX 5060 series graphics cards are accomplished to maximize heat transfer for superior cooling performance.
MSI Releases the Custom NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 Series Graphics Cards
MSI is pleased to introduce its latest graphics card lineup powered by the newly launched NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 Ti (16GB and 8GB variants) and 5060 series GPUs, featuring the VANGUARD, GAMING, INSPIRE, and VENTUS series. Designed with advanced graphics technology and efficient cooling solutions, these cards offer reliable performance for gaming, AI applications, and content creation. Balancing power and efficiency, they ensure smooth operation with optimized thermals and low noise levels for a great user experience.
Powered by NVIDIA Blackwell, GeForce RTX 50 Series GPUs bring game-changing capabilities to gamers and creators. Equipped with a massive level of AI horsepower, the RTX 50 Series enables new experiences and next-level graphics fidelity. Multiply performance with NVIDIA DLSS 4, generate images at unprecedented speed, and unleash creativity with NVIDIA Studio.
Powered by NVIDIA Blackwell, GeForce RTX 50 Series GPUs bring game-changing capabilities to gamers and creators. Equipped with a massive level of AI horsepower, the RTX 50 Series enables new experiences and next-level graphics fidelity. Multiply performance with NVIDIA DLSS 4, generate images at unprecedented speed, and unleash creativity with NVIDIA Studio.
NVIDIA Launches GeForce RTX 5060 Series, Beginning with RTX 5060 Ti This Week
NVIDIA today announced the GeForce RTX 5060 series, with a combined announcement of the GeForce RTX 5060, the GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 8 GB, and the RTX 5060 Ti 16 GB. The latter two will be available from tomorrow, 16th April, which is also when media reviews of the RTX 5060 Ti 16 GB and 8 GB go live. The RTX 5060, meanwhile, is expected to be launched in May. The RTX 5060 Ti introduces the new 5 nm "GB206" silicon, which the SKU maxes out. This chip features 36 streaming multiprocessors (SM) across 3 GPCs. These work out to 4,608 CUDA cores, 144 Tensor cores, 36 RT cores, 144 TMUs, and 48 ROPs. The chip features a 128-bit GDDR7 memory interface driving 8 GB of 16 GB of 28 Gbps (GDDR7-effective) memory for 448 GB/s of memory bandwidth, which is a 55% increase over the RTX 4060 Ti.
NVIDIA recommends the RTX 5060 Ti for maxed out 1080p gameplay, including with ray tracing, although we expect it to be unofficially capable of 1440p gameplay with fairly high settings and ray tracing. You get new features being introduced with the RTX 50-series, including Neural Rendering, and DLSS 4 Multi Frame Generation. NVIDIA is pricing the RTX 5060 Ti 8 GB at $375, and the 16 GB sibling about $50 higher, at $425, although these could be fairy tale pricing given the unpredictable world trade environment and scarcity profiteering by scalpers.
NVIDIA recommends the RTX 5060 Ti for maxed out 1080p gameplay, including with ray tracing, although we expect it to be unofficially capable of 1440p gameplay with fairly high settings and ray tracing. You get new features being introduced with the RTX 50-series, including Neural Rendering, and DLSS 4 Multi Frame Generation. NVIDIA is pricing the RTX 5060 Ti 8 GB at $375, and the 16 GB sibling about $50 higher, at $425, although these could be fairy tale pricing given the unpredictable world trade environment and scarcity profiteering by scalpers.
ZOTAC Launches One Launcher 2.0 for GAMING ZONE Handheld
Today, we are proud to announce the release of the next version of our launcher software for the ZOTAC GAMING ZONE Handheld, which features a revamped interface and major changes to improve usability on our handheld gaming console. In this blog post, we will talk about some of the major changes of the software, and how to update to this version from pre-2.0 launcher version.
Major Changes
Button Mapping
The latest One Launcher update introduces a refined button mapping system designed for streamlined customization. After selecting the gamepad mapping option, the Launcher will now prompt you to assign a profile to a specific game, simplifying your setup process. This update also expands button mapping possibilities - you can now map any button on the handheld to a wider range of inputs, including keyboard and mouse buttons for games that doesn't natively support gamepads. For even greater control, we've added Joystick dead zone, curve and threshold settings, alongside adjustable trigger pull range settings, offering a wider range of configurability to suit your playstyle. Finally, the Radial Dials now share the same versatile assignment options as any other button on the ZONE - they can be assigned to gamepad, keyboard, and mouse inputs - alongside a few new hotkeys for convenient access to system utilities.
Major Changes
Button Mapping
The latest One Launcher update introduces a refined button mapping system designed for streamlined customization. After selecting the gamepad mapping option, the Launcher will now prompt you to assign a profile to a specific game, simplifying your setup process. This update also expands button mapping possibilities - you can now map any button on the handheld to a wider range of inputs, including keyboard and mouse buttons for games that doesn't natively support gamepads. For even greater control, we've added Joystick dead zone, curve and threshold settings, alongside adjustable trigger pull range settings, offering a wider range of configurability to suit your playstyle. Finally, the Radial Dials now share the same versatile assignment options as any other button on the ZONE - they can be assigned to gamepad, keyboard, and mouse inputs - alongside a few new hotkeys for convenient access to system utilities.
be quiet! Announces Dark Mount and Light Mount Series Gaming Keyboards
be quiet!, the renowned German manufacturer of premium PC components, is expanding its product portfolio into gaming peripherals with the introduction of Dark Mount and Light Mount—two brand-new mechanical keyboards designed for enthusiasts who demand precision, comfort, and durability. Available in both linear and tactile Silent Switches variants, these keyboards combine premium materials with a minimalist aesthetic, delivering a seamless typing experience with an amazing smooth sound profile for gamers, creators, and professionals alike. Alongside these peripherals, be quiet! also launches its first software tool: IO Center for Windows, which offers users complete control over their peripherals, plus a web-based version called IO Center Web, which works on various operating systems.
Aaron Licht, CEO of be quiet!, says: "With Dark Mount and Light Mount, we're not just entering a new product category—we're setting a new benchmark for what gamers and creators should expect from their keyboards. These models reflect everything be quiet! stands for: smart engineering, understated design, and a relentless focus on performance without compromise. We've put great care into the acoustics, the feel of every keystroke, and the overall user experience. This launch is the beginning of an exciting new chapter for us, and we're proud to bring our expertise in silence and quality to the world of peripherals."
Aaron Licht, CEO of be quiet!, says: "With Dark Mount and Light Mount, we're not just entering a new product category—we're setting a new benchmark for what gamers and creators should expect from their keyboards. These models reflect everything be quiet! stands for: smart engineering, understated design, and a relentless focus on performance without compromise. We've put great care into the acoustics, the feel of every keystroke, and the overall user experience. This launch is the beginning of an exciting new chapter for us, and we're proud to bring our expertise in silence and quality to the world of peripherals."
Intel "Bartlett Lake-S" Gaming CPU is Possible, More Hints Appear for a 12 P-Core SKU
Intel's "Bartlett Lake-S" architecture, previously only offered for edge and networking deployment, may spawn a 12 P-core variant for gamers that eliminates efficiency cores entirely. This hopeful configuration would specifically target applications that benefit from consistent single-threaded performance and deterministic core behavior, addressing a market segment underserved since Intel's transition to hybrid architectures. Recent software support developments strengthen this speculation, with diagnostic utility AIDA64 explicitly adding "improved support for Intel Bartlett Lake-S CPU" in its 7.65.7404 beta release notes from April 13, 2025. This update precedes any consumer launch announcement, suggesting possible platform expansion. MSI-affiliated overclocker Toppc amplified these rumors by highlighting the AIDA64 changelog while referencing undisclosed developments under NDA, a pattern historically preceding consumer product launches.
The rumored gaming-oriented CPU would leverage the LGA 1700 platform compatibility, enabling drop-in upgrades for existing 600-series and 700-series motherboard owners. Unlike the current flagship Core 7 251E with its 8P+16E configuration, a pure performance-core implementation would eliminate the Windows scheduler complications that sometimes impact frame timing in latency-sensitive games. Current hybrid designs force game engines to navigate complex thread scheduling across heterogeneous cores, with performance-critical threads occasionally migrating to efficiency cores during intensive scenes. A homogeneous 12 P-core architecture would eliminate this behavior, providing stable thread assignment and potentially reducing the 99th percentile frame time variances that affect perceived smoothness in CPU-bound titles.
The rumored gaming-oriented CPU would leverage the LGA 1700 platform compatibility, enabling drop-in upgrades for existing 600-series and 700-series motherboard owners. Unlike the current flagship Core 7 251E with its 8P+16E configuration, a pure performance-core implementation would eliminate the Windows scheduler complications that sometimes impact frame timing in latency-sensitive games. Current hybrid designs force game engines to navigate complex thread scheduling across heterogeneous cores, with performance-critical threads occasionally migrating to efficiency cores during intensive scenes. A homogeneous 12 P-core architecture would eliminate this behavior, providing stable thread assignment and potentially reducing the 99th percentile frame time variances that affect perceived smoothness in CPU-bound titles.
LG Makes Impressive Debut at Data Center World 2025
LG Electronics (LG) is unveiling a comprehensive lineup of cooling solutions at the Data Center World (DCW) 2025 conference in Washington, D.C., from April 14-17. This marks LG's debut at DCW, where the company is presenting an array of advanced data center cooling solutions, including high-performance chillers, air- and liquid-based server cooling products, and the LG Building Energy Control (BECON) solution. With its high-efficiency direct-to-chip (D2C) cooling technologies and integrated AI-powered control software, LG aims to make significant inroads into North America's rapidly growing data center market.
AI data centers generate more heat and consume more electricity than conventional data centers due to higher server-rack density and the increased usage of resource-intensive computer chips, such as graphics processing units and high-bandwidth memory. LG's hybrid solution, which combines chip cooling and room cooling, is designed to meet the thermal management needs of these next-gen facilities, delivering outstanding performance and top-tier energy efficiency. Visitors to the LG booth at DCW can learn all about the company's tailored cooling solutions for AI data centers and witness the commitment to innovation that has propelled LG to the forefront of the global HVAC industry.
AI data centers generate more heat and consume more electricity than conventional data centers due to higher server-rack density and the increased usage of resource-intensive computer chips, such as graphics processing units and high-bandwidth memory. LG's hybrid solution, which combines chip cooling and room cooling, is designed to meet the thermal management needs of these next-gen facilities, delivering outstanding performance and top-tier energy efficiency. Visitors to the LG booth at DCW can learn all about the company's tailored cooling solutions for AI data centers and witness the commitment to innovation that has propelled LG to the forefront of the global HVAC industry.
High-NA EUV Tools Cost Nearly $400 Million Yet Deliver Big Savings on Complex Layers
High‑NA EUV lithography comes with a crazy $380 million price tag, but it can actually cut overall production costs in the right situations. At the SPIE Advanced Lithography and Patterning conference in February 2025, IBM researchers in Veldhoven revealed that one high‑NA exposure runs about 2.5x the cost of a standard low‑NA shot. That seems steep, yet High‑NA's real strength shows up when it replaces complicated multi‑patterning processes. SemiAnalysis had predicted last year that High‑NA would not become cost‑effective until around 2030, largely because higher dose requirements slow down throughput on the trickiest layers. However, after reviewing IBM's new data, the firm adjusted its outlook. Their model confirms that sticking with Low‑NA double patterning for two-mask sequences remains the cheapest path.
On the other hand, once you need three or more Low‑NA masks, switching to a single High‑NA pass starts to pay off. In fact, for a four‑mask self‑aligned litho‑etch flow, High‑NA can reduce total wafer cost by roughly 1.7-2.1x compared to using Low‑NA multi‑patterning. One big reason fabs are interested is that fewer exposures mean simpler process flows. You cut down cycle time and lower the chance of overlay mistakes. Still, SemiAnalysis warns that a simpler flow does not automatically mean lower expense in every case. Looking at Intel 14A, it turns out only a few critical metal layers at the 14A node hit the sweet spot where High‑NA's higher per‑shot cost is outweighed by ditching multiple masks.
On the other hand, once you need three or more Low‑NA masks, switching to a single High‑NA pass starts to pay off. In fact, for a four‑mask self‑aligned litho‑etch flow, High‑NA can reduce total wafer cost by roughly 1.7-2.1x compared to using Low‑NA multi‑patterning. One big reason fabs are interested is that fewer exposures mean simpler process flows. You cut down cycle time and lower the chance of overlay mistakes. Still, SemiAnalysis warns that a simpler flow does not automatically mean lower expense in every case. Looking at Intel 14A, it turns out only a few critical metal layers at the 14A node hit the sweet spot where High‑NA's higher per‑shot cost is outweighed by ditching multiple masks.
ASUS Announces Latest ExpertBook P1 Laptop Models
ASUS today announced the latest additions to its comprehensive range of business laptops - ExpertBook P1 (PM1403 and PM1503). Aimed at administrators and budget-conscious professionals who require essential computing services without compromise, and available in 14-inch or 15.6-inch FHD options, the new ExpertBook P1 models blend effective performance with everyday functionality, housed in a practical design that delivers where it counts. The compact and elegant ExpertBook P1 series starts at a lightweight 1.4 kg and features an elegant new design that unlocks impressive efficiency to supercharge daily productivity, empowered by Copilot in Windows - quickly accessed via a single tap of the dedicated Copilot key.
The new ExpertBook P1 laptops are engineered for superb performance, powered by up to an AMD Ryzen 7 processor and offering up to 1 TB of storage with up to dual SSDs for fast operation. They also feature a built-in fingerprint sensor and TPM 2.0 chip to protect privacy and business data - ensuring that ExpertBook P1 is a trusted, reliable traveling companion for modern workflows.
The new ExpertBook P1 laptops are engineered for superb performance, powered by up to an AMD Ryzen 7 processor and offering up to 1 TB of storage with up to dual SSDs for fast operation. They also feature a built-in fingerprint sensor and TPM 2.0 chip to protect privacy and business data - ensuring that ExpertBook P1 is a trusted, reliable traveling companion for modern workflows.
AMD Achieves First TSMC N2 Product Silicon Milestone
AMD today announced its next-generation AMD EPYC processor, codenamed "Venice," is the first HPC product in the industry to be taped out and brought up on the TSMC advanced 2 nm (N2) process technology. This highlights the strength of AMD and TSMC semiconductor manufacturing partnership to co-optimize new design architectures with leading-edge process technology. It also marks a major step forward in the execution of the AMD data center CPU roadmap, with "Venice" on track to launch next year. AMD also announced the successful bring up and validation of its 5th Gen AMD EPYC CPU products at TSMC's new fabrication facility in Arizona, underscoring its commitment to U.S. manufacturing.
"TSMC has been a key partner for many years and our deep collaboration with their R&D and manufacturing teams has enabled AMD to consistently deliver leadership products that push the limits of high-performance computing," said Dr. Lisa Su, chair and CEO, AMD. "Being a lead HPC customer for TSMC's N2 process and for TSMC Arizona Fab 21 are great examples of how we are working closely together to drive innovation and deliver the advanced technologies that will power the future of computing."
"TSMC has been a key partner for many years and our deep collaboration with their R&D and manufacturing teams has enabled AMD to consistently deliver leadership products that push the limits of high-performance computing," said Dr. Lisa Su, chair and CEO, AMD. "Being a lead HPC customer for TSMC's N2 process and for TSMC Arizona Fab 21 are great examples of how we are working closely together to drive innovation and deliver the advanced technologies that will power the future of computing."
TP-Link Systems Inc. Receives CVE Numbering Authority Designation
TP-Link Systems Inc., a global leader in networking and smart home solutions, today announced its official authorization by the Common Vulnerability and Exposures Program (CVE) as a CVE Numbering Authority (CNA). This designation empowers TP-Link to assign CVE IDs to certain vulnerabilities potentially related to its products, furthering its commitment to proactive cybersecurity measures.
The CVE Program is an international, community-driven initiative that identifies, defines, and catalogs publicly disclosed cybersecurity vulnerabilities. CNAs are organizations that are responsible for assigning CVE IDs and publishing detailed information about vulnerabilities, contributing to a more secure digital ecosystem. TP-Link's new role as a CNA enhances its ability to respond swiftly to security threats and ensures greater transparency in vulnerability reporting.
The CVE Program is an international, community-driven initiative that identifies, defines, and catalogs publicly disclosed cybersecurity vulnerabilities. CNAs are organizations that are responsible for assigning CVE IDs and publishing detailed information about vulnerabilities, contributing to a more secure digital ecosystem. TP-Link's new role as a CNA enhances its ability to respond swiftly to security threats and ensures greater transparency in vulnerability reporting.
Monday, April 14th 2025
Today's Reviews
Motherboards
Multimedia
Notebooks
G.SKILL Trident Z5 NEO RGB DDR5-6000 32 GB CL26 Review - AMD EXPO
Today’s review focuses on the G.SKILL Trident Z5 NEO CL26 memory kit. Tailored for AMD Ryzen processors and systems, this kit aims to deliver peak performance thanks to ultra-low timings paired with a 6000 MT/s clock config, hitting the Ryzen Memory Controller's sweet spot.
DAREU A950 Wing Review
Weighing only 35 g while sporting a solid-shell design, the ambidextrous A950 Wing comes with PixArt's PAW3950 sensor, true 8000 Hz polling in both wired and wireless operation, and up to 70 hours of battery life.
The Last of Us Part II Remastered Patched to v1.1 - Improves Performance & Addresses Stability Issues
Hey everyone, Patch 1.1 is out now for The Last of Us Part II Remastered! This update fixes various crashes, and we've addressed long stalls that could occur in some locations. We've also fixed several bugs related to the user interface and ultrawide cinematics. Check out the patch notes below for more details. We are aware of player reports of autosave issues and are actively working on a fix.
Our investigation shows that issues can occur when OneDrive or similar cloud services block the save file from being written. As a workaround, we suggest that you pause OneDrive while playing the game: Right-click the OneDrive icon in the Windows taskbar, click the gear icon and Pause sync. The teams at Nixxes and Naughty Dog are keeping a close eye on player feedback and crash reports and are working on additional updates with more bug fixes and improvements. Thank you all for playing The Last of Us Part II on PC and sharing your feedback with us!
Our investigation shows that issues can occur when OneDrive or similar cloud services block the save file from being written. As a workaround, we suggest that you pause OneDrive while playing the game: Right-click the OneDrive icon in the Windows taskbar, click the gear icon and Pause sync. The teams at Nixxes and Naughty Dog are keeping a close eye on player feedback and crash reports and are working on additional updates with more bug fixes and improvements. Thank you all for playing The Last of Us Part II on PC and sharing your feedback with us!
AMD Radeon RX 9060 XT Reportedly Capable of Boosting Up To 3.3 GHz, New Leak Suggests "Navi 44 XT" GPU
AMD has not publicly announced its Radeon RX 9060 XT 16 GB and 8 GB graphics cards, but board partners have inadvertently "revealed" the existence of forthcoming custom designs. Team Red's RDNA 4 kick-off events did tease a second quarter launch of a Radeon RX 9060 Series cards, but have remained coy since the conclusion of late February celebrations. Over a month ago, VideoCardz cited AIB insider knowledge—regarding early specification details. In this morning's follow-up report, unnamed board partner moles have theorized a possible public unveiling of Radeon RX 9060 XT models: at next month's Computex 2025 trade show. Industry watchdogs believe that Team Red's lower end RDNA 4 are specced to compete closely with Team Green's GeForce RTX 5060 Ti lineup. NVIDIA and involved AIBs are reportedly gearing up for a retail launch this week.
The latest leak suggests AMD's Radeon RX 9060 XT design being readied—as standard—with (reference) game clock frequencies set at 2620 MHz, and boost clocks going up to 3230 MHz. In addition, VideoCardz has heard mutterings about "overclocked variants" boosting up to the 3.3 GHz mark. The much-rumored Navi 44 GPU die could sport 2048 stream processors—half of Navi 48's full SP count. Prior to this week, TechPowerUp's GPU database entry indicated the utilization of a speculative "Navi 48 LE" unit. Now amended, the Radeon RX 9060 XT listing mentions a tentative "Navi 44 XT" variant. Leaked guideline info allegedly specifies 500 W power supplies, as minimum requirements for incoming cards. A 550 W base level could be advised for overclocked/overengineered models. VideoCardz did not see any 16-pin power connected SKUs within leaked material; "most specs" feature 8-pin power connectors.
The latest leak suggests AMD's Radeon RX 9060 XT design being readied—as standard—with (reference) game clock frequencies set at 2620 MHz, and boost clocks going up to 3230 MHz. In addition, VideoCardz has heard mutterings about "overclocked variants" boosting up to the 3.3 GHz mark. The much-rumored Navi 44 GPU die could sport 2048 stream processors—half of Navi 48's full SP count. Prior to this week, TechPowerUp's GPU database entry indicated the utilization of a speculative "Navi 48 LE" unit. Now amended, the Radeon RX 9060 XT listing mentions a tentative "Navi 44 XT" variant. Leaked guideline info allegedly specifies 500 W power supplies, as minimum requirements for incoming cards. A 550 W base level could be advised for overclocked/overengineered models. VideoCardz did not see any 16-pin power connected SKUs within leaked material; "most specs" feature 8-pin power connectors.
INNOCN Unveils New 24.5-inch 1440p IPS 25G2S 240 Hz Gaming Monitor
INNOCN, a leading innovator in monitor technology, announces the launch of the 25G2S, a 24.5-inch WQHD 240 Hz gaming monitor engineered for competitive gamers and performance enthusiasts alike. Designed with precision and purpose, this monitor delivers stunning visuals, ultra-responsive performance, and an immersive gaming experience—all wrapped in a sleek, modern design with an ultra-thin bezel. The INNOCN 24.5-Inch 2K 240 Hz IPS Gaming Monitor (25G2S) is available to purchase on Amazon US at an RRP of $299.99 (Currently only $169.99 (valid now until 18th April 23:59 PDT) when using code: 25G2S240HZ).
With a blisteringly fast 240 Hz refresh rate and 1 ms MPRT response time, the 25G2S ensures gameplay stays fluid and blur-free even in the most intense moments. The WQHD (2560×1440) resolution offers sharp, vibrant visuals, enhanced further by 100% sRGB and 93% DCI-P3 color coverage, bringing every game world to life with true-to-life color and depth. HDR support enhances contrast and brightness, pulling players deeper into every scene.
With a blisteringly fast 240 Hz refresh rate and 1 ms MPRT response time, the 25G2S ensures gameplay stays fluid and blur-free even in the most intense moments. The WQHD (2560×1440) resolution offers sharp, vibrant visuals, enhanced further by 100% sRGB and 93% DCI-P3 color coverage, bringing every game world to life with true-to-life color and depth. HDR support enhances contrast and brightness, pulling players deeper into every scene.
KeysOff April Sale: Lowest Prices on the Web for Genuine Software
KeysOff Big Software Sale rolls on into the Spring. Refresh your home or small-office IT setup with some of the lowest prices on the web for genuine software. Get Genuine Windows 11 Pro at just $15.03, or as low as $12.13 a pop in multi-key packs, with a TechPowerUp-exclusive coupon code. Pair it with the most powerful productivity suite, Genuine Office 2021 Professional Plus, at just $39.53 on its own, or as low as $32.21 in 5-PC multi-key pack. Check great deals on other editions of Windows and Office to save even more!
Please use the coupon code SKK62 on the following items to avail the prices you see here.
Buy Office 2021 Professional Plus at $39.53 | Buy Office 2021 Professional Plus 2-PC at $74.53 | Buy Office 2021 Professional Plus 3-PC at $101.03 | Buy Office 2021 Professional Plus 5-PC at $161.09 | Buy Office 2019 Professional Plus at $29.14 | Buy Office 2016 Professional Plus at $17.47 | Buy Windows 11 Pro + Office 2021 Professional Plus at $51.26 | Buy Windows 11 Pro + Office 2019 Professional Plus at $40.86 | Buy Windows 10 Pro + Office 2021 Professional Plus at $46.00 | Buy Windows 10 Pro + Office 2019 Professional Plus at $34.61
Please use the coupon code SKK50 on the following items.
Buy Windows 11 Pro at $15.03 | Buy Windows 11 Pro 2-PC at $28.56 | Buy Windows 11 Pro 3-PC at $40.69 | Buy Windows 11 Pro 5-PC at $60.67 | Buy Windows 10 Pro at $9.77 | Buy Windows 10 Pro 2-PC at $17.48 | Buy Windows 10 Pro 5-PC at $39.11 | Buy Windows 11 Home at $14.73 | Buy Windows 10 Home at $9.69
Go bananas with our large volume sale and upgrade the IT infrastructure of your entire organization.
Buy Windows 11 Pro 50-PC at $440 | Buy Windows 10 Pro 50-PC at $357 | Buy Office 2021 Professional Plus 50-PC at $1540 | Buy Office 2019 Professional Plus 50-PC at $1045
Please use the coupon code SKK62 on the following items to avail the prices you see here.
Buy Office 2021 Professional Plus at $39.53 | Buy Office 2021 Professional Plus 2-PC at $74.53 | Buy Office 2021 Professional Plus 3-PC at $101.03 | Buy Office 2021 Professional Plus 5-PC at $161.09 | Buy Office 2019 Professional Plus at $29.14 | Buy Office 2016 Professional Plus at $17.47 | Buy Windows 11 Pro + Office 2021 Professional Plus at $51.26 | Buy Windows 11 Pro + Office 2019 Professional Plus at $40.86 | Buy Windows 10 Pro + Office 2021 Professional Plus at $46.00 | Buy Windows 10 Pro + Office 2019 Professional Plus at $34.61
Please use the coupon code SKK50 on the following items.
Buy Windows 11 Pro at $15.03 | Buy Windows 11 Pro 2-PC at $28.56 | Buy Windows 11 Pro 3-PC at $40.69 | Buy Windows 11 Pro 5-PC at $60.67 | Buy Windows 10 Pro at $9.77 | Buy Windows 10 Pro 2-PC at $17.48 | Buy Windows 10 Pro 5-PC at $39.11 | Buy Windows 11 Home at $14.73 | Buy Windows 10 Home at $9.69
Go bananas with our large volume sale and upgrade the IT infrastructure of your entire organization.
Buy Windows 11 Pro 50-PC at $440 | Buy Windows 10 Pro 50-PC at $357 | Buy Office 2021 Professional Plus 50-PC at $1540 | Buy Office 2019 Professional Plus 50-PC at $1045
Montech Introduces CENTURY II Power Supply
MONTECH proudly introduces CENTURY II, a next-gen ATX 3.1 power supply designed for modern systems. Compact and quiet, it delivers elite performance with native 12V-2x6 GPU support, dual certifications—80 Plus Gold and Cybenetics Platinum, and a 135 mm fan featuring Smart Zero Fan Technology that stops completely at low loads. Starting at just $89.9, Century II sets a new benchmark for efficiency, silence, and stability—tailored for RTX 50 and Radeon RX 90 Series builds.
Next-Gen Ready: ATX 3.1 + 12V-2x6 for RTX 50 & Radeon RX 90 Series
Fully compliant with Intel ATX 3.1, CENTURY II comes equipped with a native 12V-2x6 connector, ensuring optimized, safe power delivery for the latest NVIDIA RTX 50 Series and AMD Radeon RX 90 Series graphics cards. Whether building from scratch or upgrading, it ensures long-term GPU compatibility and power stability.
Next-Gen Ready: ATX 3.1 + 12V-2x6 for RTX 50 & Radeon RX 90 Series
Fully compliant with Intel ATX 3.1, CENTURY II comes equipped with a native 12V-2x6 connector, ensuring optimized, safe power delivery for the latest NVIDIA RTX 50 Series and AMD Radeon RX 90 Series graphics cards. Whether building from scratch or upgrading, it ensures long-term GPU compatibility and power stability.
- Peak Wattage Support: Up to 2x the PSU's total wattage
- Peak GPU Wattage Support: Up to 3x the GPU's wattage
Forever Skies Version 1.0 Out Now on PC & PlayStation 5
Greetings scientists…Well today is the day when Far From Home can proudly announce that Forever Skies 1.0 is officially out now on Steam! Our game has been in Early Access for almost two years (22 months), and today it launches with brand-new content and a whole host of QOL, performance and bug fixes. First off, check out our launch trailer below! Forever Skies is a first-person survival game set on a post-apocalyptic, ecologically ruined Earth. Play solo or with up to 3 friends as you build, upgrade, and fly a high-tech airship. Scavenge resources, craft tools, and face dangers on the surface as you hunt for a cure to save humanity.
SOUL MASK, ALOFT AND PLANET CRAFTER
To mark the occasion of our launch, we've partnered up with our friends to create some great survival co-op gaming bundles. So if you or your friends already own Soul Mask, Planet Crafter, or Aloft, you can use these bundles to get an additional 10% off Forever Skies or vice versa.
SOUL MASK, ALOFT AND PLANET CRAFTER
To mark the occasion of our launch, we've partnered up with our friends to create some great survival co-op gaming bundles. So if you or your friends already own Soul Mask, Planet Crafter, or Aloft, you can use these bundles to get an additional 10% off Forever Skies or vice versa.
MSI Reportedly Readying MPOWER AMD "B850E" Motherboard Series
Over a year ago, hardcore overclocking fanatics celebrated MSI's resurrection of the much missed MPOWER motherboard product line. After a seven-year hiatus, the Taiwanese manufacturer revived this series—beginning with a brand-new Z790MPOWER option. Back then, an exclusive Wccftech news report put a spotlight on the (then) brand-new model's support of Intel Core 12th, 13th, and 14th Gen processors (on LGA 1700/1800). Returning to the present day, MSI seems to be prepping a new MPOWER motherboard model—leaked shots imply a return to an old school color theme (black/yellow, rather than metallic tones). Wccftech has uploaded two close-up teaser images, from a "brief glimpse" preview session. There is evidence of AI upscaling here—despite the presence of anomalies/aberrations, we can see MSI logo and MPOWER branding on attached heatsinks.
Wccftech believes that the proposed "MSI MPOWER AMD series" will be: "a strong and cost-effective design for overclockers. The previous Z790 MPOWER motherboard brought great OC capabilities in an affordable design, offering 8000 MT/s DDR5 support and the new design will be no exception...Starting with the details, the...motherboard will feature an AM5 socket and is likely to leverage the B850E chipset. The new MPOWER motherboard also comes with a microATX form factor." Like last year's edition, MSI has readied the board with two DDR5 DIMM slots—ideal for ardent memory overclocking enthusiasts. This twin-stick setup reportedly supports up to 128 GB capacities. An extra bit of real estate is freed up; thus granting room for an additional M.2 bay. Wccftech did not disclose every tidbit of insider info, but they have hinted about the board's prowess: "it's awesome that we are finally getting an MPOWER motherboard from MSI for AM5 builders. The MPOWER series is great for overclocking and this motherboard should be just as good. We also managed to get information regarding the OC capabilities which are going to rival some of the high-end AM5 offerings as far as memory tuning is concerned."
Wccftech believes that the proposed "MSI MPOWER AMD series" will be: "a strong and cost-effective design for overclockers. The previous Z790 MPOWER motherboard brought great OC capabilities in an affordable design, offering 8000 MT/s DDR5 support and the new design will be no exception...Starting with the details, the...motherboard will feature an AM5 socket and is likely to leverage the B850E chipset. The new MPOWER motherboard also comes with a microATX form factor." Like last year's edition, MSI has readied the board with two DDR5 DIMM slots—ideal for ardent memory overclocking enthusiasts. This twin-stick setup reportedly supports up to 128 GB capacities. An extra bit of real estate is freed up; thus granting room for an additional M.2 bay. Wccftech did not disclose every tidbit of insider info, but they have hinted about the board's prowess: "it's awesome that we are finally getting an MPOWER motherboard from MSI for AM5 builders. The MPOWER series is great for overclocking and this motherboard should be just as good. We also managed to get information regarding the OC capabilities which are going to rival some of the high-end AM5 offerings as far as memory tuning is concerned."
Lenovo ThinkPad P14s Gen6 Leaks With 12-core AMD Strix Point APU
Over the years, we have witnessed plenty of product leaks via webpages that went live well before they were supposed to. Something similar appears to have happened with Lenovo's Malaysian site, granting us a glimpse at the upcoming ThinkPad P14s Gen 6 powered by up to the full-fat 12-core Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 APU. The leaked product specifications, as listed below, reveal that the P14s will support up to a whopping 96 GB of DDR5-5600 memory, although only with the lower-end Ryzen AI 7 PRO 350 and Ryzen AI 5 PRO 340 variants.
Compared to the previous edition ThinkPad P14s with AMD's Ryzen 7 8840HS APU, the highest-end variant with the Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 will undoubtedly be substantially faster in both single and multicore performance. The Radeon 890M iGPU will also handily outperform the 780M, although the difference is unlikely to be earth-shattering. Like its predecessor, the Gen 6 will continue being available with a 2.8K 120 Hz OLED display, with a higher peak brightness of 500 nits and 100% coverage of the DCI-P3 color gamut. The port selection, as can be expected from a ThinkPad, is plenty admirable, packing dual Thunderbolt 4 (with DisplayPort 1.4), HDMI 2.1, Ethernet, dual USB-A, optional nano sim and smart card reader, as well as a headphone jack.
Compared to the previous edition ThinkPad P14s with AMD's Ryzen 7 8840HS APU, the highest-end variant with the Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 will undoubtedly be substantially faster in both single and multicore performance. The Radeon 890M iGPU will also handily outperform the 780M, although the difference is unlikely to be earth-shattering. Like its predecessor, the Gen 6 will continue being available with a 2.8K 120 Hz OLED display, with a higher peak brightness of 500 nits and 100% coverage of the DCI-P3 color gamut. The port selection, as can be expected from a ThinkPad, is plenty admirable, packing dual Thunderbolt 4 (with DisplayPort 1.4), HDMI 2.1, Ethernet, dual USB-A, optional nano sim and smart card reader, as well as a headphone jack.
addlink EMP-520 Series Compact Box PC Wins Best-in-Show at Embedded World 2025
ADLINK Technology Inc., a global leader in edge computing, proudly announces that its newly released EMP-520 Series industrial compact box PC has been recognized for its excellence, securing the Best-in-Show award in the Computer Boards, Systems, Components & Peripherals category at embedded world 2025. It was selected for its innovative design, user-centric features, and exceptional performance in industrial environments.
Smart, Reliable, and Efficient Industrial Computing Solution
Designed to meet the needs of modern industrial applications, the EMP-520 Series delivers high computing performance with minimal maintenance, helping businesses maximize productivity and reduce downtime. Powered by Intel 14th Gen Core processors, it ensures energy-efficient operation, making it ideal for high-demand environments that require continuous, reliable computing. Supporting four simultaneous 4K video outputs and EDID emulation, users can achieve seamless visual performance. The compact design enables easy integration into space-constrained environments while ensuring reliable operation in mission-critical applications.
Smart, Reliable, and Efficient Industrial Computing Solution
Designed to meet the needs of modern industrial applications, the EMP-520 Series delivers high computing performance with minimal maintenance, helping businesses maximize productivity and reduce downtime. Powered by Intel 14th Gen Core processors, it ensures energy-efficient operation, making it ideal for high-demand environments that require continuous, reliable computing. Supporting four simultaneous 4K video outputs and EDID emulation, users can achieve seamless visual performance. The compact design enables easy integration into space-constrained environments while ensuring reliable operation in mission-critical applications.
OneXPlayer X1 Pro Gaming Handheld Scores Intel Arrow Lake-H Chops
A few months ago, the OneXPlayer X1 Pro gaming handheld became one of the first in its category to boast AMD's 12-core Ryzen AI HX 370 'Strix Point' APU. The product also packed a pretty large 10.95-inch 120 Hz, 2560 x 1600 display as well as up to 64 GB of memory and a whopping 4 TB of internal solid-state storage. Now, the company behind the product has introduced a fresh new limited-edition variant named 'EVA' with a Neon Genesis-based theme and Arrow Lake-H internals. To be specific, this variant will boast Intel's Core Ultra 7 255H processor along with an eye-watering $1650 price tag.
The 16-core Core Ultra 7 255H will be paired with 64 GB of LPDDR5X memory, and 2 TB of SSD storage will be on offer. Unlike the AMD-powered variant, lower-end SKUs with 32 GB of memory and lesser storage space are not available. In terms of performance, the systems are quite neck-and-neck, which makes sense considering that the equivalent configurations are priced identically. The AMD APU has the lead in multicore performance, while the Intel part leads in single-core. In terms of GPU performance, the Arc 140T is quite a bit faster than the Radeon 890M, at least in synthetic tests. Real-life gaming performance is very similar, although performance varies heavily depending on the game being played.
The 16-core Core Ultra 7 255H will be paired with 64 GB of LPDDR5X memory, and 2 TB of SSD storage will be on offer. Unlike the AMD-powered variant, lower-end SKUs with 32 GB of memory and lesser storage space are not available. In terms of performance, the systems are quite neck-and-neck, which makes sense considering that the equivalent configurations are priced identically. The AMD APU has the lead in multicore performance, while the Intel part leads in single-core. In terms of GPU performance, the Arc 140T is quite a bit faster than the Radeon 890M, at least in synthetic tests. Real-life gaming performance is very similar, although performance varies heavily depending on the game being played.
PowerColor Red Devil Radeon RX 9070 XT "Backplate Edition" Card Reportedly in the Works
Last week, PowerColor introduced a Spectral White spin-off of its flagship Red Devil Radeon RX 9070 XT Limited Edition model. According to fresh inside track info, the Taiwanese manufacturer is preparing yet another premium level RDNA 4 option. VideoCardz has detected whispers regarding a speculated "Red Devil Radeon RX 9070 XT Backplate Edition" product; the online publication has a history of sourcing pre-launch details from board partner industry moles.
PowerColor's older Red Devil graphics card products can be customized with swappable backplates—Devil Skin designs are identified as "Intrusive" and "Generative." VideoCardz believes that the alleged "Backplate Edition" card will be based on the brand's regular Red Devil RX 9070 XT model. It is not clear whether this special edition package will be bundled with successors to the two RX 7000 Series-only Devil Skin attachments, but insiders have indicated a current "in production" status of "Backplate Edition" cards.
PowerColor's older Red Devil graphics card products can be customized with swappable backplates—Devil Skin designs are identified as "Intrusive" and "Generative." VideoCardz believes that the alleged "Backplate Edition" card will be based on the brand's regular Red Devil RX 9070 XT model. It is not clear whether this special edition package will be bundled with successors to the two RX 7000 Series-only Devil Skin attachments, but insiders have indicated a current "in production" status of "Backplate Edition" cards.
SaxonQ & Quantum Machines Enabled First-ever Live Demo of Application on Mobile Quantum Platform
SaxonQ, developer of the first mobile quantum computer, and Quantum Machines, the leading provider of advanced hybrid quantum-classical control solutions, announced today a milestone demonstration of real-time quantum computing on SaxonQ's mobile quantum computer at Hannover Messe 2025. The live demonstrations included a quantum chemical calculation of H₂ energy levels and basic real-time image recognition, marking the first time anyone has shown such applications running on a portable room-temperature quantum computer publicly, demonstrate the potential of mobile quantum computing outside laboratory conditions.
"Developing a mobile quantum computer that runs in real-world environments—without cryogenic cooling and powered by a simple wall plug—is a challenge that requires the best available control technology. Quantum Machines provides exactly that. This successful demonstration proves that we can run reliable quantum operations on-site. It's an exciting step toward bringing quantum computing to industrial applications," says Dr. Frank Schlichting, CEO of SaxonQ.
"Developing a mobile quantum computer that runs in real-world environments—without cryogenic cooling and powered by a simple wall plug—is a challenge that requires the best available control technology. Quantum Machines provides exactly that. This successful demonstration proves that we can run reliable quantum operations on-site. It's an exciting step toward bringing quantum computing to industrial applications," says Dr. Frank Schlichting, CEO of SaxonQ.
ASUS China Previews "Hatsune Miku" Crossover GeForce RTX 5060 Ti Card
Late last week, the Chinese ASUS branch started to tease a forthcoming ROG and TUF Gaming x Hatsune Miku collection. Eagle-eyed PC gaming hardware watchdogs spotted an intriguing custom GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 8 GB graphics card model within a messy pile of colorful brand-new products. The manufacturer has teamed up with Crypton Future Media; this collaboration is advertised as bringing "a cybernetic fusion to gaming." Initial announcements focused on peripherals, but shortly thereafter the partners unveiled a Hatsune Miku-themed pre-built system. VideoCardz spent its weekend investigating the mysterious new "RTX 5060 Ti O8G" design. A follow-up article pulled information and imagery from Tony Wu's "world premiere" bilibili video—the general manager of ASUS China showcased various upcoming products, including a relevant white triple-fan graphics card.
According to reports, Wu did not disclose an exact model name—NVIDIA and board partners are expected to make new entrants "official" at some point this week. Wu's demonstration unit was visually matched up to the teased "RTX 5060 Ti O8G" card. Additionally, Wu and colleagues presented the entire Hatsune Miku product line during a major press conference; last Saturday (April 12) in Changsha. Many items have already launched to market, through JD.com. Naturally, pricing and availability details were not mentioned during their "GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 8 GB OC" segment. The factory overclocked "RTX 50-series" card's unique white design is outfitted with a single 8-pin power connector; suggesting a tentative entry level price bracket. The backplate is decorated with mascot illustrations—TechPowerUp and other media outlets have noticed an uptick in "cute girl" drawings turning up on housings and retail packaging. ZOTAC joined in on the fun very recently; as reported last week.
According to reports, Wu did not disclose an exact model name—NVIDIA and board partners are expected to make new entrants "official" at some point this week. Wu's demonstration unit was visually matched up to the teased "RTX 5060 Ti O8G" card. Additionally, Wu and colleagues presented the entire Hatsune Miku product line during a major press conference; last Saturday (April 12) in Changsha. Many items have already launched to market, through JD.com. Naturally, pricing and availability details were not mentioned during their "GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 8 GB OC" segment. The factory overclocked "RTX 50-series" card's unique white design is outfitted with a single 8-pin power connector; suggesting a tentative entry level price bracket. The backplate is decorated with mascot illustrations—TechPowerUp and other media outlets have noticed an uptick in "cute girl" drawings turning up on housings and retail packaging. ZOTAC joined in on the fun very recently; as reported last week.
Intel's 18A Node Outperforms TSMC N2 and Samsung SF2 in 2 nm Performance Class
Intel's 18A node isn't all about yields and density (which are still very important factors) but also performance. According to Taiwanese media 3C News, citing TechInsights research and calculations, the new leader of node performance is Intel 18A. On a custom scale used by TechInsights, Intel 18A gets a 2.53 score, while the performance score of TSMC N2 is 2.27, and the performance score of Samsung SF2 is 2.19. This is all among two nm-class nodes, where Intel leads the category. Being the first node with a Backside Power Delivery Network (BSPDN), it will appear in the Panther Lake CPUs in late 2025 for testing and early 2026 for shipments. This new power architecture boosts layout efficiency and component utilization by 5-10%, lowers interconnect resistance, and enhances ISO power performance by up to 4%, thanks to a significant drop in intrinsic resistance versus traditional front‑end power routing. Relative to its predecessor, Intel 3, the 18A process delivers a 15% improvement in performance per watt and packs 30% more transistors into the same area.
Featuring RibbonFET design, it has entered risk production. According to Intel, "This final stage is about stress-testing volume manufacturing before scaling up to high volume in the second half of 2025." When it comes to other aspects like SRAM density, high‑performance SRAM cells shrank from 0.03 µm² in Intel 3 to 0.023 µm² in Intel 18A, while high‑density cells contracted to 0.021 µm², reflecting scaling factors of 0.77 and 0.88 respectively and defying previous assumptions that SRAM scaling had plateaued. Intel's innovative "around‑the‑array" PowerVia approach addresses voltage drops and interference by routing power vias to I/O, control, and decoder circuits, freeing up the bit‑cell area from frontal power supplies. The result is a 38.1 Mbit/mm² macro bit density, positioning Intel to rival TSMC's N2. All this, combined with BSPDN, is shaping up a powerful node. We can't wait to get our hands on some 18A silicon in the future and run it through our labs for testing.
Featuring RibbonFET design, it has entered risk production. According to Intel, "This final stage is about stress-testing volume manufacturing before scaling up to high volume in the second half of 2025." When it comes to other aspects like SRAM density, high‑performance SRAM cells shrank from 0.03 µm² in Intel 3 to 0.023 µm² in Intel 18A, while high‑density cells contracted to 0.021 µm², reflecting scaling factors of 0.77 and 0.88 respectively and defying previous assumptions that SRAM scaling had plateaued. Intel's innovative "around‑the‑array" PowerVia approach addresses voltage drops and interference by routing power vias to I/O, control, and decoder circuits, freeing up the bit‑cell area from frontal power supplies. The result is a 38.1 Mbit/mm² macro bit density, positioning Intel to rival TSMC's N2. All this, combined with BSPDN, is shaping up a powerful node. We can't wait to get our hands on some 18A silicon in the future and run it through our labs for testing.
Screen Juice & Ubisoft Announce Morbid Metal's Early Access Summer Launch
Morbid Metal, the upcoming hack-and-slash action roguelite, debuted a new trailer during the Triple-I-Initiative showcase, and announced the game is coming to Steam in early access in Summer 2025. The one-minute gameplay trailer shows off some of the fast-paced, ever-changing action you can expect in Morbid Metal. In Morbid Metal, you can create a roster of up to three characters, each with their own unique move sets, and shapeshift into any of them at will. After each death, you'll have to start your run over, but you can unlock new characters and permanent upgrades along the way. The game takes place in a simulation created by humans to escape climate collapse, and you'll play as the latest AI, ordered to become mankind's next evolutionary step by eliminating other AI to prove you are the best and the strongest.
Ubisoft will be publishing Morbid Metal from independent developer Screen Juice. Starting in 2017, Felix Schade spent years developing the game solo before founding Screen Juice in 2023. A pivotal moment in the journey came when Schade shared early gameplay footage online seeking feedback. The gaming community quickly embraced it, sparking momentum that helped shape the game's evolution. Since then, Schade has expanded the company while continuing to lead as game director.
Ubisoft will be publishing Morbid Metal from independent developer Screen Juice. Starting in 2017, Felix Schade spent years developing the game solo before founding Screen Juice in 2023. A pivotal moment in the journey came when Schade shared early gameplay footage online seeking feedback. The gaming community quickly embraced it, sparking momentum that helped shape the game's evolution. Since then, Schade has expanded the company while continuing to lead as game director.
AMD Radeon RX 9070 GRE Spotted in GPU-Z v2.65.1 Support List
Earlier in the month, keen observers of Team Red activities were taken aback by whispers of a mysterious Radeon RX 9070 GRE GPU. Up until then, many assumed that AMD's engineering team was readying Radeon RX 9060 Series cards for launch in Q2'25. A source in China claimed that the next wave of RDNA 4 would arrive in the shape of a not-yet-official "Great Radeon Edition" (GRE) design; allegedly derived from Team Red's Navi 48 GPU die. Certain groups of skeptics have questioned the validity of this leak; many believe that the speculated Radeon RX 9060 XT model will launch ahead of a rumored GRE sibling.
Late last week, TechPowerUp's GPU-Z utility was updated to version 2.65.0 form—supported hardware lists were populated with several new additions. As highlighted by VideoCardz, the presence of Radeon RX 9070 GRE and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 16 GB GPUs points to potential imminent releases. In the case of Team Green, lower end "Blackwell" graphics cards are launching this week—as disclosed by insiders. AMD's Radeon RX 9070 GRE 12 GB card is expected to release as a Chinese market exclusive; possibly as a substitute for "difficult to acquire" Radeon RX 9070 16 GB (non-XT) AIB products.
Late last week, TechPowerUp's GPU-Z utility was updated to version 2.65.0 form—supported hardware lists were populated with several new additions. As highlighted by VideoCardz, the presence of Radeon RX 9070 GRE and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 16 GB GPUs points to potential imminent releases. In the case of Team Green, lower end "Blackwell" graphics cards are launching this week—as disclosed by insiders. AMD's Radeon RX 9070 GRE 12 GB card is expected to release as a Chinese market exclusive; possibly as a substitute for "difficult to acquire" Radeon RX 9070 16 GB (non-XT) AIB products.
Apple Vision Pro 2 Design Goals: Lighter, Cheaper, and Faster
Apple is preparing to update its Vision Pro headset lineup with two new models. The first one, known inside the company as Vision Pro 2, will use Apple's upcoming M5 chip, which should boost performance and improve battery life. Apple also plans to make this model lighter and less expensive than the current version, which starts at $3,499 for 256 GB of storage in the US. Although Apple has not shared exact numbers, the goal is to address feedback about the headset feeling front-heavy, as it currently weighs between 600 g and 650 g, depending on the headband setup. Apple engineers are experimenting with lighter alloys and a revised seal and cushion design that should be more comfortable during long sessions to reach those weight targets. The aim is to bring the Vision Pro closer to the weight of competitors like Meta's Quest 3, which is about 515 g. Lowering the price will be another challenge, especially since the Vision Pro is built entirely in China, where supply chain pressures have been growing.
Alongside Vision Pro 2, Apple is developing a second headset specifically for wired connection to a Mac. This version will likely use a high-bandwidth cable such as Thunderbolt or a custom connector to stream the Mac's display with low latency. The current Vision Pro can already extend a Mac screen over Wi-Fi. Still, professionals in areas like surgical planning and flight simulation need consistent performance, which only a wired link can provide. Apple's enterprise team positions this model as a niche tool for pro users rather than a consumer device. However, Apple's big dream remains true: augmented reality glasses that overlay graphics on transparent lenses. CEO Tim Cook has made this a top priority, believing it is essential to stay ahead in spatial computing. The company is focused on shrinking the optics and improving light transmission, two key issues on the path to making real AR glasses a reality.
Alongside Vision Pro 2, Apple is developing a second headset specifically for wired connection to a Mac. This version will likely use a high-bandwidth cable such as Thunderbolt or a custom connector to stream the Mac's display with low latency. The current Vision Pro can already extend a Mac screen over Wi-Fi. Still, professionals in areas like surgical planning and flight simulation need consistent performance, which only a wired link can provide. Apple's enterprise team positions this model as a niche tool for pro users rather than a consumer device. However, Apple's big dream remains true: augmented reality glasses that overlay graphics on transparent lenses. CEO Tim Cook has made this a top priority, believing it is essential to stay ahead in spatial computing. The company is focused on shrinking the optics and improving light transmission, two key issues on the path to making real AR glasses a reality.
Square Enix Reveals SaGa Emerald Beyond Add-on for Vampire Survivors
Happy Anniversary to SaGa Emerald Beyond! The fabulously free-form RPG released April 25 last year, so it's nearly a whole year old. They grow up so fast. To celebrate, we have a very exciting collaboration to announce—a new SaGa Emerald Beyond-themed update for the utterly awesome Vampire Survivors! Titled "Emerald Diorama," it adds loads of new content to the game, including a new stage, new weapons, new characters and more.
What is Vampire Survivors?
We're sure this game needs no introduction, but just in case some of you are yet to experience this intensely fun gothic horror survival game, allow us to introduce it. Developed by poncle, Vampire Survivors pits you against hordes of undead in fast-paced action, but you don't need to shoot - your character attacks automatically. This means you can focus on positioning, levelling up, finding new weapons and evolving them into new forms, discovering secrets and more. It's fast-paced, easy to play, full of depth and very, very absorbing. Fun fact: I play it on the train each day I travel to Square Enix HQ and have missed my stop at least 3 times as a result. Thanks to this new SaGa Emerald Beyond crossover, I expect it to happen again fairly regularly. I apologize to my employers in advance.
What is Vampire Survivors?
We're sure this game needs no introduction, but just in case some of you are yet to experience this intensely fun gothic horror survival game, allow us to introduce it. Developed by poncle, Vampire Survivors pits you against hordes of undead in fast-paced action, but you don't need to shoot - your character attacks automatically. This means you can focus on positioning, levelling up, finding new weapons and evolving them into new forms, discovering secrets and more. It's fast-paced, easy to play, full of depth and very, very absorbing. Fun fact: I play it on the train each day I travel to Square Enix HQ and have missed my stop at least 3 times as a result. Thanks to this new SaGa Emerald Beyond crossover, I expect it to happen again fairly regularly. I apologize to my employers in advance.
MSI GeForce RTX 5060 Ti Custom Designs Leaked - Triple & Dual-fan Configs
Mid-way through last week, a list of supposed MSI GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 16 GB custom graphic card model names appeared online. Days later, VideoCardz followed up with visual confirmation—covering unannounced INSPIRE and GAMING SKUs. MSI's full lineup of brand-new offerings is expected to be unveiled this week, but the online publication has managed to source pre-launch promo shots from an undisclosed outlet. Previews of retail packaging are absent, but the uploaded images of isolated hardware products look legitimate.
As leaked last week, the board partner's—likely entry level—GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 16G INSPIRE 2X OC model has turned up with a new dual-fan design. TechPowerUp inspected MSI's freshly debuted INSPIRE 3X cards at CES 2025. The manufacturer has gradually populated its custom GeForce RTX 50-series product stack with triple-fan options—the most recent being their GeForce RTX 5070 SKU. The smallest INSPIRE card design seems to feature a single 8-pin power connector—prior to last week, VideoCardz had heard rumors from AIB industry moles about this curious provision. By best guesstimation, the INSPIRE 2X design seems to be 2.3-slots thick. As expected, MSI has outfitted this model with three DisplayPorts (1.2b) and one HDMI (2.1b) port.
As leaked last week, the board partner's—likely entry level—GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 16G INSPIRE 2X OC model has turned up with a new dual-fan design. TechPowerUp inspected MSI's freshly debuted INSPIRE 3X cards at CES 2025. The manufacturer has gradually populated its custom GeForce RTX 50-series product stack with triple-fan options—the most recent being their GeForce RTX 5070 SKU. The smallest INSPIRE card design seems to feature a single 8-pin power connector—prior to last week, VideoCardz had heard rumors from AIB industry moles about this curious provision. By best guesstimation, the INSPIRE 2X design seems to be 2.3-slots thick. As expected, MSI has outfitted this model with three DisplayPorts (1.2b) and one HDMI (2.1b) port.
Samsung Introduces Galaxy XCover7 Pro and Galaxy Tab Active5 Pro
Samsung Electronics today announced the new Galaxy XCover7 Pro and Galaxy Tab Active5 Pro, enterprise-ready devices designed to meet the demands of today's fast-paced, high-intensity work environments. Continuing the legacy of Samsung's ruggedized devices, these latest Pro models are versatile, optimized and secure—delivering enhanced durability, steady performance and optimized workflow to empower frontline workers, from the office to the field and beyond.
With 5G connectivity, an upgraded processor and increased memory, the XCover7 Pro and Tab Active5 Pro offer enhanced mobility and reliability. The XCover7 Pro features a powerful new stereo speaker system with anti-feedback technology, which minimizes unwanted audio loops for clearer communication. Both devices offer enhanced battery capacity, with the XCover7 Pro equipped with a 4,350mAh battery for longer usage, while the Tab Active5 Pro comes with a 10,100mAh battery set designed to support demanding workflows. The Tab Active5 Pro also supports Dual Hot-Swap battery functionality, allowing workers to replace batteries without powering down their devices and ensuring seamless operation even when battery levels are low.
With 5G connectivity, an upgraded processor and increased memory, the XCover7 Pro and Tab Active5 Pro offer enhanced mobility and reliability. The XCover7 Pro features a powerful new stereo speaker system with anti-feedback technology, which minimizes unwanted audio loops for clearer communication. Both devices offer enhanced battery capacity, with the XCover7 Pro equipped with a 4,350mAh battery for longer usage, while the Tab Active5 Pro comes with a 10,100mAh battery set designed to support demanding workflows. The Tab Active5 Pro also supports Dual Hot-Swap battery functionality, allowing workers to replace batteries without powering down their devices and ensuring seamless operation even when battery levels are low.
Intel Announces Strategic Investment by Silver Lake in Altera
Intel Corporation today announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to sell 51% of its Altera business to Silver Lake, a global leader in technology investing.
The transaction, which values Altera at $8.75 billion, establishes Altera's operational independence and makes it the largest pure-play FPGA (field programmable gate array) semiconductor solutions company. Altera offers a proven and highly scalable architecture and tool chain and is focused on driving growth and FPGA innovation to meet the demands and opportunities of an AI-driven market.
Intel will own the remaining 49% of the Altera business, enabling it to participate in Altera's future success while focusing on its core business. Intel also announced that Raghib Hussain will succeed Sandra Rivera as chief executive officer of Altera, effective May 5, 2025. Hussain is a highly accomplished and visionary technology executive with strong business acumen and engineering credentials. He joins Altera from his previous role as president of Products and Technologies at Marvell. Prior to joining Marvell in 2018, Hussain served as chief operating officer of Cavium, a company he co-founded. Prior to Cavium, Hussain held engineering roles at both Cisco and Cadence and helped found VPNet, an enterprise security company.
The transaction, which values Altera at $8.75 billion, establishes Altera's operational independence and makes it the largest pure-play FPGA (field programmable gate array) semiconductor solutions company. Altera offers a proven and highly scalable architecture and tool chain and is focused on driving growth and FPGA innovation to meet the demands and opportunities of an AI-driven market.
Intel will own the remaining 49% of the Altera business, enabling it to participate in Altera's future success while focusing on its core business. Intel also announced that Raghib Hussain will succeed Sandra Rivera as chief executive officer of Altera, effective May 5, 2025. Hussain is a highly accomplished and visionary technology executive with strong business acumen and engineering credentials. He joins Altera from his previous role as president of Products and Technologies at Marvell. Prior to joining Marvell in 2018, Hussain served as chief operating officer of Cavium, a company he co-founded. Prior to Cavium, Hussain held engineering roles at both Cisco and Cadence and helped found VPNet, an enterprise security company.
NVIDIA & Partners to Produce American-made AI Supercomputers in US for First Time
NVIDIA is working with its manufacturing partners to design and build factories that, for the first time, will produce NVIDIA AI supercomputers entirely in the U.S. Together with leading manufacturing partners, the company has commissioned more than a million square feet of manufacturing space to build and test NVIDIA Blackwell chips in Arizona and AI supercomputers in Texas. NVIDIA Blackwell chips have started production at TSMC's chip plants in Phoenix, Arizona. NVIDIA is building supercomputer manufacturing plants in Texas, with Foxconn in Houston and with Wistron in Dallas. Mass production at both plants is expected to ramp up in the next 12-15 months. The AI chip and supercomputer supply chain is complex and demands the most advanced manufacturing, packaging, assembly and test technologies. NVIDIA is partnering with Amkor and SPIL for packaging and testing operations in Arizona.
Within the next four years, NVIDIA plans to produce up to half a trillion dollars of AI infrastructure in the United States through partnerships with TSMC, Foxconn, Wistron, Amkor and SPIL. These world-leading companies are deepening their partnership with NVIDIA, growing their businesses while expanding their global footprint and hardening supply chain resilience. NVIDIA AI supercomputers are the engines of a new type of data center created for the sole purpose of processing artificial intelligence—AI factories that are the infrastructure powering a new AI industry. Tens of "gigawatt AI factories" are expected to be built in the coming years. Manufacturing NVIDIA AI chips and supercomputers for American AI factories is expected to create hundreds of thousands of jobs and drive trillions of dollars in economic security over the coming decades.
Within the next four years, NVIDIA plans to produce up to half a trillion dollars of AI infrastructure in the United States through partnerships with TSMC, Foxconn, Wistron, Amkor and SPIL. These world-leading companies are deepening their partnership with NVIDIA, growing their businesses while expanding their global footprint and hardening supply chain resilience. NVIDIA AI supercomputers are the engines of a new type of data center created for the sole purpose of processing artificial intelligence—AI factories that are the infrastructure powering a new AI industry. Tens of "gigawatt AI factories" are expected to be built in the coming years. Manufacturing NVIDIA AI chips and supercomputers for American AI factories is expected to create hundreds of thousands of jobs and drive trillions of dollars in economic security over the coming decades.
OneOdio Unveils Studio Max 1 Wireless DJ Headphones - Flagship Product Set to Redefine DJ Experiences
OneOdio, a professional DJ headphone brand with a decade of expertise, is proud to announce the launch of its flagship Studio Max 1 Wireless DJ Headphones. This groundbreaking product is developed in collaboration with internationally acclaimed DJ Arianna, whose innovative performance style and chart-topping mixes have set her apart in the global music scene.
Earlier this year, at the CES exhibition held in January, the Studio Max 1 garnered widespread acclaim from industry experts. The product received a total of five prestigious awards—including the Gadgety Awards, Android Headlines Technology Awards, and Reviewed Awards among others—underscoring its excellence in design, performance, and innovation.
