During its "Xiamen HighFun" event in China, Minisforum announced the latest addition to its compact series of gaming PCs, this time with no official name. The 6-liter system, code-named "Project RPFXI" for Intel and "Project DRFXI" for AMD, will support up to 100 W TDP and utilize the most powerful Ryzen CPU, the Ryzen 9 7945HX3D. This hybrid mobile/desktop processor combines the desktop-level performance of 16 Zen 4 cores with 144 MB of 3D V-cache, all within a 55 W power limit. Minisforum confirmed the 7945HX3D would be available in the AMD platform version, positioned as a premium model compared to the existing 7945HX system.

Interestingly, the GPU support is literally external, as the potential GPU needs to be attached to the outside part of the case, which is then secured using screws. The case could accommodate the fastest GPUs like NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 with a powerful enough power supply. The 6-liter mini PC is expected to launch in late 2023, either in 24-core Intel (HX line) configuration, of 16-core AMD configuration.

Today, Electronic Arts Inc. and Ascendant Studios launched Immortals of Aveum, a single-player, first-person magic shooter powered by the groundbreaking Unreal Engine 5.1 technology and set in an original fantasy universe. Developed by a new independent AAA studio made up of award-winning industry veterans and published under the EA Originals label, Immortals of Aveum puts players in a visceral and cinematic fantasy universe that combines modern characters and a story-driven campaign with intense magic-based action, world exploration and puzzle-solving. Summon your power, stop the Everwar, and save the realms starting now on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S and PC via the EA app, Steam and Epic Games Store worldwide.

Immortals of Aveum tells the story of Jak (Darren Barnet), who discovers that he is a magically-imbued 'Unforeseen' and finds himself reluctantly caught in the middle of the raging Everwar. Recruited under the tutelage of the powerful General Kirkan (Gina Torres) and an elite order of battlemages called the Immortals, Jak must master all three colors of magic - blue, green, and red. With powerful magic-wielders and legions of soldiers on both sides of the Everwar, Jak and the Immortals must uncover the mysteries of Aveum's troubled past, if there's any hope for turning the tides of the Everwar and defeating Sandrakk, the powerful warlord of Rasharn and his mysterious lieutenant, simply known as The Hand.

Modern Wolf and Afterschool Studio are today proud to announce the official launch of sci-fi strategy game, Cantata, for PC.
After an action-packed year in Early Access that allowed the community to help shape the game's direction, this tactically rich turn-based epic has finally launched on Steam, immersing players in the unique stories, evocative visuals, and vibrant musical soundscape of a war-torn alien planet.

Fight to expand your hold on the mysterious world of Shoal in the first ever "Grand Tactics" game - combining the large-scale strategic planning of Grand Strategy titles with the turn-based skirmishes of the Tactics genre. Grow your empire with deep strategic gameplay that's easy to learn but takes time to master, capturing regions, building structures, expanding your army, and more. Play as one of three unique factions - the Machines, Aliens, or Humans - and carve out your legacy across nine single player campaigns featuring more than 27 hours of story content; each unfolds as a self-contained sci-fi narrative with its own characters, dialogue, and original artwork.

Sometimes you want a chill game that lets you explore sorrow (in game, I don't want to explore sorrow IRL). Sometimes you want to explore wild environments while exploring mysteries, escaping flesh monsters, or even be the monster yourself. Some highly specific things you might want, and what a crazy happenstance, we've got just those games coming soon. Let's take a look!

Available Today
Everspace 2 (Cloud and Xbox Series X|S)
Step into the pilot seat in this fast-paced single-player space shooter where brutal challenges stand between you and epic loot. Embark on a sci-fi adventure where massive, handcrafted areas are packed with secrets, puzzles, and perils! Level up, craft, and loot better gear to survive on the edge of space.

We've been focused on creating a great gaming experience for our members since 2021 when we added mobile games to Netflix. Our goal has always been to have a game for everyone, and we are working hard to meet members where they are with an accessible, smooth, and ubiquitous service. Today, we're taking the first step in making games playable on every device where our members enjoy Netflix - TVs, computers, and mobile.

We are rolling out a limited beta test to a small number of members in Canada and the UK on select TVs starting today, and on PCs and Macs through Netflix.com on supported browsers in the next few weeks. Two games will be part of this initial test: Oxenfree from Night School Studio, a Netflix Game Studio, and Molehew's Mining Adventure, a gem-mining arcade game. To play our games on TV, we're introducing a controller that we already have in our hands most of the day - our phones. Members on PCs and Macs can play on Netflix.com with a keyboard and mouse.

