ASUS today announced the ASUS NUC 15 Pro mini PC, a compact powerhouse that delivers versatile performance for a wide range of development needs, from AI model training to data visualization. Featuring the latest Intel Core Ultra (Series 2) processors, DDR5 6400 MHz memory, and the Intel Arc GPU, NUC 15 Pro delivers outstanding speed and efficiency. Additionally, advanced Intel Wi-Fi 7 offers ultrafast connectivity for seamless collaborations. NUC 15 Pro offers an unbeatable combination of performance and innovative design to elevate workflows.

Optimized for AI
ASUS NUC 15 Pro unleashes the potential of AI thanks to the latest Intel Core Ultra processors (Series 2). Featuring up to 99 platform TOPS, this next-generation CPU is purpose-built for diverse workloads and unrivaled AI performance. These advanced processors are built on Intel 18A process and deliver remarkable compute performance. This innovative CPU redefines productivity and creativity to set a new benchmark for AI-powered computing.

Intel has released its latest version of the Arc GPU Graphics Drivers, version 101.6557 Beta. The latest update brings Game On Driver support for a couple of new games as well as improves performance in F1 24 and Sid Meier's Civilization VII games. The new driver update also fixes a single issue where the Intel Graphics Software may incorrectly report number of Xe Cores on certain Intel Arc B-series graphics cards.

According to Intel's release notes, the new driver update adds Game On driver support on Intel Arc B-series and A-series GPUs, and Intel Core Ultra CPUs with integrated Intel Arc GPUs, for Marvel's Spider-Man 2, Kingdom Come: Deliverance II, and Sid Meier's Civilization VII games. It also improves performance on Intel Arc B-series GPUs in F1 24 game (DX12) at High Settings by up to 15.1 percent at 1080p and by up to 12.1 percent at 1440p resolution. The performance uplift also comes to Intel Core Ultra Series 2 CPUs with integrated Intel Arc GPUs in F1 24 (DX12), by up to 12.3 percent at 1080p with Medium Settings, and in Sid Meier's Civilization VII (DX12) by up to 7.7 percent at 1080p with Medium Settings.

DOWNLOAD: Intel Arc GPU Graphics Drivers 101.6557 Beta

Intel today released the latest version of the Arc GPU Graphics Drivers. Version 101.6460 Beta comes with Game On day-zero optimization for "Final Fantasy VII Rebirth." It improves the performance in this game by up to 12.8% at 1080p with high settings, and up to 11.6% at 1440p with high settings, when tested with an Arc B580. On Core Ultra 200-series integrated graphics, the uplift can be up to 9% with medium settings at 1080p. The drivers fix no new issues, but identify several new teething problems with the Arc B-series GPUs that will be fixed in near-future driver releases.DOWNLOAD: Intel Arc GPU Graphics Drivers 101.6460

Intel today released the latest version of the Arc GPU Graphics Drivers. Version 101.6458 WHQL comes with support for the new Arc B570 graphics card the company launched today. The drivers also add support for the Xe-LPG iGPU of Core Ultra 200H series "Arrow Lake-H" mobile processors. For Core Ultra 200-series iGPUs, the drivers add an up to 6.8% performance uplift in "Call of Duty: Black Ops 6." The drivers address an issue with "Indiana Jones and the Great Circle" where the game exhibits inconsistent performance and memory usage. "Shadow of the Tomb Raider" saw an intermittent application crash and display corruption in the game menu with XeSS enabled, which has been fixed. Grab the drivers from the link below.

DOWNLOAD: Intel Arc GPU Graphics Drivers 101.6458 WHQL

Intel today formally launched its second graphics card from the Arc "Battlemage" family, the Arc B570. This card is being launched at $220, or $30 cheaper than the Arc B580 from last month. With it, the company is looking to disrupt several products around the $200-mark, and probably even wage price wars below that mark. The card is designed to offer a 1080p AAA gaming experience enhanced with ray tracing, and the XeSS 2 feature set (super resolution, frame generation, and low-latency). Given that there is no RTX 3050 successor from NVIDIA, or anything from AMD around this price point, except older generation RX 6600-series products, the B570 could be poised to grab a chunk of the value-ended gaming PC market share.