Earlier this year, at the CES exhibition held in January, the Studio Max 1 garnered widespread acclaim from industry experts. The product received a total of five prestigious awards—including the Gadgety Awards, Android Headlines Technology Awards, and Reviewed Awards among others—underscoring its excellence in design, performance, and innovation.
G.SKILL and ASUS Achieve New DDR5 Memory Frequency Overclock World Record at DDR5-12772
G.SKILL International Enterprise Co., Ltd., the world's leading brand of performance overclock memory, is thrilled to announce that renowned overclocker, Seby, has broken the overclocking world record for DDR5 memory frequency speed at a blistering DDR5-12772. This incredible frequency record was achieved with G.SKILL Trident Z5 DDR5 memory, built with high-performance SK hynix DDR5 ICs, running on the ASUS ROG Maximus Z890 Apex motherboard and Intel Core Ultra 9 285K desktop processor under extreme liquid nitrogen (LN2) cooling.
Reaching a New Height of DDR5 Memory Overclock Speed
This new milestone follows a long-standing legacy of record-breaking performance of G.SKILL Trident Z5 DDR5 memory, achieved by a single module from the F5-8000J3848F24GX2-TZ5K model, and highlights the exceptional overclocking capability of both the ASUS ROG Maximus Z890 APEX motherboard and the Intel Core Ultra 9 285K desktop processor. The overclock record has been submitted to and validated by HWBOT and CPU-Z; refer to the following links and screenshot to see the record submission:
Reaching a New Height of DDR5 Memory Overclock Speed
This new milestone follows a long-standing legacy of record-breaking performance of G.SKILL Trident Z5 DDR5 memory, achieved by a single module from the F5-8000J3848F24GX2-TZ5K model, and highlights the exceptional overclocking capability of both the ASUS ROG Maximus Z890 APEX motherboard and the Intel Core Ultra 9 285K desktop processor. The overclock record has been submitted to and validated by HWBOT and CPU-Z; refer to the following links and screenshot to see the record submission:
Cervoz Launches a New Range of Industrial Grade Network Cards
As industrial systems become more interconnected and data-driven, the need for connectivity solutions that offer superior performance, scalability, and flexibility is growing rapidly. Cervoz, a leading provider of industrial embedded modules, is meeting this demand with an expanding portfolio of innovative, real-world expansion solutions.
Seamless Expansion for Future-Ready Performance
Picture a smart logistics hub handling tens of thousands of packages a day, where Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs) operates across vast spaces. In such environments, traditional RJ45 connections may initially suffice—but as operation expand and AMRs navigate distances beyond 100 meters, connectivity becomes prone to signal degradation and industrial interference.
Seamless Expansion for Future-Ready Performance
Picture a smart logistics hub handling tens of thousands of packages a day, where Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs) operates across vast spaces. In such environments, traditional RJ45 connections may initially suffice—but as operation expand and AMRs navigate distances beyond 100 meters, connectivity becomes prone to signal degradation and industrial interference.
Sony Increases the PS5 Pricing in EMEA and ANZ by Around 25 Percent
Sony has announced that it has increased its pricing for the Playstation 5 consoles by around 25 percent from today in several regions. For now, it's Europe, Middle East, Africa, Australia and New Zealand that are being affected, but there are reports of Sony also planning on increasing the price in the US by at least 30 percent. Sony's official reason behind the rather steep price increase is due to "a backdrop of a challenging economic environment, including high inflation and fluctuating exchange rates".
The new pricing for the PS5 Digital Edition will be €499.99 in the Eurozone, £429.99 in the UK, AU$749.95 in Australia and NZ$859.95 in New Zealand. Sony didn't reveal pricing in other currencies and instead says to check with your local retailer for the new pricing. For now, the EU and the UK avoid price hikes on the PS5 with Ultra HD Blu-ray disc drive as Sony so elegantly calls it, whereas in Australia it'll increase to US$829.95 and in New Zealand it'll cost NZ$949.95. Sony will also announced a decrease in the price on the stand alone Blu-ray drive today and it will cost €79.99, £69.99, AU$124.95 and NZ$139.95. The PS5 Pro is not receiving a price hike for the time being.
The new pricing for the PS5 Digital Edition will be €499.99 in the Eurozone, £429.99 in the UK, AU$749.95 in Australia and NZ$859.95 in New Zealand. Sony didn't reveal pricing in other currencies and instead says to check with your local retailer for the new pricing. For now, the EU and the UK avoid price hikes on the PS5 with Ultra HD Blu-ray disc drive as Sony so elegantly calls it, whereas in Australia it'll increase to US$829.95 and in New Zealand it'll cost NZ$949.95. Sony will also announced a decrease in the price on the stand alone Blu-ray drive today and it will cost €79.99, £69.99, AU$124.95 and NZ$139.95. The PS5 Pro is not receiving a price hike for the time being.
Bungie's Marathon Launching September 23, Gets New Gameplay Trailer
Today, Bungie, the creators of Halo and Destiny, revealed gameplay of their upcoming team-based extraction shooter Marathon. As part of the live Marathon Gameplay Reveal Showcase, Bungie developers premiered Alpha gameplay of the tactical and fast-paced FPS, explored the mysterious and cutthroat world of Tau Ceti IV, and discussed how to join the Marathon Closed Alpha Test.
In addition, Bungie announced Marathon will release on September 23, 2025 on Steam, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S with full cross play and cross save. In the meantime, players can join the Marathon community Discord, where they can sign up for a chance to be one of the first to playtest Marathon. The Bungie team will be actively engaging in Discord, holding live Q&As, and evolving the game based on player feedback for launch and beyond.
In addition, Bungie announced Marathon will release on September 23, 2025 on Steam, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S with full cross play and cross save. In the meantime, players can join the Marathon community Discord, where they can sign up for a chance to be one of the first to playtest Marathon. The Bungie team will be actively engaging in Discord, holding live Q&As, and evolving the game based on player feedback for launch and beyond.
Trump Exempts Electronics and GPUs from China Tariffs to Ease Tech Costs
President Trump announced late Friday that a range of electronics imported from China will not be hit by his new reciprocal tariffs, according to a US Customs and Border Protection notice. The exemption, which applies to items arriving in the United States or leaving bonded warehouses on or after April 5, covers smartphones, computer monitors, semiconductors, various electronic parts, and, importantly, high-performance GPUs. Tech companies were bracing for big cost increases. Apple, for example, assembles about 90 percent of its iPhones in China and holds roughly six weeks of inventory in US warehouses. Without this exemption, consumers would likely have seen higher prices once that stock ran out. Framework, the modular laptop maker, has already paused US sales of some Laptop 13 models and discounted others by up to 12 percent after a new 10 percent tariff on Taiwanese parts squeezed their margins.
The GPU market got another break thanks to a clever workaround in the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement. A research firm SemiAnalysis pointed out that graphics cards made in Taiwan can still enter the US tariff-free if they undergo final assembly in Mexico or Canada. That loophole applies to digital processing units and related circuit boards, which means companies relying on NVIDIA's top-tier accelerators for AI won't see an immediate price jump. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said these steps are part of a two-pronged plan: offering short-term relief to keep consumer prices down while at the same time pushing major tech firms like Apple, TSMC, and NVIDIA to invest billions in US manufacturing. However, many experts warn that high-precision components are still largely made in Asia, so building up domestic production capacity could take months or even years and may remain more expensive in the meantime.
Update: President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social the following: "There was no Tariff "exception" announced on Friday. These products are subject to the existing 20% Fentanyl Tariffs, and they are just moving to a different Tariff "bucket."We are taking a look at Semiconductors and the WHOLE ELECTRONICS SUPPLY CHAIN in the upcoming National Security Tariff Investigations."
The GPU market got another break thanks to a clever workaround in the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement. A research firm SemiAnalysis pointed out that graphics cards made in Taiwan can still enter the US tariff-free if they undergo final assembly in Mexico or Canada. That loophole applies to digital processing units and related circuit boards, which means companies relying on NVIDIA's top-tier accelerators for AI won't see an immediate price jump. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said these steps are part of a two-pronged plan: offering short-term relief to keep consumer prices down while at the same time pushing major tech firms like Apple, TSMC, and NVIDIA to invest billions in US manufacturing. However, many experts warn that high-precision components are still largely made in Asia, so building up domestic production capacity could take months or even years and may remain more expensive in the meantime.
Update: President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social the following: "There was no Tariff "exception" announced on Friday. These products are subject to the existing 20% Fentanyl Tariffs, and they are just moving to a different Tariff "bucket."We are taking a look at Semiconductors and the WHOLE ELECTRONICS SUPPLY CHAIN in the upcoming National Security Tariff Investigations."
AMD Launches ROCm 6.4 with Technical Upgrades, Still no Support for RDNA 4
AMD officially released ROCm 6.4, its latest open‑source GPU compute stack, bringing several under‑the‑hood improvements while still lacking official RDNA 4 support. The update improves compatibility between ROCm's user‑space libraries and the AMDKFD kernel driver, making it easier to run across a wider range of Linux kernels. AMD has also expanded its internal testing to cover more combinations of user and kernel versions, which should reduce integration headaches for HPC and AI workloads. On the framework side, ROCm 6.4 now supports PyTorch 2.5 and 2.6 out of the box, so developers can use the latest deep‑learning features without building from source. The Megatron‑LM integration adds three new fused kernels, Attention (QKV), Layer Norm, and ROPE, to speed up transformer model training by combining multiple operations into single GPU passes. Video decoding gets a boost, too, with VP9 support in both rocDecode and rocPyDecode, plus a new bitstream reader module to streamline media pipelines.
Oracle Linux 9 is now officially supported, and the Radeon PRO W7800 48 GB workstation card has been validated under ROCm. AMD also enabled CPX mode with NPS4 memory configurations, catering to advanced memory bandwidth scenarios on MI Instinct accelerators. Despite these updates, ROCm 6.4 still does not officially support RDNA 4 GPUs, such as the RX 9070 series. While community members report that the new release can run on those cards unofficially, the lack of formal enablement means RDNA 4's doubled FP16 throughput, eight times INT4 sparsity acceleration, and FP8 capabilities remain largely untapped in ROCm workflows. On Linux, consumer Radeon support is limited to just a few models, even though Windows coverage for RDNA 2 and 3 families has expanded since 2022. With AMD's "Advancing AI" event coming in June, many developers are hoping for an announcement about RDNA 4 integration. Until then, those who need guaranteed, day‑one GPU support may continue to look at alternative ecosystems.
Oracle Linux 9 is now officially supported, and the Radeon PRO W7800 48 GB workstation card has been validated under ROCm. AMD also enabled CPX mode with NPS4 memory configurations, catering to advanced memory bandwidth scenarios on MI Instinct accelerators. Despite these updates, ROCm 6.4 still does not officially support RDNA 4 GPUs, such as the RX 9070 series. While community members report that the new release can run on those cards unofficially, the lack of formal enablement means RDNA 4's doubled FP16 throughput, eight times INT4 sparsity acceleration, and FP8 capabilities remain largely untapped in ROCm workflows. On Linux, consumer Radeon support is limited to just a few models, even though Windows coverage for RDNA 2 and 3 families has expanded since 2022. With AMD's "Advancing AI" event coming in June, many developers are hoping for an announcement about RDNA 4 integration. Until then, those who need guaranteed, day‑one GPU support may continue to look at alternative ecosystems.
SilverStone Intros XE360PDD Dual-Block AIO CLC for 2P Servers and Workstations
SilverStone late last week released the XE360PDD, an all-in-one, closed-loop, liquid CPU cooler with two CPU water-blocks connected to a common radiator. The cooler is meant for 2P (dual-socket) servers and workstations, and comes in variants meant for AMD SP5, AMD SP3, Intel LGA4677+LGA4710; and Intel LGA4189. The cooler uses a 38 mm-thick 360 mm x 120 mm aluminium radiator. There are two aluminium cavities in the radiator that house the cooler's two pumps. The radiator puts out dedicated piping for each of the two water blocks, the blocks aren't arranged in serial.
The SilverStone XE360PDD includes three high-airflow 120 mm fans. Each of the three comes with dual ball-bearings, fan-speeds ranging between 800 and 3,000 RPM, pushing up to 95.1 CFM of airflow at 5.2 mm H₂O static pressure, and 39.6 dBA maximum noise output. Each of the two pumps turns at a speed of 4,000 RPM. The two water blocks feature a copper base.
The SilverStone XE360PDD includes three high-airflow 120 mm fans. Each of the three comes with dual ball-bearings, fan-speeds ranging between 800 and 3,000 RPM, pushing up to 95.1 CFM of airflow at 5.2 mm H₂O static pressure, and 39.6 dBA maximum noise output. Each of the two pumps turns at a speed of 4,000 RPM. The two water blocks feature a copper base.
Sunday, April 13th 2025
This Week in Gaming (Week 16)
Welcome to Easter week and this week kicks off with a dark ARPG that offers six unique classes. This is followed by an open world MMORPG with retro vibes, a photography sim, a cute retro RPG, an escape room that's an entire world and finally a co-op survival game that involves a lot of flying, just not in planes.
Mandragora: Whispers of the Witch Tree / This week's major release / Thursday 17 April
Create your Inquisitor from one of six unique Classes, and wield blades and magic to battle nightmarish creatures. Craft hundreds of weapons and items, and learn powerful Talents to define your combat style. Explore a vast, interconnected world and unearth its secrets across 60 quests that will push your skills to their limits. Steam link
Mandragora: Whispers of the Witch Tree / This week's major release / Thursday 17 April
Create your Inquisitor from one of six unique Classes, and wield blades and magic to battle nightmarish creatures. Craft hundreds of weapons and items, and learn powerful Talents to define your combat style. Explore a vast, interconnected world and unearth its secrets across 60 quests that will push your skills to their limits. Steam link
Friday, April 11th 2025
Today's Files
Today's Reviews
Graphics Cards
Headphones
Motherboards
ASUS GeForce RTX 5080 TUF OC Review
The ASUS GeForce RTX 5080 TUF OC is a premium custom-design version of NVIDIA's second-strongest card. It comes with a big quad-slot, triple-fan cooling solution that runs extremely quiet when the quiet BIOS is activated. You also get a second HDMI output and a factory overclock.
TerraMaster F8 SSD Plus Review - Compact and quiet
A book sized NAS that not only fits eight M.2 SSDs, but also offers 10 Gbps Ethernet to make the most out of the drives. On top of that, it's extremely quiet during operation and boasts a compelling feature set.
'BioMenace' Resurrection: Apogee Classic Coming to Steam in Fall 2025
Apogee Software, famous for making Duke Nukem and publishing early Id Software hits like Commander Keen and Wolfenstein 3D, has more games that people should know about. One good example is BioMenace, a fun and colorful side-scrolling shooter they put out in 1993. The story follows CIA agent Snake Logan as he tries to save a city and its people from the evil Dr. Mangle's plans. Surprising for some, a joy for others, Dosgamert announced on social media yesterday that Rigel Gameworks is working on a remaster set to launch in Fall 2025 on Steam.
This updated version of BioMenace will feature improved graphics and technical enhancements; however, to cater to gaming purists, it will also include an option to switch between the original and remastered visuals, keeping the authentic experience intact for those who prefer it. The original game featured the 'Keen Dreams' engine from Commander Keen, which ran on MS-DOS. James Norwood, who later designed Shadow Warrior, created this game while Bobby Prince known for his music in Wolfenstein 3D and Doom, wrote the soundtrack. The remastered BioMenace will have the original 3 episodes (36 levels in total) plus one brand-new episode, spanning a range of diverse environments including cities, underground caves, and secret high-tech labs.
This updated version of BioMenace will feature improved graphics and technical enhancements; however, to cater to gaming purists, it will also include an option to switch between the original and remastered visuals, keeping the authentic experience intact for those who prefer it. The original game featured the 'Keen Dreams' engine from Commander Keen, which ran on MS-DOS. James Norwood, who later designed Shadow Warrior, created this game while Bobby Prince known for his music in Wolfenstein 3D and Doom, wrote the soundtrack. The remastered BioMenace will have the original 3 episodes (36 levels in total) plus one brand-new episode, spanning a range of diverse environments including cities, underground caves, and secret high-tech labs.
KUNOS Simulazioni Reveals Key Updates for Assetto Corsa EVO in New Video
Global Publisher 505 Games and developer KUNOS Simulazioni are pleased to share new details of what comes next for Assetto Corsa EVO in a brand new developer video. Assetto Corsa EVO is the latest evolution in the acclaimed Assetto Corsa series and is currently available on Steam in Early Access.
Since its launch on January 16, Assetto Corsa EVO has achieved milestones beyond expectations. This success has been made possible thanks to the support and passion shown by players worldwide. Their contribution encouraged the development team to introduce some changes in order to improve core game experience and mechanics. These updates represent a new step forward for Assetto Corsa EVO - balancing tradition with exciting new possibilities. Today, Marco Massarutto, co-founder and Executive Manager of KUNOS Simulazioni, shared important updates in a new video, outlining the decisions made, many of which were directly influenced by the valuable feedback from the community.
Since its launch on January 16, Assetto Corsa EVO has achieved milestones beyond expectations. This success has been made possible thanks to the support and passion shown by players worldwide. Their contribution encouraged the development team to introduce some changes in order to improve core game experience and mechanics. These updates represent a new step forward for Assetto Corsa EVO - balancing tradition with exciting new possibilities. Today, Marco Massarutto, co-founder and Executive Manager of KUNOS Simulazioni, shared important updates in a new video, outlining the decisions made, many of which were directly influenced by the valuable feedback from the community.
CORSAIR Announces Call of Duty: Warzone Collection Line of High-Performance Gaming Products
Corsair, a leading global developer and manufacturer of high-performance gear and technology for gamers, content creators, and PC enthusiasts, proudly announces the continuation of its multi-year, cross-brand collaboration with the critically acclaimed and award-winning Call of Duty franchise with the Call of Duty: Warzone Collection. Celebrating the 5th anniversary of Call of Duty: Warzone and the highly anticipated return of Verdansk, Corsair and its family of leading brands are delivering an exclusive collection of high-performance gaming products for the Call of Duty community to fully engage with on their way to victory.
"We are thrilled to team up with Activision again as our world-class brands come together for the return of Verdansk," said Thi La, President and COO at Corsair. "This powerful collaboration extends across multiple product categories at Corsair including Drop, Elgato, ORIGIN PC and SCUF Gaming, bringing true high-performance to true Call of Duty: Warzone fans as they squad up and drop in."
"We are thrilled to team up with Activision again as our world-class brands come together for the return of Verdansk," said Thi La, President and COO at Corsair. "This powerful collaboration extends across multiple product categories at Corsair including Drop, Elgato, ORIGIN PC and SCUF Gaming, bringing true high-performance to true Call of Duty: Warzone fans as they squad up and drop in."
ASUS Republic of Gamers Announces New Keyboard, Mouse, Mousepad, and Gaming Headset
ASUS Republic of Gamers (ROG) today announced a new and wide-ranging gaming peripherals lineup. The latest additions to the ROG arsenal include the Azoth X gaming keyboard, Keris II Origin gaming mouse, Scabbard II Arctic Gray XXL gaming mousepad, and the Delta II Moonlight White gaming headset.
ROG Azoth X gaming keyboard
The ROG Azoth X is a 75% custom gaming keyboard built for discerning gamers and keyboard enthusiasts who demand precision and versatility. The keycaps feature a three-sided translucent design that amplifies RGB shine-through for a stunning visual display. The front and top of each keycap is dye-sublimated with the ROG Stellar theme for a signature look. A south-facing PCB ensures compatibility with a broad range of switches, while five dampening layers (one silicone and four PORON layers), a gasket mount, and an FR4 positioning plate work in unison to provide refined typing experiences. Hot-swappable ROG NX Snow Mechanical Switches V2 support diverse keycap profiles and deliver softer acoustics and smooth keystrokes.
ROG Azoth X gaming keyboard
The ROG Azoth X is a 75% custom gaming keyboard built for discerning gamers and keyboard enthusiasts who demand precision and versatility. The keycaps feature a three-sided translucent design that amplifies RGB shine-through for a stunning visual display. The front and top of each keycap is dye-sublimated with the ROG Stellar theme for a signature look. A south-facing PCB ensures compatibility with a broad range of switches, while five dampening layers (one silicone and four PORON layers), a gasket mount, and an FR4 positioning plate work in unison to provide refined typing experiences. Hot-swappable ROG NX Snow Mechanical Switches V2 support diverse keycap profiles and deliver softer acoustics and smooth keystrokes.
Intel's IPO Program Supercharges Underperforming "Arrow Lake" Chips, but Only in China for Now
The long-promised gaming performance uplift for "Arrow Lake" processors is here, but for now, it is only available in China. Called Intel Performance Optimizations (IPO), this feature aims at system integrators rather than end users and offers a balanced approach between stock settings and full manual overclocking, all while preserving warranty coverage. IPO works by applying optimized profiles that adjust a range of CPU and memory parameters. On the CPU side, it fine‑tunes P‑core and E‑core frequencies, ring‑bus speeds, the UPI interconnect, D2D links between tiles, and both PL1 and PL2 power limits. For RAM, IPO raises transfer rates and tightens timings, pushing modules beyond their factory XMP or EXPO profiles. Early results from Chinese OEM Maxsun show that IPO can boost core clocks by about 200 MHz and elevate DDR5‑8000 kits to DDR5‑8400. In gaming tests provided by Maxsun, this translated to roughly a 10 percent uplift in frame rates, an encouraging figure given Arrow Lake's mild launch performance in gaming.
At debut, some Arrow Lake SKUs trailed their "Raptor Lake" predecessors because the chiplet‑based memory controller introduced extra latency and ring‑bus clocks ran slower. Supply‑chain constraints and tariffs have limited IPO's rollout to China so far, where pre‑built systems from vendors like Maxsun are shipping with the feature enabled. Warranty handling stays with the OEM, so users can enjoy the extra headroom without risking hardware support. Behind the scenes, Intel has been issuing firmware and microcode patches since December, most recently microcode 0x114 paired with CSME firmware 19.0.0.1854v2.2, to improve Arrow Lake's efficiency. IPO represents the next step in that effort and could become a model for global "opt‑in" BIOS presets if the pilot proves successful. For now, China is serving as the testing ground for Intel's latest attempt to squeeze more performance out of Arrow Lake. We have to wait and see if Western markets follow soon.
At debut, some Arrow Lake SKUs trailed their "Raptor Lake" predecessors because the chiplet‑based memory controller introduced extra latency and ring‑bus clocks ran slower. Supply‑chain constraints and tariffs have limited IPO's rollout to China so far, where pre‑built systems from vendors like Maxsun are shipping with the feature enabled. Warranty handling stays with the OEM, so users can enjoy the extra headroom without risking hardware support. Behind the scenes, Intel has been issuing firmware and microcode patches since December, most recently microcode 0x114 paired with CSME firmware 19.0.0.1854v2.2, to improve Arrow Lake's efficiency. IPO represents the next step in that effort and could become a model for global "opt‑in" BIOS presets if the pilot proves successful. For now, China is serving as the testing ground for Intel's latest attempt to squeeze more performance out of Arrow Lake. We have to wait and see if Western markets follow soon.
EasySMX Unleashes D10 Controller With EasyPos D-Pad and TMR Sticks
EasySMX, the leading manufacturer of gaming peripherals, proudly announces the launch of the D10 Multiplatform Gaming Controller. Designed for gamers across PC, Switch, iOS, and Android, the D10 redefines competitive gaming by integrating breakthrough technologies that deliver lightning-fast response and ultra-precise control—all refined through valuable feedback from our gaming community.
Driven by Gamer Feedback
After analyzing reviews and customer insights from our entire product lineup, we discovered that gamers value the precision, tactile click feedback, and durability of the D-pad and analog sticks above all else. Taking this to heart, EasySMX has engineered the D10 with an improved EasyPos D-pad and next-gen TMR sticks, ensuring every input is registered with unmatched accuracy and longevity.
Driven by Gamer Feedback
After analyzing reviews and customer insights from our entire product lineup, we discovered that gamers value the precision, tactile click feedback, and durability of the D-pad and analog sticks above all else. Taking this to heart, EasySMX has engineered the D10 with an improved EasyPos D-pad and next-gen TMR sticks, ensuring every input is registered with unmatched accuracy and longevity.
Tariffs Push US Wafer Fab Equipment Costs Up 15% for Domestic Fabs
As the US works to bring more semiconductor manufacturing back home, the machines needed to turn silicon into the world's most advanced processors are becoming pricier and harder to get, thanks to tariffs. Foundries building new fabs report that the specialized equipment they rely on, everything from extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography steppers to chemical vapor deposition chambers, carries a roughly 15% premium compared with similar gear sold overseas. Several forces are at play. The raw materials, high‑grade quartz for vacuum enclosures, and exotic metal alloys for precision optics have climbed in price. At the same time, key components like ultra‑accurate motion stages and alignment sensors are in short supply, sometimes stretching lead times for critical subsystems well beyond 18 months. For a fab racing to move from a 7 nm to a 5 nm process, those delays can mean missing tight ramp‑up targets and pushing out product launches.
Smaller chipmakers feel the squeeze the hardest. With fewer orders to negotiate volume discounts, second‑tier foundries may see their capital budgets balloon by 20 percent or more. In response, some are taking a mixed approach, sourcing commoditized tools such as oxidation furnaces and rapid thermal processors from multiple suppliers while reserving single‑vendor deals for high‑stakes systems like EUV scanners. Government support through the CHIPS Act offers a partial safety net, helping to subsidize capital expenditures. Yet even with grants and tax credits, the challenges will remain. Success will hinge on tight coordination between fabs, equipment makers, and policymakers to tame rising costs, shorten delivery schedules, and keep America's chip renaissance on track.
Smaller chipmakers feel the squeeze the hardest. With fewer orders to negotiate volume discounts, second‑tier foundries may see their capital budgets balloon by 20 percent or more. In response, some are taking a mixed approach, sourcing commoditized tools such as oxidation furnaces and rapid thermal processors from multiple suppliers while reserving single‑vendor deals for high‑stakes systems like EUV scanners. Government support through the CHIPS Act offers a partial safety net, helping to subsidize capital expenditures. Yet even with grants and tax credits, the challenges will remain. Success will hinge on tight coordination between fabs, equipment makers, and policymakers to tame rising costs, shorten delivery schedules, and keep America's chip renaissance on track.
ASUS Intros X870 MAX Gaming WiFi7 Motherboard
ASUS today introduced the X870 MAX Gaming WiFi7 motherboard. This Socket AM5 motherboard comes in two color-based variants—its default black, and the white X870 MAX Gaming WiFi7 W, which features a white PCB, besides white/silver heatsinks. The X870 MAX Gaming is positioned below even the TUF Gaming X870 Plus, and separate from the company's Prime series. It is designed to lure gaming PC builders away from the likes of the GIGABYTE Gaming X and MSI Gaming Plus series. The board is built in the ATX form-factor and draws power from a combination of 24-pin ATX and two 8-pin EPS connectors. It features a 12+2+1 phase CPU VRM that uses 80 A-rated power stages.
The Socket AM5 is wired to four DDR5 DIMM slots, a PCI-Express 5.0 x16 slot, and just the one M.2 Gen 5 x4 NVMe slot. The second CPU-attached NVMe interface is wired out as M.2 Gen 4 x4. The third M.2 slot is Gen 4 x4 and wired to the X870 FCH. The board also puts out four SATA 6 Gbps ports. Besides the main Gen 5 x16 PEG slot, the board has three other physical x16 slots, two of these are Gen 4 x1, and the last one Gen 3 x1. Display connectivity includes an HDMI, and a DisplayPort that's wired to the board's two 40 Gbps USB4 type-C ports. Other USB ports include a 10 Gbps USB 3.2 Gen 2; three 5 Gbps USB 3.1 Gen 1, and four USB 2.0, there is a 20 Gbps USB-C header, besides two additional 5 Gbps ports through a standard header.
The Socket AM5 is wired to four DDR5 DIMM slots, a PCI-Express 5.0 x16 slot, and just the one M.2 Gen 5 x4 NVMe slot. The second CPU-attached NVMe interface is wired out as M.2 Gen 4 x4. The third M.2 slot is Gen 4 x4 and wired to the X870 FCH. The board also puts out four SATA 6 Gbps ports. Besides the main Gen 5 x16 PEG slot, the board has three other physical x16 slots, two of these are Gen 4 x1, and the last one Gen 3 x1. Display connectivity includes an HDMI, and a DisplayPort that's wired to the board's two 40 Gbps USB4 type-C ports. Other USB ports include a 10 Gbps USB 3.2 Gen 2; three 5 Gbps USB 3.1 Gen 1, and four USB 2.0, there is a 20 Gbps USB-C header, besides two additional 5 Gbps ports through a standard header.
ADATA Expands into Enterprise Storage Amid Explosive AI Growth
ADATA Technology Co., Ltd., a global leader in memory and flash storage solutions, today announced its official expansion into the enterprise storage market to address the growing challenges of data processing brought about by the rise of AI and high-performance computing. In strategic partnership with Korean semiconductor company FADU, ADATA will launch a new line of enterprise-grade SSDs at Computex 2025, targeting to capture significant opportunities in the AI server and data center markets.
According to TrendForce, the global AI server market is projected to reach USD 298 billion in 2025, while enterprise IT data storage volume is expected to exceed 8.4 zettabytes. As AI model training demands higher data processing speed and reliability, enterprises are seeking high-performance, energy-efficient, and scalable storage solutions at an unprecedented pace. ADATA's upcoming enterprise-grade SSDs are designed specifically to meet the intensive needs of AI servers, machine learning, and real-time data analytics, and are ideally suited for data-driven verticals such as enterprise IT, financial services, healthcare, and government sectors. The new products will make their debut at Computex 2025, targeting mission-critical workloads in data centers and AI infrastructure environments.
According to TrendForce, the global AI server market is projected to reach USD 298 billion in 2025, while enterprise IT data storage volume is expected to exceed 8.4 zettabytes. As AI model training demands higher data processing speed and reliability, enterprises are seeking high-performance, energy-efficient, and scalable storage solutions at an unprecedented pace. ADATA's upcoming enterprise-grade SSDs are designed specifically to meet the intensive needs of AI servers, machine learning, and real-time data analytics, and are ideally suited for data-driven verticals such as enterprise IT, financial services, healthcare, and government sectors. The new products will make their debut at Computex 2025, targeting mission-critical workloads in data centers and AI infrastructure environments.
Iiyama Launches a Range of Ultrawide Desktop Monitors
The modern workplace is evolving, demanding seamless connectivity, enhanced security, and all-day comfort. iiyama is stepping up to meet these needs with the introduction of three ultra-wide desktop monitors featuring KVM and USB-C docking: XCB3497WQSNPH, XCB3497WQSNP, and XCB3494WQSU. Designed for professionals who juggle multiple devices and require effortless collaboration.
At the forefront of this lineup is the XCB3497WQSNPH-B1, a 34" VA UWQHD curved monitor configured for productivity and immersion. Packed with smart features, it brings convenience, security, and ergonomic excellence to any workspace.
At the forefront of this lineup is the XCB3497WQSNPH-B1, a 34" VA UWQHD curved monitor configured for productivity and immersion. Packed with smart features, it brings convenience, security, and ergonomic excellence to any workspace.
TechPowerUp GPU-Z 2.65.1 Released
TechPowerUp today released the latest version of TechPowerUp GPU-Z, the popular graphics sub-system information, monitoring, and diagnostic utility. Version 2.65.1, launched in conjunction with v2.65.0, comes with support for desktop GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 16 GB, RTX 5090 Laptop, RTX 5080 Laptop, RTX 5070 Ti Laptop, RTX Pro 4000 Blackwell, RTX Pro 3000 Blackwell, and NVIDIA H200. Support is also added for the upcoming AMD Radeon RX 9070 GRE, and the iGPU of Ryzen AI 300 "Krackan Point" and "Strix Halo." Other new GPUs support was added for is the Intel Arc A750E and A580E. Lastly, we are introducing support for Moore Threads S3000 MTvGPU-1108. A bug that caused GPU Compute checkboxes to go missing in the non-English localization of GPU-Z (which emerged with 2.65.0), has been fixed.
DOWNLOAD: TechPowerUp GPU-Z 2.65.1
DOWNLOAD: TechPowerUp GPU-Z 2.65.1
AYASpace 3.0 Beta Upgrade Supports the Full Range of AYANEO Windows Handheld Devices
As a pioneer in self-developed software for Windows handhelds, AYANEO has always adhered to integrated hardware and software development, continuously delivering exceptional user experiences that exceed gamers' expectations. Today, the highly acclaimed handheld management software AYASpace 3.0 has launched a newly upgraded beta version. Not only does it offer deep optimization and exclusive features for the modular flagship device AYANEO 3, but it also provides comprehensive support for all released AYANEO Windows handhelds and Mini PCs, including the FLIP, SLIDE, KUN, 2S, 2, GEEK, and AIR series. Gamers are welcome to upgrade and experience these enhancements while supporting AYANEO's software optimization with their valuable feedback!
AYASpace 3.0: The Era of All-in-One Intelligent Control Begins
AYASpace 3.0 has been completely upgraded in terms of interface design and functional logic, achieving dual improvements in "modern aesthetics" and "high-performance efficiency"：The UI interaction has been fully optimized, with a new "Device" section added. Quick-access features have made a complete return, and the keyboard/mouse mode has been reconstructed.
AYASpace 3.0: The Era of All-in-One Intelligent Control Begins
AYASpace 3.0 has been completely upgraded in terms of interface design and functional logic, achieving dual improvements in "modern aesthetics" and "high-performance efficiency"：The UI interaction has been fully optimized, with a new "Device" section added. Quick-access features have made a complete return, and the keyboard/mouse mode has been reconstructed.
Razer Officially Launches PC Remote Play
Razer, the leading global lifestyle brand for gamers, today announced the official launch of Razer PC Remote Play, the ultimate platform for streaming PC games directly to mobile devices. Razer PC Remote Play unlocks the full potential of your gaming rig by streaming your favorite PC game titles to your phone, tablet, or Windows handheld with unmatched visual clarity and responsiveness. By leveraging the full frame rate and resolution of your mobile device gamers will experience pristine visuals without black bars.
Introduced at CES 2025, the beta version of Razer PC Remote Play received great fanfare amongst users. The official launch brings a redesigned interface on Razer Cortex PC, along with added support to all mobile gaming controllers compatible with iOS or Android operating systems, support for the AV1 video codec for improved quality and lower latency, and software updates that improves the gaming experience for seamless PC gaming on the go. Gamers can now look forward to ultra-smooth, high-fidelity gameplay on smartphones and tablets - anywhere, anytime.
Introduced at CES 2025, the beta version of Razer PC Remote Play received great fanfare amongst users. The official launch brings a redesigned interface on Razer Cortex PC, along with added support to all mobile gaming controllers compatible with iOS or Android operating systems, support for the AV1 video codec for improved quality and lower latency, and software updates that improves the gaming experience for seamless PC gaming on the go. Gamers can now look forward to ultra-smooth, high-fidelity gameplay on smartphones and tablets - anywhere, anytime.
Team Group Unveils T-Force Xtreem CKD ARGB DDR5 & Delta CKD RGB DDR5 Memory
Team Group Inc. today announced the launch of its latest gaming memory modules, the T-FORCE XTREEM CKD ARGB DDR5 and T-FORCE DELTA CKD RGB DDR5, featuring cutting-edge technology and innovative design. With an upgraded Client Clock Driver (CKD) technology, these modules break performance limits to reach an impressive 8400 MHz overclocking frequency to maximize performance and stability. CKD DDR5 memory modules are fully compatible with Intel Core Ultra and Intel 800 series platforms, ensuring system stability during high-load operations. The latest generation of memory technology provides a seamless user experience and offers gamers and enthusiasts a new level of overclocking performance.
The T-FORCE XTREEM CKD ARGB DDR5 features a 2 mm premium aluminium alloy heat sink, crafted through aluminium extrusion, CNC machining, and a sandblasted black finish. This aesthetic is characterized by a basalt-like strength and durability, complemented by a smooth texture reminiscent of fine black sand. Its innovative two-piece light pipe with translucent multilayered optical design produces an aurora-like ARGB lighting effect, perfectly creating an immersive and visually stunning ambiance for gamers. In contrast, the T-FORCE DELTA CKD RGB DDR5 draws inspiration from stealth fighter jets, featuring an ultra-wide 120° angle RGB lighting design paired with sleek geometric contours, delivering a bold, eye-catching look to elevate gaming setup with unparalleled performance. Both memory modules allow gamers to customize and enhance their PC builds with stunning aesthetics. They also support Intel XMP 3.0 one-click overclocking technology, enabling users to unlock peak performance without complex configurations.
The T-FORCE XTREEM CKD ARGB DDR5 features a 2 mm premium aluminium alloy heat sink, crafted through aluminium extrusion, CNC machining, and a sandblasted black finish. This aesthetic is characterized by a basalt-like strength and durability, complemented by a smooth texture reminiscent of fine black sand. Its innovative two-piece light pipe with translucent multilayered optical design produces an aurora-like ARGB lighting effect, perfectly creating an immersive and visually stunning ambiance for gamers. In contrast, the T-FORCE DELTA CKD RGB DDR5 draws inspiration from stealth fighter jets, featuring an ultra-wide 120° angle RGB lighting design paired with sleek geometric contours, delivering a bold, eye-catching look to elevate gaming setup with unparalleled performance. Both memory modules allow gamers to customize and enhance their PC builds with stunning aesthetics. They also support Intel XMP 3.0 one-click overclocking technology, enabling users to unlock peak performance without complex configurations.
Colorful Launches CVN X870 Ark Frozen Socket AM5 Motherboard
Colorful Technology Company Limited, a leading brand in gaming PC components, gaming laptops, and Hi-fi audio products, is thrilled to announce the CVN X870 ARK FROZEN motherboard for the AMD Ryzen 9000 Series processors - COLORFUL's first AMD X870 motherboard. The CVN X870 ARK FROZEN adopts the CVN's signature military-inspired aesthetics.
The CVN X870 ARK FROZEN's design is inspired by aircraft carriers. The motherboard features large frost gray heatsinks and a titanium gray-colored PCB - COLORFUL's first AM5 motherboard to feature the color. Its bright orange accents evoke power and sophistication. The M.2 heatsinks sport lines similar to the runway of the aircraft carrier.
The CVN X870 ARK FROZEN's design is inspired by aircraft carriers. The motherboard features large frost gray heatsinks and a titanium gray-colored PCB - COLORFUL's first AM5 motherboard to feature the color. Its bright orange accents evoke power and sophistication. The M.2 heatsinks sport lines similar to the runway of the aircraft carrier.
Thursday, April 10th 2025
Today's Reviews
CPU Coolers
Keyboards
Monitors
Multimedia
Processors
Speakers
Thermaltake TR100 Review
The Thermaltake TR100 is a perfect example of how to engineer a great sandwich chassis, managing to solve most of the cooling limitations of such enclosures. On top of that, the TR100 breaks down the barriers of entry around assembly and cable management, while looking pretty cool in the process.
MSI MAG CORELIQUID A15 360 Review
The MSI MAG CORELIQUID A15 360 arrives with swagger, utilizing its military-inspired design and ARGB lighting to provide a visually attractive AIO liquid cooler for PC enthusiasts. Featuring practical additions like daisy-chained fans and an offset LGA1851 bracket for improved cooling, it certainly has potential.
Digital Sun's "Moonlighter 2: The Endless Vault" Coming This Summer to PC & Consoles
Grab your satchel, sharpen your blade, and dust off your negotiating skills—Moonlighter 2: The Endless Vault is officially set to open its doors in Summer 2025! The upcoming action-RPG from Digital Sun, creators of the beloved indie hit, Moonlighter, and published by 11 bit studios, returns with even grander adventures and deeper shopkeeping mastery. Step into the dual life of Wil—a shopkeeper-turned-hero—as he balances dangerous expeditions alongside the hustle of keeping his business thriving in a reality where fortune favors those bold enough to venture beyond the boundaries of what they know.
As you venture into the unknown, you'll clash with fearsome foes and gather precious loot in sprawling, dynamic dungeons. Take risks and reap rewards with the game's new layer of tactical depth—inventory management is no longer just about saving space. Relics carry special properties, adding tension and strategy to every expedition. On the shopkeeping side of things, you'll keep your store bustling by harnessing powerful boosts and charms to maximize sales and keep customers lining up at your door. And while you're stuck in Tresna for now—a brand-new location in the series, born from a dimensional mash-up—you might as well try to prosper together with the local townsfolk. Invest in the flourishing village of Tresna, shape its future, and unlock new opportunities for your own success.
As you venture into the unknown, you'll clash with fearsome foes and gather precious loot in sprawling, dynamic dungeons. Take risks and reap rewards with the game's new layer of tactical depth—inventory management is no longer just about saving space. Relics carry special properties, adding tension and strategy to every expedition. On the shopkeeping side of things, you'll keep your store bustling by harnessing powerful boosts and charms to maximize sales and keep customers lining up at your door. And while you're stuck in Tresna for now—a brand-new location in the series, born from a dimensional mash-up—you might as well try to prosper together with the local townsfolk. Invest in the flourishing village of Tresna, shape its future, and unlock new opportunities for your own success.
The Molasses Flood Absorbed into CD Projekt Group, Studio Co-founder Confirms His Departure
CD Projekt acquired The Molasses Flood—a Boston, Massachusetts-based video game developer—back in 2021. The New England studio was best known for making two indie titles: Drake Hollow (2020) and Flame in the Flood (2016). Under Polish ownership, the team embarked on a new "Project Sirius" adventure—several veteran members had spent time pumping out Bioshock, Halo, Guitar Hero and Rock Band franchise entries at previous workplaces. Earlier in the week, an official statement popped up on the company's official site: "dear all, we want to let you know that on April 1, 2025, The Molasses Flood LLC ("TMF") merged with CD PROJEKT RED Inc. ("CDPR Inc."), a company being a part of the CD PROJEKT Group. As a result of the merger TMF, in its former legal state (of a separate legal entity) ceased its operations, while CDPR Inc. assumed the rights and obligations of TMF. The merger will not affect the availability or distribution of 'The Flame in The Flood' and 'Drake Hollow' video games, which will continue to be published by CD PROJEKT Group."
In a LinkedIn post, Damian Isla provided an extra couple of tidbits and confirmed his exit from operations. The Molasses Flood (TMF) co-founder commented on recent reshuffles: "the studio I co-founded with some of my ex-Irrational friends, was to be absorbed into CDPR proper. To be ultra clear: this is a GOOD AND HEALTHY thing for the studio, and it was long-expected. It breaks down some organizational barriers, and better integrates the TMF team with the rest of the amazing CDPR org. Overall, it shows a very bright future for Project Sirius (aka "the multiplayer Witcher game," of which I was the Design Director for three years). It's going to be an amazing game, one for the books, and I cannot wait until the rest of the world learns about what we've been working on...On the sadder side—not to bury the lede—I've decided not to follow TMF on this transition. So last Monday—the last day of TMF's legal existence!—was also my last day at the studio."
In a LinkedIn post, Damian Isla provided an extra couple of tidbits and confirmed his exit from operations. The Molasses Flood (TMF) co-founder commented on recent reshuffles: "the studio I co-founded with some of my ex-Irrational friends, was to be absorbed into CDPR proper. To be ultra clear: this is a GOOD AND HEALTHY thing for the studio, and it was long-expected. It breaks down some organizational barriers, and better integrates the TMF team with the rest of the amazing CDPR org. Overall, it shows a very bright future for Project Sirius (aka "the multiplayer Witcher game," of which I was the Design Director for three years). It's going to be an amazing game, one for the books, and I cannot wait until the rest of the world learns about what we've been working on...On the sadder side—not to bury the lede—I've decided not to follow TMF on this transition. So last Monday—the last day of TMF's legal existence!—was also my last day at the studio."
ASUS Intros B850M AYW Gaming WiFi M-ATX Motherboard
ASUS has launched its B850M AYW GAMING WiFi motherboard worldwide giving users a small but mighty option for AMD Ryzen desktop systems. This board comes in a narrow microATX form factor measuring 24.4 cm x 22.1 cm. It sports a six-layer black PCB and silver-white heatsinks keeping a tidy look while sticking to the ASUS AYW series style. The board uses an 8+2+1 phase setup with discrete MOSFETs and has one 8-pin EPS CPU power plug. For a compact board, it offers plenty of storage choices. You'll find one PCIe 5.0 M.2 slot that can handle speeds up to 128 Gbps and another PCIe 4.0 M.2 slot with speeds up to 64 Gbps. To add extra cards, the motherboard provides one PCIe 5.0 x16 slot running at full speed plus one PCIe 4.0 x16 slot that works at x8/x4 speed.
The B850M AYW GAMING WiFi has two DIMM slots for DDR5 memory in a dual-channel setup with AEMP support (up to 8400+ MS/s OC). It comes with Wi-Fi 6 wireless networking, 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet, various USB ports, including Type-C, and Realtek 7.1 channel audio CODEC. You'll find a pre-mounted shield on the rear I/O panel. This panel includes one HDMI 2.1 port, several USB ports at different speeds (10 Gbps, 5 Gbps, and 480 Mbps), one 2.5 GbE RJ45 network port, two Wi-Fi antenna connections, and three audio jacks. For those looking to customize, the board offers three Addressable RGB Gen 2 headers. Exact pricing is yet to be revealed.
The B850M AYW GAMING WiFi has two DIMM slots for DDR5 memory in a dual-channel setup with AEMP support (up to 8400+ MS/s OC). It comes with Wi-Fi 6 wireless networking, 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet, various USB ports, including Type-C, and Realtek 7.1 channel audio CODEC. You'll find a pre-mounted shield on the rear I/O panel. This panel includes one HDMI 2.1 port, several USB ports at different speeds (10 Gbps, 5 Gbps, and 480 Mbps), one 2.5 GbE RJ45 network port, two Wi-Fi antenna connections, and three audio jacks. For those looking to customize, the board offers three Addressable RGB Gen 2 headers. Exact pricing is yet to be revealed.
11 bit studios Announces June 13 Launch Date for "The Alters" - Coming to PC & Modern Consoles
What if survival meant facing the versions of yourself you never became? The version of you who chose family over going to college? The version of you who chased down your high school sweetheart and made her your wife or the version of you who lost her? In The Alters, the upcoming sci-fi game from 11 bit studios (makers of This War of Mine and Frostpunk), where survival has never been so personal, the path to salvation begins with a question as old as humanity: What if I had chosen differently? Revealed today as part of the 2025 Triple-I Initiative, 11 bit studios announced that The Alters will launch on June 13, 2025, arriving on PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and day one on Xbox Game Pass and PC Game Pass.
Stranded on a hostile planet and racing against a deadly sunrise, Jan Dolski's only chance of survival is to create "alters"—alternate versions of himself shaped by roads not taken. Each Jan comes with unique skills, personalities, and memories tied to a different life choice. But they also come with conflict, doubt, and emotional baggage. Managing the mission means managing yourself—literally. Players must maintain a mobile base, make time-critical decisions, build relationships with their Alters, and confront the consequences of their own past lives.
Stranded on a hostile planet and racing against a deadly sunrise, Jan Dolski's only chance of survival is to create "alters"—alternate versions of himself shaped by roads not taken. Each Jan comes with unique skills, personalities, and memories tied to a different life choice. But they also come with conflict, doubt, and emotional baggage. Managing the mission means managing yourself—literally. Players must maintain a mobile base, make time-critical decisions, build relationships with their Alters, and confront the consequences of their own past lives.
Compulab Refreshes Airtop3 SFF Fanless IoT Edge Server Model with GeForce RTX 4060 dGPU Option
Compulab has updated its "ruggedised" Airtop3 compact form factor PC line with a new configuration that includes a pre-installed "Ada Lovelace" GeForce RTX 4060 8 GB discrete graphics card. Back in 2018, TechPowerUp's news section covered the Israeli firm's initiation of a crowdfunding campaign for their fanless Airtop2 Inferno Mini-PC. This second generation design launched with a desktop GeForce GTX 1080 "Pascal" card onboard. Compulab's current-gen SFF fanless IoT Edge server model was first revealed in 2019; debuting with passively cooled Intel Core i9-9900K (Coffee Lake Refresh) processors and Team Green's Quadro RTX 4000 (Turing) graphics cards. Going further back—to February 2018—the brand introduced its vanilla Airtop2 design.
The latest Airtop3 revision still utilizes an old LGA1151 socket platform; compatible with a small selection of Team Blue "Coffee Lake"—original and refreshed—CPUs. The best configuration can be equipped with a workstation grade Xeon E-2278GE processor. The cheapest option is outfitted with an entry level Celeron G4900T unit. As noted by VideoCardz, Compulab's starting price for an Airtop3 + GeForce RTX 4060 dGPU is $2780. A GPU-less setup costs $1790. Customers can pick between the GeForce RTX 4060 or an older "Ampere" RTX A2000 6 GB card. No matter the specification, CPU/APU and GPU aspects are passively cooled via sizeable copper plates.
The latest Airtop3 revision still utilizes an old LGA1151 socket platform; compatible with a small selection of Team Blue "Coffee Lake"—original and refreshed—CPUs. The best configuration can be equipped with a workstation grade Xeon E-2278GE processor. The cheapest option is outfitted with an entry level Celeron G4900T unit. As noted by VideoCardz, Compulab's starting price for an Airtop3 + GeForce RTX 4060 dGPU is $2780. A GPU-less setup costs $1790. Customers can pick between the GeForce RTX 4060 or an older "Ampere" RTX A2000 6 GB card. No matter the specification, CPU/APU and GPU aspects are passively cooled via sizeable copper plates.
Kinetic Games Announces Phasmophobia's First 2025 Event: Cursed Hollow
Welcome back, Ghost Hunters. We've got some news for you. Today, we're excited to announce details and the release date for Cursed Hollow, Phasmophobia's first event for 2025. The event will be live for all players, across all platforms on April 17th, 2025. Stay tuned to our social channels and the Phasmophobia Discord server for exact release timings. This next Community Event brings with it a host of improvements based on feedback we received throughout Crimson Eye and Winter's Jest in 2024, as well as some quality of life changes for events going forward. Full patch notes will be available at launch, but below we'll dive in to a few details to prepare you for your hunts next week. We're excited for players to experience Cursed Hollow, and we'll continue to monitor feedback to help improve our events throughout 2025 and beyond.
Enter the Cursed Hollow
When Cursed Hollow launches in Phasmophobia, Ghost Hunters will be tasked with uncovering the secrets of the Cursed Hollow by identifying ghosts, completing objectives and discovering the totems scattered across the maps. Be warned however, activating these totems is likely to effect that which haunts you - the Forest Spirit. These effects may play in your favour, or up the challenge for you and your team. Maps featured in Cursed Hollow will be decorated with all manner of event theming fit for the Forest Spirit. Be sure to share any screenshots you take during your investigations with us on social media by tagging your posts with #Phasmophobia or by tagging our official accounts.
Enter the Cursed Hollow
When Cursed Hollow launches in Phasmophobia, Ghost Hunters will be tasked with uncovering the secrets of the Cursed Hollow by identifying ghosts, completing objectives and discovering the totems scattered across the maps. Be warned however, activating these totems is likely to effect that which haunts you - the Forest Spirit. These effects may play in your favour, or up the challenge for you and your team. Maps featured in Cursed Hollow will be decorated with all manner of event theming fit for the Forest Spirit. Be sure to share any screenshots you take during your investigations with us on social media by tagging your posts with #Phasmophobia or by tagging our official accounts.
Samsung's 2 nm GAA Node Process Test Yields Reportedly Pass 40% Mark
According to the latest South Korean semiconductor industry whispers, Samsung's 2 nm GAA node process (aka SF2) development team has hit another pleasing experimental production milestone. An Asia Economy SK news article has sourced insights from inside track players—one unnamed mole posited that: "the 2 nm yield currently under development at Samsung Foundry is much better than previously known...and more positive than the (reportedly abandoned) 3 nm process." A combination of relatively new leadership and a rumored welcoming of first wave High-NA EUV equipment has likely bolstered next-gen efforts, after late 2024's alleged failure of 3 nm prototypes. Leaks from earlier in 2025 indicated SF2 test yields wavering around 20-30%; far from ideal—back then, insider reports suggested that TSMC was well on the way to achieving 60% rates with a competing 2 nm product line. Asia Economy has picked up on mutterings about Samsung's current progress—latest outputs: "have exceeded 40% in the wafer testing stage at a post-processing company."
Industry watchdogs reckon that the South Korean's foundry business is making good progress; perhaps on track to commence speculated mass production by the third quarter of this year—just in time to get finalized flagship "Exynos 2600" mobile chips in the manufacturing pipeline. The Taiwanese rumor mill indicated a major milestone "completion" of TSMC's 2 nm trial phase at some point last month—insiders mentioned excellent yield rates: in the region of 70-80%. Cross-facility mass production could start later this year, but experts propose that the market leader will be implementing price hikes. These "elevated charges" could send loyal TSMC customers in the direction of an alternate source of 2 nm wafers: Samsung. Fresh semicon biz gossip has the likes of Apple, AMD and NVIDIA in the picture.
Industry watchdogs reckon that the South Korean's foundry business is making good progress; perhaps on track to commence speculated mass production by the third quarter of this year—just in time to get finalized flagship "Exynos 2600" mobile chips in the manufacturing pipeline. The Taiwanese rumor mill indicated a major milestone "completion" of TSMC's 2 nm trial phase at some point last month—insiders mentioned excellent yield rates: in the region of 70-80%. Cross-facility mass production could start later this year, but experts propose that the market leader will be implementing price hikes. These "elevated charges" could send loyal TSMC customers in the direction of an alternate source of 2 nm wafers: Samsung. Fresh semicon biz gossip has the likes of Apple, AMD and NVIDIA in the picture.
Duskfade: A New 3D Action-Platformer Inspired by the Classics Coming 2026
Fireshine Games is delighted to introduce Duskfade, an all-new 3D action-platformer inspired by classic platformers of times gone by, coming to the PlayStation 5 (PS5) system, Xbox Series X|S, and PC in 2026.
Embark on an unforgettable adventure as Zirian, a young workshop apprentice, as he sets out to restore time itself in a world enshrouded by eternal night. Shatter the shackles of time as you jump, swing, and slash through a vibrant clockpunk world, blending nostalgia with modern gameplay in this timeless love letter to action-platformer classics.
Embark on an unforgettable adventure as Zirian, a young workshop apprentice, as he sets out to restore time itself in a world enshrouded by eternal night. Shatter the shackles of time as you jump, swing, and slash through a vibrant clockpunk world, blending nostalgia with modern gameplay in this timeless love letter to action-platformer classics.
EA Sports Dives Deep into F1 25's Revamped My Team & Driver Career Modes
Introducing My Team 2.0: as mentioned as part of our Reveal, My Team is having its biggest overhaul since it was introduced in F1 2020. If you've played My Team in one of our previous F1 games, you'll be familiar with taking on the role of driver/owner, a single character that not only runs the day-to-day activities behind the scenes, but also jumps into the cockpit for the on-track action. For F1 25 however, we're shaking things up, as My Team 2.0 sees you take on a more authentic, management-focused role in that of a team owner.
In addition to handling day-to-day running of the critical facilities that make an F1 team tick such as Engineering, Personnel and Corporate, you'll be responsible for recruiting and managing a pair of drivers to represent your team. Then, during race weekends, you'll be given the choice as to which driver you'd like to take to the track. By managing the competing concerns of two drivers instead of just a single teammate, you'll discover what kind of owner you'd like to be. We believe this refreshed approach allows you to craft a My Team story that's unique to you, unlocking new avenues of decision-making for you to explore.
In addition to handling day-to-day running of the critical facilities that make an F1 team tick such as Engineering, Personnel and Corporate, you'll be responsible for recruiting and managing a pair of drivers to represent your team. Then, during race weekends, you'll be given the choice as to which driver you'd like to take to the track. By managing the competing concerns of two drivers instead of just a single teammate, you'll discover what kind of owner you'd like to be. We believe this refreshed approach allows you to craft a My Team story that's unique to you, unlocking new avenues of decision-making for you to explore.
GPUs Could be Exempt from Massive Trump Tariffs Through USMCA Assembly Loophole
High-performance GPUs manufactured in Taiwan could now enter the US market tariff-free through a technical loophole in the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), found by a research firm SemiAnalysis. Companies can route Taiwan-made GPUs through assembly facilities in Mexico and Canada, effectively circumventing the 32% import duty that would otherwise apply to direct shipments from Taiwan. The exemption hinges on a Most-Favored-Nation clause within the USMCA framework that specifically classifies digital processing units (HTS 8471.50), automatic data processing machine units (HTS 8471.80), and their associated components (HTS 8473.30) as "originating goods." This classification applies regardless of manufacturing origin, creating a duty-free pathway for NVIDIA HGX boards, GB200 baseboards, and RTX GPU cards that undergo final assembly in North American facilities.
The strategy capitalizes on two complementary policy mechanisms. First, President Trump's March 7 executive orders maintained existing USMCA exemptions, preserving the duty-free status for compliant goods from Canada and Mexico. Second, the USMCA's expanded definition of originating products creates a classification framework that treats assembled servers and related components as North American products despite their core manufacturing in Taiwan. For US technology firms, the additional logistical complexity of cross-border assembly operations is offset by eliminating substantial import duties on these high-value components. This practice mirrors established protocols in agricultural imports, where products like Mexican avocados gain preferential treatment under similar origin rules. The global supply chain is adapting quickly, especially in high-margin areas like GPUs, which power AI workloads. We are yet to see how companies set up manufacturing and logistics in the new era of tariff-driven narrative.
The strategy capitalizes on two complementary policy mechanisms. First, President Trump's March 7 executive orders maintained existing USMCA exemptions, preserving the duty-free status for compliant goods from Canada and Mexico. Second, the USMCA's expanded definition of originating products creates a classification framework that treats assembled servers and related components as North American products despite their core manufacturing in Taiwan. For US technology firms, the additional logistical complexity of cross-border assembly operations is offset by eliminating substantial import duties on these high-value components. This practice mirrors established protocols in agricultural imports, where products like Mexican avocados gain preferential treatment under similar origin rules. The global supply chain is adapting quickly, especially in high-margin areas like GPUs, which power AI workloads. We are yet to see how companies set up manufacturing and logistics in the new era of tariff-driven narrative.
AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT "Reference Design" Tinkered With & Tested, Max. VRAM Temp Reduced to 82 °C
AMD's Radeon RX 9070 XT and RX 9070 "MBA" graphics cards are no longer "best kept secrets"—as demonstrated recently by the "leaking out" of supposed reference models through black market/back alley channels in China. Late last month, a dual-fan non-XT specimen was snapped up by Chiphell forum member—alleged benchmark results were soon shared within that community. A few days later, a "Made-by-AMD" Radeon RX 9070 XT sample was dissected and compared to Sapphire's PULSE Radeon RX 9070 XT 16 GB SKU. An additional MBA XT example emerged last week, courtesy of another in-depth Chiphell thread. A "bored" enthusiast happened upon a 5499 RMB (~$748 USD) when idly browsing through Xianyu listings (Taobao's Ebay equivalent platform). Their buying experience was described as follows: "(I) found a 'public version' Radeon RX 9070 XT in Tianjin. It was said to be manufactured by (an) OEM, so I bought it without hesitation...I made an appointment to meet today and got it successfully. I don't have to wait for a graphics card anymore."
For unknown reasons, AMD decided to launch its first wave of RDNA 4 gaming graphics cards sans first-party designs. Leaked specimens have attracted much attention in China; with owners bragging about their respective ownerships of reasonably priced rarities. The latest back channel customer expressed satisfaction when inspecting Team Red's all-black flagship Navi 48 GPU-based solution: "after I got it, I have to say that it is not very heavy and is quite light. But the appearance is really what I like." After initial tests, they discovered that VRAM temperatures were not up to snuff—as alluded to (pre-launch) by other Chiphell figures. Their personal DIY improvements were described: "(I) took it apart to measure the thickness of the thermal grease pad. Everyone said the temperature of the video memory was high, so I decided to change to something better....(with) original silicone grease FurMark 2K resolution for 20 minutes: maximum core temperature was 62 degrees, maximum hot spot temperature was 84 degrees, maximum memory temperature was 88 degrees, maximum power was consumption 346 W."
