Team OGS has demonstrated an impressive feat of extreme overclocking by extracting every last drop of performance from GALAX GeForce RTX 5090D HOF edition. Armed with a custom Extreme OC BIOS, authorized for up to 2,000 W of power, and two 12V-2x6 connectors delivering 1,200 W, the group cooled the card with liquid nitrogen and fine-tuned voltages to push clock speeds far beyond factory limits. In the GPUPI 32B benchmark, the GPU achieved a record-breaking core frequency of 3,650 MHz and a completion time of just 39.434 seconds, securing a new world record for GPU-accelerated Pi calculation.

The team's success extended to graphics tests as well. In 3DMark Port Royal, the GPU operated at 3,570 MHz on its core and 2,250 MHz on its GDDR7 memory, achieving 47,469 points. Under Unigine Superposition's 1080p Extreme preset, they maintained 3,540 MHz and 2,250 MHz, respectively, reaching 38,237 points, an increase of several thousand over previous records. Pushing memory speeds to an effective 36 Gbps translates into 2.304 TB/s of bandwidth, nearly 29% above the standard specifications. These results show the untapped potential of NVIDIA's Blackwell architecture and suggest that, with similar power, cooling, and VBIOS modifications, professional cards like the RTX Pro 6000 series could achieve even more significant gains, given the higher CUDA core count.

Kingston Digital, Inc., the flash memory affiliate of Kingston Technology Company, Inc., a world leader in memory products and technology solutions, today announced it has added a new form factor, to join the previous 2280 model, NV3 PCIe 4.0 NVMe M.2 2230 SSD for users looking for a high-speed, low power NVMe storage upgrade for compatible laptops and handheld gaming consoles.

The Kingston NV3 PCIe 4.0 NVMe 2230 SSD is a compact single-sided M.2 2230 (22x30mm) design that provides storage expansion up to 2TB2 for systems with limited space. Powered by a Gen 4x4 NVMe controller NV3 2230 delivers read/write speeds of up to 6,000/5,000 MB/s, creating a more responsive system able to handle a wide range of workloads.

System76 has refreshed its compact Linux mini PC range with the Meerkat meer10. This new model keeps the small size of its predecessor while bringing faster CPUs, up-to-date storage, and better connectivity. The Meerkat meer10 measures 117 mm x 112 mm x 54 mm and operates on Pop!_OS 22.04 LTS, Ubuntu 22.04 LTS, or Ubuntu 24.04 LTS. System76 offers three processor configurations: Intel Core 3 100U with 6 cores operating up to 4.7 GHz, Intel Core Ultra 5 225H with 14 cores at 4.9 GHz, and Intel Core Ultra 7 255H featuring 16 cores with maximum speeds of 5.1 GHz.

Graphics performance varies by configuration, the Core 3 100U uses integrated Intel Graphics, while the Ultra 5 employs Intel Arc 130T GPU and the Ultra 7 incorporates Intel Arc 140T GPU. The Arc GPU configurations require dual SO-DIMM memory modules for proper operation. Memory capacity reaches 96 GB using dual-channel DDR5 5600 MHz configuration. Storage is also dependent on the CPU architecture. The Core 3 100U supports two M.2 PCIe Gen 4 NVMe drives, while Ultra 5 and Ultra 7 models accommodate one M.2 PCIe Gen 5 NVMe drive and one M.2 PCIe Gen 4 NVMe drive. All configurations include an additional M.2 2242 PCIe Gen4x4 slot for SSD expansion, with total storage capacity reaching 10 TB.

QNAP Systems, Inc., a leading computing, networking, and storage solution innovator, today announced the launch of myQNAPcloud One Beta, a subscription-based unified cloud storage solution. This service combines advanced version myQNAPcloud Storage, tailored for NAS backups, with myQNAPcloud Object, a newly introduced object storage service. Users can flexibly utilize their subscribed storage capacity across both services, based on actual usage needs—eliminating the need for separate subscriptions.

Introducing myQNAPcloud Object
myQNAPcloud Object meets the growing demand for scalable cloud storage. This S3-compatible solution supports a wide range of applications, including data lakes, long-term archiving, and backups. With compatibility for AWS S3 workflows, myQNAPcloud Object provides a seamless migration experience. Businesses can take advantage of immutable data storage with object locking feature. Bucket versioning enables easy restoration to previous versions, safeguarding data even after changes. Data access logs allow business to meet the needs of security management, troubleshooting, and auditing.

TechPowerUp and ID-Cooling brought you the 2025 Summer Giveaway, with as many as six lucky winners getting a piece of ID-Cooling's latest CPU cooling innovations. The first lucky winner stood a chance to win an ID-Cooling SL360 liquid CPU cooler with digital display; the next two an ID-Cooling FX360 INF performance-segment AIO liquid CPU cooler each, and the following three winners an ID-Cooling Frozn A620 Pro SE dual fin-stack air CPU cooler, each. We received tremendous response, with over 1,300 entries, and picked our six lucky winners. Without further ado, here they are:

• Paul, wins an ID-Cooling SL360 AIO CLC with AF-127-ARGB-K fans
• Thewan and RelSzabo, each win an ID-Cooling FX360 INF AIO CLC with AS-120-ARGB-K fans
• Ancient Gem, Ana, and Megalomixo, each win an ID-Cooling Frozn A620 PRO SE air CPU cooler

A huge congratulation to all six of you! ID-Cooling will contact each of you. TechPowerUp and ID-Cooling will return with more such interesting giveaways!

