Microsoft is preparing a big update for its Windows operating system. Currently at version 11, the company is gearing up for the launch of Windows 12, which is supposed to bring a monumental shift in the tectonic plates of the regular PC user experience. Enhanced by AI, the Windows 12 OS should utilize many features like generative AI, large language models, some GPT integration, and many other tools that could benefit AI, like photo editors. The confirmation for the Windows 12 launch coming in 2024 is sourced from the Taiwanese Commercial Times, which analyzed comments from Barry Lam, the founder and chairman of PC contract manufacturer Quanta, and Junsheng (Jason) Chen, the chairman and chief executive of Acer.

Both of them underscored the importance of AI and that AI PCs are coming with the next version of Windows. Supposedly, the launch date for Windows 12 is set for June 2024. In that timeframe, hardware vendors should roll out their SoCs embedding AI processing elements at every silicon block. Qualcomm is set to debut its Snapdragon Elite X SoCs in mid-2024, aligning with the alleged release schedule of Windows 12. With more players like NVIDIA, AMD, and others planning to utilize an Arm instruction set for their next-generation PC chips, we expect to see Windows 12 get full-fledged support for Arm ISA and treat it like a first-class citizen in the OS.

Put the pedal to the metal this GFN Thursday as Forza Motorsport leads 23 new games in the cloud. Plus, Acer's Predator Connect 6E is the newest addition to the GeForce NOW Recommended program, with easy cloud gaming quality-of-service (QoS) settings built in to give Ultimate members the best streaming experience.

No Breaks, No Limits, No Downloads
Take the pole position thanks to the cloud. Turn 10 Studios' Forza Motorsport joins the GeForce NOW library this week. The realistic racing sim features over 500 realistically rendered cars across 20 dynamic and world-famous tracks, each with dynamic time-of-day, weather and driving conditions, so no two laps will ever be the same. Unlock more than 800 performance upgrades and outbuild the competition, either online or against new, highly competitive AI racers in the single-player Builders Cup Career Mode. Stream every turn at GeForce quality on nearly any device and max out image quality thanks to the cloud. Ultimate members can get in gear at up to 4K resolution and at up to 120 frames per second for the most realistic driving experience.

Acer unveiled its largest and most advanced glasses-free stereoscopic 3D display to date, the Acer SpatialLabs View Pro 27. Crafted as a state-of-the-art 3D canvas for creators and developers, the display elevates the way ideas and audiovisual elements take shape without needing specialized glasses or accessories. The device is powered by SpatialLabs's proven stereoscopic 3D solution and is complimented by the new Acer Immerse Audio system, along with a suite of advanced developer tools to bring out creations in their truest 3D forms. Users can also fully maximize its vast 27-inch 4K panel for magnified, lifelike visuals, while its ergonomic design and detachable hood provide comfortable viewing even under extremely low-light conditions.

Expanded Design for Mesmerizing 3D Illustrations
The Acer SpatialLabs View Pro 27 harmoniously combines cutting-edge 3D technology and stereo real-time rendering capabilities in an expanded landscape to support creators in bringing 3D experiences to life. The optimized 3D display uses an eye-tracking module to follow the position and movement of users in real-time even in dim environments. Crystal-clear details and image depth are projected as envisioned thanks to its 27-inch 4K UHD display with 2D and 3D modes, allowing users to switch between 2D and 3D stereoscopic views, along with the panel's 160 Hz refresh rate, 400 nits brightness, Delta E< 2 color accuracy. A detachable hood on the monitor enhances perceived color accuracy and lessens distractions, helping users stay focused and maintain image quality when viewing their designs on screen.

Acer Inc. continues its business growth momentum in September and the third quarter of 2023. Acer reported its September consolidated revenues at NT$ 28.06 billion with 29.4% growth month-on-month (MoM) and summed up its preliminary consolidated revenues for Q3'23 at NT$67.47 billion, up 4.0% year-on-year (YoY) and 15.8% quarter-on-quarter (QoQ).

Today, Google announced its next generation of Chromebook devices, called the Chromebook Plus, said to improve upon the legacy set by Chromebooks over a decade ago. Starting at an enticing price point of $399, this new breed of Chromebooks integrates powerful AI capabilities and a range of built-in Google apps. Notably, it features tools like the Google Photos Magic Eraser and web-based Adobe Photoshop, positioning itself as a dynamic tool for productivity and creative exploration. In collaboration with hardware manufacturers such as Acer, ASUS, HP, and Lenovo, Google is launching a lineup of eight Chromebook Plus devices on the launch date, with more possibly coming in the future.