For unknown reasons, AMD decided to launch its first wave of RDNA 4 gaming graphics cards sans first-party designs. Leaked specimens have attracted much attention in China; with owners bragging about their respective ownerships of reasonably priced rarities. The latest back channel customer expressed satisfaction when inspecting Team Red's all-black flagship Navi 48 GPU-based solution: "after I got it, I have to say that it is not very heavy and is quite light. But the appearance is really what I like." After initial tests, they discovered that VRAM temperatures were not up to snuff—as alluded to (pre-launch) by other Chiphell figures. Their personal DIY improvements were described: "(I) took it apart to measure the thickness of the thermal grease pad. Everyone said the temperature of the video memory was high, so I decided to change to something better....(with) original silicone grease FurMark 2K resolution for 20 minutes: maximum core temperature was 62 degrees, maximum hot spot temperature was 84 degrees, maximum memory temperature was 88 degrees, maximum power was consumption 346 W."
New AI Platform is Like if ChatGPT Could Run a Business
Running a business or launching a brand means wearing a lot of hats between designing visuals, writing content, managing engagement, and staying consistent across every channel. For entrepreneurs and small teams, that can quickly turn into a full-time job, but it's a lot easier with the right tool. AI Magicx gives you a streamlined way to manage it all.
This all-in-one platform is packed with AI-powered tools built to support entrepreneurs, creators, and small teams whether you're launching a business, building a presence, or looking for ways to automate the creative grind. AI Magicx also just dropped the price for a lifetime subscription from $972 down to $59.97.
Right now, an AI Magicx Lifetime Subscription is only $59.97.
This all-in-one platform is packed with AI-powered tools built to support entrepreneurs, creators, and small teams whether you're launching a business, building a presence, or looking for ways to automate the creative grind. AI Magicx also just dropped the price for a lifetime subscription from $972 down to $59.97.
PNY Intros PRO Elite High Endurance MicroSD Flash Memory Cards
PNY today introduced the PRO Elite High Endurance microSD Flash Memory Cards, engineered for demanding recording in surveillance systems, dash cams, body cams, and other video monitoring devices. Built to deliver continuous recording capabilities and long-lasting performance under extreme conditions, these microSD cards are ideal for users who demand reliability, speed, and security. Available now for purchase through pny.com or amazon.com, with other retailer availability coming soon.
Designed for Continuous Video Recording
With storage options ranging from 64 GB - 512 GB, PRO Elite High Endurance microSD cards are optimized for continuous video capture - supporting up to 137,600 hours (over 15 years of recording & re-recording) of Full HD footage. A step above standard microSD cards, PRO Elite High Endurance cards are equipped with high endurance technology to adapt and better withstand the wear-and-tear of frequent writing and rewriting, ensuring that critical video footage or data is always saved and accessible. Increased durability makes these microSDs the ultimate storage solution for any video surveillance system, from security cameras, to dashcams, body cameras, doorbell cameras and more!
Designed for Continuous Video Recording
With storage options ranging from 64 GB - 512 GB, PRO Elite High Endurance microSD cards are optimized for continuous video capture - supporting up to 137,600 hours (over 15 years of recording & re-recording) of Full HD footage. A step above standard microSD cards, PRO Elite High Endurance cards are equipped with high endurance technology to adapt and better withstand the wear-and-tear of frequent writing and rewriting, ensuring that critical video footage or data is always saved and accessible. Increased durability makes these microSDs the ultimate storage solution for any video surveillance system, from security cameras, to dashcams, body cameras, doorbell cameras and more!
MediaTek Unveils New Flagship Dimensity 9400+ Mobile Platform; with Enhanced AI Performance
MediaTek today announced the Dimensity 9400+ SoC, the latest addition to MediaTek's Dimensity flagship chipset family. Providing exceptional Generative and agentic AI capabilities as well as other performance enhancements, the Dimensity 9400+ supports the latest Large Language Models (LLM) while sustaining a super power-efficient design. The Dimensity 9400+ features an All Big Core design, integrating one Arm Cortex-X925 core operating up to 3.73 GHz, combined with 3x Cortex-X4 and 4x Cortex-A720 cores. This powerful configuration accelerates single and multithreaded performance for top-tier Android UX experiences.
"The MediaTek Dimensity 9400+ will make it easier to deliver innovative, personalized AI experiences on-device, combined with enhanced overall performance to ensure your device can handle all tasks with ease," said JC Hsu, Corporate Senior Vice President at MediaTek. "We are working closely with developers and manufacturers to continue building a robust ecosystem of AI applications and other features that will bring a number of speed and privacy benefits to consumers."
"The MediaTek Dimensity 9400+ will make it easier to deliver innovative, personalized AI experiences on-device, combined with enhanced overall performance to ensure your device can handle all tasks with ease," said JC Hsu, Corporate Senior Vice President at MediaTek. "We are working closely with developers and manufacturers to continue building a robust ecosystem of AI applications and other features that will bring a number of speed and privacy benefits to consumers."
ZOTAC Launches GeForce RTX 5080 & 5070 Ti Apocalypse Models in China
ZOTAC started teasing a refresh of its Apocalypse product line earlier in the year. Two months later, fairly concrete details of the (still) upcoming GeForce RTX 5080 16 GB variant emerged via the NVIDIA board partner's Weibo blog. Unfortunately, ZOTAC's ultra premium 3.5-slot thick/ARGB-lit behemoth design is expected to remain exclusive to the Chinese PC hardware market. Western hardcore gaming enthusiasts are best served by the manufacturer's alternative flagship triple-slotter: GeForce RTX 5080 AMP Extreme INFINITY ULTRA. ZOTAC's mainland China and Hong Kong offices have declared the arrival of brand-new Apocalypse SKUs at retail; utilizing NVIDIA's "Blackwell" GeForce RTX 5080 and RTX 5070 Ti GPUs.
Yesterday's Weibo bulletin commenced with: "when mecha aesthetics collide with technology, and gaming passion merges with extreme performance, the ZOTAC GeForce RTX 50 Apocalypse series graphics cards are born! After (our) continuous R&D, improvement, testing and adjustment—today, newly upgraded flagship graphics cards are officially launched!" The brand has advertised the return of an apparently much-missed product line mascot: "Apocalypse Princess is back with a new look, starting a game/AI exploration journey with you." Promotional imagery and box art feature a prominent illustration of ZOTAC's flagship series heroine—this "mecha artwork" demonstrates a serious sci-fi aesthetic, albeit with a cute female protagonist leading the way. A rival AIB specializes in this type of "marketing"—Yeston's similar-ish presentation language concentrates on enchanting fantasy characters.
Yesterday's Weibo bulletin commenced with: "when mecha aesthetics collide with technology, and gaming passion merges with extreme performance, the ZOTAC GeForce RTX 50 Apocalypse series graphics cards are born! After (our) continuous R&D, improvement, testing and adjustment—today, newly upgraded flagship graphics cards are officially launched!" The brand has advertised the return of an apparently much-missed product line mascot: "Apocalypse Princess is back with a new look, starting a game/AI exploration journey with you." Promotional imagery and box art feature a prominent illustration of ZOTAC's flagship series heroine—this "mecha artwork" demonstrates a serious sci-fi aesthetic, albeit with a cute female protagonist leading the way. A rival AIB specializes in this type of "marketing"—Yeston's similar-ish presentation language concentrates on enchanting fantasy characters.
Talos Principle: Reawakened Out Now, Croteam Delves into "Making a Remaster Matter" Discussion
Wow! The Talos Principle: Reawakened is out now on PC (Steam), Xbox Series X|S, and PlayStation 5. It's been an incredible journey to this point. One that we wanted to take for several years now, because we felt like The Talos Principle—even if it stands the test of time—deserves to become something more.
When we set out to create Reawakened, we asked ourselves: what would we like to see in a remastered game, if we were buying one? An updated version of the game, sure, but what else makes this kind of project exciting? Behind-the-scenes commentaries and the Puzzle Editor were one answer, but what about returning to the world and story of the game itself? What about more puzzles? Another story to join the main game and Road to Gehenna?
When we set out to create Reawakened, we asked ourselves: what would we like to see in a remastered game, if we were buying one? An updated version of the game, sure, but what else makes this kind of project exciting? Behind-the-scenes commentaries and the Puzzle Editor were one answer, but what about returning to the world and story of the game itself? What about more puzzles? Another story to join the main game and Road to Gehenna?
Steam Deck "Engineering Sample No. 34" Sold on Ebay for $2000 - Reportedly an AMD "Picasso" APU-powered Prototype
Not too long ago, Storm City Retro's Ebay store listed an unusual Steam Deck model—the original asking price was $2999.99, although potential buyers were allowed to bid with "best offers." The sales page was titled: "Early Valve Engineering 34 Prototype Steam Deck 256 GB, Tested, Please Read!" Gary_the_mememachine—a member of the Steam Deck subreddit—reported an eventual successful transaction, on April 8. The seller—a "primarily online" Kirkland, Washington-based retro video specialist—managed to attract a buyer; who apparently bagged "Engineering Sample No. 34" for a cool two thousand bucks. Given the presence of a sticker that states "not for resale," Valve is likely not enthused by the appearance of pre-commercial phase hardware via second hand channels. The company's Bellevue HQ is located not too far away from Storm City Retro's placement; both being in the Greater Seattle (Pacific NW) area. Kotaku reached out to its contacts at Valve, but a spokesperson has not provided a comment regarding the alleged leak of an AMD "Picasso" APU-powered engineering sample.
Handheld gaming device experts have analyzed saved screenshots and photos; prototype number 34 seems to of February 2020 vintage. It was compared to various "officially revealed" prototype units—as seen in an informative infographic. An exact match was not found in this compilation, but it is obvious that No. 34 differs greatly—externally and internally—when lined up against final retail models. In 2022, Pierre-Loup Griffais—one of the architects of SteamOS—provided some insight about a similar looking proto device: "the best part is that they (mostly) all still boot, serving as an exciting reminder of how far things have come since. This one has a Picasso APU, at about half of the GPU power of the final Deck. The flatter ergo was an interesting experiment and taught us a ton about comfort." The Steam Deck LCD model launched back in early 2022, with a custom 7 nm AMD Ryzen "Aerith" APU onboard—utilizing Zen 2 + processor cores and RDNA 2 graphics architecture. An OLED refresh arrived over a year later with a die shrink; now 6 nm. Team Red had kindly prepared a more efficient Ryzen "Sephiroth" mobile processor design.
Handheld gaming device experts have analyzed saved screenshots and photos; prototype number 34 seems to of February 2020 vintage. It was compared to various "officially revealed" prototype units—as seen in an informative infographic. An exact match was not found in this compilation, but it is obvious that No. 34 differs greatly—externally and internally—when lined up against final retail models. In 2022, Pierre-Loup Griffais—one of the architects of SteamOS—provided some insight about a similar looking proto device: "the best part is that they (mostly) all still boot, serving as an exciting reminder of how far things have come since. This one has a Picasso APU, at about half of the GPU power of the final Deck. The flatter ergo was an interesting experiment and taught us a ton about comfort." The Steam Deck LCD model launched back in early 2022, with a custom 7 nm AMD Ryzen "Aerith" APU onboard—utilizing Zen 2 + processor cores and RDNA 2 graphics architecture. An OLED refresh arrived over a year later with a die shrink; now 6 nm. Team Red had kindly prepared a more efficient Ryzen "Sephiroth" mobile processor design.
GeForce Now Library Updated with South of Midnight, Commandos: Origins, The Talos Principle: Reawakened & more...
Get ready to explore the Deep South. South of Midnight, the action-adventure game from Compulsion Games, launches today on GeForce NOW. Following last week's launch of Advanced Access in the cloud, GeForce NOW members can now pick up where they left off or dive into the adventure for the first time. It leads six games available in the cloud this week. Plus, catch the newest update from Epic Games' Fortnite and miHoYo's Honkai: Star Rail v3.2, just in time to celebrate the game's second anniversary.
Unleash the Magic
South of Midnight, a captivating third-person action-adventure game, is set against the backdrop of a Gothic fantasy version of the American Deep South. Step into the shoes of Hazel, a young woman who embarks on a journey to find her missing mother and discovers her unique abilities as a Weaver—a magical individual who can mend broken bonds and spirits. Throughout her quest, Hazel encounters intriguing mythical creatures inspired by Southern folklore, explores surreal landscapes and unravels deep family secrets.
Unleash the Magic
South of Midnight, a captivating third-person action-adventure game, is set against the backdrop of a Gothic fantasy version of the American Deep South. Step into the shoes of Hazel, a young woman who embarks on a journey to find her missing mother and discovers her unique abilities as a Weaver—a magical individual who can mend broken bonds and spirits. Throughout her quest, Hazel encounters intriguing mythical creatures inspired by Southern folklore, explores surreal landscapes and unravels deep family secrets.
AMD Pensando Pollara 400 AI NIC Now Available and Shipping to Customers
To effectively train and deploy generative AI, large language models, or agentic AI, it's crucial to build parallel computing infrastructure that offers the best performance to meet the demands of AI/ML workloads but also offers the kind of flexibility that the future of AI demands. A key aspect for consideration is the ability to scale-out the intra-node GPU-GPU communication network in the data center.
At AMD, we believe in preserving customer choice by providing customers with easily scalable solutions that work across an open ecosystem, reducing total cost of ownership—without sacrificing performance. Remaining true to that ethos, last October, we announced the upcoming release of the new AMD Pensando Pollara 400 AI NIC. Today we're excited to share the industry's first fully programmable AI NIC designed with developing Ultra Ethernet Consortium (UEC) standards and features is available for purchase now. So, how has the Pensando Pollara 400 AI NIC been uniquely designed to accelerate AI workloads at scale?
At AMD, we believe in preserving customer choice by providing customers with easily scalable solutions that work across an open ecosystem, reducing total cost of ownership—without sacrificing performance. Remaining true to that ethos, last October, we announced the upcoming release of the new AMD Pensando Pollara 400 AI NIC. Today we're excited to share the industry's first fully programmable AI NIC designed with developing Ultra Ethernet Consortium (UEC) standards and features is available for purchase now. So, how has the Pensando Pollara 400 AI NIC been uniquely designed to accelerate AI workloads at scale?
Endorfy Introduces New Arx 500 Core PC Case
ENDORFY introduces a new version of the popular and highly praised Arx 500 series PC case, known for its excellent airflow and spacious design. The more affordable ENDORFY Arx 500 Core is aimed at users who do not require four or five fans. This version combines ample space for components, efficient cooling, and the well-regarded design of the Arx 500 series to meet the needs of both gamers and professional users, as well as computer enthusiasts. The ENDORFY Arx 500 Core ensures compatibility with full-sized ATX motherboards, supports advanced cooling options, and features modern functionalities such as a high-speed USB-C port.
TWO STRATUS FANS - EFFICIENCY AND SILENCE
The ENDORFY Arx 500 Core is equipped with two Stratus 140 PWM fans, developed in collaboration with Synergy Cooling. Positioned at the front and rear, they ensure optimal airflow and quiet operation. The PWM control allows for precise speed adjustment, adapting the fan performance to the current needs of the system.
TWO STRATUS FANS - EFFICIENCY AND SILENCE
The ENDORFY Arx 500 Core is equipped with two Stratus 140 PWM fans, developed in collaboration with Synergy Cooling. Positioned at the front and rear, they ensure optimal airflow and quiet operation. The PWM control allows for precise speed adjustment, adapting the fan performance to the current needs of the system.
European Union Launches "AI Gigafactory" Initiative: Five Facilities with 100,000 AI Accelerators Each
Today, the European Commission unveiled its AI Continent Action Plan, establishing a framework to enhance the EU's artificial intelligence computing infrastructure. The plan centers on developing five "AI Gigafactories," each housing approximately 100,000 specialized AI accelerator chips, quadrupling the training throughput capacity of current infrastructure projects. The €20 billion commitment from the EU's InvestAI fund will finance data center construction and semiconductor procurement, supplementing the €10 billion allocated to thirteen smaller AI factories scheduled to become operational by 2026. Site selection remains pending, though Germany's incoming administration under Chancellor designate Friedrich Merz intends to secure a facility within German territory. The Action Plan addresses data infrastructure through Data Labs tasked with standardizing datasets from research institutions and industry partners.
An upcoming Data Union Strategy will establish protocols for cross-border information sharing, creating a unified market for AI-ready data resources across member states. With only 13.5 percent of EU enterprises currently using AI in production environments, the Commission will implement an "Apply AI" initiative focusing on deployment in strategic sectors. This program will utilize European Digital Innovation Hubs to provide implementation support. For talent development, the plan includes fellowship programs, visa pathways for specialized non-EU professionals, and an AI Skills Academy offering training in generative models and machine learning operations. An AI Act Service Desk will provide technical guidance on regulatory compliance. The AI arms race is currently being fought on the front between the US and China, where AI labs are acquiring more accelerators and outputting better models almost weekly. In the EU, the goal is to have AI development on par with the two superpowers, leading to more competition and advancements.
An upcoming Data Union Strategy will establish protocols for cross-border information sharing, creating a unified market for AI-ready data resources across member states. With only 13.5 percent of EU enterprises currently using AI in production environments, the Commission will implement an "Apply AI" initiative focusing on deployment in strategic sectors. This program will utilize European Digital Innovation Hubs to provide implementation support. For talent development, the plan includes fellowship programs, visa pathways for specialized non-EU professionals, and an AI Skills Academy offering training in generative models and machine learning operations. An AI Act Service Desk will provide technical guidance on regulatory compliance. The AI arms race is currently being fought on the front between the US and China, where AI labs are acquiring more accelerators and outputting better models almost weekly. In the EU, the goal is to have AI development on par with the two superpowers, leading to more competition and advancements.
Safe Superintelligence Inc. Uses Google TPUs Instead of Regular GPUs for Next-Generation Models
It seems like Google aims to grab a bit of the market share from NVIDIA and AMD by offering startups large compute deals and allowing them to train their massive AI models on the Google Cloud Platform (GCP). One such case is the OpenAI co-founder Ilya Sutskever's Safe Superintelligence Inc. (SSI) startup. According to a GCP post, SSI is "partnering with Google Cloud to use TPUs to accelerate its research and development efforts toward building a safe, superintelligent AI." Google's latest TPU v7p, codenamed Ironwood, was released yesterday. Carrying 4,614 TeraFLOPS of FP8 precision and 192 GB of HBM memory, these TPUs are interconnected using Google's custom ICI infrastructure and are scaled to configurations in pods of 9,216 chips, where Ironwood delivers 42.5 ExaFLOPS of total computing power.
For AI training, this massive power will allow AI models to quickly go over training, accelerating research iterations and ultimately accelerating model development. For SSI, the end goal is a simple mission: achieving ASI with safety at the front. "We approach safety and capabilities in tandem, as technical problems to be solved through revolutionary engineering and scientific breakthroughs. We plan to advance capabilities as fast as possible while making sure our safety always remains ahead," notes the SSI website, adding that "Our singular focus means no distraction by management overhead or product cycles, and our business model means safety, security, and progress are all insulated from short-term commercial pressures."
For AI training, this massive power will allow AI models to quickly go over training, accelerating research iterations and ultimately accelerating model development. For SSI, the end goal is a simple mission: achieving ASI with safety at the front. "We approach safety and capabilities in tandem, as technical problems to be solved through revolutionary engineering and scientific breakthroughs. We plan to advance capabilities as fast as possible while making sure our safety always remains ahead," notes the SSI website, adding that "Our singular focus means no distraction by management overhead or product cycles, and our business model means safety, security, and progress are all insulated from short-term commercial pressures."
BenQ Unveils New W5850 and W4100i Home Cinema Projectors
Today, BenQ, an internationally renowned innovator of digital lifestyle devices, today debuted the W5850 and W4100i home cinema projectors, redefining cinematic experiences with exclusive AI Cinema technology and next-generation Solid-State Illumination (SSI).
"As projection technology advances, consumers now seek versatile solutions for immersive, adaptable large-screen high-definition experiences that fit modern lifestyles," said Peter Huang, President of BenQ Corporation. "Upholding our commitment to bring directors' authentic colors to life and drive home cinema innovation, the new BenQ Home Cinema Series meets the diverse needs of home entertainment enthusiasts ranging from beginners to expert connoisseurs."
"As projection technology advances, consumers now seek versatile solutions for immersive, adaptable large-screen high-definition experiences that fit modern lifestyles," said Peter Huang, President of BenQ Corporation. "Upholding our commitment to bring directors' authentic colors to life and drive home cinema innovation, the new BenQ Home Cinema Series meets the diverse needs of home entertainment enthusiasts ranging from beginners to expert connoisseurs."
AMD Ryzen 8000HX "Dragon Range Refresh" Mobile Processors Official
AMD quietly updated its mobile processor lineup to introduce the Ryzen 8000HX line of high core-count processors, codenamed "Dragon Range Refresh." These first came to light earlier this week, when a ROG Strix laptop was launched based on a Ryzen 9 8940HX processor model. The "Dragon Range Refresh" is essentially identical to the Ryzen 7000HX "Dragon Range" series, with minor SKU-specific changes such as clock speeds. "Dragon Range" is basically the Ryzen 7000 "Raphael" multi-chip module in a mobile-friendly BGA package. It comes with one or two 5 nm "Zen 4" CCDs for CPU core counts up to 16, and a 6 nm client I/O die with a basic iGPU, but a powerful 28-lane PCIe Gen 5 I/O. These chips are targeted at gaming notebooks and mobile workstations where it's a given that they're paired with discrete GPUs.
The Ryzen 8000HX "Dragon Range Refresh" family consists of four models, the Ryzen 9 8945HX, the Ryzen 9 8940HX, the Ryzen 7 8840HX, and the Ryzen 7 8745HX. The 8945HX is a 16-core/32-thread part with a maximum boost frequency of 5.40 GHz—basically the same chip as the Ryzen 9 7945HX, but at a possibly lower price to notebook OEMs. The Ryzen 9 8940HX is also a 16-core/32-thread part, but with a touch lower clock speeds, with 5.30 GHz max boost. Both the 8845HX and 8840HX have a cTDP of 55 W. Next up, is the Ryzen 7 8840HX, a 12-core/24-thread part with identical specs to the Ryzen 7 7840HX and a maximum boost frequency of 5.10 GHz. The series ends with the Ryzen 7 8745HX, a single-CCD chip with 8-core/16-thread core-count; and 5.10 GHz maximum boost, or identical specs to the 7745HX.
The Ryzen 8000HX "Dragon Range Refresh" family consists of four models, the Ryzen 9 8945HX, the Ryzen 9 8940HX, the Ryzen 7 8840HX, and the Ryzen 7 8745HX. The 8945HX is a 16-core/32-thread part with a maximum boost frequency of 5.40 GHz—basically the same chip as the Ryzen 9 7945HX, but at a possibly lower price to notebook OEMs. The Ryzen 9 8940HX is also a 16-core/32-thread part, but with a touch lower clock speeds, with 5.30 GHz max boost. Both the 8845HX and 8840HX have a cTDP of 55 W. Next up, is the Ryzen 7 8840HX, a 12-core/24-thread part with identical specs to the Ryzen 7 7840HX and a maximum boost frequency of 5.10 GHz. The series ends with the Ryzen 7 8745HX, a single-CCD chip with 8-core/16-thread core-count; and 5.10 GHz maximum boost, or identical specs to the 7745HX.
Sharkoon Launches SKILLER SGH25 Gaming Headset
Stylish design, technically to the point, and always good to wear: The SKILLER SGH25 gaming headset features high-quality 50 mm drivers and easy control of the volume and microphone using the cable-integrated inline controller. And for optimal comfort, the fabric ear pads and an adjustable headband will always ensure a pleasant fit.
Whether for gaming or listening to music, the 50 mm drivers of the SKILLER SGH25 have been specially made for a clear and powerful audio. The SKILLER SGH25 is equipped with fabric ear pads for long-lasting comfort, no matter how heated the situation gets. The practical inline controller integrated into the cable of the SKILLER SGH25 allows easy volume and microphone control, even during the heat of the action.
Whether for gaming or listening to music, the 50 mm drivers of the SKILLER SGH25 have been specially made for a clear and powerful audio. The SKILLER SGH25 is equipped with fabric ear pads for long-lasting comfort, no matter how heated the situation gets. The practical inline controller integrated into the cable of the SKILLER SGH25 allows easy volume and microphone control, even during the heat of the action.
Wednesday, April 9th 2025
Today's Files
Today's Reviews
Desktop PC
Headphones
Keyboards
Memory
Monitors
Motherboards
PSUs
Sound Cards
Zotac GeForce RTX 5070 Ti Amp Extreme Review
The Zotac GeForce RTX 5070 Ti Amp Extreme is a factory overclocked custom-design model. It comes with excellent build quality, thanks to the quad-slot, triple-fan, all-metal cooling solution. Also included is a mesmerizing RGB effect and a dual BIOS with "quiet" mode.
ASRock Z890 Taichi OCF Review
The ASRock Z890 Taichi OCF is built for extreme overclockers and aspiring enthusiasts, with physical controls for precise tweaking. Also included are dual Thunderbolt 4 ports, Wi-Fi 7, and five M.2 SSD slots, with excellent cooling and tool-free operation.
Framework Laptop 12 Now Available for Pre-Order
Framework Laptop 12 pre-orders are now open, with first shipments in June! We're pricing Framework Laptop 12 as low as we can to bring the Framework mission to as many people as possible. DIY Edition starts at €569/£499/$719 CAD and is available in five colorways: Black, Gray, Lavender, Bubblegum, and Sage. If you prefer not to assemble your laptop, we also have pre-built options in Black in some keyboard languages, starting at €849/£749/$1,079 CAD. Pre-orders are open today in all countries we ship to, with the temporary exception of the US. We shared a blog post earlier today detailing how we're handling the impact of tariffs for US customers.
Framework Laptop 12 is a 12.2", 13th Gen Intel Core-powered notebook that is designed to last. We have robust compatibility with both Linux and Windows 11, i3 and i5 Intel Core processor options, support for up to 48 GB of DDR5 and 2 TB of storage, Wi-Fi 6E, an excellent full-size keyboard, a 50Wh battery, a bright 1920x1200 touchscreen, a 1080p webcam, and USB 3.2, DisplayPort, and power input on all four Expansion Card slots. You can check out the full specs on our website. Even though this product is small and fun, it's also a real computer!
Framework Laptop 12 is a 12.2", 13th Gen Intel Core-powered notebook that is designed to last. We have robust compatibility with both Linux and Windows 11, i3 and i5 Intel Core processor options, support for up to 48 GB of DDR5 and 2 TB of storage, Wi-Fi 6E, an excellent full-size keyboard, a 50Wh battery, a bright 1920x1200 touchscreen, a 1080p webcam, and USB 3.2, DisplayPort, and power input on all four Expansion Card slots. You can check out the full specs on our website. Even though this product is small and fun, it's also a real computer!
Various MSI GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 16 GB Graphics Card Model Names Leaked
A fresh leak suggests that MSI is "all in" with its upcoming rollout of GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 16 GB custom card lineup. Earlier today, I_Leak_VN uploaded a fuzzy list of nine unannounced models to social media. By some undisclosed means, the reliable Vietnamese tracker of inside info had acquired a pre-launch chart of VANGUARD, GAMING TRIO, INSPIRE, VENTUS and SHADOW options—mostly in factory overclocked forms. Late last week, GIGABYTE—another Taiwanese manufacturer—registered a wide variety of competing 16 GB VRAM-equipped offerings in South Korea. MSI's alleged card count is greater (9 vs. 7); having the advantage with four different VENTUS models.
Unlike its nearby rival, MSI has opted out of the AMD Radeon battle for this generation (RDNA 4). With full concentration on Team Green, the "Blackwell" GB206 GPU was seemingly deemed worthy of bearing the brand's premium VANGUARD cooling solution—as implied by a headlining position on I_Leak_VN's screenshot. Sitting at the bottom is MSI's barebones SHADOW 2X design; we do not know whether a new entrant will reuse the exact same dinky enclosure that is present on their GeForce RTX 5070 SHADOW 2X cards (standard and OC). Visual confirmation is expected to arrive next week; industry insiders believe that global retail stock will appear on April 16.
Unlike its nearby rival, MSI has opted out of the AMD Radeon battle for this generation (RDNA 4). With full concentration on Team Green, the "Blackwell" GB206 GPU was seemingly deemed worthy of bearing the brand's premium VANGUARD cooling solution—as implied by a headlining position on I_Leak_VN's screenshot. Sitting at the bottom is MSI's barebones SHADOW 2X design; we do not know whether a new entrant will reuse the exact same dinky enclosure that is present on their GeForce RTX 5070 SHADOW 2X cards (standard and OC). Visual confirmation is expected to arrive next week; industry insiders believe that global retail stock will appear on April 16.
Blue Prince's Lead Developer Explores Indie Project's Puzzle Mechanics
If you have ever found yourself in an unfamiliar room, staring at a closed door and wondering what lies beyond it, then you are already familiar with the mysterious driving force of Blue Prince. Will this door lead to a twisting passageway? A quiet bedroom? Or a grand ballroom? My name is Tonda Ros, an indie developer with a love for atmospheric games, and for the last eight years, I have been working on a game about a large manor and its many mysterious doors. Blue Prince was formed from big ideas from very different worlds. It has elements of mystery, strategy and discovery, merging the world of a first-person puzzle adventure with the drafting mechanics of a tabletop card game. It also launches April 10 as a day one PlayStation Plus Game Catalog title. Other launch platforms include: Xbox Series X/S and Windows PC (Steam).
But how exactly does the game work?
Floor plan drafting: when my own journey began almost a decade ago, I had one simple idea: "Every door is a choice." In a way, these five words sum up the entirety of Blue Prince. The estate of Mount Holly is not an ordinary house. This is a manor of shifting rooms and ever-changing expectations. And in this house, each door you open can lead to one of three different rooms. The choice is up to you. Do you want a storeroom to gain useful tools? A library to search for more clues? Or perhaps simply a long hallway, to grant yourself even more doors to continue your exploration? As you make your decision and open the door, you are instantly met with the room of your choosing.
But how exactly does the game work?
Floor plan drafting: when my own journey began almost a decade ago, I had one simple idea: "Every door is a choice." In a way, these five words sum up the entirety of Blue Prince. The estate of Mount Holly is not an ordinary house. This is a manor of shifting rooms and ever-changing expectations. And in this house, each door you open can lead to one of three different rooms. The choice is up to you. Do you want a storeroom to gain useful tools? A library to search for more clues? Or perhaps simply a long hallway, to grant yourself even more doors to continue your exploration? As you make your decision and open the door, you are instantly met with the room of your choosing.
Nintendo Confirms Delay of Switch 2 Pre-orders in Canada, June 5 Launch Remains Unchanged
Not too long after delivering its in-depth Switch 2 showcase, Nintendo of America and retail partners postponed pre-launch reservations for the forthcoming hybrid gaming console. An official announcement stated: "pre-orders for Nintendo Switch 2 in the U.S. will not start April 9, 2025 in order to assess the potential impact of tariffs and evolving market conditions. Nintendo will update timing at a later date. The launch date of June 5, 2025 is unchanged." The vast majority of industry watchdogs reckon that company will be assessing an adjustment of launch day product MSRPs. Last week's North American presentation outlined price points of $449.99 and $499.99; for a standard package and a Mario Kart World Pack (respectively). Theorized adjustments could extend to physical copies of games, as well as accessories; e.g. the Switch 2 Pro Controller.
Gamers further north—in the neighboring nation of Canada—were relieved about last week's alert being non-applicable to their market region. Up until yesterday, pre-orders were on track at CA$629.99 (base console) and CA$699.99 (with Mario Kart World). Unfortunately, the House of Mario's Canuck branch has confirmed that recent events have had a knock-on effect for local customers. As disclosed in a statement to MobileSyrup, Nintendo of Canada explained: "pre-orders for Nintendo Switch 2 in Canada will not start on April 9, 2025 in order to align with the timing of pre-orders to be determined in the U.S....Nintendo will provide updated information at a later date. The launch date of June 5, 2025 is unchanged." MobileSyrup's report was updated yesterday evening; with links to social media bulletins posted by the regional arms of Walmart and GameStop. Both retail outlets repeated Nintendo of Canada's disappointing message.
Gamers further north—in the neighboring nation of Canada—were relieved about last week's alert being non-applicable to their market region. Up until yesterday, pre-orders were on track at CA$629.99 (base console) and CA$699.99 (with Mario Kart World). Unfortunately, the House of Mario's Canuck branch has confirmed that recent events have had a knock-on effect for local customers. As disclosed in a statement to MobileSyrup, Nintendo of Canada explained: "pre-orders for Nintendo Switch 2 in Canada will not start on April 9, 2025 in order to align with the timing of pre-orders to be determined in the U.S....Nintendo will provide updated information at a later date. The launch date of June 5, 2025 is unchanged." MobileSyrup's report was updated yesterday evening; with links to social media bulletins posted by the regional arms of Walmart and GameStop. Both retail outlets repeated Nintendo of Canada's disappointing message.
Days Gone Remastered's Horde Assault Mode Previewed by Bend Studio
Days Gone Remastered comes to PlayStation 5 on April 25. Experience the definitive version of Days Gone with new modes, features, and technical enhancements to leverage the PS5 and PS5 Pro consoles. The new game modes including Horde Assault, Permadeath, and Speedrun—also arriving on PC; via the Broken Road DLC. Whether you're visiting Days Gone for the first time or jumping back on the Drifter bike, there's plenty of content to explore and new things to discover. If you haven't already, be sure to read our Days Gone Remastered announcement post for more details on all the new content and features. Introducing one of our most expansive new additions to Days Gone Remastered, Horde Assault—a survival arcade mode. Before we dive in, watch the gameplay trailer for the new mode below.
What is Horde Assault mode?
Horde Assault offers fresh and unexpected gameplay designed to challenge your skills as you try to achieve a high score, while surviving as long as possible against increased horde sizes and various other enemies, like Breakers, Reachers, and Rager bears, oh my! Fight your way through a brutal, ever-changing landscape where enemies escalate in difficulty the longer you survive. Horde Assault was built from the promise of "This World Comes For You," showcasing the core gameplay of the Days Gone open world in a unique way. Horde Assault is your playground for a truly endless game mode, go show them Freakers who's boss.
What is Horde Assault mode?
Horde Assault offers fresh and unexpected gameplay designed to challenge your skills as you try to achieve a high score, while surviving as long as possible against increased horde sizes and various other enemies, like Breakers, Reachers, and Rager bears, oh my! Fight your way through a brutal, ever-changing landscape where enemies escalate in difficulty the longer you survive. Horde Assault was built from the promise of "This World Comes For You," showcasing the core gameplay of the Days Gone open world in a unique way. Horde Assault is your playground for a truly endless game mode, go show them Freakers who's boss.
Multiple GIGABYTE Radeon RX 9060 XT 8/16 GB & GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 16 GB SKUs Registered in S. Korea
GIGABYTE has registered an (overall) impressive number of unannounced AMD Radeon RX 9060 XT and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 Ti custom models in South Korea. The early April filings were spotted by harukaze5719—evidence of this "official" leak was posted to social media this afternoon. The South Korean Radio Agency (RRA) registrations indicate an imminent arrival of cheaper offerings from the opposing teams—possibly within proximity of each other, time-wise. GIGABYTE's collection of forthcoming GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 16 GB SKUs includes AERO, AORUS ELITE, EAGLE, GAMING, and WINDFORCE options.
By comparison, their Radeon RX 9060 XT portfolio is looking thoroughly threadbare—with the registration of two RDNA 4 GAMING OC cards; sporting 16 GB and 8 GB VRAM configurations. As reported late last month, ASUS seems to have three budget-friendly Radeon product lines—DUAL, PRIME and TUF—in the pipeline. It is possible that another set of cards are in line for processing at the RRA. So far, GIGABYTE's custom GeForce RTX 5060 Ti SKU filings are all 16 GB variants. 8 GB cards could be stuck in a queue. NVIDIA's board partners are expected to launch the first wave of GB206 "Blackwell" GPU-based desktop gaming solutions next week; "adjusted" speculative price points were leaked a day or two ago.
By comparison, their Radeon RX 9060 XT portfolio is looking thoroughly threadbare—with the registration of two RDNA 4 GAMING OC cards; sporting 16 GB and 8 GB VRAM configurations. As reported late last month, ASUS seems to have three budget-friendly Radeon product lines—DUAL, PRIME and TUF—in the pipeline. It is possible that another set of cards are in line for processing at the RRA. So far, GIGABYTE's custom GeForce RTX 5060 Ti SKU filings are all 16 GB variants. 8 GB cards could be stuck in a queue. NVIDIA's board partners are expected to launch the first wave of GB206 "Blackwell" GPU-based desktop gaming solutions next week; "adjusted" speculative price points were leaked a day or two ago.
Lightmatter Unveils Six‑Chip Photonic AI Processor with Incredible Performance/Watt
Lightmatter has launched its latest photonic processor, representing a fundamental shift from traditional computing architectures. The new system integrates six chips into a single 3D packaged module, each containing photonic tensor cores and control dies that work in concert to accelerate AI workloads. Detailed in a recent Nature publication, the processor combines approximately 50 billion transistors with one million photonic components interconnected via high-speed optical links. The industry has faced numerous computing challenges as conventional scaling approaches plateau, with Moore's Law, Dennard scaling, and DRAM capacity doubling, all reaching physical limits per silicon area. Lightmatter's solution implements an adaptive block floating point (ABFP) format with analog gain control to overcome these barriers. During matrix operations, weights and activations are grouped into blocks sharing a single exponent determined by the most significant value, minimizing quantization errors.
The processor achieves 65.5 trillion 16-bit ABFP operations per second (sort of 16-bit TOPs) while consuming just 78 W of electrical power and 1.6 W of optical power. What sets this processor apart is its ability to run unmodified AI models with near FP32 accuracy. The system successfully executes full-scale models, including ResNet for image classification, BERT for natural language processing, and DeepMind's Atari reinforcement learning algorithms without specialized retraining or quantization-aware techniques. This represents the first commercially available photonic AI accelerator capable of running off-the-shelf models without fine-tuning. The processor's architecture fundamentally uses light for computation to address next-generation GPUs' prohibitive costs and energy demands. With native integration for popular AI frameworks like PyTorch and TensorFlow, Lightmatter hopes for immediate adoption in production environments.
The processor achieves 65.5 trillion 16-bit ABFP operations per second (sort of 16-bit TOPs) while consuming just 78 W of electrical power and 1.6 W of optical power. What sets this processor apart is its ability to run unmodified AI models with near FP32 accuracy. The system successfully executes full-scale models, including ResNet for image classification, BERT for natural language processing, and DeepMind's Atari reinforcement learning algorithms without specialized retraining or quantization-aware techniques. This represents the first commercially available photonic AI accelerator capable of running off-the-shelf models without fine-tuning. The processor's architecture fundamentally uses light for computation to address next-generation GPUs' prohibitive costs and energy demands. With native integration for popular AI frameworks like PyTorch and TensorFlow, Lightmatter hopes for immediate adoption in production environments.
Commandos: Origins is Out Now on PC & Consoles, Select Physical Editions Arriving Next Month
It's time to move out, soldiers. Commandos: Origins has been deployed! The latest installment in the legendary real-time stealth tactics series is available now with Xbox Game Pass for console and PC, and on Windows PC, Xbox Series X|S, and PlayStation 5. After years of hard work, dedication, and invaluable feedback from the community, the elite unit has returned to tell its origin story. "Mission accomplished," said Jürgen Reusswig, Studio Director at Claymore Game Studios. "With the release of Commandos: Origins, we're taking players back to where it all began, and let them experience firsthand how this special unit was formed and grew into the band of brothers we remember from the old games. Working on this legendary franchise has been a journey of passion, and now, we're very excited to let fans step into the boots of the six original Commandos. The adventure starts here, and we're eager for players to relive the origins of this legendary unit while further improving the game with the feedback of the community."
Commandos: Origins continues the legacy of the legendary real-time stealth tactics series. Step into the boots of the original Commandos squad, a group of highly skilled soldiers forged in the heat of battle during World War II. Thomas "the Sapper" Hancock is entrusted by the top military brass to assemble a team of fearless soldiers, the Commandos. In 14 missions, the game delves into their early engagements, highlighting the challenges they faced and the bond they formed as an elite fighting force. With tactical gameplay and strategic decisions, players guide the Commandos through perilous operations, each one shaping the foundation of what would become one of the most iconic military units in history. Prepare for a deep dive into the origins of a legendary squad.
Commandos: Origins continues the legacy of the legendary real-time stealth tactics series. Step into the boots of the original Commandos squad, a group of highly skilled soldiers forged in the heat of battle during World War II. Thomas "the Sapper" Hancock is entrusted by the top military brass to assemble a team of fearless soldiers, the Commandos. In 14 missions, the game delves into their early engagements, highlighting the challenges they faced and the bond they formed as an elite fighting force. With tactical gameplay and strategic decisions, players guide the Commandos through perilous operations, each one shaping the foundation of what would become one of the most iconic military units in history. Prepare for a deep dive into the origins of a legendary squad.
Apple "Vision Pro 2" Components Reportedly Being Mass Produced in China
Since its summer 2023 launch, Apple's pricey Vision Pro mixed reality headset has not exactly attracted a mainstream audience. Roughly a year later, rumors of a (then) recently canceled successor appeared online—insiders posited that company engineers had pivoted onto the development of a cheaper alternative model. Vision Pro "Version 1.0" arrived with an intimidating $3499 price tag; thus eliminating interest from a wide swath of potential AR/VR headset enthusiast customers. Industry insiders reckon that Apple had "abruptly reduced production" of the current-gen model last October, with further whispers suggesting a complete cessation of manufacturing activities by the end of 2024. Yesterday, an ITHome article cited compelling claims made by supply chain insiders—the initiation of mass production for a speculated second generation "Apple XR/Vision Pro" device.
The online report stated that: "multiple independent sources (have) confirmed that the panels, shells and other key components of the second-generation Apple XR headset are already in production." Very specific leaked information indicates Lens Technology being the exclusive supplier of glass panel pieces, and Changying Precision tasked with the making of the next-gen model's casing. Additionally, several contract circuit manufacturers are supposedly "rushing to complete orders." Secretive figures posit that Apple will release its sequel mixed reality headset later on in 2025. Differing "expert opinions" have not determined whether this incoming set of fancy goggles will be the predicted "cheaper" model, or a proper "M5 SoC-powered" successor.
The online report stated that: "multiple independent sources (have) confirmed that the panels, shells and other key components of the second-generation Apple XR headset are already in production." Very specific leaked information indicates Lens Technology being the exclusive supplier of glass panel pieces, and Changying Precision tasked with the making of the next-gen model's casing. Additionally, several contract circuit manufacturers are supposedly "rushing to complete orders." Secretive figures posit that Apple will release its sequel mixed reality headset later on in 2025. Differing "expert opinions" have not determined whether this incoming set of fancy goggles will be the predicted "cheaper" model, or a proper "M5 SoC-powered" successor.
NVIDIA Will Bring Agentic AI Reasoning to Enterprises with Google Cloud
NVIDIA is collaborating with Google Cloud to bring agentic AI to enterprises seeking to locally harness the Google Gemini family of AI models using the NVIDIA Blackwell HGX and DGX platforms and NVIDIA Confidential Computing for data safety. With the NVIDIA Blackwell platform on Google Distributed Cloud, on-premises data centers can stay aligned with regulatory requirements and data sovereignty laws by locking down access to sensitive information, such as patient records, financial transactions and classified government information. NVIDIA Confidential Computing also secures sensitive code in the Gemini models from unauthorized access and data leaks.
"By bringing our Gemini models on premises with NVIDIA Blackwell's breakthrough performance and confidential computing capabilities, we're enabling enterprises to unlock the full potential of agentic AI," said Sachin Gupta, vice president and general manager of infrastructure and solutions at Google Cloud. "This collaboration helps ensure customers can innovate securely without compromising on performance or operational ease." Confidential computing with NVIDIA Blackwell provides enterprises with the technical assurance that their user prompts to the Gemini models' application programming interface—as well as the data they used for fine-tuning—remain secure and cannot be viewed or modified. At the same time, model owners can protect against unauthorized access or tampering, providing dual-layer protection that enables enterprises to innovate with Gemini models while maintaining data privacy.
"By bringing our Gemini models on premises with NVIDIA Blackwell's breakthrough performance and confidential computing capabilities, we're enabling enterprises to unlock the full potential of agentic AI," said Sachin Gupta, vice president and general manager of infrastructure and solutions at Google Cloud. "This collaboration helps ensure customers can innovate securely without compromising on performance or operational ease." Confidential computing with NVIDIA Blackwell provides enterprises with the technical assurance that their user prompts to the Gemini models' application programming interface—as well as the data they used for fine-tuning—remain secure and cannot be viewed or modified. At the same time, model owners can protect against unauthorized access or tampering, providing dual-layer protection that enables enterprises to innovate with Gemini models while maintaining data privacy.
Insider Report Suggests Start of 1 nm Chip Development at Samsung, Alleged 2029 Mass Production Phase Targeted
Samsung's foundry business seems to be busying itself with the rumored refinement of a 2 nm GAA (SF2) manufacturing node process—for possible mass production by the end of 2025, but company leadership will very likely be considering longer term goals. Mid-way through last month, industry moles posited that the megacorporation's semiconductor branch was questioning the future of a further out 1.4 nm (SF1.4) production line. Officially published roadmaps have this advanced technology rolling out by 2027. Despite present day "turmoil," insiders believe that a new team has been established—tasked with the creation of a so-called "dream semiconductor process." According to a fresh Sedaily news article, this fledgling department has started development of a 1 nm foundry process.
Anonymous sources claim that Samsung executives are keeping a watchful eye on a main competitor—as stated in the latest South Korean report: "there is a realistic gap with Taiwan's TSMC in technologies that are close to mass production, such as the 2 nm process, the company plans to speed up the development of the 1 nm process, a future technology, to create an opportunity for a turnaround." A portion of the alleged "1 nm development chip team" reportedly consists of veteran researchers from prior-gen projects. Semiconductor industry watchdogs theorize that a canceled SF1.4 line could be replaced by an even more advanced process. Sedaily outlined necessary hardware upgrades: "the 1.0 nanometer process requires a new technology concept that breaks the mold of existing designs as well as the introduction of next-generation equipment such as high-NA EUV exposure equipment. The company is targeting mass production after 2029." Samsung's current Advanced Technology Roadmap does not extend beyond 2027—inside sources claim that the decision to roll with 1.0 nm was made at some point last month.
Anonymous sources claim that Samsung executives are keeping a watchful eye on a main competitor—as stated in the latest South Korean report: "there is a realistic gap with Taiwan's TSMC in technologies that are close to mass production, such as the 2 nm process, the company plans to speed up the development of the 1 nm process, a future technology, to create an opportunity for a turnaround." A portion of the alleged "1 nm development chip team" reportedly consists of veteran researchers from prior-gen projects. Semiconductor industry watchdogs theorize that a canceled SF1.4 line could be replaced by an even more advanced process. Sedaily outlined necessary hardware upgrades: "the 1.0 nanometer process requires a new technology concept that breaks the mold of existing designs as well as the introduction of next-generation equipment such as high-NA EUV exposure equipment. The company is targeting mass production after 2029." Samsung's current Advanced Technology Roadmap does not extend beyond 2027—inside sources claim that the decision to roll with 1.0 nm was made at some point last month.
Google Unveils Seventh-Generation AI Processor: Ironwood
Google has rolled out its seventh-generation AI chip, Ironwood, which aims to boost AI application performance. This processor focuses on "inference" computing—the quick calculations needed for chatbot answers and other AI outputs. Ironwood stands as one of the few real options to NVIDIA's leading AI processors coming from Google's ten-year multi-billion-dollar push to develop it. These tensor processing units (TPUs) are exclusively available through Google's cloud service or to its internal engineers.
According to Google Vice President Amin Vahdat, Ironwood combines functions from previously separate designs while increasing memory capacity. The chip can operate in groups of up to 9,216 processors and delivers twice the performance-per-energy ratio compared to last year's Trillium chip. When configured in pods of 9,216 chips, Ironwood delivers 42.5 Exaflops of computing power. This is more than 24 times the computational capacity of El Capitan, currently the world's largest supercomputer, which provides only 1.7 Exaflops per pod.
According to Google Vice President Amin Vahdat, Ironwood combines functions from previously separate designs while increasing memory capacity. The chip can operate in groups of up to 9,216 processors and delivers twice the performance-per-energy ratio compared to last year's Trillium chip. When configured in pods of 9,216 chips, Ironwood delivers 42.5 Exaflops of computing power. This is more than 24 times the computational capacity of El Capitan, currently the world's largest supercomputer, which provides only 1.7 Exaflops per pod.
Xbox Games Showcase 2025 & Outer Worlds 2 Direct Announced - Livestreaming on June 8
Make some space on your calendar—the Xbox Games Showcase 2025 will be livestreamed on Sunday, June 8, starting at 10am Pacific / 1pm Eastern / 6pm UK time. Following in the footsteps of the 2023 Starfield Direct and 2024 Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 Direct, this year we will again have a double feature, with the Xbox Games Showcase immediately followed by The Outer Worlds 2 Direct. It all begins with our annual Xbox Games Showcase, bringing you a look at upcoming titles from across our first-party studios, in addition to incredible new titles from our third-party partners across the globe.
This year, the show will be digital-only—our livestream will bring you everything you'll need to know about what's next for Xbox, no matter where in the world you're watching. Immediately following Showcase, The Outer Worlds 2 Direct will bring you inside the walls of Obsidian Entertainment, revealing new gameplay, details, and developer insights, straight from the people making the sequel to the award-winning, first-person sci-fi RPG.
This year, the show will be digital-only—our livestream will bring you everything you'll need to know about what's next for Xbox, no matter where in the world you're watching. Immediately following Showcase, The Outer Worlds 2 Direct will bring you inside the walls of Obsidian Entertainment, revealing new gameplay, details, and developer insights, straight from the people making the sequel to the award-winning, first-person sci-fi RPG.
Yeston Launches GeForce RTX 50 Deluxe Graphics Card Range, No "Waifu" Content Included
Over the past couple of months, Yeston has attracted plenty of media attention—in particular, with its recently launched Sakura Atlantis card design. The Chinese manufacturer produces custom AMD and NVIDIA gaming graphics cards—for its native market—but their unique Radeon RX 9070 Series offerings have made the most noise around the globe. Yeston did unveil GeForce RTX 50 Series Sakura and Game Ace designs around mid-January, but this announcement did not describe the exact nature of upcoming SKUs. As reported by VideoCardz earlier today, the company has distributed "new" GeForce RTX 5080, RTX 5070 Ti, and RTX 5070 models in China—e-tail listings have appeared on JD.com. Their rollout of rather sober looking affairs will disappoint many "waifu" illustration and bright color palette enthusiasts.
Yeston's Deluxe lineup was swiftly identified as a somewhat lazy rebadging of Gainward's GeForce RTX 50 Series Phoenix design. TechPowerUp's W1zzard reviewed the latter's GeForce RTX 5080 Phoenix GS model, just over two months ago. VideoCardz noted that Yeston has a short history of rebranding Gainward products; going back to an almost identical strategy with GeForce RTX 40 "Ada Lovelace" options (Phoenix => Deluxe). Three fan stickers differentiate the board partner brands—everything else is identical; including prominent "Phoenix" text on backplates and on top-mounted ARGB lighting zones. Yeston started to tease its new-gen Deluxe lineup around mid-February; as seen on their Weibo channel. At the time, this official account asked: "is this the card you've been waiting for?" We suspect that the majority of potential customers are preparing credit cards for the purchase of more elaborate options, in the near future.
Yeston's Deluxe lineup was swiftly identified as a somewhat lazy rebadging of Gainward's GeForce RTX 50 Series Phoenix design. TechPowerUp's W1zzard reviewed the latter's GeForce RTX 5080 Phoenix GS model, just over two months ago. VideoCardz noted that Yeston has a short history of rebranding Gainward products; going back to an almost identical strategy with GeForce RTX 40 "Ada Lovelace" options (Phoenix => Deluxe). Three fan stickers differentiate the board partner brands—everything else is identical; including prominent "Phoenix" text on backplates and on top-mounted ARGB lighting zones. Yeston started to tease its new-gen Deluxe lineup around mid-February; as seen on their Weibo channel. At the time, this official account asked: "is this the card you've been waiting for?" We suspect that the majority of potential customers are preparing credit cards for the purchase of more elaborate options, in the near future.
5th Gen AMD EPYC Processors Deliver Leadership Performance for Google Cloud C4D and H4D Virtual Machines
Today, AMD announced the new Google Cloud C4D and H4D virtual machines (VMs) are powered by 5th Gen AMD EPYC processors. The latest additions to Google Cloud's general-purpose and HPC-optimized VMs deliver leadership performance, scalability, and efficiency for demanding cloud workloads; for everything from data analytics and web serving to high-performance computing (HPC) and AI.
Google Cloud C4D instances deliver impressive performance, efficiency, and consistency for general-purpose computing workloads and AI inference. Based on Google Cloud's testing, leveraging the advancements of the AMD "Zen 5" architecture allowed C4D to deliver up to 80% higher throughput/vCPU compared to previous generations. H4D instances, optimized for HPC workloads, feature AMD EPYC CPUs with Cloud RDMA for efficient scaling of up to tens of thousands of cores.
Google Cloud C4D instances deliver impressive performance, efficiency, and consistency for general-purpose computing workloads and AI inference. Based on Google Cloud's testing, leveraging the advancements of the AMD "Zen 5" architecture allowed C4D to deliver up to 80% higher throughput/vCPU compared to previous generations. H4D instances, optimized for HPC workloads, feature AMD EPYC CPUs with Cloud RDMA for efficient scaling of up to tens of thousands of cores.
NVIDIA Confirms Verified Priority Access Program for GeForce RTX 50 Series is Alive
NVIDIA has confirmed that its Verified Priority Access (VPA) program for the GeForce RTX 50 Series remains active following its initial announcement two months ago. The program allows a limited number of US-based GeForce account holders to purchase RTX 5090 and RTX 5080 Founders Edition cards directly from the NVIDIA Marketplace. The VPA scheme was introduced three weeks after the RTX 50 Series launch to address supply shortages and high reseller prices. Initially, two months ago, users with NVIDIA Accounts created on or before January 30, 2025, at 6 AM Pacific Time, could register their interest through an online form. Invitations would have been emailed to qualifying account holders, with the first notifications scheduled for next week.
This pilot program applies only to US GeForce users and is limited to the RTX 5090, RTX 5080, and RTX 5070 Founders Edition cards. The recently released RTX 5070 Ti is not included and must be purchased through AIB partner custom designs. NVIDIA has not disclosed how many priority access slots are available or whether the program will expand internationally. All we know is that an NVIDIA representative on Reddit posted, "VPA for the GeForce RTX 50 series Founders Edition graphics cards has not ended," responding to an alleged VPA program rumor that it has ended. If the US pilot is successful, the company may consider adding more markets and product lines. Eligible users should watch their inboxes for an invitation to buy at the original MSRP.
This pilot program applies only to US GeForce users and is limited to the RTX 5090, RTX 5080, and RTX 5070 Founders Edition cards. The recently released RTX 5070 Ti is not included and must be purchased through AIB partner custom designs. NVIDIA has not disclosed how many priority access slots are available or whether the program will expand internationally. All we know is that an NVIDIA representative on Reddit posted, "VPA for the GeForce RTX 50 series Founders Edition graphics cards has not ended," responding to an alleged VPA program rumor that it has ended. If the US pilot is successful, the company may consider adding more markets and product lines. Eligible users should watch their inboxes for an invitation to buy at the original MSRP.
Matrix Games Announces Steam Launch of Armored Brigade II
Armored Brigade II has released on Steam. Since our Matrix release in November, we have been very busy working on Armored Brigade II. Finland received some major attention with the addition of new 3-D models of the StuG III, Charioteer, Comet, and XA-180. We have also added unique West German infantry formations like Gebirgsjägers, Fallschirmjägers, Aufklärungstruppes, and Pionieres. With the addition of FXAA and night-vision effects, Armored Brigade II is also looking better than ever.
Armored Brigade II revolutionizes real-time tactical warfare in 3D, focusing on the intense combined arms combat of the Cold War era, from 1965 to 1991. Boasting a meticulously researched database and huge real-world terrain maps, this game offers an unparalleled combat simulation experience. Building on the success of its acclaimed predecessor, Armored Brigade II elevates the wargaming experience by skillfully blending accessibility with tactical depth—all within a new, more immersive 3D graphic landscape. This finely-tuned balance makes it an ideal choice for both newcomers and veterans of military wargames. Engage in a simulator that offers both plausibleplausable real-time and turn-based gameplay, where every decision counts. Authentic, detailed gameplay captivates players of all levels, immersing them in a world where strategy and realism converge.
Armored Brigade II revolutionizes real-time tactical warfare in 3D, focusing on the intense combined arms combat of the Cold War era, from 1965 to 1991. Boasting a meticulously researched database and huge real-world terrain maps, this game offers an unparalleled combat simulation experience. Building on the success of its acclaimed predecessor, Armored Brigade II elevates the wargaming experience by skillfully blending accessibility with tactical depth—all within a new, more immersive 3D graphic landscape. This finely-tuned balance makes it an ideal choice for both newcomers and veterans of military wargames. Engage in a simulator that offers both plausibleplausable real-time and turn-based gameplay, where every decision counts. Authentic, detailed gameplay captivates players of all levels, immersing them in a world where strategy and realism converge.
AMD Announces Advancing AI 2025
Today, AMD (NASDAQ: AMD) announced "Advancing AI 2025," an in-person and livestreamed event on June 12, 2025. The industry event will showcase the company's bold vision for AI, announce the next generation of AMD Instinct GPUs, AMD ROCm open software ecosystem progress, and reveal details on AI solutions for hyperscalers, enterprises, developers, startups and more. AMD executives and AI ecosystem partners, customers and developers will join Chair and CEO Dr. Lisa Su to discuss how AMD products and software are re-shaping the AI and high-performance computing landscape. The live stream will start at 9:30 a.m. PT on Thursday, June 12.
Samsung and Google Cloud Expand Partnership, Bring Gemini to Ballie, a Home AI Companion Robot by Samsung
Samsung Electronics and Google Cloud today announced an expanded partnership to bring Google Cloud's generative AI technology to Ballie, a new home AI companion robot from Samsung. Available to consumers this Summer, Ballie will be able to engage in natural, conversational interactions to help users manage home environments, including adjusting lighting, greeting people at the door, personalizing schedules, setting reminders and more.
"Through this partnership, Samsung and Google Cloud are redefining the role of AI in the home," said Yongjae Kim, Executive Vice President of the Visual Display Business at Samsung Electronics. "By pairing Gemini's powerful multimodal reasoning with Samsung's AI capabilities in Ballie, we're leveraging the power of open collaboration to unlock a new era of personalized AI companion—one that moves with users, anticipates their needs and interacts in more dynamic and meaningful ways than ever before."
"Through this partnership, Samsung and Google Cloud are redefining the role of AI in the home," said Yongjae Kim, Executive Vice President of the Visual Display Business at Samsung Electronics. "By pairing Gemini's powerful multimodal reasoning with Samsung's AI capabilities in Ballie, we're leveraging the power of open collaboration to unlock a new era of personalized AI companion—one that moves with users, anticipates their needs and interacts in more dynamic and meaningful ways than ever before."
AOC Unveils Two New GAMING G4 Series Monitors, 34-inch 240 Hz Curved CU34G4Z and 24.5-inch 300 Hz 25G4SXU
AGON by AOC - world's leading gaming monitor brand - elevates performance-to-price expectations with two new G4 displays: the AOC GAMING CU34G4Z, a curved 34-inch (86.4 cm) ultrawide monitor with an impressive 240 Hz refresh rate, and the AOC GAMING 25G4SXU, a 24.5-inch (62.2 cm) esports-focussed screen featuring a lightning-fast 300 Hz panel (overclockable to 310 Hz). These new models deliver the high refresh rate advantage that competitive gamers demand, without the premium price tag typically associated with such performance.
Ultrawide meets ultra-fast: beyond the racing line
The CU34G4Z elevates gaming across multiple genres with its 34-inch curved (1500R) VA panel, UWQHD resolution (3440x1440), and exhilarating 240 Hz refresh rate. The expansive 21:9 aspect ratio provides significant advantages in various gaming scenarios - from the increased peripheral vision benefits in racing and flight simulators to the strategic overview in RTS and MOBA titles, and the cinematic immersion in open-world adventures. The high refresh rate ensures smooth motion in all fast-paced content, while response times of up to 1 ms GtG and 0.3 ms MPRT using Motion Blur Reduction mode maintain exceptional clarity during rapid on-screen movement.