The Arc B570 is based on the same 5 nm "BMG-G21" silicon that also powers the B580. It has 18 Xe cores enabled across five Render Slices, giving it 112 EU (execution units), or 2,240 unified shaders. Other key specs include 144 XMX cores for AI acceleration, 18 ray tracing units, 144 TMUs, and 60 ROPs. Perhaps the biggest differentiator between the B570 and B580 is memory, the B570 gets 10 GB of it, over a 160-bit wide GDDR6 memory bus, on which it runs 19 Gbps memory to yield 380 GB/s of memory bandwidth. With a total board power of 150 W compared to the 190 W of the B580, the B570 makes do with a single 8-pin PCIe power connector on even the factory overclocked parts. Intel has set a $220 baseline price, however, there is no reference design card, and the cheapest custom design cards start at $230, with an included factory overclock. We reviewed two such cards today, you can find them in the links below.

Read the TechPowerUp Reviews of the ASRock Arc B570 Challenger OC and the Sparkle Arc B570 Guardian OC.

ASUS today announced the ExpertBook B3 series, an all-new lineup of AI-powered laptops that offers extensive customization to empower daily business needs. Equipped with up to the latest Intel Core Ultra 7 processor (Series 2) with Intel vPro, Intel AI Boost NPU and Intel Arc graphics, ExpertBook B3 delivers solid performance to tackle a wide range of tasks seamlessly. These new laptops also feature powerful AI tools such as ASUS AI ExpertMeet], Microsoft Copilot and AI noise-canceling technology, delivering unmatched productivity experiences.

With a build that's as lightweight as 1.4 kg, a 180° lay-flat hinge, military-grade durability, comprehensive connectivity, and advanced security features, the latest ExpertBook B3-series AI PCs ensure flexibility and efficiency on the go. In addition, with long battery life, exceptional visuals and audio, and an eco-friendly design, ExpertBook B3 series supports streamlined workflows - keeping employees productive, wherever they work.

Over the past weekend, an Intel Arc GPU enthusiast has picked up a pair of embargo-busting ASRock Arc B570 Challenger 10 GB OC graphics cards. Intel has mandated an official launch at retail on January 16, yet Redditor genxontech presented photo proof of his two Arc Battlemage purchases and claimed that their local Micro Center store had stock available on shelves. The lucky customer stated that he was not willing to experience post-Thursday shortages or dreaded price gouging over limited supply: "I'm upgrading my son's PC from a GTX 1080 and the other one is for me. I work, I don't need to scalp it."

Team Blue's Arc B580 GPU series (starting price: $249) launched mid-December and retail units were snapped up swiftly—budget-conscious hardware enthusiasts have oft complained about a lack of choice/value within their market segment of choice. The incoming Intel Arc B570 GPU family is priced $30 below the slightly more capable B580, so it will be interesting to see how the two tiers perform against each other in 2025. Meanwhile, genxontech has toyed around with the latest Arc Drivers—official software is not available until this Thursday, so mixed results have been documented: "My workstation/server/gaming rig now sees the Arc B570 as a B80. Crazy, right?"

AAEON, has today announced the release of the GAR-A750E, the company's first advanced graphics card. Built on Intel Arc A750E GPU architecture, the GAR-A750E features 28 Xe-Cores and supports a variety of advanced AI development frameworks in a discreet 236 mm x 109 mm x 42 mm form factor. Designed to handle intensive AI workloads, the GAR-A750E offers substantial raw computing power, with a graphics turbo frequency of 2400 MHz alongside the AI task acceleration capabilities of 448 Intel XMX Engines. Along with its high performance benchmark, the card's Intel Deep Link Technology support—which includes Hyper Compute, Hyper Encode, and Stream Assist - allows it to optimize the Intel Arc A750E GPU's capabilities while maximizing efficiency for efficient multi-tasking and accelerated workflows.

The GAR-A750E is easily integrated into a number of systems and motherboards via PCIe Gen 4 (x16) interface, with AAEON already having confirmed its suitability for use with a number of its own industrial motherboard platforms, including the ATX-Q670A, MAX-Q670A, and MIX-Q670A1, all supporting 13th Generation Intel Core CPUs and built on the Intel Q670E Chipset.