Each model boasts improved hardware configurations over the regular Chromebook, including processors like the Intel Core i3 12th Gen or the AMD Ryzen 3 7000 series, a minimum of 8 GB RAM, and 128 GB storage. Users are also in for a visual treat with a 1080p IPS display, ensuring crisp visuals for entertainment and work. And for the modern remote workforce, video conferencing gets a substantial upgrade. Every Chromebook Plus comes equipped with a 1080p camera and utilizes AI enhancements to elevate video call clarity, with compatibility spanning various platforms, including Google Meet, Zoom, and Microsoft Teams. Set to be available from October 8, 2023, in the US and October 9 in Canada and Europe, the Chromebook Plus is positioning itself as the go-to device for many users. On the other hand, the AI features are slated for arrival in 2024, when companies ensure their software is compatible.Below you can see the upcoming models.

Acer today launched the company's first Chromebook Plus laptops, the Acer Chromebook Plus 515 and Acer Chromebook Plus 514, debuting with Google's Chromebook Plus initiative that offers a new tier of Chromebook performance, emphasizing better hardware designs with upgraded displays and cameras, and paired with new productivity, creativity, and multimedia capabilities.

The Acer Chromebook Plus 515 and Acer Chromebook Plus 514 both have the hardware and technology features customers need to stay productive, entertained and connected. These new models are powered by modern high-performance processors, and high-resolution IPS displays and 1080p crystal clear cameras flanked by narrow bezels to keep the focus on the vibrant visuals.

Today Acer has unveiled the Nitro V 15 gaming laptop—combining 13th Gen Intel Core processors, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 40 Series GPUs, up to 32 GB of DDR5 RAM, and support for up to 2 TB PCIe M.2 SSDs for smooth, worry-free gaming. Digital worlds seamlessly unfold when playing on the Acer Nitro V 15's vibrant Full HD display with a lightning-fast refresh rate of up to 165 Hz and paired with DTS X: Ultra's pinpoint sound accuracy. Thanks to the 15-inch gaming laptop's dual fan and exhaust system, the battle-ready internals are kept cool and let players dive deep into any gaming dimension without breaking a sweat.

Optimal Performance for Adrenaline-charged Gaming
The Acer Nitro V 15 is shipped with up to 13th Gen Intel Core i7 processors, designed with the latest hybrid architecture to deliver premium gaming, creating, video editing, and multi-tasking, even when on the go. Equipped with up to NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4050 Laptop GPUs, gamers are treated to lifelike virtual scenes as the device's GPU delivers power-efficient and AI-powered rendering capabilities with DLSS 3 and ray tracing.

NVIDIA Reflex is a must-have in games, reducing system latency so your actions occur quicker, giving you a competitive edge in multiplayer matches, and making single-player titles more responsive and enjoyable. NVIDIA Reflex is now used by over 50 million players each month, is available in 9 of the top 10 competitive shooters, including the Counter-Strike 2 beta, and is activated by 90% of GeForce gamers in over 70 supported titles.

NVIDIA Reflex is synonymous with responsive gaming, and can be found in the latest and greatest games, including Party Animals, Warhaven, and Witchfire, which all launch this week. Additionally, Nexon's First Descendant Crossplay Open Beta will boast support, too. This month also sees the launch of the first 540 Hz NVIDIA G-SYNC Ultra Low Motion Blur 2-capable monitor, from ASUS. When activated, ULMB 2 gives you 2,160 Hz of effective motion clarity, for the definitive competitive gaming experience.

When it comes to affordable gaming monitors, Acer tends to be one of the main contenders among the well known brands out there and its latest addition is a 4K model with 150 Hz refresh rate. The Acer Nitro XV282K V3 is an updated version of a model that's been available for a few years now and although Acer didn't do any major changes to the overall specs, apart from that extra 6 Hz on the refresh rate, the company has dropped the MSRP by over half, making the Nitro XV282K V3 something of a bargain.