Ultrawide meets ultra-fast: beyond the racing line
The CU34G4Z elevates gaming across multiple genres with its 34-inch curved (1500R) VA panel, UWQHD resolution (3440x1440), and exhilarating 240 Hz refresh rate. The expansive 21:9 aspect ratio provides significant advantages in various gaming scenarios - from the increased peripheral vision benefits in racing and flight simulators to the strategic overview in RTS and MOBA titles, and the cinematic immersion in open-world adventures. The high refresh rate ensures smooth motion in all fast-paced content, while response times of up to 1 ms GtG and 0.3 ms MPRT using Motion Blur Reduction mode maintain exceptional clarity during rapid on-screen movement.
Infortrend Announces Parallel File Storage EonStor GSx to Accelerate HPC and AI Workloads
Infortrend Technology, Inc., the industry-leading enterprise storage provider, today announced the launch of the groundbreaking EonStor GSx parallel file storage family. Designed to provide high-performance parallel file access and exceptional scalability, EonStor GSx is ideal for demanding AI and HPC applications where rapid access to data is crucial.
EonStor GSx is a high-performance storage solution facilitating parallel file access in IT environments that require processing sheer volumes of data. A single GSx appliance delivers up to 43 GB/s, while a cluster of 10 GSx units achieves nearly 10 times that performance, effectively eliminating the bottlenecks encountered with a single storage appliance. In a conventional parallel file system architecture, which usually includes dedicated metadata servers and multiple I/O nodes, rack space demand in the data center can be substantial. EonStor GSx provides a solution that eliminates the need for this additional hardware, effectively addressing space limitations for enterprises.
EonStor GSx is a high-performance storage solution facilitating parallel file access in IT environments that require processing sheer volumes of data. A single GSx appliance delivers up to 43 GB/s, while a cluster of 10 GSx units achieves nearly 10 times that performance, effectively eliminating the bottlenecks encountered with a single storage appliance. In a conventional parallel file system architecture, which usually includes dedicated metadata servers and multiple I/O nodes, rack space demand in the data center can be substantial. EonStor GSx provides a solution that eliminates the need for this additional hardware, effectively addressing space limitations for enterprises.
Biostar Introduces MX-X7433RE Industrial PC
BIOSTAR, a leading manufacturer of IPC solutions, motherboards, graphics cards, and PC peripherals, today unveils the MS-X7433RE, a compact, high-performance embedded system purpose-built for modern kiosk applications and edge computing environments. Powered by the Intel Amston Lake X7433RE processor, the MS-X7433RE delivers efficient performance with its quad-core architecture, reaching speeds up to 3.4 GHz while maintaining a low TDP of just 9 W. Integrated Intel UHD Graphics drives both HDMI 2.0 and DisplayPort 1.4++ outputs, making it an excellent choice for digital displays, payment machines, and access control systems.
Designed for system integrators and developers, the MS-X7433RE combines reliable hardware with flexible expansion options. It supports up to 16 GB of DDR5 4800 MHz memory and includes a SATA III port alongside an M.2 Key-M slot, enabling both traditional and high-speed NVMe storage. A Mini-PCIe slot and M.2 Key-B interface with support for 4G/5G modules make it easy to tailor the system for wireless connectivity and real-time data processing unlocking superior edge computing capability.
Designed for system integrators and developers, the MS-X7433RE combines reliable hardware with flexible expansion options. It supports up to 16 GB of DDR5 4800 MHz memory and includes a SATA III port alongside an M.2 Key-M slot, enabling both traditional and high-speed NVMe storage. A Mini-PCIe slot and M.2 Key-B interface with support for 4G/5G modules make it easy to tailor the system for wireless connectivity and real-time data processing unlocking superior edge computing capability.
Simply NUC Unveils the NUC 15 Pro Cyber Canyon
Simply NUC, a global leader in customized computing solutions, proudly adds ASUS's NUC 15 Pro Cyber Canyon to its product lineup, setting a new benchmark for AI-optimized performance in a compact form factor. Engineered with Intel Core Ultra Series 2 processors and Intel Arc Graphics, the Cyber Canyon is designed to accelerate AI workloads, empower edge computing, and deliver seamless business productivity.
"The NUC 15 Pro Cyber Canyon is not just a step forward—it's a leap into the future of AI computing," said Ed Barkhuysen, VP of Product at Simply NUC. "With the latest Intel Core Ultra processors, Wi-Fi 7 connectivity, and cutting-edge security, Cyber Canyon is built for professionals and businesses looking for a powerful yet compact computing solution."
"The NUC 15 Pro Cyber Canyon is not just a step forward—it's a leap into the future of AI computing," said Ed Barkhuysen, VP of Product at Simply NUC. "With the latest Intel Core Ultra processors, Wi-Fi 7 connectivity, and cutting-edge security, Cyber Canyon is built for professionals and businesses looking for a powerful yet compact computing solution."
ViewSonic New M1 Max Brings 360-degree Portable Projection with Built-in Google TV
ViewSonic Corp., a leading global provider of visual solutions, today unveiled the M1 Max smart portable LED projector, the latest addition to its iF Design Award-winning M1 Series, recognized for its innovative 360-degree 3-in-1 stand. Designed for modern adventurers and entertainment enthusiasts, this palm-sized projector transforms any space into a cinematic oasis with built-in Google TV, vibrant Full HD 1080p visuals, and powerful Harman Kardon audio, all in an ultra-portable, sleek design.
"At ViewSonic, we are committed to redefining entertainment through user-centric innovations, creating solutions that seamlessly blend technology with contemporary lifestyles," said Dean Tsai, General Manager of Projector & LED Display Business Unit at ViewSonic. "The M1 Max embodies this vision by integrating premium audiovisual performance, effortless streaming, and a minimalist design into an ultra-portable device. We strive to empower users to break free from traditional setups and enjoy a versatile big-screen experience wherever life takes them."
"At ViewSonic, we are committed to redefining entertainment through user-centric innovations, creating solutions that seamlessly blend technology with contemporary lifestyles," said Dean Tsai, General Manager of Projector & LED Display Business Unit at ViewSonic. "The M1 Max embodies this vision by integrating premium audiovisual performance, effortless streaming, and a minimalist design into an ultra-portable device. We strive to empower users to break free from traditional setups and enjoy a versatile big-screen experience wherever life takes them."
TSMC Faces $1 Billion Fine from US Government Over Shipments to Huawei
TSMC is confronting a potential $1 billion-plus penalty from the US Commerce Department after inadvertently fabricating compute chiplets later integrated into Huawei's Ascend 910 AI processor. The fine, potentially reaching twice the value of unauthorized shipments, reflects the scale of components that circumvented export controls limiting Chinese access to advanced semiconductor technology. The regulatory breach originated in late 2023 when TSMC processed orders from Sophgo, a design partner of crypto-mining firm Bitmain. These chiplets, which are manufactured on advanced process nodes and contain tens of billions of transistors, were identified in TechInsights teardown analysis of Huawei Ascend 910 AI accelerator, revealing a supply chain vulnerability where TSMC lacked visibility into the components' end-use.
Upon discovery of the diversion, TSMC immediately halted Sophgo shipments and engaged in discussions with Commerce Department officials. By January, Sophgo had been added to the Entity List, limiting its access to US semiconductor technology. A Center for Strategic and International Studies report revealed that Huawei obtained approximately two million Ascend 910B logic dies through shell companies that misled TSMC. Huawei's preference for TSMC-made dies was due to manufacturing challenges in domestic chip production. This incident has forced TSMC to strengthen its customer vetting protocols, including terminating its relationship with Singapore-based PowerAIR following internal compliance reviews. The enforcement process typically begins with a proposed charging letter detailing violations and penalty calculations, followed by a 30-day response period. As Washington tightens restrictions on AI processor exports to Chinese entities, semiconductor manufacturers are under increased pressure to implement rigorous controls throughout multinational supply chains.
Upon discovery of the diversion, TSMC immediately halted Sophgo shipments and engaged in discussions with Commerce Department officials. By January, Sophgo had been added to the Entity List, limiting its access to US semiconductor technology. A Center for Strategic and International Studies report revealed that Huawei obtained approximately two million Ascend 910B logic dies through shell companies that misled TSMC. Huawei's preference for TSMC-made dies was due to manufacturing challenges in domestic chip production. This incident has forced TSMC to strengthen its customer vetting protocols, including terminating its relationship with Singapore-based PowerAIR following internal compliance reviews. The enforcement process typically begins with a proposed charging letter detailing violations and penalty calculations, followed by a 30-day response period. As Washington tightens restrictions on AI processor exports to Chinese entities, semiconductor manufacturers are under increased pressure to implement rigorous controls throughout multinational supply chains.
NVIDIA Sends MSRP Numbers to Partners: GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 8 GB at $379, RTX 5060 Ti 16 GB at $429
Next week's planned launch of NVIDIA's GeForce RTX 5060 Ti series brings two SKUs differentiated by memory capacity and pricing. Both models leverage the GB206‑300 GPU, made on a 5 nm node from TSMC, and feature a 128‑bit memory interface paired with GDDR7 chips running at an effective 28 Gbps. According to IT Home, NVIDIA has communicated MSRP figures to its key AIC partners ahead of the mid‑April rollout. The entry‑level 8 GB variant is set at an MSRP of ¥3,199 (roughly $379), while the 16 GB version carries an MSRP of ¥3,599 (about $429). This is a reduction from the $399 and $499 prices anticipated earlier. NVIDIA is adjusting its pricing strategy for these mid-tier chips to align itself against the competition better and draw more new buyers.
Under the hood, the GB206‑300 core activates 36 streaming multiprocessors, delivering a total of 4,608 CUDA cores. The GPU operates at a base clock of 2,407 MHz, boosting to 2,572 MHz under load. Memory runs at 1,750 MHz (28 Gbps effective), routed through the 128‑bit bus to yield up to 448 GB/s of bandwidth. Graphics‑specific throughput is augmented by 144 texture mapping units and 48 render output units, while 36 dedicated ray‑tracing cores handle real‑time lighting calculations. Additionally, 144 tensor cores accelerate AI‑driven workloads such as DLSS upscaling and machine‑learning inference. Power delivery for both cards is managed via a single 16‑pin connector, with a total board power of 180 W. Display connectivity includes one HDMI 2.1b port alongside three DisplayPort 2.1b outputs, and the card interfaces with host systems over PCI Express 5.0 x16.
Under the hood, the GB206‑300 core activates 36 streaming multiprocessors, delivering a total of 4,608 CUDA cores. The GPU operates at a base clock of 2,407 MHz, boosting to 2,572 MHz under load. Memory runs at 1,750 MHz (28 Gbps effective), routed through the 128‑bit bus to yield up to 448 GB/s of bandwidth. Graphics‑specific throughput is augmented by 144 texture mapping units and 48 render output units, while 36 dedicated ray‑tracing cores handle real‑time lighting calculations. Additionally, 144 tensor cores accelerate AI‑driven workloads such as DLSS upscaling and machine‑learning inference. Power delivery for both cards is managed via a single 16‑pin connector, with a total board power of 180 W. Display connectivity includes one HDMI 2.1b port alongside three DisplayPort 2.1b outputs, and the card interfaces with host systems over PCI Express 5.0 x16.
Intel Arc GPU Graphics Drivers 101.6734 WHQL Released
Intel today released the latest version of its Arc GPU Graphics Drivers. Version 101.6734 WHQL mostly builds on the recent 101.6732 Beta release, with just a couple of changes. To begin with, it introduces a new power management optimization for Core Ultra 200V "Lunar Lake" processors and their iGPUs for handheld gaming consoles, such as the new generation of MSI Claw based on them. Next up, it fixes an issue with Core Ultra series 2 processors ("Lunar Lake" and "Arrow Lake") where some games don't enumerate all supported display resolutions in the game settings of some notebook devices. Grab the drivers from the link below.
DOWNLOAD: Intel Arc GPU Graphics Drivers 101.6734 WHQL
DOWNLOAD: Intel Arc GPU Graphics Drivers 101.6734 WHQL
Tuesday, April 8th 2025
Today's Files
Today's Reviews
Monitors
Motherboards
Processors
Speakers
Acer Predator GM9000 2 TB Review
The Acer Predator GM9000 is the first drive we've reviewed that's based on the new PCI-Express 5.0 Silicon Motion SM2508 controller. One of its design goals was to reduce power consumption, to bring heat output down, so that it can run without a fan-cooled heatsink.
Razer Expands Premium Laptop Accessory Range with New Adjustable Aluminium Stand
Razer, the leading global lifestyle brand for gamers, today announced the launch of the Razer Adjustable Laptop Stand, a premium solution for gamers looking to elevate their workspace with comfort and efficiency.
Designed for laptops and other devices up to 18 inches, the Razer Adjustable Laptop Stand is CNC milled entirely from anodized aluminium for enhanced durability and scratch-resistance. Dual articulation points with a hex key adjustment system allow full customizability for the perfect viewing height and angle, while non-slip rubber pads ensure the laptop is secured in place, making it an ideal laptop stand for desk. When not in use, the stand collapses easily for storage, keeping workspaces clean and organized. Its foldable and portable design makes it an ideal companion for ergonomic comfort on the go.
Designed for laptops and other devices up to 18 inches, the Razer Adjustable Laptop Stand is CNC milled entirely from anodized aluminium for enhanced durability and scratch-resistance. Dual articulation points with a hex key adjustment system allow full customizability for the perfect viewing height and angle, while non-slip rubber pads ensure the laptop is secured in place, making it an ideal laptop stand for desk. When not in use, the stand collapses easily for storage, keeping workspaces clean and organized. Its foldable and portable design makes it an ideal companion for ergonomic comfort on the go.
Insider Claims NVIDIA GeForce RTX 50 Series Transitioning to Usage of SK hynix GDDR7 Memory Modules
So far, NVIDIA's GeForce RTX 50xx graphics card models have shipped with Samsung GDDR7 memory modules onboard. According to a fresh MEGAsizeGPU (aka @Zed__Wang) claim, a change in vendor has already occurred. The tenured tracker of Team Green inside track information believes that the company has: "started to use SK hynix GDDR7 for the GeForce RTX 50 series graphics cards. Started with GeForce RTX 5070 first." Officially, NVIDIA's latest board designs can support GDDR7 modules produced by the "big three:" Samsung, SK hynix and Micron (see BIOS info below). Team Green's comfortable market leading position probably grants plenty of negotiation power to pick and choose the best component deals. Day one evaluators performed teardowns on GeForce RTX 50 series review samples; TechPowerUp's W1zzard found Samsung "K4VAF325ZC-SC32" GDDR7 units—rated for 32 Gbps—onboard various GeForce RTX 5080 16 GB models. As outlined by VideoCardz, the rest of NVIDIA's "Blackwell" gaming product stack sticks with 28 Gbps-rated Samsung GDDR7 modules, extending to its Mobile portfolio.
Age of Empires IV: Knights of Cross and Rose Released
Dive into the action of the newest DLC for Age of Empires IV - Knights of Cross and Rose! Experience rich, historically-inspired gameplay across a variety of additional content, including two new variant civilizations designed around player feedback and suggestions - the Knights Templar and House of Lancaster.
Command these iconic armies plucked straight out of the pages of history, and forge your own destiny! Lead the Knights Templar in the Battle of Montgisard as they stave off Saladin's forces, and ensure the House of Lancaster's survival against the Yorkists after a calamitous defeat at Towton. Knights of Cross and Rose is available now on Steam, Microsoft Store, and Xbox!
Command these iconic armies plucked straight out of the pages of history, and forge your own destiny! Lead the Knights Templar in the Battle of Montgisard as they stave off Saladin's forces, and ensure the House of Lancaster's survival against the Yorkists after a calamitous defeat at Towton. Knights of Cross and Rose is available now on Steam, Microsoft Store, and Xbox!
Diablo IV Gets Its 2025 Roadmap
Whet your appetite for continued demon slaying across Sanctuary with a look at our 2025 Roadmap. The Age of Hatred kicked off with the launch of Diablo IV and Lilith's resurrection and was protracted by Mephisto's resurgence in Vessel of Hatred. Throughout 2025, you will experience the spread of Mephisto's influence through new seasonal themes and questlines as we draw closer to the release of our second expansion in 2026.
Gaze Into the Flames—a Closer Look
The fires of the Burning Hells grow with vigor this year! In addition to new Seasonal content and permanent game additions, you'll see on the Roadmap that we are bringing 2 IP collaborations into Diablo IV this year. We can't shed light on them currently, but we're extremely excited to meld the Diablo universe with universes that complement its dark themes. Here's a deeper look at a handful of features arriving in 2025.
Gaze Into the Flames—a Closer Look
The fires of the Burning Hells grow with vigor this year! In addition to new Seasonal content and permanent game additions, you'll see on the Roadmap that we are bringing 2 IP collaborations into Diablo IV this year. We can't shed light on them currently, but we're extremely excited to meld the Diablo universe with universes that complement its dark themes. Here's a deeper look at a handful of features arriving in 2025.
AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX "Dragon Range Refresh" APU Turns Up in New ROG Strix Laptop
Lonely City Hardware has discovered an intriguing new ASUS ROG Strix gaming laptop, equipped with a mildly mysterious AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX APU and a familiar NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Ti Mobile 12 GB graphics solution. Potential customers—in China—can part ways with 13999 RMB (~$1907 USD) for the pleasure of ownership. A Weibo bulletin alluded to Team Red's secretive approach with the quiet release of Ryzen 8000HX mobile chipsets. Lonely City Hardware could not find this specific SKU within official company listings/web presences.
According to VideoCardz's interpretation of events, AMD was expected to unveil "Dragon Range Refresh" processors at CES 2025—instead, fresher Ryzen 9000HX "Fire Range" options were prioritized. Going against the grain, MSI allegedly published press material that mentioned a new Ryzen 9 8945HX-powered laptop. Previous leaks have indicated that refreshed "Dragon Range" Zen 4 APUs sport slightly elevated boost frequencies. The Ryzen 9 8940HX can go up to 5.3 GHz; 100 MHz greater than its unmodified sibling; Ryzen 9 7940HX. Team Red's "Dragon Range" processors utilize older RDNA 2 integrated iGPUs, so laptop/notebook manufacturers will likely pair Ryzen 8000HX APUs with the latest-gen discrete graphics solutions.
According to VideoCardz's interpretation of events, AMD was expected to unveil "Dragon Range Refresh" processors at CES 2025—instead, fresher Ryzen 9000HX "Fire Range" options were prioritized. Going against the grain, MSI allegedly published press material that mentioned a new Ryzen 9 8945HX-powered laptop. Previous leaks have indicated that refreshed "Dragon Range" Zen 4 APUs sport slightly elevated boost frequencies. The Ryzen 9 8940HX can go up to 5.3 GHz; 100 MHz greater than its unmodified sibling; Ryzen 9 7940HX. Team Red's "Dragon Range" processors utilize older RDNA 2 integrated iGPUs, so laptop/notebook manufacturers will likely pair Ryzen 8000HX APUs with the latest-gen discrete graphics solutions.
"DRAM+" Non-Volatile Memory Combines DRAM Speed With Flash Persistence
Ferroelectric Memory Co. (FMC) and Neumonda have formed a partnership to commercialize "DRAM+," a ferroelectric (FeRAM) memory architecture combining DRAM's speed with non-volatile data retention. The technology substitutes conventional capacitors with ferroelectric hafnium oxide (HfO₂) elements, allowing persistent storage without power while maintaining nanosecond access times. This hybrid technology addresses the performance gap between high-speed DRAM and storage-class memory like NAND flash. Unlike previous European DRAM ventures from Infineon and Qimonda that failed against commodity memory economics, FMC targets specialized applications valuing persistence and power efficiency. The HfO₂-based approach resolves limitations of previous FeRAM memory implementations using lead zirconate titanate (PZT) that couldn't scale beyond megabyte capacities.
Prototypes now demonstrate gigabit-range densities compatible with sub-10 nm fabrication of traditional DRAM made by Micron, Samsung, SK Hynix, and others. By eliminating refresh cycles, DRAM+ reduces static power consumption substantially compared to traditional one-transistor/one-capacitor DRAM cells. Primary applications include AI accelerators requiring persistent model weights, automotive ECUs with immediate startup requirements, and power-constrained medical implants. Neumonda will contribute its test platform suite Rhinoe, Octopus, and Raptor for electrical characterization and analytics at lower capital costs than standard semiconductor test equipment. No production timeline has been announced for commercial DRAM+ products.
Prototypes now demonstrate gigabit-range densities compatible with sub-10 nm fabrication of traditional DRAM made by Micron, Samsung, SK Hynix, and others. By eliminating refresh cycles, DRAM+ reduces static power consumption substantially compared to traditional one-transistor/one-capacitor DRAM cells. Primary applications include AI accelerators requiring persistent model weights, automotive ECUs with immediate startup requirements, and power-constrained medical implants. Neumonda will contribute its test platform suite Rhinoe, Octopus, and Raptor for electrical characterization and analytics at lower capital costs than standard semiconductor test equipment. No production timeline has been announced for commercial DRAM+ products.
Reikon Games Introduces its "Metal Eden" Demo, Taster Build Out Now on PC & Modern Consoles
Starting today, you can dive into the sci-fi FPS action of Metal Eden with our brand-new demo available for PC, Xbox Series X|S, and PlayStation 5—grab it on your platform of choice. We can't wait to see you experience the adrenaline rush we have in store for you while you navigate the city-planet of Moebius as it orbits the planet Vulcan. During the demo, you'll jump into Mission 0 and Mission 1 and have a chance to experiment with some of the weapons that will help you cause havoc and uncover the truth of Moebius—master these upgrades, and no foe will be able to stop you. But first a reminder of why you fight…
For humanity to survive space travel and expand across the galaxy, the Engineers invented Cores. This system can store human data by preserving a digital record of a human psyche, rebuilding it upon reaching its destination. That was the plan, however something went wrong. An erosion bomb was released by the Engineers, threatening all cores on Moebius.
For humanity to survive space travel and expand across the galaxy, the Engineers invented Cores. This system can store human data by preserving a digital record of a human psyche, rebuilding it upon reaching its destination. That was the plan, however something went wrong. An erosion bomb was released by the Engineers, threatening all cores on Moebius.
OpenAI Reportedly Considering ~$500 Million Takeover of io Products - a Smart AI Device Startup Founded by Sam Altman
At some point in 2023, Sam Altman founded a new AI hardware device firm: io Products. Last September, Jony Ive confirmed his involvement in this startup tech company. Industry whispers suggest that Open AI's CEO (Altman) and the former Apple chief designer (Ive) were collaborating on the making of voice-enabled smart AI assistant household products. According to a (paywalled) The Information news article, this fledgling operation attracted an "undisclosed amount of funding" from wealthy benefactors. The "small team" is reportedly working on some type of "revolutionary" screenless AI phone, but this rumored project is likely in a very early stage of development—so moles have not disclosed exact details.
The report posits that Ive has recruited Tang Tan and Evans Hankey—both high-level ex-Apple industrial leads, with long-term iPhone design experience. The Information's anonymous inside sources believe that Ive's LoveFrom boutique agency will determine the visual setup for forthcoming io Products smart devices. Additionally, the report extends to a potential takeover bid—valued at around $500 million (USD)—coming from Altman's main gig. Open AI's leadership is supposedly weighing up its options. The Information disclosed an alternative avenue; a simple partnership—rather than a comprehensive takeover.
The report posits that Ive has recruited Tang Tan and Evans Hankey—both high-level ex-Apple industrial leads, with long-term iPhone design experience. The Information's anonymous inside sources believe that Ive's LoveFrom boutique agency will determine the visual setup for forthcoming io Products smart devices. Additionally, the report extends to a potential takeover bid—valued at around $500 million (USD)—coming from Altman's main gig. Open AI's leadership is supposedly weighing up its options. The Information disclosed an alternative avenue; a simple partnership—rather than a comprehensive takeover.
South of Midnight Out Now on Xbox Platforms & PC
South of Midnight is available now globally on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox App for Windows PC, Steam, Cloud, & Game Pass! As Hazel, you will explore the mythos and encounter creatures of Southern folklore in a macabre and fantastical world. When disaster strikes her hometown, Hazel is called to become a Weaver: a magical mender of broken bonds and spirits. Imbued with these new abilities, Hazel will confront and subdue dangerous creatures, untangle the webs of her own family's shared past and—if she's lucky—find her way to a place that feels like home. From the entire Compulsion Games Team: Thank you for your support, and happy playing!
Deep in the heart of the bayou, something stirs. Bigger than any gator you've ever seen, Two-Toed Tom is a legend of scales, survival, and insatiable hunger. More than double the size of the world's biggest recorded alligator, Tom is an unstoppable force of nature. To celebrate the launch of South of Midnight, in which Tom makes a very big appearance, Xbox has brought this monstrous gator to life in the gator-infested waters of Marrero, Louisiana, a location chosen for its haunting resemblance to the game's Southern-inspired setting. Murky swamps, ancient cypress trees, and the distant splash of unseen creatures make it the perfect place to step into Hazel's world and experience the bayou's dark magic first-hand.
Deep in the heart of the bayou, something stirs. Bigger than any gator you've ever seen, Two-Toed Tom is a legend of scales, survival, and insatiable hunger. More than double the size of the world's biggest recorded alligator, Tom is an unstoppable force of nature. To celebrate the launch of South of Midnight, in which Tom makes a very big appearance, Xbox has brought this monstrous gator to life in the gator-infested waters of Marrero, Louisiana, a location chosen for its haunting resemblance to the game's Southern-inspired setting. Murky swamps, ancient cypress trees, and the distant splash of unseen creatures make it the perfect place to step into Hazel's world and experience the bayou's dark magic first-hand.
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 & 5050 Mobile GPUs "Officially" Leaked by Laptop Manufacturers
NVIDIA is expected to reveal its GeForce RTX 5060 Mobile and RTX 5050 Mobile GPUs later this month, but a series of leaks—going back to last summer—have already spoiled the fun. Last month, leaks pointed to Razer and MSI's preparing cheaper of "cheaper" portable gaming PCs—featuring lower end "Blackwell" Mobile hardware. VideoCardz has spent time looking for more examples—recent detective work has unearthed further evidence of an imminent launch. Yesterday's investigative article put spotlights on Razer, Lenovo and LG. Team Green's manufacturing partners have inadvertently published official web material with multiple mentioning of pre-release GeForce RTX 5060 and GeForce RTX 5050 laptop-oriented solutions. Razer China has already reacted to VideoCardz's report; their Razer Blade 16 (2025) splash page no longer lists an NDA-busting GeForce RTX 5060 Mobile option.
Similarly, LG's Taiwanese office has scrubbed "5050" from a recently published new LG gram AI notebook press release. The edited line states: "NVIDIA GeForce RTX 8 GB graphics card is only available in 16Z90TR-E.AD88C2 model." On January 31 (2025), the Lenovo PC YouTube channel uploaded an unboxing of their refreshed Lenovo IdeaPad Pro 5 16" model. The video's description let slip crucial pre-release information, regarding an upcoming discrete graphics configuration: "optional latest NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5050 graphics, with a total power output of 135 W for strong performance." VideoCardz has deduced a speculative 65 W TDP rating for Team Green's entry level "Blackwell" mobile SKU. At the time of writing, Lenovo has not edited out the offending descriptor from their Lenovo IdeaPad Pro 5 16" (2025) featurette.
Similarly, LG's Taiwanese office has scrubbed "5050" from a recently published new LG gram AI notebook press release. The edited line states: "NVIDIA GeForce RTX 8 GB graphics card is only available in 16Z90TR-E.AD88C2 model." On January 31 (2025), the Lenovo PC YouTube channel uploaded an unboxing of their refreshed Lenovo IdeaPad Pro 5 16" model. The video's description let slip crucial pre-release information, regarding an upcoming discrete graphics configuration: "optional latest NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5050 graphics, with a total power output of 135 W for strong performance." VideoCardz has deduced a speculative 65 W TDP rating for Team Green's entry level "Blackwell" mobile SKU. At the time of writing, Lenovo has not edited out the offending descriptor from their Lenovo IdeaPad Pro 5 16" (2025) featurette.
NVIDIA DLSS 4 with Multi Frame Generation Added to Wild Assault, THE FINALS & Enotria: The Last Song
More than 700 games and applications feature RTX technologies, and each week new games integrating NVIDIA DLSS, NVIDIA Reflex, and advanced ray-traced effects are released or announced, delivering the definitive PC experience for GeForce RTX players. This week, DLSS 4 with Multi Frame Generation is multiplying performance in Enotria: The Last Song, THE FINALS, and Wild Assault. And The Last of Us Part II Remastered is available now with DLSS Frame Generation, DLSS Super Resolution, and DLAA.
Wild Assault Launching April 11th, Featuring DLSS 4 With Multi Frame Generation
Combat Cat Studio's Wild Assault is a 20 vs. 20 third-person, Unreal Engine 5-powered, class-based PvP multiplayer shooter featuring a cast of anthropomorphic characters with unique animal-themed abilities. Battle across a variety of maps and modes in search of victory, and on GeForce RTX systems, activate DLSS and Reflex to accelerate performance and reduce PC latency.
Wild Assault Launching April 11th, Featuring DLSS 4 With Multi Frame Generation
Combat Cat Studio's Wild Assault is a 20 vs. 20 third-person, Unreal Engine 5-powered, class-based PvP multiplayer shooter featuring a cast of anthropomorphic characters with unique animal-themed abilities. Battle across a variety of maps and modes in search of victory, and on GeForce RTX systems, activate DLSS and Reflex to accelerate performance and reduce PC latency.
Xiaomi's Proprietary Flagship Mobile SoC Reportedly Downgraded to TSMC "N4P"
According to reports from last year, Xiaomi was expected to unveil an oft-rumored proprietary mobile chipset design at some point in 2025. By October 2024, the Chinese technology giant allegedly reached the tape-out phase of its first 3 nm SoC—at the time, insiders posited that Xiaomi was seeking a manufacturing partner. Months earlier, a prototype design was linked to TSMC's 4 nm "N4P" node process—this rumor raised many smartphone watchdog eyebrows. Unlike many other Chinese firms, Xiaomi was reportedly allowed to select a fairly advanced manufacturing process at Taiwan's premier foundry service. In a past weekend news article, Wccftech outlined interesting circumstances: "(US) export controls have yet to affect Xiaomi, which is supposedly on track to launch its first in-house chipset later this year. However, while we reported last year that the company was scheduled to unveil its custom 3 nm SoC in 2025, we were disappointed to learn just the specifications of this version that will utilize TSMC's 'N4P' process. According to more details, this silicon will not sport any homegrown cores like Qualcomm has adopted for the Snapdragon 8 Elite."
Late last week, Jukanlosreve highlighted another leaker's prediction—regarding the technological foundations of Xiaomi's mystery flagship mobile processor. Fixed Focus Digital's Weibo post mentioned the "N4P" node, as well the utilization of current generation Arm Cortex-X925, Cortex-A725 and Cortex-A520 units. A speculated Imagination Technologies "IMG DXT 72-2304" integrated graphics solution is touted to outperform Qualcomm's Adreno 740 iGPU; as featured in their Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (2022) SoC. As highlighted by Wccftech's report, one of the publication's associates has deemed Fixed Focus Digital to be an unreliable source of inside track info. In response to Jukanlosreve's tweeted question, Mochamad Farido Fanani opined: "that's right, how does Xiaomi use N4P in its new chipset? But this guy always guesses blindly." Older leaks—based on "N4P" rumors—projected performance levels roughly on par with Qualcomm's first generation Snapdragon 8 chip. This model was introduced at the tail end of 2021.
Late last week, Jukanlosreve highlighted another leaker's prediction—regarding the technological foundations of Xiaomi's mystery flagship mobile processor. Fixed Focus Digital's Weibo post mentioned the "N4P" node, as well the utilization of current generation Arm Cortex-X925, Cortex-A725 and Cortex-A520 units. A speculated Imagination Technologies "IMG DXT 72-2304" integrated graphics solution is touted to outperform Qualcomm's Adreno 740 iGPU; as featured in their Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (2022) SoC. As highlighted by Wccftech's report, one of the publication's associates has deemed Fixed Focus Digital to be an unreliable source of inside track info. In response to Jukanlosreve's tweeted question, Mochamad Farido Fanani opined: "that's right, how does Xiaomi use N4P in its new chipset? But this guy always guesses blindly." Older leaks—based on "N4P" rumors—projected performance levels roughly on par with Qualcomm's first generation Snapdragon 8 chip. This model was introduced at the tail end of 2021.
Cloud Imperium Games Unveils Star Citizen 4.1: Orbital Assault - A Major Step Forward in Space Simulation Technology
Cloud Imperium Games (CIG) is excited to announce the recent release of Star Citizen Alpha 4.1: Orbital Assault, a significant milestone in the continued evolution of a shared, physicalized Universe of endless possibilities. Packed with immersive new gameplay elements and revolutionary technological advancements, Alpha 4.1 solidifies Star Citizen's position as the most ambitious and immersive space simulation in gaming today.
Fight from Planet to the Stars in Alpha 4.1: Orbital Assault
Fight from Planet to the Stars in Alpha 4.1: Orbital Assault
- Laser Quest: A brand-new multi-stage sandbox event will challenge players like never before. Seamlessly battle new fauna in the sands of Daymar before carving a path to an orbital platform for an epic combined-arms showdown.
- A Curious Collector: An enigmatic new NPC has arrived in the Stanton system, in search of rare minerals and discoverable, rumor has it he offers the highest tier loot and rewards to those with the goods.
- Crossroads of Crime: A brand-new Arena Commander 'Crossroads of Crime' map featuring three major bases and interconnected playscapes. Supporting game modes such as Free Flight, Elimination, Team Elimination, Gun Rush, Single Weapon Elimination, and Tank Royale, this map adds fresh competitive depth to Arena Commander.
- Quality of Life Enhancements: Improved kiosk interactions, enhanced item recovery mechanics, and significant backend optimizations ensure smoother gameplay.
Bungie Schedules "Marathon Gameplay Reveal Showcase" - Airing on April 12
The time has come—we're getting ready to share the first look at Marathon in this week's Gameplay Reveal Showcase! Join us on Saturday, April 12 @ 10AM PT from Bungie HQ, where we'll be revealing gameplay for the first time along with a few other surprises. Game director Joe Ziegler, franchise art director Joseph Cross, senior design lead Lars Bakken, gameplay director Andrew Witts, and senior social media manager Andy Salisbury will be sitting down to chat about everything we're sharing, and we'll be doing live Q+A from Twitch chat throughout the show.
Puzzles, decryption, and hacks
Over the last few days, the community has been sluething their way through encrypted puzzles and messages intercepted by the resistance group, MIDA. We'd like to recognize the collaborative hacking efforts of you all here today. Curious what's been happening behind closed signals? Here's the quick recap of what transpired across multiple days, social platforms, and websites.
Puzzles, decryption, and hacks
Over the last few days, the community has been sluething their way through encrypted puzzles and messages intercepted by the resistance group, MIDA. We'd like to recognize the collaborative hacking efforts of you all here today. Curious what's been happening behind closed signals? Here's the quick recap of what transpired across multiple days, social platforms, and websites.
CORSAIR Launches Web-Based Firmware Update Utility, Enabling Updates Without Additional Software
Corsair maker of award-winning performance gaming peripherals for PC, today released a new, free web-based Firmware Update Utility that allows users to effortlessly update the firmware on their award-winning Corsair peripherals using only a web browser.
"We listen to our customers, and they were telling us they were looking for a different way to update their device firmware without requiring a software install," said Tobias Brinkmann, Vice President and General Manager of Gaming Peripherals at Corsair. "Our new web-based Firmware Update Utility allows them to get the latest firmware from the internet, providing a more lightweight and flexible way of updating their peripherals."
"We listen to our customers, and they were telling us they were looking for a different way to update their device firmware without requiring a software install," said Tobias Brinkmann, Vice President and General Manager of Gaming Peripherals at Corsair. "Our new web-based Firmware Update Utility allows them to get the latest firmware from the internet, providing a more lightweight and flexible way of updating their peripherals."
Framework Halts Sales of Select Laptops in the US Amid Tariff Changes
Framework, the maker of modular laptops, has temporarily halted sales of specific models in the US due to newly imposed tariffs. The move affects the Laptop 13 configurations. The company shared its decision through the official X account: "Due to the new tariffs that came into effect on April 5th, we're temporarily pausing US sales on a few base Framework Laptop 13 systems (Ultra 5 125H and Ryzen 5 7640U). For now, these models will be removed from our US site. We will continue to provide updates as we have them." The tariff adjustment, which raises import duties on goods from Taiwan to 10 percent, directly impacts Framework's cost structure. Originally priced assuming a zero percent tariff rate, the affected devices would now incur losses if sold at current pricing due to the zero-tariff situation in the past. In a detailed follow-up, Framework noted that other consumer electronics firms have undertaken similar recalculations, though few have publicly acknowledged their course of action.
Currently, the Ultra 5 125H model has already been removed from Framework's online store. Other models, such as the Ultra 7 155H and Ultra 7 165H, are for now discounted by up to eight percent, suggesting a temporary price adjustment strategy rather than a complete market withdrawal. Higher end AMD Ryzen 7 7840U SKUs are discounted by 10% and 12%, which is interesting. Framework's situation is just a part of the shift happening across industries triggered by the US administration's recent tariff changes. While Framework's statement leaves the possibility of resumed US sales open, no timeline has been provided. The consequences of the tariff shift are still unfolding across global supply chains.
Currently, the Ultra 5 125H model has already been removed from Framework's online store. Other models, such as the Ultra 7 155H and Ultra 7 165H, are for now discounted by up to eight percent, suggesting a temporary price adjustment strategy rather than a complete market withdrawal. Higher end AMD Ryzen 7 7840U SKUs are discounted by 10% and 12%, which is interesting. Framework's situation is just a part of the shift happening across industries triggered by the US administration's recent tariff changes. While Framework's statement leaves the possibility of resumed US sales open, no timeline has been provided. The consequences of the tariff shift are still unfolding across global supply chains.
Commandos: Origins Launching Tomorrow on PC & Consoles
Today we have our final Do & Don't Comic—with only one more day to go until the release of Commandos: Origins arrives. Consider it done! We—at Claymore Game Studios and Kalypso Media—thank you for sharing your excitement for Commandos: Origins with us and we wish you lots of fun when you finally get your hands on the game from tomorrow onwards. Commandos: Origins is gearing up for digital release on April 9th, 2025, and will be available on Steam, on day one with Xbox Game Pass for console and PC and on Windows PC, Xbox Series X|S, and PlayStation 5.
ALARM! You have been selected for a mission which will shape the fate of the entire world. Witness the very beginning of the legendary elite WWII force in Commandos: Origins. The long-awaited sequel to the Commandos series brings you right back to the foundation of the real-time tactics genre.
ALARM! You have been selected for a mission which will shape the fate of the entire world. Witness the very beginning of the legendary elite WWII force in Commandos: Origins. The long-awaited sequel to the Commandos series brings you right back to the foundation of the real-time tactics genre.
ZOTAC Reveals X-Gaming GeForce RTX 5070 Jian Wang 3 Special Edition
Earlier today, ZOTAC unveiled a special edition spin-off of its relatively new GeForce RTX 5070 X-Gaming 12 GB design. The manufacturer's Weibo channel outlined the very exclusive nature of this MMORPG-themed offering (via machine translation): "watch the finals and get a graphics card! ZOTAC and the first 'Jian Wang 3' competitive group hero joint customized graphics card, fine customization, supports NVIDIA DLSS 4 and Reflex 2 technology, excellent performance. On April 12-13, Nanjing Ledongli Jiangning International E-sports Center, watch the heroes aiming for the top!" According to an ITHome report, the Chinese brand has redecorated its overclocked GeForce RTX 5070 X-Gaming model with Jian Wang 3 characters. ZOTAC's promotional shots showcase a customized backplate, and the same illustration of Jian Wang 3's main cast adorning the card's retail box.
Late last month, Kuroutoshikou Japan introduced a less impressive Blade and Soul NEO-themed rebadge of their standard Radeon RX 7600 SKU—essentially, PowerColor's Fighter RX 7600 design. ITHome noted that ZOTAC has a short-ish history of readying very limited edition designs for past Jian Wang 3 Masters Tournaments. 2024's prize was based on the manufacturer's GeForce RTX 4070 Ti SUPER TRINITY OC White SKU. 2023 finalists were gifted with customized GeForce RTX 4070 Ti X-Gaming OC cards. Both of the previous gen tie-in designs sported Jian Wang 3 graphics or symbols on their shrouds, while the latest entry simply reuses its base SKU's "youthful graffiti" aesthetic.
Late last month, Kuroutoshikou Japan introduced a less impressive Blade and Soul NEO-themed rebadge of their standard Radeon RX 7600 SKU—essentially, PowerColor's Fighter RX 7600 design. ITHome noted that ZOTAC has a short-ish history of readying very limited edition designs for past Jian Wang 3 Masters Tournaments. 2024's prize was based on the manufacturer's GeForce RTX 4070 Ti SUPER TRINITY OC White SKU. 2023 finalists were gifted with customized GeForce RTX 4070 Ti X-Gaming OC cards. Both of the previous gen tie-in designs sported Jian Wang 3 graphics or symbols on their shrouds, while the latest entry simply reuses its base SKU's "youthful graffiti" aesthetic.
Monster Energy Supercross 25's Authentic Off Road Experience Enhanced by Neural AI
Monster Energy Supercross 25 - The Official Video Game—available as Dirt Master Edition or and Special Edition—is out now in early access for Xbox Series X|S, and the Standard Edition will be available for everyone on April 10, 2025—on Steam, Epic Games Store, and PlayStation 5. I can't wait to see all of you take the route for the Supercross elite in this new and completely improved game. Today, I want to talk to you about one of the most ambitious and challenging aspects of the game, which made us sweat but filled us with pride once the results started to arrive: Neural AI.
We started using our Neural AI, A.N.N.A (Artificial Neural Network Agent), in our games starting from 2019, but research began before then. Neural AI is a specific kind of AI that can simulate realistic behavior. To do that, it must train and test the tracks to learn the best trajectories to become as fast as possible. Over the years in Milestone we have seen incredible results, with AI capable of controlling vehicles in a realistic manner. But up to this Supercross chapter, A.N.N.A. has only been on tarmac surfaces.
We started using our Neural AI, A.N.N.A (Artificial Neural Network Agent), in our games starting from 2019, but research began before then. Neural AI is a specific kind of AI that can simulate realistic behavior. To do that, it must train and test the tracks to learn the best trajectories to become as fast as possible. Over the years in Milestone we have seen incredible results, with AI capable of controlling vehicles in a realistic manner. But up to this Supercross chapter, A.N.N.A. has only been on tarmac surfaces.
TerraMaster Launches D9-320 9-Bay 10Gbps Storage Expansion Enclosure
Professional storage brand TerraMaster proudly unveils its revolutionary product, the D9-320, a 9-bay intelligent storage enclosure. As a flagship model featuring an innovative "independent drive power control system," the D9-320 offers a massive 198 TB storage capacity, 10 Gbps high-speed transmission, and precise nine-channel power management, providing professional-grade storage expansion solutions for small and medium-sized businesses, NAS users, and tech enthusiasts.
Three Major Breakthroughs Set a New Industry Benchmark
9-Channel Independent Power Management
Three Major Breakthroughs Set a New Industry Benchmark
9-Channel Independent Power Management
- The D9-320 introduces an innovative design with nine physical power switches plus a master control switch for dual protection. Users can precisely shut down idle drives, reducing power consumption by up to 70%. Paired with a UPS intelligent power-off protection system, it automatically performs head parking and data cache protection during unexpected power outages, improving data safety by 300% compared to traditional enclosures.
UALink Consortium Releases the Ultra Accelerator Link 200G 1.0 Specification
The UALink Consortium today announced the ratification of the UALink 200G 1.0 Specification, which defines a low-latency, high-bandwidth interconnect for communication between accelerators and switches in AI computing pods. The UALink 1.0 Specification enables 200G per lane scale-up connection for up to 1,024 accelerators within an AI computing pod, delivering the open standard interconnect for next-generation AI cluster performance.
"As the demand for AI compute grows, we are delighted to deliver an essential, open industry standard technology that enables next-generation AI/ML applications to the market," said Kurtis Bowman, UALink Consortium Board Chair. "UALink is the only memory semantic solution for scale-up AI optimized for lower power, latency and cost while increasing effective bandwidth. The groundbreaking performance made possible with the UALink 200G 1.0 Specification will revolutionize how Cloud Service Providers, System OEMs, and IP/Silicon Providers approach AI workloads."
"As the demand for AI compute grows, we are delighted to deliver an essential, open industry standard technology that enables next-generation AI/ML applications to the market," said Kurtis Bowman, UALink Consortium Board Chair. "UALink is the only memory semantic solution for scale-up AI optimized for lower power, latency and cost while increasing effective bandwidth. The groundbreaking performance made possible with the UALink 200G 1.0 Specification will revolutionize how Cloud Service Providers, System OEMs, and IP/Silicon Providers approach AI workloads."
IBM Announces z17, The First Mainframe Fully Engineered for the AI Age
IBM today announced the IBM z17, the next generation of the company's iconic mainframe, fully engineered with AI capabilities across hardware, software, and systems operations. Powered by the new IBM Telum II processor, IBM z17 expands the system's capabilities beyond transactional AI capabilities to enable new workloads.
IBM Z is built to redefine AI at scale, positioning enterprises to score 100% of their transactions in real-time. z17 enables businesses to drive innovation and do more, including the ability to process 50 percent more AI inference operations per day than z16.2 The new IBM z17 is built to drive business value across industries with a wide range of more than 250 AI use cases, such as mitigating loan risk, managing chatbot services, supporting medical image analysis or impeding retail crime, among others.
IBM Z is built to redefine AI at scale, positioning enterprises to score 100% of their transactions in real-time. z17 enables businesses to drive innovation and do more, including the ability to process 50 percent more AI inference operations per day than z16.2 The new IBM z17 is built to drive business value across industries with a wide range of more than 250 AI use cases, such as mitigating loan risk, managing chatbot services, supporting medical image analysis or impeding retail crime, among others.
GALAX Prepares GeForce RTX 5090D GPU with Magnetic Cooler Shroud
GALAX unveiled its Boomstar series graphics card, introducing two RTX 5090D variants, LUNA and NOX, exclusively for the Chinese market. Both models share identical specifications, differing only in aesthetics: LUNA sports an all-white finish, while NOX adopts a matte black look. At the heart of each Boomstar card lies NVIDIA's GeForce RTX 5090D GPU, factory-overclocked to a 2,452 MHz boost clock, up from the reference 2,407 MHz. Power delivery is handled by a robust 16+6+7 phase VRM on a 14-layer PCB, with the card's total thermal design power rated at 575 W. GALAX recommends pairing the Boomstar series with a 1,000 W power supply, utilizing the latest 12 V-2×6-pin connector standard to ensure stability under full load. Display connectivity comprises three DisplayPort 2.1b outputs alongside a single HDMI 2.1b port, enabling multi-monitor and high-refresh-rate setups.
Measuring 348 × 155 × 60 mm (including bracket), the triple-slot, triple-fan cooler departs from conventional designs by employing magnetic attachments for both shroud and backplate. This tool-free system allows users to lift off the entire fan assembly without screws or cables, simplifying dust removal and maintenance. GALAX confirms that detaching these magnetized components does not void the warranty, although it cautions against removal while the card is operational. Out of the box, each card includes one customizable magnetic sticker, part of Boomstar's signature interchangeable panel concept. GALAX has yet to clarify whether additional sticker packs will be sold separately. GALAX has not disclosed pricing or availability timelines but confirms that Boomstar LUNA and NOX will remain confined to China, with no non-D variant planned for other regions.
Measuring 348 × 155 × 60 mm (including bracket), the triple-slot, triple-fan cooler departs from conventional designs by employing magnetic attachments for both shroud and backplate. This tool-free system allows users to lift off the entire fan assembly without screws or cables, simplifying dust removal and maintenance. GALAX confirms that detaching these magnetized components does not void the warranty, although it cautions against removal while the card is operational. Out of the box, each card includes one customizable magnetic sticker, part of Boomstar's signature interchangeable panel concept. GALAX has yet to clarify whether additional sticker packs will be sold separately. GALAX has not disclosed pricing or availability timelines but confirms that Boomstar LUNA and NOX will remain confined to China, with no non-D variant planned for other regions.
BCM Intros MX-MTLPS Thin Mini-ITX Motherboard Built on the Meteor Lake-PS (MTL-PS) Platform
The BCM MX-MTLPS is a Thin Mini-ITX motherboard designed to take advantage of Intel's latest Core Ultra 3/5/7 processors, built on the Meteor Lake-PS (MTL-PS) platform. As one of the first Mini-ITX form factor boards to support Intel's new socketed SoC design, the MX-MTLPS offers an ideal blend of AI acceleration, integrated graphics, and power-efficient compute—all in a low-profile, fanless-capable footprint.
With a strong focus on edge AI, multi-display, and embedded computing, the MX-MTLPS allows system developers to bring mobile-class performance to desktop-style deployments in space-constrained or thermally sensitive environments.
With a strong focus on edge AI, multi-display, and embedded computing, the MX-MTLPS allows system developers to bring mobile-class performance to desktop-style deployments in space-constrained or thermally sensitive environments.
PowerColor Unveils Limited Edition RED DEVIL Spectral White AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT Graphics Card
PowerColor, a global leader in high-performance graphics card innovation, proudly announces the Red Devil Spectral White AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT 16 GB - a limited-edition masterpiece that marks a first for the iconic Red Devil series. For years, gamers have admired the elegance of Spectral White designs, and now, for the first time, PowerColor brings that vision to life with the Red Devil's flagship performance.
A True Spectral White Marvel
Crafted with meticulous attention to detail, the Red Devil Spectral White redefines what it means to blend form and function. From the PCB and heatsink to the cooler shroud and power connectors, every component has been precision-engineered in pure white, delivering a truly unified aesthetic rarely seen in high-performance GPUs. At the heart of its design lies Hellstone—a signature multi-faceted RGB element positioned at the tail of the card. It radiates vivid, customizable lighting that glows like a mystical crystal, making the Spectral White model not just a GPU, but a centerpiece of any gaming setup. Gamers can control the lighting via RGB headers, offering seamless synchronization with the rest of their system.
A True Spectral White Marvel
Crafted with meticulous attention to detail, the Red Devil Spectral White redefines what it means to blend form and function. From the PCB and heatsink to the cooler shroud and power connectors, every component has been precision-engineered in pure white, delivering a truly unified aesthetic rarely seen in high-performance GPUs. At the heart of its design lies Hellstone—a signature multi-faceted RGB element positioned at the tail of the card. It radiates vivid, customizable lighting that glows like a mystical crystal, making the Spectral White model not just a GPU, but a centerpiece of any gaming setup. Gamers can control the lighting via RGB headers, offering seamless synchronization with the rest of their system.
Sharkoon Unveils Skiller SGH20 USB Gaming Headset
The SKILLER SGH20 USB gaming headset offers a stylish design with an alternating illumination and provides a clear audio in all your games thanks to its 50 mm drivers. The soft synthetic-leather ear pads and padded headband ensure a high level of comfort even during long gaming sessions, while a flexible microphone ensures a continuously clear communication with the team.
Thanks to the powerful 50 mm drivers, the SKILLER SGH20 brings a clear, precise audio for an intense gaming experience. The SKILLER SGH20 is connected quickly and without complication via USB to any standard PC while always maintaining a high-quality audio. The SKILLER SGH20 catches the eye with the modern design of its ear cups, which are highlighted by an illumination with automatically changing colors.
Thanks to the powerful 50 mm drivers, the SKILLER SGH20 brings a clear, precise audio for an intense gaming experience. The SKILLER SGH20 is connected quickly and without complication via USB to any standard PC while always maintaining a high-quality audio. The SKILLER SGH20 catches the eye with the modern design of its ear cups, which are highlighted by an illumination with automatically changing colors.
MSI to Bundle "The Last of Us Part II Remastered" with its QD-OLED Monitors
Get ready to elevate your gaming experience and dive into the gripping world of The Last of Us Part II Remastered! MSI is proud to partner with Sony to deliver a visually breathtaking and emotionally powerful journey through one of the most acclaimed titles in gaming history. Launching soon, this exclusive bundle gives gamers a free digital copy of The Last of Us Part II Remastered with the purchase of select MSI monitor products—including MSI's cutting-edge QD-OLED gaming monitors.
Engineered for ultimate immersion, MSI's QD-OLED monitors deliver ultra-rich contrast, true blacks, and vibrant color accuracy, redefining how players experience The Last of Us Part II Remastered. Explore Ellie and Abby's unforgettable story with exceptional clarity and depth. Level Up Your Gaming Monitor with MSI: The MSI x The Last of Us Part II Remastered bundle will be available soon. Stay tuned—more details will be revealed in the coming weeks.
Engineered for ultimate immersion, MSI's QD-OLED monitors deliver ultra-rich contrast, true blacks, and vibrant color accuracy, redefining how players experience The Last of Us Part II Remastered. Explore Ellie and Abby's unforgettable story with exceptional clarity and depth. Level Up Your Gaming Monitor with MSI: The MSI x The Last of Us Part II Remastered bundle will be available soon. Stay tuned—more details will be revealed in the coming weeks.
FinalWire Releases AIDA64 v7.65
FinalWire Ltd. today announced the immediate availability of AIDA64 Extreme 7.65 software, a streamlined diagnostic and benchmarking tool for home users; the immediate availability of AIDA64 Engineer 7.65 software, a professional diagnostic and benchmarking solution for corporate IT technicians and engineers; the immediate availability of AIDA64 Business 7.65 software, an essential network management solution for small and medium scale enterprises; and the immediate availability of AIDA64 Network Audit 7.65 software, a dedicated network audit toolset to collect and manage corporate network inventories.
The new AIDA64 update introduces Greek localization, support for MSI MEG Ai1600T power supply units, and supports the latest graphics and GPGPU computing technologies by AMD, Intel and NVIDIA.
DOWNLOAD: FinalWire AIDA64 Extreme v7.65
The new AIDA64 update introduces Greek localization, support for MSI MEG Ai1600T power supply units, and supports the latest graphics and GPGPU computing technologies by AMD, Intel and NVIDIA.
DOWNLOAD: FinalWire AIDA64 Extreme v7.65
QNAP Partners with Network Optix to Deliver Seamlessly Integrated Nx Witness NAS
QNAP Systems, Inc., a leading computing, networking, and storage solutions innovator, has officially become a Technology Partner of Network Optix. QNAP NAS now seamlessly integrates with the Nx Witness VMS platform, functioning both as a powerful video storage system and a virtualized Nx Witness VMS server—all in one device. This integration enhances system flexibility and security, enabling businesses to strengthen surveillance management without changing existing infrastructure.
"We are excited to partner with Network Optix to offer an all-in-one solution where a single NAS can run Nx Witness VMS and serve as storage," stated Song Cheng-Han, Head of QNAP's Smart Video Products Division, adding "As demands for AI surveillance and high-resolution video grow, QNAP NAS integrated with Nx Witness delivers a scalable, secure, and efficient solution that simplifies deployment across diverse industries such as system integrators, smart retail, and smart cities—meeting both multi-server and high-capacity surveillance needs on a unified NAS platform."
"We are excited to partner with Network Optix to offer an all-in-one solution where a single NAS can run Nx Witness VMS and serve as storage," stated Song Cheng-Han, Head of QNAP's Smart Video Products Division, adding "As demands for AI surveillance and high-resolution video grow, QNAP NAS integrated with Nx Witness delivers a scalable, secure, and efficient solution that simplifies deployment across diverse industries such as system integrators, smart retail, and smart cities—meeting both multi-server and high-capacity surveillance needs on a unified NAS platform."
Monday, April 7th 2025
Today's Files
Today's Reviews
Cases
CPU Coolers
Keyboards
Mouse
Mousepads
The Last Of Us Part 2 Performance Benchmark Review - 30 GPUs Compared
The Last of Us Part 2 is finally available for PC, bringing the legendary game to the PCMasterRace. In our performance review, we examine its graphical fidelity, VRAM usage, and how well it runs on a variety of modern GPUs.
MCHOSE L7 Pro Review
The ambidextrous MCHOSE L7 Pro is a strong budget contender: at a weight of 40 g without any holes, it comes with PixArt's PAW3395 sensor, Omron optical switches, Bluetooth support, and 8000 Hz polling in both wired and wireless operation.
Kioxia, AIO Core and Kyocera Announce Development of PCIe 5.0-Compatible Broadband Optical SSD for Next-Generation Green Data Centers
Kioxia Corporation, AIO Core Co., Ltd. and Kyocera Corporation today announced the development of a prototype of a PCIe 5.0-compatible broadband SSD with an optical interface (broadband optical SSD). The three companies will develop technologies for broadband optical SSDs to enhance their suitability for advanced applications that require high-speed transfer of large data, such as generative AI, and will also apply them to proof-of-concept (PoC) tests for future social implementation.
The new prototype achieved functional operation with the high-speed PCIe 5.0 interface, which is twice the bandwidth of the previous PCIe 4.0 generation, through the combination of AIO Core's IOCore optical transceiver and Kyocera's OPTINITY optoelectronic integration module technologies. In next-generation green data centers, by replacing the electrical wiring interface with optical and utilizing broadband optical SSD technology significantly increases the physical distance between the compute and storage devices, while maintaining energy efficiency and high signal quality. It also contributes to the flexibility and efficiency of data center system design, where digital diversification and the evolution of generative AI require complex, high-volume, high-speed data processing.
The new prototype achieved functional operation with the high-speed PCIe 5.0 interface, which is twice the bandwidth of the previous PCIe 4.0 generation, through the combination of AIO Core's IOCore optical transceiver and Kyocera's OPTINITY optoelectronic integration module technologies. In next-generation green data centers, by replacing the electrical wiring interface with optical and utilizing broadband optical SSD technology significantly increases the physical distance between the compute and storage devices, while maintaining energy efficiency and high signal quality. It also contributes to the flexibility and efficiency of data center system design, where digital diversification and the evolution of generative AI require complex, high-volume, high-speed data processing.
Beelink Introduces SEi13 Pro Mini PC with Intel Core i9-13900HK
Beelink has unveiled its latest mini PC, the SEi13 Pro. It runs on an Intel Core i9-13900HK processor and Intel Iris Xe Graphics. This compact computer measuring 135x135x44.7 mm uses a hybrid CPU setup with performance and efficiency cores making it suitable for multitasking. The SEi13 Pro can interact with voice commands due to its built-in mic, which gets a boost from a B1 AI chip. This technology offers smart audio pickup with 360-degree omnidirectional coverage, capable of recognizing human voices within a 5-meter radius while filtering out background noise. The mini PC has two built-in speakers enhanced by DSP and a professional amplifier. The cooling system draws air from the bottom of the unit, allowing for near-silent operation at just 32dB.
On the hardware side, the SEi13 Pro is equipped with 32 GB of LPDDR5 RAM from Micron and includes an SSD from Crucial. Storage expansion is possible through dual SSD slots that support up to 8 TB. A practical dustproof design is implemented with a high-density metal filter at the bottom, preventing dust accumulation. For connectivity, the SEi13 Pro supports triple-display output through HDMI (4K at 60 Hz), DisplayPort 1.4 (4K at 144 Hz), and a rear USB-C port, allowing users to connect multiple monitors simultaneously. The SEi13 Pro with 32 GB RAM and 1 TB SSD is listed at $539 on Beelink website in two color options, space gray and frost silver.
On the hardware side, the SEi13 Pro is equipped with 32 GB of LPDDR5 RAM from Micron and includes an SSD from Crucial. Storage expansion is possible through dual SSD slots that support up to 8 TB. A practical dustproof design is implemented with a high-density metal filter at the bottom, preventing dust accumulation. For connectivity, the SEi13 Pro supports triple-display output through HDMI (4K at 60 Hz), DisplayPort 1.4 (4K at 144 Hz), and a rear USB-C port, allowing users to connect multiple monitors simultaneously. The SEi13 Pro with 32 GB RAM and 1 TB SSD is listed at $539 on Beelink website in two color options, space gray and frost silver.