AMD Ryzen 9 9950X 16-core/32-thread processor powered by the "Zen 5" microarchitecture saw its price on Amazon Prime reduced to $434. This implies a 33% reduction over the chip's launch MSRP of $649. At this price, the chip ends up around $100 cheaper than the Intel Core Ultra 9 285K. Our testing shows that the 9950X beats the 285K in productivity workloads, and matches it in 4K Ultra HD gaming. The 9950X was AMD's flagship desktop processor until it was supplanted by the Ryzen 9 9950X3D, which sells for roughly $700 owing to its gaming performance that's second only to the Ryzen 7 9800X3D, while retaining productivity performance comparable to the 9950X. The Ryzen 9 9950X is a 16-core/32-thread part with two 8-core CCDs, each with 32 MB of on-die L3 cache. The processor ticks at 4.30 GHz base, with a maximum boost frequency of 5.70 GHz, and a TDP of 170 W.

The Nintendo Switch 2 arrived more than a month ago, yet securing one remains difficult and may stay that way until spring 2026. Strong global interest meets ongoing parts shortages and assembly constraints, resulting in long waiting lists and lottery-style sales events. Estimates from Toyo Securities' Hideki Yasuda and UBS's Zhai Yijia suggest about 6 million units will ship during the launch month, surpassing the debut speeds of both the original Switch and Sony's PlayStation 5. Yasuda forecasts total shipments reaching 20 million by March 31, 2026, while Zhai predicts a slightly lower figure of 18 million. Even the more modest estimate would still exceed the predecessor's pace by roughly 20% to 30%.

In Japan, Nintendo's official online store recently ran its fifth lottery for Switch 2 orders, and many participants have reported repeated disappointment. Brick-and-mortar retailers, such as Yodobashi Camera, have experimented with first-come, first-served sales restricted to store credit-card holders, yet inventory still vanishes within minutes. Nintendo President Shuntaro Furukawa acknowledges these hurdles, saying, "We are working to strengthen our production system so that we can flexibly respond to demand," and stressing that while the Switch 2 carries a higher price point than previous models, the company is focused on delivering experiences that justify its cost, especially for younger players. There are even some forecasts, such as those from the research firm DFC Intelligence, which predict that the Switch 2 could exceed 100 million units sold by the end of 2029, positioning it to surpass the original console's lifetime sales. Until manufacturing ramps up, however, securing Nintendo's latest flagship will remain a test of patience for many gamers.

TrendForce's latest findings show that the three major DRAM suppliers are shifting capacity toward high-end products and have begun announcing end-of-life (EOL) plans for PC and server-grade DDR4 and mobile LPDDR4X. This has triggered aggressive restocking of legacy-generation products, further fueled by traditional peak-season demand. Consequently, average contact prices for conventional DRAM are projected to rise by 10% to 15% in 3Q25. Including HBM, overall DRAM prices are expected to increase by 15% to 20%.

TrendForce notes that DDR4 demand remains strong in 3Q25, and suppliers are aiming to raise prices more aggressively. As Taiwanese manufacturers currently lack the capacity and product specifications to fully meet market needs, DDR4 supply is expected to remain tight in the short term. Moreover, DDR4 output is being prioritized for server applications, leaving limited availability for consumer-grade user.

Rosewill, a trusted name in PC components and power solutions, today announced the availability of its new VMG Series ATX 3.1 Gold power supplies. Engineered to deliver robust, stable, and efficient power for demanding modern systems, the VMG Series stands apart by combining the latest ATX 3.1 standard compliance with premium components, full modularity, and a compact design - a significant advantage for builders prioritizing performance, cable management, and space optimization.

According to ZDNet Korea's sources familiar with the matter, Intel will release the "Arrow Lake Refresh" CPU family in the second half of this year. While no exact timeline is given, we can expect to hear more about these CPUs in the coming weeks, and for the rumor mill to intensify. The new refresh generation will introduce slight frequency adjustments, including an increased base clock and maximum boost clock, while also incorporating a faster NPU. A base clock increase, paired with a boost to maximum core clock, will give Arrow Lake Refresh a significant advantage in gaming performance. Keeping the same LGA1851 socket will extend the support for the current platform for one more generation too, until "Nova Lake-S" arrives.

Given that Intel attempted an IPO for a limited set of gamers, we could see a more widespread adoption of a similar approach. As a reminder, on the CPU side, IPO 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. If Arrow Lake Refresh ships with an IPO-equivalent out of the box, gamers will enjoy a significant performance increase, ready to offset some of the early disappointment with the base Arrow Lake. Additionally, Intel will place a new NPU on its IO tile. Using the NPU3 on base Arrow Lake, Intel was unable to meet the basic 40 TOPS requirement for Copilot+ AI PCs. And with NPU4, that TOPS requirement is met, allowing Intel to brand these new processors as AI PC ready.