We're excited to announce the launch of 3DMark Solar Bay, a new cross-platform benchmark for testing ray traced graphics performance on Windows PCs and high-end Android devices. This benchmark measures games-related graphics performance by rendering a demanding, ray-traced scene in real time. Solar Bay is available now for Android on the Google Play Store and for Windows on Steam, Epic Games or directly from UL Solutions.

Compare ray tracing performance across platforms
Ray tracing is the showcase technology for Solar Bay, simulating real-time reflections. Compared to traditional rasterization, ray-traced scenes produce far more realistic lighting. While dedicated desktop and laptop graphics processing units (GPUs) have supported ray tracing for several years, it's only recently that integrated GPUs and Android devices have been capable of running real-time ray-traced games at frame rates acceptable to gamers.

Intel has recently revealed a security vulnerability named Downfall (CVE-2022-40982) that impacts multiple generations of Intel processors. The vulnerability is linked to Intel's memory optimization feature, exploiting the Gather instruction, a function that accelerates data fetching from scattered memory locations. It inadvertently exposes internal hardware registers, allowing malicious software access to data held by other programs. The flaw affects Intel mainstream and server processors ranging from the Skylake to Rocket Lake microarchitecture. The entire list of affected CPUs is here. Intel has responded by releasing updated software-level microcode to fix the flaw. However, there's concern over the performance impact of the fix, potentially affecting AVX2 and AVX-512 workloads involving the Gather instruction by up to 50%.

Phoronix tested the Downfall mitigations and reported varying performance decreases on different processors. For instance, two Xeon Platinum 8380 processors were around 6% slower in certain tests, while the Core i7-1165G7 faced performance degradation ranging from 11% to 39% in specific benchmarks. While these reductions were less than Intel's forecasted 50% overhead, they remain significant, especially in High-Performance Computing (HPC) workloads. The ramifications of Downfall are not restricted to specialized tasks like AI or HPC but may extend to more common applications such as video encoding. Though the microcode update is not mandatory and Intel provides an opt-out mechanism, users are left with a challenging decision between security and performance. Executing a Downfall attack might seem complex, but the final choice between implementing the mitigation or retaining performance will likely vary depending on individual needs and risk assessments.

CORSAIR, a world leader in high-performance gear for gamers and content creators, announced the launch of new peripherals that empower you to craft a customized gaming experience like no other.

This launch includes a game-changing new keyboard: The K70 MAX Magnetic-Mechanical Gaming Keyboard. The first keyboard with adjustable CORSAIR MGX magnetic-mechanical switches, the K70 MAX offers an unprecedented level of configurability in every keystroke. Whether for blistering speed or impeccable typing accuracy, the K70 MAX is the ideal device for those who seek maximum keyboard performance.

Jon Peddie Research reports the growth of the global PC client-based CPU units market reached 53.6 million units in Q2'23, up 17%, and iGPU shipments increased by 14% to 49 million units. Year over year, iGPUs declined -29%.

Integrated GPUs will have a compound annual growth rate of 2.5% during 2022-2026 and reach an installed base of 4.8 billion units at the end of the forecast period. Over the next five years, the penetration of iGPUs in the PC will grow to reach a level of 98%.

Discover innovation at its finest with the all-new Epomaker Shadow-X Mechanical Keyboard.

Sleek Design FRL TKL 70% Layout for Optimal Space Utilization
Embodying an unprecedented 70% layout, Epomaker spares no effort in creating the cutting-edge mechanical keyboard in hopes of bringing better typing and visual experience to keyboard enthusiasts. Epomaker Shadow-X is designed with a sleek outlook to not only optimize the desk space but also to retain the full function of a keyboard. Despite its Function-row-less TKL keyboard, a simple shortcut effortlessly activates the function row when needed.

Intuitive LCD screen and Precision Metal Rotary Knob
Keeping up with the modern trend, Shadow-X features an intuitive LCD screen that presents essential things to users at a glance. Moreover, the screen is fully customizable using the Epomaker Driver, allowing users to personalize the screen with favorite pictures or GIFs, elevating the keyboard experience to new heights. Another standout feature is its metal rotary knob, ingeniously set as a connection mode switch. With a seamless rotation, this innovative keyboard effortlessly switches between various devices.