Zephyr Showcases GeForce RTX 4070 "Sakura Snow X" Model, Sports a Compact CNC-produced Aluminium Enclosure
Zephyr has presented a new Small Form Factor (SFF) graphics card design that houses previous-gen NVIDIA GPU hardware. The Chinese board partner showcased its GeForce RTX 4070-based "Sakura Snow X" via a 1-minute 42-second long teaser video; according to their bilibili channel this compact wonder is: "the world's first mass-produced CNC single-fan graphics card. A small space aesthetic benchmark—a balance of high performance and exquisite size." Zephyr's latest Mini-ITX offering seems to be a more premium—in terms of enclosure materials—alternative to last year's GeForce RTX 4070 12 GB "Sakura Blizzard" model—examples were placed next to each other in the AIB's demonstration video (aluminium versus plastic). This brand-new dual-slot entrant has arrived with a slightly larger cooling solution (see relevant screenshot below), and a fancier 105 mm airflow fan design—outfitted with more blades (11 vs. 9). VideoCardz has observed "Sakura Snow X" first batch listings on an undisclosed Chinese e-tail platform; launch pricing seems to be 4399 RMB (~$602 USD).
Unlike its pink-hued sibling, Zephyr's sober metal design integrates an I/O plate—giving off the impression of a unibody-esque setup. SFF enthusiasts will welcome this truly compact design, albeit with the disadvantage of playing host to old hat "Ada Lovelace" silicon. Throughout early 2025, Team Green and certain manufacturing partners have hyped up various "SFF-Ready" new-gen solutions. Last week, ZOTAC updated its "Blackwell" gaming portfolio with a dual-slot GeForce RTX 5070 Ti SOLID SFF card. This slimmed down triple-fan option is still a lengthy prospect (304.4 mm); thus quickly dismissed as unworthy of its moniker by compact graphics solution connoisseurs. Similarly, GIGABYTE sells 304 mm-long "SFF" variants—launched months ago in WINDFORCE and EAGLE guises.
Unlike its pink-hued sibling, Zephyr's sober metal design integrates an I/O plate—giving off the impression of a unibody-esque setup. SFF enthusiasts will welcome this truly compact design, albeit with the disadvantage of playing host to old hat "Ada Lovelace" silicon. Throughout early 2025, Team Green and certain manufacturing partners have hyped up various "SFF-Ready" new-gen solutions. Last week, ZOTAC updated its "Blackwell" gaming portfolio with a dual-slot GeForce RTX 5070 Ti SOLID SFF card. This slimmed down triple-fan option is still a lengthy prospect (304.4 mm); thus quickly dismissed as unworthy of its moniker by compact graphics solution connoisseurs. Similarly, GIGABYTE sells 304 mm-long "SFF" variants—launched months ago in WINDFORCE and EAGLE guises.
Naughty Dog & Nixxes Celebrate The Last of Us Part II Remastered's Launch on PC
Hey everyone, The Last of Us Part II Remastered is available now on PC! We're excited to bring Ellie and Abby's acclaimed stories and the roguelike survival mode No Return to a new audience. We invite you to join us on the Steam Community forums to discuss the game and share your feedback. If you run into any issues and require support, please reach out to Nixxes Support. The teams at Nixxes and Naughty Dog are closely monitoring player feedback and working on post-launch updates.
Experience the winner of over 300 Game of the Year awards, now on PC. Discover Ellie and Abby's story with graphical enhancements, gameplay modes like the roguelike survival experience No Return, and more.
[Editor's note: Our in-depth performance review of TLOU Part 2 is now live]
Experience the winner of over 300 Game of the Year awards, now on PC. Discover Ellie and Abby's story with graphical enhancements, gameplay modes like the roguelike survival experience No Return, and more.
Nintendo Confirms That Switch 2 Joy-Cons Will Not Utilize Hall Effect Stick Technology
Following last week's jam-packed Switch 2 presentation, Nintendo staffers engaged in conversation with media outlets. To the surprise of many, a high level member of the incoming console's design team was quite comfortable with his name-dropping of NVIDIA graphics technologies. Meanwhile, Team Green was tasked with the disclosing of Switch 2's "internal" workings. Attention has turned to the much anticipated-hybrid console's bundled-in detachable Joy-Cons—in the lead up to official unveilings, online debates swirled around potential next-gen controllers being upgraded with Hall Effect joystick modules. Many owners of first-gen Switch systems have expressed frustration regarding faulty Joy-Cons—eventually, Nintendo was coerced into offering free repairs for customers affected by dreaded "stick drift" issues. Unfortunately, it seems that the House of Mario has not opted to outfit its Gen 2.0 Joy-Cons with popular "anti-drift" tech.
As reported by Nintendo Life, Nate Bihldorff—senior vice president of product development and publishing at Nintendo of America—"outright confirmed the exclusion" of Hall Effect. Up until the publication of Nintendo Life's sit down interview, other company representatives have opined that Switch 2's default control system features very "durable feeling" sticks. When asked about the reason behind "new-gen modules (feeling) so different to the original Switch's analog stick," Bihldorff responded with: "well, the Joy-Con 2's controllers have been designed from the ground up. They're not Hall Effect sticks, but they feel really good. Did you experience both the Joy-Con and the Pro Controller?" The interviewer confirmed that they had prior experience with both new models. In response, Bihldorff continued: "so, I like both, but that Pro Controller, for some reason the first time I grabbed it, I was like, 'this feels like a GameCube controller.' I was a GameCube guy. Something about it felt so familiar, but the stick on that especially. I tried to spend a lot of time making sure that it was quiet. I don't know if you tried really whacking the stick around, but it really is (quiet)...(The Switch 2 Pro Controller) is one of the quietest controllers I've ever played." Nintendo will likely not discuss the "ins and outs" of its proprietary stick design, but inevitable independent teardowns of commercial hardware could verify the provenance of underlying mechanisms. Nowadays, hardcore game controller snobs prefer third-party solutions that sport Tunneling Magnetoresistance (TMR) joysticks.
As reported by Nintendo Life, Nate Bihldorff—senior vice president of product development and publishing at Nintendo of America—"outright confirmed the exclusion" of Hall Effect. Up until the publication of Nintendo Life's sit down interview, other company representatives have opined that Switch 2's default control system features very "durable feeling" sticks. When asked about the reason behind "new-gen modules (feeling) so different to the original Switch's analog stick," Bihldorff responded with: "well, the Joy-Con 2's controllers have been designed from the ground up. They're not Hall Effect sticks, but they feel really good. Did you experience both the Joy-Con and the Pro Controller?" The interviewer confirmed that they had prior experience with both new models. In response, Bihldorff continued: "so, I like both, but that Pro Controller, for some reason the first time I grabbed it, I was like, 'this feels like a GameCube controller.' I was a GameCube guy. Something about it felt so familiar, but the stick on that especially. I tried to spend a lot of time making sure that it was quiet. I don't know if you tried really whacking the stick around, but it really is (quiet)...(The Switch 2 Pro Controller) is one of the quietest controllers I've ever played." Nintendo will likely not discuss the "ins and outs" of its proprietary stick design, but inevitable independent teardowns of commercial hardware could verify the provenance of underlying mechanisms. Nowadays, hardcore game controller snobs prefer third-party solutions that sport Tunneling Magnetoresistance (TMR) joysticks.
Kiloview Introduces their AMD Ryzen Embedded-powered X86-64 Compute Card
Unlock Infinite Possibilities in AV-over-IP with Kiloview X86-64 Compute Card powered by AMD. At Kiloview, we design solutions that empower AV professionals with unmatched flexibility and seamless operation. That's why we created the X86-64 Compute Card for the Cradle Series RF02—bringing the power of a PC into a professional AV server to simplify workflows and maximize expandability. Powered by AMD Ryzen Embedded 8645HS and Radeon 780M GPU, this high-performance computing module allows users to run Kiloview's software ecosystem or any third-party applications—from Multiview, Routing, Recording to Mixing, Switching and production, and more—all on a unified platform. With this, your AV workflow is no longer limited by hardware constraints. With software-defined flexibility and AMD's processing power, we've made AV-over-IP easier than ever.
Modern media workflows demand uncompromising performance. From 4K multi-channel encoding/decoding to ultra-low latency streaming, broadcasters and content creators need solutions with both raw power and flexibility. This is where Kiloview's latest X86-64 Compute Card, advanced by AMD, comes into play. By integrating a high-performance computing architecture from AMD with Kiloview's KiloLink Server Technology, users can significantly enhance overall efficiency for their AV production and device management. The KiloLink Server optimizes the process of IP-based video transmission to remotely bulk upgrade, restore, reset, or restart any paired Kiloview products with just a few clicks.
Modern media workflows demand uncompromising performance. From 4K multi-channel encoding/decoding to ultra-low latency streaming, broadcasters and content creators need solutions with both raw power and flexibility. This is where Kiloview's latest X86-64 Compute Card, advanced by AMD, comes into play. By integrating a high-performance computing architecture from AMD with Kiloview's KiloLink Server Technology, users can significantly enhance overall efficiency for their AV production and device management. The KiloLink Server optimizes the process of IP-based video transmission to remotely bulk upgrade, restore, reset, or restart any paired Kiloview products with just a few clicks.
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 Ti & 5060 128-bit Memory Interfaces "Confirmed" by Leaked Shipping Manifest
Last month, PG152 board designs were linked to NVIDIA's rumored lineup of upcoming GeForce RTX 5060 Ti, RTX 5060, and RTX 5050 "Blackwell" GPUs. Despite the emergence of fairly legitimate looking "incomplete" technical information, claimed "128-bit memory bus" spec points (for all lower end cards) did not sit well with a portion of the PC gaming hardware community. In theory, Team Green could roll out truly next-generation budget offerings with 192-bit buses, rather than repeat some of its GeForce RTX 4060 "Ada Lovelace" series homework. Two weeks ago, a GeForce RTX 5060 Ti-specific "full specification" leak reiterated the design's (alleged) 128-bit wide GDDR7 memory interface.
Earlier today, VideoCardz unearthed another example—sourced from shipping manifests—of NVIDIA outfitting PG152 boards with a 128-bit memory bus. The "PG152 SKU 25" and "PG152 SKU 10" identifiers seem to confirm the existence of GeForce RTX 5060 and GeForce RTX 5060 Ti graphics cards (respectively)—the latter design is reportedly due for launch next week. The "wallet friendly" end of Team Green's "Blackwell" GPU spectrum is expected to utilize GDDR7 memory; thus elevating new-gen options above preceding hardware. An advantageous generational leap grants bandwidths of 448.0 GB/s, rather than 288.0 GB/s.
Earlier today, VideoCardz unearthed another example—sourced from shipping manifests—of NVIDIA outfitting PG152 boards with a 128-bit memory bus. The "PG152 SKU 25" and "PG152 SKU 10" identifiers seem to confirm the existence of GeForce RTX 5060 and GeForce RTX 5060 Ti graphics cards (respectively)—the latter design is reportedly due for launch next week. The "wallet friendly" end of Team Green's "Blackwell" GPU spectrum is expected to utilize GDDR7 memory; thus elevating new-gen options above preceding hardware. An advantageous generational leap grants bandwidths of 448.0 GB/s, rather than 288.0 GB/s.
Modulus Demo Available Now on Steam, Happy Volcano Devs Discuss Creative Process
Hey Module Makers, and welcome to a special edition of the Modulus Dev Log! We've got big news: the Modulus demo is officially live! If you've been waiting to dive into our factory automation sandbox, now's the perfect time to jump in, start optimizing, and let those conveyor belts roll. But today, we're not just celebrating the demo launch, we're also taking a look back at how Modulus has evolved throughout development. From early prototypes to the design choices that shaped the demo, we're pulling back the curtain on what it takes to bring a game like this to life. As well as introducing you to some of the team.
Award-winning developer Happy Volcano (You Suck at Parking, The Almost Gone) and publisher Astra Logical are proud to announce the first-ever demo for Modulus, a factory automation game where players build every piece from the ground up with building-block modules. Cut, color, stamp, and assemble these modules to design an impressive factory with your own creative twist. There are no fixed recipes in Modulus. Players produce each construct from the very modules they manufacture, resulting in a highly personalized approach to factory-building. Witness these structures rise and construct in real time, with each block becoming a visible part of the design. The more complex the buildings, the more advanced the modules must become.
Award-winning developer Happy Volcano (You Suck at Parking, The Almost Gone) and publisher Astra Logical are proud to announce the first-ever demo for Modulus, a factory automation game where players build every piece from the ground up with building-block modules. Cut, color, stamp, and assemble these modules to design an impressive factory with your own creative twist. There are no fixed recipes in Modulus. Players produce each construct from the very modules they manufacture, resulting in a highly personalized approach to factory-building. Witness these structures rise and construct in real time, with each block becoming a visible part of the design. The more complex the buildings, the more advanced the modules must become.
"Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 2" SoC Tipped to Support LPDDR5X/LPDDR6 Memory
Late last month, speculative Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 2 (aka SM8850) technical details emerged online. Up until then, Digital Chat Station's Weibo channel has delivered all sorts of pre-release information—mostly concentrating on Qualcomm's alleged redeployment of a familiar "2 + 6" core configuration, and selection of TSMC's 3 nm "N3P" node process. Earlier today, the veteran leaker predicted a couple of new-gen improvements—first concentrating on the alleged mobile chipset's "Adreno 840" integrated graphics solution. Digital Chat Station (DCS) believes that the company's engineering team has increased their iGPU design's independent cache size "from 12 MB to 16 MB," leading to: "early setting performance increased by 30%±." It is not clear whether this rumored upgrade has affected the SoC's L2 or L3 cache provisions, but the current-gen Snapdragon 8 Elite mobile processor makes do with 12 MB of L2 cache per cluster. Additionally, DCS reckons that an enlargement of caches has resulted in performance of Qualcomm's "second-generation self-developed CPU architecture" increasing "by 25%±."
As interpreted by Wccftech: "the upcoming SoC will now feature 32 MB of L2 cache, with the L3 count currently unknown at this time. The initial test results revealed that the 'Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 2' delivered a 30 percent performance increase, but it is unconfirmed if this delta exists between the Snapdragon 8 Elite or some other silicon." DCS has heard whispers about the upcoming chip supporting "new generations of high-speed LPDDR5X/LPDDR6" memory. The mentioning of LPDDR5X is not surprising; given that the current Snapdragon 8 Elite model is already up to snuff with this spec. Just over a year ago, JEDEC was reportedly working on the finalization of LPDDR6 standards for mobile platforms. Shortly thereafter, smartphone industry watchdogs started to theorize about the arrival of a so-called "Snapdragon 8 Gen 4" chip with LPDDR6 RAM in 2025. Fast-forward to the present day; fresh reports suggest that manufacturers will have the option to outfit next-gen flagship devices with "bog-standard" LPDDR5X or faster/more efficient LPDDR6 memory.
As interpreted by Wccftech: "the upcoming SoC will now feature 32 MB of L2 cache, with the L3 count currently unknown at this time. The initial test results revealed that the 'Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 2' delivered a 30 percent performance increase, but it is unconfirmed if this delta exists between the Snapdragon 8 Elite or some other silicon." DCS has heard whispers about the upcoming chip supporting "new generations of high-speed LPDDR5X/LPDDR6" memory. The mentioning of LPDDR5X is not surprising; given that the current Snapdragon 8 Elite model is already up to snuff with this spec. Just over a year ago, JEDEC was reportedly working on the finalization of LPDDR6 standards for mobile platforms. Shortly thereafter, smartphone industry watchdogs started to theorize about the arrival of a so-called "Snapdragon 8 Gen 4" chip with LPDDR6 RAM in 2025. Fast-forward to the present day; fresh reports suggest that manufacturers will have the option to outfit next-gen flagship devices with "bog-standard" LPDDR5X or faster/more efficient LPDDR6 memory.
Path of Exile 2: Dawn of the Hunt Launches Today With a New Huntress Character Class
Unleash mayhem today in Path of Exile 2: Dawn of the Hunt, which introduces the Huntress - a powerful hybrid melee and ranged spear wielder, new changes to the endgame, and three free cosmetics which can be gained through Twitch Drops! Key highlights of the first major content update include:
- Huntress Class: Agile combat blending melee and ranged attacks with spear techniques and beast companions.
- Five Ascendancies: Customize your playstyle with new paths like the Ritualist's blood sacrifices and the Lich's chaotic powers.
- Expanded Endgame: Revamped mechanics, new Unique Maps, and enhanced Towers for more rewarding late-game content.
- Over 100 New Support Gems: Build diversity expands with innovative skill modifiers like Haemocrystals, Caltrops, and Enormity.
- Unique Items & Crafting: Over 100 Mid and Endgame Unique items, our first Unique Charms, crafting updates, and powerful runes.
- Rogue Exiles: Experience PVP-like combat in dynamic duels and battle against Rogue Exiles, who have Dodge Roll capabilities with smart pathfinding, targeting, and action-packed gameplay. Gain their loot upon defeating them!
La Quimera Launching on April 25 - Reburn Will Host a Closed Beta on Steam; Starting April 12
Reburn is excited to announce that La Quimera, its narrative-driven first-person-shooter game set in a futuristic Latin American megalopolis, will release on April 25 on PC via Steam. La Quimera will be priced at MSRP $29.99/€29.99. To prepare for the launch, Reburn is hosting a closed beta for 24 hours starting April 12 at 7 a.m. PT/2 p.m. UTC. Fans can request closed beta access on La Quimera's Steam page, though slots are limited. Participants will be able to access a part of a pivotal mid-game mission in solo or co-op play. "Our Reburn team can't wait to finally share our hard work and vision for La Quimera with players on April 25," said Dmytro Lymar, CEO and co-founder of Reburn. "Ahead of our release, we invite players to join us in our closed beta to get an early look at the co-op experience for our vision of Nuevo Caracas and far beyond."
In addition, eager FPS fans can get an extended look at the title's unique blend of sci-fi world building, Latin American mysticism, and tense shooter combat in the first gameplay trailer. The gameplay trailer pulls back the curtain on La Quimera's intriguing blend of exosuit abilities, futuristic weaponry, and robotic enemies standing between the PMC and its objectives. Render enemies vulnerable with a multi-target electric shock, scan for hidden threats, dodge certain death with the exosuit's agility, and more. Even better, La Quimera players can suit up with two additional friends throughout each mission for co-op action, coordinating combat tactics and experiencing the city and jungles of Nuevo Caracas together.
In addition, eager FPS fans can get an extended look at the title's unique blend of sci-fi world building, Latin American mysticism, and tense shooter combat in the first gameplay trailer. The gameplay trailer pulls back the curtain on La Quimera's intriguing blend of exosuit abilities, futuristic weaponry, and robotic enemies standing between the PMC and its objectives. Render enemies vulnerable with a multi-target electric shock, scan for hidden threats, dodge certain death with the exosuit's agility, and more. Even better, La Quimera players can suit up with two additional friends throughout each mission for co-op action, coordinating combat tactics and experiencing the city and jungles of Nuevo Caracas together.
"Space Adventure Cobra - The Awakening" Reveals Exciting New Trailer
Microids is excited to reveal an all-new trailer for Space Adventure Cobra - The Awakening, a thrilling video game adaptation of the iconic animated series produced by TMS, which itself is based on the beloved manga by Buichi Terasawa. Set to launch on August 26, 2025, the game will be available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, and PC.
Developed by the talented studio Magic Pockets, this game will offer players around the world a unique opportunity to relive the thrilling adventures of Cobra by exploring the first 12 episodes of the series, featuring one of its most iconic arcs: the Captain Nelson's treasure.
Developed by the talented studio Magic Pockets, this game will offer players around the world a unique opportunity to relive the thrilling adventures of Cobra by exploring the first 12 episodes of the series, featuring one of its most iconic arcs: the Captain Nelson's treasure.
ASUS GeForce RTX 5060 Ti TUF Gaming & PRIME SKUs Leaked; 16 GB & 8 GB Variants Listed
A past weekend leak has presented five unannounced custom GeForce RTX 5060 Ti graphics card models, courtesy of a momomo_us discovery. ASUS seems to be readying day one options in TUF Gaming and PRIME guises, configured with pools of 16 GB and 8 GB VRAM. NVIDIA and involved board partners are expected to launch new lower end "Blackwell" GPU products next week. Industry whispers suggest that Team Green will lift its GeForce RTX 5060 Ti review embargo on April 15.
Alleged benchmark results were highlighted last weekend, preceded by speculative price points—suggesting an imminent arrival. momomo_us did not disclose the origin of the mystery ASUS GeForce RTX 5060 Ti model identifiers, but VideoCardz has found various TUF Gaming and PRIME listings on retail and distributor web presences. Their short investigative piece envisions the eventual arrival of GB206 GPU-based budget-friendly DUAL and premium tier ROG Strix cards.
Alleged benchmark results were highlighted last weekend, preceded by speculative price points—suggesting an imminent arrival. momomo_us did not disclose the origin of the mystery ASUS GeForce RTX 5060 Ti model identifiers, but VideoCardz has found various TUF Gaming and PRIME listings on retail and distributor web presences. Their short investigative piece envisions the eventual arrival of GB206 GPU-based budget-friendly DUAL and premium tier ROG Strix cards.
Meta's Llama 4 Can Process 10 Million Tokens as Input, Lives in Native Multimodality
Meta has prepared a leap-forward update for its Llama model series with the v4 release, entering an era of native multimodality within the company's AI models. At the forefront is Llama 4 Scout, a model boasting 17 billion active parameters distributed across 16 experts in a mixture-of-experts (MoE) configuration. With FP4 precision, this model is engineered to run entirely on a single NVIDIA H100 GPU. Scout now supports an industry-leading input context window of up to 10 million tokens, a substantial leap from previous limits like Google's old Gemini 1.5 Pro, which came with 2 million token input content. Llama 4 Scout is built using a hybrid dense and MoE architecture, which selectively activates only a subset of each token's total parameters, optimizing training and inference efficiency. This architecture not only accelerates computation but also reduces associated costs.
Meanwhile, Llama 4 Maverick, another model in the series, also features 17 billion active parameters but incorporates 128 experts, scaling to 400 billion total parameters. Maverick has demonstrated superior performance in coding, image understanding, multilingual processing, and logical reasoning, even outperforming several leading models in its class. Both models embrace native multimodality by integrating text and image data early in the processing pipeline. Utilizing a custom MetaCLIP-based vision encoder, these models can simultaneously process multiple images and text, combining tokens into a single backend processor. This ensures robust visual comprehension and precise object anchoring, powering applications such as detailed image description, visual question-answering, and analysis of temporal image sequences.
Meanwhile, Llama 4 Maverick, another model in the series, also features 17 billion active parameters but incorporates 128 experts, scaling to 400 billion total parameters. Maverick has demonstrated superior performance in coding, image understanding, multilingual processing, and logical reasoning, even outperforming several leading models in its class. Both models embrace native multimodality by integrating text and image data early in the processing pipeline. Utilizing a custom MetaCLIP-based vision encoder, these models can simultaneously process multiple images and text, combining tokens into a single backend processor. This ensures robust visual comprehension and precise object anchoring, powering applications such as detailed image description, visual question-answering, and analysis of temporal image sequences.
Industry's First-to-Market Supermicro NVIDIA HGX B200 Systems Demonstrate AI Performance Leadership
Super Micro Computer, Inc. (SMCI), a Total IT Solution Provider for AI/ML, HPC, Cloud, Storage, and 5G/Edge, has announced first-to-market industry leading performance on several MLPerf Inference v5.0 benchmarks, using the 8-GPU. The 4U liquid-cooled and 10U air-cooled systems achieved the best performance in select benchmarks. Supermicro demonstrated more than 3 times the tokens per second (Token/s) generation for Llama2-70B and Llama3.1-405B benchmarks compared to H200 8-GPU systems. "Supermicro remains a leader in the AI industry, as evidenced by the first new benchmarks released by MLCommons in 2025," said Charles Liang, president and CEO of Supermicro. "Our building block architecture enables us to be first-to-market with a diverse range of systems optimized for various workloads. We continue to collaborate closely with NVIDIA to fine-tune our systems and secure a leadership position in AI workloads." Learn more about the new MLPerf v5.0 Inference benchmarks here.
Supermicro is the only system vendor publishing record MLPerf inference performance (on select benchmarks) for both the air-cooled and liquid-cooled NVIDIA HGX B200 8-GPU systems. Both air-cooled and liquid-cooled systems were operational before the MLCommons benchmark start date. Supermicro engineers optimized the systems and software to showcase the impressive performance. Within the operating margin, the Supermicro air-cooled B200 system exhibited the same level of performance as the liquid-cooled B200 system. Supermicro has been delivering these systems to customers while we conducted the benchmarks. MLCommons emphasizes that all results be reproducible, that the products are available and that the results can be audited by other MLCommons members. Supermicro engineers optimized the systems and software, as allowed by the MLCommons rules.
Supermicro is the only system vendor publishing record MLPerf inference performance (on select benchmarks) for both the air-cooled and liquid-cooled NVIDIA HGX B200 8-GPU systems. Both air-cooled and liquid-cooled systems were operational before the MLCommons benchmark start date. Supermicro engineers optimized the systems and software to showcase the impressive performance. Within the operating margin, the Supermicro air-cooled B200 system exhibited the same level of performance as the liquid-cooled B200 system. Supermicro has been delivering these systems to customers while we conducted the benchmarks. MLCommons emphasizes that all results be reproducible, that the products are available and that the results can be audited by other MLCommons members. Supermicro engineers optimized the systems and software, as allowed by the MLCommons rules.
Two Unannounced AMD Ryzen Z2 APU Models Leaked, Flagship Could be "AI Z2 Extreme"
Three months ago, AMD unveiled its Ryzen Z2 APU series at CES 2025—purpose made for deployment in next-gen handheld gaming PCs. The officially announced flagship—Ryzen Z2 Extreme "Strix Point," utilizing Zen 5 and RDNA 3.5 technologies—was previously alluded to by leakers in late 2024; albeit with some curious claims regarding an "odd 3+5 core configuration." Last week, Hoang Anh Phu (@AnhPhuH) presented an alleged expanded lineup of Ryzen Z2 processors—headlined by a mysterious "Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme" SKU.
PC hardware watchdogs believe that this speculative variant will eventually arrive with an enabled XDNA 2 NPU (a first for the series); likely readied to take on Intel's Core Ultra 200V "Lunar Lake" processor family. MSI's Core Ultra 7 258V-powered Claw 8 AI+ and Claw 7 AI+ handhelds launched not too long ago, boasting all sorts of Microsoft Copilot+ capabilities. Mid-way through March, an Xbox executive introduced "Copilot for Gaming." Team Red and manufacturing partners are likely jumping onto this "AI gaming" bandwagon with the aforementioned "AI Ryzen Z2 Extreme" chip, as well as Phu's fanciful "Ryzen Z2 A" model. The latter could be a spin-off of AMD's vanilla Ryzen Z2 "Hawk Point" design, with a "switched on" XDNA NPU.
PC hardware watchdogs believe that this speculative variant will eventually arrive with an enabled XDNA 2 NPU (a first for the series); likely readied to take on Intel's Core Ultra 200V "Lunar Lake" processor family. MSI's Core Ultra 7 258V-powered Claw 8 AI+ and Claw 7 AI+ handhelds launched not too long ago, boasting all sorts of Microsoft Copilot+ capabilities. Mid-way through March, an Xbox executive introduced "Copilot for Gaming." Team Red and manufacturing partners are likely jumping onto this "AI gaming" bandwagon with the aforementioned "AI Ryzen Z2 Extreme" chip, as well as Phu's fanciful "Ryzen Z2 A" model. The latter could be a spin-off of AMD's vanilla Ryzen Z2 "Hawk Point" design, with a "switched on" XDNA NPU.
ASUS Unveils Signature Edition Zenbook Series at "Design You Can Feel"
ASUS today announced the global unveiling of a signature edition series of its iconic Zenbook at the "Design You Can Feel" exhibition in Milan. This exclusive release transforms the celebrated Zenbook into a narrative of nature's splendor through four distinct, nature-inspired finishes, each a tribute to Earth's dynamic landscapes. At the same time, it reinforces the Zenbook series' legacy of combining high-performance technology with refined, functional aesthetics.
Signature Edition Series: A tribute to nature's elements
In this unique series, each Zenbook is transformed into a narrative piece that echoes the beauty and complexity of nature. Crafted using the revolutionary ASUS Ceraluminum technology—a breakthrough material that merges the strength of aluminium with the durability of ceramic—each signature edition finish is created with a sustainable, one-of-a-kind manufacturing process:
Signature Edition Series: A tribute to nature's elements
In this unique series, each Zenbook is transformed into a narrative piece that echoes the beauty and complexity of nature. Crafted using the revolutionary ASUS Ceraluminum technology—a breakthrough material that merges the strength of aluminium with the durability of ceramic—each signature edition finish is created with a sustainable, one-of-a-kind manufacturing process:
China Develops HDMI Alternative: 192 Gbps Speeds and 480 W Power Delivery
A consortium of over 50 Chinese companies, including names like Huawei, Hisense, and TCL, has unveiled a domestic alternative to HDMI that offers up to 192 Gbps bandwidth and 480 W of power delivery. This new standard, the General Purpose Media Interface (GPMI), supports next-generation multimedia devices, meeting the growing demands of 8K resolution, higher refresh rates, and simplified connectivity. There are two variants available: a smaller Type-C model providing 96 Gbps and 240 W and a larger Type-B model delivering the full 192 Gbps and 480 W. Developed as a third-generation audio and video interface, GPMI addresses the limitations of older standards such as DVI and VGA while vastly outperforming HDMI 2.1's 48 Gbps and DisplayPort 2.1's 80 Gbps in data throughput. Its design enables bidirectional communication, seamlessly transmitting video, audio, data, and power over a single cable.
The standard's architecture includes a primary data link that can be split into various configurations—such as 6+2 or 1+7 channels—to adapt to different usage scenarios. In addition to its high-bandwidth data channels, GPMI features auxiliary links for device management, cable information, and a limited USB 2.0 connection. The Type-C variant, which has received approval from the USB Association, ensures compatibility with the USB-C ecosystem, helping with the integration for smart TVs and other connected devices. Primarily developed for the domestic market, GPMI also aims to reduce China's dependence on Western-controlled standards and licensing regimes.
The standard's architecture includes a primary data link that can be split into various configurations—such as 6+2 or 1+7 channels—to adapt to different usage scenarios. In addition to its high-bandwidth data channels, GPMI features auxiliary links for device management, cable information, and a limited USB 2.0 connection. The Type-C variant, which has received approval from the USB Association, ensures compatibility with the USB-C ecosystem, helping with the integration for smart TVs and other connected devices. Primarily developed for the domestic market, GPMI also aims to reduce China's dependence on Western-controlled standards and licensing regimes.
Blue Prince Previewed Ahead of April 10 Launch, Coming to PC & Consoles
It's not every day that you turn on a game and realize you can't even describe its genre. Blue Prince—arriving on April 10 for Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, PC (Steam), PS+ Game Catalogue and Game Pass—is a beautifully confounding thing. It's part first-person puzzle, part-strategy deckbuilder, part-roguelite, part-narrative mystery box—and yet none of these quite communicate exactly what developer Dogubomb has managed to create here. You play as Simon, who's just inherited a 45-room estate called Mount Holly—or he will inherit it, if he can find its secret, seemingly impossible 46th room. There's also the small matter of Mount Holly being, well, magical. Every day, its floor plan changes, asking you to piece it back together again—making each journey to discover that secret room an entirely new challenge.
If that sounds a bit confusing, that's entirely the point. Blue Prince is remarkably light on traditional tutorials, instead dropping hints and tips in its shifting rooms along the way. Initially, you'll need to throw yourself into the core process of drafting rooms—upon opening each door you come across, you'll draw three possible rooms that could be behind it, drawn from a pool of potentials. Some rooms are rarer than others, while others will only appear in specific place, but almost every one includes something to collect, a puzzle to solve, or a wider effect on your current run.
If that sounds a bit confusing, that's entirely the point. Blue Prince is remarkably light on traditional tutorials, instead dropping hints and tips in its shifting rooms along the way. Initially, you'll need to throw yourself into the core process of drafting rooms—upon opening each door you come across, you'll draw three possible rooms that could be behind it, drawn from a pool of potentials. Some rooms are rarer than others, while others will only appear in specific place, but almost every one includes something to collect, a puzzle to solve, or a wider effect on your current run.
AMD Radeon RX 9070 Can be Flashed with RX 9070 XT BIOS to Increase Power Limits and Clocks
PC Games Hardware (PCGH) discovered that certain AMD Radeon RX 9070 graphics cards can be flashed with the video BIOS of RX 9070 XT of a comparable board design, to achieve higher clock speeds and power limits. While the flash won't unlock any new shaders—you're still limited to 56 CU or 3,584 stream processors—it gives the RX 9070 increased power limits and clock speeds of the faster SKU. More importantly, the flashed RX 9070 was found to offer significantly improved overclocking headroom, and PCGH was able to tune up performance by 15-20% over stock RX 9070, bringing its performance to match a stock RX 9070 XT, which was confirmed by a set of 3DMark benchmarks.
There are, however, some caveats. The most obvious one is that BIOS flashing is fraught with risks, and unless you have a card with dual-BIOS, you really need to know what you're doing. Secondly, BIOS flashing might only work between two cards that share a common board design. AMD board partners tend to use nearly identical board designs between the RX 9070 and RX 9070 XT, at least for the value segment SKUs. And lastly, there is no software tool that can flash Radeon RX 9000 series GPUs yet, the modder used a hardware flashing tool that interfaces with the 8-pin BIOS ROM chip on the card. The flashed card does not display "XT" in the name string.
Update 13:23 UTC: Our resident hardware guru W1zzard has the following explanation for why the card's name does not change. On AMD cards, the revision ID field is used to distinguish between variants of the same GPU. On the RX 9070 Series, the XT models uses "C0" and the non-XT uses "C3." In the past, the AMD BIOS stored the revision ID of the card, and flashing the BIOS would change the value that Windows sees, and thus the model name will change accordingly. With Navi 4x, AMD made a change to their BIOS format, so that the revision ID can no longer be changed, which protects against fake cards, but in this case it means that some properties like power limits, clocks, etc. can swap to values from the BIOS, but all the IDs and unit counts remain fixed.
There are, however, some caveats. The most obvious one is that BIOS flashing is fraught with risks, and unless you have a card with dual-BIOS, you really need to know what you're doing. Secondly, BIOS flashing might only work between two cards that share a common board design. AMD board partners tend to use nearly identical board designs between the RX 9070 and RX 9070 XT, at least for the value segment SKUs. And lastly, there is no software tool that can flash Radeon RX 9000 series GPUs yet, the modder used a hardware flashing tool that interfaces with the 8-pin BIOS ROM chip on the card. The flashed card does not display "XT" in the name string.
Update 13:23 UTC: Our resident hardware guru W1zzard has the following explanation for why the card's name does not change. On AMD cards, the revision ID field is used to distinguish between variants of the same GPU. On the RX 9070 Series, the XT models uses "C0" and the non-XT uses "C3." In the past, the AMD BIOS stored the revision ID of the card, and flashing the BIOS would change the value that Windows sees, and thus the model name will change accordingly. With Navi 4x, AMD made a change to their BIOS format, so that the revision ID can no longer be changed, which protects against fake cards, but in this case it means that some properties like power limits, clocks, etc. can swap to values from the BIOS, but all the IDs and unit counts remain fixed.
UGREEN Showcases the New AI-Powered NASync iDX Series at NAB Show 2025
From April 6-9th, UGREEN, a global leader in consumer electronics and charging technology, is showcasing its innovative NASync series at the NAB Show in Las Vegas. The UGREEN NASync iDX6011 and iDX6011 Pro have been the highlights of the display at Booth SL9210 in the Las Vegas Convention Center. These latest UGREEN NASync iDX models revolutionize data management and security for content creators through advanced AI technology, setting a new standard as the world-first AI-powered NAS.
UGREEN NASync is a series of network-attached storage devices tailored for personal, home, or business use. In March 2024, UGREEN launched a 44-day crowdfunding campaign on Kickstarter for the NASync DXP series, successfully raising over $6.6 million achieved No.1 in the NAS category. This remarkable support highlights the strong demand for advanced storage solutions.
UGREEN NASync is a series of network-attached storage devices tailored for personal, home, or business use. In March 2024, UGREEN launched a 44-day crowdfunding campaign on Kickstarter for the NASync DXP series, successfully raising over $6.6 million achieved No.1 in the NAS category. This remarkable support highlights the strong demand for advanced storage solutions.
Colorful Unveils CVN X870 ARK FROZEN V14 Motherboard Featuring Proprietary GPU Quick-Release Mechanism
Colorful recently teased its new CVN motherboards series based on the AMD X870 chipset, and now the first model, CVN X870 ARK FROZEN V14, has been listed on the Colorful website. This motherboard marks the debut of Colorful's first-generation graphics card quick-release mechanism, featuring an "ON or OFF" switch placed just below the memory slots. Colorful advertises this proprietary design as being "really safe". The CVN X870 ARK FROZEN V14 motherboard features a standard ATX form factor with a striking white PCB and frost-themed heat dissipation armor. It boasts a 14+2+1 phase power supply design with 80 A DrMOS components and dual 8-pin EPS connectors for CPU power. In terms of memory, it has four DDR5 memory slots supporting up to 192 GB (single slot up to 48 GB) and allows up to 8000 MHz overclocked memory modules.
The PCIe configuration includes a PCIe 5.0 x16 slot directly connected to the CPU with metal reinforcement and quick-release support, a full-length PCIe 4.0 x4 slot (which shares lanes with the third M.2 slot), and a PCIe 4.0 x1 slot. For storage, users get two PCIe 5.0 x4 M.2 slots directly connected to the CPU and one PCIe 4.0 x4 M.2 slot via the chipset, which is mutually exclusive with the second PCIe slot. Additionally, the board includes four SATA III 6 Gbps ports. Networking options include a Realtek RTL8126-CG chip offering 5GbE wired connectivity and a MediaTek MT7925 module supporting Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4. The Realtek ALC1220 CODEC powers audio. The rear I/O provides HDMI 2.0, DisplayPort 1.2, multiple USB-A ports, a USB-C port with 40 Gbps bandwidth and DP Alt Mode support, a 5GbE RJ45 port, dual Wi-Fi antenna connectors, an S/PDIF out, and five standard audio jacks. According to ITHome, Colorful previously announced that the CVN X870 ARK FROZEN V14 will begin shipping around mid-April, pricing is yet to be revealed.
The PCIe configuration includes a PCIe 5.0 x16 slot directly connected to the CPU with metal reinforcement and quick-release support, a full-length PCIe 4.0 x4 slot (which shares lanes with the third M.2 slot), and a PCIe 4.0 x1 slot. For storage, users get two PCIe 5.0 x4 M.2 slots directly connected to the CPU and one PCIe 4.0 x4 M.2 slot via the chipset, which is mutually exclusive with the second PCIe slot. Additionally, the board includes four SATA III 6 Gbps ports. Networking options include a Realtek RTL8126-CG chip offering 5GbE wired connectivity and a MediaTek MT7925 module supporting Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4. The Realtek ALC1220 CODEC powers audio. The rear I/O provides HDMI 2.0, DisplayPort 1.2, multiple USB-A ports, a USB-C port with 40 Gbps bandwidth and DP Alt Mode support, a 5GbE RJ45 port, dual Wi-Fi antenna connectors, an S/PDIF out, and five standard audio jacks. According to ITHome, Colorful previously announced that the CVN X870 ARK FROZEN V14 will begin shipping around mid-April, pricing is yet to be revealed.
BOXX Showcases AMD Threadripper-Based Workstation at 2025 NAB Show
BOXX Technologies, the leading innovator of high-performance computer workstations, rendering systems, and servers, today announced that it is hosting demonstrations of its APEXX T4 PRO workstation inside BOXX booth #SL10113 at the 2025 NAB Show through April 9th, in Las Vegas, NV. Purpose-built to accelerate VFX, animation, compositing, film editing, and broadcast, the remarkably fast, liquid-cooled, and versatile workstation will be joined by FLEXX, the innovative BOXX data center workstation platform designed for on premise or remote installations.
BOXX APEXX: The Pinnacle of Performance
"APEXX T4 PRO is the media and entertainment workstation that does it all," said BOXX CEO Kirk Schell. "From the blazing fast AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO CPU and NVIDIA RTX PRO 6000 Blackwell GPUs, to renowned BOXX performance tuning like liquid cooling, this system delivers unrivaled, top-tier performance for all facets of post production, live broadcast, and virtual production."
BOXX APEXX: The Pinnacle of Performance
"APEXX T4 PRO is the media and entertainment workstation that does it all," said BOXX CEO Kirk Schell. "From the blazing fast AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO CPU and NVIDIA RTX PRO 6000 Blackwell GPUs, to renowned BOXX performance tuning like liquid cooling, this system delivers unrivaled, top-tier performance for all facets of post production, live broadcast, and virtual production."
Raspberry Pi Announces New 45 W USB-C Power Supply
Whether you're running a Raspberry Pi or charging a laptop, the quality of your power supply makes all the difference. Today, we're excited to introduce our best power supply yet, perfect for either task: the $15 Raspberry Pi 45 W USB-C Power Supply.
Efficient regulation
Every Raspberry Pi single-board computer we've ever sold needs flash storage and a power supply. And not just any flash storage or power supply: buying the cheapest SD card or USB wall wart you can find on Amazon is a guaranteed way to have a bad experience. So over time, we started to regulate the accessories offered by our Approved Resellers. We would test resellers' SD cards, to ensure that they had sufficient random-access performance and were resilient against thousands of unplanned power loss events. Last year, we took this to the next level, launching Raspberry Pi-branded A2-class SD cards and NVMe SSDs, which are now the only storage options promoted alongside our computers.
Efficient regulation
Every Raspberry Pi single-board computer we've ever sold needs flash storage and a power supply. And not just any flash storage or power supply: buying the cheapest SD card or USB wall wart you can find on Amazon is a guaranteed way to have a bad experience. So over time, we started to regulate the accessories offered by our Approved Resellers. We would test resellers' SD cards, to ensure that they had sufficient random-access performance and were resilient against thousands of unplanned power loss events. Last year, we took this to the next level, launching Raspberry Pi-branded A2-class SD cards and NVMe SSDs, which are now the only storage options promoted alongside our computers.
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 Ti Shows up in Furmark Online Database
NVIDIA's upcoming GeForce RTX 5060 Ti performance segment graphics card appeared in alleged Furmark online database entries. These reference the card by its device ID, 10DE-2D04. There are three instances of the card in the database, one of which sees the benchmark being run in a remote desktop session, where the card scores 5634 points or 93 FPS on average, but with its core boosting only up to 1238 MHz. The second, more plausible result sees the card score 10242 points or an average of 170 FPS, with its core going up to 2656 MHz. Both these tests are run at 1080p. The third result sees the GPU score 4411 points or 73 FPS, but at 4K Ultra HD resolution—again, plausible given its score with 2656 MHz maximum boost. The second result has Furmark read the card's maximum TDP to be 180 W.
The GeForce RTX 5060 Ti debuts the new "GB206" GPU, which probably has 36 or 40 SM. The RTX 5060 Ti is configured with 36 SM for 4,608 CUDA cores, 144 Tensor cores, 36 RT cores, 144 TMUs, and an unknown number of ROPs (probably 64). The GPU has a 128-bit wide GDDR7 memory interface, and comes with 16 GB and 8 GB memory variants. We gather from these Furmark screenshots that the GPU boosts over 2600 MHz, and it's possible that the memory ticks at 28 Gbps, yielding 448 GB/s of memory bandwidth. The 180 W TDP shown in one of these screenshots means that some if not all custom-design RTX 5060 Ti cards could feature 8-pin PCIe power connectors (150 W from the connector, plus 75 W from the slot). All rumors point to a mid-April launch of the RTX 5060 Ti.
The GeForce RTX 5060 Ti debuts the new "GB206" GPU, which probably has 36 or 40 SM. The RTX 5060 Ti is configured with 36 SM for 4,608 CUDA cores, 144 Tensor cores, 36 RT cores, 144 TMUs, and an unknown number of ROPs (probably 64). The GPU has a 128-bit wide GDDR7 memory interface, and comes with 16 GB and 8 GB memory variants. We gather from these Furmark screenshots that the GPU boosts over 2600 MHz, and it's possible that the memory ticks at 28 Gbps, yielding 448 GB/s of memory bandwidth. The 180 W TDP shown in one of these screenshots means that some if not all custom-design RTX 5060 Ti cards could feature 8-pin PCIe power connectors (150 W from the connector, plus 75 W from the slot). All rumors point to a mid-April launch of the RTX 5060 Ti.
ASUS to Unveil ProArt Displays, PC Solutions, and More at NAB Show 2025
ASUS today announced its participation in the NAB Show 2025. Visitors to the ASUS booth will have the opportunity to experience the future of content creation with live demonstrations of the latest ASUS ProArt offerings. The showcase includes the debut of the ProArt Cinema PQ09 monitor, featuring the largest-ever ASUS microLED display. The ProArt Display 6K PA32QCV and the ProArt CaliContrO MCA02 three-in-one calibrator will also be showcased. Also on show will be the 16-inch ProArt P16, a creative powerhouse laptop equipped with a 50 TOPS NPU, AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 processor, and up to an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Laptop GPU. In addition, the NAB Show 2025 will feature the latest installment of the ProArt Masters' Talks series, with renowned creatives sharing their perspectives on current trends.
The ProArt Cinema PQ09 is the latest addition to the ProArt Cinema microLED display lineup. This 162-inch 4K HDR monitor features advanced panel technologies, ultrasmall 0.93 mm pixel pitch, 1200nits peak brightness, high 1,000,000:1 contrast ratio, and 97% DCI-P3 color gamut. Compared to conventional microLED displays with a 1.2 or 1.5 mm pixel pitch, ProArt Cinema PQ09 delivers smoother and more vibrant visuals, making it the perfect large-screen display for home cinema, broadcasting or other uses.
The ProArt Cinema PQ09 is the latest addition to the ProArt Cinema microLED display lineup. This 162-inch 4K HDR monitor features advanced panel technologies, ultrasmall 0.93 mm pixel pitch, 1200nits peak brightness, high 1,000,000:1 contrast ratio, and 97% DCI-P3 color gamut. Compared to conventional microLED displays with a 1.2 or 1.5 mm pixel pitch, ProArt Cinema PQ09 delivers smoother and more vibrant visuals, making it the perfect large-screen display for home cinema, broadcasting or other uses.
Blackmagic Design Announces New DeckLink IP 100G NIC
Blackmagic Design today announced DeckLink IP 100G, a new PCIe Gen 4 card which can capture and playback up to 8 channels of HD and Ultra HD video simultaneously into 2110 IP systems. It also includes 2 x 100G Ethernet QSFP ports for redundancy, or connecting to two separate 100G Ethernet switches, as well as built in cooling. DeckLink IP 100G also supports GPUDirect RDMA for direct memory transfers between DeckLink and GPUs, reducing PCIe bandwidth when processing video on GPUs for a significant reduction in latency. DeckLink IP 100G will be available in July from Blackmagic Design resellers worldwide for US$1,795.
DeckLink IP 100G will be displayed on the Blackmagic Design NAB 2025 booth #SL216. DeckLink IP cards are the easiest way to capture and play back video directly into 2110 IP based broadcast systems. They have the same DeckLink features so existing software will just work. DeckLink IP cards support multiple video channels plus each channel can capture and play back at the same time. This means customers can build racks of servers generating broadcast graphics, virtual sets or GPU based AI image processing, all directly integrated into 2110 IP broadcast infrastructure. Customers can even use DaVinci Resolve for 2110 IP based broadcast editing workstations. DeckLink IP features a high speed PCIe connection so it works on the latest Mac Pro, Windows and Linux computers.
DeckLink IP 100G will be displayed on the Blackmagic Design NAB 2025 booth #SL216. DeckLink IP cards are the easiest way to capture and play back video directly into 2110 IP based broadcast systems. They have the same DeckLink features so existing software will just work. DeckLink IP cards support multiple video channels plus each channel can capture and play back at the same time. This means customers can build racks of servers generating broadcast graphics, virtual sets or GPU based AI image processing, all directly integrated into 2110 IP broadcast infrastructure. Customers can even use DaVinci Resolve for 2110 IP based broadcast editing workstations. DeckLink IP features a high speed PCIe connection so it works on the latest Mac Pro, Windows and Linux computers.
Blackmagic Design Announces New Blackmagic Cloud Backup 8
Blackmagic Design today announced Blackmagic Cloud Backup 8, a new rack mount media backup solution that allows customers to use inexpensive computer hard drives to back up media files fast. Blackmagic Cloud Backup 8 syncs to Blackmagic Cloud for backing up collaborative projects in DaVinci Resolve. Plus, it features a rack mount design with 8 independent hard disk slots, 4 x 10G Ethernet ports for maximum performance with high capacity hard disks, and an HDMI monitor output that shows storage status. It's perfect for archiving completed projects to low cost storage. Blackmagic Cloud Backup 8 is available now from Blackmagic Design resellers worldwide for US$1,495.
Blackmagic Cloud Backup 8 features a rack mount design, making it an ideal choice for installation in a studio alongside other network equipment or even for camera backups in a DIT cart on set. This ensures customers always have a second backup to keep their camera files safe. Customers get 8 independent hard disk slots, with all disks available simultaneously over the network. Plus, there's a built-in 4 port 10G Ethernet switch for exceptionally high performance. There's also an HDMI output to watch a live graphic view of storage operations on a TV or monitor.
Blackmagic Cloud Backup 8 features a rack mount design, making it an ideal choice for installation in a studio alongside other network equipment or even for camera backups in a DIT cart on set. This ensures customers always have a second backup to keep their camera files safe. Customers get 8 independent hard disk slots, with all disks available simultaneously over the network. Plus, there's a built-in 4 port 10G Ethernet switch for exceptionally high performance. There's also an HDMI output to watch a live graphic view of storage operations on a TV or monitor.
Sunday, April 6th 2025
This Week in Gaming (Week 15)
Welcome to the first full week of April and this week should be a bit more exciting than last week when it comes to new game releases. In this week's major release, you take command of some isometric WWII commandos. This is followed by an existential dilemma, a folktale from the deep south, some very dark days, being a studio executive and an assault by not so wild animals.
Commandos: Origins / This week's major release / Wednesday 9 April
You have been selected for a mission which will shape the fate of the entire world. Witness the very beginning of the legendary elite WWII force in Commandos: Origins. The long-awaited sequel to the Commandos series brings you right back to the foundation of the real-time tactics genre. And to the days where Jack O'Hara, the Green Beret, and his five companions met to form the infamous unit sent to complete missions which no others would dare to accept. Steam link
Commandos: Origins / This week's major release / Wednesday 9 April
You have been selected for a mission which will shape the fate of the entire world. Witness the very beginning of the legendary elite WWII force in Commandos: Origins. The long-awaited sequel to the Commandos series brings you right back to the foundation of the real-time tactics genre. And to the days where Jack O'Hara, the Green Beret, and his five companions met to form the infamous unit sent to complete missions which no others would dare to accept. Steam link
NVIDIA PhysX and Flow Made Fully Open-Source
NVIDIA late last week committed NVIDIA PhysX SDK and NVIDIA Flow as open-source software under the BSD-3 license. This includes the GPU source code—the specific way PhysX leverages CUDA and GPU compute acceleration, and should make it easier for game developers to understand and implement PhysX, including its various interactive 3D effects such as rigid body dynamics, fluid simulation, and deformable objects. More importantly, a deeper understanding of PhysX makes it possible for modders to develop fallbacks for their older 32-bit game titles that use PhysX to work with newer generations of GPUs, such as the RTX 50-series "Blackwell." It should come especially handy when NVIDIA is trying to push Remix—its first-party initiative to refurbish older games with modern graphics and higher resolution visual assets.
Friday, April 4th 2025
Today's Reviews
Desktop PC
Graphics Cards
Headphones
Keyboards
PSUs
UPERFECT UStation Delta Max Review - Two Screens In One
The UPERFECT UStation Delta Max consists of two stacked 18.5-inch portable IPS monitors. They can expand your workspace into a dual-screen setup or be connected to two separate sources, allowing you to monitor both simultaneously, enhancing productivity across various use cases.
ASUS Prime X870-P Wi-Fi Review
The ASUS Prime X870-P Wi-Fi supports both USB4 and Thunderbolt 4, at a highly attractive price point of just slightly over $200. PCIe Gen 5 support for GPU and SSD is onboard, too, but what has ASUS had to cut in other areas to get there and are similarly-priced B850 offerings better value?
Tokyo Electron & IBM Renew Collaboration for Advanced Semiconductor Technology
This week, IBM and Tokyo Electron (TEL) announced an extension of their agreement for the joint research and development of advanced semiconductor technologies. The new 5-year agreement will focus on the continued advancement of technology for next-generation semiconductor nodes and architectures to power the age of generative AI. This agreement builds on a more than two-decade partnership between IBM and TEL for joint research and development. Previously, the two companies have achieved several breakthroughs, including the development of a new laser debonding process for producing 300 mm silicon chip wafers for 3D chip stacking technology.
Now, bringing together IBM's expertise in semiconductor process integration and TEL's leading-edge equipment, they will explore technology for smaller nodes and chiplet architectures to achieve the performance and energy efficiency requirements for the future of generative AI. "The work IBM and TEL have done together over the last 20 years has helped to push the semiconductor technology innovation to provide many generations of chip performance and energy efficiency to the semiconductor industry," said Mukesh Khare, GM of IBM Semiconductors and VP of Hybrid Cloud, IBM. "We are thrilled to be continuing our work together at this critical time to accelerate chip innovations that can fuel the era of generative AI."
Now, bringing together IBM's expertise in semiconductor process integration and TEL's leading-edge equipment, they will explore technology for smaller nodes and chiplet architectures to achieve the performance and energy efficiency requirements for the future of generative AI. "The work IBM and TEL have done together over the last 20 years has helped to push the semiconductor technology innovation to provide many generations of chip performance and energy efficiency to the semiconductor industry," said Mukesh Khare, GM of IBM Semiconductors and VP of Hybrid Cloud, IBM. "We are thrilled to be continuing our work together at this critical time to accelerate chip innovations that can fuel the era of generative AI."
Quantum Machines Anticipates Collaborative Breakthroughs at NVIDIA's New Research Center
Quantum Machines (QM), a leading provider of advanced quantum control solutions, today announced its intention to work with NVIDIA at its newly established NVIDIA Accelerated Quantum Research Center (NVAQC), unveiled at the GTC global AI conference. The Boston-based center aims to advance quantum computing research with accelerated computing, including integrating quantum processors with AI- supercomputing to overcome significant challenges in the quantum computing space. As quantum computing rapidly evolves, the integration of quantum processors with powerful AI supercomputers becomes increasingly essential. These accelerated quantum supercomputers are pivotal for advancing quantum error correction, device control, and algorithm development.
Quantum Machines joins other quantum computing pioneers, including Quantinuum and QuEra, along with academic partners from Harvard and MIT, in working with NVIDIA at the NVAQC to develop pioneering research. Quantum Machines will work with NVIDIA to integrate its NVIDIA GB200 Grace Blackwell Superchips with QM's advanced quantum control technologies, including the OPX1000. This integration will facilitate rapid, high-bandwidth communication between quantum processors and classical supercomputers. QM and NVIDIA thereby lay the essential foundations for quantum error correction and robust quantum algorithm execution. By reducing latency and enhancing processing efficiency, QM and NVIDIA solutions will significantly accelerate practical applications of quantum computing.
Quantum Machines joins other quantum computing pioneers, including Quantinuum and QuEra, along with academic partners from Harvard and MIT, in working with NVIDIA at the NVAQC to develop pioneering research. Quantum Machines will work with NVIDIA to integrate its NVIDIA GB200 Grace Blackwell Superchips with QM's advanced quantum control technologies, including the OPX1000. This integration will facilitate rapid, high-bandwidth communication between quantum processors and classical supercomputers. QM and NVIDIA thereby lay the essential foundations for quantum error correction and robust quantum algorithm execution. By reducing latency and enhancing processing efficiency, QM and NVIDIA solutions will significantly accelerate practical applications of quantum computing.
"Roman Triumph: Survival City Builder" Available Now in Early Access
Defend Your Empire! And help us shape what comes next! It's finally happening: Roman Triumph is out in Early Access! Five years of solo dev, a mountain of coffee, endless playtests, and a ridiculous number of spreadsheets… and now we're here. Huge thanks to everyone who played the demo, sent feedback, or just cheered us on—you helped shape this game more than you know! To celebrate its launch, the game is available for $24.99 with a 25% discount. That discount won't last forever, and the price will go up once we reach 1.0, so if you've been thinking about it, now's a great time to dive in.
Roman Triumph is a survival city-builder / colony-sim set in Roman times where you must lead your people, build a city from the ground up and fortify it with walls, ballistae, archer towers and other Roman defenses to survive against the hordes of Barbarians, ferocious Hydra, Minotaur, Cerberus, and other mythological beasts. In order for your city to thrive, you must keep your citizens fed, safe, healthy, and happy. Strategically designing your city in this randomly generated world will improve your empire's chances of attracting new citizens, increase your resource and food production efficiency, please your gods, and maximize safety during attacks.
Roman Triumph is a survival city-builder / colony-sim set in Roman times where you must lead your people, build a city from the ground up and fortify it with walls, ballistae, archer towers and other Roman defenses to survive against the hordes of Barbarians, ferocious Hydra, Minotaur, Cerberus, and other mythological beasts. In order for your city to thrive, you must keep your citizens fed, safe, healthy, and happy. Strategically designing your city in this randomly generated world will improve your empire's chances of attracting new citizens, increase your resource and food production efficiency, please your gods, and maximize safety during attacks.
ASUS ROG Astral RTX 5080 OC BIOS Update Increases Max. TGP to 450 W - Originally 400 W
TechPowerUp's W1zzard did not honor the ASUS ROG Astral RTX 5080 OC Edition graphics card model with any awards—as disclosed in his late January evaluation, a major negative point was highlighted: "no additional power limit increases allowed." The premium-tier ASUS offering managed to top TPU's "Maximum Overclock Comparison" GeForce RTX 5080-class table; comfortably leading the pack with an out-of-the-box (default) 400 W power setting. Reviewers and well-heeled owners—of this $1500+ special quad-fan package—have lamented the apparent lack of extra headroom. Sitting in fifth place was GIGABYTE's RTX 5080 GAMING OC SKU; a card that can support up to 450 W. As reported by VideoCardz earlier today, ASUS has taken onboard aforementioned feedback.
Resultant under-the-hood tinkerings were implemented mid-way through last month. The "ROG Astral GeForce RTX 5080 16 GB GDDR7 OC Edition" support page has welcomed a new downloadable file—authored on March 14—this BIOS update is advertised as being capable of: "increasing the (model's) maximum TGP to 450 W." Additional bragging rights will be granted with this patch; owners can boast about their expensive bits of kit being further enhanced—NVIDIA's reference specification TGP/TDP is 360 W. Thumbs up go to Team ASUS once again—mid-February Astral series updates tweaked noise profiles; not too long after an absorption of launch day criticism.
Resultant under-the-hood tinkerings were implemented mid-way through last month. The "ROG Astral GeForce RTX 5080 16 GB GDDR7 OC Edition" support page has welcomed a new downloadable file—authored on March 14—this BIOS update is advertised as being capable of: "increasing the (model's) maximum TGP to 450 W." Additional bragging rights will be granted with this patch; owners can boast about their expensive bits of kit being further enhanced—NVIDIA's reference specification TGP/TDP is 360 W. Thumbs up go to Team ASUS once again—mid-February Astral series updates tweaked noise profiles; not too long after an absorption of launch day criticism.
MangoBoost Achieves Record-Breaking MLPerf Inference v5.0 Results with AMD Instinct MI300X
MangoBoost, a provider of cutting-edge system solutions designed to maximize AI data center efficiency, has set a new industry benchmark with its latest MLPerf Inference v5.0 submission. The company's Mango LLMBoost AI Enterprise MLOps software has demonstrated unparalleled performance on AMD Instinct MI300X GPUs, delivering the highest-ever recorded results for Llama2-70B in the offline inference category. This milestone marks the first-ever multi-node MLPerf inference result on AMD Instinct MI300X GPUs. By harnessing the power of 32 MI300X GPUs across four server nodes, Mango LLMBoost has surpassed all previous MLPerf inference results, including those from competitors using NVIDIA H100 GPUs.
Unmatched Performance and Cost Efficiency
MangoBoost's MLPerf submission demonstrates a 24% performance advantage over the best-published MLPerf result from Juniper Networks utilizing 32 NVIDIA H100 GPUs. Mango LLMBoost achieved 103,182 tokens per second (TPS) in the offline scenario and 93,039 TPS in the server scenario on AMD MI300X GPUs, outperforming the previous best result of 82,749 TPS on NVIDIA H100 GPUs. In addition to superior performance, Mango LLMBoost + MI300X offers significant cost advantages. With AMD MI300X GPUs priced between $15,000 and $17,000—compared to the $32,000-$40,000 cost of NVIDIA H100 GPUs (source: Tom's Hardware—H100 vs. MI300X Pricing)—Mango LLMBoost delivers up to 62% cost savings while maintaining industry-leading inference throughput.