Intel GPU-based Linux gamers are about to receive a performance uplift. According to the latest update to DXVK, a Vulkan-based translation layer for DirectX 8/9/10/11, Intel's "Battlemage" dGPUs and "Lunar Lake" Arc iGPUs now support memory defragmentation by default, helping Intel GPUs reduce VRAM usage and increase performance, which provides a smoother gaming experience when using the DXVK translation layer. In version 2.7, DXVK forces discrete GPUs to adhere to driver-set memory budgets whenever possible and dynamically frees unused resources to system memory when applications place a significant VRAM load. DXVK v2.7 release notes state that this will be particularly beneficial to Unity Engine and VRAM-constrained titles. This optimization will also enable higher texture quality in game settings, maintaining the same performance as before, and further building upon the memory optimization.

As a critical component of Valve's Proton software stack, this DXVK update also provides Intel-based handhelds, such as the MSI Claw, with increased performance when running SteamOS. Given that we measured a sizable crowd, comprising 3.4% of all handheld users, playing with MSI Claw, many handheld gamers considering running SteamOS on their device will find this DXVK update quite welcome.Here is a complete DXVK v2.7 changelog.

Rosewill, a leader in delivering high-value PC components, proudly announces the VSB Series ATX 3.1 Bronze power supplies. Engineered for builders seeking essential next-gen power without the premium price tag, the VSB Series combines crucial ATX 3.1 readiness, smart semi-modularity, and a thermally optimized compact design - delivering exceptional value for mainstream and performance systems.

A new king has been crowned. As of July 2025, data from StatCounter shows that Windows 11 now runs on 51.77% of all Windows PCs, overtaking Windows 10's 45.02% share for the first time. Released in October 2021, Windows 11 initially struggled, capturing less than 10% of installations by the end of its first year. In 2023, its market share had climbed to 28%, and by late 2024, it reached 36%. The recent surge is a result of a combination of factors. First, Microsoft has begun highlighting the approaching end of support for standard editions of Windows 10 on October 14, 2025. Second, many organizations and individual users have upgraded their hardware in search of the latest security improvements and software enhancements. Finally, features such as performance optimizations, tighter security defaults, and built-in support for AI-driven tools have made Windows 11 more attractive to both enterprises and gamers.

According to these figures, more than 700 million devices now run Windows 11. Although StatCounter does not capture every device and its figures may differ from those of other analytics services, it provides a reliable snapshot of broader trends. As Windows 10 approaches its end of mainstream support in October 2025, the coming months will reveal whether these incentives and new hardware offerings will sustain Windows 11's upward trajectory or prompt users to seek extended support instead.

Intel's next-generation "Oak Stream" platform is preparing to accommodate the upcoming "Diamond Rapids" Xeon CPU generation, and we are receiving more interesting details about the top-end configurations Intel will offer. According to the HEPiX TechWatch working group, the Diamond Rapids Intel Xeon 7 will feature up to 192 P-cores in the top-end SKU, split across four 48-core tiles. Intel has dedicated two primary SKU separators, where some models use eight-channel DDR5 memory, and the top SKUs will arrive with 16-channel DDR5 memory. Using MRDIMM Gen 2 for memory will enable Intel to push transfer rates to 12,800 MT/s per DIMM, providing massive bandwidth across 16 channels and keeping the "Panther Cove" cores busy with sufficient data. Intel planned the SoC to reach up to 500 W in a single socket.

As one of the first mass-produced 18A node products, Diamond Rapids will be the first to support Intel's APX, also featuring numerous improvements to the efficiency of AMX. Intel also plans to embed native support for more floating-point number formats, such as NVIDIA's TF32, and lower-precision FP8. As most of the world's inference is good enough to run on a CPU, Intel aims to accelerate basic inference operations for smaller models, enabling power users to run advanced workloads on CPUs alone. With a 1S, 2S, and 4S LGA 9324 configuration, Diamond Rapids will offer 768 cores in a single server rack, with a power usage of only 2000 W. Supporting external accelerators will be provided via the PCIe Gen 6 connector. Scheduled for arrival in 2026, Intel could time the launch to coincide with its upcoming "Jaguar Shores" AI accelerators, making a perfect pair for a complete AI system.

Welcome to the first full week of July, which continues to be a rather slow week for new game releases. This week's major release puts you in a time loop with your fellow resistance fighters. This is followed by an online tactical action shooter, some old balls and bats, a post-apocalyptic 2D side scroller, a remake and another remake, although the two have nothing in common with each other.

Every Day We Fight / This week's major release / Thursday 10 July
Citizens from either side of an ongoing war must set aside their differences as a mysterious alien invasion threatens humanity - time has come to a stop for all but your small band of freedom fighters. Caught in a seemingly endless loop, you must shape these ordinary civilians into heroes as they repeatedly fight and die in this turn-based tactical roguelite. Real-time exploration, stealth, and teamwork are essential as you acquire new skills, seek out more powerful weapons, escape the time loop, and save the world. Welcome to the resistance. Steam link

Infineon has announced that its gallium nitride (GaN) power semiconductor production is on schedule, confirming that its 300 mm wafer fab will deliver customer samples in Q4 2025. The German semiconductor manufacturer becomes the first company to successfully integrate 300 mm GaN wafer technology into its existing high-volume production infrastructure, achieving a 2.3x higher chip yield per wafer compared to conventional 200 mm processes. Infineon plans to capitalize on the projected annual market growth of 36%, with GaN power applications expected to reach $2.5 billion by 2030, according to an analysis by the Yole Group. The timing proves particularly strategic, as TSMC has announced plans to shut down its GaN production lines and dismantle facilities within two years, creating a significant market vacuum.