The Indian Government on Thursday announced restrictions on the import of pre-built laptop and desktop PCs, tablets, and convertibles. These restrictions take effect immediately. The decision is designed to get major PC manufacturers such as Dell, HP, Acer, Lenovo, and Apple, to manufacture their devices on Indian soil, or subject each individual PC model through a lengthy import licensing regime—essentially a penalty for not manufacturing locally. The new restrictions find several parallels to India's 2020 decision to restrict import of TVs, which caused major consumer electronics firms to rush to set up local assembly lines to keep up with the country's market demand.

The restrictions on the import of PCs is seen as complicating things for PC manufacturers, especially as the country heads into its biggest consumer cycle with Diwali (Q4-2023). India's current import restrictions on smartphones and TVs have caused most consumer electronics giants to set up assembly lines in India; however these lines barely contribute 20% of value-addition to the product (i.e. much of the product comes knocked down and is simply put together); however manufacturers are incentivized to localize more of their value-addition, through the country's performance-linked incentives (PLI) scheme. Certain whitebox ODMs have localized even PCB placement, and display panel manufacturing. India's ICT imports for the period of just Q2-2023 stood at $19.7 billion, the country clocks roughly $75-90 billion in ICT/PC sales per year.

Iceberg Interactive and Stormling Studios are excited to announce the launch of Lunacy: Saint Rhodes, an immersive first-person survival horror game that will send chills down everyone's spine. Now available on Steam, Lunacy: Saint Rhodes is ready to offer a truly disturbing experience for an SRP of just $19.99.

In Lunacy: Saint Rhodes, players will feel trapped within a claustrophobic horror movie, as their family's disturbing history is slowly unraveled. They will discover the secrets behind a tragic family event, and be made to confront their inner demons. All this while navigating the dark and oppressive town of Saint Rhodes, where the feeling of constant unwanted company never goes away. You will feel watched; never alone, never safe.

VisionTek Products LLC (VisionTek), a recognized leader in the field of high-performance upgrades and accessories for PCs and Macs, today announced the introduction of the VisionTek VT4950 KVM docking station. This innovative product is the upgraded successor to the previously celebrated VT4900 KVM docking station and is designed to enhance the workflow of users in today's professional and remote work environments. The VT4950 enables users to seamlessly swap between two connected Windows, Mac, or Chromebook host systems with up to three 4K displays, accessories, and peripherals through a single USB-C connection to each.

"The VT4950 simplifies the process of switching between systems, saving users valuable time and making their workflow more efficient," said Nick Bill, director of product development and product marketing. "This frees these users from the tedium of unplugging and reconnecting everything as they switch between systems, resulting in significant time savings."

Sharkoon Technologies is an international supplier of high-quality, high-performance PC components and peripherals and, for the first time, is now launching two chairs - the OfficePal C30 and the OfficePal C30M - that are specially made for comfortable and productive work, whether in the office or at home. For this, the chair design offers a mesh construction and a variety of ergonomic adjustment options.

The OfficePal C30 office chair in classic black features a breathable mesh backrest as well as a traditional, padded seat base. This combination should provide for pleasantly comfortable working, no matter what the office environment or the time of the year. The OfficePal C30M, on the other hand, appears in subtle grey, and both the backrest and the seat base are covered with a stretched mesh. Through this full-mesh design, the pressure should be optimally distributed to ensure a particularly light and ergonomic sitting experience.

DeepCool, a leading manufacturer of PC cooling solutions, cases and components, is proud to unveil the CH560 and CH560 DIGITAL, the latest additions to their lineup of high-performance PC cases. Designed with a keen focus on airflow, these cases are perfect for modern power-hungry systems that require efficient cooling for optimal performance.

The DeepCool CH560 DIGITAL is a digital temperature gauge version that caters to users with high-end systems who demand the utmost airflow. With CPUs and GPUs reaching new levels of power consumption, closed-off cases are no longer sufficient. Taking cooling to the next level, The CH560 DIGITAL features dual status screens that provide vital CPU and GPU information at a quick glance, freeing up precious desktop screen space. Users can choose between CPU and GPU temperatures, utilization, or both, with the screens switching between temperature and utilization in 5-second intervals. The integrated double-status digital screen is controlled by a simple-to-use application, giving users full control of the display statuses.

After a slow week of new releases, we're in for an extremely packed week this coming week, as we have no less than two AAA titles and several other big releases. The first AAA title this coming week is a sequel from Gearbox with the second AAA title having been out on the PlayStation consoles for quite some time, but it's been given some new sparkly features on PC. We also have a space game that we know some of you have been looking forward to, as well as a time travel game and a few other little gems.