Feature wise we're looking at a 28-inch IPS panel with HDR 400 support and a 1 ms GTG response time. The panel is a typical 8-bit panel with FRC support for 10-bit dithering with a 1000:1 contrast ratio and a DCI-P3 colour gamut of 90 percent. It also has AMD FreeSync Premium support with a VRR range of 48 to 150 Hz. The port selection consists of one DP 1.4 and two HDMI 2.1 ports and should also feature some kind of USB inputs and outputs, but Acer didn't bother adding those to its website. That said, the older model had both a USB Type-C and Type-B input, as well as four USB-A outputs, so hopefully this was carried over to the updated model. There's also a height adjustable stand with tilt and pivot support. With a US$429.99 MSRP, it's likely that this could become one of the most affordable 4K gaming monitors out there.

Sparkle has announced the Titan OC graphics card, becoming the company's flagship Intel Arc A770 16 GB graphics card. It stands out with its 16 GB onboard memory, factory-overclocked GPU and memory, and an advanced cooling system for additional overclocking potential. After Sparkle's re-entry into the graphics card market, it unveiled a series of Intel Arc-based products. The Arc A770 Titan, in particular, showcases the company's technological advancements. The Sparkle Intel Arc A770 Titan OC Edition features Intel's ACM-G10 GPU with a base clock of 2300 MHz, which is a significant increase from Intel's stock 2100 MHz, and boasts a 16 GB memory with a 17.5 GT/s data transfer rate.

The card has two eight-pin auxiliary PCIe power connectors, yielding a 650-watt PSU requirement, and an expansive triple-fan cooling system for optimal performance even under heavy loads. A unique feature is the ThermalSync thermal sensor atop the cooler, which adjusts the LED light bar's color based on temperature, making it easier for users to monitor. When Intel discontinued its Limited Edition Arc A770 16 GB graphics card, there was a gap in the market for a high-performance graphics card to rival offerings from ASRock and Acer. Sparkle hasn't revealed the pricing for its Intel Arc A770 Titan OC Edition GPU.

Acer Inc. announced its financial results for the second quarter of 2023: consolidated revenues were NT$58.26 billion with 11.1% growth quarter-on-quarter (QoQ); gross profits reached NT$6.26 billion with 10.7% margin; operating income was NT$1.05 billion, up 338.6% QoQ; net income was NT$1.39 billion, up 170.2% QoQ; and earnings per share was NT$0.46 in Q2'23 and NT$0.64 in 1H'23.

The company has weathered the post-pandemic industry stress test. Acer's computer business has bottomed out around May this year, while new graphic cards and connectivity products have reached markets. Acer's computers, displays, and most of the other businesses have all contributed toward revenues and profitability. With 10 public subsidiaries and more to come, Acer is progressively enhancing its corporate resilience.

[Editor's note: NT$1.39 Billion is around US$43.9 million]

Stan Shih, the co-founder & honorary chairman of Acer Inc., thinks that the USA will have hard time catching up with Asian semiconductor production facilities. Yahoo Taiwan managed to extract some choice comments from the multi-faceted businessman—he believes that the US government's initiative to boost native chip making will not be enough to match existing overseas strongholds. A key area of focus was volume output—Shih reckons that North America is already too far behind Asian counterpart industries, with Acer's home base of Taiwan being particularly strong (in his opinion). Workplace culture and state of the art equipment are cited as the main pillars for success.

Shih observed that that US chip industry has historically been far too reliant on outsourcing (going back many decades) production to foreign facilities, and Asia's position has been fortified thanks to long established and optimized supply chains—he thinks that the American system is not mature enough to reach parity. On a semi-related note, TSMC is reportedly struggling to get its new US facility fully operational—company chairman Mark Liu (according to Tom's Hardware): "said that the Taiwanese company would delay mass production of its Arizona fab from early 2024 to 2025, partly due to a lack of cleanroom tools necessary to produce chips at scale." TSMC has been transferring staff from its home turf to plug staffing gaps at the Phoenix facility—Liu divulged his latest batch of complaints during an earnings conference (last Thursday): "We are encountering certain challenges, as there is an insufficient number of skilled workers with the specialized expertise required for equipment installation in a semiconductor-grade facility."