Unmatched Performance and Cost Efficiency
MangoBoost's MLPerf submission demonstrates a 24% performance advantage over the best-published MLPerf result from Juniper Networks utilizing 32 NVIDIA H100 GPUs. Mango LLMBoost achieved 103,182 tokens per second (TPS) in the offline scenario and 93,039 TPS in the server scenario on AMD MI300X GPUs, outperforming the previous best result of 82,749 TPS on NVIDIA H100 GPUs. In addition to superior performance, Mango LLMBoost + MI300X offers significant cost advantages. With AMD MI300X GPUs priced between $15,000 and $17,000—compared to the $32,000-$40,000 cost of NVIDIA H100 GPUs (source: Tom's Hardware—H100 vs. MI300X Pricing)—Mango LLMBoost delivers up to 62% cost savings while maintaining industry-leading inference throughput.
China's Largest AI Firms Reportedly Forked Out ~$16 Billion Total for NVIDIA H20 GPU Supplies in 2025
Last week, industry reports pointed to evidence of NVIDIA H20 AI GPU shortages in China—supply chain insiders expressed frustration about limited availability, and alleged price hikes. Days later, local media outlets have disclosed staggering sales figures. Two unnamed sources opine that the likes of Tencent, Alibaba and ByteDance have spent roughly US$16 billion on H20 purchases, across the first three months of 2025. Back in February, Reuters noted an extraordinary surge in orders for: "(Team Green's) H20 model—the most advanced AI processor legally available in China under U.S. export controls—driven by booming demand for Chinese startup DeepSeek's low-cost AI models." The unprecedented rush—to secure precious AI-crunching hardware—was likely motivated by whispers of elevated restrictions; coming from across the Pacific Ocean.
Curiously, local government bodies have allegedly "advised" a stoppage of H20 orders—a recent Financial Times article suggested that this message was directed at the nation's largest AI players (mentioned above). A few industry moles believe that NVIDIA's engineering department is working on another Chinese market exclusive AI chip, although it is not clear whether a new entrant will be designed to conform to recently introduced "not very strict" environmental regulations. Anonymous sources have made noise about an upgraded H20 variant; sporting fancy HBM3E modules.
Curiously, local government bodies have allegedly "advised" a stoppage of H20 orders—a recent Financial Times article suggested that this message was directed at the nation's largest AI players (mentioned above). A few industry moles believe that NVIDIA's engineering department is working on another Chinese market exclusive AI chip, although it is not clear whether a new entrant will be designed to conform to recently introduced "not very strict" environmental regulations. Anonymous sources have made noise about an upgraded H20 variant; sporting fancy HBM3E modules.
Sci-fi Shooter/Smasher "Harpagun" Slams onto PS VR2 & Meta Quest VR Platforms on April 10
What is it? What's the formula, the secret ingredient to make a VR game bring pure excitement and adrenaline to the players? How can we make them smile and go "wow" after they take off the headset? For us devs at Something Random working on Harpagun, it all comes down to a few simple elements. Let's take it from the top.
Movement that matters: Speed, control, and immersion
Action games are all about movement. An issue mostly already solved in flat screen games but still problematic in VR. Some forms of locomotion allow for precision but are pretty slow and unresponsive. Others let you zoom around the locations, but can be uncomfortable. Those that are, are limiting or take you out of the illusion of "being there." In Harpagun we needed a system with a clear set of goals: comfort, simplicity, responsiveness, speed and immersion. In a proper arcade game players have to be able to react in a blink of an eye, immediately focus on what's the most important, change their position to avoid danger or get a better shot at an enemy. We managed to achieve that with our "pylon and anchor" system. Players move between sets of points with their eyes anchored to points of interest such as a path forward or center of the combat area. The movement is smooth but fast enough to be comfortable while allowing for total control of the battlefield.
Movement that matters: Speed, control, and immersion
Action games are all about movement. An issue mostly already solved in flat screen games but still problematic in VR. Some forms of locomotion allow for precision but are pretty slow and unresponsive. Others let you zoom around the locations, but can be uncomfortable. Those that are, are limiting or take you out of the illusion of "being there." In Harpagun we needed a system with a clear set of goals: comfort, simplicity, responsiveness, speed and immersion. In a proper arcade game players have to be able to react in a blink of an eye, immediately focus on what's the most important, change their position to avoid danger or get a better shot at an enemy. We managed to achieve that with our "pylon and anchor" system. Players move between sets of points with their eyes anchored to points of interest such as a path forward or center of the combat area. The movement is smooth but fast enough to be comfortable while allowing for total control of the battlefield.
Nintendo Cancels Switch 2 Pre-orders in the US
According to Gamespot, Nintendo has cancelled pre-orders of the Switch 2 in the US due to the recently announced tariffs by the US government. The company has issued a statement to the publication that reads "Pre-orders for Nintendo Switch 2 in the U.S. will not start April 9, 2025 in order to assess the potential impact of tariffs and evolving market conditions. Nintendo will update timing at a later date. The launch date of June 5, 2025 is unchanged." This suggests that the Switch 2 will still reach US shores, but the question is if the pricing will remain as announced.
Besides affecting end customers, this is likely to affect all of Nintendo's US retail partners, since retail chains such as Best Buy, Target and Walmart have been preparing to start accepting pre-orders for the new handheld console on the 9th of April. Nintendo's statement doesn't really give away any details, but it suggests that the company is re-evaluating its MSRP, as Japan was hit with a 24 percent tariff by the US. If the tariff was to be handed straight over to the end consumers, this could mean the Switch 2 will retail for closer to US$560 than the promised US$450, which would make it prohibitively expensive for many potential buyers. Hopefully Nintendo will figure out what it'll do quickly and keep its fanbase update with what it'll do in plenty of time ahead of the launch in June.
Besides affecting end customers, this is likely to affect all of Nintendo's US retail partners, since retail chains such as Best Buy, Target and Walmart have been preparing to start accepting pre-orders for the new handheld console on the 9th of April. Nintendo's statement doesn't really give away any details, but it suggests that the company is re-evaluating its MSRP, as Japan was hit with a 24 percent tariff by the US. If the tariff was to be handed straight over to the end consumers, this could mean the Switch 2 will retail for closer to US$560 than the promised US$450, which would make it prohibitively expensive for many potential buyers. Hopefully Nintendo will figure out what it'll do quickly and keep its fanbase update with what it'll do in plenty of time ahead of the launch in June.
Multiple Pre-built Gaming PCs Listed with "~$299" NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 Graphics Cards
Within the past few days, Best Buy updated its product inventory with brand-new CyberPowerPC GamerMaster desktop SKUs, featuring NVIDIA's unannounced GeForce RTX 5060 8 GB graphics card. Earlier today, the ever watchful momomo_us spotted NDA-busting listings on the North American retail chain's webstore. Similar information turned up weeks ago, albeit from a French vendor. At the time of writing, CyberPowerPC's "GMA2600BSTV2" and "GMA2600BST" models are no longer visible/accessible on BestBuy.com.
Thankfully, VideoCardz's investigative article contains preserved screengrabs—their fresh news piece also extends to coverage of Newegg's premature listing of upcoming GeForce RTX 5060 Ti and RTX 5060-based STORMCRAFT pre-built SIRIUS desktop gaming systems. The online publication has deduced a possible $299 price point for Team Green's lower end GB206 GPU-driven, given fresh rumors of GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 16 GB and RTX 5060 Ti 8 GB being tagged with speculative guide figures: $499 and $399 (respectively). A guesstimated verdict was reached following their analysis of (now removed) CyberPowerPC and STORMCRAFT product pages, with a comprehensive comparison of leaked system integrator price tags vs. speculative GeForce RTX 5060 Ti guide digits.
Thankfully, VideoCardz's investigative article contains preserved screengrabs—their fresh news piece also extends to coverage of Newegg's premature listing of upcoming GeForce RTX 5060 Ti and RTX 5060-based STORMCRAFT pre-built SIRIUS desktop gaming systems. The online publication has deduced a possible $299 price point for Team Green's lower end GB206 GPU-driven, given fresh rumors of GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 16 GB and RTX 5060 Ti 8 GB being tagged with speculative guide figures: $499 and $399 (respectively). A guesstimated verdict was reached following their analysis of (now removed) CyberPowerPC and STORMCRAFT product pages, with a comprehensive comparison of leaked system integrator price tags vs. speculative GeForce RTX 5060 Ti guide digits.
Grand Theft Auto V Returning to Xbox & PC Game Pass, on April 15
If you've been missing the streets of Los Santos, I'm excited to share that Grand Theft Auto V is making its way back to Game Pass on April 15! And for those of us who play on PC, I'm even happier to announce that GTAV Enhanced will be playable with PC Game Pass, and includes the latest features, like Hao's Special Works Vehicles and more. Ultimate, PC, and Standard players—keep an eye on @GamePass and @XboxGamePassPC on April 15 for our favorite "available today" reminder!
GTA Online Features
Everyone playing GTAV Enhanced on PC will have access to new vehicles and modifications, Chameleon Paints, and a bunch more all in Hao's Special Works. When playing GTA Online, you'll need to make sure you and your friends are all playing in the same edition so you can squad up—the good news is that Game Pass Ultimate and Game Pass Standard players have access to all console and PC editions so you can download to play whatever your friends are on. And PC Game Pass players, both editions are available for you to download and play, even if your friends are on Steam or Epic Games.
GTA Online Features
Everyone playing GTAV Enhanced on PC will have access to new vehicles and modifications, Chameleon Paints, and a bunch more all in Hao's Special Works. When playing GTA Online, you'll need to make sure you and your friends are all playing in the same edition so you can squad up—the good news is that Game Pass Ultimate and Game Pass Standard players have access to all console and PC editions so you can download to play whatever your friends are on. And PC Game Pass players, both editions are available for you to download and play, even if your friends are on Steam or Epic Games.
Inside Info Suggests AMD Prepping Radeon RX 9070 GRE 12 GB Model as Chinese Market Exclusive
Early last month, a source in China leaked very speculative information regarding AMD's—not-yet-official—Radeon RX 9070 GRE model. PC hardware news outlets have just picked up on this low-key prediction—according to rumors, Team Red is readying a cheaper Radeon RX 9070 series SKU. RDNA 4's first "Great Radeon Edition" (GRE) card is tipped for launch prior to AMD's officially announced Radeon RX 9060 series—at some point in Q2 2025. The original leaker suggested that Team Red's Radeon RX 9070 GRE would offer a "better price-performance ratio" when compared to the current-generation flagship: Radeon RX 9070 XT. Yesterday, Benchlife.info disclosed fundamental spec points—Navi 48 die, 12 GB VRAM, 192-bit memory bus—likely procured from contacts within the board partner industry. The online publication believes that AMD and involved AIBs will release Radeon RX 9070 GRE 12 GB cards for the Chinese market, in the near future.
Historically, GRE models have always launched as regional exclusives—starting with RDNA 3's Radeon RX 7900 GRE. Upon arrival—in July 2023—Team Red's curious Navi 31 GPU-based offering was linked to a potential global rollout. This milestone goal was achieved, albeit many months later—following various periods of "testing the waters" in smaller European regional markets. Since then, AMD China has pushed out other GRE options—most notably their extremely popular Radeon RX 6750 GRE 12 GB and 10 GB cards. Post-internationally available Radeon RX 9070 GRE, nothing else GRE-related has experienced widespread distribution outside of China. Back in February, board partners introduced custom Radeon RX 7650 GRE 8 GB designs, as "step-ups" from already launched Radeon RX 7600 cards. Potentially, AMD could gauge local uptake of the nascent Radeon RX 9070 GRE 12 GB model—with healthy sales figures (in China) paving the way for a wider release.
Historically, GRE models have always launched as regional exclusives—starting with RDNA 3's Radeon RX 7900 GRE. Upon arrival—in July 2023—Team Red's curious Navi 31 GPU-based offering was linked to a potential global rollout. This milestone goal was achieved, albeit many months later—following various periods of "testing the waters" in smaller European regional markets. Since then, AMD China has pushed out other GRE options—most notably their extremely popular Radeon RX 6750 GRE 12 GB and 10 GB cards. Post-internationally available Radeon RX 9070 GRE, nothing else GRE-related has experienced widespread distribution outside of China. Back in February, board partners introduced custom Radeon RX 7650 GRE 8 GB designs, as "step-ups" from already launched Radeon RX 7600 cards. Potentially, AMD could gauge local uptake of the nascent Radeon RX 9070 GRE 12 GB model—with healthy sales figures (in China) paving the way for a wider release.
Lost Skies Enters Early Access on April 18
Are you ready to set sail on an adventure like no other? Following an incredible reception at February's Steam Next Fest and becoming one of the top played demos during the event, Lost Skies, the highly anticipated cooperative open-world survival adventure from Bossa Games, launches into Early Access on April 18th. Whether teaming up with friends or braving the skies alone, get ready to explore an extraordinary universe filled with breathtaking floating islands, rich mysteries, and ever-present dangers high above the clouds.
In Lost Skies, team up with up to five friends to explore four vast, unique floating islands teeming with ancient ruins, intricate puzzles, and hidden secrets. Design and build your own custom skyship that will serve as your home and warship, as you take on colossal enemies in the sky. Master the grappling hook for seamless navigation, harness advanced technology to manipulate gravity, and shape your path through the open skies full of endless possibilities.
In Lost Skies, team up with up to five friends to explore four vast, unique floating islands teeming with ancient ruins, intricate puzzles, and hidden secrets. Design and build your own custom skyship that will serve as your home and warship, as you take on colossal enemies in the sky. Master the grappling hook for seamless navigation, harness advanced technology to manipulate gravity, and shape your path through the open skies full of endless possibilities.
EVERSPACE 2: Wrath of the Ancients will blast off this May
ROCKFISH Games has revealed the release date for their upcoming new expansion for EVERSPACE 2, their award-winning space looter-shooter RPG. EVERSPACE 2: Wrath of the Ancients continues the EVERSPACE 2 story, taking space pilots to new explorable star systems filled with fresh challenges and never-seen-before enemies to overcome. The expansion will launch on Steam, GOG, Xbox, and PlayStation May 12, 2025 and will be priced at $29.99 / €29.99 / £24.99 / ¥3900, fully voiced in English and German.
EVERSPACE 2: Wrath of the Ancients adds new post-game and side quest storylines to Cluster 34. Players will discover four new explorable star systems each with multiple locations packed with new enemies, secrets, and puzzles, as well as a new spaceship, introducing a new playstyle through powerful ability combos.
EVERSPACE 2: Wrath of the Ancients adds new post-game and side quest storylines to Cluster 34. Players will discover four new explorable star systems each with multiple locations packed with new enemies, secrets, and puzzles, as well as a new spaceship, introducing a new playstyle through powerful ability combos.
Intel Refreshes its Iconic Brand Motto - Introduces: "That's the Power of Intel Inside "
Intel introduced its new brand to the world Tuesday at the Intel Vision 2025 event in Las Vegas. Leading with "That's the power of Intel Inside," Intel leans into the essential role the company—along with its partners and customers—plays in the world while giving a nod to the company's wildly popular "Intel Inside" campaign of the 1990s.
Brett Hannath, chief marketing officer for Intel, says the new brand platform anchors on the idea that "Intel ignites the greatness within"—in every employee, customer, consumer, community, partner. All the while, it allows Intel to reflect on its proud heritage. (The Intel Inside co-marketing campaign launched in 1991 helped Intel become a household name around the globe over the next decade.) More than a marketing initiative, "That's the power of Intel Inside" is an avenue for amplifying Intel's importance in today's world. Intel's leaders plan to leverage the new brand platform to drive differentiation, revenue growth, and equity with customers and partners.
Brett Hannath, chief marketing officer for Intel, says the new brand platform anchors on the idea that "Intel ignites the greatness within"—in every employee, customer, consumer, community, partner. All the while, it allows Intel to reflect on its proud heritage. (The Intel Inside co-marketing campaign launched in 1991 helped Intel become a household name around the globe over the next decade.) More than a marketing initiative, "That's the power of Intel Inside" is an avenue for amplifying Intel's importance in today's world. Intel's leaders plan to leverage the new brand platform to drive differentiation, revenue growth, and equity with customers and partners.
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 16 GB SKU Likely Launching at $499, According to Supply Chain Leak
NVIDIA's unannounced GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 16 GB and 8 GB models are reportedly due for an official unveiling mid-way through this month; previous reports have suggested an April 16 retail launch. First leaked late last year, the existence of lower end "Blackwell" GPUs was "semi-officially" confirmed by system integrator specification sheets—two days ago, reportage pointed out another example. Inevitably, alleged launch pricing information has come to light as we close in on release time—courtesy of Board Channels; an inside track den of some repute. The "Expert No. 1" account has alluded to fresh Team Green rumors; they reckon that the company's incoming new model pricing will be "relatively aggressive."
Supply chain whispers indicate that NVIDIA will repeat its (previous-gen) MSRP guide policies, due to the GeForce RTX 5060 Ti cards offering "estimated similar performance" to GeForce RTX 4060 Ti options. Speculative guide price points of $499 and $399 are anticipated—according to industry moles—for the GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 16 GB and RTX 5060 Ti 8 GB SKUs (respectively). Expert No. 1 has tracked recent GeForce RTX 4060 Ti price cuts; intimating the clearing out of old-gen stock. Team Green's GeForce RTX 5060 design is reportedly a more distant prospect—slated for arrival next month—so supply chain leakers have not yet picked up on pre-release MSRP info.
Supply chain whispers indicate that NVIDIA will repeat its (previous-gen) MSRP guide policies, due to the GeForce RTX 5060 Ti cards offering "estimated similar performance" to GeForce RTX 4060 Ti options. Speculative guide price points of $499 and $399 are anticipated—according to industry moles—for the GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 16 GB and RTX 5060 Ti 8 GB SKUs (respectively). Expert No. 1 has tracked recent GeForce RTX 4060 Ti price cuts; intimating the clearing out of old-gen stock. Team Green's GeForce RTX 5060 design is reportedly a more distant prospect—slated for arrival next month—so supply chain leakers have not yet picked up on pre-release MSRP info.
Audio-Technica Expands R-Series Open-back Range with New Entry-Level ATH-R30x Model
Audio-Technica, a leading innovator in transducer technology for over 60 years, is expanding its R-Series line of professional open-back headphones with the introduction of the ATH-R30x Open-Back Reference Headphones. First previewed in January at the NAMM show, they join the ATH-R50x and flagship ATH-R70xa, both of which launched to rave reviews earlier this year. Open-back R-Series headphones provide a natural, spacious sound akin to that produced by a speaker monitor system, ideal for mixing, mastering, and creating in a studio or other private space. ATH-R30x headphones offer the natural R-Series open-back listening experience at an affordable price. Ideally suited for those working in a home studio, or anyone interested in exploring open-back sound, these headphones provide extremely accurate audio reproduction with a spacious soundstage that replicates live performance.
Fully open-back sound relies solely on the performance of the 40 mm drivers, with each diaphragm movement directly translating into sound—ATH-R30x headphones are engineered to eliminate internal resonances and provide extremely quick transient response to deliver an authentic open-air experience with minimal distortion. The spacious soundstage and audio clarity are the result of Audio-Technica transducer design with very little additional tuning or damping. High-efficiency magnets and pure alloy magnetic circuit design reduce distortion and ensure accurate and extended high-frequency response. Acoustically transparent, honeycomb-mesh housings provide a natural and spacious open-back sound.
Fully open-back sound relies solely on the performance of the 40 mm drivers, with each diaphragm movement directly translating into sound—ATH-R30x headphones are engineered to eliminate internal resonances and provide extremely quick transient response to deliver an authentic open-air experience with minimal distortion. The spacious soundstage and audio clarity are the result of Audio-Technica transducer design with very little additional tuning or damping. High-efficiency magnets and pure alloy magnetic circuit design reduce distortion and ensure accurate and extended high-frequency response. Acoustically transparent, honeycomb-mesh housings provide a natural and spacious open-back sound.
Shuttle Expanding AI-Accelerated XPC Nano Series With Intel-Based Model
Following the successful launch of our AMD-powered AI-PC NA10H7, Shuttle is proud to announce the release of two new additions to our compact XPC nano family: NT10H5 and NT10H9. Designed in the same ultra-compact 1-liter chassis, both newcomers offer powerful AI-acceleration and multitasking capabilities - now based on Intel's cutting-edge Core Ultra processors.
Compact Yet Powerful: The New NT10H Series
The NT10H5 and NT10H9 mini-PCs carry the same DNA as the NA10H7, delivering high-performance computing in a nano-sized footprint (132 x 143 x 55 mm). They are equipped with Intel Core Ultra 5-125H and Intel Core Ultra 9-185H processors respectively, featuring integrated Intel Arc graphics and the dedicated Intel AI Boost NPU. These systems reach up to 34 TOPS of AI performance, making them ideal for machine learning, content creation, and real-time data processing in modern business or creative environments.
Compact Yet Powerful: The New NT10H Series
The NT10H5 and NT10H9 mini-PCs carry the same DNA as the NA10H7, delivering high-performance computing in a nano-sized footprint (132 x 143 x 55 mm). They are equipped with Intel Core Ultra 5-125H and Intel Core Ultra 9-185H processors respectively, featuring integrated Intel Arc graphics and the dedicated Intel AI Boost NPU. These systems reach up to 34 TOPS of AI performance, making them ideal for machine learning, content creation, and real-time data processing in modern business or creative environments.
G.SKILL Announces World's First Large Capacity 128GB (64GBx2) DDR5 Overclocked Memory Kit at DDR5-8000
G.SKILL International Enterprise Co., Ltd., the world's leading brand of performance overclock memory and PC components, is thrilled to announce a new high-speed memory overclock DDR5 specification with an ultra-high kit capacity - DDR5-8000 CL44 with 128 GB (64 GB x2) kit capacity. This is the world's first DDR5 memory kit with 64 GB high-capacity modules to reach the extreme overclock level of DDR5-8000, setting a new milestone for high-performance computing, content creation, AI applications, and advanced workstation workloads.
New Era of Overclocking High-Capacity DDR5 64 GB Modules
Engineered for high-capacity overclocked performance, the DDR5-8000 128 GB (64 GB x2) combines ultra-high memory speed with massive memory kit capacity, surpassing the previous module capacity maximum at 48 GB per module. At last, power users and content creators who seek overclock performance memory for capacity-hungry applications will have the ideal DDR5 memory solution. Refer to the validation screenshot below to see DDR5-8000 CL44-58-58 128 GB (64 GB x2) tested on the ASUS ROG CROSSHAIR X870E APEX motherboard with the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X desktop processor.
New Era of Overclocking High-Capacity DDR5 64 GB Modules
Engineered for high-capacity overclocked performance, the DDR5-8000 128 GB (64 GB x2) combines ultra-high memory speed with massive memory kit capacity, surpassing the previous module capacity maximum at 48 GB per module. At last, power users and content creators who seek overclock performance memory for capacity-hungry applications will have the ideal DDR5 memory solution. Refer to the validation screenshot below to see DDR5-8000 CL44-58-58 128 GB (64 GB x2) tested on the ASUS ROG CROSSHAIR X870E APEX motherboard with the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X desktop processor.
Eight-Core CPUs Become the Most Popular Choice of PC Users, CPU-Z Stats Show
CPU-Z's Q1 2025 validation data indicates a new trend in CPU core count preferences among PC users. Eight-core processors now account for 24.7% of all validations, a significant increase of 32.6% compared to previous data. In contrast, six-core processors have declined to 22.5% of validations, down by 6.9%. The higher core count of eight-core CPUs aligns with the increasing demand for multithreaded performance in various computing environments, from professional workstations to high-end gaming systems. Market share figures also reveal adjustments in consumer preferences regarding CPU manufacturers. Intel retains a majority of presence with 56.3% of the market. However, AMD's share has risen notably at 43.7%, representing a 16.6% increase from the previous year.
The shift in market shares suggests that users are increasingly drawn to AMD's offerings, which include competitive eight-core processors. A key contributor to the trend toward eight-core CPUs is the rising popularity of specific models. The Ryzen 7 9800X3D, for example, has significantly impacted this new statistic, becoming the most popular CPU according to the CPU-Z validations. This indicates that users are interested in eight-core offerings with 3D V-Cache technology for increased gaming performance. The shift away from six-core configurations, which now represent a smaller portion of the validation data, shows that eight cores are now a sweet spot for many gamers. For multitasking and gaming, it seems like a perfect choice.
The shift in market shares suggests that users are increasingly drawn to AMD's offerings, which include competitive eight-core processors. A key contributor to the trend toward eight-core CPUs is the rising popularity of specific models. The Ryzen 7 9800X3D, for example, has significantly impacted this new statistic, becoming the most popular CPU according to the CPU-Z validations. This indicates that users are interested in eight-core offerings with 3D V-Cache technology for increased gaming performance. The shift away from six-core configurations, which now represent a smaller portion of the validation data, shows that eight cores are now a sweet spot for many gamers. For multitasking and gaming, it seems like a perfect choice.
Trump Tariffs to Hike PC Costs at Least 20%, System Integrators Take the Biggest Blow
While semiconductors are exempt (for now at least) from Trump's tariffs, other components going into our PCs are not. According to Tom's Hardware, which spoke to multiple system integrators, tariffs are about to hike PC costs by at least 20%, with system integrators hurt the most. The tariff package imposes a 54% rate on Chinese goods, 34% on top of earlier tariffs, and significant duties on Taiwan, South Korea, and Vietnam products. These countries supply essential PC components such as SSDs, RAM, cases, and graphics cards. Wallace Santos, CEO of Maingear, highlighted the immediate effects on production: "Tariffs have a direct impact on our cost structure… which we have to pass down to our customers." He further explained that some suppliers have halted production in China, leading to scarcity and escalating costs. Santos estimates that prices for his PCs will rise "20 to 25% as a result of the tariffs."
Other company leaders express concern over the limited alternatives available. Kelt Reeves, CEO of Falcon Northwest, stated, "Sadly the overwhelming majority of PC component manufacturing is not done in the US and never has been. There's no US alternative supplier for most PC parts." Reeves added that even US-based system integrators are "facing skyrocketing costs" due to the tariffs, which are set to worsen an already challenging market situation caused by ongoing GPU shortages. Jon Bach, CEO of Puget Systems, shared his perspective in a recent blog post, noting that his company might absorb some costs to minimize consumer price increases. However, even before the latest tariff updates, Bach predicted a price rise of "20 to 45 percent by June." Critics of the tariffs warn of broader economic issues. Gary Shapiro, CEO of the Consumer Technology Association, condemned the policy as "massive tax hikes on Americans that will drive inflation, kill jobs on Main Street, and may cause a recession for the US economy." With these tariffs taking effect, the PC industry faces a period of adjustment marked by increased costs and significant supply chain challenges.
Other company leaders express concern over the limited alternatives available. Kelt Reeves, CEO of Falcon Northwest, stated, "Sadly the overwhelming majority of PC component manufacturing is not done in the US and never has been. There's no US alternative supplier for most PC parts." Reeves added that even US-based system integrators are "facing skyrocketing costs" due to the tariffs, which are set to worsen an already challenging market situation caused by ongoing GPU shortages. Jon Bach, CEO of Puget Systems, shared his perspective in a recent blog post, noting that his company might absorb some costs to minimize consumer price increases. However, even before the latest tariff updates, Bach predicted a price rise of "20 to 45 percent by June." Critics of the tariffs warn of broader economic issues. Gary Shapiro, CEO of the Consumer Technology Association, condemned the policy as "massive tax hikes on Americans that will drive inflation, kill jobs on Main Street, and may cause a recession for the US economy." With these tariffs taking effect, the PC industry faces a period of adjustment marked by increased costs and significant supply chain challenges.
Thursday, April 3rd 2025
Today's Reviews
Cases
CPU Coolers
Gaming PC
Graphics Cards
Monitors
Corsair RM750x Shift 750 W Review
Today we're continuing our journey in the evermore interesting world of power supplies by examining the Corsair RM750x Shift. Besides a promising spec sheet it also features different positioning for its modular cable connectors, allowing for an upgraded cable management experience.
Upcoming Hardware Launches 2025 (Updated Apr 2025)
This article serves as a continuously updated summary of currently known leaks and official announcements regarding upcoming hardware releases in 2025 and beyond. We cover and keep track of developments for Intel Panther Lake, Nova Lake, AMD Zen 6, NVIDIA's and AMD's upcoming GPUs, DDR6 and GDDR7 memory, chipsets and more.
High NVIDIA RTX 5000 Pricing Pushes RTX 4060 to Top of GPU Sales Charts
It seems as though the high pricing and shortages surrounding NVIDIA's latest GeForce RTX 5000 series GPUs has resulted in gamers turning to previous GPU generations for salvation. According to the latest Newegg GPU bestseller charts, the $459.98 MSI Ventus NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 8 GB graphics card is currently the best-selling GPU. Curiously, the Gigabyte AMD Radeon RX 7800 XT OC 16 GB is close on its heels, with the Gigabyte AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT on its heels in third place. The first NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5000 series GPU on the Newegg bestseller list is the ASUS TUF Gaming RTX 5070 OC, which is in eighth place, behind several AMD Radeon RX 7900 XT, RX 9070 XT, and RX 6600 models. It's unclear whether this is due to high pricing or simply a lack of stock to sell, although the RTX 5070 OC is currently available on Newegg for $739.99. Curiously, this is also the only in-stock RTX 5000 series card amongst the top 20 best-selling GPUs on Newegg. Granted, this is only one vendor, but the majority of the GPUs on the list are either AMD Radeon RX 7000 series or NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4000 series GPUs.
The most recent Steam Hardware & Software Survey, updated for March 2025, however, tells a more confusing story. While adoption rates for NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5000 series GPUs is certainly slow, with the RTX 5080 being the only 5000 series GPU to even feature on the chart, with 0.19% growth over the last month, gamers seem to be moving away from the RTX 4000 series even faster. The GPU that showed the most growth during the last Steam Survey is the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650, which is already six years old. It's also interesting to note that most of the AMD GPUs in the Steam Survey results also saw minor upticks in adoption. Recent reports out of Japan show that AMD has garnered massive interest since the launch of the RX 9070 series GPUs, with claims of 45% market share coming as a surprise after NVIDIA reached 90% GPU market share in December last year. While NVIDIA's supply issues are likely at least partially to blame for AMD's increased popularity, there is also a growing sentiment amongst gamers, backed by some of our own testing, that NVIDIA is more interested in AI and simply isn't equipping its gaming graphics cards with enough VRAM for high-resolution and high-refresh rate gaming.
The most recent Steam Hardware & Software Survey, updated for March 2025, however, tells a more confusing story. While adoption rates for NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5000 series GPUs is certainly slow, with the RTX 5080 being the only 5000 series GPU to even feature on the chart, with 0.19% growth over the last month, gamers seem to be moving away from the RTX 4000 series even faster. The GPU that showed the most growth during the last Steam Survey is the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650, which is already six years old. It's also interesting to note that most of the AMD GPUs in the Steam Survey results also saw minor upticks in adoption. Recent reports out of Japan show that AMD has garnered massive interest since the launch of the RX 9070 series GPUs, with claims of 45% market share coming as a surprise after NVIDIA reached 90% GPU market share in December last year. While NVIDIA's supply issues are likely at least partially to blame for AMD's increased popularity, there is also a growing sentiment amongst gamers, backed by some of our own testing, that NVIDIA is more interested in AI and simply isn't equipping its gaming graphics cards with enough VRAM for high-resolution and high-refresh rate gaming.
GIGABYTE Announces Availability of AORUS MASTER 18 & 16 Performance Gaming Laptops
GIGABYTE, the world's leading computer brand, announces the official availability of the AORUS MASTER 18 and AORUS MASTER 16 gaming laptops, hitting shelves and major e-tailers starting March 31st. These flagship systems are built for elite performance, designed to meet the demands of gamers, creators, and power users alike.
Equipped with up to the latest NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 and 5080 Laptop GPUs, the AORUS MASTER series unlocks next-level graphics power with up to 175 W Max TGP, delivering stunning visual fidelity, smoother gameplay, and AI-enhanced capabilities. Whether rendering 3D content, streaming high-action gameplay, or dominating in competitive titles, users can count on ultra-responsive performance across the board.
Both laptops feature WINDFORCE Infinity EX, GIGABYTE's cutting-edge thermal design, ensuring top-tier cooling under heavy loads. This system utilizes the frost fan with 158 asymmetric fan blades, the new lateral housing structure, internal blast via the third and fourth fan, and 3D VortX air-channeling with optimal airflow control to maintain performance and stability during the most intense sessions.
The AORUS MASTER series will be available starting March 31st at major e-tailers. For more details, visit the official product page, and check Newegg for purchasing availability.
Equipped with up to the latest NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 and 5080 Laptop GPUs, the AORUS MASTER series unlocks next-level graphics power with up to 175 W Max TGP, delivering stunning visual fidelity, smoother gameplay, and AI-enhanced capabilities. Whether rendering 3D content, streaming high-action gameplay, or dominating in competitive titles, users can count on ultra-responsive performance across the board.
Both laptops feature WINDFORCE Infinity EX, GIGABYTE's cutting-edge thermal design, ensuring top-tier cooling under heavy loads. This system utilizes the frost fan with 158 asymmetric fan blades, the new lateral housing structure, internal blast via the third and fourth fan, and 3D VortX air-channeling with optimal airflow control to maintain performance and stability during the most intense sessions.
Tenstorrent Launches Blackhole Developer Products at Tenstorrent Dev Day
Tenstorrent launched the next generation Blackhole chip family today at their DevDay event in San Francisco. Featuring all new RISC-V cores, Blackhole is built to handle massive AI workloads efficiently and offers an infinitely scalable solution.
Blackhole products are now available for order on tenstorrent.com:
Blackhole products are now available for order on tenstorrent.com:
- Blackhole p100, powered by one processor without Ethernet, active-cooled: available for $999
- Blackhole p150, powered by one processor with Ethernet, and available in passive-, active-, and liquid-cooled variants: available for $1,299
- TT-Quiet box, a liquid-cooled desktop workstation powered by 4 Blackhole processors: available for $11,999
"Titanfall 3" Tipped for Reveal at TGA 2025, Data Miner Predicts 2026 Launch
Early last month, video game industry watchdogs posited that Respawn Entertainment's reportedly canceled "unannounced incubation project" was some type of Titanfall IP. Certain insiders believed that the recently scrapped project was a "smaller-scale" multiplayer-focused game, rather than a full sequel to 2016's franchise entry. The long dormant first-person shooter sci-fi series has attracted a cult following, but Respawn pivoted with the IP's universe into producing Apex Legends—an extremely popular free-to-play online shooter. Hopes for a third Titanfall title have been revived once more; courtesy of two notorious Apex Legend data miners—YOROTSUKI and Osvaldatore. Earlier today, the latter figure uploaded a cryptic "Titanfall 3" logo to social media. In a more elaborate follow-up post, YOROTSUKI leaked some alleged "inner circle" info.
They dismissed comments about their collaborator simply playing a prank—too late for April Fool's day. They referred back to December, when they openly discussed Respawn's "development of a secret game." These past Discord conversations are now linked forward to an alleged still alive "Titanfall 3" project. YOROTSUKI predicts an unveiling to the public during The Game Awards 2025—so December, at the earliest. An official launch window is allegedly on the EA release calendar for 2026. As interpreted by MP1st, this new leak should be absorbed with maybe more than one grain of salt—the online publication has spent time sniffing out a Respawn Entertainment-adjacent property. Allegedly "Project Bruno" is Bit Reactor's "Star Wars turn-based tactics game," due for an official reveal later this month.
They dismissed comments about their collaborator simply playing a prank—too late for April Fool's day. They referred back to December, when they openly discussed Respawn's "development of a secret game." These past Discord conversations are now linked forward to an alleged still alive "Titanfall 3" project. YOROTSUKI predicts an unveiling to the public during The Game Awards 2025—so December, at the earliest. An official launch window is allegedly on the EA release calendar for 2026. As interpreted by MP1st, this new leak should be absorbed with maybe more than one grain of salt—the online publication has spent time sniffing out a Respawn Entertainment-adjacent property. Allegedly "Project Bruno" is Bit Reactor's "Star Wars turn-based tactics game," due for an official reveal later this month.
Intel and TSMC in Foundry Joint Venture Talks
Intel and TSMC are reportedly locked in talks to form a semiconductor foundry joint-venture (JV). This sensational piece of news comes from Reuters, which says that the two companies have reached a preliminary agreement to form the JV. Apparently, the move saves TSMC from building any hard infrastructure on U.S. soil, and instead use Intel's semiconductor foundry facilities. This would hence bring TSMC's semiconductor manufacturing IP and workforce to the U.S., however it remains to be seen if the very latest foundry technology would be handed over to the JV. TSMC would hold a 20% stake in the venture, and Intel the rest. Investors of Intel and TSMC reacted very differently to the news, with the TSMC stock falling 6% and Intel gaining 5%. Reuters also reports that it was the Trump Administration that negotiated this joint-venture between TSMC and Intel in a bid to "revitalize Intel."
MediaTek Introduces Kompanio Ultra SoC, Touted to Redefine AI Performance for Chromebook Plus
MediaTek has introduced the Kompanio Ultra, the latest milestone in AI-powered, high-performance Chromebooks. Leveraging MediaTek's proven expertise in flagship innovation, this powerful new platform brings fantastic on-device AI capabilities, superior computing performance, and industry-leading power efficiency to the newest Chromebook Plus devices. "The Kompanio Ultra underscores our commitment to delivering groundbreaking computing performance and efficiency that MediaTek has shown as a leader in the mobile compute space for many years," said Adam King, Vice President & General Manager of Computing and Multimedia Business at MediaTek. "We worked closely with Google to ensure the newest Chromebook Plus devices enjoy next-generation on-device AI capabilities, superior performance per watt, and immersive multimedia."
The Kompanio Ultra is MediaTek's most powerful Chromebook processor to date, integrating 50 TOPS of AI processing power to enable on-device generative AI experiences. With MediaTek's 8th-generation NPU, users can expect real-time task automation, personalized computing, and seamless AI-enhanced workflows—with local processing for enhanced speed, security, efficiency, and support for AI workloads without an internet connection. Built on the cutting-edge (TSMC) 3 nm process, the Kompanio Ultra features an all-big-core CPU architecture with an Arm Cortex-X925 processor clocked at up to 3.62 GHz, delivering industry-leading single and multithreaded performance. Whether handling intensive applications like video editing, content creation, or high-resolution gaming, this processor ensures smooth, lag-free performance with unmatched multitasking capabilities.
The Kompanio Ultra is MediaTek's most powerful Chromebook processor to date, integrating 50 TOPS of AI processing power to enable on-device generative AI experiences. With MediaTek's 8th-generation NPU, users can expect real-time task automation, personalized computing, and seamless AI-enhanced workflows—with local processing for enhanced speed, security, efficiency, and support for AI workloads without an internet connection. Built on the cutting-edge (TSMC) 3 nm process, the Kompanio Ultra features an all-big-core CPU architecture with an Arm Cortex-X925 processor clocked at up to 3.62 GHz, delivering industry-leading single and multithreaded performance. Whether handling intensive applications like video editing, content creation, or high-resolution gaming, this processor ensures smooth, lag-free performance with unmatched multitasking capabilities.
Vietnamese Store Assembles AI Server, Uses Seven GIGABYTE RTX 5090 GAMING OC Cards
I_Leak_VN, a Vietnamese PC hardware influencer/leaker, reckons that the region's first GeForce RTX 5090 GPU-based "AI/mining/scalper" rig has just emerged. Earlier today, their social media post provided an informative look at a local shop's "Training AI: X7 RTX 5090 32G" build. Apparently, the retail outlet has assembled this monstrous setup for an important customer. A Nguyễn Công PC employee sent personal thanks to GIGABYTE Vietnam; for the supply of seven GeForce RTX 5090 GAMING OC graphics cards. As showcased in uploaded photos (see below), these highly-prized units were placed neatly in a row—as part of an airy open plan system. After inspecting the store's heavily watermarked shots, Western media outlets have (visually) compared the "Training AI: X7" rig to crypto mining builds of a certain vintage.
Tom's Hardware spotted multiple Super Flower Leadex 2000 W PSUs—providing sufficient juice to a system that: "can easily be valued at over $30,000, considering these GPUs go for $3500-$4000 on a good day." Wccftech's report extended coverage to Nguyễn Công PC's other AI offerings; mainly "more traditional" PC builds that utilize dual MSI GeForce RTX 5090 card setups—a "dual rig" likely costs ~$10,000. The shop's selection of gaming-grade hardware is not too surprising, given the performance prowess of NVIDIA's GB202-300-A1 GPU variant. Naturally, Team Green's cutting-edge enterprise hardware unlocks the full potential of "Blackwell" GPU designs—but the company can charge sky-high prices for this level of equipment. Going back to early 2024, Tiny Corp. started to make noise about its "tinybox" AI platform—consisting of multiple XFX Speedster MERC310 RX 7900 XTX cards, rather than AMD's freshly launched Instinct MI300X accelerator.
Tom's Hardware spotted multiple Super Flower Leadex 2000 W PSUs—providing sufficient juice to a system that: "can easily be valued at over $30,000, considering these GPUs go for $3500-$4000 on a good day." Wccftech's report extended coverage to Nguyễn Công PC's other AI offerings; mainly "more traditional" PC builds that utilize dual MSI GeForce RTX 5090 card setups—a "dual rig" likely costs ~$10,000. The shop's selection of gaming-grade hardware is not too surprising, given the performance prowess of NVIDIA's GB202-300-A1 GPU variant. Naturally, Team Green's cutting-edge enterprise hardware unlocks the full potential of "Blackwell" GPU designs—but the company can charge sky-high prices for this level of equipment. Going back to early 2024, Tiny Corp. started to make noise about its "tinybox" AI platform—consisting of multiple XFX Speedster MERC310 RX 7900 XTX cards, rather than AMD's freshly launched Instinct MI300X accelerator.
DELTARUNE Chapters 1-4 Arriving on June 5 - Coming to PC, Mac & Consoles
DELTARUNE Chapters 1-4 will release on June 5, 2025. It will be available on PC (Steam), Mac, Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 4, like before—and now also on Nintendo Switch 2 and PlayStation 5. DELTARUNE will cost $24.99. You only have to buy the game once—upcoming Chapters will be added as free updates. That's not factored into the cost, though. I only feel right charging for what there currently is, not what I say there will be. Therefore, this $24.99 to me represents the exact price of four chapters! But, it's my hope that as we complete more Chapters, you'll feel like this game was a super super super super good deal. Just wait, I'll prove it to you...!
Also, the Soundtrack on Steam will cost $14.99. With the release of Chapter 3 and 4, it'll contain over 150 songs! And, if you buy the soundtrack on Steam, every time a Chapter is added, you'll get those tracks, too. Isn't the value actually a little too good?! (hyperventilating and drools on it)...If you've already been buying the individual Chapter soundtracks on Bandcamp, Chapters 3&4 will be released as a separate release there as well.
Also, the Soundtrack on Steam will cost $14.99. With the release of Chapter 3 and 4, it'll contain over 150 songs! And, if you buy the soundtrack on Steam, every time a Chapter is added, you'll get those tracks, too. Isn't the value actually a little too good?! (hyperventilating and drools on it)...If you've already been buying the individual Chapter soundtracks on Bandcamp, Chapters 3&4 will be released as a separate release there as well.
Report Suggests that Samsung Will Increase DRAM & NAND Prices by 3 to 5%
Earlier today, industry moles in South Korea have heard whispers about Samsung Electronics planning a new pricing strategy for NAND and DRAM product lines. According to an MK news articles, local sources believe that company leadership will: "raise memory chip prices—by 3-5% from the current level—for major global customers. It is reported that some customers have already begun contract negotiations that reflect the increase conditions." Regional watchdogs posit that the megacorporation is reacting to very current geopolitical tensions (i.e. tariffs). Earlier this week, a main rival—Micron—informed customers about forthcoming memory price increases. Naturally, the North American memory chip giant is not "fully" affected by recent seismic shifts. A "significant growth demand" has caused jacked up charges—effective across DRAM, NAND flash, and HBM portfolios—projected throughout 2025 and 2026.
Returning to South Korean shores and Samsung, one unnamed semiconductor insider opined to MK: "oversupply continued throughout last year, but supply has recently decreased as major companies have begun to reduce production...In addition, artificial intelligence (AI) devices are appearing one after another in China, and demand for semiconductors is gradually increasing due to industrial automation." DRAMeXchange—an appropriately named market research organization—has kept track relevant trends. As disclosed by the MK news piece—as of last month, general-purpose DRAM DDR4 prices: "remained flat for the fourth month in a row." Looking at conditions for DDR5 (used in high-performance PCs and enterprise equipment), prices soared by 12%. DRAMeXchange observed NAND costs rising by 9.6%: "continuing an upward trend for the third consecutive month."
Returning to South Korean shores and Samsung, one unnamed semiconductor insider opined to MK: "oversupply continued throughout last year, but supply has recently decreased as major companies have begun to reduce production...In addition, artificial intelligence (AI) devices are appearing one after another in China, and demand for semiconductors is gradually increasing due to industrial automation." DRAMeXchange—an appropriately named market research organization—has kept track relevant trends. As disclosed by the MK news piece—as of last month, general-purpose DRAM DDR4 prices: "remained flat for the fourth month in a row." Looking at conditions for DDR5 (used in high-performance PCs and enterprise equipment), prices soared by 12%. DRAMeXchange observed NAND costs rising by 9.6%: "continuing an upward trend for the third consecutive month."
China's RiVAI Technologies Introduces "Lingyu" RISC-V Server Processor
RiVAI Technologies, a Shenzhen-based semiconductor firm founded in 2018, unveiled this first fully domestic high-performance RISC-V server processor designed for compute-intensive applications. The Lingyu CPU features 32 general-purpose computing cores working alongside eight specialized intelligent computing cores (LPUs) in a heterogeneous "one-core, dual architecture" design. It aims for performance comparable to current x86 server processors, with the chip implementing optimized data pathways and enhanced pipelining mechanisms to maintain high clock frequencies under computational load. The architecture specifically targets maximum throughput for parallel processing workloads typical in data center environments. The chip aims to serve HPC clusters, all-flash storage arrays, and AI large language model inference operations.
Since its inception, RiVAI has accumulated 37 RISC-V-related patents and established partnerships with over 50 industry collaborators, including academic research relationships. Professor David Patterson, a RISC-V architecture pioneer, provides technical guidance to the company's development efforts. The processor's dual-architecture approach enables dynamic workload distribution between conventional processing tasks and specialized computational operations, potentially improving performance-per-watt metrics compared to traditional single-architecture designs. The Lingyu launch significantly advances China's semiconductor self-sufficiency strategy, potentially accelerating RISC-V ecosystem development while providing Chinese data centers with domestically engineered high-performance computing solutions, ultimately bypassing x86 and Arm solutions.
Since its inception, RiVAI has accumulated 37 RISC-V-related patents and established partnerships with over 50 industry collaborators, including academic research relationships. Professor David Patterson, a RISC-V architecture pioneer, provides technical guidance to the company's development efforts. The processor's dual-architecture approach enables dynamic workload distribution between conventional processing tasks and specialized computational operations, potentially improving performance-per-watt metrics compared to traditional single-architecture designs. The Lingyu launch significantly advances China's semiconductor self-sufficiency strategy, potentially accelerating RISC-V ecosystem development while providing Chinese data centers with domestically engineered high-performance computing solutions, ultimately bypassing x86 and Arm solutions.
GUC Announces Tape-Out of the World's First HBM4 IP on TSMC N3P
Global Unichip Corp. (GUC), the Advanced ASIC Leader, announced today that it has successfully taped-out the world's first HBM4 controller and PHY IP. This test chip was implemented using TSMC's cutting-edge N3P process technology and CoWoS -R advanced packaging technology.
The HBM4 IP supports data rates of up to 12 Gbps under all operating conditions. By leveraging a proprietary interposer layout, GUC has optimized signal integrity (SI) and power integrity (PI) to achieve these high speeds for all types of CoWoS technology. Comparing with HBM3, GUC's HBM4 PHY delivers 2.5x bandwidth while improving 1.5x power efficiency and 2x area efficiency. In line with previous GUC HBM, GLink, and UCIe IPs, this HBM4 IP integrates proteanTecs' interconnect monitoring solution to provide high visibility for testing and characterizing the PHY while improving in-field performance and reliability for end products.
The HBM4 IP supports data rates of up to 12 Gbps under all operating conditions. By leveraging a proprietary interposer layout, GUC has optimized signal integrity (SI) and power integrity (PI) to achieve these high speeds for all types of CoWoS technology. Comparing with HBM3, GUC's HBM4 PHY delivers 2.5x bandwidth while improving 1.5x power efficiency and 2x area efficiency. In line with previous GUC HBM, GLink, and UCIe IPs, this HBM4 IP integrates proteanTecs' interconnect monitoring solution to provide high visibility for testing and characterizing the PHY while improving in-field performance and reliability for end products.
Official: Nintendo Switch 2 Leveled Up With NVIDIA "Custom Processor" & AI-Powered Tech
The Nintendo Switch 2, unveiled April 2, takes performance to the next level, powered by a custom NVIDIA processor featuring an NVIDIA GPU with dedicated RT Cores and Tensor Cores for stunning visuals and AI-driven enhancements. With 1,000 engineer-years of effort across every element—from system and chip design to a custom GPU, APIs and world-class development tools—the Nintendo Switch 2 brings major upgrades. The new console enables up to 4K gaming in TV mode and up to 120 FPS at 1080p in handheld mode. Nintendo Switch 2 also supports HDR, and AI upscaling to sharpen visuals and smooth gameplay.
AI and Ray Tracing for Next-Level Visuals
The new RT Cores bring real-time ray tracing, delivering lifelike lighting, reflections and shadows for more immersive worlds. Tensor Cores power AI-driven features like Deep Learning Super Sampling (DLSS), boosting resolution for sharper details without sacrificing image quality. Tensor Cores also enable AI-powered face tracking and background removal in video chat use cases, enhancing social gaming and streaming. With millions of players worldwide, the Nintendo Switch has become a gaming powerhouse and home to Nintendo's storied franchises. Its hybrid design redefined console gaming, bridging TV and handheld play.
AI and Ray Tracing for Next-Level Visuals
The new RT Cores bring real-time ray tracing, delivering lifelike lighting, reflections and shadows for more immersive worlds. Tensor Cores power AI-driven features like Deep Learning Super Sampling (DLSS), boosting resolution for sharper details without sacrificing image quality. Tensor Cores also enable AI-powered face tracking and background removal in video chat use cases, enhancing social gaming and streaming. With millions of players worldwide, the Nintendo Switch has become a gaming powerhouse and home to Nintendo's storied franchises. Its hybrid design redefined console gaming, bridging TV and handheld play.
Enter the Gungeon 2 Unveiled by Dodge Roll & Devolver Digital, 2026 Launch Teased
Rejoice, Gungeoneers! Kaliber has heard your prayers! Enter the Gungeon 2 is in active development and will be coming to PC (Steam) and Nintendo Switch 2 in 2026. You can wishlist it now, even if you don't own a PC. Enter the Gungeon 2 is a reloaded, high-caliber sequel, enhanced with a new 3D art style, new weapons, new enemies, and expanded gameplay. Battle through familiar and unknown areas of the ruined Gungeon, uncovering secrets and mastering powerful weapons while destroying legions of Gundead, previously confined to the 2D plane. Choose from an expanding roster of Gungeoneers, new and old, rescue marooned heroes, and grow stronger through powerful passive and active items, blessings, curses, and your mastery of a vast arsenal of weapons.
And seek to understand why you find yourself under assault in the Gungeon once again…We're thrilled to finally reveal Enter the Gungeon 2—you've been asking for it for so long! But please note we're still in the midst of development, so we can't share too much just yet. In the meantime, we've set up an official Discord server for Dodge Roll, and we'd love to hear your thoughts on the announcement. Join to share your feedback, get updates directly from the team, enjoy giveaways, and hang out with other Gungeoneers.
And seek to understand why you find yourself under assault in the Gungeon once again…We're thrilled to finally reveal Enter the Gungeon 2—you've been asking for it for so long! But please note we're still in the midst of development, so we can't share too much just yet. In the meantime, we've set up an official Discord server for Dodge Roll, and we'd love to hear your thoughts on the announcement. Join to share your feedback, get updates directly from the team, enjoy giveaways, and hang out with other Gungeoneers.
Origin PC Announces EON18-X, EON16-X, EON16-X3D, and EON16-S Gaming Notebooks
ORIGIN PC the ultimate ally for gamers, creators, and for those who need a premium high-performance experience, is thrilled to announce our latest high-performance laptops, the EON18-X, EON16-X, EON16-X3D, and EON16-S along with their corresponding workstations, the NS-18, NX-16, NX3D-16, and NS-16. Designed to meet the demands of gamers, content creators, and tech enthusiasts, these laptops and workstations combine cutting-edge hardware with premium craftsmanship to deliver top-tier performance, immersive visuals, and seamless multitasking in sleek, portable form factors.
Nintendo Confirms Switch 2's DLSS & Ray Tracing Support, No Comment on "NVIDIA SoC"
As expected, Nintendo's lengthy Switch 2 presentation contained very little technical information—the upcoming hybrid console's feature set, software library and user experience were showcased extensively. A series of leaks and plenty of online speculation—going back to earlier in the decade—pointed to the highly-anticipated Switch successor being based on an NVIDIA hardware foundation. A mysterious "Tegra 239" chipset emerged as the "logical" choice for Nintendo's next-gen system, but company representatives will likely not comment on the exact nature of internal components. Several months after the launch of Wii U, independent analysis (by Chipworks) of the host console's "Latte" GPU core verified a Radeon 4650/4670-class design. To the surprise of many industry watchdogs, a Nintendo employee has officially confirmed Switch 2's support of NVIDIA graphics technologies.
As disclosed to IGN—during a press junket—Takuhiro Dohta (senior director of the firm's Planning & Development Division) stated: "we use DLSS upscaling technology and that's something that we need to use as we develop games. And when it comes to the hardware, it is able to output to a TV at a maximum of 4K. Whether the software developer is going to use that as a native resolution, or get it to upscale is something that the software developer can choose. I think it opens up a lot of options for the software developer to choose from. Yes, the GPU does support ray tracing. As with DLSS, I believe this provides yet another option for the software developers to use and a tool for them." When pressed about the exact origins of the console's beating heart, Dohta deflected responsibility in the direction of Team Green: "Nintendo doesn't share too much on the hardware spec...What we really like to focus on is the value that we can provide to our consumers. But I do believe that our partner—NVIDIA—will be sharing some information." As pointed out by VideoCardz, Nintendo's hardware technical manager only mentioned options for the development side of things, not end user features. Yesterday's Metroid Prime 4: Beyond preview segment indicated that the title's Switch 2 Edition will arrive with four profiles; VideoCardz theorizes that DLSS will be used for differing levels—quality/performance—in handheld or docked operation.
As disclosed to IGN—during a press junket—Takuhiro Dohta (senior director of the firm's Planning & Development Division) stated: "we use DLSS upscaling technology and that's something that we need to use as we develop games. And when it comes to the hardware, it is able to output to a TV at a maximum of 4K. Whether the software developer is going to use that as a native resolution, or get it to upscale is something that the software developer can choose. I think it opens up a lot of options for the software developer to choose from. Yes, the GPU does support ray tracing. As with DLSS, I believe this provides yet another option for the software developers to use and a tool for them." When pressed about the exact origins of the console's beating heart, Dohta deflected responsibility in the direction of Team Green: "Nintendo doesn't share too much on the hardware spec...What we really like to focus on is the value that we can provide to our consumers. But I do believe that our partner—NVIDIA—will be sharing some information." As pointed out by VideoCardz, Nintendo's hardware technical manager only mentioned options for the development side of things, not end user features. Yesterday's Metroid Prime 4: Beyond preview segment indicated that the title's Switch 2 Edition will arrive with four profiles; VideoCardz theorizes that DLSS will be used for differing levels—quality/performance—in handheld or docked operation.
Samsung Bolsters its U.S. Gaming Market Presence with Odyssey 3D
Samsung Electronics America today announced its plans to strengthen its presence in the U.S. gaming industry with the upcoming release of its latest gaming monitor, Odyssey 3D. From March 24-28, Samsung hosted "eXperience 2025," an exclusive event for key North American customers at Fairmont Austin in Texas. This year, the event brought together nearly 600 major clients, including MicroCenter, Best Buy, Amazon and Walmart.
The event served as a platform for Samsung to unveil its newest gaming monitor lineups in front of customers, including its 2025 flagship products—Odyssey 3D (G90XF), Odyssey OLED G8 (G81SF) and Odyssey G9 (G91F) models.
The event served as a platform for Samsung to unveil its newest gaming monitor lineups in front of customers, including its 2025 flagship products—Odyssey 3D (G90XF), Odyssey OLED G8 (G81SF) and Odyssey G9 (G91F) models.
AMD Instinct GPUs are Ready to Take on Today's Most Demanding AI Models
Customers evaluating AI infrastructure today rely on a combination of industry-standard benchmarks and real-world model performance metrics—such as those from Llama 3.1 405B, DeepSeek-R1, and other leading open-source models—to guide their GPU purchase decisions. At AMD, we believe that delivering value across both dimensions is essential to driving broader AI adoption and real-world deployment at scale. That's why we take a holistic approach—optimizing performance for rigorous industry benchmarks like MLperf while also enabling Day 0 support and rapid tuning for the models most widely used in production by our customers.
This strategy helps ensure AMD Instinct GPUs deliver not only strong, standardized performance, but also high-throughput, scalable AI inferencing across the latest generative and language models used by customers. We will explore how AMD's continued investment in benchmarking, open model enablement, software and ecosystem tools helps unlock greater value for customers—from MLPerf Inference 5.0 results to Llama 3.1 405B and DeepSeek-R1 performance, ROCm software advances, and beyond.
This strategy helps ensure AMD Instinct GPUs deliver not only strong, standardized performance, but also high-throughput, scalable AI inferencing across the latest generative and language models used by customers. We will explore how AMD's continued investment in benchmarking, open model enablement, software and ecosystem tools helps unlock greater value for customers—from MLPerf Inference 5.0 results to Llama 3.1 405B and DeepSeek-R1 performance, ROCm software advances, and beyond.
US Exempts Semiconductors From Taiwan Tariffs, But Chip-Making Equipment Remains on the List
Yesterday, United States President Donald Trump announced a set of tariffs imposed on US trading partners, imposing a series of 10%+ tariffs on partners, calling it a "Liberation Day." Today, we are calculating how much these tariffs will impact consumers and what is most important at TechPowerUp: semiconductors powering our GPUs and CPUs. According to one of the top investment banks, Goldman Sachs, semiconductors are exempt from the reciprocal tariffs that Trump has imposed on Taiwan. However, the semiconductor manufacturing equipment used by makers like TSMC is not exempt and is expected to be hit with the 32% tariffs. This is only half of what Taiwan imposes on imports of US-made goods. For TSMC, the number one maker of GPUs and CPUs, tariffs can be tricky to navigate. While its existing manufacturing facilities use equipment sourced from Dutch ASML and a few US companies like Lam Research and KLA Corporation, it shouldn't be a problem to ship new silicon to the US.
However, if TSMC wants to expand its manufacturing facilities in any country that is not the US, it will have to deal with 32% tariffs on US-sourced silicon manufacturing equipment. For EU-based ASML, things are looking a little different. If over 20% of the equipment is made up of US content, a tariff exemption might apply, potentially reducing import costs. If more than one-fifth of a product's components or value originates from US sources, the equipment may be eligible for tariff relief. ASML's machines include some US components, so determining whether these machines meet the 20% threshold is crucial. If they do, the tariff exemption could help lower costs associated with importing these advanced machines, reaching up to $380 million. For non-US-injected goods, EU entities are subject to 20% tariffs.
However, if TSMC wants to expand its manufacturing facilities in any country that is not the US, it will have to deal with 32% tariffs on US-sourced silicon manufacturing equipment. For EU-based ASML, things are looking a little different. If over 20% of the equipment is made up of US content, a tariff exemption might apply, potentially reducing import costs. If more than one-fifth of a product's components or value originates from US sources, the equipment may be eligible for tariff relief. ASML's machines include some US components, so determining whether these machines meet the 20% threshold is crucial. If they do, the tariff exemption could help lower costs associated with importing these advanced machines, reaching up to $380 million. For non-US-injected goods, EU entities are subject to 20% tariffs.