Remnant II / This Week's First AAA Title / Tuesday 25 July
Remnant II is the sequel to the best-selling game Remnant: From the Ashes that pits survivors of humanity against new deadly creatures and god-like bosses across terrifying worlds. Play solo or co-op with two other friends to explore the depths of the unknown to stop an evil from destroying reality itself. To succeed, players will need to rely on their own skills and those of their team to overcome the toughest challenges and to stave off humanity's extinction.

ThundeRobot, a major player in China's laptop market, is set to release a new PC console, the MIX, which shares striking similarities with Alienware's bygone Steam Machine. The console, equipped with Intel's 13th Gen Core CPU and Nvidia's RTX 4060 GPU, is set to debut on July 21st, predominantly targeting the Chinese market. Though not as familiar a brand outside Asia, ThundeRobot enjoys a significant market share in the region as the third-largest supplier of consumer notebooks and gaming peripherals. Its product catalog rivals brands like Asus and Razer, with offerings spanning custom-branded gaming notebooks to gaming monitors, keyboards, mice, and controllers.

The upcoming MIX console boasts a compact size, nearly 60% smaller than an Xbox Series S, at only 1.7 liters. Despite the uncertainty around whether the console's RTX 4060 GPU is a mobile or desktop variant, ThundeRobot brags that it would feature one or more of Intel's new 13th Gen Raptor Lake HX-series mobile CPUs. The console's matte black finish and triangular front-right indentation echo the design of Alienware's Steam Machine, suggesting that ThundeRobot may have drawn some inspiration from the Alienware console PC. Priced at around 6000 Yuan, approximately $830, the compact yet potent MIX console is expected to launch soon in China, with no current plans for release in the United States.

Simply NUC, Inc, a leading mini PC solutions company, announced they are prepared to continue ramping their investment in mini PCs and the NUC product line as Intel has announced their intentions to stop investment in this area and pivot their strategy to enable ecosystem partners to continue NUC innovation and growth.

"I am privileged to have helped start up the NUC business at Intel," said John Deatherage CMO of Simply NUC. "Simply NUC has a strong portfolio of branded products and remains 100% focused and committed to delivering small form factor solutions."

The PC market is dominated by the Windows operating system. There are alternatives, but most commercial applications run Windows OS, and the usage for the average user makes sense. However, Linux users often dream of the "year of Linux on desktop," where Linux starts dominating the PC market and mass adoption starts. In reality, this isn't the case as most people use the default or install the Windows OS. Today, we learn that Linux broke the 3% market share number after 30 years of presence. Being the highest market share it ever recorded, the OSes based on the Linux kernel now represent 3.07% of the entire market.

The survey data conducted by StatCounter shows that Windows holds 68.23%, OS X for macOS holds 21.32, ChromeOS has a 4.13% share, while unknown OSes hold 3.24%. This includes BSD-based alternatives and others. It is worth noting that Linux adoption could be a part of Steam Deck, which runs on a SteamOS 3.0 distribution based on Arch Linux. It also includes a Proton compatibility layer, which helps Windows games run on Linux, so users have an easier time running their favorite applications.

Today, 2K unveiled that 18-time All-Star, five-time NBA Champion, two-time Finals MVP, two-time Olympic Gold Medalist, all-time leading scorer for the Los Angeles Lakers and Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famer, Kobe Bryant will be featured as the NBA 2K24 Kobe Bryant Edition and Black Mamba Edition cover athlete. NBA 2K24 will release worldwide on September 8 on all platforms and feature crossplay compatibility for PlayStation 5 (PS5) and Xbox Series X|S.

"As we celebrate 25 years of NBA 2K with Kobe Bryant, we commemorate his legacy and the generational impact he has had on the game of basketball," said Greg Thomas, President at Visual Concepts. "While we mark the history of the franchise, NBA 2K24 also looks ahead to the future to bring an innovative leap in technology and the introduction of community-requested features like crossplay."

TrendForce reports that continued production cuts by DRAM suppliers have led to a gradual quarterly decrease in overall DRAM supply. Seasonal demand, on the other hand, is helping to mitigate inventory pressure on suppliers. TrendForce projects that the third quarter will see the ASP for DRAM converging towards a 0~5% decline. Despite suppliers' concerted efforts, inventory levels persistently remain high, keeping prices low. While production cutbacks may help to curtail quarterly price declines, a tangible recovery in prices may not be seen until 2024.