The AMD Radeon RX 7600 8 GB GPU debuted in late May, with an official MSRP of $269 for North America, and €299 for European territories. The lower than expected entry price point for US customers came as a surprise to some media outlets—launch MSRP was expected to be closer to $299, but Team Red allegedly made some last minute adjustments. Board partners often charge more for their custom designs—with beefier heatsinks, extra cooling fans and RGB lighting zones adding to costs. Acer seems to be taking quite a bold approach with their Southern European pricing strategy for two new Radeon RX 7600 Predator BiFrost models.

Potential customers in the States seem to be getting a slightly better deal—the Predator BiFrost Radeon RX 7600 8 GB card is reported to retail for roughly $274 while its overclocked sibling could cost around $290. Acer Spain has stated in official press material that their Radeon RX 7600 Predator BiFrost series will start at €399 (~$448), and confirmed to local tech site El Chapuzas Informatico that this higher than expected figure was not a typo. Retailers in the region have had a difficult time shifting units, and implemented price cuts shortly post launch time—the current cheapest custom RX 7600 card on the market is going for €259. It will be interesting to see whether the rest of Europe will be treated to the €399 starter prices for Acer's debut foray into Radeon graphics technology.

According to information and images released by Xfastest, Acer seems to be preparing a new trio of Predator BiFrost custom cards. The series is currently limited to a single factory overclocked model, based on Intel's Arc A770 16 GB GPU. One of the new cards seems to be a cheaper (~$258) A750 8 GB BiFrost model, so Acer's Alchemist ACM-G10 GPU variant lineup is welcoming one addition.

Acer is also embracing RDNA 3 courtesy of AMD, although graphics card enthusiasts could see the introduction of two new Predator BiFrost models based on Radeon RX 7600 8 GB GPU as less than exciting prospects. The leaked photos seem to show a cooler design that lacks ARGB around the two cooling fans—budget friendly pricing (~$290 for the overclocked model, and ~$258 for non-OC) suggests that fancy livery is not so important in the low-to-mid-range tier.

With the launches of GeForce RTX 4060 and Radeon RX 7600, the Intel Arc 7-series finds itself being a tough sell, pushing Intel Arc board partners such as Acer to clear out their inventory at deep discounts. The Acer Predator Arc A770 BiFrost graphics card sees its price slashed to $281, down from its $399 launch price. The premium custom-design card features a unique lateral+axial air based cooling solution that's studded with RGB lighting. The Acer Predator BiFrost is also one of the very few custom-design A770 cards to feature 16 GB of 17 Gbps GDDR6 memory, much like the Intel Limited Edition reference-design, most other custom-design cards come with 8 GB of 16 Gbps GDDR6 memory.

A range of Acer devices received the 2023 Red Dot Award and were recognized for their design quality and ingenuity. The Predator Triton 17X, Predator Helios Neo 16, and Acer Chromebook 516 GE gaming laptops, as well as the Acer Swift 14 and the Acer TravelMate P6 14 make up the suite of laptops awarded by the Red Dot jury. A pair of environment-friendly products also made the list with the Acer Vero CB3 series monitor and the Acer Vero PL2520i laser projector. The Acer Aspire S all-in-one PC, Acer Connect Enduro M3 5G Mobile Wi-Fi Router, and the Acer Halo Swing Smart Speaker round up the winning entries chosen by the Red Dot body.

As an internationally established design competition, the Red Dot distinction is bestowed on outstanding designs which has helped increase global visibility and credibility for various products and brands through the years. A panel of 43 design experts from different industries and practices conducted an on-site assessment of the products for the first time in three years, based on the criteria of product design, quality, and innovation. The Acer devices were among more than 7,900 entries for this year, with participants ranging from around 60 countries globally.

TrendForce reports that in the first quarter of 2023, global shipments of LCD monitors fell 7.4% QoQ to 28.8 million units, marking a YoY decline of 20.5%. Major brands, including Dell, HP, and Lenovo, experienced significant drops in shipment levels, falling by 15.6%, 22.8%, and 19.2% respectively.

On the other hand, several consumer brands saw quarterly growth in their shipments in the first quarter, primarily due to channels replenishing their inventories in March. Among these brands, AOC/Philips stood out, benefiting greatly from demand in the Chinese consumer market. Their shipments not only grew 10.9% QoQ but also increased 3.3% compared to the first quarter of 2022.