The new announcement addresses a fundamental industry challenge: scaling GaN production while maintaining cost competitiveness with silicon alternatives. Infineon's integrated device manufacturer (IDM) model provides complete process control from wafer fabrication through final product delivery, enabling what the company projects will be cost parity between comparable silicon and GaN devices. Johannes Schoiswohl, Head of GaN Business Line, emphasized that the scaled 300 mm manufacturing leverages Infineon's existing infrastructure investments while supporting rapid capacity expansion for emerging applications, including AI system power supplies, automotive charging systems, and industrial motor control. TSMC's strategic retreat from GaN manufacturing indicates that the company's focus remains on high-margin logic processors, leaving specialized power semiconductor companies like Infineon to dominate the expanding GaN market. In this market, GaN's superior power density, switching speeds, and thermal performance deliver measurable system-level advantages over traditional silicon-based solutions.

Cerabyte has unveiled a detailed roadmap for its Ceramic Nano Memory archival storage system, promising a cloud-based platform capable of storing over 100 PB per rack by 2030. The company expects data transfer speeds to climb above 2 GB/s and the time to first byte to fall below 10 seconds, a dramatic improvement over its current pilot system, which delivers just 1 GB per rack, 100 MB/s throughput, and a 90-second access time. The initial pilot, running through 2026, validates the 1 PB per rack design. A mid-cycle refresh around 2027-2028 will boost rack density into the double-digit petabyte range, halve access times, and more than double throughput. By 2029-2030, Cerabyte aims to reach its full 100 PB capacity, sustain transfer rates exceeding 2 GB/s, and reduce access latency to under 10 seconds. Cerabyte's approach relies on 100 µm-thin glass panels coated with a 10 nm ceramic film. Data are inscribed by etching microscopic holes in the ceramic layer using a femtosecond laser, creating patterns that a high‑resolution camera can read.

Multiple 9x9 cm tablets fit into cartridges similar in size to magnetic tape, and robotic arms handle all media swapping. Financially, Cerabyte projects that the total cost of ownership will decrease from approximately $7,000-$8,000 per PB-month today to just $6-$8 per PB-month by 2030. Supporters include Pure Storage, Western Digital, In-Q-Tel, and the European Innovation Council's Accelerator fund. To date, the startup has secured roughly $10 million in seed financing, along with more than $4 million in grants. Compared with traditional tape libraries, Cerabyte's system offers at least twice the bandwidth, a lifespan exceeding 100 years versus tape's 7-15 years, and half the cost per terabyte. Additionally, the company envisions adopting helium-ion beam writing by 2045 to shrink bit sizes from approximately 300 nm to 3 nm, a change that could increase per-rack capacity into the exabyte range.

A lack of PCIe bandwidth can reduce RTX 5090 performance by as much as 25% in video editing and 3D workloads. Puget Systems conducted a series of tests on NVIDIA's GeForce RTX 5090, comparing different PCIe versions and lane configurations to assess the impact on content creation tools. At its launch, TechPowerUp's scaling tests noted that the GeForce RTX 5090 is the first high-end card to adopt PCIe 5.0 x16, delivering 64 GB/s of bidirectional bandwidth—twice the 32 GB/s that the RTX 4090 achieves on PCIe 4.0 x16. Our testing revealed a potential performance impact of up to 25% when utilizing limited PCIe bandwidth. Puget Systems today put this interface to the test, confirming real‑world impacts on video editing workflows when lanes or generations are constrained.

In DaVinci Resolve benchmarks, Puget Systems found that configurations running at PCIe 5.0 x16, PCIe 5.0 x8, or PCIe 4.0 x16 yielded virtually identical render times. Dropping to PCIe 5.0 x4, PCIe 4.0 x8, or PCIe 3.0 x16 introduced a modest 10% slowdown. Further reducing bandwidth to PCIe 4.0 x4 or PCIe 3.0 x8 resulted in an increase of roughly 25% in render times. After Effects exhibited only minor slowdowns once the bandwidth dropped below 8 GB/s. Unreal Engine 5.5 virtual production tests recorded about a 7% drop in average frame rates at the lowest lane counts. By contrast, Blender offline renders and OctaneBench scores remained essentially unchanged, and Llama LLM benchmarks showed no measurable dependency on PCIe speed.

NVIDIA has released its DLSS 4 plugin for Unreal Engine 5.6, allowing developers to incorporate the company's most advanced upscaling and AI-driven frame generation tools into their projects. With this update, performance improvements introduced in UE 5.6, such as optimized memory handling and refined rendering pipelines, receive the benefits of Transformer-based upscaling, which significantly lowers VRAM usage while generating extra frames to improve motion smoothness. Developers using Unreal Engine 5.6 can now integrate multi-frame generation, ray reconstruction, deep learning anti-aliasing, and super resolution in one convenient package that requires fewer resources than earlier DLSS versions.