PC DRAM: The benefits of consolidated production cuts on DDR4 by the top three suppliers are expected to become evident in the third quarter. Furthermore, inventory pressure on suppliers has been partially alleviated due to aggressive purchasing by several OEMs at low prices during 2Q23. Evaluating average price trends for PC DRAM products in 3Q23 reveals that DDR4 will continue to remain in a state of persistent oversupply, leading to an expected quarterly price drop of 3~8%. DDR5 prices—influenced by suppliers' efforts to maintain prices and unmet buyer demand—are projected to see a 0-5% quarterly decline. The overall ASP of PC DRAM is projected to experience a QoQ decline of 0~5% in the third quarter.

Thermaltake, the leading PC DIY premium brand for Case, Power, Cooling, Gaming peripherals, and enthusiast Memory solutions, is pleased to launch the TOUGHFAN 12/14 Pro PC Cooling Fan, the high-end model of the TOUGHFAN series providing stronger airflow and static pressure. The TOUGHFAN Pro is equipped with specially engineered fan blades for unparalleled performance. In addition, this fan features a tight tip clearance design and an improved structure to decrease airflow leakage and strengthen overall air intake. The TOUGHFAN Pro is a premier component for high-performance applications such as your chassis, air and liquid cooling, and heavy-duty operations.

To achieve more superior cooling performance compared to the previous generation of TOUGHFANs, the TOUGHFAN Pro incorporates nine lengthened newly engineered fan blades, reaching a maximum speed up to 2000 RPM and delivering a great amount of airflow 70.8/119.6 CFM with 3.19/3.57 mm-H2O of static pressure. The material of fan blades are constructed with liquid crystal polymer (LCP), reducing vibration when spinning at full-speed and maintaining an outstandingly low noise signature. Additionally, the 0.6 mm extremely tight tip clearance (distance between the fan blade and the frame) of the TOUGHFAN Pro, a brand-new square fan frame design, and its beveled edge at the rear can minimize air leakage and enhance the overall cooling efficiency while installed in a chassis or on a radiator.

Today, publisher Focus Entertainment and studio Mundfish announced the first DLC for Atomic Heart, the action-RPG set in the mad utopia of fictional 1955. Debuting the Atomic Pass' series of DLCs, Atomic Heart: Annihilation Instinct will release on August 2, as advertised in a powerful new Release Date Trailer. This first batch is packed with all types of new content to keep the experience as thrilling as ever: a new area, new weapons, new enemies, a new glove ability… Besides, Focus Entertainment and Mundfish are excited to announce the immediate availability of the highly requested New Game+ mode and up to 40% off on Steam! Don't miss your chance to grab it with an impressive discount.

Continue the story in the Annihilation Instinct DLC and learn what happened to this dystopian world after the climax of Atomic Heart. Prepare to embark on a journey through the new mind-bending Mendeleev Complex and its surrounding swamps and discover the truth about NORA as Major P-3 is pulled back into Facility 3826. Survive vicious, shape-shifting new enemies and take them down using two cunning new weapons - ranged one the Secateur and melee one the Klusha - as well as your glove's new Techno-Stasis ability, allowing you to manipulate time itself. Meet a new enigmatic character, as well as returning ones in surprising circumstances and dive deep into the AI's insanity to curb its Annihilation Instinct.

EIZO Corporation (TSE: 6737) today introduced the DuraVision FDX1204T - a 12.1-inch monitor with 1024 x 768 resolution that is built to last in industrial environments. The DuraVision FDX1204T is the successor model to the FDX1203T. The new model has updated input connections compared to its predecessor and is equipped with modern DisplayPort and HDMI inputs for connecting to a PC, in addition to a D-Sub 15 pin analog input.

To meet the requirements of varying installation environments, the monitor is available in three configurations: desktop, VESA mount, and panel mount. It is built for durability, capable of withstanding temperatures ranging from 0 to 50°C. Additionally, the cabinet does not contain any ventilation holes, making it impervious to liquids and dust.

Electronic Arts and Respawn Entertainment has released the latest patch version 6 for Star Wars Jedi: Survivor that fixes some issues across all platforms, and it should be already available for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S. Unfortunately, there is no word on DLSS support or any visual improvements with Ray Tracing effects, so hopefully, we'll see these in future updates.

According to the release notes, the new Patch 6 should fix various crashes across all platforms, fix some general game issues like collision improvements, blaster handling, and holomap map data, various mission issues, and brings other "various bug fixes and improvements."