Cooler Master's GeForce RTX 5080 Custom Card Surfaces in China - Quad-slot Profile with Modular Fan System
Cooler Master (CM) showcased custom GeForce RTX 50-series graphics card designs at CES 2025, but advertised these compelling parts as included in high-end pre-built gaming rigs. Months later, finalized CM GeForce RTX 5080 stock has just rolled out in China—as demonstrated by 51972's blog post on Bilibili. A generous selection of uploaded photos were accompanied by the content creator's observations when tinkering with his sample unit's modular air cooling solution: "someone commented on the post this morning and suggested replacing it with a MasterFan or Mobius. I tried it too. I thought it could only support 12025 (slim) fans. When I disassembled it, I found that Cooler Master's designers/engineers had reserved screw limit holes at different heights."
Their description continued as follows: "I tried it and found that the (Phanteks) T30 could really be installed, but the thickness of the whole card reached a terrifying 9 cm. Outrageous." Cooler Master's innovative enclosure—when configured with the thickest third-party options—manages to "outgrow" nearby competition. 51972 compared CM's plucky new entrant to an ASUS ROG Astral RTX 5080 card; a very familiar premium-tier quad-slotter—albeit with a relatively "svelte" 7.6 cm profile. MSI's upper crust GeForce RTX 5080 SUPRIM cards arrived earlier this year, sporting the same shroud height dimension as equivalent Astral SKUs.
Their description continued as follows: "I tried it and found that the (Phanteks) T30 could really be installed, but the thickness of the whole card reached a terrifying 9 cm. Outrageous." Cooler Master's innovative enclosure—when configured with the thickest third-party options—manages to "outgrow" nearby competition. 51972 compared CM's plucky new entrant to an ASUS ROG Astral RTX 5080 card; a very familiar premium-tier quad-slotter—albeit with a relatively "svelte" 7.6 cm profile. MSI's upper crust GeForce RTX 5080 SUPRIM cards arrived earlier this year, sporting the same shroud height dimension as equivalent Astral SKUs.
The Talos Principle Reawakened is a "Complete Modernization" of Croteam's 2014 Classic
We're excited to reveal that The Talos Principle Reawakened is not just a remaster, but a complete modernization of our 2014 classic, carefully redesigned for 2025 gaming standards. Because, let's be honest games today aren't just about deep thinking and careful exploration. No, no, no. We—at Croteam and Devolver Digital—know that in today's gaming landscape, engagement is king and effort is optional. So, we've made sure our remaster aligns with modern industry standards: maximum retention, minimum thinking! Check out all the new features in the video below.
The Talos Principle: Reawakened introduces new content, enhanced gameplay, and a gorgeously upgraded presentation. Relive the critically acclaimed expansion Road to Gehenna and dive into an all-new chapter, In the Beginning. Discover the story of Alexandra Drennan, as she faces profound existential questions while orchestrating the Simulation's first critical test, challenging players to think deeply about the human condition. Rebuilt with Unreal Engine 5, the Simulation world you remember is now more immersive and detailed than ever before. Enhanced lighting, textures, and environmental design breathe new life into every corner of the game, alongside modernized quality-of-life updates that maintain the vision of the original classic.
The Talos Principle: Reawakened introduces new content, enhanced gameplay, and a gorgeously upgraded presentation. Relive the critically acclaimed expansion Road to Gehenna and dive into an all-new chapter, In the Beginning. Discover the story of Alexandra Drennan, as she faces profound existential questions while orchestrating the Simulation's first critical test, challenging players to think deeply about the human condition. Rebuilt with Unreal Engine 5, the Simulation world you remember is now more immersive and detailed than ever before. Enhanced lighting, textures, and environmental design breathe new life into every corner of the game, alongside modernized quality-of-life updates that maintain the vision of the original classic.
AMD Radeon RX 9070 GRE 12 GB Graphics Cards Allegedly in the Pipeline
AMD and its board partners cleared "phase one" of RDNA 4 earlier on in March, with the launch of Radeon RX 9070 Series graphics cards. At the tail end of special introductory events, Team Red representatives—on both sides of the Pacific—teased a second quarter release of lower end Radeon RX 9060 Series models. A handful of AIBs have registered multiple custom Radeon RX 9060 XT 16 GB and 8 GB SKUs, so expectations have been set for an imminent arrival. A fresh insider leak suggests that AMD has something else Navi 48 GPU-related in the pipeline; possibly scheduled for launch before rumored Radeon RX 9060 XT cards. Earlier today, IT Home picked up on chatter regarding a mysterious Radeon RX 9070 GRE model. Apparently Zhongzheng Computer (note: machine translated name) issued an intriguing tidbit on its WeChat official account—the March 9 bulletin stated: "friends who don't have enough budget for Radeon RX 9070 XT can wait for RX 9070 GRE, which will have a better price-performance ratio. Radeon RX 9060 XT will have to wait for a while."
Based on this news, VideoCardz believes that Chinese market stock of custom Radeon RX 9070 16 GB (non-XT) cards was not topped up last week. Local sources have observed regional market conditions with almost zero availability—conjecture points to Team Red's local office "deliberately" paving the way for "gap-filling" Radeon RX 9070 GRE 12 GB options. As reported by TechPowerUp on multiple occasions, AMD's "GRE" (aka Golden Rabbit Edition) nomenclature debuted with their introduction of a Radeon 7900 GRE 16 GB model back in 2023—the Year of the Rabbit. This (now) very out-of-date naming scheme was revised earlier this year—with a modernized abbreviation of "Great Radeon Edition." Benchlife.info weighed in on rumors regarding a new-generation GRE package: "(it) uses the same Navi 48 die, that is, the RDNA 4 GPU architecture, as the Radeon RX 9070 XT and Radeon RX 9070 currently on sale, but the memory will be reduced to 12 GB and the memory interface will be 192-bit. Our sources have informed us that the Radeon RX 9070 GRE 12 GB is currently being planned by AIB partners and is ready to enter mass production." VideoCardz has kindly assembled a relevant comparison chart—see below. Naturally, these theorized specifications place the incoming GRE somewhere in between the already released Radeon RX 9070 16 GB cards, and a rumored Radeon RX 9060 XT class.
Based on this news, VideoCardz believes that Chinese market stock of custom Radeon RX 9070 16 GB (non-XT) cards was not topped up last week. Local sources have observed regional market conditions with almost zero availability—conjecture points to Team Red's local office "deliberately" paving the way for "gap-filling" Radeon RX 9070 GRE 12 GB options. As reported by TechPowerUp on multiple occasions, AMD's "GRE" (aka Golden Rabbit Edition) nomenclature debuted with their introduction of a Radeon 7900 GRE 16 GB model back in 2023—the Year of the Rabbit. This (now) very out-of-date naming scheme was revised earlier this year—with a modernized abbreviation of "Great Radeon Edition." Benchlife.info weighed in on rumors regarding a new-generation GRE package: "(it) uses the same Navi 48 die, that is, the RDNA 4 GPU architecture, as the Radeon RX 9070 XT and Radeon RX 9070 currently on sale, but the memory will be reduced to 12 GB and the memory interface will be 192-bit. Our sources have informed us that the Radeon RX 9070 GRE 12 GB is currently being planned by AIB partners and is ready to enter mass production." VideoCardz has kindly assembled a relevant comparison chart—see below. Naturally, these theorized specifications place the incoming GRE somewhere in between the already released Radeon RX 9070 16 GB cards, and a rumored Radeon RX 9060 XT class.
Lexar Wins iF DESIGN AWARDS for its Professional Workflow Dock and Professional Go Portable SSD with Hub
Lexar, a leading global brand of flash memory solutions, is proud to announce that two of its professional products earned an iF DESIGN AWARD. Among the world's most prestigious design competitions, typically about 11,000 entries are received. This year, 131 jurors from 23 countries selected the best and most outstanding designs, based on five criteria: idea, form, function, differentiation, and sustainability.
Built to exponentially accelerate your post-production process, the Lexar Professional Workflow dock includes 6 bays that allow users to customize their setup with reader and SSD modules to precisely suit their needs. Thunderbolt 4 connectivity delivers amazing 40 Gbps speed and supports 8K display on supported monitors. All six bays can work simultaneously to further maximize productivity, and a thoughtful design offers heat-dissipating, scratch-resistant aluminium housing, high-efficiency airflow channels, extra USB-C and USB-A ports, and a built-in fan to maintain maximum performance.
Built to exponentially accelerate your post-production process, the Lexar Professional Workflow dock includes 6 bays that allow users to customize their setup with reader and SSD modules to precisely suit their needs. Thunderbolt 4 connectivity delivers amazing 40 Gbps speed and supports 8K display on supported monitors. All six bays can work simultaneously to further maximize productivity, and a thoughtful design offers heat-dissipating, scratch-resistant aluminium housing, high-efficiency airflow channels, extra USB-C and USB-A ports, and a built-in fan to maintain maximum performance.
Audio-Technica Launches New, Limited-Edition Star Wars Inspired Earbuds
Audio-Technica is collaborating with Disney Consumer Products and Lucasfilm to bring a unique listening experience to Star Wars fans and audiophiles alike.
The Star Wars-inspired high-fidelity wireless earbuds are stylized to represent four key characters—the Mandalorian, Grogu, Darth Vader and R2-D2. The ATH-CKS50TW2 Star Wars earbuds offer powerful, full-spectrum sound and space-age convenience.
The Star Wars-inspired high-fidelity wireless earbuds are stylized to represent four key characters—the Mandalorian, Grogu, Darth Vader and R2-D2. The ATH-CKS50TW2 Star Wars earbuds offer powerful, full-spectrum sound and space-age convenience.
Forget Reboots, Live Patches are Coming to Windows 11 Enterprise Clients
Microsoft is introducing live patch updates for Windows 11 Enterprise, version 24H2, that allow critical security fixes to be applied without interrupting users. These updates, known as hotpatches, are available for x64 devices running on AMD or Intel CPUs. Hotpatch updates are designed to install quickly and take effect immediately. Unlike standard monthly security updates that require a system restart, hotpatch updates provide instant protection against vulnerabilities while allowing users to continue working. This new process can reduce the number of restarts from twelve per year to just four. The update schedule follows a quarterly cycle. In January, April, July, and October, devices install a complete security update with new features and fixes that do require a restart. In the two months that follow each of these baseline updates, devices receive hotpatch updates that only include security fixes and do not need a reboot. This approach ensures that essential protections are applied quickly without impacting daily work.
To use hotpatch updates, organizations need a Microsoft subscription that includes Windows 11 Enterprise (or Windows 365 Enterprise) and devices running build 26100.2033 or later. These devices must also be managed using Microsoft Intune, where IT administrators can set up a hotpatch-enabled quality update policy. The Intune admin center automatically detects eligible devices and manages the update process. Hotpatch updates are currently available on Intel and AMD-powered devices. For Arm64 devices, hotpatch updates are still in public preview and require an extra configuration step: disabling CHPE support via a registry key or the upcoming DisableCHPE CSP. This update system represents a more efficient way to secure Windows client devices. By minimizing the need for restarts and delivering updates in a predictable, quarterly cycle, Microsoft aims to help organizations protect their systems with minimal disruption. We expect these live patches to trickle down to more Windows 11 versions, like Home and Pro editions.
To use hotpatch updates, organizations need a Microsoft subscription that includes Windows 11 Enterprise (or Windows 365 Enterprise) and devices running build 26100.2033 or later. These devices must also be managed using Microsoft Intune, where IT administrators can set up a hotpatch-enabled quality update policy. The Intune admin center automatically detects eligible devices and manages the update process. Hotpatch updates are currently available on Intel and AMD-powered devices. For Arm64 devices, hotpatch updates are still in public preview and require an extra configuration step: disabling CHPE support via a registry key or the upcoming DisableCHPE CSP. This update system represents a more efficient way to secure Windows client devices. By minimizing the need for restarts and delivering updates in a predictable, quarterly cycle, Microsoft aims to help organizations protect their systems with minimal disruption. We expect these live patches to trickle down to more Windows 11 versions, like Home and Pro editions.
GeForce Now April Additions Detailed, including Advanced Access for South of Midnight
This month, 21 games are joining the cloud gaming library of over 2,000 titles. Whether chasing epic adventures, testing skills in competitive battles or diving into immersive worlds, members can dive into April's adventures arrivals, which are truly no joke. Get ready to stream, play and conquer the eight games available this week. Members can also get ahead of the pack with advanced access to South of Midnight, streaming soon before launch.
Unleash the Magic
South of Midnight, an action-adventure game developed by Compulsion Games, offers advanced access for gamers who purchase its Premium Edition. Dive into the title's hauntingly beautiful world before launch, exploring its rich Southern gothic setting and unique magical combat system while balancing magic with melee attacks.
Unleash the Magic
South of Midnight, an action-adventure game developed by Compulsion Games, offers advanced access for gamers who purchase its Premium Edition. Dive into the title's hauntingly beautiful world before launch, exploring its rich Southern gothic setting and unique magical combat system while balancing magic with melee attacks.
Intel Arc GPU Graphics Drivers 101.6732 Beta Released
Intel today released the latest version of its Arc GPU Graphics Drivers. Version 101.6732 Beta comes with optimization for The Last of Us Part II Remastered. It also comes with a performance enhancement for Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, with up to 15% performance increases to be had with "balanced" settings at 1080p. Among the issues fixed with this release are lower than expected performance with Returnal in Arc A-series and B-series discrete GPUs; a game corruption seen with FragPunk on Core Ultra Series 2 integrated graphics; a display corruption seen with Plants vs. Zombies GOTY Edition in windowed mode; and intermittent game crashes seen with Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2 Campaign Remastered.
DOWNLOAD: Intel Arc GPU Graphics Drivers 101.6732 Beta
DOWNLOAD: Intel Arc GPU Graphics Drivers 101.6732 Beta
Other World Computing (OWC) Launches OWC SoftRAID 8.5 for macOS and Windows
Other World Computing (OWC), a trusted leader in high-performance storage, memory, connectivity, software, and accessories that empower creative and business professionals to maximize performance, enhance reliability, and streamline workflows, today announced the release of OWC SoftRAID 8.5, the latest update to its powerful RAID management software for macOS and Windows. Packed with dozens of enhancements, OWC SoftRAID 8.5 delivers dramatic increases in reliability, functionality, and performance - ensuring next-level data protection, functionality, and system stability for everyone from video editors to IT administrators, novices to power users.
The new OWC SoftRAID 8.5 driver, included with Apple's macOS 15.4 update, introduces significant improvements for RAID 4/5 volumes, particularly when dealing with failing HDDs and SSDs. The driver now proactively marks a disk as failed upon detecting the first read or write error, ensuring uninterrupted performance by leveraging RAID redundancy to reconstruct data dynamically.
The new OWC SoftRAID 8.5 driver, included with Apple's macOS 15.4 update, introduces significant improvements for RAID 4/5 volumes, particularly when dealing with failing HDDs and SSDs. The driver now proactively marks a disk as failed upon detecting the first read or write error, ensuring uninterrupted performance by leveraging RAID redundancy to reconstruct data dynamically.
Wednesday, April 2nd 2025
Today's Files
Today's Reviews
Graphics Cards
Memory
Motherboards
PowerColor Radeon RX 9070 Hellhound Review
The PowerColor Radeon RX 9070 Hellhound features a slim dual-slot cooling solution that delivers outstanding temperatures while staying whisper-quiet under full load. Energy efficiency is incredible, too, and you get a dual BIOS as well.
Pwnage Trinity CF Review
Much like the StormBreaker Max CF, the ambidextrous Trinity CF comes with a carbon fiber composite shell to reach a weight of 41 g. In addition, PixArt's PAW3950 sensor, Omron optical main button switches, 8000 Hz wired and wireless polling, and the ability to adjust sensor position are on board as well.
Capcom To Crack Down on Monster Hunter Arena Quest Cheaters Despite Lack of Anti-Cheat
As part of the upcoming Monster Hunter Wilds Title 1 update, Capcom plans to introduce a new Arena Quests mode, a ranked, timed multiplayer mode with a competitive leaderboard and in-game cosmetic prizes. In anticipation of the new game mode, Capcom has issued a stern warning to would-be cheaters, and it will be following that up with punitive measures. According to a post on X and a recent blog post about the new game mode, any confirmed cheaters may face repercussions like removal of rewards, disqualification from further participation in Arena Quests, or even account restriction or outright suspension.
Curiously, Capcom seems to be relying on community reporting for its cheater detection, since Monster Hunter Wilds notably does not feature an anti-cheat system. While this means the AAA game runs well on Linux and the Steam Deck alike, it also makes it more difficult to catch cheating players. It also presents the unfortunate side effect of innocent players being caught in the cross fire. Addressing the latter, Capcom says the following: "Individuals who are mistakenly deemed to have committed a prohibited act will not be compensated later with participation and ranking rewards," and it encourages any players who suspect that they have been teamed up with a cheater to leave the quest immediately and report the offending player.
Curiously, Capcom seems to be relying on community reporting for its cheater detection, since Monster Hunter Wilds notably does not feature an anti-cheat system. While this means the AAA game runs well on Linux and the Steam Deck alike, it also makes it more difficult to catch cheating players. It also presents the unfortunate side effect of innocent players being caught in the cross fire. Addressing the latter, Capcom says the following: "Individuals who are mistakenly deemed to have committed a prohibited act will not be compensated later with participation and ranking rewards," and it encourages any players who suspect that they have been teamed up with a cheater to leave the quest immediately and report the offending player.
Intel's 18A Node Process Has Entered "Risk Production" - Foundry's Output Scaling Up
Intel's Vision 2025 conference ended yesterday—since then, media outlets have spent time poring over a multitude of announcements made during the two-day Las Vegas, Nevada event. Notably, Team Blue leadership confirmed that their Core Ultra 300 "Panther Lake" processor series is built to scale (on) 18A, and is on track for production later this year." Prominently-displayed presentation material indicated a roadmapped 2026 launch of "Panther Lake" client chips. The success of this next-gen mobile processor family is intertwined with Intel's Foundry service making marked progress. As summarized by the company's social media account, production teams are celebrating another milestone: "Intel 18A has entered risk production. This final stage is about stress-testing volume manufacturing before scaling up to high volume in the second half of 2025."
Under Pat Gelsinger's command, Team Blue set off on a "five nodes in four years" (5N4Y) adventure around mid-2021. This plan is set to conclude with the finalization of 18A, at some point this year, under a newly refreshed regime—with Lip-Bu Tan recently established as CEO. During an on-stage Intel Vision 2025 session, Kevin O'Buckley—Senior VP of Foundry Services—explained the meaning of: "risk production, while it sounds scary, is actually an industry standard terminology, and the importance of risk production is we've gotten the technology to a point where we're freezing it...Our customers have validated that; 'Yep, 18A is good enough for my product.' And we have to now do the 'risk' part, which is to scale it from making hundreds of units per day to thousands, tens of thousands, and then hundreds of thousands. So risk production..is scaling our manufacturing up and ensuring that we can meet not just the capabilities of the technology, but the capabilities at scale." By original "5N4Y" decree, top brass demanded that process nodes be (fully) available for production, rather than be stuck in a (not quite there) final high volume manufacturing (HVM) phase.
Under Pat Gelsinger's command, Team Blue set off on a "five nodes in four years" (5N4Y) adventure around mid-2021. This plan is set to conclude with the finalization of 18A, at some point this year, under a newly refreshed regime—with Lip-Bu Tan recently established as CEO. During an on-stage Intel Vision 2025 session, Kevin O'Buckley—Senior VP of Foundry Services—explained the meaning of: "risk production, while it sounds scary, is actually an industry standard terminology, and the importance of risk production is we've gotten the technology to a point where we're freezing it...Our customers have validated that; 'Yep, 18A is good enough for my product.' And we have to now do the 'risk' part, which is to scale it from making hundreds of units per day to thousands, tens of thousands, and then hundreds of thousands. So risk production..is scaling our manufacturing up and ensuring that we can meet not just the capabilities of the technology, but the capabilities at scale." By original "5N4Y" decree, top brass demanded that process nodes be (fully) available for production, rather than be stuck in a (not quite there) final high volume manufacturing (HVM) phase.
Lexar Ships the World's First 1 TB MicroSD Express Card for Use With Nintendo Switch 2
Lexar, a leading global brand of flash memory solutions, is excited to ship of the world's first 1 TB microSD Express card. Built on the new SD card standard that combines PCI Express 3.0 and NVMe 1.3 interfaces, the PLAY PRO microSDXC Express Card delivers substantially improved performance, perfect for handheld gaming devices.
With up to 900 MB/s read and 600 MB/s write, the PLAY PRO microSDXC Express Card offers the fastest speeds in the microSD Express card format and gives gamers an epic performance power-up that delivers faster game loads and accelerated downloads. With capacity up to 1 TB, it also offers space for many large AAA games. It is backwards-compatible with UHS-I and UHS-II host devices (at UHS-I speeds), but future-proofed for tomorrow's cutting-edge handheld gaming systems and other upcoming devices that will leverage this next-gen technology.
With up to 900 MB/s read and 600 MB/s write, the PLAY PRO microSDXC Express Card offers the fastest speeds in the microSD Express card format and gives gamers an epic performance power-up that delivers faster game loads and accelerated downloads. With capacity up to 1 TB, it also offers space for many large AAA games. It is backwards-compatible with UHS-I and UHS-II host devices (at UHS-I speeds), but future-proofed for tomorrow's cutting-edge handheld gaming systems and other upcoming devices that will leverage this next-gen technology.
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 Mobile GPU Benched, Approximately 10% Slower Than RTX 5090 Mobile
NVIDIA and its laptop manufacturing partners managed to squeeze out higher end models at the start of the week (March 31); qualifying just in time as a Q1 2025 launch. As predicted by PC gaming hardware watchdogs, conditions on day one—for the general public—were far from perfect. Media and influencer outlets received pre-launch evaluation units—Monday's embargo lift did not open up floodgates to a massive number of published/uploaded reviews. Independent benchmarking of Team Green's flagship—GeForce RTX 5090 Mobile—produced somewhat underwhelming results. To summarize, several outlets—including Notebookcheck—observed NVIDIA's topmost laptop-oriented GPU trailing way behind its desktop equivalent in lab tests. Notebookcheck commented on these findings: "laptop gamers will want to keep their expectations in check as the mobile GeForce RTX 5090 can be 50 percent slower than the desktop counterpart as shown by our benchmarks. The enormous gap between the mobile RTX 5090 and desktop RTX 5090 and the somewhat disappointing leap over the outgoing mobile RTX 4080 can be mostly attributed to TGP."
The German online publication was more impressed with NVIDIA's sub-flagship model—two Ryzen 9 9955HX-powered Schenker XMG Neo 16 test units—sporting almost identical specifications—were pitched against each other, a resultant mini-review of benched figures was made available earlier today. Notebookcheck's Allen Ngo provided some context: "3DMark benchmarks...show that the (Schenker Neo's) GeForce RTX 5080 Mobile unit is roughly 10 to 15 percent slower than its pricier sibling. This deficit translates fairly well when running actual games like Baldur's Gate 3, Final Fantasy XV, Alan Wake 2, or Assassin's Creed Shadows. As usual, the deficit is widest when running at 4K resolutions on demanding games and smallest when running at lower resolutions where graphics become less GPU bound. A notable observation is that the performance gap between the mobile RTX 5080 and mobile RTX 5090 would remain the same, whether or not DLSS is enabled. When running Assassin's Creed Shadows with DLSS on, for example, the mobile RTX 5090 would maintain its 15 percent lead over the mobile RTX 5080. The relatively small performance drop between the two enthusiast GPUs means it may be worth configuring laptops with the RTX 5080 instead of the RTX 5090 to save on hundreds of dollars or for better performance-per-dollar." As demonstrated by Bestware.com's system configurator, the XMG NEO 16 (A25) SKU with a GeForce RTX 5090 Mobile GPU demands a €855 (~$928 USD) upcharge over an RTX 5080-based build.
The German online publication was more impressed with NVIDIA's sub-flagship model—two Ryzen 9 9955HX-powered Schenker XMG Neo 16 test units—sporting almost identical specifications—were pitched against each other, a resultant mini-review of benched figures was made available earlier today. Notebookcheck's Allen Ngo provided some context: "3DMark benchmarks...show that the (Schenker Neo's) GeForce RTX 5080 Mobile unit is roughly 10 to 15 percent slower than its pricier sibling. This deficit translates fairly well when running actual games like Baldur's Gate 3, Final Fantasy XV, Alan Wake 2, or Assassin's Creed Shadows. As usual, the deficit is widest when running at 4K resolutions on demanding games and smallest when running at lower resolutions where graphics become less GPU bound. A notable observation is that the performance gap between the mobile RTX 5080 and mobile RTX 5090 would remain the same, whether or not DLSS is enabled. When running Assassin's Creed Shadows with DLSS on, for example, the mobile RTX 5090 would maintain its 15 percent lead over the mobile RTX 5080. The relatively small performance drop between the two enthusiast GPUs means it may be worth configuring laptops with the RTX 5080 instead of the RTX 5090 to save on hundreds of dollars or for better performance-per-dollar." As demonstrated by Bestware.com's system configurator, the XMG NEO 16 (A25) SKU with a GeForce RTX 5090 Mobile GPU demands a €855 (~$928 USD) upcharge over an RTX 5080-based build.
Omdia Forecasts Nintendo Switch 2 Will Sell 14.7 Million Units in 2025
Omdia forecasts show that Nintendo Switch 2 will sell nearly 15 million units globally in 2025, following its confirmed launch date of June 5.
This would put the Switch 2 ahead of its predecessor by around 10% during its first calendar year on the market. Historical Omdia data reveals 13.4 million Nintendo Switch systems were sold in 2017, despite its earlier March release. The key factors driving this momentum include a strong user base - Omdia estimates 105 million Switch consoles remained in active use at the end of 2024, providing Nintendo with a solid foundation for the next generation.
This would put the Switch 2 ahead of its predecessor by around 10% during its first calendar year on the market. Historical Omdia data reveals 13.4 million Nintendo Switch systems were sold in 2017, despite its earlier March release. The key factors driving this momentum include a strong user base - Omdia estimates 105 million Switch consoles remained in active use at the end of 2024, providing Nintendo with a solid foundation for the next generation.
Framework Laptop 12 Pre-orders Open Next Week
At the end of our launch livestream last month, we teased Framework Laptop 12, a colorful little laptop that is the ultimate expression of our product philosophy. We received a ton of interest around this product, and we have a lot more to share on Framework Laptop 12… in exactly a week! We're opening pre-orders on April 9th at 8am Pacific. That's also when we'll share the full specifications, pricing, and shipment timing. We have a hunch that the early batches are going to go very quickly, so you may want to set up your Framework account ahead of time. In the meantime, you can check out the hands-on video we just posted on our YouTube channel where we go deeper on the design decisions we made.
We know that a lot of you are eager for updates on Framework Laptop 13 and Framework Desktop too. We're happy to share that we've started manufacturing ramp on the new Ryzen AI 300 Series-powered Framework Laptop 13, along with the new translucent Bezels and Expansion Cards. We expect first shipments to go out and press reviews to go live in mid-April. We have a lot of manufacturing capacity ready to work through the pre-order batches quickly.
We know that a lot of you are eager for updates on Framework Laptop 13 and Framework Desktop too. We're happy to share that we've started manufacturing ramp on the new Ryzen AI 300 Series-powered Framework Laptop 13, along with the new translucent Bezels and Expansion Cards. We expect first shipments to go out and press reviews to go live in mid-April. We have a lot of manufacturing capacity ready to work through the pre-order batches quickly.
STARSEEKER: Astroneer Expeditions Announced During Switch 2 Showcase, 2026 Multi-platform Launch Slated
Today in the Nintendo Switch 2 Showcase, we got to announce the big project we have been working on in the background: STARSEEKER: Astroneer Expeditions! STARSEEKER will take players on a multiplayer voyage of discovery, cooperative expeditions, and camaraderie. Exploring deep space on the ESS Starseeker, players will need to work together with the entire crew of the space station to complete planet-wide objectives across a multitude of star systems using cutting edge technology. STARSEEKER is a multi-platform game that is slated to release in 2026.
If you would like to follow development and get your hands on BETA access as soon as it becomes available, make sure to join our Discord; using this link. To answer the biggest question that Astroneer fans: No, STARSEEKER is not a direct sequel or Astroneer 2. STARSEEKER exists within the same universe as Astroneer, but it's a very different game. That being said, Astroneer is still in active development!
If you would like to follow development and get your hands on BETA access as soon as it becomes available, make sure to join our Discord; using this link. To answer the biggest question that Astroneer fans: No, STARSEEKER is not a direct sequel or Astroneer 2. STARSEEKER exists within the same universe as Astroneer, but it's a very different game. That being said, Astroneer is still in active development!
Lenovo Legion Tower 5i Gen 10 Pre-builds "Coming Soon" w/ GeForce RTX 5060 Ti & 5060 Cards
NVIDIA has not formally announced the GeForce RTX 5060 Ti GPU, but its existence was leaked months ago via usual insider channels. Despite whispers of a launch happening mid-way through this month, Team Green did not host a rumored special preview event back in March. Premature listings of lower end "Blackwell" GPU-powered pre-built gaming systems have popped up online; Lenovo is the latest company to join in one the fun. Their "Legion Tower 5i Gen 10" pre-build is advertised as "coming soon," and configurable with GeForce RTX 5070, RTX 5060 Ti and RTX 5060 discrete graphics solutions. Curiously, Lenovo is prepping this model with an "Intel ARL-HX customized HM870" microATX motherboard—implying that the Core Ultra 9 APU (285HX or 275HX) will be soldered on.
Lenovo's NDA-busting product page does not go into as much (GPU-related) detail as HP New Zealand's webstore and Best Buy Canada's listings. Last week, reports focused on a new-generation OMEN 16L compact pre-built series—providing further evidence of GeForce RTX 5060 Ti graphics cards being readied with 16 GB and 8 GB pools of VRAM. Interestingly, TechPowerUp's GPU curator has scrubbed the alleged GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 16 GB model's page from the site's database. VideoCardz has trained its expert eye on the Legion Tower 5i Gen 10 model's spec sheet and promotional imagery—their investigation put a spotlight on Lenovo's pre-rendered mock-up of a dual-fan card design that sports a single 8-pin power connector. In the recent past, AIB insiders have alluded to several custom models being configured with this older standard. VideoCardz noted that the forthcoming Legion pre-build is listed with "limited DisplayPort 1.4 support." This could be a pre-release mistake (based on placeholder material), or an indication of NVIDIA's cheaper GeForce RTX 50-series options arriving without DisplayPort 2.1 capabilities.
Lenovo's NDA-busting product page does not go into as much (GPU-related) detail as HP New Zealand's webstore and Best Buy Canada's listings. Last week, reports focused on a new-generation OMEN 16L compact pre-built series—providing further evidence of GeForce RTX 5060 Ti graphics cards being readied with 16 GB and 8 GB pools of VRAM. Interestingly, TechPowerUp's GPU curator has scrubbed the alleged GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 16 GB model's page from the site's database. VideoCardz has trained its expert eye on the Legion Tower 5i Gen 10 model's spec sheet and promotional imagery—their investigation put a spotlight on Lenovo's pre-rendered mock-up of a dual-fan card design that sports a single 8-pin power connector. In the recent past, AIB insiders have alluded to several custom models being configured with this older standard. VideoCardz noted that the forthcoming Legion pre-build is listed with "limited DisplayPort 1.4 support." This could be a pre-release mistake (based on placeholder material), or an indication of NVIDIA's cheaper GeForce RTX 50-series options arriving without DisplayPort 2.1 capabilities.
GPU Die Defects Found in PowerColor RX 9070 XT Graphics Card
Surface defects on the GPU die of a PowerColor Radeon RX 9070 XT Hellhound have been linked to excessive thermal hotspots, according to analysis following Igor's Lab's investigation. Microscopic examination revealed 1,934 pits across the silicon die surface despite proper thermal interface material application. The defects affect over one percent of the chip's surface area, with the largest measuring 12.59 µm in depth and 212.36 µm in diameter—significantly exceeding industry tolerances. These imperfections impede heat transfer, causing localized temperatures to reach 113°C, exceeding the 110°C threshold for RDNA GPUs and triggering thermal throttling. The defects appear to stem from flaws in the backgrinding process that thins silicon wafers for packaging. Improper process control creates surface irregularities that compromise thermal conductivity and structural integrity.
The discovery raises questions about the effectiveness of automated optical inspection systems in detecting subtle surface abnormalities. TSMC, the maker of these chips, uses optical recognition tools to see if any defects occurred. AMD stated: "We are aware of the reported issue and believe this to be an isolated incident. We are working with our partners and internal teams to understand the issue." The company maintains this is an isolated case, though the findings suggest potential gaps in quality control protocols. Users experiencing thermal issues with affected RX 9070 XT units should initiate the RMA process for replacement while AMD and PowerColor investigate whether these defects exist beyond the identified sample. We hope no further issues are present, and so far, PowerColor hasn't received any customer complaints. We are on the lookout for further situation development. We reviewed PowerColor's Radeon RX 9070 Hellhound, and found no issues on our unit, so this indeed remains an isolated case so far.
The discovery raises questions about the effectiveness of automated optical inspection systems in detecting subtle surface abnormalities. TSMC, the maker of these chips, uses optical recognition tools to see if any defects occurred. AMD stated: "We are aware of the reported issue and believe this to be an isolated incident. We are working with our partners and internal teams to understand the issue." The company maintains this is an isolated case, though the findings suggest potential gaps in quality control protocols. Users experiencing thermal issues with affected RX 9070 XT units should initiate the RMA process for replacement while AMD and PowerColor investigate whether these defects exist beyond the identified sample. We hope no further issues are present, and so far, PowerColor hasn't received any customer complaints. We are on the lookout for further situation development. We reviewed PowerColor's Radeon RX 9070 Hellhound, and found no issues on our unit, so this indeed remains an isolated case so far.
CRKD Unveils G.O.A.T. Controller Range: Goat Simulator-themed Nitro Deck & NEO S Models
CRKD, the premium collectible gaming brand behind the award-winning Nitro Deck and NEO S collectible controllers, has announced an udderly incredible creative collaboration with Coffee Stain North, bringing the charm of the farm to the end of your arm with a new range of Goat Simulator-themed collectible controllers! The announcement came during Goat Simulator Direct, a presentation looking at the future of Goat Simulator, and reflecting on the last year of goat-tastic announcements in celebration of the franchise's 10-year anniversary.
Available exclusively from crkd.gg and for a limited time only, the new collectible controller collection is the collaboration ewe never knew you needed, and hooves that CRKD is delivering what gamers are bleating for. Easily the most popular goat-based video game released in modern times, Goat Simulator is a worldwide phenomenon hailing from the genius minds at Coffee Stain North. Celebrating ten years of farm-based fun, Goat Simulator 3 recently enjoyed a physical release on Nintendo Switch, ideal for pairing with one of CRKD's award-winning collectible controllers!
Available exclusively from crkd.gg and for a limited time only, the new collectible controller collection is the collaboration ewe never knew you needed, and hooves that CRKD is delivering what gamers are bleating for. Easily the most popular goat-based video game released in modern times, Goat Simulator is a worldwide phenomenon hailing from the genius minds at Coffee Stain North. Celebrating ten years of farm-based fun, Goat Simulator 3 recently enjoyed a physical release on Nintendo Switch, ideal for pairing with one of CRKD's award-winning collectible controllers!
AMD Isolates Ryzen 9000 Series Boot Issues to a BIOS Update, ASRock Offers a Fix
A small number of AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D CPUs have had trouble starting up on some ASRock AM5 motherboards. The issue was first noticed in February 2025, and both AMD and ASRock immediately looked into the problem. The investigation found that the older BIOS versions on specific ASRock boards had memory compatibility problems. When a Ryzen 7 9800X3D was used, the computer could not complete its normal boot process, known as POST. ASRock quickly released a beta BIOS update to fix the memory issue, and after testing, a final version of the update was made available as of now. Users who update their BIOS should now see the problem disappear. In one case, a report suggested that a Ryzen 7 9800X3D had been damaged. However, further checks showed no burn marks on the motherboard. The issue was simply due to some debris, and after careful cleaning, the motherboard started normally and passed further tests.
AMD pointed out that many reasons can cause a computer to not start up properly, and a POST failure does not always mean the CPU is broken. They advise users to update their BIOS to the newest version available for their motherboard model. If the problem continues even after updating, users should reach out to customer support for help. In a few cases, if the problem cannot be fixed on the spot, the CPU might need to be replaced. This quick fix shows that AMD and ASRock work well together to solve problems. Even though only a few systems were affected, the issue was taken seriously and fixed fast. With the latest BIOS update, users can now expect their systems to boot without trouble, ensuring that the Ryzen 7 9800X3D offers good performance for everyday tasks and gaming.
AMD pointed out that many reasons can cause a computer to not start up properly, and a POST failure does not always mean the CPU is broken. They advise users to update their BIOS to the newest version available for their motherboard model. If the problem continues even after updating, users should reach out to customer support for help. In a few cases, if the problem cannot be fixed on the spot, the CPU might need to be replaced. This quick fix shows that AMD and ASRock work well together to solve problems. Even though only a few systems were affected, the issue was taken seriously and fixed fast. With the latest BIOS update, users can now expect their systems to boot without trouble, ensuring that the Ryzen 7 9800X3D offers good performance for everyday tasks and gaming.
Samsung's "All-Solid State" Battery Tech Reportedly Coming to Next-Gen Wearables, No Mention of Deployment in Smartphones
According to a fresh Money Today SK news article, Samsung is expected to launch a next-generation Galaxy Ring model later this year—this tiny wearable device is touted to operate with a "dream battery" design. The South Korean giant's Electro-Mechanics division is reportedly tasked with the challenging development of "all-solid-state" batteries for all manner of ultraportable products. Yesterday's report suggests that Samsung's upcoming Galaxy Ring sequel—apparently scheduled for launch within Q4'25—will be driven by the Electro-Mechanics team's pioneering effort. The production of all-solid-state battery units is an expensive endeavor, so industry watchdogs have predicted tough retail conditions for the forthcoming "Galaxy Ring 2" rollout—the original unit was not exactly a "hot property" in terms of sales figures.
Money Today's inside sources reckon that the Electro-Mechanics branch will—eventually—fit all-solid-state battery designs inside new-gen earphones (aka Galaxy Buds) by Q4 2026, and very futuristic smartwatches by the end of 2027. Given cost considerations, larger all-solid-state solutions—potentially for usage in smartphones—are not in the pipeline. Around early February of this year, the development of Samsung's (inevitable) "Galaxy S26" mobile series was linked to alleged 6000+ mAh silicon-carbon battery units. The South Korean's smartphone engineering team is reportedly trying to play catch up with more advanced solutions, as devised by competitors in China. The status of Samsung's proprietary silicon-carbon prototype is the subject of much online debate, but certain insiders believe that employees are still working hard on the perfection of an ideal "battery formula."
Money Today's inside sources reckon that the Electro-Mechanics branch will—eventually—fit all-solid-state battery designs inside new-gen earphones (aka Galaxy Buds) by Q4 2026, and very futuristic smartwatches by the end of 2027. Given cost considerations, larger all-solid-state solutions—potentially for usage in smartphones—are not in the pipeline. Around early February of this year, the development of Samsung's (inevitable) "Galaxy S26" mobile series was linked to alleged 6000+ mAh silicon-carbon battery units. The South Korean's smartphone engineering team is reportedly trying to play catch up with more advanced solutions, as devised by competitors in China. The status of Samsung's proprietary silicon-carbon prototype is the subject of much online debate, but certain insiders believe that employees are still working hard on the perfection of an ideal "battery formula."
Xbox Game Pass Early April Lineup: South of Midnight, Blue Prince, Borderlands 3, & More...
It's time to confront some magical creatures (or maybe just your backlog) with these games coming soon! Some surprise benefits and announcements you might have missed, day one games (with some amazing music; looking at you South of Midnight), and more. Let's get to it!
Coming Soon
Borderlands 3 Ultimate Edition (Cloud, Console, and PC) - April 3
Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass, Game Pass Standard
Borderlands 3 Ultimate Edition packs bazillions of guns and is a mayhem-fueled adventure, featuring the base game plus all four campaign add-ons, Director's Cut content, and all cosmetic packs! Blast through worlds and enemies as one of four Vault Hunters, each with deep skill trees, abilities, and customization. Play solo or join with friends to take on insane enemies, score loads of loot, and save your home from the most ruthless cult leaders in the galaxy.
Coming Soon
Borderlands 3 Ultimate Edition (Cloud, Console, and PC) - April 3
Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass, Game Pass Standard
Borderlands 3 Ultimate Edition packs bazillions of guns and is a mayhem-fueled adventure, featuring the base game plus all four campaign add-ons, Director's Cut content, and all cosmetic packs! Blast through worlds and enemies as one of four Vault Hunters, each with deep skill trees, abilities, and customization. Play solo or join with friends to take on insane enemies, score loads of loot, and save your home from the most ruthless cult leaders in the galaxy.
Intel Xeon Remains Only Server CPU on MLPerf
Today, MLCommons released its latest MLPerf Inference v5.0 benchmarks, showcasing Intel Xeon 6 with Performance-cores (P-cores) across six key benchmarks. The results reveal a remarkable 1.9x boost in AI performance over the previous generation of processors, affirming Xeon 6 as a top solution for modern AI systems.
"The latest MLPerf results demonstrate Intel Xeon 6 as the ideal CPU for AI workloads, offering a perfect balance of performance and energy efficiency. Intel Xeon remains the leading CPU for AI systems, with consistent gen-over-gen performance improvements across a variety of AI benchmarks." - Karin Eibschitz Segal, Intel corporate vice president and interim general manager of the Data Center and AI Group
"The latest MLPerf results demonstrate Intel Xeon 6 as the ideal CPU for AI workloads, offering a perfect balance of performance and energy efficiency. Intel Xeon remains the leading CPU for AI systems, with consistent gen-over-gen performance improvements across a variety of AI benchmarks." - Karin Eibschitz Segal, Intel corporate vice president and interim general manager of the Data Center and AI Group
Last Chance to Get This Unbeatable Babbel Lifetime Subscription Deal
If learning a new language has been on your bucket list for as long as you can remember, Babbel makes it easier than ever. This language-learning app makes the experience more like a game than school, so you don't lose motivation—and StackSocial is offering an unbeatable deal on the app. This weekend, you can get a Babbel lifetime subscription for just $124.99 with code LEARN at checkout (worth $599 on Babbel's website). You'll get forever access to their mobile and desktop apps and 14 language courses, including French, Spanish, German, Italian, Portuguese, Russian, and more.
Babbel encourages you to set a weekly language-learning goal, but you set the pace with 10-15 minute lessons that you can take as frequently as you like. Each builds your skills in conversation, grammar, and pronunciation. A brand-new app update added an AI-powered conversation partner that helps you practice your language skills in real time. You'll build listening, comprehension, and speaking skills in an environment where you're completely free to make mistakes.
Don't miss out on this Babbel discount from StackSocial: $124.99 with code LEARN at checkout (reg. $599). This code expires on March 31 at 11:59 p.m. PT.
Babbel encourages you to set a weekly language-learning goal, but you set the pace with 10-15 minute lessons that you can take as frequently as you like. Each builds your skills in conversation, grammar, and pronunciation. A brand-new app update added an AI-powered conversation partner that helps you practice your language skills in real time. You'll build listening, comprehension, and speaking skills in an environment where you're completely free to make mistakes.
Don't miss out on this Babbel discount from StackSocial: $124.99 with code LEARN at checkout (reg. $599). This code expires on March 31 at 11:59 p.m. PT.
Apple Reportedly Eyeing Late 2025 Launch of M5 MacBook Pro Series, M5 MacBook Air Tipped for 2026
Mark Gurman—Bloomberg's resident soothsayer of Apple inside track info—has disclosed predictive outlooks for next-generation M5 chip-based MacBooks. Early last month, we experienced the launch of the Northern Californian company's M4 MacBook Air series—starting at $999; also available in a refreshing metallic blue finish. The latest iteration of Apple's signature "extra slim" notebook family arrived with decent performance figures. As per usual, press and community attention has turned to a potential successor. Gurman's (March 30) Power On newsletter posited that engineers are already working on M5-powered super slim sequels—he believes that these offerings will arrive early next year, potentially reusing the current generation's 15-inch and 13-inch fanless chassis designs.
In a mid-February predictive report, Gurman theorized that Apple was planning a major overhaul of the MacBook Pro design. A radical reimagining of the long-running notebook series—that reportedly utilizes M6 chipsets and OLED panels—is a distant prospect; perhaps later on in 2026. The Cupertino-headquartered megacorp is expected to stick with its traditional release cadence, so 2025's "M5" refresh of MacBook Pro models could trickle out by October. Insiders believe that Apple will reuse existing MacBook Pro shells—the last major redesign occurred back in 2021. According to early February reportage, mass production of the much-rumored M5 chip started at some point earlier in the year. Industry moles posit that a 3 nm (N3P) node process was on the order books, chez TSMC foundries.
In a mid-February predictive report, Gurman theorized that Apple was planning a major overhaul of the MacBook Pro design. A radical reimagining of the long-running notebook series—that reportedly utilizes M6 chipsets and OLED panels—is a distant prospect; perhaps later on in 2026. The Cupertino-headquartered megacorp is expected to stick with its traditional release cadence, so 2025's "M5" refresh of MacBook Pro models could trickle out by October. Insiders believe that Apple will reuse existing MacBook Pro shells—the last major redesign occurred back in 2021. According to early February reportage, mass production of the much-rumored M5 chip started at some point earlier in the year. Industry moles posit that a 3 nm (N3P) node process was on the order books, chez TSMC foundries.
MLCommons Releases New MLPerf Inference v5.0 Benchmark Results
Today, MLCommons announced new results for its industry-standard MLPerf Inference v5.0 benchmark suite, which delivers machine learning (ML) system performance benchmarking in an architecture-neutral, representative, and reproducible manner. The results highlight that the AI community is focusing much of its attention and efforts on generative AI scenarios, and that the combination of recent hardware and software advances optimized for generative AI have led to dramatic performance improvements over the past year.
The MLPerf Inference benchmark suite, which encompasses both datacenter and edge systems, is designed to measure how quickly systems can run AI and ML models across a variety of workloads. The open-source and peer-reviewed benchmark suite creates a level playing field for competition that drives innovation, performance, and energy efficiency for the entire industry. It also provides critical technical information for customers who are procuring and tuning AI systems. This round of MLPerf Inference results also includes tests for four new benchmarks: Llama 3.1 405B, Llama 2 70B Interactive for low-latency applications, RGAT, and Automotive PointPainting for 3D object detection.
The MLPerf Inference benchmark suite, which encompasses both datacenter and edge systems, is designed to measure how quickly systems can run AI and ML models across a variety of workloads. The open-source and peer-reviewed benchmark suite creates a level playing field for competition that drives innovation, performance, and energy efficiency for the entire industry. It also provides critical technical information for customers who are procuring and tuning AI systems. This round of MLPerf Inference results also includes tests for four new benchmarks: Llama 3.1 405B, Llama 2 70B Interactive for low-latency applications, RGAT, and Automotive PointPainting for 3D object detection.
NVIDIA Blackwell Takes Pole Position in Latest MLPerf Inference Results
In the latest MLPerf Inference V5.0 benchmarks, which reflect some of the most challenging inference scenarios, the NVIDIA Blackwell platform set records - and marked NVIDIA's first MLPerf submission using the NVIDIA GB200 NVL72 system, a rack-scale solution designed for AI reasoning. Delivering on the promise of cutting-edge AI takes a new kind of compute infrastructure, called AI factories. Unlike traditional data centers, AI factories do more than store and process data - they manufacture intelligence at scale by transforming raw data into real-time insights. The goal for AI factories is simple: deliver accurate answers to queries quickly, at the lowest cost and to as many users as possible.
The complexity of pulling this off is significant and takes place behind the scenes. As AI models grow to billions and trillions of parameters to deliver smarter replies, the compute required to generate each token increases. This requirement reduces the number of tokens that an AI factory can generate and increases cost per token. Keeping inference throughput high and cost per token low requires rapid innovation across every layer of the technology stack, spanning silicon, network systems and software.
The complexity of pulling this off is significant and takes place behind the scenes. As AI models grow to billions and trillions of parameters to deliver smarter replies, the compute required to generate each token increases. This requirement reduces the number of tokens that an AI factory can generate and increases cost per token. Keeping inference throughput high and cost per token low requires rapid innovation across every layer of the technology stack, spanning silicon, network systems and software.
NVIDIA DLSS 4 With Multi Frame Generation Coming To Steel Seed, Cyberpunk 2077 and FragPunk Get New DLSS 4 Trailers
More than 700 games and applications feature RTX technologies, and each week new games integrating NVIDIA DLSS, NVIDIA Reflex, and advanced ray-traced effects are released or announced, delivering the definitive PC experience for GeForce RTX players. In the near future, DLSS 4 with Multi Frame Generation is multiplying performance in Steel Seed. STORROR Parkour Pro is available now with DLSS Frame Generation. And check out new DLSS 4 trailers for Cyberpunk 2077 and FragPunk.
Steel Seed Launching With DLSS Multi Frame Generation, DLSS Frame Generation & DLSS Super Resolution April 22nd
Storm in a Teacup and ESDigital Games' Steel Seed is a stealth-action adventure set in a dark sci-fi world where humanity stands on the brink of extinction. Join protagonist Zoe and her flying drone companion, KOBY, as they investigate the depths of a hostile underground facility in search of answers and the key to the survival of mankind. After a catastrophic event rendered Earth uninhabitable, machines took control of the remnants of humanity's survival. The underground facility is a vast, machine-built structure designed for machines - not humans. Each region presents unique environmental storytelling, hazards, and secrets waiting to be uncovered. From towering industrial landscapes to eerie biodomes, the world of Steel Seed is as haunting as it is immersive. Explore a hand-crafted world filled with dynamic combat, formidable enemies, and an immersive narrative that challenges the very definition of humanity.
Steel Seed Launching With DLSS Multi Frame Generation, DLSS Frame Generation & DLSS Super Resolution April 22nd
Storm in a Teacup and ESDigital Games' Steel Seed is a stealth-action adventure set in a dark sci-fi world where humanity stands on the brink of extinction. Join protagonist Zoe and her flying drone companion, KOBY, as they investigate the depths of a hostile underground facility in search of answers and the key to the survival of mankind. After a catastrophic event rendered Earth uninhabitable, machines took control of the remnants of humanity's survival. The underground facility is a vast, machine-built structure designed for machines - not humans. Each region presents unique environmental storytelling, hazards, and secrets waiting to be uncovered. From towering industrial landscapes to eerie biodomes, the world of Steel Seed is as haunting as it is immersive. Explore a hand-crafted world filled with dynamic combat, formidable enemies, and an immersive narrative that challenges the very definition of humanity.
Monster Train 2 Launching on May 21, Coming to PC & Consoles - Steam Demo Available Now
No kidding. This is not a drill. Monster Train 2 will be in your hands in under two months. If you haven't already, please enjoy the trailer (watch below), wishlist the game, and get ready for five all-new clans, dozens of new cards, and surprises of all shapes and sizes. As we ramp up towards launch, we'll be back at a regular cadence giving you deep dives into Monster Train 2's new content, from clan deep-dives to new game mode reveals and more. All aboard.
If you've spent enough time on the internet, you already know what today is about. It's about goofs. It's about tricks. It's about "pulling a fast one." April Fools' Day in the video game world is a particularly special time for video game studios like us. With the right April Fools' Day announcement, your game can land at the top of the gaming news sites and subreddits.
If you've spent enough time on the internet, you already know what today is about. It's about goofs. It's about tricks. It's about "pulling a fast one." April Fools' Day in the video game world is a particularly special time for video game studios like us. With the right April Fools' Day announcement, your game can land at the top of the gaming news sites and subreddits.
Nintendo Switch 2 Launches June 5 at $449.99 with New Hardware and Games
All Together, Anytime, Anywhere. With new ways to play and new ways to connect players, the Nintendo Switch 2 system arrives June 5 for a suggested retail price of $449.99 in the United States. Discover reimagined Joy-Con 2 controllers, each of which can now be used as a mouse in compatible games and that snap to the system with magnetic connectors. Experience the system's powerful processing speeds delivering visuals via a bigger screen showcasing vibrant color and clarity. From Nintendo Switch 2 games to compatible games in existing Nintendo Switch libraries - connect and play with friends and family in surprising new ways!
"Nintendo Switch 2 is the next step in at-home gaming that can be taken on the go based on eight years of play and discovery that began with Nintendo Switch," said Nintendo President Shuntaro Furukawa. "With its new features that expand the possibilities of gaming experiences, I truly believe that Nintendo Switch 2 is a leap forward in our journey of putting smiles on the faces of everyone that Nintendo touches."
"Nintendo Switch 2 is the next step in at-home gaming that can be taken on the go based on eight years of play and discovery that began with Nintendo Switch," said Nintendo President Shuntaro Furukawa. "With its new features that expand the possibilities of gaming experiences, I truly believe that Nintendo Switch 2 is a leap forward in our journey of putting smiles on the faces of everyone that Nintendo touches."
Acer Radeon RX 9070 XT OC SKU Prices Revealed in UK, Pre-orders Start at £750
Just over two weeks ago, Acer unveiled its brand-new Predator BiFrost and Nitro Radeon RX 9070 Series graphics cards. Despite being a late contributor to AMD's opening salvo of RDNA 4, the Taiwanese manufacturer made a big impression with its reveal of four premium specced models. In particular, Acer's Predator BiFrost Radeon RX 9070 OC 16 GB and Nitro Radeon RX 9070 XT OC 16 GB SKUs will be joining an elite group of custom options that boast 3100 MHz boost clocks. Mid-March press material did not provide any insight into launch pricing—weeks later, Overclockers UK has opened up pre-orders for the four Predator BiFrost and Nitro RX 9070 XT and RX 9070 cards. Just prior to RDNA 4 launch time, Overclockers UK (OcUK) received plenty of press attention—in particular, their building of a sizable cube out of an impressive quantity of Sapphire PULSE Radeon RX 9070 XT retail stock.
The British retailer seemed confident with its pre-kickoff accumulation of various AIB models, but demand quickly outstripped supply on day one. Unfortunately, OcUK has implemented dreaded price hikes across its Radeon RX 9070 Series product listings. Looking at Acer's main competition in the premium custom Radeon RX 9070 XT tier, OcUK has jacked up prices by £20 to £30 (approx.). ASRock's Radeon RX 9070 XT Taichi OC model—one of the elite 3.1 GHz boosters—launched at £700 (including VAT, shipping fee is extra), but was adjusted up to £728.99 (~$943 USD) at some point last month. The British store's pre-order price for the "cheaper" Nitro Radeon RX 9070 XT OC SKU is £749.99 (inc. VAT), while the flagship Predator BiFrost costs £779.99 (inc. VAT) for reservation. GIGABYTE's (almost) £800 AORUS RX 9070 XT ELITE model is the only other 3.1 GHz boost-capable option sitting above the £750 mark. Looking at "on paper" information (e.g. aluminium backplates, state-of-the-art cooling, etc.)—Acer's two headliners are impressive offerings, but rival cards already exist with similar credentials at "lower prices." Historically, TechPowerUp's resident GPU reviewer—W1zzard—has not received any graphics card samples from the manufacturer. Perhaps this drought will end in the near future...
The British retailer seemed confident with its pre-kickoff accumulation of various AIB models, but demand quickly outstripped supply on day one. Unfortunately, OcUK has implemented dreaded price hikes across its Radeon RX 9070 Series product listings. Looking at Acer's main competition in the premium custom Radeon RX 9070 XT tier, OcUK has jacked up prices by £20 to £30 (approx.). ASRock's Radeon RX 9070 XT Taichi OC model—one of the elite 3.1 GHz boosters—launched at £700 (including VAT, shipping fee is extra), but was adjusted up to £728.99 (~$943 USD) at some point last month. The British store's pre-order price for the "cheaper" Nitro Radeon RX 9070 XT OC SKU is £749.99 (inc. VAT), while the flagship Predator BiFrost costs £779.99 (inc. VAT) for reservation. GIGABYTE's (almost) £800 AORUS RX 9070 XT ELITE model is the only other 3.1 GHz boost-capable option sitting above the £750 mark. Looking at "on paper" information (e.g. aluminium backplates, state-of-the-art cooling, etc.)—Acer's two headliners are impressive offerings, but rival cards already exist with similar credentials at "lower prices." Historically, TechPowerUp's resident GPU reviewer—W1zzard—has not received any graphics card samples from the manufacturer. Perhaps this drought will end in the near future...
PocketCloud Launches on Kickstarter: The World's First Truly Portable NAS
StationPC, a reputable brand known for its private cloud innovations, has announced the launch of PocketCloud, the world's first truly portable NAS (Network Attached Storage) solution. Now live on Kickstarter, PocketCloud redefines data storage and backup, offering an intuitive, compact, and powerful way to safeguard files anywhere, anytime. Early backers can secure their PocketCloud at a special Kickstarter price starting at $199, a $100 discount from the $299 MSRP.
PocketCloud introduces a seamless, user-friendly data management experience. Designed with a compact form factor, it eliminates the complexities and bulk of conventional NAS systems while ensuring strong performance on the go. Photographers, content creators, and professionals can now back up, store, and secure their files effortlessly, without the need for large, stationary storage setups.
PocketCloud introduces a seamless, user-friendly data management experience. Designed with a compact form factor, it eliminates the complexities and bulk of conventional NAS systems while ensuring strong performance on the go. Photographers, content creators, and professionals can now back up, store, and secure their files effortlessly, without the need for large, stationary storage setups.
Qualcomm Announces Acquisition of VinAI Division, Aims to Expand GenAI Capabilities
Qualcomm today announced the acquisition of MovianAI Artificial Intelligence (AI) Application and Research JSC (MovianAI), the former generative AI division of VinAI Application and Research JSC (VinAI) and a part of the Vingroup ecosystem. As a leading AI research company, VinAI is renowned for its expertise in generative AI, machine learning, computer vision, and natural language processing. Combining VinAI's advanced generative AI research and development (R&D) capabilities with Qualcomm's decades of extensive R&D will expand its ability to drive extraordinary inventions.
For more than 20 years, Qualcomm has been working closely with the Vietnamese technology ecosystem to create and deliver innovative solutions. Qualcomm's innovations in the areas of 5G, AI, IoT and automotive have helped to fuel the extraordinary growth and success of Vietnam's information and communication technology (ICT) industry and assisted the entry of Vietnamese companies into the global marketplace.
For more than 20 years, Qualcomm has been working closely with the Vietnamese technology ecosystem to create and deliver innovative solutions. Qualcomm's innovations in the areas of 5G, AI, IoT and automotive have helped to fuel the extraordinary growth and success of Vietnam's information and communication technology (ICT) industry and assisted the entry of Vietnamese companies into the global marketplace.
Atomfall's Launch a Resounding Success, Rebellion Celebrates 1.5+ Million Player Count Milestone
Rebellion, one of the world's most successful independent video game developers and publishers, has announced that Atomfall significantly surpassed the one million player mark over the weekend, having only launched last week. In total Atomfall has now been played by over 1.5 million players. A brand-new IP set in the north of England, Atomfall is Rebellion's most successful launch in the company's 32-year history.
"We are delighted that so many players are enjoying Atomfall," said Jason Kingsley CBE, CEO and co-founder of Rebellion. "To have surpassed the one million players in such a short space of time speaks volumes for the creativity and dedication of the entire team here at Rebellion. Our size and stability mean that we can take risks to create something as different as Atomfall. Happily, that risk is paying off. We are a British company, and the game is a true reflection of that. Not only is it set in the lush, beautiful countryside but Atomfall also draws inspiration from so many classic British books, films and TV series. We hope that players continue to enjoy exploring the world of Atomfall and are looking forward to future content for the game."
"We are delighted that so many players are enjoying Atomfall," said Jason Kingsley CBE, CEO and co-founder of Rebellion. "To have surpassed the one million players in such a short space of time speaks volumes for the creativity and dedication of the entire team here at Rebellion. Our size and stability mean that we can take risks to create something as different as Atomfall. Happily, that risk is paying off. We are a British company, and the game is a true reflection of that. Not only is it set in the lush, beautiful countryside but Atomfall also draws inspiration from so many classic British books, films and TV series. We hope that players continue to enjoy exploring the world of Atomfall and are looking forward to future content for the game."