The DLSS 4 plugin relies on a Transformer neural network that evaluates the relationships among all pixels in a frame rather than using localized convolutional filters. This technique reduces video memory requirements by approximately 15-20% compared with the prior DLSS 3 SDK, freeing up capacity for higher-resolution textures and more detailed environments. Multi-frame generation predicts intermediate frames based on recent frame history, effectively boosting perceived frame rates without additional GPU draw calls. Ray reconstruction enhances reflections and global illumination by learning from high‑quality offline renders, delivering realistic lighting with minimal performance loss. Early feedback indicates a 30-50% uplift in ray-traced effects quality in GPU-bound scenes, as well as noticeably sharper visuals under dynamic lighting. The plugin supports Unreal Engine versions 5.2 through 5.6; however, only projects running on version 5.6 can access the full suite of improvements.

The P Pro Series is the result of intensive development work and production optimization and defines the new premium segment in the ARCTIC fan range. The P12 Pro and P14 Pro models offer significantly increased performance with particularly high static pressure and airflow, ideal for use with radiators and in cases. Already proven in the latest generation of Liquid Freezer III, the fans are now also available individually. The P12 Pro, P12 Pro A-RGB and P12 Pro PST (5 Pack) will initially be released, with the other 120 mm and 140 mm versions to follow in the coming weeks.

At the center of the new development: the revised fan blade design. Automated manufacturing with low tolerances enables a minimal gap between the impeller and frame - for maximized static pressure and a significantly increased airflow efficiency. An optimized bearing and extended impeller shaft, in combination with a high-precision balancing process, ensures low-vibration and permanently quiet operation.

BIOSTAR, a leading manufacturer of edge computing solutions, motherboards, graphics cards, and storage devices, is excited to unveil the EdgeComp MS-1335U, a standout addition to its EdgeComp embedded edge computing system lineup. Designed to meet the evolving demands of smart cities and connected infrastructure, the MS-1335U combines powerful processing, quiet fanless operation, and flexible connectivity, making it an ideal choice for system integrators, municipal projects, digital signage networks, and next-generation kiosks where performance and efficiency are paramount.

Featuring a compact, fanless design, the EdgeComp MS-1335U is powered by Intel Raptor Lake SoC processors, delivering a powerful balance of performance and energy efficiency for demanding edge applications. With up to 10 cores and speeds reaching 4.6 GHz, it ensures responsive multitasking while operating silently, even in noise-sensitive environments. Supporting up to 96 GB of high-speed DDR5 5200 MHz memory, ultra-fast PCIe Gen 4 storage, and SATA III support for flexible storage options, the MS-1335U is perfectly suited for smart kiosks, interactive digital signage, self-service terminals, and municipal systems that require reliable, space-saving computing with seamless 4K visual output.

Axiomtek - a world-renowned leader relentlessly devoted to the research, development, and manufacture of innovative, highly efficient, and reliable industrial computer products - is pleased to introduce the KIWI330, an ultra-compact 1.6" embedded board built to accelerate AIoT development and streamline device integration. Powered by the Intel processor N50, the KIWI330 is equipped with 4 GB of onboard LPDDR5 memory and a 64 GB NVMe SSD, delivering energy-efficient performance in an ultra-small form factor - ideal for space-constrained applications. With its high integration, flexible expansion capabilities, and consistent industrial-grade quality, the KIWI330 is the perfect solution for developers building the next generation of compact AIoT systems.

"The KIWI330 is purpose-built for developers who require performance, modularity, and compactness in a single reliable embedded board," said Irene Su, Product Manager of the IDS Division at Axiomtek. "With powerful computing capabilities, USB Type-C expandability, and flexible MIO module support, the KIWI330 significantly shortens development cycles and time to market."

The Stop Killing Games movement aims to preserve the ownership of video games by requiring game publishers to leave their games in a "playable state" when they eventually discontinue support. "Stop Killing Games is a consumer movement started to challenge the legality of publishers destroying video games they have sold to customers. An increasing number of video games are sold effectively as goods - with no stated expiration date - but designed to be completely unplayable as soon as support from the publisher ends." One commonly cited example of this is The Crew, which was shut down by Ubisoft earlier this year, after 10 years on the market. The initiative, started and fronted by Joe Scott of the Accursed Farms YouTube channel, just announced that it has officially passed 1,000,000 signatures on its European Citizen's Initiative petition, which effectively means that it is one step closer to being granted a hearing in the EU parliament, which could potentially result in new consumer protection laws in support of the movement's goal of protecting game ownership and preserving video games.

According to Scott in a new YouTube video addressing the million-signature milestone, the movement and its EU petition aren't yet at the finish line. For one, there is a strong likelihood that the petition hasn't actually received a million distinct signatures, due to issues like invalid signatures caused by errors and signature spoofing by well-intentioned people outside the EU trying to add their signature to the pile. As a result of these issues, Scott is asking viewers to continue pushing the initiative so that it can continue gaining steam. Ideally, he says, the petition would reach 140% of the required signatures before the July 31 deadline. According to the Stop Killing Games Tracker site, which is not officially affiliated with the initiative, the EU petition has received nearly 500,000 signatures in the last week alone, suggesting that it may reach the 1,4 million-signature threshold before the July 31 deadline if things continue at the current rate.