ASRock has showcased its custom design Intel Arc B580 12 GB "Battlemage" GPU-based graphics cards at CES 2025—these offerings sat somewhat unnoticed next to a whole heap of newly revealed AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT and 9070 models. A TechPowerUp staffer took the opportunity to analyze ASRock's B580 Challenger OC and Steel Legend OC demonstration samples. Team Blue's wallet friendly pricing at launch (around mid-December) resulted in stock being swiftly snapped up—many budget hardware enthusiasts have missed out on handling the initial batches of Battlemage. ASRock's dual-fan Arc B580 Challenger OC sports a new design scheme—also featured on a nearby triple-fan Radeon RX 9070 model. An understated gray-black shroud sports a single RGB lighting strip on its top side.

The longer triple-fan configured ASRock Arc B580 Steel Legend OC model is already a familiar sight for many regular readers of TechPowerUp's review section. W1zzard's mid-December evaluation deemed this card worthy of receiving two awards: "Highly Recommended" and "Great Value." Steel Legend sits above Challenger in ASRock's product hierarchy, so the extra cost gets you an almost all-white design, a larger cooling solution and more RGB lighting zones. The CES 2025 demonstration unit appears to be a normal retail example—no big surprises or revelations to report. We hope that Team Blue and its manufacturing partners are doing their best to replenish B580 GPU stock.

At CES 2025, Lenovo unveiled a bold lineup of AI-powered business solutions designed to redefine the modern workplace. Highlights include the boldly redesigned Lenovo ThinkPad X9 Aura Editions, the innovative and unique ThinkBook Plus Gen 6 with rollable display, and the latest commercial desktops, including the high performance ThinkCentre M90a Pro Gen 6, and the groundbreaking ThinkCentre neo 50q QC powered by Snapdragon. Lenovo also introduces its next-generation ThinkVision P Series monitors and a comprehensive ecosystem of smart accessories, all engineered to elevate productivity and connectivity. Rounding out the announcements, Lenovo showcases cutting-edge proof-of-concept innovations that push the boundaries of technology, offering a glimpse into the future of intelligent, adaptable business solutions.

Lenovo Unveils ThinkPad X9 Series: Revolutionary Design Meets Pro-Level Performance
Lenovo introduces the ThinkPad X9 14 and X9 15 Aura Editions, its latest premium business laptops designed for innovative thinkers from prosumers to small and medium businesses to large corporations. These Copilot+ PCs powered by Intel Core Ultra processors are cutting-edge, AI-enhanced devices for creative professionals that combine powerful and efficient Intel and Windows 11 platforms, personalized AI-enabled experiences, in an all-new progressive design. ThinkPad X9 offers the ideal toolkit for today's hybrid users who demand high performance, proven reliability, and seamless productivity.

ASRock Industrial is proud to announce the launch of its highly anticipated NUC(S) Ultra 200 BOX Series and NUC Ultra 200 Motherboard Series built to revolutionize AI-driven computing. Powered by Intel Core Ultra 200H processors (Arrow Lake-H), the series delivers up to 99 TOPS of AI inferencing power, offering cutting-edge performance in a compact form factor. Designed to meet the growing needs of industries such as AI-enhanced business operations, immersive content creation, and high-performance gaming, the NUC(S) Ultra 200 BOX Series is engineered to provide next-level computing power with Intel's latest performance hybrid architecture, Intel Arc GPU, and NPU.

These compact systems are built for users who demand powerful multitasking capabilities, from AI inferencing to media-rich applications and data processing. With its space-saving design and exceptional versatility, the NUC(S) Ultra 200 BOX Series ensures efficient, high-speed performance across a range of applications—redefining what's possible in modern computing.

Acer today announced the expansion of its Copilot+ PC offering across its laptop and desktop portfolio. These include the thin-and-light Swift Go 14 AI and Swift Go 16 AI laptops, value-oriented Aspire 14 AI laptops, sleek and stylish Aspire S AI and Aspire C AI all-in-one (AIO) desktops, and powerful Revo Box AI mini PC. All new products are equipped with the latest processors with integrated neural processing units (NPU) for performance to power AI-driven workloads.