ASUS Republic of Gamers Announces Availability of Strix OLED XG27UCDMG Monitor
ASUS Republic of Gamers (ROG) today announced availability of the ROG Strix OLED XG27UCDMG gaming monitor, the second 27-inch 4K OLED gaming monitor offered by ROG. Positioned just under the flagship ROG Swift OLED PG27UCDM, the XG27UCDMG caters to a wider audience looking for a monitor for gaming, content consumption, and daily use. It features 4th generation ROG QD-OLED technology with a pixel density of 166 pixels per inch to deliver supersharp imagery, incredibly clear text, and infinite contrast.
It also offers the latest ASUS OLED Care Pro features, including a Neo Proximity sensor that protects the OLED panel from burn-in. New firmware updates to optimize the Neo Proximity sensor for both the Swift OLED PG27UCDM and the Strix OLED XG27UCDMG will be available in April 2025. In addition, ROG OLED Anti-Flicker 2.0 technology minimizes onscreen flicker even during intense gaming sessions. XG27UCDMG offers a host of comprehensive features including Auto KVM, a full-function USB-C port with DP Alt mode and 90-watt Power Delivery, along with Aspect Ratio Control.
It also offers the latest ASUS OLED Care Pro features, including a Neo Proximity sensor that protects the OLED panel from burn-in. New firmware updates to optimize the Neo Proximity sensor for both the Swift OLED PG27UCDM and the Strix OLED XG27UCDMG will be available in April 2025. In addition, ROG OLED Anti-Flicker 2.0 technology minimizes onscreen flicker even during intense gaming sessions. XG27UCDMG offers a host of comprehensive features including Auto KVM, a full-function USB-C port with DP Alt mode and 90-watt Power Delivery, along with Aspect Ratio Control.
NVIDIA Adds 4:2:2 Video Color Acceleration on Adobe Premiere Pro with GeForce Blackwell
Adobe recently announced support for 4:2:2 video color formats with Premiere Pro and Adobe Media Encoder, and NVIDIA today announced that its GeForce RTX 50-series GPUs and RTX Pro Blackwell series GPUs will receive support and optimization for them. The 9th Gen NVENC and 6th Gen NVDEC video accelerators on Blackwell GPUs, as well as its display engine, come with support for 4:2:2 color formats, which help greatly reduce file-size in comparison to 4:4:4 formats, while also offering superior color depth compared to 4:2:0. 10 bits per cell 4:2:2 retains more color information compared to 4:2:0 with 8 bits per cell. For video professionals, this also offers superior chroma keying ("green screen" background replacements). GeForce RTX 50-series GPUs when paired with Windows 11, come hardware acceleration for H.264 and HEVC 10-bit 4:2:2 formats.
Samsung Announces New Galaxy Tab S10 FE Series
Samsung Electronics today announced the Galaxy Tab S10 FE and Galaxy Tab S10 FE+, offering new entry points to the Galaxy ecosystem on a premium tablet design. Equipped with the largest screen yet on the Galaxy Tab S FE series and slimmer bezels that expand its display, the Galaxy Tab S10 FE+ provides a fun, immersive viewing experience for everything from entertainment to studying and day-to-day tasks. Samsung's Intelligent Features empower users to get more done with ease, while a slimmer design helps users to achieve their creativity and productivity on the go.
"The new Galaxy Tab S10 FE series brings advanced mobile AI experience and Samsung's connected ecosystem to even more tablet users, while still offering leading performance and design," said Changtae Kim, EVP & Head of New Computing R&D Team, Mobile eXperience Business at Samsung Electronics. "We're confident that the slim bezels and expansive displays, in addition to a whole host of functional improvements, will inspire people to do more, create more, and discover more."
"The new Galaxy Tab S10 FE series brings advanced mobile AI experience and Samsung's connected ecosystem to even more tablet users, while still offering leading performance and design," said Changtae Kim, EVP & Head of New Computing R&D Team, Mobile eXperience Business at Samsung Electronics. "We're confident that the slim bezels and expansive displays, in addition to a whole host of functional improvements, will inspire people to do more, create more, and discover more."
Sci-Fi Stealth-Action Adventure Steel Seed Launch Pushed to April 22
Today, publisher ESDigital Games and Italian studio Storm in a Teacup announced that the release date of the highly anticipated stealth-action adventure Steel Seed has been pushed back to April 22 on PC (Steam and Epic Games Store), PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S, rather than launching on April 10 as previously announced. These extra few weeks will give the talented team behind the game more time to fine-tune both platform adaptation on consoles and game optimization.
"Since the game's announcement, your excitement has been truly inspiring, and we know how much you've been looking forward to a deep dive into a dark sci-fi future on all platforms. That's why we want to be completely open with you: We encountered some technical hurdles related to platform adaptation when running our platform certification tests. Rather than rushing the console release and risking a potentially substandard console user experience that requires swift patching, we have made the difficult, but necessary decision to delay the launch," said Ilia Svanidze, Head of Marketing of ESDigital Games.
"Since the game's announcement, your excitement has been truly inspiring, and we know how much you've been looking forward to a deep dive into a dark sci-fi future on all platforms. That's why we want to be completely open with you: We encountered some technical hurdles related to platform adaptation when running our platform certification tests. Rather than rushing the console release and risking a potentially substandard console user experience that requires swift patching, we have made the difficult, but necessary decision to delay the launch," said Ilia Svanidze, Head of Marketing of ESDigital Games.
XPG Breaks World Record Again, LANCER RGB DDR5 Memory Hits 12762 MTs Overclocking Milestone
XPG, a gaming brand of ADATA Technology, a global leader in memory modules and flash memory, is proud to announce its successful collaboration with GIGABYTE Technology. Leveraging the XPG LANCER RGB DDR5 memory and LN2 (Liquid Nitrogen) cooling technology, achieved an astonishing 12,762 MT/s overclocking speed, breaking the DDR5 memory overclocking world record. This remarkable achievement has been verified by the renowned international overclocking scoring platform, HWBOT, reinforcing XPG's leadership in extreme overclocking memory.
A Legendary Overclocking Record By Two Industry Titans
This record-breaking overclocking effort was spearheaded by GIGABYTE's renowned overclocker and engineer, HiCookie. The setup featured the Z890 AORUS TACHYON ICE motherboard, meticulously designed for overclocking, paired with the XPG LANCER RGB DDR5 memory and an Intel Core Ultra 9 285K processor. The XPG LANCER's optimized PCB design, IC tuning capabilities, and integrated circuit technology ensured stable operation even under the extreme LN2 environment, laying a crucial foundation for this world record. The Z890 AORUS TACHYON ICE motherboard, boasting an array of overclocking-centric features, including an OC button and an LN2_SW liquid nitrogen mode switch, further facilitated the CPU's ability to achieve its peak performance under extreme conditions.
A Legendary Overclocking Record By Two Industry Titans
This record-breaking overclocking effort was spearheaded by GIGABYTE's renowned overclocker and engineer, HiCookie. The setup featured the Z890 AORUS TACHYON ICE motherboard, meticulously designed for overclocking, paired with the XPG LANCER RGB DDR5 memory and an Intel Core Ultra 9 285K processor. The XPG LANCER's optimized PCB design, IC tuning capabilities, and integrated circuit technology ensured stable operation even under the extreme LN2 environment, laying a crucial foundation for this world record. The Z890 AORUS TACHYON ICE motherboard, boasting an array of overclocking-centric features, including an OC button and an LN2_SW liquid nitrogen mode switch, further facilitated the CPU's ability to achieve its peak performance under extreme conditions.
AAEON Launches UP 710S Edge, Its Smallest Mini PC Powered by Intel N Series Processor
AAEON's UP brand, has released the UP 710S Edge, the company's smallest Intel Processor N-powered Mini PC with Wi-Fi support, measuring just 92 mm x 77 mm x 38 mm.
Positioned as a compact platform for companies to upgrade industrial automation setups, the UP 710S Edge is available in models featuring the full Intel Processor N series family (formerly Alder Lake-N), as well as offering an 8-bit GPIO with optional SPI, I2C, and PWM, a first for the product line.
Positioned as a compact platform for companies to upgrade industrial automation setups, the UP 710S Edge is available in models featuring the full Intel Processor N series family (formerly Alder Lake-N), as well as offering an 8-bit GPIO with optional SPI, I2C, and PWM, a first for the product line.
MSI Extends OLED Care 2.0 Panel Protect Function to 24 Hours
In response to user feedback, MSI has announced an enhanced update to its highly acclaimed OLED CARE 2.0 technology, delivering an even better experience for gamers and tech enthusiasts worldwide.
This update refines the Panel Protect activation timing based on cumulative usage. Originally set to activate automatically every 16 hours, some users reported that it could unexpectedly interrupt their ongoing activities. To enhance user experience and minimize disruptions, MSI has extended the refresh interval to 24 hours, ensuring greater flexibility while maintaining the panel's exceptional durability.
This update refines the Panel Protect activation timing based on cumulative usage. Originally set to activate automatically every 16 hours, some users reported that it could unexpectedly interrupt their ongoing activities. To enhance user experience and minimize disruptions, MSI has extended the refresh interval to 24 hours, ensuring greater flexibility while maintaining the panel's exceptional durability.
Team Group T-CREATE P31 Portable SSD Wins the 2025 iF Design Award
Team Group Inc., a global leader in memory solutions, proudly announces that its creator-focused brand, T-CREATE, has been honored with the iF DESIGN AWARD 2025 for the CinemaPr P31 Portable SSD. Designed specifically for camera crew and filmmakers, the CinemaPr P31 embodies an artistic design while supporting comprehensive media storage formats, real-time recording and storage capabilities, as well as high-speed data transfer. Powered by multiple patented technologies, its exquisite and compact palm-size design symbolizes a key to imagination, unlocking a world of infinite inspiration.
The iF DESIGN AWARD, often referred to as the "Academy Awards" of the design industry, is one of the world's most prestigious design honors. Each year, it attracts top-tier submissions globally, which will be evaluated by a panel of expert judges based on five key criteria: function, idea, form, differentiation, and sustainability. This year, sustainability has become a core focus of the evaluation process. Standing out among over 10,000 entries from 66 countries, the CinemaPr P31 Portable SSD was recognized for its innovative design and exceptional performance, reaffirming Team Group as the leader of design innovation.
The iF DESIGN AWARD, often referred to as the "Academy Awards" of the design industry, is one of the world's most prestigious design honors. Each year, it attracts top-tier submissions globally, which will be evaluated by a panel of expert judges based on five key criteria: function, idea, form, differentiation, and sustainability. This year, sustainability has become a core focus of the evaluation process. Standing out among over 10,000 entries from 66 countries, the CinemaPr P31 Portable SSD was recognized for its innovative design and exceptional performance, reaffirming Team Group as the leader of design innovation.
Seagate Completes Acquisition of Intevac
Seagate Technology Holdings plc, a leading innovator of mass-capacity data storage, announced today that it has completed the acquisition of Intevac, Inc. (Nasdaq: IVAC) ("Intevac"), a supplier of thin-film processing systems. The previously announced cash tender offer for all of the outstanding shares of common stock of Intevac for $4.00 per share, payable in cash at closing, without interest and subject to reduction for any applicable withholding taxes, by Irvine Acquisition Holdings, Inc. ("Merger Sub"), an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Seagate, expired one minute after 11:59 p.m., Eastern Time, on March 28, 2025. Computershare, the depository agent for the tender offer, has advised Seagate that 23,968,013 Intevac shares, representing approximately 87.95% of the outstanding shares of Intevac common stock, were validly tendered pursuant to the tender offer and not properly withdrawn prior to the expiration time. All of the conditions to the consummation of the tender offer have been satisfied, and on March 31, 2025, Merger Sub accepted for payment, and will promptly pay for, all shares validly tendered pursuant to the tender offer and not properly withdrawn.
AAEON Announces NV8600-Nano AI Developer Kit
AAEON's UP brand, a leading provider of professional developer boards, has announced the release of the NV8600-Nano AI Developer Kit, available exclusively on the company's UP Shop. Comprised of an NVIDIA Jetson Orin Nano module with Super Mode support, custom AAEON carrier board, and a preinstalled Jetson Platform Services software package, the NV8600-Nano AI Developer Kit reflects a notable expansion for UP, which since its inception has been renowned for its ability to leverage the newest Intel technologies across a range of industrial maker boards across standardized form factors.
While not AAEON's first developer kit to provide preinstalled software tools, the NV8600-Nano AI Developer Kit is the company's first to do so on an NVIDIA-accelerated platform. This new offering will provide AAEON customers an array of software tools dedicated to AI model optimization, distinguishing the kit from AAEON's broader NVIDIA-based product catalog, which typically focuses on industrial, deployment-ready system-on-modules.
While not AAEON's first developer kit to provide preinstalled software tools, the NV8600-Nano AI Developer Kit is the company's first to do so on an NVIDIA-accelerated platform. This new offering will provide AAEON customers an array of software tools dedicated to AI model optimization, distinguishing the kit from AAEON's broader NVIDIA-based product catalog, which typically focuses on industrial, deployment-ready system-on-modules.
Tuesday, April 1st 2025
Today's Reviews
Cooling
CPU Coolers
Graphics Cards
Headphones
Monitors
Motherboards
Notebooks
TSMC Reportedly Preparing New Equipment for 1.4 nm Trial Run at "P2" Baoshan Plant
Industry insiders posit that TSMC's two flagship fabrication facilities are running ahead of schedule with the development of an advanced 2 nm (N2) process node. A cross-facility mass production phase is tipped to begin later this year, which leaves room for next-level experiments. Taiwan's Economic Daily News has heard supply chain whispers about the Baoshan "P2" plant making internal preparations for a truly cutting edge 1.4 nm-class product. According to the report, unnamed sources have claimed that: "TSMC has made a major breakthrough in the advancement of its 1.4 nm process. (The company) has recently notified suppliers to prepare the necessary equipment for 1.4 nm, and plans to install a trial production 'mini-line' at P2 (Baoshan Fab 20)."
Their Hsinchu-adjacent "Fab 20" site is touted as a leading player in the prototyping of this new technology. Industry moles reckon that "1.4 nm expertise" will eventually trickle over to nearby "P3 and P4 plants" for full production phases. Allegedly, these factories were originally going to be involved in the manufacturing of 2 nm (N2) wafers. Additionally, TSMC's "Fab 25" campus could potentially play host to trial 1.4 nm activities—the Economic Daily News article proposes that four plants based in the Central Taiwan Science Park are pitching in with collaborative work. As interpreted by TrendForce, "P1" could begin "risk trial production" by 2027, followed by full-scale output within the following year.
Their Hsinchu-adjacent "Fab 20" site is touted as a leading player in the prototyping of this new technology. Industry moles reckon that "1.4 nm expertise" will eventually trickle over to nearby "P3 and P4 plants" for full production phases. Allegedly, these factories were originally going to be involved in the manufacturing of 2 nm (N2) wafers. Additionally, TSMC's "Fab 25" campus could potentially play host to trial 1.4 nm activities—the Economic Daily News article proposes that four plants based in the Central Taiwan Science Park are pitching in with collaborative work. As interpreted by TrendForce, "P1" could begin "risk trial production" by 2027, followed by full-scale output within the following year.
Capcom Releases Monster Hunter Wilds Bonus "10 Million Celebration Item Pack"
We are giving away a special item pack as a token of appreciation for everyone's support of Monster Hunter Wilds. Hello hunters! This is Yuya Tokuda, the director of Monster Hunter Wilds. Thank you so much for playing Monster Hunter Wilds. As announced yesterday, Monster Hunter Wilds has now sold more than 10 million copies globally. We are very happy that so many people around the world are playing the game. To commemorate the 10 million milestone, we have released a free item pack for the community.
We would also like to thank you for the many comments, thoughts and feedback we have received since the game was released. The development team has been reading your feedback, and we are encouraged by it. We are also using the comments and feedback we have received to help us plan our future actions. In this message, I'd like to take a moment to run through some of our upcoming plans based on your feedback, including a few areas that have already been in the works.
We would also like to thank you for the many comments, thoughts and feedback we have received since the game was released. The development team has been reading your feedback, and we are encouraged by it. We are also using the comments and feedback we have received to help us plan our future actions. In this message, I'd like to take a moment to run through some of our upcoming plans based on your feedback, including a few areas that have already been in the works.
Intel Vision Presentation Labels Core Ultra 300 "Panther Lake" CPU Series as 2026 Products
Intel's freshly concluded Vision 2025 "Products Update and GTM" showcase included a segment dedicated to forthcoming Core Ultra 300 "Panther Lake" client processors. Industry watchdogs have grabbed a select few screenshots from Team Blue's broadcast from Las Vegas, Nevada—one backdropped slide confirms that Intel's next-generation mobile CPU series will launch in 2026. This information mirrors the company's Chinese office presenting of an AI PC roadmap—coverage of last month's event highlighted a scheduled first quarter 2026 "volume" arrival of "Core Ultra Next-gen Panther Lake (18A)."
Going back to early March, Intel leadership refuted online rumors of "Panther Lake" mobile CPUs being delayed into 2026, due to alleged problems encountered during the development of the Foundry service's 18A process node. An interviewed executive repeatedly insisted that his firm's brand-new series was on track for release within the second half of 2025. Fast-forward to the end of last week; Lip-Bu Tan expressed a similar outlook in a letter addressed to investors. The newly-established boss stated: "we will further enhance our (leadership) position in the second half of this year with the launch of Panther Lake, our lead product on Intel 18A, followed by Nova Lake in 2026." Industry insiders propose that the Core Ultra 300 series will become available in a very limited capacity come October, via an Early Enablement Program (EEP). Returning to this week—Jim Johnson, senior vice president of the firm's Client Computing Group, informed a watchful audience about the merits of his group's design: "I'm personally excited about Panther Lake because it combines the power efficiency of Lunar Lake, the performance of Arrow Lake, and is built to scale 18A and is on track for production later this year...Our client roadmap is the most innovative we've ever had, and we are far from done."
Going back to early March, Intel leadership refuted online rumors of "Panther Lake" mobile CPUs being delayed into 2026, due to alleged problems encountered during the development of the Foundry service's 18A process node. An interviewed executive repeatedly insisted that his firm's brand-new series was on track for release within the second half of 2025. Fast-forward to the end of last week; Lip-Bu Tan expressed a similar outlook in a letter addressed to investors. The newly-established boss stated: "we will further enhance our (leadership) position in the second half of this year with the launch of Panther Lake, our lead product on Intel 18A, followed by Nova Lake in 2026." Industry insiders propose that the Core Ultra 300 series will become available in a very limited capacity come October, via an Early Enablement Program (EEP). Returning to this week—Jim Johnson, senior vice president of the firm's Client Computing Group, informed a watchful audience about the merits of his group's design: "I'm personally excited about Panther Lake because it combines the power efficiency of Lunar Lake, the performance of Arrow Lake, and is built to scale 18A and is on track for production later this year...Our client roadmap is the most innovative we've ever had, and we are far from done."
Quantum Machines Announces NVIDIA DGX Quantum Early Access Program
Quantum Machines (QM), the leading provider of advanced quantum control solutions, has recently announced the NVIDIA DGX Quantum Early Customer Program, with a cohort of six leading research groups and quantum computer builders. NVIDIA DGX Quantum, a reference architecture jointly developed by NVIDIA and QM, is the first tightly integrated quantum-classical computing solution, designed to unlock new frontiers in quantum computing research and development. As quantum computers scale, their reliance on classical resources for essential operations, such as quantum error correction (QEC) and parameter drift compensation, grows exponentially. NVIDIA DGX Quantum provides access to the classical acceleration needed to support this progress, advancing the path toward practical quantum supercomputers.
NVIDIA DGX Quantum leverages OPX1000, the best-in-class, modular high-density hybrid control platform, seamlessly interfacing with NVIDIA GH200 Grace Hopper Superchips. This solution brings accelerated computing into the heart of the quantum computing stack for the first time, achieving an ultra-low round-trip latency of less than 4 µs between quantum control and AI supercomputers - faster than any other approach. The NVIDIA DGX Quantum Early Customer Program is now underway, with selected leading academic institutions, national labs, and commercial quantum computer builders participating. These include the Engineering Quantum Systems group (equs.mit.edu) led by MIT Professor William D. Oliver, the Israeli Quantum Computing Center (IQCC), quantum hardware developer Diraq, the Quantum Circuit group (led by Ecole Normale Supérieure de Lyon Professor Benjamin Huard), and more.
NVIDIA DGX Quantum leverages OPX1000, the best-in-class, modular high-density hybrid control platform, seamlessly interfacing with NVIDIA GH200 Grace Hopper Superchips. This solution brings accelerated computing into the heart of the quantum computing stack for the first time, achieving an ultra-low round-trip latency of less than 4 µs between quantum control and AI supercomputers - faster than any other approach. The NVIDIA DGX Quantum Early Customer Program is now underway, with selected leading academic institutions, national labs, and commercial quantum computer builders participating. These include the Engineering Quantum Systems group (equs.mit.edu) led by MIT Professor William D. Oliver, the Israeli Quantum Computing Center (IQCC), quantum hardware developer Diraq, the Quantum Circuit group (led by Ecole Normale Supérieure de Lyon Professor Benjamin Huard), and more.
Leaker Claims that Samsung Will Stop Using "Exynos" Nomenclature, Next-gen 2 nm Mobile SoC Tipped for Rebrand
Over the past weekend Jukanlosreve declared via social media that Samsung's: "Exynos 2600 (mobile SoC) is definitely back, and it will be used in the Galaxy S26 series. But the chip volume is so limited that it'll likely be similar to the Exynos 990 situation. I'm not sure if SF2 is actually any good." Mid-way through March, the keen observer of semiconductor industry conditions posited that Samsung's Foundry business could abandon a 1.4 nm (SF1.4) process node. SF2 (aka 2 nm GAA) seems to be in a healthier place, according to insiders—thanks to rumored assistance from an external AI-specialist partner. The development of next-generation flagship Exynos smartphone processors are allegedly closely tied with Samsung Foundry's 2 nm GAA manufacturing process.
As alluded to by Jukanlosreve's recent prediction, the statuses of leaked 2 nm-based "Exynos 2600" and "Exynos 2500" chips were often questioned by industry watchdogs in the past. The latter is purportedly destined for rollout in forthcoming affordable "Galaxy Z Flip FE" models, albeit in mature 4 nm form. Vhsss_God—another source of inside track info—has weighed in on the topic of Samsung's next-gen chipset roadmap. Compared to Jukanlosreve's musings, their similarly-timed weekend projection seemed to be quite fanciful: "exclusive leak...Samsung doesn't want to use Exynos or Qualcomm Snapdragon chips anymore. S26 line is targeted to launch with the new Samsung developed chip (2 nm)—formerly referred to as Exynos 2600. (The company) will try its hardest to ditch Snapdragon on the entire Galaxy line next year." Perhaps there is too much of a negative stigma attached to Samsung's long-running chipset nomenclature, but the majority of foundry moles continue to label incoming designs as Exynos processors.
As alluded to by Jukanlosreve's recent prediction, the statuses of leaked 2 nm-based "Exynos 2600" and "Exynos 2500" chips were often questioned by industry watchdogs in the past. The latter is purportedly destined for rollout in forthcoming affordable "Galaxy Z Flip FE" models, albeit in mature 4 nm form. Vhsss_God—another source of inside track info—has weighed in on the topic of Samsung's next-gen chipset roadmap. Compared to Jukanlosreve's musings, their similarly-timed weekend projection seemed to be quite fanciful: "exclusive leak...Samsung doesn't want to use Exynos or Qualcomm Snapdragon chips anymore. S26 line is targeted to launch with the new Samsung developed chip (2 nm)—formerly referred to as Exynos 2600. (The company) will try its hardest to ditch Snapdragon on the entire Galaxy line next year." Perhaps there is too much of a negative stigma attached to Samsung's long-running chipset nomenclature, but the majority of foundry moles continue to label incoming designs as Exynos processors.
Altera Starts Production Shipments of Agilex 7 FPGA M-Series
Altera Corporation, a leader in FPGA innovations, today announced production shipments of its Agilex 7 FPGA M-Series, the industry's first high-end, high-density FPGA to feature integrated high bandwidth memory and support for DDR5 and LPDDR5 memory technologies. Offering over 3.8 million logic elements, Agilex 7 FPGA M-Series is optimized for applications that demand the highest performance and highest memory bandwidth, including AI, data centers, next-generation firewalls, 5G communications infrastructure and 8K broadcast equipment.
As data traffic continues to increase exponentially due to the growth of AI, cloud computing and video streaming services, the demand for higher memory bandwidth, increased capacity, and improved power efficiency has never been greater. Agilex 7 FPGA M-Series addresses these challenges by offering users high logic densities, a high-performance fabric and a memory interface that accelerates data throughput speeds while reducing memory bottlenecks and latency.
As data traffic continues to increase exponentially due to the growth of AI, cloud computing and video streaming services, the demand for higher memory bandwidth, increased capacity, and improved power efficiency has never been greater. Agilex 7 FPGA M-Series addresses these challenges by offering users high logic densities, a high-performance fabric and a memory interface that accelerates data throughput speeds while reducing memory bottlenecks and latency.
GlobalFoundries Explores UMC Merger to Strengthen Mature Node Manufacturing
GlobalFoundries is considering acquiring United Microelectronics Corporation (UMC) in a plan called "Project Ultron." The two companies want to work together to make older types of semiconductor nodes. Both companies have moved away from making the newest, most advanced chips. Instead, they focused on making older nodes (28 nm and larger) better and cheaper, keeping them from competing directly with giants like TSMC, Intel, and Samsung. This type of market is mature nodes, which is the main target of automakers and commercial electronics (fridges, washing machines) that aren't CPUs or GPUs, where the latest nodes aren't essential. If GF and UMC merge, they could control about 28% of the mature node market, making them stronger against growing rivals. The possible team-up comes as Chinese companies like SMIC are putting more money into making similar chips, creating more competition.
The combined companies would have factories in the United States, Germany, Singapore, Taiwan, and China. Spreading factories across regions could help them keep making chips even if problems happen in one region, be it some tense geopolitical situation or sanctions/tariffs. It might also appeal to customers who worry about supply chain problems. Money issues could make the deal tricky. GlobalFoundries is worth about $20.41 billion but would need to borrow money or get more funding from its main investor, Mubadala, to make the purchase. Government approvals are another big hurdle. Taiwan might not want a foreign company controlling UMC, while China might only approve if the new company promises to keep or add factories in China. UMC has Fab 12X in China, producing 25,000 wafers per month. All of this is happening as GlobalFoundries prepares for new CEO Tim Breen to start by the end of April. He must handle these merger talks while keeping the company running smoothly in a challenging mature node market. Meanwhile, UMC has denied merger talk, but Tom's Hardware claims it has reviewed documents of the merger assessment.
The combined companies would have factories in the United States, Germany, Singapore, Taiwan, and China. Spreading factories across regions could help them keep making chips even if problems happen in one region, be it some tense geopolitical situation or sanctions/tariffs. It might also appeal to customers who worry about supply chain problems. Money issues could make the deal tricky. GlobalFoundries is worth about $20.41 billion but would need to borrow money or get more funding from its main investor, Mubadala, to make the purchase. Government approvals are another big hurdle. Taiwan might not want a foreign company controlling UMC, while China might only approve if the new company promises to keep or add factories in China. UMC has Fab 12X in China, producing 25,000 wafers per month. All of this is happening as GlobalFoundries prepares for new CEO Tim Breen to start by the end of April. He must handle these merger talks while keeping the company running smoothly in a challenging mature node market. Meanwhile, UMC has denied merger talk, but Tom's Hardware claims it has reviewed documents of the merger assessment.
Bandai Namco Reveals SUPER ROBOT WARS Y, Teases 2025 Launch on PC, PS5 & Switch
Mecha fandoms collide in an epic battle to determine the world's future in the upcoming tactical RPG series SUPER ROBOT WARS Y. Published by Bandai Namco Entertainment America Inc. and developed by Bandai Namco Forge Digitals Inc., the game features immersive strategic game play and is a return for the legendary series to the West in a English localized installment, following the success of SUPER ROBOT WARS 30. The anticipated sequel brings together iconic mecha characters and units from beloved series including COMBATTLER V, Aura Battler Dunbine, Mobile Fighter G Gundam, Mobile Suit Gundam the Witch from Mercury (Season 1), Majestic Prince, Macross Delta: Passionate Walküre, Code Geass Lelouch of the Re;surrection, Getter Robo Arc, and more. SUPER ROBOT WARS Y will launch in 2025 for PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch and PC via Steam.
In the looming calamity of inevitable ruin, SUPER ROBOT WARS Y challenges the guardians of steel to rise and conquer fate. The lauded series combines an all-star mecha cast, action-packed attack animations, and an upgrade system to customize various units and pilots. The game also features a deep and engaging original story that weaves together universes from a variety of mecha anime. In a battle to determine the world's future, players strategically command an army on a grid-based battlefield, utilizing their arsenal of weapons and abilities to defeat the opposing army. SUPER ROBOT WARS Y is the anticipated new entry to the franchise, following the 2021 hit SUPER ROBOT WARS 30, as a must-have for fans of the long-running game series in the West.
In the looming calamity of inevitable ruin, SUPER ROBOT WARS Y challenges the guardians of steel to rise and conquer fate. The lauded series combines an all-star mecha cast, action-packed attack animations, and an upgrade system to customize various units and pilots. The game also features a deep and engaging original story that weaves together universes from a variety of mecha anime. In a battle to determine the world's future, players strategically command an army on a grid-based battlefield, utilizing their arsenal of weapons and abilities to defeat the opposing army. SUPER ROBOT WARS Y is the anticipated new entry to the franchise, following the 2021 hit SUPER ROBOT WARS 30, as a must-have for fans of the long-running game series in the West.
Kingston Fury Renegade G5 SSD Series Leaked, PCIe Gen 5 Design Boasts 14,800 MB/s Max. Transfers
PC hardware media outlets have uncovered a not yet officially announced Kingston Fury Renegade G5 SSD product family. Promotional images and fairly detailed specifications were reportedly sourced directly from the North American manufacturer's main web presence. Three next-gen PCIe 5.0 SSD options were highlighted; likely coming soon—in quick response to Samsung's recently launched 9100 PRO Series. The South Korean megacorp's cutting-edge proprietary Presto
S4LY027-controlled offerings are considered to be the world's fastest SSDs, but this elite level of performance has arrived with substantial price tags. At several points, W1zzard's evaluation of the $300 Samsung 9100 Pro 2 TB model touched upon cost-performance considerations. Kingston's forthcoming Fury Renegade G5 4 TB, 2 TB, and 1 TB SSD NVMe M.2 2280 SKUs possess the potential to match main rivals—according to a leaked spec chart, the flagship boasts up to 14,800 MB/s read and 14,000 MB/s write speeds.
The apparent selection of Silicon Motion's SM2508 controller is a key point of interest—this "superior performance" low-power PCIe Gen 5 x4 NVMe 2.0 SSD solution was announced late last summer. September preview material painted a promising picture, in terms of promised power efficiency. By late December, a Chinese manufacturer demonstrated 14.5 GB/s sequential reads enabled by Silicon Motion's flagship controller. At CES 2025, TechPowerUp staffers documented a handful of previewed SM2508-controlled commercial products. Returning to the present day, Kingston's inadvertent self-leak did not reveal Fury Renegade G5's eventual launch window or price brackets—these facts are expected to arrive online with a possible imminent issuing of official press material.
S4LY027-controlled offerings are considered to be the world's fastest SSDs, but this elite level of performance has arrived with substantial price tags. At several points, W1zzard's evaluation of the $300 Samsung 9100 Pro 2 TB model touched upon cost-performance considerations. Kingston's forthcoming Fury Renegade G5 4 TB, 2 TB, and 1 TB SSD NVMe M.2 2280 SKUs possess the potential to match main rivals—according to a leaked spec chart, the flagship boasts up to 14,800 MB/s read and 14,000 MB/s write speeds.
The apparent selection of Silicon Motion's SM2508 controller is a key point of interest—this "superior performance" low-power PCIe Gen 5 x4 NVMe 2.0 SSD solution was announced late last summer. September preview material painted a promising picture, in terms of promised power efficiency. By late December, a Chinese manufacturer demonstrated 14.5 GB/s sequential reads enabled by Silicon Motion's flagship controller. At CES 2025, TechPowerUp staffers documented a handful of previewed SM2508-controlled commercial products. Returning to the present day, Kingston's inadvertent self-leak did not reveal Fury Renegade G5's eventual launch window or price brackets—these facts are expected to arrive online with a possible imminent issuing of official press material.
HASTE: Broken Worlds Out Now on Windows, Linux, & Mac Platforms
Run, don't walk! It's time to play the full game. HASTE is finally out! It's been a long journey since our initial wobbler prototype in late 2021, and we're very excited to finally be able to share the full game with you all! HASTE: Broken Worlds is a high-speed third-person running game, set in a collapsing universe. Race through a variety of worlds, master your movement and use items and abilities to progress through each level before it falls apart around you. The game consists of ten Shards, each featuring a collection of procedurally generated levels that must be completed without fail to unlock the next. You'll encounter challenges and characters on your journey, seeking answers about what lies behind the destruction, and how to escape it!
Thank you to everyone who played the demo and helped us with the final feedback and motivation to get this game through the end portal! We hope you hit the ground running—literally—and have a great time with Zoe's crew. For any questions, support, or bug reports, please post in the Steam forums or reach out to us at support@landfall.se! Join the official HASTE Discord!
Thank you to everyone who played the demo and helped us with the final feedback and motivation to get this game through the end portal! We hope you hit the ground running—literally—and have a great time with Zoe's crew. For any questions, support, or bug reports, please post in the Steam forums or reach out to us at support@landfall.se! Join the official HASTE Discord!
EMTEK Launches GeForce RTX 5070 MIRACLE WHITE D7 12 GB Card in South Korea
EMTEK has released a new custom GeForce RTX 5070 graphics card in South Korea; fresh retail/e-tail listings have popped up online via the Danawa price comparison engine. Similar circumstances were observed around mid-February for the launch of the brand's GeForce RTX 5080 MIRACLE WHITE D7 16 GB SKU. EMTEK's GB205 "Blackwell" GPU-based offering sports a slightly smaller shroud design; its larger siblings are 2.5-slotters. As noted by VideoCardz, the GeForce RTX 5070 MIRACLE WHITE D7 12 GB model's 329 mm-long triple-fan cooling solution tempers a less potent key component.
EMTEK's brand-new card conforms to NVIDIA's reference specifications, so a relatively slim heatsink seems appropriate for this deployment. A dual BIOS switcher grants access to "Cooling" and "Silent 0-db" modes. Another nearby physical switch can enable/disable the MIRACLE WHITE D7's integrated "Auto ARGB" system. EMTEK's pricier pale-toned offerings—in GeForce RTX 5080 and RTX 5070 Ti guises—feature intriguing USB-C connected Windows 11-controlled lighting schemes. The cheapest price for a RTX 5070 MIRACLE WHITE D7 card is 1,030,000 won (~$700 USD) according to Danawa SK aggregation. EMTEK products are only available in South Korea, therefore attract very little Western press coverage. Interestingly, the company also acts as a regional distributor of various PALIT GeForce and Sapphire Radeon graphics cards.
EMTEK's brand-new card conforms to NVIDIA's reference specifications, so a relatively slim heatsink seems appropriate for this deployment. A dual BIOS switcher grants access to "Cooling" and "Silent 0-db" modes. Another nearby physical switch can enable/disable the MIRACLE WHITE D7's integrated "Auto ARGB" system. EMTEK's pricier pale-toned offerings—in GeForce RTX 5080 and RTX 5070 Ti guises—feature intriguing USB-C connected Windows 11-controlled lighting schemes. The cheapest price for a RTX 5070 MIRACLE WHITE D7 card is 1,030,000 won (~$700 USD) according to Danawa SK aggregation. EMTEK products are only available in South Korea, therefore attract very little Western press coverage. Interestingly, the company also acts as a regional distributor of various PALIT GeForce and Sapphire Radeon graphics cards.
Lightmatter Unveils Passage M1000 Photonic Superchip
Lightmatter, the leader in photonic supercomputing, today announced Passage M1000, a groundbreaking 3D Photonic Superchip designed for next-generation XPUs and switches. The Passage M1000 enables a record-breaking 114 Tbps total optical bandwidth for the most demanding AI infrastructure applications. At more than 4,000 square millimeters, the M1000 reference platform is a multi-reticle active photonic interposer that enables the world's largest die complexes in a 3D package, providing connectivity to thousands of GPUs in a single domain.
In existing chip designs, interconnects for processors, memory, and I/O chiplets are bandwidth limited because electrical input/output (I/O) connections are restricted to the edges of these chips. The Passage M1000 overcomes this limitation by unleashing electro-optical I/O virtually anywhere on its surface for the die complex stacked on top. Pervasive interposer connectivity is enabled by an extensive and reconfigurable waveguide network that carries high-bandwidth WDM optical signals throughout the M1000. With fully integrated fiber attachment supporting an unprecedented 256 fibers, the M1000 delivers an order of magnitude higher bandwidth in a smaller package size compared to conventional Co-Packaged Optics (CPO) and similar offerings.
In existing chip designs, interconnects for processors, memory, and I/O chiplets are bandwidth limited because electrical input/output (I/O) connections are restricted to the edges of these chips. The Passage M1000 overcomes this limitation by unleashing electro-optical I/O virtually anywhere on its surface for the die complex stacked on top. Pervasive interposer connectivity is enabled by an extensive and reconfigurable waveguide network that carries high-bandwidth WDM optical signals throughout the M1000. With fully integrated fiber attachment supporting an unprecedented 256 fibers, the M1000 delivers an order of magnitude higher bandwidth in a smaller package size compared to conventional Co-Packaged Optics (CPO) and similar offerings.
inZOI Development Team Prioritizes Release of Hotfixes for Early Access Build
Hello, Creators. We have seen concerns in the community about the "short break" mentioned in my recent letter of gratitude to players. To be clear, the inZOI team's "short break" was just two days of vacation. We apologize for causing worry with our vague wording. We are aware of the wide range of feedback and improvement requests you have shared. Additional hotfix patches are scheduled for this week, and we are continuing to monitor feedback and develop builds. We are prioritizing fixing various bugs and issues that disrupt gameplay. But to reassure you about our dedication to making inZOI a better game, we would like to share our future update plans and how we will communicate them.
Short-Term Update Plans
As explained in our online showcase, we originally planned content updates for inZOI about once every two months during Early Access. However, given the spirit of Early Access—completing the game together with you—we intend to quickly apply fixes for reported issues through hotfixes during April. These short-term updates are smaller in scale compared to major updates, but we expect that rolling out content faster and incorporating feedback more promptly will have a more positive effect on your gameplay experience. Additionally, whenever we identify critical issues, we plan to keep addressing them through hotfixes. As mentioned, we want to stay true to our words about not taking advantage of the term "Early Access," and show gratitude to those who purchased the game by continuing to release updates and maintain open communication. We will continue to wait for and welcome your feedback.
Short-Term Update Plans
As explained in our online showcase, we originally planned content updates for inZOI about once every two months during Early Access. However, given the spirit of Early Access—completing the game together with you—we intend to quickly apply fixes for reported issues through hotfixes during April. These short-term updates are smaller in scale compared to major updates, but we expect that rolling out content faster and incorporating feedback more promptly will have a more positive effect on your gameplay experience. Additionally, whenever we identify critical issues, we plan to keep addressing them through hotfixes. As mentioned, we want to stay true to our words about not taking advantage of the term "Early Access," and show gratitude to those who purchased the game by continuing to release updates and maintain open communication. We will continue to wait for and welcome your feedback.
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 Laptops Launched on Very Last Day of Q1'25, Reports Suggest Limited Availability
NVIDIA and its laptop/notebook manufacturing partners have just about managed a very last minute launch of GeForce RTX 5090 Mobile, RTX 5080 Mobile, RTX 5070 Ti Mobile GPU-powered devices at retail. According to the latest reports, yesterday's—March 31—small trickle out of high-end portable "Blackwell" hardware qualified as a launch within the first quarter of 2025. Due to Team Green's GeForce RTX 50 series being affected by ROPs anomalies—across desktop and mobile platforms—involved firms anticipated deliveries being delayed into April. As stated early last month, unnamed industry sources divulged details about official instructions: "manufacturers (must) inspect already-produced notebooks with new mobile GeForce RTX 5000 graphics chips." Going further back in time, supply chain moles predicted that the entire product stack—starting at the top with GeForce RTX 5090 M, going down to RTX 5070 M—would be subject to postponements.
PC gaming hardware watchdogs noticed a very limited supply of GeForce RTX 5090 Mobile-based laptops on "day one," at least in North America. VideoCardz spent some time combing through Newegg listings, after hearing about the Q1 launch via official social media announcements. The likes of ASUS, GIGABYTE, HP, Lenovo, MSI and Razer opened up direct pre-orders on February 25, but yesterday's embargo lift seemed to extend to general retails outlets. VideoCardz noted that the cheapest—at $4299—GeForce RTX 5090 Laptop options were already sold out. MSI's North American store lists an "out of stock" Titan 18 HX Dragon Edition Norse Myth 18-inch model with an eye-watering price tag of $6199.99. Additionally, the publication pointed out the best GeForce RTX 5080 Laptop starting price: $2499.99. GeForce RTX 5070 Ti Laptops start at $1899.99 on Newegg, but RTX 5070 Mobile-based options seemed to be absent. The online retailer's stock notification system predicts late April or early May replenishments of higher-end stock.
PC gaming hardware watchdogs noticed a very limited supply of GeForce RTX 5090 Mobile-based laptops on "day one," at least in North America. VideoCardz spent some time combing through Newegg listings, after hearing about the Q1 launch via official social media announcements. The likes of ASUS, GIGABYTE, HP, Lenovo, MSI and Razer opened up direct pre-orders on February 25, but yesterday's embargo lift seemed to extend to general retails outlets. VideoCardz noted that the cheapest—at $4299—GeForce RTX 5090 Laptop options were already sold out. MSI's North American store lists an "out of stock" Titan 18 HX Dragon Edition Norse Myth 18-inch model with an eye-watering price tag of $6199.99. Additionally, the publication pointed out the best GeForce RTX 5080 Laptop starting price: $2499.99. GeForce RTX 5070 Ti Laptops start at $1899.99 on Newegg, but RTX 5070 Mobile-based options seemed to be absent. The online retailer's stock notification system predicts late April or early May replenishments of higher-end stock.
Apricorn Unveils Aegis Thunderbolt 4 Docking Station
Apricorn, the leading manufacturer of software-free, 256-bit AES XTS hardware-encrypted USB data storage devices, today announced the release of the Aegis Thunderbolt 4 Docking Station, designed to maximize connectivity, efficiency, and security for today's flexible workforce. The new docking station provides seamless device integration and high-speed data transfer, making it an ideal solution for professionals who require reliability and performance in both office and remote environments.
In a recent survey conducted by Apricorn, 54% of respondents primarily operate in a hybrid work environment, with 48% utilizing a hotdesking setup, underscoring the increasing need for technology that supports efficient transitions between remote and office settings. Additionally, nearly 68% of respondents use a docking station daily, highlighting the device's essential role in current workflows. Among the top reasons professionals use or consider using docking stations are connecting multiple monitors (95%), reducing cable clutter (80%), and quickly switching between home and office setups (65%).
In a recent survey conducted by Apricorn, 54% of respondents primarily operate in a hybrid work environment, with 48% utilizing a hotdesking setup, underscoring the increasing need for technology that supports efficient transitions between remote and office settings. Additionally, nearly 68% of respondents use a docking station daily, highlighting the device's essential role in current workflows. Among the top reasons professionals use or consider using docking stations are connecting multiple monitors (95%), reducing cable clutter (80%), and quickly switching between home and office setups (65%).
IBM & Intel Announce the Availability of Gaudi 3 AI Accelerators on IBM Cloud
Yesterday, at Intel Vision 2025, IBM announced the availability of Intel Gaudi 3 AI accelerators on IBM Cloud. This offering delivers Intel Gaudi 3 in a public cloud environment for production workloads. Through this collaboration, IBM Cloud aims to help clients more cost-effectively scale and deploy enterprise AI. Intel Gaudi 3 AI accelerators on IBM Cloud are currently available in Frankfurt (eu-de) and Washington, D.C. (us-east) IBM Cloud regions, with future availability for the Dallas (us-south) IBM Cloud region in Q2 2025.
IBM's AI in Action 2024 report found that 67% of surveyed leaders reported revenue increases of 25% or more due to including AI in business operations. Although AI is demonstrating promising revenue increases, enterprises are also balancing the costs associated with the infrastructure needed to drive performance. By leveraging Intel's Gaudi 3 on IBM Cloud, the two companies are aiming to help clients more cost effectively test, innovate and deploy generative AI solutions. "By bringing Intel Gaudi 3 AI accelerators to IBM Cloud, we're enabling businesses to help scale generative AI workloads with optimized performance for inferencing and fine-tuning. This collaboration underscores our shared commitment to making AI more accessible and cost-effective for enterprises worldwide," said Saurabh Kulkarni, Vice President, Datacenter AI Strategy and Product Management, Intel.
IBM's AI in Action 2024 report found that 67% of surveyed leaders reported revenue increases of 25% or more due to including AI in business operations. Although AI is demonstrating promising revenue increases, enterprises are also balancing the costs associated with the infrastructure needed to drive performance. By leveraging Intel's Gaudi 3 on IBM Cloud, the two companies are aiming to help clients more cost effectively test, innovate and deploy generative AI solutions. "By bringing Intel Gaudi 3 AI accelerators to IBM Cloud, we're enabling businesses to help scale generative AI workloads with optimized performance for inferencing and fine-tuning. This collaboration underscores our shared commitment to making AI more accessible and cost-effective for enterprises worldwide," said Saurabh Kulkarni, Vice President, Datacenter AI Strategy and Product Management, Intel.
Jagex Announces RuneScape: Dragonwilds, New Open World Survival Game Powered by Unreal Engine 5
Jagex is thrilled to announce RuneScape: Dragonwilds, an all-new open world survival crafting game set in the beloved RuneScape franchise. Wishlist RuneScape: Dragonwilds on Steam today to be notified of the game's release, and to be amongst the first to experience this epic new adventure. On RuneScape's forgotten continent of Ashenfall, dragons have awoken. Gather, build, skill and craft to survive in this co-operative survival crafting game. Only by mastering survival and uncovering ancient secrets can you hope to slay the Dragon Queen—alone or with allies.
Wield wild, transformative magic to survive and level up skills to overcome challenges in this brand-new adventure powered by Unreal Engine 5. Explore a stunning, hand-crafted landscape infused with magical energy in an adventure that blends high fantasy with light RPG elements and iconic RuneScape lore. Harness the power of Anima to reshape your experience. Summon spectral axes to fell trees in an instant or channel nature's energy to repair broken armour. Discover RuneScape: Dragonwilds unique progression system to unlock new spells, crafting recipes and abilities, providing adventurers countless ways to interact with the world around them.
Wield wild, transformative magic to survive and level up skills to overcome challenges in this brand-new adventure powered by Unreal Engine 5. Explore a stunning, hand-crafted landscape infused with magical energy in an adventure that blends high fantasy with light RPG elements and iconic RuneScape lore. Harness the power of Anima to reshape your experience. Summon spectral axes to fell trees in an instant or channel nature's energy to repair broken armour. Discover RuneScape: Dragonwilds unique progression system to unlock new spells, crafting recipes and abilities, providing adventurers countless ways to interact with the world around them.
Rapidus Confirms Launching 2nm Pilot Line in April, Mass Production Set for 2027
Rapidus Corporation today announced that its plans and budget for fiscal year 2025 have been approved by Japan's New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO). The approval covers two commissioned projects under NEDO's "Post-5G Information and Communication Systems Infrastructure Enhancement R&D Project / Development of Advanced Semiconductor Manufacturing Technology (Commissioned)." These projects are the "Research and Development of 2 nm-Generation Semiconductor Integration Technology and short TAT (turnaround time) Manufacturing Technology Based on Japan-U.S. Collaboration" and "Development of Chiplet, Package Design and Manufacturing Technology for 2 nm-Generation Semiconductors."
The first of these projects, focused on front-end processes, was launched in November 2022 as part of Japan's next-generation semiconductor R&D effort. Under this program, Rapidus has continued construction of the Innovative Integration for Manufacturing (IIM) facility in Chitose, Hokkaido, which will serve as its production base. It also sent engineers to IBM in the U.S. to jointly develop 2 nm logic semiconductor mass production technologies and continued to achieve target performance as planned. Furthermore, Rapidus has installed EUV lithography and other production equipment at the IIM facility, and started cleanroom operation. As a result of these efforts, the company achieved its performance targets for FY2024.
The first of these projects, focused on front-end processes, was launched in November 2022 as part of Japan's next-generation semiconductor R&D effort. Under this program, Rapidus has continued construction of the Innovative Integration for Manufacturing (IIM) facility in Chitose, Hokkaido, which will serve as its production base. It also sent engineers to IBM in the U.S. to jointly develop 2 nm logic semiconductor mass production technologies and continued to achieve target performance as planned. Furthermore, Rapidus has installed EUV lithography and other production equipment at the IIM facility, and started cleanroom operation. As a result of these efforts, the company achieved its performance targets for FY2024.
Surprise Reversal: GeForce RTX 5090 Found with Too Many ROPs, Matches RTX Pro 6000, +8% Performance
NVIDIA's stellar quality control with the $2,000 GeForce RTX 5090 saw quite a few customers end up with cards that had fewer ROPs than they should—168 as opposed to its original spec of 176. The 8 fewer ROPs results in a roughly 5% drop in performance. When you're ponying up over two grand, this is the last thing you want. But what if we told you there are cards out there were more ROPs than they should have? We have with us an ASUS ROG Astral GeForce RTX 5090 LC graphics card that we detected 192 ROPs on. That's right, the card has all the 192 ROPs active that are present in the "GB202" silicon, or two ROP partitions (16 ROPs) more than it should have. We received our ROG Astral RTX 5090 LC sample just a few weeks ago, and haven't had time to thoroughly test it yet, because we're in the middle of a full retest with new games and new drivers.
The ASUS ROG Astral LC is a factory overclocked card, with ASUS giving the card a generous OC to benefit from the liquid cooling solution (2580 MHz boost vs. 2407 MHz reference or +7.1%). To account for that, we tried our best to clock the card back down to reference specs, which is presented as the orange bar. This still isn't the same card as the RTX 5090 Founders Edition, because the superior cooling solution and power limits mean that the GPU enjoys better boost frequency residency, but this is as close as we can get to simulating reference spec. We ran the card through a battery of game tests, which show an average of 8% performance gains over the RTX 5090 Founders Edition.
The ASUS ROG Astral LC is a factory overclocked card, with ASUS giving the card a generous OC to benefit from the liquid cooling solution (2580 MHz boost vs. 2407 MHz reference or +7.1%). To account for that, we tried our best to clock the card back down to reference specs, which is presented as the orange bar. This still isn't the same card as the RTX 5090 Founders Edition, because the superior cooling solution and power limits mean that the GPU enjoys better boost frequency residency, but this is as close as we can get to simulating reference spec. We ran the card through a battery of game tests, which show an average of 8% performance gains over the RTX 5090 Founders Edition.
Micron Announces Memory Price Increases for 2025-2026 Amid Supply Constraints
In a letter to customers, Micron has announced upcoming memory price increases extending through 2025 and 2026, citing persistent supply constraints coupled with accelerating demand across its product portfolio. The manufacturer points to significant demand growth in DRAM, NAND flash, and high-bandwidth memory (HBM) segments as key drivers behind the pricing strategy. The memory market is rebounding from a prolonged oversupply cycle that previously depressed revenues industry-wide. Strategic production capacity reductions implemented by major suppliers have contributed to price stabilization and subsequent increases over the past twelve months. This pricing trajectory is expected to continue as data center operators, AI deployments, and consumer electronics manufacturers compete for limited memory allocation.
In communications to channel partners, Micron emphasized AI and HPC requirements as critical factors necessitating the price adjustments. The company has requested detailed forecast submissions from partners to optimize production planning and supply chain stability during the constrained market period. With its pricing announcement, Micron disclosed a $7 billion investment in a Singapore-based HBM assembly facility. The plant will begin operations in 2026 and will focus on HBM3E, HBM4, and HBM4E production—advanced memory technologies essential for next-generation AI accelerators and high-performance computing applications from NVIDIA, AMD, Intel, and other companies. The price increases could have cascading effects across the AI and GPU sector, potentially raising costs for products ranging from consumer gaming systems to enterprise data infrastructure. We are monitoring how these adjustments will impact hardware refresh cycles and technology adoption rates as manufacturers pass incremental costs to end customers.
In communications to channel partners, Micron emphasized AI and HPC requirements as critical factors necessitating the price adjustments. The company has requested detailed forecast submissions from partners to optimize production planning and supply chain stability during the constrained market period. With its pricing announcement, Micron disclosed a $7 billion investment in a Singapore-based HBM assembly facility. The plant will begin operations in 2026 and will focus on HBM3E, HBM4, and HBM4E production—advanced memory technologies essential for next-generation AI accelerators and high-performance computing applications from NVIDIA, AMD, Intel, and other companies. The price increases could have cascading effects across the AI and GPU sector, potentially raising costs for products ranging from consumer gaming systems to enterprise data infrastructure. We are monitoring how these adjustments will impact hardware refresh cycles and technology adoption rates as manufacturers pass incremental costs to end customers.
ASUS Teases Xbox and ROG Ally Console Collaboration
The upcoming collaboration project between Microsoft and ASUS is slowly materializing in the form of a handheld gaming console, as recently released promotional material shows. The latest teaser video shows an ASUS ROG Ally and Xbox controller merging into a single unit, becoming an animated character, indicating a hardware partnership that combines Microsoft's software ecosystem with ASUS's portable hardware expertise. Project Kennan, as the device is reportedly codenamed, contradicts earlier Xbox executive statements regarding development timelines. Initial projections suggested the hardware launch within a 2-3 year window, yet current information suggests a potential Q3/Q4 2025 release, with perhaps an announcement in Q2 this year. Following Steam Deck's market success, the accelerated schedule may come from increased competitive pressure in the handheld PC gaming segment.
The device appears to feature a predominantly black chassis, though other specifications remain undisclosed. AMD architecture integration will likely continue the foundation established in both Xbox Series consoles and the ROG Ally platform. This hardware choice would prioritize performance-per-watt efficiency crucial for portable gaming applications. A significant technical decision remains regarding the operating system implementation: whether to deploy standard Windows with Xbox integration or develop a custom Xbox-centric interface layer. This choice will directly impact ecosystem compatibility, application support, and user experience fluidity. Both companies have maintained limited official communication regarding the project, with the teaser video serving as the primary confirmation of their collaboration.
The device appears to feature a predominantly black chassis, though other specifications remain undisclosed. AMD architecture integration will likely continue the foundation established in both Xbox Series consoles and the ROG Ally platform. This hardware choice would prioritize performance-per-watt efficiency crucial for portable gaming applications. A significant technical decision remains regarding the operating system implementation: whether to deploy standard Windows with Xbox integration or develop a custom Xbox-centric interface layer. This choice will directly impact ecosystem compatibility, application support, and user experience fluidity. Both companies have maintained limited official communication regarding the project, with the teaser video serving as the primary confirmation of their collaboration.
Monday, March 31st 2025
Today's Reviews
Graphics Cards
Memory
Motherboards
Notebooks
Processors
Speakers
Storage
DDR5 CUDIMM Explained & Benched - The New Memory Standard
Unlock the potential of cutting-edge DDR5 memory technology with Clocked Unbuffered DIMM (CUDIMM)! Follow along as we explore how this innovative solution is redefining performance for gamers and professionals alike.
SilverStone Lucid 04 Review
The SilverStone Lucid 04 is the latest in the Lucid series with its focus on glass. While the 01 and 02 went for a unique motherboard layout, the 03 was an ITX variant - all with lots of unique aspects. The Lucid 04 follows a squarely classic microATX form factor, aiming to be an affordable fish tank style choice
Microsoft Copilot+ Becomes More Useful on AMD and Intel PCs
When Microsoft first introduced the Copilot+ program alongside its renewed push for Windows-on-Arm laptops, the AI-powered assistant features were mostly limited to Snapdragon X-powered devices. In addition to the inclusion of these features on Intel and AMD systems, Microsoft is also announcing Voice Access, a new accessibility feature that will first launch on Qualcomm Snapdragon systems and make their way to Intel- and AMD-powered systems. These new updates come by way of the March 27 Preview update titled KB505365. However, there is still no mention of an AMD and Intel launch for the much maligned Recall feature that Microsoft was testing late last year and recalled due to privacy concerns.
According to the latest Windows Experience Blog post, users of AMD- and Intel-powered PCs will now be able to access features, like Live Captions, Cocreator, Restyle Image, and Image Creator more broadly across the line-up of Copilot+ PCs with Intel Core Ultra 200V and AMD Ryzen AI 300 CPUs. Live Captions is officially pitched as an accessibility feature, meanwhile Restyle Image and Image Creator are AI-powered image editing and generation features, and Cocreator lies somewhere in between as a text-to-image tool that is meant to augment drawing in Paint. Cocreator will be rolling out as of the announcement, and Restyle Image and Image Creator will be available in the Photos app on Intel and AMD systems. As for Voice Access, Microsoft claims that it will allow users to be more flexible with their language when using speech to navigate their PCs, as opposed to "learning complex steps, commands and syntax that voice access previously required" for voice navigation on PC. Voice Access will initially be limited to Snapdragon X PCs, but it will roll out to AMD and Intel Copilot+ PCs later this year.
According to the latest Windows Experience Blog post, users of AMD- and Intel-powered PCs will now be able to access features, like Live Captions, Cocreator, Restyle Image, and Image Creator more broadly across the line-up of Copilot+ PCs with Intel Core Ultra 200V and AMD Ryzen AI 300 CPUs. Live Captions is officially pitched as an accessibility feature, meanwhile Restyle Image and Image Creator are AI-powered image editing and generation features, and Cocreator lies somewhere in between as a text-to-image tool that is meant to augment drawing in Paint. Cocreator will be rolling out as of the announcement, and Restyle Image and Image Creator will be available in the Photos app on Intel and AMD systems. As for Voice Access, Microsoft claims that it will allow users to be more flexible with their language when using speech to navigate their PCs, as opposed to "learning complex steps, commands and syntax that voice access previously required" for voice navigation on PC. Voice Access will initially be limited to Snapdragon X PCs, but it will roll out to AMD and Intel Copilot+ PCs later this year.
Apr 24th, 2025 02:10 EDT
change timezone
Latest GPU Drivers
New Forum Posts
- RX 9000 series GPU Owners Club (501)
- What are you playing? (23452)
- Which is the best replacement for Microsoft Office? (25)
- Are the 8 GB cards worth it? (114)
- random system shutdown with fans running at full speed (54)
- 5060 Ti 8GB DOA (258)
- Last game you purchased? (792)
- GameTechBench GPU benchmark is already out! (349)
- Asus Rx570 o4g cannot losd drivers error code 43 (13)
- AAF Optimus Modded Driver For Windows 10 & Windows 11 - Only for Realtek HDAUDIO Chips (440)
Popular Reviews
- NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 8 GB Review - So Many Compromises
- ASUS GeForce RTX 5060 Ti TUF OC 16 GB Review
- ASRock X870E Taichi Lite Review
- Colorful iGame B860M Ultra V20 Review
- Upcoming Hardware Launches 2025 (Updated Apr 2025)
- Sapphire Radeon RX 9070 XT Pulse Review
- Sapphire Radeon RX 9070 XT Nitro+ Review - Beating NVIDIA
- NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 Ti PCI-Express x8 Scaling
- AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D Review - The Best Gaming Processor
- ASUS GeForce RTX 5080 TUF OC Review
Controversial News Posts
- NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 16 GB SKU Likely Launching at $499, According to Supply Chain Leak (182)
- NVIDIA Sends MSRP Numbers to Partners: GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 8 GB at $379, RTX 5060 Ti 16 GB at $429 (127)
- NVIDIA Launches GeForce RTX 5060 Series, Beginning with RTX 5060 Ti This Week (115)
- Nintendo Confirms That Switch 2 Joy-Cons Will Not Utilize Hall Effect Stick Technology (105)
- Nintendo Switch 2 Launches June 5 at $449.99 with New Hardware and Games (99)
- Sony Increases the PS5 Pricing in EMEA and ANZ by Around 25 Percent (85)
- NVIDIA PhysX and Flow Made Fully Open-Source (77)
- Windows Notepad Gets Microsoft Copilot Integration (75)