In an ongoing effort to improve the usability of AI vector database searches within retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) systems by optimizing the use of solid-state drives (SSDs), Kioxia Corporation, a world leader in memory solutions, today announced an update to its KIOXIA AiSAQ (All-in-Storage ANNS with Product Quantization) software. This new open-source release introduces flexible controls allowing system architects to define the balance point between search performance and the number of vectors, which are opposing factors in the fixed capacity of SSD storage in the system. The resulting benefit enables architects of RAG systems to fine tune the optimal balance of specific workloads and their requirements, without any hardware modifications.

First introduced in January 2025, KIOXIA AiSAQ software uses a novel approximate nearest neighbor search (ANNS) algorithm that is optimized for SSDs and eliminates the need to store index data in DRAM. By enabling vector searches directly on SSDs and reducing host memory requirements, KIOXIA AiSAQ technology allows vector databases to scale, largely without the restrictions caused by limited DRAM capacity.

It appears as though Nintendo has once again deliberately attempted to lock out third-party accessory makers from making docks for the Nintendo Switch 2. According to testing conducted by The Verge, the Nintendo Switch 2 uses proprietary, encrypted signals to effectively authorize a dock before video or power is sent over the USB-C connection. This behavior was confirmed by a USB power bank tester, which monitors the USB connection packets and can output the signals on another device for inspection. The Switch 2 also demands a higher voltage from its dock, requesting as much as 20 V, instead of the usual 15 V, although it does not appear to use the full 20 V for functionality, instead it uses it as a sort of check before dropping back down to 15 V.

In the case of the Switch 2, there was one particular third-party dock that was compatible with the new console, and upon inspecting that USB connection with the power bank tester, The Verge found that there were 30 "unstructured" packets being sent back and forth before the Switch 2 even attempted to send a video signal or negotiate power with the accessory. There was one particular string that was sent between the Switch 2 and the dock that appears to be an encryption key of sorts. If the dock fails either the voltage test or the aforementioned proprietary communications, the console defaults to a USB-only mode with no video or power delivery support. According to two accessory makers who spoke to The Verge, the Switch 2 also uses a dedicated encryption chip to lock out third-party docks and unlicensed accessories. At the time of writing, the only dock that is compatible with the Switch 2 is the Antank S3 Max, although even Antank's representative says that this can't be taken for granted, since Nintendo can, and likely will, change this authentication method with a firmware update if enough third-party dock makers catch on. So far, these changes to the USB protocol on the Switch 2 have already resulted in JSAUX putting its plans for a Switch 2 dock on hold, despite its prominence in the Steam Deck dock market.

TechPowerUp and ID-Cooling brought you the 2025 Summer Giveaway. The Giveaway has been up over the week, with hundreds of entries, but the entries close soon. How soon? Tomorrow (4th of July)! Be sure to check out the Giveaway, and if you like what you see, drop your hat in! The Giveaway is open worldwide, wherever legal. Up for grabs are six of ID-Cooling's finest CPU coolers, including an ID-Cooling SL360 liquid CPU cooler with digital display; two FX360 INF performance-segment AIO liquid CPU cooler, and three Frozn A620 Pro SE dual fin-stack air CPU cooler. There's no quiz needed to sign up, simply fill up a short form to help us get back to you if you've won. You can increase your chances of winning in one or more of 7 ways, including sharing the Giveaway across your social media, or following ID-Cooling social media handles. Hurry, entries close tomorrow!

For more information, and to participate, visit this page.

Ocypus proudly announces the debut of the Sigma PRO Series, a new generation of high-performance liquid coolers with minimalist design. Featuring a flagship 3.5-inch IPS display, innovative floating pump design, and an ultra-large copper base for unmatched heat dissipation, Sigma PRO is built to deliver exceptional thermal performance with aesthetics.

Flagship Screen, Brilliant Visual
At the heart of the Sigma PRO is a stunning 3.5-inch square IPS screen with 640×480 resolution and an ultra-narrow bezel, delivering sharp visuals for real-time system monitoring. The customizable screen supports videos, images, and GIFs—giving users full freedom to showcase system stats or personal style right on the pump.

NVIDIA's freshly completed GeForce RTX 50 family, powered by the new Blackwell architecture, has begun to register meaningful numbers in Steam's June 2025 Hardware Survey. Since first appearing in May, cards from this lineup, except for the as-yet-unavailable RTX 5050, now account for 3.69% of surveyed systems. Leading the pack among the newcomers, the RTX 5070 grabs nearly 1% of overall share, up substantially from its debut, while the RTX 5080 and RTX 5070 Ti follow closely behind. The more budget‑oriented RTX 5060 Ti and RTX 5060 have also made their mark, and even the top‑end RTX 5090 has registered on enough machines to appear in the survey.