The new Acer Copilot+ PCs harness the power of AI to boost productivity and creativity. The Swift Go 16 AI and Swift Go 14 AI laptops and the Aspire C AI AIOs are powered by AMD Ryzen AI 300 Series processors to deliver ultimate AI capabilities that boost productivity and efficiency for mobile professionals. The Aspire S AI and Revo Box AI feature Intel Core Ultra processors (Series 2), helping people breeze through intensive workloads efficiently.

Acer today announced refreshes to the well-rounded Swift Go series and the eco-friendly Aspire Vero 16 laptops, combining enhanced computing performance, power efficiency, stunning displays, and sustainable designs in the evolving AI PC era. The Swift Go 14 and Swift Go 16 laptops offer seamless productivity and adaptability in any work environment, with streamlined AI task execution and multi-day battery life, wrapped in ultra-thin and light designs. Available with 3K OLED or 2K IPS touch display configurations, these laptops deliver striking visuals to complement their eye-catching exteriors.

The Aspire Vero 16, a carbon-neutral laptop and the world's first to incorporate bio-based oyster shell material, now features a chassis made from a combination of more than 70% post-consumer recycled (PCR) plastic and bio-based material. The bold innovation from Acer offers a sustainable laptop option without compromising performance or durability. All the new laptop devices are equipped with Intel Core Ultra 200H series processors and built-in Intel Arc graphics built-in, engineered to scale accelerated AI performance and maximize efficiency for work and creation. Mobile workers will also appreciate the new Acer Connect 5G mobile Wi-Fi and Acer Wave D7 Wi-Fi dongle, providing high-speed internet connections anywhere, anytime.

Intel has released the latest version of its Arc GPU Graphics Drivers, Version 101.6449 WHQL. The latest drivers are actually the launch driver for Intel Core Processor N-Series and Series 2, codename Twin Lake, Raptor Lake-H Refresh, Raptor Lake-U Refresh. In addition to updated support for new CPUs, the latest driver also fixes some issues on Intel Arc B-series graphics cards, as well as Intel Core Ultra Series 1 and Series 2 CPUs with Intel Arc GPUs. There are still plenty of unresolved issues on Intel Arc B- and A-series GPUs, but hopefully, Intel will fix these in the next drivers release.

DOWNLOAD: Intel Arc GPU Graphics Drivers 101.6449 WHQL

Intel Arc board partner MAXSUN earlier this month announced that it is working on an Arc B580 custom-design graphics card with two M.2 Gen 4 NVMe slots on the card, so you can utilize the unused 8 lanes from the x16 PEG slot to connect a pair of SSDs, since the B580 makes do with a PCIe Gen 4 x8 host interface. In the previous report, we were shown renders of what the card could look like—with two M.2 slots sticking out from the tail of the PCB, with an aluminium heatsink that cools the SSDs under airflow from the second- and third fans. We now have the first picture of this PCB in the flesh.

A Tom's Hardware report reveals the first picture of this contraption, thanks to a leak on Chinese social media. The picture reveals what looks like an 18 cm-long PCB, with two M.2 Gen 4 slots at the tail end. One can make out PCIe interface traces making their way from the x16 PEG interface to the M.2 slots. You can make out the key components of the card, including the "BMG-G21" ASIC, wired to six GDDR6 memory chips, and a 6-phase VRM. The card draws power from two 8-pin PCIe power connectors. The second 8-pin connector might prove useful in managing the card's power budget, given that the B580 comes with a power limit of 190 W, and the M.2 Gen 4 SSDs each have a peak power draw of around 10 W. This wouldn't be the first time someone decided to put M.2 slots on graphics cards; the ASUS DUAL GeForce RTX 4060 Ti SSD OC introduced this concept, but with just one M.2 slot.

