Microsoft PowerToys is an open-source suite of utilities for Windows 10 power users to customize their Windows experience, inspired by the original Windows 95 project of the same name. The latest v0.18.0 release brings two new utilities to the suite; PowerTools Run a modernized quick search launcher and Keyboard manager a new quick and easy tool to remap keys and shortcuts.

The PowerTools Run launcher is designed to be fast and offer more features for power users without sacrificing on performance. The code for the launcher is completely open-source so anyone can improve or develop modules for the launcher. The launcher can be accessed via Alt+Space and will be updated over time to receive new features much like Apple's Spotlight search.

Today an overclocking utility for AMD Ryzen CPUs called "Work Tool" has been updated with new features. The tool enables per-CCX overclocking, which is said to enable additional overclocking performance if one CCX is more capable than the other, so the whole CPU doesn't have to run at the speed of a slower CCX to be stable. The tool has been released by user shamino1978 on Overclock.net forums.

The reason for overclocking Ryzen CPUs on per CCX basis is because if you want to overclock a single core inside a CCX, the second core must run at a 1 GHz difference, meaning that if one core is OC'd to 4.5 GHz, the second core must run at 3.5 GHz. Such design is to be blamed on CPU's internal clock divider. However, you can use the Work Tool to do individual CCX overclocking and gain additional performance. Additionally, the tool has been updated to support tweaking of voltage aka VID. There are two versions of the tool, one which is smaller and has less features and one which can tweak the voltages. The smaller version is available here, while the bigger, more capable version is available here.

Panasonic today announced the Toughbook CF-19mk5 with more than double the system performance, improved usability and unique new screen visibility technology. In field utilities, emergency services, defence, transport maintenance and a huge range of field services, the Panasonic Toughbook CF-19 is transforming the way professionals work by providing access to data and applications, wherever and whenever those professionals need it. As the market-leading outdoor convertible notebook PC, the CF-19 is the benchmark fully rugged notebook, built on 15 years of Panasonic Toughbook experience.

Other World Computing (OWC), a leading PC and Mac technology company, announced today the OWC Mercury On-The-Go Pro, the largest capacity, fastest bus powered portable storage solution on the market. The Mercury On-The-Go Pro is a high-performance, 500GB 7200RPM pocket-sized portable storage solution for Mac or PC users featuring FireWire 800, FireWire 400, and/or USB 2.0 interfaces for data transfer speeds up to 100MB/s. With its 500GB of storage capacity, the Mercury On-The-Go Pro can hold up to 500,000 JPEG photos, 250 DVD movies, 38 hours of digital video, or 175,000 MP3 songs.

The Mercury On-The-Go Pro 500GB 7200RPM line features three models, including a "Triple Interface" model for FireWire 800/400 and USB 2.0; a "Combo Interface" model for FireWire 400 and USB 2.0; and a USB 2.0 model priced starting at $189.99.

One of the most popular BIOS editors for NVIDIA cards was recently updated to it's latest version, 3.5. The main changes in this version include support for the latest NVIDIA graphics cards, such as the GeForce 8800Ultra. NiBiTor is known for allowing advanced changes that can't be found in even the most modified versions of NVIDIA ForceWare drivers.

You can download the famous BIOS editor here.

Microsoft just released the beta version of the new Windows Live OneCare 2.0, its anti-malware and general windows maintenance software kit.
The updated version adds support for monitoring the status of other PCs on a home/corporate network, as well as an updated firewall that has an Auto-Adjust settings mode depending on the network along with 64bit support.
Windows Live OneCare is offered as a subscription service for $49.95 USD per year.

Live OneCare Site

Asustek Computer, one of the world's largest producers of computer components, on Tuesday unveiled what it calls "the world's first hardware based real-time overclocking device for graphics cards" along with its new Nvidia GeForce 8600 GT-based graphics board. The tool may be useful for not very experienced overclockers.

Asustek's OC Gear real-time overclocking device should be installed into a spare 5.25" bay and connected to an USB port. Specially developed software will allow end-users to adjust system master volume, graphics processing unit's (GPU's) clock-speed, GPU fan speed using a simple knob as well as monitor GPU temperature and current frames per second (FPS) information.

The EN8600 GT OC Gear graphics card from Asus is equipped with 256MB of high-speed 1ns GDDR3 memory as well as high-performance cooling system, thus, can provide sufficient overclocking potential for those seeking additional performance.The Asus OC Gear device itself is also compatible with various graphics cards by Asustek Computer, the company said, however, it did not reveal whether the software needed for Asus OC Gear will support other than EN8600 GT graphics boards.

Guru3D - Driver Sweeper is a fast tool to remove driver leftovers from your system. It's very important to remove your drivers on a proper way, because driver leftovers can cause problems like stability and startup problems. You can use it if you want to update/remove drivers from your system.

The change log for this release is:

NiBiTor is the original and definitive BIOS tweaker that supports the latest NVIDIA graphics cards, and which is updated on a regular basis. NiBiTor allows graphics card enthusiasts, or the hardcore overclockers to have full control over some advanced features and functionality found on firmware of supporting cards. This new version is build upon the logic of the previous version, with some minor fixes and added support for GeForce 8800 Ultra PCI-E, GeForce 7900 GS AGP and GeForce Go 7600 PCI-E graphics cards. See the full change log or download the NiBiTor v3.4a from here.