These figures show a swift uptake by desktop gamers eager for improved performance and AI-driven features, even as the tried-and-true RTX 4060 Laptop GPU holds onto its position as the most prevalent NVIDIA part, with just under 5% of the installed base. Meanwhile, AMD's latest Radeon RX 9000 series and Intel's Arc B‑series remain absent from the survey results, suggesting that shipment volumes for those cards have not yet reached the critical mass needed to register with Valve's monthly sampling of millions of Steam users. This demonstrates NVIDIA's continued dominance in add-in board sales, where it has consistently captured over 90% of the market.

The forecast this month is showing a 100% chance of epic gaming. Catch the scorching lineup of 20 titles coming to the cloud, which gamers can play whether indoors or on the go. Six new games are landing on GeForce NOW this week, including launch day titles Figment and Little Nightmares II. And to make the summer even hotter, the GeForce NOW Summer Sale is in full swing. It's the last chance to upgrade to a six-month Performance membership for just $29.99 and stream top titles like the recently released classic Borderlands series, DOOM: The Dark Ages, FBC: Firebreak, and more with GeForce RTX power.

Jump Into July
In Figment, a whimsical action-adventure game set in the human mind, players guide Dusty - the grumpy, retired voice of courage - and his upbeat companion Piper on a surreal journey to restore lost bravery after a traumatic event. Blending hand-drawn visuals, clever puzzles and musical boss battles, Figment explores themes of fear, grief and emotional healing in a colorful, dreamlike world filled with humor and song.

HYTE, a leading manufacturer of cutting-edge PC components and peripherals, and leading video game publisher and developer Bandai Namco Entertainment America Inc., are thrilled to share details of an all-new PC component and peripheral lineup themed after the iconic MOBILE SUIT GUNDAM WING anime series. These new items, including a new PC case, keycaps, and other accessories, are now available for pre-order on HYTE.com and via Canada Computers, HYTE's official Canadian launch partner. The lineup will also be on display at iBUYPOWER's booth during this year's Anime Expo.

To celebrate Gundam Wing's 30th anniversary, the Official Gundam Wing Y70 touch infinite Limited Edition case features a custom white colorway with stylized black trim across the case, and a variety of accented components based on the XXXG-00W0 Wing Gundam Zero's color scheme. These include a bright yellow power button, red feet for the case, yellow drive bays and PCIE slot covers, and a red PCIE40 4.0 Luxury Riser Cable from HYTE. In addition to the Wing Gundam Zero UV-printed inside the glass, the Y70 touch infinite display will also feature unique, custom start-up visuals inspired by the anime and will be exclusive to those who bought this specific case.

Gaming manufacturer JSAUX announces the release of its latest accessory for Nintendo fans: the Cooling Fan, designed specifically for the Nintendo Switch 2. This accessory offers powerful cooling, a secure clip-on design, and low-noise performance—perfect for marathon gaming sessions without thermal throttling. The Cooling Fan for Nintendo Switch 2 will be 25% off on Amazon Prime Day (July 8-11), and 10% off afterward.

With the Nintendo Switch 2 pushing higher performance limits—and temperatures rising up to 40°C—effective thermal management has become essential. JSAUX's Cooling Fan can reduce the device temperature by 2-8°C in just 4-8 minutes, providing outstanding cooling performance with stepless knob-based speed control. Its lightweight design ensures comfortable use in handheld mode. The fan features a secure clip-on design that firmly attaches to the back of the Switch 2, optimizing heat dissipation without compromising portability or usability.

LG Innotek is continuing its quest to become the world's top company in the field of technology components, with its latest milestone being the successful development of an innovative semiconductor substrate technology. LG Innotek (CEO Moon Hyuksoo) announced on July 3rd that it successfully developed and started mass-producing the world's first copper post (Cu-Post) technology, which is applicable high-value-added semiconductor substrates for mobile devices.

With major manufacturers racing to make smartphones ever thinner, ways to minimize the size of smartphone components have become increasingly sought after. Demand is soaring for mobile device semiconductor substrates that provide maximum performance in a minimal size, such as the RF-SiP (Radio Frequency-System in Package) substrate.

Step Into the Light with the X98 Transparent QMK/VIA Keyboard. YUNZII is proud to unveil the X98 Transparent Mechanical Keyboard, a 96% layout keyboard designed for users who crave customization, connectivity, and a crystal-clear design. Whether you're a gamer, a coder, or a creative, the X98 delivers premium features in a striking translucent shell.

Stunning Transparent Design with South-Facing RGB
Crafted from high-transparency PC material, the X98's case and keycaps reveal a clean and modern aesthetic. Shine-through 3D-printed characters resist fading while showcasing vibrant RGB effects. South-facing LEDs and 16.8 million color options light up your workspace like never before.

In what could spell trouble for the upcoming GeForce RTX 5070 SUPER, Hardware Unboxed found that the latest Adrenalin drivers give the Radeon RX 9070 XT a 9% gain in raster performance at 1440p over review press drivers. This closes its performance gap with the current GeForce RTX 5070 Ti, which would make the card faster than any potential SKU NVIDIA intends to position between the RTX 5070 and RTX 5070 Ti. This testing is part of a feature by Hardware Unboxed where they compared current drivers to review press drivers for both the RX 9070 XT and RTX 5070 Ti.