ASUS today announced ASUS NUC 14 Pro AI, the world's first mini PC featuring Intel Core Ultra processors (Series 2) integrated with Microsoft Copilot+. This revolutionary device is engineered to deliver unparalleled performance for use across diverse sectors, easily handling business, entertainment, and industrial apps. Boasting compact dimensions and advanced AI capabilities, ASUS NUC 14 Pro AI sets a new benchmark for mini PC innovation, offering an alternative to traditional desktops in a compact package.

World's first AI-enabled mini PC, powered by Intel Core Ultra processors (Series 2)
ASUS NUC 14 Pro AI represents a major leap in AI mini PC technology. It's powered by up to the latest Intel Core Ultra 9 processors (Series 2) that feature a multi-architecture design incorporating CPU, GPU, and NPU technologies. Delivering a total of 120 platform TOPS and 48 NPU TOPS, ASUS NUC 14 Pro AI provides 3X the AI performance of previous-generation NUC models, making it ideal for commercial use, edge computing, and IoT applications.

It's a tacitly known reality that Intel has not been having a great time lately. However, calling the company's recently announced Arc B580 gaming graphics card a smash hit would be a wild understatement. The company's previous major GPU launch, the Arc Alchemist, was riddled with mediocre reviews and received a lukewarm reception. The Arc B580, on the other hand, has received overwhelmingly positive reviews across the board, with many even hailing the GPU as a saving grace for the borderline deserted budget-class segment.

Keeping that in mind, it is no surprise that Intel's Arc B580 is getting sold out nearly everywhere, with the company barely managing to keep enough inventory. As revealed to popular YouTube channel Linus Tech Tips, Intel plans on having weekly restocks of its Arc B580 gaming GPU. We sure do look forward to that, considering that no one really likes a GPU, no matter how great, that can't be bought. The Arc B580 rocks a higher 12 GB of VRAM, a more affordable pricing, as well as arguably better performance than its primary competitors, the RTX 4060 and the RX 7600. Of course, with Blackwell and RDNA 4 around the corner, it sure does appear that the arena of the ultimate budget GPU is about to get heated once again.

In addition to the TITAN and GUARDIAN SKUs announced earlier this month, Sparkle is working on several other SKUs. The roadmap includes the low-profile version of the Arc B570, as well as the Arc B580 ROC OC Ultra, which is expected to come with a 2,800 MHz GPU factory overclock and 210 W TBP, both coming next year.

According to the roadmap, Sparkle plans to release the B580 ROC OC Ultra version in February 2025, and this one will be a part of Sparkle's ROC Luna series, featuring an all-white design. As said, it gets a 2,800 MHz GPU factory-overclock, which is 60 MHz higher than the Sparkle Arc B580 TITAN OC. It also has a slightly higher 210 W TBP. Sparkle included a small picture showing a 2.5-slot thick design with a dual-fan cooler. Additional roadmap also confirms the launch of the Arc B570 Low-Profile version, which will feature a lower 170 W TBP and a three-fan cooler, similar to what we have seen from GUNNIR lately.

Thanks to the discovery of VideoCardz, we get a glimpse of MAXSUN's latest Arc 580 GPU with not only a GPU but extra room for two additional M.2 SSDs. The PCIe connector on the Intel Arc B580 has x16 physical pins but runs at PCIe 4.0 x8 speeds. Intel verified it runs only x8 lanes instead of the full x16 slot, leaving x8 lanes unsued. However, MAXSUN thought of a clever way to put the leftover x8 lanes to good use by adding two PCIe x4 M.2 SSDs to thelatest triple-fan iCraft B580 SKU. Power delivery for the M.2 drives comes directly from the graphics card, which is made possible by the GPU's partial PCIe lane utilization. This configuration could prove particularly valuable for compact builds or systems with limited motherboard storage options.

Interestingly, the SSD pair appears to have its own thermal enclosure, which acts as a heatsink. Having constant airflow from the GPU's fans, the M.2 SSD configuration should be able to maximize the full bandwidth of the SSDs without thermals throttling the SSD read/write speeds. The design follows in the footsteps of AMD's Radeon Pro SSG, which introduced integrated storage in workstation cards with PCIe 3.0 M.2 slots. Back then, it was mainly a target for workstation users. However, MAXSUN has envisioned gamers unusually expanding their storage space now. The pricing of the card and availability date remains a mystery.