According to the report from Reuters, Acer has apparently continued shipment of computer hardware to Russia, despite the firm supposedly suspending its operations in the country. With the war in Ukraine, on April 8 of, 2022, Acer published a statement: "Due to recent developments, Acer has decided to suspend its business in Russia." However, today Reuters reports that it has gained access to documents/data of customs that confirm that Acer has shipped computer hardware worth at least 70.4 million US Dollars between the period of April 8, 2022, and March 31, 2023.

Interestingly, Acer is a firm headquartered in Taiwan. However, Switzerland-based Acer Sales International SA entity shipped these units to Russia, thus not violating any Taiwanese sanctions to Russia that are in place. When asked about these shipments, Acer in Taiwan responded: "We strictly adhere to applicable international regulations and trade laws regarding exports to Russia." Additionally, the company stated that the Swiss subsidiary "had not shipped any laptops or desktops to Russia since April 8 last year." Still, instead, it had supplied a "limited number of displays and accessories to the Russian market for civilian daily use while ensuring compliance with international sanctions."

PC OEM giant Acer has a growing lineup of retail channel PC products, including DIY enthusiast PC hardware under its Predator brand. The company showed some of this off at the 2023 Computex, in a booth organized by its memory products OEM BIWIN. First up, we have the Predator Hermes RGB line of high-end DDR5 memory kits. These feature elaborate aluminium heatspreaders with RGB LED illumination. We caught one of these in action, with a multi-zone RGB lighting. The Hermes RGB comes in 32 GB (2x 16 GB), and 64 GB (2x 32 GB) kits, and in speeds of DDR5-6800, DDR5-7200, DDR5-7600, DDR5-7800, and DDR5-8000, with CAS latencies ranging between 32 to 36T, and module voltages between 1.40 V to 1.45 V.

Among the consumer storage products showed off by the company include the MSC300 line of UHS-I microSDXC cards capable of 160 MB/s sequential speeds, which comes in capacities ranging between 32 GB to 256 GB. Among the SSD products shown were stuff we are already familiar with, including the FA100 Gen 4 NVMe SSD, RE100 Gen 3 NVMe SSD, the SA100 and RE100 SATA 6 Gbps SSDs; the SD100 lines of DDR4 and DDR5 SO-DIMM memory for laptops; CFE100 line of CFexpress cards, and and handful USB flash drives (UFDs).

Acer today announced the availability of the new NVIDIA G-SYNC Ultra Low Motion Blur 2 (ULMB 2) technology on its Predator series gaming monitors, beginning with the Predator XB273U F. It boasts a blazing 360 Hz refresh rate and is the first Acer gaming monitor to achieve compatibility with NVIDIA G-SYNC ULMB 2 and NVIDIA's Reflex Analyzer. Through a single-click firmware update, competitive gamers can now enjoy stunning frames as the new NVIDIA G-SYNC ULMB 2 delivers over 1000 Hz of effective motion clarity, backlight strobing and blur reduction capabilities.

The Predator XB273U F gaming monitor is packed with the latest gaming and display innovations to provide a cutting-edge gaming experience for any type of player. Games are brought to life through its 27-inch WQHD (2560 X 1440) panel, 360 Hz refresh rate, and up to 0.4 ms response time (G to G), showcasing clear-cut visuals on even the most graphic-heavy titles. It comes with support for 95% DCI-P3 color gamut and VESA DisplayHDR 600 certification for vibrant hues and deeper blacks. TÜV Rheinland Eyesafe certification helps reduce harmful blue light while maintaining high color accuracy all throughout. Alongside NVIDIA G-SYNC's upgraded ULMB 2 technology, gamers can experience full refresh rate backlight strobing techniques, elevated peak brightness, and effective motion clarity of up to 1440 Hz without sacrificing image quality.

The NVIDIA G-SYNC ULMB 2 software update is available for download starting today. More Acer Predator gaming monitors are also expected to achieve support for NVIDIA G-SYNC ULMB 2 technology moving forward.

Acer today announced the new Predator Triton 16 (PT16-51), the latest addition to its power-packed gaming line. This laptop for gaming and work is equipped with the latest 13th Gen Intel Core processors, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Laptop GPU, and up to 32 GB of DDR5 RAM, along with an abundance of features that would excite any type of gamer. To ensure the vital components are kept cool throughout gaming sessions, the laptop's advanced thermal solutions combine dual 5th Gen AeroBlade 3D fans, Vortex Flow optimization, and liquid metal thermal grease on the CPU, all housed within a thin metal chassis design.