When averaged across 16 games, the RX 9070 XT with latest drivers was found to gain 9% performance over review press drivers; whereas the RTX 5070 Ti with the latest drivers only gained 2.5% performance over its review press drivers. This 9% gain for the RX 9070 XT puts it ahead of the RTX 5070 Ti. Both the RTX 5070 Ti and RX 9070 XT are capable of gaming at 4K with some settings turned down. Here, averaged across the same 16 games, Hardware Unboxed found that the RTX 5070 Ti gained 3% performance, while the RX 9070 XT gained 4%, and the two GPUs were evenly matched. Helping AMD's average are specific game tests where the RX 9070 XT vastly improved its performance, with "Counter Strike 2" posting a 23% improvement, and "Spider-Man Remastered" posting a massive 27%. "Hogwarts Legacy" sees an 18% gain for AMD. There's more interesting findings and insights in the Hardware Unboxed video linked below.

Transcend Information, Inc. (Transcend), a global leader in embedded and consumer storage solutions, proudly announces the release of its flagship PCIe Gen 5 SSD—MTE260S. Built on the ultra-high-speed PCIe Gen 5 x4 interface and compliant with the latest NVMe 2.0 specification, the MTE260S delivers blazing-fast sequential read and write speeds of up to 14,000 MB/s and 11,000 MB/s, respectively. With up to 1,400K IOPS, it is engineered to meet the demanding needs of high-end gaming desktops, content creators' laptops, and AI computing platforms—offering next-level responsiveness and extreme transfer performance.

Extreme Speed. Redefined Performance.
Equipped with next-gen PCIe 5.0 NVMe technology and a per-lane bandwidth of 32 GT/s, the MTE260S significantly accelerates boot times, game loading, and large file transfers. It's backward compatible for broader system integration, providing a flexible and cost-effective upgrade path for a range of platforms—from gaming rigs to creative workstations and AI computing systems—delivering high-speed stability at every level.

DapuStor proudly announces the launch of its ultra-high capacity J5060 QLC SSD, delivering an unprecedented 122.88 TB of capacity—twice that of its predecessor, the 61 TB J5060. This milestone redefines what's possible in high-density flash storage.

Massive Capacity, Minimal Footprint
For personal users, the J5060 122 TB SSD can store up to 10,000 90-minute 4K movies, all in a device that fits in the palm of your hand—a perfect combination of capacity and portability. For enterprise deployments, the benefits are even greater. Replacing 24 TB HDDs with the J5060 can reduce system footprint and complexity by up to 5x, significantly lowering equipment count and saving valuable data center space.

QNAP Systems, Inc., a leading computing, networking and storage solution innovator, today launched the Qsync 6.0 Beta, a major upgrade of its one-stop file backup and synchronization solution. While Qsync has long provided file synchronization across NAS and multiple devices, Qsync 6.0 now adds robust file and folder backup features - uniting backup and sync as primary functions across a suite of applications. This unified platform enables both individuals and organizations to better protect data and streamline collaboration with greater ease and efficiency.

"Qsync is an essential tool for QNAP NAS users, providing reliable file sync and management. With the introduction of file and folder backup in Qsync 6.0, we're delivering a more complete data management solution." said Jimmy Tan, Product Manager at QNAP. "Whether facing laptop data loss, version conflicts during collaboration, or file access issues in hybrid work environments, Qsync helps users securely back up key data and access the latest versions quickly and intuitively."

The brand new AlphaTube TPV hose impresses with its subtle velvet look and its exceptional durability. TPV is an EPDM rubber that is primarily used in industry. For water cooling, this means that it is much more stable than PVC hoses (such as against acids, bases and external influences) and can also withstand higher temperatures. There are no worries about the hoses warping and the water flow being obstructed. It is only minimally harder. Laying it is just as easy and uncomplicated as with PVC hoses. The Alphacool HF TPV fittings, which are also new, have been specially adapted for the hose and are therefore ideally suited due to their high tensile strength, but of course it is also compatible with normal connections.

Initial benchmarks shared on China's Weibo platform by INNO3D hinted that NVIDIA's upcoming GeForce RTX 5050 may not quite catch up to the GeForce RTX 4060 in raw performance. The leaked figures, which focused on a handful of 3DMark tests and a selection of game runs, showed the RTX 5050 lagging just a few percent behind its established last-gen mid-range sibling. While those early results did not cover a comprehensive range of titles, they suggested that the new card would fall slightly short of the RTX 4060's average frame rate and 1% low metrics when gaming at 1080p settings.

A more complete picture emerged from South Korea's Quasar Zone review of the Colorful iGame GeForce RTX 5050 Ultra OC White edition. In tests across fifteen popular 1080p games, the RTX 5050 delivered roughly 7% lower average frame rates and similar 1% low results compared to the RTX 4060. Even Intel's Arc B580 managed to edge it out by a small margin in those same trials. However, NVIDIA's Multi‑Frame Generation options dramatically change the story by reconstructing additional frames on the fly. When these technologies are enabled, the RTX 5050 not only leaves older-generation cards well behind but also overtakes the higher‑priced RTX 4060 Ti in several benchmarks. As we await more reviews to emerge, it will be interesting to see if the newest DLSS and MFG are sufficient for gamers to purchase the entry-level Blackwell GPU or opt for an older mid-range Ada Lovelace.