Intel has released the latest version of its Arc GPU Graphics Drivers, the version 101.6319 Beta. Surprisingly, the product compatibility list still does not include support for the new Arc Battlemage B500 series graphics cards, so we expect yet another driver release when they become officially available. It also does not fix any bugs, and the known issues list is the same as with the previous WHQL drivers release. On the other hand, the Arc GPU Graphics Drivers version 101.6319 Beta adds Game On Drivers support for Indiana Jones and The Great Circle, Marvel Rivals, and Path of Exile 2 on Intel Arc A-series GPUs and Intel Core Ultra with built-in Intel Arc GPUs.

DOWNLOAD: Intel Arc GPU Graphics Drivers 101.6319 Beta

Intel today released the latest version of its Arc GPU Graphics Drivers. Version 101.6314 WHQL don't seem to include support for Arc "Battlemage" B500 series GPUs yet (which will probably go live with the product availability). There's no Game On game-optimization payload, either. The release, however, fixes a handful important issues. For Arc A-series "Alchemist" discrete GPUs, lower than expected performance in Blackmagic Design DaVinci Resolve Studio, has been fixed. For Core Ultra processors with Arc Graphics, the drivers fix texture corruption on water surfaces in "Call of Duty: Black Ops 6." They also fix texture corruption issues with "Minecraft Bedrock" that show up when changing antialiasing settings.

DOWNLOAD: Intel Arc GPU Graphics Drivers 101.6314 WHQL

AAEON, a leading provider of industrial and embedded computing solutions, has released the MXM-ACMA-PUC, a new system-level product line incorporating 13th Generation Intel Core processing with an embedded Intel Arc GPU. While this is not the company's first product to feature a GPU from the new Intel Arc series, it is AAEON's first product that uses the technology in a readily deployed system-level edge computer.

The MXM-ACMA-PUC can support a range of 13th Generation Intel Core CPUs, up to 35 W, with the system's default processor being the 16 core, 24 thread Intel Core i7-13700TE. For enhanced machine learning and AI workload management, the system contains an integrated MXM-ACMA module, which offers either an embedded Intel Arc A370E or Intel Arc A350E GPU, ideal for boosting compute power for AI workloads.

MAXSUN and Intel introduced their latest collaboration, the MAXSUN Intel Arc B580 Series Graphics Cards. Both models come with 12 GB of VRAM, ensuring smooth gameplay and efficient creative workflows.

Two Options for Every Need
The MAXSUN Intel Arc B580 Series features two models:

• MAXSUN Intel Arc B580 iCraft 12G (MSRP: $259)
• MAXSUN Intel Arc B580 Milestone 12G (MSRP: $249)

SPARKLE Intel Arc B-Series Graphics Card offer offers high-resolution gaming with Intel XeSS AI upscaling, ray tracing, and 8K media support, plus accelerated AI features for enhanced creation and editing through Intel AI Playground.

SPARKLE, an Intel official AIB partner, is announcing:

SPARKLE Intel Arc B580 TITAN OC - with Limited GPU Holder
The SPARKLE Intel Arc B580 TITAN OC debuts with 12 GB GDDR6 memory and advanced TORN Cooling 2.0 featuring triple AXL fans, a 2.2-slot design, and a full-metal backplate. With a boost clock of 2740 MHz and 200 W power consumption, it delivers top-tier gaming performance.
A blue breathing light effect adds elegance, while a limited SPARKLE GPU Holder completes this powerhouse package. The TITAN Series continues its legacy of performance and style.

Acer today announced an expansion to its gaming portfolio with the new Nitro Intel Arc B-Series graphics cards, aimed at DIY gamers seeking high-performance gaming and content creation upgrades for their PC setups.

The Nitro Intel Arc B570 OC 10 GB and Nitro Intel Arc B580 OC 12 GB graphics cards, with clock speeds up to 2,740 MHz and up to 12 GB GDDR6 memory, offer gamers an immersive experience and access to the latest AI technologies via the Intel AI Playground application. These graphics cards are equipped with Acer's advanced FrostBlade cooling systems to ensure peak performance.