Evolutionary Performance and Cooling
At just 19.9 mm (0.78 inches), the sleek, yet powerful Predator Triton 16 showcases a sophisticated metal casing topped off with a sparkling silver finish, giving players the confidence and portability to game on-the-go. The new thin gaming laptop packs massive computing prowess as it features up to 13th Gen Intel Core i9 processors, supported by a new hybrid core architecture with a 5.4 GHz max turbo frequency. The CPU works hand in hand with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Laptop GPU, along with NVIDIA DLSS 3 and its bundle of Max-Q technology features for optimized ray tracing and performance across the board. Gamers are treated to an even greater performance boost as the laptop can be configured with up to 32 GB of DDR5 5200 MHz memory and up to 2 TB PCIe M.2 SSDs in RAID 0 configuration.

Acer today unveiled the Acer Connect Vero W6m mesh router, its first eco-friendly Wi-Fi 6E router that incorporates post-consumer recycled (PCR) materials in its chassis and features an Eco mode for efficient energy consumption. The router is powered by a quad-core 2 GHz processor and includes a bundle of enhanced connectivity, coverage, and security features, including Wi-Fi 6E Tri-Band AXE7800 capability.

"We are thrilled to expand Acer's portfolio of network devices with the launch of the Acer Connect Vero W6m Wi-Fi 6E mesh router, engineered with support for Wi-Fi 6E tri-band connectivity to provide swift and secure connections with vast network coverage within any home or office locations," said Wayne Ma, General Manger, IoB, Acer Inc. "The performance-driven router is also the latest addition to our growing Vero line of eco-conscious products, embodying Acer's commitment to fulfilling its environmental responsibility and helping minimize carbon footprint."
Fast and Seamless Wi-Fi 6E Connections

Acer today announced the refreshed Acer Swift Edge 16 (SFE16-43) laptop, designed for dynamic professionals requiring high computing capability, productivity, and portability from their hardware. The lightweight laptop is powered by AMD Ryzen 7040 Series processors and up to AMD Radeon 780M graphics for next-gen performance and visuals, and features AMD Ryzen AI on select models with select processors, enabling the device to keep up with today's AI demands and more.

The Swift Edge 16 showcases a stunning 16-inch 3.2K OLED display with an upgraded refresh rate of 120 Hz and support for 100% DCI-P3 color gamut to provide true-to-life colors and images. The Windows 11 laptop also boasts compatibility with up to Wi-Fi 7, Microsoft Pluton, and a range of smart features so users can stay connected to fast wireless connections and have private data secured.

Acer announced today that it has won iF Design Awards 2023 across the "Gaming Hardware/AR/VR", "Consumer Products" and "Telecommunication" categories. This year's winning entries feature the new Predator Helios 3D 15 SpatialLabs Edition gaming laptop, the eco-friendly packaging of the Aspire Vero National Geographic Edition laptop, and the portable Acer Connect Enduro M3 5G Mobile Wi-Fi router.

The iF Design Awards is a world-renowned design competition that gives due recognition to creators and brands that showcase outstanding design ingenuity, encouraging greater awareness of the craft and its integration into organizations' long-term planning. Nearly 11,000 entries were submitted for the 2023 ballot, ranging from almost 4,700 participants across 56 territories. Acer's entries were assessed by a panel of 133 design experts and successfully joined the ranks of the 3576 submissions that were bestowed iF Design Awards for 2023.

According to Taiwanese United Daily News, Acer and ASUS are expecting the downturn in PC sales to turn around in the second half of the year. That said, Acer reported its worst results in years for the first quarter this year and ASUS is expected to follow suit, when its first quarter earnings numbers are released on Friday this week. The slow sales for both companies are expected to continue for the first half of 2023, but according to the report, there should be an improvement in the second half of the year.

That said, both companies are betting on improved sales of not just PCs to improve their books, as Acer is hoping to sell more displays, while ASUS is focusing on its component business. ASUS has already seen a small improvement in component sales, which the company is hoping is the first signs of a stabilising components market, with more of its potential customers upgrading their systems. That said, with certain components like graphics cards still being priced at levels that many consumers aren't willing to pay for the performance on offer, it might be a slower recovery than these companies are expecting.