GPU Clock Tool - Works on R600 !

Ever since R600 samples were handed out by AMD, people have been asking me for R600 support in ATITool. It's coming along nicely, but is not quite ready yet.
In the meantime you can use this nifty little tool from AMD. It can change 2D/3D clocks and lets you monitor temperatures of the card. It also works on RV610, RV630 and all previous products like the R5xx Series. It works under 2k, XP, Vista, 32-bit & 64-bit.Download (440 KB)

CPU-Z is a freeware software that gathers information on some of the main devices of your system. This version has preliminary support for Intel Penryn CPUs family (45 nm). It also adds support for Intel Core 2 Duo E6x20, Pentium E2140/2160 processors and Intel P35, G33, G31, Q35, Q33, X38 chipsets. Download CPU-Z v1.40 from here.

Rivatuner is a powerful tweaking utility for NVIDIA GeForce and ATI Radeon based videocards. This version adds support for NVIDIA G84 and G86 GPU family as well as some minor UI and localization fixes.

RivaTuner Version 2.01 for Windows 2000/XP/Vista x64 & x32 (2.2MB)

New version 3.3 of the NVIDIA BIOS Editor (NiBiTor) software, has just been released. NiBiTor is the original and definitive BIOS tweaker that supports the latest NVIDIA graphics cards, and which is updated on a regular basis. NiBiTor allows graphics card enthusiasts, or the hardcore overclockers to have full control over some advanced features and functionality found on firmware of supporting cards. This version has added support for the 8800 series as well as some minor bug fixes.

Download: NVIDIA BIOS Editor (NiBiTor) v3.3

The latest version of SpeedFan, one of the best pieces of software for temperature monitoring and fan control, has been released taking it to version 4.32. It's only a minor update, adding improved motherboard support and other small fixes. One of the biggest improvements is full 64-bit support, including Vista, and full Core 2 Duo support. Here is the complete list of changes:

• added a digitally signed 64 bit driver (fully tested under Vista 64 bit)
• added full support for INTEL CORE DUO internal temperature readings
• added full support for Andigilog aSC7621
• added full support for Fintek F71882F
• added xAP support to publish temperatures and fan speeds
• improved support for Fintek F71782F
• improved support for IT8716F
• renamed temperatures readings for MAX6640
• improved compatibility with Intel D975XBX2
• reduced AD7416 and AD7417 false detections
• reduced MAX6650/6651 false detections
• improved Intel SMBus routines

You can download it here.

The latest version of CPUID's processor and motherboard information utility has been released. Version 1.39 of CPU-Z generally improves support and offers small enhancements, here are the changes:

• Windows Vista 64 support
• VIA CX700/VX700 chipset
• Added Merom XE (X7900/X7800)
• Added "PCI" and "MaxPCIBus" in the ini file to configure PCI scanning
• Added "-core" parameter to display the clock speed of the specified core

You can download it from here.

NGOHQ has released the latest version of their NVIDIA optimized driver, based on NVIDIA ForceWare 97.92. This driver includes NVIDIA's old Control Panel and also has support for all GeForce/Quadro cards - including mobile series (Go) as well. This driver has a special compatibility mode option that provides better stability, and workaround for some known bugs.

Download: NGO NVIDIA Optimized Driver v1.9792

After more than a year without any update, here is Memtest86+ V1.70. In my personal opinion this is great memory overclock test for stability written by Chris Brady. This new version comes with complete support for many new chipsets and many new CPUs, including Intel Core/Core2 and AMD K8 with DDR2 memory. Memtest86+ V1.70 now includes a new DMI polling feature in order to show all the memory-related DMI informations. Click here to read the change log.

Download: Memtest86+ ver1.70

A lot of Windows users these days have a lot of processes running in the background. This can be good or bad, but it definitely does not help a disk defragmenter do it's job. And so, the makers of Diskeeper 2007 made sure that users would not have to worry about how their various processes affected the performance of their degragmenter. Their "InvisiTasking" software runs in the background, automatically prioritizing itself as activity increases and decreases. This effectively makes Diskeeper 2007 run as if it's not there, and defragments as fragmentation appears, instead of at regular scheduled intervals. Diskeeper 2007 costs £23 for a home PC and from £285 for a Windows server.

Today my good friend Unwinder announced the final release of his RivaTuner v2.0 utility. Since its existance the tool has had over 5 million downloads, which just shows how much there is a need for good overclocking software.

Unfortunately with this version Unwinder steps down from Rivatuner development, at least for a few months. I am very sad to see this happening and will miss the countless discussions we had about how to interface with hardware to achieve things like monitoring, overclocking and fan control.

Head over to Guru3D to grab the final RivaTuner 2.0.

The latest version of your favorite ATI (and now NVIDIA) overclocking tool has been released today! Take a look here to read about the changes and download it. Thank you to W1zzard for yet another version of this great free utility.

While the program may look like it only has settings easily found in your screen-saver menu, Local Cooling claims to save lots of energy. Enough energy to save a firm using 100 computers over $2000 a year. The clever program has a graphically friendly way to access energy saving system settings such as monitor turn-off times. It also lists the estimated power consumption of all hardware attached to the computer, including graphics cards, processors, and monitors. UniBlue made the application in an effort to cut energy costs in their own network. With a few tweaks, they made a free public version that you can download here.